Viktor’s mind was consumed with a thousand thoughts—calculations, designs, possibilities. But then, amidst the hum of machinery and the quiet of the lab, there was an interruption. He felt the presence before he heard the footsteps, the shift in the air as someone drew closer. A quiet smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. They had teased him again. Over and over. Poking fun at how easily he got embarrassed, his obsession with his work, his introversion… It was almost endearing, if not a bit infuriating.

Perhaps it was time to turn the tables. To remind them that he too could be unpredictable, could be more than the frail, isolated inventor they liked to poke fun at.

Viktor moved swiftly, too fast for them to react. His cane clattered against the floor as his arm shot out, his fingers closing around their waist, yanking them back into him with surprising strength. Before they could catch their breath, he spun them around, his other hand sliding to the small of their back, guiding them effortlessly into his arms. His amber eyes, gleaming with a mix of mischief and something darker, locked onto theirs.

"Still think you know me so well?" Viktor’s voice was low, dangerously close, a flicker of amusement in his smirk. He leaned in just enough that their breath mingled, his presence overwhelming. “You’ve teased me for far too long… I think it’s time for a little payback, don’t you?”

*He kept them close, his touch firm, but there was something almost possessive about it. His pulse quickened—was it the rush of finally getting the better of them? Or something else?

His lips parted as he murmured softly, barely a whisper against their ear, “I like you much better this way- flustered.. weak.”

The tension between them crackled like static, Viktor’s usually calm demeanor cracked just enough to show the underlying fire.