[IC] Chicago After Hours

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden laughed and nodded. ”It has it’s perks,” Caden said and stepped close to Nero. He slowly unzipped their dress, pressing kisses along their back. Caden slipped his hands under Nero’s dress once it was unzipped and pushed it off their shoulders.

”I really like this dress,” he commented.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery smiled and pulled his hand back to observe his arm. The scratches were slowly closing, but they did look red and angry. ”It looks like they do, but they are healing well enough.” Avery smiled at Kimiko and took her hands.

”Is there anything I can get you to help you sleep?”

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Nero turns their head to look over their shoulder at Caden, grinning. “I couldn’t tell.” They tease with a wink. Wait until he sees what all I packed. Nero thinks to themself

“You keep trying to take it off, after all.”

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Kiki’s about to reach out and look at his arm again while apologizing, but he grabs her hands first. She shows him a half-hearted smile and shook her head. “I feel like I’ve tried everything… whatever you did was the first time the dream was interrupted.” She looks down. The dreams usually go much long and much darker.

“I’ve tried chamomile, lavender, melatonin, meditation… nothing else seems to help.”

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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”Well, it looks good both on you and on the floor,” Caden said and kissed Nero’s cheek. He stepped back and removed his pants and boxers before walking into the bathroom.

The bathtub was smaller than the one Caden had, but he still guessed Nero and him would fit if they decided to have a bath tomorrow. Caden walked over to the shower and turned it on, letting the water warm up before he stepped inside.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery squeezed Kimiko’s hands and stepped closer to her. ”Have you told Cass? She might have something.”

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Nero laughs, shimmying out of the dress and letting it fall to the floor before scurrying after Caden, leaving a trail of bra and panties in their wake. They hop into the shower and immediately cup their hands to capture water to splash him with it before they quickly wash themselves and their hair.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Kiki chews on her lip. “I actually haven’t talked to her much… It’s hard to talk to her or Caden right now with all the tension.” She rests her forehead on his shoulder, closing her eyes. The situation between them is only partially to blame. Kiki hadn’t wanted to leave the house until the bruises were faded enough to cover with makeup, but she also just didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. Even now, after Avery called her out for it today, she knows Cassi is busy with helping Nic move.

Everyone has more important things to deal with…

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Caden was startled by the splash of water from Nero. He laughed and wrapped his arms around Nero’s waist and tipped them over, tickling their sides.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Kimiko… She dropped everything to help track you down. If you reached out to her, I’m sure she would help despite her problem with Caden right now.” Avery placed his hands on Kimiko’s face, making her look at him. ”Why do you think you’re a burden on everyone? You have a family here, Kiki. Let them look after you.”

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Nero squeals, flailing their arms and legs. “Ah! AH! Stop!” They say between laughing and squealing. They frantically try to grab Caden’s tickling fingers.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Kiki frowns, unable to look away from Avery’s face as he holds hers. “Um…” She blinks rapidly as her eyes start glossing over. She knew why - her life began as someone’s unwanted kid dropped off at her da’s who was too honorable to send her to an orphanage. A kid who turned out to be half of something her da regularly hunted and needed Caden to save him from her magic. Now she’s the girl everyone had to go out of their way for, that a whole pack died because of.

“How could I not?” She whispers.

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Caden grinned, his eyes sparkling with mirth from Nero’s squeals. Caden relents and instead kisses Nero’s neck and face several times before standing them back up and releasing them.

”Your laugh is the best sound to me.”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery watched the emotion cross Kimiko’s face, and realization dawned on him. He clucked his tongue and released her face. ”Oh, my strong little fox.” Avery wrapped Kimiko into his arms and lifted her up. He tucked her legs around his waist and carried her into the bedroom.

Avery sat down on the edge of the bed and made Kimiko look at him again. ”The pain of your past will fade if you allow it to. You have a chosen family here, Kiki. People who love you and adore you. People who want to be there for you. The family of your past is just that, your past.”

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Nero, already flushed from being upside down and tickled, stares at Caden, not sure how to respond. “You can hear it without tickling me.” They tease breathlessly with a playful glare and pout.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Kimiko’s on the brink of tears and stares at Avery as he releases her, confused why he’s clucking his tongue at her. His next words give her pause, but she doesn’t have time to react as he picks her up princess style. She emits a gasp and automatically wraps her arms around his neck while he carries her back to her bed.

Kiki stares at Avery wide-eyed as he continues to talk and doesn’t let her look at anything else but him. She chews on her lip, her hands fidgeting behind his neck. “If only my brain would listen to you.” She says wryly.

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Caden added some shampoo to his hands and walked around Nero. ”True. But that laugh was pure and unique, and completely you,” Caden said, massaging the shampoo into Nero’s hair. ”And I think you secretly liked it,” Caden whispered and stole a kiss from Nero’s cheek.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”I’ll get it and you convinced. You’re my mate. I’m not going anywhere,” Avery said and kissed Kimiko’s forehead.

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Nero closes their eyes as Caden massages the shampoo into their hair. “Hey!” They start to say to argue against his whisper but he steals a kiss first, effectively distracting them. Nero shakes their head and starts poking and prodding at Caden’s side, trying to see if they can illicit a similar reaction from him.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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It’s easy to believe him when Kiki’s nestled in his arms and lap, but there’s still that small voice in the back of her mind. “But you didn’t choose me as your mate - your wolf did… right?.” She says in a very small voice, barely even a whisper.

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Caden grinned and laughed when Nero started to poke him. ”Would you believe me if I told you I’m not ticklish?”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery frowned, knowing what Kimiko was trying to do. ”The magic of the bond comes from him, and he recognized you as our equal. It may have started because of him, but I have to agree to it. I have to choose. Kiki, mon petite renard, I choose you.”

Translations

My little fox.

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Nero continues to poke anywhere they can reach on Caden. “Not until I’ve tried tickling every inch of you.” The demon says impishly. “You must have somewhere that’s ticklish.” They start moving down his legs, broadening their search.

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Kiki’s breath catches and she slowly peeks back up at Avery as tears fall again. “I swear I never cried this much before in my entire lifespan.” She mumbles wiping at her eyes. “You might have to remind me of that more than once.” She says guiltily.

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Caden watched Nero in amusement, letting them move about his body. The lower Nero went though, the more Caden’s mind shifted to something else.

”Why must there be a ticklish place on me?”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”That’s okay. Crying is good. It means healing is happening. And if I have to tell you several times a day that I’ve chosen you, that you’re mine, that I adore you, and the way you tease me, then I will happily take on that challenge.”

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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“Because you need a weak spot.” Nero pauses in their prodding to look up from their crouched position. “And I don’t count.” They tell him with a serious look before they straighten with a laugh. “It’s not fair.”

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Kiki nods along automatically but her cheeks and ears start to warm from the other things he says. Avery adores her and the way he’s calls her ‘mine’ somehow calms her greatly. “Thank you, Mon loup.” She whispers to him, wrapping her arm around him and hugging him tightly.

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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”Why don't you count? I think it could be rather dangerous having you as my weak spot. You could easily exploit that,” Caden told Nero.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”My pleasure, petit renard.” Avery held Kimiko as he shifted on the bed. He rolled the pair of them over so they were both lying on their sides. Avery held Kimiko close and placed kisses on her face.

”Try and get some sleep. I'll be right here should you wake.”

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Nero sticks their tongue out at Caden. “Because you can tickle me any where and anytime - I can’t just be naked all the time.” A sly smirk curls their lips. “Well, I could, but then what would the neighbors think?”

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Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

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Location: Caden’s Home - Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Kiki opens her mouth to argue, but yawns tiredly. “Make sure you sleep too.” She tells him and she buries her face in his chest. “Goodnight, Avery.” She mumbles before quickly falling asleep.

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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”Why do you think I chose to live in the middle of nowhere? No neighbours.” Caden pulled Nero in and kissed them deeply.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Goodnight Kimiko.” Avery kissed the top of her head before settling in.

He stayed awake for a while, happily listening to the sound of her deep breathing. At some point Avery started to grow tired. He shifted carefully to pull away from Kimiko. He replaced his body with the stuffed animal before he stood and stripped off his clothes.

Avery was worse than a furnace, and he usually slept naked. However, Avery left his underwear on after discarding his shirt and pants. He crawled back into the bed with Kimiko, laying on top of the sheet so there was fabric between him and Kimiko. He didn't want her waking up and feeling uncomfortable or like he was trying to take advantage of her, but if she wanted him to sleep, he really couldn't with clothes on.

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Nero softly giggles before it’s cut off by Caden’s kiss. They stand on their tiptoes, wrapping their arms around Caden’s neck and kissing him back with fervor.

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[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Caden pressed himself closer to Nero, cupping the side of their face and extended his fingers into their hair. Caden kissed Nero deeply, walking them back until Nero's back pressed against the wall. Showering would have to wait until after.

The next morning there was a brief knock on the outer door announcing breakfast was waiting for them in the dining room. Caden kissed Nero's head, listening to their attendant leave before he placed more kisses along Nero's body to help them wake up.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s Home —> Driving – Chicago, IL
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Cassi woke early the next morning to make a breakfast burrito for Nic. She had plans to pick up breakfast and coffee for everyone, but she wanted to make Nic his own so he could enjoy it. After that she dresses in a pair of darker capri leggings and a tank top.

Todd and Jason picked Cass up, and she got them to help her pick up breakfast for everyone before they headed to Nic’s to pick up him and Ren.

[Donut Look Now]

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Nero

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:

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Nero buries their face into the pillows with a small sigh. They should have known the two wouldn’t get much sleep. They move to face Caden, reaching up to play with his scruff. “Good morning.” They say, their eyes drooping as they fight to stay awake. Nero doesn’t realize that they are in fact sleepy, meaning that they hadn’t just snoozed to pass the time or sleep with Caden to feel closer - they actually slept because they were tired.

“Five more minutes.” Nero says as they bury their face in his chest now.

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Nicholas “Nic” Wu

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Location: Nic’s Apartment - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Nic wakes up with a yawn and opens his phone, seeing the text message from Caden. He types and stops typing over and over again, not sure how to respond to it. He finally gives up and climbs out of his bed to change into another sleeveless shirt and some shorts, heading out of his bedroom just as his dad sits his. The two grin at each other before heading downstairs. Nic sends Cass a text.

Good morning <3

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