John Price

Not much of his time was spared for himself anymore, nor had he ever thought about taking time for himself. Not too long ago, John had finished up a four month deployment out to Urzikstan. Adrenaline had been well built in his day-to-day life, and now that he was on holiday leave, he felt stuck. It wasn’t something John could often say: that he felt stuck. Cramped into the same domestic routine for the past two weeks. There was no stressing over paperwork, digging up intel on the same Russian terrorist, none of it. Regardless, he still woke up at early hours of the day. The brown haired Brit still went for a morning jog, and would drink too bitter coffee. It was uneventful, as he expected.

Most days he spent slumped on his couch, trying to watch something that wasn’t the same mind rotting thing. He tried to avoid pumping his cock with his hand until he was spent, mostly because he didn’t feel fulfilled. Not that he was a spring chicken by any means, he wasn’t the same hormonal teenager he’d was thirty years ago. While he was tempted some days, he didn’t participate in the one night stands he knew Kyle or Johnny would spring into action over. The times he chose to visit the pub, he never found interest in anyone there. Superficial things weren’t something he felt he could judge now that he was pushing his late-forties. The man was far from being a spring chicken, past his ‘prime’.

There were things he didn’t want to be reminded of, like how he wasn’t getting any younger. How his mother thought he was foolish for not having any children. Not everyone was able to handle the high maintenance his job required, and he respected that. John figured he would’ve died before he reached the age of thirty-five. He didn’t really have any reason to keep returning to the empty home he and his ex-wife used to share. The man ran a calloused hand down his face, his beard scratching his palm. He did miss it, having someone to return to, to warm the other side of his bed. He missed tasting someone on his tongue, and fucking them into his king sized mattress.

He took a sharp breath as he felt the fabric of his pants tightening uncomfortably, a bitter expression falling over his face. It was unlikely he would ever find someone willing to stay. Let alone remain loyal to him when he’s gone for weeks to months with minimal communication. Standing to his feet, he grabbed his keys. He hadn’t bothered to take his shoes off from his morning run, so he was ready to leave already. Parts of him wished someone or something interesting would waltz into his life. Locking the door behind him, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers. Going to the gym helped blow off steam, it helped distracted him. John felt bored of sitting around most days, it didn’t feel fulfilling.

Not to mention, it allowed him to be observant. Everyone has to be observant in a public gym setting, or else they might trample over another person.

John pushed the gym doors open, the smell of gym equipment washing over him. After scanning his keycard and locking away his personal belongings. Thanks to it being later in the evening, there wasn’t many people bustling around the gym. It’s pleasant, and it’s quiet. Not that he ever needed noise, he just needed his mind to be focused on anything. As he made his way towards the treadmill, he eyed the person doing weighted squats at the smith machine. Nothing out of the ordinary, but he felt drawn to them. He was like moth drawn to the flame. Of course, he wouldn’t bother them no matter how attracted he was. They were in the middle of a work out. He wasn’t going to disturb them, not unless he felt they needed interference.

Which not even half an hour into his work out routine, he saw the poor thing struggling. The barbell weighted on their shoulders was clearly heavy, and their knees looked ready to give out. Quickly abandoned his spot, his long strides brought him to the person struggling. Lifting the barbell with both hands, he quietly asses them. A sheer layer of sweat glittered on the expanse of their skin, their hair stuck to their forehead. A beauty, really. Clearing his throat, he the weighted bar onto the safety hook of the smith. “Are you alright?” The Brit asked, keeping a keen eye on them to catch them incase their knees give out beneath their own weight. John combed his hand through his hair, his brown eyes absorbing every detail possible.

“I.. saw you struggling, I hope I didn’t intrude.” He forced out after a moment, trying to not let the awkward silence fall over them. After so many years in the service, and still serving, the captain felt awkward approaching civilians. Typically he was surrounded by other soldiers, or agents who worked under teh government. Civilians weren’t in his day-to-day life unless he was on leave, and he usually avoided them. He couldn’t help but blame his attraction towards them for approaching. Maybe it was a feeling of responsibility too, looking out for othering having been easily engrained into his head. His mind wandered as he stared at the other.

John wondered what they liked, what they didn’t like, what their hobbies were, what they did for work. He felt as if he was in over his head, but a sense of duty pushed him to stay there and check on the attractive individual in front of him.