“Hey,” Hale responded without looking at him.
Elliot packed three vests and three helmets, then glanced at Hale's pile.
Hale loaded his bag with what appeared like half theequipment room. He had six vests stacked. Four helmets. Three of the heavy training packs.
Elliot snorted. He grabbed two more vests, and added them to his pile. Then three more helmets.
Hale glanced at him. "What are you doing?"
"Getting gear." Elliot kept his tone flat. "What does it look like?"
"It looks like you're overcompensating for something."
Elliot picked up another training pack. "Says the guy who's about to throw his back out."
Hale added another pack to his duffel without breaking eye contact. "I'm fine."
"Right. Because you're so strong and capable."
"Iamstrong and capable."
Elliot grabbed two more packs. His pile was absurd now, completely unnecessary, but he’d committed to the bit. “Sure.”
Hale's mouth curved into that competitive half-smile. "You're an idiot."
"And you're carrying approximately forty pounds of equipment you don't need."
"Sixty, actually." Hale hoisted his duffel onto his shoulder. No strain, no grunt. "Maybe you should hit the gym more, Shaw."
"Maybe you should stop showing off, Hale."
"I'm not. I'm just better at this than you."
Elliot raised an eyebrow. "You are not better at this than me."
"Evidence suggests otherwise."
Elliot eyed his own ridiculous pile of gear, then Hale standing there with his perfectly balanced duffel looking entirely too pleased with himself.
Elliot's chest felt lighter than it had in two days.
"Fuck you," he said.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Hale's wicked grin widened.
Unsecured room. Unlocked door. Elliot’s brain supplied an image of Hale against those shelves anyway, head thrown back, that low groan like?—
He kept his face neutral. "You're such an asshole."
Grinning, Hale turned and headed for the door, duffel over his shoulder. "Try to keep up, Shaw."
Elliot grabbed his gear and followed. As they reached the door, his hand found Hale's ass and squeezed.
Hale jumped. His duffel hit the floor, equipment spilling across the concrete.
"You were saying?" Elliot said, stepping past him into the cold air.
Behind him, Hale cursed, equipment clattering as he scrambled to pick it up.
