KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

”Good,” Caden said and wrapped his arm around Nero. He smirked while Nero scratched at Caden's beard. ”Is this your way of telling me you want me to shave?”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Kimiko gets a couple of hits on Avery and scratches up his arm before she comes around. When she pushed him away, Avery's worry increased until she threw her arms around him, holding herself close.

Avery immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in closer and got on the bed. He moved her so she sat cradled in his lap while he rubbed her back, humming softly as she cried.

”I've got you, little fox. You aren't alone anymore,” Avery whispered.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

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

---

---

Caden laughed and adjusted the rings on his fingers. ”I’ll make sure to book a hotel with two floors next time,” Caden said, smiling crookedly at Nero. He walked over to a tray of crystal decanters and poured himself a glass of scotch. He took a sip and sat down on the couch.

”I am enjoying myself immensely,” he assured Nero. Caden enjoyed taking time off, but it had been a while. He was definitely taking advantage of it this weekend.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

After locking up the greenhouse, Avery made a pass through the guest rooms to ensure the windows were shut and locked before he rechecking the back door and then the front door. He sets a code on the keypad beside the door that would announce intruders unless the right code was put in. Every staff member had their own code, safeguarding the house when no one was around.

Just as Avery was setting the code, he felt a tingling go down his spine like he was being watched. Avery frowned and turned his head to the side. Wolves' senses were heightened to allow them to hear predators and prey up to ten miles away, and that had transferred to their human counterparts.

Avery heard shuffling of bed sheets and assumed Kimiko was just moving positions. He finished setting the code when he heard the first muffled sound of Kimiko saying no. Seconds later, Avery was standing in Kimiko’s doorway, eyes yellow, and scanned the room. No one was there physically aside from him and Kimiko, but Kimiko was clearly fighting something.

Avery’s brow creased, and he hurried to Kimiko’s side of the bed. He hesitated, unsure if he should grab her.

”Kiki? Kiki wake up,” he said loudly, hoping his voice would carry to wherever she was. Avery’s hands fluttered over her body, not touching her, but as the squirming and moaning got worse, he rested his hands firmly on either side of her face. At this point he didn’t care if she punched and kicked him, he just wanted her to wake up.

”Come on little fox. Wake up!”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Times Square —> Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

---

---

The couple remain in Times Square for some time, enjoying each other’s company as well as the life of others. Conversation carries easily between the two of them about nothing and everything. Eventually, Caden convinces Nero to return to the hotel.

Caden now holds Nero in the elevator as they ride up to the Presidential Suite of the Mandarin Hotel on the fifty-third floor. The doors open up to reveal rich, red oak walls, and a skyline of New York that is breathtaking no matter the time of day. To the right of the living room and big bay windows, is a study, to left sits a kitchen and the master bedroom. A secondary bedroom is near the elevators but the couple will have no need of it this time.

Caden pulled off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch, looking at the skyline with an approving smile before he looks at Nero. ”Will it do, my little imp?”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Avery is thoroughly enjoying the movie, having never seen it before. He laughs at the fighting, and the insane storyline. After he ate some of the treats Kimiko got for them, he settled into the couch with Kimiko, resting his feet on the coffee table, and held her close. Eventually he hears her breathing change and she sinks into his side more. Avery glanced down and chuckled.

After the movie ends, Avery shuts everything off and picks up Kimiko carefully before transferring her to the bed in her room. Avery tucked her under the covers and kissed her forehead before he left her room.

With the bedroom door open in case Kimiko calls for him, Avery moves about the house, checking doors and windows. He goes upstairs to check that patio door before moving across the house to the greenhouse to secure those doors.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Times Square – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

---

---

”In-between events, but that’s not the only thing I have planned for us,” Caden said and popped some of the candy into his mouth.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Avery switched the remote into his other hand and draped his arm over Kimiko’s shoulders. He flipped through some of the movies, humming and hawing over a couple of them. Ultimately, he decided on a Brad Pitt movie called ‘Bullet Train’. Avery turns the surround sound on and the volume up a bit before he sets the remote aside and eats some of his snacks.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Times Square – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Caden rested a hand on Nero’s leg once they rejoined him. ”The first time I came to New York, I sat in Times Square and Central Park for hours. There are so many people from all walks of life here.”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Avery looked at Kimiko and smirked. He poked her nose, which was nearly the only thing that was showing now that she had put the hood of his sweater up and tightened the strings. ”Would you like me to leave you alone with my sweater and your new stuffed animal?” he teased. Avery piled some snacks onto a plate before he claimed a spot in the middle of the couch.

He flipped the TV on and pulled up the streaming services. ”Mmm, a comedy or action-comedy maybe?” Avery pulled up the movies and looked through the list.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Times Square – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Caden led them around the square so they could see every possible angle. He took them down Broadway street where most of the play houses were, to the giant candy and toy stores, then up to the top of the red stairs.

Caden sat down on one of the steps, letting Nero explore on their own.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Avery popped some of the popcorn into his mouth, and poured himself a glass of water before Kimiko returned.

”Should we watch a new movie?” he asked, not sure what Kimiko was feeling up for.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Times Square – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

---

---

The flash of black eyes doesn’t deter Caden or frighten him. If anything, it excites him. Caden grinned at Nero before looking around and nodded. ”It’s just as lively during the day but more hectic. At night, though, it’s almost magic.”

Caden reclaimed Nero’s hand and started to lead them down the sidewalks to take in more of Times Square.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Avery chuckled and looked at the trolly of snacks. ”Okay. You did go to all the trouble of making all these snacks,” he said and released Kimiko to go and investigate what she had found.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Times Square – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Watching Nero’s reaction to seeing Times Square is like seeing it all over again for Caden. He let them do their turn, smiling while he watched them take it all in. Caden loved Times Square at night because it always seemed to be different. The stores and the billboards were the same, but the people and the energy were always different.

”What do you think?”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Avery’s heart seemed to restart when Kimiko said he could sleep next to her. The anger and the fear relaxed, knowing Avery could better protect and care for Kimiko if he was in the room with her.

He rubbed her back until she pulled back to look at him. ”I did promise you that, and I always keep my promises.” Avery removed his hand from the back of Kimiko’s head and wiped away what remained of her tears.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Walking —> Times Square – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Caden caressed Nero’s cheek, smiling down at them. ”Then close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you to open them.”

Once Nero complies, Caden leads Nero down another street. As they get closer to their destination, the sounds of New York get louder and more exciting. People are laughing and shouting. There’s music playing from street performers, and the smell of food fills the air.

Caden pulls Nero into Times Square, taking them further until they stand nearly in the middle. The lights are brilliant and all the stores are still open despite the later hour. Caden moved to stand behind Nero.

”Okay. Open your eyes,” he said, looking up at the flashing billboards, the giant red stairs, and everything else Times Square in New York has to offer at night.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Avery’s breath catches in his throat when he sees the tears in Kimiko’s eyes. She buried her face in his chest before he could do anything about them. Avery holds the back of Kimiko’s head, letting her cry.

A soft smile spread across Avery’s face when Kimiko announced that Avery wouldn’t be sleeping outside her door. ”Then where will I be sleeping?” he asked her softly.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Walking – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

---

---

Caden smiled at Nero and took their hand. ”You’ll see,” he said simply. He had them walk a block before stopping and turning to look at Nero. ”Do you trust me?”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

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

---

---

Avery locked the door behind him while Kimiko spoke. He stared at the lock, his back turned to her while she apologized and rambled. Avery did not want her to apologize. He turned to see her looking at the floor.

Avery tossed his sweater on the couch as he passed. He walked up to Kimiko and pulled her into a tight hug, mostly to get her to shut up. Avery held her close for a minute before talking.

”I know you are strong enough to handle this, and I know you don’t need me, but I want you to need me, Kiki…I want you to want me and to rely on me. I want to be there for you. I want to hold you when the nightmares come and wipe the sweat off with a cold towel.” Avery pulled back and made Kimiko look at him. ”You aren’t alone anymore, little fox. Neither of us should have to feel alone again.”