[IC] Chicago After Hours

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I laugh at Kimiko’s comment. Once she gets off, I shift to do the same but have to stop to catch Kimiko so she doesn’t fall over the bike. One arm is around her waist, and the other I set on her arm. ”You okay?” I asked, not helping the grin on my face.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

I remove my arms from around their waist to cup Nero’s face in mine. ”Even if you never decide, I want to spend as much of my life with you as you’ll let me,” I say and kiss Nero. I pull back and rest my forehead on theirs. ”If you bring me your collection, you might lose me to it for a few days,” I tell Nero honestly.

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I watched Nic for a moment, my heart soaring more from this simple gesture. I don’t understand how he understood me, but he just did. I’m smiling ear to ear while I gather up some sand, seeds, and pressed flowers directly from India.

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: On the set of a KDrama - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I feel tiny compared to his arm around my waist, my degenerate mind wandering before I see the grin on his face. “I think think I held too much tension in my muscles from the death grip I had on you.” I pat his chest, trying to indicate he can let me go.

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

I look at Caden with wide eyes, taken back once again by his sincerity, but a grin slips back onto my face. “I know I might - I’d love to be there with you to learn more about the items I have.” The smile falters a little as I think about where the other half of my collection is.

“I’ll have to go to Hell to retrieve some of the items.” I say.

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I turn once I hear Cass leave the back room. “You have many spider friends hanging about. They must help with keeping other bugs out of your plants.” I purposely kept a friendly spider around my place to evade fruit flies hanging about.

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I chuckled and released Kimiko once she patted my chest. Part of me wanted to lean into that touch, but I ignored that. ”Ya, I should have taught you some hand signals before we jumped on. I’ll teach you some before we go again so you can tell me if you’re okay or not,” I said. I got off the back and stripped my leather jacket off and folded it into my bag.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

I pull back from Nero and look at them, worry creasing my brows when they mention going back to Hell. ”Do you think you should? I understand your status down there, but won’t Crowley question where you have been or the others who covet your place?” It’s the most I’ve really asked about their life in Hell, and I hope I haven’t overstepped.

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I smile, setting my supplies on the countertop to organize everything. ”They definitely help keep the bugs down. The ones in the doorway are my guardians as well. Cleo and Alice. Although I haven’t seen Alice in a while, so she may have moved on.”

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: Restaurant - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Ignoring how warm my ears now feel and how much I almost wished Avery would have just kept holding me, I nod along to what Avery’s saying. “Yeah, that might have helped a little.” I say with a small laugh. “I’ll try not to hold on so tight on the way back.” I probably won’t be able to keep that promise.

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

“I’m not afraid of Crowley.” I say, but I do look down. I’m afraid of someone. I furrow my brow and chew on my lip. “But, maybe I’ll make the peons do it before I finally disappear from that part of my existence.” I finally look back at Caden with a nervous smile.

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

“Guardians?” I ask, unsure of what she means by that. “Like guardian angels or… fox spirits…?” It’s common habit to bring up foxes with closer friends and family, but today I’m not so eager to bring it up. I am curious what guardian means to Cass.

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”If you can resist burying the helmet into my back, I think I’ll be able to handle everything else,” I chuckle and lead her into the restaurant.

It’s set up like most old-school dinners, with rows of booths around the perimeter, a few tables and chairs, and then stools around the countertop. A robust older woman greets us from the counter.

”Sit anywhere, darlings. Coffee?”

”Please, thank you. Kimiko?” I turn to ask, not sure if she drinks coffee.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

The worry I’m feeling doesn’t go away, especially not with Nero’s less-than-confident appearance. ”You’re hiding something, something you might not want to tell me yet. Which is fine, but Nero, if there’s something I can do, you have to tell me. If removing all you have from Hell is going to be suspicious, maybe you shouldn’t.”

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I glanced up from organizing my supplies and tilted my head to the side, staring at the door as I thought about how to explain that. ”Not so much like fox spirits. Spiders are ancient and have a lifetime of knowledge. When they take up residence in doorways, they are watching, keeping an eye on what is to come. If evil is near, spiders create a barrier. If good, they great it like an old friend.”

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

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

---

---

“I make no promises.” I tell Avery, but I’ll certainly try not to dig the helmet into his back. We enter the diner and I take a look around curiously. This would be my first time experiencing an ‘American diner’.“Yes please, thank you.” I answer with a smile.

I glance over at Avery, wondering why he is choosing this place to eat at today. “Will this be an authentic American diner experience?” I ask in a low whisper.

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

I frown and take a deep breath. “There’s been a memory trying to surface for the last day or so that I’ve been repressing… I’m not meaning to hide anything from you, I just don’t know who or, or what I’m afraid of.”

I bury my face in Caden’s chest. “This memory scares me and I know I can’t just keep avoiding it, but I also don’t want to experience it.”

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

”Huh,” I say, mulling it over in my mind. ”There was a story my mom used to tell me and Kiki as kids,” I don’t bother to clarify which Kiki since it feels obvious with the context. “Apparently, in ancient China, spiders were referred to as ximu, or happy insects. The story my mom would tell was how a mother who was waiting for her son to return after being gone for awhile would find a spider crawling on her clothes. It wasn’t long after that, that the son arrives.”

I lean on the shop’s counter to watch Cass as she organizes the things she’s grabbed. “So, spiders were often associated with good news. My mom would threaten to disown us if she caught us killing a spider.”

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I found a booth and tossed my bag into the corner before sliding inside. I looked at Kimiko with a confused expression before remembering this was her first time here.

”Oh, um, I guess so? What’s your idea of an authentic American dining experience?”

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

Nero’s fears are self-explanatory but also unavoidable. I wrapped my arms around Nero, holding them close while rubbing their back. ”I’m right here to experience every memory with you, but if you’re this afraid, I really don’t want you going back to Hell.”

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

”Spiders are good companions and helpers. It would be wrong to kill them,” I agreed. I separated the ingredients I needed into bags before I put everything into my bag. I look at Nic and smile. ”Ready?”

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: Diner - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

“I mean, the diner itself. Like, it’s a staple in so many American movies.” I say as I wiggle my way into the seat. The vinyl of the booth and my leather pants does not make a very pleasant noise and I cringe a little, choosing to hover over the seat as I finish sliding in before I sit down.

“Do they serve burgers and fries and milkshakes here?” I know we had stopped at a steak and shake the first night I was here, but this is an entirely different experience.

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

I close my eyes, taking a few deep breaths to steady myself and focus on Caden’s hands on my back. “We’re not expecting anyone today… so… should I just let it surface?” I pull my face out of his chest so I can look up at him.

“I don’t want to put a damper on everything.” I add.

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Mystic Dreams - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I smile, loving that I had been able to guess how she would feel about spiders. “Ready. Do you want me to carry anything?” I ask, eyeing the numerous small bags going into her bag.

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I nod, looking around the restaurant. ”Well, yes then, and they do serve those things, but I wouldn’t recommend it for breakfast,” I say, mildly amused.

The waitress comes over and pours us two cups of strong coffee. I had some creme to mine, but no sugar. She sets down two vinyl menus and lists the specials.

”Do you want the usual, darling?” She asks me.

I smile and nod. ”Thank you, Ronda. Give us a few minutes with the menus, though.”

“Of course, my dears, take your time,” she says before wandering off again.

”You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu,” I tell her.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

I kiss Nero’s forehead, their nose, and their lips. ”You won’t put a damper on anything. It’s just you and me,” I whisper in assurance.

I’m concerned about what will be brought forth for Nero, but I know that every day, they are getting closer to who they once were and closer to what might unlock their humanity. I’m not sure what will happen to Nero’s soul and this body once they do unlock their humanity, but I am hopeful they will remain all the same.

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I smile and shake my head. ”It’s not heavy,” I assure him. I found it sweet how Nic was constantly wanting to look after me. I hoped I’d actually be able to let him do it one day.

I walked around my counter and took Nic’s hand. ”Let’s go see about restoring this fountain,” I said.

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: Diner - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

“Yeah, I think you deserve a helmet in the back.” I don’t add anything to my coffee when it arrives, sipping it before I pick up the menu. “What in the hell is ‘biscuits and gravy’?” I peek over my menu to give Avery a dubious look.

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

I nod, burying my face in his chest again. I don’t have to even try before this one comes forward and I grip Caden’s shirt in my hand. The memory doesn’t play out like a movie at first, it’s just flashes of different images. A cage, a grey-skinned man, a chain. It’s when the grey man reappears that I’m sucked in.

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I lean over to kiss Cass’ head when she takes my hand. “Let’s do this.” I say with a positive attitude as we exit the shop and head to the SUV.

“Should we lay down some ground rules for how we handle this guy? I don’t want to repeat the hand burn incident and overreact.”

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I laugh, leaning back in the booth to stretch out. I cross my ankles under the table. ”Exactly what it sounds like, biscuits and gravy. It’s more popular in the south, but most of these small-town diners have the dish,” I tell Kimiko and sip my coffee.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

Nero falls into the memory quicker than the others. I hold them tightly, more worried this time because of how quickly they fell into the memory. I kept them close, ready to pull Nero out of the memory if I needed to.

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I locked up the shop before answering Nic. ”Oh, that would be a good idea.” I wait for Nic to open the car door for me this time before I climb inside.

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: Diner - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

“But… biscuits…?” I ask with a brow raised. “That sounds disgusting. Is this an American thing? Like a sweet and salty combo?” I must be missing something because the idea of putting gravy over a dessert item does not appeal to me in the slightest.

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

I struggle against his arms, screaming ‘no’ and crying for help, but nobody ever comes to save me. I try hitting Mundus’ chest with small fists. “No! No, NO!”

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I smile that Cass waited for me to open her door. I lean down to kiss her forehead before I shut her door and get behind the wheel. “Yeah, I don’t want to give something away and ruin the plan.” I say, placing my hand on her thigh after I’ve pulled out onto the road.

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I laugh, finally understanding. ”No, not like British biscuits. Here, biscuits are like buns, and what you are thinking of as dessert we call cookies.”

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

Nero starts pounding their fists on my chest, and I’m alarmed by the strength of them. I have a feeling I’m going to bruise from it and I make a mental note to shift that part of my body so Nero won’t have to see it.

”Nero! Nero, come back to me. You’re safe, my love, my little imp. Komm zurück, meine Liebe.” I grab onto their wrists to stop them from pummeling me.

translations

Come back my love.

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I set my bag down on the floor by my feet before I buckle in and reclaim my Chai Latte. I sip the comforting drink and settle into the seat. I switch on the heat, feeling a little chilled.

”I think we should ask more questions about how the restorations went. If he encountered any problems that led to him having to modify the original designs. Maybe a piece didn’t fit anymore. Once we have him comfortable, I can show the pictures of the missing gem. I’m sure he’ll become evasive. A gem of this size and where it comes from is quite rare, so I’m sure he’s holding onto it to sell it. If we can’t get him to give it up naturally. I’ll have to get it out of him. Either that or you distract him while I search the place.”

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: Diner - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

“Oh.” I say before I join his laughter. “Oh thank the gods. I know it’s cliche to pick on American foods, but I was really scared for a moment there.” I look over the menu once again before I peek over it at Avery. “What do you usually get?”

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

Shaking and sobbing, I can hear Caden’s voice break through the memories and realize I’m not in Hell with Mundus - I’m safe in Caden’s arms. Although, he is holding my wrists. Blinking several times, I look up, half expecting to see Mundus. Relief floods me as I only see Caden’s face. Unable to stop the tears that are still streaming down my face, my lip quivers. “Caden.” I manage to say through the sobs.

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I nod along as I process the plan. “That sounds like a good idea. I can try to distract him while you look for it. Are we worried that he’s supernatural at all?” I glance over at Cass and gently squeeze her thigh.

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”Uh, two lumberjack slams, with extra toast, bacon, and sausage,” I informed her. The Lumberjack Slam also came with two pancakes, two eggs, ham, and hashbrowns, as well as toast, bacon, and sausage.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

As soon as Nero looks into my eyes I release their wrists and wrap my arms around them securely. ”I’m right here, my love. I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here,” I whisper and rub Nero’s back.

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”I’m not. He might know of the supernatural world, but I’m not worried he is something. If he is, I can take care of it, but we’ll have to wait to see,” I said. I looked over at Nic when he squeezed my thigh.

”Aside from Kimiko’s news, how did the work out go?”

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: Diner - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I nod like I understood what he’s saying. “Maybe I’ll go with the French toast then.” I finally decide. It said it came with berries.

“So, how often do you come here then?” And why invite me?

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

It takes a good chunk of time before I’m calm enough to breathe normally - I have to concentrate solely on my breathing before it calms down. My hands just clutch Caden’s shirt and I repeat what he said in my head over and over again. Once I feel like I can talk again, I peek up at Caden. I felt clammy and I’m sure I’m even more pale than usual. “Ich habe es versaut.”

“Ich war ein Narr, was habe ich getan?” I hold Caden’s face in my hands, breath starting to tremble again.

Translations

I fucked up // I was a fool, what did I do?

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

“It was enjoyable, actually. Avery is a good trainer and once Kimiko isn’t hogging his attention, I’m sure I start learning new things. He’s very observant and knows what to help with. I liked it a lot.” I glance over with a smile.

“If it wasn’t so early in the morning, would you want to join? Even Nero was there today, so it felt like someone was missing.”

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”I try to come once a week, but it doesn’t always work out that way,” I say and sip my coffee.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

My eyes search Nero’s, looking for traces of what they just witnessed. They hold my face, and I lean into their touch.

”You did what you needed to do to survive. You survived, Nero,” I reminded them. ”Whatever happened, won’t happen to you again. Whatever you have in Hell, we don’t need it. I just need you here. With me.”

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Mystic Dreams – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I shift in my seat, looking at Nic with interest. ”Kimiko was hogging Avery’s attention? How so?” I asked, my eyes sparkling with curiosity now.

He asked me if I would want to join them and I sighed. ”Probably not. I know enough to take care of myself, with or without magic,” I say honestly.

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: Diner - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I tilt my head, feeling a little like Nero. “Is there a story behind it?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

I shake my head as panic threatens to bubble up my throat. Discovering this memory, I don’t want to so much as ever speak with a demon again. “I fucked up.” I repeat in English. “As a human, I fucked up…”

I swallow the hard lump in my throat. “Can I… try showing it to you?” I don’t know if this will work, but I want Caden to know what I’ve recovered and I don’t think I can say it out loud.

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Laughing, I shake my head. “Kimiko is very good at almost every other physical aspect in the gym, but she makes a terrible boxer. I don’t think it helped that she feared you were going to kill her for spilling the beans that she didn’t really spill.”

“Also, I don’t mean for you to learn anything - Nero certainly wasn’t there to learn anything… Although Avery did show them how to skip rope.” I laugh through my nose at the memory.

“What I mean is, all of us hanging out together seems like a fun idea - it wouldn’t necessarily be about working out.”

---

---

[KazAlkemi]

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Restaurant – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I grin at Kimiko and the tilt of her head as she tries to dig in deeper. ”I like supporting small communities and local businesses. I came across this place on one of my rides and just kept coming. Is that a good enough story, or were you hoping for something more dramatic?” I asked her.

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

What they’re asking, I’ve only known vampires being able to do, and Cassi one time. It took a lot out of her, though, so I told her to never do it again. I place my hands over Nero’s and nod. ”If you think you can, then show me,” I said. I would happily share the burden with them.

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

I grinned when Nic divulged that Kimiko wasn’t strong in the gym. She was a fiery thing, but she did lack some of the finer skills. I sipped my tea and intertwined my fingers with Nic’s while he drove us closer to Mr. Scott’s.

I smiled when he explained why he wanted me there. ”Well, we’re doing that this evening,” I said, glancing back at Nic. I had a feeling it was more related to him having missed me. At least, I was hoping that was one of the reasons.

[Donut Look Now]

---

---

Kimiko “Kiki” Voss

---

Location: Diner - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

I flip him off. “Why is it like pulling teeth to get answers from you? I was just curious how you found the place.” I shake my head and lean back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest. I’m not actually mad, but he is a frustrating man to deal with sometimes. “Anyway, it’s sweet that you like to support local and small businesses. If only more Americans were like you.”

---

---

Nero

---

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

---

---

“Please tell me if it hurts… I’ve never done this before.” I whisper pleadingly to him before I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Spectaculum.” Almost immediately, I disassociate, not really watching what I’m showing to Caden, like watching a movie through a telescope through a reflection. As we near the end of the memory, I start to feel light headed and nauseous, my body shaking again.

I let my hands fall from his face, leaning forward to rest my forehead on Caden’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.” I whisper.

Translations

Show

---

---

Nicholas “Nic” Wu

---

Location: Driving - Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

---

---

With a glance, I smile at Cass. “You’re right… I think I just missed you. I kept reminding myself not to speed to Caden’s place because showing up early didn’t mean leaving early and seeing you sooner.” I admit, feeling my ears warm.

---

---