Chapter Text
“Hey, Brown Eyes,” Phee came into the workshop on the island of Pabu which Tech slowly, but surely, began to claim as his own. “Gotta minute?”
Tech looked at the chrono of his datapad as was his habit whenever asked a question about time. “I have many minutes to spare,” Tech said. For you, he thought in his head.
“Well, I thought you might help me with The Providence. There's a screw near the thrusters I just can't seem to turn no matter what trick I have up my sleeve.” The mention of the term sleeve made Phee's eyes involuntarily look at Tech's arms. He was wearing a gray sweater over a stark white collared shirt and the sleeves were rolled up to reveal his forearms which were very pleasing to the eye, especially to hers, maybe just as pleasing as his own inquisitive brown eyes. Even though he insisted on continuing to wear his tool belt, it was nice to see him wearing what they called 'civvies' rather than the armor he and his brothers usually wore. Though don't get her wrong, he was just as pleasing to the eye in that as well. But there was just something about him in the sweater, with the sleeves rolled up, the little flap of cloth from his shirt cuffs sticking out like angel wings...
“Perhaps you just need strength, in which case Wrecker would be a more suitable assistant.” Tech countered her request with what would ordinarily be a very common sense argument.
Phee deadpan stared at him. Tech was so smart, but sometimes he needed a little help connecting the dots. “Well, I already tried him, but he's out on the boat with Shep fishing. Echo is on a mission with Rex so we can't see if his scomp arm would work.” Phee picked up an electric drill and pulled the trigger twice to hear it whir as a punctuation on that. “And before you recommend one of your other brothers, Hunter is treating Lyana, Omega, and the cadets to a snow cone and Crosshair is... Crosshair doesn't have...”
“Yes, Phee? Crosshair doesn't have what?”
Phee cleared her throat. Muscles as big as yours, Brown Eyes, she wanted to say. She looked at his sleeves rolled up, the veins popping out from those very same sinew muscles underneath his honey golden skin...
“He's just not a people person," Phee finally said, which wasn't untrue.
“And I am?” Tech tweaked his goggles.
“Not necessarily," Phee folded her arms across her chest. "But you are a Pheeple person.” She flashed him a smug grin.
Tech's only response could be nothing other than a grin of his own. “In that case, Phee. I do have many minutes to spare. For you.” Tech felt the tips of his ears turn red and hot as he finally allowed himself a statement to match her own flirtatious behavior.
They stood gazing at one other a few moments, perfectly content.
Phee felt as cozy as Tech's sweater looked. She was sure to spare many minutes looking at those forearms in action as he helped with the screw. “Come on, Brown Eyes. Providence awaits.”
