KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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"Then we'll be prepared," I declare. I set my raspberry drink down and pick up my peach. I take a sip and wiggle in my seat. "Yes, it was a good choice to get two," I declare.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I go to change up my stance and start throwing punches from my less dominate side and I glance over at Kimiko. I grin openly when I catch her staring at me. I look back at my bag and throw a few more punches as I talk.

"Do I need to get you a blindfold for tomorrow? There were will be three boys for potential distractions," I inform her. I don't think much of Kimiko's staring. It's a common thing for me and it doesn't bother me. I've had people stare because they were attracted to me, because they were sizing me up for a fight, and because they were training me. Bugging Kimiko about it, though, that was pure fun.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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"Well, don't forget your first aid kit just in case," I tease him. I curl my fingers around Nic's where his hand rests on my legs. I don't hold his full hand though, wanting the contact of his palm on my on my leg still.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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After I finish my water I look back at Kimiko to see how she is doing. She definitely has improved since she first started even though it wasn't that long ago. I watch her muscles flex and extend with each pull and release. She definitely has a strength and a body there that we can work with.

I try to ignore the other thoughts that enter my mind and I walk back over to Kimiko. "Good, let's switch it up now," I say and lead her through another set she can do to strengthen the opposite muscles. I always liked to work both muscle groups when I was training. Some people didn't but I felt I got better, more even results.

Once I have Kimiko set up on a new routine I return to my side of the gym. I pick up the broken bag and set it aside to be cleaned up properly later. I go into the back to grab the new bag and hook it up. Once it's in place a start my final rounds. I go into my routine faster, adding more kicks than my first round. I don't practice kicks often, but they are important. As I punch and move around the bag I think about what I'll need to do the next time I want to train this way. I'll have to do some ground work with the bag, I think to myself.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I glance over at Nic, surprised to hear that he had been in some. When he explains why, that makes more sense to me. Nic didn't come across as the violent or aggressive type. He definitely was the more passive type. A healer and a defender like he described.

"Just in case this Scott fellow becomes aggressive tomorrow when we start questioning him. I can fight as well, but I usually take the magic route when it comes to subding someone. If I can anyways," I explain.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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"Just for tonight," I joke and walk over to the bag. I wait until Kimiko starts lifting weights, checking her form to make sure it is still right before I start hitting the bag.

I keep my hands loose, hitting the bag lightly to warm up. I breath out everytime my fist connects with the bag. Ever since I was little, I had this obsession with boxing and MMA fighting. I used to watch the fights when they were underground as well as the one that nobles attended with people like me fighting just to make money to have a meal for the week. It wasn't easy work but it was something.

Slowly my surroundings drown out around me and I'm moving around the bag, hitting high and low as my pacing increases. I connect with the bag every time, hitting harder and harder until the bag starts to split. I keep going until I eventually step back and wind up for a roundhouse kick. I jump and twist and the bag shatters. I step away and take a drink of water.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I ignore Nic backing up this time, sipping my drink and stare at out the window. Of course he calls me his little tomato and I sigh. Once we are going forward I relax back in my seat, letting my head fall back against the cushion. If only I knew how to drive and then I wouldn't have to put myself through this much torture.

"Have you ever been in a fight?" I ask, switching gears completely.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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"It does, but when I'm this wound up I don't hold back. Caden has been the only one I spare with when I'm like that. When he's not around, I use the bag and end up replacing it twice before I'm done," I say as I wrap my hands. "I'm not doubting you have strength, just not werewolf or dragon strength."

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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My eyes drift to Nic's dimples and I shake my head. He really does look good when he smiles like that. I hope I can always make him that happy, I find myself thinking. I'm not expecting what happens next, though. Nic leans in close after resting his hand on the doorframe of the car and kisses me.

I don't have a lot of time to process or respond when he does that. I feel his lips on mine briefly. He pulls away, licking his lips, to taunt me more I swear, and then the door is closed. I watch him walk around to the other side my face probably very red and I shake my head, cursing in Gaelic. Just when I think I have the upper hand, he goes and does something effortless like that.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I look at Kimiko and give her a lopsided grin. "I'd advise against that," I tell her seriously. I walk past her, back into the gym to a cabinet and pull out bands to wrap around my knuckles.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I shake my head when he still opens the car door for me. I get inside and set my drink down before I hold my hands out for the other ones. "I did. I really did, thank you for suggesting this."

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I shake myself out after she let's go and I shake my head. "No, I think it should be fine. I don't feel like crawling out of skin anymore. Caden will come let us know when he's okay," I say, nodding to assure her and myself.

I look back into the training room. "Do you want to keep going? I need to expel some energy now anyways," I say, eyeing the punching bag in the corner.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I smirk, watching him somehow manage to hold both of my drinks with one hand. I take the raspberry one from him now and put the straw in. I take a sip and nod in approval before thanking the people behind the counter and lead Nic outside, holding the door for him.

"Did you have fun today?" I ask him as we walk back to the SUV.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I'm debating on going upstairs to knock on the door and just make sure Caden really is okay. I don't think he would hurt Nero, and he had more control than I did, but I was still worried. I feel a hand on my shoulder and my attention automatically shifts to look at Kimiko.

I look down at her, puzzled for a moment of why she is here or touching me. I come back to reality and relax. I release a breath I didn't know I was holding and nod. "I'm okay. The house isn't on fire yet. That's always a good sign," I joke poorly.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I laugh and wiggle under him to get him to stop leaning so much weight on me. "Yes, well I'm sure that big brain is overloaded by your ego," I joke. He mentions my head being the only chin rest for me and I shake my head under his chin. "This chin rest squirms," I warn him

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I stand in the hallway looking towards Caden's wing of the house and nod. "When the pack bond fell into place for us we had to learn to block each other out, if we didn't, we felt and experienced everything the other did. But because Caden dragon-born, I could feel that, too. It unsettled my wolf in the beginning but now we know when we feel the dragon it's because something is wrong."

I try to follow the thread tying my to Caden. He has me blocked still, so it can't be that bad, right? I feel him on the other side and he pushes me away. "Okay. I think he's fine... He just pushed me away." My shoulders are still tensed though as I continue to stare down the hallway.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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"Well, now that's just excessive," I say and rest my hands on his arms. I move my eyes to look up since I can't move my head but I don't see anything other than the ceiling. "Do you like using people as chin rests. Is your head really that heavy?" I ask, teasingly.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I frown walking closer towards the door. The heat seems to be dying down but I still don't feel right. The last time I felt like this was when Caden and I were still trying to figure out the pack bonds. "I don't know," I tell Kimiko. "Either they are having an epic session or Caden isn't okay."

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: SUV – Cary, IL
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I smile at Nic and nod. "Seems only fair since I couldn't make a decision." I walk over to one side of the counter to wait for our order.

Nic continues to make contact with me in some way and I find myself not minding it. I'm don't usually enjoy such physical contact but with him, I don't mind it. I find myself looking for it sometimes.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I glance behind me and see Kimiko staring from me to her. "Do you want me to start yelling at you again? Will that help?" I'm starting to think one-on-one training won't work for us.

I look towards the training room door and rub the back of my neck. Something feels off. My skin crawls and feels unnaturally warm.