(TW: homophobic slurs)

Following Viktor's POV

Viktor sat on the bench, watching the football game from the sideline. Once again, he'd been assigned to help with any injuries during it. His legs bounced up and down and his body quivered from the cold. It was only October and yet, winter was already in the air. He breathed out, his breath visible in the air.

He gazed down at the empty bucket of water and stood, going to the locker room to fetch more. Some of the players huddled in there, sheltered from the cold. He walked passed and the athletes dropped to a low whisper, snickering.

"There goes the fag," one chuckled, watching as he passed.

The comments became more common for Viktor to hear. Jayce's friends took one guess and ran with it. They made jokes about it often.

Once again, they were right, and he hated it.

"He's so weird," another replied.

A whistle blew and the athletes dropped the conversation, running out of the locker room. Viktor sighed, alone now. After putting more ice into the water bucket and filling it with waters, he walked back into the cold, sitting on the bench. He continued to watch the game, his eyes growing heavier the longer it went on.

_______

He glanced up, the game had ended. His body shook heavily now. Viktor stood on shaky legs, his teeth chattering a bit. A small group of athletes passed by him, heading for the locker room.

"Awws, the fag's cold," one sneered, the others chuckling.

They tossed around the word like it was just another, average word. Like it meant nothing. And, to them, it probably only meant getting to make fun of someone else. He watched as the athletes vanished into the locker room. Viktor placed his hand on his cane's handle, nearly flinching away as his cold hands met the even colder metal. He muttered to himself, allowing his hand to get use to the cold metal before he did anything else. Movement from the locker room door opened and closed caught his attention. A large figure walked towards Viktor.

In the little light there was, he managed to make out Jayce's face.

"Hey, Viktor," Jayce greeted, stopping in front of him.

Viktor tried his best to contain his shaking and chattering teeth.

"Good evening, Talis. That was a wonderful game you played," Viktor nodded, another wave of chills being sent up his arms.

"Thank you!" Jayce nodded, only pausing as he got a better look at Viktor. "God, you're trembling out here! Why didn't you come into the locker room? It's warmer in there."

"And get made fun of? No thanks, I'd rather get sick," Viktor replied.

Jayce shook his head a bit, taking off his letterman jacket. He held it out to Viktor who shook his hand at it, refusing it.

"Viktor, you're gonna catch a cold-"

"I don't get sick."

"I- That's just not how the immune system works, Viktor. You can't decide if you're gonna get sick."

Viktor shook his hand again stubbornly when Jayce held his jacket out again. Jayce raised a brow and Viktor noticed a mischievous glint in his eyes as he gazed down at him. Viktor took a step back.

"Talis, whatever you're thinking, no-"

Jayce grabbed Viktor's hand firmly, swiftly maneuvering so he was holding his arm out, stuffing it down on of the sleeves of the jacket before promptly doing it to the other, Viktor's cane clattering to the ground in the process. Satisfied, Jayce let go of Viktor and stepped back, observing him for a moment.

"It's not much, but it'll help keep you warm a bit," Jayce nodded. He bent down and grabbed Viktor's cane, handing it to him.

"I- uh, thank you," Viktor muttered out, his body still quivering in the cold.

"No problem," Jayce shrugged.

"Can we please go back to the dorm now? It's still freezing out here," Viktor nearly begged, dancing in place for a moment, trying to warm himself up.

"Mmmmmm, alright, fine. I guess we can," Jayce chuckled.

"I don't think I could get there fast enough," Viktor said, setting the pace.

Viktor let out a small shriek as he felt arms around him again, lifting him from the ground. He heard Jayce chuckle at Viktor's reaction to being picked up. Jayce held him close and Viktor relished in the warmth of his body heat for a moment before Jayce began to pick up the pace, running.

"Talis, if you drop me!-" Viktor threatened, shielding his face from the cold wind with his hands.

"Oh, relax, I'm not going to drop you," Jayce said, growing nearer to the dorm building.

When the two got to the building, Jayce slowed to a walk, catching his breath. Viktor was still pressed up against his chest.

"You can, uh- Let me down now, Talis," Viktor chuckled awkwardly.

Jayce gazed down at Viktor for a moment.

"Naah, I'd rather just carry you."

"Gods, you just adore carrying things, don't you?"

"Mm, no, just you," he joked, gazing up as he headed for the elevator.

Viktor blinked at the words, shaking his head slightly at them. The words warmed his face a bit for whatever reason, and he gazed down at the cane he held in his hands, distracting himself.

"And," Jayce continued on, "you secretly like it, don't you?"

Viktor's eyes narrowed. "Uuh, no, I don't think so. The risk of being dropped is all too high for me to ever be comfortable whilst being carried."

"Aah, don't worry, you're light as a feather. I couldn't drop you off I wanted to," Jayce teased, laughing.

"I- No, I can't be that light," Viktor said, shaking his head.

Jayce cocked an eyebrow, gazing down at Viktor.

"But you are. I could toss you if I wanted to!" Jayce threatened playfully, stepping out of the elevator, walking down the hall.

"Talis, if you do, I swear I'll beat you with my cane."

"Mm, I'll take that risk," he said, a small smirk forming on his face. He threw Viktor into the air a bit, seemingly just to prove he could.

Viktor tensed a bit, expecting to be dropped, however, he fell right back into Jayce's arm, letting out a sigh.

"You're testing your limits," he shook his head, chuckling slightly.

"Oh, am I? My bad," Jayce grinned, tossing Viktor once more.

"Mmhmm, just, be careful of my leg, please," Viktor nodded, noticing the slight cramping of his leg as it'd been bent for a while without movement.

"Oh, right! Luckily, we're at the dorm now," Jayce said. Viktor noticed the indecisiveness cross his face. Either put Viktor down to grab his keys, or continue being locked out of the dorm.

"Y'know, I have my own keys too," Viktor said, pulling a key from his waistcoat pocket.

"Oh, right!"

Awkwardly, Jayce held him out towards the door and he shifted slightly, unlocking it. Jayce pulled him back towards his chest, bumping the door open with his foot, stepping in, and closing it behind him. A cold draft hit Viktor's face and he narrowed his eyes a bit, covering his face with his hands.

As he heard the familiar creek of his bedroom door, he uncovered his face, gazing around his room. Jayce carried him towards his bed.

"Why are we in here? I'm not tired," Viktor said.

"Maybe not, but you need rest. You're in the heat, not just from me, but in the dorm, and you're still trembling. You're definitely sick," Jayce replied, gently lowering Viktor onto his bed.

Viktor hadn't even noticed he was still shaking violently. Jayce set his palm on Viktor's forehead. He blinked, surprised at how warm Jayce's hand was. Jayce nodded, taking his hand away.

"Yeah, you've definitely got a cold coming along. You're starting to burn up," he said. He chuckled after a moment. "And you said you don't get sick."

"I usually don't," Viktor shrugged.

He watched as Jayce walked towards his dresser and shuffled through it, taking out a large T-shirt and sweatpants.

"Don't think I've ever seen you wear anything other than your normal clothes," Jayce said, walking back over, laying the clothes beside Viktor.

"You don't know a lot about me," Viktor said, trying to sound ominous, which caused Jayce to laugh.

"Then I'll just have to learn, hm?" Jayce asked. "Get changed, I'll be back in a moment."

After Jayce vanished behind the door, Viktor quickly changed out his normal clothes and leg brace and into his pajamas, the smell of coffee filling his room. He went and sat back on his bed, waiting for Jayce to come back in. He didn't have to wait for long, however, as pretty soon, Jayce had appeared again. He held a mug of coffee in his hand.

"Here, drink this," Jayce said, handing Viktor the mug, which he gladly accepted with a "thank you."

Jayce sat on the side of his bed, talking while Viktor's eyes grew heavy. Jayce stood to leaving, heading for the door.

"Oh! Don't forget your jacket," Viktor said, motioning to the letterman jacket. Jayce was quiet for a moment.

"Naah, keep it. It looks better on you anyways."

With that, Jayce shut the door behind him. Viktor felt his face grow hot from the comment and he sat there, thinking about the words. It's all he thought about as he slipped off to sleep.