Lyle swayed with the shove, then immediately swayed back, making sure that Brainy didn't fall off his lap while he flailed.

"What--" he gestured helplessly with the hand that wasn't steadying Brainy. "Oh fuck, is that how it sounded? I meant "now" as in "this moment right after you said your mouth tasted like Xanthian furniture varnish". Kissing later, when you'd brushed your teeth, or rinsed out your mouth! And "I've had worse", I meant it as a flirtatious understatement."

He was such a sprocking moron. Of course Brainy wouldn't hear it like that. How often did people even flirt in the same room as Brainy?! How the sprock is he this terrible at flirting with one of his best friends?!