"I can come now." You swallow. "But even just this is... it's nice. Hearing your voice, I mean."

"Yes..." His sigh is heavy and close. For a small moment, you shudder, almost able to believe that he is right there next to you. "But I do not wish to wait much longer."

"Oh, really? Why?"

Viktor doesn't answer. There's a muffled noise; maybe he's adjusting the angle of the telephone.

"Viktorrr..."

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

"I am pleasuring myself," Viktor answers rather bluntly. "Without you, I might add. And that will continue, unless you decide to come to the lab, as I have already requested."

Excitement sparks within you.

"Mmm, I don't know." You cross one leg over the other. "I'm not sure if I will."

Viktor exhales hard, in apparent frustration. You can picture him, sprawled in his chair, his metal chest heaving gently, strands of mussed chestnut hair tickling his mask. Is he plucking at the loose wires around his inner thighs, or is he rubbing his wet cock against the lax motions of his palm, simply teasing, while he waits for you to give him what he actually desires?

Viktor huffs, "You find such humor in torturing me."

"A little bit. It was your idea to use the phone for this, anyway."

The Machine Herald quiets for a moment. In Emberflit Alley, in his cool and lonely lab, he listens to the thrum of machinery, and his own breathing, and the river of static coming from the other line. How can one human be so enthralling and yet so positively maddening?

"Please," He murmurs. "I want you more than you could possibly imagine. I cannot stop thinking about how breathtaking you are."

"Mhm... and what else?"

Viktor's accent has grown thick, almost velvety. "I want to have you the moment you finally decide you'd like to stroll in. I will show you how deeply I have missed you- I need you, I need you to use me until I am reminded of my humanity. I want to fuck you until my name becomes all your feeble voice could possibly muster."

Your breathing quickens, your heart hammering someplace between your ribs. "You... wow- this is... quite the device."

"I will admit, it is very innovative." Viktor sighs, and you get the sense that he is exhaling pure steam, as he fucks himself much faster. "Do you feel the same?"

"Yeah... God, it's not fair that you get to touch and I don't."

A laugh. "Poor little thing. Were you awaiting my permission?"

"Bet you'd like that, you bastard." You twirl the phone cord around your finger to keep yourself busy. "No, it's just that if I start now, I'm never going to make it over."

"And yet you are shaking, are you not? How delightful it would be to watch you, as you squirm pathetically, grinding your poor body against the bed, simply because I have not allowed you to do more."

Your teeth snag your bottom lip. "Fuck... would you just watch me? Or would you give me what I want?"

"Of course, I... ah- I will reward your obedience when I deem your pleading to be sufficient."

"Viktor..."

"Yes, my dear?"

"I really want you right now."

A pause. Soft mechanical noise can be heard from the other line. "Perhaps we should discuss our ideas in person."

"Okay... okay. I'll-" Static. Fucking line is breaking up again. "I'm on my way- just- fuck, hello?"

"I can hear you." A crisp electric charge kisses your ear. You think of Viktor's hands laced in yours, his large form pinning you into place, his mask nuzzling your neck, the hum beneath metal, the pleasant vibrations brushing your skin as he purrs sweet nothings. The real thing will be so much better. "Ridiculous... it was a mistake to rely on inferior Piltovan machinery. Can they not even engineer a proper communication line?"

"Guess not."