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"Are you sure this is safe?"
Jayce had gotten used to Viktor's recklessness over their years working together. He justified it by insisting anything done in the name of progress was worth the risk, but Jayce hadn't been so sure that trying to reheat coffee with the Hexclaw's laser counted as progress.
Nonetheless, Viktor was setting up the device in preparation for pumpkin carving. Mel had insisted that they make the lab more festive for the season, and one day they arrived at their lab to find pumpkins and carving tools left on their desks. Jayce had to practically beg Viktor to do it with him- now he was quickly regretting it.
"Of course not," he said dryly, placing his now-gutted pumpkin onto the metal worktable (because professor Heimerdinger threatened to make them do experiments outside if he set another desk on fire) and lined up the Hexclaw, adjusting a few dials and slipping the glove on. "Why must you insist on being so dramatic, Talis?" he glanced up towards the younger man, honeyed eyes glinting with mischief "Afraid of being in the, eh, splash zone?"
"Ha-ha," he quipped, rolling his eyes. His half-carved pumpkin had been abandoned on his desk in favor of crossing the room to stand behind Viktor, fire extinguisher in hand. "Just trying to avoid a repeat of the coffee incident, V- sweetmilk latte to the face is not an experience I want to repeat. Or any hot liquid, for that matter."
"As memory serves, you didn't have such, eh, reservations about it last night. In fact," he said, quirking an eyebrow, "I recall you quite enjoying it. You were on your knees for-"
"Okay, that's enough of that," interrupted Jayce, flushing crimson as his partner huffed a laugh. "On a different note, when your pumpkin explodes you will be the one calling maintenance to request someone scrub it off the ceiling."
"Lásko, I'm hurt," he said with a pout as he powered on the Hexclaw. "I had thought you would have a little more faith in me." He pulled his goggles down and raised his fist, the claw humming to life with the trademark blue glow of Hextech.
Jayce scoffed even as he eyed him with cautious excitement. "Did you check the calibration on the-"
"Yes, Jayce." He moved his arm and they watched as the Hexclaw followed his movements.
"And the glove is-"
"Yes, Jayce." He took a deep breath and steadied his aim.
"Okay, V," he nodded and ran a hand through his hair anxiously. Jayce bit his lip as he watched the older man's fingers unfurl, and within seconds he was squinting against the brightness of the laser. A few moments later the Hexclaw went silent and the smell of singed pumpkin filled the air. As he opened his eyes, though, he realized that there was no pumpkin explosion- instead, Viktor grinned as he pushed his goggles up onto his head.
Jayce let out an incredulous laugh. Sitting on the table was a pumpkin with a perfectly carved likeness of Professor Heimerdinger. Their eyes locked and Jayce let out a big whoop, slinging his arm around Viktor's shoulders and kissing the top of his head.
"I never doubted you for a second, V!" he smiled at him fondly, thumb brushing mindlessly over the nape of his neck. Viktor's cheeks tinted pink and he smacked his ridiculous bicep.
"Yes yes, and the sky is green," he grumbled as he carefully removed the glove and shut down the device fully.
"Love you, Viktor," Jayce sighed into his hair, reluctantly proud of his partner's odd experiment.
"And I you, lásko."