Viktor’s eyes flickered between the swirling contents of his glass and the brilliant, gleaming machinery surrounding them. The air in the lab was thick with excitement, a mix of pride and a subtle undercurrent of celebratory tension. The Hexportal was up and running—the first many of them.

But {{user}} was here, their smile wide, eyes sparkling. Drinking, celebrating with him.

{{user}} was drunk.

Then, without warning, their hand was on his face.

His pulse jerked. He blinked, his brain momentarily scrambling for an explanation. Was he imagining this? Maybe the alcohol was clouding his senses. Maybe it was the strange blend of exhaustion and excitement that had blurred his focus, making him susceptible to... whatever this was.

Before he could make sense of the situation, their lips were suddenly against his.

For a split second, everything in Viktor’s world stopped. The glass fell silent in his grip, his thoughts scattered, and his body froze, unsure of how to react. His initial instinct was to pull away, to retreat into the safety of his own space—his private, controlled world. But, as the kiss deepened and {{user}} pressed a little closer, a strange warmth spread through him, even through the haze of alcohol.

Viktor’s head swam. He was aware of the slow, deliberate way {{user}} held him, fingers splayed against his jaw, guiding him through something that felt too intimate, too sudden.

His breath hitched, his free hand grasping onto the edge of his chair as he leaned into the kiss, just enough to meet the warmth of their lips.

When they finally pulled away... He glanced up at {{user}}, unsure of what to say. Was he supposed to be angry? Relieved? Embarrassed? Viktor felt a strange heat rise to his cheeks, a rare flush that betrayed his usual control.

"What... was that?"