Let's get this started

"You can doubt me if you want to," they just said, wiggling a little closer, stealing all of the heat that the daemon could provide. Then their body started to tense up at the mention of Gideon, shivering slightly at the notion. They turned around, the daemon's hand now against their back, probably feeling a few of their scars and bumps, but they weren't thinking of their imperfections right now. Looking to the daemon it was clear that they were confused. Why did the daemon bother with all of this? Wouldn't it just have been easier not to move them around a lot? "I don't understand why you're doing all of this for me," they admitted flat out. Sure, they were wondering about any hidden motives, but the daemon always seemed mysterious and hard to read. Besides if he wanted anything he could just take it or demand it, right? "I'm still just 5-7-6," they weren't sure if in all of this that Callan had actually grown to like them or what was going on, "why bother with moving me around when I basically do nothing for you. If anything all I do is be a burden to you."

"I suppose if I hadn't had the number on my ear it would be different," they admitted, running their hand along the arm holding them close. They really liked this. And they weren't even sure how or why. "I want to be a burden to you," they finally admitted, and even if it was a selfish thing to want, it had also been what Callan had asked them to be when they had had to choose between leaving or staying. "But I also don't want to be a number anymore .. I still want to be yours; no number .. just yours," saying it out loud felt weird. They looked down, unsure if it was too strange to ask for that. They grabbed onto his arm, knowing that their strength wouldn't even match the daemon's muscles, but it seemed more like a grasp of need than desperation. Looking up they had teary eyes, but a hopeful gaze to them that was clearly genuine in what they had asked for.

What were they asking him right now? The seraph wasn't even really sure, but they were certain that the number on their ear getting removed would make them feel more like a person and less like an object. "I want to be your person .. not your number," they started to try and explain. It was all a jumbled up mess in their head still, "I don't know, I haven't thought it all through," they admitted, "I just don't want to be a number anymore, but I also don't want to leave you." The daemon had asked them to be more independent. State what they wanted and what they thought. The hand cupped their face and they moved a hand up to press it closer to their cheek.
The statement made them visibly upset, which in this case was rather unlike how they had acted before. "I thought you said I had to start doing things for myself," they said, trying to defend their own emotions in some way. This was a step in that direction and now Callan was backtracking? Closing their eyes they were trying to gather themselves a little. Crying felt like their go to reaction, but they wanted to show progress in that sense. "I do want you," they finally said, opening their eyes to show how surprised they were at even saying that out loud. "Why else would I miss you? Be worried for you?" Sure, being owned could make those things happen, "but I need to not be a number to be sure .. I need to be Saige and for you to be Dantalion." On paper it perhaps sounded very simple. But the seraph knew better than to just blurt out like this. It could cost them dearly, and yet they didn't really care at this point. What was important was that they were being heard.
"You make me feel safe and you wish to protect me .. does it really have to be more complicated than that?" Which was a fair question. How things were now would only be better when both of them were somewhat equal. Of course Callan had a power over them that perhaps would persist even with the number removed. "Let me be yours to protect .. let me be more than just that number." Maybe it was too big of an ask. Perhaps Callan was afraid of losing them? Though they weren't at that level of delusion just yet. But it could make sense. "Dantalion .. I don't want to leave you .. I want to be closer to you."

As Callan moved away, Saige felt a little confused, and the notion that this was basically unnecessary made them look down. Of course he had every right to doubt this, and the seraph felt a little defeated shaking their head no. "You have me here because you want me to .. I want to be able to want to be here because I want to," it wasn't that they didn't want to be here. No, they really liked being here with the daemon, being close to him and just sharing moments like sleeping in the same bed. "The number makes me be less worth than you," they weren't sure how else to put it. Was it really so bad that they wanted not to be a number? Or was that over the line and not what Callan wanted at all?
Saige sat up, reaching over, touching his shoulder carefully if he even let them. They knew how sensitive the daemon could be when he felt like this, and the last thing they wanted was to upset him more. "If it's because I am less worth than you, then say it, and I won't ask about the number again," at least a final no would be an answer. They looked down, removing their hand, fiddling a bit with the duvet. "I want to belong to you .. not owned by you."

"No, you're right, I'm sorry," they said, their eyes tearing up as their face was being held. They just looked away, ashamed now that they had thought this would ever be a possibility. Like this the daemon was certain that Saige would stay, but on the other hand the seraph feared that staying a number, an item, would do them little good. They moved closer, wrapping their arms around the daemon, burying their face in the nape of his neck. It wasn't something they had done before, but they also weren't sure what to do now. They hadn't brought this up to be mean or demanding. All they wanted was just to be with Callan, but in the way that they could choose it. Not something that was decided for them. Part of them had hoped that Callan wouldn't turn out like Gideon, but his reluctance to let them be their own person was starting to worry the seraph a bit. "I don't want to get up yet," they admitted. Their stomach was hurting a bit from this conversation and they knew that the daemon would be busy.

They were pulled into his strong arms, at least feeling comforted by the fact that the daemon didn't seem to want to either. The kiss made them blush a little, but they tried to control their heartbeat somehow. Not that they were very good at that. Frankly just laying there in silence wasn't so bad. Callan was a man of few words, and so Saige had found comfort in the silence, however as they felt the hair moved they felt almost ashamed. Was Callan checking if they still had the ring in? But then the daemon went back on his words, actually talking about the ring and the number ordeal, even if he had just shut it down. What if. They pulled away, looking at him with confusion in their gaze but it was clear that he wanted an honest answer as always. "You wouldn't protect me if I didn't have the ring?" They instead asked. It didn't make sense to them. Callan was so close to them right now, and it was still so hard to understand his way of thinking. They looked down, fiddling a bit with his shirt as they thought about it. "You told me not to bring it up," they said, unsure if this was just a way for the daemon to get under their skin in some way. Perhaps to punish them? Though they found that hard to imagine with how everything had been so far.

Yes they were aware that other people could claim them, but they wouldn't let that happen. What they wanted was to be here with Callan, have him touch them like he was right now. Their foreheads connecting made them close their eyes as well, just breathing him in, being close to him in all that it was worth. They took a bit of time before they finally spoke again, "there are other ways you could claim me without me having a number," they pointed out, opening their eyes slowly, pulling slightly away to be able to look at him. Their hands moved up over the daemon's strong arms, feeling him up, feeling how safe it was right here. How much they found themselves enjoying his touch. Was that weird? By nature a seraph wasn't supposed to be attracted this way to a daemon. To long for his touch.
"I could wear a collar? Or a bracelet?" They just threw some ideas out there, but it was perhaps most notable that the things they mentioned were stuff that could be taken off if needed. But it was also more unique markings rather than the standard ring. "I want to feel like I mean something to you .. I want you." A rather raw admission. But it was also just doubling down on what they had already said. "Please don't get angry, but it would mean a lot to me; I wouldn't have to be seen as an object by others .. I don't want to feel like someone you could just sell off once you got tired of me." Perhaps that was their biggest worry. Getting separated from the daemon.

The way they were sitting together was perhaps much different from what they had done before. Sure they had slept cuddled up together, but the two of them were clearly experimenting a little today. And Saige wasn't sure why. It wasn't like they had an ulterior motive. Their noses rubbing together made them smile a little as it felt rather cute, and especially for the daemon to do so. It was like they forgot what time was when they were like this. Nothing really mattered than what they were doing. The question was fair but Saige didn't see the ring being removed as letting go. Rather they saw it as a way to get even closer. "It's alright to not know if you're ready," they admitted. Hell, even the seraph knew that things would change if this were to happen.
"How can I show you best that I won't leave you?" Because Saige suspected that was his greatest worry. Moving up to sit in his lap, they just took the chance to be closer. "I can't show you that unless you do this," they admitted, cupping the daemon's face between their palms. Looking at him they weren't even sure if they were reaching him fully. He was a proud man. A man who did things his way. "You'll have to trust me just like I trust you," they said in a genuine tone, looking rather vulnerably at the daemon.

Saige was cut off yet again and the guilt began to rise within them. Along with the feeling of still being an object and not a person. Maybe Callan could look past that, but it was easier for the owner than for the owned. The sigh did however surprise them a little. Why did everything always have to do with extremes? Killing this, get revenge for that. Why couldn't he just exist and accept that not everything was meant to be handled like that? He touched the daemon's shoulders softly, just running their fingers under his shirt a little. It was clear that even though they had been denied, they still were clinging onto the comfort the daemon gave them. "It doesn't matter if you kill him," they finally said, looking down before lifting a finger to their head, tapping it against their temple a few times, "he's going to haunt me no matter what." Maybe that was a bleak outlook on it, but Callan had seen some of the mental breakdowns already. Couldn't he see that they were already broken?
They got off of him, standing next to the bed with their pajamas bit askew, their bouncy curls a little messy and their cheeks slightly red. They reached out for his hand. "I'm hungry," they just said. Time to change the subject. They didn't want to stay in bed anymore. The moment had passed. And now their body was just awake. If the daemon took their hand they would move together out into the kitchen. Finding a bowl and the packet of cereal they just prepared a rather simple breakfast. Nothing fancy.
"Gideon used to keep me in his play room .. I had a chain around my ankle that made me just out of reach for the door," they just said, lifting a spoon, chewing the cereal and milk mixture slowly. They made sure to finish chewing before taking once more. "I still have faint scars around my right ankle," letting the daemon inspect them if he didn't believe. Taking another mouthful they just zoned out for a bit as they stared at the kitchen counter while chewing. "Did you know that I can never take the family name as my own?" They chuckled, though there was nothing funny about it. "It's an old superstition that one in our family must become the scapegoat .. it just so happened that about the time I was conceived, the former one died .. so I was chosen before I was even born." Why were they opening up all of a sudden? Maybe because if they reminded themselves what they were, they wouldn't need to feel the want to be free. Maybe they were just meant to be hidden away somehow.
"I was to be with my parents in their house until I turned 5. My mother resented me of course, blaming me for ruining her marriage," they said with a slight shrug. "Gideon was just a few years older than me, and it was decided that I could come live at the main family estate where he could teach me the ropes and how my life was going to be," they took another mouthful, still unsure if this was going to mean anything. Where were they going with this again? They had lost the thread and just unloading whatever they could think of. "At first he was sweet; he was the first to show me any sort of affection. He said I was special and that I was made for him. That I was lucky to be so fortunate," he sighed closing their eyes. Yeah it had all been ways to lure them in and make them trust him.
"The punishments started out small and far between, but Gideon had a temper even when he was a kid .. one time he got so angry that he threw me through a window, and I remember feeling relief that I might die then and there," they said, not looking up as they spoke. "Through all of those years of torture, I was still studying for school, and I managed to get some good grades, owing me a few other punishments for my selfishness." Were things starting to make sense for the daemon? Why they were afraid of asking for things. Why they were terrible at standing up for themselves, because every time they had done well they had been punished for it.
"One day I met my friend that you allowed me to go see .. I think he won't ever be aware of what he did for me, but that doesn't matter," they nodded. Finishing their bowl, they cleaned it off before placing it in the dishwasher. "When he left for Churchill I started to make my plans to go after him. But Gideon found out and kept me in his room for a full 5 months .. I lost so much weight .. lacked so much vitamin D .. eventually they had to admit me to the hospital," they said, "that's when I ran off .. I had stowed away some money that my friend had given me from helping him, and I got on the first plane out of there and landed in Churchill." And that was about when Callan knew the rest.
"I've never been my own person before that .. but fate is funny and I ended up as someone else's possession." They moved over, cupping his hand over the daemon's cheek. "But I would rather you own me than to return to Gideon." They just admitted. Yes, being property hurt, but they could've also ended up somewhere worse. "When I say you are kind, I mean it, because I don't think I've met anyone like you who touch me so gently."

After all of that the daemon only spoke of leaving. Saige wasn't sure if it had been wise to share all of this, but it felt like they would never be listened to regardless. The daemon touched their lower back, looking up at him as he uttered the promise. While it was sweet, the seraph also worried when Callan would get tired of them. If he would just as easily as Tulip snuff out their life as if they had meant nothing. As if they were truly just an item to be discarded. "Will you be back late?" They asked up front, touching his chest, so unsure of how to even stop themselves from drawing upon his comfort. It wasn't fair. They felt their eyes tear up again, burying their face into the strong daemon's chest. "Just come back safe," they finally said, breathing him in, relishing in a moment that was already over, but they hoped to cling onto for a little while.
Eventually Callan had to go. There was just no way around it, and Saige was left in the new house by themselves once more. At this point they should've gotten used to being alone, but they still felt a little scared about it. Maybe anxious. They just felt so powerless, wandering around the house all day. Sure, they could go out in the garden, but with the weather getting colder they didn't really see a need for it. If they got sick then Callan would maybe get mad at them? Or worse just not react at all like he had done this morning. They decided to go paint, but everything they painted just reminded them of the story they had told. The story of the little kid trapped in a role of submission and shunned by their whole family. Eventually they just ended up falling asleep in the art room, laying on the floor with some distressing drawings around them.

They hadn't really realized how much time had passed. Usually they would try to stay up, turning on the light for the daemon, but they felt so tuckered out. It was easier just to sleep away these haunting emotions, even though they knew it wasn't beneficial at all. When they got lifted they whined a bit, turning their head to nuzzle into Callan's chest. "I didn't mean to," they muttered still trying to wake up, blinking with their eyes a little lazily. The daemon took them to bed, and yet it felt like they couldn't sleep now. They had found that drawing had let out all of the emotions for now. "You're not hurt, are you?" They asked rather concerned, as that seemed to never change. They would always worry about him like this. Not really sure why, but they had a feeling it wouldn't be a question that was easy to answer at all. No, the feelings that Saige had for the daemon were twisted and complex, and definitely not something they were willing to come to terms with just yet.
They closed their eyes, just cuddling up to him. "I had a good dream," they muttered softly, smiling to themselves as they just laid there. It might've sounded silly, but Saige rarely got to remember dreams, especially the good ones. But they did pertain the feelings they had had within the dream. "I don't know what it was about .. but it was good, and warm, and my body feels relaxed even though I slept on the floor," they admitted. Yeah, that was even weirder. They pulled away from his chest, looking up at him, their eyes still a little drowsy looking, but they were smiling at him. During their time alone today they had come to think everything over. And frankly just being here with Callan was more than they could've asked for. "It felt good .. like when you hold me close .. when you touch me," blushing they looked down before snuggling into him again. These emotions were just so strange, and yet it wasn't like Saige knew how to stop them. So they just remained here, close to the daemon that seemed to still want them around.

They urge made them blush, taking their time to lean away. Averting his gaze at first before looking to him. They took his hand, gently guiding it under their shirt, feeling his palm against their back. They shivered slightly, clearly enjoying it. "Your hands are strong," they said, letting go of his hand, letting him do as he pleased, as long as he was touching their skin. They scooted a little up, laying face to face with the daemon. "It feels good," they muttered, their cheeks bright red at this point as they were clearly affected by his touch. Their eyes searched his for a while before looking down. They weren't sure how to feel or what to do about it. It was just good. And wasn't that enough for now? "Do you .. like touching me?" They then asked, mostly because there was the worry of being selfish. The last thing they wanted to do was insist on doing something that the daemon disliked. Of course Callan could be honest, but they had a feeling he always was in regards to them. "Because I like when you touch me."