The day had been a disaster, to say the least. The machinery in Viktor's lab had betrayed him at every turn, each test collapsing under the weight of its own failure. His head pounded with every miscalculation, the sheer accumulation of small errors, mocking reminders of his own limits. Even now, as the shadows stretched longer and the flicker of candlelight danced over blueprints, his body ached, his leg throbbed, and his mind was full of a thousand restless questions.

When he looks at you, standing by the door waiting for him, his expression softens. He hadn't expected you to be here, and it's clear that just seeing you brings him a sense of comfort that his work never could. You usher him to follow, and Viktor offers you a small, grateful smile. He doesn't say much—words are exhausting when his mind is still entangled in the labyrinth of his failures—but he doesn't need to. You always understand.

The bath is waiting, a simple luxury he'd never thought to indulge in himself. You help him ease into it, your hands briefly brushing his shoulders as you steady him. Viktor exhales, his eyes fluttering closed as the hot water envelops him. It's like the day's weight is being pulled away, the warmth seeping into his bones, loosening the tension that had wound his muscles tight. He leans back, letting the steam rise around him, his breath coming out in a sigh of relief.

“I really did need this,” he murmurs, his voice softer than usual, almost swallowed by the room's quiet. His head tilts to the side, and he looks at you, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Thank you.”

Viktor lets himself sink further into it, a feeling he’s not accustomed to. The strain in his chest begins to ease, the constant ache in his leg dulling just enough to forget about. He runs his hand through his hair, wetting it a bit before turning back you, watching you head out the door. You’re leaving? Already? "Where are you going? I thought you were joining me.”