#nathaniel:threads

he spotted someone in the crowd, closing his eyes again before they shot back open when he registered the face. "mia?" nathan mumbled to himself then made his way through the crowd, accidentally running into people feeling like he had tunnel vision. he put a hand on her shoulder for a second and pulled her into a hug when he'd confirmed that it really was her then pulled away. "i'm sorry i just.. i never thought i'd see you again. what are you doing here? is rafael with you?" stupid question probably but his mind was racing a mile a minute. "when did you get here?"

he offered a smile hoping she wouldn't feel too embarrassed because he wasn't there to judge after all, things happen and nathaniel knew that. he instinctively reached out as if he was trying to catch her again when she winced after putting pressure on the foot she'd hit. "you sure you're alright? i'm not a doctor but i'm a firefighter i can take a look at it if you want, see if it even is doctor worthy." he offered.

nathaniel had just finished running a mile on the treadmill finding that easier to track his running than just going around town and using a phone that hasn't worked in years and is more a paperweight for him now. he draped a towel around his shoulder and dabbed the sweat off his forehead ready to call it at that when he spotted someone on the other side of the gym. they looked like they were too focused on their workout to notice the weight that got left behind them and tried to run over before they tried over it but was a tad too late, watching them slip on it but caught them before they could hit the floor. "you alright?" nate asked helping them stand back up to their feet.

nathaniel let him go when phoenix was on his feet again and let out an awkward chuckle, rubbing at the back of his neck. "force of habit i guess," he admitted with a sheepish smile, "promise i wasn't watching you. i just happened to look over at the right time." why he added that he wasn't sure but he internally facepalmed that he did.

despite it being rhetorical, nathan still answered the question anyway. "yeah sometimes, at least you're good though." he looked around the gym but it was near empty at this point and he was too in the zone of his work out. "sorry, didn't get a look at who did it. it might've been here for a while for all i know."

nathaniel wasn't expecting for them to be that upset with tripping over something, especially when it was probably an accident but he wasn't about to tell them that. his face was pretty and he intended to keep it that way. "yeah no problem," he commented ignoring the first part of what they'd said. "well uh, i should let you get back to your workout then. don't want to use up too much daylight while we've still got it you know?" nathaniel chuckled awkwardly.

nathaniel chuckled and let him go when he regained his balance and grabbed the towel that fell to the floor during all that. "happens to all of us sometimes, can't tell you how many times i've almost fallen off the treadmill cause i got to zoned in on my run." he was saying it to try and make the other feel better but it was true despite it, he's tripped over his feet plenty of times to almost meet his face with the floor. "do you go to the gym often?" nathan didn't think he seemed like the type to come but he's not one to judge, more so help with pointers if the other needed it.

nathaniel could tell that the other was embarrassed and ignored the 'you're fine' comment, choosing not to have a reaction to it as to not embarrass the other more than he was already feeling. he did make note of the faint blush on his cheeks and realized how this must've all looked. "yeah no problem, i just finished up my run and noticed you were in the zone and didn't see the weight behind you." nathan pointed to it before picking it up and moving it off to the side now. "you new in town? don't think i've seen you around before."