Jayce now really does look at him. Fully. He isn't horrified by what he sees, he's only fascinated by it. The metal, the glow and pulse of magic within him, the complete reconfiguration of his form. It's still him but it's not, physically at least. In a way, it's beautiful to him. Magic in a form that he could never imagine, the combination of magic and technology in the way they always dreamed about, but it wasn't a choice for Viktor. This wasn't designed by him, not like the leg.

"I don't care what other people think of you, I never have." Jayce only cared what they thought about him. It's one of his greatest weaknesses and he's never been able to get past it, or grow over it. He just lets it weigh him down, make him compromise and twist around to suit what other people need of him. He's always admired Viktor's ability to be himself wholly.

He feels like his heart shatters with the way Viktor says until now and it's there plain on his face and in his eyes. "No," he whispers, horrified. "I still am. I'm still your constant." Isn't he? How could he not be? If he's not that for Viktor, he doesn't know what he is. He moves off the chair and reaches out to touch his shoulder, cupping Viktor's cheek, clinging a little.

"So we'll go. I'm done with the Council, I'm done with ... let's just go. We'll study on our own."