Chapter Text
It was Monday.
The most hateful day of the week to exist, especially since it was the beginning of the week meaning going back to work. For others, they would just put up with Mondays and get on with their job.
For Mydei, however, it was an absolute hell for him. Mydei was the type of person who just couldn't sit around at an office all the time, he needed to get up and go out somewhere so he could regulate his fitness of the body and for the brain.
Thankfully, it was not just any Monday, but the challenge started tonight at 7. So, thankfully, he will be able to exercise. Even better, it's a competition to see who is better at what.
Mydei had been anticipating this since they had made the plans on Saturday morning, which was 2 days ago now. It wasn't often when Mydei had plans, since all his childhood friends had moved to the central city Okhema and rarely visit home. Ever since Mydei had entered work, he began writing notes and doodling the documents that stated 'VERY IMPORTANT;IMMEDIATE RETURN' notes of what the competition will be tonight, and doodling his cat Fig Stew over and over again.
One of his employees, Mydei didn't even bother looking up to see their appearance, entered the room and requested that very important document, the one he was drawing cats on and writing random bullshit along with scribbles of frustration. That document.
The employee had their hand out, waiting for the document to be placed into their palm. Yet Mydei just looked down at the document and back at the hand, then back at the document. Honestly, what was this person thinking stealing his precious artwork?! How dare they?! So, in conclusion, Mydei did the most logical thing he could do.
Mydei grabbed the scissors that were sitting in the penpot gathering dust on his desk, and cut out the parts on the paper that were actually important. The list of competitions, and several personal drawings of his cat. No matter how terrible they may be (Don't blame him or having such terrible art skills!) It was his cat, and anything related to his precious yet vicious beast is immediately labelled sacred.
The employee infront of his desk just stared in awe, seeing their boss cutting up that very important document. Few moments pass, and Mydei hands the remaining scraps of paper infront of him. The hand of his employee reaches out and grabs the remains of the document as they scurry away from his office.
Mydei looked at the contents of the notes he wrote, which competition to decide....
"Did you get that document?" Krateros asked the young woman standing at the entrance of his office, where several employees from other businesses had gathered for a meeting. A meeting where the CEO was supposed to be present, but did not show up, so Krateros stood in as the company representative. The visiting business was one from a company called the 'IPC' where they were discussig legal manners based of Kremnos Corporation. The representatives of the IPC company had brought this important document that was mandatory to be signed by the CEO to finalise their deal, so Krateros had all his hopes and prayers on Nikador that Mydei would actually pay attention for once and actually do his job.
However, when Krateros had asked the question, the woman looked terribly guilty, giving the look of a toddler who stole the cookie from the jar. The woman raised her right arm, the one supposed to be holding the very important documents that was supposed to be freshly signed my Mydeimos, CEO of Kremnos Corp.
Instead, there was a sad clump of paper in her hands that was not freshly signed, but instead freshly cut.
Krateros just lost all his shit right then and there, no further details needed.
It was 6pm, Mydei had made sure that he had a good dinner before heading to the gym. Mydei had prepared himself a chicken tikka dish for himself, specifically focusing on making the chicken tender and properly cooked. Mydei doesn't doubt his own abilities, certainly not, but he had an.....incident..... regarding Fig Stew pouncing on the pan when the chicken had smelled especially good last time he had made this dish.
Mydei had his gym gear ready, dressed in a black tank top with his hair in a low ponytail, keeping his signature braid in ofcourse, and a black shorts. To brighten his style up a bit, he placed a ginger cat pin in his hair to keep out the majority of his front bangs. Mydei was set, moving over to the pink cat bed where the ginger beast lay stretched out (it is a lazy unemployed privileged ass creature, if you ask Mydei) scruffing Fig Stew's cheek before grabbing a dark red jacket and heading out his front door, where the sky was already turning orange from the sunset.
It takes around 20 minutes to walk to the gym from his house, so he will most likely arrive before Phainon will.
Phainon has been at the gym since his shift had ended.
Which was 5:00 (pm) and arriving at the gym at 5:20 (pm),if you are asking. Phainon has been waiting at the gym for a whole damn hour until Mydei had arrived. And because Phainon didn't want to burn himself out before their competition, he just stood there at the entrance like a total doofus. FOR.AN.HOUR.
Cyrene had told him he was too early, and he should have listened, but damn, he was so excited he had been anticipating this the whole day. Phainon had made sure to not knead the bread dough as rough today, so he could save his energy for whatever was to come for later.
Phainon had seen the lion maned man approaching from a distance, instantly waving at him fron where he stood outside the gym.
Phainon was wearing a white top and black shorts, with a navy jacket over him. Phainon had insisted he wears his yellow shirt with his purple shorts, but he was caught at the front door just as he was about to leave but his sister was gawking at him and his awful fashion. Cyrene couldn't even let him wear what he wanted...Phainon had tried the puppy pout on her, but she had become immune to it a long time ago. It was worth a shot, but pointless in the end.
Mydei finally approached Phainon, taking off his headphones to rest them on his neck, as Phainon greeted him with "Hi Mydei! Long time no see, last saw you two days ago. Went quite fast, eh? So, what challenge are we doing tonight?" Phainon opened the door for Mydei who let out a quick "Thanks" before Phainon himself followed into the gym.
Holy shit, this place was huge!
Fancy equipment that looked brand new, as well as it was quiet at this hour. A few people were in, and those people would be the victim to their shenanigans. Phainon turned back to Mydei, waiting for his answer, before looking in awe at Mydei's face. "Oh my Aeons, Mydei, your clips are so cute!" Phainon squeled as he reached out to the clips before his hand was swatted away by Mydei's who quickly spouted out a quick yet flustered "HKS!"
Mydei returned to Phainon's previous question, "Tonight, our competition will be whoever can do the most workouts before burning out is the winner. If it is a draw, then it is a tie. That is, if you can keep up with me." Mydei boldy states with a teasing look on his face, eagerly mirrored by Phainon as he reprimanded "Don't worry about me, worry if you will be able to keep up with me!" Phainon then set his small sports bag that was slung over his shoulder, holding his phone and water bottle, into a locker on the locker rooms before entering back into the main gym area. Mydei done the same with his gym bag, which held the same contents but also included a pouch of cat food that he always carried around when he went to the gym because there were stray cats on the path back.
The two give each other a look, before starting a countdown of "3,2,1...BEGIN!" exclaimed by Mydei, as they headed towards the nearest workout station.
They began at the hardest; bench press. Taking turns on the bench as the other person spotted if needed. Which was not, as Mydei was fairly impressed when Phainon managed the 140kg weight. Mydei usually does that weight too, but that would be his limit. The two stop there thankfully, since they both seem to have the same limit.
The two moved on to the exercise bikes,going in strong at resistance level 10, occasionally turning towards each other to let out a loud grunt as if flexing off their strength. Which was unfortunate to everyone else in the gym who heard them being completely in the intense zone named: 'Locked in'.
They spent about an hour on the bikes, before their legs were numb. Stopping at the exact, same, time.
Huh, maybe Mydei shouldn't underestimate Phainon.
The time was 8:10, they still had another 50 minutes until the gym closed and neither of the two were backing down anytime soon.
The duo then moved to the rowing machine, aggressively pulling at the poor handle with all force and their legs regaining tneir strength quickly despite being still burned out by the bikes. The huffs and grunts shred by the two have people sending them weird glances, but they honestly don't care anymore. Their only goal is to defeat the other, or to become unexpected equals.
Time had lost track, Mydei can't remember the last time he had this much...fun, dare he say, with someone. Someone who can keep up with him, in his silly antics and his strength. Maybe even his cooking, thats hould definitly be a future competition... Cyrene should definitly he the judge.
Everything from there was a blur, they returned back to the bench press but this time there was two available, so they challenged each other their strength and their speed to see who could bench an easy 90kg the fastest. The gym was practically empty, left with the sounds of their hysterical laughter and heavy grunts, and the owner standing right infront of the two and staring at them with a weird look. A look that just said; "These guys are crazy..." before notifying them that the gym was closed.
The two placed the weights back in their place, before giving each other a look. A look of acknowledgement, now that they truly know they are equals in strength. Mydei hit Phainon's shoulder as Phainon mirroring his action with hitting Mydei's shoulder. True acknowledgement rushing to both of their minds, feeling full satisfaction to know the outcome and the outcome itself leaving them joyful.
They returned to the locker to grab a drink and their things, before heading outside into the fresh air, where the sun had went to sleep for the night and instead the moon welcomed them with their embrace. Phainon turned to Mydei, starting with "I had a great time tonight Mydei, it was really fun, we should definitly go to the gym more together-if you want!" Which made Mydei let out a chuckle, looking back at Phainon with an appealing smile, making Phainon blush profusely, returning with "Ofcourse we can, you HKS. Mayhe next time we should do a food competition. How does that sound?" Easily lightening up Phainon's face, it was always so easy to make him happy, as he nods silently yet eagerly. Phainon then lets out an "Oh!" As he reaches to unzip his bag and grab his phone out, giving Mydei a questioning look, "Can we...exchange phone numbers? Only if you want, ofcourse." Bringing his phone up to hide his wobbly smile that was a result of his anticipation.
Mydei takes out his own phone, silently agreeing as they exchange numbers and save their contacts. Mydei sets his phone back into his bag, Phainon doing the same, as Phainon begins heading towards the direction of his shared apartment, not yet fully turning around though. "I'll see you around, Mydei!" Letting out one of the widest smiles he has ever set on his face, before fully turning around and walking towards home.
Mydei does the same, but watches Phainon's back for a few moments. Tonight really was fun, Phainon really was fun to be around. Mydei had fun, especially since Phainon was there.
Mydei doesn't realise that he watches that back until it disappers down the road, finally heading towards the direction of his own home now. Those blue,blue eyes still stare at him in his mind...
Cyrene was all over Phainon when he came back, she had wanted to join but Phainon exaggerated a loud "No!" Which Cyrene teased him about Phainon imagining it being a date. Which, thanks to Cyrene's wisdom, she had solved out that Phainon did indeed want it to be like an actual date. Which just led to more of Cyrene's teasings.
And now that Phainon was back, Cyrene let her gossip girl self out, she needed to backup her previous statements from Saturday and spill the tea to Castorice! Cyrene can't leave her hanging!
Except, when Phainon entered through the door, as Cyrene was running over to him in her coquette pink pyjamas, Phainon had immediately collapsed at the front door, not even making it back to his bed which was 7 steps away.
"Sighhh, the things I do for you, Phai. After all, it was all because of ME that you arranged this. Im expecting a thank you when you wake up." She voiced out loud as she picked up her younger brother like a sack of potatoes over her shoulders, since she didn't care if Phainon heard her words since she knew rightly they were true.