Moments later, Jade finishes his final set. The heavy bag sways in front of him, chains rattling softly as he exhales through his teeth and lets his gloves rest against the leather.
His chest rises and falls, sweat tracing slow lines down his neck and disappearing beneath the collar of his shirt. For a few seconds, he just stands there, forehead nearly touching the bag, humming under his breath as if the rhythm of his training hasn't quite let go of him yet.
He steps back, rolls his shoulders loose, and reaches for a towel from the bench. He drapes it around his neck, wiping at his face as he moves with the same easy energy he'd had when he walked in.
Like the workout sharpened him instead of draining him.
"Jade," Mark calls from the mezzanine above.
Jade tilts his head up, squinting against the lights. "Yeah?"
"After you clean up," Mark says, "come upstairs before heading out."
Jade grins. "What's this? Did I miss a memo? If this isn't about food, I'm filing a complaint."
