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Viktor wasn't sure what woke him from his fitful sleep, sure his desk hadn't been the most comfortable place to have fallen asleep but it certainly wasn't the first time the wooden surface had become a make shift bed. No, something else had woken him up, something he couldn't place his finger on yet, an odd feeling at the back of his brain, the feeling that something was off.
Blinking the sleep out of his eyes he stared over at the clock, the red numbers glaring back at him
"4:30 AM"
With a stretch, his back protesting at the movement, Viktor reached over to grab his phone which was face down on the desk.
Once the device's screen lit up, the odd feeling that had woken him quickly became clear as his eyes scanned over the several notifications on his home screen.
Jayce 10 missed calls
Jayce 12 unread messages
Dread settled in his bones as he quickly unlocked his phone, rushing to check the 3 voicemails that had been left by his partner seven hours prior, how had he not heard his phone? Was he truly that asleep.
Placing the phone on loudspeaker, Jayce's voice met his ears as the first voicemail started to play
"Hey V... I uh, I know it's late but it's getting... getting bad out and I just wanted to uh check on you, make sure you were alright and all... anyway give me a call if you can" His voice was laced with anxiety and he sounded unsettled.
"Bad out...?" Viktor mumbled to himself, brows furrowing in confusion for a moment before his partner's words dawned on him.
Snow
There was a chance for snow in Piltover over the next few days, the two of them had planned on being together just in case for Jayce's sake but it seemed as if the snow had other plans and had come early.
Viktor blindly grabbed around for his crutch as he pressed on the second voicemail, nerves beginning to thrum in his veins not knowing how his partner would be coping currently, if he was even coping at all.
"Vik, Vik it's not good, it's getting loud and-and I don't know if I can" Jayce's breath hitched and it sounded as if he attempting to choke back a sob "Pl-Please call me back, please"
The Zaunite swore under his breath as he continued to stumble around his own apartment, preparing to leave as soon as possible and make the trek to Jayce's apartment, weather outside be damned, Jayce needed him and he needed him now.
Grabbing his keys, his shaking thumb pressed over the last voicemail as he headed out the door, his crutch crunching in the snow as he began to walk as fast as his leg would allow him.
The voicemail opened with Jayce's panicked breaths coming through the phone, sending pain directly to Viktor's heart.
"Viktor, Viktor please please please answer I can't I can't do it oh god I-" Jayce was fully hyperventilating and sounded beyond distraught "I'm going to die we're going to die Vik I'm sorry I'm so sorry I can't save-" there was a loud thump and a strangled cry from the other end of the phone before the message cut off, leaving Viktor with a terrible sick feeling down in his stomach. His cold fingers stumbled to find Jayce's number, calling his partner as he continued to speed walk through the piled-up snow, this leg aching in protest at the strain.
Much to his dismay, Jayce's phone rang out and went to voicemail which meant one of two things.
1: His partner was too panicked to answer the phone
2: Jayce wasn't near his phone, possibly meaning he'd left the house in a panic
Thankfully, Viktor was nearing Jayce's apartment building rapidly and would soon be able to see for himself. Pocketing his phone, he hurried his strides slightly closing the gap between himself and Jayce as soon as he could.
A small bit of relief washed over Viktor seeing that Jayce's door was still shut and locked, meaning his partner had not left his home in his panicked state. With shaky fingers, Viktor grabbed his spare key that Jayce had given to him and slotted it into the lock, gently opening the door as to not scare his partner futher.
Stepping into the threshold of Jayce's apartment, somehow the temperature seemed colder then the still snow outside. The entire apartment was dark, lacking any lights and none of it's usual warmth and comforting atmosphere.
"Jayce? Moje lásko where are you?" Viktor called out gently into the apartment, heading towards to the AC controls to begin warming the space up.
A soft strangled noise came from Jayce's bedroom, setting Viktor's path directly to that room. Gently as possible, Viktor pushed open the door with his heart in his throat as to what would be on the other side of the door.
The first thing that he noticed was Jayce's set of drawers had been knocked over, that may have been the source of the crashing noise in the last voicemail. The rest of the room was in disarray due to what looked like a panicked stumbling.
Finally, Viktor's eyes zeroed in on Jayce's trembling form in the corner, his heart squeezing painfully in his chest. The taller man was curled up tightly on his side, his head hidden against his knees as his arms braced over his head, harsh and hurried breathing muffled by his knees.
Viktor quickly rushed to his partner's side, grabbing a blanket along the way to drape over Jayce's body knowing that feeling cold would only further make him feel afraid.
"Jayce, Jayce miláčku I'm here now it's alright, I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner" Viktor kept his voice soft but steady, placing a gentle hand on Jayce's messily tousled hair, he had most likely ran his hands through it many times whilst beginning to panic.
The taller man didn't seem to react to his presence, continuing to hyperventilate and mumble under his breath, causing panic of his own to start weighing heavy in his chest, was he too late? Was Jayce too far in his own head for Viktor to be able to help him? Did he need to call an ambulance?
No.
No, Jayce was his partner, his companion, his lover
He could take care of him, they had each other's backs and he would not abandon him now.
Placing his crutch on the ground, Viktor shuffled himself to lay down opposite Jayce on the floor, ignoring the way his brace dug into his side as he collected Jayce's trembling form into his arms, wrapping the blanket around the two of them tightly. Jayce whimpered slightly at the contact.
"Shhh, easy má drahá, I've got you, it's alright, I will keep you safe, come back to me" Viktor breathed, beginning to gently run his hand up and down the notches of Jayce's spine, the other hand coming to cradle Jayce's head to his chest.
The two laid together on the floor for a while, Viktor murmuring tender words into Jayce's ear as he attempted to bring his lover out of his own head, back into the present moment with him, safe, secured, loved
Viktor watched as Jayce's arms slowly came down from bracing over his head to cling onto Viktor's shirt. Progress, small but it was still progress.
"Good job moje lásko, you're safe with me, I will protect you" Viktor pressed a soft kiss to the crown of Jayce's head
Jayce's voice came quiet and broken against Viktor's chest "Snow..." his grip tightened against the fabric.
"I will keep you warm, you are safe with me, we are safe together" Viktor reassured
Jayce’s body began to relax slowly, his legs moving away from his chest and his grip on Viktor’s shirt loosening slightly, his breathing and shaking were still too fast to be considered normal.
Jayce's face pulled away slightly from Viktor’s chest, his yellow eyes still swimming with unshed tears as he searched Viktor's face desperately.
“There you are” Viktor said softly, coming to cup his partner's cheek and allowing the other to lean into the contact.
“V… I'm s-so cold, I don't wanna freeze… please” Jayce all but begged, causing Viktor's heart to wrench.
Tightening his arms around Jayce, Viktor shook his head “I won't let you freeze lásko, I can keep us both warm, can you take a deep breath for me” Viktor questioned, bringing one of Jayce’s large hands to rest over his chest, allowing him to feel the rise and fall of his own breath. Viktor took an exaggerated inhale through his nose, keeping his palm over Jayce's hand to help him focus.
Jayce attempted to take a deep breath to match Viktor's, his breath shaking with effort after hyperventilating for so long.
"And breathe out, there you go lásko, wonderful job just keep breathing like that, we are safe" Viktor allowed a small sense of relief to fill his chest as Jayce continued to match his breathing. Peace surrounded the two as they breathed together, Jayce's body becoming less tense and shaking less with each exhale.
Eventually, Jayce's grip on his shirt loosened as he snaked his arms around Viktor's waist to hold him closer, placing his head underneath the smaller man's chin. Viktor sighed softly and turned his head to place his cheek against Jayce's soft and unruly hair.
"How are you feeling now?" Viktor asked gently, not stopping his caressing of Jayce's back. Jayce nodded against Viktor's throat as he spoke in a croaky voice.
"I'm okay... we're okay" He sounded as if he was reassuring himself but that was enough for Viktor, Jayce was back with him.
"We are, I'll always keep you safe, Jayce"
The pair stayed laid on the floor for a little while longer before Jayce pulled his head away from Viktor's neck, his eyes no longer wet with tears but now looking exhausted and half closed, clearly the PTSD episode had taken it out of him.
"How about we get into bed? It's still rather early and you look like you need a good rest" Viktor offered doubting Jayce would protest much.
"Yeah, yeah that sounds good... lemme help" Jayce mumbled with a small yawn as he sat up, hands automatically going to help Viktor up off the floor. Much to Viktor's surprise, however, the taller man placed an arm around his waist and the other scooping under his legs to lift him up bridal style.
"Jayce no you're exhausted I can-"
"No" Jayce responded in a firm mumble, causing a small snort of laughter to leave Viktor
"You're a stubborn, stubborn man" Viktor rolled his eyes as he placed a hand against Jayce's cheek, even when he was beyond exhausted he was still as gentlemanly as ever.
Viktor allowed Jayce to lift him up onto the bed, being placed down as gently as ever before Jayce moved to help ease Viktor's leg out of his brace.
"We can leave that for the morning lásko" Viktor attempted to bargain with his exhausted lover, only for Jayce to look at him with the grumpiest look an exhausted man could muster.
"You'll be sore, I'm doing it" he shook his head and kept working at the straps and buckles holding the brace together. Viktor sighed and rolled his eyes, his own hands moving down to begin undoing his back brace. Jayce was right, he would be sore in the morning if he slept in his braces, but it was a small price he would be willing to pay to let Jayce rest, his partner clearly didn't agree with his sentiment.
It didn't take long for both of the braces to come loose, Jayce placing them next to the bed as he moved to lay next to Viktor, quickly slotting himself against his side. Viktor's hands automatically moved to begin brushing over Jayce's hair once more.
It was silent for a moment before Jayce spoke in a soft voice "I'm sorry..."
"Do not apologize Jayce"
"But-"
"I said don't, Talis, none of this is your fault we have been over this" Viktor stated firmly, his grip on Jayce's shoulder tightening in emphasis to his words, the latter sighing against his neck.
"I don't know why it's so bad... I shouldn't panic like that"
"As far as I'm aware Jayce, you don't choose to start panicking, you have PTSD"
"I know... I hate it" Jayce mumbled against his shoulder, Viktor feeling him curl in on himself slightly against his side. Viktor shook his head softly as he placed a hand under Jayce's chin, forcing him to look up at him a mixture of lingering anxiety and shame met his gaze.
"Můj poklad, you are so strong and you have nothing to be ashamed of, you went through something traumatic and needing support does not make you weak" His lips pressed softly against Jayce's forehead "I am here, I am not leaving, you are můj chránit a opatrovat" Jayce hummed with a content sigh, his eyes falling closed
"I have no idea what that means... but I'm sure it's so romantic... sweet talker..." Jayce mumbled contently, sleep beginning to pull him under making Viktor smile
"I could say anything to you right now and you'd think it's sweet, zelí" he teased running a finger over Jayce's cheek that was now smushed against his bare chest.
"Yeah... sure..." his partner continued, Viktor had to hold back a laugh so as to not disturb Jayce's beginnings of peaceful rest.
"Sladké mléko, vejce, chléb, káva, kterou má Jayce rád" Viktor whispered in a calming tone, still attempting not to laugh as Jayce fell deeper into his slumber as he listed off his shopping list.
"Takye te milujo" Jayce snuffled in broken Czech, causing Viktor's heart to swell with a warm feeling hearing his native language come from his partner's mouth, despite Jayce's mispronunciation.
"Miluji tě víc"