It was a dreary Thursday afternoon when Hyukjae entered the Gym. Honestly, it was more than just dreary—it was miserable outside. The tiny rain shower the weather channel had predicted was way off; it had hailed on him while getting gas in his car, and was now a full-fledged thunder storm outside.

Luckily, inside the gym, the sound of thunder and wind was nearly completely blocked out and the air was far less humid and sticky. The ventilation in this place was top notch.

After flashing ship card at the front desk, Hyukjae entered in the usual floor where he would start his light reps before heading to the heavier lifts. He threw his backpack in one of the small lockers he normally claimed and headed onto the floor.

It was a typical Thursday afternoon—he waved at a couple of the guys he normally saw here (Damn Siwon was benching a truck by this point.), and eyed the machines available while considering the routine he wanted to do. All of his usual starters were taken by beefy guys and shapely women, so he headed instead to the biking/running area by the windows.

Hyukjae could never understand putting the bikes/treadmills/etc by the windows. Firstly, people stared at you from the outside, which was embarrassing enough. But furthermore it was just making fun of you in the sense that you could be enjoying a real  bike ride outside. Where were you pedaling to? What goal were you running towards? No where, that's where.

He eyed the bikes first, since they were the closest, and only one wasn't in use. He smiled at his luck and headed in its direction while fishing his iPhone out of his pocket. He would need to organize his epic encouraging playlist for the night before getting his heartbeat elevated. 

As he neared the bike, he noted the people on either side of the machine. The one immediately to the right was a treadmill being used by a fairly feminine looking man with gorgeous flowing hair, a muscular build and determined eyes. He was on one of the fastest speeds, and the machine had the booster set so it was as if he was running up-hill in a tilted direction. Hyukjae mentally applauded, trying to recall his name. (Minho, was it?) The guy had to be going at it for a while with the sweat he'd accumulated on his sleeveless shirt.

On the left side of the unclaimed bike was another biker, and he seemed to be going at a leisurely pace. Hyukjae noted the soft styled flow of blonde hair first, then the black wifebeater shirt and those tight shorts that showed off a very toned set of buns.

Hot damn. That was a pert bottom.

Hyukjae shook his head and started to get on the bike nobody had yet claimed, and setting it up to his preferences. He smiled at both the guys before pushing the earbuds into his ears and starting the slow cycle pace.

As Europe's "The Final Countdown" neared its ending and he slowed his pace down a tad, Hyukjae couldn't help but peer curiously at his left again towards the blonde. He was going a little bit faster now than when Hyukjae had first seen him (Maybe he'd begun not too later than he had?), and he kept his eyes outside the window; fixated on some nonexistent point in the distance.

Really, these machines were a drag. You would never cross that finish line in the distance.

Hyukjae noted the light perspiration that began forming on the other's forehead as he pedaled on, and then him slowing down to a stop so he could grab a little water bottle at his side for a refresher. The blonde drank the water greedily; smiling as the cool liquid quenched his thirst.

Hyukjae continued to keep his own pace on his bike, but now he watched the blonde curiously, smiling slightly in his direction. This was considered a little bit rude in gyms—you'd normally be confined to your own little world, unless you're there with your friends to help spot them or something. But this guy was a stranger, and you don't normally interact with strangers unless it's to ask if they're going to relieve their use of a machine. (Or, in some cases, what the time was.) But that was pretty much it. You don't speak or look at others unless you have to.

Well, Hyukjae ignored this rule as he stared at the blonde who'd resumed his routine on the bike. He was working faster now, and Hyukjae couldn't help but smile a little wider at the new-found strength the other had found.

After about forty-five minutes of on-again/off-again staring and song changing while pedaling away, Hyukjae stopped his own bike, pulled his earbuds out and waved at the blonde, who in turn pulled his earbuds out of his ears to blink at the redhead. His wide mouth was twisted in slight annoyance, and he raised an eyebrow as if to prompt, "What do you want from me, creep?"

"New here?" Hyukjae asked, smiling what he hoped was a charming smile.

"