Work Text:
The smell of fresh coffee wafted into Jayce’s bedroom as he laid asleep. Viktor was up early as usual, and he had let Jayce sleep for as long as he could before they had aimed to get ready for the day.
Jayce scrunched his eyes as he began to wake up, inhaling the smell of the fresh coffee. He stayed lying down, hoping that he could get away with pretending to still be asleep. He was having a difficult time getting motivated for the day, primarily because he was so worried about Viktor’s health that he wasn’t taking care of his own.
Viktor’s crutch clacked on the wooden floor of the kitchen, the sound getting louder and louder as he approached Jayce’s room. After entering, Viktor set his crutch next to the bed and sat next to Jayce. He placed his hand on Jayce’s back and rubbed gently as he tried to rouse him.
Jayce made a frustrated groan, Viktor chuckling quietly for a moment before becoming a bit more insistent. He rubbed Jayce’s back with more pressure, causing Jayce to let out a little whine and cover his face with a pillow. Viktor stated with a little bit of teasing,
“Jayce, you have to get up now. Come on, you’re being lazy.”
Jayce grunted in frustration as he replied from under the pillow,
“I’m not, Vik! I’m just, more tired than I normally am. I feel drugged. So groggy.”
Viktor went back to rubbing Jayce’s back gently, moving his hand around his body to try and get rid of some of his grogginess.
Viktor explained,
“We don’t have to go to the lab now, Jayce. We can go later, or tomorrow.”
Jayce tossed his pillow to the side and looked at Viktor with surprise,
“You always want to work, Vik. Why the sudden change?”
Viktor grinned warmly at Jayce and replied softly,
“You have been so kind to me. Taken care of me through this difficult time. I would rather you be happy and healthy than work. So, if you need to rest, that’s okay. It’s less enjoyable without you there anyway.”
Jayce’s expression changed to admiration as he gazed into his partner’s golden eyes. He reached out and grasped onto Viktor’s hand gently, expressing his love,
“I really appreciate that. You made me feel very loved.”
Viktor chuckled a little bit as he responded,
“Well, you are very loved.”
Jayce closed his eyes as he smiled joyfully. Viktor questioned in a slight whisper,
“Would you like me to bring you some coffee?”
Jayce looked to the kitchen and responded with a bit of regret, considering that Viktor had made the coffee already,
“I just want to cuddle with you. I feel bad that you already made the coffee.”
Viktor replied soothingly,
“No, no. Don’t feel bad. I already had some, so it hasn’t gone to waste. If you want to cuddle, we can. Just know that I’m awake and I’m going to stay that way.”
Jayce nodded his head and held out his arms towards Viktor. Viktor grinned and shuffled onto the bed at Jayce’s side. He wrapped his arms around Jayce after Jayce had done the same to him. They cuddled for a while, until Viktor questioned with care,
“You’re struggling. Aren’t you, Jayce?”
Jayce’s head lifted quickly at Viktor’s words as he tried to convince Viktor that he was okay,
“I’m fine! I’m good, Vik. Thank you for being concerned. I’m just tired is all.”
Viktor wasn’t convinced. He spoke again, with a bit more seriousness,
“Jayce, I have known you for a long while. You are, not yourself. You seem down, depressed even. Is everything okay? You focus on me, but are you focusing on you as well? You cannot pour from an empty glass.”
Jayce looked away from Viktor as if he was ashamed. Viktor moved to look at Jayce again and comforted him,
“It’s okay if you’re having a hard time. Everyone does from time to time. There’s no need to be upset about it. Just talk to me.”
Jayce looked at Viktor and sighed. He spilled his guts to the man he cared for the most in his life,
“I don’t know what to do. I, want to help you. I want to be here for you. But I’m afraid. I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you.”
Viktor questioned curiously,
“How would you disappoint me, Jayce? You have done nothing wrong.”
Jayce sighed again and explained,
“I don’t feel good. I’m, sad. I think.”
Jayce’s statement was met with Viktor’s inquisitive nature,
“You think?”
Jayce replied after taking a deep breath,
“I’m not sure how I feel. I don’t know if I’m sad or if it’s something else. I’m usually able to understand my emotions and work through them, but I’m having a hard time doing that right now. It’s, really confusing.”
Viktor sat up, rubbed his hand along Jayce’s back again, and replied with love,
“Let’s do something to distract you. I know how much you need physical touch and affection. Maybe that will help you.”
Viktor sat right up against Jayce who was still lying on the bed. He reached out one of his hands and ran his fingers along Jayce’s neck with a touch as light as a feather. Jayce jumped and exclaimed as a laugh tried to force its way up his throat. He questioned with nervousness,
“What are you doing?”
Viktor smiled warmly at Jayce and replied right before he started using both hands to tickle Jayce just enough to get him laughing,
“Returning the favour.”
Jayce held onto both of Viktor’s wrists, trying to stop him from tickling him, but Viktor was a lot stronger than Jayce gave him credit for. Viktor continued despite Jayce trying to stop his tickling fingers. Viktor found it fascinating that Jayce hadn’t begged for him to stop yet, despite how ticklish he clearly was. Viktor kept tickling, eventually moving on from gentle tickles to more aggressive tickles. Jayce cried out as he cackled,
“Okay! Vihihihiktor! You made yohour point! Stohohop ihihit! Oh, fuck! Yohohou’re a menace! H-how are yohohou soho strong?! Vihik!”
Viktor giggled as Jayce’s cackling became deranged and he began to thrash around, trying to get away from Viktor’s hands.
Viktor replied playfully,
“But I’m only returning the favour! You tickled me to make me feel better! So, what’s wrong with me tickling you to help you feel better? Hmm?”
Jayce yelled out through his laughter, which had become more high-pitched as Viktor upped the intensity,
“Becauhahaha! Because! I was gentle with yohou! Yohohou’re killing me!”
Viktor laughed and replied in a smug playfulness,
“Oh, so dramatic! Maybe I should tickle you harder for assuming I’m trying to kill you?”
Jayce screamed in hysterics as Viktor really started to dig into his ribs, making sure not to miss a single one,
“Nohohohohohohoho! Vihihihihihik! Plehehehehease! STOP! Ohohoho, shihit! Haaaaa! Hahahahahaha! Nohohohoho! Nononononohohoho!”
Viktor moved to sit on Jayce’s legs as Jayce wailed and tried to get away. Viktor taunted him,
“Where do you think you’re going, silly? Hmm? I’m not done making you feel better yet!”
Jayce screeched as Viktor managed to slip his hands into Jayce’s underarms. His laughter became truly desperate as he screamed,
“Nohono! Not thehehehere! Dohohohon’t! NO! Plehehehehease, Vik! Nohohot thehehehere!”
Viktor giggled mischievously as he paid no mind to Jayce’s pleas and went to town on his underarms. Jayce tried desperately to get away but he was scared he would hurt Viktor. Viktor was really proving to be someone who shouldn’t be underestimated.
Viktor kept going for what seemed like forever in Jayce’s mind, making him cackle and thrash around as he tried to get Viktor’s hands out of his underarms. When Jayce’s laugh became more quiet, Viktor knew it was time to stop. He got off of Jayce’s legs and laid down next to him. He stroked Jayce’s hair as he came down from the exhilarating high Viktor had forced him into. Viktor questioned soothingly,
“Are you okay?”
Jayce caught his breath and spoke with a massive grin on his face,
“You are fucking strong! Such a little mischief maker!”
Viktor and Jayce giggled at Jayce’s words and then Jayce replied to Viktor’s question,
“I’m okay. I am feeling a little better, so thank you. Even if you were a lot more brutal than when I tickled you.”
Viktor kissed Jayce’s forehead and replied,
“I can tickle you gently as well. Just ask for it. But today, you needed to truly forget about your stress. So, I was a bit mean. Only in good intent, I promise.”
After a few minutes, Viktor began to kiss Jayce gently, after which he divulged,
“I love you. My Jayce. My ticklish Jayce, I might add.”
Jayce giggled as he replied softly,
“I love you too, Viktor. More than anything.”