The Problems of Blind Love
AN: Okay...Here is another chapter. I know it took kinda long. But you meet someone new in this one! DOn't hurt me. oh, yeah, NEW DEDICATION(s):
Aspiring Author: Omg, you are so nice! One of the simplest reviewers butsome of the best. Your reviews are what every author wants to hear. JRock On!
Natasha AKA Tash: I'm glad you can kinda relate to me. Tis fun ne? I'm dedicating this chappie to you too caz u rock as well. Your impatience for my updating is kinda funny. Makes me laugh. Thats a good thing!
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Chpater 5: The Gym
Heero sat on the subway train, hand extended in the air, grasping white-knuckled at the overhead handle which he was supposed to be using to steady himself. It was another thing he had disliked. Subways. They went so damn fast. The worst part when they just start to move and the jolt sent vibrations all up his body. It wasn't a good feeling.
Heero had just bought himself a membership at a gym halfway across the city from him. It was the closest and right near a residential area with lots of apartments and houses. It wasn't a smart idea, but it was better than the more convenient ones that were near his office. Those were run down and the people who worked there had only or less than a high school education.
To stay fit, he had to ride the subway. It was irony in an obscure way. And he didn't mind. It was just the subway.
The train came to an abrupt stop and he lost his grip on the handle, sending him flying to the floor as a group of passengers came in through the automatic doors.
He struggled to grab his gym bag as they all stepped forward, not caring if anyone was in their way or not. Heero was just standing up as the train started to move again, and he was sent reeling forward, this time into a girl about the age of 16.
The boy standing next to her grabbed Heero by the collar and snarled at him.
"Why don't you watch where your falling buddy!" The boy looked no older than the girl, and Heero would have very much liked to pound his face in. Clenching his teeth together, he mumbled an apology and went back to his spot.
Yes, he hated subways.
When his stop finally arrived, Heero pushed himself passed the other passengers and flung himself back out onto the platform, relieved from being trapped inside the long metal tube. He cleared his throat and yanked on the neck of his t-shirt before walking steadily away from the station.
It was a quiet residential area of the city, though he could hear children playing out in their front yards, laughing merrily. He strode briskly down the streets on the sidewalks, a nice break from the hustle and bustle of regular, downtown New York. The trees created a soft shade and a breeze played with the air. There was an elderly woman watering her flowers. She smiled at Heero and he nodded, raising a hand in greeting.
"Um..." He dared to inquire. "Would you mind directing me to this street?"
The old woman put down the hose and took off her gardening gloves, pushing her straw hat back on her head and reaching for the small slip of paper Heero was offering to her.
"Why, this street? It's just four blocks that way. It's kind of the main street in this area. Old fashion ice cream shop, little antique boutiques, a gym and such." She pointed to her left. "Why do I get the feeling you haven't ever been around here before. One of the big city tykes?"
Heero nodded. "Thank you very much."
He turned and took the paper with the gym's street and address on it.
"Wait a moment young man!" The woman said. Heero stopped and the grey haired lady handed him a little white rose. "There you go. Now smile, someone like you needs to have a happy face." She grinned warmly at him and he thanked her again before starting off once more.
The old woman was right, and it took him a length of five minutes to reach the outside of the gym. It was rather large and he smiled as he saw through the crystal clear glass windows what looked like a well run exercise hangout. He reached for the door, pulling it open briskly and stepping inside.
The beat of techno music reached his ears as soon as he strode through the door. There was a booth right in front of him with a girl sitting behind it. She was dressed in loose grey sweatpants and a black tank top with a shiny #1 on it. She had long blonde hair that was pulled up into a tight ponytail and blue eyes.
"Hey hey!" She chirped. "Welcome to Rose Court residential gym! May I see your membership card please so we can get you all set to try out anything you want?"
Heero dug into the pocket of his gym bag and pulled out a small card with his picture on it, then handed it to the girl.
She swiped it in and clicked some buttons on the computer she sat in front of. "Okay, Mr. Yuy…go ahead. Get physical!" She laughed good naturedly and Heero walked past the booth into the real gym.
The opposite wall had no windows, but was instead lined with ceiling to floor mirrors. There were disco lights hanging from the ceiling, letting bright washes of color float all over the equipment. In one of the far corners of the extremely large room, was an enormous collection of weight sets and arm curls. The treadmills were in the other far corner, with TV's hanging from the roof in a row in front of them. Everything else was all about the room, such as yoga mats and step exercises. There were many large contraptions that he didn't know what they were used for, but he had a feeling he would find out in time.
Against the right wall was a small door that had been painted purple so it contrasted with the black ceiling. It had the words Changing Rooms on it in gold lettering. There was another door next to it that said Daycare. On the far left wall, there was a hallway that lead further into the building. There was a staircase to his nearest left. People were going up them and then coming back down to work out some more.
Heero smirked. He liked this place already.
First, he headed for the treadmills, putting his gym bag down and turning one on. Cautiously, he stepped on and set it at a casual pace before letting it speed up on him. The TV in front of his face was showing an old black and white workout tape featuring British girls in spandex tops doing aerobics. He shook his head and concentrated on moving his feet at a nice pace with the machine he was running on.
After about half an hour sweating himself out on the moving conveyor belt, Heero took a break, grabbing his small water bottle out of him gym bag and squirting some down his throat.
He snatched his towel off of the handle on the machine and patted his face with it, sighing and looking around.
There were lots of other people in the gym, chatting with each other with a certain familiarity. He felt like an outcast or a newbie, and satisfied himself with the thought that he wouldn't get distracted while trying to keep himself fit.
Heero stuff the water bottle and towel back into his bag and hoisted it up onto his shoulder, dragging his tired feet back to the front of the room, noticing some spare lockers for the first time and putting his stuff down in front of it. Now it was time to explore.
Heero wasn't that interested in what was down the hallway, or what the changing rooms were like. All through the class he had watched people disappear up the dark stairwell with someone, quiet, but with smiles on their faces, then, a few minutes later, they would come back down full out grinning and talking excitedly.
Curious, Heero edged his way towards the stairs. He was waiting until no one was looking; he felt strange being alone while going up the stairs. Almost everyone went up in pairs, looking bashful and shy, and then came down exuberant, as if something up there had lightened their spirits. And most of those people were female.
This is what had piqued his interest, so he slipped around the corner when no one was looking.
The stairs were carpeted and dark, with only a tiny sliver of light coming from underneath the door at the top. They were high and steep, and as Heero ascended, the chatter and laughter and cheering grew. When you were downstairs, you couldn't hear the ruckus because of the music they played, but as the door grew closer, the volume got louder.
He hesitated, hand poised above the door handle, afraid of what he might find, but questioning about what lay ahead.
With a final thought, Heero gripped the door handle, turned and pushed.
The bright light practically blinded him, as it was so different from the stairwell.
There were people, lots of them. Men and women of all shapes, sizes and colors were sitting in chairs or standing in front of what looked like a giant window.
In the window there were windows lining every wall, where light flowed in unstoppable.
There seemed to be a class going on inside the room, and the glass window was keeping the spectators out.
Heero stepped forward and pushed his way through the crowd, wanting to see just what the fuss was about.
Inside the room, as seen through the thick glass windows was a dojo.
A class of boys and men of all ages were dressed in slimming white cotton outfits, all of them posed in the same awkward position. A man stood at the front of the room with grey hair and a beard, hands behind his back. His Asian decent was clear through his wise old eyes and every few seconds he would call out a name.
"Killigan!" He shouted. A small man stepped to the front of the room with weary movements. The old man held out his hand and the man, Killigan, grabbed it with one of his own and waited. With a quick snap of his wrists, the old man sent the other flying to the other side of the dojo, landing in a roll, legs whacking against the mats. He stood up with a flourish and went back to his place.
Heero stood and watched, astounded at the skill each person displayed as they went to the front of the room. Their belt colors went slowly from lighter to darker as the old man called out names.
"Maxwell!" The man shouted.
A teenage boy stepped to the front of the room with sandy blonde hair and unique violet eyes. The belt around his waist sported a bright green color and he was flipped quickly and efficiently. Heero studied the boy's face as he went back to his place quickly, grin tightly in place at his accomplishment. Taken aback at his familiarity, Heero kept staring as they quickly sped through the remainder of the class. The number of people around him dwindled to a measly number as the class finished up with flips and began on defensive techniques.
When the class ended, Heero was still there, holding his bag strangly and looking expectant. The class filed out one by one, bowing to the front of the room where a wooden plate had been nailed to the wall with Japanese kanji written on it. Heero didn't know what exactly he was still doing there, but he guessed it had something to do with the Maxwell boy. He had such a resemblance to Duo, not to mention they shared a last name.
Heero racked his brain for any information he had on Duo's family. They had only talked for a short while of course, but that didn't mean Duo wouldn't have told him about family. There was nothing Heero could remember. Duo had never mentioned family before.
The blonde boy stepped out of the dojo from a door off to the side. Heero took his chance. He had to try.
"Excuse me!" He said. The blonde boy turned the familiar eyes on him. Only they were different this time. They weren't blank. This time, they could seem him
"Hi there, do I know you?" The boy replied. He looked no older than Heero himself. They were practically the same age.
"Um, no…I was just wondering if maybe, I could talk to you for a minute. There is something I need to know."
TBC!
YaoiFanBunny: Whoo…new chapter, and a somewhat familiar character.
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