#silymi

The lab was quiet, save for the low buzz of machinery and the occasional scrape of tools against metal. Jayce was hunched over his workstation once more, trying his best to focus on the intricate wiring of the device in front of him. He was supposed to be testing the power flow of one of their Hextech prototypes, but his thoughts kept straying from circuits to sunflowers.

It wasn’t like him to get distracted like this, and all over flowers? They were such a simple thing, yet somehow, picking them out had consumed his mind. He’d spent nearly two hours reading through his book yesterday, taking notes and making lists. The language of flowers had become his quiet obsession, each bloom a chance to say something he didn’t have the courage to put into words just yet.

What if I’m doing too much? What if I’m being annoying? Jayce thought, adjusting a tiny wire with his pliers. Daffodils were fine, same with the sunflowers. He seemed to like them? Are roses too much? Yes. Yes they are too much, don’t even think about it.

He frowned, biting his lip as he flicked a switch on the device. A faint hum told him it was powering up. He glanced across the lab to Viktor, scribbling notes in his ever-present notebook, his focus sharp and uninterrupted. He always made it seem so effortless, every move deliberate and calculated. Jayce found himself staring at his partner’s hands again, his own tightening slightly around his tools.

He probably thinks it’s ridiculous. Jayce thought, his stomach twisting. Bringing flowers into a lab like some… lovesick puppy. He sighed, dragging a hand halfway down his face before processing his own thoughts. Ok. Hold on. Lovesick? That’s a new thought, maybe not lovesick, that sounds like a lot. Maybe I just want him to know how much I appreciate him, and everything he does and is, and how I kind of want to wake up with him next to me and oh! Make breakfast for him, bring him his sweet milk while he’s snuggled up on my couch, maybe also like hold hands and maybe a kis—

The hum from the device grew louder, turning into a strained whine. Before Jayce could even react a sharp crack filled the air, followed by a burst of sparks.

Jayce’s head snapped up just in time to see the consequences of overloading the power regulator. The wires were becoming too hot, insulation burning away as the circuit surged with unstable energy. It glowed an ominous orange and sparks arced between wires like tiny lightning bolts, threatening to cascade into the rest of the system. The device sputtered violently, heat radiating from its surface.

“Jayce!” Viktor’s voice rang out sharply, cutting through the chaos. Before Jayce could react, Viktor was already moving. Panic rose quickly as the acrid scent of burning insulation and scorched metal filled the air.

“Wait, Viktor, don’t-“ Jayce started, but was too late.

Without hesitation, Viktor reached for the exposed wires. The heat radiating from the device made Jayce flinch, but Viktor’s hand remained steady. His fingers moved quickly with calculated precision, gripping the wires just above the sparking nodes to break the current without spreading the surge to nearby components. His knowledge of the circuitry made the dangerous act look deceptively simple but Jayce couldn’t ignore the way arcs of energy snapped at Viktor’s fingers.

The surge collapsed with a crackling hiss, the systems core flickering for a moment before shutting down entirely. Smoke curled up from the wires, leaving a sharp tang in the air.

An angry swear filled with uncontrolled pain rang through their lab. The damage was done. Viktor yanked his hand back with a sharp hiss, his fingers curling instinctively as he staggered back a few steps from the device.

Jayce rushed forward, his heart pounding as his eyes locked on Viktor’s hand. The skin of his fingertips was red and blistered, shiny with the beginnings of burns from the intense heat he had exposed himself to. A thin, jagged cut ran diagonally across his palm where one of the wires exposed edges had bitten into his skin. Blood welled from the cut, trailing down his wrist in thin, uneven rivulets before pooling in small drops on the floor.

“Shit!” Jayce’s voice cracked as he reached for Viktor, fingers gently placed along the back of his injured hand, careful to not touch the cut. “Viktor, are you-“

“I am fine.” Viktor said quickly, his voice tight but controlled. Another swear escaping, this time hushed and more frustrated than anything as he pulled his hand back. Jayce could see his partner’s jaw clenching from the reaction to pain, even in this moment Viktor tried to stay calm. “It is minor burns, nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious?” Jayce’s eyes widened, trying not to raise his voice in disbelief. “V, you’re bleeding, and your fingers are - sit down, please. Let me-“

“Jayce.” Viktor’s voice softened as he attempted to wave off the concern. His non-injured hand curling around the wrist of his other hand as if he could starve off the source of pain. “It looks worse than what it is.” Viktor muttered, his jaw tight. “It is pain. It will pass.”

Jayce shook his head, guilt and panic swirling into a sickening storm in his chest. “You’re not brushing this off.” He said firmly, his voice low but resolute. “Sit. Please.” It came out more as a plead than a request. His bleeding heart on his sleeve as he almost felt dizzy with guilt.

For a moment Viktor hesitated, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as if considering whether to argue. But whatever he saw in Jayce’s expression made him relent. With a quiet sigh he sank into the nearest chair, his injured hand cradled against his chest.

Jayce didn’t waste a second. He was quick to grab the small first-aid kit from their storage and hurried back to his partner side. He crouched down in front of the man, pulse still thrumming in his ears with adrenaline as he opened the kit. He was by no means proficient in medicine, but years of experience in the lab had made him no stranger to cuts and burns. Quickly he got everything he needed out of the bag, antiseptic wipes, gauze and a roll of bandages.

“Let me see.” Jayce finally lifted his eyes, his voice even softer as guilt ate away at the edges of his words.

Viktor sharply inhaled, but still he extended his injured hand. The faintest tremble betraying the pain he was trying to hide. A small twitch to his upper lip told Jayce just what he needed to know.

Jayce took Viktor’s hand delicately, cradling it in his larger one as though it was cracked porcelain. The warmth of Viktor’s skin was a sharp contrast to the cold antiseptic wipe. His gaze flicked over the burns and cuts, wincing as his chest tightened further. The blisters on the tips of Viktor’s fingers were raw and angry, the heat having seared delicate skin. The harsh cut across his palm wasn’t deep enough to scar, but it was still enough to sting. To become a reminder of how close they’d come to something worse.

“This isn’t just ‘nothing’, Viktor.” Jayce said quietly, his brows furrowing as he began gently cleaning the wound. He dabbed the cut with the antiseptic wipe, his touch as light as he could manage. His movement stopping with every twitch or hitch of Viktor’s breath.

“I’ve dealt with worse.” Viktor answered just before flinching as the wipe neared the center of his palm. His voice was steady despite the way his free hand gripped the arm of the chair, knuckles turning white.

“That does not mean this won’t hurt.” Jayce muttered, glancing up at him briefly. “Please, let me take care of you.”

Viktor didn’t respond immediately, his gaze shifting to the floor. Jayce continued working in silence, carefully wrapping the gauze around Viktor’s palm. His fingers brushing against Viktor’s skin as he secured the bandage with a strip of tape. He continued by applying a mild scented ointment to the tips of his partners fingers, covering the burns and gaining a soft sigh of relief from the man above.

“There.” Jayce said softly, leaning back on his heels to look at Viktor’s hand. “That should hold for now but…” He hesitated for a moment, worried about overstepping their unestablished boundaries. “You have to let it heal. You can’t push through this like you do everything else.”

Viktor’s lips twitched into the faintest semblance of a smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You know me better than that, Jayce.” His tone dragged with dry amusement gaining him a huff from Jayce.

“Yeah. I know. That’s why I’m saying it, hoping one day you might listen.” He lingered for a moment, his gaze flickering to Viktor’s hand again, as if double-checking his work.

“Thank you.” Viktor said after a moment of silence, voice quiet but sincere. His hand turned in Jayce’s grip, a gentle press of their palms.

Jayce’s chest tightened at the words, the surprising warmth in Viktor’s tone chasing away the lingering guilt. He looked back up, eyes meeting Viktor’s. For a split second he could swear he felt the ever so gentle caress of an uninjured finger across his wrist. “Anytime.” His voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment the air between them felt heavy with something unspoken. Viktor’s gaze lingered on Jayce’s, studying him as though searching for something. Jayce felt his breath hitch, the weight of Viktor’s attention making his heart skip a beat.

The silence stretched, not uncomfortable, but charged. As if the static from the failed experiment was still dancing between them. Viktor’s golden gaze, sharp and calculating, softened slightly, and edge dulled by curiosity or perhaps something else Jayce couldn’t name.

Viktor’s uninjured hand shifted slightly, fingers twitching as if they might reach out. Jayce’s gaze dropped momentarily to the faint movement before snapping back up, catching the faintest flicker of hesitation in Viktor’s expression.

“Jayce.” Viktor said at last, his voice low, almost quiet enough to be lost in the hum of the lab. His lips parted as though to say more, but instead, he simply let his injured hand rest more fully in Jayce’s grip. A deliberate weight that sent a ripple of electricity down Jayce’s spine, a shiver following after.

Jayce swallowed hard, his throat dry, his voice stuck somewhere between his chest and lips. The air between them thickened again, pressing closer. If he just moved an inch, if he just straightened his back, if he just leaned in a little closer —

Viktor blinked, and the spell was broken. He leaned back in his chair, expression settling back to its usual measured calm. “We should finish the diagnostics on the prototype, yes?” He said, though his voice carried an unspoken warmth that lingered in the space they had just shared.

Jayce nodded, his voice lost while he quickly gathered up the first-aid kit. The lingering warmth of Viktor’s touch stayed with him as he returned the kit to its place. For the rest of the day he found himself stealing glances at Viktor.

\\\

Later, as he replayed the day’s events, Jayce found himself flipping through his book of flowers with newfound purpose. This was how he found his third flower to gift. He had spent another hour scrambling through the language of flowers, finger tracing over every word until he found exactly what he needed. Gratitude. Care. Protection. More words he couldn’t bring himself to say out loud, but could could weave into petals and stems.

The next day, Jayce entered the lab with a small bouquet tucked under his arm. Bluebells, delicate and vibrant. The flowers were understated but full of meaning, a quiet apology and a promise all in one. He didn’t even hesitate as he stepped into the lab.

His eyes quickly found Viktor’s, sitting by the blackboard with a mug of something sweet smelling in his hand. The injured hand resting across his lap, now with a proper wrapping of bandages and bandaids. The mans eyes flickering from Jayce’s face and to the bouquet. A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Another one?” Viktor asked, setting his mug on a desk before leaning back slightly in his chair. His voice carried its usual dry amusement, but this time there was an unmistakable warmth in his tone that made small sparks flicker in Jayce’s chest.

“Yeah!” Jayce answered, surprised at the softness in his tone. He stepped forward, holding the bouquet out toward his partner. “I wanted to say thank you. For, uh, yesterday. I realised… If you hadn’t stepped in it might have blown up in my face. Although I wish it had not been at the expense of your safety and hand. Just- I… Yeah. Thank you. It is appreciated, you are appreciated. And I am so, so very sorry about not being more careful with the power regulator, I will do better. I don’t even know what came over me not reacting, or seeing the signs.”

Viktor could barely keep up with the ramble of words Jayce produced, yet he took the flowers with a soft chuckle. Resting it in his lap to give one of the bells a gentle flick with one of his non-injured fingers. “These are bluebells, yes?” A sound of wonder followed as Viktor studied the flowers.

“Your apology is not needed, though if it makes you feel better I will accept it.” Viktor watched as the last bits of tension bled out of Jayce’s shoulders. A softness settled between their stolen glances.

“Wait, does this mean you’ll take it easy on yourself while you are healing?” Jayce could feel himself perk up, pushing his luck ever so slightly.

“Do you think flowers will keep me from overworking myself, Jayce?” The dry, unamused tone somewhat of a comfort. Knowing they had fallen back to their usual rhythm.

“Viktor, if I thought it would I would bring you a whole garden.”

Viktor’s lips quirked upward, the barest hint of a smirk tugging at his mouth. His eyes lingered on Jayce for a beat longer than necessary before returning to his work, leaving Jayce with a faint flush and racing heart.

The language of flowers was an unnecessary invention. That had been Viktor’s belief for most of his life, a sentiment born out of practicality. Flowers were ephemeral, delicate things, wilting long before their meanings could take root. Why rely on something so transient to convey emotions when words carefully chosen and expertly delivered, could convey so much more? Of course, Viktor understood the sentimental value of a rose, but it was not one he had felt tug at his own heart.

That was, of course, until Jayce Talis made his grand appearance. The language of flowers had become unavoidable, inescapable, even. It had wound its way into Viktor’s life with every bloom his partner had left in his wake, like roots taking hold of his heart. Each offering had been a puzzle wrapped in fragrance and colour.

Viktor really loves puzzles.

It was no surprise, then, that when Jayce handed him the first flower Viktor had found himself drawn to the mystery of it all. At first, it had been nothing more than a simple curiosity. The flower had come out of nowhere but as Jayce had rambled on about finished projects and breakthroughs, Viktor had picked up on a carefully slipped-in word. Symbolism. Jayce, the Golden Boy of Piltover, Man of Progress, caring about the symbolism of a flower. Not just that, he cared about what it would mean should it be gifted to Viktor.

This piqued Viktor’s interest.

As more flowers followed, each one layered with intentions, Viktor had realised this was more than just a fleeting whim. It was more than just his partner’s latest obsession bleeding into their everyday life. There was care to it, depth even. Jayce was desperately trying to speak to him and all Viktor had to do was solve the riddle presented to him.

And that is what led him here, to the book now resting in his hands.

It was an old thing, the spine cracked and the pages worn thin, a rare relic of a life he hadn’t brought himself to think of in many years. Among the few possessions he had kept from his mother’s passing, this book had lingered in his collection. She had been sentimental to her core, always finding beauty in small things—pressed flowers between book pages, trinkets collected from the markets, a well-worn book on flora she swore by. He still found comfort in creating space for her memory in his life, to know that she could still guide him even in her absence.

The book stayed. No matter how tall the walls he built around his heart, the softness he had inherited from her still found its way through. The memories of her delicate fingers thumbing through the pages, a faint smile on her lips as she recited the name of the flower, its uses and, at last, its meaning. He remembered her spending hours writing in the margins of the book as she learned the meaning of a new bloom. Back then, he had dismissed it as one of her whims, a charming distraction to occupy her. He realised now it had been one of her ways of connecting with the world—quiet, deliberate, and deeply meaningful.

Now, the book, heavy in his hands and filled with meanings that seemed to whisper gently back at him, was forcing him to reconsider what he thought he knew of flora. Each flower Jayce had given him had nudged open a door he hadn’t realised was locked, and the book had become a guide through the uncharted territory Jayce had created.

His mother would have laughed softly at him, perhaps given him a loving tease about his sudden interest in something he once had no time for. She would have called it fate, or something equally sentimental, always eager to romanticise the quiet threads of connection that wove through life. Viktor didn’t believe much in fate, but as his thumb brushed the entry of a red camellia, he couldn’t deny that perhaps… His mother had seen truths he once had overlooked.

The words were staring back at him. Unyielding love. His mother’s handwriting, looping and intricate, filled in the meaning of the flower in the margins.

A daring flower for a daring heart. The kind of love that can change everything, if you’re brave enough for it.

Perhaps he could find it in his sentimental heart to believe in fate like his mother would have done. His gaze drifted over to the bouquet beside him. Vivid and unapologetic, their message impossible to ignore. Like an invitation to feel more. Even now, Viktor couldn’t help the faint pull at his emotions over Jayce’s boldness. Leaving no room for doubt anymore.

There was only space for Viktor to respond.

\\\

The sound of the lab door creaking announced Jayce’s arrival, his steps hesitant but unmistakable. Viktor didn’t glance up immediately, though the sound tugged faintly at the corner of his thoughts. He was sitting by their shared desk, eyes focused on the book in his hands as if the scribbled words could bring him a last moment of comfort.

“You are late.” Viktor broke the silence without looking up, his tone carrying a deliberate neutrality. His fingers slid down to the edge of the page as if the texture might anchor his scattered thoughts. The shuffling footsteps faltered, a momentary hitch that Viktor caught before he turned the page.

“Yeah, uh, sorry about that…” Jayce answered, his voice softer than usual. “Didn’t sleep great.”

Viktor rose from the chair to face Jayce. He finally allowed himself to glance over to his partner standing on opposite side of the room. It was easy to spot the nervous tension in Jayce’s shoulders, the way his eyes flickered with uncertainty around the room. Viktor followed that flicker, noting the way it returned over and over to the bouquet of camellias resting on the desk. His heart gave a quiet, inexplicable tug at the sight of him. Ah, there it is, Viktor thought, the weight of things unsaid.

“Did the flowers keep you awake?” Viktor asked lightly, a subtle fracture in their charade. It was the first direct acknowledgement of the flowers’ meaning, a quiet revelation that he understood their weight, and now Jayce knew that he knew.

Jayce’s reaction didn’t disappoint. His ears turned a telltale red and he quickly shook his head. “No! No, I—uh, I just…” Viktor watched as Jayce stuttered through his words, trying his very best to come up with an excuse. In the end, he gave up, mouth shutting closed. “Maybe…” Jayce’s voice was so quiet Viktor barely caught it. His partner’s nervous energy filled the space between them like static energy of an overcharged power regulator.

“Hm…” Viktor hummed, a low sound that carried more weight than it should. He held his steady gaze on Jayce, watching the man all but squirm under it. For a moment he expected amusement to grow in his chest but no—instead he found himself overwhelmed with endearment. It was disarming, how someone so bold and unyielding like Jayce could falter so entirely in matters of the heart.

The soft thud of Viktor closing the book was enough to snap Jayce’s attention back to him. His eyes narrowing at the worn cover as if it might explain itself. Viktor studied him silently, watching the realization slowly take hold. Last time he had been subtle like this it had taken a moment. But he could wait.

Viktor waited.

Jayce stared.

Viktor waited some more, allowing himself the faintest of smirks. Jayce all but gasped loudly, breaking the fragile quiet. For a moment, it looked like he had entirely shut down, his thoughts scrambling for purchase as though Viktor had short-circuited him. He watched the realisation dawn on Jayce like the slow bloom of a flower. His partner’s lips parted as if to speak, then closed again and Viktor could see the gears turning, piecing together what was in front of him.

“Is that—?” Jayce trailed off, his words catching in his throat as his mind seemed to race ahead of his mouth. “Is flowers? Book on flowers?” The phrase sounded ridiculous as he said it and Viktor allowed a smile to crack his neutral expression. “It is.” His voice remained calm. “Ah, more specifically symbolic meanings.” His calm delivery only making Jayce’s reaction so much more delightful.

Jayce blinked rapidly, his eyebrows shooting upwards. “And you’ve been reading it?” His voice climbed a pitch, “Like—actually reading it?”

“I have.” Viktor acknowledged with a subtle nod. “It belonged to my mother. She always had her way of finding meanings in the smallest things, an appreciation for connections others might overlook. It has been… Useful in navigating, well, you.” Viktor’s eyes flickered to the flowers once more. Vivid against the muted tones of the lab. He had to remind himself to slow his breath.

Jayce’s gaze darted to the flowers, then to the book and finally to Viktor’s eyes. His throat bobbing as he swallowed. “Does that mean…?” The question died halfway, as if finishing it might make the situation heavier. Viktor’s sharp eyes caught the slight tremble to his partner’s fingers.

“It means,” Viktor began, his voice softening to soothe Jayce’s worry, “that I have been paying attention, Jayce. Perhaps more than you realised.”

Jayce’s nervous laugh was almost a relief in the tense air between them. “A-ah… That’s… That’s good, right?” He asked with as much confidence he could muster, voice still holding a light tremble to it as if testing the weight of Viktor’s words.

There was something so profoundly endearing in Jayce’s nervous energy, how someone so bold and confident in the public eye could falter so completely here, in the quiet space between them. How out there he could be everyone’s charming Jayce but in here? In the soft silence of their lab, between petals and golden thread? This was a side of Jayce only meant for Viktor’s eyes.

“Good?” Viktor echoed; he felt the amusement linger in his tone. Even now, Jayce was standing with no flowers to hide behind and he wanted to know if he did good. “I would think so, considering the effort you have put in it.”

Jayce blinked, head tilting. Viktor could only imagine the thoughts going through his head, searching for the effort it had taken him to deliver flowers. Gods he’s precious when confused, Viktor tried not to smile at his own thoughts. Jayce shook his head before speaking; “I wouldn’t say it was that much effort-“

With a simple raise of his eyebrow Viktor cut off whatever dismissing statement Jayce was about to say. “Daffodils, sunflowers, bluebells, gardenias…” Viktor continued by subtly gesturing to the red blooms next to him. “You have gifted me quite the collection. Each one with a meaning, each one deliberate. It has not gone unnoticed.”

“Oh…uh- I didn’t think you would…” Jayce answered, shifting in his place as his thumb started rubbing comforting little circles into his own palm. “I-I mean. I wasn’t sure… I thought you might find it dumb or- I don’t know? Too much? Not enough, maybe…”

“Not enough?” Viktor stared at him in disbelief. Did they go to the same event? Did Jayce not see the pride which Viktor carried his patterns? He quite literally walked the halls of the gala like a trademarked Talis just for Jayce. Viktor couldn’t bring himself to say any of that, however. “Jayce, you gave me a Gardenia. That is not subtle. That is, in fact, quite a message.”

Jayce’s lips parted, as though he meant to speak, but nothing came out. Viktor allowed himself a small smirk. He had spent countless hours parsing the meanings Jayce had gifted him, the hidden confessions wrapped in petals and scent. It had been a puzzle, yes, but one layered with tenderness and vulnerability. He preferred to be composed, methodical even, but Jayce always had a way of disarming him. Of making every moment feeling alive.

Viktor allowed the moment of silence between them to stretch, watching the ever-blushing Jayce stare back at him. It pulled at his heart, striking something tender within him. How many times had Jayce worn his heart on his sleeve, unguarded and vulnerable, even when he didn’t realise it? And how often had Viktor sidestepped the invitation to meet him halfway in fear of hoping too much? In desperation to protect his own sentimental heart?

Jayce was already standing halfway waiting. All Viktor had to do was to follow the bond that tethered them together.

“You,” Viktor began, his voice quieter now as he found himself nervously tracing fingers across the spine of his book, “make even the smallest thing feel important. Brighter, warmer—like they matter more because you touched it. It is… eh, infuriating, in a way.”

Jayce opened his mouth, Viktor assumed to apologise. “Infuriating,” he quickly continued before the other man had a chance to speak, “because… It leaves no space to hide. No corner to retreat to. Everything you do, every flower or every look or every touch, it demands attention. Demands feeling.” Viktor paused as he could feel himself getting flustered with the vulnerability of the moment. Exposed. Nervous. Was this how Jayce felt every time he’d brought a flower? Every time he’d let his heart show? He looked at Jayce carefully. His heart stuttered. Jayce was looking at him like he was hanging the moon and stars with every word. More feelings to be demanded. He felt unsteady.

“Even as I told myself I preferred my solitude, you… made it impossible. You, Jayce. Are impossible not to feel. Everything you do. Everything you are. I-“ It was Viktor’s turn to have his sentence trail off. He felt his own breath grow heavy in his chest, and for just a moment, he considered retreating, drawing back to the safety of quiet gestures and unsaid truth. But he knew, no matter where he went, no matter how tall the walls around his heart might grow—He would always seek Jayce out in the end.

“You are extraordinary.”

The words left Viktors lips before he could even think, aching with affection for his partner. Jayce’s breath hitched loudly with the gentle confession, his eyes searching Viktor’s face with an intensity that felt like gravity, pulling Viktor closer even as he fought to keep his composure. He could so easily give in, cross the room and find himself by Jayce’s side but—no. Viktor had a plan, and he was determined not to let Jayce derail him from delivering the confession he intended to give his partner.

Viktor took a deep breath before he turned slightly to the side to comfortably place the book on their desk. The motion revealing something hiding behind his frame. A small bouquet resting on the edge of the table.

Jayce’s attention was immediately locked on the flowers, eyes wide with surprise and something Viktor couldn’t quite read. The arrangement was modest but purposeful. Delicate Lily of the Valley, soft blues of Forget-Me-Not and the bold red of a Chrysanthemum. Viktor looked from Jayce and over to the blooms, his heart beating like a hummingbird in his chest.

“Viktor—I…” Jayce said his name like a plea, voice so thick with emotion Viktor wasn’t sure if the man was about to laugh or cry. His partner’s expression almost twisted into pain from yearning, he couldn’t ignore the light tremble to his frame either. Jayce was just about to crumble.

No more hiding behind walls, petals, or cautious words. No more.

“I have spent some time thinking of how to give back to you.” Viktor said, his voice soft, steadier than he felt. “How…To speak a language you have already mastered.” He carefully picked up the bouquet, holding it as if it was something precious. Viktor’s gaze met Jayce’s as the words hung in the air between them. The warmth in his partner’s eyes made his chest ache with the distance between them.

 “I believe it is my turn, now.” Viktor stepped closer.

“Lily of the Valley,” Viktor began. His gaze fell to the white blooms nestled in the bouquet, white bells arching gracefully along slender green stems. “They are for sweetness, for returning to happiness. For the joy you have brought into my life, Jayce.” Although he had never heard his mother speak the words aloud, he could almost hear her voice now, gently reciting the lily’s entry as if she was beside him. A quiet kind of joy, the kind that fills the spaces you didn’t know were empty. A reminder that true happiness often whispers instead of shouts.

He took another step, cane tapping softly against the ground. Drawn to the warmth and presence of the man before him, Viktor continued. “Forget-Me-Not,” His voice felt raw with emotions, “they hold the meaning of always remembering you. Of how even in your absence, your presence lingers with me.”

The tiny blue blossoms seemed impossibly delicate as he turned the bouquet slightly, letting the light catch the soft hues. This one he had heard his mother speak once, her voice soft in his mind as he reminded himself. A flower for the memories that cling to us, for when we are apart but still hold each other. To hold this flower and say, ‘Not for a moment will I forget you, ever.’

He swallowed, his golden eyes meeting Jayce’s fully now. The man stood still; his eyes fixed on Viktor with awe. “Even when you are not here… you are.”

His eyes lowered to the deepest hue of the bouquet, his thumb lightly tracing the bold red petals as if they might lend him the courage to continue. Viktor took his final step, coming to a halt before Jayce, close enough now to feel the warmth radiating from him like the sun itself. He had closed the distance. Now he just needed the words. “And these…” His breath caught, and for the first time, he felt himself break just a little under the weight of the flowers. For a love that demands courage. It does not come subtly, but boldly, asking you to risk everything—but it is worth everything. “Red Chrysanthemums.” The words left him as a little more than a whisper, the name heavy on his tongue. “They mean—” He paused, heat rising unbidden to his face as his chest tightened. He had prepared for this, every word carefully chosen, every thought rehearsed. It should have been simple. The meaning of the red bloom stuck somewhere between his chest and throat, and he couldn’t understand why. He couldn’t have come this far just to go still, could he? He felt the flower bloom in his heart. The meaning burned warmer than any ember could.

I love you.

“I love you.”

Viktor’s eyes widened at the rough tone of Jayce’s voice as he spoke. His attention snapped back to the man in front of him only to have his heart stutter. Jayce was looking at him with a smile so pure, so brilliant, it was almost too much to bear. It was the kind of joy that seemed to overflow, unrestrained, pooling in the corners of his eyes as if a single blink would release the tears clinging on to his lashes. “I love you,” Jayce said again, the words tumbling from his lips like they had been locked away for too long, finally free. His voice cracked, but he didn’t seem to care. “I love you—Viktor— I-” Viktor’s breath caught in his chest, his mind spinning as his body moved before he could think better of it. The flowers in his hands slipped from his grasp, forgotten as they fell to the floor. His cane meeting the same fate as he let it go, his hand suddenly too preoccupied with something far more important. He closed the space between them in a single purposeful step and reached for Jayce. His hand found purchase at the collar of Jayce’s shirt and there was no resistance as he pulled the other man close with desperation. Viktor’s lips crashed against Jayce’s in a kiss unrestrained and unapologetically raw. It was though all the emotions Viktor had kept locked at bay, all the feelings he had neglected to voice, spilled forth in one singular act. Jayce let out a surprised, breathless sound that quickly melted into something deeper. One hand instinctively gripping Viktor’s waist while the other found the back of his head, fingers threading into the soft curls at the base of his neck. Viktor melted. The kiss was everything and nothing like he had imagined—messy, uncoordinated and yet so profoundly grounding it made his head spin. Jayce’s lips were soft and warm, moving against his own with a tenderness that contrasted the intensity of what they both felt. Viktor tilted his head, deepening the kiss. He poured into it everything he had no words for, a silent confession of his heart. The fingers curling in Jayce’s collar became a plea to never leave, his other hand coming to rest at the man’s jaw as a promise to cherish him, the kiss becoming a promise to nurture whatever might grow between them.

Jayce pressed closer, his broad hand splaying over Viktor’s back, pulling him in like they couldn’t possibly be close enough. The heat between their bodies burning bright with the shared affection. Viktor felt ablaze with every touch, every press of lips—It wasn’t just the wall of petals Jayce had burned down but the very walls around Viktor’s sentimental heart. Jayce was keeping him so warm. So at home. Viktor couldn’t imagine a world where he felt cold or alone again.

Viktor had half a mind to chase after Jayce as the man pulled away, instead he was soothed with small butterfly light kisses to his cheekbone and right above his upper lip. Warmth lingering long after his partner’s lips left, and he couldn’t help the soft chuckle of joy.

“Please say it back.”

Jayce’s voice, thick with emotion, broke the quiet. His breath ghosting against Viktor’s lips as he spoke.

Viktor opened his eyes, tilting his head slightly to meet Jayce’s pleading gaze. A flicker of amusement danced in his own as he let a smile curl over his lips. “Eh, flowers not enough for you now?” he teased gently, his voice softer than what usually weaved through his playfulness.

“Please.” Jayce repeated, his trembling, his eyes shining with something vulnerable that Viktor felt his heart twist.

The teasing fell away quickly as Viktor let out a shaky breath, his thumb brushing against Jayce’s cheek, wiping away a tear neither of them acknowledged.

“I love you.” He said simply, but his voice carried all the weight of the moment, all the meaning the flowers and kisses couldn’t convey.

Jayce’s eyes fluttered shut, a laugh slipping through his parted lips, half a sob and half relief. “Viktor—I…” He began, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. His large frame trembling ever so slightly with relief. Viktor surged forward, cutting him off with another kiss. This one was slower, sweeter, an affirmation wrapped in tenderness. His hand slipping from Jayce’s collar and coming to rest over his heart, feeling the steady and strong beat beneath his palm. He could feel his partner soften in his hands, melting into the moment like he’d found the place he belonged. It almost made him weep with how soft it all was. How deeply comforting it was to find the soul that mirrored your own.

The kiss stayed soft and light, every moment deliberate and unhurried. Viktor tilted his head slightly, his nose brushing against Jayce’s cheek as he savoured the closeness. It was as though time had slowed, the world reduced to just them and the quiet, electric hum of their connection.

Between the press of lips, Viktor caught faint murmurs—soft, barely audible whispers that sent a rush of warmth over him.

“I love you—I love y—love,” Jayce muttered, the words slipping free like a mantra, unbidden but true.

Viktor exhaled against Jayce’s mouth, a sound that carried equal parts affection and quiet disbelief. He allowed himself to pause, just briefly, to take in the sight of the man before him. His partner’s eyes were shut, lashes brushing against his cheeks and a flush painted his skin, vibrant and full of life. It was staggering, raw and beautiful in a way Viktor couldn’t put into words.

Jayce’s lips found his again, and Viktor couldn’t stop the quiet laugh that spilled between them. “You are relentless.” Viktor murmured as if sharing a secret meant only for the two of them. Jayce pulled back just enough to meet Viktor’s gaze. The amber of his eyes eaten up by the blacks of his pupils. “I mean it,” his voice was low now, hand brushing against Viktor’s as it rested over his chest, interlocking their fingers. “Every time. I mean it.” It was so honest. “I believe you.” Viktor answered, he had no other choice but to believe Jayce. How could he not? Every action, every glance, every flower had led them here, to this moment. Viktor didn’t just believe Jayce, he felt the love. It was rolling off his partner like waves of water to drown in, to submerge in and never return to the surface. Their foreheads came to a rest, soft breaths sharing the air between them as they simply basked in each other’s orbit. Neither spoke, silence filled with something vibrant, something alive. When their eyes met, the sheer joy reflected in Jayce’s gaze made Viktor’s lips twitch into a smile. Jayce broke into a grin first, wide and unrestrained, and Viktor couldn’t help but mirror it, a quiet laugh escaping him as the weight of the moment gave away to something lighter. Jayce’s shoulder shook with a soft, bubbling laughter, and Viktor let himself lean into the joy. His own chuckles joining the sound. “You are amazing.” Jayce said between breaths, his grin so wide it threatened to split his face. “I mean it, Viktor. The flowers—I—” Viktor’s smile softened, a warm glow settling over his features. “Mm, well, I cannot take full credit. Julianna helped.”

Jayce blinked, pulling back just enough to look at him properly, his expression shifting into surprise. “Wait—you know Julianna?” Viktor’s smirk returned, playful and sharp. “Of course. You think I would entrust something as delicate as your feelings just to anyone?” Jayce sputtered, torn between laughing and looking scandalised. “I—she never said anything! Did you… Did you plan this with her?” Viktor chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Plan? No, not exactly. She was eh… Enthusiastic in the supply of flowers.” He admitted, his voice carrying a faint note of pride as he continued, “but I chose them. Their meanings, their purpose—those were mine.”

He watched as his partner’s eyes shifted from surprise to something softer, almost awestruck in nature. Jayce’s cheeks flushed deeper as his gaze darted between Viktor’s eyes and the playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Gods,” Jayce whispered, “I’m so in love with you.” Before Viktor could respond Jayce leaned forward, capturing his lips in a kiss filled with laughter and warmth. Their smiles growing so wide it broke through the kiss, leaving them both simply basking in the joy of each other. “You are unyielding,” Viktor murmured again, amusement and affection weaving through his words like golden thread on a tailored lapel.

The bell above the door chimed softly as Jayce stepped into the flower shop, the warm scent of blooms wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. The air was alive with the fragrance of roses, lavender and a faint trace of citrus, a haven of quiet beauty that stood in stark contrast to the chaos of thoughts he found himself in. He lingered near the entrance for a moment, eyes wandering over the vibrant displays, unsure what to do next.

“Mister Talis?” Julianna’s familiar voice called from behind the counter, gentle and welcoming. She stepped out from the backroom, a bundle of daisies cradled in one arm and an easy smile on her face. “It is good to see you again. What brings you by today? Another occasion?”

Jayce managed a faint chuckle, stepping further into the shop. “Ah, no big occasion. Just, um… Something I want to get right. Really right.”

Julianna tilted her head slightly, her curiosity softening into something warmer, more understanding. “Come on, let’s figure this one out. What’s on your mind?” She gestured for him to come closer.

Jayce joined her at the counter, hands clasped and coming to a rest at the table. “I… I don’t know.” He admitted, his voice quieter than usual. “I’ve been giving flowers to uh, someone. Trying to say things I can’t- It’s… I know the words, I have them, I can practice them like a speech but then, when I step in front of the audience I just…” His sentence trailed off at the thought of Viktor, even now just thinking about him had his heart fluttering like the lovesick puppy he once tried to deny the existence of.

The florist’s expression softened, and she leaned her arms against the counter. “That is a start, you know.” She said, her tone encouraging. “It means you’re already thinking about them. Really thinking about them.”

Jayce’s gaze shifted to the rows of blooms behind her, his nerves starting to show. “Have you ever done that?” He asked hesitantly. “Used flowers to… uh, say something? I mean, it seems like you’d know how, considering all this.”

Julianna’s eyes warmed with understanding, her smile turning a little more personal. “Oh, I have.” She said, nodding. “When I proposed to my partner, actually.”

Jayce blinked, he’d expected maybe flowers for an apology or a celebration. “You used flowers to propose?”

“I sure did! And! It worked!” She straightened and stepped around the counter, motioning for him to follow with her hand. A golden band around her finger telling him of the successful outcome. “I spent like weeks obsessing over what to pick. I wanted something meaningful, something that said everything I was feeling. Something with the right intention. It became a whole mess towards the end, I got a little too obsessed.” The confession made her wince with embarrassment, but it didn’t fester.

“I did realise, however,” She continued as she stopped them in front of a display of white gardenias. The scent pulled a warm memory from Jayce’s mind, he felt the lingering warmth of a hand in his as cold evening air brushed over his skin. If he stared long enough at the white blooms he could almost imagine golden embroidery on their petals. “That it wasn’t about the flower, really. I know that’s a bad thing to say as a florist but…” She shrugged one of her shoulders.

“It’s about you and it’s about them. The flower might just be a bridge, but you still have to meet in the middle.” A soft smile crossed her face as she reached out for one of the flowers. “I ended up choosing gardenias. You’re familiar with them, yes? From your gala? They’re one of my spouses favourites. For me, these felt like a promise— a way of saying, ‘you’re it for me, no matter what’, you know?”

Jayce froze, his eyes locked on the white bloom in Julianna’s hand. His heart did an unsteady flip, the warmth of her words sinking in before the full weight of them hit him. Gardenias. Oh. Oh. His mind reeled back to the balcony, to Viktor’s quiet acceptance of the flower Jayce had given him. I gave him a gardenia. I gave him a gardenia.

“You… uh, proposed with gardenias?” Jayce stammered, his voice climbing a little too high. “I-I mean, that’s beautiful, of course it is! I- I just didn’t think they meant- Not that I wouldn’t have meant, eventually, maybe, but not— I mean, uh-“

Julianna laughed gently, her warm and knowing smile both comforting and mortifying. “Easy there, Mister Talis,” She said, holding up her free hand as if to calm a startled animal. “I can see your brain running in circles. Take a breath.”

Jayce sucked in a sharp breath and nodded, though it did little to steady the rush of thoughts. Does Viktor think I’m proposing? Did I just hand him a flower that said “please, oh God, please marry me?” Oh no. The image of golden embroidery on a white suit sent a jolt through his system, it was made no better when accompanied by the clear visualisation of Viktor’s little smirk when saying ‘I do’— Jayce stopped himself there. His ears burning hot as he realised just where his thoughts were heading.

“It’s not the same, you know.” Julianna said, her tone calm and reassuring. “That was what the gardenias meant to me and my partner. But for you, they meant something different, right?”

Jayce blinked, her words cutting through his panic like a cool breeze. “I— Yeah. Yeah, they did.” He paused, the sound of wedding bells swapped with that little hitch of Viktor’s breath before their interruption. It filled his chest with a quiet ache as he thought of what the flower had meant to his confession. “It was… Yeah. It was something different.”

“Well, there you go!” The florist said, tone filled with encouragement. “See? The meaning doesn’t belong to the flower— it belongs to you. It’s your story. Your feelings. And you get to decide what to do with it.”

“I just… I don’t want to ruin anything before it even has a chance to be something.” The confession was too vulnerable than what he expected it to be, especially for a Wednesday afternoon in a flowershop. He would have to tip the florist a therapists fee after this. Why he found himself spilling his heart was hard to tell, perhaps it was the anonymity of the situation. To be allowed just for a moment to be a man buying their crush flowers instead of someone changing the trajectory of his life. Or perhaps it was just the scent of lavender that made him dizzy.

The florist’s expression shifted to something more tender. “Can I tell you something I learned when I was picking those gardenias for my spouse?”

Jayce nodded carefully, eyes locked on the flowers as if he looked anywhere else he might lose his bravery to stand there.

“I spent so much time worrying about getting it perfect,” she said, her voice steady and warm. “I was terrified I’d pick the wrong one, or that they wouldn’t understand, or that it wouldn’t be enough. That they wouldn’t understand how much I adore them. But when the moment came? God, they did not care about any of that. They cared about me. And the fact that I was standing there, telling them how I felt, in the way I knew how. That’s what mattered.”

Jayce swallowed hard, gaze dropping to the floor. “Just… Me, then?” His voice felt small as the realisation settled over him. All this time, he’d been building a wall of petals and stems, hiding behind them to say what he couldn’t with words. But now, he understood. No wall would ever be tall enough to contain his aching heart. He would tear it down without hesitation if it meant standing face-to-face with Viktor.

Julianna smiled, her hand coming to rest on Jayce’s shoulder. He found a little comfort in it. “Just you.” She said softly with a knowing look. “Because at the end of the day it isn’t about the flowers, or the secret messages or if it’s perfect or not. It’s about the heart behind it. It’s about you saying what you feel, in whatever way you can.” She gave a little squeeze to his shoulder. “It’s you. And it’s him. That’s all that matters.”

All that matters. ‘It’s you, everything you are.’ His own words from the night of the gala echoed through his thoughts. He hadn’t been brave enough to say all that he wanted, not in the way he wanted to. The words had been too big, too fragile, and now they sat heavy in him and all but demanded to be spoken. But even if the words were lodged deep in his chest, he could still build the bridge and run over it to embrace Viktor. That he could do.

Jayce let out a soft, awkward laugh, running a hand through his hair. Her words landed softly, but they sank deep. It was almost overwhelming how easy she had read him. “You’re, uh… You’re good at this, huh?” He said, trying to lighten the moment.

The florist just gave a shrug of her shoulders with a smile, stepping back to give him some space. “It’s my job, Talis. Flowers and feelings— you’d be surprised how many flustered scientists walk through my door. You are not the only one, though you are my favourite.

“Ah, well. In that case I am very honoured.” He answered with a light chuckle. “Thank you, really.” Jayce gave her a warm smile and a slight bow of his head in gratitude. With his chest feeling a little lighter his eyes finally free to wander the shop.

He wanted to do this right, not to comfort his own perfectionism, but because Viktor deserved right. It had never been about the flowers, it had been about showing Viktor piece by piece what he saw in him. That he was adored, cherished, desired and above all that he was loved. Jayce could do that. He could show him that.

Jayce’s eyes came to a stop at red blooms.

“I’ll get three of those.”

Julianna followed his gaze to the flowers and grinned. “Perfect, I’ll get them wrapped up for you.”

\\\

The soft creak of the lab door echoed faintly as Jayce stepped inside. He was holding his breath as he looked around, eyes searching for the familiar shape of his partner but- no. He found himself alone in the room, Viktor’s chair standing empty.

Jayce released his breath, nerves thrumming as he stepped further in. The quiet absence was both a relief and a pang of disappointment. The entire walk from the flower shop he had imagined Viktor being here, imagined their eyes meeting as Jayce walked into the lab. He could almost hear Viktor’s sharp and witty comment disarm whatever awkward attempt Jayce would have made at explaining himself.

Instead, it was just him and the three flowers he held.

He approached Viktor’s desk, the scent of the blooms trailing with him. Jayce stared down at the workspace, its precision and purpose made a perfect reflection of Viktor himself. Every tool had its place, every notebook filled with clever words, even the empty beaker in the corner of the desk seemed intentional like it was waiting for a new confession. It was a space Jayce had always respected, even revered. To stand here now with something so delicate and fleeting in his hands felt like crossing into something sacred— an offering to something much bigger than him.

He hesitated, the flowers trembling slightly between his fingers. His mind swirled with all the moments that had led him here: Daffodils, Sunflowers, Bluebells and Gardenias. It told the story of just how deep Jayce had fallen for his partner. With every warm smile, with every laugh, every stolen glance, hidden smirk, soft words— with every loving touch. It had all been an ember.

Now, Jayce found himself fully ablaze. No longer wanting to control the hot surge of affection burning through him every time he as much as thought of Viktor. He understood now he would no longer be able to hide behind flowers; this was the last stem he could place before the walls he’d built around himself crumbled completely into the pyre of his adoration.

With a careful breath, Jayce leaned forward and placed the flowers at the centre of Viktor’s desk. He turned them slightly, the petals facing outwards, almost like an invitation to be taken. It rested atop an open notebook, its vibrant colour stark against the dark, inked pages. His hand rested there for a moment, he knew he couldn’t bring himself to pick the flowers up again after he had let them go. This was it. His thumb brushed against the stem. The gesture felt so small, but its weight tightened his chest and left his throat dry.

He let go. Stepping back slowly, his heart pounding as he stared at the flowers. Red camellias.

Unyielding love.

He lingered in the doorway, one hand gripping the frame as he glanced back one last time. The flowers seemed to cast a glow in the room, like a candle burning and shedding its light. A singular splash of colour in Viktor’s world.

The grand hall was alive with the murmur of conversation, the occasional sound of laughter weaving through the soft music drifting from the corner of the room. Jayce adjusted the cuffs of his jacket for the third time since arriving, the intricate gold embroidery tracing along the edges of his suit gleaming under the light of the chandelier. Beneath his jacket, a crimson shirt stood out boldly, paired with a fitted white vest that cinched his frame. Delicate patterns of gold stitched into the vest mirrored the accents on his jacket, tying the ensemble together with a quiet elegance. A burgundy tie completed the look, its golden tie clip shaped like a gear, a quiet nod to his work.

The air smelled faintly of champagne and polished marble, a refined kind of luxury he should have been used to by now, but never quite felt at home with. He made his rounds, offering firm handshakes and easy smiles to donors, inventors and ambassadors. It was second nature to him at this point, a charming face to smooth over concerns and build bridges where others might falter. The perfect face of ‘a golden boy’.

He was tired. He hadn’t even been there for a full hour and he wanted to leave. Even worse, Viktor hadn’t even shown up yet and at this point Jayce was concerned he would have to do this alone. His eyes scanned the halls for the hundredth time, searching for the familiar silhouette of his partner. Part of him hoped Viktor had decided to skip the event and avoid the fuss, but another, more selfish part of Jayce wanted him here. To share the evening, to make it feel less overwhelming, even if it meant hiding away together in a corner of the room.

Just as he accepted a glass of champagne from a passing server, the low murmur of the crowd shifted, the energy in the room tilting. Heads turned towards the entrance, conversation fading as eyes followed the new arrival.

And then Jayce saw him.

Viktor stood at the edge of the room, his cane tapping against the marble floor as he surveyed the space. His attire was unlike anything Jayce had ever seen him in. A deep crimson suit trimmed with golden embroidery tracing delicate patterns along the lapels and cuffs, catching the light with every subtle movement. Beneath the tailored jacket, a black waistcoat fastened with ornate brass buttons, completed a high-collared black shirt. A corset hugged around his waist, crimson threading laced in subtle hexagonal patterns that almost mirrored the designs of their hextech.

His hair, usually a little tousled from hours of work, was combed neatly back, though a single strand curled rebelliously near his temple. And his face, his fucking face — Khol lined his sharp eyes, making their golden hue all the more striking, and a faint dusting of gold at the corners of his eyes caught the light like sunlit embers.

Jayce forgot how to breathe.

Viktor moved with the same deliberate grace he always did, unhurried yet commanding attention with every step. His golden eyes scanned the room briefly before landing on Jayce. For a fleeting moment, Viktor’s lips curved into a faint smirk, the kind that Jayce rarely saw but always left him reeling.

Oh fuck.

Jayce swallowed hard, his hand tightening around the stem of his champagne glass. This isn’t fucking fair, he thought. How can he look like that and be so nonchalant. Does he not understand— can’t he see what it’s doing— I’m not going to survive this. It was unfair how just with one look Jayce’s carefully constructed composure turned into rubble. How his knees felt useless, how his breath stopped, mouth dry, head empty. He came to the horrifying realization that fairness held no place here — not when Jayce was perfectly content to surrender.

Viktor approached slowly, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease, greeting a few donors here and there with polite nods but never lingering. Jayce barely registered the words of the person next to him, his entire focus drawn to the way Viktor’s golden embroidery gleamed under the light.

When Viktor finally stopped in front of him, Jayce’s brain short-circuited. It took him a moment before he found his words, and even then he only managed a “Oh. Uh- I-… Hi… Hello.”

“Good evening, Jayce.” Viktor replied, seemingly unphased by the state he had left his partner in. His gaze swept over Jayce before pausing at the gear holding his tie in place. Once more Jayce found himself incapable of breathing as Viktor reached out for the pin. His fingers lightly tracing the outer cogs as a curious hum came from him. “How fitting. And complimenting of your golds.”

Jayce stared shamelessly, caught off guard by the simple touch— which wasn’t even touching him, just his pin. Which was more than enough it seemed like. The sound of someone clinking glasses together in the distance brought him out of his spell. Blinking a couple of times before returning back to his body.

“Oh, yeah, uh… Thanks. You’re, um, making quite the impression yourself.” Jayce gestured vaguely at Viktor’s attire, hoping he didn’t sound as flustered as he felt.

“An impression was the goal, yes.” Viktor answered as he pulled his hand back. Seemingly unaware of, or entirely amused by, Jayce’s inability to form a coherent thought. He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve with deliberate precision, drawing attention to the shimmering gold woven into the crimson fabric. The motion was casual, almost dismissive, but the faint tilt of Viktor’s head suggested he was waiting for something.

Jayce’s gaze followed the subtle flicker of gold as if drawn by a magnet. It was a pretty pattern and he had to stop himself from reaching out to trace his fingers along the familiar— oh fuck. The realization hit him like a freight train. The embroidery was familiar. The motif, intricate and delicate, mirrored the very design Jayce himself wore. He blinked, unsure if his mind was playing tricks on him. His gaze trailed from Viktor’s golden cuffs up to the embroidered lapels of his jacket, where the same elegant patterns glinted under the candlelight. It was subtle enough to blend seamlessly into Viktor’s attire, but unmistakable once noticed.

Jayce noticed.

His eyes darted back to Viktor’s face, searching for some sign, some hint, that he wasn’t imagining it. But Viktor, ever composed, simply finished adjusting his cuffs, tilting his wrist ever so slightly as if to give Jayce a better view. It was so subtle, so deliberate.

“Is something wrong, Jayce?” Viktor asked, his tone calm, though the faintest hint of amusement found its way in to his question.

Jayce opened his mouth, then closed it, struggling to string together his words. “You’re… You’re wearing gold.”

Viktor raised an eyebrow, his gaze trailing back to Jayce. “A keen observation, well done.” His tone dripping with sarcasm but holding no bite.

“No, I mean—“ Jayce fumbled, his ears burning hot as his eyes flicked between the golden embroidery and golden eyes. “It’s… It matches. Like— you match, uh… You match me.” He felt his voice almost give out by the end of his sentence. Once again he found himself dizzy in Viktor’s presence.

Viktor’s eyes flicked to Jayce’s jacket, his expression betraying nothing. “Perhaps,” he said evenly, though Jayce did not miss the slight upward quirk of Viktor’s lip. A warmth settled in Jayce’s chest as he realized he was being teased. Viktor was simply playing with him, and Jayce did not know the rules. “A coincidence, surely.”

Surely, right? Surely it wasn’t a complete coincidence— For a moment Jayce allowed himself to hope. To hope that it was more than a coincidence, that Viktor had showed up to a public event purposely donned in patterns belonging to Jayce. To purposely show how the two were bonded, even if just by golden thread woven into cuffs and lapels.

“That’s… Subtle.” Jayce managed to say, words escaping before he could stop them. He wanted to say more, to ask if Viktor had done this for him, because of him, but the thought alone made his pulse roar in his ears.

“Subtlety,” Viktor said lightly, his attention now scanning the room although leaning closer to his partner as his voice lowered for just the two of them to hear, “is an art, Jayce. Perhaps you will pick it up one day.”

The tone of Viktor’s words wasn’t enough to mask the flicker of warmth that crossed his face when his gaze returned briefly to Jayce. And just like that, Viktor stepped forward, his cane tapping against the marble once more as he joined the crowd, leaving Jayce rooted in place.

Jayce counted 8 seconds before he could move again. He quickly finished off his glass of champagne, reaching for another glass to empty just as quickly. His eyes never leaving Viktor’s back as the man walked away, easily finding himself in a new conversation.

This truly was not fair at all.

\\\

The room had grown even more alive as the evening stretched on. Jayce found himself right back in his element. Seamlessly moving between groups of people with a beaming smile. A firm handshake here, a healthy laugh there and the occasional clink of champagne glasses. Yet, no matter how engaging the discussion, his eyes kept flickering back to Viktor.

Viktor had situated himself near a quieter corner of the hall, surrounded by a small circle of eager patrons. He spoke with measured words, his dry humour weaving through the conversation sparking a few laughs along the way. A practiced smile formed over his lips whenever someone attempted to amuse him — or said something particularly ignorant. Jayce couldn’t help but admire how Viktor handled the crowd with calm authority.

For his part, Viktor didn’t seem entirely unaware of Jayce’s gaze. Once, their eyes met across the room, Viktor’s eyebrow arching as though to silently say, Focus, Talis. Jayce chuckled under his breath, shaking his head as he returned back to his conversation.

Jayce was nursing his fourth glass of champagne in the 3rd hour of the gala when he spotted it: Viktor standing by one of the towering windows, the soft glow of the moonlight catching the gold accents of his suit. At first glance, it seemed like another conversation, the kind that Viktor excelled at. Calm, controlled and efficient. But as Jayce’s attention rested on the encounter he caught the way the man Viktor was speaking to leaned in a little too close. Jayce felt a twitch in his upper lip as he watched the man place his hand on Viktor’s upper arm while laughing. The stranger’s body language screaming entitlement as his touch became a little too casual to be respectful. Jayce’s eye twitched when the man all but caressed Viktor’s shoulder.

Jayce’s chest tightened, the hum of the party fading into the background. He placed his glass down and took a slow step forward, his brows furrowing as he watched the exchange. Viktor’s usual poise was intact, but there was something in the tight set of his jaw, the faint flicker of annoyance in his gaze. It told Jayce everything he needed to know. Viktor was not enjoying this.

The donor, an older gentleman in an expensive suit that screamed wealthy and self important, leaned even closer. His voice carrying just enough for Jayce to catch fragments of his words: “… Incredible mind… So much brilliance to waste in a dark and boring lab… Perhaps a private meeting would better suit our… Discussion…”

Viktor’s grip on his cane tightened, his polite smile turning razor-sharp. “I appreciate your enthusiasm,” he said, his tone dripping with venom, “but I assure you, my work is not confined to private interest. Now if you could be so kind-“ Viktor lifted his cane to the hand resting on his shoulder, using the handle to push it away, “if you touch me again without my explicit consent, I will-“

“Viktor! There you are!” Jayce was quick to cross the room once he realized that it was not Viktor that was in danger, but rather the donor. His voice carried just enough warmth to feel natural, his smile polite but eyes sharp. “I hope you don’t mind me stealing Viktor away. We have a rather pressing matter to discuss.”

The donor, who by now looked flustered with his hand resting on his jaw, blinked. Clearly startled by the threat and the sudden presence of Jayce. “A-ah… Well, I-“

“Thank you for your support.” Viktor interjected, his tone cool and final. He allowed Jayce to guide him away, movement fluid as if they’d done this a hundred times before. The man sputtered behind them, but neither of them had the care to look back.

Once they were safe from prying eyes and ears, Viktor turned his gaze to Jayce, eyes narrowing slightly. “A pressing matter, hm?”

Jayce let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Ah… It seemed like you were uncomfortable. More so, it seemed like he was about to have his teeth sold to the black market of Zaun.”

“I was handling it.” Viktor’s lips twitched with a hint of satisfaction. Jayce was no stranger to his partners threats, with or without the promise to carry them through. He’d once been threatened with rat poison in his coffee for leaving out one too many half eaten sandwiches. He still found himself smelling cups of coffee whenever Viktor brought one to him.

“I know you were.” Jayce replied, his voice low. “You always do. But he was being pushy. Touchy. And…” Jayce trailed off for a moment, eyes flickering away from Viktor. “It, uh… made me mad. Upset.”

“You are upset… For my sake?” Viktor asked. His question asked with a curious tone that almost bordered on surprise.

Jayce didn’t hesitate. “Of course I am. You don’t deserve- I-“ His eyes found Viktor’s again. “He was out of line, he shouldn’t have put a hand on you or talked to you in the manner he did! No one has the right to talk to you like that, you deserve- Y’know what, he was a bitc-“ Jayce cut himself off as a nearby patron shot him a glance as the volume of his tone increased more than anticipated. He cleared his throat, giving them a polite smile before looking to his partner apologetically.

Viktor, however, looked absolutely delighted at Jayce’s outburst. A light chuckle followed the smile before Viktor shook his head in amusement. “It seems your concern may be rivaled only by your jealousy.” There was still a light laugh to Viktor’s words as he spoke.

Jayce opened his mouth to protest, but the words seemed useless now. He glanced away, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maybe…” He muttered.

For a moment, Viktor simply regarded him with a fondness. With a quiet hum, he gestured to the balcony doors nearby. “Come. I believe we deserve a break.”

Jayce nodded, following Viktor out into the cool night air. The sound of the gala faded behind them, replaced by the rustle of a breeze. For the first time that night, Jayce felt like he could breathe.

The cool air swept over them, a pleasant change compared to the heavy air inside. For a moment, neither spoke, the quiet of the night settling between them like a welcomed companion. Jayce almost felt his ear buzz with the sudden silence and lifted his gaze to the garden. It stretched out below them, illuminated by soft lanterns, their glow mirrored by the stars above. His eyes flickered to the small bushes of flowers decorating the balcony.

“I had almost forgotten how suffocating these events can be.” Viktor was the first one to break the silence, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

Jayce leaned against the balcony railing, stealing a glance at Viktor’s profile. The moonlight softened the sharp angles of his face, casting his features in silver and shadow. There was a serene calm to Viktor now, one that was so rarely present. It tugged at his heart.

“Yeah…” Jayce finally replied, his voice quieter than he intended. “It’s all… A lot, sometimes. The people, the noise, the… Expectations.”

Viktor hummed in agreement, the sound low and thoughtful. “And yet… You navigate it so seamlessly.” He said, turning his gaze to Jayce.

Jayce’s lip twitched into a faint smile, though he couldn’t quite meet Viktor’s eyes. “You give me too much credit.” He muttered, his fingers trailing along the cool marble of the railing. “And it’s not like I’m doing it alone. You are here. You— It helps. It’s… grounding.”

The admission hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Jayce saw something flicker across Viktor’s face. He had seen it before, when kneeling in front of his partner and tending to his hand. He recognized the vulnerable softness. Viktor shifted slightly, leaning his cane against the railing as he turned to face Jayce fully.

“Perhaps we balance each other out.” Viktor said, his tone quieter now. “I keep you here on the ground, and you bring us both to new heights. And then, together, we make it through these evenings.”

Jayce laughed softly, filling the air between them. “Guess that makes us a pretty good team, huh?”

“Indeed it does.” Viktor replied, his lips curving into a gentle smile just for his partner. Jayce’s chest ached with longing although he was standing so close to Viktor. His fingers brushed the cold marble, a faint tremor betraying the urge to reach out.

Jayce was the first to let his gaze fall, drifting back to the bushes of white flowers arranged meticulously in the space around them. Their soft, fragment blooms illuminated by the lantern light.

“You know…” Jayce began, his voice a touch more nervous than he intended. He reached a hand out, hoping Viktor wouldn’t see the slight tremble, and plucked one of the blooms from the nearest bush, careful to not disrupt the rest of the display. He twirled the flower in his fingers, its petals soft and pristine, before holding it out toward Viktor. “These… I had them ordered for tonight. I thought… you might like them.”

Viktor blinked, clearly caught off guard. His gaze shifted from the flower to Jayce, then back again. Slowly, he reached out and accepted the bloom, his fingers brushing against Jayce’s in the exchange. “Gardenias, yes?” Viktor murmured, studying the flower as if it were some intricate puzzle. His tone was controlled and yet Jayce didn’t miss the faint note of surprise beneath it.

“Ah, yes, they are gardenias. Julianna brought them for the event.” Jayce explained quickly, suddenly feeling the need to fill the silence. “You, uh… probably remember her. She’s the florist I-“

“- procured the sunflowers from.” Viktor finished, his lips quirking slightly. “Yes, I recall her.”

Jayce chuckled more nervously than what he’d like, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, well… I thought they would be nice. For you. I guess, another flower for you to collect...”

“It is… a beautiful gesture, Jayce.” Viktor’s attention lingered on the flower for a moment longer before he shifted his gaze back to Jayce. His voice blooming with warmth. “Thank you.”

For a moment, Jayce couldn’t find the words to respond. Before he could even think it through his hand moved, gently covering Viktor’s where it cradled the flower. “It’s… you deserve it.” Jayce said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You deserve everything, Viktor.”

The words came out raw, unfiltered and heavier than what he’d had intended. He hadn’t even planned to speak them, he hadn’t planned to say anything at all, but now that they were out, it burned in his chest. Leaving him exposed and vulnerable in a way he hadn’t expected.

Once again they found themselves in the heavy silence Jayce had thought of so often in their shared moment when he had tented to Viktor’s hand. The subtle shift in their partnership filled Jayce with a warmth that reached his very core, embers he once had smothered in fear of disappointment he now found himself stoking into a pyre. He no longer cared if he burned; he would gladly let it consume him if it meant keeping Viktor warm.

Viktor’s eyes widened slightly, his honeyed gaze locking on to Jayce’s. His lips parted as though he was about to speak, but nothing came. Instead, he simply stared, expression softening into something unguarded.

Jayce felt the silence as a quiet permission to continue speaking. His heart racing as he searched for the right words, as if they hadn’t been sitting at the tip of his tongue for months— maybe even years.

“I don’t mean just tonight, or… or the work you do.” Jayce continued, his voice trembling with the effort to keep it steady. “It’s you, Viktor. Everything you are. You- you deserve more than I can probably ever give, but still… I still want to try.”

The words tumbled out of him, one after another, each one heavier than the last. Each one an ember to burn warmer. His grip on Viktor’s hand tightened ever so slightly, reassuring him that his partner was still there. Thumb brushing against Viktor’s knuckles as he stared at their joined touch. I need to be closer.

He found himself all but stumbling a step forward. Closer. “I don’t know if you—“ Jayce felt his voice give out, his question too big to ask. The words simply hovered on the edge of his tongue, too heavy and vulnerable to release. He swallowed, hesitation thick in his throat as he tried regardless. “I don’t know if you see— if you…”

He didn’t finish, couldn’t finish, because Viktor’s gaze flicked to his lips.

It was so quick, so quick that Jayce almost doubted he’d seen it, but the heat that rushed through him told a different story. He could hear Viktor’s breath hitch, the light flush in his partner’s cheeks— Jayce had not imagined it. The world narrowed to the faint space between them, to Viktor’s eyes, now wider, softer and more open than Jayce had ever seen.

“Viktor—“ Jayce found himself calling his partner’s name with the same low voice Viktor once had spoken to him with in the quiet of their lab. A raw whisper pleading for more. He could see the faint rise and fall of Viktor’s chest, to feel the heat radiating between them.

Kiss him.

The creak of the balcony door shattered the fragile silence between them like a hammer to glass. Jayce’s words died on his tongue as the sound of footsteps followed. He flinched as the spell broke, hand reluctantly pulling away as if he’d been caught doing something forbidden.

“Mr. Talis, Viktor.” A voice called out from the doorway, polite but firm. “The hosts are requesting you both inside.”

Jayce’s heart sank as he turned towards the intruder, his shoulders stiff with frustration. He forced himself to remain composed, offering a tight-lipped smile to the stranger, although his thoughts were… turbulent. If looks could kill. Viktor shifted beside him, his expression sliding back to its practiced composure.

“Of course. We will be right there.” Viktor said smoothly, his tone devoid of the vulnerability Jayce had just witnessed. It was like a mask slipping back into place, and Jayce’s chest ached at the sudden distance.

As the doors closed, leaving them in their solitude again, Jayce let out a shaky breath before turning to Viktor. “I’m sorry.” He said quickly, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. Anxiety had quickly choked out the embers at his core and with Viktor standing so far from him he felt cold and hollow. “I- I didn’t mean to—“

Viktor raised a hand, palm outward to stop him from continuing what he could only assume to be another ramble. His injured hand remained steady on the railing, the flower still nestled between his fingers. “Jayce.” His tone was calm as he gave a light shake of his head, as if to dismiss any thoughts of doubt Jayce was harbouring.

“I… I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Jayce tried again, his voice soft and sincere. “I—“

“You did not.” Viktor’s interruption was quiet but firm, a final warning to the anxieties of his partner. “It has not been unwelcome. You have not offended me, Jayce.”

The weight of Viktor’s words settled over him like a blanket he hadn’t realized he needed. He nodded, but it wasn’t enough to ease the pressure building in his chest. His hand twitched at his side, caught between the urge to reach out again or stay anchored where it was. The reassurance only heightened the ache gnawing at him, a yearning to let out everything still trapped in his chest.

His gaze fell on the gardenia still cradled in Viktor’s hand. It felt so small, so fragile in contrast to everything else— yet Viktor held it with the same care and attention he gave his work. As if it mattered. As if the petals were embroidered with golden thread spelling out their hidden words.

Devotion. Commitment. Affection. I adore you. My soul is with yours. Please see me as I see you. It wasn’t just a flower, it was an admission, a hope, a quiet plea. It had all been so close to the surface but never close enough. He wanted to speak, but instead he just stood there. Trying to commit every detail of this moment to his memory.

“We should go inside.” Viktor said after a moment, straightening himself and brushing his hand lightly against the railing as though grounding himself. “They are waiting.”

“Yeah.” Jayce agreed, his voice quieter than he meant it to be. “Right. Let’s not keep them.”

They turned towards the door in unison, but Viktor hesitated before stepping through. Jayce paused behind him, watching as Viktor’s fingers flexed briefly around the flower. Then, in a motion so subtle Jayce almost missed it, Viktor let the gardenia rest against his lapel before tucking it into the small pocket above his heart.

For a brief, reckless moment Jayce considered scooping Viktor up and running away. Unfortunately, that was not socially acceptable. So he had to do the next best thing; stepping beside his partner and gently resting a hand at the small of his back. He felt Viktor lean into the touch ever so slightly.

Jayce considered kidnapping again.

Viktor looked over to him, eyes flickering with gratitude, hesitation and warmth. “Shall we?” He asked with a gesture into the room.

Jayce wiped his hands on a rag as he leaned back from his workbench. He had been hunched over for the past few hours, his mind too frazzled to focus on the latest adjustments of their project. Viktor had already gone off into one of his hyper-focused tangents, muttering equations and numbers under his breath. Jayce knew much better than to disrupt his train of thoughts- last time, a flying cog had struck him in the back of the head, accompanied by what he assumed were the foulest insults in an unfamiliar language.

Still, he couldn’t help but glance over every now and then just to make sure his partner hadn’t forgotten trivial things like, y’know, eating or blinking. A splash of colour caught his eye as he once more looked over to Viktor’s desk, where the daffodils sat int heir makeshift vase. The petals were starting to wilt ever so slightly, the golden hues a little less vibrant than the day before. A slow roll of guilt settled in Jayce’s gut. The flowers had meant to brighten up the place, but now they were nothing more than a reminder how fleeting things could be if you did not nurture them.

Perhaps the flowers had been a good idea, he thought, gaze drifting to Viktor’s hunched form. Not just because the lab desperately needed the brightening, but because it was a bead of joy he could offer his partner. If he could sneak in a few more of those, even if it was something as simple as flowers, then it was worth it.

\\\

The thought stayed with him even as he passed the flower shop the next day. He didn’t hesitate as he opened the door, the floral scent wrapping around him as he inhaled deeply. The shopkeeper gave him a knowing smile as he hesitated in front of the display once more. This time the sunflowers had caught his eyes. Their golden petals similar to the daffodils, but these ones seemed to reach out for the sunlight, tall and sturdy stalks standing as if they had all the confidence in the world.

“Back again?” The shopkeeper teased, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Something catch your eye?”

“Yeah, actually,” Jayce said, gesturing to the flowers he had been eyeing. “They’re… uh, cheerful.”

“They are, yes.” She agreed, eyeing Jayce with curiosity before looking to the flowers with him. “You know… These ones symbolise adoration, loyalty and longevity. Great for someone you admire…” she said with the starting of a knowing smile. “Or just someone who might need a little sunshine in their day.”

Jayce paused, the words sinking in slowly. Adoration? Happiness? Longevity? He found himself running a hand through his hair, the tips of his ears catching a familiar burn. “Uh, yeah. Yea! They’ll do.” He blurted, perhaps a little too quickly. “I’ll take them.”

While the shopkeeper wrapped the flowers, Jayce’s eyes drifted to a small rack of books near the counter. One, in particular, caught his attention: The Language of Flowers: A Guide to Symbolism and Meaning. He picked it up without thinking, flipping through the pages as curiosity tugged at him. When spotting the familiar daffodils from last week, he couldn’t help but ling er on their meaning: New Beginnings.

When the shopkeeper handed him the bouquet, he added the book to his purchase.

Jayce pushed open the door of the flower shop, bell jingling cheerfully as he stepped into the sunlit street. The book safely in his bag and the bouquet of flowers resting in the crook of his arm, their sturdy stalks brushing against this shoulder as he adjusted his grip. He glanced down at the blooms, watching as they tilted towards the sun and allowed himself a small smile.

That smile quickly vanished when a familiar voice rang out nearby.

“Jayce Talis.” Viktors unmistakable tone carried a mix of amusement and exasperation. “If you are planning on standing there all day admiring flowers, you might as well take these from me.”

Jayce turned startled, eyes searching the crowd and easily spotting his partner. He was balancing several awkwardly large packages in his hands, his cane hanging off his arm as he tried to manage it all. The sigh was both impressive and mildly alarming.

“Viktor!” The cheerfulness of his own tone almost caught him off guard as he strode towards his partner already reaching for the packages. “What the- why are you carrying this alone? You could have asked me!”

“I am not carrying it by myself.” Viktor replied without missing a beat. “You are about to carry them for me, see? Partnership.” He continued with amusement as he made the exchange between carrying the boxes to a bouquet of sunflowers. His cane back in his hand and a small hint of relief as he gained the support of it.

Jayce paused for only a moment before adjusting the boxes in his arms, shifting their weight to carry them more securely. “You still could have called for me.”

“Tsk. It worked out. If not you I would have asked someone else.” Viktor answered with a light shrug of his shoulders. Jayce glanced over at him. Viktor looked back. They both knew he was lying. A smirk curled over Viktor’s lips as Jayce’s look of ‘I don’t believe you’ translated loud and clear. “Now, if you are finished stumbling over your chivalry, perhaps you can focus on carrying these boxes back to the lab with me.”

Jayce couldn’t help but laugh, light and joyful as he shook his head. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

“And yet you still follow me.” Viktor’s smirk widened before adjusting the bouquet in his free hand and started to walk. “You know, at this rate I will expect flowers delivered daily.”

Jayce rolled his eyes, but the warmth in his chest betrayed him. He’d follow Viktor anywhere, ridiculous or not. He glanced between the flowers and his partners face, feeling the familiar burn warm his ears. “Ah- The daffodils were starting to wilt. I just thought it was time for something new.”

“Hmm. I see.” Viktor shifted his attention back to the flowers, but not before Jayce caught the briefest glint of something warm in his expression. “Thoughtful as always. Though, you may want to consider scaling back. At this rate, the lab will resemble a greenhouse.

Jayce felt a sudden need to cover every surface of the lab with flowers, never to let any of them wilt or fade away. He could see it so clearly; the shelves carrying succulents, large fig trees in the corners, several pots and vases with sweet smelling flowers. To always have the vibrant presence of colours and life surrounding them. To care for it, watch it thrive and grow into something breathtaking. Something precious he could hold.

He was no longer thinking about flowers. Eyes locked on his partners face as Viktor tended to the sunflowers.

Ah. It was never about the flowers.

“You are staring.”

Viktor’s voice echoed through Jayce’s thoughts and he blinked his way back to the conversation. “What? No. I-“ He caught the side-eye Viktor shot him, amusement flickering in his golden gaze. Jayce blinked, scrambling for an excuse. His heart stuttered at being caught, and all he could think about was how the petals unintentionally created a halo around his partner, divine in their simplicity.

Jayce found himself unable to say anything but the truth.“Maybe.” Another nervous pause before “I- ah. I am glad I chose them, the sunflowers, for you. They suit you.”

It was Viktor’s turn to pause for a moment. Something unreadable flickering across his face, too fast for Jayce to read. “Huh.” Pleasant surprise bleeding through his words. “I am not… Accustomed to such gifts. Flowers.”

“You don’t like them?” Jayce asked, a slight edge of worry creeping into his voice.

“Hmm, no.” Viktor replied quickly, glancing over to him. “It is not that. It is… eh, unfamiliar but not unwelcome.”

Jayce grinned, relief washing over him. “Good. Because I think the lab could use a little more colour. The blues of our gems are starting to become a little monotonous.”

“Is that so?” Viktor said, his tone dry but laced with warmth. “Well, I suppose if you insist on being insufferably thoughtful, I must allow it.”

\\\

Later that evening, after the sun had set and the hum of the lab had faded into quiet, Jayce sat at his desk. Alone now, fingers tracing over the page of his new book as the illustration of a sunflower stared back at him. Adoration. Loyalty. Longevity. He stole a glance over to the flowers on Viktor’s desk.

“Adoration.” Jayce muttered, leaning back in his chair with a groan. Thoughts flickering between embarrassment over his actions and the warmth of Viktor’s gaze when presented with new flowers. In the softness of his partners words Jayce’s uncertainty could not reach him.

Perhaps… there was something thrilling about it. Each flower had a voice, a meaning he could hide behind while he figured what to say - and maybe, just maybe, Viktor was starting to hear it.

Jayce was not sure what had possessed him to walk into the little flower shop nestled between the bakery and the corner textile shop. The smell of freshly baked goods had almost stolen his attention had it not been for the cheerful yellow in the flower shop window. He didn’t even care for flowers much, but their bright petals had lit up like small suns and whatever thoughts he had of going by the bakery had been lost to him.

“They’re daffodils,” the shopkeeper had said when she caught him staring. “Symbolises new beginnings, they’re perfect if you’re celebrating something.”

Jayce felt a gentle hum of warmth over his cheekbones as he left the flower shop a few minutes later with vibrant yellow petals wrapped neatly in brown paper.

He was not sure how Viktor would react to the flowers, he had never taken his partner for one to splurge on unnecessary luxuries. Especially not ones that needed a vase and water. These past months had been brutal, with sleepless nights and endless hours in the lab turning the atmosphere tense and brittle. They had both been banging their heads against the wall trying to solve the project at hand. More than once he had found himself arguing for the sake of arguing, as if that could satisfy the frustrating itch underneath his skin.

Shit.

Had this been a dumb idea? Jayce considered throwing the flowers away for a split second. He looked down to them. The golden hue reminding him of the relief he had seen in Viktor’s eyes yesterday as the final piece of their current project fell into place. Viktor’s brilliance once again saving their dream of hextech and preparing them for the next step.

He had suggested they go out to celebrate together, Viktor had declined. Something about ‘I need to not see your face for 24 hours’. He would be lying if he said it didn’t hurt. He would be lying again if he said he hadn’t just gone straight to bed and slept for 17 hours.

Jayce weighed the flowers in his hand as if they could tell him if they were worth it or not. New beginnings.

It was worth it.

\\\

When he walked into the lab he found Viktor hunched over their work table, scribbling messy and angular notes into his book. He didn’t look up as Jayce entered.

“Good morning, V!” Jayce called out, voice raised a little louder than normal in attempt to gain his attention.

“Morning.” Viktor muttered with a wave of his pen in a greeting, eyes never raising from his book.

Jayce hesitated for a moment before taking a few steps closer to his partner, catching a glimpse of the notes over his shoulder. Viktor was already back to working on the next step, a twinge of guilt pulled on Jayce’s heart. How long had Viktor already been here working? Had he even gotten any rest yet? Jayce cleared his throat before speaking, attempting once more to catch his attention.

“I… Uh, got you something.”

That caught Viktor’s attention. He looked up, sharp honeyed eyes shining with curiosity while trying to read his partners expression. The gaze fell down to the brown paper in Jayce’s hands, and what they were holding. The gears slowly started to churn in Viktor’s mind, at first believing they had been a gift for Jayce from one of his many adoring fans. But no, he couldn’t see anything else the man could be carrying as a gift. It was the flowers.

“Flowers?” Viktor asked, voice coloured with soft surprise.

“Yeah.” His mouth felt dry all of a sudden and he found himself holding the flowers out for his partner to take. “I thought, you know, after yesterdays breakthrough, uh, its kind of like a fresh start. For the project, right? And, ah, I saw these and…” Jayce hesitated for a moment as his gaze flickered between golden daffodils and golden eyes. “They… Made me think of you.”

Viktor’s lip twitched, not quite a smile but something close. His full attention was now on the bouquet as he reached careful hands for them. A jolt of electricity shot through Jayce as cold fingers brushed against his, taking a second longer than needed to let go of the flowers.

“They made you think of me?” Viktor repeated with amusement weaving between his words, eyebrow arching slightly.

A nervous laugh fell from Jayce, scratching the back of his head. He suddenly became painfully aware of his hands and how they no longer had anything to hold. He stole a glimpse of Viktor’s hands before snapping back to his face. “Oh- well. Not like- just the, uh, symbolism! New beginnings, new project. That.”

“They are… cheerful.” Viktor admitted, his tone measured, as if he were testing the word on his tongue. His sharp features softened in a way that caught Jayce off guard. Viktor lifted the flowers closer, brushing the petals lightly before leaning in to give them a gentle sniff. Jayce couldn’t help but stare. The golden hues of the daffodils seemed to glow against his partners pale skin, casting him in a warm and radiant light. “Pleasant scent as well. A good choice.”

The vague praise made Jayce beam. Whatever anxieties bled away into a grin and he found himself standing confident once more. “Yeah! Exactly! I thought the lab could use some cheering up. And! The smell of ink and oil was getting a little too overpowering, yknow!”

Viktor’s amusement at Jayce’s sudden change of demeanour was lost to the taller man. He reached for an empty beaker on the desk, handing it over to his partner. “Fill this with water for me, will you?”

Without hesitation Jayce did as asked and walked over to the small sink in the lab with a pep to his step. He filled the beaker up half way before turning back to Viktor. His chest tightened at the sight of his partner’s soft and private smile. It was a rare sight, Viktor unburdened, even for just a fleeting moment, and it made Jayce’s chest ache in a way he couldn’t quite explain. Viktors fingers traced one of the petals like they were something precious to hold.

‘I could be something precious to him.’ The thought struck him out of nowhere, leaving his heart stumbling over itself. Calm down, Talis. It’s just a flower. You’re overthinking this. Again. That’s a bit too much, even for you. Jayce cleared his throat, whether to clear his mind or notify Viktor he was back- who knows. The dusting of crimson holding on to the tips of his ears told the truth.

Viktor took the beaker and placed the bouquet inside with surprising gentleness, setting it in the corner of the table where the sunlight from the window could reach the petals.

“Thank you, Jayce. It is a kind gesture.” Viktor glanced back to him, eyes glinting with something unreadable.

“It’s no problem, really, V.” Jayce replied, grin widening. He turned to grab his tools to start his day of work, however, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Viktor’s gaze might have lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary.