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Cassi started to trace lines along Nic’s chest, repeating the pattern over and over until she felt the spot warm. She traced Svefnthorn, the rune symbol for sleep[/url] to add a dreamless sleep for Nic. The action made her yawn, but she continued until she said goodnight to Nic.

”Wǎn'ān,” she whispered happily, enjoying that she knew how to say a few words in Nic’s native tongue.

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Caden smiled and shook his head. ”I’ll be fine. The light beside the bed is soft enough,” he said and kissed Nero once more before he stood and flicked the lamp on.

Caden turned the large bedroom light off before he undressed fully and helped Nero out of their clothes. For once, Caden was able to resist the urge to ignore his need for sleep and let Nero dress for bed while he crawled in on his side and settled in for the night.

”Wake me if you find something interesting,” he said before he settled in to sleep.

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Avery woke the next morning feeling a bit groggy. He yawned and stretched around Kimiko carefully. He kissed her head before he slipped out from under her and tucked the covers in around her. As he had the night before, Avery slid his sweater back, and left a note for her, but on the bedside table this time. He then dressed and headed out to check on the cameras and do a perimeter check with his morning run before making breakfast for himself.

He messaged Nic while breakfast was cooked to make sure Nic still wanted to train this morning. Nic had been doing well with the routine, but consistency was key.

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Nic wakes up the next morning with a groan, his head heavy and his eyes swollen. He starts to sit up to grab some water from his nightstand when he realizes he’s holding Cassi in his arms still. He notices his phone light up with a new message and sees it’s getting close to the time for Avery to be picking him up. Carefully, he tries to gently move Cass so he can get out of bed without waking her.

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Nero notices the sunrise starting to peek through the windows into the bedroom as they reach halfway through one of the demon books. So far there hadn’t been any mention of Lucifer’s lineage which meant there hasn’t been any mention of Mundus. The imp chews on the tip of their thumb, glancing over to look at Caden sleeping. At least he can always bring a smile to their face.

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Cassi's night hadn't been easy. She slept lightly, alert to any changes Nic made while he slept. In the morning, as soon as Nic moved, so did she but she was less happy about the idea of Nic being awake.

She grumbled incoherently and tightened her arms around Nic. She knew fully well he was going to train today, even if he didn't want to she was going to make him go. If he wasn't going to work, that was one thing, but it would be good for him to blow off steam.

Her aura still wrapped around him and the access use of magic had started to take its toll on Cassi. She was by no means drained, but her attitude was more salty than she normally was.

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Caden had slept well. He woke a couple of times to check on Nero, but only to kiss their cheek before he rolled over and quickly fell back asleep.

Dawn had finally approached and Caden started to naturally stir, but he kept his eyes closed, not fully ready to wake yet.

He felt eyes on him and shifted his hand out in search of Nero.

”Lay down with me before I have to get up,” he said, his voice gruff with sleep.

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Nic turns his head to peer at Cassi, smiling despite himself. “I was trying not to wake you up.” He whispers as he gently rubs her back. The more he wakes up, the more he remembers the details of the night before and feels his chest tighten.

“If you keep holding onto me like this, I’ll have to drag you to training with me.”

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Nero chuckles, grabbing something to mark the page they’re at before setting it down on the nightstand. “Who could refuse your cute, growly voice?” They say as they grab Caden’s searching hand and let themselves sorry of flop onto their side facing him.

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Cassiopeia could feel Nic's body start to tighten back up and she turned her head to press her lips to his chest. Maybe she would wait to tell him… She could talk to Nero while the rest of them trained.

”Fine,” she grumbled. ”I need to talk to Caden about your monster problem anyway.” Cassi continued to grumble before she released Nic and rolled away from him. She yawned and curled up around a pillow instead.

Once she moved, Cassi's aura magic dissipated from around Nic. Cassi yawned tiredly again, curling up tighter around the pillow.

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Caden moved his hand and wrapped his arm around Nero when he felt them flop down. He hooked his arm around Nero's waist and pulled them in.

”Cute?” he growled. ”There's nothing cute about it.”

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Nic quickly chugs the rest of his water and sends a quick text back to Avery. “Wait,” Nic rolls over to curl around Cassi, all thoughts of last night’s fight with his father quickly evaporating. “You’re going to go with me to Caden’s?” He asks softly, his head still a bit sensitive.

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Nero laughs, letting their eyes close as they get comfortable. “Well, it’s attractive too, but I like calling you cute sometimes.” They continue to tease. “It always gets a great reaction.”

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Cassiopeia was quickly falling back asleep again when Nic wrapped his arms around her. She wiggled against him, happily stealing some of his warmth.

”Yes…I’ll go with you to Caden’s today…but don’t get excited. It’s not going to become a habit,” she said and substituted the pillow she was crushing for Nic’s arm and hand.

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Avery would return Nic's message letting him know that Avery would text when on his way.

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Caden peeked his eyes open to look at Nero. He kissed their nose before shutting his eyes again. ”And what reaction will I get if I call you cute?”

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With a chuckle, Nic kisses Cassi’s cheek, trying not to let her wiggling get him too riled up first thing in the morning. “I figured, otherwise I would be asking who you were and where my cute little tomato had disappeared to.” He teases as cuddles her.

“Also, try not to wiggle too much more.” Nic says in a whisper.

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Nero grins and opens their eyes to kiss Caden’s nose in return. “Cute comes easily with the height.” They whisper as their mood instantly lifts while being in his arms. “Hopefully the next words are ‘but deadly’ though.”

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Cassi’s eyes opened at Nic’s comment. She’s terribly tempted to disobey and tease Nic, but instead, she intertwines her fingers with his.

”I mean, I still owe you from yesterday,” she whispered. The memory of how Nic made her feel came creeping back, sliding through her mind like a caress.

She played with Nic’s fingers, tempted to kiss the tip of each one. ”Maybe it’ll help me wake up.” She turned her head, seeing Nic through her peripheral vision, and smiled slightly.

The mess of Nic’s black hair made him even more attractive and irresistible. Cassi knew it wasn’t the best time, but was there ever really a perfect time? Besides that, when you loved someone, the timing didn’t really matter.

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”Mmm, I was going to say fierce, but I suppose deadly works just as well,” Caden said with a smile. He opened his eyes and leaned in. He brushed his nose across Nero’s before kissing them softly.

”Guten Morgen, mein süßer, wilder, tödlicher, sexy kleiner Kobold.”

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Chuckling, Nic shakes his head and kisses Cassi’s cheek when she turns her head. Little tendrils of her hair escape the braids Nic had put her hair. “Not right now, but don’t worry, I won’t forget you owe me.” He teases before he sighs softly and closes his eyes as he hold Cassi.

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Nero’s chuckling quickly turn into giggles after they kiss Caden. “Ich bin einfach ein verdammt guter Dämon.” They say with a grin before burying their face in Caden’s chest. “I haven’t found anything in the book to help us yet, but it does go over the hierarchy I mentioned the other week.”

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”Good, because I wouldn't mind a repeat of that,” she said before kissing the hand she held.

She cradled his hand to her chest, closed her eyes, and listened to his breathing. Cassi could lay cuddled in bed with Nic all day and be more than happy with it. She settled back into him, feeling herself easily wanting to drift off again. Maybe Nic didn't have to train today…

Cassiopeia sighed and rolled over. She released Nic's arm and buried her head into his chest.

”I know you don't want to talk about… but I'm going to get answers for your dad. I'm going to get him out of this deal.”

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Caden pulled Nero closer before he rolled onto his back. He brought Nero with him, so they laid on top of him, and Caden could wrap both arms around them comfortably.

”That's good. I'm interested in learning and understanding more about it,” he told Nero truthfully.

It was important to Caden to understand the inner workings of Hell. He needed to learn who he could talk with and who's buttons he could push. Then he could tear it all down.

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Nic closes his own eyes, having put his phone on loud so he wouldn’t miss Avery’s text, and enjoys the feeling of his arms around Cassi. He could easily have fallen back asleep, but Cass moves and he peeks an eye open to look at his girlfriend as she rolls over. With a raised eyebrow, he wraps his arm around her, his hand holding the back of her head.

“It’s not that I don’t want to discuss it,” Nic says as he sighs and opens his eyes to stare at his wall. “I… there’s so many things I wish had gone differently… If he had just talked to me first…”

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Nero’s smile remains as they lay their cheek against Caden’s chest and listen to his heartbeat. “Maybe I can teach you some Xra'mban while we’re at it.” Nero closes their eyes and relaxes fully. Sitting next to him all night instead of in his arms seems like the worst idea now to Nero.

“Unless some other demon already did?” The imp teases. With the way the two had flirted upon first meeting, it won’t surprise Nero if Caden had some flings with other miscreants of Hell.

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Cassiopeia peeked her head up, kissed Nic's chin, and buried her face back in Nic's chest. She inhaled his scent which mingled with hers more and the bedding.

”I think they wanted a united front before they told you… maybe one last weekend for themselves. And Ren… the things people will do to save their loved ones, well, I can't say I blame him,” she said and looked back at Nic.

She'd never make a deal with a demon, simply because of her history, but using blood magic… that was a different story.

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Caden loved the idea of learning more languages from Nero. It would be a nice change instead of him teaching them all the time.

”Would it surprise you to know you're the first demon I've been with?”

With his and Cassi's history with them, that was a line Caden never crossed. He didn't trust them. Still didn't. They were liars and cheats, and did whatever they had to get their win. They killed without remorse and destroyed lives.

Nero enjoyed their pranks. They could take things too far, and could be ruthless, but Nero never lied to Caden. Nero had compassion and passion. They saw the world for what it was. The ugly and the good, and they embraced every part of it. Nero was different, and Caden saw that from the start in Costa's office.

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Nic closes his eyes, picturing his mom in this situation, how worried she must have been about Nic losing another member of his family and how she probably only confided her fear with his father. Taking a deep breath in and out, he reopens his eyes and kisses Cassi’s head.

“I can understand why he did it, I just… there’s so many other possibilities we could have tried together. Survival rates, even for stage four, have improved in just the last five years…”

Nic’s jaw feathers and he takes another deep breath in and out before continuing. “There’s just so many ‘ifs’ that it’s hard to just… accept it.”

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Nero turns their head and rests their chin on Caden’s chest, pleasantly surprised as they regard him. “It shouldn’t since I’ve the best demon around,” They say with brazen confidence, but their red ears give them away. Flashing Caden a wink, they quickly hide their face in his chest before any more blushing can give them away.

“Thanks for giving me a chance.” They mumble.

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Cassi moved her head once more in time to see Nic clench his jaw. She brushed the muscle in his cheek, and rested her hand there.

”That feeling I know,” she whispered and smiled sadly at Nic. ”Those if questions will haunt you for the rest of your life if you let them. Don't let them.”

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Caden chuckled and brushed his lips across Nero's forehead.

”Thank you for proving me right,” he said. He placed another kiss on their forehead before he tightened his arms around them and rolled the two of them over so Caden was on top.

”I love it when you blush because of me.”

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Nic closes his eyes, relaxing easily with Cass’ hand on his face. “I won’t, I promise…” He moves his free arm to hold his hand over Cassi’s and kisses her palm. “It’ll just take me some time.” He rests his forehead on hers and just takes some more calming breaths.

“You’re definitely helping though.”

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Nero playfully glares at Caden, a little upset that their cover is blown. “You’re lucky - I usually kill people for less than seeing me blush.” They tease with a big grin up at Caden. Truth be told, they don’t normally blush because of anyone else. Their flushed face is practically only Caden’s.

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Cassi smiled and shifted her breathing to match his. ”I wouldn't be anywhere else,” she whispered. She kissed him softly until she heard Nic's phone.

”Guess that's our cue?”

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Caden chuckled and placed kisses along Nero's blushing face. ”I am lucky, even if you decide to threaten me a little,” he said and placed more kisses along their neck.

”Are you going to train with us today, or keep reading?”

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Nic sighs, but it’s a much warmer tone than prior. “Did you want to change or shower before we go? Or both?” He asks, kissing Cass’ lips once more before her nose and then her forehead before pulling away and rolling over to check his phone and let Avery know Cassi is joining.

“Depending on how long you want to be there, I can shower at Caden’s after working out.” Nic says, standing up from the bed.

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Nero squirms when Caden moves his kisses to their neck. They struggle a bit to concentrate on Caden’s question before they can answer. “That depends, will you be shirtless?” They plan on at least being nearby if anything.

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Cassiopeia blushed from Nic's attentions, and rolled onto her back. She sighed and rubbed her face.

”I just need to change. I don't normally shower every day anyways.”

Cassi propped herself up on her elbows and glanced at the covered windows. ”I think it's going to rain today,” she declared, a note of excitement in her voice.

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”I could be, if it means you'll come,” he said between his kissing. ”I might get Avery to spar with me if that makes the idea anymore tempting.”

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Listening but also a little absentminded, Nic nods to Cass saying she doesn’t shower every day. It makes sense and he would do the same if he didn’t work out or work in a profession where so many different bacteria comes home with him.

Not doubting Cassi but also wanting to check for himself, Nic crosses to the window and peeks out at the gray filled sky before turning to smile at Cassi. “Stop being so adorable or Avery will have come all this way for nothing.” Nic teasingly warns her as he grabs some clothes to change into at Cadens, just in case.

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The giggles start escaping from Nero despite their best effort. “Okay, okay! I’ll join.” They say, grabbing Cadens face so he would stop tickling their neck with his scruff.

“And also, I want to try sparring Avery at some point.” They grin at the thought of flipping the large man onto his back.