Page 91 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“You are,” Ody admitted with a strained breath, “but I’m not leaving you here.”

“Put me down, we’ll both fall.”

“If you took me with you to the gym, I wouldn’t have this problem.” He shifted him in his arms, heading for the bathroom. “You’re all muscle, aren’t you? I weigh less, and I’m taller than you.”

“Muscle weighs more than fat,” Mano muttered.

Ody shot him a look. “Was that a dig?”

Mano smirked. “Did I hurt your feelings, mikre?”

Ody chuckled as he pushed the bathroom door open and set him down in the shower, steadying him against the wall. He turned the water on, adjusting it before letting it run over Mano’s skin.

Mano barely reacted, head tipped back, body slack against the tiles.

Ody worked the sponge into a lather and crouched in front of him.

“What are you doing?” Mano asked.

“Taking care of you.” He ran the sponge over his chest, unhurried. Mano just sat there, letting him. “Turn around.”

Mano didn’t. He only leaned back against the wall, eyes closing again.

Ody let out a quiet laugh, dragging the sponge over his back. “Okay, but seriously,” he said, more casually now, “I want to start going to the gym. Are we going together, or should I go on my own?”

Mano’s eyes opened. “Andreas goes to the one I used to go to. I’ll find another.”

Ody stilled. “…Right.” His hand moved lower, but Mano took the sponge from him.

“I’ll do that.”

Ody smirked. “You’re missing a spot.”

Mano shot him a warning look.

“Want help back there?” Ody added with the same smile.

“If you want Volos to be the last place you breathe…”

Ody chuckled, but the sound faded quickly. “Are you okay? Does it hurt?”

Mano hesitated. “A little. It’s not pain, just…” He trailed off.

Ody cupped his cheek and pressed a kiss to his lips.

Mano glanced at the counter. “Use the white sponge. It’s new.”

Ody nodded, grabbing it. Once he was done, he set it aside and picked up the shampoo, settling behind him. “Turn around.”

This time Mano did. Ody worked the shampoo into his hair, his fingers massaging gently through the strands before he rinsed it out. Mano’s eyes closed, his body relaxing under his touch. Ody pressed a light kiss to Mano’s shoulder before straightening. Grabbing a towel, he looked down at him. Mano was still sitting on the floor. “Are you planning to live here now?”

“I might,” Mano mumbled.

“Come on.” Ody helped him up, steadying him before wrapping the towel around his waist. He dried himself, then took Mano’s hand and led him back to the bedroom.

Mano dropped face-first onto the bed.

Ody let out a quiet laugh. “At least put something on.”