It's a difficult dichotomy because Jayce is genuinely glad that there are people who value Viktor, that he is getting the attention and connections that he always deserved but Piltover was too snotty for. He is Viktor's biggest fan and has been frustrated before at how prejudices still hold things back. None of that is here. Viktor isn't seen as anyone other than himself, and of course that means people with intelligence would value that. So it's a very good thing. But it also means that Jayce is anxious about his place if Viktor can get what he wants from other people. He doesn't need him, but maybe that's okay, maybe it's never been about needing him.
Viktor's friendship has been the one thing he felt he could always count on, and maybe that means he took it for granted. But it's still nice to be reassured that they are still them. It should be obvious considering Viktor invited him to live in a tiny bedroom together, share the workspace, literally design his Horizon around Viktor's. It was Viktor's idea to keep them close, or he let it all happen, so those are all his ways of showing he wants Jayce with him. But sometimes Jayce needs to hear it out loud to let it sink in.
Jayce leans over to pick up both tools and he chuckles. "Viktor, I'm a world-famous engineer, I know how to screw in an implant." He's teasing to lighten the mood and to make it less awkward, he's never been put off by Viktor's braces or anything else. It is difficult to see how thin and sickly he is, obviously, looking at him is a reminder of his illness every time. But it's still him and Jayce will do anything to make it all easier. It is a way of letting him in too.
He puts his hand on said implant to make certain it is secure and where it needs to be since Viktor can't see it, only feel it, there's no harm in double checking. He may not be as good as Viktor at precise work, but he can handle something like this, placing the screwdriver into place and starting to tighten one side of it. He resists the urge to let his eyes travel over free skin (where are all the moles) and focus on the work and then on what he really had to talk about.
"So this is the part where I bring up that I've researched Goro and I think we should talk about it."
no subject
Viktor's friendship has been the one thing he felt he could always count on, and maybe that means he took it for granted. But it's still nice to be reassured that they are still them. It should be obvious considering Viktor invited him to live in a tiny bedroom together, share the workspace, literally design his Horizon around Viktor's. It was Viktor's idea to keep them close, or he let it all happen, so those are all his ways of showing he wants Jayce with him. But sometimes Jayce needs to hear it out loud to let it sink in.
Jayce leans over to pick up both tools and he chuckles. "Viktor, I'm a world-famous engineer, I know how to screw in an implant." He's teasing to lighten the mood and to make it less awkward, he's never been put off by Viktor's braces or anything else. It is difficult to see how thin and sickly he is, obviously, looking at him is a reminder of his illness every time. But it's still him and Jayce will do anything to make it all easier. It is a way of letting him in too.
He puts his hand on said implant to make certain it is secure and where it needs to be since Viktor can't see it, only feel it, there's no harm in double checking. He may not be as good as Viktor at precise work, but he can handle something like this, placing the screwdriver into place and starting to tighten one side of it. He resists the urge to let his eyes travel over free skin (where are all the moles) and focus on the work and then on what he really had to talk about.
"So this is the part where I bring up that I've researched Goro and I think we should talk about it."