Chapter 45:

It was Halloween at the magic box and Anya had grand plans now that she was running the place. Saffron walked down the steps to the stock room, lugging a heavy cardboard box with her to hide the breakable items from the influx of children that pirate Xander had been tasked to entertain. Willow and Dawn were giving extra candy to a tiny girl dressed as a witch and the rest of the group were all helping customers. Saffron was a black cat this Halloween: She was wearing a vinyl leather skirt, a black tank top and some cat ears. And, surprisingly, she had her combat boots on, she had forgotten it was Halloween and thrown together the outfit the morning before her shift. She tried to get Dawn to dress up too but she insisted it was for little kids. Saff sighed, once upon a time Dawn looked up to her so much she would have insisted on matching their costumes. She missed how things were with Dawn, but she enjoyed seeing her as more of a friend than an annoying younger cousin.

As she hoisted the box onto a stack of other cardboard boxes, her mind turned back to a thought she was often torturing herself with recently. The guilt surrounding what had happened last summer. With the three. She couldn't dare say it out loud, how could she begin to tell Dawn? It was enough to make her buy a bottle of alcohol the night previous when her shift ended. She hadn't drunk any of it, she had only stared at it before pouring it away. A win, of sorts. She had been in her head a lot recently, especially since her run-in with Oleander. He had really spooked her. She stared at the stack of boxes, willing her legs to move and take her back upstairs to the onslaught of customers. Although she didn't know if she was ready to face them just yet. A noise made her jump violently and swing around, eyes wide and her hands clenched into fists ready to try to fight.

"Thank God" She visibly relaxed as she saw Spike, "What you doing here?"

"Burbaweed, put it in the blood makes it-"

"Spicy" She finished for him, she knew him well, "And it couldn't wait?" she asked as he shook his head a fraction. He didn't mention that he wanted to watch over her, make sure she didn't get herself killed by something let loose in the Magic Box. He was protective, he couldn't help it what with the way she liked to dive into peril head-first. He moved in, proving it definitely couldn't have waited as his lips met hers. He pulled her into him as she slid her hands up his back and they deepened their kiss. She giggled, breaking apart and starting to sort some of the stock. He took her wrist, pulling her flush to his chest once again as he purred in her ear.

"Mm, I remember this skirt…" He gestured as his hand roamed over the soft vinyl. She bit her lip slightly, shaking herself out of it as she replied. It was the one she had worn as a vampire for Halloween.

"Yep, the very same. I'm surprised it still fits actually. Last wore it, what four years ago? Couldn't wear a catsuit for work really" she shrugged, starting to move away and back to the chaos upstairs. But Spike had other ideas.

"You know what I wanted to do to you when…." He had backed her into the large table in the stockroom, firmly gripping the table either side of her hips, grinning and taking in her outfit. He was leaning in so close she could have sworn she felt his breath catch as he looked at her.

"Hands off the merchandise, Spike, I'm property of the Magic Box for the next four hours" She joked, not even trying to move from where he was caging her between his arms, savouring it every time his arms brushed against her sides.

"Come on, pet. I need a bit of something to tide me over…" he said, sliding her skirt up slightly exposing more of her thigh, "besides, looks like you need to release a bit of… tension" She pulled her skirt back down and looked up to face him, a smile playing on her lips, knowing this could end badly. He could tell she was considering it.

"Not in the stock room, Spike, anybody could walk in…." She tailed off as he started to kiss along her jawline and a calloused hand moved between her thighs.

"Mm, and you're what? Suddenly this young innocent thing who would never so much as look at a man the wrong way?" He asked, a smirk firmly on his face as he kissed his way towards her ear, whispering, "Bollocks, love"

He suddenly moved, pushing himself off from the table and releasing her, she whined in frustration as he broke contact but smiled when she realised why he had moved. He swept all of the items from the table to the floor, it was mostly baggies of lavender and other dried herbss used for spell pouches but a few items in boxes made a cracking sound as they hit the ground that neither of them could bring themselves care less about. The anticipation between the seconds it took him to clear the table was unbearable and she all but moaned in relief when he returned to her. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he sat her on the newly clear table. God, she hoped a customer didn't ask someone to check if they had any extra stock. She looked around, opening her mouth to start to say maybe they should move to somewhere less in the middle of the room but Spike shook his head with a smug smile at the way she seemed to whimper at even the lightest touch. What was she doing? This was where she worked! The risk was too high but his kisses were so nice…

"Sp-" Saffron started to speak again before a firm hand clasped over her mouth.

"You'll just have to be quiet, won't you?" He whispered, biting his lip as she glared from behind his hand. But as he started to kiss her again, laying her out on the table and sliding on top of her, her glare quickly left her face and she was grateful for the hand once his other hand started to slide her skirt up.

Saffron and Spike were still on the table top, grins on their faces that they couldn't remove. Saff's skin was flushed pink as she hauled herself up.

"You're coming tonight aren't you?" She smiled as she started to shift her clothes back hurriedly. Spike was still lying back, propping himself up by his elbows, having sorted himself out and zipped his fly back up. He was now watching her re-dress herself.

"Tonight?"

"Halloween party at Xander's, don't say you forgot!"

"Oh balls" he muttered, "Vamps don't do Halloween, love, you know that"

"Please?"

"What do I get out of it?" He asked cockily as she leaned back over the table to land a soft peck on his lips suggesting he'd already got his end of the bargain.

"I gotta go back up to work" She sighed, wishing she could spend the day with Spike, "Anyway, aren't you supposed to be looking after Angel?" She pulled her skirt back down so she could return to work without flashing any customers.

"Honey, you had better stop calling the fleabag Angel, or you'll be buying the bar next time we're out" He mock-threatened, pulling himself up to sit on the edge of the table. Saff stood up, turning to smile at him.

"It's Angelina. But Angel for short… it's cute!" She assured him, leaning into him, knowing he wasn't convinced.

"Makes sense, I always thought he was a puss-" Saffron kissed him to cut him off, rolling her eyes fondly. She then moved away from his embrace, looking around for her cat-ears.

"We're parents now, Spike. You have to take some responsibility! Less fucking swearing!" She pointed at him with a mock-glare as she started to step up the stairs. He watched her and she could feel he was starting to miss her already. They both enjoyed cuddling after sex but neither of them admitted it to anyone except each other. She had already started to miss him too and quickly skipped back down the stairs, leaning up and landing a slow, meaningful kiss on his lips that he enthusiastically returned. She whispered that she would see him as soon as she got off her shift before running up the stairs, hoping nobody would mention her absence.

xoxoxo

Saff had planned out her shifts meticulously so that she could fit in a nap and a sort-of social life. This meant she was able to enjoy an evening with her friends for their Halloween party. Saffron was still in her black cat costume as she walked into the main area of Xander's apartment, clutching the tap as she walked. She had managed to rip it from the sink. She awkwardly shuffled up to Xander, handing him the tap and apologising profusely. All she had done was turn it off with a twist and had instead taken the whole thing off. She hated this new strength. Another curse in disguise. Xander distractedly said it was okay, taking the cold metal from her and distractedly staring ahead of him.

"Also, I spray painted your bathroom bright orange and invited a homeless vampire into your home for the night" She said, realising he wasn't listening to her.

"Yeah, no problem" Xander replied, walking over to Anya who he had been staring at with a smile. He walked over to Anya, pulling her to him and looked towards the rest of the people in the room.

"Can I, um... Uh... there's something Anya and I wanna tell you" He walks over to the kitchen counter. Anya comes to his side, "We're getting married!"

"Oh my god!" Dawn squealed as Saffron's face widened into a shocked but happy smile. She liked them as a couple, they were made for each other.

"Congratulations!" Tara beamed as Buffy and Giles walked closer to congratulate the pair.

"That-that's... wow" Willow said and Saff could feel she wasn't sure how she felt about the news.

"It's a big wow" Xander replied, confirming her words. Anya and Xander kissed, their love couldn't be denied. They decided to turn the party into an Engagement party as someone cranked up the music and everyone continued to hug and congratulate the newly engaged pair. Willow did a quick spell to change the apartment into a nicely decorated party palace. There were balloons and ornaments and all Willow had done was snap her fingers. Saffron was impressed until she noticed how Tara had reacted.

Saffron felt Tara's concern, and planned to ask about it later. Spike had walked up to her after the hugging had died down, staying clear of the gushing and celebration of the boy and his bird. He bought her an over-priced rock, so bloody what? Spike draped his arm around Saff, watching her frown at the witches for a second before snapping herself out of it and smiling up at him. He could see that she was still exhausted, he had tried to convince her to stay home with him, they could be cosy in their shared crypt and watch Passions or something. But she had planned it all out, she was on a schedule. This was new, Saffron rarely stuck to a schedules or rules, but she knew it was the only way to start bringing money in. She had become organised out of necessity and longed for the day where she wouldn't have to stick to all the bloody rules anymore. She assured Spike that Anya and Xander would want to have we-just-announced-our-engagement-sex so the party would die down and they could spend a little time together before her shift. She was about to drink from her cup, only to realise it was empty. She rolled her eyes, walking to the tiny kitchen to refill it. Spike followed and started to complain about Anya and Xander hijacking Halloween with their own news. Was nothing sacred anymore that even Halloween had to be taken over by the Scoobies?

"You don't even like Halloween!" She reminded him, over her shoulder as she walked to get herself some punch from the bowl that her and Dawn were sharing because it was non-alcoholic.

"Bloody attention-seeking, that's what they're doing. They're not the only buggers in love"

"Hush, babe! They're getting married, it's beautiful" She said dreamily, turning to him with the ladel in her hand. This gave Spike an idea, seeing as they were now alone in the tiny kitchen. He looked deeply into Saffron's eyes, giving her the smile that he saved just for her. The look was as if he was staring directly into her soul. She frowned, his emotions were easy to read but she wasn't fully understanding what was going on. He held her left hand in both of his hands, muttering something. He dropped onto one knee, staring up at her adoringly. She watched, open-mouthed and then smiled. He opened his mouth, surely about to pour his most intimate feelings, laying himself bare. Her heart skipped a beat, before she opened her mouth to cut him off, "Get up Spike" Saffron rolled her eyes, she felt his emotions and helped him to his feet.

"You almost said yes, admit it love" He smirked smugly at her, hauling himself up to stand next to her to tease her.

"I could tell you weren't being serious. You get a chip, I get a convenient lie detector" She reminded him, kissing his cheek and winking before walking back into the living room. Spike followed her with his eyes before he followed her back in. He wouldn't let it go though. He enjoyed taking any opportunity to tease her.

Spike and Saff were whispering in each other's ear from the corner, the others couldn't tell that they were squabbling over whether Saff had believed his proposal or not. Anya was showing Buffy her ring as Xander explained he'd never recover from the cost. Giles and Dawn were talking and he seemed to wish he had found himself with a more grown up conversation. The witches were having a heated discussion in the kitchen and everyone was giving the area a wide-birth, whatever it was seemed serious. Dawn checked her watch, eyes lighting up as she got up as Giles was in mid-sentence. Giles would have been annoyed at how rude she had been if he wasn't grateful he didn't have to keep her occupied.

"See you all tomorrow!" Dawn announced to the room and started to hurry to the exit. This interrupted everyone's conversation. Saffron who had been pulled onto Spike's lap during their conversation had looked up, sensing Dawn's eagerness to leave. Spike held her tighter, hoping she wasn't about to get up off his lap.

"Woah, tomorrow?" Buffy halted Dawn in her tracks and stared at her suspiciously as they all watched.

"Yeah I'm sleeping at Janice's... remember?" Saffron squinted suspiciously, Dawn was lying. She wasn't going to a sleepover. Dawn looked around, daring to check if Saff had caught on, "A boy?" Saff mouthed, she could tell Dawn was lying about her sleepover. Dawn rolled her eyes, nodding subtly. Saff winked knowingly and turned to Buffy who was looking around for support, not sure whether to let Dawn leave. Saffron helped convince Buff to let her go on her 'sleepover'. It was only a white lie. Buffy didn't need to know. What was the worst that could happen?

xoxoxo

The starry sky was cushioned by the occasional midnight blue cloud, which emphasised the warm light from the tiny fairy lights in the sky. It was as if a tiny galaxy had been reserved for Sunnydale that night. And who knows, seeing as it was the Hellmouth, maybe it had been. Xander's balcony was peaceful to the point of paranoia and she had needed the break from the party. Saffron was alone on Xander's balcony, hugging Spike's duster around her as she inhaled the thick smoke, savouring the bitter taste because, hey, at least she could taste and feel again. She was deep in thought, not able to appreciate the beauty of the sky or the chill of the night. She couldn't stop thinking about that night, it replayed in her mind. Spike was watching her from inside, trying to make sure she didn't fall over the side or have a demon jump up at her. He would usually go out with her, but he was enjoying watching Xander becoming uncomfortable as Anya wouldn't shut up about planning for babies and houses before they withered and died considering their human lives were so short. Plus, Saffron seemed to need some time alone. She was uncomfortable before she left, they had all been speaking about the deaths again.

Xander slipped out of the French doors onto the balcony, fanning himself with his pirate hat as he was getting nervous about the future. He was frightened to death. Saffron looked behind her, throwing her cigarette end into the makeshift ashtray she had been using in the form of an empty plant pot. She instantly lit up again and Xander came to lean against the railings with her, staring at the vast array of stars blanketing the sky.

"Ah, sweet mother oxygen" Xander muttered to himself, pulling at his collar as if it would cool him down.

"You're scared shitless" Saffron said softly, exhaling the smoke, still leaning against the railing.

"That obvious?"

"I'm guessing it would be even if I couldn't tell your emotional state" Saff shrugged, resting a comforting hand on her friends shoulder as he walked to stand next to her.

"I just- I just didn't think it'd be so much…" He admitted, exhaling in an overexaggerated way. She patted him on the back while they both stared out into the night. She wasn't really sure how to comfort her friend, she knew he was in love with Anya. She decided it was one of those things you have to sort by yourself in your own head. And, boy, did Saff have experience with thoughts like that. Buffy slid the door open then, shrugging her coat on. She had made the excuse she needed to patrol as Anya had launched into another speech about how she had found her one-in-million soulmate out of every universe and time period. Buffy was happy for her friends, of course she was. But things were hard for her at the moment. She was lonely, the one person she had thought was her true love it was impossible for them to be together and well, she had just been ripped back into reality after dying.

"Hey, thought I'd make with the congratulations before I go and slay something evil and probably lacking in dress sense" Buffy said warmly to Xander, hugging him again in congratulations.

"Oh, you couldn't sense it? We're in catastrophe corner over here, Xander's got a major wig on" Saff said, exhaling the smoke away from her friends as she spoke.

"It feels like a normal engagement nervy-ness to me!" Buffy said comfortingly, as Saff nodded. She had to work on her intuition, but at least she was trying.

"I mean, Anya can be a lot to handle, as are you Xand, but you both seem to just click. Like soulmates or any of that gushy shit" Saffron continued the encouraging theme Buffy had started and Xander appreciated it, nodding with a frown still on his face.

"Hey, this is good. I mean, this is... love and celebration and moving forward. Anya's right. This is the way life's supposed to work out" Buffy added.

"Right. Deep pools of ooey delight. I'm wallowing, not drowning"

"Definite wallow action" Buffy smiled, hugging her friend again.

"Is there another party out here nobody bloody told me about? If I'd had known I wouldn't have listened to the ex-demon yammering on until my ears bled" Spike interrupted loudly, not bothering to slide the door closed behind him and instead reaching to take his pack of Morley's out of his inside duster pocket that was still wrapped around Saff.

"Hey! That's my fiancé you're talking about!"

"At least now I know what Saff can get you for your wedding gift, noise cancelling bloody headphones and a monthly subscription to your pain medication of choice" He continued with his filter between his lips trying to get his lighter to ignite without luck. Xander glared at the vampire as Buffy started to open the door to leave.

"You fancy any company?" Saff asked her cousin, she was tired but she felt that Buffy shouldn't be alone at the moment. They needed each other.

"Nah, it's sort of a chosen one deal, you need to protect your head… sorry about that again" Buffy said as she started to step through the door. Saff swatted her away as if it was nothing before adding, "It's Halloween… there probably won't be anything out there…"

"There's gotta be somethin' cruising for a smackdown" Buffy shrugged, putting a hand on Xander's shoulder to tell him to leave it, as he was still glaring seemingly coming up with something to bite back with, before the pair both walked back inside the apartment. Buffy to go on patrol and Xander to go and kiss Anya in such a way that Giles would need to clean his glasses for a solid minute. Saffron ignited her own lighter and offered it to him.

Spike lit up and wrapped his arms around Saff from behind. She was still stood against the railing but her own cigarette was finished. His face rested against the side of hers and she could hear him expelling the smoke from his lungs into the cool air of the night. They stayed in silence for a while, enjoying the company.

"Do you know any constellations?" she hummed quietly, staring up at the sky and inhaling in his distinct smell, made only better to her with the mix of the cigarette smoke.

"Can't say I do…" He said, staring up at the night before his eyes lit up, "Wait! That one there… you see it?" He asked, pressing himself softly against the back of her, whispering low in her ear as he pointed out a collection of stars.

"Which? That there?" She pointed herself, before resting her hands back on the railing as he nodded.

"Vampirus nebula"

"Liar! There's no such thing!" She called him out with a fond smile, leaning back against him to leave a kiss against his neck. He moved his hands to hold her waist in a hug again as he bit back a smile.

"Bloody is! See those circular parts there?" He couldn't help gesturing dramatically towards the sky, "Like a freshly bitten neck!" he smiled, once again holding her close. She laughed aloud at his insistence, staring up at the sky.

"I love that sound, Honeysuckle… I would say it's one of my top ten favourite sounds, and that's a high bleeding compliment when you think of how long I've been around"

"It just doesn't seem as romantic when I know you described the screams of the innocent as one of your favourites too" she giggled before adding, "Do you know one of my favourite sounds?"

"If you say that fleabag's purr-"

"Your voice, Spike. Your voice is one of my favourite sounds… I don't know… It can be so soothing, especially like this" She admitted, she had been enjoying feeling the vibrations from his chest on her back as he spoke as well as his voice. He held her even closer, they had both missed this desperately. They stayed like that for a while, hearing music start to play loudly inside, leaving them to guess the dancing had started. When Spike felt how cold his girl was, he suggested they brave having to watch the others make a fool out of themselves to warm her up. She reluctantly agreed, pushing herself up using balcony railing, sending the sturdy metal cracking and falling down the two-stories from the balcony. Spike grabbed hold of her firmly by the upper arm before she had chance to overbalance, "Fucking bastarding hell!" She shouted down at the railing that had fallen from the height of Xander's apartment, "I'm so fucking tired of breaking everything I touch!"

"You'll get used to it, love. We can slip away, train before the sun makes an appearance if you fancy your chances against something big and nasty" He offered, knowing that the answer was a firm no as her tired eyes looked up at him.

"I thought you wouldn't go out on Halloween!" She smiled as they walked back inside, reminding him of the long rant he had their entire walk to Xander's apartment about demons leaving their crypts and lairs on the night of Halloween. Apparently it was not only stupid, but cursed to do so. When they returned, Tara was looking upset in Xander's kitchen as the others all danced around. Willow tried to pull Saff to join them but she put a finger up to suggest that she would be a minute before walking over to Tara, pulling Spike along with her.

"What's wrong?"

"Yeah, why the long face Terror?" Spike asked. He liked the witch the most out of the rest of Saffron's friends, so pretending to pretend to care wasn't too hard. The nickname had been picked up because the girl was so meek in public, he thought he was being clever by calling her a 'terror'. Tara smiled shyly at the name, feeling the genuineness of the pair, before her face dropped again.

"She just won't stop"

"Stop what, T?"

"The magic… Willow uses it for any little thing. It's-it's like an addiction. I don't know what to do… how to help"

"Be there" Spike spoke up, before Saffron opened her mouth, twisting his arm around Saff's waist. The warmth she felt from the act made her smile softly. She really did appreciate how good he was to her. He had always stuck with her.

"Yeah, just try to show her your point of view. Hearing and knowing what I was doing to you all… hearing your perspective instead of trusting my own warped judgement… if it really is like an addiction it could help" She explained, before adding, "We'll all keep an eye on her, you're not alone T" she leant to pat Tara's hand and they felt the familiar ice-cold feeling. Tara nodded her thanks to the pair, appreciating that they had noticed her glumly sat by herself. Saffron was worried about Willow, looking at her as she danced happily. If it was the start of an addiction, there may be no stopping her. Saffron really would keep an eye out the best she could. They were about to launch into another conversation but that was interrupted by Giles switching the music off and calling them all to arms.

Buffy left her cell at the party and Giles picked it up when he saw that it was Janice's Mom. He explained to the room that Dawn was missing, she had told them she was sleeping over at Janice's and Janice had said she was staying at Dawn's.

"Ah, dipping into the classics" Xander commented as the others looked at each other. Spike and Saff both knew this shocking revelation already.

"She's not missing, she's just being a teenager" Saff cut in, swatting them away.

"You knew didn't you?" Giles asked, exasperated as ever with the parenting skills Saffron did not possess. She hated rules, why should she inflict them on Dawn?

"Uh, no?" She tried before giving up, "Fine, you got me, but come on, give the girl a break!" She pleaded, if they kept checking up on Dawn and being so strict she would act out. She could feel it and besides, it was how she had been at Dawn's age. Giles didn't listen, he instead barked orders at the room and got Saff and Spike to trawl around the town on Halloween to find Dawn.

xoxoxo

Spike, Saff and Buffy ran onto the scene just as Giles was becoming surrounded by vampires and Dawn was being held as a hostage by the vampire she had just been making out with in a car. Spike grabbed Giles' shoulder, making him jump.

"This a private party or can anyone join?"

"Where you parking?! With a vamp?!" Buffy asked Dawn in shock as Saff fell into a fit of laughter.

"I-I didn't know he was dead…" Dawn said, trailing off while Saffron was still laughing at the situation.

"Uh, living dead" The vampire she was with corrected.

"Shut the fuck up!"

"Dawn! I can't believe you!" Buffy scolded her younger sibling, "Have you been hit on the head and woken up a carbon-copy of Saff!?"

"Uh, rude" Saff said, straightening up from her laughter.

"Oh, like none of you have fallen for a vampire"

"She makes a very good point" Saff muttered as Spike winked at her.

"That was different!" Buffy shouted over Saff's reply, making her roll her eyes.

"Uh, excuse me? Can we fight now?" one of the vampires that was surrounding them asked.

"Hey, didn't anyone come here to just make out?" Buffy asked, Spike and Saff just looked at each other and shrugged. They leaned in and Saff held the side of Spike's face as he took her waist in one hand and her back in the other, pressing her closer. She ran her hand up his chest as their lips parted, their kiss deepening despite what was going on around them. Dawn laughed despite the threat and Buffy just crossed her arms across her chest before they were all distracted by the fight. Giles eventually pulled them apart as everyone started charging at each other, "Fight!" he pointed towards the vampires. Saff balled her hand into a fist and threw a punch that sent the vamp that had been coming at her flying back onto a parked car. Her eyes widened and she stared at her clenched fist as if it was something shiny and new. Practice fighting against Buffy and Spike was one thing but being able to knock a vamp flying was something else. She didn't have much time to revel in it as she was knocked sideways by a vampire she hadn't noticed. Luckily she managed to kick him to the ground and dust him before he had chance to do any damage. She then ran over to where Spike was, dodging the others who were fighting, to see if she could offer any help.

"It's Halloween you nit!" he shouted as Saff ran to his side.

"Me and mine don't follow no stinkin' rules! We're rebels!" The vamp shouted as Spike blocked him quickly and headbutted him aggressively, sending him knocking backwards into a tree. She watched with a smile; he really was good at that.

"No, I'm a rebel, you're an idiot!" He shouted, clearly annoyed as he took the crossbow from his belt and hit it straight in the vamps heart "Give the lot of us a bad name-" He muttered, but was quickly cut off by Saffron kissing him with a fiery heat. She didn't know what came over her, all she could say was seeing him like that was really hot. However, their kiss was cut short by a vampire coming out of nowhere and knocking Saffron off her feet. He landed on top of her, trying to restrain her, but she angled her knee and hit him in his groin as Spike pulled him off her and onto his back where he was writhing in pain. She managed to get to her feet and pull out her stake, but Spike got there first.

"Act a dick, you get hit in the dick!" Saffron shouted gleefully, dusting her hands off, "I knew it was easier with slayer strength!" she added as everyone regrouped after the fight.

"I mean, you could work on your puns, that was more of a strange saying that you made up on the spot" Buffy said, still repeating the phrase she had heard her cousin shout in her head.

"And, ah, your technique needs work" Giles said. And he meant it needed a lot of work.

"Hate to admit it, love, but Ripper's right. Grab your stakes and your smokes, it's gonna be a long night" He said, obviously still itching for a fight himself. He pulled her arm in the opposite direction and everyone could hear Saffron complaining about being tired from all the slaying she'd already done as they walked into the distance. This time, he wouldn't take no for an answer, he wouldn't let his girl walk around with a bloody hideous excuse for a fighting posture that could get her killed properly this time.