--Building a New life --Tech x Reader Bad Batch

Chapter 30 --The big break | You think I'm What?--

Your jaw dropped in surprise but you quickly closed it. You could feel your face get beet red and Tech knitted his eyebrows together again.

Having just asked you if you were into his brother you were shocked and didn't know what to say. This felt like it came out of nowhere but you could see the serious look on his face.

"I" you started to reply before stopping yourself, "I'm a bit surprised you're asking me" you said trying to buy yourself time to calm down. You knew what your face must be saying and your brain had just stopped functioning entirely.

Tech's serious gaze didn't lessen in the slightest. --Not an adequate response yet-- he thought --perhaps my initial theory is correct--. He could feel the symptoms of jealousy make his heart clench, the last time he had felt this angry was when Wrecker had dented the door frame of his ship. --These emotional responses are not advantageous to my functioning--

You take a few deep breaths, trying to get your feelings under control. After you breathe out another long breath while Tech was holding his own breath in frustrated anticipation, you reply as calmly and concisely as possible; "No. Hunter is great, and I'm glad we get along well but I don't think that is where our friendship is headed. Really he's our team captain and that's it".

Tech sighed in relief and visually went back to neutral but internally he emotionally exploded. On one hand he felt a rush of relief which took him by surprise, but it was not as shocking as the sudden excitement he felt. --Am I really happy about this?-- he contemplated --Hunter is an ideal pairing in this situation, I had not expected her rejection--.

You continued watching his face, but he looked away and didn't ask anything further. For another moment you sat anxiously before you decided to ask Tech a question of your own. If he was going to bring up this topic you could at least get some clarity on the entire Hunter situation.

"Tech. Hunter told me that you were trying to get us together"

Tech's eyes looked a little surprised, like a kid who had just gotten caught. His eyebrows went up a bit and he covered his chin and mouth 'casually' with his hand.

--So he was-- you concluded "Why were you doing that?"

"It was for team morale" Tech replied quickly and neutrally.

"But, I didn't think anything was wrong. Was something going on?"

"No".

"Is ... Hunter interested in me?"

Tech paused for a moment, "No, I don't believe so".

"Then .. why?" You ask, feeling completely lost and confused. Tech was an intelligent man, in fact the most intelligent man you had ever met. Why would he act like this and make this type of decision?

Tech paused for a while before he dropped his hand, his eyes looked serious again and he explained "Based of off humanoid hierarchies have a single female in a group of males results in group implosion and tension until the female has chosen a mate"

"..oookay"

"I had been observing a shift within the group dynamic and determined you and Hunter would make the most logical pairing due to your clear communication with each other and involvement as parental figures for Omega".

"Hunter does act like a dad" you think out loud with a smile "but I still don't understand. I know it's been different having me around and the dynamic changes with a new member. But I thought everything was going well. Is there something wrong with me? Is it just because I'm a woman?"

"You're an attractive female with a variety of positive attributes and skills, particularly those most basic and averagely sought out in a partner. I concluded that by sheer forced proximity alone it was only a matter of time before your involvement in the group would cause a collapse and I must prioritize the team".