Liability [Simon Ghost Riley]

workout

The gym Simon created in their garage had become a sanctuary for Simon, a place where the weight they carried emotionally could, for a time, be traded for the physical strain of their workouts. That day, Simon was entirely in his element. He gripped the pull-up bar with chains wrapped around his waist, each pull-up executed with perfect precision. The clinking of metal on metal and his quiet, steady breaths were the only sounds in the room.

Phoebe had planned to focus on her stretches, but her attention drifted, her gaze following the flex of Simon's arms and the way his back muscles shifted under his shirt. He was mesmerizing, and for a moment, she forgot everything else.

Simon finished his set and dropped down with a controlled thud, wiping the sweat from his brow. He glanced over and caught her staring, a knowing smirk curling on his lips. "See something you like?" he teased, his voice playful.

Her cheeks flushed instantly. "I wasn't staring!" she shot back, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.

Simon gestured toward the pull-up bar. "Since you're clearly so interested, how about you give it a go?"

Phoebe let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah, no thanks. I don't think I'm quite ready to compete with you and your chains."

Simon stepped closer, his smirk widening. "Who said anything about chains? Just the bar, Phoebe. You've got this." Before she could protest, he swept her off her feet, his arms effortlessly lifting her toward the bar.

"Si!" she squealed, grabbing the bar instinctively as her feet dangled.

"Come on," he said, stepping back slightly but keeping his hands ready to catch her. "You're stronger than you think."

Phoebe hung there for a moment, laughing at how ridiculous she felt. "I'm pretty sure gravity disagrees with you."

Simon chuckled, stepping back in and placing his hands on her hips. "Here, let me help." With ease, he lifted her, guiding her through the motion of a pull-up.

She giggled, her laughter echoing through the gym. "This is cheating."

"Doesn't matter," Simon replied, grinning. "You're doing it."

After a few repetitions, he lowered her back down, but instead of letting her go, he pulled her into his chest. Phoebe instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck for balance, her legs curling around his waist.

His hands slid to her thighs, and his grin turned mischievous as he gave her a playful squeeze.

She gasped, swatting his shoulder.

"What?" he said, feigning innocence. "I couldn't resist."

Phoebe rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile as she pushed herself away, her feet finally touching the ground. "You're impossible."

"What you expect me to keep my hands to myself? Impossible love," he replied with a wink before moving on to the next exercise.

When it was her turn to do squats, Simon stood behind her, spotting her with exaggerated attentiveness. His gaze, however, kept drifting.

"Simon," Phoebe said, glancing at him over her shoulder. "Eyes up here."

He grinned unabashedly. "What? I'm enjoying the view I've got right now."

Phoebe shook her head, laughing. "You're ridiculous."

"Just one more set," he coaxed.

"Not happening." She pushed him gently and sat down on the bench to grab her water bottle.

Simon smirked and strapped on a weighted vest, adjusting it snugly before dropping to the floor for push-ups. Phoebe watched as he moved effortlessly, each repetition controlled despite the extra weight.

"How much is that?" she asked, her brow furrowing in disbelief.

"Two hundred," he replied without breaking a sweat.

Her jaw dropped. "Two hundred? Are you even human?"

He laughed, finishing his set and getting to his feet. "This is light work love."

Phoebe laughed, shaking her head. "God you're ego is out of control, it's almost comforting"

Simon smirks and she leans her head in her hands, admiring him shamelessly.

He stepped closer, offering her a hand. "Come on, your turn to impress me."

"Yeah, I think I'll stick to watching, thanks," she said, though the laughter in her voice softened her refusal.

They spent the rest of the workout trading jokes and teasing each other. Simon couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Phoebe so at ease, her laughter free and unguarded. It felt like a small victory, one he wasn't going to take for granted.

As they walked out of the gym together, the cool evening air brushing against their skin, Phoebe slipped her hand into Simon's.

"This was fun" she said softly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles.

Simon glanced down at her, his smile warm and genuine.

For the first time in months, they both felt a lightness in their hearts, a glimpse of normalcy returning. It wasn't everything, but it was a start.