Jayce Talis- Arcane

*he looks outside* windy..

I was gifted this tea- I’m not much for it personally but it seemed like something that might be to your tastes

* he scoots up beside Viktor at the lab table, rattling the tin of loose-leaf slightly, as if to prove there’s tea in it, though there’s no reason he’d expect you to think he’s lying*

— @saphire-jayce

[Viktor uncurls from where he was sitting pouring over some of their notes, taking a few seconds to process what Jayce said.]

"It is windy, do not let it blow you away."

[He smiles softly, reaching out for the tea and turning it to inspect it.]

"Thank you, Jayce. I will make a cup later."

I promise I won’t let the wind do that

[the tea is a mix of typical greens and browns, small flecks of purple are visible in the blend, it smells earthy with a tinge of something one would have a hard time placing, likely from an overseas visitor]

[ Jayce peeks over Viktors shoulder at the notes, hands returning to their typical position- linked behind his back; he’d only been seen to drop this behavior when extremely tired, drunk (which fortunately had only occurred a few times within the premises of the lab) or otherwise affected. Jayce looks over the papers and takes in any corrections or additions that have been made]

“No, not at all. Did you do anything that upset them?”

Nnnooo

I just miiiiight be pretending to not see any of the letters they’ve sent calling me to council meetings

*he looks outside* windy..

I was gifted this tea- I’m not much for it personally but it seemed like something that might be to your tastes

* he scoots up beside Viktor at the lab table, rattling the tin of loose-leaf slightly, as if to prove there’s tea in it, though there’s no reason he’d expect you to think he’s lying*

— @saphire-jayce

[Viktor uncurls from where he was sitting pouring over some of their notes, taking a few seconds to process what Jayce said.]

"It is windy, do not let it blow you away."

[He smiles softly, reaching out for the tea and turning it to inspect it.]

"Thank you, Jayce. I will make a cup later."

I promise I won’t let the wind do that

[the tea is a mix of typical greens and browns, small flecks of purple are visible in the blend, it smells earthy with a tinge of something one would have a hard time placing, likely from an overseas visitor]

[ Jayce peeks over Viktors shoulder at the notes, hands returning to their typical position- linked behind his back; he’d only been seen to drop this behavior when extremely tired, drunk (which fortunately had only occurred a few times within the premises of the lab) or otherwise affected. Jayce looks over the papers and takes in any corrections or additions that have been made]

“Bad”

Cw: hurt/comfort

They freeze and stare at him when he speaks, and then sob harder.

“Hey- hey..”

Jayce doesn’t even have to think about it, he clambors up onto the bed, wincing slightly at his leg, quickly gathering Viktor up in his arms from behind, caging them between his legs.

“Vik, sshh, vik..” he whispers, swaying gently in a slow rhythm, holding them like he can keep Viktor together, like he can still stand for both of them; he can’t, but he will try if that’s what Viktor needs.

Viktors sobs vibrate through Jayce’s body, Jayce can’t help crying a little too, quietly, hoping Viktor doesn’t notice.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

He hums lowly, breathing against the back of Viktors shoulder.

Viktor pushes at his grip and Jayce loosens, letting Viktor do whatever they need.

Jayce is surprised when Viktor turns in his arms and buries themselves into his shirt, wetting it with their tear and snot streaked face.

Jayce wraps his arms around Viktor again. He’ll hold them as long as they need.

After a while, Viktors breathing evens out, and their gargled voice breaks the silence; muffled by Jayce’s shirt.

“Jayce.”

“Yes V?”

“I-.. I’m not.. a good person.”

Jayce doesn’t know what to say to that, neither of them are “good” people. He’s not sure he ever was. Of course Viktor was. Is. They’ve just both been… he doesn’t know

Jayce only knows one thing anymore

“I love you. Viktor, I love you.”

His voice cracks, and he doesn’t care, it’s the raw truth and it’s finally slipped from its cage.

Viktor looks up at him, and laughs wetly, it’s a hollow sad laugh, but a laugh.

He hugs his knees to his chest, gasping for air. His hands tremble. his hands that dragged around that awful hammer for so long, his hands that he’d used for the wrong things a hundred times over. He wants to claw them off and run away so he can never hurt Viktor again.

“Vik?”

Viktor knocks before entering the room.

“Hey @saphire-jayce I got you some coffee from the cafe, I know you don’t really like it when I make it so-..”

Viktor freezes at the expression on Jayce’s face.

“Oh! V, I couldn’t find- oh. Thanks hah.”

Jayce tries to brush off what clearly had been panic and takes one of the mugs.

“I am sorry I should’ve told you.”

“ ‘s okay v.”

It’s silly to be bothered by a mug he thinks, it’s not even the same shape or color he tells himself.

It breaks in his hands

The shards stab his palms.

.

.

No they don’t. He shakes his head clearing the images away.

“Jayce?”

Viktors talking to him, how many times had Viktor called his name? He doesn’t know, he looks up and meets the warm amber eyes.

“Are you alright?”

Viktor had set down their mug and slowly takes his from his hands, which are shaking.

“Sorry. I just uhm, I don’t really-..”

“I don’t like mugs”