Heat Week! Farmhand

The door to the gym swings open, a single being filing through. A single human already in his workout attire. The gym is almost empty, a few other bodies present. To his credit it was earlier than usual for most ponies to be here. He makes his way towards one of the punching bags, a particular one that was out of the way and away from everyone else. He wasn't feeling particular about socializing today. He waves to some of the regulars that greeted him.

He sets down the small bag he brought with him next to the station. Unzipping it and reaching in to pull out a pair headphones. A gift courtesy of Vinyl for one of his birthday bashes. The party also Pinkie's doing, but he appreciates both those mares. He slips on the device over his ears and hits the button to start a track. To his lack of surprise when one of Vinyl's songs starts playing. The next thing he pulls out is a roll of boxing tape. Idly wrapping up his palms and knuckles to the beat. Both hands wrapped up, he clenches his fists and releases the hold to make sure the tape is snug. Satisfied with his work, the man starts to hit the bag. Each blow causing the bag to shift and swing from the force.

He's about twenty minutes in, nary a care about his surroundings. Failing to see one of his friends coming from behind. Another blow to bag before there's a tap to his shoulder. He jumps a little and turns to face the visitor with wide eyes. His gaze falling upon a certain lilac unicorn with her brilliant purple mane done up in a ponytail, a sports tank top snugly fit to her body and what looks like yoga pants hugging her legs. Slowly he reaches up to the pair of headphones and removes them from his ears, letting them rest around his neck.

"Oh, hey Starlight." Justin greets her in a rather soft tone.

"Hiya! Whatcha doin?" Starlight asks with a smile, leaning up to him a bit.

"Hitting.. this.. bag?" the man responds somewhat confused. "What're you doing?"

"I wanted to see what you were up to." Starlight beams at him. "And to get my own little workout in."

"Oh?" Justin relaxes a little around the mare. "Go well?"

The mare nods, causing her mane to bounce a little and steps closer to him. "Just some jogging."

Justin nods in turn, eventually going back to the bag.

"Hey... uh.. I have a favor to ask." Starlight catches his attention again.

"Hm?" The man stops after throwing a single punch at the bag to look at her

Starlight's demeanor has changed a little, being more timid than before. "Do you think you could teach me to do what you do?"

"You mean... box?" Justin looks at her with a raised brow.

Starlight simply nods.

Justin sighs a bit and nods back. "All right. Throw a punch at me."

"What?!" Starlight looks at him in disbelief.

"I want you to hit me. Show me you can throw a punch." Justin explains to her. "Trust me."

For a moment, Starlight stare at him, trying her best to discern if he's messing with her or not. There's no change in his stare or his face. She hesitates before suddenly crossing his jaw with all she had. The man's head snaps in the direction of the blow, bringing up a hand to rub his jaw.

"Ohmygosh! Are you alright?" Starlight quickly asks, grabbing his cheeks and looking over him.

Justin nods, still rubbing his jaw. "I'm fine. Got a mean hook, don't ya?" For the first time since he showed up, he smiles at her, a genuine one.

"I guess... I usually avoid fights." Starlight comments.

"Well, here. Let's get some basics down to start you off with."

For the rest of the morning and into the afternoon, Justin taught Starlight. He shows her some stances. Tells her to never look away. All the things she may need if she ever got into a fight. He even threw in some exercises she could do back home. All the while Starlight doing her best to listen to his instructions and perform the best she could. She trusts him most of all than any of the instructors here. That may have been their job, but he holds no judgement against her, even when she messes up. Starlight admired that about him.

He ends their tutoring at around lunch. Placing the headphones back in his bag next to the tape. Starlight places a hand on his shoulder, causing his head to look at her smiling face.

"Thanks for teaching me." She tells him with a small smile. "How about some lunch? My treat."

Justin thinks for a moment, then grins at her. "Sure. That sounds awesome."