The Sanders Sides

25 - Working Out

Roman's question hung in the air, the rhythmic clanging of weights and grunts of exertion providing an unexpected soundtrack. Patton met Roman's gaze, a blush creeping up his neck.

"Well," he stammered, scratching the back of his head, "it's not like... I haven't seen you shirtless before. Remember that time at the beach house? You spent half the vacation with a tan line."

Roman chuckled, a relieved laugh escaping his lips. "True," he admitted.

Patton shrugged, a playful glint returning to his eyes. "Maybe. I still need to figure out what I want."

"You... You're not bothered by it?" Roman asked

"I'm just glad you were honest with me." Patton smiled "But hey, at least you didn't make Logan blush. Now that would be a sight to see."

Roman smirked, a playful jab returning to their banter. "Don't tempt me, sunshine. Now, how about we get back to this 'conquering the weights' business? I promised victory, and I intend to deliver."

With a renewed sense of camaraderie, they rejoined the group. Logan, ever the strategist, had already devised a workout plan, targeting different muscle groups for each member.

Roman found himself surprisingly motivated. The earlier awkwardness seemed to dissolve in the focused energy of the workout. He pushed himself on the bench press, fueled by a playful competition with Logan, who, despite his reserved nature, displayed a surprising amount of strength.

Virgil, on the other hand, stuck to the cardio machines, his movements efficient and precise. Even Patton, who initially grumbled about weights, found himself enjoying the challenge, his competitive spirit shining through as he lifted a surprising amount for his slender frame.

Remus, ever the opportunist, spent most of the time flitting around the gym, offering unsolicited advice (which was mostly ignored) and cracking jokes to lighten the mood.

As the workout progressed, the atmosphere shifted once again. The playful banter gave way to a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the rhythmic clanging of weights and the occasional grunt of exertion. A sense of camaraderie filled the air, a shared experience that transcended their individual personalities.

By the time they finished their final set, they were all pleasantly exhausted, their bodies pleasantly sore but their spirits high.

"Well," Roman declared, wiping sweat from his brow, "I think we did alright for a bunch of rookies... and a mischievous shade."

Patton laughed, his chest heaving slightly. "Not bad for a drama king, a stoic logician, a grumpy shadow, and a sunshine goofball, huh?"

A wave of comfortable silence settled over them, a feeling of belonging that warmed Roman's heart. Maybe, he thought, this wasn't so bad after all. This unexpected family, forged in chaos and laughter, held a certain... charm.

"So," Logan said, breaking the silence, "what do you guys say we refuel with some protein shakes? My treat."

A collective cheer erupted, echoing through the gym. As they headed towards the lockers, Roman stole a glance at Patton, who was walking beside him, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Hey," Roman murmured, nudging Patton playfully with his elbow. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Patton looked at him, a smile playing on his lips. "Just thinking," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "that maybe conquering wasn't the only thing on the agenda today."

Roman's heart skipped a beat. Before he could respond, Patton leaned in, his lips brushing against Roman's ear in a playful whisper.

"Maybe," Patton continued, his voice sending shivers down Roman's spine, "we discovered something a little more... unexpected."