Chapter Text
What a great day Talis, brilliant.
First, he dropped his hammer on his foot that day, twice in the same five-minute time span, no problem. Secondly, his mother – bless her heart – had double booked the store that day, leading to two sets of urgent orders he needed to repair. Several hours of heating and molding metal later, he was free from the heated depths he called a workshop. Only to see the growing list of orders sitting neatly at the front counter.
For any other 29 year-old, this day could not get any worse. But for Jayce, it was an average occurrence.
“Mi’jo are you listening?”
Humming Jayce wiped the sweat from his brow, blinking a few times as he refocused his gaze to look at his mother.
“Yea mama I am-“ He began, scratching at his beard as he moved to peer over his mother’s shoulder. His beard was growing quite long, a small temptation growing within him to shave it off again. “These the new orders?”
The stack did not look too large upon closer inspection, the stapled pages were crumpled in some spots. Reaching around, Jayce grabbed the top page, running his thumb underneath the name of the business at the top of the page.
Medarda industries.
Jayce felt his blood run cold, the page shaking slightly as he placed it down. Of course she would want to buy from them. Who else in this town would she bother with.
“We can say no if it is too much.” His mother’s voice echoed, pulling him from his thoughts. Sighing, Jayce ran his hand over his face, his knuckles lightly tapping on his chin as he looked down at his mother. She wore an expression of concern, a few grey hairs laying in front of her eyes.
“No mama, it’ll be good for us. I can be civil.” He replied, forcing a smile onto his face as he gently pulled his mother into a hug, resting his head on top of hers. He could be civil with Mel, but they both knew Mel was not the issue – it was her mother Ambessa. Even after all these years, especially after their failed engagement, Jayce has never been able to land back on Ambessa’s ‘good side’. Despite many heartwarming emails and assurances from Mel over the years, Jayce knew whenever Ambessa was in Piltover, there was always a mess left in the path she walked.
“I’m sure it will be simple.” Ximena added, her arms wrapping around Jayce in a reassuring squeeze. Jayce tilted his head slightly, resting his cheek on his mother’s head as his gaze fell back onto the stack of orders. He was half tempted to decline them when his mother was not looking, to throw them into the furnace out back, but there was no denying the pay out for these orders would be good. Probably more than enough to finish the renovations on the spare bathroom.
“Sure mama.” The Medarda’s are anything but simple. Pulling back slightly, he brushed the hair from his mother’s face, rubbing her shoulder lightly as she pulled away from his hold.
“Are you finished for today?”
Humming, Jayce reached to his right, flicking the safety switch to the forge before he leaned back to grab the stack of orders. “I have just the last of the brace to make but I have to remake the pattern for the knee buckle.” Jayce replied, his gaze falling to the orders. Flicking through the first few pages, he saw the order quantities: 4, 7, 18, 32- did Ambessa think they owned a large workshop? Shaking his head slightly, he turned around and walked towards the orders basket on the wall behind his mother, the bottom of his leg brace clinking softly with each step. Placing the orders in the basket, he shuffled a few of the current pages around, the ‘completed orders’ basket filling up quickly.
“Might be good to check this basket tomorrow mama.” He noted, tapping the metal basket lightly as he turned to face his mother. Ximena waved her hand in acknowledgement, her back turned to Jayce as she began to count the till. Their workshop was not the largest in town, but well renowned. Talis Metals, originally known for their tools thanks to his Father, grew into the ‘go to’ smithing workshop. From fixing car parts to making custom frames for walkers, the Talis name was a well-known last name in this sector of Piltover. No thanks to Jayce’s hard work of the last eight years.
Leaning against the small counter behind him, Jayce pulled out his phone from the drawer to his left, muting the phone quickly once he turned it on. From the barrage of notifications appearing on his phone screen, he made out very few messages.
Sprout – 1:46pm – Jayce! I saw her at the shops!
Vi – 2pm – Dude, if you don’t reply to Caitlyn I think she’ll assume you died.
Chuckling slightly, he swiped left on one of the latest notifications from Caitlyn, scrolling slightly when their chat opened.
Hammer Time-3:46pm – Sorry Sprout, just finished work.
Sprout-3:46pm – JAYCE! Do not ignore me again…
Hammer Time-3:47pm – Not on purpose. Is this about Mel? I think her mother has placed orders with us…
Cupcake- 3:47pm- Dude, you’re fucked.
Rolling his eyes, Jayce hearted Vi’s message, pocketing his phone as his mother closed the till.
“Mi’jo, can you please close up? I’ll put this away in the safe and then we can go.” Ximena requested, glancing at Jayce quickly before moving towards the office in the back.
“Course Mama.” He replied, pushing himself off of the counter to walk towards the front door. Turning the sign to closed, Jayce briefly glanced at the street outside, watching as a couple of leaves floated down the path outside. Only a few months till Winter. Sighing, Jayce shook his head lightly, reaching over to twist the blinds to the storefront close. With all the blinds shut, Jayce leaned against the door frame lightly, looking towards his brace. He was having a better pain day today, but he could feel the scarring start to flare underneath his pants.
Probably due to fix a new strap for the thigh piece, Jayce thought to himself, his finger running along the flaking leather strap at the top of his brace. Feeling his pocket buzz, Jayce pulled his hand away from his brace, making a mental note to take his – totally not forgotten medication – to ease the pain later tonight. Glancing at his phone screen, he saw a few more messages from Caitlyn and Vi, a small argument brewing between the two. He knew it was about Mel and the reappearance of the Medarda’s in Piltover, certainly Caitlyn would have a lot to say about it.
“Jayce, jayce!” Locking his phone screen, Jayce looked up, his eyes widening slightly before he relaxed. Ximena stood a few steps away from him, her handbag looped over her shoulder, purse in her left hand and her right hand holding out Jayce’s walking stick and backpack.
“Sorry mama, Caitlyn is messaging about, Mel.” He apologized, quickly grabbing his backpack and stick from his Mother’s grasp. He shuffled slightly to the side, sweeping his gaze across the store front. Furnace was off, safety switch was glowing red as locked, lights off and the till was locked in the safe. Swinging his backpack across his right shoulder, Jayce folded up his walking stick, looping the leather strap around the middle of the stick to hold the two pieces together.
Ximena gazed at her son warmly, a small smile on her face as she nodded. She walked past Jayce, opening the front door, the bell ringing softly.
“You okay?” She asked softly, briefly pausing to hold the door open for Jayce. He fished out the keys from his back pocket, using the door as a brace as he pulled it shut behind him. Outside the street was bustling. Between the neighboring stores closing and the school down the street letting out, Jayce was glad he took the time to apply for the disability parking permit.
“I’m fine, just tired after today.” He answered, giving a small smile to his mother before he began to lock up the front door. He heard his mother hum, a questionable tone to her reply before he heard her boots click against the pavement. Turning the last lock, Jayce jiggled the handle slightly before the stepped away, turning around. His Father’s Ford F100 sat proudly on the street, the faded logo of House Talis Tools standing out compared to the fading paint on the truck door. Jayce knew he should get it rewrapped, but nostalgia and the truck being one of the few physical reminders of his Father, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Seeing his mother climb into the passenger seat, Jayce walked over to the driver side, checking both directions of the street before stepping onto the road. Using the door as leverage, Jayce placed his backpack and folded up walking stick in the gap behind his seat before turning to sit back first into the truck. Creaking under his weight, Jayce shifted his right leg in first pressing down on the break as he lifted his left leg in. Pausing, he loosened one of the support straps, allowing for him to bend his leg more, before he closed the driver door.
Starting the truck, Jayce cranked the handle on his window, resting his left elbow on the window sill as he checked over his shoulder. Releasing the handbrake, Jayce glanced at his mother quickly, seeing her nod her head at him before he shifted the car into ‘D’, pulling away from the parking spot.
The ride was silent, their travel home usually was. His mother loved using this time to go through her notes for the day, scribbling softly away in her notebook. This day, Jayce turned the radio on, letting the afternoon news play softly among the shifting noises from his open window. Between the numerous red lights and the low fuel light turning on, Jayce couldn’t wait to take a long, hot magnesium bath that night. Pulling into their street, Jayce gave a small wave to his neighbor out mowing the lawn before he parked the car in front of their lawn. His gaze quickly fell on the moving truck in the drive way, his brows raising slightly as he looked to his mother in the passenger seat.
Moving truck, did someone move in?
“Mama?” Jayce questioned, putting the car into park before turning the engine off. Ximena raised her head, meeting Jayce’s gaze before looking at the drive.
“Oh! It escaped my mind.” She replied, quickly putting her notebook away as she exited the car quickly. Jayce sat silently in the driver’s seat for a moment, running a hand through his sweaty hair before grabbing his backpack and folded walking stick. Jayce looked to the front porch, locking the car door as he moved in the direction of his mother. Their home, in endless renovations, was temporarily a split house. Between trying to buy the property fully and the bills from the store, Ximena didn’t have the money to currently to pay for the property solely. In her wise choice, she decided to rent out the right side of the house. They hadn’t had anyone take the offer yet, but it appears that was changing. Jayce could make out that his mother was talking to someone at the right entrance for the house – but his spoons allocation for the day was running low, real quickly. Stopping to check for mail, Jayce looked towards his mother and the figure in the door, squinting slightly.
Did he know him from somewhere?
Cue the third reason for his great day. Meeting his new neighbour with no energy left.
“Jayce, come meet the neighbor!” Ximena called, waving her son over. Shuffling over, Jayce was trying his hardest to let his displeasure show, but he knew his mother was not going to let him leave without saying hello.
“Mi’jo, this is our new neighbor-”
“Viktor.” The man finished, his Czech accent standing out in his reply. He gave a small smile to Ximena before turning his gaze to Jayce, squinting slightly at the taller man. Jayce gave a small nod, forcing a smile to his face as he held his hand out.
“Pleased to meet you. Jayce, uh Talis.” Jayce watched as Viktor looked displeased at his hand – which he forgot was still covered in grease – before gingerly reaching out to give a short shake.
“Likewise.” Viktor replied, pulling his hand away as he shuffled to hold his cane again. Jayce could hear Ximena continue her previous conversation and with this, his mind began to wonder as he gave a small pat to his mother’s shoulder. He could see she made a small gesture, but he was tuning it out, he’d reached his social limit for the day. Turning away, Jayce didn’t catch the quizzed look on Viktor’s face as he unlocked their front door, shuffling inside. Leaving the door slightly ajar, Jayce let out a deep sigh, hanging his backpack on the hook near the front door. Making quick work, he chucked his keys into the bowl and placed his folded up walking stick in its small nook, before turning immediately left into his room. Since his, accident, Ximena and their neighbors renovated the house to be accessible, seeing as Jayce navigated with crutches for months. Kicking his shoes off, Jayce pulled off his sweat soiled shirt, chucking it into the basket as he sat down on his bed. Quickly undoing the buckles, a groan left his lips as he pulled off his brace, laying it on the trunk at the foot of his bed.
He knew it would be good for him to shower but he could feel he pushed himself too far that day. Pulling himself further onto his bed, Jayce placed his phone on the pillow next to him, rolling to lay on his right side, placing a support pillow between his knees.
Just a quick nap, then I’ll shower.
Taking a few deep breaths, Jayce could hear his mother say goodbye to Viktor, a moment passing before their own front door closed. Hearing Ximena hum to herself, Jayce closed his eyes as he heard his mother pause at his door.
“I’ll save a portion for you.” He heard his mother whisper. Jayce nodded his head, raising his index and middle finger slightly before he lowered his hand. There was no reply from his mother, only the soft clicking of his door being pulled shut.
Quick nap, shower, then dinner. Real quick.
His body was feeling heavy quickly, his knee pain flaring slightly as he pressed his face a little further into the pillow.
Maybe a nap, shower, medication then dinner.
As he felt his body relax, Jayce’s mind wondered to his new neighbor briefly before sleep consumed him.
Of course he had to be handsome.