[ jayce knew pain, now. real, arduous pain. the way he'd lay on the cold hard ground and imagine viktor, laying there with him, and thinking— is this what you felt? the way he'd look into the fire and see his partner's slumbering face, cane resting against his shoulder. the way he climbed the jagged crevices of zaun's broken caverns to breach the grounds of piltover, laying in the rain to recover the air in his lungs and his wailing muscles. is this what you've been through? the washing of his healing injuries is uncomfortable at times, judged by the way his shoulder blades tremor beneath cautious hands. but he does not say a word, he does not object. there is no way he could reject such sympathetic hands wishing to help him— after everything he's allowed to transpire.
the talk is good. jayce hadn't known what to say, hadn't known how to react other than listening to his own pulse thrum in his ears with every careful circle over the hex-infected scar. it stretches a silence from jayce, but with patience, jayce answers: wistful and bringing a curve to one corner of his lips.
viktor always knew what to do. viktor always saved him. ]
I remember you, [ he starts. you, specifically, a sting pricks his eyes when he remembers the connection they shared on top of the aqueducts. it's easily the water just getting in them. for now, it's easier to blink away. ] attending the Academy classroom without an acceptance. [ viktor may not see his face, but it is one memory that finally splits his chapped, broken lips to expose the gap of his front teeth. ] Your parents even bought you the uniform.
[ his gums even click as he recalls it all, his smile wider. he especially remembers the moment they had shared in the lab, budding partners spending their late nights theorizing over bread, teas, sweetmilk and sometimes jugs of wine, until fatigue diverted their focus to this common, boyish prattle. this one story of many stories. he was so ecstatic and eager to hear about it, then. he remembers viktor's face, his smiles. the healthier fullness of his sharp, distinct cheek bones. the era of his attempts at making crank it stick. it was such a fun time he feels as if he's taken it for granted. ]
I'd imagine the look on their faces when they finally caught you, and— [ he chortles with mirth. it comes out wet from his throat, the strain in his voice beginning to oscillate his breaking tone. ]. And laugh.
no subject
the talk is good. jayce hadn't known what to say, hadn't known how to react other than listening to his own pulse thrum in his ears with every careful circle over the hex-infected scar. it stretches a silence from jayce, but with patience, jayce answers: wistful and bringing a curve to one corner of his lips.
viktor always knew what to do. viktor always saved him. ]
I remember you, [ he starts. you, specifically, a sting pricks his eyes when he remembers the connection they shared on top of the aqueducts. it's easily the water just getting in them. for now, it's easier to blink away. ] attending the Academy classroom without an acceptance. [ viktor may not see his face, but it is one memory that finally splits his chapped, broken lips to expose the gap of his front teeth. ] Your parents even bought you the uniform.
[ his gums even click as he recalls it all, his smile wider. he especially remembers the moment they had shared in the lab, budding partners spending their late nights theorizing over bread, teas, sweetmilk and sometimes jugs of wine, until fatigue diverted their focus to this common, boyish prattle. this one story of many stories. he was so ecstatic and eager to hear about it, then. he remembers viktor's face, his smiles. the healthier fullness of his sharp, distinct cheek bones. the era of his attempts at making crank it stick. it was such a fun time he feels as if he's taken it for granted. ]
I'd imagine the look on their faces when they finally caught you, and— [ he chortles with mirth. it comes out wet from his throat, the strain in his voice beginning to oscillate his breaking tone. ]. And laugh.