Chapter Text
"And for the next presentation," Mr. Bernard, a chemistry teacher who had been rethinking his life choices since the school year began, sighed. "Ruffnut and Tuffnut, you're up."
Fist bumping each other, the Thorston Twins made their way to the front of the classroom. The most recent project had involved each student selecting a definition from their class and presenting it to the others. The Twins, however, had already manipulated Mr. Bernard into letting them always work in pairs for every single project (for large group projects, Hiccup joined reluctantly), using the threat that they could request to take his class again next year by purposefully failing this year's class.
Connecting his computer to the projector, Tuffnut's wallpaper popped up to reveal a very exquisite collage of a chicken and him together, earning a face palm from the teacher. Hiccup shrunk into his seat, frustrated that his request to switch class periods had been denied multiple times because too many other students had already done so (the class now consisted of 13 kids and started with 31). He and the other students were already used to the Twins' odd habits and shenanigans, knowing not to laugh at Tuff's relationship with a bird.
Briefly pinching her brother's ear, Ruffnut took control of the computer and redirected the screen to view their presentation that was most definitely not a word-by-word template found from PowerPoint.
Clearing his throat, Tuff used the clicker to make the screen open invisible curtains revealing their presentation title, "High Heat Density".
The class gave a few chuckles, and Hiccup sank further into the plastic seat, wondering why these people were his friends. Not that he had many other than them. "High Heat Density is a concept that many aren't familiar with," Ruffnut started, earning more laughter. Of course it's not familiar, Hiccup groaned internally. It's not a thing. Tuffnut, sensing the laughter was a normal part of class, continued and clicked the next slide. "High heat density is a property that any piece of matter has, such as color, luster, conductivity, and size."
"Density, which can be found by dividing mass by volume, helps to prove an item's buoyancy," Ruffnut took over. "The high heat comes into play when comparing different objects' points of melting or boiling. These are all changes of states of matter, from solid to liquid or liquid to gas."
"How to find high heat density?" Tuffnut clicked to another slide with a diagram. "First divide mass by volume. Mass can be found by weighing the object on a scale and is usually in grams. Volume can be found by water displacement, multiplying the dimensions, or if a liquid, measuring in a graduated cylinder. And the high heat," Tuff's eyes lit up with excitement. "You find by placing the object in heat and find the degree in which it either melts or boils."
Ruffnut pulled out a small blowtorch and turned it on, getting audible gasps in response. Hiccup grabbed his water bottle and held it tightly, knowing that the Twins and fire should never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever (ie. Thanks Lemony Snicket) be in the same sentence.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Mr. Bernard's eyes widened and he took the blowtorch from Ruff, who sighed in disappointment. Stashing the item in his locked desk (It wasn't originally locked until this year-hopefully the finger ID lock would outstand the Thorstons) and taking a deep breath, Mr. Bernard continued, "Well, apart from that last part, that was a well-prepared presentation. I'm pleasantly surprised, Ruffnut and Tuffnut." The Twins grinned and clashed heads, no sign of pain afterward.
"However, there is an issue with your term in general," The man glanced at his computer. "If I remember correctly, your assigned definition was 'specific high heat.' Your definition, 'high heat density', that's not exactly a possible thing."
Frowning, Ruff took a step forward, causing the teacher to take a step back, "Why isn't it a thing? We gave a definition for it."
"Ahem, you see, density is a measurement, which doesn't typically involve temperature. Density is how much matter is in a substance. It has nothing to do with heat."
"Yes, it does," Tuff replied genuinely. Mr. Bernard blinked. He was fairly certain that it didn't; he had a degree to prove it. "I don't believe it does, Tuffnut."
"Density totally affects the high heat whatever you said!" Tuff stood up taller. Ruffnut, now doubting their assignment, yanked her brother close to her face. "Tuff, what're you doing?" Ruff whispered through gritted teeth. "Quiet, woman, I'm getting us this A!" Tuffnut hissed back then faced his teacher.
"Density is how much matter is in a substance, like you said. So, if there's more matter in the stuff, or a higher density, then it's going to take longer and therefore more heat for it to melt or boil. So, the high heat has everything to do with density. Water's boiling point is like, two-hundred and something degrees F and has a density of... 1? It's super easy to cut through. And iron's density is..." Tuff quickly got out his phone and typed something into it. "7.87 g/cm cubed. So that's at least 7x more than water! And its boiling point is," Another search. "5,184 degrees. So, the higher density, the higher boiling point and high heat."
Hiccup's jaw was slack, as were the other 10 students. Mr. Bernard twiddled his pencil. Their logic was reasonably sound, they had the evidence to back it up, but it wasn't 100% correct. "I do appreciate the argument, Tuffnut, and you are right. The density affects the specific high heat of an object. However, high heat density is still not a thing. But you did discuss specific high heat, the term you were assigned. Now, I'm willing to give you some points back on the project if you give me, in your own words, the definition of specific high heat."
"How 'bout I show you specific high heat?" Ruffnut asked with a grin, taking out yet another blowtorch and aimed it at Mr. Bernard. The class ducked while the female charged towards the man, who grabbed a nearby meter stick as mere protection. "No, sis!" Tuffnut stood between his angry twin and the retreating teacher. "We can't just roast the dude."
"Why not? It'd be fun!" Ruff pouted. The blowtorch was still aimed perfectly at Mr. Bernard's head.
"Hmm, that's a tough argument," Tuff noted. "But Macey wants a turn first." And with that, he pulled out the beloved mace of his and raised it above his head, giving a battle cry.
"But Macey will leave too much evidence!" Ruffnut argued, still wielding the blowtorch. "Let's smash him to pieces, then blowtorch him to cover the traces."
Agreeing with their plan of destruction, the Twins returned to their fighting stances until the torch just barely grazed Ruff's hair, setting it ablaze. The girl began to scream, batting away the fire that was attached to her. "AAAGH! I told you fish oil was bad for your hair!" Tuffnut screamed, dropping Macey on his foot. "MACEY!! HOW COULD YOU?!" Was all he shouted and stumbled back onto his sister.
The other students, alarmed at the situation, couldn't say that they weren't surprised when Tuffnut's hair then proceeded to get engulfed in flames. Panicking, Mr. Bernard shoved the two students under the emergency water dispenser and pulled the handle, creating a downpour on the Twins. For extra precaution, Mr. Bernard pulled the handle again, giving the siblings no time to react. Taking five steps back, the teacher let out a sigh of relief. The two sat up, now drenched and flame-free. "Did you put fish oil in our shampoo?" Tuff asked, earning a meek nod from his twin. "Huh, maybe that's why it smells nicer. If this stuff works, we should sell it!"
To no one's notice, the blowtorch was still on this whole time, creating a steady stream of smoke that wafted to a patch in the ceiling. Hiccup, placing his head on the desk, rested too soon as he also felt a drizzle on his neck. The fire system had gone off, smudging the writings on the white board and the papers out. The students began to barrel out of the room, grabbing their soaked things as quickly as they could while stepping over Hiccup, the Twins, and even their own teacher.
After the crowd disappeared, the Twins stood up, grabbed their most-likely-broken laptop and other items, and took a bow. They left the room as if this was a normal activity, which it was for them. Helping his teacher up, Hiccup rubbed the damp hair out of his face. Shoes now squishing as he walked to his desk, Hiccup sighed. "So... you still want me to present after them?" He asked sarcastically. "I mean, my computer is water-free and I'm sure the projector is working great after it had a shower!"
"You're getting a goddamn A and I'm putting them last in everything for now on," Mr. Bernard blurted out, not even taking notice that he had cursed in front of a student. Glancing around at the almost-empty room, he reached in his desk and pulled out the emergency flask. Its use needed more and more for this class period, "Class dismissed."