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[hr][sup][color=B45F06][b]B45F06[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|  [color=9b9b9b][b] Arena[/b][/color][/sup][/center][hr]


He was joking. Mostly. He knew it wasn’t Andy’s fault. Well…aside from making this little slice of hell obstacle course. 

[color=#bd1664]"Peace is rare at camp. You know that. I can’t guarantee we won’t be interrupted in the future. But I’m not going anywhere, Mase,"[/color] she assured. He was surprised by her sincerity and soft voice. On one hand he was content she wouldn’t go anywhere. On the other, sad to hear her admittance of how peace was so rare and the restless future it may bring.  Her hand wrapped around him and he was led and instructed to sit. 

Mason sighed gently looking around as he lowered himself to sit beside her. [color=B45F06] "Alright, but don’t tell anyone I listened to you just because you said so,”[/color] he said, feigning reluctance. As she brought herself closer, he leant toward her and placed a kiss on her shoulder apologetically in case it wasn’t obvious he didn’t care what people thought of him. 

 [color=#bd1664]"I had [i]every[/i] intention of spending all day in bed with you,"[/color] she whispered into his ear causing the smallest glad smile to form on his lips. His hand subconsciously opened for her as she began her light trail down his arm, then sure enough, into his palm. [color=#bd1664]"Although, after training I [i]will[/i] need a shower…"[/color] Her fingers slinked between his. He felt it, just took a moment to react to it, closing his fingers around hers absentmindedly as images of Andy naked and wet flooded his mind. Water cascading down his favorite demi-goddess’s sleek body , sometimes soapy, running her body wash over herself. Other glimpses he’d be getting the pleasure to glide soap over her — aw hell, he didn’t care. As long as she was wet and bare, he was there. And so the images rolled on…

Mason leaned his head towards her like he had a secret, keeping his eyes ahead. [color=B45F06]"I can’t wait for training to be over."[/color] He placed their joined hands on her leg where his thumb caressed her there gently, trying his best to keep the thoughts and images she planted at bay but loving to indulge them.

Apparently he spoke too soon. [color=#86a8ad]"Good morning everyone. If it wasn't already obvious, I am River, your new leader… And son of Poseidon, if that matters." [/color] River took the lead giving the whole spiel about who he was, what happened in the past and what was in store now and all traces of joy, playfulness, amusement and joking was sapped. At least he acknowledged Andy was a good leader. Somewhat.

Then the new big guy approached them with an awkward smile that Mason didn’t bother to reciprocate. It was nothing personal just the amount of cockblocking he did in one day had to be a record. Mason freed their hands guessing he wanted Andy for something. [color=#86a8ad]"Do you mind tracking my time?"[/color] He held out his equipment to Andy.

Mason rose a brow as surprised as she was. Out of all the people in the crowd, that had to mean River had at least a little respect somewhere for her. [color=#bd1664]"Yeah, sure."[/color]

After some brief instructions on what to press, he turned and left to demonstrate the course. It was relatively straight forward, go through the obstacles the way they were intended. Climb, jump, crawl, run. But if the new leader wanted to show and tell, that was his choice entirely.

There was a moment or two as River ran where Mason leaned over to glance at the watch to track how he was doing curiously and sneak glances at Andy checking if she was completely besotted by all the muscles on display and the way he navigated the course with relative ease. Mason wouldn’t have even thought anything of it, if it wasn’t for some other females licking their lips and fanning themselves at the spectacle.

River was evidently fit and created the course so seeing him stagger or nearly fumble at times and finish trying to suck in some air confirmed the course would be worse than it even looked. He headed towards them still trying to catch his breath.

[color=#bd1664]"9 minutes and 37 seconds,"[/color] Andy revealed.

Mason blew out a breath he was unaware he was holding. That was good results. But every slice of information that came to light in the course seemed to emphasize how shit it would be. Including when he announced they had 15 minutes to complete it. Mason rubbed his forehead and temples, screwing his eyes shut to suppress how fucking stupid he found that 15 minute window for all the people that weren’t into Crossfit or whatever it was and the army rats. 

[color=#86a8ad]"Alright then. You’ll run the course in groups of five. First up is Sloane, Sylas, Nate, Maylisse and Andy…"[/color]

Mason dropped his hand and flicked up a small smile for Andy. She’d do fine. Being a military girl, he was sure it’d be her playground. 

Once she got up, he gave her a small tap on the backside for purely encouraging purposes. [color=B45F06] "Go get ‘em. "[/color] He looked her over, appreciating her retreating form with a much smugger smile. [i]Thank you workout clothes for being form fitting.[/i] No force in the universe that would make him miss her shower.

Andy didn’t disappoint. In fact she moved through the course with familiarity, each obstacle appearing a little less than it was. He forgot how strong and agile she truly was until he was watching her without fear for his own life or the compulsion to beat a Valis bloody. 

Even Mason had to admit a good job when the group completed the obstacle course. Even for Sloane who crossed last out of the five and looked slightly sore and sorry. At least she crossed the finish line.

When his name was called, he sighed. Andy gave him the appearance that he was ready but there was no prepping for this. He pushed off the stone bench and reluctantly headed to the start line. 

[color=#f1724b]"Good luck guys!"[/color] Mason suppressed an eye roll. He hoped the course burned the energy and perkiness out of her.

Looking along the line, his group happened to be a bunch of females but before any automatic thought entered his head like [i]‘this should be easy’[/i], he had witnessed plenty of girls that were beasts so he shut down any relaxation or contentment. No need to go easy.

When they were given the go, Mason ran up to the tires, unfortunately just not as quick as another demigod. He looked down to focus on lifting his leg enough to clear each tire and his next foot placement. Next were the logs where he appeared to close some gap by clearing them well enough with a wobble and stagger or two but nothing he couldn’t recover from. He tried to run ahead but that damn neon suit entered his vision again as he got down to crawl. Crawling and contorting wasn’t his specialty so he wasn’t surprised by the other girls creeping up. Some struggled at the climb though and while he had half a mind to lift some of them up to stop the painful display, there was ‘no helping’, and he’d be better focusing on his own result anyway. Mason jumped up getting as high as he could for a headstart on the rope before ascending to the top then buffering himself back down. The bridge [i]looked[/i] simple but it persisted on jerking out from under him. The swing was handled okay. Better if there wasn’t some ridiculous gleeful laughter right on him. On the beams he prayed for her to fall as he navigated across it with his arms out and a slight wobble. 

[color=#f1724b]"Ow!"[/color] 

Even through heavy breathing he smiled quickly as he disembarked the last sloped beam before tackling the pool. He could hear the others dive in after him but all he could do was keep his rhythm of stroking and kicking. 

As he climbed up the ladder, the rainbow appeared in his peripheral again. Mason had half a mind to yank her down, sure she’d land on her feet like a cat. While sabotage wasn’t a stated rule, he was sure it was at least heavily frowned upon. For now he kept pushing up. Arms grabbing and pulling, legs stepping and propelling upwards, unable to find a fluent, easy rhythm. 

 She got in front on the descent and the last leg of the course. She took off with impeccable speed, Mason trying to match her pace but failing, finishing his leap shortly behind her. 

He took a few steps away from the finish, and, only because Nelly did, he turned and waited for the rest of the group to complete the course. A silent obligation. Nelly’s cheerleading forced Mason a few extra steps away as he panted for breath. A pale blonde followed, then the brunette. 

[color=#f1724b]"Come on, you can do it!"[/color] Nelly clapped and cheered some more.

[color=B45F06]"She clearly didn’t work hard enough,"[/color] Mason remarked offhandedly, finding himself near River. The kid of Poseidon probably didn’t get how much it would mean to exhaust Nelly and turn off her chirping for a few minutes.

Seeing he was the wrong target audience, Mason wandered away watching the last red head, unsure if she liked Nelly’s cheering, finding it genuinely encouraging and motivating or embarrassing or condescending. If he got whooped and cheered in the PACER test for being generally unimpressive…He’d be less than pleased. But some people found it nice he guessed.

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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] Andy, River (briefly) [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] Nelly, Rae, Sofia, Callista[/color]
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