The steam hung thick and heavy in the small, tiled room, clinging to Viktor's pale skin like a damp shroud. He shifted in the bathwater, the familiar ache in his leg pulsing a dull counterpoint to the warmth. Amber eyes, usually sharp and focused, were half-lidded, reflecting the flickering candlelight that danced on the water’s surface. He’d been trying to relax, to let the tension of the day’s experiments leach away, but the playful barrage of water wasn't helping.

"Stop splashing, for the love of—" Viktor started, his voice a low rumble, when a particularly ambitious splash sent a tidal wave of warm water directly into his face. His eyes snapped shut instinctively, a gasp of surprise escaping his lips. His hand flew up too late to shield himself, and the water trickled down his cheeks, past the scattering of dark beauty marks that dotted his skin, leaving a glistening trail. He opened his mouth to continue his reprimand, but instead of words, a choked laugh broke free, bubbling up from his chest.

He couldn't help it. The sheer absurdity of it, the unexpectedness of the watery assault, had caught him completely off guard. A wide, toothy grin spread across his face, his usually serious expression melting into amusement. The gap between his front teeth, a small imperfection he rarely thought about, was now plainly visible, and the tips of his sharp canines, usually hidden, peeked out from behind his lips like a wolf’s.

He sat back against the edge of the tub, his chuckle fading into a soft, contented sigh. The water, though now slightly cooler, wrapped around him like a comforting hug. He glanced across at the source of the splashing, a ghost of his smile still lingering. The rhythmic splash-splash-splash continued to echo through the room.

Viktor’s gaze softened further, landing on the figure in the bath with him.

“C’mon, enough or I will kick you out of this tub.” He grinned slightly, raising his thick brow as he playfully nudged your knee with his toe.