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”We can most certainly do that,” Cassiopeia agreed. She would love to travel the world with Nic, especially before they were ready to settle down. Besides, if he truly wanted to return to Scotland with her, she had to go first to make sure she was okay being there.

Cassi followed Nic, sensing he had a spot picked out. She smiled shyly when he led her to a quiet spot that was set aside. He pulled her chair out for her, smiling that perfect smile for her. Cassi squeezed his arm before she took her seat. She slid off her jacket, sitting on the majority of it to keep her legs from getting cold, and pulled out the menu to look over. Cassi paused in her hunt for the perfect pizza when Nic asked her to pick one food.

”That's impossible,” she declared, completely serious.

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Caden couldn't deny Nero's position on them falling. The image Caden conjured in his head was rather adorable, especially since he was there to catch Nero anyways.

They stopped in front of the rows of books and Caden started scanning. He found one about the planets and all the facts on them that he grabbed before Nero spotted one that spoke on the creation and formation of space. Caden grabbed the text as well and scanned it, a slight smirk on his face.

”Will you read me a chapter every night before bed?” Caden asked, humour twinkling in his eyes.

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Avery stood after her and paused. He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. ”I'm the tease? I've followed up on every move or innuendo I've given you,” he determined.

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Nic shrugs off his jacket and hands it to Cassi so she can place it over her lap if she wants as well, noting how she used her own on the seat. “If there’s anything I’ve learned since meeting you, nothing is impossible.” He teases gently, amused at how quickly she had declared it from her intense reading of the menu. He adores her behavior when it comes to food and drinks, finding it fascinating that she still reacts like she hasn’t been around for centuries.

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Nero snorts before nodding with a laugh. “I’ll even sing you a German lullaby if you want.” They reach up to boop their nose with their impish expression of humor. “I just find it interesting how the human race started off thinking the earth was flat and then it’s evolved into the space we now know.” Nero takes a moment to lean closer to the books again before picking up a book about Edwin Powell Hubble.

“For instance, how in the world did a man discover the cosmos in the fourteenth century? Had to have been a demon deal, right?”

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Kiki crosses her arms in a huff as she tries to think of a circumstance where Avery hasn’t done that. “I…” She crinkles her brow with a frown. “I’ll think of and example, I’m sure.” She declares before pulling Sarah’s riding gear on for what could be the last time.

“Will the gear be fashionable at all?” Call her superficial, but she does love to coordinate her outfits.

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Cassiopeia took Nic's jacket happily. She couldn't resist inhaling the scent of his jacket before she laid it across her lap. She didn't really need it but she wasn't going to deny Nic's jacket or his kind gesture. He may be younger than her but his chivalry and kindness was that of some men who were from her time period.

His teasing made her blush but she shook her head again. ”Choosing food would be like you asking me to choose which cat to save. Impossible.”

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A wide grin shifted across Caden's face, the idea of Nero singing to him brought a pleasant image to mind, and he hoped Nero wasn't teasing him.

Caden gently guided Nero to the check-out counter while they filled him in on their thoughts about space. Caden nodded, knowing the facts of this.

”It is possible. Or some other secondary hand involvement. Maybe angelic. Maybe Hubble was a supernatural creature himself. Or time travelled.”

Caden set his and Nero's wares on the counter to pay for them. He took the bag once everything was packed, thanked the attendant, and led Nero from the building. He opened up the car door for Nero and watched them.

”I love how your mind works.”

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Avery smirked when Kimiko couldn't come up with anything. He may have teased her a lot, but his need to make good on his word always won out. He pulled on his jacket and grabbed his helmet.

Avery paused before he looked at Kimiko. There was a slight look of disbelief on his face.

”Fashion isn't as important as your safety,” he said and pulled on his helmet. ”But no one looks bad in leather.” He gave Kimiko a very purposeful look from her toes to her head before he winked at her and got on his bike.

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Nic nods, smiling at the analogy Cassi has conjured up. “While getting a decent plot of land and starting a cat sanctuary might be feasible… It’s a little more difficult bringing in chefs and fresh ingredients for everything you’ve listed.” A grin from teasing her on his face, he looks down at the menu and makes his decision.

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Nero holds their hands in front of them about a foot apart. “Aliens.” They say simply before grinning impishly up at Caden as he set their goodies on the counter to pay. The demon skips as the two of them make their way back to his car. Going to the planetarium last was definitely a good decision. They pause at Caden’s words.

“Wait, why?” They ask, halfway into their seat and tilting their head even as they look up at him.

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Kiki makes a face at Avery, about to argue back but the look in his eyes as he looked her up and down had her flustered instead. She quickly grabs her helmet and puts it on before he can start teasing her for it. She can’t argue about looking bad in leather when she glances at Avery clad in his - he’s right, after all. With a small huff, she climbs onto the bike behind him and wraps her arms around his torso. “This is why I like cards better; I can look cute in any outfit in a car without worrying about safety.”

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Cassi shook her head at Nic and resumed looking at her menu. ”I like food, but that doesn't mean I need all the food I've had in other countries. The food was what made some of the countries fun. Having the good food I had in France or Italy wouldn't be the same here anyways.”

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Aliens could have been a plausible explanation for many earthbound things that were otherwise unexplainable. It was definitely an interesting theory, but Caden wasn't completely sold on it.

He smiled at Nero, thinking of all the conversations they've had before answering. ”It's free-flowing, ever changing, and moving. One thought or idea never seems enough. There's so much wonder and curiosity for this world and what lays beyond, despite the atrocities you have seen. It's a wonder to behold, and I feel privileged to have you share it with me.”

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Kimiko's comment coaxed a chuckle from Avery. He patted her hands that rested on him and turned his head to talk.

”Not to worry, my fox. I plan on working on the Mustang over the winter. By spring or early summer you can wear whatever you like in the car.”

Avery turned the bike over and backed it up before rolling forward and headed into Chicago. He took the country roads faster, and when he hit the freeway, he slowed enough to match traffic. Periodically Avery would pat Kimiko's hands or squeeze her leg, reminding her she was safe, and that he would look after her.

Once he exited the freeway, Avery slowed right down. He took the city streets slow, making his way to the motorcycle shop.

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“Fair enough, but I still want you to try and pick maybe your top three.” Nic says happily, watching her as she looks over the menu. He unable to miss how her eyes easily flick to and from different items or widen in interest. Little orbs of blue working like spotlights. “It would make it easy for us to pick the first places to go when we travel.”

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Nero’s already large eyes widen as their ears turn bright red, not expecting the answer Caden gives them and feeling rather touched by the depth of his observation. They blink several times before their mind finally catches up with their mouth. “Thank you.” They mumble, looking away for a moment before peering up at Caden again. “I mean, you’re welcome.”

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Kiki finds herself smiling as they start weaving through the city streets and watching the scenery go by. Avery had helped calm her nerves of riding the deathmobile with his small pats to comfort her. When she tightens her hold on him, it’s not because she’s scared, she just wants to be closer to him. When they reach the shop, she tightens her embrace before she climbs off the bike.

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Cassi nodded her head, better understanding Nic's intention. She continued to hunt for her meal while she spoke.

”Well, put Italy as number one on that list. I'll think and pick the other two and let you know… Deal?” She glanced up from the menu to find Nic watching her. Her cheeks warmed, and her eyes flicked back to the menu even though she had already decided on what she wanted.

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A soft smile looped across Caden's face, and he leaned down to kiss Nero's lips. His kiss started lightly, a soft melding of lips until he kissed them a second time.

Caden pushed the melding of their lips to deepening, following the speed of his heart as it picked up from the kiss. He brushed his tongue briefly along Nero's lower lip when Caden's hand itched to touch Nero, only, he had no free hand, so Caden had to pull back.

He released the kiss, turning his head slightly to whisper teasingly. ”You're welcome and thank you.” He pulled away completely and shut Nero's car door.

After Caden placed the bag he carried into the trunk of the car, he got into the driver's seat and turned the car on. ”Do you have any preferences for lunch?”

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Avery killed the engine once he parked, and pulled the helmet off his head. He grabbed a towel from the bag Kimiko had and ran it over his scalp. Due to the longer ride he had sweat slightly, but not a significant amount. He rested the towel on his handlebars, looking at Kimiko and smiled.

He had a feeling she was enjoying herself more and more with each ride, and the close proximity even had Avery's heart racing slightly. He was certain if Kimiko listened hard enough she would be able to hear it.

”So, do you want to take a walk about the store first, or do you want me to talk to a store attendant right away to get you setup?” Avery climbed off his bike while he spoke to Kimiko, hanging his helmet off the other handlebar, and stripped off his jacket.

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Nic covers his mouth as he suppresses the laugh he feels bubbling up in his throat at Cassi’s reaction to his staring. “Deal.” He says with a lopsided grin before letting his gaze shift off of her and onto some of the patrons in the place instead. He’ll pretend he didn’t see her blush… for now at least.

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Nero sticks their tongue out at Caden even after the door is shut in their face. Not fair that he says something like that, kisses me like that, and use my own words against me. They think as they settle into seat and cross their arms with a small huff before Caden joins them inside. “Nope.” They answer, letting the ‘p’ pop.

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Kiki bobs her head back and forth as she thinks about it before she sighs. “I should probably let you or someone who actually knows this stuff help me get set up.” She says, fighting against her own instinct of looking at everything in the store before buying something. She gets the rest of her own leather off before looking to Avery. “You have to tell me if it looks bad though, okay?”

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Cassi took a moment before clearing her throat and looked at Nic.

”What are you getting?” She took a sip of water from her glass, and glanced around the pizzeria. Her attention quickly drifted back to Nic, unable to keep her focus off him.

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”Pity. You are going to make me decide then?” Caden backed out of the parking spot before he put the car in drive, and took to the busy Chicago roads.

Traffic was thick with the noon time rush, and there were several locations where Caden's quick reflexes paid off. After the last close call though, Caden's hand tightened on the gear shift.

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Avery wrapped his arms around Kimiko's waist once she was free from all her gear. He smiled down at her. There was a slight height difference between the two of them, one Avery enjoyed. Although, if she had been his exact height or even taller, he wouldn't have overly minded. .

”Your safety is more important to me than if you ‘look cute.’ But yes, I will tell you if it looks bad. Promise,” he said, with a peck to Kimiko's lips before releasing her.

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Nic smiles, turning his attention back to Cassi. “I was actually thinking of getting their vegan burger. How about you?” He leans forward to rest his elbow on the table and prop his head up. “If I was hungrier or we had more people with us, I would totally suggest getting the bruschetta appetizer again.” He says before catching the eye of one of the servers.

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A grin slips onto Nero’s face. “You deserve it.” They tell him simply before looking out the window. Even for the middle of the day, it’s busy downtown, but Nero enjoys people-watching. “Does anything sound particularly good to you?” They ask.

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Kiki returns his embrace, smiling even if Avery is being overprotective of her. “Yes, yes, I know, but,” She grabs his hand when he releases her. “I’ll only be riding with you and you wouldn’t let me get hurt… right?” She bats her eyelashes his way with an innocent smile.

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”Mmm, we could still order it. We could bring the rest back to your dad. I was thinking about getting some minestrone and the Buffalo Bill’s pizza.” She tucked the menu aside when the server came over and smiled. She ordered for herself, plus something else to drink.

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Caden breathed through his nose and settled his nerves. He reached his hand over and rested it on Nero’s thigh. ”I’m trying to decide if it should be something simple or some Moroccan or Indian.”

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The look Kimiko gave Avery had his eyes flicking to her lips. He groaned and rolled his head back. ”Damn you and your eyes and you playing on my protective nature.” He tugged Kimiko into the store, ignoring her question for now.

Avery took Kimiko through the store and guided her through the process. They also had help from a store attendant, but Avery wanted to be involved. He ensured she got a helmet that fit snug enough to not allow for extra movement but enough to slide a finger in at the front of the helmet. There were dozens of colours to choose from, so once they found a style Kimiko liked, she was free to pick whatever colour.

The riding jacket had just as much freedom, if not more, for Kimiko. The attendant explained that Kimiko would want something that allowed for movement and probably something that had venting in it to keep her cool on the hot, sunnier days. They showed her leather jackets and textile ones, ones with venting and ones without, plus ones with liners for waterproofing. Avery offered to buy her two jackets to keep them from being too bulky on her frame and give her a bit more style choice.

”I have several jackets,” he explained, encouraging her that it was okay to get a second jacket if she wanted it.

The pants Avery insisted Kimiko get a few pairs. There were jeans she could wear or leathers she could pull on over her clothes like she had been doing. Avery wanted to give her as many options as possible so she was comfortable. The jeans were all lined with a type of material that would prevent sheering if they ever crashed. Of course, they were supernatural creatures that would heal quickly, but it would be painful and still take time.

Avery had no problem telling Kiki when she looked good in a pair of jeans simply because he got to stare at her ass without being penalized for it.

For riding gloves, she didn’t need such a high grade as Avery had unless she desired to learn how to drive. The shoes likewise followed the same example. She could get riding boots if she wanted or just make sure she had a sturdy shoe for riding. If she wanted something open-toed, she would just have to pack them into a riding bag.

Avery stood at the front counter, watching everything being packed up after he had paid for Kimiko’s items. In hindsight, they probably should have driven the SUV, but Avery had carried several items like this on his bike before. It was doable.

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Nic orders the vegan burger and a drink before ordering something to take him to his dad, asking that it be made later along with the bruschetta. After the server leaves, he turns to Cassi with an easy smile, placing his hand on the table. “Okay, so, how do you feel about being my personal stylist today?”

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Nero pauses, turning to look at Caden as they place their hand over his, noticing the tension in Caden. “Everything alright?” They ask, moving in their seat to face him more. “Is it the bad drivers?” They switch their hands so their right hand is on Caden’s that’s on their thigh while they use their left hand and place it on his thigh.

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Kiki grins, still trying to keep the innocent expression even though she’s giddy it worked. Though no stranger to shopping assistants and being pushed into buying more than she needs, she easily feels overwhelmed by the sheer amount of knowledge Avery and the attendant had about motorcycles and the gear she needed for riding. She tries her best not to notice the price tags but it’s hard not to, especially as the items stack up.

As the two leave with the goodies, she fidgets. “So… You spent entirely too much on me and I need to repay you.” She declares, hands going to her hips as stops to stare down Avery.

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Cassi smiled and thanked the server before turning her attention back to Nic. Her heart skipped a beat when he smiled like that, and she quickly captured his waiting hand in both of hers.

She grinned when he asked her to be his personal stylist. ”I think it would be easiest, especially if I want you to match me without revealing exactly what I'm wearing,” she said while tracing the love line on his hand.

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Caden glanced at Nero briefly, not wanting to take his eyes off the road for long. He smiled tenderly and rubbed his thumb along their thigh.

”There seems to be more people driving recklessly today. It is rather annoying.”

As if on cue, a car that had been in the lane next to them served and cut Caden off. His hand twitched on Nero's leg and breathed heavily out his nose. Almost like an animal when they expressed annoyance.

Caden took the next exit he could and drove down some quieter side streets. This way, he could think more clearly about lunch.

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Avery walked ahead of Kimiko, and had just set the bag down on the seat of the bike when she made her declaration. With his back to Kimiko, he tilted his head back and sighed heavily.

He turned around and gave Kimiko a look before he dug around in the bag. He pulled out one of her riding jackets and ripped off the price tags before handing her the jacket to put on.

”This isn't some competition, Kiki. All this stuff is to keep you protected. Besides, if it was a competition, you're winning already and you know it,” he said pointedly.

Avery pulled out Kimiko's new helmet and started taking off the protective stickers and things so she could wear it on the trip home.

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With a chuckle, Nic squeezes her hands before letting her trace the lines in his palm. “As long as it’s at least a little comfortable, I’m down for anything.” He tells her with a bright smile. The server comes back with their drinks and some water before leaving after checking in.

“Can I know what color you have in mind? Or will that reveal too much?” He takes a few sips of his water before using the condensation on his fingers to leave a cold trail of water on her arm.

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Nero doesn’t really react to the bad drivers, but then again, they’re already dead and so is their body. They go to say something to comfort Caden, but is interrupted by another idiot trying to cause an incident. “Humans have such a selfish view while traveling - wherever they’re headed is more important than anyone else’s safety.” They conclude, both the hand on his thigh and the one holding his squeeze gently to try and comfort him.

“But I can always start writing down plate numbers to send a little gift.” They grin impishly, ideas already coming to mind on just how they could make the best impact.

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Kiki purses her lips in a frown at Avery’s sigh and statement, almost tempted to decline the jacket but she takes it and shrugs it on. “I’m not treating this as a competition. I just know…” …that I have a lot more disposable funds than you do. She stops herself from saying it out loud, not knowing if she can say it without it sounding offensive. “Besides, how am I ‘winning’ even? Because of what happened?”

If that’s the case, she doesn’t want that from Avery. She’d rather just move on from the bonding incident and call it even. There’s no point in having him think he owes her gifts or anything to make it up to her.

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"Mmm, no," Cassi said with a grin. "I want to put you in a few different things to see what looks best on you. I have a couple of dresses in mind for myself and they are different colours," she explained.

The cold water on her arm shocked her initially, but Cassi used her magic to cause the water to bead off her skin and fall onto the table. It was subtle, easy magic that no one else would notice.

"How do you feel about suspenders?" She wasn't sure how formal she wanted Nic dressed, but it would be fun to play dress-up with him today.

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Caden slowed to create some space between him and the other drivers. He glanced at Nero, a smile playing on the corners of his lips. "And what little gift might that be?"

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Avery raised his eyebrows at Kimiko when she cut off her comment. He had a feeling what she was about to say, and his ego told him to demand she finish the statement, but Avery didn't want to get into another fight.

He had money and he had very little expenses since Caden took care of most things. She didn't need to worry about him spending all his money on her. What use did he have for it beyond that?

"You're winning because you are you, and you have given me more than I ever thought I would have." Avery looked away from Kimiko. He set her helmet on the seat before grabbing the one she had been using and strapped it down to the back of the bike. "I figured I would just follow along in Caden's shadow until I died. I never thought I would find a mate. After all, if it wasn't for Caden I wouldn't even be alive right now. But he showed up and gave me a purpose, and then you came along and gave me life again."

Avery looked back at Kimiko. The emotion was strong in eyes, and the tops of his cheeks had darkened from his slight blush. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt he could express himself easily in the presence of Kimiko. His music had always done that for him with others, but with her, it was different.

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Nic feels as if he should start regretting giving Cassi this much power, but smiles at her anyway, even if his lips twitch nervously. “You have full permission to treat me as a doll today and if I don’t like something, I’ll make sure to tell you.” He assures her.

“As for the suspenders… I think the last time I wore any was in junior high so, your guess is as good as mine.”

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Nero’s smile grows more evil, their lips curling like some Disney villain’s cat. “Glitter bombs for one, and maybe a noise system that blare very loudly, ‘Congratulations! You can’t fucking drive!’ Or something equally as obnoxious.” Their finger taps on Caden’s thigh as they try to think of any other pranks that wouldn’t cause harm.

“Or maybe a stink bomb… or both.”

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Kiki flushes when Avery raises his eyebrows at her and glances away, feeling ashamed for even having the thought. As he starts to talk, Kiki looks at him again and watches as he starts strapping down things and getting the bike ready for them to leave. Her blush doesn’t ease away, in fact, her face heats up more at the words he’s saying. It’s when he finally looks back at her and she sees his face that any walls of defense come crashing down as she leaps at him to hug him tightly.

“I understand,” She whispers fiercely in his chest before looking up at him. “Just know that I want to shower you with gifts and affection as much as I can because… well… you’re the best thing that’s ever happened for me.” She can’t maintain eye contact, feeling embarrassment for how cheesy that sounded. She buries her face back into his chest as she feels as if her entire head is on fire from the blush.

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Cassi patted Nic's hand. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle," she teased him. She pulled out her phone and opened up the webpage to a clothing store she had in mind. "What is your usual style when it comes to formal or semi-formal events? Doesn't the hospital usually do doner nights or something like that?" She set her phone on the table between the two of them and flipped through some of the images.

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Caden laughed, the tension easing completely from his body. "I think I would rather like to see that." The image of someone being glitter bombed was hard to deny.

Caden pulled into a parking lot, the smile still on his face as he parked. The smell of herbs and citrus seemed to waft through the parking lot and into the car. Caden's mouth started to water, and the earlier annoyance of bad drivers seemed to disappate.

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Avery quickly took half a step back, bracing himself for Kimiko's hug. His arms automatically wrapped around her and he held her close. Her sentiment eased any worry Avery had been feeling about the words he confessed to her. His heart soared even when she looked away from him to hide her embarrassment.

Avery rested his chin on her head, holding her closely. "At least we are in agreement about something," he teased her. Avery kissed the top of her head before relaxing his hold on her.

"Although, if you are wanting to spoil me today, we have to go back to Caden's. Bikes weren't designed to carry many things."

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Nic chuckles, leaning in to look at the images as Cassi shows them to him. “Yeah, we have donor dinners or galas or whatever you want to call them and I have one good suit I’ll wear,” He says with a small smile. “But I let Jane represent the ED for those things - last time I attended one, I got a little too feisty with the donors about how much they make versus how much they ‘pledge’.”

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Nero wiggles in their seat, a satisfied smile taking over their expression. They try to see where Caden’s taken them by looking out the window once the car is parked. “So, what did you end up deciding on?” They ask, turning back in their chair to look at Caden.

“Oh, mein Drache, you’ve got some drool on your chin.” They tease with a soft chuckle.

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Kiki keeps her face buried for the moment, knowing she definitely will not be able to meet his eyes for what she’s going to say next. She takes a moment, trying to make sure she won’t stumble over her words. “…I can… spoil you at Caden’s…” She squeezes her eyes shut, locking her arms around Avery so he can’t pull away and see just how red her face must be.

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Cassiopeia smiled at Nic before looking back at her phone. Nic's attitude towards the doners at his hospital didn't surprise her in the least. Modern medicine had its advantages but the cost was astronomical. In Cassi's earlier days, barter and trade was the way of goods and services. Cass very rarely got actual money for the services she provided.

”Why does that not surprise me? Of course you'd rather remain in the background where the real work is done. But we have to go once. I want to see you feisty,” she declared.

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Caden laughed and turned off the car. He examined himself in the mirror but he was fine. ”It’s Moroccan. The food is typically heavy on herbs and flavours. You might like it more because of that,” Caden said.

He exited the vehicle and walked around to escort Nero into the building. They were guided to a table along the edge of the restaurant. Caden pulled out Nero's chair and pushed them in before he took his seat and ordered a bottle of red wine for the table.

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The smile on Avery's face shifted from Kimiko's statement. He had been amused by how she wasn't letting him go, but that amusement shifted to being stunned from her words. Avery swallowed, his thoughts drifting and he shifted his feet.

”How can you say that to me now? You can't expect me not to speed home,” he said and kissed the top of Kimiko's head. His hands shifted to rest on her hips, twitching with effort to keep from sliding them under her jacket.

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Nic laughs sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as he feels a little guilty. “…Maybe I shouldn’t have told you this…” He says before laughing again. “Having you there might just spur me on more and then we’ll never get donations.” He imagined Cassi and he would just add fuel to each other’s fires. It’s hard to stay calm in an industry that favors profit over the common human-being.

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Nero widens their eyes, already curious to try it just from Caden’s excitement alone. They let Caden escort them inside, the scent of the food almost enticing them to drool as well. “Can’t say I’ve tried Moroccan before.” They say as they sit with an excited wiggle.

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Kiki mutters a groan, regretting her words now. “I swear to the gods, if you get us killed on the way home…” She says, not daring to look up at Avery still. “I’ll make sure your afterlife is haunted for eternity.” She bites her lips, taking in a deep breath and letting his scent fill her senses before she finally unburies her face.