Caden
Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:.
Caden laughed but nodded.
”Best friends, not quite brother and sister. Cousins maybe,” Caden joked and led Nero out of their bedroom once they were ready.
Nero's cats greeted them and followed along. The noise of the renovations carried through the house to them while they walked down the hallway to the dining room.
Cassiopeia Claire Alistair
Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
I don't mind :)
Cassiopeia returned to her case files to review. She would have to call Costa at some point to get some more details from him.
Cassiopeia’s doorbell rang just as she was pinning her hair back. She frowned at it and looked at Max. Max glanced up at her, tail swishing across the floor before he trotted to the front door. Alright, so that cat wasn’t worried, but that still didn’t explain who or what it was. Cassi picked up her phone and made her way downstairs. There was nothing from Costa or anyone else stating they were coming over. Frowning still, Cassiopeia opened her front door.
”Can we talk?”Cassiopeia froze. Her face dropped, and she scanned the large black man standing in her doorway. Then reality came crashing back down on her. She had half a mind to slam the door shut in his face, but Nic had been right; she needed to talk to Caden and hear him out. Caden lifted a bottle of whiskey and some of her favourite snacks. Frowning once more, Cassi turned away from the door and walked to her couch.
Caden let himself in, breathing a sigh of relief and shut the door behind him.
”Should I get some glasses? Cassi gave him a look, and he decided that meant no. Caden took a seat next to her, and Cass took the bottle from him. She opened it, taking a sip from it and then another long one. She sighed, the comforting burn settling in her stomach, and handed the bottle back.
Her cats drifted into the living room. Calypso instantly wrapped herself around Caden, and Cassi scowled at the cat.
”Traitor.”Caden chuckled despite the tense situation and rubbed his finger under Calyspo’s chin. She climbed up the dragon, trying to get as close as possible before nudging Caden with her head. Caden obliged by tucking Calypso onto one arm and holding her close. With the other still free, he handed Cassiopeia the Tiffany blue box.
”What, are you hoping bribery will work?” she scoffed. Cassi took the package from him and stared at it. She knew she was being difficult and after talking to Nic, she knew she didn’t want to be, but these were leftover emotions that she wasn’t done feeling yet.
”No. I saw it and thought of you, that is all,” Caden explained while his friend tore into the box. Cassi gasped like he thought she would and held the delicate bracelet in her hands before slipping it on over her wrist. It complimented her skin colour, and would pair well with anything.
”Shouldn’t you only be buying jewelery for your mate now?””When has being in a relationship ever stopped me from treating you as I always have?”Cassi glanced sideways at Caden, and the earnest, loving look on his face nearly had her crawling into his lap and apologizing. She growled and snapped her head back.
”Stop that.”Caden simply grinned and looked away. He helped himself to some of the whiskey before he set the bottle on the table, in easy reach for them both.
They had been arguing, yelling, and sitting in silence for over an hour now. Caden ran a frustrated hand over his face.
”This isn’t like that, Cass. You need to trust me.””Trust you? Caden, I lost everything. I can’t lose you, too. This whole thing with Nero and not knowing their past. This Mundus… There’s something not right, I can feel it in my very soul.”Caden stared at the cat in his lap, the one who refused to leave since he got to Cassi’s.
”I love them, Cass. With everything that I am. I’m not walking away, but I can’t walk away from you, either. Please… I know how much you worry. I know with everything that we’ve been through… that you’ve been through… it isn’t easy to let those we love fall into something that can bring them harm, but Nero is my mate. I’ve chosen them. Their past isn’t so different from yours or mine. It’s full of pain, full of mistakes, and survival. They deserve something good like we got. I deserve them.”Cassi started to cry and angrily wiped away her tears.
”Mon amour…” Caden shifted in his seat, sliding closer to Cassi. Calypso finally vacated his lap, allowing him to get closer to his friend.
”I can’t lose you,” Cassi said and looked at Caden.
”Then don’t let me go.” Caden looked into his best friend’s eyes. They stared at each other for a long moment before Cassi shifted, and Caden wrapped his arms around her. Cassi curled into Caden, crying as she clung to him. Caden started to cry as well, rubbing Cass’ back while she wept.
Cassi wasn’t sure how long she sat like that with Caden, crying and wrapped in his arms, but her face felt puffy and she felt drained. Cassi pulled back, and Caden released her, but his focus remained on her.
Cassi reached forward, grabbed the bottle of whiskey and emptied it of its contents before setting it down. She rubbed her face and sighed.
”I’m not going to run away,” she muttered, feeling Caden’s eyes boring into her.
”Are you sure? It’s happened before,” Caden said with a smile.
Cassiopeia shoved him, and Caden laughed. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
”I love you Cass…”Cassi turned her head and looked at her best friend. She sighed and pressed her forehead to his.
”I love you, too. You insufferable dragon.”Caden chuckled and pecked Cassi’s lips before he released her. He stood and started to clean up. Once he was in the kitchen, he noticed the case file and flipped it open.
Cassiopeia shuffled into the kitchen, Max wrapped in her arms, and she looked at what Caden was looking at.
”I was about to go and follow up on that when you ambushed me.”Caden smirked, flipping through the case file and Cassi’s notes.
”Do you want an extra hand?” He looked over at her and chuckled at her expression.
”Not because you can’t do it by yourself, but for old times sake,” he said.
Cassi set Max down and poured herself a glass of water.
”Won’t you be missed if you spend all day with me?””Probably, but they’ve also been pushing me out the door to fix us, so…They would understand,” Caden said.
Cassi sipped her water, mulling that fact over. []”How did we find two people who understand us so well?”[/color]
”Maybe it’s a once every three hundred year perk,” Caden joked. He flipped the case file closed and went to find cat treats. []”I’m not sure, Cass, but I’m grateful for it every day.”[/color]
Cassi sighed.
”Alright. Let’s work on this case. I know Nic will feel better if you’re with me. That man worries way too much.””It’s called love, Cass.”Cassi’s face flushed, and she handed Caden the cat treats.
”Shut up and let’s get going.”
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