Let's get this started

Saige was too upset and confused, not really sure what to say or think as their eyes shifted between Callan who were now being placed in a police car, and the officer grabbing them by the arm. When they left, the seraph felt like all of this had to be a bad dream. That any second the daemon would come and wake them up from a nightmarish dream. But it didn't happen. Instead some female officer showed up. Ashley. Saige wasn't sure they could trust this woman. Sure, they seemed nice and talkative, but as far as the seraph was aware, they hadn't committed any crimes. Or well .. they had a memory spark up with Callan insinuating that the death of Tulip was also on their hands.
Reluctantly they turned their gaze to look up at the woman, but it was clear they weren't really interested in talking. "Can I see him?" They just asked. They wanted to know if talking to this woman would mean that they would be allowed to visit Callan. Maybe get to know what they were supposed to do now. It almost felt like they had been abandoned here in this suddenly very lonely house.

"No." Ashley said without a doubt in her mind. Absolutely not could she not allow him to see the daemon. "We have been trying to get him for months if not years by now. This might be the night that we finally do." she admitted. But was it really odd? Callan was involved with a lot of organized crime, so it made sense that the police was out to get him. She frowned at the seraph, looking rather worried. "Besides. Someone has reported you as missing. So we're also trying to determine how that came to be and why out of everyone, was Callan the one that was housing you." she said, even if the seraph didnt seem too interested in talking. "Is he blackmailing you?" she had to ask straight up. "Keeping you here against your will? Not necessarily physical, but he could convince you that you owe him something?"

Saige was a bad liar, and letting her in would be the end of them. And they seemed almost discouraged to hear that they wouldn't be able to see the daemon. It felt like a big hole in their chest and that something was missing now. The mention of someone made the seraph look worried, shaking their head as they looked down. They already knew who that was, and they refused to talk about that right now. However as the cop started to assume, the seraph felt a little relieved, because none of what she asked about really applied to them. Looking to the officer with a said look in their eyes, "I'm here because Callan took me in after running away from a bad situation," they admitted, and while it wasn't really true, technically it wasn't a lie. "He doesn't even know the amount of good he has done for me, and if you ask him he might deny his kindness," just speaking to what felt true. What the daemon had done for them, what he had sacrificed even though Saige never felt worth it.
"Callan doesn't know that he's practically saved my life .. and I'm not sure he ever will know that, because he's not the kind of person to listen to that sort of praise," they felt like they were spilling out thoughts about the daemon, but all of it was subjective and from their own point of view. "I live here .. I clean .. I sleep, I eat .. I don't know what else you want to know?" Clearly looking confused and a little scared of what she might say to them. She had no right to arrest them, and no real evidence nor reason to suspect the seraph's involvement. Besides, a seraph doing crime? That would be borderline comical. "So no, he's not blackmailing me; nor keeping me here against my will; nor has he convinced me that I owe him something."

The seraph wasnt seemingly reacting to any of the things she said. But no way could she believe that the daemon had had a change of heart to house a lost seraph! There had to be something looming underneath the surface. Yet she let Saige speak, crossing her arms to not let them think that she was really believing this. She had her presumptions about the daemon and that wouldnt change.
The officer looked down, thinking of what to even say. "What is it that he has on you?" she asked, looking at the seraph like she was running out of patience now. She shifted between their eyes. "Did he make you do something? Something you wouldnt have been able to do on your own?" she really dug in hard to see if there was something, anything!

It was rather clear from how defensive and almost aggressive she was digging into this that she found their replies annoying. However they remained themselves, albeit a little uncomfortable with the way the woman was behaving. Was she really sure she was cut out to be a cop? She felt more like she was playing pretend. But saying that out loud would perhaps end up with them in handcuffs. "He doesn't have anything on me," they doubled down. She was digging into a hole where there would be no treasure to be found, however as she kept on asking questions they looked very upset. "He's never forced me to do anything .. however he has done one thing to me," they said, because it seemed this woman wouldn't let it go, "he taught me how to say no when people make me uncomfortable." Sure, the seraph had a long way to go, but Callan had taught them a lot. Not that the daemon would ever really know. "And I would like to say that you are making me feel very uncomfortable and rather scared for my life .. I don't know what you want from this, but I need you to leave the property." She probably didn't have a warrant. Hell, she was probably hoping to find a sweet and naïve seraph practically begging to be let out into freedom. But Saige couldn't use freedom to anything.

This was pretty much a dead end but she just had a hunch that she wouldnt let go of. The seraph however didnt move one bit in their statements and as they began speaking of what the daemon had done to help them, she frowned. And then she looked rather defeated. "If you ever change your mind... Or he does something. Here's my card." she said, handing the seraph a card, even if they didnt want it. And with that she left them alone, wishing them a nice day. She couldnt help but look back before she got in her car and drove off. It was rather worrisome in general that a seraph found comfort in being around a daemon. Something didnt add up.

Saige looked at the card in her hand as she handed it over, frowning as they took it. Not because they had any intentions of ever contacting her, so it would just end up in the trash anyways. They didn't do much than look as she left, noticing how she took her time starting her car. It was clear that she couldn't understand this arrangement, and frankly Saige had trouble with this as well. Yes it was strange that they felt safe around a daemon. But with the life that the seraph had been dealt, Callan was perhaps one of the ones that had treated him nicely.
Closing the door, they began coughing lightly, but the inhaler they at least could use for now. Though if the cough persisted, they weren't sure how they were going to get another. Franlly staying with Callan had made them depend on him a lot. Not that they couldn't do things on their own, but it just felt weird to do so.

As the days passed, the seraph would call to the station, ask if they were allowed to speak to Callan. They were of course denied every time, and it was just as heartbreaking as the first. They seemes deadset on taking him down, and it was frustrating the seraph who now more than ever felt not only alone but scared as well. Was there any place safe without the daemon? They got into the habit of checking every door and window every morning and night so they were sure they were locked and secure. When they finally did air out a room they would stay in there, ready to close the window at any sight of movement outside.

The seraph found some comfort in hearing from the daemon, though they also felt a little anxious still. Frankly right now they were just waiting for him to come home - whenever that would be.

Rose welcomed him as usual, sitting down across from the man who did in fact still own her. The question was loaded and she shrugged lightly, "she was one of the best flowers we've had here, so I am a little upset, yes," she said, just to be honest. Leaning back in her chair she sighed as she lit up a cigarette taking a few puffs before blowing it out and filling her office. "She's been here a long time .. I still remember when you had her brought her in," she nodded, letting the cigarette just burn slowly without smoking from it as she thought it through. Breathing out in a sigh she shook her head.
"Many of the flowers feel trampled on because of the seraph you keep around .. now I've learnt to live with your rules, and I'll continue to do so for a long while," it wasn't likely that Rose would ever be able to pay off her debts. "But I've heard whispers amongst the leaves .. Tulip was well liked and seeing her gone upset a few of her close friends here," nodding as she took a few puffs just to not let the cigarette go to total waste. "I've kept an eye on them, but I can't be there when they are out with customers; customers which you usually recruit." That was worth pointing out. Business partners could betray you easily if they had an incentive to it. Even more so if the promise of a fliwer or two was on the line.

Rose looked to the daemon as he came closer, the small hairs in her neck standing on edge as he spoke so softly to her. The small touches made her sigh, leaning against them as she barely realized the fact that he was merely doing this to use her. But he could use her in whichever way he wanted. She was truly devoted to him on another level at this point. What he said was true, and she knew she didn't have to answer when that would be a waste of breath. He had given her so much freedom in this position and she really loved that. Sure, the stress could be overwhelming sometimes, but when she thought of what she could've been doing instead, this was to be preferred any day. Looking to him she gave in with a soft smile. Not that she would've kept those names a secret from him. No, she had no interest other than her own.
"Lily and Daisy," she spoke truthfully, enjoying every touch from him. She lifted her hand, touching his wrist carefully and clearly not to remove it. "Daisy has been having a new customer lately .. one that requests only her, Lily and Tulip," it wasn't unusual for a client to choose a few flowers to try out, but it was a bit unusual that he picked three at once. Mostly because the price got higher the more flowers you added.

"You really think that little of me that I couldn't find such a simple information for you?" She smiled. No, he knew her better than that. And she knew this was just him trying to keep up formalities. He let go of her, and she followed as far as she could before their contact was severed. Pouting she looked up at him as he offered her a piece of paper. Taking it she hummed at the instructions and nodded before the promise of a favor was made. Now that was something she liked the sound of. "I won't disappoint you sir."
When the daemon left she started the work right away, first off on her list was getting Saige to the aforementioned address. It was a relatively easy task, and she entrusted some of the Garden guards to come with her. She would handle this herself. Of course she found the seraph with ease, making sure they were moved to the new address, even if they kicked up a bit of a fuss about it. The guards simply grabbed them, though Rose instructed them not to harm the seraph under any circumstance. She had to admit she was quite impressed with how good Saige was at obeying orders, at least as soon as they knew it came directly from Callan.
Once that ordeal was taken care of she got a hold of the account that was listed for having requested the three flowers in question. Frowning as she saw the name, she was sure she had heard of it before, but it wasn't until she could get a hold of the daemon again that she spoke his name. Handing him a small piece of paper that said Gideon Sallow on it. "Pays only cash; had to extract some information from Daisy who seemed remorseful when I talked to her - though Lily was quite uncooperative," which signaled that she was being dealt with.

Rose smiled as he thanked her, though she couldn't say she was happy with the way he looked at the paper. It was as if he wanted to kill the paper with the way his eyes stared at the name written on it. But alas, it was not for her to worry, only reminding him that he now indeed owed her a favor. And she seemed to look forward to that fact.

Saige had found it weird getting adjusted to someplace new. It felt like they were destined to be moved around quite a lot. But when Callan came home they felt like they had to make themselves scarce. It was just weird being in a new place, and they sorta missed the safety that they had grown accustomed to in the old house. When they finally did leave their room they went out into the kitchen. Luckily everything had been stocked up for them, but they were still considering what they wanted to eat. And they wondered if the daemon had had something to eat too. Of course the seraph knew that the daemon didn't just consume regular food, so cooking for him would be a bad mix. But they did notice a few vials of strange liquid that they didn't even dare touch. The label had been rubbed off, so they weren't sure what it was.
Regardless they made something to eat, which turned out to be a bowl of cereal. They just stood by the kitchen counter eating it. Not really sure why, but perhaps moving around too much would make a lot of noise since they were not yet aware of where the floorboards creaked.

Saige stopped eating as soon as the daemon entered the kitchen, looking a bit surprised before they averted their gaze back to their bowl that they continued eating from. It felt awkward now, but they weren't sure why. Maybe because the daemon had a rather looming energy over him. As if he was angry or something had happened that Saige wasn't supposed to know or even ask about. Eventually they watched the back of the daemon as he left, leaving them behind in the kitchen.
Things were a little awkward still until the night came. Saige had originally planned to just sleep in their bed again, but despite tossing and turning, they just couldn't sleep. Instead they opted to grab their duvet, wrapping it around themselves before moving out to sit on the porch. Looking up at the stars they felt a little more at ease, but still so tired. Yet sleep had been troublesome. They had gotten so used to the safety of Callan and now that he was back it felt so hard to stay away. But they did it because part of them wondered if he would be upset with them trying to get back close to him. It wasn't rational thinking, but they just sat there, looking up at the stars above, pulling the duvet closer to sheathe themselves better from the cold.

Saige sat there, looking up at the sky before a deep voice broke the silence. They jumped a bit, turning around as they were positively surprised to see the daemon up this late. The question made them shrug, pulling the duvet closer because at the mention of the cold it did start to feel colder. "I'm sorry if I woke you up," they said before they had realized they had apologized. Their shoulders shivering a bit, hoping the daemon wouldn't be upset with them. They were so tired, they couldn't really think much. "I like the stars here," trying to cover up their mistake, looking up at the stars with a hazy gaze. It was so hard being tired and yet not able to sleep. "I mean, stars are pretty everywhere .. but in Churchill they look a little different to me," they said with a light shrug. Maybe that didn't make too much sense. Not that it really mattered. Carefully they moved a hand out from the duvet, patting the spot next to them. "You can join me if you'd like?" They asked, looking back at the daemon.

"Much different," they admitted. As the daemon joined them, they couldn't help but move a little closer, mostly because the daemon was rather warm. Also the seraph barely noticed how they gravitated towards the daemon these days. It just felt natural at this point. The daemon went on to explain a sky that sounded so far from anything that Saige had ever seen or heard off. If it hadn't been for the fact that Callan wasn't one to joke around, they would've probably thought he was messing with them. "I take it you come far from here," they knew better than to pry for information. It wasn't beneficial for either of them.
As they sat there next to the daemon, they leaned their head against his shoulder, their eyes growing a little heavy from his heat and the safe feeling that he made the seraph feel. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" They finally caved in to ask. When it had happened before it was different. Now they weren't sure what Callan wanted or if he even would let them near like that again. Saige's eyes finally fell shut, their body giving in to how exhausted it was, practically snuggling up to the daemon more and more.

Sleeping up close to Callan was just a different experience all together. Sure it was an odd thing that the seraph felt so naturally safe around him, but on the other hand they had never really been one to follow conventional rules of society. For the first time in so long the seraph finally felt like they were getting some proper sleep. In fact when they woke up they realized just how hard they had been grabbing on to the daemon's top. The sun was coming through the window, making the room slightly golden in color. Blinking a little they turned to look around, noticing a book on the night stand. They couldn't really focus on the title, before moving back to the daemon, this time laying as the little spoon. Had they done this before? They weren't really sure, but holding the daemon's hand, they wrapped themselves up and into him. Closing their eyes once more, just drifting lightly off, but not quite asleep.

Saige didn't oppose to the hand touching their skin. Sure they were blushing a bit from the heat, but it felt good. Slowly they felt the daemon waking up, but they pressed their back up against the daemon's chest. "Don't let go yet," they whispered in a soft plea, still a little hoarse from sleeping. They didn't really have a cutesy voice, rather they sounded as if they were pouting a little. Knowing that the daemon would stop this contact once they were up and out of bed felt wrong to them. It wasn't a sexual thing. It was a need for intimacy in a way that Saige hadn't experienced before; a way for them to feel safe and dared they say cared for? "I've missed you." Such an honest admittance from the seraph who not long ago would've shivered just by being in the same room as the daemon. No, they had truly changed. But maybe it was because they had started to realize that Callan wasn't just a monster that had taken their freedom so easily. That he was in fact a person.