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Michael worked his way steadily through his last set of reps on the bench pressing machine, his breathing coming out slowly and evenly. The burning in his muscles and the faint strain in his lungs was a good feeling: it meant that he was getting stronger. He'd increased the weights by five kilos this week, and while it was still quite a challenge to complete three sets successfully, he felt proud of himself. Just because he was a death scythe now didn't mean he was growing lax with his personal fitness regime. Just because his job now seemed to consist of sitting in an office or just minding new technicians at their machines, was no excuse to grow soft. It wasn't that he minded his job much: he enjoyed it. He just missed the physical thrill of being in the field. Of working. Of using his body for something more than... exercise.

Easing the weights back into full lock position, he let out the breath he had been holding. Done. He felt more than a small measure of satisfaction as he slid out from under the machine: this might hurt a little tomorrow, but the hour had been well spent. Too bad none of the others at work seemed to understand the importance of a strict regime. Ah, if only they all worked out as much as he did. It provided more than strength. It provided control. Stamina. Focus. All the good things in life. But then... he supposed each to their own, really. Alexis and Ashley, Arashi. They all had their ways of coping with their job.

Slinging the black towel over his shoulders, he picked up the water bottle he had left at the edge. Michael glanced at the clock: he should end back soon then. One hour was really an indulgence at the gym these days, what with (what felt like) an influx in rank one technicians and weapons. They were so green! As he paused in front of the water fountain to refill his bottle, he looked towards where the mens locker room lay with slight distaste. It was past all the glass and mirror 'rooms' the GYM was using as private classrooms for those who were less physically inclined. Yoga, dance, and sometimes the odd assortment of martial arts were taught in the enclosed spaces, with enough glass to make what the occupants were doing pretty obvious.

But he had to admit. It was sometimes pretty interesting to watch. Wondering what was taking place at this hour, he leaned back against the wall and did the typical voyeuristic thing men seemed to do at gyms.

He watched.

They were offering exotic dance classes now at the gym? Wondering if some man was behind this entire set up (considering the fact that this class was in full view of the rest of the gym, just probably) he frowned as he bought his bottle to his lips. He didn't really approve of the sexual exploitation of the gym: this was just going to drag in people who didn't appreciate a proper work out. Just lazy bums that would sit around using the machines all the while perving on the...

He frowned as he stared in particular at one girl. The rest of the class was leaving the room, but there was something very familiar about her frame. Was it his boss, Alexis? But she wouldn't be caught dead sweating in the gym and doing some ridiculous dance like this in public. His frown deepened as he stared at the head tilt to the side and _talk_ to the metal pole. There was only one person he knew who would be ridiculous enough to do something like that.

Taking a step because he couldn't help himself now, he almost choked on the water as he realized who it was. What the dark shinigami was she doing here, and doing THAT? His frown darkened as he wondered if Alexis knew about this. He couldn't help himself. Normally he treated Ashley like a clueless little _girl_. And now here she was displaying herself in front of all these men! Did she even understand what the moves looked like from the other side? Knowing her, probably not.

He stepped towards the door of the classroom and looked in. Yeah. It was her alright. Doing things to the pole that completely embarrassed him. "Ashley?" he called out, wondering if it could make a difference if she knew there was someone there. "Uh... does Alexis know about these classes?"

Great? Great? Ashie had her hands on her breasts! What was great about that? He could almost convince himself that she really didn't know what was going on. But could someone really be that innocent? Someone needed to talk to her about this. No. Better. Someone needed to knock sense right into her head. And yet her statement took him off guard. Actually, maybe some people COULD be this innocent.

"Ha ha." was his slow, sardonic answer as he stared at her. Damn it she needed to stop moving her body like that! He averted his eyes-- but found it difficult to talk to her in that position and so looked straight at her face only. Focus on the eyes. Only on the eyes! So Alexis didn't know? Of course she didn't. He remembered the fit she had thrown when Ashley had let it slip that she had signed herself up for those belly dancing classes. This was worst. And he wasn't going to be the one to break the news to his boss. He didn't think he'd survive it, for one.

"I'm sure she will be proud." he said slowly, and tried to change the topic. Except she was MOVING again and this time his face was ashen. It was like finding out your teenage daughter had a boyfriend, except worst. It was like finding out that your teenage daughter stripped on the side to make some extra money. 'Ashley!" his voice left him a lot sharper than it should have, and then he didn't know what to say. He was white-- this... maybe he needed to look for another gym to join, to avoid heart attacks caused by events such as this.

"Why don't you get down from the... thing?" he paused. "You're giving me a headache looking at you all upside down like that." he tried to keep his voice light and at the same time glowered at the window. She was a death scythe. You men needed to stop looking at her! He was an exception, of course. This SCARED him. And he would rather try to deal with her now, than Alexis later if she found out he had seen Ashley do... well. That. With her hips. And with her hands.

"Haven't you been practicing enough today?" he cajoled. "Why don't we go somewhere and cool off? I'll buy you a fruit shake, or something." He'd buy her Deathbucks, if he could get her right side up.

Michael's gaze softened as he looked at Ashley. It was sweet, how eager she was to prove herself to her sister. It was moronic to think that exotic dancing would make Alexis proud... but still sweet. "I'm sure." he answered, fudging up the truth. Well, if she found out he was sure Alexis would feel _something_.

Her next words however, had him regret trying to be so nice to her. His expression fell to one of dismay and fluster. Just how was he going to say no to her? Him, try exotic dancing? He could just see it now: the damn newsletter that seemed to know everything hailing him not as priest sama, but stripper sama. No. NO. "Uh. I think I've got a mission I'm mentoring tomorrow." he answered. First thing he was going to do when he got to shibusen, he was going to sign himself up for any rank one mission and take them to the ends of the world. Maybe it would be safe for him to come back some time... next week. Cowardly yes. But desperate times... "Why don't you ask Arashi? I'm sure you guys will have a blast together." did he feel bad about using the other staff member as bait? Not in the least.

Watching her through the mirror and seeing as she tried to contort her body, he saw the logic behind exotic dancing. It WOULD increase his flexibility... but no. No in public. Not in this room. "Uh. Ashley? I think this is a class for women." or for the occasional odd man. But he didn't want to count himself in that batch. When she bumped into him, he almost flinched back. Michael Michael-Smith. Scared of a bunch of sexy moves? You betcha.

Relief shone in his eyes when she took him up on the offer for Deathbucks. "Perfect!" he answered. "You want to go take a quick shower and meet me at the front of the gym?" maybe he should take a shower and burn out the images in his brain. It was... disconcerting, to say the least, to know what he had seen today. "I can meet you out in front in ten minutes, and I'll treat you to your first fruitshake of the day." Get out of here quick, hide all the evidence of what he had been doing. Better to do it before someone who walked by ended up with the wrong idea.

Michael wondered just what a rank one mission with Ashley mentoring would be like. Well, she WAS a death scythe for a reason, and it wasn't too much work. So far the technicians seemed to know what they were doing, and all he had to do was stand around and take them home after. But still... her conversation jumped around and he found it hard to concentration on any of them, so he simply continued to nod his head at her every time he believed she needed a response. Yes. Yes. Yes. That usually seemed to work with women.

Suddenly finding her arms around him and her squealing had him stiffening slightly at the close contact. For one thing they were both sweaty: and he didn't like having OTHER sweaty people touch him. For another thing, he'd just seen her do things no one should see her do. So he floundered a little bit at her next question, only managing a brief "... I guess so you're right?" he was weak. Weak! Maybe he needed to mentally train himself rather than going to the gym so often.

He watched her run to the changing rooms and sighed. A new gym. He'd find a new gym as soon as he could and ignore such a thing had happened today. As he walked to the showers he shook his head. He was never the type to be affected enough to need cold showers: he didn't really understand a man weak enough to need one after certain encounters. But after today... well. He now understood the need. If he was less of himself and more of a testosterone crazed man, things might be different right now.

Actually a cold shower might do some good now.

--

It was just shy of ten minutes that Michael walked out of the locker, freshly scrubbed and deo'ed so that he didn't smell as bad. So cool to touch, due to the temperature of the water. He felt better, had almost managed to pretend to himself that everything had been nothing more than a really bad dream.

Looking around, he slung the duffel bag he had over the other shoulder and frowned. Maybe before he met Ashley, he should talk to someone about the types of courses they offered her at the GYM.

So it turned out he didn't have the authority to pull Ashley out of the class, or try to cancel it for the good of mankind. In fact, there was probably a petition to _double_ such classes, by the men. So instead he waited for Ashley, wondering when she stopped to speak to another woman. He was right here, and yet she didn't seem to notice him at all.

Her words had an expression of bemusement cross his face. She would forget, wouldn't she? In the span of ten minutes she would actually forget that she was here to meet with him for coffee. But he wasn't insulted. There was something frank and honest about the girl that made it hard to be insulted. And yet at the cold comment... he cleared his throat. "The hot water wasn't working." he answered, fudging the truth just a little bit. "I think something is wrong with the plumbing, for the men's locker room." the receptionist cast him a curious look at the words, and he shook his head. No, it was fine really. But he wasn't going to get into a conversation about taking a cold shower out of choice with this one. He might actually have to answer _why_ guys did that.

He followed her then, almost obedient. Ashley was so different from his boss and from himself, he had trouble believing she was a death scythe, sometimes. She seemed more like a green weapon except for the instances when he had been lucky enough to see her in battle. Shifting the weight of the duffel bag on his shoulder, he sped up to match her foot steps.

"I didn't even know you used the different facilities in the gym." he said, making small conversation. He wasn't one to shy away from it, especially with people whom he had socialized with for quite some time. It was only with the new people. Or students. Treating students as equals... well, that was just insane. They weren't equals, after all.


Reaching Deathbucks, he held the door open for her, motioning for her to go in first. "You let me know what flavor you want." maybe the brain freeze would kill some of the extra thoughts as well.

Michael shook his head. No, he wouldn't get cold. At least no in the unwanted sense. He was glad that the particular issue about the cold shower was over, though. He didn't know how he'd explain it if she asked more questions. This was ridiculous. He was a man, dammit despite what all the stupid shibusen newsletters might like to accuse him of being. So instead he followed her to the coffee shop.

He had a feeling why he knew people stared. Because one, students seemed to be fascinated watching the death scythes work out and two, because... well. Ashie just didn't fit the type of girl who worked out so intensely. "I try not to train at Shibusen if I can." he frowned. The school had the right equipment, but he found the people annoying. Young ones watching and mimicking him, asking for advice, talking. This was a sacred moment.

He nodded at the two stools. "Alright, that's a good place." stools, chairs, whatever. It didn't bother him where she wanted to sit. But her drink other... he paused. "Double. Dee?" As in ... he shook his head. His mind was surprisingly on a one track bend it seemed, and he didn't approve of it. Maybe he worked out too much, or too little. He was sure that deathbucks wouldn't intentionally name a drink something so... descriptive. Then again with the way things were going maybe even Deathbucks had a perverted streak.

"Go, sit." he said, nodding his head. He'd get her that ridiculous sounding name and a proper coffee for himself. As he lined up, he eyed at the sample of pastries and salads.

"Can I help you sir?"

"One double dee and an americano... whatever you call it." the cashier took the hint and nodded with a wink, yelling out the order. He glanced over to the stools, and sighed. He was having coffee with Ashley, of all people. They never had coffee like this. It was strange, to say the least.

"Alright." he carried both drinks to the stools and handed her the brightly colored thing with a look of unease. It was so.... colorful. Surely nothing natural on the face of this earth was that vivid. "Here you are."