Chapter 60: Bubbles

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We set sail to circle around the island along its northern coastline to follow our only lead on Skypiea. Robin and I had gotten the name and location of one Mont Blanc Cricket. He was cast out of the town for his wild ideas, including talking about sky island.

As we made our way to his location, I decided to pass the time by working out on the back deck. I changed into a better outfit to more comfortably move around. It was a form-fitting sleeveless turtleneck shirt and baggy canvas pants. I tucked the hems of the pants into my boots and used my sash as a belt to secure it to my hips.

I set up the bar on the makeshift squat rack that Usopp built. Zoro had left all the weight plates on it, so I had to spend some time taking them off in order to even use them. I held the bar across the back of my shoulders as I slowly squatted down, focusing on my breathing and form. With 115 pounds on the bar, I had raised my base rep weight. It felt good to have some growth and progress, even if it was only by ten pounds.

The familiar sound of boots crossed the deck and approached me, stopping short of the squat rack. Zoro hummed thoughtfully, "Not bad. You're getting low enough but you need to keep your back straight. You're leaning too far forward."

I grunted as I corrected my form and continued, "Thanks. I knew something felt off."

"Better," He said approvingly, "Do you want to up the weight?"

I stood upright and took a step back to put the bar back on the squat rack with a huff, "I was going for reps, not maxing out," I rolled my shoulders with a sigh, "Though I haven't done that in a while."

Zoro stepped forward and picked up a set of plates, "Let's do it, then. I'll spot you," He slid one of the plates onto the bar and moved to the other side.

As he walked past me, I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow, "You want to spot me?"

The swordsman answered with a guarded tone, "Yeah, why? Is that a problem?"

I shook my head and grasped the bar, "How much did you put on?"

"Ten pounds," He said as he moved to stand behind me, "Shouldn't be too much of a problem for you. I got your back. Just go for three reps and we'll build more if you think you can handle it."

With a nod, I crouched slightly to get my shoulders under the bar. I lifted it off the rack and took a step forward with a deep breath. I slowly lowered myself down, trying to keep my back straight. The added weight made it difficult to keep my form, but I knocked out the three squats and set the bar back on the rack.

"That felt good. Let's go up again," I panted softly. As I moved to grab a plate to put on the bar, I noticed Zoro had not moved. I frowned in concern, "You alright?"

"Uh, yeah!" He said quickly as he stepped to the side to help me put the added weight on the bar.

My brow furrowed in confusion before I shrugged it off, "Wonder why he's spacing out?"

~*^<:>^*~

I stood behind her and held my hands over the bar, ready to pull the weight off her shoulders the moment it looked like she could not hold it anymore. My intention was just to help spot her and watch her form. It really was.

Then she squatted and I found myself watching more than just her form.

My eyes followed the line of her back as she lowered herself down. As her thighs levelled out, she pushed her hips back toward me. Her canvas pants hugged her curves and showed off the firmness of her butt.

Seeing her move like that in front of me had me wanting to reach out and grab her waist. My hands remained over the bar, but my mind was racing with the idea of feeling her instead.

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