AgeRegressor!Viktor x Caregiver!Jayce 🥛 "Sweetmilk" — 1.6k words || ao3 link
Jayce was well attuned to Viktor's needs by now. And from what he could tell, what Viktor needs right now is some rest. They had managed to work undisturbed for a few hours now, and Jayce knew it was only a matter of time before they get caught up in some long-form conversation with Heimerdinger.
Jayce rolls his chair to the other side of the desk and slowly slides away the pages Viktor is working on. Viktor slams his hand onto the desk much harder than intended to stop his work from slipping away.
“Wait,” he mumbles. Jayce sighs and silently counts to 60 — he knew there was no equation in that specific pile that would take him much longer than a minute. When he tries to take the papers again, Viktor lets out a small whine. Jayce pauses momentarily.
Viktor is not one to whine when he doesn't get his own way, even when he's tiny. But when he's fighting the urge to slip into the need to let go he can get a little cranky. It was obvious to Jayce instantly that was the case right now, and it's more than enough for him to fall perfectly into his role.
He knew Viktor wasn't going to give into it, he never has. Instead he allows Viktor to continue working on the equations that would surely become far too difficult for him — Viktor can think he's won for the time being.
“Aren't you sleepy?” Jayce subconsciously swaps his vocabulary around, I mean, sleepy? If Viktor wasn't as tired as he was, he'd be sure to (at the very least) mock Jayce for using such childish language. Instead, he gives him a disagreeing hum in response.
Jayce doesn't retort that. He begins to collect up their tools and put them into their respective boxes, being sure not to turn his attention away from Viktor for more than a few seconds. He can visibly see as his focus falters and turns into mild frustration.
“Y’okay, V?” Jayce asks, voice soft and gentle. Jayce doesn't miss the way Viktors eyes quickly glance in his direction, another hum in response.
“Al~right,” Jayce continues to clean the lab to a standard Viktor would approve of in the morning. The tapping of Viktors pen on the desk is the only sound beside his own.
After a few minutes, Jayce goes to check on Viktor properly, and just as he expected he’s still on the same problem he was on when Jayce first stood up. He huffs out a half—laugh half—sigh and gently runs his hand through Viktor’s hair.
He found it incredibly sweet how much Viktor cared for his work, but incredibly frustrating how his care for himself suffered for it. If Jayce had his own way, he would've scooped Viktor up and taken him to bed an hour ago. But he was patient, and it was always better for the both of them when Viktor wasn't forced into it.
“Need help?” Jayce leans in closer, wrapping his big hand over top of Viktors. He looks it over for a couple seconds before realising that Viktor had actually almost finished it himself.
“You've almost got it,” Jayce encourages him, very subtly guiding the pen to write the final equation. Suddenly it clicks, and Viktor is able to scribble down the answer with the rest of his strength. As soon as he's done, he turns to Jayce. It was like Jayce was looking in a mirror, he knew he often gave Viktor those same glistening eyes when he finished a particularly difficult task — so Jayce knew exactly what Viktor was looking for.
“You're so clever, I’m so proud of you!” Jayce gasps, maybe more dramatically than needed but not an ounce of it was insincere. He ruffles Viktor's hair a little bit before finally pulling those damn papers out of his sight.
Before Viktor is able to protest Jayce spins his chair around to face him, crouching down to his level in an attempt to seem less intimidating.
“V, are you tired?”
Viktor looks around the lab, finding the next task he can fix onto in order to delay his impending nap. He's completely unchanged in that aspect.
“No— no more, Viktor, look at me,” Jayce says sternly. He brings a hand to Viktors cheek to guide his gaze to his own. Viktor's eyelids are heavy; it's a miracle his head hadn't fallen down onto the desk from exhaustion hours ago. Viktor nervously brings his hand to his mouth to bite at the tip of his finger.
“Sweetmilk?” Jayce tilts his head like a puppy and Viktor's eyes widen at the bribe promise of sweetmilk.
Jayce sighs, that's all it took?
Before Viktor has the chance to latch onto something else, Jayce stands up, passing Viktor his cane and reaching his hand out for him to take and helping him to his feet. Working long hours always came with the cost of aching joints. Jayce notices his struggle and offers to carry him, which Viktor quickly declines, instead keeping a hold of his offered hand.
Jayce quickly locks up the lab and the two make their way to Viktors room. It was way past curfew so the halls were completely empty, the only noise was that of Viktors cane clicking against the concrete floor.
Once they reach Viktors room, Jayce pulls out his own keys — Viktor had given Jayce a key not long after they met. He slides the key into the lock and opens the door, holding it open for Viktor before following behind.
As soon as they're inside and away from the cold, Jayce shrugs off his jacket and heads for the kitchen intent on fulfilling his promise. It won't be long until Viktor inevitably drifts off to sleep, so he quickly prepares the sweet milk before going to find Viktor.
Jayce finds Viktor bundled up in a blanket on the couch, his amber eyes the only thing that Jayce could see.
“Cold?” Jayce asks as he crouches down to Viktors eye level. His golden eyes fall on the mug in Jayces hand. It only now occurred to Jayce that he probably should've used something… easier for Viktor to drink out of.
“Um, c—can you use a cup? Or do you want—” before Jayce can finish his sentence, Viktor has taken the mug and began to drink it, far too quickly.
“Slow, slow down V,” Jayce laughs. He begins to take off Viktors leg brace, carefully unfastening each strap before sliding it off. He rubs at the spots where the metal once sat to soothe the muscles as Viktor finished the last of his drink. Once Viktor was done, he couldn't help but whine a little at the loss.
“Was that good?” Jayce takes the cup and places it on the coffee table behind him. His hands move to unbutton Viktors waistcoat and remove his tie before folding them up neatly and draping them over the back of the couch.
“O—kay, let's get you to bed, hm?” Viktors sleepy eyes follow as Jayce stands up before scooping Viktor up in a bundle of blankets and effortlessly carrying him into the bedroom.
He gently places Viktor on the bed and quickly looks through his drawers to find some more comfortable clothes for him to sleep in, pulling out some pyjama bottoms and a shirt that almost definitely belonged to Jayce at some point. Viktor observes Jayce wordlessly as he moves, feeling a little shy about being so unconditionally doted on.
“Do you need help?” Jayce asks, and Viktor shakes his head with a yawn, reaching his hands out for the clothes. Jayce closes the distance and hands them to Viktor, planting a gentle kiss on the forehead — a subconscious gesture that neither will speak about.
“Alright, I’ll be back in two minutes, okay?” Jayce leaves the room to allow him privacy to get changed, leaving the door ajar incase Viktor needed his help.
Jayce tries to make himself useful by tidying up, but beyond the used mug and a couple of scientific papers strewn across the coffee table, nothing was really messy.
After a couple minutes he returns back to the room, smiling softly when he notices Viktor sitting as if he was waiting for him to come back.
“Good boy,” Jayce gives him another kiss on the forehead and helps him under the covers. Once Viktor is settled Jayce goes around the room and turns on a couple of dim lamps before switching off the big overhead light.
“Do you need anything else, V?” Jayce asks, he's about ready to leave but what's to be sure there's nothing else Viktor—
“Dad,” Viktor mumbles, almost incoherent beneath all the blankets he's hidden under.
Jayce freezes. It's uncommon for Viktor to talk when he's regressed as is, so Jayce is already sure he's hearing things, but for Viktor to call him anything other than “Jayce”? That's not something that's ever happened before.
But he couldn't deny the warm feeling it created in his chest.
“Y—yeah, what's up?” Jayce replies, still slightly unsure of what he heard. He crouches down beside the bed, running his fingers through Viktors hair. The room is quiet, but not uncomfortable, and It's a moment before Viktor speaks up again.
“Sleep w’ me,” he mumbles, eyes fighting to stay open.
“I— yeah. Yeah, okay,” Jayce smiles softly and stands up, quickly discarding his toe and waistcoat to a nearby chair.
Viktor shuffles a little to create space for Jayce to climb into bed beside him, huffing a small sigh of contentment as he curls into Jayce's chest. Jayce's body stiffens momentarily at such an obvious display of physical affection, but quickly relaxes as wraps his arms around Viktor to pull him closer.
“I’m here, I’ve got you,” Jayce whispers sweetly to Viktor, twirling his fingers in his hair until he finally lets sleep take over.