#he's a mix of aware and oblivious across different scenarios imo

[harmonysanreads]

This is some brainrot on my part but—

Do you think Phainon takes full advantage of your flustered state when he’s shirtless? Perhaps he’s entering or exiting the baths, or finishing a workout/spar. He’s so excited to see you looking and paying attention to him I see him either being oblivious or aware lololol

I like to think that he's oblivious initially. Since he has to train a lot, he's had to be shirtless a lot by extension ; the weather gets rather hot in Okhema sometimes, is all. So, there wasn't any need for him to think deeper, in the beginning, that is.

Phainon needs a few nudges before it clicks in his head. Maybe it begins by him noticing you staring a bit too long at the indents of his biceps upon his sleeves as he helps carry some particularly heavy load, or even you! Then he's given even more food for thought after you two have become close enough to hold hands and hug, the memories of how your hands never seem to be able to settle on one spot of him for too long before you withdraw replay over and over again in his head.

And when the final push is given and he realizes just how affected you are by his semi-bare body, he's giggling to himself. He definitely takes advantage of it afterwards, will make an effort to be more shirtless when you're in the vicinity as well — given that he's not in a life or death battle. If you try to avoid him, he'll double down and follow you around. He even tries to use it as a distraction for when he makes you angry for something else. Anything to see you out of your element, even if just for a moment.