Chapter Text
As the rich aroma of brewing coffee filled the small space, Viktor leaned against the counter, his cane propped nearby. His gaze followed Jayce as he moved around, his energy lighter now, more at ease. It was a welcome change, and Viktor allowed himself a moment to simply watch him, the faintest of smiles lingering on his lips.
Jayce handed him a mug, the warmth seeping through the ceramic. “Here,” he said, taking a sip of his own before leaning back against the opposite counter.
Viktor cradled the mug in both hands, savoring the first sip. “We’ve lingered enough,” he said after a moment, though there was no edge to his words. “There’s work to be done.”
Jayce smirked, setting his mug down with a soft clink. “You sure know how to kill a moment.”
Viktor raised a brow. “And you know how to stall. Come on, we’re wasting daylight.”
Jayce couldn’t argue with that, not when Viktor’s determination was so palpable. They moved into their shared workspace, the energy shifting as they settled into their roles. The table was cluttered with schematics, notes, and half-finished projects, the organized chaos of their combined brilliance.
“Let’s pick up where we left off, ride this high while we can.” Viktor said, easing into his chair and pulling a notebook toward him. Jayce nodded, his hands brushing over a set of blueprints. “You’re still convinced this adjustment will stabilize the output?”
“I am,” Viktor said confidently, his amber eyes sharp with focus. “We were close before. This should bridge the gap.”
The hours began to blur as they fell into a familiar rhythm, ideas sparking between them, disagreements melting into compromises, and each breakthrough fueling their drive. The warmth of their earlier intimacy lingered in the quiet moments, the brush of hands as they passed tools, the shared glances when an idea clicked into place.
By the time night had fallen, they were surrounded by the tangible progress of their efforts—a testament to their partnership. Jayce leaned back in his chair, stretching and yawning. “You know, I think we’re unstoppable,” he said with a grin, his eyes flicking toward Viktor.
Viktor huffed a soft laugh, shaking his head. “Unstoppable or insufferable, I’m not sure which.”
Jayce laughed, reaching over to ruffle Viktor’s hair. “Probably both.”
Viktor swatted his hand away, but there was no hiding the faint smile that tugged at his lips. Even in the thick of their work, the quiet undercurrent of their affection remained, steady and unyielding. Together, they were building something extraordinary—both in their work and in each other.
Jayce smiled as sat back to watch Viktor at the chalkboard. The dim light from the desk lamp flickered faintly, casting soft shadows across the room, but Viktor didn't seem to notice. His focus was absolute, brow furrowed in thought, chalk gripped tightly between his fingers.
Jayce let his eyes linger. Back home, his Viktor’s hair was usually kept cropped short in an effort to appear neat. This Viktors was pulled back haphazardly tonight, strands escaping the tie in defiance. His Viktor had never had the time—or the patience—to keep up with it. Jayce had teased him about it once, calling him a perfectionist with everything but his hair. Viktor had only scoffed and muttered something about "priorities."
Tonight, Viktor wore glasses. Perched precariously on the bridge of his nose. His Viktor hated wearing them, hated the way they felt, and hated how they reminded him of his own human frailty. He’d gone so far as to devise an intricate system of lenses for his desk to avoid wearing them altogether. Jayce had tried to tell him they suited him—added a certain charm—but Viktor had waved him off, muttering that charm was irrelevant to progress.
Yet, watching him now, Jayce couldn't imagine Viktor without them. There was something quietly captivating about how his fingers flicked against the chalkboard as he worked, how his gaze darted between equations like they were puzzles meant to be conquered.
He couldn’t help but think of his Viktor—the one who was too stubborn to admit his hair could have a mind of its own, too focused to care that his glasses actually made him look good. Jayce couldn’t help but smile.
Viktor was wearing what Jayce recognized as one of his own shirts, coupled with a pair of sleep pants with mini-Poros printed all over them. It was nerdy, but cute. It made Jayce’s heart soar with affection.
The workspace was a quiet hum of energy now, lit by the soft glow of lamps. Jayce leaned forward, studying the latest design Viktor had sketched, his fingers tapping absentmindedly on the edge of the table.
“This adjustment here,” Jayce said, pointing to a small component in the diagram. “It might need reinforcement if we’re pushing the output that high.”
Viktor turned to look at him, eye’s glued to Jayce at first. Then slowly moving down to the diagram. He nodded thoughtfully, his brow furrowing. “You’re right. A secondary support structure could distribute the strain more evenly.”
Jayce grabbed a nearby pencil, sketching a quick addition onto the design. “Like this?”
“Exactly,” Viktor replied, his voice warm with approval. He leaned closer, his shoulder brushing against Jayce’s as he examined the changes. “That should work.”
Jayce couldn’t help but smile at the way Viktor’s eyes lit up when they worked through a problem together. It was moments like these—where they were completely in sync—that made him feel invincible. He brings his hand up to tilt Viktor’s head down, he kisses Viktor gently. Viktor chuckles and ruffles his hair.
They continued refining the blueprint, the hours slipping by unnoticed. At some point, Viktor’s hand stilled, and he leaned back with a soft sigh, his gaze drifting toward the window.
Jayce followed his line of sight. The storm from earlier had passed, leaving the city drenched and glistening under the pale moonlight. The sight was calming, a stark contrast to the chaos of their work.
“You’ve been quieter tonight,” Viktor said, his voice low but not unkind. Jayce hesitated, caught off guard by the observation. “Just… thinking,” he admitted. Viktor turned to him, his amber eyes searching. “About?”
Jayce let out a soft laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “About how lucky I am,” he said, his voice quieter than he intended. “That I get to do this—with you.”
Viktor’s expression softened, and for a moment, the weight of their work, their burdens, seemed to lift. “I think I’m the lucky one,” Viktor said, a smile touching his lips.
Jayce chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Well, then I guess we’re both lucky.”
The quiet moment stretched between them, their usual banter giving way to something softer, something unspoken but deeply felt. And then, as if to break the tension, Viktor smirked.
“Luck or not, we still have work to finish,” he said, tapping the edge of the blueprint.
Jayce groaned dramatically but leaned forward again, his grin returning. “Alright, alright. Let’s make this masterpiece happen.”
And so they dove back into their work, the city outside quieting into the stillness of night. Together, they continued building something extraordinary—something that wasn’t just about their inventions but about the bond that made all of it possible.
Jayce was leaning over a circuit schematic, his brow furrowed in concentration, when Viktor’s voice broke the silence.
“Careful with that connection,” Viktor said, pointing toward a section Jayce had been tweaking. “If you overcompensate there, it’ll create an instability in the core.”
Jayce nodded, biting the inside of his cheek as he adjusted the design. “Good catch. I don’t know how you spot these things so fast.”
“It’s years of practice—and necessity,” Viktor replied, his tone light but tinged with fondness. “And because you sometimes get... overzealous.”
Jayce laughed, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms over his head. “Guilty as charged,” he admitted. “But that’s why you’re here, right? To keep me grounded?”
“Something like that,” Viktor said with a smirk, though his expression softened as he glanced at Jayce. “But I suspect you’d find your way, with or without me.”
Jayce shook his head, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table. “I wouldn’t be here without you, Viktor,” he said seriously. “Not like this. Everything we’ve built—it’s because of us. Together.”
For a moment, Viktor said nothing, his gaze dropping to the schematics in front of him. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. “I suppose... I often forget how much you value that. Value me.”
Jayce blinked, startled by the admission. “How could I not?” he said, his voice almost incredulous. “You’re the reason I push myself so hard. You’re the reason I believe in what we’re doing.”
Viktor’s fingers brushed the edge of the table, his lips curving into a faint smile. “You’re too kind, Jayce,” he said softly.
“Not kind,” Jayce corrected, leaning closer. “Honest.”
The words lingered in the air, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade away. Then Viktor cleared his throat, sitting up straighter.
“Well,” he said, his tone brisker now, though a hint of color touched his cheeks. “If we’re going to finish this, you’ll need to focus.”
Jayce grinned, sensing Viktor’s deflection but deciding not to press further. “Alright, boss,” he teased, grabbing a tool from the nearby bench.
They returned to their work, but the air between them felt lighter now, infused with the quiet reassurance of their connection. Every exchange of tools, every shared glance, was a reminder of the trust and partnership they’d built—not just in their inventions, but in each other.
By the time they finally stepped back to admire their progress, the first rays of dawn were creeping through the curtains, casting a warm glow over their workspace.
Jayce rubbed his eyes, exhaustion tugging at his limbs, but he couldn’t help the satisfied smile that spread across his face. “I think we’ve outdone ourselves this time.”
Viktor nodded, his own weariness evident but tempered by a rare flicker of pride. “It’s promising,” he agreed. “Though we’ll need proper testing before we can be sure.”
Jayce nods, “So we keep going. Make sure it’ll work before we get there.”
Viktor hums in response, already back to the chalkboard to add more details.
They continue like this for days, working pretty much nonstop. Only taking breaks for short naps and meals.
A realization hit Jayce like a bolt of lightning in the middle of one of their late-night work sessions. He had been pouring over the stabilizer design, his eyes burning from lack of sleep, when everything suddenly clicked into place.
He straightened in his chair, the motion abrupt enough to startle Viktor, who had been meticulously etching calculations into the margins of their blueprints.
“Jayce?” Viktor asked, his pen pausing mid-stroke. “What is it?”
Jayce didn’t respond immediately. He stared at the schematic in front of him, his mind racing to piece together the fragments of an idea that had been eluding him for weeks. Slowly, he turned to Viktor, his face lit with a mixture of excitement and anxiety.
“We’re missing two things,” Jayce said, his voice low but urgent. “If we want this to work—really work—we need one of the crystals. And we need a proper space to build the machine.”
Viktor’s brow furrowed, his expression shifting into something between curiosity and skepticism. “One of the crystals? You mean those crystals?” He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His amber eyes narrowed as he thought about it for a moment.
Jayce sighs, rubbing his face. “They aren’t stabilized here, not yet. They would probably—no definitely—be dangerous to work with.”
Viktor shrugs, making a few more notes. “What’s science without a little danger, hm?” Jayce could see the glint in his eyes, he recognized it from when his Viktor could conduct dangerous experiments, just for the hell of it. He was a risk-junkie. That Jayce knew well.
Jayce chuckled softly, the sound tinged with fondness and exasperation. “I forgot how much you enjoy living on the edge,” he said, shaking his head. “You know, it’s not exactly reassuring when you’re the one telling me the crystals are dangerous, and then you turn around and look excited about it.”
Viktor smirked, tapping his pen against the notebook. “Danger and progress often go hand in hand, Jayce. You know that as well as I do.”
Jayce leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath. “True. But if something goes wrong—if we miscalculate—it could…”
Viktor’s smirk softened into something more thoughtful. He set the pen down and folded his hands in front of him. “That’s why we take every precaution. We test, we re-test, and we ensure that the conditions are as controlled as they can be. But fear of failure shouldn’t stop us from trying.”
Jayce met his gaze, the conviction in Viktor’s voice grounding him. He nodded slowly. “You’re right. I just—” He hesitated, the weight of his emotions catching up to him. “I can’t lose you again, Viktor. Not because of this.”
Viktor’s expression softened further, his usual sharpness giving way to something tender. “You won’t lose me, Jayce,” he said firmly.
Jayce let those words sink in, his chest tightening with both fear and hope. He reached out, placing a hand over Viktor’s. “Then we do this together. Like always.”
Viktor’s lips curved into a small smile, the kind that always managed to steady Jayce’s nerves. “Like always,” he echoed.
The moment lingered, their shared determination solidifying between them.
Viktor finally broke the silence, picking up his pen again. “Now, about those crystals. If they’re as unstable as you say, we’ll need a containment system before we even think about testing them. Do you still have the schematics for the stabilizers we designed?”
Jayce nodded, a flicker of excitement sparking in his chest. “I do. They’ll need some modifications, but I think they’ll work.”
“Good,” Viktor said, his focus shifting back to the notebook. “And the shards? Do you have any leads?”
Jayce hesitated for a moment before leaning forward, his voice low. “I might. The explosion at my old apartment—it’s possible there are remnants still buried there. If we can recover them… It’s worth a shot.”
Viktor nodded, his pen flying across the page as he jotted down notes. “Then we plan. Carefully. If there are shards, we’ll need to know how to properly extract them. And if there aren’t…”
“We’ll figure something else out,” Jayce finished, his determination reigniting.
They worked late into the night, side by side, their focus unwavering. The stakes were high, the risks even higher, but for the first time in weeks, they both felt the spark of hope. Together, they were unstoppable.
Jayce and Viktor’s plan began to take shape, the pieces falling into place with an almost unsettling precision. The excitement in the air was palpable, though tempered with the weight of the unknown. They both knew the risks, but the pull of progress—of the possibility of making everything right—was too strong to ignore.
As the night wore on, Jayce and Viktor’s plan began to take shape, the pieces falling into place with an almost unsettling precision. The excitement in the air was palpable, though tempered with the weight of the unknown. They both knew the risks, but the pull of progress—of the possibility of making everything right—was too strong to ignore.
Jayce ran his fingers through his hair, exhaustion creeping up on him, but the adrenaline kept him sharp. He glanced over at Viktor, who had been silently scribbling equations for hours, the faint glow of the desk lamp reflecting off his glasses. There was a quiet intensity in Viktor’s focus that Jayce admired, even if it made him nervous at times.
“You’re quiet,” Jayce said, breaking the silence. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Viktor glanced up, his amber eyes sharp. “Just thinking about the best way to approach the containment. We’ll need to modify the stabilizer design to act as both a generator and a shield, something to contain the energy and prevent any... catastrophic reactions.”
Jayce nodded, pulling up his own schematics. “I think that’s doable. If we integrate the feedback loop from the Hexcore prototypes, we might be able to create an energy dampener. Something that won’t just stabilize the reaction, but keep the energy from spiking uncontrollably.”
Viktor’s lips quirked up in a half-smile. “You know, I thought I was the only one who loved making things more complicated than they needed to be.”
Jayce grinned, the tension momentarily lifting. “It’s almost like we’re made for each other,” he said with a shrug.
Viktor chuckles and nods, returning to his notes, but there was a quiet warmth in his expression now, a small flicker of approval. “It’s a good plan. But about the shards—what if they’re more unstable than we expect?
Jayce’s smile faltered as he leaned back, “I’m not sure yet. We’ll have to be methodical. Maybe start small, with just a fragment. Get a sense of how the energy reacts before we try anything big. I’ve worked with the crystals for years, I’ll be able to tell… I hope.”
Jayce sat back, taking a deep breath. The plan was set, but now they had to act. “We’ll need to get to the apartment tomorrow, check for any sign of the shards. Do you want to come with me?”
Viktor didn’t hesitate this time. “Of course. We’ll do it together.”
Jayce’s chest swelled with gratitude, a flicker of hope dancing in his gut. In a world filled with uncertainty, at least he had Viktor by his side. And for now, that was enough.
“Then it’s settled,” Jayce said, his voice steady. “Tomorrow, we go to my apartment. And we take the next step.”
Viktor’s lips curved into a smile, his amber eyes glowing with determination. “Let’s make it work, Jayce.”
And with that, they returned to their work. As the night stretched on, the steady clatter of pens and the rustling of papers began to fade into the background, a comfortable silence settling between them. But Viktor’s gaze never wavered from his notes, the thoughtful expression on his face hinting that his mind was somewhere else.
Jayce, sensing the shift, paused in his work and glanced up. “What’s on your mind?” he asked, his voice soft, curious.
Viktor took a breath, and for a moment, Jayce could almost feel the weight of everything Viktor had been holding back. Viktor’s pen tapped against the table, rhythm slow and deliberate, as though choosing his words carefully.
“You know,” Viktor started, his voice quieter than usual, “I haven’t really told you much about… the other version of you. My Jayce.”
Viktor nodded slowly, his gaze drifting to the side, as if he was choosing his words carefully. “When we first arrived here in Zaun, after leaving the academy, he was… different. Not like you are now. You were quiet, withdrawn—distant, even. He seemed unsure of everything, like he was trying to hide from something.” He paused, his eyes meeting Jayce’s with a flicker of something hard to place. “He wasn’t the confident, outspoken man I’ve come to know. He was… a shadow of a person.”
Viktor continued. “He kept to himself a lot, buried his feelings under layers of work and distraction. But what struck me was that, despite all that, he never tried to put up a facade for me. He was just… there. Quiet, yes, but always present. That’s what made me think he was someone I could work with.”
Jayce had remembered the feelings he harbored inside him after the trial. When he thought everything was over—his life goal washed down the drain in front of him. It had quickly disappeared when Viktor came into his life. He couldn’t imagine having to live with the disappointment for so long.
“I knew it wasn’t easy for him. I watched him grow, step by step, from that man who barely said a word to the one who started to take risks, to be more vocal. He started letting people in—let me in. At first, I thought I was just working with a brilliant mind, someone who could help me push boundaries in science. But over time, I realized I was working with someone much more important. Someone I could count on. Someone who wasn’t just an equal in our work, but in life. And as we went on, I saw the real Jayce—the person who still gets nervous before making big decisions, the one who gets lost in his own thoughts sometimes, but also the one who pushes through everything for the sake of what matters.”
Jayce nods along, grateful to finally have some understanding of who this version of himself was.
Viktor suddenly smiles, his eyes coming up to him. “That wasn’t all I loved about him though. He insisted on lining up his pens in order of color whenever he was stressed. Every time. In the lab, in the workshop, and even on our kitchen counter once. He always—without fail—mumbles to himself when he’s thinking something through. His terrible singing in the shower. He can’t cook to save his life. He bites his lip when he’s concentrating really hard. He has a tendency to ‘borrow’ things of mine. Tools, bits of equipment, even my favorite notebooks. He never asks, he just—well, take them, and then when I ask him about it, he just give me those puppy dog eyes and says, ‘I didn’t think you’d mind.’”
Jayce can’t help but smile, some of the little quirks were similar to his own. It was sweet how much Viktor noticed.
Viktor smiles warmly, reaching out to hold Jayces hand. “This version of you… I wouldn’t change a thing about you. I’ve come to love everything about you—your brilliance, your quirks, the way you get so passionate about your work and yet still find room for those little moments of… you.” He paused, his voice softening even further. “I don’t think you realize how incredible you are, Jayce.”
Jayce felt a lump rise in his throat, overwhelmed by Viktor’s tenderness. His insecurities, the ones he often buried beneath his outward confidence, felt lighter somehow, softened by Viktor’s unwavering support. He had always known Viktor was the person who truly saw him—beyond the polished exterior and beneath the surface of his work.
“You really do love me, don’t you?” Jayce asked quietly, unable to keep the soft wonder from his voice.
Viktor nodded without hesitation, his eyes never leaving Jayce’s face. “More than anything.”
Jayce looked down at their hands, the simple touch grounding him. Viktor’s palm was warm, his fingers steady and sure around his. For a moment, the world outside—filled with the uncertainty of their work and the looming weight of what they were trying to accomplish—faded away. It was just them, here, in this quiet space where nothing else seemed to matter.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” Jayce admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, a little unsure of his own feelings but fully aware of the truth in his words.
Viktor’s thumb gently brushed over his hand, a soft, comforting gesture that spoke more than words ever could. “You don’t have to worry about that,” he replied, his voice firm yet gentle.
Jayce let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, and slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet Viktor’s. There was so much in those amber eyes—so much care, so much understanding, and an overwhelming sense of home. For the first time in a long while, Jayce felt like he could let his guard down completely. It was a terrifying thought, but in Viktor’s presence, it felt right.
Jayce pulls Viktor closer, gently hugging his body close as he stood. Pressing his face against Viktors stomach.
Viktor’s body tensed for a moment in surprise, but it didn’t take long before he relaxed into Jayce’s embrace, his arms wrapping around him instinctively. The feeling of Jayce’s warmth against him was comforting, grounding, and for a few moments, there was nothing else in the world but the quiet space they shared. Viktor could feel the subtle tremor in Jayce’s frame, the weight of unspoken fears and doubts, and he tightened his hold, a silent promise that he was here.
Jayce’s breath was steady now, though still a bit shaky, as he allowed himself to sink into the embrace. He didn’t say anything at first—words seemed unnecessary in the moment. The simple act of holding each other felt like enough. He inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of Viktor’s cologne, a mix of earth and wood, calming his nerves.
He had never realized how much he needed this in his own timeline, how much he needed Viktor. The world outside, with all its chaos and uncertainty, didn’t matter in the face of the quiet security he felt in Viktor’s embrace.
Viktor pulled back slightly, his hands still resting on Jayce’s shoulders, his gaze soft but firm. “We’ve both had a long day,” he said, his voice low and steady. “We should get some rest before we go anywhere tomorrow.”
Jayce nodded, feeling the exhaustion from the past few days emotional and physical strain settle over him like a heavy blanket. As much as he wanted to dive straight into their plans, Viktor was right.
“You’re right,” Jayce agreed, his voice a little more tired than he expected. “Rest sounds... good.”
Viktor brushes the hair out of his face with so much tenderness that Jayce can’t help but smile.
Jayce nodded, his heart swelling with the truth of Viktor’s words. There was no need for further conversation, not when they understood each other so completely. Viktor’s hand moved to the small of Jayce’s back, guiding him toward the bed, and Jayce felt himself following, trusting Viktor’s gentle direction without question.
When they settled into bed, Viktor pulled him close, their bodies curling together in the familiar comfort of shared warmth. Jayce rested his head against Viktor’s chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, the rhythmic rise and fall of his breathing. It was a sound Jayce knew so well, a sound that had come to mean safety and belonging, a sound that made the outside world seem far away.
Jayce nestled deeper into Viktor's chest, the warmth of his body a welcome contrast to the cold night air. Viktor's hand gently traced the curve of his back, sending soft shivers through him.
Jayce tilted his head up, his lips brushing against Viktor's collarbone as he nuzzled closer. Viktor paused, just for a moment, before he shifted so that their faces were closer, his amber eyes meeting Jayce's with a softness that took Jayce’s breath away. The intensity in Viktor's gaze wasn’t just longing—it was understanding, care, and something else Jayce couldn’t quite name, but it made his heart swell.
“Viktor…” Jayce whispered, his voice a little shaky. He didn't need to say more; the words they shared between them were enough.
Viktor’s fingers gently cupped Jayce’s face, his thumb brushing over his cheek with a tenderness that made Jayce's heart ache. Then, without a word, Viktor lowered his lips to Jayce’s, the kiss slow and deliberate, as though neither of them wanted to rush it. Jayce sighed into the kiss, feeling every inch of the connection, the weight of everything that had led them here, and the comfort of the moment pressing in on him like a beautiful, warm wave.
Their lips moved together, soft and sure, and Jayce felt a spark of warmth spread through him, deep into his chest. Viktor kissed him like he had all the time in the world, as if there was no rush, no deadlines, no urgency—just this, just them. Jayce could feel the tension from the last few days melting away with every kiss, every touch, every brush of Viktor’s lips against his.
Viktor’s hand slid into Jayce’s hair, fingers weaving through the strands before tugging him closer, deepening the kiss. Jayce’s hands moved instinctively, one resting on Viktor’s chest, the other gently wrapping around his waist, pulling him in even closer. The heat between them grew, the kiss becoming more intense, but still slow—each second stretched, full of meaning.
Jayce pulled back just enough to breathe, his forehead resting against Viktor’s as they both caught their breath. His fingers traced the outline of Viktor’s jaw, his mind a whirl of emotions, of all the things he had wanted to say but couldn’t. In the silence that followed, Jayce found that words weren’t necessary. Viktor’s presence, his touch, his quiet understanding was enough to fill the space between them.
With a soft smile, Jayce kissed Viktor again, this time more urgently, as if he couldn’t help himself. Viktor met him halfway, the kiss unhurried but hungry, as though they were trying to tell each other everything they had left unsaid.
Eventually, they pulled away, their breaths still mingling in the space between them. They simply lay there for a while, their bodies tangled under the covers, wrapped in each other’s warmth, the world outside forgotten.
Jayce sighed contentedly, his head resting once again on Viktor’s chest, his fingers tracing small, absent-minded patterns on Viktor’s skin. Viktor’s arms circled around him, holding him close, his chin resting lightly on top of Jayce’s head.
“Goodnight, V.” Jayce murmured, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the room.
Viktor pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head, his hand stroking Jayce’s hair once more. “Goodnight, lásko. Sleep well.”
And with that, the world outside faded, the storm and the uncertainty of tomorrow tucked away for now. Together, they drifted into sleep, wrapped in each other’s arms, where nothing else mattered but the comfort of knowing they had each other.