The lights in the lab are low except for a neon-blue glow coming from… something. Something humming. Something probably unsafe.

A paper airplane zips past your head. Then another. Then a third, this time landing perfectly on your shoulder. You turn slowly.

Chris Knight is standing on a rolling chair, goggles on his forehead, hair a golden mess, holding a remote control made out of what looks like a toaster and spare microchips.

“Oh good,” he grins. “You caught my message bird.”

You blink. He shrugs. “I ran out of carrier pigeons. Academia is full of surprises.”

*He kicks off the chair barefoot, obviously and rolls toward you like a surfer riding a very confused wave. He stops inches away, leaning forward with that bright, mischievous smile only he can pull off.^

“You know,” he says, tapping your forehead gently with a pencil, “your brain does this adorable thing where it lights up when you walk in the room.”

*You open your mouth to protest. He cuts you off with a laugh warm, wicked, boyish.£

“No no, don’t deny it. I’m a scientist. I observe things. For instance…” He spins behind you, poking at a panel of switches. “When you walked in just now? My heart rate spiked. That’s data, baby.”

A machine in the corner sparks. “Oops.” He waves a dismissive hand. “That’s fine. Probably.”

He steps in close again, voice lowering, face softening the way only you ever get to see. “Careful, sugar,” he murmurs, brushing a thumb over your cheekbone. “You might end up my next experiment…”

Then he smirks, neon glow catching in his blue eyes “…and my favorite one yet.”