the gym ; monday afternoon

[flickofthewrist]

It felt like it'd been awhile since Flick had been down to the gym. In reality, it hadn't been that long and he'd been getting exercise other ways but still, it was time to fall back into that routine so he didn't end up getting too doughy and soft. He'd save those moments for when he was behind closed doors.

Usually, he defaulted to flat out boxing when it came to the gym and the heavy bag but he was going a little different today. The Brazilian jujitsu classes he'd taken back at the academy had been in his head lately so that's what he was using today. It meant using his body differently, working muscles that didn't tend to get worked as much when he was just flat out punching the crap out of something or someone.

Which didn't take away how much he liked just punching the crap of some people, of course. It was a good time. He just felt like switching it up. He figured he'd slide into Krav Maga techniques in awhile just to keep that side of things fresh as well.

And then maybe he'd go to straight boxing. End with the fun stuff, why not?

[Open gym, open post]

Comments

[seveninchmotto]

"You still come off looking like a self-destructive idiot."

And that was her honest opinion, even if it was blunt. Wasn't her problem, though. She wiped at her nose again, but the bleeding had stopped several moments ago. All that was left was dried blood.

[flickofthewrist]

Flick stared at her for a few moments, trying to reign some reignited anger in so he wouldn't start yelling at her. He breathed.

"If I was a self-destructive idiot, I would have found ways to get the shit kicked out of me way before today," Flick pointed out. "And we don't count the times when I went home and couldn't freaking avoid getting hurt."

He rubbed his face and eyes, scratching off some dried blood from his lips and chin now.

"I'm not self-destructive." Or an idiot but he knew that could be debated.

[seveninchmotto]

"I said you come off looking like you are."

Not that he actually was. The difference was slight but it was there to give him the benefit of the doubt. She was examining her gear, the sleeve of her rune-covered shirt.

"But you did tell me to finish it, because you don't surrender to me or anyone else."

[flickofthewrist]

"I don't."

And he wasn't going to apologize for that.

"I spent my childhood doing that and it did nothing for me," he told her. "But, I am sorry if I put you in a situation where I made you think I wanted you to hurt me. I told you to finish it, yes. I get why you didn't but at the time, I just didn't want to be the one to give it up."

[seveninchmotto]

"Sometimes you have to be the one to give it up, Flick," Isabelle said.

And left it at that. It was more of an idle comment than anything else, anyway. Not because she didn't believe it, but because she didn't think the idea behind it would take.

[flickofthewrist]

"Easier said than done."

Because it was. It really was. He could see her point, he could, but he wasn't sure if he'd be able to practice what she'd just preached.

Flick slid his fingers through his hair, already feeling a goose egg forming where he'd smacked it against the ground. He frowned and rubbed the spot gingerly.

[seveninchmotto]

Isabelle knew it was hard. She wanted to be the best. She wanted to always emerge from situations victorious, and one day she'd die doing her job. But she'd also been taught to recognize and accept when it was better to cut her losses and run.

Maybe she didn't always manage to practice what she preached, either, but she was closer to getting there than he was, she was sure.

"Mmm hmm."

[flickofthewrist]

She probably wasn't wrong about being closer than he was. He didn't like to run away from a fight, no matter what. He'd spent too much time as a kid cowering and all it had done was lead to Jude getting killed (or so he told himself).

"We'll see." It wasn't much of a promise more than it was just words to let her know he'd been listening. He didn't think he'd be able to change but who knows, maybe a miracle would happen.

He took his hand away from his head and rubbed at some of the still remaining blood smears on his neck.

[seveninchmotto]

Isabelle just shrugged. She thought there was more she should have said, maybe.

But, all she said was, "Well, I'm done." She needed ice for her face. And an iratze for... Everything. And a shower. "See you around, I guess."

[flickofthewrist]

"Yeah, sure," Flick told her absently. He stayed where he was, still rubbing at his neck and chin. Just something to do.

[seveninchmotto]

Isabelle glanced at him, with a look of 'that's it?' (because she was a hypocrite sometimes, okay) that she kept herself from actually asking out loud.

Then she turned to go.

[flickofthewrist]

"What was that look for?" Flick asked her back because he'd managed to catch it before she'd turned. "What's the matter?"

[seveninchmotto]

She stopped, but didn't turn. "Nothing."

Then she shrugged.

"I don't know."

[flickofthewrist]

The first response he'd expected. The second he had not. Flick frowned at her back but didn't say anything. That was mostly because he was too busy padding over to her and circling around so he was in front of her again.

"What's the matter?" he asked, quieter this time. She said she didn't know but he guessed she might have had an idea. "Isabelle?"

[seveninchmotto]

"Nothing's the matter." There, he could have some more of that predictability. The look on her face was milder than most. For the moment, at least. "Well, there's blood all over your face."

That probably wasn't it, but it was an observation.

"Gross."

[flickofthewrist]

"Yeah, and your blood's speckled on my neck and shirt," he pointed out, wiping at his face again and managing to get a little more of the blood off his face. "I'm gonna have to shower for awhile."

And do laundry. Sigh.

"Something's the matter," he said, circling back to the original question. "Mostly because I asked and you said you didn't know. Tends to mean there's something there, at least."

That's how it read in his head. "What's on your mind?"

[seveninchmotto]

"Nothing."

She could be just as stubborn about not surrendering things as he was, you know. Or, as the case may have been, just stalling until she'd find the right words.

[flickofthewrist]

Flick didn't move and he didn't stop looking at her either. It was probably clear he didn't really believe her but he didn't outright say that.

He was just going to stand there and block her path until she followed up her original statement. He could be stubborn about waiting too.

[seveninchmotto]

And Isabelle was going to give him a look, and then make an attempt to move past him.

Since they were being stubborn now.

[flickofthewrist]

Flick moved with her, still trying to block her path. He held up both hands in front of him to assist with the whole 'stopping her from leaving' thing.

"Come on," he said, using a softer tone now. "Just talk to me, Isabelle. What's wrong?"

He could be stubborn and still be soft at the same time.

[seveninchmotto]

Isabelle rolled her eyes in an almost (yet not quite) exaggerated manner, and swatted at his hands so he'd at least put those down.

"Aren't you supposed to be offering to help me clean the blood off my face?"

There wasn't anything he was supposed to do. But if he wanted any answers, he was going to have to take them in the form in which she gave them.

[flickofthewrist]

Flick did put his hands down after batting at her hands in retaliation briefly. They fell slack to his sides.

"I can help you clean up, yeah," Flick told her easily, not remarking on how he wasn't supposed to be doing anything. "I didn't offer because I wasn't sure you wanted any help. But, I'd like to help you out, sure."

It was sincere and he nodded at her. "If you don't wanna stare at my gross face, you're probably gonna have to help out here too, though. Because I'm gross."

[seveninchmotto]

"Obviously." This was where she would've usually smirked, but she didn't quite get there. Not as brightly and smugly as usual, anyway. "I was expecting you to offer, you know."

There was a sliver of truth in that, although she was playing it off like a joke.

"Silly me, boys are dumb like that."

See?

[flickofthewrist]

"You do remember how many shots to the head I just took, right?" Flick asked, answering her joke with one of his own. He still felt a little bad though so he stepped closer to her and tried to reach for one of her hands.

They were alone in the gym so it wasn't like anyone would witness the act. "Boys are dumb like that. Or the boy in question didn't realize. So, I'm offering now. Let me help you clean yourself up. And then I'll probably fall asleep in your bed or something because I can."

Still joking just a little. He smiled slightly. "I'm sorry I didn't offer. I'll make it up to you."

[seveninchmotto]

She let him take his hand. There was no one watching so she even gave his hand a squeeze, although she didn't acknowledge the whole action with anything even as much as a glance down.

"As you should," she told him with a firm nod. Much more comfortable being a arrogant jerk now. Regardless of her aching face. And various other body parts. "It was very hurtful and sloppy of you."