The girl furrowed her brows slightly, trying to figure out exactly what he had just said. "...so you're going to be living, but only probably." Anya was a little confused by his babble of words, and why he was so quick to blurt things out. Maybe he was on about the fact they were potentially being followed, or perhaps that you never knew if you would make it through a day in the slums. She shrugged it off, trying not to let it get to her head. "I was wondering if you wanted to go do something fun. I dunno, go get something to eat, maybe. Just for tomorrow." She shrugged slightly with a slightly tilted head. The bland nights of the castle had started getting to her again, and she couldn't just sit in the castle all day waiting to be either kidnapped or killed, so maybe going out and doing something enjoyable would take her mind off it all.

Sage heasitated for a moment, debating what he wanted to do. What he wanted to say. Eventually, though, he nodded his head slowly. "Alright. I'll probably be down by the lake. Or the tavern. But you already know that." He could tell she was confused a bit by his crazy answer, and he wasn't entirely sure what he himself had meant by it. But if it was just for tomorrow ... Surely he could make himself hold on until after that? One more night with Anya, like it used to be.

Anya's smile doubled in size when he agreed to come out with her again, for just one last time. It wouldn't be the same as before, because Anya had a little more of a hold on her emotions than before, so rather than the awkwardness, they could actually have some fun. "I'll probably see you at the tavern if I come out early enough. That way we could get something to eat before going out." She murmured brightly. She could tell something was wrong, and she wanted to help, but she couldn't read minds. She would have to figure it out in her own time. Eventually, they had made it back to the little tunnel, where Anya turned and gave him a smile. "I suppose I'll see you tomorrow, I guess." She chirped brightly, getting ready to go in for a hug before remembering they weren't exactly at that point and instead went in for a uneasy shoulder pat before turning back off into the tunnel.

Sage nodded and watched her go. "I'll be here," he muttered to no one in particular since she was already gone. He had noticed her lean in slightly, then lean back and pat his shoulder instead. What had she been planning to do? He shook his head, trying to scramble those thoughts. He'd only drive himself crazy thinking about it. About her. He should be thankful enough for the shoulder pat...it was still gentle, which he found he liked. It was different coming from Anya than Lizzie. Liz was his sister, she had to be nice to him at least a little bit. Anya was the only person he wasn't related to to ever, well, not hurt him. He'd take what he could get from her. A shoulder pat was great, but she was going to do something more. So why did she settle for a shoulder pat. Ugh, he was thinking about it. He tried to tell his brain to shut up, but unfortunately it didn't really listen.

Anya stopped as soon as she closed the door behind her, regretting her little switch-up. Why couldn't she just commit to a quick hug, tell him that it was nice seeing him and that she might have missed him just a little, and be done with it? Scratch the last bit. She'd never let him know that she had missed his company, even if it were just a little. A shoulder pat, of all things. Why not something friendlier? Or even make a joke out of it? She thought for a moment about going back out there and bowling him with a hug as she had planned but refrained. He probably thought that last bit was weird enough, and she wasn't trying to tarnish his view of her. She let out a groan in annoyance before slowly making her way up to her chambers once again.

Sage decided not to go back to the tavern. He wasn't going to work the next day, either. He didn't need to, and definitely didn't want to. No, he'd go sit at the lake. And stare over the water, like he did before Anya got there tonight. Everything had happened so fast, and he had to think through all of it. A sudden thought struck him after about an hour of pondering things. He never got to say goodbye to Liz. He groaned and put his head in his hands. He stood up and walked a few feet out of the clearing before stopping and looking back with a frown. Wait ... What was he doing? He told Anya he would be there, he couldn't go get himself killed now. He stood there for what seemed to be hours, brain spinning in circles before he took a deep breath and walked back to the lake, sitting down again. It may have been the hardest decision he had ever made.

Anya battled with her thoughts for another short while before deciding that she'd just be braver with whatever she did and said to him. Especially tonight. It could very well be the last night she came out again, and she didn't want to be worried about what he thought about it. He had been through so much... so it would be good for the boy to relax a little. Her day was just like it usually was. She'd get something to eat, read a book or two, get measurements for whatever new garments she'd be getting and that'd be her day. The whole day went so... slow, though. Maybe that was because she was buzzing to see Sage, almost too much... no, you couldn't be too happy to see someone. Just as it started to get dark, earlier than she normally would, the girl trotted on down to the tunnel, and out. The lake would be the first place she looked, and she walked pretty fast just so that she wouldn't be alone for long. She peaked out from the tree line, trying to spot Sage to do her normal sneaky uppy thing. He would probably know she was there... he always did, but she didn't really care. The girl got down on her knees just behind him and just kind of melted her arms around his sides in a loose side hug kinda deal. "Good evening," She purred lightly. Right, so she said she'd be braver with him, but maybe this was a little overkill. Whatever, she'd done it now.

He had heard the girl coming, though her hug and almost flirty voice caught him off guard and he turned a bright red as a blush spread across his cheeks and he made a tiny squeaking noise. He had to admit he liked it though, and found himself leaning into her ever so slightly. "You can't sneak up on me but I guess you can get me flustered," he joked lightly. He figured that if it was their last night together, Anya had decided to do what she wanted to do the other night but didn't. He wondered why she had backed up from a hug...if she was afraid of making him want out of the situation, a hug wouldn't do it. She wasn't forcing herself on him or hurting him in any way, so he would enjoy any gentle touch she gave him since he never really got it. Lizzie never hurt him, not in purpose, but she wasn't exactly gentle with her energetic nature, either.

The girl let out a light chuckle before giving him a soft squeeze as he leaned into her. She quite liked that. Maybe she was expecting him to jerk away from her or something like that rather than get comfortable. It only made her tighten her arms around him slightly. She had perched her head just on his shoulder for a moment before grinning. "I've always been able to get you all flustered." The girl murmured in an amused tone, "It's one of the few things I'm good at." She giggled inwardly before slipping away from him and moving about so that she was sitting by his side. The cold hit her a little as drew away, though, she tried not to let it show. The girl realized she hadn't planned anything for the night... which she probably should have, considering they were meant to be having a good time. While thought, she could probably stand to joke about a little. "You squeaked," she teased, lightly prodding him in the ribs.

Sage made a face. That part was true...it didn't take much for Anya to get him all flustered. It was one thing about him he didn't exactly like, though it was better Anya than someone else he supposed. He jumped slightly when she poked him and put a hand to his side with a yelp. Ok, so apparently he was ticklish. Who would have guessed? "You hugged me," he protested in good nature. "I'm not used to that!" Then he poked her in the side of the arm. "Besides, you're the one who did the little flirty purr, which I wasn't expecting either," he teased her lightly.