FSE

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"There are a lot of people here", Rex noted as soon as he entered the gym with Alfa.

The wolf walking by his side chuckling softly.

"Were you expecting less people or what?"

"When you said this was the best time to hit the gym, I assumed you meant it'd be less crowded."

Alfa shrugged and walked to the counter with a smile on his face. He handed his identification to the grumpy-looking bear behind the desk and turned to his friend, his tail happily wagging from side to side.

"No, I meant exactly this," he insisted.

Rex held his gaze, trying to decide whether the wolf was joking or not. In spite of being a pretty social monkey himself, he couldn't really say he liked crowds. He wondered if Alfa knew this or not. I don't think he does, he thought. He wouldn't have brought me here otherwise.

After checking in, both walked to the weight-lifting machines, which were occupied at the moment. As both friends waited, Alfa cracked his knuckles and looked at his friend, shifting his balance from one leg to the other repeatedly.

"I'm excited you came with me today. It's been a while."

"Since what?"

"Since the last time I had someone to show off for," the wolf answered with a smirk. "It's nice to let friends know how strong I'm getting, you know?"

"I bet," Rex replied. So that's why he brought me here, he thought. That made much more sense.

"Be careful though," Alfa warned him, the grin on his face growing wider. "There's plenty of hot guys around. It shouldn't be hard for you to get... hard."

Rex's eyes opened wide and he looked around, trying to make sure nobody had heard what the wolf had just said.

"S-shut up!" he scolded him. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm just teasing," the wolf said. "You know how I am!"

"Besides, it's not like I'm the only one here who likes hot guys," Rex reminded Alfa. "Last time I checked, you were into dudes as well."

The wolf chuckled and crossed his arms on his chest. His muscles bulged a bit and Rex had to admit he certainly seemed to have gotten bigger since the last time he'd seen it.

"True," Alf admitted. "But you get flustered so much easier."

Rex shook his head. What was with Alfa all of a sudden? He'd always liked to tease, but he'd never been this direct. Perhaps it was being in the gym that made him feel so much more confident. The monkey wasn't entirely sure he liked it, but he wouldn't have said he disliked it either.

Something about the wolf's confidence made him remember something. A smile crept into his face.

"Is that so?" he asked. He couldn't help but notice one of the weight-lifting machines was free now.

"I mean, just look at you," the wolf answered, stepping closer to the machine. "You get all blushy just by being here, right?"

Rex considered his next words carefully.

Alfa was right. There were a lot of guys he considered attractive around them, but it wasn't like that was going to ruin - or exaggeratedly improve - his mood. And he was being far too cocky. Perhaps he needs to be taken down a notch, the monkey thought.

It was a good thing at least a common friend of theirs knew how to do that easily.

"I think you're way too confident today," the monkey began.

Alfa chuckled softly and flexed one arm.

"Really? Well, maybe that's just how I am."

"Oh, is that so?" Rex gave him a devious grin. "Perhaps I just need to make sure you behave a certain other way."

Alfa's ears perked up and he turned to the monkey, a confused expression on his face.

"What?"

It was Rex's turn to chuckle. Last time he had talked with their friend, he had casually mentioned a trigger he'd given the wolf during one of their last sessions. That should be enough to humble him.

"It goes like this, right?" he teased. "Chains in your body..."

Alfa's cheeks turned red and his eyes widened, recognition and shock filling him suddenly.

"W-wait, Rex..."

"... chains in your mind."

It was like pulling a lever. Alfa's body tensed suddenly and then it relaxed, his shoulders sinking, arms dangling at his sides. His eyes glassed over and his muzzle opened slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips. It even looked like he'd momentarily lost his balance, as his body swayed on his feet.

"Chains in my body, chains in my mind," the wolf droned.

Rex was surprised by how quickly and effective it'd been. He opened his mouth to add something, but the wolf simply turned to the weight-lifting machine like a robot and lay down on the bench, picking up the weights. His muscles bulged as he began working out, vacant gaze staring off into the ceiling, mouth still open.

"I am empty. I will get strong," Alfa chanted. "Chains in my body, chains in my mind."

His drowsy, monotonous voice attracted some other people's gazes, who seemed slightly weirded out by the sight. It took Rex a few seconds to notice it wasn't only the wolf's mantra that kept drawing the attention of the bystanders, but also the fact a suspicious bulge seemed to be growing between his legs.

"I am empty. I will get strong. Chains in my body, chains in my mind."

Each repetition made that bulge throb almost imperceptibly. It was a good thing nobody was looking straight to the wolf - although Rex could tell some other people were glancing at them discreetly. The monkey's own cheeks were getting warmer at the sight.

Well,_he thought as the wolf kept repeating the same words, stuck in the loop that had been deeply conditioned into his mind. _He mentioned he wanted to show off, didn't he?