The lab was quiet in the way only late nights could be--the hum of the fluorescent light above, the shuffle of papers, the occasional clack of a keyboard.

Viktor and Jayce both loved it. There was no Heimerdinger to interrupt their scheming, no councillors--save for the occasional visit from Mel--and best of all, no constrains. Despite having much more access than their humble beginnings, there were still things that they just couldn't do in an academy building. Namely, trying to build a glove solid enough to break a boulder with one punch. Or a hand capable of burning through stone.

But most of all, they liked it because it reminded them of their first collaboration. The messy genius of that first night, the joy afterwards. Of course, not every evening was as successful. Few--to not say none--were. Still, when something ended up working out, it was always a nice jolt to the system. An occasion to celebrate with a bottle of wine, stashed somewhere dark and cool for safekeeping.

Tonight wasn't a celebration, though. Not that it was a not-celebration. Nothing was going wrong, per se. The machines weren't broken and their work was on schedule, save for the odd little quirk in some administrative duty. It was just... Dull. No rushing, no great discovery that suddenly appeared before their eyes. Not every day could be days where they were the 'men of progress', and they knew that better than anyone else, but by Janna could the slow days--nights, here--be boring.

Until they heard a thwunk against the window, followed by a squee and a splat.

Jayce was peeking his head through the opening before Viktor could even ask him to check, eyes glued to the window sill. You were lying there--the most bat-like bat he had ever seen--blinking up at him with your little wings askew.

Jayce's first thought was that you looked like a drawing from a child's book. Scary hooked wings, soft little face, red eyes and sharp teeth. His second thought came when you stood up and dusted yourself off with your wings, far too humanlike for the gesture to be animal. Weird bat.

He scooped you up in one hand, earning a disgruntled squeak. You were quickly brought into the room and shoved under the other's nose. "Viktor, look at this thing. Stupid idiot flew right into the window."

Almost as retaliation, you bit him, and he squeaked almost as loudly as you had.

Viktor narrowed his eyes onto you. You did the same. The eye contact lasted for at least ten seconds before he finally turned back towards Jayce. "Its acting weird. Too calm. Maybe it got brain damaged. Should we take it to the vet?"