The Gym, Tuesday Morning

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John was in the gym early, starting out with some blows to the heavy bag before he hopped on a treadmill. He wasn't incredibly fond of running and not going anywhere, but he was trying to force himself to get used to the feeling.

The biggest problem John faced was finding a way to clear his mind without the constant change of scenery. Increasing the speed of the machine, he shook his head, hoping to banish lingering thoughts from his weekend.

[Ooooopen!]

Comments

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"You are here," John replied, not at all cheekily. "And on a meh day. That says something. Possibly that you can't stay away, but it's something."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"I do have a bit of a problem with addiction," Cal pointed out a little ruefully. "And they do say that physical activity releases all sorts of chemicals in your brain just as much as any drug would."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"At least you're addicted to something healthy?" John offered. "There are worse things."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"This helps counteract the cigarettes," and the estrogen. "Thankfully, there are worse things than those, too."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"That's certainly true," John agreed. "And it's a hell of a lot better for your lungs."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"No argument there," Cal said, because there really couldn't be. He let a few lifts go in silence before idly inquiring, "So, what were you doing in a galaxy far, far away this weekend, anyway?"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Mostly just tagging along with Jaina," John replied. "But it had the bonus of seeing her home and meeting the brothers and stuff."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

Cal...almost faltered slightly with his weights, but he liked to think he recovered quickly enough. He'd forgotten about Jaina mentioning going home this weekend, so did that mean the girlfriend John had mentioned...?

And, of course, he had to ask, once he got a hold of things again, "Nothing bad happened, did it?"

Maybe that explained his off weekend...

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Uh no," John didn't know why everyone assumed something bad would happen when he met Han again. They got along incredibly well considering.

"Everything was good, why do you ask?"

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"Just...concerned," Cal said. "Jaina said things go boom when things go bad where she's from, and it was her turn."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"That's...unfortunately true," John had to agree. "But this trip was really tame in comparison to her last one." John hadn't decided if that was a good thing or not since he'd probably not get invited if she expected things to go bad.

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"Dare I ask? Or is that a question better proposed to her?"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I'll leave it up to her," John said. "It's not my story to tell. Are you two close?"

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"Uh, I wouldn't say close or anything," Cal muttered, shrugging slightly. Especially if she hadn't really mentioned him at all to John. Then agian, she hadn't exactly mentioned John to him, either, except...well, now that he remembered, she did mention him going this weekend. Didn't matter, anyway. "Just run into her here a lot."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I didn't mean for that question to sound weird," he clarified. "I don't think I'm that sort of boyfriend."

"But hey, she's a good one to work out with," John said proudly. "Sure kicks my ass up and down the sparring area on occasion."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

And Cal certainly didn't want to sound like that sort of guy, although he knew he kind of did. But he wasn't. He couldn't be, really... The conversation, however, was only making his mood take a turn for the worse.

"I'll bet," he commented instead, letting a wry grin slip out. "She looks like she doesn't mess around."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Deciding that if Cal was friendly with Jaina, John should certainly not take his comment in a negative light.

"Not when it comes to training," he agreed, smiling a smile that didn't exactly reach his eyes.

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"For a while," Cal added, "I half thought she might be an entity existing only in the gym."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Now that's a new one," John chuckled slightly. Last summer he'd have expected to hear that about the garage rather than the gym. "I'm sure she was amused by that."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"Well, she just said she could say the same for me, really. Considering who's here now, I think she has the stronger case."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Come to think of it, I've only ever talked to you in the gym..."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"I do exist outside the gym!" Cal insisted, but he laughed a little. "Jaina will attest to that; she's seen me at least twice outside of this place."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I'll have to have her corroborate your story," John teased. "You're lucky to have a witness."

[not-a-mused.livejournal.com]

"There are other who can vouch for me, too. I actually do kind of a lot out of this gym, believe it or not."