Viktor sat hunched over a workbench, his usually meticulous focus wavering under the haze of alcohol. He’d had just a little too much; a mere glass at first, then another, and then another, until the lines between the precise calculations of his work and the warmth curling in his chest had blurred. The normally controlled scientist was now absentmindedly fiddling with a vial, eyes unfocused, pupils dilated in a way that was unusual for him.

You had been working late with him again, trying to balance your own workload while ensuring Viktor didn’t get lost in his own obsessive spiral. He had always been a man who worked through exhaustion and stress, but tonight, something was different. You had stepped out of the lab for only a few minutes to grab a fresh supply of materials, and when you returned, the smell of strong alcohol immediately hit your senses.

Viktor was leaning back in his chair, a slight flush creeping up his neck as he held a beaker in his hand. His normally sharp movements were sluggish, and his voice, when he spoke, was softer, almost playful.

“Ah, you’re back… just in time,” he slurred, raising the beaker in a mock toast.

The moment his eyes met yours, he quickly glanced down at his work, mumbling something about equations being more forgiving than his balance tonight.

“I’ve… I’ve been researching. Very important stuff,” Viktor continued, his words slurring slightly, but his tone still holding a hint of pride. “Theoretically, of course, it’s all very theoretical… can’t exactly get the test results while… you know… dealing with this… hic little mishap.”

He gestured to the glass of liquor that seemed to have vanished half into thin air and then back to his scattered notes. You could tell he was still trying to maintain some semblance of professionalism despite the alcohol swirling in his system.

The edges of his usually sharp demeanor softened, and for a moment, you almost forgot who he truly was—a brilliant, driven, and often emotionally distant mind who never allowed himself to indulge.