"I think spouting out the very first thing that comes to mind might turn out to be a better plan than it sounds like," Serafin says thoughtfully.

Snort.

"Okay. Um. Miles and I are in a polyamorous relationship."

"Huh," he says, regarding them thoughtfully.

"So it's not a, a - 'bwuahaha I have found someone better and now let me show you the door' situation, but, um. I am actually quite uncomfortable with the part where you torture innocent people."

"Yeah, I figured it was something like that. Well. If the Slayer finds me volunteers..."

"Then - then maybe? Yeah? But I can't -" she looks away. "I can't build my life on an if?"

"Yeah, that makes sense. I wasn't going to ask you to. You clearly have more than enough to deal with right now."

"Yeah. Thanks. For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

He shrugs. "Maybe something'll turn up someday and we can talk about it then. Meantime - if we need to throw a lot of power at this and there isn't a better option than you, will you be okay?"

She considers.

"Yes, but with an asterisk. Okay is sort of a relative term for me now? Which is depressing and unfair and I'd like it to stop, but I mean. That's not going to happen until Cyrille's taken care of. I'd probably have slightly more baggage to deal with, and might end up crying on you halfway through because I - I miss you - but compared to other baggage it's not even bad. My sister getting turned into a vampire, killing her Watcher, hunting me down to forcibly turn me, then dealing with how I ran around without a soul for four years sort of. Outdoes whatever you'd be willing to do to me, you know?"

"Yeah."

He smiles wryly.

"...do you want a hug or would that be weird?"

"You can hug me," she assures him, with a slight smile.

He hugs her.

Hug.

And then the hug ends, and she looks at him.

"... Are you going to keep kidnapping people and torturing them to death? If Liesel can't find you any volunteers."

He sighs.

"I don't know."

She - conspicuously doesn't say a word.

"...So," says Miles, "was I right when I guessed that you fell in love with her during that phone call?"

"—what," he says, blinking at Miles.

And then a pause, and then, "...yeah, good catch."

"I didn't even do anything," she protests weakly, smiling a little.

"You didn't have to! You just - were!"

Snort.

"It's nice to know it's not just me that prefers me with a soul. I was sort of worried you'd be upset."

"You're - more. I'm not sure what you're more of exactly but I'm sure it's something I like."

"Empathetic? Sincere? Awkward?" She smiles. "Well, anyway. Good, I'm glad."

He laughs.