Rory patted his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

Along with the Sebastian conundrum, he was plunged into the depths of guilt by an oblivious Ollie. Ollie who opened up to him, who trusted him, who thought they had years together ahead of them. He’d been inside four months, and there were five more until Sebastian’s release. Five more months, and then Rory was going to break Ollie’s heart.

Ollie gestured to the table of bandanas and the only head not wearing one. “I talked to Captain earlier.”

“Yeah?”

“He asked if I was okay, and I said I was fine, then he asked about you.”

“Why doesn’t he ask himself?”

Ollie shrugged. “You spend a lot of time with Sebastian, and I get the impression he hates Sebastian. I don’t know why though.”

Rory sighed, “Who knows.”

“I asked whether he’ll help us in the gym again, but he said he was busy helping some others.”

“Yeah, busy training those bandana-wearing idiots so they can beat the shit out of Sebastian.”

Ollie dropped his gaze. “I’m sure he’s not—”

“Open your eyes, that’s exactly what’s going on.”

“There you are.” Sebastian announced.

He approached with Teddy at his side. “We were thinking, since Captain’s no longer helping you in the gym, we’d do it instead.”

Teddy nodded, then grinned at Ollie.

“I’m not really feeling it,” Rory muttered.

“That’s because I haven’t worked you hard enough yet, then you’ll feel it.”

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

Sebastian pressed his hands together in a prayer pose and pouted. “Please, it’ll be fun.”

Ollie nudged his side. “Come on.”

Rory glanced at Ollie, then looked to Sebastian.

“Okay, fine.”

“Love it when you’re enthusiastic.”

Rory laughed, and the replying smile from Sebastian lit up his face.

****

Everything was going fine. They’d lifted weights, worked up a sweat on the exercise bikes, and ached their thighs and biceps on the rowing machine.

Rory’s depressing mood vanished, and he and Ollie challenged each other on the machines. Heaviest lift, furthest distance cycled, fastest singing of ‘row your boat’. Each time they took a breather, Rory had to contain himself. Sebastian grunted when he worked out. Veins popped in his arms, and his tank top stuck to his body. He panted, and his chest heaved, and Rory couldn’t look away.

Despite the emotional turmoil raging in his head, he still got aroused, he still had desires of a sexual nature, and they’d attached themselves to Sebastian Claw.

“Hey!”

Rory looked up. “Sorry, what?”

Sebastian waved him closer. “Come on, I wanna see what Captain taught you.”

Ollie jumped up and raised his fists. “Okay—”

“Not you, him.”

He pointed at Rory, and he hesitantly got to his feet. “I dunno if that’s a good idea.”

“Captain taught you how to defend yourself against an attacker, how to take them down, pin them?”