Following Viktor's POV

It was embarrassing, to say the least. All the way back to the dorm, people gave them weird looks, which made Viktor even more embarrassed then he already was. He couldn't cover his face, either, due to the blood that seeped from the scrapes in his hands.

Frustration also burned in his eyes. He hated it when people thought he was incapable of doing something. And, yet, he managed to prove them right once again. How could walking, a basic human task, be one he was so bad at? He clenched his fists in anger, wincing when he was met with pain.

It was a pitiful sight. And he hated receiving pity. He would've told Jayce to just go on back to the dorm without him if his leg didn't hurt so much.
He let out a sigh of frustration, glaring at his legs, muttering to himself under his breath. He looked up when he heard a familiar sound: keys unlocking a door.

Finally. Now he could go and be by himself. Take time to work off the anger and frustration, mixed with embarrassment, in a drawing or schoolwork. However, rather than being set down right away like he thought he would be, Jayce carried him over towards the couch, lowering him into it gently.

"How do you feel? What hurts the most?" He asked, stepping back to gaze at Viktor.

Viktor shrugged a bit. "I'm fine, really, but thank you."

He reached for his cane to stand, but Jayce grabbed it, shaking his head.

"No, you're gonna tell me what hurts. I know your leg does because of the way you were holding it. Your knees must sting too. I can see the small amount of blood seeping through your pants on them. What about your hands?"

Viktor gazed down at his hands which were still balled up into fists. Slowly, he opened them, wincing at the pain.

"Oh jeez, I'm sorry, Viktor," Jayce muttered, walking to the kitchen and back, holding a small basket of medical supplies. "Luckily, it doesn't look bad. Just a few scrapes."

"Right, well, in that case, I'll be fine," Viktor replied, going to stand.

Once again, Jayce blocked his way.

"Why are you so adamant about not getting help?" He asked, grabbing Viktor's wrist and drawing his hand closer to him.

"I'm not- I'm just fine, really," Viktor replied stubbornly.

"Viktor." Jayce gazed at him for a moment, raising an eyebrow before grabbing hydrogen peroxide.

"I don't know.. It's just- It's so frustrating and embarrassing," he muttered.

Jayce nodded slowly. "I understand that feeling. It can be difficult to admit that you need some help. Oh, this might be a bit cold."

Viktor nodded and Jayce poured a small amount of the hydrogen peroxide over the scrapes on his hands. Viktor exhaled sharply for a moment as Jayce picked up some bandages, wrapping his palms with it.

"Yeah, it is. Especially when you're nothing by an outcast cripple who has no friends and everyone overlooks unless it convenient for them," he spat out, narrowing his eyes at his hands.

"Hey, don't say that," Jayce said, sitting back a bit. "Those aren't true. Oh- Mind if I roll up your pant legs a bit? Your knees-"

"But they are true. Have you seen me? Look at my leg, my cane! Do you ever see me hanging out with people, or people making an effort to speak to me? No. Y'know why? Probably because they think that I'm weird."

Jayce hovered his hands over Viktor's pants legs. Viktor nodded slightly and Jayce rolled them up just over his knees, careful of his bad leg.

"Well, if it counts for anything, I don't think you're weird. And, I also hang out with you," Jayce said, pouring more hydrogen peroxide on Viktor's knees.

"Anymore at least," Viktor muttered, flinching as Jayce tightened a bandage around one of his knees.

"I know. I'm sorry about that," Jayce said, inspecting Viktor's bad leg.

Metal had slammed into his leg when he fell, that's why it hurt so much. Viktor watched as Jayce studied the brace for a moment.

"It's alright," he muttered. "I'm used to it."

"But you shouldn't have to be used to it," Jayce replied. "Can I take your leg brace off? It's in the way a bit-"

"Oh- Uh, sure. Just- Please be careful," Viktor said.

"I will try my best," Jayce nodded.

Slowly, Jayce reached for the latches on the side of the brace. Carefully, he undid the latches on it, the bolts squeaking as Jayce opened it, carefully maneuvering the brace around Viktor's leg, setting it on the table. The moment it was removed from his leg, Viktor relaxed, taking in a breath of relief. Imprints from the metal decorated his leg, red streaks lying where the metal had made an impact on his skin.

"No wonder your leg hurt so much," Jayce muttered.

Viktor chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah-"

"I'm surprised that the metal didn't pierce your skin at all," Jayce said.

Viktor shrugged in response, "I am too."

"Well, I think that's all I can do for now," Jayce nodded.

"Thank you for helping," Viktor said. "You didn't have to, though."

He watched as Jayce carefully rolled his pant legs back down over his legs. He stood after a moment, putting the supplies he used back into the basket.

"I know, but I wanted to. It's what friends do," he shrugged, carrying the basket back to the kitchen.

"It looks like I kind of got into a fight with these bandages on my hands."

Viktor heard Jayce chuckled from the kitchen. "Viktor: 1, Sidewalk: 0."

Viktor chuckled, hearing one of the cupboard doors close. Jayce walked back into the living room a few moments later, sitting down on the other side of the couch, propping his feet up on coffee table. Viktor felt eyes watching him as they both sat in silence for a moment. Eventually, Jayce spoke again.

"So, uh, what exactly caused that?" Jayce asked, his gaze never leaving Viktor.

"I fell," Viktor said dumbly, dancing around the question. "I mean, come on, you've got eyes right, Talis?"

Jayce huffed, raising a brow. "You know what I'm talking about."

"I'm afraid I do," Viktor nodded, leaning back into the couch a bit.

"Well?"

"It's stupid, really," Viktor shrugged.

He noticed Jayce shift slightly. "So am I," he joked. "And yet, you still listen to me."

"Ok- I just," Viktor gazed at the coffee table, focusing on anything but Jayce. "They way people see me pisses me off. The way they make me see myself angers me."

"Are you talking about Mel?" Jayce asked softly.

Viktor narrowed his eyes. "It's not just her. I'm sure she's a lovely person, and I know she's your friend, but just- Just what she said. What they all say."

Jayce was quiet, listening to Viktor talk.

"The looks I get, the things I hear people whisper. Just because I'm from Zaun doesn't mean I'm gonna- it doesn't matter. All they see when they see me is a Zaunian who will amount to nothing. That's what makes me tick. They say I can't do something, so I try to prove them wrong. That's how I got into Piltover Academy, why I fell, and why I spend hours of my time with my nose stuck in a book. I hate letting them know they were right. And earlier, when I fell, I proved Mel right."

He felt a hand on his shoulder. He sighed, shaking his head, awaiting the judgement, waiting for the laughter. It never came. Viktor kept his eyes on the coffee table, he reached up to his head to pull at his hair in frustration, a self-destructive habit of his. Jayce grabbed his wrists, pulling his hands away from his head.

"Hey, relax, it's alright," Jayce said, carefully. Don't get yourself so worked up about this, it'll only make it worse."

Viktor sighed, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I know, I'm fine. I was just being stupid."

"Hey! Nothing about that was stupid ok? Nothing about you being upset is stupid. You do realize you have a right to be upset, right?"

Viktor shrugged once again. "Yeah, I suppose."

"You suppose? Viktor, you do. You really do, I swear. No one deserves to be treated like that," Jayce replied.

"If you say so, Talis."

"I do."

"Alright."

A few moments passed and a thought crept into his mind. He gazed down at his hands, his wrists still being held in Jayce's hands. He blinked, speaking finally, the subject changing.

"You know, I think- what was her name," Viktor thought before remembering. "I think that that Mel person likes you."

"Huh? Do you?" Jayce asked, blinking.

"Yeah. She practically asked you out, you know."

"When?" Jayce's eyes widened a bit.

"When she asked if you wanted to cele your team's win. When she.." his voice trailed off.

"Oh-" Jayce muttered simply.

"Do you like her? Just making a guess based on how you scooted over for her to sit down, and how you're sometimes taking to her loudly for hours in the phone."

"I- Well, I don't know."

"You should tell her you changed your mind," Viktor nodded, gently pulling his wrists free from Jayce's grasp.

"You think so?" Jayce asked, gazing at Viktor.

"I mean, I know nothing about relationship advice, but sure! What do you have to lose?"

Jayce chuckled. "Alright, I'll call her in a bit. Thanks, Viktor."

"No problem. After all, this is what friends do, you said. They help each other."