Fixing A Broken Compass

Let's Have A Pool Party

"The right one is not give up on you."

Sweat trickled down his face, he could feel his hair start to curl up. His body ached, his muscles tight and sore. He swiped at his forehead again but it was no use.

His body felt too stiff and as he twisted and stretched he felt a stabbing pain in his side making him hiss.

"Miles, what are you doing?"

Miles jerked up pulling out a single earbud and glancing at his brother. Damien was glaring at him with a dark look on his features.

"Uh? Working out?" He couldn't help the defense tone he took.

He didn't mean to. Especially not towards his little brother. He had a build-up of stress and heartache coursing through him.

All he could think about were his actions the previous day. He couldn't imagine what Mr. Toma thought of him. How he viewed him.

He hated it.

He hated that he cried in front of the older man.

Even worse he hated how he wished he had his parents to run to. The thought kept leaving him tongue-tied. It was as if his throat was closing in on him. He was grateful his brothers spent most of the night with Magnus.

Miles tried and failed to remember how to properly breathe.

The only thing that got him through the night was his younger siblings. He knew he couldn't let them see him break down. He needed to be his best self for them.

Even if on a good day his best self felt like he was partly dying.

After spending the majority of the night tossing and turning, and then up at the crack of dawn with Reggie-he had decided he needed to do something. Anything for a moment to get his hands to stop shaking and the jitters to leave his body.

All night he relayed the previous day. Again. Again.

It was torture.

Damien growled, stomping towards him. His younger brother was wearing a pair of gym shorts and a loose red t-shirt, headphones hanging around his neck. Miles stood wincing slightly as he grabbed his water bottle taking a long sip.

The moment the water trickled on his tongue he moaned with pleasure. He hadn't realized how thirsty he had been. Working out probably wasn't the best idea given his current physical restrictions. Mentally however it gave him a moment to truly breathe.

Even if the moment was short. An extremely painful. At least the physical pain helped to push back his negative line of thinking.

"You're going to hurt yourself, you were just beat to the ever-loving shit." Damien reprimanded. Both the twins had a habit of being mama bears. Miles was pretty sure they got it from their dad. He was one of the most attentive nurturing people he'd ever met. "You should be resting!"

"I'm fine," Miles waved off, his body was sore, his muscles aching, he wouldn't admit it though. He knew how to handle and treat his own body.

He grabbed a paper towel dabbing his head. He hadn't gotten to work out as much. The younger kids required a lot of attention and with everything going on...Miles had to put his workouts on the back burner.

He got some workouts in when Reggie was down for a nap and Willow was occupied. But with school starting and getting the kids used to their new routines everything kinda went on pause.

A little fight wasn't going to slow Miles down. He'd always been insecure about his body. Working out made him feel good, look better, and give him a chance to unwind. His parents had even set up an at-home gym in the basement.