The sun was mostly out now, the last of Team Commoners now leaving the duo, who were now laying down on the grass. The dust had all but settled down as a cool breeze blew past them.
Torren had come a bit after the boys had given his speech. He looked almost giddy as he saw the segregation happening in the platoon.
"Ugh, that Torren guy always gave me the creeps since I met him," Balair burst out, disgust dripping into his tone.
"Just thinking about him alone gets me angry, not to talk about his newfound group," he continued as he raised his fist up as if punching the air while remembering Torren's face.
Dustin just kept silent, thinking to himself. He knew that if things continued as they were, he wasn't too sure about what tomorrow might turn out to be. Hopefully they kept their hostility at a minimum during tomorrow's inspection.
"At least they listened to him about the fact that they needed to, in fact, train their drills," Dustin finally responded, coming out of his daze, Balair nodding in agreement as he put down his fist.
"Okay then, since we're done for the day, why don't we head to the gym? My upper body is screaming for attention after all the attention my legs got today," Balair asked, grinning ear to ear as he stood up swiftly, patting some sand off of his uniform.
"So what is it, Dustin?" he added as he lent his right hand for Dustin to use and get up, his left hand busy patting some sand out of his hair.
Dustin let out a long breath as he looked at Balair, remembering the promise he had made to him earlier and also the fact that he hadn't used the gym in a while. So this was a perfect opportunity for him.
Dustin took Balair's hand and pulled himself up with a groan.
"Alright, gym it is," he said, brushing off the dust clinging to his back.
As they walked side by side, the training field stretching behind them and the sun dipping lower in the sky, a comfortable silence settled between the two as Balair led the way.
"Seems like you're pretty familiar with the way to the gym," Dustin said teasingly.
"Of course I am, haha," Balair replied, breaking into laughter. "This was the first place I came looking for the moment I got to base." He continued chuckling to himself.
"That's actually why I came in late for today's assembly. I was too busy in the gym after finding it—completely lost track of time. I ended up going to bed late and missed all my alarms." Balair laughed even harder, clearly amused by his own mistake.
"So basically going by your timeline of events you missed the impromptu inspection at the mess hall last night and almost got punished for coming late for the assembly " Dustin went back trying to retrace Balair's words
"Wait what?" Balair asked shock written on his face
"There was an inspection in the mess hall last night!?"Balair exclaimed genuinely in shock he hasn't been aware of that.
"Yup" Dustin said as they finally got to the Gym .
The gym wasn't far, tucked behind two of the supply warehouses. It was well-equipped —probably because soldiers who couldn't punch harder than a monster had no business being alive.
"Well, it's happened and I'm guessing nothing can be done about it so let's leave that be, we're at the gym Dustin! It's time to work out all your worries and stress!" Balair said, his shocked expression doing a quick 180 into one of pure bliss.
He tugged off his uniform jacket in one swift motion, revealing the kind of body sculpted more by obsession than routine. His black shirt clung to a broad chest with just enough stretch to it to show off the ridges of muscle beneath. He wasn't bulky, but every inch of him looked like it had been carved with purpose—solid shoulders, sharply defined arms, and a trim waist proof of a strict regimen. His skin glistened faintly with the memory of earlier in the day His build was the perfect mix of strength and agility—like someone built not just to lift, but to move.
"Damn, it feels good to finally breathe," Balair said, rolling his shoulders as they cracked audibly. "You coming or you're just gonna stand there gawking?" Balair called out to Dustin waking him from his trance .
"Are you going to join me only after stripping me of all my clothes?" Balair added as he burst out laughing.
Dustin rolled his eyes, finally snapping out of his trance—so deep into it that he hadn't even realized how long he was looking .
"Try keeping your pants on, showoff," he muttered, taking off his uniform jacket and hanging it on the rack.
His eyes flicked back to Balair's physique. The guy really was built like a statue—broad chest, thick shoulders, everything perfectly proportioned without needing even needing a bulky build.
"Damn," Dustin muttered under his breath, then quickly looked away. "Let's just get started," he added, walking over to pick up some weights.