Work Text:
~1~
The first time Jayce met Viktor was in a laundromat on a lazy Saturday morning. The sun shone persistently through the front window, blinding him, but pleasantly warming his skin nonetheless. He treasured mornings like these, when the air wasn’t yet stuffy with the harsh heat of summertime. It was the whole reason he had come so early. This building was cramped and inconveniently in the sun all day long, making it a nightmare to be in any time after twelve.
What he hadn’t considered however, was that apparently everyone else had had the same idea, and the tiny laundromat was packed full of far more people than it was made to hold. He’d picked a dryer in the corner and was now tucked as far into said corner as possible, silently observing as people passive aggressively offered spaces to each other and grimacing when someone would accidentally brush against his shoulder in the cramped space.
He started wondering about how he should spend his weekend. Did he have any tests he needed to be preparing for? He’d honestly lost track at this point. Maybe he should treat himself— cook a nice dinner for once. He could even invite Cait and Vi round. It would be nice to hang out again after everyone had been so busy recently.
He was so lost in thought that he hadn’t realised the other man that had joined him in leaning against the wall. He had neatly combed brown hair and amber coloured eyes that shone in the morning sunlight. He was wearing some nice beige corduroy trousers and a loose cream button-up shirt that was making Jayce feel extremely underdressed for going to the laundromat of all places. He leant off a cane as he stood, but held himself in such a proud and strong way that it was hardly noticeable. He had two marks on his face, one just above his lips and the other below his eye and they really were nice eyes and they were scowling and Jayce had definitely been staring.
The man cleared his throat with a pointed look towards the dryer. “Your laundry,” he said simply.
Jayce felt his face heat up in embarrassment, and hoped the incessant beeping hadn’t been going on for too long. Oh god he had just been holding everyone up and been caught staring at the same time.
“Oh uh yeah sorry. Early morning. You know how it is,” Jayce laughed awkwardly as he wrestled his clothes out of the dryer.
The man cocked an eyebrow. “Yes,” is all he said, squinting at Jayce and brushing past him to put his own clothes in the dryer before anyone could take his spot.
Neither of them said another word but maybe Jayce dragged out folding his laundry for a little longer than usual.
~2~
After that, it felt like Jayce saw him everywhere. They went to the same university, and were apparently in the same course. The man always sat on the back row during lectures, so Jayce started to move from his usual seat one row at a time until one day he worked up the courage to actually sit next to him. He ignored the frown he got in response, and made a valiant effort to make small talk.
He learnt that the man’s name was Viktor and that their accommodations weren’t too far from each other (the same building actually) and they intended to go into the same field when they graduated. That was about it though. Viktor proved extremely difficult to be friendly with, and his very obvious confidence in himself irked Jayce slightly. Viktor was top of the class but he never contributed, never shared his seemingly endless knowledge with the class. Jayce contributed, which was now slightly harder from the back of the room but still, surely he had that going for him.
The next time he saw him in the laundromat was a month or so after the first time. It was a morning again, but a weekday— much less busy. The aircon had been fixed, which provided a welcome respite from the stupid amounts of pollen that plagued Jayce that week. He always got bad hayfever and it drove him mad. It wasn’t even spring!
Viktor looked up as the door opened and they nodded to each other, Jayce offering a friendly smile which was pointedly not returned. Jayce huffed out a small laugh to himself. Why did Viktor have to be so difficult? It wasn’t going to deter him. He saw it as almost a challenge now. How long would it take to befriend the brooding nerd at the back of his class? It wasn’t fair to call him a nerd actually. Him and Jayce were quite matched in intelligence. It’s what made him so fun to talk to.
He went to his usual spot in the corner, all the way at the other end of the row from Viktor who was— talking to a girl? She seemed younger and quite eccentric in nature, chatting away loudly and gesturing wildly as she sat on top of the washing machine. She had a habit of twirling her blue braids around her finger as she spoke.
Jayce could recognise her anywhere. Most people could. Vi’s little sister, Powder— well, Jinx. She had earned the title from accidentally crashing a whole science fair, causing a power outage from whatever strange contraption she was trying to plug in. She had the same effect on most places she went. She was constantly in trouble despite only being first year, but the uni didn’t want to kick her out because she was still extremely smart, and would no doubt boost their average grades.
“You’re so boring, Viktor! Unbelievably boring!” Jinx exclaimed with sigh.
Viktor rubbed at his face. “I don’t know what you were expecting. Do I look like the partying type? No. No I do not.”
Jinx groaned and laid back dramatically on the washing machine, legs dangling over the edge. “You have to come! Who am I gonna hang out with if you don’t?” she whined.
“You have plenty of friends, Powder,” Viktor said absently as he swatted at her legs with his cane. “Out of the way,” he muttered gently.
She tucked her legs up onto the washing machine so Viktor could get his clothes and move them to the dryer opposite. She placed her chin on her knees, pouting, and hummed unconvincingly in response. Jayce thought. Did she have friends? She only ever saw her hanging around her siblings and now apparently Viktor.
Viktor seemed to realise and paused for a second before sighing. “I’ll come, Jinx, but don’t ditch me.”
Jinx perked up instantly, and hopped off the washing machine, sitting up on the dryer instead. “Fuck yeah!”
Jayce had been invited to the same party, but wasn’t planning on going. Maybe he should though. It was an opportunity to try and befriend Viktor more, and it would be nice to just chat with some people about something other than uni work.
~3~
The party was a success. Vi and Cait had secured the sofas for their friend group and Jayce had been warmly welcomed in despite the odd look he got from Viktor. He found that Viktor was always watching him now, like trying to decipher and pick apart his very being. He felt like he was being analysed. It was unsettling, but intriguing. He wanted to know how Viktor’s brain worked.
The group chatted for a long time, and conversation came easy. Jayce hadn’t realised how much he’d missed it, just talking and laughing with other people. He didn’t drink much himself, but watched with a smirk as Vi got steadily more drunk until Caitlyn decided it was time for them to go home. Mylo, Clagger, and the others had left by then as well, leaving only Jayce, Viktor, and Jinx.
Jinx had been perched on the back of the sofa behind Viktors shoulders, and then looked between the two with a squint. She slipped away with some shitty excuse about going to find Ekko (so she did have friends), and Jayce and Viktor had ended up chatting for the rest of the night.
After that, Viktor was much easier to make conversation with in class, despite the fact that he was still the most sarcastic person Jayce had ever met. The two of them got along well. It felt natural.
By autumn, the chill in the air had swiftly gotten Jayce sick with an irritating cold. Originally, he had decided he would still go to his lectures that day, but the second he had stepped out of bed he had changed his mind. His whole body ached and he could hardly breath through his blocked nose. His eyes streamed, making his face feel wet and gross.
He had spent most of his day curled up on the sofa but he couldn’t ignore the growing pile of dirty clothes in the washing basket. He wouldn’t have anything to wear the next day if he didn’t do it now.
So now he stood leaning against the dryer, the warmth from the machine almost sending him to sleep. He looked up when the door opened to see Viktor entering the laundromat once again. Why did they always end up here at the same time?
“Jayce,” Viktor said, smiling a bit when he saw him.
Jayce grinned. “Hey, Viktor,” he greeted, hating how bunged up he sounded.
“You weren’t in class,” Viktor stated as he put his washing in the machine opposite Jayce, then stood next to him.
“Yeah. Got sick. Why? Did you miss me?” he joked, aiming for light heartedness.
“You certainly look ill.”
Jayce huffed in laughter, which quickly devolved into heaving coughs. “Thanks, Vik.”
Viktor frowned in concern. “Why are you here? Wouldn’t you rather have stayed in bed?” he questioned, cocking his head.
“Oh believe me I would love to be in bed right now but,” he patted the dryer, “laundry calls.”
“I could’ve done it for you, idiot. You’re only on the floor above me.”
“It’s fine.” Jayce waved him off.
Viktor huffed.
They sat in silence for most of the time, Jayce almost drifting off again from the hum off the machines. Viktor elbowed him in the side when the machine went off. Apparently he really had fallen asleep.
Jayce screwed up his face, then got his clothes. “Yeah yeah I was just resting my eyes,” he muttered.
“Of course you were,” Viktor agreed sarcastically.
Jayce folded his clothes and then sat on the small bench in the middle of the room, where he stayed until Viktor was done with his own clothes. Viktor smiled softly and placed a hand on his shoulder, just like Jayce did to him most days when he sat down at the start of their lectures.
“Let’s go, Jayce. You should probably go home before you scare someone looking like that,” Viktor cracked a mischievous grin as he headed for the door. It looked good on him.
Jayce followed. “Excuse you, I always look perfect,” he said defensively, dramatically pressing a hand to his chest, as if offended.
Viktor muttered something under his breath that Jayce didn’t catch.
“What was that?”
Viktor shut the door behind them. The briefest look of panic flashed over his face, as if he’d been caught. Then he smiled again smugly. “I said have you done the assignment that is due for tomorrow?”
Jayce’s stomach dropped. He sighed heavily, coughing again. “Why did you have to remind me?” he says in despair.
Viktor laughed, “Jayce you had three weeks to do it. This is your own fault.”
“I was planning on doing it today before I got violently ill,” Jayce huffed, holding the door to their apartment block open for Viktor.
Viktor sighed and set the lift for Jayce’s floor instead of his own. He scowled when he saw the look on Jayce's face.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Are you inviting yourself back to my apartment?” Jayce teased smugly, rubbing at his streaming eyes.
“Yes,” Viktor deadpanned. “We are doing your assignment.”
Jayce groaned.
‘Doing his assignment’ was actually sitting hunched over his desk with his head in his hands. His head was pounding, and his body ached immensely. He sniffed pathetically.
He heard Viktor enter the room and shifted slightly, just enough to see him. A hand was on his shoulder again, and another prodded his cheek, coaxing him to look up. “Jayce. I have medicine.”
Jayce sighed in relief and took the tablet gratefully.
“Have you written anymore?” Viktor questioned.
Jayce groaned again. “I definitely won’t get away with leaving it will I?”
Viktor hummed thoughtfully, pulling over the beanbag Cait bought Jayce for his birthday last year and sitting next to him. “You would probably get away without reprimand, but not without a very… heartfelt speech from Professor Heimerdinger. You know what that man is like,” he said.
“God don’t get me started,” Jayce huffed out a weak laugh. “The most passionate guy I know.”
Viktor reached for the paper. “Let me read it,” he muttered, keeping his voice hushed.
Jayce passed him the paper and Viktor wordlessly pushed a mug of hot chocolate closer toward him. Jayce took a sip, and then laid his head down on the desk, revelling in the easy silence and companionship as Viktor’s eyes scanned over the paper. He thought he could’ve stayed there forever, quietly sitting with Viktor, letting him help him with his work and his cold. He never gave into anyone this easily, but Viktor was different.
Eventually Viktor nudged him and laid the paper back down where Jayces head had been. “Okay. This is good, Jayce.” he praised. “We can make a few tweaks but it’s a really good start.”
Jayce grinned. Viktor thought his work was good.
An hour or so later, they had finished and could finally chill out. Jayce slumped against the sofa, barely keeping his eyes open as he squinted at whatever nature documentary Viktor had put on. It wasn’t very interesting. He was mostly watching Viktor anyway. It definitely hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Viktor looked across at him. “You’re always staring, Jayce,” he pointed out, lips quirked up in a small smirk.
Jayce huffed, “Can you blame me?”
“What are you implying?” Viktor asked, squinting.
Jayce couldn’t be bothered to pretend like he hadn’t had the biggest crush on Viktor since the moment he first saw him. And he wasn’t too stupid to realise that it definitely wasn’t subtle. In the months that they’d grown closer, most of his friends had pulled him up on it. Viktor was smart enough to know.
“Use your brain,” he muttered, “Unless it’s only good for science.”
Viktor hummed, watching him again, analysing. “So I was right,” he said simply, before leaning in to press a short kiss to his lips. It wasn’t awkward, it wasn't shocking, it wasn’t even particularly exciting. It just felt right. Jayce had never felt particularly on edge around Viktor. They went together perfectly, in every way.
When Viktor pulled back, Jayce was laughing, and Viktor laughed with him. What a beautiful sound. “Viktor, you’ll catch my cold,” he warned.
Viktor grinned in that same playful way. “One more won’t hurt.”
This kiss was slightly longer. Jayce gently pulled Viktor to be laying on top of him on the sofa, and brought his hands to rest on his hips. He felt Viktor smile against his lips and couldn’t hold back his own grin.
Jayce fell asleep with Viktor laying on top of him, his eyelids growing heavy as Viktor rewinded his nature documentary to catch what he had missed. The man had priorities, apparently.
He only woke up when Viktor asked him for the key to let himself out. Jayce went to bed giddy. Viktor got sick a few days later.
~+1~
The next three months were heaven. Jayce didn’t think he had ever felt this happy. He had a budding friend group full of good and funny people, and a beautiful boyfriend that he couldn’t get enough of. It was perfect.
It was even perfect when the two of them made a dash from their apartment building to the laundromat around the corner on a rainy winter night. It was empty and warm and the windows were steaming up and their faces were flushed and they were panting and laughing. And it was perfect.
They chatted easily, and for a long while. Doing laundry together was a weekly routine at this point, a jumbled mess of both of their clothes in each machine.
“It’s nice when it’s quiet in here,” Viktor mused as the two of them sat on the padded bench.
Jayce hummed in reply. “It’s why I don’t go in the mornings anymore. Remember how busy it was when we met here?”
Viktor laughed smugly. “What, when you got so distracted by staring at me that you held up the queue? How could I forget?”
Jayce playfully elbowed him in the side. “Yeah yeah, whatever. At least I wasn't crushing so hard that I ignored you for a month,” he retorted, making his own jab at Viktor.
“It was a tactical decision,” Viktor insisted, as he always did.
“Sure it was.” Jayce laughed and linked their hands together, bringing them up to press a kiss to the back of Viktor’s. He waited for Viktor to call him a hopeless romantic yet again, but it never came.
Instead, Viktor spoke up, a certain tone to his voice that Jayce had learnt the meaning of by now. “I hope we always get to do laundry together,” he said, leaning his head on Jayce’s shoulder.
Jayce smiled. Viktor couldn’t always say it, but he knew what he meant anyway. “I love you too, V.”