OPEN RP POST

[boyofprogress]

𝕆ℙ𝔼ℕ ℝℙ ℙ𝕆𝕊𝕋

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and the wanting comes in waves... [for hexcrafter]

[boyofprogress]

[from here]


[Oh. That word hits him square in the chest, and he leans up a little on his elbow in order to study Viktor's face. But... no, it looks sincere. He looks sincere, and Jayce cups his cheek to press their mouths together with the utmost tenderness. Afterwards, he rests their foreheads together, smiling in both fondness and disbelief.] I think I might have fallen in love with you when you pulled out that ring of keys. But I think I realized it when I saw your face as we were floating.

We've both been stupid, I guess. Trying to protect ourselves from something secretly wonderful.

[hexcrafter]

I was...afraid, perhaps. That you would reject me, or that I would end up hurting you somehow.[Honey-gold eyes regarded him with a geentle warmth as Viktor's hand traced mindless lines along his partner's shoulders.] I still might, miláčku. Is that a risk you want to take?

[boyofprogress]

I told you before, but I'll say it again. [He touches Viktor's cheek as he does, meeting that warm amber gaze with a deeply fond look of his own.] Yes. A thousand, a million times yes, you are work the risk for me. Always.

Especially if it means hearing you calling me sweet things like that. Well -- I assume meelachku is something sweet, anyway. [His pronunciation is terrible, but he's trying.]

[hexcrafter]

[Viktor huffed out a laugh,shakng his head.]

Not even close, but a commendable effort. Don't worry--if I were insulting you, I would want you to know it.

[boyofprogress]

Thanks. I think? [One more kiss before Jayce pulls away with a sigh.] I'm invading your bathroom, briefly, to grab a washcloth. We should clean up a little before we try to sleep.

Do you want a hand with your leg brace, afterwards? [The last part is said over his shoulder as he moves to the edge of the bed and stretches his arms over his head. His undershirt is... somewhere, but he'll find it later.]

[hexcrafter]

...That would be nice, I think. [Viktor pulled himself to sit up and leaned over, enough to press a kiss to the back of Jayce's neck.] Do not get too accustomed to helping me with everything, but...once in a while, I might not mind that much.

[boyofprogress]

[The kiss to the back of his neck is a bit of a surprise, and he's grateful that in the moment, Viktor can't see the flush it brings to his cheeks. He turns to give his partner a peck on the lips, nosing affectionately at his cheek.] Then I'll take the temporary chance to spoil you a little.

[Retreating to the bathroom, he takes a moment to try and tidy himself up before things get... sticky. Though gods, if he's truly honest with himself, he wouldn't mind being marked like this for a while.

He shakes off the thought and runs some warm water over a fresh cloth and rejoins Viktor on the bed.] If you're calling me sweet things in... Zaunian? Do I get to call you sweet things, too? [His question is as genuine as his smile as he runs the cloth carefully over Viktor's stomach and thighs.]

[hexcrafter]

Zaunite--the dialect is something like a linguistically drifted form of whatever's spoken in Shurima. [He mumbled that idly, having laid back down with his head in folded arms. Quietly enjoying the attention, like a contented cat in a sunbeam.]

You can call me whatever you want. I believe I have already let you shorten my name on occasion without remark, have I not?

[boyofprogress]

Zaunite. [He'll remember that, for the future. Maybe see if he can find a book and learn a few words. Even if Viktor would make fun of his pronunciation, it would be worth it to see that adorably surprised expression on his face.

Once his partner is sufficiently clean, he settles the pajama pants back around his hips with an affectionate kiss to his stomach. Then, he gets to work on the leg brace.]

I do, yeah. But I meant more along the lines of... sweetheart, maybe? Or beautiful. Not baby, I don't think. Neither of us are the type.

i've played all my cards, and that's what you've done too... [for hexcrafter]

[boyofprogress]

[Jayce is already regretting having made this bet with Viktor. They're both stubborn, but Viktor might be moreso. And Janna knows Jayce is able to get distracted by the long line of Viktor's elegant neck --

No! No, he can't think of that. He needs to finish unpacking his bag and setting up his notebooks and pencils at his desk for the day. And absolutely not thinking of Viktor's neck.

Or his hands, his slender fingers and --

Oh he's fucked, isn't he?]

[hexcrafter]

[Viktor was, as he had claimed, very patient. The other side of the coin from stubbornness, of course. But he was also more than willing to go to some effort to prove his point, and if summer weather in Piltover meant rolling up his sleeves to his elboows and forgoing a tie for a slightly open collar, well, it was hot out. Plausible deniability.]

[On the other hand, a couple days in and he was starting to get annoyed. Mostly at the lack of strong hands on an aching back and leg, more than anything else. But that was fine. He just had to wait it out a little longer, that much Viktor was sure of.]

Good morning. [Already hard at work, Viktor turned his head slightly to regard Jayce over his shoulder, loosened collar revealing an often hidden beauty mark on his throat.] Did you sleep well?

[boyofprogress]

You know I didn't. [Gods, it's starting already. This early in the day and his sleeves are already up? Terrible.

The first day, Viktor had come in with his tie loosened and by the end of the day it was off. The second and third days started with no tie and the sleeves were rolled up by the end of the day. Today (day four, one day longer than Viktor's prediction), it looks like he's starting with no tie and rolled sleeves, and Jayce might well snap a pencil in half.]

How's your back?

[hexcrafter]

A bit early for such a dismal mood, isn't it?

[It had been a process, of course. He couldn't just go all in from minute one, then there would be nowhere to escalate to. That said, he was running out of escalation. Admirable, really, to have lasted this long.]

It's fine, thank you. [It wasn't, but it had been worse.]

[boyofprogress]

I'm not dismal, I'm just. I'm winning, is what I am. [He's absolutely not winning. He spent a long time in a very cold shower last night trying not to think about that damn beauty mark now visible on Viktor's neck, and failing utterly. And taking care of himself afterward had just felt empty and cold.

His drawings of Viktor in his notes have nearly doubled.] But it doesn't matter, because we've got work to do.

[And he's going to pull his tie off as well, tossing it in his bag. Not to try and even the playing field so much as he does, in fact, feel overwarm]

[hexcrafter]

Mm, I'm sure. [Turning back to what he was working on as calm as anything. Off course Viktor had his own limits, but...well, clearly they were far further along than some people. Work before pleasure in all aspects, apparently.]

You are right, we do. I have already been here for some time.

[boyofprogress]

[It's driving Jayce up an absolute wall, how cool and calm Viktor is able to be right now. As though they haven't had the most incredible intimate moments together over the last month. Exploring and learning and loving each other's bodies and sweet Janna he needs to concentrate on his notes.

He sighs and moves to the chalkboard to catch himself up on whatever Viktor's been up to this morning.] And what did you do, in some time? Any major breakthroughs?

[hexcrafter]

It's been a very productive morning, actually. You made no less than two errors yesterday, in equations I have already corrected.

[Gesturing vaguely with one hand, without looking over his shoulder:] You will find them a bit to your left on the chalkboard.

find you all unwoven trying desperately to sew

[hexcrafter]

[Without exception, all living things had an expiration date. The catch was that most people didn't know when it was--Viktor, however, was not most people. He had known for much longer than he wanted to admit that his life would be a short one; facing the sharp reality of that knowledge was quite another thing. Even if he hadn't dared acknowledge it, he felt the way every breath pulled harsher and harsher in his chest. Felt a thousand small aches and pains worsening like shards of glass running through his blood, the constant exhaustion that pressed in closer and closer like an unbearable weight slowly crushing him. But he refused to admit he already knew the truth of the matter, would act like he was unaware of that everpresent threat of time abruptly running out.]

[Right up until the night he collapsed in the lab and woke up in the hospital.]

[Because the secret was well and truly out at that point, wasn't it? All he could bring himself to do was ask how long do I have in resignation as a teary-eyed Jayce stumbled through trying to tell Viktor something he already knew. (Another thing he refused to think about: how had he gotten there from the lab?) Ultimately, a year was the optimistic estimate--Viktor himself presumed that really meant six months at best. Doctors were infuriating like that, cushioning harsh reality with faint possibility.]

I'm fine, Jayce.

[Which brought them to right now--a day or two later, he wasn't sure with how time had blurred together--his far too caring partner insistent on seeing Viktor home safely. As the door to his apartment (modest, laden with the books and organized chaos of a scholar) closed behind them, Viktor said as much calmly but with an insistent edge. It wasn't necessary, he didn't need to be looked after like he was a child or otherwise incapable. Besides, Jayce had a whole life ahead of him and a beautiful Councilor to spend it with. Why waste any more time here?]

There is no need for you to stay here.

[boyofprogress]

[Jayce had barely slept since finding Viktor in the lab that night. Guilt has been gnawing at him since then -- he should have known, he should have seen this coming. Had Viktor been slowing down at all? Breathing harder, leaning more on his cane, favouring his back more? What else had he missed?

And the night with Mel... it was lovely, but shouldn't have happened. She's brilliant and beautiful and a wonderful friend, but it's not where his heart is.

His heart is here, with his partner. Who seems to be fussing at him already.] What? No, of course I'm staying. The doctor said it will be another few days before you're back fully on your feet.

[hexcrafter]

Yes, and reluctant as I am to stay out of the lab, I remain perfectly capable of doing so without supervision.

[It was easier this way, honestly. Push back as hard as he could; distance between them now would hurt much less later.]

[boyofprogress]

Wrong again, because I'll bring the lab to you! [Already, he's guiding Viktor with a careful hand at his mid-back towards the sofa so he can at least sit down.] I need to run out in a little bit anyway, and I can at least pick up our most recent notes from the lab while I'm out.

My mom made you a bunch of food, and if you say no you'll upset her, not me, so consider your options carefully.

[hexcrafter]

[He let himself be guided without complaint on that front, at least--truthfully, he was exhausted. And truthfully (selfishly), some part of him desperately wanted that casual touch right now.]

I believe we are having some manner of miscommunication. While your help as well as your mother's is truly appreciated, I do not require it. You can leave me alone without worrying that anything else will happen.

[boyofprogress]

No you're communicating clearly, I'm just disagreeing with you. [He sits next to Viktor, crowding close despite all the room left on the sofa. Their knees are touching, as are their shoulders, but they still feel too far away.

So to fix this he rests his hand on Viktor's knee, heaving an exhausted sigh.] I thought I lost you that night. When I carried you to the doctor, you were barely breathing.

You might not need me here. But I need to be here.

[hexcrafter]

...

[What could he possibly say to argue with that? What little fight was in Viktor immediately left him, silently refusing to look at Jayce but not pushing his hand away.]

...I did not want you to see me like that. Or even like this.

[boyofprogress]

I understand. But I did. Gods, Viktor, I barely left that room the entire time. I didn't want to be gone, if --

[He breaks off with a choked noise, and he digs the fingers of his free hand into the sofa cushion to avoid gripping Viktor too tight.] I've missed too much already.