#slow pace

“Come, it’ll be good for you,” you encouraged. 

You had started an exercise regimen (your idea) a week after waking up from coma. After the fishing incident, you and Grace were both severely injured and you had to recover, so you hadn’t started up again. And then, just when you were finishing up with saving Erid and Earth, Simon showed up, derailing your priorities. 

It was time to get back into shape. 

“Okay,” Simon said hesitantly. “I’ll come.”

You didn’t have weights on the ship, so all workouts had to be bodyweight. You’d designed routines all those months ago that focused on core, glutes, and chest/shoulders—the more important muscles for retaining longevity. 

There were differing amounts of pushups, sit ups, squats, lunges, planks, mountain climbers, bicycles…etc., for you and for Grace. As you cleared a space on the floor of the lab, you realized you would have to adapt the exercises for Simon’s one arm. 

Simon lowered himself to the floor. “What do I do first?”

“We usually start with push-ups,” Grace grunted, already on his first set of 12 push-ups. 

You got on my hands and toes and showed Simon the different kinds. “You can do it on your toes like this,” you huffed. “Or you can modify your arms so it’s a tricep push up.” 

“Will it work with one arm?”

“You’ll have to engage your core to keep your balance, and you’ll probably want to do it on your knees to help,” you explained, demonstrating. “Woof, this is harder than I remember. We must be out of shape.”

You watched Simon balance unsteadily across one arm and two knees planted into the floor. You used a gentle hand to correct his form. 

“Squeeze your core,” you murmured, your fingers passing over his stomach. “And try to keep your back flat,” you added, correcting the overarching in his lower back. 

When you felt confident that he had gotten it, you joined him for the rest of your set on your knees. Grace was finishing up with his second set and drinking some water. 

After he finished twelve, Simon collapsed down to the floor. “I can’t do any more,” he said, frustrated. 

“It’s okay,” Grace rushed to reassure. “You’re still getting used to have one arm. You’re really strong, it just takes time to get good at these things.”

“Yeah, and I don’t think I can do more than the first set today anyway,” you added. 

We moved on to a core workout, which Simon could get through much more easily. You and Grace took turns correcting his form so he didn’t hurt himself. By the time you finished, you were all sweaty and tired.

Grace grabbed water for the three of you. You wiped sweat from your brow. Simon was quieter than usual. 

“You okay?” Grace asked. 

“M’fine,” he said unconvincingly. 

“Are you frustrated because it was hard?” You asked. 

Simon shrugged. “It’s just annoying. I know I could’ve done this more easily before I lost my arm. I’m so much bigger than you both but you can do this shit better than I can.”

“That’s okay,” you comforted. “I’m not great at this either. Grace is much stronger than me. The point is just to keep ourselves moving and healthy on the way to Erid.”

Simon nodded reluctantly. He was still pouting, though. 

Grace scooted closer. He winked at you. “Hey Simon, I know a great core exercise you can do. No effort and you’re sure to be great at it.”

“What?” Simon grumbled, wary of Grace’s chipper demeanor. 

Grace moved quickly, sweeping a leg under Simon’s and pinning him to the floor. Simon let out a surprised grunt. “What the fuck—“

Grace pinned up Simon’s arm and clawed roughly at his tummy. “Laughter is a great workout!”

Simon let out a strangled yell, his face turning red. “Grace! Gehet offa me—“

Simon twisted his wrist out of Grace’s grip and went to shove him off, but he realized quickly that there was no way to get Grace off of him without hurting him. “DAHAMN IT- Let me gohoho!”

You chuckled at the sight. Grace’s hands were flying across Simon’s torso, expertly evading Simon’s hand. Grace poked and clawed and squeezed relentlessly, never staying in the same spot for more than 20 seconds. 

“Let you go? But you need the exercise! Did you know that you use up to 30 muscles when you laugh?”

Simon looked helplessly at you. “Dohohon’t just SIT thehere!”

You grinned at him and sat up. “Okay, I’ll help.”

Grace looked to you in mock betrayal as he kneaded his thumbs into Simon’s hips. The poor man shrieked. 

You crawled over and stilled Grace’s hands. Simon sighed in relief, huffing and puffing with residual giggles.

You tutted at Grace. “You’re doing it wrong,” you said with a cheeky grin. 

Simon looked horrified. “Wait, what—“

You quickly switched spots so you were straddling Simon’s hips. He tried to buck you off but you caught yourself on his chest. He was faced with the same problem as before—he couldn’t get you off without hurting you. 

Grace grabbed Simon’s wrist and pulled his arm up over his head. 

“Nonono, come on I thought you were done—“

You interrupted him. “See, Grace, the rough stuff gets him but he really can’t stand anything light,” you smirked. “Right, Simon?”

Simon’s face was fully red now. “M’not gonna answer thahat—“

“That’s okay, you don’t have to,” you said cheerfully. “I’ll demonstrate.”

You started to slowly wiggle my fingers up Simon’s ribcage, making a steady path up to his armpit. He huffed and squirmed from side to side, unable to shake the tickly feeling. 

“Nohoho- stop that, I’m fuckin’ seheherious!” He wheezed. 

Grace ignored Simon, pretended to be your very dedicated student. “Ahhh, I see,” he said. “So I should do… this?”

Grace used all five fingers on his free hand to tap lightly with his fingertips across the surface of Simon’s underarm. You continued to walk your fingers across his ribs, pausing to scribble at the spots that got louder reactions. 

Simon convulsed with laughter, his bicep flexing. “FUCK- fuhuhucking shit! Fuck! PLEHEHEASE!”

Grace kept going, but you slowed your fingers to give Simon a bit of a break. Simon’s giggles died down slightly. 

“Fuhuckin’… bastards, the both of you…”

“Well that’s rude,” you scolded playfully. “We’re helping you exercise and that’s how you repay us?”

“So ungrateful,” Grace chided in agreement. He was grinning. 

You rolled up Simon’s shirt to expose his tummy. As soon as it was exposed to the cool air, it quivered and sucked in as much as possible. Simon started to struggle again. “No- dohon’t, stay away from there…”

“Sorry, buddy, we gotta check that your core is activated,” you teased, starting to poke at his belly. You squeezed and prodded at the muscles. “All part of a good workout.”

Simon’s tummy flexed and bounced with giggles. He hid his face in his bicep and surrendered to laughter. 

Grace removed his hand from Simon’s underarm, sensing that he had had enough. You slowed down as well. You and Grace looked down on Simon adoringly. 

The two of you let him go. “See? An exercise you’re great at,” you ribbed.

Simon took a few steadying breaths. His eyes were closed.