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Jayce was good at reading people. He learnt how to be. From his young rambles about science and magic that the other children would grow disinterested in, he became aware of when to shut up.
It helped in other areas though. He knew when his mother was having a difficult day and needed compliments and praise on her cooking. He knew when Caitlyn needed space during exam season. He knew when to help push Vi to finally finish her essays she had been ignoring for her girlfriend. He knew when Mel needed the silence, but still him there to focus. He even knew when to pay extra attention in his lectures when his professors were exasperated at the lack of students listening.
He KNEW how to notice things, especially those he cared about.
He does not want everyone to know he has it. He prefers making small adjustments in his actions, just to see a small smile grace his friends’ lips. From favourite foods, seating preferences, how sociable he can be around them. He loves finding the small state of confusion be overtaken by the comfort of the other realising they did not have to ask for what helps them.
What shocked him the most about this small habit, was how quickly his list was growing. At first it was just the kids on the playground, but that was more to avoid insults about his theories. For a while it was for his mother and his mother alone. Until he got to university. He became closer with Caitlyn and her group of friends.
He did not think that the quieter boy he sat next to in his lectures would be added to this list so quickly. He knew the boy didn’t seem shy, more unwilling to be so sociable with those he didn’t know.
“You should invite Viktor, you know,” Caitlyn starts, planning a small group hangout to destress after their exams. “I’m sure he wouldn’t say no, especially not to the golden boy of uni.”
Jayce hated that she could always seem to read him.
He mumbled a reply, Caitlyn missing his response, rolling her eyes as if she heard it anyways. Jayce had learnt by watching. He knew that although Caitlyn constantly acted annoyed, she rarely was.
He notices little details about Viktor, mainly. After bringing him coffee one lecture, he learnt that despite how intimidating he looks, his go to order is sweetmilk, which shocked Jayce enough for him to ask around for notes on that class to copy up from. He notices how his eyes close from a moment whenever Vi slings an arm over his shoulder mid explanation, pulling Viktor in to talk about their shared upbringing. He watches Viktor linger in any quick victory hugs shared by his fellow students after they finally grasp understanding of a complex equation.
Jayce can’t help being a scientific man, so he tests his theory.
It starts with brushing their hands together when he hands Viktor his drink, or when they’re passing notes while studying. He watches the reaction he’ll get when placing a hand on Viktor’s shoulder to get his attention, when they’re sat down so close together that their knees bump into each other whenever Jayce gets too passionate while talking. Each time, he spots a small smile from Viktor. And surprise. No matter how often Jayce seeks out his touch, Viktor seems surprised by them every time, as if thinking Jayce would have given up.
He purposely stands too close to him as they’re working on equations together on the blackboards, ensuring their shoulders would brush at any given movement.
He can’t get enough. Every time he sees Viktor, he hugs him, puts his arms around Viktor’s shoulders, links their pinkies as they walk. Anything to see that smile.
Yet no matter how much Viktor is softening at his touch, he never reaches out first. Accepting, but never initiating. Not with Jayce. Not with anyone.
“It’s most likely a Zaun thing he still carries,” Vi explained to him one night, as he was frantic and begging for help. Although Viktor had moved into Piltover years before Vi, he still seemed to hold more of their traditions. “It took me ages to warm up to Cait. Touch is more intimate where we’re from, maybe you guys just need to get closer.”
Oh.
He wasn’t sure how to take that, thoughts racing. If Viktor didn’t think they were close enough then why was he so happily accepting?
“You think he’d tell me if he wanted me to stop?”
Vi scoffed, “this is Viktor we’re talking about, right? He wold’ve slapped you by now if he didn’t like it. Besides, I think it helps him,” she admitted quietly, “I used to see how his dad acted. I don’t think he’s had much touch in his life. If you don’t get it from your family in Zaun, the only touch you’ll get is people trying to mug you in the streets. Not much affection down there.” She laughed and nudged him, as if she had told some hilarious joke.
Jayce stilled at that, his nervous fidgeting coming to a halt. He had noticed how Viktor almost seemed to lean into warm hands, but just assumed it was him enjoying the feeling. To realise it was something so significant from his home that was lacking, Jayce was no longer sure he understood Viktor. No longer sure if Viktor was accepting his touch out of want, or pure need.
“He’s coming to Mel’s, right? That’s gotta show that you guys are close. I swear, I only ever see the guy in lectures, then he disappears!”
She let out a loud snort, amused at herself for that comment. All Jayce could think of was how he was supposed to figure everything out with Viktor, feelings bubbling inside of him to the point he felt ready to burst.
They decided to meet in Mel’s room, as her’s had the most amount of space to fit the group. It wasn’t much, Mel sat in the large armchair, Vi and Caitlyn in a pile of pillows in front of the sofa that Jayce and Viktor ended up occupying. Vi had ended up brining her sister Jinx, and her friend Sevika, who had confidently joined Mel on the armchair.
Jayce was waiting for the large scene, until Mel shuffled closer to her, letting her hand fall on Sevika’s thigh, who placed her own hand on top to keep her there.
Jayce smiled, happy for her. Their few months of dancing around each other ended on good terms, and to see her so happy? Jayce would be amazed if anyone could resist feeling happy for them both.
He knew they had been having study dates together, but it did come as a surprise to see them so close.
Jayce’s nerves didn’t allow him to focus on the film playing in front of them. Instead, all he could notice was how small this sofa was, how close they were next to each other. Their arms and legs pressed up against the others in their tight squeeze. Slowly, Jayce crept his hand forward, resting it just above Viktor’s knee. Hearing the other softly gasp, he quickly retracted it, fearing he had crossed some invisible line he was yet to discover between the two.
“You can,” Viktor whispered, “it is alright.”
Jumping at the permission and reassurance that he had not messed up, Jayce moved his arm from being pushed up against Viktor to instead wrap his arm around Viktor, somehow managing to pull the older closer so they were flush up against each other.
He felt Viktor stiffen up beside him, body tense against his own.
His worries subdued when he muttered a reassurance to Jayce, and slowly let himself sink into the embrace, practically melting against Jayce’s side, reminding him of the warmth he found within forge.
Viktor’s previous fidgeting and restlessness seemed to come to a complete halt.
He felt his nerves calm the second that Jayce’s arm settled around him, as if his mind had been dulled for the first time. No, dulled was not the right word. Soothed.
Jayce’s embrace was as if the sun had personally taken a liking to him, wrapping him up and protecting him from the world outside.
It only got worse when Jayce started to move. It was a well-known fact about him. A minute in the same room as Jayce Talis and you quickly realise that he cannot stay still. Constantly standing up to pace around the room, bouncing his knee, talking with his hands. Anything, any small movement. Viktor found it amusing, as if it was his body’s attempt of catching up with his brilliant mind.
That’s why it shouldn’t have been surprising when Jayce’s hand started to move. At first just repetitive motions up and down Viktor’s arm, then up to his shoulder, before it settled into his hair.
He tensed under Jayce’s touch, this touch new and uncharted between them.
His moment of panic was brief, Jayce quickly slowing his movements to a halt, before hearing an almost silent, unhappy whine come from Viktor. That was all the motivation he needed to carry on, gently untangling the small knots in his hair.
With Viktor sagged against him as if his bones had disappeared, Jayce smiled to himself, proud that this was the calmest he’s ever seen Viktor.
He looked as though he had finally managed to catch a breath of air, breathing freely for the first time. The thought made pride swell in Jayce’s chest, feeling useful in his ways of helping Viktor relax.
Jayce doesn’t want the movie to end. He wasn’t even fully aware of what they were watching. He just knows that when the credits start, this will end.
The peaceful trance the two seem to have fallen into will be broken, and he will watch Viktor become submerged again, struggling for breath, and Jayce himself will feel that restless energy creep back, not having the soothing motions for Viktor being an outlet for his restlessness.
He wasn’t too sure how long they stayed like that, Viktor’s head oh his shoulder, and Jayce’s hand in his hair.
His heart sank when the credits finally started to play, an indirect request for them to leave Mel’s place. Expecting Viktor to immediately move away, he was surprised to see Viktor hold a conversation about the film with Mel without barely moving an inch from where he was. The knowledge that he was comfortable enough for their friends to see them so close brought a smile to his lips as a warmth feeling spread through his chest.
They ended up walking back together, their flats being the closest together. Although Jayce came from a well-known family, that fact did not mean that they were made of money, leading to both of them being in some of the more affordable accommodation.
Jayce was mid ramble when he felt Viktor’s hand intertwine with his own, silencing all his thoughts in that moment.
It felt like acceptance, for the first time Viktor had offered his affection instead of embracing Jayce’s.
“Touch is more intimate where we’re from”
The thought almost sent a chill down him, the knowledge that he was finally close enough to Viktor for him to reach out.
Viktor chuckled to himself, before sharing the reason for his amusement, “if I would have known this is all it took to stop your nervous ramblings, I would have done this much sooner.”
With no way to defend himself, Jayce shrugged, hoping the darkness hid his blush, “yeah, maybe you should have.”