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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”And you love me?” Avery asked, sliding his fingers under her chin to make her look at him.

His smile was soft and easy now, nothing left of the fear and sadness earlier. His heart beat easily, knowing things were right between them.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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

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”Mmm, too sleepy… Help?” Caden asked. He cracked his eyes open to look at Nero, a cheeky grin adorning his face.

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Avery Zain

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

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”Owe! Damn, girl.” Avery rubbed his arm where Kimiko smacked him. Imagine if she had punched him instead. He pouted at her, but couldn't keep the sparkle of joy from his eyes that they were starting to get back to their old selves.

Kimiko's last comment sobered him and he looked down. Her hand was soft against his cheek and he sighed. ”I'm sorry,” he said, and looked at her through his lashes.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassi looked over at Nic and smirked.
"If he could speak, I'm sure he would say now." She walked back to the couch and handed Nic her phone. ”Avery is awake. Looks like they got a good video of him.”

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Caden

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

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Caden nodded, holding Nero closer. He smiled, turning his head and kissed Nero's head just by knowing where the imp usually sat against him.

”I just need you and sleep,” he murmured. Caden had been using more of his power and today was perhaps the worst of it with getting control over Avery. Caden usually put on a strong front but when it came to his loved ones, like Nero, he felt important to let his guard down, so they knew how he truly was.

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Avery Zain

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

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”This is kind?” It's a reflex question, wanting to bring humour into the situation. There's a smile on Avery's face from the moment Kimiko takes his hand. Thank you god.

Avery felt his entire being relax when she did that. At least Avery knew she still liked him or at least wanted him.

He opened his eyes and looked at Kimiko. ”I will never do that to you, to us again. Not only do I feel like I've been hit by a train, but when I couldn't feel you anymore… that was the worst feeling in the world.” They hadn't been bonded for long, but Avery truly felt like he had lost himself after he blocked her.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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The sorcerer smiled, brushing her thumb along her nurse's cheek in time to his rubbing her back. She kissed him softly again, savouring the moment before she pulled back.

”Do you want to call your dad and check-in? We can tell him that we found a way to break the contract. Then we can watch a movie, or we can gather what we need to summon the demon,” she suggested.

Cassi's phone rang in her bag by the door. She slid off Nic's lap to get it, but Nic wasn't left alone for long. Wayland jumped into the vacated spot on his lap, and nudged Nic for pets.

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Caden

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

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”Honestly, I'd probably just fall asleep in the tub.” He wrapped an arm around Nero when they moved in closer. Caden shut his eyes and rubbed Nero's back, feeling like he would fall asleep any second.

”I can run you one if you would like though,” he offered with a yawn.

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Avery Zain

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

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The look at Kimiko's face broke Avery further. He pulled his hands away from her and ran one over his head.

”I wanted to. I thought I would calm down, but I couldn't…When he threw you over his shoulder I just saw the warehouse. I couldn't get the image of you in a cage out of my head and I lost it. And then I got angry and you got angry which fed my anger and I stopped thinking and just reacted.”

Avery's headache started to get worse with the increase of emotions. He shut his eyes and tried to breathe deeply but it wasn't helping.

”And then I tried to reach you and I couldn't. I detached from my wolf and just felt… empty. Caden forced me back, but it took so long to find you again. I thought I lost you, that it was too late, but then we felt your fire again. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. What I did was unforgivable but would you consider giving me a second chance?” Avery rubbed a fist over his heart, feeling tension as he waited for Kimiko's answer.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia looked at Nic, a tender smile forming on her face. She could picture the image so clearly in her head. Nic coming home from a long shift, a little black haired boy running out of the garden to greet him, and Nic picks him up to toss him over his shoulder. Cass in the garden with two little girls picking flowers and vegetables, a newborn in a basket by the window. The image filled her with such love and joy it nearly broke her.

Cassiopeia rested her hands on Nic's cheeks and kissed him deeply. She focused on how his lips felt on hers, and how her heart beat for more than just her.

”I love you.”

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Caden

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

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”Yes my little imp.” Caden rose up on his feet and kissed Nero's forehead. He stood after and stretched while he yawned. Caden pulled out his phone and sent the video to Cassi before he set his phone aside.

Caden sighed, the full weight of the day settling onto him. He kicked off his shoes and socks unceremoniously before stretching out on the bed.

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery shut his eyes when Kimiko's hand brushed his forehead. It was a simple touch with nothing behind it, but Avery craved her touch in such a way that she could have slapped him and he would have been grateful. He opened his eyes when she questioned him and he looked at her, the pain in his eyes genuine.

”I… Yes, but I didn't intend for it to be a full block… I just wanted some silence, I didn't think. God, Kimiko, I didn't think. I'm so sorry.” Avery slid forward in his chair, bumping knees with Kimiko and rested his hands on her leg. He hadn't intended to touch her until she wanted him to, but selfishly he needed to reassure himself she was with him.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”And spirit. But can you handle five kids with my attitude?” Cassi challenged. She finished her tea and set the glass down while she listened to Nic's suggestion.

Ideally, raising her children in her ancestral lands would be how Cassi wanted to do it. The connection to the land would help hone their powers while giving them strength. But could she go back and raise a family on the land where she lost hers?

”Maybe we should visit first before we think of buying there…” Cassi understood this conversation to be hypothetical, but if it did become true, she at least wanted to know she could go home before raising a family there.

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Caden

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

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”Oh? You didn't leave your phone in there set to record?” Caden kissed Nero's cheek before he set them on the bed. Caden crouched in front of them with his hands on their legs. ”Privacy is important, my little imp.”

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Avery Zain

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

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”Make-up came off but marker is there still. Faded but better.”

Avery hesitated in the doorway another moment longer before he walked over to Kimiko. He pulled out a chair and sat next to her.

”Are you okay?” he asked lamely. Her position told him she wasn't, but he didn't know what to do for her. He didn't know how to help her since he was the one who did this.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Oh, I'll definitely be stubborn again,” Cassi said, not bothering to deny it. She kissed Nic back before pulling away. She reclaimed her tea and sipped it.

Nic's imagery of toddlers running around zapping things made Cassi's eyes sparkle, and she nearly choked on her tea.

”Oh my goddess, could you imagine? We'd have to follow them around to keep them from burning the place down,” Cassi laughed and then sobered. ”Oh, we'll definitely have to live in the middle of nowhere by that time,” she said, remembering how she nearly set her home on fire when she was young. ”And they might not have the same power set as mine. Generally speaking, powers used to skip a generation or show up depending on what was needed. Since I'm the only one, I'm not entirely certain if or what powers our children may have, but one of my jobs was helping the children in the coven hone their skills. I'm certain I'll be able to handle whatever pops up,” Cassi said reassuringly.

The idea of having children with Nic didn't even phase her. The idea seemed right, natural. Cass didn't even pause to think about what she was saying. In her mind, it was going to happen one day.

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Caden

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

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Caden chuckled and kissed Nero's forehead. ”Please no,” he joked before yawning again.

He looked at Kimiko and smiled tiredly. ”You can only let him stew so long. Besides, it might be a long conversation for you two. He needs boundaries and he needs to trust you. Go to him, Kiki, if he isn't already on his way back. I need a break anyways,” Caden said before yawning again.

He stood, holding Nero and walked over to Kimiko. He squeezed her shoulder. ”Suivez votre cœur.”

As they left, they came across Avery. ”We're going to bed. It's been a long day. If you want, have Kiki tell you have the events unfolded, or I can fill you in later. Good luck.” Caden patted Avery's shoulder before heading on back to the room he was currently sharing with Nero.

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery nodded and watched them go before he looked back at the library. Now what? He stood in the hall, feeling very nervous. At least Caden and Nero had been there before as a sort of buffer, but now?

Avery scratched at his forehead, hoping Kimiko wasn't going to be laughing at him the entire time. That wouldn't make for great conversation. He walked into the library but hovered by the doorway, unable to walk further inside without her permission.

Avery's wolf pulled him to go in, to hold her and breathe in her scent, but Avery couldn't bring himself to do it.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassi shut her eyes and focused on Nic's touch. She smiled when he mentioned how intense her powers were. It was one of the reasons why she set up blocks in her home. It gave her a break.

”I don't mind you being a little intimidated,” she teased. Cassi opened her eyes and pressed her forehead to Nic's.

”I hope I'm never that mad at you,” she said honestly.

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Caden

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

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”The prank helped but I think your reaction is what sealed the deal,” Caden said, looking at Kimiko. ”He looks like a wounded dog, and he only ever gets quiet like this after I've reemed him out and he knows he was wrong. It's hard to see, but he needed to understand just how bad this one's,” Caden said with a nod.

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Avery Zain

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

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Now that Avery knew what his face looked like, he couldn't bear the thought of going downstairs to beg for food. Even though his stomach was rumbling painfully. Instead, Avery retreated to Kimiko's room to scrub his face.

He stared at himself in the mirror, his makeover looking even worse in reflective glass. He groaned and stared up at the ceiling. He had to hand it to Nero. When they decided to prank someone they pranked someone.

Avery rummaged around until he found some makeup wipes, and having looked it up on his phone, oil and rubbing alcohol to help with the permanent marker.

Avery scrubbed and stubbed his face until it was red. The permanent marker was still present but it had faded a bunch. Hopefully by tomorrow would be completely gone.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia sipped her tea, nodding her head in agreement with Nic when he assumed what she had heard in the past. She freezed though when he mentioned her nickname. Cassiopeia sipped her tea but it didn't taste as it had before. She leaned forward and set her cup on the coffee table.

"I always hated that name," she confessed. "Bana-bhuidseach stoirm. Storm Witch. People started whispering that name when they saw what I could do. It was always whispered in fear. Some people were fanatics and said it in reverence, but that never sat well with me, either."

She shifted in Nic's lap, so she was sideways and could see him better. She was fine with Nic comparing her eyes to a storm, though. It was true. On cloudy days like this, they seemed more gray to her. When she called the storm to her they seemed to shift and crackle, mirroring whatever storm she called. When she was happy or excited, they were usually a vibrant blue. When she was sad, they were a deep, dark blue.

"I'm glad you're not afraid of my power, though." The relationship would never have worked out if Nic was afraid of her.

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Avery Zain

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

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Avery shifted his attention from Kimiko, feeling a pang from the easy way she had dismissed him. He looked at Nero and frowned. The 'food' they suggested was barely scraps. There wasn't a lot left.

"I had some extras set aside for you, Avery. It's down in the kitchens if you want it," Caden offered.

Avery nodded his thanks. He looked back at Kimiko but she was already buried in her work again. He sighed, knowing he deserved it, but hating it all the same. He slipped out of the library without another word.