Don't Forget Leg Day (Aiko/Sigurd)

Karakura Town: the location of his next task. To say the least, it wasn't anything more than information collecting, but with a few kinks about it. Nonetheless, he'll get the job done and get it done without a trace. The only issue was finding his target alone. It seems the man spent most of his time surrounded by his crew, so there were rare chances to get close. A few weeks of staking him out, and Sigurd's found a little pattern though. The person in question likes to head to the gym on Saturdays.

Guess who's also going to the gym? It's not a question worth answering as Sigurd stepped into the gym, his brown eyes scanning the area for his target before he signed in at the front. He had acquired a membership for himself and had watched his target for a while, making sure to cement his regime to memory. First the man will start at the weights, training his arms. Sigurd would promptly make his way to a nearby bench, setting up a few weights of his own to start with. For now, he'll blend in and wait for his opening. Just because the man's at the gym doesn't mean he's alone. Sigurd's also staked out who's watching his target's back. Precision will be key here.

'Let's kill it!'

Heart pounding and headphones filled with metal, Aiko's face looked like one of a murderer despite her having no desire to harm anyone around her. After taking another swig of her pre-workout following a few minutes of body stretches, she knew she needed to channel her anxious thoughts into training. Her eyes scanned the room before she pulled up the hood of her black hoodie, seemingly having found a place to get her reps in.

Walking over to the squat rack, she loaded the bar with heavy weights, eventually totaling 650 pounds. Each plate added a satisfying clink, echoing her determination. Her gothic attire drew some glances, but she paid little attention to those around her, focusing instead on the task before her. With her music still blaring from her headphones, the woman took a few deep breaths before positioning her under the fully loaded bar.

As her hands gripped the cold metal, her wings twitched before she started to lift the bar off the rack. With a grunt, she felt the weight pressing down on her shoulders as she stepped back and began her first squat with her supernatural strength. Her muscles tensed and strained, yet she maintained a perfect form, descending until her thighs were ass to the grass and pushing herself back up.

After completing her 12th, she carefully stepped forward and placed the bar back onto the squat rack, allowing herself to rest briefly as her eyes passively glanced at another man nearby.

There's not a lot of room in a gym like this, so anything that's out of the ordinary would catch the eye of every person. Though, with how the world is, anything out of the ordinary would probably be somewhat normal. Either way, it doesn't stop what comes with showing anything that'd be considered cool, and a woman dressed in all black with wings squatting over 600 lbs. would be considered something to gawk at. For what it's worth, Sigurd didn't pay much attention to it, but he did notice his target find the woman working out impressive enough to approach.

His eyes would stay straight, but he made sure to always keep his target in view, lifting a dumbbell to not seem out of place. The man he watched didn't seem to notice the woman had earphones in and had approached from behind the woman, for obvious reasons, and had shared some choice words that would make anyone roll their eyes. Though, it'd become evident his words had no effect, and the man would change his tactics to something a bit more forward; a tap on the shoulder.

"Hey, babe. Couldn't help but notice you're struggling a bit. Need a spotter?"

Aiko tilted her right headphone to the side to hear him better. Confusion filled her eyes as she stared at the man offering to spot her. Filled with adrenaline, caffeine, and anxiety, it was easier to tap into her instincts and decline his advances with a firm head shake.

"No. I don't need any help. But thank you~."

Her voice was firm but polite.

Part of her knew he was trying to hit on her as it wouldn't be the first time a man saw her and wanted to shoot his shot, but she wasn't in the mood for that right now. Her mind had been fixed on the workout and to keep burning away some of her excessive energy. So, after recovering from her reps, she would grip the cool metal once again and resume her squats, grunting heavily.

The gym around her seemed to fade into the background as she concentrated on her form and breathing, pushing herself to her limits. This was her time, her space, and nothing but an act of god himself would interrupt her focus.

Sigurd scoffed at the man's poor attempt at courtship. Even if he did help, Sigurd doubted his target capable of lifting anything beyond 150 lbs. The man would not need bodyguards if he had any power of his own. However, it did give him the chance to close the distance without looking out of place. As with every gym, a person going above and beyond would always become the main spectacle. She may be lost in a world that few could understand, but that doesn't them from cowering at the unknown. Everyone watched Aiko, cheering and getting pumped themselves.

All except one. The man she had turned down had nothing but contempt in his gaze, and Sigurd made sure to make good use of the distraction to head towards the back, returning a few minutes after to see what had become of everyone.

.....what now?

Aiko blinked and had a slight shade of red across her cheeks when she noticed others in the gym were cheering her on. A meek smile came across her lips, and instead of running away from that feeling, she would work with it to continue her reps. Each grunt a sign of her progression to get stronger as she sweated her ass off and conitnued to put in work.

However, her darting eyes couldn't help but notice the man wasn't happy. And not wanting to really risk her safety, Aiko treid to calm him down as she never knew how males would take reject and it scared her a bit.

"It's nothing personal! I just, uh, workout alone a lot is all."

Her voice was soft but well-meaning, accompanied by a light chuckle as she tried to diffuse the tension. After completing another set of reps, she took a moment to rest, grabbing her water bottle and taking a few refreshing sips. She waved at the people who had gathered around, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pride.

"Glad I could inspire everyone, ha..."

Her laughter was light-hearted, hoping to keep the mood positive and friendly. She appreciated the support from the gym-goers and was determined to keep pushing herself, both for her own goals and for the encouragement she received from others.

If only all the problems of the world were solvable with kindness. Even with only good intentions, Aiko's words fell on deaf ears, the man she had rejected, finding her words nothing but a coverup. The crowd's hype was but noise to him as he scoffed and turned away, mumbling obscenities under his breath.

But, for what it's worth, Aiko would find no more issues coming her way as the crowd slowly returned to their own workouts, people pushing themselves more thanks to her. The few that did approach her asked about her normal routine and such, gym people talk. She could continue to be modest or live in the hype. It's her decision.

As for Sigurd, he had done his job, taking out his phone as he approached the exit of the gym. He looked back for a second, spying his target, taking note how he secretly watched Aiko from afar, whispering to two men. Well, hopefully she knows how to use her strength. She's probably going to need it. Trouble's probably coming her way when she leaves.

"Yeah. It's me. Job's done. I'll be on standby," Sigurd would mutter as he stepped out the gym.

Time would pass, and she would ride the high the audience had given her. Not in terms of outwardly being cocky, but feeling genuinely motivated to push herself from the people giving her positive encouragement. Once she finished her workouts, she would let out a content sigh as she came out of the showers in her street attire.

She wore a deep red, fitted top with a plunging neckline that accentuated her figure, the fabric contrasting sharply with her black leather jacket. Her black skirt hugged her curves, ending mid-thigh, and thigh-high black stockings, along with sturdy black boots, completed the look. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, and the crimson choker around her neck, along with the mystical halo of blood hovering above her head, added an otherworldly touch to her appearance.

Stepping outside, Aiko noticed the weather had changed. Gloomy skies greeted her, but she welcomed the storm. The cool air and gentle rain were a comforting contrast to the gym’s heat. She had anticipated the weather and pulled an umbrella from her gym bag, humming happily as loud metal music blared from her headphones.

Despite her relaxed demeanor, a nagging feeling of being followed lingered. Her eyes darted around cautiously. In this day and age, what woman didn’t feel that way at times? Aiko’s distinctive appearance often drew unwanted attention, so she remained vigilant, glancing over her shoulder now and then. She quickened her pace, eager to reach her destination safely.

Dark clouds accompanied Aiko as she walked, the threat of rain nearing every second, and because of this, the streets were surprisingly devoid of life. She, however, would not feel the silence, besides distant thunder, trustworthy, the looming feeling of something or someone bearing down on her shoulder. Even her quickened pace did not seem to help her create distance between that feeling and a sudden turn would have her running right into another.

His frame, hulking, compared to her own, didn't seem all too caring for the sudden intrusion of his personal space, but as he turned to look at her, she'd see his dark shades accompany a not too friendly visage. A step back wouldn't help either, for she'd find a similar man behind her, blocking another path for her to take, the feeling of sudden pressing into her back: a gun.

"No yelling or anything, now. Come along quietly, kay?"

"..."

Anxiety sat in the pit of Aiko's chest like a bear choking the breath of life out of her lungs. Feeling the cold metallic object pressed against her back and the men standing in her way of escape made the dread pumping through her veins turn into adrenaline.

Weighing her options, the woman saw only one path to freedom: through the skies above. Could she react faster than he could shoot? She didn't know, but she did know that if she stayed here, nothing good would come from staying.

With time, feeling like it slowed to a snailed pace, her breathing began to increase before the woman released a jolt of scarlet energy to send the men away from it from the repulsion of her energy swelling to the surface. Soon, her wings flapped, and she summoned every bit of energy to flee the situation, taking off like a bat out of hell and hoping to find refuge atop a building nearby.

'Run. Run. Run. RUN.'