#sgt.teddybear

[ask-teddybear-kai]

@sgt-riot

Weeks into the job, Joey still hadn't been sure if it was the right move. The people were strange, the boss was an asshole, and he just couldn't seem to find his place. Despite uncertainly, there was a lot to prove - to his family, to himself, to every person here that seemed to give him shit. He could do this, and he could do this well just like his last job.

Between dry New Mexico heat and his 5th rep with an optimistic amount of weight, there's sweat pooling between his lower back and the bench below him. It drips from his forehead into wavy hair.

One last set and he'll be done, he promises himself. Will reward himself with a cigarette and a glass of wine his ma sent with him.

Until he pushes the barbell up to rack it and his arms falter, shake with exhaustion. He has enough sense to catch it before the thing topples, but the sudden movement now has it laying directly on his chest. There's a heavy realization that with every staggered breath, the weights press further into his lungs, restricting his ability to call for help even if he wanted to.

The gym’s a good place to go when you need to forget, momentary distraction coming with the repeated movements of lifting weights and doing pull ups until your muscles burn.

That’s not what Kai’s there for, but he’s well aware that that reasoning belongs to plenty of the soldiers around him. So, ‘Keeping an eye out for my fellow shadows’ is what he tells himself is why he’s been sitting on one of the mats for 10 minutes now. With his workout done, he knows he needs to keep busy somehow.

It felt like he wasn’t needed since about 9 minutes ago, however, so he’s just about to take his leave. Until theres the telltale sound of grunt more pained than the others, punched from someone’s lungs like- ah.

Like a saving grace, just as it would seem to Joey like he was done for, the weight on his chest is lifted and racked by two big burly hands. The face of Kaipo Morgan is peeking over the bar soon after, looking down at Joey with a cheerfulness not exactly fit for the situation.

“Ho brah! Got too ambitious, did you?” Kai’s cheering with a friendly smile, offering a hand down to the other. “Howzit! You all good?”

[ask-teddybear-kai]

@sgt-riot

After a shower in which Joey (respectfully) kept his eyes closed, a pep talk he gave himself that contained many reminders that Joey couldn't just throw this job away over an attractive gym buddy, and four outfit changes, he stands outside the barracks with a lit cigarette dangling between his lips.

Smoke blown out from his mouth mixes with a cool air that only grows colder as the sun falls below the horizon. Shadows mill about to the mess hall, or to the now empty gym.

None of them are the one he's waiting for.

Upon a check of his phone, there's a confirmation that Kai's on his way outside, and a notification that their Uber was on the way.

Thumbs hover over the nearly empty text thread, contemplating a follow up before the door beside him pops open.

A gentle woodsy scent trailed out the door with Kai when he steps out looking impressively composed (for a man that had spent the last hour or so overthinking so much to a point it called for a bit of concern).

He looks nicer than he usually would for a night at the nearby bar, his nerves having gotten the better of him to where he’d ended up putting on cologne and a shirt than didn’t have a single stain on it.

As soon as he shut the door and saw the man he was looking for, his entire composure seemed to soften, glow, radiate a friendly aura.

“Yo, brah!” Eyes shining and hair carefully styled, he takes the few steps needed to stand next to his newfound gym buddy.

“You look nice. Hey, howzit? How you feeling? I dunno how your arms are still working after earlier; that’s impressive stuff bruddah!”

Kai’s poking Joey’s bicep with each word instinctively blabbered on, the giant of a man just about noticing the car pulling up in the distance to glance to Joey for confirmation that that’s their ride.

When that confirmation is received, Kai’s leading them forward with barely controlled excitement and a smile brighter than the steadily rising moon. “After you, princess,” he says while holding the uber’s door open for Joey.