KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Alright,” Avery said. His eyes shifted down to watch her crack her knuckles, before she was done, Avery was running at her. He moved like a train, heading straight for her. At the last second, Avery turned in a three-sixty, his centre of gravity lowering as he swept his leg out and took at Kimiko’s legs. She fell back, slamming into the mat, and Avery stood.

”Rule one. Don’t let them attack first.” He walked around Kimiko and took up his first position again.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden chuckled and kissed Nero’s cheek. His eyes shifted to Avery, watching him shift his stance. Caden’s hand twitched on Nero’s waist when he realized what Avery was about to do. Caden watched Kimiko’s back hit the mat and shook his head.

Avery was probably the best person to train Kimiko or any of them. He wouldn’t hold back. He never held back. Especially when it came to training like this. If Avery gave his all and Kimiko could get the upper hand, then he knew she would be safe. That they all would be safer.

”Let me know when you want to leave, Nic. I’ll get someone to drive you back to Cass’ house. If you ever decide you want a car, let me know. Cassi has room for you to store it at her place,” he informed Nic.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery finished wrapping his hands while watching Kimiko. She seemed nervous, but they were also being watched. Avery smiled kindly and shook his arms out before cracking his neck.

”Okay. Which is easier for you, being attacked first or attacking first? I want to see what you usually do and teach as we go along,” Avery explained.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden sat on a stool with Nero on his lap, resting his chin on their shoulder while his eyes tracked Avery and Kimiko.

”We can leave if you want,” Caden reminded Nero, although it was clear Caden wanted to see how this was going to play out.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain & Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery waited for Kimiko to start her run before he turned and looked back at Nic. He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

”Kiki and I made it official over the weekend. I told her I want to keep it professional while I'm training, but apparently she still wants to tease me. Anyways, let's get you started on some leg work.” He guided Nic over to some of the machines that would strengthen his lower body. He added weight to the machine's until Nic was lifting what he needed to properly build muscle.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain & Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery examined Nic's tattoo closely, wondering if he should get Cass to add to the tattoo he had on his back. He really liked the 3D work she had done with the trees and the fox made him smile.

Avery had a tattoo on his left arm of the moon in brilliant detail, a wolf overlayed howling at it and a couple of evergreens making a rough 3D impression, but nothing like the work on Nic's arm. The moon contained the anti-possession symbol whereas the wolf contained a strength rune. On his back, Avery had the beginnings of a mountain scene across his shoulders and lower neck, with some specific line and dot work in the shape of a diamond. It was a work in progress as he didn't know what he wanted to do with it.

He pulled back, looking at Nic and nodded. ”Definitely we can do some core and leg stuff for you today. By Wednesday you should be fine to do arms. Just let me get Kiki set up.”

He looked at Kimiko, who he had been ignoring even though he felt her eyes on him. He smiled sweetly at her before bidding to the treadmill.

”Get up. Treadmill for fifteen,” he declared.

Caden meanwhile dropped the weight bar after finishing his rounds of deadlifts. He stopped to drink some water before Avery gave him weighted exercises to do for his lower body. Caden sighed. He didn't like these ones as much.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain & Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery glanced down at Kimiko, a bemused expression on his face. He looked at Nic then back.

”Oh, not to worry. I have absolutely nothing planned. Nothing at all. Aside from her training regime in the mornings, I believe Kiki is completely free for you to take to lunch, Nic.”

A mischievous sparkle twinkled in Avery's eyes as he watched Kimiko, clearly picking up that she was trying to tease him and even possibly break his professional stance during training.

Avery turned his focus to Nic and instantly noticed the tattoo and how fresh it was. ”Wicked tattoo, Nic. When did you get it done?”

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain& Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery opted to be a trainer mostly today since he started so late. He normally worked out before he trained people unless he was just training Caden. When it was just the two of them they often went about doing their own thing. However, Avery was training three people today, so he needed to concentrate more.

Avery stood in front of Caden, watching him do his pull-ups. Avery crossed his arms, smirking at the dragon.

”Engage your core, old man. You're slowing down,” Avery said and knocked against Caden's core, causing him to tighten up.

”You're going to make me pay for that comment today, aren't you?” Caden finished up and dropped back to the ground.

”I would never. I am a professional. Now put on the weight belt and start with the one arm pushups. Fifty on each arm, then deadlifts,” Avery said, smiling cheerily before he walked over to Nic and Kimiko.

”What am I cancelling?” he asked Kimiko.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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When Kimiko stopped Avery to kiss him until both of them were breathless, Avery couldn't help the grin that crossed his face. Now he definitely didn't care about the gym or training today.

Avery rested his forehead against Kimiko's, taking one more minute with her. ”How about we start with hand holding when we are around the staff and our friends? Then we can go from there. But if you ever want to push it, just know that I'm comfortable with that.”

Avery quickly pecked Kimiko’s lips before he forced himself to walk away from her and into the gym. If he didn't do it now, he wasn't going to do it. He'd much rather take Kimiko back to her room and talk about their relationship.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Even if Nic hadn't said he was in love with Cassi, the dreamy expression on his face told Caden everything he needed to know. If Caden had any doubts before, he didn't now.

Caden finished his warm up on the floor before he stood, and grabbed water from the fridge.

”She is pretty incredible. I'm happy for the two of you. I'm also glad Cassi is with someone who cares for her the way she deserves. I'm rather protective of her, but I know I don't have to be with you.”

Cassi was due for something good in her life. Something to show her that she was worthy and worth being loved. She had been carrying the burden of her family on her shoulders for many years. Nic was good for her for many reasons, and Caden would always be grateful for Nic giving Cassi the love she needed.

Avery finally walked into the gym and Caden turned. ”Well well well, look what the cat dragged in. Or should I say fox?”

Avery smirked and nodded to the pull up bar. ”I think you need a longer warm up. Up you go.”

Caden laughed before he listened to his trainer.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Is it embarrassment or shyness?” Avery asked, slowing his pace to match hers while they talked.

Suddenly the gym didn't seem as important to Avery. All that mattered in this moment was Kimiko and her feelings. This was perhaps the most honest moment the two of them were having in terms of the intimate part of their relationship and Kimiko wasn't shying away from it at the moment.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden chuckled and nodded, remaining silent for a moment while he worked on getting his heart rate up. He glanced at the door while he ran, still surprised Avery hadn't shown yet. Surely he would have texted to say training was off. At least Nic and Caden had an idea of what to do in the gym.

”Cass is anything but reckless. She's usually pulling one of us out of the fire, if you'll pardon the phrase,” Caden said as he slowed to a walk before getting off the treadmill.

”I have a plan to win her back, don't you worry,” Caden joked before he went to one of the mats to continue his warm up with some ground work.

”Speaking of winning Cassiopeia over. How is it going between you two? I see she finally got her mark on you,” Caden said and nodded towards Nic's upper arm tattoo. ”Impressive work,” he added.

Cassi was always a stickler for detailing but Nic's tattoo was meticulous in its detailing.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery cocked his head to the side, looking at Kimiko curiously. ”How so?” He started to walk down the hallway again but slowly so they could finish their conversation. While they walked, he drank his protein shake.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden started to jog lightly, building up slowly to a run while he and Nic talked.

”I'll check in to see how the case is going, but Cassi doesn't take well to people butting in on her cases. Besides, she knows how to handle redcaps better than anyone. They don't necessarily have leadership or a hierarchy but all redcaps are descended from the same Scottish line. Cassi's family is like royalty when it comes to the Fae, witch, and sorcerer world. It's likely why Costa approached her to handle the mess rather than me.”

Caden breathed a sigh of deep relief when Nic mentioned Cassi was saying his name without cursing it in the same breath. ”I won't say anything, but thank you for telling me. I bought her something while in New York to try and break the tension… I've never gone this long without talking to her. I'm not handling it well, not that I am upset with her. I understand why she is hurt.”

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery chuckled, finding Kimiko’s reactions adorable. Once they were on the main floor, Avery grabbed Kimiko around the waist and stopped her in the middle of the hallway. He kissed her once before letting her go.

”Just wanted to do that before we head into the gym. I want to try and keep things professional,” he told her.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden smiled and nodded before he sat on one of the benches to put on his shoes.

”Oh good. Nero and I got back from New York late last night. I wasn’t planning on coming today, but Nero woke me and they want to move some things in the room around. I’m having some renos done,” Caden explained.

He stood up and started to stretch to loosen up before he went over to one of the treadmills he had. He only had two plus two ellipticals since, most of the time they opted to go for a run on the property to warm up.

”Do you happen to know Cass’ schedule for tomorrow?”