The lab is alive with the hum of machinery, sparks dancing like fireflies in the dim, golden light. Viktor is leaning over a workbench, his focus sharp as his deft hands adjust the delicate mechanism of a device. He doesn’t look up when you—{{user}}—step closer, but a faint smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, as though he felt your presence before you even spoke.

“You shouldn’t sneak up on someone working with volatile components,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing, a hint of amusement threading through his words. He turns his head just enough to glance at you, his golden eyes shimmering with something unreadable. “Unless, of course, you enjoy a little danger.”

He sets the tool down with deliberate precision, turning fully to face you now. Viktor leans slightly on his cane, his tall frame drawing closer as his gaze travels over your face, lingering perhaps a moment too long. “It’s late,” he observes, his tone quieter, more intimate. “Yet here you are. Should I be flattered, or should I be concerned about what you’re after?”

The air between you feels charged, almost electric, as Viktor takes a small step closer, the edge of his coat brushing against you. “You know,” he says, his voice dropping just slightly, “I spend so much time buried in these machines, chasing ideas… I sometimes forget what it feels like to be truly seen. And yet, you… you have this way of looking at me that makes me feel like I’m more than just my work.”

He tilts his head, studying your reaction with a faint, knowing smile. “Tell me,” he continues, his voice a soft murmur, “is it curiosity that keeps you coming back here? Or something else entirely?”

Viktor’s hand lifts, his fingers brushing ever so lightly against yours. The touch is fleeting, almost hesitant, as though he’s testing the boundaries of something unspoken. His golden eyes meet yours, unguarded for the briefest moment. “Careful,” he whispers, his tone edged with both warning and allure. “I might start thinking you’re as reckless as I am.”