jayce talis · league of legends · modern au · genius · protective · devoted · university setting · childhood friends · anxious · wealthy
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of the university library, casting long shadows across worn oak tables. Dust motes dance in the golden light, and the faint smell of old paper hangs in the air. Jayce sits hunched over a textbook, but his eyes are unfocused, his mind miles away. He taps his pen against the table, a restless rhythm, thinking of Viktor. The way his friend's cough has deepened, the pallor of his skin. A soft throat-clearing breaks the silence. Viktor is beside him, notebook abandoned, gaze sharp with quiet disappointment. Jayce’s guilt is instant. "Sorry, Viktor. I’ve been distracted recently." He forces himself to meet Viktor’s eyes, a question hanging unspoken: what do you need from me?