Viktor waved a hand absently and waved away any of Jayce's apologies with it. It would be easier to hide this version of Jayce in his dorm room since he was the RA for his floor and thus he did not have a roommate.
"I'll try to find some clean clothes that will fit you while you are getting cleaned up."
The dorm was not far from the lab that they had started out in, but it was a bit of a walk. At least it was late, and there were very few people moving around at this hour. More than once, Viktor had to go ahead into the halls to make sure they were empty before he would wave Jayce to come forward. Using the elevator was a bit of a worry since there was no telling who they would encounter as they rode to the correct floor. The stairs might have been safer, but neither of them had legs to navigate them. Luck was with them in this, at least, because there was no one at the top waiting for the elevator to come up.
Once inside Viktor's room, he was able to shut and lock the door on the rest of the world, and just being able to do so helped him feel a little less stressed. There wasn't much to the room, with only a single free-standing wardrobe, a desk, and a bed. There was a used gramophone sitting silently on the corner of the desk, and beyond that, there was a single very large window with all types of plants in pots sitting on the windowsill and on the floor just inside it. The window was large enough that it took up most of one wall, so the line of potted plants crammed onto the sill was fairly long.
"I've only got the one towel, and that certainly won't be enough for you."
Viktor looked Jayce over from head to toe thoughtfully. Then he turned to the bed and pulled back the blanket to get at the sheet that was neatly tucked in. He pulled that from the bed and held it out toward Jayce.
"Here you could use this too. There is a shower bench that you will be able to sit down on already in the tub."
If someone saw them, it wouldn't be the first time they were caught sneaking Jayce into this room, except now it would be real instead of a rushed excuse fabricated to get Mel off their backs as they tried to break into Heimerdinger's face. As for the clothes, Jayce has lost some weight and muscle; living on salamanders wasn't a healthy diet, so Viktor might have less difficulty than usual finding clothes that suit him.
"That would be very appreciated, thank you, Viktor." It went without saying that he had been wearing the same ragged clothes for a while now, and they're falling apart and uncomfortable.
As they walked, or rather limped, Jayce's eyebrows furrowed close as if he was in pain; he occasionally brought a hand up to his temple or tugged at his hair in an attempt to center himself. The terrifying vision of the automatons was subsiding, but the occasional flash still caused him pain. Nevertheless, he followed quickly when Viktor told him so and tried to remain as 'in present' as his mind was able at the moment.
Everything looked so normal and familiar, even though it was the right time. No people screaming beyond the walls, in outrage or claiming justice because of the latest rising tensions. No mothers losing their sons. No chemtanks breaking into the building to cause a massacre. This was such a happier time, even though they still went through some rough moments, that Jayce's heart ached every time he glanced at Viktor. While standing inside the elevator, finding himself exhausted now that the adrenaline had faded a bit, he wanted to reach out, even if it was to hold his hands or touch his shoulder one last time. That might just confuse the other man and make him uncomfortable; he had already given Viktor enough surprises for one evening, so he refrained, his fingers tightening around the handle of his hammer.
Inside the room, looking around, Jayce allowed himself to smile for the first time in literal months. It almost hurt too, as if his facial muscles needed a minute to remember how it was done. The room, especially the plants, screamed Viktor back at him, and that was so comforting he could cry.
He walked over to see the view outside the window, to watch his beloved city and find it whole and thriving at least one last time. When a moment later Viktor sized him and offered him the sheet, he blinked at him owlishly, surprised.
"Oh, are you sure you won't need that? I could air-dry."
And of course, Viktor had a shower bench, safe and practical. And that was exactly what Jayce desperately needed. After a moment, he took the sheet, giving in and letting their fingers brush together. He was staring at Viktor's eyes when he spoke next.
"I'm sorry for abusing your hospitality, but I really needed a friend. I really...needed you. Always did."
Viktor shook his head at Jayce's question about the sheet.
"No, I don't need the sheet tonight, and I can just wash it and the towel tomorrow. But it is also not terribly good at absorbing water, so if you use both of them together, it should be okay. I also don't think you would want to wander around naked until you air dry."
Even though it was very obvious that Jayce had gone through a harrowing experience that had changed him, Viktor still wouldn't be capable of keeping his hands to himself if Jayce were just wandering around naked for hours. When Jayce's fingers brushed against his own while he was trying to hand over the sheet, it might be Viktor's imagination that they seemed to linger for too long. Of course, Jace looking into his eyes with as much intensity as he did made it seem like it hadn't been Viktor's imagination at all. The statement definitely caught him offguard, too. Viktor didn't know what to say to that, and he felt his face growing hot with a blush.
"Always so logical and practical," Jayce said, but it sounded like praise, because it was. Logical, practical, and caring—that was Viktor. "You've seen me shirtless plenty of times, but I'll do as you suggested."
Both because it was proper and because Jayce's body is probably not much of a pretty sight, considering the scars on his back and leg. And though the options had been laid out, and there was a hot shower waiting for him, Jayce found himself reluctant to move away. He did not want Viktor out of his sight if he could help it.
He wanted to tell his partner the full truth, tell him how his other self was blissfully unaware of his own feelings for Viktor, but they still existed; it was only a matter of time until the other Jayce saw things like he did. The path that led there was also filled with destruction and pain, and he wanted to spare Viktor of that, but this is a younger version of the man he knew, and that complicated things.
Then he noticed the color on the man's usually pale cheeks, and that finally pulled him out of his stupor.
"Umm. I'll...go get clean. Thank you again for all this, Viktor. I know I'm a virtual stranger to you and that all this seems crazy, but you're the only reason I'm still alive."
In more than one way, at that. He wasn't simply talking about Viktor stopping him from jumping off his ruined apartment; Viktor's memory also helped him while in the ruined future. He couldn't give up back then; he had all these unsaid things between them that Jayce needed to tell him. Just not now.
He gave a small, last nod and then moved into the bathroom, trying not to grip the sheet too tightly as to not stain it before he could get all the grime off of him.
Well, now Viktor had even more questions. But after Jayce closed the bathroom door, Viktor seemed to come out of his trance and blinked a few times. He didn't linger in his dorm room but instead went back across campus to the laundry.
This sort of thing had been new to Viktor, but apparently, the places that the privileged send their children to learn came fully equipped with housekeeping services. Fortunately, Viktor was on good terms with the washer women that ran the massive machines that washed and dried clothes on an industrial scale since most of them lived in Zaun while working in Piltover. He hadn't corrected the ribbing that he was getting about a romantic conquest, for trying to find clean clothes in Jayce's size.
When he returned to the dorm room, Jayce was still in the shower, so he left the set of folded clothes (without shoes since he couldn't think of a good excuse for needing shoes too) at the foot of his bed. He wasn't so heartless that he couldn't feel any compassion for the obviously harrowing experience that had brought this older version of Jayce here, but he still sat down in his chair to wait. Clean, clothed, and seated, he could allow. But after that, he and Jayce were going to need to have a serious talk. Not least of which was how they were going to get this version of Jayce back to his own timeline.
Alone in the bathroom, Jayce took a good look at himself for the first time in a long time so he could catalog the changes, the new scars, and the lost weight. He didn't like what he saw, but it was pretty much the sight he expected. Maybe not the haunted look in his eyes when he stared down at himself in the mirror, though; that was jarringly new. He looked away quickly, feeling every muscle and bone ache with his movements as he started to undress, not wanting to waste time and keep Viktor waiting.
Unfortunately, even undressing felt like an exhausting chore now that the adrenaline had faded and his leg was protesting. Thank god for that bench; Jayce was sure he would have either slipped or his knee would have folded five minutes into the tub, and the last thing Viktor needed was to deal with him concussed. He already sounded like a madman; it was a miracle the other man hadn't just called the enforcers to take him away in a straightjacket.
The hot water was such a welcome blessing that Jayce could have cried. He had the horrible fear that he might just be hallucinating all this too and would wake up at any moment down at the bottom of the ravine.
Getting clean took longer than he wanted as well; he had to wash his hair thoroughly twice to get rid of all the grime, and his body wasn't much better. His leg looked awful under the bathroom light, mostly because this was the clearest look Jayce had been able to give it and not because the wound was infected or anything of the sort. It was scarred strangely in arcane patterns, the skin multicolored like his wrist where his rune had fused with his skin. I looked alien and ugly, and even though Jayce thought he was well past that, it still made him self-conscious.
He dried himself as well as he could with the towel and the sheets, covering himself with the last one from the waist down, hiding as much of his legs under it as possible. There was no hiding the diagonal scars on his back and shoulder, so he didn't bother. Glancing at the mirror one last time, he wished for a shave, but even if Viktor did not mind if he borrowed his toiletries, Jayce's hands were not steady enough for the task. Too little sleep, too much stress.
When he opened the door of the bathroom just enough to look tentatively around the room, his eyes still did a double take when they landed on Viktor. So, not a hallucination then. Despite his old—well, not that old now—partner already looking like he meant business as he waited, Jayce couldn't help the soft smile that appeared on his lips and the obvious relief in his eyes.
"Hey." He said, still not exactly feeling very talkative but feeling like the complete silence would be worse.
He was reluctant to step out of the bathroom fully because of how he looked, but he also could not half hide behind the door forever. Mentally sighing, Jayce stepped out and into the room proper.
"Your shower is wonderful; I can't remember the last time I could enjoy hot water. Or soap, for that matter."
When Jayce came into the room properly, Viktor leaned toward his desk and picked up the deli paper still wrapped around half of the sandwich he bought for his lunch.
"I don't know if you are even hungry, but I am afraid this is the best that I can do in the middle of the night. I was able to get you some clean clothes, and those are at the foot of the bed. I can turn my back on you while you get dressed."
But he was not going to rise from that chair. The younger Jayce of his time wouldn't have much in the way of modesty, but whatever had happened over the course of years to make this Jayce so unrecognizable made Viktor feel like they were strangers to each other now. Clean and fed and safely squirreled away in Viktor's dorm room, he would allow, but even then, they still would have no time to lose before they needed to send this Jayce to his own timeline.
It took Jayce less than a second to figure out what Viktor was trying to do when he saw the man pick up a familiar-looking wrapping paper. He almost shook his head in fondness, because Viktor not eating regularly due to work, disinterest, or obliviousness was as normal as it was painful to see. Instead he raised one of his hands, despite knowing that eating—not now, but eventually—might do him good.
"Thank you, but no. I can't believe you didn't even finish this one. Did other me at least chide you about it?" Jayce said with a small tone of amusement, but he hoped the other Jayce did. Viktor needed the food and energy more than Jayce did, even now at his lowest.
"Besides, I'm still too anxious; you know how my stomach gets. We would be seeing the food too soon again if I tried to eat."
And the last thing he wanted was to make a mess of Viktor's room; he had already made a poor first impression when he appeared. The clothes, though, got a surprised and grateful look. "Those are perfect, V. And, uhm, that...yes, if you don't mind."
Turning around as he got dressed, Jayce meant, as he approached the foot of the bed and avoided looking at Viktor. He had changed; he knew it, and it was a painful fact for both of them. He wished he could fix the growing chasm between his partner and him, both here and in the future, but it wasn't an immediate process. Jayce briefly looked over his shoulder with a wary look, shoulders relaxing when he indeed saw that Viktor wasn't looking at him, even if guilt also gnawed at him.
"It's not that I don't trust you..." He murmured softly as he worked on putting the trousers on first, careful not to lose his balance. It was harder than he liked, with his busted leg. "I don't mind you looking at me; it's just...I don't exactly make a pretty sight."
The younger version of Jayce had mentioned that he should really finish the whole sandwich, not just half, and Viktor had waved it away as Jayce's tendency to be a mother hen. It was paradoxically comforting and disconcerting to hear the same thing echo across the years. Even with his back now turned, Viktor snorted at Jayce's statement that he didn't make a pretty sight.
"Even if you are horribly disfigured by scars all over your body, you are still the same Jayce Talis that I know, and that much has not changed over the years that are separating us."
Viktor did not turn back around until he heard Jayce sit down opposite him on the bed.
"As you are the same Jayce Talis that I know, you must be aware that your presence alone is altering this timeline from the events that you remember happening. It won't be possible to try to send you back to your own time tonight, but we will both have to send you back as soon as we are able. But the important thing right now is how I will explain your presence to the other version of you that is here already. I agree that you should not interact too much. But as close as we are, it will not be possible for me to keep you a secret."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2026-02-06 11:52 pm (UTC)"I'll try to find some clean clothes that will fit you while you are getting cleaned up."
The dorm was not far from the lab that they had started out in, but it was a bit of a walk. At least it was late, and there were very few people moving around at this hour. More than once, Viktor had to go ahead into the halls to make sure they were empty before he would wave Jayce to come forward. Using the elevator was a bit of a worry since there was no telling who they would encounter as they rode to the correct floor. The stairs might have been safer, but neither of them had legs to navigate them. Luck was with them in this, at least, because there was no one at the top waiting for the elevator to come up.
Once inside Viktor's room, he was able to shut and lock the door on the rest of the world, and just being able to do so helped him feel a little less stressed. There wasn't much to the room, with only a single free-standing wardrobe, a desk, and a bed. There was a used gramophone sitting silently on the corner of the desk, and beyond that, there was a single very large window with all types of plants in pots sitting on the windowsill and on the floor just inside it. The window was large enough that it took up most of one wall, so the line of potted plants crammed onto the sill was fairly long.
"I've only got the one towel, and that certainly won't be enough for you."
Viktor looked Jayce over from head to toe thoughtfully. Then he turned to the bed and pulled back the blanket to get at the sheet that was neatly tucked in. He pulled that from the bed and held it out toward Jayce.
"Here you could use this too. There is a shower bench that you will be able to sit down on already in the tub."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-07 11:24 pm (UTC)If someone saw them, it wouldn't be the first time they were caught sneaking Jayce into this room, except now it would be real instead of a rushed excuse fabricated to get Mel off their backs as they tried to break into Heimerdinger's face. As for the clothes, Jayce has lost some weight and muscle; living on salamanders wasn't a healthy diet, so Viktor might have less difficulty than usual finding clothes that suit him.
"That would be very appreciated, thank you, Viktor." It went without saying that he had been wearing the same ragged clothes for a while now, and they're falling apart and uncomfortable.
As they walked, or rather limped, Jayce's eyebrows furrowed close as if he was in pain; he occasionally brought a hand up to his temple or tugged at his hair in an attempt to center himself. The terrifying vision of the automatons was subsiding, but the occasional flash still caused him pain. Nevertheless, he followed quickly when Viktor told him so and tried to remain as 'in present' as his mind was able at the moment.
Everything looked so normal and familiar, even though it was the right time. No people screaming beyond the walls, in outrage or claiming justice because of the latest rising tensions. No mothers losing their sons. No chemtanks breaking into the building to cause a massacre. This was such a happier time, even though they still went through some rough moments, that Jayce's heart ached every time he glanced at Viktor. While standing inside the elevator, finding himself exhausted now that the adrenaline had faded a bit, he wanted to reach out, even if it was to hold his hands or touch his shoulder one last time. That might just confuse the other man and make him uncomfortable; he had already given Viktor enough surprises for one evening, so he refrained, his fingers tightening around the handle of his hammer.
Inside the room, looking around, Jayce allowed himself to smile for the first time in literal months. It almost hurt too, as if his facial muscles needed a minute to remember how it was done. The room, especially the plants, screamed Viktor back at him, and that was so comforting he could cry.
He walked over to see the view outside the window, to watch his beloved city and find it whole and thriving at least one last time. When a moment later Viktor sized him and offered him the sheet, he blinked at him owlishly, surprised.
"Oh, are you sure you won't need that? I could air-dry."
And of course, Viktor had a shower bench, safe and practical. And that was exactly what Jayce desperately needed. After a moment, he took the sheet, giving in and letting their fingers brush together. He was staring at Viktor's eyes when he spoke next.
"I'm sorry for abusing your hospitality, but I really needed a friend. I really...needed you. Always did."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-08 12:35 am (UTC)"No, I don't need the sheet tonight, and I can just wash it and the towel tomorrow. But it is also not terribly good at absorbing water, so if you use both of them together, it should be okay. I also don't think you would want to wander around naked until you air dry."
Even though it was very obvious that Jayce had gone through a harrowing experience that had changed him, Viktor still wouldn't be capable of keeping his hands to himself if Jayce were just wandering around naked for hours. When Jayce's fingers brushed against his own while he was trying to hand over the sheet, it might be Viktor's imagination that they seemed to linger for too long. Of course, Jace looking into his eyes with as much intensity as he did made it seem like it hadn't been Viktor's imagination at all. The statement definitely caught him offguard, too. Viktor didn't know what to say to that, and he felt his face growing hot with a blush.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-08 10:48 pm (UTC)Both because it was proper and because Jayce's body is probably not much of a pretty sight, considering the scars on his back and leg. And though the options had been laid out, and there was a hot shower waiting for him, Jayce found himself reluctant to move away. He did not want Viktor out of his sight if he could help it.
He wanted to tell his partner the full truth, tell him how his other self was blissfully unaware of his own feelings for Viktor, but they still existed; it was only a matter of time until the other Jayce saw things like he did. The path that led there was also filled with destruction and pain, and he wanted to spare Viktor of that, but this is a younger version of the man he knew, and that complicated things.
Then he noticed the color on the man's usually pale cheeks, and that finally pulled him out of his stupor.
"Umm. I'll...go get clean. Thank you again for all this, Viktor. I know I'm a virtual stranger to you and that all this seems crazy, but you're the only reason I'm still alive."
In more than one way, at that. He wasn't simply talking about Viktor stopping him from jumping off his ruined apartment; Viktor's memory also helped him while in the ruined future. He couldn't give up back then; he had all these unsaid things between them that Jayce needed to tell him. Just not now.
He gave a small, last nod and then moved into the bathroom, trying not to grip the sheet too tightly as to not stain it before he could get all the grime off of him.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 10:53 pm (UTC)This sort of thing had been new to Viktor, but apparently, the places that the privileged send their children to learn came fully equipped with housekeeping services. Fortunately, Viktor was on good terms with the washer women that ran the massive machines that washed and dried clothes on an industrial scale since most of them lived in Zaun while working in Piltover. He hadn't corrected the ribbing that he was getting about a romantic conquest, for trying to find clean clothes in Jayce's size.
When he returned to the dorm room, Jayce was still in the shower, so he left the set of folded clothes (without shoes since he couldn't think of a good excuse for needing shoes too) at the foot of his bed. He wasn't so heartless that he couldn't feel any compassion for the obviously harrowing experience that had brought this older version of Jayce here, but he still sat down in his chair to wait. Clean, clothed, and seated, he could allow. But after that, he and Jayce were going to need to have a serious talk. Not least of which was how they were going to get this version of Jayce back to his own timeline.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-16 10:21 pm (UTC)Unfortunately, even undressing felt like an exhausting chore now that the adrenaline had faded and his leg was protesting. Thank god for that bench; Jayce was sure he would have either slipped or his knee would have folded five minutes into the tub, and the last thing Viktor needed was to deal with him concussed. He already sounded like a madman; it was a miracle the other man hadn't just called the enforcers to take him away in a straightjacket.
The hot water was such a welcome blessing that Jayce could have cried. He had the horrible fear that he might just be hallucinating all this too and would wake up at any moment down at the bottom of the ravine.
Getting clean took longer than he wanted as well; he had to wash his hair thoroughly twice to get rid of all the grime, and his body wasn't much better. His leg looked awful under the bathroom light, mostly because this was the clearest look Jayce had been able to give it and not because the wound was infected or anything of the sort. It was scarred strangely in arcane patterns, the skin multicolored like his wrist where his rune had fused with his skin. I looked alien and ugly, and even though Jayce thought he was well past that, it still made him self-conscious.
He dried himself as well as he could with the towel and the sheets, covering himself with the last one from the waist down, hiding as much of his legs under it as possible. There was no hiding the diagonal scars on his back and shoulder, so he didn't bother. Glancing at the mirror one last time, he wished for a shave, but even if Viktor did not mind if he borrowed his toiletries, Jayce's hands were not steady enough for the task. Too little sleep, too much stress.
When he opened the door of the bathroom just enough to look tentatively around the room, his eyes still did a double take when they landed on Viktor. So, not a hallucination then. Despite his old—well, not that old now—partner already looking like he meant business as he waited, Jayce couldn't help the soft smile that appeared on his lips and the obvious relief in his eyes.
"Hey." He said, still not exactly feeling very talkative but feeling like the complete silence would be worse.
He was reluctant to step out of the bathroom fully because of how he looked, but he also could not half hide behind the door forever. Mentally sighing, Jayce stepped out and into the room proper.
"Your shower is wonderful; I can't remember the last time I could enjoy hot water. Or soap, for that matter."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-21 08:35 pm (UTC)"I don't know if you are even hungry, but I am afraid this is the best that I can do in the middle of the night. I was able to get you some clean clothes, and those are at the foot of the bed. I can turn my back on you while you get dressed."
But he was not going to rise from that chair. The younger Jayce of his time wouldn't have much in the way of modesty, but whatever had happened over the course of years to make this Jayce so unrecognizable made Viktor feel like they were strangers to each other now. Clean and fed and safely squirreled away in Viktor's dorm room, he would allow, but even then, they still would have no time to lose before they needed to send this Jayce to his own timeline.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-24 07:58 pm (UTC)"Thank you, but no. I can't believe you didn't even finish this one. Did other me at least chide you about it?" Jayce said with a small tone of amusement, but he hoped the other Jayce did. Viktor needed the food and energy more than Jayce did, even now at his lowest.
"Besides, I'm still too anxious; you know how my stomach gets. We would be seeing the food too soon again if I tried to eat."
And the last thing he wanted was to make a mess of Viktor's room; he had already made a poor first impression when he appeared. The clothes, though, got a surprised and grateful look. "Those are perfect, V. And, uhm, that...yes, if you don't mind."
Turning around as he got dressed, Jayce meant, as he approached the foot of the bed and avoided looking at Viktor. He had changed; he knew it, and it was a painful fact for both of them. He wished he could fix the growing chasm between his partner and him, both here and in the future, but it wasn't an immediate process. Jayce briefly looked over his shoulder with a wary look, shoulders relaxing when he indeed saw that Viktor wasn't looking at him, even if guilt also gnawed at him.
"It's not that I don't trust you..." He murmured softly as he worked on putting the trousers on first, careful not to lose his balance. It was harder than he liked, with his busted leg. "I don't mind you looking at me; it's just...I don't exactly make a pretty sight."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-26 10:10 pm (UTC)"Even if you are horribly disfigured by scars all over your body, you are still the same Jayce Talis that I know, and that much has not changed over the years that are separating us."
Viktor did not turn back around until he heard Jayce sit down opposite him on the bed.
"As you are the same Jayce Talis that I know, you must be aware that your presence alone is altering this timeline from the events that you remember happening. It won't be possible to try to send you back to your own time tonight, but we will both have to send you back as soon as we are able. But the important thing right now is how I will explain your presence to the other version of you that is here already. I agree that you should not interact too much. But as close as we are, it will not be possible for me to keep you a secret."