Lunch had come and gone quickly and before she knew it Aoi had been forced to look for some sort of clothes she could attempt to work out in. Which proved to be ever so slightly difficult. She had not had to own work out clothes since she was in grade school. So her normal bra would have to work at containing her girls, and a simple loose t-shirt would have to work paired with a simple pair of leggings. At least it was comfortable enough for now.
But the bigger issue that was sitting heavy in her gut was the realization that she would be working out with Izuku. A man who looked like he could live in the gym. And he probably did before being shackled to protecting her every second of the day. They were clearly two very different people. She got her exercise in with just walking for her job and not having a vehicle. That was all she needed in order to maintain her body weight. But Izuku worked out pretty much for a living. Being a hero was a hard job and it completely relied on him being physically strong.
Izuku belonged in a gym, while Aoi was quickly becoming aware she did not know how to use any of the equipment. So not only was her flabby out of shape body going to be working out beside him, but she would also then have to look like a complete moron as she would not know how to use any of the equipment. What was once a smart idea was quickly spiraling into a nightmare and she had not even left her bedroom yet after getting changed.
"Aoi?" She could hear the unspoken question as Izuku just called out her name. He was wondering if everything was okay. No! No it was not. But she was not about to tell him that.
"Yeah yeah I'm coming," she called out before taking at least three deep breaths and then forcing herself to step out of her bedroom to find Izuku standing there waiting for her.
Well damn maybe the working out together plan wasn't so hellish after all of this was the sight she would be blessed with during the work out. Izuku had been standing outside her room waiting for her. He was wearing one of those, oh what you call it? Muscle tees? Where the design was the cutaway half the shirt from under the arms leaving the sides of his rips easily visible. And honestly it left little to the imagination with how much skin on his sides it showed. Damn, should be illegal for someone to look that good. And of course with the light grey top was a matching coloured light grey shorts that looked like they could barely contain those strong thighs and that juicy ass of his.
Fuck he was dangerous looking that good while those around him were suppose to be handling heavy equipment and machinery. Damn that man needed a look at your own risk sign hung around his neck cause Aoi could have used the warning before she was blind sided like that.
With her face quickly heating up she looked away from the innocent sugar cookie who had no idea he was trying to kill her with his looks as she headed towards the front door to slip on her old ragged pair of runners. She just hoped the soles wouldn't rip off while she did any running. Oh well too late to worry about that now.
With her shoes on she let Izuku take the lead out of their apartment. It felt almost odd to be able to breathe some almost fresh air. She missed seeing more than the simple walls of the apartment. At least the hall walls had a slightly different coloured paint on them.
Following the green haired man they entered an elevator before riding down to the ground level floor. Oh this may be a good thing for later. But for now she stuck right beside Izuku as they walked out of the elevator and started down another hall.
"You should enjoy this little gym. It's not that big, but you can have access to it any time of day or night," she could hear Izuku rambling off about the gym. But it was a bit hard to focus on him as she quickly found herself growing nervous all over again. Was she going to make a fool of herself? What if she hurt herself? That would also be embarrassing. What if someone else would also be in the gym? Aoi was not normally one to be so self conscious. But something about being seen with Izuku while he looked even more like a Greek God than normal. While she was plain and flabby. People would judge her, she was sure. And that had her palms sweating.
She watched as Izuku led the way into a room that was almost twice the size of their apartment, which is saying something as their apartment was incredibly large. This room was enormous. And it sported an assortment of work out equipment. Even a few things had multiples, like the treadmills. Sure other things appeared to only have one. But the more bare bones basic equipment had a few of them so she and Izuku could potentially work out side by side.
"It's a bit small but there should be more than enough equipment here for you to use," Izuku had been talking but all she heard was an almost apologetic sounding sentence. Which had the woman looking at Izuku like he had grown a second head.
"This is small to you? This is the biggest private gym I've ever been in," it had also been the only one, but she was not going to tell him that. Which had the man softly blushing as he rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at her.
"I guess I forget civilians don't typically have access to the same training ground or gyms as most hero's do," he said, sounding a little bit embarrassed. She wanted to tell him no shit. But she bit her tongue not wanting to sound more rude.
"I'm guessing your agency must have a pretty large gym then if you find this small?" She was unable to help her curiosity at the mention of his agency. Aoi has been in police stations, but an actual hero agency, now those she avoided like the plague. Hero's in general she had tried to avoid before she met Deku.
"Yeah. My agency has a few gyms and large training rooms designed for hero's to workout without running the risk of breaking any equipment since some people may be more likely to break things accidentally," she watched his ears turning red at that last little bit. Sounds like the big sugar cookie may have broken workout equipment on more than one occasion if he felt the need to add that unneeded little extra tidbit of information.
"Well that makes sense. I am sure hero's need a little extra space for working out," then again she felt having one of the largest agencies in the north side of Japan and having a lot of money meant one could splurge on such luxuries.
"Well then mister hero. What shall we do first?" She asked, looking around the room. She had been so relieved when there had been no one in the room at all when they had stepped in through the door.
"Well I usually start with doing some stretches before deciding what I want to do," he said thinking to himself before looking over at his work out companion. It has been a long time since he worked out with someone who was not also a hero. He needed to remind himself that Aoi would not need or be able to do the same workouts as he could. Where to start? Probably something simple? Maybe avoid lifting weights of any kind. Then again a treadmill could be a good starting point for them both. It would be a good warm up for him.
"Izuku you're mumbling," Aoi said, unable to help as the corner of her lips curled up as she had been standing there listening to the green bean just mumbling away the thoughts that entered his head. It made it easy to forget for a moment that this was Japan's number one hero standing before her.
"Sorry," she watched his entire face turn red as he squeaked out an apology not at all planning for his internal thoughts to end up voiced.
"It's fine. And yes let's start with some stretches," Aoi agreed before she shifted over to a nice open area of the gym and started with some basics even she could remember, like bending down to try and touch her toes. Which she could no longer touch. Her back also screamed at the unwanted movement after her sleepless night curled up in a corner on the floor.
She tried very hard not to let her eyes wander over to the man who stood beside her and then proceeded to do the same stretches as her. Though he could actually touch his toes. Dang it she was going to need to work on that. Her teenage self used to have no issues touching her toes. And Izuku made it look easy. Then again the man was probably going to make everything they did in this room look easy.
"Why did Todoroki join your agency and not his dad's?" Maybe the silence was driving her mad? Or she was already crazy before now but she felt the need to break the silence. And so her mouth opened and said the first thing that came to her mind. She hadn't meant to ask that particular question. She had just been thinking about hero agencies, Deku's in particular. Which reminded her that the youngest Todoroki worked with him, or for him she didn't know how the hero's hierarchy worked in agencies. Seems poor Izuku did not expect the question as he looked over at her a little surprised.
"I'm not too sure honestly. We worked for him as interns back during our UA days. But once we graduated Shoto did go back to work for his father for a bit. But when I started my agency he asked to join. I couldn't say no to him. He's a great friend, we work well together, he is popular and always places well on the Hero Billboard. So when he asked to join me I was really happy," Izuku was rambling again but Aoi didn't mind. She may not know how she feels about the young Todoroki male who in small ways reminded her of his brother. But it was clear that Izuku thought the world of his friend, coworker and former classmate.
Aoi was surprised to hear that the son of Endeavor had actually worked with the man who abused him as a child. But she already knew that was a touchy subject to talk about. And so she did not bring it up as she thought about the dual quirk user as she tried to slowly stretch her sore muscles out.
"What is Todoroki like?" She asked softly, unable to once again help her curiosity. Was he in any way like his older brother? Sure she imagines there would be a lot of differences. Dabi was after all not the nicest person all the time, nor was he a good person either. He did a lot of horrible things in his last year of life. But before he met Shigaraki he seemed rather okay. He still was a rough person but he kept her safe. So he wasn't all bad. Not in her eyes at least.
She watched one of Izuku's eye brows arch at her and his head tilt ever so slightly. It was probably odd she was suddenly asking questions about another man. Though Izuku did not seem to be a get mad and jealous kind of person, yet still Aoi could not help as her mouth suddenly started to spew out more words without her brain's full consent.
"It's just in some ways he reminds me a bit of his brother. And I was just wondering if they were anything alike," she was saying before Izuku even had a chance to answer her. Izuku looked ahead at her explanation for her question.
"I don't know what Dabi is like. I probably only ever said a word or two to the villain. So I don't know if the two are anything alike," Izuku said slowly and seemed to be picking his words carefully. Or trying to at least as he spoke, "but Shoto is a kind person. He is quick to help a friend. He's a little socially awkward. And he may take things a little too literally. But he's a really good friend."
Hearing Izuku talk about his friend had her chuckle softly to herself. So the two brothers had little in common. Good to know.
"Sounds like the only thing they had in common was social awkwardness. Though Dabi was happy to burn anyone in his company he did not like or want around. But he had times, he could be a little awkward. He could hide it very well, though that was usually with using anger as a mask to hide it. But then again he could be nice. He saved me, even put up with my ass following him around like a stupid puppy. He gave me a place to sleep without fear. Taught me how to steal things and not get caught. That kept me from starving to death a few times," now it was Aoi's turn to ramble on about someone she admired in her own twisted way.
Izuku may not have understood how the woman could think so positive about a man who was a mass murderer, tried to kill his father and brother, and just seemed over all insane to him. But watching her talk about how he saved her it became clear that Izuku may never completely understand. But, he could understand how easy it was for someone to idealize another person who saved them. He did it to other hero's as a kid and saw it first hand among his fans. And in her eyes Dabi was her hero. It would not matter to her what the man did, in her eyes she saw a savor.
Izuku wanted to tell her the man she seemed to idolize was a horrible person and that she was simply lucky he never hurt her. Why did he want to do that? A stone settled in his stomach as Izuku couldn't help the odd feeling. Why did she idolize a man that killed people? Oh it was jealousy he was feeling. Why was he jealous? He had saved her life as well. So she most likely thought and looked at him in a similar manner, right? Then again remembering how mad she was at him those first few days out of the hospital he questioned if she looked or thought of him in the same manner. That had his jealousy flare up.
"I think we have stretched enough. How about we start at the treadmills?" Izuku quickly decided he wanted to try and change the subject. He watched Aoi side eye the treadmills along one wall before she smiled at him and gave a simple okay. She followed him as they headed over to the treadmills. Aoi eyed the machine like it may eat her. Then again who knows maybe it would.
She was eyeing up Izuku as he started to press buttons and turn the machine on. She quickly followed suit as she turned on the dang contraption. At least she didn't jump when it started to move. At least the machine was easy to use as the two set themselves at a nice walking pace to start with. This time they fell into a silence and neither of them seemed brave enough to break it until Izuku spoke up.
"Feel free to set your own pace. Don't push yourself too hard," he was saying as he was already kicking his machine into a slightly faster gear as he started to jog slowly.
"Don't worry I don't plan to try and keep up with you. Thankfully we are not on a track. We can each go our own speed but still be side by side," she said, flashing him a soft smile. She wasn't stupid. She knew there was no way she would be able to run at the same speed nor for as long as he could. And so she kept herself at a simple walk even as Izuku started his jog already.
Izuku had in turn flashed her one of those trademark boyish grins he was so well known for. It was an almost heart warming smile. The man may be a walking mountain of muscle and a strong quirk. But really under it all was a little golden retriever puppy. Or that was quickly becoming Aoi's view of the man who could probably spend all day bench pressing her. Then again she wondered what else the man could spend all day doing to her.
Fucking hell, this work out was suppose to help tire out her body and brain. Instead the sight of her roommate jogging beside her was setting her body a fire and her mind a hormonal mess of dirty thoughts. If she tripped and fell while thinking such filthy thoughts she would never be able to live that down.
Deciding instead to try and force her mind to focus she turned up the speed on her treadmill a little as she started a nice slow jog. Maybe this would help her focus as she kept her eyes down on the buttons of her treadmill and the numbers as it kept track of her speed, distance and incline it seemed. Interesting.
She could hear Izuku slowly growing faster in his pace beside her as his slow jog slowly worked its way up to a rather decent run. Glancing over she watched as the man was barely starting to work up a slight sweat along the edge of his hairline. Yet Aoi was trying not to start panting like some old mutt for a breath after only a few minutes of her slow jog. Yet Izuku was running his heart out and barely seemed winded. Damn how much stamina did heroes have?
Aoi was completely amazed as she proceeded to watch Izuku run for the next half an hour while she had to slow down and take breaks at a simple walk and he was still running hard. Man was almost moving like a freight train on that damn treadmill. He was just breaking a sweat when he finally started to slow down till he was walking beside her. His breaths slightly panting but he still didn't seem as out of breath as someone should for how long he had been running for.
"Do you want to try any of the other equipment?" He had asked once his breathing had evened out for the most part.
"No it's okay I'm just gonna stay on this treadmill and jog a little more. But you don't have to stay here with me if you want to go do some other workouts," she said as she looked over at him as she noticed him eyeing up a few of the other equipment. But he seemed reluctant to leave her alone. She hasn't hurt herself yet, she would be fine. And anyways he would still be in the same room just a little further away and doing his own thing. It wasn't that bad being more than five feet away from her. He still looked at her a little skeptical even as she spoke.
"I am fine Izuku. Go ahead and do some more of your normal workouts. Don't worry about me," she said, even going as far as to give him a shooing motion with one hand. He still looked reluctant but he did eventually sigh.
"Okay. If you need anything don't be scared to yell out," he said as he stopped his treadmill, hesitated for a second then stepped off and started walking away. She didn't turn to watch him or see what equipment he had made his way over towards first.
Once again she started a slow jog, after all her plan was to try and run till her legs turned to jelly, in an attempt to tire out her annoying mind and body. She quickly started to pant again as she started jogging. But at least with Izuku no longer beside her she didn't feel self conscious about how loud her pants became. Would a therapist have a hay day that she was rather literally trying to run from her problems as she continued to work her poor out of shape body. She was not happy till she started to feel her legs really scream at her, the muscles sore. A lovely burn started in the back of her calves. Yet she didn't slow.
But she did take a moment to look around for where Izuku had gotten to. She never did see where he had gone to. She found him at some pull up bar in the middle of the room. His shirt he had been wearing earlier was gone now. And the man was lifting himself up easily and effortlessly as he pulled himself up and down on the bar. The sight was completely sinful. A light sweat had started to coat his body. Muscles were flexing underneath tight pulled skin as the man made it look effortless to be lifting what had to be easily over 240 pounds of pure muscle up and down.
Aoi should never have looked around for the man. That was her first mistake, the second was allowing her body to almost go into a panic at the sight. Her steps had sped up a little more than the treadmill, this caused her own two feet to suddenly entangle with one another. Before she could even try to grab for the machine to keep herself upright she had already started to go ass over teakettle as she crashed into the moving track of the treadmill face first. But the treadmill was still moving as she had earlier removed the little safety clip as it had annoyed her while she was running.
Note to self. Never do that again. The treadmill still moving then proceeded to roll her down its length and spit her out as a crumpled mess on the floor. Which in turn had a panicked looking Izuku standing over her only a second later.
"Aoi! Are you okay? Did you break anything? Did you hit your head? Do you need to go to the hospital?" He was rattling off questions as Aoi softly groaned and proceeded to very carefully try and entangle all her limbs from the knot her body had been rolled into.
"I'm fine Izuku," she whispered softly as she felt her entire face turning a deep red. She may have destroyed her pride, but she didn't think she broke anything else.