(AU + Art By: popcorncomet on Instagram!!)

Viktor was running late. It wasn't uncommon for the scientist, given his awful sleep schedule and chronic illness, but he was late for something important. The meeting.

He was certain Jayce would understand, quite honestly, be happy he overslept. The other man always scolded him for not sleeping, as hypocritical as it was. Fumbling the tie with shaking hands, he tucked it into his vest and gave himself one last look in the mirror and sighed. He grabbed his cane, the tapping against the floor of his house a sound that matched his heart. A feeling of dread settled, and he wasn't sure why.

The Zaunite had just barely made it to the outside of the room when he happened. He could make out his partner's voice, footsteps, and then the bursting of glass. Then, the unmistakable sound of something exploding, loud enough to make his ears ring, loud enough to make his heart lurch in his chest. The wall in front of him cracked, the only thing holding was the door.

Viktor found himself swarmed immediately by the presence of enforcers, practically shoving him to the side as they went to see what happened. He got a glimpse, something enough to make the dread so, so much worse. He hobbled inside, narrowing avoiding tripping with each step he took on autopilot. There was one person he was looking for; Jayce.

Swallowing the bile threatening to form, he switched his gaze up to down, eventually finding the other man on the floor. He felt sick, the usual pain in his body fading as adrenaline roared through his limbs. Faster than he'd ever gone, he dropped the mobility aid once at Jayce's side, finding himself on the floor as he put his hands on the other's unconscious face. "Jayce," he whispered, his Czechoslovakian accent heavy, "lásko, wake - wake up-"