Silco x Reader

Forty-Two

It was already the middle of the night as you couldn't sit still any longer and decided to check on Silco once again.

Just to be sure, you told yourself over and over again.

But deep down inside it wasn't the entire truth. You wished to see him, touch his face and make sure that he was still there, in reach. Somehow, the possibility of him not being in reach in the future, made you feel restless.

For what felt like the thousandth time that evening, you opened your eyes to stare at the ceiling.

Above you, you could hear footsteps. Silco's footsteps.

He was just as restless as you, but surprisingly, one could see it more clearly in his behaviour. He walked around his office like a lion in its cage, talking to himself, always letting his hands stroke through his hair.

If he continued to do so he would be bald soon.

This nervous behaviour was going on for hours now, making everybody in the last drop notice that something was off.

It was only a matter of time until they would start to turn on him.

With the pillow pulled over your head, you tried to shut out the sounds.

But there was still this feeling, this desire keeping you in a chokehold. Your body longed for his presence. You didn't know why, but the thought of Silco being in the room with you calmed your upset nerves.

Squeezing your eyes shut, you sighed heavily and jumped out of bed. There was no point in denying anything.

Eventually you would end up back at his office anyway, whether because of the treatment or because of your strange affection for him made no difference.

You didn't knock.

Silco was in such a tense state of mind that he would have ignored it anyways.

When you entered the room, he only briefly looked over his shoulder, completely uninterested. He had already recognized your footsteps on the stairs and did not worry that someone unwanted might disturb him.

With a grim look he took a deep breath from his cigar.

The cloud of smoke enveloped his body like a cloak. Gray mixed with the pale tone of his skin and made him glow.

It seemed like he was a ghost, a mere product of your sleepless mind.

With tired eyes you looked at him.

Your eyes met. It was strange, but as soon as his eyes found yours, the tension in your body lightened.

And he seemed to feel the same way. He stopped running around in circles and his shoulders relaxed. Again he took a deep breath.

The glow was the only thing that filled the dark room with warmth.

As you approached, Silco took a last deep breath and put out the cigar in the painted ashtray.

"You're still awake.", he noted, leaning against the edge of his table. "Trouble falling asleep?"

You nodded, barely really awake, and stepped closer to him.

He followed your movements without a reaction, but his posture told you he was waiting for something.

"You should go to bed.", the way you said it sounded more like a request than a suggestion.

Closing his eyes, he shook his head.

"I can't sleep any more than you can.", he gave you a mild smirk.

Suddenly he seemed to soften. The last strength drained from his eyes and all that remained was exhaustion.

Sighing, he let himself slump forward. His head bumped against yours.

Surprised by the gesture, you raised your arms and took his face in both hands. Gently your thumbs stroked his skin.

He wore no makeup over his scars. The damage was even more visible in the darkness.

Under the dead flesh, which was already slowly turning gray, a pink layer still shimmered. The deeper tissue was therefore not yet affected.

A soft sigh left his lips as he closed his eye and pressed into your touch.

"We need a solution.", he murmured, his lips dangerously close to your neck. "Quickly."

You swallowed hard, trying to calm your heart.

"I have a solution.", you said, slowly beginning to stroke through his dark hair.

The touch made him sigh softly.

"I don't like this solution.", he said and took your hands in his. "I still need you."

Laughing softly, you nodded.

"I will finish the medicine before Finn and Renni cause problems.", you assured. "But they will demand their justice."

"I will find another way."

"Silco.", without thinking, you pressed a kiss on his temple. "They will kill me because they know that you need me in some way. If I die they can take your cure. And if they don't kill me, they'll try it on you. They know I'm a doctor and they sense that you're weak."

"They think I am.", he growled.

"You are. Let's be realistic Silco, without this medicine your mind and body is weak. It's tortured by pain, slowly killing you. We still don't know how much time you have. If they can't get rid of you now, they'll wait. Weeks, months, maybe years. But your body will eventually be your own death. They know that."

He had to take a deep breath.

"Then I will wage war.", he said, pressing a kiss to the back of your hand.

"All this for a simple medicine?"

He shook his head. His hands sank to wrap around your hips and pull you closer.

As if by reflex, your hands rested on his chest.

"The medicine was necessary to keep me alive.", he said, his forehead pressed against yours. "But I always have use for a doctor. I appreciate good people. But... maybe I just got weak. Just this once."

As his words reached your ears, you couldn't help but let out a soft gasp. It sounded unmistakable, but yet you feared to think too full of yourself.

Your heart was beating wildly in your chest as you leaned towards him and decided to do something stupid.

Your lips touched his, softly, almost not recognisable. His lips were surprisingly soft, not at all dry or broken.

At first, he did not react. His hands were still resting on your hips.

Taking a shivering breath, you leaned back.

Your eyes locked.