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Nic’s eyes catch the bracelet on Cass’ wrist, especially when she pointed out the sushi restaurant. He’s glad to see she accepted it. “We can definitely have sushi. Do we want to get it to go or dine-in?” He asks as he looks around them for any sort of bike rack he might use.

“So, what about you? Do I need to beat up the dragon at all for you or did you two air everything out?” He knows they at least went on a hunt together, but Cass hasn’t really told him what happened or how she’s feeling regarding it all.

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”To go I think. That way we can have more time to comb through the video you have,” she decided.

Cassiopeia slipped her hand into Nic's while they walked, mulling over his words.

”I wouldn't mind seeing you punch Caden in the face… but no, you don't need to do that. I feel… off. I don't know how I feel. We had lunch after we killed the Redcaps and it was good, better than when he initially came over, but I'm not really sure yet.”

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Nic grins at Cass, pleased with how she practically read his mind. “I agree.” He says as he feels her hand hold his. While she talks, he brings her hand to his lips and kisses it.

“That’s okay - you can definitely take time to really unpack what you’re feeling about all of this. I’m just so proud that you gave him a chance to explain himself at least. That was the most important part for me.” Nic kisses her hand and then her head again before they come to a stop in front of the sushi place.

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”Well, he brought whiskey and presents. Who was I to turn him away?”

She stopped outside the shop with Nic and took over holding the bike. ”I'll wait here with the bags and bike, you go get us something delicious. Lots of it,” Cassi said with a warm smile.

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Nic laughs, making a mental note to remember whiskey if he ever messes up that badly with Cass, but also making a second mental note not to fuck things up anywhere near how badly Caden had… adjacently. Nic brings his attention back to Cass as she takes his bike.

“Do you have a preference for anything in particular?” Nic asks instead of trying to be overprotective and refusing to let her just wait outside at night in the middle of downtown Chicago. He has to remind himself that she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

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”Mmm, see if they have any gyoza, and shrimp, and tempura…And double of whatever rolls you want,” Cassi decided, suddenly feeling rather hungry.

She wheeled the bike over beside the front door, next to the window so she could see Nic when he was inside and he would be able to see her. She knew he was likely worried about leaving her outside with a bike and all these shopping bags, but Cassi still had her knives from the hunt earlier. She was more than prepared to fend off assailants of any species.

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Nic kisses Cass cheek, squeezing her hand before he let go. “Sounds perfect to me.” He says, about to walk inside, but turns around to kiss Cass one more time on her lips before he finally goes in and orders their food. He gets Cass’ requests of course, but also a few tempura rolls and shrimp tempura rolls for Cass to try along with his favorites. He makes sure it’s okay for him to wait outside before rejoining Cass.

“Alright, how did it go with the redcaps? Would you have been fine without Caden’s help?” Nic’s tone is thick with teasing, testing the waters of how well the relationship with her best friend is going.

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Cassiopeia smiled, watching Nic walk away for the second time. She was more than happy with the second kiss, and waited for Nic to start ordering before she looked up and down the street.

She tried to be more concerned about the problem Nic was having with disappearing patients, but it was hard to be when she was just happy to be in Nic's presence again.

Still daydreaming, Cassi startled slightly when she heard the door open so quickly. She glanced at Nic's empty hands and realized he was waiting with her while the food was prepared. Cassi smiled and leaned into Nic.

She laughed nervously when he asked if she would have been okay without Caden. Cassi fiddler with her hair.

”Well, I mean… I would have figured it out but, um… it was probably a good thing Caden was there. I spent the entire fight upside down,” she said and revealed the ankle that had rope burn to him.

It had already faded some, but it was taking a lot longer than it should. Cassi had already determined the thing had been magiked. She had taken the rope and it was stuffed in her backpack so she could study it later and figure out why she couldn't break it.

”But I did kill seven out of nine Redcaps! So, I think that warrants me some leniency,” she said definately.

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Nic takes a look at her ankle and takes a small sharp breath through his teeth. “How long did you spend upside down?” He tries to keep his tone light for her sake as he kneels down to look at her rope burn more carefully.

“Also, you killed seven creatures while hanging upside down??” He doesn’t comment on the leniency though, instead pulling out a little container from his backpack and using the aloe Vera he had gotten from his plant earlier on the rope burn. “Did you heal this already?” Nic twists and turns her leg gently to get a good look at it all.

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Cassi looked away from Nic, fiddling with her bracelet while she spoke. "Um, the whole fight... The rope was imbued with magic. I couldn't cut it or spell it off for the life of me. So I threw my knives and used my magic on them from there. I ended up hitting Caden once, but he recovered quickly. Caden killed two and then I poisoned six, but then Aegnor dipped his hat in Caden's blood. That was the real problem, but then Aegnor let me down after he threw Caden one hundred and fifty yards."

As Cassi retold the tale, Nic applied the aloe to Cassiopeia's leg. She faltered in her storytelling, sighing happily at the cooling sensation. She shut her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his touch. She hadn't realized the burn was still irritating her skin that much. Maybe she did need to start carrying a mini first aid kit with her.

Cassi opened her eyes and blinked before she looked down at Nic. "No, I haven't touched it. It's healed some naturally, but a normal rope burn for me would have been healed by now," she confessed to him.

The sight of Nic's dark head bent over while he tended to her sent a little thrill through Cassi. Without thinking, she ran a hand through his hair. She slipped her fingers over the top of his ear and down the side of his jaw. It was easy to tilt Nic's head up to look at her since his height allowed him to be closer.

"My knight in scrubs," she teased. She loved how much of a caregiver Nic was, even when he wasn't at work. He had such a pure heart, one that needed to give without worry of ever receiving. She hoped to give him as much as he gave her and the world one day.

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“Wait, so you knew this redcap? And did you stab Caden on purpose?” Nic takes a little bit of breathable gauze to wrap around her ankle to keep out any dirt for now. “Hmm, I wonder what he used for the rope then… I’m guessing this isn’t common for you to encounter…”

Closing his eyes, Nic smiles as Cass’ fingers run through his hair, enjoying the simple touch. When he feels her tilting his head up, he happily obliges, smiling warmly up at Cass. “Should I change into scrubs? Are uniforms something you like?” He grins crookedly, a little devious sparkle to his eyes.

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Cassi looked at Nic, narrowing her eyes playfully at his devious look. "Isn't everyone into the uniform? If you were a doctor... I'd tell you to leave the lab coat on...and nothing else," she flirted boldly.

She looked away from Nic, muling over his other questions before she answered him.

"I kept the rope to try and figure out what Aegnor did. I became acquainted with Aegnor shortly after my family... Redcaps are created in areas of high death and violence. We formed an understanding and fought together until I left Scotland. I haven't seen him in a hundred and fifty years. He arrived with new faces because of all the magic here. When a Redcap dips their cap into magical blood they temporary gain the powers of that being. So not only were they already more advanced before we showed up, when I stabbed Caden, and yes it was by accident...not that he didn't deserve it... he bled on the ground and Aegnor took advantage. I think it could have been a lot worse but... I think he wanted me to kill him," Cassi said, looking at the bandage on her hand.

She unwrapped her hand, the cut fully healed and just a faint scar now. She rubbed her hand along it. "Redcaps aren't known for longevity due to their violent nature, but Aegnor had been alive for a long time, and he was a friend I guess you could say. I think he was tired but he wanted to die honorably, so he fought us."

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Nic laughs, almost tempted to steal a lab coat just to see Cass’ reaction. He stands as she answers his other questions, nodding gratefully that she had kept the rope. Keeping an eye out her expressions, Nic can’t help but sympathize with her - he doesn’t know from any sort of experience, but if this Aegnor was someone who was there right after the suffering and turmoil Cass went through after losing her family… He knew it must be confusing to deal with, especially with only just starting to repair her relationship to Caden.

“I’m sorry you had to do that.” Nic says, taking her now unwrapped hand and kissing the scar before kissing her palm. “I think we need mochi with our sushi.” He declares, pulling Cass in for a hug before looking into the shop. “Looks like our feast is ready, I’ll be right back.” With a kiss to Cass’ forehead, he lets go of her and heads into the shop, able to get an assortment of mochi to go along with everything.

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Cassi smiled softly, shutting her eyes when Nic kissed her hand and held her. His compassion to anything and everything never ceased to amaze Cassi. She admired how Nic could look at every situation from a caregiver perspective. She looked down at her ankle. Twisting it this way and that without the bandage riding up or rubbing uncomfortably against her skin. She turned and looked at Nic through the shop window while he gathered their meal.

Her heart swelled with joy, and a weight seemed to lift off her heart. She deserved this man more than she realized and she loved him more than she could comprehend. A tear fell down her cheek but it wasn't from sadness. She felt relieved. Cassi turned her head and looked up at the sky. The sun had created a beautiful sunset, changing the colours in the sky from blue to brilliant reds and oranges.

"Tapadh leat," she whispered to the sky and to those that were listening.

The wind wrapped itself around Cassi in a warm embrace, caressing her forehead with such tenderness that she started to cry more as memories of her mother and grandmother flooded her mind. The wind released her slowly after that, and Cassi took a steady breath in, feeling like it was the first time she had breathed unburdened in months. Years.

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Nic walks out with the expertly bagged and packaged food with a big grin. “Okay, if this turns out to taste as good as it smells, we’re definitely coming back here.” He says before stopping, nearly dropping the bags as he hurried over to Cass.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Nic places the bags in one hand as he wipes her tears with his thumb and looks around wildly for an assailant. “Are you okay?” He turns his gaze back to Cass to scan her for any signs of distress.

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Cassiopeia smiled and shook her head, finding Nic's concern perfect and adorable. She chuckled lightly and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I am more than okay," she said and kissed him deeply. She reached up on her tiptoes, leaning into him comfortably with the knowledge that Nic would support her no matter what. She kissed the man she loved with all of her heart, mind, body, and soul.

She would have kept kissing him like that, but the smell of the food made her stomach grumble and she didn't want Nic to drop the food.

"My ancestors say hi by the way," she whispered before relaxing her feet and released her hold on him.

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Nic’s reaction is cut off by the kiss he receives from Cass, wrapping his free arm around her waist securely as she kisses him. He makes sure to shift his legs to avoid both of them falling over - even though he would love nothing more than for Cass to be on top of him. When he hears her stomach grumble, his joins in with a growl and he laughs joyfully.

“Should I say hi back? I knew I should have worn something nicer today.” Nic whispers in reply to Cass, stealing a kiss on her forehead before she releases him.

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Cassi giggled, looked up at Nic and grabbed his sweater. ”Wait. Do that again,” she said and tapped her forehead when he kissed her.

”You can say hi if you want…They are still lingering…”

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“Yes ma’am.” Nic says in a mock salute, giving into her command and kissing her forehead tenderly. “Hopefully your ancestors are okay with a show?” He teases in a whisper before kissing her forehead again and pulling back. “Hello, I’m Nic Wu and may I just say what a magnificent descendant you have here? Quite adorable and compassionate too!”

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"Let them watch if they come. Maybe they'll learn something," Caden teased, happily following Nero into the next room.

He grinned at their offer and squeezed Nero's hand. "I would enjoy breaking some furniture with you," he said.

While they walked Caden let the dragon come closer to the surface. They searched Nero's property, looking for signs of things that should not be, of people who should not be around.

Something bounced off Caden's power, something that shouldn't be there. Caden stopped walking when the dragon growled inside his mind., warning him that their mate wasn't safe. Caden's eyes shifted back to the dragon, and he tugged on Nero's hand.

"Someone is watching," he said. Caden's voice held an air of authority and an otherness. It was still Caden's familiar cadence, but the dragon was with them.

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Nero chuckles and shakes their head at Caden’s replies, squeezing his hand back three times as they lead him. When Caden stops and tugs on the imp’s hand, they turn to look at him. Hearing the dragon in Caden’s voice doesn’t alarm Nero as much anymore, but hearing that someone was watching has them ducking into his arms, hiding themselves in his torso.

“Can you tell who it is? I swear to god if it’s Ryan, I’m turning him into dust.” Although, Nero feels like if it was the German-speaking demon that they loved to always call by the wrong name, Caden would have recognized him… right?

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Caden wrapped a protective arm around Nero when they curled into him. He knew his imp was dangerous enough to defend themselves, but the fact that Nero chose to defer to Caden enraptured him.

Caden reached out with his power again to take a closer look at what was within the boundaries of Nero’s home, but besides being a demon, Caden didn’t know who it was.

Caden growled in annoyance. ”I don’t know who it is.” He wrapped his other arm around Nero. ”I need to get you out of here.”

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Nero’s brow furrows - even though Caden didn’t individually meet every single one of their peons, he’d probably recognize one if it was one of them. The thought that not only was it someone unknown, but also a demon chills Nero to the core. Their hands clutch at Caden’s back as their mind starts going through possible escape maneuvers. “Should I try teleporting us?”

“Wait, no, the books in my office - we need to grab those before we leave.” Nero looks up at Caden with a pleading look. “I don’t care about all the other stuff here, but those books…” The imp scans their dragon’s face. “They likely hold the answers we need. I had my demons retrieve them from Hell as inconspicuously as I could… Scheisse…” They trail off, trying to think who it could be invading their property.