#withthingsunreal

The steady rhythm of well timed punches landed in time with the pulsing of his heart. He breathed, swerved, and hit. His  bare feet danced with well practiced steps across the soft mat, grounding him so his fists never faltered in their path. The loud thumps echoed through the otherwise empty gym, the early morning providing safe haven from its regulars. The sounds soothed the rushing in his ears, focus razor sharp and undaunting.

Right, right, left, duck, counter now-

"Void take you Attano, that hurt!"

But perhaps his hits landed a bit too well.

\Curnow tore off the punching mitts with an annoyed sigh, tossing them to the matt, and shook off his beaten and sweaty hands. They weren't bruised, but the rough, pale skin had reddened greatly. Corvo felt a pang of guilt, however small. He was usually better with his control.

"Sorry," he huffed, taking slow deep breaths to get his heart under control. He unrapped his knuckle guards and massaged his sore hands, feeling the ache set deep in the joints. Age and exertion had been unkind. "I've just...had a lot on my mind."

Curnow sighed again, padding off the blue training floor to grab his water bottle and towel on the bench. He sat heavily, cracking open the bottle and taking slow sips.

"I can see that, but don't take it out on me," he groused, toweling away sweat that dripped from his brow.

Corvo’s lip twitched upward despite himself. He moved to sit next to his friend with a small but fond sigh. "You say that as if you haven't had worse."

The old security Captain glared at him sideways, making Corvo grin. It earned him a towel to the face, caught easily with deft hands.

"I'm retired," Curnow grumbled, tho the twitch of his lips gave him away. "I shouldn't have to deal with your beastly hits anymore."

Corvo chuckled, watching his stiff hands curl around his soft towel. "And yet you're here every week."

Curnow looked at him fully then, only to shove him none-too-gently on the arm. Corvo huffed a surprised laugh, moving with it before rocking himself upright. Curnow's shit-eating grin finally revealed itself when he got there. "Only to keep your old ass from brooding to death."