Work Text:
⋆❆˚｡₊⊹❅⋆
Winter in Piltover is romantic.
Snowy streets dotted with lampposts that spill golden light. Wreaths and ribbon lining shop windows that display grand, showstopping presents. Rich aromas of sugary treats from seasonal stalls filling the air–
Viktor loves it, loves the chance to indulge in something he'd been deprived of in the fissures. He has to take extra precautions when going out in the snow of course, —his cane tip, extra layers, monitoring his breathing, and a date with his humidifier after— but he'd never turn down a stroll in the square during the holiday season.
Winter in Piltover is romantic if you're not Jayce Talis.
⋆❆˚｡₊⊹❅⋆
Jayce watches the snow fall, safe behind the tall windows in the lab. It coats the rooftops in the distance in sheets, coming down especially thick today.
It has Jayce's stomach in knots.
He's going through mail today. Nothing particularly interesting, just reading gala invites, and drafting letters to the ones he can't attend. It keeps his mind busy, which is good.
Viktor is fidgeting with prototypes at the other end of the lab. He's just here to keep Jayce company, really– There's nothing they urgently need to get done. They close commissions during the holiday season for their own sanity.
Jayce pries open another letter, another waste of —no doubt expensive— stationary. His eyes scan the page, searching for a date and time. Another for the burn pile. He scrubs a hand down his face, sighing.
A break would be nice. Maybe going to that bakery Viktor likes, if Jayce can manage trekking through the snowy streets of Piltover without shaking like a leaf.
“Hey, V?” Jayce calls, not looking up from his workstation.
Viktor makes a small, gentle noise in response.
Jayce turns his head to see Viktor, thumb in his mouth. He sets the letter down, heading over to his side.
“Hands out of your mouth, Viki.” Jayce chides, gently pulling Viktor's fingers from his mouth. He looks up at Jayce, eyes lost.
“Home?” He mutters as Jayce wipes his fingers with the lining of his jacket.
Jayce pauses, eyes darting to the window. He can make it home. He can do this– Anything for his boy.
“Yeah– Yeah, of course. We'll get you all wrapped up, alright bug?” He says, pressing a long kiss to Viktor's head, who nods in response. Jayce helps Viktor pull on his jacket, buttoning it up. He wraps his scarf around his neck, bundling him up.
Jayce's hands are shaking.
Logically, he knows Viktor is fine. Especially when he's right in front of him, breathing, alive. They're still in the lab, which has heating.
He's just nervous, okay?
The weather always makes him spiral. When he was younger, he'd freak out over his mom going out during winter– After he moved out it was Caitlyn, and then Viktor when they became partners.
Jayce worries for all three now.
He thinks of Viktor, his angel, lips blue, laying stiff in the snow and it just won't leave his mind. He tries to shove the thought down, pulling Viktor's hat over his curls.
⋆❆˚｡₊⊹❅⋆
When they reach Jayce's apartment, he's still anxious. Viktor stares up at Jayce after they step in, nose rosy, flushed from the cold; snow clings onto his clothes like powdered sugar. Jayce would take a moment to appreciate how cute he looks if he wasn't having an internal freakout.
He immediately gets him out of his snow covered clothes, leaving them by the door and not caring about the mess. He needs to get Viktor warm–
“Let's get you into the bath, alright?” Jayce says, propping Viktor's cane against the couch before pulling his boots off. “Can I pick you up?” He asks, then scoops his boy up when he nods.
Jayce carries him into the bathroom, placing him on the closed toilet lid while he draws him a bath. He might need to put on the humidifier after as well, but the steam from the bath is good for Viktor's sinuses.
Jayce makes the water a little hotter than usual, just a step up from his usual lukewarm. He adds Viktor's medicated bath salts, and then he's ready to get in.
Jayce strips Viktor of his clothes, dropping them to the floor. He made sure to save that part for last, so Viktor wouldn't get cold while waiting. Viktor sighs with relief as he eases himself in. Baths are a huge relief for him, especially with the salts.
“Mm– Thank you, táti.” He says, accent thick.
“Of course, baby,” Jayce says, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Viktor's forehead. “Anything for you.”
⋆❆˚｡₊⊹❅⋆
Jayce wraps Viktor in a fluffy white towel when they're finished, drying him off swiftly. He blowdries Viktor's hair, of course, even adding a little product to help define his texture before doing so. Jayce opens the medicine cabinet, getting a dollop of ointment to rub on Viktor's chest. It’s a big help for the chronic congestion Viktor gets, especially during colder months.
He carries his sweet boy into his bedroom when he's finished, tossing him gently onto the bed, which pulls a giggle out of him, which makes Jayce smile like an idiot.
Jayce turns on the humidifier before changing his clothes. Just an extra precaution if the steam from the bath wasn't enough. Better safe than sorry–
He pulls Viktor's favorite sleep set out of his drawer when he's gotten out of his own uniform, along with some underwear and socks. It's a frilly little baby blue set that Mel said he'd look "absolutely darling in,” and that he does. She's always showering her little inventor with gifts. Jayce figures the long sleeves and pants will keep him warm enough.
He dresses Viktor, humming a tune Ximena used to sing to him in his youth. He really hopes she's doing alright– He'll stop by tomorrow for sure, just to check in, maybe even plan a breakfast with her and Cait.
“All done.” Jayce says, fastening the last button.
Viktor nods, fidgeting with the frilly collar of his pajamas. Jayce gets down on his knees to put Viktor's socks on. He has perpetually cold hands and feet, and Jayce makes it his duty to warm them up. He cups his warm hands over his feet before sliding his socks on.
“Táti?” Viktor chirps, wiggling the foot Jayce is trying to put a sock on.
“Yeah bug?” He huffs.
Viktor hesitates before he speaks.
“I’m bored…” He sniffles.
Jayce bites back a chuckle. “Well– If you stop squirming, we can do something fun, alright?”
⋆❆˚｡₊⊹❅⋆
Jayce ties the apron around Viktor, adjusting the straps. It was a gift from Ximena a year or so back. A matching set completely handmade, even embroidered with their names across the front.
It meant a lot to him. Baking is a favorite pastime of the pair, but Viktor especially. He has many dishes memorized, passed down from generation to generation yet never written down, most with ample room for substitution.
(Jayce always tries to get the highest quality ingredients for him anyways, just to make up for the substitutions he had to make before he moved to Piltover. Maybe he's just as bad with spoiling Viktor as Mel is–)
“We're making the vanilla crescents, yeah?” Jayce hums, getting down the ingredients.
Viktor only nods, perched atop the counter.
Jayce places the dry ingredients on the countertop, ducking down to grab a bowl from the cabinet. He plucks a whisk from the drawer, placing everything Viktor needs in the same area.
“Oh– A chair too, duh.” Jayce mutters to himself, fetching one from the table.
They work in near silence, Jayce chopping nuts and Viktor making the dough. They're usually a lot more chatty, but his baby is always quieter when regressed.
Viktor surrenders the mixing to Jayce when his arms start to hurt, slipping his apron off.
He grabs his cane and walks to the living room to turn on the record player. Quiet classical music begins to fill the room, slow melody matching the mood for the rest of their night.
Viktor rarely slows down, his mind always seems to go a million miles a minute. He's lost count of the amount of times Viktor has sprung up from bed to write an idea down–
Jayce has always admired that about him, —his drive, his ambition— but he cherishes it when he does. Nothing comes close to the pride he felt when Viktor first trusted him enough to take care of such a vulnerable, gentle part of him.
It makes him feel strong, sturdy, dependable. Everything his mama told him a good man was. He's happy to take Viktor home, to care for him, lessen his load; to take over silly tasks like chopping nuts. Anything to make his life even a little easier.
Love is all about willingly being inconvenienced, Jayce thinks. There's nothing he wouldn't do for his boy.
Jayce wraps the dough when it's all combined, popping it in the fridge to chill. Something warm might be good– He pulls the mulled cider and leftover soup from the shelf, putting both on the stove to heat.
Jayce looks out of the kitchen window, snow coming down even heavier than before. He pulls the curtains closed, swallowing thickly.
Is Viktor warm enough? Jayce doesn't remember if there's a blanket on the couch or not–
He semi-rushes over to Viktor, who seems to be alright. He joins him, plopping down on the other cushion. Viktor climbs into his lap, burying his face into Jayce's neck. His hands are like ice, which makes anxiety creep back up on Jayce.
God, how could he have forgotten to get him a blanket?
He tries his hardest to be confident in his abilities as Viktor's caregiver, but when his anxiety is through the roof, it's easy for him to work himself up. He takes a deep breath, rubbing Viktor's back before he speaks.
“You cold, baby?” Jayce says, pulling Viktor from his hiding place in the crook of his neck.
Viktor shakes his head. “Just my hands.”
“Papa will warm them up,” He mutters, collecting frail fingers in his big hands. “Only the best for you. I've got some cider and soup on the stove too, does that sound good?"
Viktor makes a small noise of agreement.
Jayce presses small kisses to his fingertips when they're all warmed up, smiling.
⋆❆˚｡₊⊹❅⋆
Jayce turns the burners off when the soup and cider is sufficiently warmed up. He pours them each a mug, carrying them over to the couch.
“Careful, Viki,” He warns, making sure he grabs it by the handle.
Jayce dips the soup next, carrying the bowls and silverware over on trays. He sets Viktor's on his lap carefully, before sitting back down himself.
“Thank you, táti.” Viktor says, before blowing on his soup.
“You're welcome, V.” Jayce replies, ruffling his hair.
⋆❆˚｡₊⊹❅⋆
Viktor finishes his dinner quickly, setting aside his tray and slumping against Jayce's shoulder. He wraps his arms around his bicep, nuzzling into his arm, lashes fluttering. Jayce smiles down at him, craning his neck to plant a kiss on Viktor's head.
“Tired?” Jayce whispers, his own eyes growing heavy.
Viktor nods lazily.
Jayce supposes it wouldn't hurt if the cookies were chilled for longer, and Viktor could benefit from an early bedtime–
He pulls Viktor against his chest, carrying him into their bedroom and gently placing him on their bed. He makes another trip to grab Viktor's cane, putting it into its designated place before slipping into bed with him, who immediately clings to him.
Viktor is safe, he reminds himself. He really needs to stop worrying– He's in their heated apartment, wrapped in blankets, cheek smushed against Jayce's chest. He looks so beautiful, so relaxed.
Oh, his angel.
“Love you, baby,” He says, brushing hair out of Viktor's eyes. “G’night V.” Jayce hums, turning the light off.
⋆❆˚｡₊⊹❅⋆