#pheetech

[archivewriter1ont]

Literally any woman, to Hunter: Hello.

Crosshair: Absolutely not! *sets blaster to stun*

Hunter: Uh, Cross???

Crosshair: Their kind have already stolen one brother from me!

Tech: For the last time, Crosshair, Phee did not steal me.

Tech: She is holding me captive with my full consent. 🥰

[lightspringrain]

Happy New Year! What better way to start off the New Year then with a new chapter! Chapter 15 "Hope Dies Last" is now out! Finally some good feels. I hope you enjoy! And have a wonderful start to the new year. Much <3

[clarareberosen]

Phee: We have three tickets for this movie in the back row.

Cashier: Maybe two?

Phee: No, three. My fiance's twin didn't want to let him out of the house until we agreed to take him with us.

Phee: * Points to Cross, who has his arms and legs wrapped around Tech*

[cc-cobalt-1043]

I just noticed this:

My personal little headcannon is that she painted it after his death to remember him

[xecutivecucumber]

I'm going to jump in on the Phee positivity (or positiviPHEE) train after...certain opinions have been aired.

And since those certain opinions were from an autistic perspective, I thought I'd add my own autistic perspective.

I. Love. Phee.

My cat's name is Phee. Phee is one of my top Star Wars characters. I shoved her into one of my longfics as soon as I could.

And her relationship with Tech gave me a lot of hope for my own romantic prospects as an autistic person.

I love that Phee invites Tech to be present. I love the look on his face when he watches her leave to put the artifact away. I love that she was a trusted enough person for Tech to talk to about Crosshair at length with. I love that when it's clear that Tech isn't going to give her the goodbye she expects, she backs off. I love that her love for Tech expanded into loving and helping the Bad Batch.

And even by herself she's SO COOL. She goes and finds artifacts that were stolen from cultures on Pabu and brings them back??? She is a super cool pilot??? She is ride or die for the people she cares about??? She's confident and sassy??? She has a SWORD???

So yeah. Phee is great. She means a lot to me. I hope we see her more in the last 3 episodes.

[ecmlol]

I think tech would be proud of phee and her flying skills.

Oh and you m loving the gleams we get of tech and phee relationships. The little comments

[happydragon]

Personal headcanon time: While Phee's nickname for Tech is Brown Eyes and sometimes handsome, Tech either calls her darling or Phee no in between. I imagine the following conversation:

Bad guy has a gun pointed at Phee: No one to save you now

Tech stuns bad guy: Are you alright darling?

Phee, kissing Tech on the cheek: Never better handsome

Do with this what you will

[clownery-and-fuckery]

God how did I not post this before.... I've got some soft stuff just for you

"We're home."

Tech felt his breath catching at the sight of Pabu. After so long, after so much hurt‐ the planet had never looked so pretty.

Still, staring at the surface, as their impending arrival grew closer and closer, Tech's bandaged hands squeezed around the yoke reflexively. He felt a trickle of nervousness sweep down his artificial spine.

Omega and Wrecker, looking battered, stared and leaned over the console with such enthusiasm, it was easy to forget what they had gone through to get here. What they had needed to fight for to make it back.

Hunter seemed to sense his anxiety, because he squeezed Tech's uninjured shoulder.

"S'okay, little one," He murmured, the term of endearment more frequently used now that he finally had his youngest brother home to hold. "We're right here."

Echo shooed their overly enthusiastic siblings away from the console, telling them to prep for landing– and make sure Crosshair wouldn't hide in the ship.

As Tech hesitated, he was given a sympathetic glance. "You also can't hide," He said softly. "But you won't need to– they're happy to have you back."

Tech wasn't sure how happy they would be once they saw him. What he had become, what he had done. His armour still clung too painfully tight to his skin, the helmet still felt attached to his aching jaw.

After so long of having it lock and stinging as it was held shut, open– and dare he try remember when he was still close enough to his brothers– caressed, Tech locking it himself was soothing in comparison.

The lengths he had needed to go to seemed so... pointless, if he couldn't even bring himself to enjoy the end result. He had his family back, his life, his home– why wasn't he happy? Why wasn't he thrusting the ship forward, hurtling down to where he knew everyone wanted to go?

He wanted to go home, too. Desperately.

He just- seemed to forget where it was. Had the coordinates wrong- everything felt wrong. His hands, his legs, his face his mind his eyes his skin oh stars his skin felt so hot and itchy and wrong—

He was jolted from him twisted mind when the landing gear engaged and they settled a bit shakily on Pabu's surface. Tech blinked, mind hazy and reality warped as he felt the soothing, warm rays of the sun on his skin.

When was the last time he had felt that?

Hunter squeezed him, turned him around in his chair. "I know this is a lot," He said, kneeling and putting his hand on Tech's arm, rubbing at the flesh there, hidden under armour. "But you're safe now. Here, with us, and.. and we'll heal. You'll be okay, Tech, I promise."

Nodding jerkily, Tech tried to pretend that he believed his brother. That he would walk out there, brave as always, and Hemlock's touch would be nothing more than a memory- rather than the oppressive, vivid phantom he felt, creeping up his spine, fingers gliding over him like a warning—

"Vodiʻka," Echo spoke now. "It's time to go."

Was it? Tech looked around again, out the port view. Omega, Wrecker and Hunter were already greeting Shep, Crosshair close by.

They looked happy. He didn't– couldn't find it in him to ruin that when he had caused so much of their suffering.

A hand smoothed through his hair. "I know," Echo whispered. "It's not easy, coming back. But you'll manage, you always do. And- I'm here, when you're ready to talk about it."

Talk about it.

Talk about Tantiss, about Hemlock. About... about what had happened to him.

Tech bit back a shiver at the thought. He couldn't imagine ever telling them what had really happened. They might not let him back in if he did.

"Let's go." Echo was pulling him, and before Tech could lose himself in the familiar haze- the comfort of do not move until he's done with you, just stay still until it's over, comply– Tech stood on the ramp, watching Pabu again.

He did not look through CX-2's lenses. Only his own.

He took a small breath, and paused. Fresh air. Tech subtlety gulped in another, greedy breath of Pabu's air. It felt so good- he had forgotten what it felt like.

He watched for a long time, wondering if any of this was his place anymore. Considering that he may be safer on the ship. At least there he could see through the rays. Maybe this was a mistake, maybe he should stay on the ship.

Maybe he should go back to Heml—

"Brown Eyes?"

Tech stilled, his whole brain shutting down again. It did that often, these days. Regressing and curling back into old routines he had used as a cadet to stay safe.

He looked up, eyes wide as he caught her eye across the courtyard.

"Phee."

She looked as beautiful as she had the night he left. She watched him, and his brother's shared a look, letting her past as she took an unsteady step towards him.

He wasn't... sure why he moved the way he had. It was similar to how he moved when he had first seen his brother's. Simply, he was overwhelmed and needed to know they were real.

So, Tech allowed his feet to carry him down the ramp, less than graciously, and he stumbled into a run as he barrelled towards Phee.

His first real connection outside their squad. Their conversations were just for them, their relationship was private- he hadn't needed to share, for once, and he loved it.

He loved her- who so kindly and fiercely lived and breathed to explore and protect what she valued. He felt warm just thinking he was on that list—

Was he- still on that list? His brain caught up to his body as he dared slow down in panic, because what if this was all just him and she would push him back, reject him like others had before? What if he truly was impossible to—

Phee crashed into him without warning, and Tech let out a choked sound as they toppled. The panicked cries of the others, the sting of his injuries against concrete was forgotten as he was enveloped, encased in Phee.

Her arms squeezed him so perfectly, just the right amount of pressure, to break his resolve and train of thought.

He hadn't even realised his arms were around her, that he was babbling, tears coming from somewhere he as heaved and sobbed into her shoulder.

He felt her tears stain him, too, as she wept and laughed into his shoulder. "I missed you," She ended up whining, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt. "You karking asshole- that's not what I meant when I said—"

Tech brightened, tears still falling with no sign of stopping. "I didn't run away with a pirate!" He interrupted, unsure of why he was so very proud of that little detail. "Just as you told me to."

Phee, still on top of him, such a comforting weight he found pulling closer to have for longer, laughed so brightly he believed his siblings earlier joy was enough to forget. He certainly could, if she kept laughing like that.

"Good job," She smiled down at him, and as she looked at him so lovingly, he finally felt as brave as he used to, and quickly leaned up, pressing an inexperienced kiss to her cheek before hugging her again.

"I– I missed you, as well," He admitted into her frozen shoulder. "More than I can say."

He felt her push him back. He paused, and in a moment of confusion, he felt his heart freeze and splinter. Of course it wouldn't be that simple- he had ruined her home, destroyed Pabu- why would he think he had any right to- to want comfort from someone he stole from?

He let out another, shakier sob, apology on the tip of his tongue as his jaw went slack, mouth open—

Only for her to catch his lips, kissing the apology away with a swipe of her tongue. "Better have," She whispered into his mouth. "Been waiting for you to do that, Brown Eyes, what took so long?"

His whole being flushed. "Ah-.." He said, floundering. Phee laughed again, sweet, and she helped them to their feet.

They stared at each other, her thumb caressing his cheek, and he leaned into the contact, the surge of adrenaline from.... everything seeping from him at her touch.

He slumped into her, completely spent. His knees knocked as his legs collapsed under him. He wished he had been given more warning as Phee let out a shout, holding him up suddenly.

He couldn't think to care- not when his brain melted under the sun and his body finally seemed to want to relax- to rest.

Stars, he needed to rest. He felt so tired..

"Tech–?!" Hunter's voice called, sharp with panic.

"M'okay," He mumbled over the gradual uptake of fear. His siblings settled, closing in around him. He felt safe, with them all there.

"Just..." He trailed off, a warm, wide smile gracing him. Maybe it was the safety he felt to feel, maybe it was the lack of sleep. His voice dropped to a whisper as he met his family's eyes over Phee's steady shoulder.

"Just... happy I'm home."

tech lives shut up. he said so himself from my attic.

[bring-backup-99]

First Time’s The Charm

Read on Ao3

PAIRING: Tech x Phee

SUMMARY: Some sweet smut about Tech and Phee’s first time together

WORDS COUNT: 2501

RATING + WARNINGS: 18+, very spicy, porn with feelings, PiV, fluff, kissing

NOTES: When I’m not working on my Batch reverse harem “Bad Choices” smutlet series on Ao3, I occasionally write other stuff. I have a long form WIP that will probably never be finished, so you all might as well have the smut from it.

And yes, this is virgin Tech (which is basically the opposite of him in Bad Choices), though I will fight people if they suggest that he couldn’t still be good at sex from the start. The man loves research. He knows what and where a clitoris is. I will die on this hill.

The first night Tech had stayed with Phee, it had simply been a matter of them talking too late and falling asleep on her couch. When they’d woken up in the soft morning light, both had felt sheepish. She’d laughed it off. 

“You’ll fall asleep anywhere, Brown Eyes.” He didn’t deny it.

A few days later, they were in her little workshop, telling each other stories, true stories, while she cataloged and he tinkered. As he walked her home, their hands brushed together until finally their fingers slowly intertwined. He didn’t come in, but they stood in the moonlight outside her door holding hands and talked about everything but what was happening between them.

When they had first met, so many rotations ago, she had liked him immediately, primarily because he was handsome, and then later because he was kind, brilliant, intense, and strong. He was so different from the other men she knew. Bringing them all to Pabu was impulsive, but she’d never regret doing it, giving them a safe space where they were appreciated for their kindness and desire to help, where they flourished, where Omega could have a home.

He began walking her home every night, and they would stand outside holding hands, until finally, one night, she leaned into him and he put his arm around her.

“This is nice, Tech,” she’d said, using his real name to show how serious she was. He’d looked down at her.

“Yes. I would use that descriptor as well.”

Impulsively, she’d risen onto her toes and pressed her lips to his. For a moment, she was afraid she’d gone too far. His body had stiffened abruptly, but just as quickly it relaxed. The kiss was sweet and soft, close-mouthed. He’d pulled away slightly.

“I have never kissed anyone before.”

The words overwhelmed Phee. She had thought it was possible his life hadn’t allowed such things, and she wanted to be careful. 

“Is this okay? We don’t have to.” Tech stopped her by lifting her chin so they could kiss again. She pulled him in, and they stayed on her couch while she taught him something new. He was a fast learner.

He stayed with her almost every night, slowly divesting himself of the various layers that he wore as the evenings passed. First, his utility belt and pouches. The night he took off his gloves, and she had felt his bare hands on her own, against her face and neck, had made her giddy. She spent the next day mooning over him like she was a schoolgirl. She chided herself for it; she was too old and wise for this nonsense, but Phee couldn’t stop.

And it was the night he took off his goggles because their kissing had knocked them askew for the umpteenth time that she knew she’d truly fallen for him. Someone’s eyes shouldn’t have that power over her, yet she’d never met anyone so absolutely honest that it reflected perfectly in their gaze. Phee’d been with other people, of course, but she’d never let them into her life the way she let Tech in. 

Because she trusted him, and she knew this gesture from him was because he trusted her too.

*

“Can this come off tonight?” she whispered, running her hands over the chest of his blacks. Their embrace tonight had been particularly passionate and she wanted him as close to her as possible.

“Yes, I would find that acceptable.” 

"Let me know if you feel uncomfortable, Brown Eyes." 

"Just...proceed slowly." 

Phee was trying to do just that. She’d imagined the first time they had sex, that she’d take him to a field of flowers or a beach at sunset…or the back of a library. But now she knew none of those was going to happen.

She circled him, her hand never breaking contact as she felt the contours of his body under the fabric. Finally, she faced him and slowly pulled up the shirt. She ran the back of her hand against his skin, noted that he was hardly breathing. She waited for him to relax, then pulled the shirt off, leaving his torso fully bare. She could feel his tension as he lay back on the bed, his eyes slightly glazed.

“Are you okay?” she asked as she lay beside him.

“Yes,” but the word was almost inaudible.

Tentatively, she stroked his chest, waiting for his breathing to return to normal. She didn’t know what she expected, but his slim, muscular frame fulfilled any fantasy she had had. Her fingers fluttered over a scar on his shoulder. 

"Droid," he said. Another scar on his side. "Knife wound. Not from Hunter," he smiled. He turned slightly and showed her one on his hip. "Shrapnel, only partially because of Wrecker." She leaned over, kissing each of them. Hungry for him, she kissed a trail from his hip to his chest. Impulsively, she licked his nipple, and he cried out in shock. Phee drew back quickly. 

“I'm sorry." 

"No, no. That felt...intense. I was not expecting it.” He drew her to him, kissed her, then whispered, "Do it again." 

Hungrily, her lips moved along his neck, drinking in every reaction he had to her touch, then down to his other nipple. Tentatively, she licked it, feeling the hitch in his breathing, then gently raked it with her teeth. He moaned. She did the same on the other side, reveling in his response to her. 

His hands began to roam around her body, finding their way under her shirt. On fire, she pulled it off and let him explore her at his own pace. She was desperate to feel his skin against her own, but she did not want to overwhelm him. As she had explored him, his hands did the same to her; caressing the small of her back, the nape of her neck, the curve of her breasts. She gasped at his touch, inflamed, desperate for more. He pulled her closer, and she pressed her body against his, chest to chest. He rolled on top of her, lips locked together, one of his legs between her own. All her control was gone. 

She let her hand slide down to the growing bulge in his pants. 

"I want to touch you," she said, giving him time to stop her, but he was as inflamed as she was. He groaned and arched his back as her hand cupped him. His responses to her were unbelievable, feeding the flames of her desire.

“Please, take this off.” She fumbled at his pants. “Please, if you are ready.”

He stood and pulled them off, as she slipped out of the rest of her clothes. Standing next to him, looking into his eyes, she took his erection in her hand. It took every ounce of his self control not to climax right then, the sensations were so overwhelming. She pushed him back onto the bed and straddled him. She leaned forward to kiss him and look into his beautiful eyes. She took his hand, and together they guided his length into her as she lowered herself onto him. 

He cried out as he entered her. She moved slowly, never breaking eye contact, until he was fully inside her. 

“Tech, if you become uncomfortable or need us to stop—”

“I can manage,” he said, his jaw clenched, his eyes focused on her, fingers intertwined. She waited a few moments, letting their bodies acclimate to the new sensations, then together they slowly began moving, finding a rhythm that suited them both. 

He held her hips and pushed his pelvis up to be as deep inside her as he could. Her gasps and cries excited him in a way he had never felt, his body responding on instinct as she rocked against him more insistently. 

He could see her eyes losing focus, even as he could sense the same in himself, as he felt the build up in his body, a pressure he had never experienced and did not fully understand. This was so different from the furtive, utilitarian fumblings he managed in the ‘fresher when the need arose.    

In a move that took her breath away, he pressed himself up, put his arm around her waist, and rotated both of them so he was on top of her. The absolutely feral cry she gave him as her limbs wrapped around his body nearly sent him over the edge. He held her close, trying to slow down, to make this last longer, this sweet, intense, incredible feeling. 

She refused to let it happen. She rocked her pelvis against him, desperate for him to lose control, to match her passion. He gasped. 

"I need to...Phee, if you do not stop…I am too close," he groaned. 

"We'll do this again," she whispered. "I want you. I want you inside me. I want to feel you." She felt incoherent, but she also felt him let go. He lifted one of her legs, hooking it over his arm, giving him an angle to somehow be deeper inside her. His body took over, his thrusts stronger, wilder. Her hands pressed on his lower back, encouraging him. 

Her moans of, "Yes, please, yes. Tech. Yes," finally put him over the edge. The absolute bliss of the orgasm was almost too much for him. He buried his head in her neck, drowning himself in her essence, as it pulsed over his body. He lay still on top of her for what he thought was an eternity as the sensation slowly drifted away, leaving him tingling all over like exposed nerves. 

Cautiously, she stroked her hand down his back. He shuddered a bit but didn't say anything, then slowly slid out of her as he rolled next to her. 

"That was amazing," she whispered.

“I…quite agree.” He lifted his head and looked at her, "But you did not..." His voice trailed off. 

She smiled, kissed him, "That's not always the most important part of sex. The...intimacy...this closeness I feel with you, right now. This is better. But also, that was still incredible. You're a natural."

"I did do some research before this encounter…Though it did not prepare me for the intensity of the physical stimulation." She laughed.

"Why is that funny? As I do not have any experience in this area, I wanted to be prepared."

"The idea of you doing research about this on your datapad is very funny, but I'm not going to complain about the results." She rolled out of bed to clean up. 

"It will take a little time before I can physically do this again, but.." For a moment he seemed almost shy, "...would you want to when I am ready?"

She got back into the bed, snuggling next to him. 

"Yes," she said huskily.

“You were correct,” he said, pulling her close against him, “This was... special. More than just a physical act.” He felt foolish for ever having suggested otherwise in one of their long conversations. His voice drifted off, and she thought he might fall asleep, but instead they lay in wakeful silence, intertwined. 

“What is going on in there?" she asked.  

In reply, his hands again began roaming over her body. Lightly, his fingertips raised goosebumps on her arms and down her back. She shivered but felt herself opening again for him. His fingers caressed her breasts, tracing a path around them until he moved and his mouth found her hard nipples. He gently stimulated one, then the other, with his tongue. 

Now that his mind had cleared, he was studying her carefully. Every action and response was filed away. His hand stroked down her side, then to her already parted legs. He kissed her as his fingers explored between her legs, and he drank up her moans. He slid a wet finger up until he found her clit and just barely made contact with it, feeling her body tighten at the touch. He rubbed against it and was rewarded with a deep gasp. He slid two fingers inside of her, leaving his thumb to work against her sensitive nub. Her reaction was instant. Her thighs closed around his hand, and she groaned as his long fingers reached deeper into her.

"Tech," she whispered. "I need you...I need you inside me." 

"Yes, but this type of stimulation will help you to orgasm. I want to ensure that first."

She shook her head, "Oh it feels so good, but I...I don't finish like that. I need..." In her state, words were hard to come by, "...the internal stimulation." 

It took only a moment for him to process this, and then, "It does seem as if I am ready to fulfill this need." Her hand had been stroking him to hardness, but he was so focused on her he had barely noticed.

He pressed into her, slowly, each stroke entering her only a little more than the last, until one had a very pronounced reaction. Then he came up slightly on his knees, lifting her legs with him, sure that this angle would allow him better access to this most important spot. He began with short thrusts and was rewarded by her immediate cries. 

"Yes, oh, Tech, yes, right there," though her physical reaction would have been enough for him to know he had gotten it right. Her hands had grabbed onto the covers, clawing at the sheets. He timed himself to match the crescendo of her moans and whimpers, varying his strokes, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow, then returning to stimulate this more sensitive area, watching the build up of tension in her body, noting how her arms moved in spasms, her eyes closed tight, her mouth whispering incoherently. 

Suddenly her fingers were digging into his forearm, her cries a higher pitched staccato than what had come before, and he watched the orgasm overtake her body. She writhed under him, his thrusts against her sensitive inner wall bringing wave after wave of pleasure. As her reaction finally subsided, he lay over the top of her, kissing her deeply, drinking in everything about her, feeling almost more satisfied now than when he had had his own orgasm. He rocked into her gently, feeling the length of himself enclosed in her, enjoying this unimagined intimacy and reveling in the whole of her. 

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him as close as she could, breathing him into her. He pressed his forehead to hers as he let the second orgasm flow through his body, kissing her, needing her, wanting her.

“Good job, Brown Eyes,” she smiled. “Hard to believe that was your first time.” She liked seeing that satisfied glint in his eyes that came from praise.

“Yes, well, there is always room for improvement, especially since there seem to be an infinite variety of positions, techniques, and implements that can be used to enhance—”

She silenced him with her lips. “Slow down. Let’s just enjoy tonight.” 

And they did.

* *

I also write a smutty Bad Batch reverse harem series that can be found here.

Warning: It gets kinky.

[grxceful-ly]

“don't go running off with any pirates or smugglers while you're gone.”

“yes. this mission should not involve either.”

“that's not exactly what i was getting at.”

[questionableresponses]

So last night I had a dream that the canon ending of the Bad Batch was Tech proposing to Phee and having everyone support him as he fumbled. Phee says yes and boom series end (I think they kissed but I don't remember)

[archivewriter1ont]

"The World in My Arms"

Read here on Ao3!

Summary:

“Brown Eyes!” Tech jumped in his chair, Phee’s excited call ripping his attention from his book and making him knock over the mug that had been resting on his thigh. At least he had finished all the caf already. He hastily shoved the cup onto the side table and sprang to his feet, starting toward the kitchen at almost a sprint. Even with the limp that he had been left with from his fall on Eriadu – that he would have forever – he could still move rather quickly when the occasion arose. Being loudly summoned by his pregnant wife was just such an occasion.

For the @summer-of-bad-batch prompts: "Give me your hand" and "Can you hear me?"

[lightspringrain]

Happy Halloween 2024! This piece's title is "The Ghost of You." Bit of a sad one but they look happy to see each other.

Prompt was "Can I convince you to stay?" For @pinahallowsevecloneparty Halloween event. Hope you like!

[lifblogs]

To Worship the Stars

Week 9 Prompt: "Hold still." Alt. Prompt: Stargazing Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Word Count: 2655 Summary: Phee drags Tech to one of Pabu's beaches at nighttime under false pretenses and ends up surprising him with a date to watch the stars together. Tech doesn't quite understand stargazing, but he begins to. Author's Note: I wanted this to be rated G, but these two said that wasn't allowed. READ ON AO3

“Phee,” Tech began, eyeing the empty beach lit by moonlight, the sand seeming to almost glow as it reached the waves, their dancing edges outlined in silver and white, “I don’t see any stranded sea creatures anywhere.”

She was holding his arm near his wrist. Tech had left his datapad with the Marauder, not wanting to risk getting sand in it during what he thought would be some type of rescue mission.

He glanced at her, seeing her lovely, dark features outlined by moonlight.

She turned to him, poking him on the nose, and he pulled his head back in surprise.

“That’s because there aren’t any.”

Tech was glad when she let go of him because then he could cross his arms—which he did.

“Then what are we doing here? What was your plan? Drag me here under false pretenses, and then…?”

Phee rolled her eyes, grabbing him again, and taking him for a walk along the sand.

“You  don’t need to be so serious about it. What, are you interrogating  me?”

Tech sniffed, the salt air almost soothing somehow, and then pushed his goggles further up his nose. “Do I have to?”

Phee leaned in, voice lowering as she asked, “Do you want to?”

“Um…”

She laughed and Tech felt heat coloring his cheeks.

She stood in front of him, putting a warm, calloused hand to his cheek.

“You’re cute when you blush.”

A thumb ran along his cheekbone, and Tech felt himself blushing even more.

Usually Tech’s mind was quite faster than everyone else’s, which let him think before he spoke, yet somehow this time he found words tumbling from his mouth unbidden, “You look beautiful in the moonlight.”

Phee laughed, and Tech couldn’t help the smile that grew on his face.

“So what am I really here for?” he asked, hoping he could get a straight answer out of her. Sometimes Tech worried she was too playful for him, but that wonder and playfulness was something he thoroughly enjoyed, which often took him by surprise.

“Why don’t you look up?” she said, taking his chin, and tilting his head upwards.

He tried to look down at her as she did this, but then let his eyes follow where she was leading.

“All I see are stars.” Stars in a cloudless night, to be exact.

She gave him a bit of a squeeze that made him laugh a little, and she shook his face.

“Oh, you’re no fun.”

“Pardon?”

She let him lower his face back down, and hers was so close now that he could feel her warm breath on his skin, realized he had felt it against his throat as he had looked upward.

“Don’t you ever want to take a break and watch the stars?” she asked.

“No, I am quite familiar with them, and often plot courses between them.”

She let go of his face, and tapped his chest. “I was right, you really are no fun.”

“Fine,” he relented. “How do I… be more fun?”

“Gaze at the stars with me, silly.”

Phee let her hand drift lightly down his torso till she was holding one of his hands. “Come on, I know a really good spot.”

Tech followed her through the sand, his eye catching here and there on sea glass reflecting moonlight and starlight, or bits of shells rubbed smooth and silvery by wind and water.

He wanted to examine many of them, but didn’t think Phee would like being held up when she had a plan in mind.

She took him over to a sandy hill dotted with coarse yellow-green grass, past some rocky cliffs and overhangs, and started to go through her bag. Tech had indeed been wondering what was in there.

Phee laid down a woven blanket that looked blue-black in the night, settled on it, and patted the spot beside her.

Tech sat down, and she started taking out what looked like a dessert of some kind kept safe in wrappers.

“Do you have a lamp in there?” he asked, starting to poke around in her bag, which she grabbed away from him.

“Why would I pack a lamp? I’m not spoiling all this starlight.”

Tech had felt something, so he took the bag back, giving her a bland look as he took out a lamp they could light up by touching a switch.

“That’s in case of emergencies, big brain,” she said, taking it back.

“My brain is a normal size, I’ll have you know.”

Phee laughed, and the sweet sound of it made him feel lighter. She started unwrapping the dessert.

“What are those?” Tech asked. Since being on Pabu he was getting used to all interesting sorts of foods, and found he enjoyed them much more than rations.

“I got some lemon meringue cake from Shep.”

He started imagining the flavor, wondering if his idea was accurate, and wanting to taste it to find out.

A rolled slip of flimsi fell from one of the wrappers, and Tech grabbed it before Phee could.

Thankfully the night sky was clear, and he had just enough light to make out words that had him blushing again.

“Come on, you gotta tell me what that says.”

Tech cleared his throat. “Erm… Have fun on your date,” he read. “It’s signed Lyana.”

Phee sputtered, and started laughing, and Tech did the same, but was unable to take his eyes off Phee. He loved seeing her carefree like this, had watched her unwind, the rougher parts of her pirate persona washing away the longer she stayed on Pabu. Tech wondered if a similar thing was happening to him. He’d never had a home like this before. If… if it could even be a home for him.

Phee passed him his dessert, and a fork, but Tech didn’t try a first bite until he watched her take hers, feeling a tad flushed at the pleased sound she let out.

Tech tried his, a light, tangy flavor bursting along his tongue, the creaminess filling his mouth with a simple sweetness.

“This is quite good,” he commented.

“I’ll let Shep and Lyana know.”

Tech lowered his gaze, something akin to embarrassment swirling in his stomach, and tugging upwards along his shoulders, at the mention of the child who assumed they were on a date.

Though, Tech didn’t mind the idea of being on a date with Phee; they’d just never used that word for their time together before.

Tech was going to take another bite, but Phee warned, “Hold on. Hold still.”

“What is it?” he asked.

Phee looked like she was trying not to laugh as she leaned in, and rubbed her thumb against his cheek near the corner of his mouth.

There was cream on it when she pulled back.

“Kriff, I smeared it. Gimme a second.”

She quickly ate the cream off her finger, Tech saying, “Hey, that was mine,” before she wiped it along his face again.

“This is hopeless.”

“I’m not that much of a mess.”

Phee showed him her thumb, which still had cream on it.

“I have an idea.”

“Oh?”

She didn’t share, but instantly showed him instead. Her lips pressed against his cheek, the corner of his mouth, tongue coming out to get the cream off before sucking slightly.

He pulled back slightly in surprise, and she put a hand on his shoulder.

“Hold still,” she murmured, words hot against his skin.

Tech found himself breathing heavy, lips parted, and Phee’s mouth found its way over to his. She tasted of lemon, cream, and sugar, and Tech left his dessert in his lap to put a hand in her hair to pull her closer to him.

He let out a pleased sound at the way their lips moved together. It wasn’t their first kiss, but they were still new at this. Well, Tech was newer at it than she was, he assumed.

He grinned as Phee pulled back, and she asked. “What are you smiling about?”

Tech quickly swiped his pointer finger through the top of the cake in his lap, then rubbed it all over her nose. She pulled back with a shocked guffaw, his finger brushing her lips.

“Oh, so you think you know how to be fun now,” she teased, wiping the cream off her face onto the back of her hand.

“As a matter of fact, I am quite fun.”

“Sure,” she said, her tone a clear challenge.

Tech rose to that challenge, and grabbed the back of her neck, leaning in to lick the cream off her nose. He soon followed by kissing her hard on the mouth.

She leaned into it, moaning into him, Tech was so new to all of this that he found his gut—and lower—beginning to ache already. Well, that wasn’t exactly what he wanted to happen.

Thankfully Phee took care of that by patting his cheek, slathering it in cream.

Tech pulled back, instinctively wiping at it, laughing.

Then he realized something.

“You didn’t bring napkins, did you?”

She shrugged, seeming a bit apologetic. “I forgot.”

“Then this only seems fair.”

“What?”

Tech took a big clump of cream from his dessert and smeared it across her face.

Then he dug in, pretending he hadn’t just done that. Besides, this was delicious, and he didn’t want all of his food on Phee’s face, or his own.

“I hate you,” Phee laughed out.

At first the words confused Tech, but the laugh told him she didn’t mean it, that she was joking. Besides, he knew what hate looked like, and Phee wasn’t that.

He attempted to finish his dessert in peace, Phee letting him do so a bit, but cream did end up on his throat at one point, and he hadn’t been able to help the moan he’d let out at that. He nearly pulled back from embarrassment. So far their noises had been quieter, hummed into each other’s mouths. This was louder than he had wanted it to be.

They finished dessert, cleaning up a bit in the waves (while Phee seemed to barely resist the urge to splash him), then laid down on the blanket together. Phee held his hand, but he was fidgeting a bit, eyes not quite on the stars, thinking far ahead. The Empire…

“Relax,” she told him, bringing him back to the present.

Tech let in a big breath, and sighed, gaze traveling towards the sky. The stars really were beautiful like this, he supposed. He knew what they looked like up close, how life-giving and deadly they were. To see them far, far away, like small dots of white and bright blue shining down on him, while he lay beside Phee, it made him feel very small. Not in a bad way like he had felt daily against the might of the Empire, but just… human.

The waves shushed against the sand, the stars shone down, and Tech gripped Phee’s hand tighter for a moment, his movements stilling.

“It’s… different like this,” he admitted, surprised at the calm he felt rushing over him. And with the softness of the sand against him, Tech felt like he could drift away if he wished, drift away from the life he knew as a soldier, drift into… this, into what he had with Phee.

“Aren’t they beautiful?”

“They are.”

Her hand reached up, painting a trail across the sky.

“I didn’t start traveling to be a pirate,” she said. “I guess I liked being up there, with them. I know it’s a big galaxy, but sometimes I wish I could see them all.”

A blooming warmth, juxtaposed by tight sorrow, grew in Tech’s chest, as he turned to Phee, admitting, “I feel the same.” He loved being able to fly to where he needed to, loved knowing his family was safe with him when he flew because he would never let them get hurt, but he also liked what he could see. Sure, so many worlds and moons blurred together from the war, and afterwards, but when he had a rare moment to slow down, to realize that each planet was different—and therefore—special, he enjoyed it, and he had realized the same of the sky. Each sky was different, something new to learn, to strive for.

Phee squeezed Tech’s hand now, and they lay there, watching the stars, imagining their majesty up close as they burned and were born and died.

Tech hadn’t realized he’d been dozing, but suddenly it seemed he was blinking his awake, the stars in different positions, the moon higher.

Phee was resting against his chest.

The wind was a bit stronger than it had been, and Tech felt goosebumps race up along him, starting with his legs. Not wanting Phee to get cold, her stroked her face, saying, “We should head back.”

She shivered slightly against him, but groaned, “Five more minutes?”

“Wouldn’t you like to be in a bed?” he asked.

“Are you offering?” she teased.

Tech just huffed, shaking his head at her, and resting back, watching the stars for a few minutes. He rubbed her back, hardly noticing he was doing it. He just wanted to move his hands. His other hand was grasping at sand, and releasing it, loving how it felt in his fingers, against his palm.

His other hand reached up, ghosting over her hair.

“You can touch it, you know,” she told him, still lying against his chest.

“I didn’t want to be—”

“Rude?”

“Presumptuous.”

Tech was careful with putting his hand in her hair, not wanting to pull at any loose strands, or tug too hard at a loc.

Her hair was soft in a way he hadn’t really felt before: smooth, and plush despite the way it was twisted as if by an expert hand (perhaps hers). It felt better than the sand his other hand fiddled with.

Only the stars watched them as Tech pulled her into a kiss.

“Are you trying to wake me up?”

“Is it working?” he asked, going along with her words, not entirely sure what his intention had actually been.

“Yes. But oh gosh, we should head back. It’s getting late.”

“It is.”

“We’ll be lucky if Hunter hasn’t sent a search party after us,” she joked.

“No search party necessary,” Tech said. “He’s the search party.”

They laughed together, and Tech loved feeling her laughter as she lay against, her breaths comforting, and alive, her heart beating near his.

Despite the logic of heading back before it got too late and too cold down here with the wind, Tech regretted when Phee got off of him. He shivered at the absence of her solid warmth, but let her help him to his feet.

She packed up, and he almost felt remorseful at leaving that spot, glancing at the stars to remind himself they were still there. Their constancy in the sky gave him some hope for more time with Phee, that he would see these stars again, with her, and even with his family. This could be their home.

Phee walked Tech back to the Marauder at the top of the island. They said their goodbyes, and for some reason Tech found himself inhaling sharply. He took her hand, Phee turning back to him, and he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“That was a good… date,” he told her, pausing at the newness of the word and its meaning in his life.

Phee came closer, leaning into him, grasping his face.

“I’ll tell Lyana you said that.”

She kissed him goodbye, and as she left, Tech wondered how much more time he could have with her. With the fight against the Empire, it always felt like he was working on borrowed time.

The stars looked down on Tech, like shining guardians in the sky, and in that moment, he could finally understand why some cultures worshipped them.

[cc-cobalt-1043]

Tech in love:

Phee: hey now...got a name brown eyes

Tech: *internally* I am not in love...I am not in love...I am not in love

*That night Tech wakes up after having a dream involving him and Phee*

Tech:......kriff

[astheforcewillsit]

I would love to explore an AU where Tech lives, and during his extensive recovery, pushes Phee away without realizing it. Partly because he's recovering, because he wants to be around his brothers, and because he likes her but doesn't know how to approach it.

He's his usual self around her, and she takes this him not wanting more then just an acquaintanceship . Which she understands--because she's mature--and realizes he went through something incredibly traumatic.

Eventually they get together. Tech realizes Phee was giving him space, and Phee realizes that Tech liked her but didn't know how to address it, and very much wants her apart of his healing process.

In fact, her going away and stealing things from planets and endangering herself makes his anxiety very bad.