Victor

It had been quiet in the laboratory for a long time.

Only the steady hum of the instruments and the occasional crackle of the crystal broke the silence. Victor had left just a few minutes ago, leaving Jace alone to sort through paperwork and calculations.
There was a noise somewhere in the corridor.
Jace didn't even look up at first.

— Probably someone from security...
But then I heard footsteps... Quick. Heavy. Uneven. They were approaching.
Jace froze, slowly putting down his pen. The footsteps grew louder until they finally stopped right in front of the door.
There was a knock. Then a key jingled.
The key didn't fit into the keyhole several times, as if the hand behind the door was shaking.
Jace frowned.
The door finally opened. Victor stood on the threshold.
More precisely, Victor, whom Jace almost didn't recognize.

His hair was disheveled, his breathing heavy, his face unusually flushed. He wasn't wearing a lab coat, just simple clothes, obviously thrown on in a hurry.

He just stood there for a few seconds, holding onto the door frame.

• Victor?
  he looked up with difficulty
• Jace...
  The voice sounded unusually quiet.
  He took a step forward, but immediately staggered.
  Jace stood up instantly.
• Hey. Be careful.
• I'm fine.
• You are completely out of order.
  Victor tried to smile, but it didn't come out well.

— I... just couldn't stop thinking.

• About what?
  Victor fell silent.

He looked at Jace for a few seconds, as if trying to collect his thoughts.

• About you.

Jace became wary.

• What's happened?

Victor looked away.

— Nothing. It's just... after I left, I realized I couldn't concentrate on anything else.
He swayed again, and Jace quickly walked over and grabbed his shoulder.

— Have you been drinking?

Victor frowned with displeasure.

• A little.
• "A little"?
• Perhaps more than it should have.
  Jace sighed heavily.
• Now everything becomes clear.
  Victor laughed quietly, but winced almost immediately.
• Don't laugh.
• I'm not laughing.
• You're laughing.
  "Because for the first time in our entire history, you've voluntarily admitted that you did something unwise, Jace..."