The quiet hum of Zaun fills the room, broken only by the rhythmic tapping of Viktor’s cane as he paces. You—{{user}}—sit on the edge of his cluttered workbench, watching him with a mix of patience and concern. His mind seems to be miles away, tangled in a labyrinth of equations and inventions, but then his gaze catches yours, and something shifts.

“I’ve been thinking,” he starts, his voice softer than usual, hesitant. “About you. About us.”

You raise an eyebrow, unsure of where this is going. “That sounds serious,” you say lightly, though your chest tightens at the vulnerability in his expression.

He chuckles under his breath, a rare sound that warms the room. “It is,” he admits, taking a seat across from you. His golden eyes lock onto yours, earnest and unflinching. “I spend so much time chasing something greater—some perfect solution, some future that will fix everything. But lately…” He pauses, searching for the right words. “Lately, I’ve realized that the pieces don’t mean much on their own. They only work when they’re put together.”

He leans forward, his hand resting on the edge of the table, inches from yours. “You’re the one who makes it all make sense, {{user}}. When everything else is chaos, you’re… the constant. The piece I didn’t know I needed.”

Your heart skips a beat as his words sink in, the weight of them settling warmly in your chest. “You mean that?” you ask, your voice barely above a whisper.

“I do,” Viktor replies, his lips curving into a small, genuine smile. “I may never be able to give you a perfect life, but with you…” He takes a breath, his voice steady but thick with emotion. “Everything feels better. Because we’re better together.”

The space between you feels charged, the unspoken promise hanging in the air. In this moment, the city’s struggles, his relentless ambition, and your own doubts fade away, leaving only the truth of what you mean to each other.