The underground gym was a dungeon of iron and grit, a cavernous space where the air hung heavy with the musk of sweat and determination. Rusty weights clanked in the distance, their metallic groans echoing off the cracked concrete walls. Faded posters of bodybuilding titans—oiled-up gods of a bygone era—peeled at the edges, their stoic gazes watching over the dimly lit arena. A single bulb flickered above, casting jagged shadows that danced across the floor like specters of past victories.
Hidan strode in like he owned the place, and hell, he might as well have. The man was a walking monument to raw power, his muscles so chiseled they seemed carved from marble, each sinew glistening with a sheen of sweat that caught the weak light. His tank top clung to his torso like a second skin, stretched taut over biceps that could crush steel. His dark hair was slicked back, damp from his grueling workout, and a cocky smirk played on his lips as he surveyed his domain. He was a beast, a predator, and he knew it.
At the far end of the gym, near a rack of dumbbells that hadn’t seen polish in a decade, stood Max. The young man was a stark contrast to the hulking brutes that usually haunted this place. Lithe and delicate, he wore a tight lavender tank top that hugged his slender frame, paired with shorts so snug they left little to the imagination. His platinum hair fell in soft waves over one eye, and his lips were painted with a faint gloss that shimmered even in the dim light. He was pretending to lift a pitifully light dumbbell, his form atrocious, but his eyes weren’t on the weight. They were locked on Hidan, drinking in every flex, every ripple of muscle as the giant moved.
Hidan caught the stare. Of course he did. Those baby blues weren’t exactly subtle, and Max wasn’t trying to be. The behemoth’s smirk widened into something dangerous, predatory, as he changed course and sauntered over, his heavy boots thudding against the floor with deliberate menace. He towered over Max, casting a shadow that swallowed the smaller man whole, and crossed his arms over his chest, making his biceps bulge even more obscenely.
“Well, well,” Hidan rumbled, his voice a low growl that vibrated through the stale air. “What do we have here? A little princess lost in my kingdom, gawking like she’s never seen a real man before.”
Max didn’t flinch, though his heart did a little flip in his chest. He set the dumbbell down with a dramatic sigh, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow before turning to face Hidan full-on. He tilted his head, letting his hair fall just so, and batted his lashes with all the sass of a seasoned diva.
“Oh, honey,” Max drawled, his voice dripping with honeyed venom, “I’ve seen plenty of men. But you? You’re more like a walking meat slab with an ego problem. Do you even fit through doors, or do they just build new ones for you?”
Hidan’s eyes narrowed, but the smirk didn’t falter. If anything, it grew sharper, hungrier. He took a step closer, invading Max’s space until the heat of his body was practically tangible, the scent of sweat and raw masculinity overwhelming. “Cute mouth on you, pretty boy. But let’s get one thing straight—I’m the king of this dump, and when I walk in, lesser beings kneel. So why don’t you drop to those dainty little knees of yours and worship my legendary scepter, huh? Show some respect.”
Max’s cheeks flushed a faint pink, but his gaze didn’t waver. He planted a hand on his hip, cocking it to the side with a flourish, and let out a sharp laugh that cut through the tension like a blade. “Oh, please, Your Majesty. If I knelt for every overgrown gym rat who thought he was God’s gift to humanity, I’d have permanent knee pads. And ‘legendary scepter’? Really? Did you come up with that while flexing in front of a mirror, or did you steal it from a bad romance novel?”
Hidan’s jaw twitched, a flicker of irritation crossing his rugged features before it melted back into that infuriating grin. He leaned down, bringing his face dangerously close to Max’s, his breath hot against the smaller man’s cheek. “Keep talking, sweetheart. I like a challenge. But don’t think for a second I won’t break that smart little tongue of yours. I’ve tamed bigger beasts than you with half the effort.”
Max didn’t back down, though his pulse was racing now, a thrilling mix of nerves and defiance coursing through him. He reached up, daring to flick a stray lock of hair from Hidan’s forehead, his touch light but deliberate. “Tame me? Oh, darling, you’d need a leash and a prayer to even get close. I’m not some simpering gym bunny who swoons at the sight of a bicep. If you want me on my knees, you’re gonna have to earn it—and trust me, I don’t make it easy.”
Hidan’s eyes darkened, a storm brewing behind them as he straightened up, his massive frame looming once more. He let out a low chuckle, the sound rough and primal, sending a shiver down Max’s spine despite his bravado. “Earn it, huh? I like the sound of that. But don’t get too cocky, pretty boy. I always get what I want, and right now, I’m looking at it.”
Max smirked, folding his arms over his chest and stepping back just enough to break the suffocating closeness, though the electricity between them still crackled in the air. “Keep dreaming, big guy. I’m not a trophy to be won, and I’m definitely not your obedient little subject. You want a piece of this?” He gestured to himself with a theatrical wave. “You’d better bring more than muscles and cheap lines. I’ve got standards.”
Hidan stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable, though the faintest hint of frustration flickered in his gaze. He wasn’t used to being denied, wasn’t used to prey that bit back with such sharp teeth. And damn if it didn’t intrigue him more than he cared to admit. He took a step back, finally, giving Max a once-over that was equal parts appraisal and challenge.
“We’ll see about that, princess,” he growled, turning on his heel with a parting shot over his shoulder. “This ain’t over. Not by a long shot.”
Max watched him go, his smirk never faltering, though his heart was pounding so hard he was sure it could be heard over the clank of weights in the background. He leaned against the dumbbell rack, fanning himself dramatically with one hand as if to dispel the heat that lingered in Hidan’s wake.
“Oh, I’m counting on it, beefcake,” he muttered under his breath, his eyes glinting with mischief. If Hidan thought he could just roll in and claim victory, he had another thing coming. Max wasn’t just a pretty face—he was a force, and he’d make damn sure the so-called king knew it.
The flickering bulb above buzzed ominously, casting their battlefield in an eerie glow, as the game of power and wit between them had only just begun.
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