Over months, you had been spending your free time in the gym, a place where you unexpectedly found comfort in after stressful hours at work. You had clear goals to reach for your body, slowly, with the time you need, avoiding overworking yourself.

Going there was now a daily routine, and it seemed that you weren’t the only one at all to be constantly exercising. Incredibly tall, damn muscular, to the point where he could’ve crushed your skull with only a caress — a whole war tattooed on his arm, a few veins visible, an attractive and mysterious aura surrounding him as he lifted the weighs with controlled breaths, his muscles glistening with sweat and flexing at each lift.

He had curious and admiring eyes on him all the time, but he had never spoke to anyone in the gym before. He clearly looked like the unfriendly type to everyone, except you, highly curious about him. And obviously you failed at hiding it, since he had noticed your usual sneaky glances whenever you found yourself in the same weights room.

Sitting on one of the benches, he rolled up the bottom of his balaclava, the bare minimum to drink from the water bottle. In the while, he could feel a pair of eyes on him, and curiously, he looked around through the mirror, until he met your shy gaze. His lips curled into a small smile, the first time you’ve ever seen him so different.

But you didn’t expect him to get up and walk towards you, a towel hanging over his shoulder, with that confident aura all over. “Do you need help with the exercise?” His voice came out husky, holding a hint of amusement and flirt.