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Caden chuckled deeply, and rested his chin on top of Nero's head. ”I could wake you up more if you want,” Caden said, running his hand down Nero's back, and over their hip to the front of their body suggestively.

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Cassiopeia was looking forward to spending a full day with Nic again, even if they would be surrounded by friends and family. At least they would be together. Cassi sips her tea and eats a muffin in the backseat while Todd and Jason talk up front. Cassi’s mind drifts to some of the more colourful dreams she had last night and she distracts herself by eating the rest of her muffin.

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Nero lets out a tiny breathless moan before it turns into a yawn. “Careful, I might start to think you like me or something.” They mumble, their face still buried in Caden’s chest. Their hands move to scratch him under his chin.

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Nic texts back with a smile. He lets his dad know that Cass said she would be here in five minutes and he nods, heading upstairs to grab a pair of socks for his shoes. Nic goes into the kitchen and gets himself some water while briefly wondering if he and Cass might have some alone time soon. He sighs as he remember today is moving day for his dad’s home - there wouldn’t be many chances to be alone with her.

Nic grabs a pack of water bottles and his cross-shoulder bag while slipping his shoes on by the door. He waits for his dad to rejoin him and get his own shoes on before the two make their way downstairs.

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”Well we can't have that, can we?” Caden's hand moved lower, while Nero scratched his chin. ”Are you trying to put me back to sleep?”

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Cassi blushed at the text and shook her head. She was falling far too fast for this man, but she couldn't help herself. He was completely perfect and more than Cassi ever imagined she could have.

They pulled up outside Nic’s apartment just as Ren and Nic were leaving the building. Cassi hopped out of the back, smiling.

”I come bearing coffee and breakfast,” Cassi said. She held her hands behind her back and handed Nic his burrito. ”I made this for you, so you could have something good.”

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Nero chuckles, finally unburying their face to smile lazily up at Caden. “I might be.” They say with mischief thick in their tone. Moving their hands away from Caden, Nero stretches out as much as they can with Caden holding them before another yawn escapes.

“Why am I so tired?” They mumble mostly to themselves.

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Nic raises his eyebrows in surprise at Cass’ thoughtful gesture. “You’re absolutely divine.” He tells her while kissing her cheek. Unwrapping the burrito, he takes a bite before climbing into the rear seat - they could leave the middle seat down and his dad could ride in the middle without all of them squeezing in together, he realizes.

“Cass this is delicious.” He says genuinely with a big smile.

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Kiki wakes up feeling incredibly warm and very thirsty. She reaches up to rub her swollen eyes and rid them of the rheum that crusts them before she opens them to find the culprit sleeping soundly…

And only in his underwear.

Kimiko lets out a tiny squeal of surprise as her face flushes before clapping her hands over her mouth so she doesn’t wake Avery. Why is he practically naked? And why is he on top of the covers? She can’t help as her eyes drift over his body though and she gulps. He really did have such nice muscles…

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Caden released Nero a bit as their stretched, not really wanting to let them go, but wanting to take advantage of the time they had in New York.

Caden brushed his hand across Nero's cheek. ”Do you think there is a way to see if you're becoming more human?” Caden asked curiously.

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Cass beamed at Nic’s praise and drank her tea while they drove to Ren's. ”I'm glad. I wasn't sure what they would have for you at a fast food breakfast place, so I thought why not be safe rather than sorry.”

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Avery was sound asleep, dreaming about nothing in particular when he heard a squeal and shot awake. Avery sat up, looking around the room for the intruder. He saw nothing and his eyes came to land on Kimiko who was awake and taking her fill of him.

Avery flopped back on the pillows. ”Jesus woman, you nearly gave me a heart attack.” Avery rubbed a hand over his face, feeling fully awake but still lazy. He looked at Kimiko, and smirked.

”I don't normally sleep in clothes, so once you were out I had to strip down,” he explained. ”You did say you wanted me to sleep,” he reminded her.

Avery laid on Kimiko's bed without covering up. Modesty about one's body went completely out the window when you shifted back and forth with a bunch of other guys in the room.

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Nero’s eyes closed at Cadens touch and they smile. “Hmm, an angel might be able to tell but we could always ask Crowley - he got back his humanity at some point or other.” They wrap their arms around Caden and nuzzle into them again.

“It beginning to sound more and more like I’ll have to enlist the leprechaun’s help.” They mumble in a tired pout.

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Nic kisses her cheek again before finishing the burrito. “I appreciate that. Lots of breakfast items have dairy - makes it a little hard to find places that’ll cater to that.”

His dad directs Jason and Todd to his house so Nic doesn’t have to. “You won’t believe how many times McDonalds has put cheese on something after I said no cheese three times.” They chuckle.

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Kiki’s eyes keep wandering as Avery talks, unable to help herself. She sits up and clears her throat, grabbing her water from her nightstand and chugging it. She notices Avery’s hoodie is crumpled at the foot of the bed and guesses she must have taken it off in her sleep. She straightens her tank top to make sure everything is in place still. “Did you sleep well?”

She sets her water back down before feeling a little bold. She throws the covers off of herself and lays on her side, resting her head on Avery’s shoulder and draping a leg across him. “I’m starting to realize why I woke up so warm now. Is that why you sleep nude?”

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”It wouldn't be a bad idea to talk with him. Can you trust him not to tell everyone in your hell your human now, though? I'm sure there are many demons who would love to get their hands on you if they found out. Not that they would get close,” Caden said, holding Nero closer.

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”I'd like to say I'm surprised but I'm not,” Cassi said with a laugh. ”How was your first night in your new place?”

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”I did. It's been a long time since I've slept next to someone, but it was nice,” Avery said.

He watched Kimiko throw the covers back, and shifted to get up with her but instead she threw herself on him. Avery chuckled, smiling happily and rested a hand on her leg and the other behind his head.

”Yes. I can't sleep if I do. Unless I'm camping outside without shelter or something. I didn't want to freak you out and make you think I was making move on you, which was why I slept on top of the covers,” Avery added.

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Nero happily lets Caden hold them closer, trying not to worry too much. “I mean, he’s never told his favorite hunters about me, but I really have no way of knowing for sure…” They muse out loud as they think about it. “It would be so much easier if I could just pop down there and grab some of my things… I know I have at least a few volumes on demons and Hell - things I couldn’t keep topside in case my house got robbed…”

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Nic smiles lopsidedly at Cass. “I gotta say, the bed is really comfortable.” He doesn’t want to bring Caden up so early up the morning, but the large bows really felt perfect. It’s the first time he’s woken up without aches.

“How’d you sleep? Did the kids get into any trouble?”

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Kiki mules it over in her head - she doesn’t know how she would react if she woke up to Avery naked. Her face grows warm and she tries to think of anything else. “Would you be able to sleep under the covers in just your briefs?” She asks curiously while her arm drapes across his torso. She’s tempted to start tracing little designs into his chest to keep her fingers busy but opts for popping her knuckles using thumb.

“I-I just mean… I don’t think I had any nightmares last night thanks to you, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable because I force you to stay.”

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Caden ran his fingers lightly along Nero's spine while they spoke about Hell and what they had. The information would be valuable, and Caden is tempted to see what their old home was like. Besides, Hell would answer a lot of questions for them.

”What if I went with you? I could shift into someone or something else.” There was no way Caden was going to let them go alone. He didn't want to take the risk that Nero would be overpowered, especially if they were starting to become more human.

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Cassi knew Nic wanted to talk about her relationship with Caden. She could see him itching to say something. They had talked about it briefly once, but Cassiopeia didn't let him get much out. Cassi was at the point of wanting to say something to Caden, but was just angry and irritated. Her stubbornness was preventing her from speaking to Caden normally.

”They were good. Wayland was a little ball of energy for most of the night, but I didn’t go to sleep right away so that was fine.”

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The hand Avery had on Kimiko's leg shifted to rest on her arm. He smirked at Kimiko's question, and ran his hand down her arm to take her hand after she was done cracking her knuckles.

”I should be okay. As long as you're comfortable with it. And you aren't forcing me to do anything. I distinctly remember berating you last night for not telling me what was going on.”

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Nero considers it for a moment. “Maybe… I would tell you just to make yourself look like Crowley, but I don’t know how long that would fool everyone.” Nero sighs before sitting up a little, now fully awake. “But it would definitely be better if you looked different…” They probably don’t have to say it out loud to Caden, but they don’t want either Caden or themselves to be used as weak spots for the other.

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Nic smiles to himself, imagining the little guy zooming around the house. “I’ll need to come over soon before the kids forget my face.” He teases, pulling Cass into his side more so he could kiss her head.

The car pulls up to a moderate-sized home with two stories and surrounded by a wooden fence. “Hopefully dad already packed all the photos and photo albums…” Nic whispers. His dad turns around and grins.

“And deprive Cassi of seeing your middle school photos? Not a chance.” My dad announces before getting out of the SUV. Nic did not have a good feeling about this.

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Kiki turns her head to bury her face into the pillows, ears turning red. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?” She mumbles with a sigh, the hand that Avery holds twitching.

“Also… I wouldn’t be uncomfortable with it…” She says this part quietly, her whole face joining her red ears now.

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Caden nodded in agreement with Nero. Once they sat up, Caden moved as well and got out of the bed.

”I can shift into anything you think will work, as long as I've touched it at some point and time in my life. I can combine different forms as well,” Caden informed them.

He opened up a drawer in the dresser and pulled on a pair of lounge pants to wear while he had breakfast.

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Cassi grinned up at Nic when he pulled her in. She reached up and kissed his jaw. ”They never forget a handsome face,” she assured Nic.

Cassi poked her head around to look at the house and smiled. It would have been a good house for a family. Cassi hoped the next family would have many good memories.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and gasped at the idea of seeing little Nic. ”Ooo, I love old photos! Lead the way, Ren!”

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Avery chuckled, shaking his head at how adorable Kimiko was being. ”I will let it go when you start believing I am here because I want to be and because I care.” He kissed her buried head before looking at the rest of her.

He liked how Kimiko draped herself over him, her light skin blending with his dark. It was the perfect combination. He lifted their joined hands and kissed her wrist.

”Well, then I'll make sure to hold you under the covers tonight instead,” he said.

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Nero slips out of bed and grabs Caden’s t-shirt from the day before, a stupid smile growing on their face from how much it smells like Caden still. “Have you ever touched a hellhound?” Nero asks as they join Caden before heading out of the bedroom.

“Wait, are you able to see hellhounds?”

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Nic watches in dismay as his father leads Cass into the house. “Nic went through a phase in junior high…” He hears Ren tell Cass and he puts his head in his hands. He had tried to fit in with the goth, emo, and scene kids, but as an awkward Chinese boy whose parents didn’t let him dye his hair or get lip piercings, it was all cringe to look at these days.

Feeling defeated, Nic leaves the SUV as he hears Jason and Todd laugh. His ears feel like they’re on fire.

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That’s a tall order… Kiki thinks to herself. She’s just about to pull her face out of the pillow when Avery says his next phrase. If she were in an anime, her nose would be spewing blood and her hears would be blowing steam. She kicks her feet a little, wanting to also scream into her pillow too. “This is my life now.”

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"I've never touched or seen a hellhound. I'm not sure if I would be able to see one," Caden mused. He pondered the thought as he walked from the bedroom to the main area of the hotel. The dining table was set with a lovely spread of food. Everything smelled delicious.

"Hellhounds normally drag souls to hell, right?" Caden asked Nero.

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Cassi's eyes widened as she gets shown the pictures from Nic's 'phase'. She gasped, covering her mouth to keep from laughing.

"Oh Nic...Why?" She glanced from the pictures to Nic and can't help but smile. He really had a glow-up.

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Avery laughed and released Kimiko's hand. "Do I honestly make you that shy or embarrassed? I thought I was being endearing," Avery said.

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“I think that’s the idea of them… I’ve never liked them and nobody would take me seriously on why there weren’t hellcats.” Nero pouts for a second before grabbing some bacon to chew on as they thought about it. “You’ve touched Mika before though… And if she’s my familiar, then it could make sense that she’d join me down there… I think.” They flick the fingers on their free hand while they try to remember if they’ve seen cats in Hell.

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Nic drags a hand down his face. “I wanted to fit in with the ‘cool kids’.” He sighs as he uses air quotes before he starts grabbing the other photo albums. He dad had gotten most things packed but it seems like he wasn’t able to get to the more sentimental materials.

“Dad, is there anything left in the rooms upstairs?”

He shakes his head. “Everything is on the first floor now, just need to clean upstairs still.”

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Kiki peeks her head out of her pillow safety net. “I’m not used to it… any of it.” She confesses to Avery chewing on the thumb tip of the hand he just released before she sighs. “I’ve never really dated and I haven’t been intimate with someone else in like…” Her blush returns with a vengeance when she does the math in her head, realizing it’s been almost twenty years. Her face goes back into the pillows.

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Caden cut into his pancake, charmed that Nero wanted hellcats in Hell. For some reason that was perfectly fitting for their persona.

”Would it be strange for you to bring her with you?” Caden asked, before eating his pancakes.

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Cassiopeia happily looked at the photos of Nic, finding most of them adorable. She could see the same light in his eyes through all the stages of his life — even his emo phase, which was probably why it didn’t last long. Cassi only noticed his light dimmed around the harder parts, like the loss of his sister.

”I can get started on cleaning upstairs if the four of you want to load up the moving truck,” Cassi offered.

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Avery smiled softly and shifted his position. He rolled onto his hip, propped himself up on his elbow, and rested his opposite hand on Kimiko’s side. ”There’s no need to rush into anything. We can just keep getting to know each other. I’m not expecting anything to happen while I’m lying next to you like this. I’m a werewolf. My modesty went out the window after shifting in front of a room full of men a hundred times over. I have nothing to be shy or embarrassed about anymore when it comes to nakedness, but that doesn’t mean I expect you to be the same way.”

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Nero sighs, fidgeting with their fingers still before they sit down and pull some more bacon and sausage towards themselves. “I’m trying to remember if I’ve seen any in hell, but it’s also not easy when the only times I interacted with other demons in hell was to prank them - at least from what I can remember.” They frown as they chew on their food.

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As if on cue, Kat and Jane pull up in the truck and join us inside, Jane not even bothering to knock since she’d been here so many times. “Perfect, Jane and Kat have already seen all these photos so they can pack while Cass cleans and the rest of us will load the truck.” Nic declares, hands on his hips.

Jane snorts when she realizes what Nic is trying to do. “Don’t worry, Cassi, we’ll make sure you see the good stuff.” Nic nearly throws one of the photo albums at her head, but he’s already helping move the couch outside. He shoots her a glare though.

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Kimiko takes a deep breath before she pulls her head out of the pillows again, Avery’s hand warm on her side. That’s not what I meant! She says to herself but goes ahead and nods at what Avery is saying. She doesn’t want to rush anything either anyway. “I just mean… gods I feel like a teenager all over again.” She laughs as she rubs the back of her neck awkwardly.

“I like you a lot and I find you very attractive… obviously… so when you say such endearing things… or the not-so-endearing things… I don’t know what to do with myself.”

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Caden watched Nero stick with the bacon and sausage with amusement. ”Well, maybe having a cat in Hell will help you with your campaign to create hellcats,” Caden suggested. He didn’t think it would be that strange for him to be a cat, especially if he was following along at Nero’s heels.

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Cassi claps delightendly. ”Perfect!” she exclaimed, and grabbed the cleaning supplies before marching upstairs to get started.

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Avery listened to Kimiko explain some of what she was thinking and how she was feeling. He smiled, his eyes wandering down her body and nodded. He wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to that statement.

”Well you could just lay there and let me look at you,” Avery teased. He leaned in and kissed Kimiko’s lips quickly before she hid herself again. ”Thank you for being honest with me.”

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Nero grins that Caden is humoring them on the hellcat topic. “Alright, we’ll try it after this weekend.” They declare with a nod before they nearly finish both plates of bacon and sausage.

“Do you want some?” They ask sheepishly but with a mouth full of food

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Nic steals a look at Jason and Todd as he backs out the front door. “Am I going to regret this?” They both nod with grins.

Nic and Ren carry the loveseat out to the sidewalk before opening the back of the moving truck. While they move the couch inside, Nic’s dad asks about Cass and Nic’s relationship.

“It’s going well… I really like her dad.” He tells him with a grin.

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Kiki blinks, a little dazed. She barely had time to react to his tease or the kiss with how fast Avery was. “That was sneaky of you.” She says with a playful glare before she kisses him back.

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Caden smirked, shaking his head. ”You go ahead. You obviously need to recoup your strength from last night.”

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Cassiopeia started with cleaning the bathrooms, quickly loosing herself in the work. It was oddly meditative, cleaning a house and setting things to rights. As Cassi worked, she meditated, and spoke some words to clear the space out and get it ready for the new tenants.

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Avery smiled on Kimiko’s lips while they kissed. ”I had to do something before you hid from me again,” he said, before kissing her again.

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Nero swallows the large amount of food in their mouth and sticks their tongue out at Caden. “Fatty, salty, overindulgent foods have the most flavor for demons.” They explain to him. Although the more humanity they have restored, the more they’ve been able to taste more flavors as of late.

“What’s your favorite food?” Nero asks.

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“Hey dad, when did you say ‘I love you’ to mom?” Nic asks around half-way through moving everything out.

Ren pauses with the large arm chair he’s carrying with Nic. “It’s not really something we said in China. The idea was more about showing your love for someone. We got engaged after eleven months though, if that helps.” He winks at his son as Nic’s ears go red.

Around noon, they had everything packed up and ready to go. Apparently Jane, Kat, and Cass had helped the older Wu downsize much of his things, which did make it easier.

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Cheeks warm with blush, Kiki tries to ignore the comment and instead focus on kissing him. It had been hard to let the kisses go any deeper at the arcade, especially with Kiki’s aversion to PDA, so she wants to make up for some of those getting cut short the night before.

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