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And now, Viktor understood everything.
Blessed be the ignorant, for Viktor wished to be one right now, momentarily.
Jayce was too much. And also, still alive, thank ---- let's NOT get into thank WHO, exactly, right now, because the shame growing at the thought was unbearable and scathing and-- certainly not thanks to---- but also--
Nevermind
Jayce had to leave, NOW, or very soon, there wouldn't be any Jayce anymore, or at least not this one, and, let's just say. Let's just say he, this himself, was very particular and discriminating towards THIS PARTICULAR JAYCE, NO OTHER JAYCE, EVEN IF SURELY THEY'RE superb as wepl, but---
Ergo, Jayce had to LEAVE
which he
(Viktor)(right, that was still own name, was it not?)
Which Viktor communicated to Jayce, THE Jayce directly
But the Jayce refused to leave ----
************************
And later, after everything and nothing, the Jayce, as if while learning how to move again, slowly caressed Viktor's hand and said--
"That's.. not nice, Vikt."
"....?"
" <<the>>. I'm not some item."
that's not what-- oh. A smile. Jayce is smiling. Jayce is---
"...so my jokes are that poor. That you wouldn't even notice I'm kidding. No wonder you tried to shoo me away, partn-- V--"
no, say it. Say it again. Call me that. Call me--
"...er... call you Vik or Vikt or partner, V--?"
YESPLEASEPLEASEMYJAYCE
"...Ah."
"...?"
"I... prefer my to the, I gather, I mean, it makes me feel.. well, like your partn---"
WIthout letting him finish the sentence, or anything, Viktor kissed his hand. He wasn't even sure it'd be physically (mentally? Spiritually? They were surely somewhere far, far, far and deep away in the arcane realm, right now, not in the world--) but he's done it without thinking, even though, if anything, he surely should only be kissing Jayce's feet right now, if anything, or--
Apparently, Jayce had other ideas.
Very Jayceish ideas, at that. A hug, and then
And then Viktor's Partner kissed his forehead.
Viktor was pretty certain Viktor would die of too much Affection if he wasn't already dead--
"No, V, you--- we're alive."
Viktor knew well why Jayce, this, Jayce, his Jayce, his Partner, overcorrected himself, why he'd never again utter you're alive to Viktor. Why we're alive , at least for now.
For a moment, his shame almost made him consider how much he must've apparently scarred the simple you're alive for his Jayce
But then Viktor's other not quite buried by shame regrowing feelings remembered
beauty in imeperfections
in
"...scars, even....?"
Hug. Too sudden. And exclamation--
"...you can speak...?! I thought you-- now-- that you no--- not--- Viktor, you're amazing!!"
Right. This whole time after everything and nothing and then something, reborn or moved or re-dead, Jayce, his Jayce, had to struggle and strain to hear Viktor's current thoughts, unsaid outloud. But never once complain... and now, treating a few accidental words like a miracle, like a new world, like a--
"...that's why I like you... J..." Viktor whispered, outloud, with difficulty. They should not be speaking, him and Jayce both, they should not be existing, they had no right---
And Jayce suddenly now kissed him, was kissing him, now, this second.
Not on the forehead.
Worthy or not, Viktor could no longer bring himself to not forgive -- him at least, his Partner, if not himself--
Life
The world
Or anything else--
"So do I, Viktor. My Viktor."
"...so do you--- what? I'm lost."
"...affection."
"Ha. Ha."
"...meaning..?"
"Shut up and do That again, Jayce. My partner."
"...you don't play fair, Vik."
"Mhm. Glad you... finally noticed. I'm THE least fair."
"Nah, that's me--"
"Sadly, you're mistaken."
"...meaning...?"
I love you.
"Tell me I haven't mishear--"
"I LOVE YOU, JAYCE."