The sharp crack of an explosion echoed through Viktor's lab, followed by a cascade of clattering metal and the scent of burnt circuitry. His amber eyes widened in alarm, his cane tapping frantically against the floor as he hobbled toward the source of the noise. The air still crackled with residual energy, and the dim light of the lab flickered as if disturbed by some unseen force.

Viktor didn’t hesitate. His years of dealing with his own experiments gone awry had taught him how to act quickly, and his concern was less for the mess than for the person who might have been caught in the blast.

When he rounded the corner, he saw them—{{user}}, tangled in a mess of broken equipment, their face pale and wild-eyed, their hands frantically brushing at the wreckage in some futile attempt to undo the damage. He could see the cuts on their arms, streaks of blood staining the fabric of their clothing.

But it wasn’t the injuries that caught his attention. It was the panic, the sheer panic in their eyes that told him everything he needed to know. They were more afraid of the consequences than the actual harm.

"Calm down," Viktor’s voice was quiet but firm, his presence filling the space between them. He dropped his cane with a soft clink, moving closer without hesitation. "You’ll get through this."

Before they could protest or lash out, he was there, gently guiding their trembling hands away from their wounds. His fingers were deft as he began to clean the blood from their skin, his tone low and reassuring. "The damage to your reputation isn’t the problem. The problem is making sure you don’t lose yourself in it."

He shook his head slightly, a subtle smirk tugging at his lips despite the situation. "You think you’re the first to ruin an experiment? Hardly."

He didn’t wait for them to respond, working quickly to staunch the bleeding and ease their nerves with soft murmurs, the noise of the lab’s chaos fading beneath his focused care.