Who: Tony W and Fitz P What: Gym, brah When: Monday evening, 25 March Where: The Brightstar staff gym Warnings: Have they got licenses to carry those guns???
Tony's competitive streak, not to mention his ego, meant he always enjoyed having a workout buddy who could keep up with him. And Fitz, despite his teasing, was as good a partner as he'd had since he'd left Quodpot. It was nice to have somebody around who encouraged him to push himself just by being there, and he'd made it the best workout of the month.
At the moment, Tony was flat on his back on the benchpress, his arms dangling to the ground while he rested between sets. "So Fitzy," he called, glancing over to give him an upside-down grin, "How come I don't see you in here every day? Gift shop keeping you that busy, or are you finding other ways to spend your time?" He winked. "Had any hot dates lately?"
It really had been a good workout. Fitz was finding he was getting rid of some tension he hadn't realised he'd been carrying, and having Tony as a gym buddy made it all the better - even if it did mean his own competitive streak came out more than it usually was wont to do.
Having already spent time at the dip machine, Fitz was now doing the right thing and spotting Tony as he worked on the benchpress - magic or no, it still paid to have a spotter no matter how good you were. "Maybe I just come in while you're busy, Antonia?" he threw back as he arched his eyebrow. "I think we can both agree that it's not the gift shop keeping me busy. Actually decided to join civilisation for a change and went to Billings over the weekend, and I may have had a good weekend."
"Oh yeah? Thatta boy. You are much too pretty to become a hermit." Tony grinned up at him. "So? Spill the deets, man. Was it somebody you're gonna see again? Anybody I'd know?"
He shook out his arms and lifted them again, taking a wide grip on the bar as he prepared for his next set.
"Glad you approve so much." Fitz cracked a smile as he shook his head at Tony's comment. He gave a nonchalant shrug. "It wasn't rainbows and fireworks if that's what you're wondering. Maybe? I don't know? Went down there Friday, and went to some bar... I can't even think of the name right now... but that one that's in that plaza area? Anyway met a guy there and got to chatting and.... Well..." This time when he shrugged there was definitely a hint of a satisfied grin on his face. "Hell if I know. Don't think I happened to mention your name, and I'd like to think I'd remember if I'd taken a photo of him."
Then he was silent a moment as he thought on the question he hadn't yet answered before giving the barest hint of a shrug. "If it happens it happens but... yeah, I don't know but probably won't see him again? But that's okay y'know."
"What? Why not, if you had a good time?" Tony lifted his eyebrows at him. "Don't tell me you didn't get his number. And please don't tell me you didn't get his name." He shook his head and steadied his feet on the ground, taking a deep breath. "Okay, spot me, man." He unracked the bar to start his set, concentrating on the presses but also on his friend. As much as he teased him, Fitz was a good guy and Tony wanted him to be happy.
"Well, aside from both of us agreeing for it to just be a weekend thing - for the moment - he was also only in town for a family thing anyway," he answered. Though he rolled his eyes he still had something of a smile. Fitz gave a nod and and took up position, just in case something went wrong even if such a thing were unlikely where Tony was concerned. "What if I told you I accidentally deleted both from my phone?" he asked in a neutral tone.
Tony was in the middle of a set, so all his breath was going toward his reps and not talking, but he gave Fitz a look before concentrating on finishing the set. He was lifting heavy, and by the time he racked the bar again he dropped his arms down to the ground again, letting every hard-worked muscle go slack. "I'd say," he said after a moment to catch his breath, "that doesn't really sound like an accident."
He curled himself up to sit on the edge of the bench, twisting around to face Fitz. "So what was wrong with this one?" Tony leaned down to grab his water bottle, squirting a little water over his face and then some more into his mouth.
Fitz decided to wait until Tony had finished his set, and then couldn't believe his friend had actually believed. "Good thing I didn't then," he said before laughing. "Man, I can't believe you thought I was actually serious about that!"
"Well, nothing. Unless you count the fact he doesn't live in the same territory and all," he replied. Fitz walked over to grab one of the ball weights off the nearby rack to do some squats with. "And yeah, I know we have magic and can apparate and all, but... I just don't know yet," he added before starting the exercise.
Tony shook his head at him and drew his legs up onto the bench, crossing them in front of him while he watched Fitz do his squats. (He was not looking at his butt in the mirror. Well, he was barely looking.) "What's there to know, man? You're young, you're good-looking, you're fun, even if you're not as funny as you think you areā¦ go forth and date, buddy." He grinned over at him. "The long-distance thing isn't that bad. My last one was from Santa Fe and we managed all right for all of three weeks. Plus, it never hurts to get out of Northwest once in a while -- gotta love home, but there's much more exciting places to go. Where's he from?"
"I don't know, I just... I don't know...." Fitz had started to feel slightly adrift lately ever since being brought home, and reflecting on that just kind of tended to put him in a bit of a funk - albeit one of his own making technically. "I am hilarious, thank you! You just don't have a sense of humour." Still Tony might have a point - not that he was about to let his friend's ego get a boost from knowing that. Besides he wasn't doing anyone, least of all himself, any favours by moping or whatever he was doing. "My last I think was back when I was studying my MB, and I met someone from New York - the fact it managed to last two weeks was kind of amazing considering the distance and my workload," he responded, before finishing up the last of his squats. After putting the weight back on its rack he grabbed his water bottle and took a drink. "And Alex - who does have a name, see - is from San Diego. So yeah, I know it's not all the way across country."
"Ha! That's hilarious, I dated a guy named Alex from San Diego a couple years ago when I was playing in San Francisco. It's a great city, man, you should go down and see him. Gorgeous beaches, awesome food. The zoo has giant pandas. It's great." Tony brought his knees up to his chest and rocked back to lie on the bench, sprawling his arms out to the sides again. "My Alex was a programmer at Cadabra. Cool guy. He had this sweet, soft little nerd face, but Merlin, the man was hiding rock-hard pecs under those button-down shirts. And he was a tiger in the sack. Definitely some good times in San Diego." He sighed reminiscently, and grinned over at Fitz. "What does yours do?"
Fitz smiled as he shook his head. Though he didn't really need Tony telling him about how great San Diego was since Alex had already done that back when they were chatting at the bar Friday night. He was walking back over to Tony, and didn't think anything of it at first because plenty of guys (and girls for that matter) had Alex for a name. It was the rest of what his friend had said that had him frozen and looking at him with an expression that could only be described as 'what the fuck'. "Funny story but you pretty much just described the guy I met," he replied with a slight frown.
Tony dropped his head back to look up at him with raised eyebrows. "Really? Alex Vasquez, that's your Alex?" He laughed, shaking his head. "Small, small, small world. Dude, now you definitely need to see him again. He's an awesome guy. We still talk a bit, there were no hard feelings when we broke up. Should I text him and tell him to make a move?"
The universe had a terrible sense of humour - that was the only explanation. "Alex Vasquez that works at Cadabra." Fitz sighed as he carded his fingers through his hair. "Too fucking small. It's one hell of a coincidence. For the love of Merlin please no!" He was like ninety-nine percent sure nothing bad would come of it but the thought of his best mate texting his ex on his behalf was just... nope, nope, not happening.
"Like I appreciate the thought but... look if I text him later, do you promise not to?" he asked. "And the same goes for contacting him on Wizgram! At least until after I've texted anyway."
Tony sat up again, swinging his legs over the side of the bench, and raised his open hands. "Promise. Scout's honor. I won't even think about it." He gave Fitz a double thumbs-up. "Seriously, go for it, man. I mean, you're sticking around here for a while, right? Not gonna run off traveling again anytime soon? So as long as you're settled for now, you should see where it goes. You're a catch, dude, anybody'd be lucky to have you."
He stood up, stretching his tired arms over his head, and came over to drape an arm around Fitz's shoulders and give him a familiar squeeze. "You done in here? I'm done."
Fitz gave Tony a grateful smile. "That's the plan for now. Probably time to think of something else other than galavanting off places," he said with a slight shrug, before walking over to pick his towel from where he'd dropped it. He couldn't help but chuckled, and jokingly placed both his hands over his heart. "Aw, you really care."
Reaching up he patted Tony's hand. "Yeah, I'm good. Next time you need a gym buddy let me know."