But why?

Because there's something inherently likable about her?

No, not likable. Attractive.

No, not even attractive.

Incomparably heavenly.

His thoughts had run away from him again.

And he wasn't fully aware of what his body was doing without its brain's supervision.

For the last twenty minutes, Steelbeak had been unloading a van full of toys, throwing them heedlessly onto a conveyor belt which fed the F.O.W.L. warehouse at two and a half miles per hour. It was bad enough that he was pitching the boxes, likely breaking what was inside many of them in doing so. But when those betraying thoughts entertained amorous things about a girl who would rather slit her own carotid artery than do anything even remotely sexual with him, his hands clasped together violently, crushing the small box he'd picked up last.

That was about when he finally realized what he'd been doing.

Steelbeak glanced down at the unsalvageable box in his hands. "Whoops," he said, grimacing. That would be easy enough to blame on the random clumsy Eggman. He set it on the conveyor belt, watching it get carried off into the warehouse. It was the first toy he'd even remotely paid attention to.

Resolving to maintain control over those irresponsible and wayward musings, he turned his attention back to the task at hand.

"Need some help?"

Leaning into the van, Steelbeak scowled and extracted another couple small toys. There were only maybe fifteen left; another few minutes of work.

He straightened, giving Gabriel the dirtiest of looks. He was also making a gesture with the fingers of his right hand, knowing she wouldn't notice it from beneath the toy. "No," he snapped, setting the packages on the conveyor belt. "Not anymore."

go back | return to table of contents | continue