The Tug of War

Under the dark sky, which was advancing to light up anytime, Two attractive silhouettes walked into the almost empty gym.

While the world was still snoozing their alarms, these two men were ready to start their day.

Dressed in tank top and shorts, Ace and Xander walked to Ace's gym trainer.

He was an early riser. The one for whom the workout was like worship.

The time was apt for Ace since it offered him to put all his focus on the skill he was working on without getting disturbed by the whispers around him.

He won't mind the girls ogling him at any other time, he just doesn't want them to bother him when he works out.

The trainer handed him the worksheet and walked towards Xander.

"It had been long since we met. We have to make up for that" There was no trace of a smile on the trainer's face and Xander almost froze on his spot while Ace tried his best not to chuckle.

As the trainer left with Xander to the weight lifting section, Ace looked at the equipment in front of him and smirked. 

Time to rate his upper body strength.

In front of him was the Salmon Ladder. One of the toughest gym equipment, which was only tried by a few members, who always failed. 

The equipment factored all the forces of the body, including arm strength, upper body movements, flexibility, lower body, and stamina. 

It would take people years to even pull up one level and still they couldn't last for mere a few seconds.

Ace took off his tee-shirt, not wanting any hindrance in his work out and moved closer.

Holding the bar and gripping it between his palms, he put the bar in the first level. 

The muscular torso hung on the first level, with his legs little above the ground. 

The hold is wider to keep the bar from getting unbalanced from any end. 

As he kept the bar at first level, he brought his knees high and then pulled the bar up to the next level. 

It was all about the timing. When the knees would pull up, you have to adjust the bar to the next level. 

Having worked out for years on the upper body, it was easy for him to pull up his body and move the bar easily.

Xander had put down the weight and was now watching Ace.

Looking at him, no one could believe how hard the workout was. Even the trainer was quite impressed but still didn't show any emotions.

Ace followed the same technique while moving down

"Arghhhhhh" he grunted applying all his strength.

"Remind me not to be around him, when he does work out or like..get angry" Xander mumbled to the trainer, who turned to him with a scowl on his face.

"You should concentrate on your exercise. That's how Ace does it" 

"But I- you were looking..ah ok" 

Xander moved back to lifting weights again as Ace continued his sets.

"Was I any good?"

Ace asked as the train came back with his worksheet.

"You did okay. You could try increasing your speed too" he said nonchalantly while making notes in his sheet.

"He is never satisfied, is he?" Xander said as both of them sat down in Ace's car after taking a shower.

"Drop me at the Cafe. I will be back soon" 

Before Ace could ask, Xander had already left.

"I thought you went out with Xander?" Noah asked, taking a sip of the coffee. 

He was dressed in a pantsuit, ready for work as Ace quickly changed in a black tee-shirt and blue jeans.

He threw his upper half on the bed, catching his small kitten in his arms.

"Kitty...why are you running away from me? Did these naughty boys trouble you?" He picked her up and kept her on his lap, all while patting her head.

"Your kitty was like on a strike," Noah said, finishing his coffee and keeping his cup back in the kitchen.

"Is that true Kitty? Or is it that these boys don't know you?" Ace sat facing Noah and kissed the cat on her head, to Noah's surprise, the cat kissed Ace back.

"Does she always do that? That's so cool" he walked towards them.

"She does it with me" Ace brought her face closed to him and rubbed his nose against her.

"Also Kitty is a social eater. She has manners, so she waits till you are eating, and eats with you. Unlike some people here, who leave their friends for a coffee" 

Ace said the last part louder as Xander walked in.

"If you might have noticed, Mr. Lover here had been drinking a lot of coffee recently," Noah remarked, almost near the door.

"You little piece of ..." Xander ran behind Noah as both left the apartment.

Ace checked the text from Noah. He knew where Lily would be today. 

"You came back early" 

"That jerk could use his long legs" Xander walked back into the apartment.

"I mean from the Cafe" 

"Ah..there was something weird happening there. I didn't want to witness it."

"A girl was making out with a cup" 

"What?" Ace grabbed his bag to leave for the school.

"Yeah, apparently there are no more eligible single guys" Xander chuckled, settling on the bed.

*************************

From high up the scene looked manic, masses of different colors scattered all over the grassy green ground. The piercing hot rays of the sun beaming down on the crowd of participants, a thick tingling aroma of vegetation floating on the cool breeze, and not a single cloud spoilt the sheet of brilliant blue, capturing the day of idyllic weather for any Sport.

But to be specific 'Tug of War'

A fringe of anxious faces outlined the strict track, looking at the opponents with eager anticipation. cheers of luck pounded on the eardrums as the audience was unable to control their excitement. 

PE staff congregated over by the finish line, gripping their red clipboards eyeing the records with noticeable exhilaration, tapping and clicking their pens impatiently.

One girl had separated herself from the competition, her tousled blonde hair was fixed back of her determined oval face, her harsh jawline and taut brow illustrating the seriousness and competitive nature within. 

At the end of the bench sat Ace gulping the protein shake, letting the energy-filled droplets trickle lusciously over his tingling pink tongue. 

"Sir...we can't find Andrew, he is not picking up" An anxious student from Lily's team informed the PE teacher, who was subconsciously tapping his foot. 

He looked around taking in the crowd which had gathered there. He knew he couldn't dismiss the event now, nor going with one less player in the team would be a fair call.

It was next to impossible to not notice, the boy with the bulging biceps and sculpted physique who sat in front of them.

"Shall we...ask him?" Trembling words came out of the student's mouth and the Teacher waved at Ace.

Ace strutted his way to the teacher and raised his eyebrows. He could feel Lily's gaze on him and knew that she was confused. 

As the teacher explained to Ace, he knew what he had to do. 

He bends a little and whispers to the PE teacher, what he needed in exchange. The teacher had no option but to agree to him, even though that the deal would cost him.

"I am in" 

Ace didn't wait for any more instructions, as he advanced to Lily. 

"What...you?" 

It was all good a minute ago, but when Lily saw Ace walking towards her, she had forgotten to breathe again. 

It was tough already to handle him when she was alone and now, they were surrounded by so many people. She blinked a couple of times, hoping that it was a dream but it wasn't. 

He was real, he was there and right now, making her lose her mind. 

Gorgeous, damp-haired Ace in his form-fitting denim. The Seductive Demon, minus the horns, with his visible abs in daylight. 

"Hey, Princess" When Lily's gaze fell upon his sparkling eyed her stomach did a backflip. "I didn't know you came out in the daylight" She couldn't remember words, so she nodded. Ace chuckled looking at her innocent face and she felt heat spread through her body. "Quite the little chatterbox, aren't you?"

She smiled. "Sorry. I had something in my teeth."

His dark eyes never left hers. "That's cool. Listen, can I tell you one thing"

She nodded, cursed herself, then said "Sure."

He winked. "You haven't blinked for several minutes now " Lily turned bright red, looking away. 

Ace had been listening to the instructions said by the ref, while Lily was a little lost in her thoughts. It was only when his arms went around her waist, and slightly picked her up to position her in a line, she noticed that the event had started.

Even though there were much stronger players in the other team, it couldn't be compared with Ace's strength and stamina.

He decided to not put all his strength, so to have more time with her and watch her wiggle her ass as she attempted to pull the rope closer.

Oh, it was gonna be fun. 

Ace thought, as all the players, but all their efforts in pulling the rope to their end. Since the other team was better, it was taking them more power. 

It was time. 

Taking the stance, Ace gripped the rope and began pulling it. Bending the body a little back, he gave a strong pull, and the whole other team was dragged inside the line. 

As the players fell forward, Lily stumbled in her steps and lost her balance, falling behind. 

Ace was quick to grab her in his arms, as they both fell and then rolled her on her back to hide her from everyone around her. 

Lily's hand went down, adjusting her skirt as her gaze never left Ace, who was staring right back at her.

But this time, he didn't pull back, instead slowly bringing his face, closer to hers and brushing his soft lips on her cheek.