@jtalis wrote: it's viktor's birthday. jayce has never been a great gift-giver, always too on the nose or too abstract about the whole thing to really hone in on what matters. he supposes he could just be upfront and ask the man himself, but not only has viktor been surprisingly elusive these past handful of days, but it feels like that would spoil the sentiment behind it. so before viktor is supposed to come into the laboratory to finish up a report on their newest set of experiments, jayce stops by the nearby bakery, buys the sweetest cake he can find behind the glass of the case, and spends at least an hour anxiously bouncing his leg in his chair as he waits. that's not without a proper present, of course. tucked away in a neatly wrapped box is a red tie that may or may not be the exact same one jayce wears. in his defense, they're partners now. unity looks good to investors, right ? and it's a nice tie, perhaps a bit understated but classy all the same. does viktor even like ties, or does he only wear them as a part of the academy uniform ? just as he considers running out to find a gift that doesn't scream ' i'm the most boring man alive', he hears the familiar squeak of their door. " viktor ? " jayce stands abruptly, the scrunch of his brow softening into an eager greeting. " i heard it was your birthday. to be honest, i almost thought you'd actually take the day off for yourself. " he approaches now, his offering in his hands, anxieties almost forgotten in his excitement. " um, i know you like sweets, so i got you something small from the bakery. and this. " the box is pressed into viktor's hands, and jayce draws back as though to offer him space to decide it's awful. " happy birthday, vik. "
"jayce? ..." his own words mirror back as he hears his own name, head lifting from the ground for viktor's gaze to meet the others. perhaps he shouldn't be too surprised to see him, they were partners in this shared space after all. but in truth, jayce was earlier than usual, not that is was unwelcome of course. hand reaches backwards to close the door behind him, unable to hide the grin which cracks onto his face following the other's next comment. "yes, well you know, the scientific mind never rests, and this certainly isn't an exception."
in truth, viktor didn't think much of today. growing up in poverty, gifts weren't exactly guaranteed on these special occasions, barely having enough funds to survive, so most birthday traditions were thrown out the window. even once he'd grown and moved to piltover, he was simply too busy, head first in being professor heimerdinger's assistant that it often flew over his head. he hadn't expected much today either, but it seemed jayce had other plans... how had he even found out it was today anyhow? had someone informed him? but now's not the time for questions, not when the other man's present was presented forth.
"you... got something for me? jayce, you shouldn't have." golden hues glance over the other's shoulder, catching glimpse of the still boxed cake behind him, brows quirking upwards. oh, his taste buds sparked to life almost immediately, but he relocates his focus to the box within his hands. a gentle tug opens it, surprise reflecting into viktor's eyes before softening once more. hand reaches inwards to pull the tie from it's confines, examining it closely before meeting the other's gaze once more.
"hm, now where have i seen this before..." he can't help but joke, a subtle snicker escaping his throat as he takes a step closer. eyes meet jayce's half lidded, keeping his focus. but with him distracted, hand reaches to grab the other's matching red tie and yanks him downward slightly. "how you managed to do all of this without me noticing, i don't know how you did it... but thank you, jayce. i love it," he muses, faces mere inches apart before leaning upon tippy toes and planting a kiss to the other's lips. hm, sweet, perhaps more so than the pastry sitting nearby.
