KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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”I have a few thoughts,” Avery said, his tone suggestive.

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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”I’m glad I can be here, as well. There is no place I would rather be than by your side, Nero,” Caden said. He brushed his fingers under Nero’s chin, holding their gaze with his own. ”I love you, with everything that I am.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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”If you want, but you can’t really feel the muscle tension with those,” Avery explained, squeezing and rubbing the muscles around her shoulder blades.

”I’m not surprised due to your boxing skills,”” Avery teases. ”Where do your strengths lie?” Avery asked curiously.

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden growls his assent. If they had found out, Nero was biologically female… Caden didn’t allow the thought to form fully. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Nero and pulled them in closer.

”It does. I think the musical and this memory coming up will help you finally process and let go of that trauma that happened to you so many years ago. And, we are now one step closer to understanding Mundus and how he plays in all this,” Caden said and placed another kiss on Nero’s temple.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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”Work out, use my knuckles more than my fingers and thumbs if I can. I do a lot of work with my hands, so that also helps keep up the strength,” he explained. Avery worked the knot until he felt it release, and then he moved up her back again.

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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There’s something in the idea of Nero’s father forcing them to be something their not that has Caden frowning, the fire in his eyes turning malicious. ”No one can tell you who you should or should not be. Even if it was 900 years ago.” Caden pressed his lips to Nero’s temple in a silent kiss.

”I’m sorry you were made to suffer for his pride.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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”Who has the time?” Avery joked. ”I can show you. You want to be careful with your hands. You don’t want to end up hurting yourself,” Avery explained. He found a knot in Kimiko’s lower back and started to work on it while he talked.

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Fire danced behind Caden’s eyes, but now was not the time to act on Nero’s comment. ”Ich bin hier, um alle Ihre Bedürfnisse zu erfüllen,” he replied instead, resting a hand back on Nero’s leg.

Caden’s eyes flickered to Nero’s shoulder, picturing the scars that span their back. Although he doesn’t like the idea of Nero being taken advantage of in such a vulnerable state, it made sense that Mundus came to them then.

”That makes sense. He saw a way in. Most demon deals are made that way. When a human sees no other way out. What else did you see?” he asked tentatively.

”Mein mächtiger, kleiner Kobold.”

Translations

I am here to meet all your needs.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery chuckled. ”Why, are you wanting to return the favour, little fox?” Feeling that there are no more vertebrae out, Avery returns to working the muscles loose, shifting his hands to work along her lower back and hips.

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden shifted to move Nero to get them a drink, but froze when they heard the thud. Caden looked around and saw a bottle of water rolling towards him. Chuckling, he reached down to pick it up before opening it for Nero.

”Mein mächtiger, kleiner Kobold.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Even though Avery was expecting some noises of release from Kimiko, he had to remind himself that he was working on her sore muscles as a concerned trainer rather than her boyfriend. He really liked the sound of her moan, even though it wasn’t sexual in nature.

”I picked up on some things with my training, videos, and watching the nurses in the medi tents. The rest was just a combination of understanding muscle tissue and hand strength.” Avery explained. He ran his hand down her arm, massaging the bulk of the muscle before he instructed her to hold her arm. He then moved along her rib cage and spine. A satisfying pop sounded as Avery moved a vertebrae back into place. ”You can relax your arm,” he said before checking her other side.

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden looked into Nero’s eyes, smiling with relief as they came to, but there was something different. Nero’s eyes weren’t as vibrant, and it looked like they had just been through a war. Leofe Warde. Leofe Warde.

Caden ran the name around his head while Nero curled into him. ”Can I get you something to drink?” he asked gently. Caden wasn’t sure how Nero felt about knowing their true name, so he decided not to bring attention to it until Nero was able to process it.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery smirked. ”Good. He’s more entertaining to fight when he’s in a mood,” Avery informed Kimiko.

Once she sits in front of him, Avery lets his legs relax around her, pressing into her legs, and his hands resume their position on her back. Avery snorted when Kimiko asked if there were a lot of knots.

”That’s putting it mildly,” Avery informed her. His eyes narrowed slightly as he started to massage her shoulders and work down her spine. He could feel where she held tension and her fear from that night a week ago. For right now Avery concentrated on her back, shoulders, and arms. He knew as soon as he touched her neck, it would be an entirely different story told since that was her highest point of trauma, both physically and mentally, if Avery had to guess.

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Caden

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Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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As always, Caden held Nero as they went through the motions of a memory. He felt them grow warm then cold, felt the tension in their back and wondered if Nero was remembering how they got those scars. Caden pressed his lips to the top of Nero’s head, resting there until Nero started to twitch and whimper.

Caden rested a warm hand on Nero’s knee. ”Ich bin genau hier, meine Liebe. Du brauchst keine Angst zu haben. Du bist sicher.”

Translations

I'm right here, my love. You do not have to be scared. You are sure.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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"Oh, it definitely is. And a lot more punchable," Avery agreed, knowing so from experience.

Avery knew he had found a good knot in Kimiko's back even before she let out a moan. He smirked before he dug his knuckle in a bit more. With his other hand he came over to massage and stretch the area around the knot to help it start to release. Slowly Avery started to feel the shift as the muscle started to let go.

Avery shifted his weight position on the couch, and sat back, planting his feet on the floor and spreading his legs. He patted the empty space in front of him.

”Sit on the couch in front of me. It'll be easier for me to get the rest of these knots,” Avery explained.

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Caden

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Location: Car – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Caden caught Nero as they stumbled into the room. He scooped Nero into a bridal carry and pressed a button on the outside of the elevator that would ensure they were left alone.

He walked down the short hallway to the open living and dining room. The dining table was full of covered dishes containing the desserts Caden ordered, but he didn't go to the table. Instead, Caden turned right and walked into the corner room.

He shut the door of the office behind him before sitting on the couch, keeping Nero in his lap.

”You're safe, my little imp. You can let go now.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery chuckled. ”Can I watch you punch Caden in the face? Just to make sure your form is right,” he joked.

As Avery rubbed Kimiko's back, he started to concentrate on some areas that felt more tense than others. He started applying more pressure to these spots with his knuckles and fingers.

”A good something?” Avery asked, hopeful.

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Caden

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Location: Car – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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”Almost there,” Caden whispered and squeezed Nero in close before looking out the window. They were indeed on the right street for the hotel now.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit: Teal v-necked T-Shirt with black pants

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Avery couldn’t help the smile that formed when Kimiko mentioned that she hadn’t been with anyone else since Caden, which, of course, made Avery want to make an inappropriate joke, several of them, but he refrained as she continued on.

Avery tucked some hair that drifted in front of Kimiko’s face behind her ear. He noticed how red her cheeks were and brushed the back of his fingers along her warmed skin.

”I understand. I mean, I haven’t exactly been celibate, but it’s been a year for me since I’ve been in a relationship. If it helps, I’m enjoying getting to know the real you. This weekend has been good for us as much as it is for Caden and Nero getting away, I think.” Avery brushed his fingers through Kimiko’s hair and rubbed her back.

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Caden

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Location: Car – New York City, New York
Skills:
Fit

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Once in the car, Caden pulled his phone out before wrapping an arm around Nero. He quickly looked over the dessert menu, finding it rather delicious and decided to order three of everything rather than two. Caden had also noticed some sweets in the room’s mini bar and snack bar, so Nero would have free reign of that as well.

Caden put his phone away after placing the order and glanced at Nero. ”How are you doing?” Nero was terribly quiet, and it was starting to worry Caden.