Work Text:
“Are you sure we’re going to need these?” Tegan asked skeptically, looking down at the plastic glasses.
“Lab safety is always important, Tegan,” Nyssa said. “Especially when working with chemicals.”
Nyssa had a bit of a mad scientist look about her. Her bushy hair had been pulled back and she was wearing what must have been the Trakenite version of a lab coat—which was basically just a regular lab coat, but a little fancier.
Sighing, Tegan put on the safety glasses. The rest of the afternoon was spent fetching various instruments and chemicals at Nyssa’s request, all while she stayed carefully focused on whatever strange substance she was creating in the beaker.
Tegan had to remind herself that she enjoyed spending time with Nyssa, even just talking as she worked. Nyssa always seemed at ease in a laboratory environment. To Tegan’s surprise, Nyssa even brought up her father, telling her about fond childhood memories with only the slightest hint of grief.
After retrieving a silvery bottle of nitro-whatever from some storage closet, Nyssa gestured for Tegan to come closer. Then, in one swift movement, Nyssa increased the heat of the plate underneath the beaker and the mixture began to bubble. It suddenly began to change color, shifting rapidly from a dull grey to a bright reddish-pink. In a strange way, it was lovely.
“It doesn’t just look nice, Tegan,” Nyssa explained, excitedly. “It can also be used as a fuel.”
As interesting as it was, Tegan couldn’t but take her gaze away from the mixture to look at Nyssa, whose entire face had lit up as she gazed into the beaker. The chemical reaction was nice, sure. But for Tegan, the way Nyssa smiled, really smiled, like she didn't have a care in the world, was much more memorable.