Disclaimer: I do not own Junjou Romantica or any of its characters.

A Thousand Words

Five: Egoist Short

Workout: Act I

Hiroki and Nowaki were at the University's fitness center. They'd been coming here for some weeks now to work out: the institution recently offering free use of the facilities not just to professors but their spouses as well, in the hopes that couples exercising together might lead to a healthier faculty body.

Hiroki had been apprehensive at first about having Nowaki join him. In part, since the policy wasn't as clear on partners as it was about spouses, but he was tired of playing racquetball with Miyagi for exercise (the man cheated and left the court too often to go outside and smoke). In the end, Hiroki wasn't sure actually which had ended up being more disconcerting, asking for the papers to get Nowaki an access card or, finding out when he requested them that the administrative assistant already knew exactly who his partner was, though he had never mentioned Nowaki to her.

Regardless, now they were going to the gym regularly (or as regularly as their hectic schedules allowed). Hiroki's motivation: he was nearing thirty and wanted to avoid for as long as possible the pitfalls and pot bellies of middle age. Plus, being with a younger man, he felt he needed to stay fit. Not that Nowaki really seemed to care that much… But Hiroki wasn't one to be complacent.

Nowaki, on the other hand, was doing it to spend time with Hiroki and because he'd been warned recently by Tsumori to start taking better care of himself before his hectic schedule and the stress of medical practice took its toll on his health.

Though they went to work out together, once they got there each went his own way. Nowaki enjoyed lifting weights; Hiroki was more a treadmill kind of guy. That's where he was now- running. It was something he could do for hours, the stretch of his limbs and the rhythm of his footfalls easily becoming a kind of moving meditation.

The other physical activity (besides sex) that he could do for hours was swimming.

Not surprisingly, given his upbringing, Nowaki didn't know how to swim, but he was learning. Hiroki had gotten permission from the coach of the swim team to come in with Nowaki after the team's last practice on Sundays when the pool was empty. He was tutoring the coach's daughter once a week in exchange for the privilege.

Fortunately, she was a bright girl and since she had at least some aptitude, it wasn't as awful as it could have been.

Hiroki smiled to himself as he thought of Nowaki's most recent lesson. It was not just that he got to see his partner in his swim trunks, which was indeed a smile worthy sight (or perhaps more accurately leer worthy); it was that he had taught Nowaki how to float on his back.

Now, while Nowaki was not afraid of the water, he was certainly not comfortable in it yet. Hiroki hated to admit it, but there was something terribly appealing in a slightly shy giant, not to mention Nowaki's trepidation stroked his ego just a bit. Plus, though he had feigned aggravation, when Nowaki trusted him enough to lie back and allow himself to float, supported initially only by his hands under his back (though he would never say this), it had been a very moving moment. It meant a lot to Hiroki that Nowaki was willing to put so much faith in him.

Breaking from his musings, Hiroki studied Nowaki, lifting weights across the gym. Hei had been fortunate today because when they'd arrived, his favorite treadmill had been free. It gave him a good view of the weight room so, in addition to running, he was able to freely observe his giant working out as well.

Now, when it came to Nowaki's body, Hiroki had harbored no complaints at all before they started exercising. In fact, the reality that his lover's form could be improved upon had come as a bit of a shock. But though they had only been coming a few weeks, Nowaki's body had responded immediately and beautifully to their workouts, already visibly bigger and tighter than he had been when they'd started.

Thinking about this and watching Nowaki, Hiroki's breathing grew more labored, though not necessarily from his running. While slightly wary pool Nowaki was sweetly touching, intensely focused weightlifting Nowaki was incredibly hot.

Of course the outfit helped. Today Nowaki wore a pair of black sweats that had been cutoff slightly below the knees revealing long, tightly-muscled calves. The black gave his skin a rich golden tone. Surprisingly this same effect was achieved for Nowaki's upper body through a different medium- a bright white tank top. Initially it had surprised Hiroki to see his giant in this, since Nowaki usually preferred darker colors. The effect of the shirt was enticing, the neck of the tank dipping down low, as well as where the shirt was cut under the arms. As a result, wonderful glimpses of exercise-flushed flesh were visible.

As Nowaki worked his way through the rotation of the various Nautilus machines, Hiroki couldn't help but admire the way he looked as he used the equipment. Currently he was at the chest press, torso slightly tipped back, thighs splayed, a slight sheen of sweat on the visible skin of his chest. The beautiful flex of pectorals as Nowaki brought his elbows together, straining (though not too vigorously) against the machine's tension was thrilling. The open and close of his tightly muscled arms reminded Hiroki of the powerful flap of wings by a settling prey bird.

Mesmerized by Nowaki's motions Hiroki's pace faltered and he had to tear his eyes away before he tripped (yet again). He growled with frustration, but only momentarily, knowing that before long they'd be hitting the showers together.

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