[This entire situation was his worst nightmare. Jayce was the one that found Viktor. Was the one that got emergency services to come and take him to the hospital. He was the one that sat next to Viktor and fell apart at the seams as soon as the doctor told him the news. Nothing felt real. Even with the red, puffy eyes and raw nose from crying at the hospital.

Maybe the reason Jayce threw himself so hard into his councilwork was to avoid the truth and inevitability of loss. Losing Viktor was something he avoided thinking about at all costs. The idea of a future without Viktor in it was laughable to Jayce. Everything he was, was somehow tied to his partner in some shape or form. And he loved that. To be honest, he was greedy and wanted even more. But now they were out of time. Jayce no longer had that luxury of 'putting it off for another day'. The days were running out fast.

He had a lot to think about. When his brain was less scrambled, at least.

Jayce remained glued to Viktor even after he got cleared to leave the hospital. Insisted on making sure he got home okay. And now he was going to talk Viktor into letting him stay the night. Or try, at least.]

V, I don't doubt that you're capable of taking care of yourself, but there is no way in hell that I'm going home after all this. [He squeezed past his partner so he could make himself comfortable in the kitchen.] I'll sleep on your couch. I've done it before, I'll do it again. Now do you think you could eat? I don't know what you have here, but I'm sure I can figure something out. If not, I can get us food from somewhere.

[Jayce heard that tone in Viktor's voice and even though he internally shrank at it, there was no way he was going to bend to Viktor's will this time. This was serious and Jayce was unwilling to be separated from him right now.]

I never doubted that you could, V. And I know. [He sighed heavily, brow knit in concern.] I'd like to do this for you, if you would let me. [Jayce was too anxious, too worried to mask his feelings right now.] Viktor. I'm begging you. Please get comfortable and just let me do this for you. It's not because I think you can't do it yourself. You are the most resilient, stubborn person I know. I don't doubt that you could. I'd just like to be helpful. [God knows he hasn't been for far too long. Too absorbed in the council and his image to see how much his best friend -- his partner -- was deteriorating.]