RP Training Yard

Arum smiled for a second, quickly wiping it away before she caught sight of it.

A: Now switch.

Zinnia sighed as she did, glad of the relief.

As Arum stretched, his arms twitched beneath his clothing, muscles flexing. Hindered by his jacket, he removed it, revealing a short-sleeved shirt. His arms were tanned from days outside training, and on his bicep was a tattoo - regulation, not against the rules.

A: Arms out to your sides, palms facing outwards, wrists up.

Zinnia fought hard not to be distracted by his muscles, but they were very nice to look at.

Z: Right.

She did as she was told.

A: Can you feel the stretch along your triceps?

She nodded, her shirt lifting slightly, showing her own, non-regulation tattoo.

Arum noted it, his gaze purely professional. The way his eyes took in the contrast of the black ink against her dark skin was in no way personal, he wasn't looking at a woman, though he noted her soft curves, he was looking at a fellow soldier.

A: Now bring your left arm over your chest, secure it with her right arm, to stretch your deltoids.

He demonstrated.

Zinnia brought her arm over as he did, her shirt lifting even more. A few black petals became visible, snaking up her torso.

He found it difficult to keep his eyes off the flowers, wondering where each petal and leaf and stem fell on her skin, wanting to know, to trace it. He caught himself before his distraction became noticeable, thankfully.

A: Good. Swap.

She obeyed.

Z: You're going easy on me, aren't you?

A: Hm? Of course not.

Lying was against the rules. He twitched.

She pursed her lips skeptically.

Z: Are you sure?

Arum's eye twitched again as he tried to force out the lie.

A: I- no. You just seem tired, so I'm being... I'm being merciful.

Zinnia slowly dropped her arm.

Z: Right.

He studied her face.

A: I didn't tell you to stop.

She quickly went back to stretching.

Z: I'll never be a soldier.

A: Soldier or die.

Zinnia sighed.

Z: I'm too weak, you can see it, I know you can.

A: We have a month. You can do it in a month.

Arum reassured her. He'd be damned before he'd see her fail.

Z: A month.

She laughed shakily. Not a long time.

A: A month is long enough.

He stated, as he had a habit of doing; there was no arguing with him.

Zinnia seemed a little reassured.

Z: Ok.

A: Legs.

He stumbled over his words, a bashfulness in his voice that wasn't present before. Suddenly he fixed her with his gaze.

A: I mean the stretches. Not just... legs.

Zinnia laughed.

Z: Legs it is.

Arum began the first stretch, looking at the floor and wondering why he wasn't being cool.