KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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I finally give in and laugh. ”We can do it in increments,” I say in agreement. ”I still can't quite believe you know the sparkly vampire. Does he know what you are?” I ask curiously. I release the bike from the kickstand and wheel it into the garage, glancing behind me to see if she'll follow.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Police Station – Chicago, IL
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I can feel eyes on us from outside and inside the building when Nic kisses my forehead. I try to ignore them, but it's hard when I'm very aware of Nic's affect on me.

My eyes close when he kisses my forehead and I smile. ”So violent these days. I fear I'm corrupting you,” I joke, opening my eyes to look at Nic again.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I brush my fingers lightly down Nero's cheek. I watch my fingers as I talk rather than Nero. ”Branding. With dragon fire. It's not supposed to hurt, but I don't know any of my ancestors who married outside our kind,” I tell Nero. ”We don't have to do that part. I would never want to subject you to that kind of pain again, regardless if it's brief or not.” Of course, the primal part of me would love to see my mark on Nero, but I couldn't do that to them. Not with the torture they went through.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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I look at Kimiko when she expresses interest in going for another ride. I feel myself start to, but hold back from grinning.

”Will you let me go faster?” I ask.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Police Station – Chicago, IL
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”I don't mind being doted on. It's just been a while for me since someone I've been with has done so, and I don't know, it's different with you,” I state, fiddling with my hair while we walk up to the police station.

We stop outside the front door and I turn to look at Nic. I'm still feeling shy but I want to see his eyes.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Well, there are vows we need to say plus a couple other small things, but there's also a big thing. Now, this one we can change. I want to make it perfectly clear I'm not expecting this from you,” I said, my tone serious as I look into Nero's eyes. ”I want you to know and understand that you have a say in this.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving —> Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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I chuckled and nodded, refraining from speaking my internal thoughts on the matter of their arms around me.

I pulled my helmet and gloves off before getting off the bike. ”Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it, despite how it started,” I said.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving —> Police Station – Chicago, IL
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My stomach does a little flip at the shy way Nic asks to walk me to the door. I just nod, feeling my voice caught in my throat. I grab my back and open up my door.

Caden usually did these things for me, too. Walking me from place to place, or escorting me on his arm, but that was just Caden. We were from a different time. There was something about Nic doing it though that made me feel shy, and like a woman being courted in the 1800s.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I note the fear in Nero's eyes when they look at me. My eyes drift to the tension they put on their bottom lip and I brush my thumb across their lip to relax them.

”It's private,” I assure them. ”We could even do it right here, right now if you wanted to. But we also don't have to do it that way. There are different things we can do,” I told Nero.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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When Kimiko releases her hold on me, my fingers twitch over the throttle with a desire to go faster so she has to hold onto me again. I'm glad she can't see me because I screw up my face in confusion on why I miss her hold.

Stupid. We were practically at each other's throats an hour ago and now I want her arms to stay around me?

I pull up outside the garage and wait for Kimiko to get off before I flip the kickstand down and shut the bike off.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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Nic and I fall into a companionable silence while he drives to the station. It feels like we are going through the same motions as our minds wander to the past and the pain of loss, but there's a comfort knowing neither of us are alone. It brings a little smile to my face, even if I'm the only one thinking about it.

We stop outside the station and I release Nic's hand to unbuckle my seatbelt. ”I won't be long,” I told him again, even though he told me it was fine.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I sat with Nero on my lap, eyes closed, and sighed in contentment. In the distance I hear a motorbike getting closer and surmise that Avery must have gone for a ride.

I open my eyes and kiss Nero's head. ”We should talk about the traditional mating ceremony for my people,” I say, speaking gently.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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We weave in and out of trees and broad countryside on the way back to Caden's. I was grateful he decided to buy property out in the country like he had in Montana.

I move my hand back onto the handlebar when we near Caden's property. I gear down as we get to the driveway and I turn.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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I froze when Nic kissed my cheek, having been not expecting it. My body relaxes and I smile when he thanks me.

”It's like I told you dad. That loss never goes away, but the pain of it gets easier to bear. It'll get better,” I assure Nic.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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It's definitely not the speed I am used to going but Kimiko isn't trying to squeeze the life from me, so I think she is actually enjoying it. I take one of my hands off the handle bar and rest it on my thigh while I drive leisurely.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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I'm surprised by how quickly Nic recaptures my hand. I rest my head against the headrest to watch him, a comfortable warmth settling in the centre of my body from his touch.

I shift my focus to our hands joined in my lap, and I trace his fingers with my free hand subconsciously. I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for Nic's mother's death but we weren't called in until after his parents disappeared.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods —> Driving – Chicago, IL
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Somehow, Kimiko knowing the golden boy doesn't surprise me. I just pat her hand once she's on before driving off. I get up to a moderate speed, and wait to make sure Kimiko is doing okay with that.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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I reach over and give Nick's leg another squeeze when he answers me before I pull my hand back. ”I understand. I'll make sure not to be too long,” I tell him.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
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I laugh and put on my helmet. ”Alright, let's go spidermonkey,” I say and start the bike up. I rev it up a few times while I wait for Kimiko to get settled.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”Hmm, let's go to the police station first. I'm sure Costa will need time to work out some story to make it okay that we broke into this man's safe.” The red tape of police work was exhausting.

I look at Nic as we drive away and I laugh. ”I'm okay. We can stop on our way back from the temple,” I declare. I reach over and squeeze Nic's leg before he can do it to me. ”If you don't want to come into the station with me, I understand.” I remembered he was unhappy with the whole force, especially now that he knew there was a police force working supernatural cases.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
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”No, they are much more straightforward than that. Tap my shoulder if you need to get my attention, thumbs up good, thumbs down bad and that means I'll stop. If you want me to go faster you can use your pointer finger to point up, or if you want me to go slower point down. If I squeeze your hand or leg, it's because I'm asking if you're okay, and then you can respond with one of those. Make sense?”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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I smile and take Nic's hand as we hurry back to the car to leave. We checked in on Mrs Scott before leaving and she was fast asleep. I hoped she would be okay, and that Mr Scott would find the precious gems missing before we had a chance to get to the police station.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Garden of The Gods – Chicago, IL
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”Do you want me to teach you hand signals to use on the way back?” I ask as I get on the bike.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Mr Scott’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”No. I'll document it, so Mr. Scott gets charged, but I already know where this stone needs to go and how to restore it. Are you up for another long drive?” I asked Nic. I could always do it myself on a different day but I really wanted to do this as soon as possible.