The First Law of Thermodynamics
  Turbuggy  

“Viktor?”

A sideways glance was given to the man at his side. Viktor was lounging on a couch in the Academy’s library, nose-deep in a book. He didn’t bother to turn away from its pages when he heard his name spoken aloud, allowing only his eyes to move, shift to catch Jayce in his periphery. Viktor’s brow furrowed a touch, the action adding additional creases to his sharp, gaunt features. He was a little irked that Jayce had broken the silence in the middle of an interesting paragraph about natural magnetic phenomena. Nevertheless, he answered with a distracted, “Yes, what is it?”

“Look at me for a second.”

With a sigh, the scientist relented, lowering the text and looking properly towards Jayce. The new Councilor had placed what he had been reading— some paper on experimental methods of energy distribution, Viktor had heard him say whilst half-listening to his chatter— into his lap, and was now turned to face his partner. The expression on Jayce’s face gave Viktor pause. He knew that look; the look of a thousand thoughts running through his mind at a whirlwind pace.

“Well? Go on.”

Now that he had captured Viktor’s attention, Jayce felt his anxiety reach its peak. There was something on his mind, that much was clear, but with those naturally intense golden eyes staring him down, he wasn’t feeling nearly as confident as he had been when he had first spoken.

“Jayce.”

“Why don’t you put your legs on my lap?” Jayce had been made acutely aware that he had been silent for just a little too long, and the jolt of it forced the words from his mouth. He immediately wished he could retract them, go back in time and shut himself up before he could speak. He felt foolish, feared that perhaps the request would only upset him, or that he was overstepping a very clear boundary. But it was too late now, “Y-You know, just for a while?”

Viktor’s frown deepened, and he lowered the book fully onto his knees, “Why would I do that?”

“I don’t know, Viktor, because maybe it’ll be comfortable?”

“You can’t be certain of that.”

“Well then, why don’t you try? You won’t know if you don’t, right?” The man pressed, “Just humor me, Viktor. If you don’t like it, we can stop. Deal?”

For a moment, the shorter scientist simply sat, gaze analyzing, as if his partner’s face would betray his motive. But it did not. All he could see was poorly-masked anxiety, and the beginnings of a nervous fidget; Jayce fiddling with his sleeves as he waited for Viktor’s decision. With a light sigh, Viktor placed the book aside, and shifted to the edge of the couch, the brace on his leg creaking with the movement, “How do you, eh, want me to do this?”

Blinking, Jayce seemed to perk up, a little of that nervousness melting away with his friend’s agreement, “Oh, just, uh… however you feel is more comfortable.”

Viktor’s suspicious gaze lingered for a moment, before he leaned down and took hold of the brace that supported his leg. Using it as a handhold, he hoisted the limb up and over Jayce’s knees, to rest his calf against the man’s thighs. The action caused his features to tense, and a hissing of breath to escape from between his teeth. Once it was completed, he— far more easily— raised his strong leg to join the other. Then, he sat back against the arm of the couch.

“There.” He breathed, gesturing vaguely towards their new arrangement, “Are you happy?”

“...Yeah. Yeah, I am.” A small, genuine smile played on Jayce’s lips, though it wavered quickly, “Did it hurt?”

Viktor shrugged, and waved a dismissive hand, “Mm, no more than getting into bed.”

As the two settled back into their reading, the shorter scientist found that, to Jayce’s credit, the position was comfortable. Allowing his leg to lay out in this way, straight and slightly elevated, took some of the pressure off of both it and his back, alleviating a bit of the ache. It was… nice, really. A thoughtful gesture, if a bit clumsily executed. Kind, in a way that Viktor wasn’t overly accustomed to. A kindness that Jayce was always so eager to display. A leisurely feeling of contentment overtook him then, making falling back into his book a near-effortless endeavor. But it didn’t take long for some new curiosity to develop. Viktor could feel the pressure of shifting metal, as Jayce touched over his leg brace. The contact wasn’t invasive— they had previously established that Viktor didn’t mind Jayce’s desire for physical contact— but it was enough to break his concentration. Without looking up from his book, he spoke.

“Yes, it’s metal, Jayce. I would think you had seen enough of it to know that.” He spoke in a lightly teasing tone, lazily turning the page, “Don’t toy with it. It’s such a pain to adjust.”

“Does it ever get uncomfortable?”

“Of course it does.” Still, he remained unperturbed.

“Then, why don’t you take it off for a while?”

“No.”

“Come on, Viktor! It’s only the two of us here, and we’re supposed to be taking a break. Can’t you have a bit of a… reprieve?”

“I said no, Jayce.” Viktor’s tone was firm, and he shot the man a glare over the top of his book, before returning his gaze to its pages, “I remove it to sleep. That is reprieve enough.”

With a heavy sigh, Jayce slumped back in his seat, frowning as he looked down at his feet. His voice lowered, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Though he couldn’t help the disappointment that came over him at the stern tone with which Viktor spoke, Jayce also felt a creeping feeling of guilt for pushing him. He always tried to respect Viktor’s wishes, tried not to bring attention to anything his partner didn’t wish to speak on. However, it was difficult not to wish he could do something now and then, when things got especially bad. Ease his pain and discomfort. Jayce was helplessly prone to the desire to fix things, to make things better for those around him, even if doing so was detrimental to his own wellbeing. But attempts at doing so more often than not simply irritated Viktor, or made him uncomfortable— two things that Jayce wanted nothing more than to avoid. It had been made perfectly clear early in their partnership that if Viktor needed help, he would tell him. Otherwise, he much preferred to speak little of it. He didn’t need Jayce— or anyone— to fuss over him, and Jayce agreed. Thus, he decided it best to leave the topic at that.

For another quarter hour, silence returned. Jayce was perfectly willing to let Viktor lounge as he saw fit, enjoy their time away from work before they’d need to return to it. Viktor, on the other hand, couldn’t get the request out of his mind. After being spoken to on the matter, his partner very rarely ever brought up his physical health anymore, and had never asked him to actually part from one of his aides. Not to mention how the mere act of asking had seemed to trigger that anxious part of him, in a way it so seldom appeared around Viktor. It made him curious.

“...Tell me why you want me to remove it.”

“What?”

“My brace. You, eh, want me to remove it, yes?” Viktor had lowered his book into his lap once more, and was now scrutinizing his friend again, “Tell me why.”

Hesitation was clear on Jayce’s face, and in the way he moved to rub the back of his neck. He shrugged, “I just… thought it might help, I guess.”

Viktor wasn’t certain how best to respond to that. While his brace was a freeing implement, allowing him a sense of independence that he valued immensely, the thing could get physically irritating after a day of wear, and taking it off for a while would be nice. It wasn’t as though he was going to be doing any walking for a while yet, and it was just the two of them here at the moment. Could he allow himself to part with the security his aide offered him, in the company of his partner? Perhaps, for a while. Out of everyone he had ever met, never had one man made him feel quite so comfortable as Jayce.

“...Viktor?” His friend’s sudden silence, and the way he stared downwards, as if lost in thought, worried Jayce, “Look, I’m sorry, you don’t have to—“

“The strap, there. Undo it.” He gestured towards the single strap around his calf; one of the three that fastened the brace to his leg.

Jayce paused, “...Are you sure?”

“Yes, yes, now watch me, and do as I do.”

Slender fingers had already begun to fiddle with the first strap, the one closest to his hip. It was clear by how effortlessly he released it that he had done this many, many times over. Jayce watched closely, and followed the lead, determined not to misstep. Thus, while Viktor undid the second strap, his friend undid the third. Finally, taking the two sides of the metal contraption into his hands, the new Councilor attempted to pull it apart, “Alright, let’s just get this—“

“Stop!” Viktor snapped, shooing the man’s hands away, “You’ll break it!”

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry!” Jayce held his hands up in surrender, and away from his partner’s legs. It wasn’t often that the shorter man got worked up enough to raise his voice, and it startled him, “Show me how I’m supposed to do it.”

“You have to slip it off, from the bottom.” It was clear by his tone that Viktor was getting a little frustrated, and Jayce feared he may retract his agreement. But the Zaunite continued his instruction, nonetheless, “Slip the boot off first, and pull it from there. Do not pull on anything else.”

“Right. Just the boot.” Repeating the words as he worked, Jayce reached down to take hold of the metal ‘boot’ that had been shaped to fit over the wearer’s shoes. He grasped it from the bottom, just as Viktor had instructed, and slid it up towards the man’s toes, until it was freed. He didn’t see the way Viktor’s jaw tensed, but he did hear the soft huff of air that he forced through his nose. He glanced at his partner for a second, judging his expression, “Should I stop?”

“Just take it off, Jayce.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. With the boot free, slipping the metal splints off of Viktor’s leg was an easy enough task, though he did his best not to jostle the limb too terribly. When all was said and done, and the brace was set aside, Viktor allowed his body to relax, any tension to ease. He sat back again, giving a quiet sigh, already feeling a touch more vulnerable, but overall comfortable. His pant leg was slightly creased from where the metal had been secured, and corresponding red marks were left on his skin, hidden beneath the fabric.

“Is that all?” Viktor tested, quirking a brow.

Another moment of hesitation from Jayce, “Uh… maybe?” That was met with a frown; an expression that seemed to urge him to just spit it out already, “Can I… touch it? Your, um, your leg?”

Viktor paused, eyes flickering over his partner’s face. He seemed… unsure, brows furrowed, but not upset. His lips pursed, and he glanced away for a moment, “I, eh… suppose? Yes.”

Once more, Jayce seemed to perk up when given his friend’s permission, and he offered him a warm smile, a nod, “Just tell me if you don’t like it. Okay?”

Viktor found it even easier to fall back into that feeling of contentment he had experienced only moments before, with his leg freed of the brace, and propped up in his friend’s lap. He could feel the weight of Jayce’s palm against his calf, sliding back and forth in an almost caress, and the sensation grounded him. It was a connection to another individual; one who understood him, one who cared about him, wholly and unconditionally. One he trusted, more than anyone else. It was a kind of comfort he hadn’t realized just how much he had needed, until he had met Jayce. Hadn’t allowed himself to. But with every friendly hand upon his shoulder, or reassuring palm against the small of his back, Viktor couldn’t deny that… he liked it. A lot. It felt like understanding. A promise, between two like minds.

As time went by, the movement of Jayce’s hand began to pick up, and wander further over his leg. Soon, both hands were holding his calf, thumbs working to ease the tension in the muscles. It wasn’t without pain, but Gods, did it feel nice. Was this what Jayce had been planning from the beginning? Had he really gone through all of that, and worried himself so thoroughly, just to avoid asking him outright? Admittedly, Viktor couldn’t help but find it all a bit amusing. He wore a faint, lopsided smile, as he scanned the pages of his book, though he was beginning to retain less and less of the information. His muscles relaxed, and his eyelids grew heavier…

“Ack—!”

“Shit, did I hurt you?”

When Viktor’s eyes snapped up, he was met with Jayce’s worried expression. He shifted a little where he sat— almost lay, now— and mumbled, “Just, uh… be more careful.”

“...Right, I’m sorry.” Jayce’s voice had lowered, taken on a gentler tone. He had noticed when Viktor had begun to drift, as he had seen it many, many times before— though it was usually from the other side of a desk in their laboratory. The man was tired, he knew, and not only from his— their— poor sleeping habits. Though he never spoke of it, Jayce knew that his friend’s body was weakening, and his energy was draining away from him. Maybe, he could lull him into some rest. That is, if he managed to avoid hitting any more sore spots with his massage.

Viktor made only a sound of acknowledgement, abandoning his book to instead lay his head back, allowing the text to remain open on his chest. Jayce’s efforts would elicit a pained groan now and then, in response to which the new Councilor would whisper a quiet ‘sorry’, and try to ease the knotted muscle as carefully as he could. His touch was almost reverent, in the way that his palms slid over the curves of Viktor’s leg; mindful, adoring, and with intent.

“How’s it feel, V?” Eyes flicked up to look at the man, sprawled back on the couch, eyes closed. Jayce smiled, “Good?”

“ …Yes.” Viktor mumbles, taking in a slow, deep breath, ignoring the persistent ache it caused in his chest, “It, eh… it’s nice.”

That smile on Jayce’s face widened, and he nodded, though he knew Viktor wasn’t looking to see the gesture. He was nearly finished, having begun near the man’s ankle, now nearing the upper thigh, close to the hip. Viktor’s breathing had evened out, taken on a slow, deep rhythm that one could easily mistake for the calm of sleep, were it not for the way his features twitched in correlation with Jayce’s efforts. It was a quiet, intimate moment. One during which Jayce couldn’t help but allow his eyes to wander up towards the Zaunite’s face, take in those sharp angles, wonder just how he managed those soft expressions he so rarely utilized. Viktor’s trust wasn’t lost on Jayce. The fact that they were doing this at all was a testament to it.

“What brought this on?” Viktor’s question breaks the silence, pulls Jayce back into himself, away from thoughts of untamed brown hair and piercing golden eyes that seemed to know him far too fundamentally.

The Piltovan’s smile turns sheepish, and he chuckles lightly, “I, uh, noticed you shifting in your chair earlier.”

“…Do you plan to elaborate?”

“You do it a lot when you’re… y’know. Uncomfortable.” Jayce had to look away when Viktor cracked an eye open, looked at him with a silent sort of searching, assessing. It felt far too vulnerable, to be known, “I read that this might… help.” a pause, and a falter, “Sorry. I know you said, uh—“

“Did this source also teach you the precise number of hoops to jump through in order to reach your end goal, or did you choose the number yourself?”

Viktor is awarded another laugh from Jayce, just as sheepish as the first. The man shakes his head as he sits back, combing fingers through his hair. One hand still remained, lingering idly on his partner’s thigh, despite his efforts having ceased some minutes ago, “I might have… complicated the process a bit. Completely intentionally, of course.”

“Surely it could be expedited, in the future?” There was that faint smirk that Jayce knew so well, curling Viktor’s mouth into a teasing smugness so very becoming of him. He didn’t even bother to raise his head from his lounging position, in order to chastise him.

“Implying… you’d let me do this again?” A hopeful uptick in Jayce’s inflection.

“Mm, theoretically.” Calm, with a slight shrug of one shoulder. Both eyes have closed once more.

“I can work with that.”

It was difficult to return to something so mundane, so terribly ordinary, when in the presence of one so decidedly not. What desire could one have, to delve into a world of words and data, one so lacking in the single fundamental human need to be vulnerable, together. Known in a way that broke one down to their pieces, reassembled them and left them unchanged.

Perhaps this was what it was like, to be loved.