Let's get this started

It was clear that Gideon enjoyed this conversation, but that was because he could see just how distressed it made the seraph, chuckling softly after hanging up.
As Rose was grabbed she looked surprised, mostly because she was in the middle of talking with one of the regulars. Apologizing she had no choice but to get dragged along into her office. The angry daemon made his demands and it surprised her, clearly confused and yet with the fuming man in front of her she couldn't deny the order. So of course she set up a meeting with Gideon for that evening. He seemed delighted and requested that a few flowers would be there too. Rose just confirmed it, because anything to make the guy come by so she had done her job.
The evening rolled around and Gideon was let into one of the private rooms. A few of the flowers recognized him, politely greeting him as he quickly settled into a relaxed conversation. The flowers seemed to like that as they waited for the daemon to arrive. And when he did, Gideon stood up, smiling politely, "pardon me, I arrived too early, it seems," the air filled with tension and the girls could sense it. "I'm so happy you finally agreed to meet with me .. sadly Aran was busy tonight," a blatant lie, but Callan would have no way of disproving it. "I assume you are ready to talk business now?"

The meeting was set up and Callan sat almost restless till then. Except for one thing. And he knew he was asking a lot again, but at this point was he not offering anything in return for it. "Find out where he keeps Saige. Find them." he ordered, regardless of how it would make Rose see him. He sat down in Rose's office, just quietly contemplating, unsure of what to do with himself. When evening rolled around did it not feel like the emotions had calmed down in even the slightest. He went to the private room, seeing Gideon there surrounded by flowers. He didnt greet Gideon but rather just crossed his arms and frowned at the mention of Saige. Frankly, with all the time he had spent trying not to think of the seraph, was this just annoying him. It was ruining all the effort he had put into returning to himself. "What business is it that you want? My business isnt for sale, like it's some sort of service to discard and sell to the highest bidder. And I'm not selling my girls. So what do you want?"

Rose was even more confused now. Find the seraph? He was practically asking for the impossible, but she would try her best. At least she had a few strings she could pull at.
The way that the daemon reacted was almost as perfect as could be, and he could see just how the anger was fuming out of him. "I was hoping to get a few of the flowers, though none of them seem to want to leave either - you have very loyal subjects," he nodded as he found it commendable, "but things have changed and since you meddled in my business I saw it only fair to meddle in yours." He was calm and collected as he looked at his watch, "you did send Rose out to find them, right?" A soft chuckle leaving his lips, "I have to admit, the amount of trust you've put into her is immense, but maybe that was what made it so easy to persuade her to help me."
The girls got up, scared about where this was heading and left with their heads down. "Didn't you ever question where she got her intel from? How she knew about this mystery gunslinger? How she knew which girls I was with as well as the fact that I wanted to buy Aran all the way back?" Callan was a fascinating case in his eyes. He sighed, sitting down in the seat, taking a sip of his drink. If the daemon started approaching in a threatening manner he would click his tongue, shaking his head no. "All it takes for me to end Aran is by pressing a small button .. we wouldn't want to loose our little black sheep .. or was it Dandelion?"

Callan didnt know what he was getting into and he had to admit that when Gideon began talking about the flowers and how loyal they were, something was up. He had a bad gut feeling about this. "Meddled in your business?" he repeated, like he didnt follow. Did this prick think it had ever been about him? He spoke of Rose and Callan frowned deeply. And then he seemed to get it. He looked betrayed for maybe a second but then his expression blanked. It did make sense when Gideon explained it and the daemon felt like a fool. It was rather pathetic. He did approach the guy, only to be met by a threat. He was warned of a button, but then he lifted his brows, a smile spreading on his lips as he looked at him. "Right. I dont fucking believe you. You showed up in my territory with just a button to protect you?" he asked, before he exhaled deeply through his nose. "Press it then. See if I really do give a shit." he said, before he grabbed Gideon by his shoulders, slamming him up against the wall. "All that effort to get them back and now you're using them as the only bargain for your life?" he had to laugh, shaking his head, grinning as it was too good to be true. "I've been looking forward to getting my hands on you. I really have."

Oh even if it was a mere second, Gideon rejoiced in breaking the stern features of the daemon. However the reaction he got next was even better, chuckling as he was slammed against the wall. He just let the daemon talk before pressing the button he had and a small sound was heard. His phone rang and he picked it up, clearly not caring that the daemon was holding on to him. "You can bring them in now," he just said before hanging up.
In through the door came Rose with the seraph bound both on wrists and ankles, pushed forward making them stumble. They looked distant in their eyes, shivering a bit but not looking up from the floor. "After all of that comfort you gave them, they were so easy to break again, so I really ought to thank you," he said in a soft hum. Saige shivered at the sound of Gideon's voice, but it was clear Rose was holding onto the seraph and not messing around, "let go of him," she just commanded the daemon. It was perhaps at this moment it was clear that her tag was gone. Callan had been too busy with the seraph that he had been slacking in checking up on those he practically owned.
Saige was pushed to the floor, sitting on their knees, staring out into nothing as they had hidden bruises that were poking out from under their torn shirt. It was clear that what they had gone through had been nothing short of torture. If Gideon was let go he would walk to Saige, walking up behind them and leaning down to whisper something to them. They shook their head, trying to hide away, clearly afraid of what was going to happen. "I told you he didn't care .. he didn't even hesitate to have you killed off," he spoke almost lovingly to the seraph, touching their cheek and caressing their jaw, "you know I'm the only one who cares for you. I'm the one you truly love, and not the daemon." Saige just nodded in fear, shivering and shaking as they didn't even dare look up.
Gideon noticed, gritting his teeth as he forced the seraph to look up to Callan and the face that met him was one of pure fear. Their eyes bloodshot as if they hadn't been sleeping for weeks, their eyes sunken in and their hair even matted a few places. "You were kidding yourself .. he's not capable of love .. I don't think anyone would be capable of loving you." His words were like venom and the seraph closed their eyes, shaking their head, muttering something about this not being real. That Callan wasn't really there. That they promised to behave. Gideon sighed, letting go of their chin, letting the head fall down against their chest. "Aran is where they are supposed to be now," he smiled, "with me."

Rose grit her teeth at the threat that sounded more like a promise, but she clearly didn't care about what he thought anymore. She was done! Done not being appreciated and kept as a part of his possessions. How many times had she not offered herself up? Had her debt not been paid off tenfold? And then there was that fucking seraph who had come in and completely walked over all of the work she had ever done. Like she didn't matter at all. All she was good for was just another tool to keep that little weed safe.
Gideon chuckled softly at the demand, shaking his head as he grabbed the hair of the seraph pulling him back and even ripping out a few lumps of hair. Saige looked up at Callan, tears running down their cheeks, just clearly wishing that this wasn't real. "I suppose you can have them, but as I recall you made a demand before you sent them away; a quid pro quo if you will, isn't that right Aran?" The seraph started to shake, clearly out of their mind completely. Gideon had taken them back, molding them and shaping them, beating them if he had to. And now they were good and obeyed once more. "I'll let you stay with him," Gideon whispered into the seraph's ear, and for once the seraph looked as if they were hopeful. That was all they wanted. Be with Callan. Be in his arms and forget about anything that had ever happened while they had been apart. "But a life must pay," Gideon smiled, placing a knife into the hands of the seraph, "which life will it be; his or yours?"
Rose was out the door before the daemon had time to react and Gideon chuckled as he stepped back, watching the torn seraph look at the knife. They were shaking, crying as they looked from the knife and up to Callan. They could stay with him. They could really stay with him if they did this. And it seemed that without any hesitation they cut along their arms, blood starting to pour from their wrists before they reached for him. All they wanted was to be with him and now they could. At least for a little while, and while the daemon was hopefully occupied, Gideon slipped away. "Dantalion," they sounded so happy even though it was clear they were in so much pain, "I'm yours." They felt their vision starting to blur, the blood pooling at their knees making them shiver a bit and turn pale.

Insane was a good way to describe them right now. They had been completely tortured by Gideon, and when offered with a way out, they hadn't even hesitated. Not when the promise of being with Callan had been there. They cried, sobbing as they kept their arms up even if it wasn't easy. "I don't want to go," they cried, but they weren't referring to the hospital. They were scared of dying, scared of leaving Callan behind because then they couldn't be with him. The ride to the hospital was even worse, but the doctors worked quickly, pulling the seraph out of the daemon's arms to get them stitched up and hooked up to a machine that could dispense seraphim tears.
Of course the daemon was taken aside and questioned, because what daemon could possibly care for a seraph. Some of the nurses seemingly convinced that this was just a sick joke on the expense of the poor seraph. However they soon realized that the seraph was asking for the daemon, and a doctor came to cut off this stupid interrogation. She was a clergy, and quite clearly as professional as could be. Taking him to the seraph's room Saige was laying on the bed, tubes and machines hooked up to them, but they seemed to still smile as Callan entered. "They are on quite the heavy dose of pain medication," she warned the daemon, but it would also help explain why they seemingly were just happy. "They might need to stay here overnight, but the rest of the healing should be done at home .. they have suffered quite the amount of bruising, but the seraphim tears should do away with most of them." It was clear she wasn't interested in how things had ended up like this. No, she saw no reason as to why the daemon would cause this if he was also willing to be there for them.
The doctor left on that note and Saige lifted their hand, smiling as they reached for him. Their arms were wrapped tightly with gauze to prevent any leakage, and as of right now they just seemed sleepy from the loss of blood. It was just so clear that they needed him now more than ever.

"I know." Callan sighed, wrapping their arms close. Callan's luck would be his sense of calm and how he could stay rather goal oriented in heated situations. Because when Saige was bleeding like this, there was no guarantee that he could ever be fast enough. And if he began to panic then he would slow down further. So it went rather quick once the seraph's arms were bound in gauze and he was sure he went over the speed limit the whole way.
When they got there was the seraph removed from his arms and he thought it to be fair. But to be met by questions and speculations that he might have done this was irritating. He however kept a stoic expression and calmly explained that the seraph had in fact done this themselves. It felt like he had to defend himself for something that he hadnt even done! Soon enough the personnel was told off and he got some room to breathe.
He was shown to the room where Saige was kept, walking over to the bed to be by the seraph's side. Frankly, Callan didnt care how long it would take, just as long as they would heal the seraph. When they were left alone, did he notice how Saige was reaching out for him. "You were lucky." he sighed, not wanting to sugar coat it. "I wasnt sure if you would even make it." he said, giving their hand a soft squeeze.

They had been lucky indeed, but they hadn't fully realized it yet. Instead they relished in the fact that they got to feel the daemon's hand, whimpering softly at the squeeze as they had missed that feeling. The feeling of hands that weren't there to hurt them, but instead there to protect and take care of them. "I've missed you," their voice a little raw and broken, but it was clear that they were so happy to be here with Callan. Which was perhaps strange thinking of how they were looking right now, but for the seraph it was always about finding joy in the small things. They looked to their hands, wondering if what they had done would be enough for them to be let back into the daemon's life.
"Can I come home now?" They asked, almost hesitantly as if they still doubted their place. Callan had been the one to push them away, and they felt scared that he would do it again. "I just want to come home," it was clear that the seraph considered being with Callan their home. Not that they had truly realized it before they had been sent away. But they longed for those safe nights where they could sleep soundly. They gave his hand a squeeze, "is it alright if I apologize this once?" It wasn't a secret that Callan had banned the s-word while they had been together, but right now felt like it called for it.

There was clear relief in their eyes as well as a happy yet emotional smile that spread on their face. They didn't want anything but to have Callan in their life. And as he promised to stay they were actually a little surprised. Mostly because the daemon always were so busy, and wasn't Saige taking precious time out of the daemon's calendar? "What about work?" It was clear they barely thought of themselves still, even if they were the one laying with tubes and whatnot in their arm. The fact that they were denied to apologize but instead got Callan to smile felt both good and bad. Bad, because they really wanted to apologize, but good, because seeing him smile always made their day better. But to be fair the day could only get better when they had been so low.
"You were trying to protect me," they had gotten to think about it a lot at the temples. How maybe it hadn't been about him not wanting them but rather a question of him wanting to do what was best for them. Looking at their hand that had been kissed it felt like it was buzzing a little from the heat. It felt good. Felt safe. "Please tell me you're really here," they pleaded softly, entangling their fingers, wondering if this was just a cruel dream.

It was clear that the seraph was thankful for the time the daemon took off. And for them? It had been almost unimaginable. Now that Gideon was gone, it felt like they could finally breathe a little, but of course their body right now was just focusing on healing. The rest of the healing process would come soon enough. The notion of moving made them hum, just touching his hand, feeling that he was indeed here as he had confirmed him to be. They thought about it for a while before speaking their mind. "Do you think it would be possible to have a small garden?" They asked, clearly not so bothered by the fact that they were moving. They more seemed hyper fixated on the hand they were holding; squeezing it; lifting it to their lips to kiss it; caress it with gentle fingers that were still a bit shaky from the loss of blood. "I want to try and plant something .. like maybe berries or herbs .. I think it would be nice to .. to-" they were drifting off, and it was no wonder that they were exhausted. And yet as they slept they refused to let go of the daemon's hand, as if it was their way of knowing that they were safe.

It did take a few days in the hospital, mostly because every time they went for a check up, the doctors found more bruises and more signs of injury, but it was clear they weren't new ones. Saige just said that they were clumsy, but it was clear some of the doctors were starting to get worried. Especially because the daemon seemed to refuse to leave their side. Regardless the seraph was finally allowed to go home, and while they were still a little light headed and their arms wrapped up, they were surprisingly in good spirits. "Did you find a new home for us?" They asked, getting into the car a little carefully as their arms felt a bit sensitive when they had to open doors, and Callan's car wasn't small.

They hummed softly nodding as it made sense why the daemon hadn't had the time to figure things out just yet. He had been spending a lot of time with them. Time that Saige at first was afraid that was going to bore him, but it seemed that the daemon smiled more. They weren't sure why and clearly oblivious to the effect they had on him. All they knew was that they cared for him and he seemed to care for them. And wasn't that enough to know? The car was turned on, and Saige turned the heat up a bit. They had always been a bit colder, and while their body was still healing it was nice to just feel the heat from the outside and in, even reaching their fingers to the air duct.
"I've heard Eastern is a nice place to live," they only knew that from the little information they had seemed to gathered. It was perhaps more of a family area and not a place that would suit the daemon. No, the daemon was probably the type to want to be in Central where everything was within reach, and normally Saige was that person too. However while they were healing they weren't sure what would fit the best. "I'll have a look when I've had my meds," they settled. They had to take medicine three times a day to help their body heal better and faster as well as to avoid any infections from the cuts. The meds did tire them out a bit, but it wasn't too bad when they had gotten something to eat too. "What would you like? I suppose a good place to store your books .. and a nice bedroom?" They were just slinging things out there. They knew that Callan liked reading, even if he tried to seem indifferent about it, it was just clear it was a good pass time for him. "And a bathtub .. you like baths," they smiled. It was clear that they had noticed quite a few things about the daemon with the time they had spent together.

Arriving at the hotel felt a little weird, especially as they were taken up to a room that seemed a little tiny compared to the houses they had usually stayed in. There was a double bed as well, and from the looks of the piccolo it was clear that he thought that they were a couple. "There's a spa out in the bathroom, and of course a gym on the second floor .. please don't hesitate to call the front desk at any time," he was polite and yet clearly a little worried for the seraph. Though he wasn't commenting on it. He left, and Saige went to look out the window, their eyes widening as they turned around with a large smile, "you can see so much from up here," they said, turning back to look out. It felt weird to smile, but after the days in the hospital it was clear that not only the medicine worked but also being around Callan helped a great deal.
Saige settled in, not really having much to unpack, so they sat down on the bed with a glass of water and their pills, swallowing them and pulling a face of disgust before washing them down further with the water. There was so much they wanted to say, and yet nothing felt enough. Callan was here now. They could rest easy. And yet there was something they had to ask. "Could you .. come hold me for a bit?" They asked, feeling rather vulnerable. They felt their eyes water, just needing to cry some of the emotions out, even if it was annoying to the daemon. Laying down they hoped that Callan would join them.

Saige felt their cheeks flare up, and while the blush was a bit splotchy, it was clear the repetition made them a bit flustered. They looked down, fiddling a bit with the bottom hem of their shirt, "I mean .. you need a space for your things and .. and if .." They felt their heart beat a little faster still, reaching over to just touch the daemon's shirt a little, "I mean if we both sleep in the same bed .. it would be nice that you have a good bedroom." They felt so nervous to bring it up. It wasn't like they both could just ignore what had happened since they had parted. But Saige also hoped that just because of it, it wouldn't mean the end of what they had had before. That was really what they longed for; to be held by the daemon; to be cared for, or at least pretend that they were cared for. It was just the comfort and the known smells that made them feel so calm. And not only that, it was basically all of Callan that he wanted close, even if he had darker sides to him.

As the daemon came closer, joining them on the bed, they felt more at ease than they had in a long while. The assuring mutter made them whimper softly before they just started crying. They hated crying, and they hated that they had to cry around the daemon, but the emotions just needed to get out every now and again. It was taking a lot on them to remain smiling and grateful when those thoughts in the back of their mind remained. Callan had said that he would protect them, even from the voices, and yet sometimes Saige wondered if it was too much of a burden. They pressed their face into the daemon's strong chest, breathing him in and clinging onto him as if they were about to fall off of a cliffside. But they knew. Knew that right here in the daemon's arms they would be safe from all harm.
Getting the emotions out helped a lot, ending up just sniffling softly, muttering some gibberish about his shirt having gotten wet from the tears, though there was no apologies. They had learnt that the s-word was still banned after all. "Thank you," they muttered against his chest, pulling their face away to look up at Callan. Their cheeks were puffy and their eyes a little red from crying, but otherwise they actually managed to pull a smile, "I've missed you," and those words bore a heavy meaning. It was clear that Saige had had no-one to cry to than themselves, and the fact that they were still shivering a bit showcased that crying had only meant more punishment.
They dried their face off before moving up so that they could lay face to face with the daemon that kept them so safe. "But I never got to ask you .. if you wanted me back," it was clear that it had been bothering them. "I mean, you did save me .. and I really want to be with you .. but I can't .. I can't help but feel guilty, dragging you into my troubles over and over," they were trying to fumble their way through their thoughts and maybe it wasn't coming across right, "don't you get tired of it? Of me?" The insecurity was high, but was that really a strange thing to consider when they had been held hostage by Gideon for so long.
Looking down they grabbed at Callan's shirt, their knuckles turning white as it was clear they were so afraid of losing him. "Rose said .. said that I had changed you .. and I don't want you to change for me or anyone .. I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you to do anything." And perhaps that was when they made it slip that Rose had actually been in contact with them when they had been captive. Hell, Rose had even punished Saige every now and again, much to Gideon's amusement. "Dantalion I-" but their words got caught in their mouth, looking into the daemon's eyes. Couldn't he see what they were trying to say with such a vulnerable gaze? It felt almost criminal to say it out loud, and perhaps that was Gideon's doing. He's not capable of love. They looked down, clinging to him again, "I want you to know I won't ever leave you."

The promise to never ask them to leave felt good, but it was clear that Saige wished they could say more. But did they truly need to say it? Callan had looked plenty vulnerable for the seraph to know that this meant something to him. That they meant something to him. They nodded, signaling that they understood completely, feeling the way their face was being touched so gently. The daemon had rough hands, but there was a tenderness to them when they laid together like this. Leaning in, they didn't even have control over their own body, greeting the daemon's lips with their own. They barely registered as the feeling of joy spread in their body. A joy that soon turned to worry as they realized what they had done. Pulling away they looked down, "I-I don't know what .. what .. I-I-" they tried stumbling through the words as they just came out. There was no excuse for this. The fear rose in them, afraid that they had now stepped over a line, and yet it had felt so good. It had felt too good, and they felt like they weren't supposed to feel that. That they weren't deserving of feeling something so good.
Their hand moved up, touching their lips, the hint of warmth still lingering as their breath hiccupped. Their face was bright red, both from the heat of the moment as well as the embarrassment. Callan had set boundaries, and while this had been a gray area, it was hard to know if this bordered more on the sex side of things or on the caressing side of things. It was all so confusing. They wanted to apologize, but they were afraid that that would make the daemon even more upset. Closing their eyes they just hoped that the daemon wouldn't pull away, but in the end they had no true control over it.

Saige looked to the daemon as he pulled at them, gasping softly as their lips reunited and for once it seemed that things were really alright. They sorta forgot themselves a bit, moving their hands up into Callan's dark strands, feeling how soft it was against their fingers. As he moved above them, it was clear that the seraph wasn't complaining, rather it seemed as though they felt they weren't close enough. But they respected Callan's wishes, even if they had said they wanted to try, it wasn't like the daemon had really given them any green light.
Their lips kept dancing, and the seraph moaned softly, having to break the kiss, panting a little as their cheeks were red and their eyes a little fluid. This was really happening. And Callan wasn't disgusted? At least it didn't seem that way. They leaned in once more, kissing him again, pressing themselves closer, moving their hands down to feel his strong and broad shoulders. They felt safe. And yet something was stirring and they started shaking a little bit, pulling away from the daemon a little. They continued to kiss him, but it was clear there was something that they didn't want Callan to feel, perhaps because that would just show how touch deprived they truly were. And it felt odd that they were getting turned on by basically just light kisses. But perhaps it was because they had never felt that tenderness before. "Please .. don't stop," they panted in a soft murmur.

Their cheeks were just growing redder by the second, and their body felt so hot. Was it really this warm? The daemon promised to not stop, and as they were pulled closer they whimpered slightly, but it was drowned in the moan as their whole body felt a bit overwhelmed. Their hands moved down and up under Callan's shirt, needing to feel his skin against their hands. They wanted him to take it off, but they couldn't find the words to say it. Instead they just pulled lightly at the shirt. It felt almost disorienting to be this warm, and being this close they felt safer than ever. There was truly nothing else they wanted to feel than Callan's skin against their own. "Can you take your shirt off?" They pleaded, their breath hasty and yet it was clear they were trying to contain themselves. Being selfish wasn't something they were used to. Looking at the daemon they moved their hands up, touching his face, "you feel so good." They trembled slightly at the admittance, but it was clearly one of delight.
If Callan kept his shirt on, then they would just continue to kiss him. Frankly either way things would happen rather naturally, wouldn't it? If Callan moved away to take off his shirt, they would get out of their shirt as well. For a second they got to see the daemon above them, stronger than ever and more beautiful than they had ever seen him. "Will you be mad .. if I tell you you look really good right now?" Callan had brushed off their compliments before, but they still wanted him to know what was going on in their head. Saige was trembling a bit, needing the daemon close once more, moaning at the sensitivity of their skin touching Callan's. "Ah .. ngh .. Dantalion," their voice felt raw, clearly having a hard time holding back when it felt this good.