[center][h1][color=f26522]Milo Ventri[/color][/h1][/center] [hr][hr] [center][h2]Tuesday Morning Sol City Athletic Center[/h2][/center] Milo had decided that the best way to spend his morning was at the gym, the group that sparred there were decent enough people that he didn't mind the company as well as the match. This particular morning however proved to be quite dull, the after effects of the snow storm had left the gym quite empty as most were likely digging themselves out of their houses or just not wanting to go out in the slushy mess that was the streets, though a couple did still show. Milo almost felt bad some days for beating on the poor hipsters here in Sol but they seemed to enjoy practicing with him and they all got what they wanted out of it, some of the kids there even seemed like they had real potential, the kind he had once, long ago. After Milo finished up his exercise for the day, he showered off and gathered his gear, he had a strange feeling of someone watching him the entire time however, he just chocked it up to his heightened paranoia. [b][i]RING RING[/i][/b] Milo pulled out his phone and hit the answer button, [color=f26522]"Milo speaking."[/color] His standard gruff greeting, though the tone changed a bit as Paige started to talk. [color=f26522]"Is it that time already, alright, I need to head home a minute, I'm at the gym right now, don't think my sword is proper attire for a museum."[/color] he chuckled a bit as put his gear in the truck, [color=f26522]"Give me a few minutes head start and I will meet you there, bye."[/color] and he hung up the phone as he got in the truck. Milo was able to barrel through the remnants of the storm quite easily and many cars were happy to stick behind him and follow the trails, as he got home however one of those cars was still behind him, As Milo got out of the truck the other person seemed to keep going but he was still wary now. Milo changed into a nicer button down shirt and thin black vest, along with dark slacks, he did like to try and be presentable, even when the task at hand was something unsavory, however it was as he walked outside that things took a turn, a sharp stinging blow to the back of his head, someone grabbing the back of his collar, he could feel blood drip from the back of his head, though his sight was blurry. The next sensation was that of falling, until hitting the unbearable cold of the harbor, Milo reeled back and gasped for breath as the frigid water stole it from him, "Damnit Nikki, why with the special requests?" Milo felt hands on his neck and collar as he is pressed back into the water. "Drown the blacksmith, leave him in the harbor. Fucking cold as hell." Milo couldn't catch his breath for anything, and the man holding him down was strong, salt was beginning to lay heavy in his mouth as sea water tried to force into his lungs, his consciousness began to fade, but as he could feel himself starting to let go of his breath something took hold, that primal need to live, the desire to see the people he cares about, and the thought that if they were after him, then they were still after Paige. Milo grabbed the mans arms and wrenched him down into the water with him, his nearly frozen muscles were aching as he began to wrestle with the assailant. Milo had couldn't feel his hands at this point, he could tell they were fists, but he could feel the impact when he swung, he could feel the man beneath him going limp, but stopping wasn't in the cards, Milo only could tell that if both of them stood up, then he wasn't safe. The trails of red were pulling out into the harbor at this point and Milo, exhausted and shaking, managed to pull the man from the water and into the shop, [color=f26522]"How much did he promise?"[/color] Milo shouted at the man, but there was no response, [color=f26522]"Don't clam up now that I kicked your ass, what other hits are on us?" [/color]still nothing, the man lay bloody and broken, seawater pooled with blood. [color=f26522]"Hey, fuckin' wake up."[/color] Milo slapped the man across the face, but no response came. Milo stared, unsure of what to do, he tried to find a pulse, a heartbeat, a faint breath, nothing, the man was gone. Milo panicked a moment, he had just wanted to live, he didn't want anyone dead, but here he was with bloody hands and a body in his shop. He dialed the police as fast as he could and tried to explain what had happened, though soon the squads were there, and he was pressed into the squad car in handcuffs, not going to be a pleasant phone call soon. [@Pilatus]