Pretty Please (Part One)
He had never laughed so hard in his life
“Seriously? They’re full-on frozen?”
“Yes! This isn’t funny” Vi whined “those idiots are gonna be trapped in there for god knows how long now!”
She was referring to Mylo and Claggor, of course. The two drivers who were currently frozen as anything in some section of the base.
“Stop laughing!” Vi stomped a hand on the table “they might die, Viktor!”
“Oh, my dear Violet, they aren’t going to die” he said, wiping at his face “they’ll be alright, I promise, even in dire circumstances they’ll be okay”
“And this is a dire circumstance?” She asked warily
“Well of course, they’ll just be a little cold” he chuckled again around his spoon.
The two made it to the mess hall before the morning crowd. What happened was Vi tripped over something, only waking Viktor up and then they both agreed to just start the day earlier than planned.
He didn’t say it, but he was grateful he could make it here before some assholes would come along and push him away.
“I designed those machines myself, you can trust me”
Vi leaned back “okay asshole, I trust you”
They ate their breakfast in silence before Viktor cleared his throat.
“How are things going with you and Caitlyn?”
Vi immediately choked on a bit of her toast “It’s seven in the morning”
“Good observation”
“Whatever… things are good, really good”
“Is that all?”
“Does there have to be more? I need to focus on my Avatar now, y’know, the reason we’re here”
“You don’t have to sacrifice one thing for another” Viktor said simply “you can be with her and also be an Avatar”
“Oh, like you can talk” Vi said “how are things going with you and pretty boy?”
Viktor huffed “don’t call him that”
“Why not? It’s true” Vi shrugged
And could Viktor really argue with that?
“I’m not sure why you think there’s anything going on between Jayce and I, I don’t even like him”
“I call bullshit” Vi said “you can go on about how he’s ‘spoiled’ and ‘talentless’ but I’m not an idiot, you’re just deluding yourself”
Shit, did she know about his internal struggle right now?
“Well…he is spoiled” Viktor said, adjusting the sleeves of his sweatshirt “I heard him complain about the portion size of the shampoo bottles yesterday”
“Aha!” Vi snapped her fingers “you didn’t say he wasn’t talentless!”
Viktor placed his bowl down, opting to not chug the remaining milk in front of Vi “because he’s not. Just because I hate him doesn’t mean I don’t have eyes”
Vi groaned as Viktor stood up, standing with her plate “Just when I think I’ve gotten somewhere with you…”
☆
The walk back to the cabin was a quiet one, mostly because Vi told him she was going to say good morning to Caitlyn, slapping Viktors shoulder when he told her to be safe.
But also because he tried to not think.
Not about Jayce.
Which was harder than he anticipated.
Because why did he hate Jayce? Really why did he hate him?
Because Mel is completely head over heels for him and that’s the main reason why he’s here?
Because he’s had an easy life without having to face prejudice?
Because he’s actually smart and nice and not the rich asshole you would expect him to be?
Why does Viktor want to simultaneously be as far away from him as possible but also want to be close, want to know him on deep levels.
Where that sudden thought had come from is anybody’s guess.
He sighed as he opened the door to the cabin. Powder and Ekko were running around again, in their pyjamas and messy hair.
“Viktor!” They giggled, running over to him “we made him pretty!”
“Made who pretty?”
There was only one person they could be talking about.
Jayce was still asleep on his bed, but now his face was covered in black ink, added textures of forehead lines and a large black beard were scribbled on top.
“You two are menaces” Viktor rolled his eyes, he adjusted his cane as he faced the two “can I trust that you’ll tame your hair and get dressed in time for breakfast?”
Powder and Ekkos eyes immediately shot up, they scurried over to Vis bunk to take out some of the clothes she had modified for them.
“Jayce?” He shook the other man awake “Ja-Talis?”
No reply, damn it, was Jayce one of those people who slept like the dead?
“Talis!” He shook him again. Finally, Jayce woke up with a start, hitting his head on the wooden panels above him. He winced as Viktor stepped back, letting Jayce tumble onto the floor.
“Ah- fuck!” The man said loudly, groaning as he stretched his back, his broad shoulders rolling as he did so.
Viktor looked away. Why did he have to sleep shirtless? It wasn’t that humid in here.
“You’re going to miss breakfast if you do not get a move on” he turned around, Powder and Ekko were standing at the door proudly, fidgeting and holding their stomachs.
“Yeah, morning” Jayce grumbled, slowly standing up, his morning voice and strong chest would’ve probably done something to Viktor (although reluctantly) however the marker all over his face just made him look like an idiot.
Thank gods for the kids.
“I know you were planning on doing this anyway because you’re obsessed with yourself, but I’d suggest taking a look in the mirror” he smirked, earning a covered snicker from Powder.
Jayce rolled his eyes and wandered towards the bathroom.
“Let’s go, let’s go” Viktor quickly hurried the children out.
“What the fuck?” he heard Jayce yell.
Viktor chuckled, maybe today would be better.
☆
He was obsessed with his Avatar and he wasn’t even ashamed of it.
A while later Powder and Ekko had taken to staying out the important peoples way and reading in a tiny blanket fort in the library they had constructed, leaving Viktor to stare into the watery blue tank, where his Avatar was twitching with his eyes closed.
His black braid was long and shiny, the body was tall and skinny, the gorgeous blue skin was extremely captivating and his facial features were so similar and uncanny it would’ve completely freaked him out if he wasn’t so enthralled.
He was just itching to gain control, to feel his feet and to breathe Pandora air.
Viktor dreamt of it, he’s done so for ages.
“Getting lost in your eyes?” Said Grace, who had appeared next to Viktor, her arms crossed and a grin on her face.
“His eyes are closed” Viktor tapped on the glass of the tank “How long now?”
“A few hours” Grace sighed “We’ve got a lot of money-hungry assholes who are still against what we’re trying to do”
Viktor rubbed his face “Well they can fucking deal with it, they’ve known for months, I don’t understand why they’re whining now”
Grace put a hand on his shoulder “hey, kid, I get it, I promise you’re gonna be inside of him soon”
Viktor immediately flushed red as his jaw dropped, he turned at her to complain but she had already walked away.
He knew telling her was a bad idea.