KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassi smiled gratefully at Nic when he translated for her. She turned around and scurried into the kitchen to pour Ren a glass of water. She poured herself some juice and Nic some water as well. She carried the two water glasses to the table, smiling a little from the joy in Ren’s voice when he greeted his son.

Cass turned back to get her glass of juice when Ren’s tone switched, and he apologized to Nic. Cassi frowned and turned, looking at Nic and Ren, wondering what Ren meant by his statement.

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery rolled his eyes and shook his head at Kimiko’s reaction. He bit into his own sandwich and took a step forward to follow her when his phone vibrated. He stopped to look at it and saw that the security camera had picked up on a car pulling into the driveway. He zoomed in before he relaxed.

”Caden and Nero are back,” he informed Kimiko. Avery redirected his path to the front door and opened it.

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting; Dragon Magic

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”I know…but it doesn’t hurt to be extra cautious,” he whispered, appreciating the comfort Nero provided.

Caden pulled into their driveway, glad it was lit and drove a little faster down to the drive to the house. Once he reached the front of the house, the door opened, and Avery stood there half-dressed and eating a sandwich.

Caden shut the car off and got out. ”To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing this little show?” Caden asked.

Avery grinned cheekily. ”Figured Nero would want to see what a real black man looks like,” he joked, making his pecs dance.

Caden laughed and helped Nero out of the car. Caden kissed their hand before meeting their eyes.

”Give me a minute,” he said. Caden walked away from the house and onto the lawn. He knelt and placed a hand on the ground.

Caden’s eyes shifted and held that strange purple glow from before. Purple mist seemed to pour out of the ground, and hundreds of golden lines shone through the yard. The purple mist flowed from the ground and from Caden as it wrapped around these golden lines. The gold grew in size, and several new strands formed, overlapping the old with the new.

Caden started to speak, his voice low and not his own, as it took on an ethereal cadence, speaking a language no humans had record of. The golden lines seemed to vibrate for a couple of minutes before everything disappeared, and Caden stood.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cass held onto Nic’s hand with both of hers, feeling nervous for some reason. When they finally came across Ren, she watched him throw his shoe. She swallowed and squeezed Nic’s hand before she let him go.

”Ren? Can I get you some water?”

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Mmm, are you sure? Sometimes I wonder,” Caden teased Nero. He turned the corner onto their road and slowed to take in the countryside more. His head moved slowly from left to right as he scanned, looking for signs of anyone or anything watching them.

”I could do that, try and bring it up casually. I just have a feeling Nic might think I’m trying to buy him off, even though that’s not why I do it.”

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery yelped and laughed. ”Damn girl! That stings.” He had to admit, though, he was impressed with how hard she managed to hit him from that angle.

Avery reached the top of the stairs to the main floor before he pulled Kimiko off his shoulder and plopped her onto the ground.

”You can carry your own sandwich then,” he said and handed her one.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia kissed him back as deeply as she could, even with how brief it was. She felt bad for Nic, but she was more concerned for his dad.

”No, I’ll come with you.” She squeezed his hand before adjusting his shirt she wore and her shorts. Thankfully Nic’s shirt was long and baggy enough that she was decently covered despite not wearing a bra.

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”I’ve been around for a long time, my little imp. There isn’t much I don’t have an answer for,” he said.

He mulled over Nero’s suggestion. ”That’s not a bad idea,” he said, thinking it over. Caden wasn’t sure if he would do it, only because he didn’t believe Nic would appreciate it or see it the same way as Caden would want it to mean.

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Avery Zain

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

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”Hey! Quit wiggling. You’re going to make me spill the water,” he stated as he filled a large water bottle that they could share.

He grabbed the sandwiches once he was done and started to walk out of the kitchen. He carried the water bottle in one hand and the sandwiches in the other. The one with the water bottle rested against Kimiko’s legs. He tapped her butt with the water bottle.

”I can do that, too,” he said in response to her continuing to smack his own butt.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia smirked and hooked her finger into the waistband of Nic's joggers to bring him closer. She found his cocky confidence a turn on in this moment, and it was well deserved.

She was ready to start pulling down his joggers when there was a crash from downstairs. Cassiopeia turned her head to the door then back to Nic.

He moved away from her and she pulled his shirt back on before moving to her backpack. She opened it, ready to grab one of her knives when she heard Ren cursing.

”Is your dad drunk?”

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden looked at Nero and smirked. ”I'm fine with it. Leaves me with more money to spoil you,” he said with a grin. ”I've been around for a while. The people who refuse my offers or who blush every time I bring them something more, are the ones I want to look after. I know Nicholas makes decent money, but gifts are generally how I show my appreciation. His refusal doesn't bother me. It just means I have to find some other way to say thank you.”

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Avery Zain

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

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Kimiko's lack of vocabulary has Avery chuckling.

”Right, dealers choice then.” Avery kissed Kimiko's cheek before he moved his arm and spun Kimiko around by her hips.

Once Kimiko faced Avery he picked her up by her hips and tossed him over his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her legs and started to put the ingredients he used to make the sandwiches away.

”You're right, it's a lot easier to get things done this way.”

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden chuckled. "If Nic can get Cassi here that early in the morning and ready to help, I'll buy him a house," Caden joked and pulled past the Chicago city limits into the countryside.

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery was finished with the sandwich making but he still had to put everything away. However, when Kimiko let him go, he turned around to look at her.

"Uhh, nuh uh," Avery said and snaked his arm around Kimiko's waist. He pulled her back in, her back flush with his chest. "Now, tell me more about how you want me to pick you up," he said into her ear. "Because I can do it with you standing on the ground like this, or I can flip you in the air first, or I can set you on the counter and make-out with you first until we can't keep our hands off each other and I have to take you upstairs. Or...maybe you want all three at different times..." He mulled the ideas over while he placed kisses along Kimiko's neck.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden smiled, his heart squeezing three times in his chest in recognition of Nero's hand squeezes. Caden loved the subtle way Nero told Caden they loved him like that. Caden pulled Nero's hands to his lips and kissed them several times before squeezing Nero's hand back three times.

"We'll bring everyone in on it tomorrow. Maybe we will be able to find something if we have more pairs of eyes on it," Caden said.

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery peeked over his shoulder to look at the top of Kimiko's head. "Do you want me to throw you over my shoulder?"

It was easy to catch the hesitant tone in Kimiko's voice, but Avery couldn't help but wonder if that was something he wanted her to do because she was right. It was a move Avery could easily do, but he wasn't sure how Kimiko would respond to being thrown around like that. To be cradled in his arms was one thing, but over his shoulder was completely different.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden rubbed his thumb along Nero's hands while he drove. He needed the constant contact to reassure himself Nero was present and okay. The idea that Nero was being watched didn't sit well with Caden.

With all the work they were doing to unlock Nero's past bringing about the revelation of Mundus, and just who Nero was to the Prince of Hell, did not bode well for who this low level demon worked for. Coupled with Crowley's unsolicited visit this afternoon, it wasn't looking good.

Caden looked over at Nero, having realized they were both in their own minds. He squeezed Nero's hand.

”Avery said no one aside from us and the wolves have been on the property since we started seeing each other. I'll up the wards and talk to Cassi about setting something up. You're safe with me,” he said, wanting to remind himself as much as Nero of that fact.

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery smirked as he felt Kimiko lean against him.

”Don't fall asleep on me. I can hardly carry you plus sandwiches and glasses of water,” he said.

Avery made simple sandwiches with ham sliced by a butcher, cheese, lettuce, and cut cucumbers for extra crunch.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden looked at Nero when they noticed the knife in his peripheral vision. He grinned and squeezed Nero's thigh.

”I would rather enjoy more of that,” Caden agreed.

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Avery Zain

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

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”Hmm, not a comforting thought,” Avery noted. He shuffled Kimiko to the side when her stomach growled.

”You can always hold me from behind. I just need my arms,” he said. He hadn't anticipated Kimiko needing to be so near him, but it could simply be because she was tired or it was the first night of their bond.

Avery felt more stable being in Kimiko's presence and near her. It could simply be the same thing for her, he supposed.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden shook his head, watching Nero skip around the car again like earlier. Caden revved the engine, waiting for Nero to get into the car. Once Nero was inside, Caden peeled away from the curb.

”Speaking of smaller size, do you want to play tonight when we get home? I can change my form to meet whatever you have in mind,” Caden said, placing a hand on Nero’s thigh.

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Avery Zain

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

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”You’re welcome. I didn’t want you to wake up and panic or think I left you,” he said, rubbing her back. ”And what do you mean you’re not surprised?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Just because it was a stick and the vehicle only went so fast doesn’t mean it was any less of an experience. You try driving with a bunch of other people on horseback or carriage with one of the first vehicles ever and see how you fair,” Caden said, and childishly, for the first time, stuck his tongue out at Nero.

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Avery Zain

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

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Temporarily unable to continue making sandwiches, Avery wrapped his arms around Kimiko and kissed the top of her head.

”There was an unknown demon at Nero’s house. Caden thinks they are being stalked, and the King of Hell was there earlier today, warning Nero that someone wasn’t happy with them. Caden wanted me to make sure nothing else has been on the property,” he said and held Kimiko closer, nuzzling his head into her neck. ”All’s clear, but I’m going to have to keep things more closely monitored until we figure out who or what is after Nero.”