The day started like any other in Hot Wheels City: a little smoke, a couple of untimely explosions, and Wyatt defying the laws of physics with another jump off a building. Brandon was already at Larry's Garage before everyone else, as always, adjusting the infrared scanner on his Quick 'N Sik and reprogramming a couple of sensors that, according to him, “definitely weren't going to catch fire this time.”

Everything was fine… until she arrived.

It wasn't that it was unusual for someone new to stop by the garage. The town was a constant mess thanks to Wyatt or Rhett, accidentally or "gloriously". But this time was different. Brandon couldn't explain why. Maybe it was the way she fearlessly approached the open hood of his car, genuinely curious.

— “Yeah, well… most of the systems are linked through my own custom circuitry. Nothing fancy…”

he said casually, though inside he was struggling not to sound like an idiot. And then something he never expected happened: he got distracted. He, the master of exact calculations, the guy who could repair an engine blindfolded and with one hand tied, put the capacitor in upside down. A spark reminded him he wasn't at his best.

—“Oh‐‐ I'm fine, just... I was testing the glove's thermal resistance, yeah, that, heh...yeah.”

He quickly improvised, crossing his arms over his chest. It was strange to see him act like this, and even though he kept showing his inventions to the team, she noticed their attention always ended up drifting toward her. His emotional radar was collapsing… and he didn't even have an app for that.

———————————————————————

It wasn't love, was it? No, it couldn't be. It was just "scientific admiration", yes, that's it, yes, yes... A "technical appreciation" for someone who understood what he was doing. Right?

As I was trying to focus on my work, my gaze shifted to her again, our eyes locked, and for a second, just a second, Brandon forgot which wire was positive.

— "I.. uh, ahem ahem."