Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand

Workin' in the dark against your fellow man

But as sure as God made black and white

What's done in the dark will be brought to the light

-  Johnny Cash "God's Gonna Cut You Down"

Saffron pushed through the large silver doors and into Azrael's chamber. He had been calling for an update and when Micah was nowhere to be found, Azrael summoned her.  She was prepared for this when she suggested that Micah took the road less traveled. However, the anxiety of meeting Azrael in the flesh so to speak, and having to cover for his most celebrated reaper, still managed to make her knees tremble as she slowly descended the pearlescent winding staircase down to the dais where the Azrael would receive her.

The air in the room flowed with a certain chill. Extreme enough to add a shiver to her growing physical signs of apprehension. By the time she reached the last step, the back doors had opened and the dark haired Angel of Death sauntered in. His pale eyes flashed at her as if he was expecting someone else.  It was then that Saffron suspected that no one told him that Micah was still on a mission. 

"Where's Micah for a report? I hear some unnerving things and I'm concerned this issue hasn't been resolved yet."

Saffron sucked in a breath and put her hands behind her back. "The mission is not complete yet, sir."

His eyes grew dark as his seemingly permanent scowl managed to intensify to a greater degree. "Why on earth not?  This was supposed to be in simple harbinger mission that may or may not have ended with a soul reaping of an insubordinate necromancing witch! I mean, am I missing something here, handler...um..." He struggled for her name.

"Saffron, sir."

"Yes, Saffron. Am I missing something?  I've got my best on this, and I'm hearing rumors that Micah is allowing the witch to still manipulate the dead?"

With a calm, collected demeanor, Saffron shook her head. "I can assure you that Micah is still the best, Azrael. He's dedicated to completing this assignment and to ensuring that witch will never use her necromancy ever again."

Azrael scoffed. "Abraham told me the same thing, and we see where that got us. She practically ignored us and our warning!"

"Pardon my boldness, sir, but Micah is not Abraham. I know you sir. You chose Micah because he was your finest and I have full confidence The Pale Rider will make sure the witch will no longer be a threat to your operations."

Azrael sighed. His frustration visible as he chewed his bottom lip, thinking. He was itching to bring this mission to an abupt end by abruptly ending the witch's life. His best reaper is struggling to reign her end. Souls are getting ripped from the treasury. How much longer before the Divine demands answers on what kinda operation he's running up here? "Bring him here to me...um..."

Every. Damn. Time, she thought as she watched him again get memory lapse on her name. "Saffron. And that would prove difficult, sir. You see, Micah wants to ensure the witch's fate is sealed, so he is on the mortal coil to do a blood oath." Her voice dripped with melodramatic confidence, and probably to most it would've been over the top. But Azrael couldn't really place emotion on a vast spectrum. He'd been numb for so long and too long without engaging the mortal coil. She saw the same thing in Micah when she first became his handler. "With that under his belt, the mission will be complete."

Azrael nodded his head as he realized what that meant.  Micah was dead serious about sealing the deal on this one. He wasn't even trying to go in for The Horror. Must've just blew past that and went for the trump card. Preserving the witch's life through the blood oath was a bonus. After that, it will all be on the witch not to break the oath. The moment she does, it's over for her. Problem solved either way. "I didn't know that this was his game plan. I think it's brilliant." His hands down upon the tabernacle, his looked up at her. "I'll need to inform the reapers to give him space and when can I expect him back?"

Saffron couldn't tell him the details because frankly, Azrael would lose his freaking mind if he knew what the full deal entailed. Sharing the world of reapers, living on the mortal coil, all were big no-nos and she was the orchestrator of the whole bit. She liked her job and the Divine gave her explicit instructions to work as a handler for Micah. Under all circumstances, Saffron did just that and she wasn't aiming on failing the Divine any time ever. "Shouldn't be too long. I'm scheduled to check in with him shortly." Not a total lie. "When the mission is complete, you should expect him to inform you of the news personally, sir." She finished with a sweet smile, despite it might be wasted on someone such as The Supreme Angel of Death.  

Azrael furrowed his brows at the handler's expression.  She seemed quite chipper for a reaper's point of contact. Especially for Micah, who Azrael believed was cut from the same cloth as he. He never cared much for dealing with handlers. He always viewed them as reaper rejects though he was certain the Divine didn't see it that way. Everyone has a purpose, he could hear the past musings of the Divine in his head. Sometimes, he wondered about that belief for others, but at least when it came to Micah and this whats-her-face, thankfully it wasn't the case. Micah will come through and continue to earn his place as his second in command.  The awkward clearing of his throat promptly dissolved the handler's bright smile. "So be it. I'll expect this to be wrapped up soon."

"Yessir."

"And if I get more complaints or hear more rumors of that necromancer screwing up more reapings, I'm going to lose my holy shit and demand Micah back for examination." Azrael's eyes flashed white as he stared at her. "And personally burn that witch."

Saffron took a deep breath at the wave of chill in his words. All she could do was give an urgent nod as Azrael turned and walked out. As the doors closed, she was enveloped in silence feeling a sense of worry for Micah and Briseis. She's known him long enough to know that Azrael wasn't a creature who made idle threats. He meant every word. Bree had ruffled his feathers enough for Azrael to want to personally take her soul. Not a good thing at all. When Azrael wanted you dead, you were dead. She honestly didn't anticipate much resurrecting occurring with Micah at Bree's side, which was why she proposed him to dwell on the mortal coil in the first place. They were the perfect distraction for each other. Heaven help her if she's wrong.

During the whole time, she had stared at Azrael during the meeting, Saffron wondered if she was perhaps looking into Micah's future. So much death and no human contact made Micah cold, just like his mentor. It gave her hope when Micah approached Saffron for a more compassionate approach to handle Briseis. It was the first time she'd seen true compassion resonate within the reaper. He was thinking about her like a human, not just another lost soul. There was so much Micah never experienced or if he had, was eons ago. He now was  just a ghost of his human self after so long being a reaper. It was time he got some of that back. In the meantime, she had to watch over them both and she prayed that Micah truly had a wrangle on Bree. Or it could mean a dismal end to them both.

Abraham exited the elevator with a smirk and headed down the stairs of Central Station. His excursion to the Eye of the Divine was, to say the least, pretty interesting when he looked through the logs and what The Pale Rider was the last viewing.  At first, he found it a bit puzzling that Micah would've entertained using the Eye, to begin with. The reaper had a strange code about delving too much into the lives of mortals and considered using the Eye of the Divine as cheating. 

Abraham scoffed to himself. What an asshole.  

Reapers were supposed to use all the tools given to do their job.  Micah always considered himself hot shit since the boss thought he was the next best thing. Well, hot shit or not, something definitely had gotten The Pale Rider in for a loop.  More like someone. The logs showed Micah looking into a pretty necromancer. Abraham couldn't forget the beguiling Bree Devareaux if he tried.  He was first charged with giving her The Horror for meddling with Azrael's souls, but when he saw her, she seemed so vulnerable, he knew it wouldn't take much to put her on the right path.

Apparently, he was wrong, and this was the super secret mission that Azrael called Micah out of his sabbatical to handle.  The thought of it, made Abraham clench his fists as he walked down to the handler counter.  He deserved the opportunity to make it right. How dare Azrael give his mission to someone else? Ironically, he noticed that Micah viewed the same details as he did when researching Briseis with the Eye of the Divine.  Most reapers would've shrugged at the tiny violins playing for her mother's death. Reapers saw it every day. They eat that shit up for breakfast. He definitely didn't expect The Pale Rider to give a shit of all people. Until, that is, Abraham's curiosity got the best of him and used the card to see Micah's expression on his face during the viewing.  It was weird, like watching the destruction of a sacred monument. If he didn't know any better, he would've said that Micah had gone soft.  But he didn't have enough proof.  If he did, he imagine Azrael would go nuts.  His prized reaper compromised? With emotion? The world would turn upside down...and leave Micah disgraced.

First, he needed to get more information and who else but Saffron would be the key to that. She was timid and quite the rule follower. It wouldn't take much to squeeze her. Especially since he had something she needed. Missing Micah's access card, being he was a top ranking reaper, would get her in deep shit.

Abraham moved past the crowded station and didn't stop until he finally approached the mahogany counter in front of Saffron. With a haughty smirk, he knocked on the counter similar to Micah's fashion. 

A moment passed, and Abraham's smile grew as Saffron met his eyes. 

Saffron's smile awkwardly faded as she was greeted with the unexpected reaper.  Clearing her throat, she adjusted her mannerisms as she realized she was not particularly in the presence of friends. "Um. Hi, Abe. What can I do for you?"

Abraham's fingers toyed with the counter, following the grains of wood with the pads of his fingers. "I was looking for Micah. I have something to give him."

Saffron shrugged as she dusted the counter. "He's still out on a mission. I don't expect him back for a while."

Abraham laughed. "Yeah, I bet.  Back from where? Words out he's got a hell of a mission to work.  Something that Azrael is chomping at the bit about."

Saffron started to shuffle papers and straighten her area, not paying much attention to his presence. "Yeah, he's plenty busy."

Abraham took out the gold keycard and started fanning it and whistling. "I think The Pale Rider dropped this perhaps in all the excitement trying to meet his maker the other day. If he's got a tough mission, he's probably gonna need this. As do you."

Saffron glanced up, and her jaw dropped at the sight of him holding Micah's access card to the Eye of the Divine. She was looking all over for it and hoped that Micah still had it.  Quickly, Saffron leaned in to grab it, only to have Abraham pull back in a taunting game of keep away. "C'mon Abe. You shouldn't have that."

Abraham scoffed. "Neither should Micah." He turned to look at the card, admiring the gold etching with Micah's name, rank, and serial in Aramaic. It was an all access card from Azrael himself, granting The Pale Rider freedom to get any knowledge he wanted. He could just imagine the privilege Micah had at his feet.  Must be nice to be that loved by your boss, while he got to look down on others. Even Abraham had to admit, it felt pretty awesome holding it and using it for a while."He's quite the hypocrite, isn't he?"

Saffron sneered at his unwarranted insult towards Micah. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, you know. He hates those reapers that run to the Eye to figure out their mission. But here's his access card. Clearly, he had to have used it recently. And I know I saw him get in the elevator because the asshole shut me out." He moved back as Saffron reached again. "So what do you know about his mission, Saff? Tell me and I'll give you the card."

With a frustrated sigh, Saffron glared at him. "What my reaper chooses to do in order to get the job done is his business and none of your concern, Abe. Regulations forbid other reapers tampering with access cards, kindly give it--"

"What is Micah up to on the mortal coil?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Word around the station is that Micah had a run in with Gideon and from what he'd said, Micah isn't anywhere near to closing out his mission. A mission about a pretty little witch name Bree." Abraham grinned as he noticed Saffron's eyes widened at the last bit of information. "What's keeping The Pale Rider from his duties, eh handler? He's gotta be down there, because he isn't on sabbatical yet and he sure as hell isn't here. I'm sure Azrael would not be pleased to hear of his pride and joy pissing around on the mortal coil not completing his duties. I mean, he is, after all, stepping in to save a mission that somehow I'm seen as fouling up."

Saffron grunted. So that's what all this is about.  A pissing contest with Micah because he screwed up? How lame. "If you're so butthurt about Micah cleaning up your messes, why don't you take it up with him?" Abraham attempted to open his mouth when Saffron continued. "Oh, that's right. Last time you tried to be bold with him, he threw your ass into submission with everyone watching. Happened right where you're standing. Am I right?"

Abraham stepped back, frowning. Remembering the humiliation just irked him even more with this confrontation."He's a dick, and it's only a matter of time before Azrael realizes that Micah is not perfect. He's gonna screw this up, and I'm gonna watch him fall."

Saffon crossed her arms, confounded that he would wish such a  thing. "What kind of reaper are you?  You don't crap on your brethren because they are better than you, Abe. Haven't you learned anything?"

He plucked the keycard making a ticking rhythmic sound. "He isn't better than me. He just has better PR; that's all. Everyone only loves him because Azrael loves him. He's rude, arrogant and a hypocrite. You should be careful who you associate with Saffron, or he'll drag you down too. After his fallout, you won't be fit to even be a handler anymore."

"You don't know him. Now give me that card." Saffron's voice deepened, moving away from her more chipper tone. He was chipping away at her patience, and a tic in her jaw was so tensed it physically felt like pain.

Abraham shook his head at her. "Neither do you."

She looked at the bustling station, making sure no one was paying much attention. 

"I know him better than he even knows himself. Now for the last time, Abraham, you can either give me the card or I can take it from you." Saffron pushed out a breath through her nostrils and cut her eyes to him."Fair warning, you're not gonna like the latter."

Abraham smiled and held it up high. Was Tiny Tim really serious? Reaper reject wants to play, eh? , he thought to himself as Saffron was clearly sizing him up as if to do something. Yeah, right. "I'd like to see you try." He scoffed out a taunting laugh. "Handler." He paused to see the little reaper handler's pretty face crinkle into an annoyed frown. "Tell me where Micah is, and I might release it to you. " He glared with a challenge as Saffron slowly turned and walked through the enclosure until she was finally around the counter. He never understood why Saffron dressed like a man, even in her deeply feminine form. Wearing a black dress shirt, jeans with gray suspenders and sneakers, her feminity shined through regardless. But if her hair were any shorter she could've passed for a young boy. She was easy on the eyes, but handlers were completely off limits. He didn't know why, but considering they were at the bottom of the totem pole, it kinda made sense. "Look, I know you're all sweet on him and all, but there's no need to constantly defend him."

Saffron's face puffed with angst as she watched the idiot reaper stand before her gloating. He held up the gold card high above his head, ensuring that her petite 5'2 frame would have a challenge retrieving it. Calmly and quietly, Saffron strode up to him. Her radiant eyes zeroed in on him, then shifted up to the card, letting the reflection of it dance across her cherubic face. 

All charm was void in her voice."So are you gonna give me the damn card or not?"

Before Abraham could retort, faster than a blink, Saffron's leg swept under him simultaneously pushing him down to the marble floor with a harsh thump. Knocking the wind out of Abraham, Saffron placed her arm against his throat. Abraham saw something dark in those once innocent eyes as she bent over him. The aura crawled over him and shook him from the inside, and her porcelain skin had black veins that branched from her eyes. He couldn't be sure it was real, because when he blinked they were gone. 

Saffron's temper begged to explore the outside world, but holding a tight reign she finally spoke. "You know what a  shtosher is?" She paused just enough to hear him gagging for air in response. "In Yiddish, it means rat. That is what you are if you continue to take this path of envy, Abraham. Now, if you tell anyone about what you've learned with Micah's mission, it will get back to me, and I will make you regret it. You think you know me, but you really don't. I can make things really difficult for you." She punctuated her sentence by snatching Micah's access key out his hand. "Now give me this goddamn card!"

Saffron popped up and took a deep breath, sliding the card key in her back jeans pocket. Glaring at a surprised Abraham, who was still reeling from being taken down by a handler half his size. "It's never a good idea to force my hand, reaper. I know you snatched this card from me. Pick pocket me again, and I'll see that you get disaster duty for eternity." 

After a beat, Saffron let out a giggle as if all was well, her demeanor a complete 180. Abraham actually flinched as she yelled.

"Wooo! Thanks for finding the card and all the well wishes for Micah's mission. God's speed Abe!" She smiled and threw up the peace sign as she moved back into the handler's entrance.

Befuddled, Abraham scrambled to pick himself up and  watched  Saffron disappear into the back.  He straightened his body and his clothes, feeling like he was in some sort of alternate reality. Feeling so isolated as he stood amongst thousands of reapers, he couldn't help but voice out loud what his mind was screaming.

"What the hell just happened?"

###

LOL!  You just own f*cking PWNED! Abe! That's what happened!  How do you like this chapter?  It focused a bit on Saffron holding down the fort amongst Micah's haters. 

However you feel about her, I'm sure we can all agree that she's not at all what she appears.  Now, to what degree, you'd just have to wait and see!  Thanks for the patience readers!  I cranked this out in two days, so my writer's block got blown away!  Hope to update soon to play catch up!