"Heh. I always knew you were the smart one."

Relatively speaking, of course. It was said with an eye-roll, but he didn't seem to be insistent on it. Why was he even still speaking to her? Familiarity, perhaps.

He stood straighter in an attempt to hide his undignified shivering.

"I intend to speak with the professors first. They've risked our health, and if these studies are as critical to our survival as they claim, I expect a higher standard."