Chapter Text
The sunlight was soft on my skin as I lay face first in the warm grass. The air smelt of pollen and a fresh summer's day, very different to the cold, almost intoxicating atmosphere of that astral plane. The astral plane.. Viktor's creation.. Viktor!
I quickly got up from where I had sunken into the meadow, and looked around frantically for him, running my hands through my hair. We had disappeared into the arcane together, and it had decided to spit us out into the very place where my admiration for it had began. Where Viktor had saved me from my own fate, dragging myself and my mother away from our home in pursuit of a brighter future.
Then, I spotted him. Sprawled out, I could see his chest rising and falling rapidly. I ran to him, my Viktor, and almost collapsed beside him. Very gently, I rolled him over. His hair was wild- sticking up in every direction, and his eyes were closed, screwed tightly together as if he were having an awful nightmare. It hurt my heart to see him like this, to know that he was experiencing pain that I couldn't take away. Well, it hurt me every day. To watch him struggle to walk, to get around, to live, just because he happened to pull the short straw when he was born.
His body- his skin, his normal, pale skin- was glistening in the golden light. He looked so beautiful, laying there quietly in the flowers. I noticed a little gash on the side of his face, just like the one I had gotten all those years back when our first Hextech discovery had resulted in windows being smashed and the glass cutting across my cheek. I carefully wiped it away, before bending down and giving it a small kiss better.
"There we go." I whispered to him, watching his face for any signs of movement. Nothing. My brain started to race, thinking of all the awful possibilities that could have happened, that this could be his dead body and that I'm just hallucinating him breathing out of desperation or insanity. After all, we literally got blasted into the arcane, can one even survive that? I pinch myself, hard on my arm and let out a yelp of surprise after I do it harder than anticipated. Viktor's face twitched, and his eyelashes fluttered.
Instantly I'm by his side, gently stroking his face and kissing his fears away.
"It's alright, V, I'm here, it's Jayce, remember?" My voice breaks as I realise that his memory could have been wiped in the blast.
"Remember me?"
Very slowly, gingerly, Viktor opened his eyes so that I could see his gorgeous pupils, those shades of amber and orange and brown all mixed into one breath-taking colour. He looked absolutely exhausted, but he was alive, Gods, he was alive and breathing. I sat up cross legged next to him as he took a minute to get himself aware of his surroundings. Finally, after one long moment, he turned to me. He looked at me, and he looked so ruined, so destroyed inside that I vowed to hunt down the monster which ruined my Viktor, my partner, even if I had to go through all of the torment of the previous few years again just to find it. I would savour the moment of striking it down, claiming revenge for my boy, for whatever made him so tainted, whatever made him shrink back inside himself.
Then I remembered that he was that monster.
He had ruined himself.
"Jayce?" he croaked, his voice straining against the weight of his emotions, and his exhaustion.
"Are we in the meadow?"
"Yes, Vik. We're in the meadow. Do you remember? It's our special place. We're safe now."
My voice is calm and collected, I'm controlling every syllable to make sure that he feels reassured, that he won't lash out or do something unexpected or dangerous. Only the Gods know what being thrown through the arcane could do a person. Or I'm controlling it for my own sake. I can feel the emotion rising up in my throat, begging to be released. It's all gone. All of our friends, our work, our lives.
They're all gone.
"Safe?"
I gingerly shuffled him into my arms, holding him close, his bare body cold and shaking against mine.
"It's alright, you're here with me. I won't let you go. I will never let you go."
And then he started to sob. Uncontrollable, heart-breakingly painful sobs. He screamed and screamed into the vast blue sky, into the meadow, into my soul. It tore me apart to hear him experience so much raw pain, something splitting him apart and completely shattering him into a million tiny pieces. I held him throughout it all. I tried to kiss away his torment, but eventually compromised to just reassure him the best I could.
"Viktor." I mumbled to him as he panted and panted.
He scrambled away from me suddenly, as if just only remembering that I was there. His eyes were wide and wild looking, as if some hideous creature had just crawled out of the woods and started running towards him. His face, his beautiful, precious face, was twisted into some kind of snarl, I could see saliva foaming at the edges of his mouth.
"GET AWAY FROM ME." he hissed, and my heart snapped in two.
"What's wrong?" I tried to approach him but he scurried away, tripping over himself as he rushed to get as far away from me as possible.
"GET AWAY FROM ME."
"Sweetheart.. do you not remember?" I choke back a sob, "It's me, Jayce.. your partner? Your boyfriend?"
Viktor hesitated for a second, regret flashed across his face in a moment but I still caught the look of desperation.
"..I- I know." he whispered quietly.
"I don't want to hurt you."
I frowned, "How would you hurt me?"
His eyes flashed back to that manic state again and he screeched at me like a rabid animal. I recoiled, expecting him to strike out at me.
But he didn't.
He just sat there, visibly trembling and tears running down his face. I wanted to kiss him, I wanted to sweep him up into my arms and laugh and cry with him and tell him that everything would be okay, that it would always be okay and we would find a way to live in this surreal place. We would find a way to survive without our friends, livelihoods and everything we lived for. But I couldn't.
Things wouldn't ever be the same again.
Viktor looked up at me with such a raw sadness in his eyes that I melted right in front of him.
"I-I'm a monster, Jayce." he choked out, before collapsing into vicious sobs again, ones that racked his poor thin body. Tears welled up in my eyes as I shook my head defiantly.
"You have never been a monster, V, and you never will be one."
"I killed them, Jayce." Viktor sat up, suddenly solemn as he faced me.
"They are all dead because of me. Because of what I viewed as 'perfect' when I was trapped in that torture chamber of a ruined mind. I truly believed that I could make them better, that everyone would be happy as the same blank canvas, without any insecurities or imperfections to paint them into the beautiful portraits that they should have been. But those are what make us human, Jayce, I can see that now, that life is so much better when you can actually feel, you can worry about stupid things like the way your hair falls or a spot that's appeared on the tip of your nose. Feeling is how we live, insecurities are the paths to becoming perfection in our own view, just like how the artist sees their painting as finished when another may not. But I took that away. I stole those experiences from all those people, who now lay silent in their graves. They can no longer think, or get anxious, and somehow that hurts much more than the pain of imperfection. Than the pain of being."
"Vik-"
"I think that the pain of it all is too much for me, Jayce. I have twisted myself into such a cruel monster that I do not think that I deserve to .. to exist. I am a demon, something that is too far gone to be able to get better. I am no longer the man who you fell in love with. I am no longer a man who you could learn to love. Goodbye, Jayce. Please take solace in the knowledge that I have always loved you."
And he stood up. Viktor stood up on his own, without any help, without a brace or a crutch, nothing to help him and nothing to ease the pain that I expected him to feel.
"Viktor- please don't do that, you can't do that to me, not now, look! You just stood up on your own! And you're in your human body.. that's amazing!" I stood up next to him, the tears streaming down my face. He looked away.
"I said goodbye, Jayce. You don't need a monster like me. I am not who you think I am."
Gently, I tucked his long hair behind his ears, revealing his tear stained face. He looked so conflicted, as if his emotions were tearing him apart. I took the oppotunity to pull his body close to my own, to wrap him up in what I hoped to be a healing hug.
"Come here, darling." I whispered to him. "Let's lie down. We've had a very long day." I did my best to give a comforting chuckle.
At first he tried to struggle away, but I held him tightly, whispering sweet nothings into his ears. He nodded, slowly, wiping tears from his eyes and sat down in the grass next to me. I carefully shuffled him into a position on me, so that he was resting peacefully on my bare chest. I stroked his hair soothingly, and he nestled into me closer.
"You aren't a demon, Viktor. I have loved you and I always will, no matter how much you think that I won't." I thought for a moment. "Let me tell you a story. A story that will show you how it's impossible for you to be the evil, twisted man that you think you are. Just lie back and relax, sweetheart. Let all those emotions out, and I'll take it from here."
He nodded, breathing heavily against my chest, and I held him close.
Viktor was smiling softly in the morning light, head bent over his work as he hummed a little tune. Today was the day. Today was hopefully going to be the start of something new. Today I was going to confess my love to my lab partner, tell him the truth about the feelings that have bottled up inside of me for weeks, months even. Gods, he's so gorgeous, he's everything I need. I can only hope he feels the same.
For now, we work on Hextech. I need to find the right moment to pull out my flowers and my chocolate and ask him on a date, ask him to be mine, and I'm buzzing. Focus, Jayce focus. The time will come.
A few hours later, and the bustling atmosphere of the Piltover coffee shop is enough to keep my brain from burning out. Viktor was tapping his foot anxiously, and it takes everything in me not to wrap an arm around him and tell him that it's okay. I want to ease his fears, comfort him and have him tell me everything that's worrying him. I want to be there for him. Fuck, I'm such a yearner.
I rubbed a hand over my face and looked down at him by my side. "Do you want anything, V?"
He glanced up at me, frowning. "Just my usual coffee please, Jayce. Don't worry, I can pay."
"Of course not, it's my treat." I grinned at him and he rolled his eyes.
"Will you ever let me pay for my own things?"
"Nope." I mussed his fluffy brown hair and he pushed me off, moving out of my way using his cane to lean on. I hope that one day we can make some sort of Hextech replacement for his problematic joints, something to help his posture and mobility. Once I walked in on him late in the lab when he had his shirt off and I nearly sobbed at the monstrosity he wears every day, some sort of ugly mechanical corset that keeps all his pieces together. He wears it without a complaint.
We walked out of the little cafe quietly, Vik sipping at his black coffee. I took a bite out of my panini and smiled at him. He did not smile back, though Viktor didn't often smile. I don't blame him, after seeing the amount of pills he has to take just to lessen the pain in his joints.
"Are you alright, Jayce?" Viktor had stopped and grabbed onto my arm.
"Y-yes, I'm fine. Why?"
"You nearly just walked into a lightpost."
".. oh."
I stepped to the side and we continued down the street, making light conversation about simple things until we reached the steps of the university and my heart started racing. I dragged my heels nervously behind as Viktor walked ahead, going to open the door of the lab, going to discover everything I felt about him, that I had felt for a very, very long time-
He paused by the door.
"What's wrong?" I asked cautiously, not exactly sure what was going on.
Viktor cleared his throat and looked quite embarrassed, which was odd because I had very rarely seen him embarrassed before.
"Erm, Jayce." he began, and started to shake a little as he glanced around apprehensively.
"What's the matter, Vik?"
"I just- I'd rather say it now, just to get it over with, and then you never have to talk to me about it again and-"
"What is it?"
"Jayce-" Viktor put his head in his hands, "I like you. Like, a lot."
My brain faltered. "What!?"
"You know what- it- it doesn't matter." Viktor opened the door and walked defiantly into the lab, and I heard a soft gasp. I entered behind him, patting him on the shoulder affectionately.
"What were you saying, eh V?" I grinned and handed him a bouquet of flowers. My hands were still shaking.
Viktor looked absolutely astonished by my little display of love, and he took the bouquet wordlessly as he glanced at me.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this?"
"It's an invitation, Viktor, an invitation to go on a date with me." I blushed and looked the floor. He seemed shocked, for a second, before hastily nodding and turning the most adorable shade of red. I smiled at him kindly.
"After work, V, we can go back to our separate apartments and get changed, and then I will come and get you and take you to a good restaurant, and we can have a little evening walk!"
Viktor had a distanced look on his face.
"Or we could find somewhere to sit!" I added hastily, glancing at his cane, "Does that sound okay?"
"Yes- yes!" Vik said quickly, and he paused for just a second, as if preparing to do something, and then he hugged me, he actually hugged me.
I stepped back instinctively before I realised what he was doing and gently wrapped my arms around him. I smiled again, Gods, I could get used to the feeling of his body against mine. He was so fucking cute, it must've taken him a lot of courage to be able to suddenly hug me like this. I wasn't exactly sure of Viktor's love life, but from what I'd gathered as being his lab partner, was that he wasn't one for much physical affection.
I was jolted back to reality as Vik mumbled against my chest.
"I did not have you down for liking boys, Jayce."
I chuckled and grinned down at him, "Yeah, I'm actually bisexual."
"Hm. I wonder if that's why Mel liked you then. You aren't much of a looker otherwise." Viktor remarked snarkily, wandering back to the lab desk and giving me a grin that melted my heart. Get it together, Jayce. You haven't even been on a date yet.
I buttoned up my shirt messily, missing half the buttons and having to go back again when I realised my chest was on show. Carefully, I brushed my hair back and applied some styling powder so it looked extra fluffy. Gods, I wished Mel or Cait could help me with this. They were much more put together when going on dates. I tried to shave my face a little, put some cologne on and nearly smashed my face into the bathroom door when I realised the time. Slipping on my shoes I practically ran along the corridor and down two flights of stairs to where I knew Viktor's accomodation was. I knocked on the door, and he called out from inside telling me to come in.
I stepped in gingerly, and my jaw nearly dropped when I saw him exit his bedroom sheepishly, wearing a shirt the most gorgeous shade of purple which hung loosely but elegantly around his thin frame, his hair slicked back neatly so that it flowed out in soft curls around his ears and the nape of his neck, and a pair of black tailored trousers complemented his shirt which shone iridescently in the soft glow of the living room lamp. He looked like a prince.
"Viktor- I-"
"Is it awful?" He nibbled his bottom lip, and I just wanted to sweep him up in my arms and kiss him. "I was not exactly sure about the shirt, and-"
"You look amazing, Viktor. I've never seen someone look as handsome as you do right now."
He blushed, and finished putting his shoes on, before grabbing his cane and delicately taking my arm which I held out for him.
"Are you ready for dinner?" I asked him eagerly, "The restaurant isn't too far away, so I think we should be able to walk, but just tell me if we need to take a cab or something."
"I think I should be able to walk there. My pain isn't so bad today."
"That's good." I grin at him, and he smiles back softly. "You better be ready for the best date of your life, because Jayce Talis takes entertaining his possible future partners very seriously."
Viktor giggled, and I wished I could capture the sound and keep it playing in my ears forever and ever. He looked so cute, and so happy under the soft moonlight as we walked along, his cane tapping on the cobbles, making conversation and joking about whatever our minds could think of. It felt so natural, talking to someone who I had been around for a while, now just as more than friends. We chatted all the way to the restaurant, a small, sort of hidden, underrated place that I had been to a few times before with other friends from the academy. It was cosy, and I hoped that Viktor would enjoy the unique charm of the place, which felt like you were entering a little library, separated from reality.
Viktor's eyes lit up as he saw the shelves lined with books to read, and the other customers with plates of hot, steaming food in large, homey portions, reading or talking quietly.
"Is- is this- can you read the books?" He asked eagerly, looking around with wide eyes at all of the books and the roaring fireplace.
I chuckled, "Yes, Vik. You can choose any book and read it, and it's like a library where you can borrow it if you like the story."
He grinned, a genuine, happy smile and started to wander around, running his fingers along the spines. I found us a nice spot nestled in by the fire and next to a window, which showed us the bustling nightlife of Piltover, everyone going about their evening business, whilst we were tucked up cosily enjoying the view of it all. Eventually, Viktor approached me clutching a paperback novel, and sat down across from me, still grinning. I smiled at him and watched as he placed it neatly on the table.
"Are you not going to read it?" I asked.
"I thought we were going to have food first." He said softly, and picked up one of the menus on the table. I did the same, and we discussed the options before deciding that I was going to have the lasagne, and Viktor said he wanted the more classic meal of a cheeseburger and chips.
"It's usually a smaller and easier portion," He explained, "I get full quite fast."
"That's perfectly alright, I can usually eat a lot, so whatever's left of yours I can always finish." I grin and he giggles.
"I know, you ate three plates of buffet food at the last Innovator's."
I blushed at the memory of me at the Innovator's Competition after-party, drunkenly parading round Viktor, and indeed, eating three large plates of the buffet food. I remember kissing Mel under the dance lights, and seeing Viktor in the corner, and seeing.. seeing the hurt on his face that he quickly masked when I looked his way. Gods above. Viktor has liked me for a while. I was just too stupid to see it.
Turning back to him, I confirmed our orders and spoke to the bartenders and landowners, a friendly woman named Cassie and her partner, Aspen. Aspen wrote down our order and provided our drinks, which I tried to take over, but they insisted that I sit down and let them serve the drinks.
I slunk back to Viktor defeatedly, who was twiddling his thumbs and staring out of the window.
"Are you bored?" I asked carefully.
"No, no, it's just been some time since I last went on a date, and I have forgotten the etiquette." He smiled softly, and I grinned back.
"Well, that's okay, our drinks will come shortly. I tried to take them myself but Aspen insisted on taking them themself."
"Who's Aspen?" Viktor questioned, tilting his head slightly in a way that made my heart explode inside my chest. He's so fucking adorable.
"Aspen? I know them from back in college, we were dorm neighbours." I explained, and Viktor nodded.
"I think I remember seeing them around, they helped me with my bags a few times up the college stairs when I couldn't quite manage it. Didn't they study art?"
Aspen appeared by our table, setting down our drinks and a little glass with a rose in it. They winked at me and I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, every painting you see around I painted. It took a bloody long time, but Cassie protested that it was necessary for pub business. After all, she said, what's a library pub without handmade, authentic art? I tried to stand my ground but she was too persuasive, and there I was, up til midnight a lot of nights trying to finish all these goddamn landscapes."
Viktor laughed, "Well, they're very well done, you're very talented."
Aspen smiled, "If you find one you like, tell me, some of them are for sale."
I grinned, "We will, thanks Aspen."
They walked away, and my gaze turned back to Viktor, who was glancing around at all of the different paintings. He caught me looking at him, just observing all of his little mannerisms and he blushed. I quickly plucked the rose out of the glass, and offered it to him.
"Here, darling, this flower matches your cheeks."
That made Viktor blush even more, bright red spreading across his pale face, causing him to hide his face by pretending look around at the surroundings for the millionth time. I decided to tease him just a little more.
"You really like looking around this place, hm? Is that just to avoid my romantic gaze?" I raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "It's alright V, I can see how much you like me in that blushing face of yours."
Viktor choked as he took a sip of his lemonade, and I laughed.
"It's alright, I'm just teasing."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't say such things whilst I am drinking. I do not fancy choking."
"Oh, so that means you want me to stop, hm?"
"Well, I didn't exactly say that-"
Cassie approached our table, carrying two plates of steaming food.
"Lasagne.. for you, Jayce, you've been here enough for me to knw that you adore my pasta dishes." Cassie smirked, and placed my food down in front of me. I thanked her hungrily, picking up my knife and fork.
"And the cheeseburger here must be for your lovely date." Viktor nodded and thanked her as well.
"It looks delicious, Cassie." I remarked.
"Thank you Jayce, yes, well if Aspen's opinions are anything to go off of, it's absolutely spectacular." I could see that Cassie's sharp accent was making Viktor ponder where she was from.
"And my handsome date tonight is the very own Viktor, aka my lab partner from Zaun." I explained to her, hoping she would take the bait and say a bit about her own home in Zaun. She did, saying much more than I had hoped for.
"Ah, good old Zaun, raising the best of us kids and beating out the worst." She chuckled, and Viktor's eyes lit up.
"Where are you from in Zaun?" He asked, and started eating his food.
"Well, depends where you're from, else we'll call it different things." Cassie laughed, and Viktor laughed too.
"I'm from The Mids, fairly close to The Lanes so I know some of the culture from that part too."
I felt completely lost, and a bit saddened that I couldn't be a part of my own date anymore. I took a deep breath and calmed myself, after all, Viktor was talking happily about where he comes from, and he's enjoying my company still. Not much I can talk about on this subject though.
After a few minutes, their conversation lulled and Cassie trailed back to the bar to take new orders from customers. I pouted like a kicked puppy.
"Sorry about that Jayce, it's not often that I meet another Zaunite here in Piltover, and it's nice to talk about our home cultures, which are quite different to those here."
I rolled my eyes playfully and whined, "But this is our date.."
Viktor looked sheepish and guilty, so I immediately switched tactic, "Why don't you tell me about Zaun, Vik?"
He grinned, and took another bite out of his cheeseburger.
The sun was well below the horizon now, with the moon rising up and casting a pale glow on the streets of Piltover. We ambled slowly after our meal towards one of the city gardens, usually bustling and busy in the daytime, but now Viktor and I were observing the flowers as they shied away back inside themselves, needing to protect themselves from the coldness of the night. Viktor stared as a tulip was visibly curling up and smiled softly.
"I've always wondered if the flowers looked forward to closing up for the night or if they dread it as they know they will be lonely again." He mused quietly, turning towards me. I look at him curiously, studying his moles and the way his face contorts when thinking about something. He's so adorable.
"I'm not sure, V." I responded, taking his hand in mine. "Would you like to sit on a bench? I brought a picnic blanket, we could settle down for some dessert. Or we could always have dessert back at my apartment."
"I don't mind, Jay." he yawned and leant on his cane, "However I am quite tired."
"That's alright, Vik, it's been a long day. Shall we walk back to mine then?"
He nodded, and I supported his shoulders as we slowly trailed back to my apartment.
The next day, I woke up early to prepare Viktor some breakfast in bed. If I wanted him to be my boyfriend, I would at least have to woo him with some of my fabled domestic charm. Mama didn't raise me to be a slacker, and she would definitely approve of my growing affinity for cooking. After all, it was hard to hate it when I knew I was cooking for someone as handsome and cute as Viktor. I hoped that he would appreciate my efforts.
As I was pouring him a coffee- black, just as he liked it- I heard some groggy sounds and a sudden thump. Rushing into my bedroom, I found him sprawled out on the floor, wincing in pain as his back was contorted at a weird angle.
"Vik- Viktor! Are you okay?" I said worriedly, hurrying to help him up and into my lap, supporting his back and leg as he panted. Tears fell down his face as I could see him struggling with the pain, and my anxiety grew worse and worse. I'd always known Viktor's disability could be extremely dangerous, what with the sheer amount of pain meds he usually consumed grumpily in the morning, but I'd never expected something to happen because of it- he was always so careful. I started to panic, which was definitely not a good thing for the situation, but I couldn't help it, we'd had such a nice evening yesterday and-
"Jayce.." Viktor's voice croaked out from where he was grimacing in my lap, "Pills.. please."
I almost jumped up at the sound and reached to my bedside table where Viktor had put his pills the night before, ready for the morning. Vik took them from me in his shaking hand, and slowly tried to swallow them one by one, but coughed and cried out in pain as his thin frame rattled from the effort.
"Viktor.. this is really worrying, I think I should call the ambulance."
"Nonsense Jayce, it's-" He attempted to take another of the pills and ended up choking that one out too, practically screaming as his back was thrown back and forth with the weight of his coughing.
"Right, the ambulance it is." I took my phone out of my pocket with my own shaking hands, and dialed the number. "Yes, ambulance. It's urgent, my partner has fallen down and he has a chronic illness- he's screaming in pain. Piltover Academy, Laurel Building, 3rd floor, dorm number 1. Please hurry." I hung up and focused on just ensuring that Viktor was in a position that wouldn't add to his already agonising pain.
When the ambulance arrived I was crying too. I didn't want Viktor to be hurt, or see any more pain cross his beautiful face, so I just held him close and sobbed with him throughout it. I muttered vague soothings, trying to reassure him that it would be okay- but to be honest, I didn't know if it would. I cursed myself for not taking more time to learn more about Vik's needs, or what to do when things like this happened. All I could do was just hope for the best and pray that he would be alright, and that this wouldn't cause a rift in our newly developing relationship. I couldn't afford for him to fade away now, not when he's gotten so close.
I rode in the back of the ambulance with him, was there when the doctors told him that one of the metal screws in his back had dislodged, and held his hand when they put him under in order to do the surgery needed to fix it. I cried in the waiting room, too, as it took longer than expected for the surgery to finish and my mind was filled with awful thoughts about what could happen. I've never been one to enjoy the doctor's, and in fact I was quite apprehensive about going there as a child and now, and this did nothing to ease my deep rooted anxiety about the whole situation.
After the surgery, I was allowed back into his room and I saw him there, laying peacefully under the sheets. Viktor hadn't woken up yet, and I carefully took his cold hand and kissed it, wiping my tears away now that I had him in my grasp again. He was so precious, I wanted to treasure him forever and ever, and keep him safe and protected under my watchful eye. Get yourself together, Jayce. He isn't even your boyfriend yet.
When Viktor woke up, he blinked sleepily at first. The doctors had just told me that due to the anasthetic, he might be a little out of it and silly for a few hours, and that I was to make sure he didn't hurt his back, or do any strenuous exercise for a few weeks. I had laughed at that, remembering the image of Viktor vehemently refusing to accompany me on any number of my morning runs or gym trips, even if it was just for the company.
"Jayce." I turned towards him as he said my name.
"Yes, Viktor? Are you okay, I mean, you are okay, the doctors fixed your back so now you aren't in agony because of the loose screw!"
"Are we boyfriends, Jayce?"
I spluttered and turned very red, "Uh, I mean, I kinda hoped we were going to be..?"
Viktor seemed satisfied with this answer and snuggled back down under the blankets. I wanted to kiss every bit of his cute little face.
"I am in a bed.. but I do not have bubbles. I should have bubbles with me."
I looked confusedly at him, and he frowned at me.
"Why do you want to have bubbles, Viktor, you'd get quite .. wet?"
"No no.. like a whale. My whale."
"You have a .. whale? I don't think our dorms would have space for a whale, darling."
Vik just rolled his eyes sassily. I couldn't help but blush.
"In my room, Bubbles is there.. I need him Jay."
He looked at me so sadly then, like he was still mourning something that died long ago.
"I- I don't really want to leave you, V."
However, no matter how much I tried to make excuse to stay, Viktor stayed insistent that I needed to get .. bubbles. Or a whale. Whatever that meant. So, eventually, I had to trail up to his dorm with his key and leave him behind for a bit, curled up cosily under the hospital blankets like a flower closing itself in for the night. Only this time I hoped the flower didn't feel as lonely as he once did.