Silco x Reader

Twenty-Seven

"So, would I put myself into trouble if I asked how you found me?", you asked, glancing at her from the brim of your hood while walking through the streets of Zaun. "Or are you too pissed to talk to me right now?"

Rolling her brown eyes, Sevika took a deep breath of her cigarette and blew it into your face.

The smoke wasn't pleasant but it smelled and tasted far better than the stuff that Silco was smoking.

"You were gone for a day and a half.", she growled, gifting you a cold look. "So much for our agreement that I would buy you a few hours."

Apologetic, you smiled.

"Sorry, but I ran into some unplanned trouble."

"I could tell..."

"So? How did you find me? I'd say I was quite careful to not leave traces."

"Let's just say Silco has his ears and eyes everywhere.", she shrugged, flashing the hint of an amused smile. "It wasn't hard to get some information, seems like everybody around here knows of you. Or your little hospital."

You sighed, smiling, not being able to deny it.

"Many people owe me one. Most of them needed help with their shimmer addiction, but some were regular patients. Broken legs, dislocated shoulders, cuts and bruises and such. Everyone came to me back in the day. Can't do that anymore though, too many fear the violent addicts and I have little to no time to make home visits."

Raising her eyebrows, an impressed expression appeared on her face.

"Sounds like you're one for all the issues. So that's why Silco wanted you so bad. Would have been impossible to make a mistake picking you."

She took another breath of her cigarette, so deep, that the glowing tip turned into a flaming hot red instead of a warm orange.

You had to blush. It wasn't the first time that people complimented your skills, but in the end you found it hard to accept the good words.

You were no studied doctor by no means and most of your knowledge came from practice and many, many failed attempts to safe people.

You sighed heavily at the thought of how many had not made it in the past.

"I wouldn't say Silco wanted me.", you mumbled, pulling your head in to avoid eye contact with people passing through. "If we're fully honest, he had no other choice. I am the only one of my kind down here."

"The only one that does a decent job.", she agreed. "I suppose you know the name Singed?"

You nodded.

"Never met him, but I learned from his paperwork. He was the one who helped with the shimmer, wasn't he?"

"Yeah. He was Silco's business partner, or at least closest to that. He failed to help with... the issue. You're his only option now.", her gaze turned to you, a dark shimmer in her brown eyes. "No matter what you do, Silco will hold onto you. He has no choice."

Frowning, you raised an eyebrow and stopped in the middle of the streets.

"Why are you telling me this?", you asked, tilting your head.

Looking around, Sevika took the last few breaths from her cigarette before throwing the remains to the ground and stepped on them. As she leaned forward she looked even more serious than she did before.

"I'm telling you this because you did a major fuck up.", she murmured. "Renni is officially one of Silco's partners. She provides some materials for the shimmer and half of the factories are hers. If she finds out that you were there to get some shit for Silco, things might get... difficult. However, he will side with you as long as things can be fixed. He needs you, if he wants to accept that or not."

Biting your lips, you pulled a face.

"You're telling me to avoid being reckless.", you said, meeting her eyes. "Again."

She nodded.

"You might be one of the safest people in Zaun right now, but not immortal nor a god. You'll have to face consequences."

You hesitated for a moment. Your eyes wandered through the alley, from the muddy floor to the dirty walls of the buildings and into the air.

"I hate to ask, but what do I have to expect?"

Sevika shrugged.

"Worse case scenario, he'll let me search for the kids and kill some off."

The thought made your heart pull together in fear. But at the same moment there was this arrogance inside of you that was whispering that he had nothing against you in his hand.

The kids were hidden well and most of the patients in the hospital were beyond saving anyways. If things came crumbling down, the only thing that could truly shred you to pieces were the kids deaths.

"Did you... did you already look for them?", you asked, unsure if it was smart to ask.

She hesitated. Her eyes moved up and down, checking the expression on your face to see if there was a hint, something that could have been used against you.

But there was nothing, just plain curiosity.

Sighing, she turned away.

"No.", she answered, honestly but with a hint of relief in her voice at the same time. "He did say something about it being the last option though. He's a patient man, knows that nothing comes flying from the sky. But as you might have been able to tell, he is trying to outrun time. And he's not willing to loose."

A sour grin appeared on your face as you had to swallow a laughter.

"I've heard that he's persistent.", you mumbled, but got distracted by a shop window that displayed some relatively expensive alcohol. "Some say he's like a cockroach, outliving his own death..."

With a quick glance you checked on Sevika.

Your eyes jumped back to the window, spotting a bottle with clear liquid. The bottle alone looked as expensive as a months income, but in that moment it didn't really matter. You had already spent a good amount today, so a few more coins wouldn't make a difference.

"Uh, could you give me a moment?", you asked her with a sweet smile. "I have to... get something... please?"

Raising an eyebrow in a sceptical manner, she eyed you before shrugging.

"Be quick this time!", she demanded and lit another cigarette.