Just a Dude

junbee cute 🤍

namgyuuu damn ur welcome for all the snacks 🙄

ttthanos @.namgyuuu lol #namsu namgyuuu @.ttthanos bro stfu

s.e.m.i. insta official now??

namgyuuu @.s.e.m.i. jealous? 😼 s.e.m.i. @.namgyuuu now why would i be jealous of someone dating you ttthanos @.s.e.m.i. HAHAHA namgyuuu @.s.e.m.i. 🖕

Liked by yourr_userr, minsupark, ttthanos, theboy_gyeongsu and 124 others

namgyuuu life's been better with you around #sober #mostly

yourr_userr 💕💕💕

ttthanos proud of you MY BRO

minsupark :)

Liked by yourr_userr, ttthanos, cho.hyunju, daehoez and 230 others

yourr_userr guess who needed glasses #namsu

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ttthanos @.namgyuuu AHAHAHAHA s.e.m.i. @.namgyuuu dorky ahh

cho.hyunju Looks good. 🙂

theboy_gyeongsu bro u look cute 🥰

namgyuuu @.theboy_gyeongsu go away bro 😭

+ BONUS CRACK TEXT CHATS WITH NAMGYU

“A mess you made,” Caitlyn reminded, her eyes opening to meet his. Surprisingly, they were soft. It was Jayce; she was biased. “But… I can tell you like him. More than a friend.”

Jayce’s cheeks burned a deep red, the colour staining over his tanned skin as those bright hazel eyes danced around the gym. He didn’t want to think about it. The feelings he had for Viktor. The confusion that came with liking another man. It was—a lot.

It was unlike anything he had felt before. He hadn’t thought about Mel in days. All he could think of was Viktor. The kiss. His smile. Those amber eyes. It was embarrassing to him.

“Don’t look so sad,” Caitlyn breathed, her laughter relieving his stress, “No one is going to judge you, Jayce. It’s a very normal feeling.”

He scoffed, meeting her eyes and raising a brow.

“Okay,” she backtracked, “No one you care about will judge you. Better?”

“A little,” he mumbled, but he didn’t believe her. She didn’t know Kino. She didn’t know his other friends as well as he did. Being different wasn’t often considered a great way to propel yourself to the top of the social ladder. It was the very reason this bet took place.

Viktor was different, and Kino didn’t like that.

“Jayce,” her voice was so gentle, and he jumped in place when he realized that she was standing in front of him. Two hands rested over his bare shoulders, finger pads pressed into his muscles, “You need to be truthful with him. That is the only way to keep him in your life. It’ll be difficult, and he might need his space, but coming clean and being honest is the only thing you can do to make it right.”

“Technically, he’s already in my life—”

“Don’t be an ass, you know what I mean,” she hissed. He winced at a heavy smack on his shoulder.

“I hear you,” Jayce groaned. Coming clean wasn’t easy, nor did he expect Viktor to ever look at him the same way if he told him. Why couldn’t it be simpler? Why couldn’t Jayce just shove the truth deep and far into the ground, and forget it ever existed? Why did he have to bring Caitlyn into the loop?

✦︎

“Am I kissable?”

The question had come out of left field. Sky was sitting at the library table in the very back, where Viktor preferred to sit. Her nose was buried into a textbook as they analyzed their final biology project together. Sitting up straight, the girl pushed her glasses further up the bridge of her nose as she looked at her best friend.

He was slouched over, his chin in his hand as he stared at a blank page in his notebook. The hangover was killing him, but not as much as the lingering anxiety and depression that came after nights of drinking. 

“I don’t think I’m equipped to answer that,” Sky spoke, raising a curious eyebrow as she closed her textbook. She stared at Viktor with thinned lips, having been waiting to ask about what happened the night before. 

If Sky was anything with him, it was patient. 

A soft sigh escaped her lips as Viktor refused to look up or further his question. “What happened?”

Viktor shifted, albeit very slightly. The headache that penetrated deep into his skull was making him nauseous, and he wished he had cancelled his plans to stay in bed. Though when he flickered his eyes up and met with Sky’s, he felt comfort wash through him. 

“I fucked up.” He muttered quietly, and his mind jumped straight to the kiss. The one that lasted all of three seconds before he puked up the greasy dinner he indulged in at Powder’s. With a heavy sigh, that one might call dramatic, he collapsed his face into his arms that crossed over the table.

“Oh, Viktor,” Sky sighed quietly. A gentle hand stretched outward across the table and rested over his slender arm covered by the white long-sleeved shirt he layered under a black band tee. Her thumb rubbed against the fabric, a simple ministration that calmed him. “Tell me. I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

“I kissed Jayce,” he mumbled, his voice strained from his mouth resting against his arm. “I kissed him at the end of the night, and once we did, I threw up, and he took me home, and he hasn’t even tried calling me.” He was silent for a few beats, sitting up and speaking again before Sky could interject. “And I hate the way I sound right now. I shouldn’t be worried about my kissability, or why some stupid man isn’t calling me—”

Sky could see the panic in his eyes. A panic he hadn’t shown since Orianna was first put in the hospital when they were finishing sophomore year.

It was rare for him to break down like this or overwork himself beyond his limits. Viktor prided himself on his fierce independence.

“Why are you smiling?” He flashed a look of annoyance at Sky, his eyes wide.

“Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in love before.” She grinned, pulling her hand away before Viktor could even attempt to swat at her. 

“Love is egregiously advanced for what I am feeling, Sky,” Viktor said adamantly, scoffing. His sunken, pale cheeks had been dusted with a soft pink colour, and he refused to look at her. Instead, he found a row of books beyond them much more interesting.

“Okay, let me reiterate. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you have a crush on someone who wasn’t Orlando Bloom or John Stamos—”

“I told you those in confidence.”

“Viktor,” she laughed, the smile reaching her eyes, “Just let me talk, okay?”

Viktor clenched his jaw tight, leaning back in his chair as he stared her down. She was too happy, too invested in this. Too optimistic. “Fine,” he muttered, fingers finding his pencil to toy with as he listened.

“What I want to say is that what you are feeling is very normal,” She explained, hands moving as she spoke, “I’ve had my fair share of crushes on boys, and your mind doesn’t work right when you’re caught up in them. You overthink, you worry, you are scared that you’ll mess everything up!” 

Viktor looked back at her, chewing on his lip. Well, that was one way to put it.

“Jayce hasn’t called because he’s probably thinking the same thing,” she offered the input with a shrug. “He may think he messed things up by taking it too far… or maybe he’s just not sure what to say. Boys aren’t the best at communication. Yes, that includes you.”

“Thanks,” Viktor snorted a bitter laugh. After a moment to reel in her words, he shook his head, “I just can’t help but think something is underlying in… whatever I have going on with him. Why me?”

“Or maybe you’re just not used to good things happening to you?” Sky leaned forward, chin in both hands, as she smiled, “If I were you, I’d talk to him tomorrow. I’ve never seen you quite as happy as you are with him, Vik.”

Viktor scrunched his nose in forced disgust, “Okay, yeah. Whatever. I’ll talk to him.” He mumbled, as if it wasn’t the best advice he had received in a long time. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” she smiled, biting her tongue and deciding against asking what the kiss was like. She’d find out in due time.

✦︎

When Monday rolled around, both boys had no intention of taking the advice they’d been given. First period came and went, then lunch. Time ticked on quickly for a dreary, overcast Monday, and they became experts in avoidance—even in class. What had become a bad habit of stolen glances and shared notes torn from corners of notebooks turned into cold shoulders.

It wasn’t out of hatred. No. It was the very opposite that drove them away.

Viktor had grown to hate how his stomach churned anytime he set eyes on Jayce, how his gap-tooth smile made him want to scream into a pillow. Or better yet, kiss the smile off his face.

Jayce had stepped into chemistry class seconds before the bell rang, and much to his chagrin, the only available seat was next to Viktor. He had been staring ahead in class, bored and watching as the teacher wrote on the chalkboard the upcoming assignment.

It wasn’t until the sound of the stool next to him shifted on the laminate flooring that he was pulled from his thoughts. With a glance, he expected to see Sky, but his eyes widened when they landed on Jayce.

Shit, shit, shit.

Swallowing down a thick lump in his throat, he snapped his gaze forward. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted how Jayce slowly unpacked his books, obviously not planning on attempting to go anywhere else. Welp.

“Okay, class,” Mr. Heimerdinger said, looking out towards the students who all looked bored out of their minds, apart from a select few. “We’re going to do an exercise in class today because it appears that many of you do not understand how to neutralize acids after last week’s demonstration and pop quiz.”

There was a chorus of groans.

Mr. Heimerdinger puffed out his chest, clearing his throat, “You will work with who you are sitting with. Please flip to Page 135 and follow the instructions there. I have kindly provided you with all the materials you will need at your desk—”

The instructions, by this point, had gone in through one ear and out the other from both Viktor and Jayce. Neither of them had much trouble in chemistry, nor did they fail either the pop quiz or the hands-on demonstration given last week.

Without speaking, both boys had jumped into the assignment. Viktor had taken the task of pipetting acid into the flask, while Jayce put together the burette and filled it with a base. Minutes had passed, and both boys wore their safety goggles and lab coats in silence, working together seamlessly as if they were lab partners in another life.

“How’re you feeling today?”

Jayce’s voice cracked right through Viktor’s concentration as he scribbled down notes onto the paper given to them to fill out as they worked on the neutralization process. Looking over, he sighed and pushed his goggles up until his hair was pushed back.

“Okay, I guess. Tired.” Viktor shrugged in response, hating the way his heart ached as he watched Jayce study the burette. Making sure there was enough neutralizer, and that the stopcock was perpendicular and keeping any fluid from dropping out. “You?”

“I’m good,” Jayce murmured. He straightened up, breaking his concentration and glancing at Viktor. Even just a glance, it set his heart on fire. He looked cute, with his hair splayed in every which direction because of the goggles. It brought a smile to his face, one that warmed Viktor’s insides. “I don’t want to go to practice tonight. I could use another night lazing around.”

“Ah,” Viktor responded. He returned the goggles over his eyes. “Do you want to swirl the flask or drip the neutralizer?”

“I can swirl the flask. It’s fun,” Jayce replied, smiling to himself as he eased into the conversation better than he had worried about all night.

“Of course you’d think it’s fun,” Viktor chided playfully. He leaned forward, scooting on his stool a bit closer to Jayce as they coordinated their movements.

With his eyes fixed on the liquid being swirled in the flask, Viktor began to drop the neutralizer slowly.

“This might be a personal question,” Jayce’s voice was soft, too quiet for anyone else to hear as they focused. “But when I was at your house, I saw a picture on your wall… You and Dr. Reveck and—”

“Orianna,” Viktor spoke, his voice sharply cutting off Jayce’s. “Stop swirling.”

Jayce did as told. He ceased his movements, and just like clockwork, the liquid in the flask turned a faint pink colour. Neutralized.

Returning to the paper, Viktor began to scribble down more notes of their session, writing so fast that Mr. Heimerdinger would surely have a difficult time attempting to decipher the notes. 

“Is she your sister?”

Viktor paused his writing, out of the corner of his eye, seeing Jayce turn towards him completely, with a gentle look in his eyes. He wanted to berate him for asking something that was none of his business, but he figured, after kissing him, he had the right to want to learn more about him. Viktor wasn’t exactly known for being an open book, and although he preferred to keep it that way, it wasn’t out of necessity more than it was preference—an easy way to shut people out.

He hadn’t wanted to shut Jayce out.

“No, she’s Dr. Reveck’s daughter,” Viktor said after clearing his throat a couple of times. A beat passed, then two. He huffed, turning to face Jayce and once again pushing his goggles back as their knees knocked together. “I’m a foster kid.”

Jayce’s eyes widened just enough for Viktor to notice—a reaction he wasn’t keen on receiving. Yet another thing to be so different about. 

“I see,” Jayce murmured, watching as Viktor returned to the paper. He watched silently as he scribbled notes down, swinging a leg absently as he racked his brain for something else to say. “Is he a good foster dad? Dr. Reveck.”

“He was a lot better before Orianna got sick,” he muttered, squeezing his hand tight around his pencil as he temporarily lost momentum in his writing. A sudden jarring weakness, he fought through until his pencil no longer felt like it was going to rip through the paper.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault,” Viktor mumbled, writing his name at the top of the paper. He slid it over the tabletop to Jayce, fingers brushing as he took the pencil from his finger and signed his name right beside. 

“I just meant, I’m sorry for not asking sooner. So, I can be there for you if you need it.”

Christ. Why did he have to be so goddamned kind?

Viktor’s eyes softened, a rush of emotion swirling through him. This was the first time in a long time he had found a friend, especially in someone as unlikely as Jayce. Who knew—maybe something more. He forgot what it felt like. 

“Dork,” Viktor smirked, rolling his eyes playfully. For someone as nosy as Jayce, Viktor found himself quite forgiving of that fact. He, unfortunately, had developed a soft spot for him. “I should apologize for the other night. The kiss—” his voice dropped low, almost too low for Jayce to catch it. He heard.

“It’s okay,” Jayce perked up, following suit and pushing back his goggles. Viktor hadn’t looked over at him; instead, he was now focused on cleaning, and he was thankful for that. His bright red skin was a telltale sign that the kiss still had quite the effect on him.

It kept him up for hours Saturday night. And the night before. The only reason he had been dragging his feet all day and would rather go home instead of practice. It took over his entire being. Made him wonder what it would be like if Viktor hadn’t turned away, if they took it to the car. Maybe to a bed.

“You were drunk,” Jayce clawed his way out of his thoughts, fingers tapping the surface of the table. “I didn’t mind—”

“Let’s just forget about it,” Viktor spoke, crinkling his nose slightly as he settled his attention on Jayce. “Okay?”

Both fell silent, mulling it over.

“Yeah, okay,” Jayce nodded and smiled, relief flooding through him. Then, a growing sense of disappointment. For the sake of the bet and their friendship, he decided to go with whatever flow Viktor put forward. If that meant forgetting about it, then forget about it he would—even if it pained him.

Viktor, too, felt growing regret in his stomach, but he persevered past it. There was nothing good to come from pursuing the electrifying spark that had grown between them. Nothing good ever came from love. Look what happened to Dr. Reveck.

He didn’t want the disappointment that came with the only guarantee of their relationship: an end.

“Go hand this in,” Viktor shoved the paper to Jayce over the tabletop. Amber eyes settled on the mess of words, drifting up to meet those golden hazel orbs that caused a spike in his heart rate. Within seconds, he felt his hands grow clammy. Mouth dry.

Jayce smiled. That goddamned toothy smile that would surely make anyone’s knees weak.

“You’re bossy today,” the taller boy remarked as he easily slid from his stool to turn in the paper. Viktor, instead, ignored every sparking nerve in his body and cleaned up faster than anyone else ever had.

The sound of the bell rang, signifying the end of the day. A joyous reprieve from the torture that was Piltover High, and the students rushed to their lockers as Jayce and Viktor slowly pushed through the crowds side by side. 

“Hey, Jayce,” a junior girl spoke up as she passed by the duo, her blue eyes landing on Viktor. “Oh, hey, Viktor!” She beamed, and it hit him like a ton of bricks.

As they walked down the wide hallway, Viktor’s eyes flickered around the chaos of students. He’d been so good at ignoring anyone who wasn’t Sky that he hadn’t noticed how every single person who greeted Jayce had offered him one, too. He perked up slightly, hand tighter around his cane that tapped against the worn tiling.

Students were noticing him—and not being Grade A Douchebags about it. They were kind. Too kind.

“Viktor!” A girl perked up as she held her textbooks to her chest, chocolate brown hair curling perfectly around her sharp features. She grinned, stopping Jayce and Viktor in their tracks, who had hardly made it more than three classrooms' lengths away from the chemistry lab.

He blinked, eyes focusing on the girl. Someone who ran around in Jayce’s circle—a close friend to Mel and part of the cheerleading team. 

“Lest,” Viktor murmured, crinkling his nose when he realized he’d never properly introduced himself to her. Would she find it weird that he knew her name?

While his mind ran rampant, the girl grinned. Her smile was cat-like.

“You really should come to another party this weekend,” she said, eyes not even once looking over at Jayce. Invites were a thing of his past—oftentimes, he was just expected to show up. “Everyone wants to get to know you. Jayce can bring you…” she trailed off, giving him a slight nod before she brushed past him.

Viktor blinked a few times, looking up at Jayce. He was rightly shut up.

Again, that stupid smile and laugh. A deathly combo.

“You’re getting popular,” Jayce spoke through gentle laughter. Perhaps he took it a bit too far, but he couldn’t stop the way his arm latched over Viktor’s slender shoulders and had begun to tug him forward, “She’s right, you totally should come. Don’t go crawling back inside your shell after such a good weekend, dude.”

Viktor stumbled on his footing, but managed to stay upright as he followed next to Jayce. All he could do was nod.

He should’ve said no. He should’ve told Jayce that this was it and that whatever was going on needed to stop and that he wanted to go back to the way it was—but he didn’t. He said yes to the party, and yes to the ride home.

And that’s how he found himself sitting on the empty bleachers as the football team practiced, waiting for Jayce to finish so he could drive him home.

A bony hand held a pencil to a page, scribbling down notes from an earlier class he needed to jot down before they left his mind. Then, on another page, ideas for the next game they were planning for this upcoming week.

The sound of a whistle startled him from his deep thoughts, and he looked up. Squinting his eyes to work past the somewhat blurred vision that could really use a visit to the optometrist.

His eyes landed on Jayce, and his heart stopped.

The quarterback tore off his helmet, tongue slipping out from between his lips to lick at the blue mouth guard on his upper teeth. His hair was wet, sticking to his forehead, and he smiled—god, he smiled. The stupid mouthguard made his grin lopsided, and he looked oh-so beautiful as his eyes drifted towards the bleachers and landed right on Viktor.

Jayce beamed, his arm lifting and shifting the shoulder plates he wore as he waved at Viktor, who watched as Jayce’s jersey rode up his bicep, muscles flexing. 

Viktor watched, and he smiled. A smile that reached his eyes.

He gave back an awkward half-wave and decided then, albeit stupidly, that he was going to ignore the flashing warning signs that he had put up in his mind. He tore them down, threw them away and allowed his heart to soar wildly—all because of him.

“I’m kidding, jeez.” She laughed, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she grabbed his head with both hands and forced him to look back at the mirror. “We’re not doing much, you know. Gotta’ fix this permanent bedhead you call hair and put you in some clothes that make it look like you have taste.”

“Why did I even come here?” he muttered, the words lingering with a sense of regret. Maybe Sky would’ve been better at helping.

“Beats me. If you’re going to complain, you can go home, put on that Deftones shirt with three holes in it, and go to the party. By all means!” Powder stood her ground with a disappointed pout, looking over at Ekko. He was slouched on her bed, casually leaning back with a bent knee that his arm rested over.

“What’re you looking at me for?” he asked, wide-eyed while his fingers deftly rolled a joint with practiced ease. With no response coming from either parties, he grunted and dropped his leg, licking the paper with a quick swipe of his tongue and sliding his thumb across it to seal the paper. “I think he looks fine, Pow.”

“Thank you—”

“But you can’t dress for shit.”

“Fine. You both win; do whatever you want, and I won’t complain.” Viktor slouched back down into the chair, staring at his reflection. He was far from insecure—more than willing to dress himself and go with the flow—but there was a thought gnawing inside him that he didn’t want to admit out loud. He wanted to look good for Jayce, and was that so bad?

With that, Powder took advantage of the moment, taking a brush to his hair and untangling the wild strands—only to mess it up again but with meaning. And some gel and hairspray.

“You nervous?” Ekko asked, the flicker of the lighter illuminating his face as he inhaled, and the end of the joint burnt bright red as smoke filled his lungs. He exhaled, a cloud of smoke enveloping the room as Powder quickly turned her attention to him so she could indulge in a few puffs before returning to Viktor.

The senior flickered his gaze over to Ekko, catching his reflection through the mirror.

“No,” Viktor mumbled, shifting in his seat as Powder scrunched product in his hair. He hated the feeling—both the nagging sensation of self-doubt and her rough hands tugging at his strands of hair.

“Can I give you some advice?” Ekko murmured, taking one more inhale before stamping the end of the half-burnt joint on the ashtray next to him.

Taking a heavy breath, Viktor looked at himself once more, nerves building in his stomach as he braced for what he was about to acknowledge. “Sure.”

“You don’t give yourself a lot of props, dude. You’re a really chill guy. You just have to give people the chance to get to know you; I mean, look at Jayce. Dude loves you,” Ekko chuckled, the words making Viktor’s stomach flip with unexpected warmth.

“I don’t want them to get to know me,” Viktor grumbled, his voice thick with reluctance. The prospect of coming out of his shell and getting to know dozens of people who spent years ignoring him sounded more like a night of horror than a night of fun.

Ekko shifted, eyes drifting towards the ashtray, “Maybe you should let them. Open up a little, V.”

He hated how much Ekko was right. His gold eyes settled back on his face in the mirror with a distant look. The next hour whizzed by quickly; Viktor spent much of the time stuck in his head, imagining all of the things that could go wrong. He rose to his feet only to let Ekko take over with his clothing, forcing him into several outfits before they landed on one that wasn’t just baggy jeans and an oversized tee.

“What do you think?” Powder beamed, withdrawing her hands from his hair that was pushed out of his face for once, styled back messily—curls and strands resisting gravity and pointing out in a way that only happened when he spent an entire day in bed and yet, it looked good. Effortlessly, so. Even clothing looked good: dark red corduroy pants and a fitted black shirt tucked in, accentuated by a deep red flannel hanging loosely over his slender shoulders. 

Viktor stared at himself as he stood in front of the mirror, his hand clutched to his cane and shifting his weight left and right. He wasn’t one to normally admire himself, but now? He couldn’t tear his gaze away.

“It’s good,” he hummed, and although he carried little enthusiasm, Powder practically jumped for joy.

“Knew you’d like it. Who knew all you needed was actually to put in a little effort, and you’d be a hot guy?” She snickered.

“Watch it,” he replied, a hint of playfulness softening the edge in his voice.

As the evening rolled by quickly, Viktor immersed himself in a video game with Ekko, the atmosphere growing comfortably familiar—nearly forgetting about his plans for the night. That was until the doorbell rang. He froze, pressing the start button on the controller to bring up the pause menu as he looked at the stairs leading up to the main floor.

“I’ll get it!” Powder’s voice rang from where she’d been making herself a half-assed dinner of whatever leftovers and ingredients she could find.

“No, Powder—” Viktor called from the basement, struggling to jump to his feet as he grabbed at his cane. Hustling to the stairs clumsily, Ekko chuckled at his friend’s sudden move to action, turning back around to switch the game to single-player.

The door swung open, hazel eyes widening as they landed on Powder’s face. Her blue hair was tied up into two messy buns—an excited look in her wild eyes. “Heya, Jayce,” she beamed, “Here to pick up your boy—”

“I’m here,” Viktor gently shoved her aside, eyes landing on Jayce as he breathed heavily, having made it up the stairs in record time. His hair was still intact in the style Powder worked so tirelessly on, but his flannel hung off one shoulder as she slipped into his shoes hastily.

“Hey,” Jayce’s lips pulled into a smile as he took a step back, looking his friend up and down, “You look nice. Did you dress up?” 

“If you call this dressed up, then I fear for the day we go to a fancy event,” Viktor mumbled, eyes flickering up to meet Jayce’s, heart skipping as their gazes locked on together. He noted the small smile on Jayce’s lips and the affectionate look in his eyes, which he secretly hoped was because of him.

Damn, he really shouldn’t have smoked with Ekko.

“We’re going to a fancy event together? First I’m hearing of it,” the taller man teased, perfectly white teeth sparkling as he grinned.

Viktor grunted under his breath, taking a quick look over his shoulder at Powder, who raised her eyebrows a few times at him—she was so annoying. The younger sister he never asked for. 

The door shut behind him as he followed Jayce to the vehicle. He ran a hand through his hair, which clung together in chunks because of the product in it. He quickly pulled his fingers away, trying to make a mental note not to touch it for the night.

“I expect at least an invite to the fancy galas you’ll go to for your football accolades,” Viktor murmured, the tease rolling off his tongue easily as he opened the passenger door and hopped in—a testament to the time displayed at how easily he moved. Had they really been spending that much time together? Things were beginning to feel… normal with Jayce.

A chuckle rumbled from Jayce’s throat as he rolled over the engine with a quick turn of his wrist, keys dangling together as he shifted into drive. “I can arrange that.” He said. Those hazel eyes flickered over to Viktor once more, unable to hold back the small smile that graced his lips—knowing that Viktor put effort into how he looked. He felt bad after dropping him off earlier, wondering if he was pushing him too far, but now he hadn’t felt so bad.

This was going to be a good night; he swore it.

“Oh god,” Viktor breathed, eyes widening as they approached the large home across the city. There were many cars on the street and dozens of students approaching the multi-million dollar home with so many large windows that you could see exactly what the party was like inside. 

Fuck.

“You okay?“ Jayce asked, his voice so soft and gentle. Viktor hated it.

Viktor hummed in acknowledgement, sliding out from the car with his cane hitting the pavement first. It was a lot—the sound of muffled music from the house already beating against his ear drums. His fingers tightened around his cane, slowly moving over the lawn as Jayce approached him, slowing his strides down to stay by his side.

“Yeah, her house is huge,” Jayce mumbled, his own house humble compared to this place,  “This is what you get when both of your parents are neurosurgeons, I suppose.”

“You’d think her dad was the fucking president,” Viktor joked, his heart stuttering in his chest as he evened out his breathing. It was rare that he felt anxious. Social situations hardly scared him—he just didn’t like people. This was different. New. He didn’t like it.

Jayce snorted a laugh, a toothy smile on his face, “Right? It’s excessive.” He said, a large hand patting Viktor’s narrow, thin shoulder, the touch sending a jolt through both of their bodies, “C’mon. It’s not a party without shitty beer from a keg.”

Once inside, everything felt like a whirlwind, and it hit Viktor like a tsunami. The music, the echoes of laughter and chatter filled his ears in a dizzying sensation. A few people stared at Viktor, but he was surprised by how well he seemingly fit in—perhaps drunk teenagers didn’t give two shits about who was around. All they cared about was their next drink, who to score weed from, and who they could whisk away to one of the many bedrooms upstairs.

A red plastic cup was shoved into his hand, and the lukewarm beer tasted awful on his tongue as he chugged it down, but he pushed through the bitter, warm flavour that left a horrid aftertaste. The first beer was hard, the second wasn’t so terrible, and by the time he reached the third, it was a sweet relief from the energy around him. Though three beers within an hour weren’t the best decision, his mind warped into a fuzzy daze, and his stomach twisted in a nauseating way that made a glass of water sound like a saving grace.

The entire time, he stuck by Jayce’s side, the two of them moving through the large expanse of the house that buzzed with energy. As they wandered, Viktor was introduced to some of Jayce’s teammates from the football team, who, surprisingly, seemed genuinely excited to meet him. 

“Holy shit, you’re that kid from class!” One of the boys slurred the words out in an unruly shout. The sound came from Steb—a typically quiet member of the team who was now swaying dangerously. It was barely eleven PM, and he had looked like he single-handedly consumed a keg.

“Uh-huh,” Viktor replied, raising an eyebrow, “My name is Viktor.”

“Hell yeah, it is,” Steb exclaimed before losing his balance and stumbling back on clumsy feet until he rolled over the sofa he’d been leaning against, crashing over a few girls who’d been trying to chat.

“Christ,” Jayce snorted, shaking his head. He looked at Viktor and said, “Stay here. I’m going to take this loser to the bathroom. He’s going to need it soon.”

As the alcohol churned inside Viktor’s stomach, he felt an unexpected sense of ease over him. He nodded as he stepped aside and watched Jayce hoist his friend to his feet with effortless strength. It was cute, in a way. His strong arm wrapped around Steb’s waist, throwing the thinner boy’s arm over his shoulders as he helped him stagger to the bathroom while keeping up a lighthearted chatter to distract him.

“Viktor,” a deep voice rumbled from behind him, pulling him out of his stare of admiration. Viktor turned around and spotted a familiar figure that he wasn’t keen on seeing. It took all his effort from making a face of disappointment, knowing from experience that Kino wasn’t a kind man from years of bullying as children—a grudge he was surprised he still harboured.

“Kino,” Viktor replied, voice slurred just slightly. 

Kino’s expression transformed into an inviting, charming smile, and a hand moved to Viktor’s shoulder to gently squeeze it. "Glad to see a guy like you coming out of his shell. Are you liking it so far?”

Viktor hesitated, unsure how to react, as he stared up at Kino, surprised by his easy demeanour. Maybe it was the alcohol that seemed to relax him far too much, but he welcomed the intrusion on his personal space wholly, a hint of a smile gracing his lips. Alcohol unravelled his defences.

“It’s fine,” he shrugged, Kino’s hand slipping from his shoulder. “The music sucks.”

Another laugh rumbled from Kino’s chest, a deep sound that made Viktor’s cheeks grow a touch of pink and left a lingering feeling of warmth spreading through his body. Was Kino always this attractive?

“Deftones, right?” Kino inquired nonchalantly, head cocking to the side as he kept his eyes fixated on Viktor.

Viktor’s eyes widened slightly in awe, “How’d you know?” 

“You wear that shirt every other day. Figured you liked it a lot,” he hummed, taking a drink from the red cup in his hand, eyes peering from behind—playful yet attentive.

Viktor felt his heart flutter, a feeling that had lately been reserved for Jayce. Preferably, a feeling that he didn’t have to feel—he was above such feelings. He didn't need crushes, relationships and love, nor did he ever expect to feel things from men who seemingly didn’t care about him.

Yet, there he was. A little tipsy and wondering if he was the problem. Perhaps he was the one who pushed people away.

As if snapping him out of a daze, a hand landed on the small of his back, a familiar touch that was both comforting and grounding.

“Kino,” Jayce’s voice sliced through the noise, and Viktor leaned into him ever so slightly. Chasing the familiar presence.

“Hey, man,” Kino beamed, a toothy grin that Viktor enjoyed—but Jayce saw right through. 

He was aware that he needed to keep the two from mingling with each other alone. God forbid Kino pulled some stunt that would turn the bet in his favour. He couldn’t trust him, knowing very well that his friend wasn’t below embarrassing Viktor for the sake of ruining his already terrible social ranking. He hadn’t expected to get so invested in him beyond the confines of the bet, and Jayce felt a need to protect him. A guilty conscience gnawing at him.

Viktor blinked in confusion as the two friends spoke, the alcohol hitting him hard and blurring his focus.

“Shit,” he mumbled under his breath, “I’ll be right back,” he added, pulling away from Jayce’s touch as he began making his way to the nearest bathroom, desperate for a splash of cold water on his face to bring him back to reality and closer to sobriety. He hated not being in control, the fuzzy feeling in his mind making him question emotions he’d rather ignore.

“Don’t be a dick,” Jayce cautioned Kino, jaw clenching possessively.

Kino rolled his eyes, chuckling as a sly grin danced across his features, “Dude, I’m not going to do anything. I’m allowed to talk to him… Let’s call it a truce tonight, hm?” He said, a look of mischief flickered through his eyes, “You got a thing for him, don’t you? More than just a bet.”

Jayce let out a dismissive scoff, averting his gaze, “What? No.”

“Jesus, Jayce, I’m not a fucking idiot—”

“You’re drunk... Go have a glass of water or something.” Jayce cut him off with a harsh snap of his voice, looking over his shoulder, “I need to go find Viktor.”

Kino watched as Jayce turned away, a knowing look in his eyes. He wasn’t trying to be a villain—but who said there couldn’t be a little bit of manipulation and digging when it came to a bet? After all, Jayce wasn’t the only one trying to win. There were stakes to be had here, and he wasn’t one that was going to lose so easily. 

So, off he went to find Maddie.

“Hey,” a gentle voice spoke as if coming down from the heavens as Viktor splashed cold water onto his flushed face, the bathroom door wide open. He straightened up, looking over at the stranger rather startled, eyes widening when he recognized Vi. “Fuck, you look rough,” she quipped, a rich laugh escaping her lips and kicking back and edge to her tone. “Powder said you were going to be here tonight.”

Viktor groaned softly, rummaging through the cupboard beneath the sink to find an untouched towel that he had used to wipe the cold water from his skin. “I have no idea why I’m here.”

“Are those Ekko’s clothes?” Vi asked with a teasing smirk, reaching over and readjusting the flannel draped on his shoulder, “Aw, V. You’re so cute. You should let him style you more often.”

“There’s a reason I hang out with Powder and not you,” he shot back matter-of-factly, eyes flashing in her direction, an amused look on his face.

Vi laughed again, her eyes crinkling in delight, “Where’s Jayce? Did he abandon you for Mel?”

“You’re evil when you’re drunk,” a new voice chimed in. Caitlyn stepped into view from behind Vi, tall and well-composed. “Don’t listen to her. She’s just projecting because we’re partying at my ex's house.”

Viktor blinked a few times, trying to regain his senses and string together his thoughts as more people seemed to throw themselves at him. He avoided this by staying isolated at Powder and Vi’s—an escape from nosy people. Sobering up didn’t seem to help his discomfort with their combined presence.

“This is my girlfriend, Cait,” Vi introduced, leaning back into Caitlyn’s embrace as two slender arms wrapped around her shoulders, fingers clasping together above her chest. “Seriously, where’s Jayce?”

“Why are we huddled in the bathroom?” Jayce’s voice rumbled out.

“Speak of the devil,” Caitlyn said softly, glancing over her shoulder just as Jayce approached them from the crowd of students.

“There you are!” He chirped with enthusiasm, his eyes landing on Viktor as he peered over Caitlyn and Vi. “Are you good? Do you need water?”

Viktor was silent for a moment, watching the three people staring back at him with small smiles on their faces. It was suffocating, and he was close to throwing in the towel and asking to be taken him, but as he saw the joyous look on Jayce’s face, he couldn’t help but return the smile, “Might be the worst decision possible; but maybe another beer,” he said, mischief sparking in his eyes.

“Atta’ boy!” Vi exclaimed, shaking him by the shoulders, “Let’s get fucked up!”

Once more, Viktor was wrangled like a farm animal, but it was with better company this time around. He indulged in a few more cups of beer, along with Vi, while Caitlyn and Jayce didn’t partake—working tirelessly as the sober rides home.

With a soft thud, Viktor sank into the couch, a permanent, carefree smile etched on his lips as he watched Caitlyn and Vi bicker about something he couldn’t quite retain. He was small compared to Jayce, who was leaning back against the arm of the couch, eyes settled on Viktor’s pink cheeks, his face flushed from the alcohol. It was cute. He was cute.

So damned cute.

“You’re staring,” Viktor slurred, his golden eyes full of life and moving to settle on his newest friend. “You stare at me a lot.”

Jayce’s sunkissed cheeks burned red, and a sly smile curled at the corners of his mouth as he shrugged. “Is it so bad to admire you?” he replied casually, savouring Viktor's reaction. Those normally cold eyes softened, and a smile revealed his teeth—the bottom ones slightly crooked. It melted Jayce’s heart.

“A dork. That’s what you are,” Viktor stated, lifting the red solo cup to his lips and chugging back the last remnants of his sixth beer of the night before tossing it over his shoulder—lost on the floor somewhere.

Jayce hummed, the sound barely rising above the music pulsing in the background as crowds of teens danced just beyond their intimate spot on the couch. “You caught me. I’m a dork. It only comes out around people I like.”

“You like me?” Viktor questioned, head lulling back against the couch, “And here I thought you were going to bring me here just to embarrass me.”

Jayce’s mouth parted, and he wore a dramatic, feigned look of hurt on his face. “I’ll have you know that I like you a lot, V. A gentleman wouldn’t do that.”

“Now you’re a gentleman? So many titles, it’s hard to keep up with.” Viktor whined dramatically, a playful pout forming on his lips, and the idea of kissing them flashed through Jayce’s mind.

“You’ll be quizzed on this later. Better retain all this information,” Jayce teased.

“Jerk,” Viktor snorted, a rare, genuine laugh bubbling up from his chest as he toppled over on the couch and fell onto Jayce’s lap, his movements buoyed by the alcohol’s effects.

“You’re so drunk,” Jayce mumbled affectionately, his large hands holding his shoulders and easily adjusting him so he was sitting back straight, “You okay?”

“You’ve asked me that a lot tonight,” Viktor replied softly, his long lashes framing his golden eyes as he gazed up at Jayce.

“Because I care about you. I wasn’t lying,” Jayce stated, sincerity threading through his voice.

A hush fell over them, the sounds of Caitlyn and Vi‘s laughter fading into the background and the chattering of students dimming until there was almost nothing around them—suspended into a bubble of intimacy. It was like the spinning world stopped and left the two of them there to experience nothing but each other. 

Viktor’s eyes fluttered between Jayce’s, batting slowly as his lids hung heavy. A spark ignited between them, a tension that they both felt and mutually acknowledged.

“I think I need to go home,” Viktor finally mumbled, reality sinking into him. 

“Yeah, I think you do,” Jayce chuckled, rising slowly from the couch and extending a hand to Viktor. The simple touches sent sparks through their veins, tightening the tension between them that Viktor was certain he’d act on if given the chance.

Caitlyn and Vi trailed closely behind them, losing interest in the party once their only friends decided to abandon the lively night. Viktor’s hand shaped to his cane, surprisingly doing well at keeping himself balanced, though the gentle hand on his back did wonders at keeping him afloat.

“Shit,” Caitlyn hissed, her voice laced with frustration, “I forgot my purse. Jayce, can you go grab it?”

“Just keep an eye on V, yeah?” He replied, reluctantly moving his hand from the small of his back as he quickly made a detour, unaware of the storm brewing in the direction Maddie was charging from.

“Easy there, bud,” Vi laughed, draping an arm around Viktor’s thin shoulder, more drunk than him but steadier on her feet from weekends and weekends of practice, “I got you.”

“What a ragtag group of friends. So fitting.” A voice chimed in, an accent thick on her tongue.

Viktor was tired of meeting new people.

Caitlyn and Vi’s eyes snapped at the sound of the voice, landing on a particular redhead who had made their lives a living hell for the past year. Why did they even go to the party? Well, maybe they were gluttons for punishment.

Vi snorted, amused at the sight of her. “Leave us alone, Maddie. This is so not worth a petty little argument. Go back to your new girlfriend, I’m sure she’s missing your annoying ass.” A low blow, but if there was anyone she hated, it was her.

Viktor, however, had stiffened from the confrontation. Sobering up just enough to understand what was going on—remembering certain discussions back at Powder’s about Maddie. Mostly, it was Powder who lamented to him and Sky about the torment inflicted upon Maddie, often feeling sorry for her older sister, who was dragged into the drama that hadn’t needed to exist.

As he stared at her, he wondered how someone so innocent-looking—and much smaller than them—could be so evil.

“What the hell are you even doing here? I didn’t invite you.” Maddie stated, voice laced with sharpness, her arms crossed over her chest. Her doe-like eyes landed on Viktor, widening with barely concealed contempt, “And I sure as hell didn’t invite this freak.“

There it was. Evil.

Viktor’s eyebrows knitted together, a look of disdain forming on his face. He struggled to maintain a neutral expression, a skill he was sure he’d never nail down.

“I was invited,” he shot back lazily, tired of the conversation and wanting nothing more than the sweet comfort of his bed. Oh, how badly he wished he could have Sky pick him up and take him away from the drama unfolding before him.

“I find that hard to believe,” Maddie said, an amused, mocking lilt in her words. Although her eyes were soft and rounded, they carried a jealous glint—a look that Powder described to him many times. 

A breathy laugh escaped Viktor’s lips as he studied her, taking a quick moment to flicker his eyes around at the gatherings of students, their curiosity piqued. They watched with wide eyes, whispering to each other and sharing hushed laughter. He was unsure if it was directed at the three of them or Maddie, and quite frankly, he didn’t care.

“Thank you,” Viktor’s words were soft as he returned his gaze to the girl, feeling both Caitlyn and Vi watching him. 

Maddie crinkled her nose, “Excuse me?”

“I said thank you,” he reiterated with a sigh, stepping forward with his weight leaning on his cane and purposefully bumping his shoulder into hers, “For a moment there, I almost forgot why I avoid places like this and people like you. Oh, and in case no one’s told you yet because they’re spineless,” he casted a scathing glance over his shoulder at her, eyes narrowed and full of restrained anger, “your music taste is garbage, and your house looks like it was decorated by someone who peaked in the 70s. You’ve got the money to do better.”

Vi barked out a loud laugh as if on cue, and anyone eavesdropping followed suit. The chorus of laughter grew louder with each passing moment—all at Maddie’s expense. Viktor wasn’t one for bitter insults thrown at anyone besides his friends, but the alcohol in his system voided his filter, and god, he hated her fucking house.

“Come on,” Caitlyn murmured, deliberately avoiding her ex’s eyes as she took Vi’s hand and pulled her behind Viktor, creating a barrier between the two.

“Assholes,” Maddie spat, storming ahead and brushing past Jayce, who was on his mission to return the purse to Caitlyn.“Thanks for inviting those losers,” her voice spit at him as he was hustling back to his friends—confused until he saw Viktor slamming the door behind the trio as they hastily left the party. Escaping the stuffy atmosphere that was beginning to eat them up alive.

“Hey, V! Wait up—” Jayce called out, his voice breaking through the laughter as he rushed to catch up with the group, slipping out the front door and handing the purse to Caitlyn.

“Night, guys,” Vi slurred as Caitlyn tugged her along with haste, knowing well that Jayce would need a moment alone with Viktor.

“You okay?” Jayce’s voice was hushed as he spoke to Viktor, eyes looking over his face—searching for any hurt and desperately asking for an explanation of what happened.

“Stop asking me that. I’m fine, Jayce.” Viktor’s voice was sharp, sighing as he slouched back on a large decorative rock set slightly off the winding path to the front door. Only a few minutes prior, he was certain the earth would move beneath him, and he’d fall flat on his face in a drunken stupor, but apparently, all it took was an altercation to sober you up.

“Sorry,” Jayce murmured, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans as his eyes fixated on Viktor’s defeated frame. “I didn’t think she was going to say anything tonight. If I knew she would, I wouldn’t have made you come.”

It was true. The intent of the night was one thing: to make Viktor skyrocket in popularity, of course, unbeknownst to him. However, it seemed that every time Jayce intended to work towards the bet, it lagged behind. Once he was with Viktor, the urge to push it further left him.

Viktor sighed deeply, both hands resting on the cane he kept between his legs; tired eyes watched Jayce. “It’s fine. It’s not like I didn’t expect it once I saw her, especially not with Cait and Vi there. If I had a dollar for every story I heard about her causing shit between them, I’d have enough for a trip to the furthest place from here.”

“She wasn’t a total bitch, was she?” Jayce prodded, shifting to bend down in front of Viktor and looking up at him with those soft hazel eyes that could ease anyone.

“If you consider her a bitch for calling me a freak, then yes,” Viktor replied, allowing a bitter laugh to escape his lips.

Jayce’s brows furrowed, and his expression hardened, anger rising in his chest. “Don’t listen to her. She’s just jealous.”

Viktor chuckled lightly, amusement hardly masking the pain of his words, “Of me? That’s a stretch.”

“You know what they say: hurt people… hurt people,” he said confidently as if it were some groundbreaking statement that would shift Viktor’s mindset and raise his spirits. Silence formed, and Viktor laughed—another genuine laugh that caught Jayce off-guard, his cheeks flushing with colour. “What? It’s true!” 

“You’re such a dork. Seriously... I can’t stand you.” Viktor said between laughs, his stomach hurting from how hard he was moving with the laughter. 

With a bright smile spreading across his lips, Jayce knelt closer and rested his hands over Viktor’s knees His thumbs rubbed over the fabric of his pants, a shiver running up the thinner man’s spine as he tensed briefly at the sudden touch.

“You keep calling me a dork. Are you flirting with me?” Jayce teased softly, head cocking to the side.

“You wish,” Viktor mumbled, trying to hold back a smile, but it was impossible.

Jayce’s lips parted, acting on impulse, “Would it be so bad if I did?”

Viktor’s eyes widened in shock, his heart racing in his chest—slamming against his ribcage painfully. He could feel his heartbeat pulsing through his ears, unable to tear his gaze away from Jayce as his eyes briefly flickered down to his lips, then back up to his eyes. It was bad; he knew it was bad, but he couldn’t stop himself—the pull toward him was terribly strong. Suffocating. Threatening.

He wanted to tell him he was drunk and that he didn’t mean what he was saying, and the alcohol was skewing his words, but it was no use. Jayce was as sober as they came, and that made everything so much worse.

“You should probably stop before you regret what you’re saying,” Viktor managed to mumble, swallowing a lump down his throat as it tightened.

Jayce hadn’t felt the same way—confident in his actions. Staring up into Viktor’s eyes, his hands comfortably resting over his knees like a perfect mould, thumbs grazing over the fabric as he just knelt there and enjoyed every passing second between them. Enjoying the way that Viktor seemed so flustered by his words.

Maybe he was pushing it. Maybe he would regret it in the morning, but he didn’t want to stop.

This felt right—so incredibly right.

“I won’t,” Jayce spoke gently, “I promise you, I won’t.”

Viktor’s stomach twisted and turned, his face contorting into one of uncertainty. Dangerous territory… that’s what this was. Threatening, but he pushed past it.

“If I kiss you, would you be mad?” he blurted out, his mouth working faster than his brain.

Jayce’s eyes widened, his heart freezing for a fraction of a second. His fingers tensed over Viktor’s knees, breath catching in his throat as he stayed still, fearing that if he moved, this moment would slip away and all he worked for would be gone. Not the bet, but this. 

“I don’t think so,” he replied shakily, and that’s all the confirmation Viktor needed.

A drunken ask led to a drunken kiss—his body leaning forward, cane discarded aside as his lips crashed clumsily against Jayce’s. It was sweet, a mingling of emotions that the two of them had been skirting for days. It was electric and awkward, a rush of warmth that enveloped them both… and lasted barely three seconds before Viktor pulled away as a wave of nausea cashed over him, and he leaned over the rock as he emptied the contents of his stomach into the bushes behind him.

“Ah, shit.” Jayce jumped into action, breathless and dazed from the sudden kiss, trying to wrap his head around what happened while tending to Viktor. He held his waist, one hand rubbing his back until Viktor was done.

“Take me to Sky’s,” Viktor whined, his voice shaky, fingernails scratching against the rock as he caught his breath and focused on keeping himself from round two.

The night ended abruptly, leaving both boys in their separate beds across the city with their minds running a thousand miles a minute. Viktor was certainly right about one thing—the party changed everything.