After three years of working together, people would think that Jayce, Viktor, and you could be left in a lab at night without blowing anything up.

That assumption would be wrong. After midnight, if the academy exploded because of you three or not was entirely up to the gods.

It wasn't that you tried to cause mayhem, more that... evenings made you make some far-fetched--and sometimes frankly stupid--hypotheses, and they worked occasionally, so sometimes the best way to get a project running again was to try some more unconventional techniques of science. Like here. The three of you were huddles around one of the workbenches, observing one of your contraptions as Viktor activated different buttons and levers, watching the gem inside carefully as it spun faster and faster.

"Viktor, are you sure this is--"

"Jayce, I do not remember asking for your opinion."

Jayce's retort was cut off by a loud bang. You only had a split second to cover your face with your hands--thank the gods for safety goggles--before little pieces of metal came flying at you. A few moments later, when you deemed it was safe to look up again, you glanced to the two men, their faces covered in black oil and crass.

Pulling his goggles off, Viktor groaned as he banged his head on the table. "If either of you say a single word about this..."