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The usual noises of gym machines sometimes were useful as a way to turn off her mind and just continue the routine.
It's not like she needed to evade it, really, it was just a mental exercise to focus her brain mainly on the body functions and nothing else.
There was no reason to escape, not when she had been living, for about five years already, a happiness that she never thought of being capable to feel outside of racing.
She was going for the hundredth repetition when she heard footsteps approaching and her ears perked up, though without looking, she could know who it was.
At the end of the day, there were only the two of them on that place.
"McQueen! When you're done with that, can you help me with my crunches?"
No matter how many years have passed, Teio's voice kept carrying that same adorable enthusiasm every time, perhaps even with a little more sweetness when she asked her for favors, like now. Her smile soon appeared, and instead of responding verbally, she simply stopped her exercises and removed herself from the machine. She took a towel to dry her sweat, and as she bent down to look for the water bottle, a weight forced her to keep her torso straight. Or rather, Teio's arms, who caught her from behind.
McQueen looked over her shoulder, curious. "I'll be right there, I don't think you have the urgency to do it inmediately."
"That's right, this has nothing to do with it."
"Mh? Then?"
Teio let out a soft giggle. "You got up early today and I didn't receive my good morning hug. Since you don't give it to me, I come and take it myself ~."
McQueen's face immediately turned red. How could she always be so cute? The rapid beating of her heart had nothing to do with physical exercise now, that was clear.
She was known for her huge strength and resistance, but when it came to Teio being adorable, she was the weakest.
"I'm sorry, I'd think that by hugging me all night it counted to cover the quota."
"Quotas are renewed every day. Besides..." Teio's lips pressed on McQueen's neck, giving her a slow kiss that sent a direct shiver down the spine of her rival and partner. "By now you should know that I never get enough of you."
Despite the warm feeling that filled her chest at that very moment, she would never finish getting used to the intensity of Teio's affection. Her cheeks ignited and her pulse began a new race.
Feeling that Teio's hands were slowly walking through her sides, she knew that if she didn't stop her now they would end up like... always.
No. It was bad to think about that, her memories played a bad trick on her and finding the strength to step aside became tremendously difficult. She swallowed heavily and took her hands to leave them still and freed herself from her grip, gaining an immediate pout from her rival.
"Hey!"
"Y-you said crunches, didn't you? We have to... respect the routine... You know it. Then we have all day to..."
The pout was replaced by a huge grin while she waited for McQueen to finish the sentence, which never happened, given that she instead covered her mouth to hide her embarrassment.
Teio's grin only sharpened and, instead, gently pulled one of her girlfriend's wrists.
"I know, all right, we have a mission! We can't let out guard down, hehe."
McQueen let out a relieved sigh and her expression relaxed, nodding.
Indeed, they needed to focus. Long ago, they made the decision to leave Tracen and all their loved ones, because they had a common path that they knew would be better to travel in the company of the other only.
While Teio proved recovering in her last race at Arima Kinen, everyone was fully aware that her body would continue to suffer and it would be a matter of time for her to risk a new injury, which this time could even cost her life.
In McQueen's case, no matter how much hope Teio injected her with her achievement, she had to work on constant rehab.
And what better way to do it than with the person she wanted to compete with forever?
It was a long discussion, especially with the Mejiro family, but there they were sharing a conditioned home with all the necessary equipment to train safely and weekly checkups of the best specialists, but abroad.
It was not a mystery that they could find better help in the difficult medical situation they encountered, which most experts considered irreversible.
But it wasn't in the language of Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen to give up.
In addition, the evolution of their relationship had greatly helped in the emotional stability of both, and they enjoyed every day, without fail.
They wanted to compete forever, and now, love each other forever too.
Teio took McQueen to the mat she left ready, and once there, she let her go and layed down with raised knees, in the typical position to perform crunches. McQueen hugged Teio's legs to support her and help her with counting, and Teio began with her work.
...However, upon reaching repetition number 30, Teio had the idea of giving herself a small incentive: by completing the flexion, and consequently approaching her girlfriend's face, she stole a quick kiss that completely stiffened the other's body.
"Hehe, reward ~."
"You are hopeless, really." McQueen replied, pretending to be upset, but her smile told a completely different story.
In repetition number 60, with 30 kisses stolen, neither found the strenght to continue the growing tension between the two. In fact, it was McQueen who extended the kiss of the last flexion and Teio did not hesitate to wrap her arms around her neck, easily luring her to lie on top of her. Their eyes met and that was the final seal of the contract.
"You're unfair... we have to follow the routine, Teio..."
"You say that, but you're the one who's got me trapped."
"...We'll continue later."
"With this, or...?"
McQueen took a gentle bite on Teio's lower lip. "You know perfectly well."
Teio was lying, it wasn't McQueen who had her trapped, it was the other way around. It was always the other way around since she caught her heart hopelessly the day she showed her the greatest proof of love in that race where she left her skin on the track for her.
She hasn't been able to take her eyes off her ever since then. Her smile, her warmth, her courage, the determination, the way she gives her hope every day and makes a mess of her life in the sweetest way possible.
"I love you, McQueen."
"And I love you, Teio."
McQueen's suitcase grew and grew as it filled with clothes and accessories that Teio had lost count of how many McQueen kept already.
It's not like she had the best mood anyways.
McQueen would leave the next day. They were on New Year's Eve and her family had begged her to see her after all these years, on such an important holiday for which they would even throw a party.
Teio was lying on the bed they shared, legs crossed just like her arms.
She didn't want to spend a week without her, but she couldn't keep her for herself forever, could she? Teio knew McQueen missed her family. They were always a clan, after all.
She closed her eyes, thinking it would be better to sleep instead of watching her packing her things, but a slight pressure on her nose made her come back to her senses.
McQueen's eyes looked at her with reproach, one she couldn't understand. Did she bothered her with the bitterness on her face? Sure, it made sense. Of course McQueen would notice.
"Can you please tell me when are you going to start packing or do you expect me to do it for you, mh?"
Teio blinked and the corner of her lips frowned. "Hah? Why would I? I'm not going anywhere."
"What are you saying? We've already talked about this. They're waiting for us at home and if you don't start packing now, tomorrow we'll be in a hurry and we can't miss the flight."
"..."
Teio's face showed real confusion. "You said it was family only."
"That's what I said, yes."
"Then, why...?"
McQueen let out an exasperated sigh. Now she understood the great misunderstanding of the situation. "Teio, you are family. I didn't think it was necessary to make it clear. You're my family and the Mejiros recognize you as such. God, if we're... like a married couple already."
"..." The shock on Teio's face was severe and she was unable to utter a single word. How could she say something like that with a straight face?! Her lips parted, but she only managed to babble words with no meaning.
McQueen smiled this time, a warm, tender smile. She leaned down and captured her girlfriend's lips with complete delicacy, for only a few seconds.
She needed Teio to come to the party at all costs, because that's where she would make her words effective. In her suitcase rested a proposal ring and in the mansion of the Mejiros the preparations she personally asked her sisters to help with.
She'd ask for Teio's hand and they'd be family for real. She'd give her her life and ask for hers in return. And no one would separate them, ever.
That was her new, eternal challenge.
I won't give up on us.