Chapter Text
Viktor awoke with a groan, a slight uncomfortable warmth behind his eyes, and deep rooted pain throughout his back and leg, even more so than it usually was. He sighed as he sat up in bed, he knew this would happen. When the weather got bad so did his chronic pain, especially when it was cold out. He ran a hand over his face as he sighed, there was so much to regret about yesterday. All the extra walking he did to aggravate his leg, not trying to warm up as soon as he should’ve, trading away his only damn coat. He gazes down at the floor.
But not Jayce, he wouldn’t regret letting Jayce take care of him.
It was strange, and he hated to admit it but he was not upset in hindsight about the events that unfolded, getting picked up not once but twice, being begged and pleaded with to take care of himself, the fact it seemed Jayce really meant all that too. Viktor groaned, frustrated.
He wasn’t sure what to make of it, it felt like his head was in knots, dizzy and unnerving feelings washing over him one after the other, or maybe that was the headache talking. He decided he shouldn’t think about it. I shouldn’t get used to this treatment
He would just have to stay on his toes, gather more information before reaching a concise conclusion. After all that’s what he knew, to experiment, gauge reactions, and keep trying until you know what works, what the answer to the problem is.
He reached for his back brace, pulling the heavy piece of metal up off the floor as he slipped it on, clasping it around his already sore and reddened skin as he uncomfortably tightened the bolts and straps. After getting his clothes on he put on his leg brace as well, albeit a little slower than usual. When he was ready to go he glanced in the mirror, seeing his deepening eye bags, a muddled purpley maroon color. His eyes seemed a little less colorful, red veins extra prominent, and to top it all off his face felt and looked flushed, a light dusting of red tinted his sharp cheekbones and the tip of his nose.
Damn it, he was getting sick.
He heads out of his apartment anyway.
The walk isn’t too far to the academy since he lived in their dorms on the campus, but of course, any amount of walking was quite slow for him, combined with the added chill of not wearing enough layers. He zoned out to the rhythmic taps of his cane on the pathway, trying to ignore the occasional sharp spikes of pain in his bones, but it was hard. It always was.
It was still rather early by the time he made it up to the lab but he was already exhausted, it infuriated him. He paused outside the door, taking a moment to collect himself before opening it. He was surprised to see Jayce already there, hunched over what appeared to be a large heater in the corner of the room as he screwed something into place.
“Jayce, why is that here?” his eyes narrowed.
He jumped a little in surprise and took a breath before turning around, bracing himself for the downright psychological warfare he was about to try to conquer. “Oh hey Viktor!” he smiles
“Yes, hello.” He groans, “That does not answer my question…”
“Heimerdinger wanted new heating systems installed across the whole building, it isn’t just in our lab, don’t worry.”
Viktor raises a brow in disbelief. “And why would he do that all of a sudden?”
“Beats me.” He shrugs. Trying his best to appear nonchalant “If you don’t believe me, take a look at this.” Jayce hands him a piece of paper, a forum, signed . By Heimerdinger himself, stating due to the shift in weather and staying up to health code and other various organization requirements, all branches of the academy were to have proper heating installed in preparation for the icy winter. Viktors eyes graze over the legal jargon at the bottom, and it all looks surprisingly legitimate.
Jayce smiles, “I was just getting ours set up, figured they didn’t need to send someone up if I’m right here anyway.” He smacks a hand on the side of the machine, before pressing a button, and turning a knob. The heater whirrs to life, a small sound sure to fade into the background in due time, as the machine already starts to emit a warm glow, and an even warmer heat. Jayce smirks, “Don’t tell Heimerdinger but I gave it some upgrades.” he winks.
Viktor lets out a breath he’d been holding, handing the forum back to Jayce as he sighs, giving a shrug of resignation. “Well… Verywell then, if that’s what Heimerdinger wants. I suppose it’s alright.”
Jayce’s smile slowly drops as he looks at Viktor. “Hey, are you alright?”
He huffs out a breath, “I’m fine, Jayce.”
They slip into silence as Viktor begins working at his station, and he had to admit, the extra warmth from the heater was nice. Jayce decides not to push him, letting him have his space.
—
He wasn’t sure what time it was when Viktor caught himself nodding off to sleep at his desk, he felt warm all over and his body ached more than usual, groaning, he slowly straightened himself upright, hearing loud cracks from his joints as they protested the movement.
Jayce saw from the corner of his vision, deciding his next words carefully. He cleared his throat. “Maybe you should take a break? We’ve been at it for hours.”
Viktor shook his head no, then stopped, his brows pinching in discomfort realizing it only made his head spin. He exhaled a shaky breath.
“You don’t look so good… Viktor, are you feeling alright?”
He heard his partner stand up and walk across the room, not bothering to turn to face the man. “Like I said earlier, I am fine.”
Suddenly he felt the back of Jayce’s hand on his forehead, his eyes widened and he stiffened at the touch. It felt. Cold . Jayce wasn’t supposed to feel cold. But, it felt nice. He absentmindedly leaned into the touch just a little, letting himself have this.
“Viktor you’re burning up.” worry laced his tone. Viktor looked up to meet his eyes, his own half lidded and droopy.
“No. This is my regular temperature.”
“I know for a fact it isn’t. Your usual temperature is that of an ice cube, V.”
He felt his face flush at the endearing nickname.
“See now you’re burning up even more!” Jayce stressed. “Can I take you to a doctor, please?”
“No.” he rolled his eyes in annoyance. “It is a small fever, it will pass.”
“Will you at least go home and get some rest then? I’d rather not have you pass out at your desk.” he tried to phrase it lightheartedly, but it appears it didn’t come out that way, his worry sounding more like frustration.
Viktor smacked his hand away from his forehead, huffing out a breath as he stood up. Glancing at the clock. “I am going to meet with Sky so I can help her with her research.” He grabbed his cane as he marched over to the door. “You would do well to stop focusing on me and instead focus on getting your work done.”
“Viktor wait I didn’t mean it like-”
Before he could finish his sentence Viktor was gone out the door.
Jayce smacked his head on the table and groaned. “Way to go Jayce,” he raised a hand up, “you pissed him off.” he let his hand smack against the table. Pushing away papers and notes he sat up, trying to figure out how to fix the situation.
I should’ve known that would just upset him, I can’t be so pushy.
He glanced over at the heater, it was a good start. But what else was missing? He gasps and smiles, running out of the lab.
—
“Jayce why the fuck is there a sofa.”
He tensed up immediately, hearing him enter the lab hours later, quickly shoving something into a drawer. He smiled. “Well you see-”
Viktor groaned, walking into the room.
“Hey let me explain!-”
“What explanation could you have for this? Did you buy this thing?” He gestures to the large chaise lounge placed by the heater, tied into the room rather nicely, a deep sapphire blue fabric and dark wooden frame. It looked near flawless save for a sizable cut on the back rest where a little bit of stuffing was falling from. It looked comfortable, and way nicer than anything else they had to sit on in there.
Jayce cleared his throat, “I was talking with Caitlyn and she was replacing furniture in her office since hers was damaged, she was gonna throw it out anyways so I said I’d take it. It will be nice to have somewhere to take breaks, right?” He walked over, placing a hand on the sofa, “And if we keep this side covered you can’t even tell it’s damaged!” he grins, tossing his winter coat over the back of the chaise. He saw the exhaustion on Viktor’s face, clearly struggling to believe him as he simply stood and gaped at the man.
Suddenly a knock, Jayce quickly walks over and opens the door to see Caitlyn Kiramman, his long time friend. “Good evening,” she smiles at the two, “Jayce the meeting will be starting soon, are you two going to be there?”
“Oh shit that’s tonight?” Jayce groans.
“Yes… In 20 minutes, in the farthest hall?” she rolls her eyes. “I’d assumed you’d forgotten. Looks like I was right.” she smiled slyly
Jayce face palms and she simply laughs. He turns to Viktor, “Will you be in attendance Vik?” He hoped he would say no, that he was going to stay in the lab and fall into the trap Jayce had set, the trap of taking a goddamn nap and not pushing himself.
He sighs, walking over to the two, exhaustion seeping through his every pore. “You can handle the shareholders without me, I can do more work here. I hate those things anyway.”
Jayce internally cheers, smiling softly.
Caitlyn nods, “Alright then, I won’t disturb you anymore then, I’ll be taking this one and we will be on our way.” she elbows Jayce who gives a light “ ow ”
Viktor mustered an exhausted smile and nodded back at her, “Oh and thank you, Jayce told me you were removing damaged furniture, it was very kind of you to let us have your chaise.”
Her eyebrow raises quizzically, “ Damag–”
Jayce coughs, loud. And elbows her back, “Well would you look at the time!” he glances at his wrist for a watch that isn’t there. He puts a hand on Caitlyn's shoulder as he turns her towards the door. As if on queue the jacket falls off the couch, revealing the gash in the fabric, Caitlyn gawks, jaw wide as Jayce shoves her out the door laughing, “The meeting is about to start and I don’t know about you but I’d rather not lose my funding for these projects!” he glances over his shoulder at his partner, “Right V?” he laughs “See you in a few hours!” and then the door slams shut.
Viktor blinks slowly, bleary eyed. He mutters. “Tupitsa” He was too tired to figure out what the hell all that was.
He turns around, planning on walking to his desk. He sees his uncomfortable chair and cold metal table on one side, and across the room he sees the new sofa right by the heater with Jayce’s coat next to it.
Five minutes. I will take a break for five minutes.
—
When Jayce comes back to the lab late that night with tired eyes and an empty cup of coffee, it was dark. Only Viktor’s lamp at his workstation was on, his eyes start to adjust as he sees Viktor fast asleep on the chaise, his coat draped over him like a blanket and the heater on high. He was curled in on himself not making use of the full space, and nuzzled into the pillow. His already messy hair even messier as strands fell down in front of his face and splayed across the pillow. He watched in silence as Viktor softly breathed in and out.
He closes the door as quietly as he can, setting down an armful of paperwork and the empty cup on his desk as he sits down in his chair and turns his own desk lamp on low, turning to face Viktor. He smiles. In all his years knowing the man he rarely got to see him in such a peaceful state, it was mesmerizing. When he rested he almost looked completely different, his hardened face and sharp eyes were unusually softened, he looked younger when he rested somehow, and although a futile dream, he hoped that someday he’d have all the rest he needed and wouldn’t have those bags under his eyes.
He looked down to the floor, seeing his leg and back brace sat against the sofa, his eyes widened. He grabbed a sketch book, and quietly started drawing what he saw. It was a rare chance after all. He started making notes and circling areas that could be improved, the only noises in the room being Viktor’s soft breaths and the scrawling of pencil on paper, a comfortable silence that Jayce wouldn't trade for the world. There was no world he’d rather be in than this one with Viktor. His best friend.
As the night grew darker and his own eyes began to water with sleep Jayce yawned, stretching in his chair as he closed his book. He placed a hand against Viktor’s forehead, brushing stray hairs aside. It wasn’t as hot as before, his fever had broken. Jayce smiled, letting out a relieved sigh “Alright, I hate doing this, but it’s time both you and I go home.” he spoke softly to himself, knowing he’d have to awaken him.
He walks back to his desk and opens the drawer, sitting the sketchbook inside quietly.
Right next to a large box cutter, tangled with a long piece of sapphire blue thread.