Chapter Text
Winter might be Viktor's least favorite season. The ground was slippery, the world was wet, the cold made his leg ache more than normal, and the chill buried deep to his core.
Today was much of the same.
The air was crisp on his nose, a dry chill that was not as easily felt down in the Undercity where humidity and moisture permeated the air regardless of the season. But this air was also different than usual, crisp, cool, and smelling of evergreens. Fresh and earthy, the scent of evergreens was a distinct scent that filled his lungs as the evening chill nipped at his fingers and drifted between the thick layers of his jacket. There were warm lights hung across the streets casting a cozy glow across the people below although their resemblance of the sun did little to actually chase the feeling in the air.
It was cold.
The cobblestone roads were slick with ice in the most inconspicuous places and snow was kicked to the sides of the streets by the never-ending stream of foot traffic. Judging from the darkening sky above there was likely more on the way. For better or worse at least he wasn't alone out in the miserable cold this wintery day. There were people, and there were voices around him, many voices, merry in noise and all merging together in the background as he carefully walked down the street.
All but one.
“What are you thinking about?” Jayce asked from his right side. Bundled from the cold just as much as he was, if not more.
He blinked as his partner’s question cut through the comfortable silence that had stretched between them for some time now. He adjusted his grip on his cane, feeling the cold start to dig into his fingers through his gloves “Are you sure this is enough?” he asked, gesturing to the lone bottle he carried, securely tucked away under his free arm.
Jayce gave a short laugh and a soft smile crossed his features “More than enough, you didn't have to bring anything at all.”
Viktor scoffed, “It does not take a genius to know that showing up empty handed to a party is less than polite.”
“It’s not a party, it's family.”
“Your family.” He stresses.
“You’re well enough part of it now, ma loves you.”
And to that he fought the urge to roll his eyes “She doesn't even know me Jayce.” He says, turning ever so slightly to glance at the tall man walking next to him and seeing a face flushed enough from the cold that even his partner's darker skin couldn't hide the rosy hue.
“But she will, and she’s going to love you." Jayce insisted firmly, hazel eyes turning to catch his own and pinning him in that unwavering gaze. They looked more golden than usual, perhaps picking up the color of his partner’s predictably red scarf, Talis red, and in that moment, he couldn’t help but to think that his partner’s eyes were remarkably similar to honey.
He cleared his throat “Still. I don’t think-” He made a surprised noise as his shoulder was suddenly checked hard, the force shoving him to the side and into the firm darting arm of the person next to him.
Jayce.
“Watch it!” Jayce snapped at the back of the coated person vanishing further into the noisy crowd. The coated person that made no acknowledgment of having almost sent him sprawling to the icy streets.
“Are you okay-”
“Fine.” He huffed, getting his balance back and readjusting the bottle of wine, thankful that the jostle hadn’t sent it flying. That would have been most unfortunate as it was the only thing he had brought and was already feeling like it was not enough.
Jayce made a face “Do you want me to carry tha-”
“No.” He said flatly, starting to feel further out of place the longer they stood in the middle of the busy streets as the bustling crowd split around them. He regripped his other hand, fixing it even more firmly to the top of his cane. It seemed that from all angles they were surrounded by faceless beings rushing around like ants trying to get to their destinations. He supposed he and Jayce were quite similar in that moment. Although he had yet to slam into another person because he couldn’t be bothered to look at what was on the road in front of him. He apparently couldn’t say the same for the other Pilties running around. He had been bumped, jostled, and nearly stepped on, several times since they had turned the corner and ended up in what felt like the busiest part of the damn city.
“It’s not that much further, I promise.” Jayce assures. A gloved hand on his elbow nudging him from his thoughts and perhaps pulling him a bit closer as they started walking again in comfortable silence. The tap of his cane on the cobblestone roads as they made their way towards their destination was the only noise he could think to focus on, lest he pay further attention to the thumping of his heart.
He had long come to accept the fact that Jayce was a… touchy person. Something that had nearly scared him out of his skin the first few times a warm hand had drifted across his shoulders or a large body had leaned over him to look at something on his desk. He had, eventually, gotten used to Jayce’s touchiness to the point that he had started to… appreciate the fleeting moments of human contact, and perhaps all too late realized that he appreciated them too much.
By the time he had realized that his passive acceptance had progressed to an active want, it was already too late. He had been pushed off the edge of safety and had already fallen. One might even say, hard.
So sure, maybe he was very much forcing himself to ignore the lingering hand on his arm and rationalizing that Jayce was objectively larger in size and a hard obstacle to miss, and sure Viktor was fine and didn't actually need Jayce there at all, but it was getting late and his leg was starting to ask for a break so if he stayed a bit closer to his partner to avoid being bumped again as his heart thumped in his chest perhaps it was simply…logical.
.......
Sure enough Jayce had been right and the crowds were kind enough to thin out once they had taken a couple of turns into what looked to be a residential area. A nice residential area, in the middle districts of Piltover. The tall brick homes dusted with snow all around them were nowhere near the grandeur he knew to expect from the elites in the upper city but his partner was still from a house name if just a lower one just as he was from the Undercity. Truthfully, any place in Piltover was a nice place compared to some of the areas he had lived in.
“Sorry there are a few steps to get inside.” Jayce said almost sheepishly, coming to a soft stop in front of one of the buildings and he could then only assume that this must be it. Jayce’s house.
The house was quite similar to all the others on the block in that it was made of warm colored brick with geometric brass-trimmed windows that was stereotypically Piltovian in style.There was an occasional draping of festive greenery here and there and he could see what looked to be a balcony, tucked into the building on the top floor. A single chair outside showing that it likely got at least some occasional use by the lone occupant inside. The house was shiny in all the expected places but no more so than the others around it. A nice house, with an all too familiar crest plated above the front door.
Carefully walking up the steps his chest gave a nervous flutter that he mentally chastised himself for. This wasn’t the Distinguished Innovator's Competition, nor any of the smaller ones that they routinely entered into for funding. This wasn’t even any sort of competition, high stakes presentation, or otherwise stressful event but yet, he certainly felt similar to how he felt then staring down the door in front of him.
He stood back for a moment to steel his thumping heart, thinking that he would at least have a moment to mentally settle down before he was faced with new..ish company.
He had known Jayce for what felt like a long while now and he knew of his mother. He had seen her around in passing and in photographs, he had heard about her from Jayce and had even tasted her cooking as well when Jayce brought it in to share, but the longer he thought about it now, standing in front of her door, they had never really been introduced.
That's of course not to say Jayce's mom hadn't tried to get to know him. She had, several times, and each time he had kindly turned down her invitations to holiday gatherings in the past. Some part of him was open to the idea but another, larger part, always feeling like he might be encroaching on something familial and instead resigning himself to ride out the yearly celebrations in the lab. The lab was quiet during those times, hells the academy was quiet those times as well. He made great progress on those days but this time…he supposed he had finally been worn down enough to accept. Usually Jayce would ask a week or so ahead of said event. Usually Jayce accepted his routine answer after some minimal push back. Usually Jayce didn't ask for almost two months straight if he would come spend the winter holiday with him and his mother.
His resolve had eventually crumbled under puppy dog eyes and pleading glances and so now he stood before the front door, waiting for Jayce to knock to know when to start the countdown to settle his nerves, but to his horror Jayce simply shoved a jingling key into the keyhole and unlatched the lock without seemingly thinking much of it.
It made sense of course, it was his partner’s house after all but that did little to settle his stomach as the wooden door easily swung open and he was suddenly awashed with a gust of warm heat and the smell of sweet cinnamon.
“After you.” Jayce said with a polished smile, a bow in his back, and a flourishing hand gesturing towards the hallway that lay before him. Warm woods dressed in homey reds and draped with dark greens.
Evergreens.
He swallowed thickly.
“Thank you Jayce.”
He stepped inside.
.......
“Ma! We’re here!” Jayce called down the hall as his partner shut the door behind them with a definitive click.
“In the kitchen mijo!” was the voice that immediately called back over the noise of someone moving pots and pans in the distance. There was a different accent in said voice he noted, one that Jayce’s pilty way of speaking didn't seem to carry. Interesting, and perhaps deserving of a conversation as he felt familiar curiosity latch onto his thoughts. However there were decidedly different matters that demanded his attention at the moment.
Standing just two steps inside Jayce's house, he felt the previously comforting heat almost immediately seeping into his chilled skin. Apparently he hadn't realized how cold he was outside until he was close to melting in the sudden temperature change.
“Here, take your jacket off, she keeps it warm in the winter.” Jayce says with a knowing look as he finally releases his death hold on the bottle of wine he had brought with them.
True to his partner's advice he did feel better once his jacket was hooked next to Jayce's by the door. A weight off his shoulders leaving him just in his green button up and dark slacks. Between his green and the deep red that his partner wore it almost looked like they had coordinated together for the occasion. His chest gave a flutter.
There was no tie around his partner’s throat and despite the nice clothes Jayce wore he also looked… different from how Viktor knew him to dress at the academy. His dark hair was brushed and neat, that was usual, but it wasn’t nearly as slicked back as he was accustomed to seeing it. It was looser now, with soft strands falling forward that made his hands itch with the urge to reach up and push them back-
“Do you want to take your shoes off?”
The sudden question quickly shook him from his wandering thoughts. He looked at Jayce, and then down to Jayce’s boots that had been neatly placed alongside several others all of the same size. His mom’s most likely.
It was a simple question and normally he’d say no as normally, he would be wearing normal shoes but the ones on his feet were built for balance in the snow and ice. Sparing another glance down the hallway…it was spotless, and Jayce had already removed his own.
“Is there someplace I could sit-”
“I got it.” Jayce said, already dropping down to his knees and reaching for his good leg.
He blinked. It was a move that normally would have words on his tongue while something akin to irritation flared to life in his chest. An action that would normally result in at least some form of protest but…for whatever reason, he could only stare blankly while his heart hammered in his chest as his partner wordlessly untied his boots. Seemingly none of the wiser to the internal chaos he felt swirling inside.
Perhaps being in an unfamiliar setting was throwing him off more than he was used to. There was nothing normal about this day. There was no wall to lean against, no couch to retreat to, no bar to nurse his nerves from. Just him and Jayce in the quiet hallway as he steadied himself with one hand on the wall and stepped out of his shoes.
It was also just him and Jayce when hazel eyes looked up to meet his own, and a flush of warmth rushed to his face. Surely it must just be the temperature in the room but the longer the moment seemed to stretch the less that explanation seemed to hold, especially with the pink now dusting Jayce’s own cheeks.
“You didn’t have to-”
“It’s fine, I just want you to be comfortable and-”
“Jayce!” The voice from the kitchen called again.
“Coming ma!” Jayce called back as whatever moment between them was broken “Guess we’re taking too long.” his partner said, flashing him a soft smile while getting to his feet. “Kitchen is this way.” Jayce says with a nod of his head down the hall. His gaze turned to look just as a light hand rested on the small of his back, and he was then too stunned by the sudden touch to think much about where it was leading him.
.......
Walking down the hallway he could feel his heart thumping in his chest, jolting enough that some part of him wondered if Jayce could feel it too. His heart hadn’t stopped since he stepped foot into this house. Perhaps this was how he would die, taken out by a greeting and subsequent heart attack. At least it would be quick, perhaps painless too if he was lucky.
Truthfully if he was meeting anyone else he wouldn’t care nearly as much and would already be thinking of ways to excuse himself from the whole ordeal, but this wasn’t just anyone, this was someone. This was Jayce’s mother.
Turning into the kitchen he was greeted by cozy colors, warmer air, and even stronger mouthwatering smells. It was only when the other occupant inside made a pleased noise upon seeing them that he realized that Jayce had left his side to greet her.
Jayce’s mother.
She was a short woman with kind eyes, hair streaked by years lived, and a far cry in stature from the man leaning down to kiss her cheek in greeting as quick words were exchanged between them. Some he thought he caught but most not in a language he knew.
“Viktor, this is my ma and ma this is my partner, Viktor.” Jayce said, turning around to face him and motioning him further into the warm space of the kitchen and out of the doorway.
He cleared his throat and adjusted his grip on his cane before stepping forward and offering a hand “Thank you for inviting me Ms.Tali-”
“Ximena.” She corrected not unkindly “and I should be thanking you for accepting my invitation. I hope my son didn't twist your arm too much to come.” Ximena said, giving his hand a warm shake, enough so that he didn’t realize until she had pulled away that some of her hand was adorned with prosthetics.
“No, I- not at all. Previous years I had been eh… busier than usual but this year Jayce made sure to get his request in early.” He settled on instead.
“Oh good, very good, I have been wanting to meet you for some time now. Jayce talks about you all the time-”
“Ma!” Jayce cut in, looking suddenly flustered as his mother nonchalantly waved away his protests.
“All good things I promise.” She says with a smile as Jayce makes a face next to her causing him to laugh quietly. “Are you hungry dear? Jayce mentioned you weren't picky so I made a bit of everything really, it should be ready in a few more minutes or so.” She says gesturing to the kitchen counters that he now realized were dotted with a variety of dishes, more than enough to feed the three of them and then some.
He blinked “I eh, yes. Dinner sounds lovely. Jayce has been kind enough to share your cooking with me in the past.”
“He better have, I raised him to know as much.” She then turned then back to her son “Jayce, there’s a bottle in the other room that could benefit from some time in the ice box before we open it.”
Like a lightbulb going off Jayce’s eyes widened a fraction before his hand moved to grab something off the counter “Viktor actually brought wine, it’s probably fairly cold still but I could put it in till we’re ready…” Jayce trailed off as the bottle was easily plucked from his partner’s hand by Ximena and it was only in that moment he remembered that he had brought it at all. Ximena’s coffee brown eyes glanced back toward him as his fingers fiddled with the embellishment on his cane handle. The Talis embellishment that Jayce had proudly stamped on it and that he had never asked to be changed.
“You did not have to do that Viktor.” She tutted softly “But this looks lovely, we can have it with dinner.” She gently set the bottle aside, then clapped her hands together. “Now- out of my kitchen, both of you. Go set the table.”
Following Jayce out of the kitchen he felt some of his earlier tensions finally giving way to something new. Not quite relaxation yet but… something different. Something nicer.
.......
It wasn’t long after he and Jayce had set the table for three that Ximena started bringing food over to join them. He and Jayce had offered to help but she had brushed that offer away with the promise they could help with the clean up after they had eaten.
When he had initially sat down at the table he did so with the grace of a plyboard, not quite sure what to do with himself or his hands in what he was quickly realizing was a rather intimate setting. Usually, he was able to rely on the presence of others to find comfort in the background of large events with lots of people, but there weren’t exactly many places to hide when there were just the three of them at the table. That, and Ximena seemed to be particularly keen at getting to know him.
It was helpful, in a way, that both Jayce and Ximena seemed to be particularly chatty individuals. An apple not far from the tree. Across dinner he came to realize that she had been nudging him further and further into the conversation with casually prompting questions. What did he think? What was his favorite snack? Did he also enjoy listening to the piano? Small things, but often enough that he found himself contributing eventually without prompting by the time Jayce dipped back into the kitchen to grab dessert.
From what he could tell Jayce’s mother lived quite a social life that left her with much to talk about and also had something to say about seemingly everything she had set across the table. There was always something, either from Ximena’s childhood or Jayce’s. Sometimes to the chagrin of his partner as his mother ever so carefully toed the line of oversharing territory, but also tactical enough that he knew at some point that it had to be on purpose. Perhaps it was for solely his benefit, but it was particularly helpful as there was only one dish he vaguely had a memory of trying before. It was something Jayce had shared with him one late evening up in the lab when they were both half delirious from lack of sleep. He probably didn’t appreciate it as much then as he did now, and eagerly latched onto whatever story seemed to be tied to whatever food item his attention. Dessert was no exception.
.......
Some time later it felt almost too soon that their dinner came to an end. A sad thought that earlier today would have never crossed his mind. There wasn’t much to clean up by the time dessert was passed around as everything had mostly been carried back into the kitchen by Jayce at that point.
With his few dishes in hand he followed them back towards the kitchen and, thankfully, didn’t even have time to worry about what to do with himself after he got there. Ximena wordlessly nudged a barstool chair in his direction and offered him a dish towel. In case he ‘wanted to help’. Jayce would wash, he would dry, and Ximena would put away.
Easy.
Once the kitchen was spotless once again the three of them retired into the living room to sit by the fire. Ximena took her seat on the lone armchair while Jayce joined him on the loveseat. True, there was a larger couch on the other side, and true Jayce might have fit more comfortably there, but feeling his partner easily slide into place next to him he couldn’t find the willpower to complain especially when a hot mug of sweet coffee was all but pushed into his cold hands. The color was significantly different than the other two but smelling of cinnamon all the same. The taste of sweetmilk on his tongue was simply yet another layer of comfort settling across him as the evening stretched on like a warm blanket. Lowering his guard further with warm feelings and sweet scents. Perhaps Jayce had been a nervous child growing up as it seemed that Ximena had mastered the art of comfort with an almost scary level of precision.
.......
All too soon it felt that talking had gradually drifted to a natural stopping point, coffees were finished and Ximena announced she was heading upstairs for the night. He had moved then to excuse himself as well, not wanting to overstay his welcome, but Ximena was faster. She gave a friendly pat to his shoulder, insisted that he stay longer, and pressed a kiss to Jayce’s cheek before leaving for her bedroom on the upper floors of the house.
Meaning it was just him and Jayce left alone in the quiet living room with the crackling fire as snow drifted down to the streets outside and-
“I got board games.”
He blinked and looked down at the box held out sheepishly in Jayce’s hands promising hours of fun. His partner gave it an enticing shake in his direction pulling a smile to his lips.
Perhaps… one round wouldn’t hurt.
.......
What started as one round had turned into several as even though Jayce insisted that the game was based on luck he had become determined to prove there was a logical method to actually winning. He simply… needed to conduct a few experiments, which had then turned into a few playthroughs of the game. Enough so that he was starting to feel that Jayce was itching to pull out something new as he reshuffled the cards and slapped them down on the coffee table for them to go again. However, this time he was confident that he-
The clock over the fireplace mantle gave a sudden chime and for whatever reason he actually dignified it with a glance. He also just barely stopped the surprised noise that rose in his throat when he saw the hour.
It was well past one in the morning.
He set his recently refilled mug of sweetmilk and cinnamon down on the table with a soft click before straightening out his clothes. Realizing only then that at some point he had apparently gotten quite comfortable sitting on his spot on the floor, surrounded by pillows pulled down from the couch, sleeves rolled up and several of his shirt buttons fully undone.
He cleared his throat “I, eh, I apologize for not keeping a better watch of the time.” He said as Jayce seemed to wake up a bit from whatever daze he had fallen into across from him “Thank you for this evening, it has been lovely but I should probably leav-”
“What?” Jayce blinked, suddenly wide awake. “No!”
The word was spoken quickly into the space between them. Too quickly. He paused and turned his gaze back to his partner. “No?” He asked, raising an eye as the somewhat…flustered look that now rested across his partner's face. His usually very collected and well spoken partner.
“No I mean, you can’t- you shouldn’t- there’s too much snow right now.” Jayce settled on, looking baffled at the very idea that he planned to walk home at all.
“I may be from the Undercity Jayce but I have experienced winters in Piltover before.” he explained gesturing to the window where heavy waves of powdery white were still drifting down from the dark sky, albeit more than before. “I have managed my way through worse than this.” He meant his words to be comforting but by the look on his partner’s face it seemed as if he had accomplished the complete opposite as Jayce looked even more uncomfortable than he had previously.
“Stay the night.”
“What-”
“Stay the night.” Jayce repeated, more firmly this time. “It’s late and it’s too cold to be walking around outside right now.”
“Jayc-”
“Please Viktor.”
“...I do not wish to impose,” he said at last, “You have already done more than enough this evening.”
Jayce shook his head immediately. “You’re not imposing. I- If you go back, I’m walking with you.” his partner said firmly although his body language spoke of a great reluctance to actually do so.
He sighed, he needled his lower lip, spared a glance to the window right as a particularly strong gust gave it a rattle, and he made the mistake of looking at his partner’s hazel eyes.
Weak.
He was weak to those eyes.
“I did not bring extra clothes with me.”
“You can wear mine, I’m sure I have something that will fit.” Jayce said quickly as his broad shoulders seemed to sag in relief “There's a guest room too. It’s just up the stairs.”
He sighed “Fine. If you insist.” He agreed after a moment before turning his attention towards helping Jayce clean up the board game before getting to his feet with a groan and following his partner to the upper floors.
