Chapter Text
Saturday, October 16 (Part 2)
“You managed to capture her expression rather eloquently,” Silco drawls. “However, you failed to include her dimples.”
“Well yeah. But you don’t really see them unless she’s like, really smiling and stuff.”
He noticed your dimples? Well of course he did, he notices everything. But the fact that he noticed noticed them is another conversation entirely.
You’re feeling quite pleased with life. Nothing can bring you down, not since your imagination has decided to go down a bunny trail theorizing what else he’s noticed about you (maybe the mischievous twinkle in your eye that obviously shines when you tell a sly joke). It's a banshee scream that jars you from your pleasant delusions. Jinx whips out her phone and looks at the caller ID. A smile appears for a moment before she bites her lip. She's wearing a conflicted expression as she side-eyes her father, and you catch a glimpse of a familiar picture – Jinx’s face pressed up against Ekko’s – before she hides the screen against her leg.
“I’ll be right back, I have to take this call.”
Silco nods absently, and she bounds away with ill-disguised anticipation.
“It’s the boy, isn’t it?”
You don’t answer, which you know is answer enough.
He sighs. “I fear my daughter has inherited my disposition for keeping secrets.”
“I think she’s afraid you won’t approve.”
“I don’t approve.”
“Then you can’t really blame her for sneaking around.”
“It’s not that I wish to dislike Ekko, but he and his parading band of do-gooders have caused me several major headaches in the past year.”
“Maybe that’s part of his appeal.”
He gives you a bleak look. “That he’s a perennial thorn in my side?”
You shake your head. “No. I think she likes that he stands up to you. I mean, a boy who can look you in the eye and not back down has guts.”
“Or foolish arrogance.”
You grin, “Maybe. But have you tried to figure out which one it is yet?”
“I have an entire file on my computer dedicated to Ekko, so yes, I’d say so.”
"And?"
"I still haven't landed on a favorable answer."
“Well, what if you tried to look at him as a boy your daughter likes? Seems like Jinx is determined to have him in her life whether you like it or not. You don’t have to welcome him with open arms, but… well, it’s like they say. Keep your friends close and enemies closer, right?”
He smirks. “You’re beginning to sound somewhat mercenary.”
“You must be rubbing off on me.”
“Good. You could use more mettle to temper your flowered view of the world.”
“And you could use a few more flowers in yours.”
He smiles at that.
“Just think about it. Not only will you have an excuse to keep a closer eye on Ekko, but the more time he spends with Jinx, the fewer headaches you’ll have. You’re killing two birds with one stone.”
“You're assuming that Jinx won’t simply join him in his escapades.”
“Good point. I’m already picking up on your bad habits, so it’s fair to assume she’ll pick up on his.”
“Little minx,” He scoffs, but the smile in his voice is unmistakable.
“He and Jinx will have to go on a normal date eventually.”
“True. I have recently begun rearranging my schedule in order to condense my pockets of free time. So far I have only come up with the odd hour or so on the weekends.”
The sudden swing in conversation to himself after mentioning dates makes your heart dance.
You try to play it cool, and not read into it too much.
Please Lord, please...
“Well you're a very busy man."
He hems.
"So... What are you going to use those hours for? Training?”
“No. I was hoping to use that time for something far more pleasant than business.”
He has the audacity to run a finger along your painted counterpart’s face, tracing the fly-away hairs at her cheek. Your heart kickstarts, and for stupid (and obvious) reasons, you flush.
“This month’s schedule is rather inflexible. I’m afraid we won’t be able to spend much time together outside of work, so long as you’re content to sit around in various offices. Most of them are reasonably comfortable.”
You stare at him in silence, your brain gears grinding.
What’s he saying? Is he saying what you think he’s saying? Or is he just saying what you hope he’s saying?
He clears his throat. “It's just a thought.”
“No, yeah, it’s a good thought!” You hasten to assure him, and his shoulders relax. “I mean, I would really like that.”
“And it would be more convenient if we were to share the same space as you complete the tasks I assign to you. That way I can be present to answer any questions you may have.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“It’s a temporary solution at least. I know it’s not entirely ideal….”
“It’s fine, honestly. I don’t care what I’m doing, so long as I’m with you.”
He looks momentarily taken aback, then after a beat his head dips, and his good eye searches your face. Butterflies box madly in your stomach as you stare back.
“I was right,” He murmurs. "You are dangerous."
"That's debatable."
"I'd be happy to debate it with you any time."
"Okay. Pick the date and time, and I'll be there."
He chuckles softly, revealing a brief flash of teeth before it closes into a small, crooked smile.
For once the lines around his eyes are from a smile instead of a frown, and you’d like to believe you're one of the few people in the world who can wipe away his world weariness. Anyway, you wouldn’t mind making him smile like this for a few more hours.
Or maybe forever.
“There you are darling!”
Silco straightens up slowly. The softness of his features are immediately wiped away, replaced by a polite, professional veneer.
You’re not so good at pulling yourself back together. You feel light headed, and suddenly very hot.
You hope your grin doesn’t look too strained as you turn to say hello. “Hey mom! Enjoying the exhibition?”
“I am. And it’s certainly proving to be an eye-opening experience.”
Her sharp smile skewers you.
“You must be Leslie,” Silco says smoothly, extending a hand.
She takes it and gives it a firm squeeze. “And you’re Silco. Hope I wasn’t interrupting anything?”
“Nothing that won’t keep for another day. We were simply discussing our plans for the week.”
“Hmm. You have a habit of monopolizing my daughter’s time outside of work hours.”
“As a matter of fact, we weren’t speaking of business,” He answers. “But of pleasure."
Your eyes and mouth widen as your eyes dart between his calm, collected demeanor and your mom's ever narrowing eyes.
Silco continues, pleasantly. "As a career woman yourself, I'm sure you can understand the necessity of keeping one's inner circle small and carefully selected. I don’t have a lot of spare time, but when I do I prefer to spend it with those who are most important to me. ”
The warmth from that statement settles in slowly.
Holy cow.
Silco just told your mother you were important to him. Most important to him.
You aren’t sure what to do with yourself. Maybe put your face in your hands and squeal like a little girl. Instead you clasp your hands in front of you and maintain what you hope is an outward expression of demure appreciation.
Inside, you’re definitely squealing like a little girl.
“I can’t blame you for wanting to keep good company.” Your mom says at last, rather grudgingly.
Hope rears its glorious head. It’s not a concession, but she didn’t shoot him down point blank. That’s more than you could have asked for.
Eventually she drops out of the staring contest to look at you.
“Your sister called. She said your phone went straight to voicemail.”
It takes a moment for her words to register, then another few for your brain to process the words and put them into action. You dig around in your purse with clumsy hands. “I didn’t hear it ring, but … oh. It’s dead again.”
“That occurs quite frequently, I believe.”
“Yes,” You answer Silco, still flustering under your mom’s watchful gaze. “I was going to buy another one after I… well, soon.”
“Hmm.”
Now you’re being watched closely by both of them. Sweat breaks out across your neck.
“What does Allie want?”
“She said her GPS is spotty, and wanted to confirm the address with you.”
“Okay. Well I’ve got the directions right here. Can I borrow your phone? I’ll just pop outside real quick and uh… make sure she isn’t lost in a bog or something.”
You laugh nervously.
“There’s a balcony just through there,” Silco gestures to an unobtrusive door on the other side of the desk. “I’ve used it many times to take calls.”
You nod, walking away somewhat reluctantly from what’s sure to be a highly charged, thinly veiled conversation. Your mom will probably play the not-so-subtle interrogation routine, which she's employed on all of the boyfriends Allie bothered to bring around. But she has to know Silco’s too clever for her psychological traps, so maybe she’ll try the straight shooting card.
Silco also might have a thing or two up his sleeve, since he chose to reveal his hand so early in the game.
You're buzzy all over just thinking about it.
Well, whatever cards he plays better be good, because your mom's not going to let up until she’s positive he isn’t going to be Jeremiah 2.0.
You slip out onto the chilly balcony – which is little more than a narrow sheet of metal connected to a fire escape – and dial your sister.
Oh what you wouldn’t give to be your armor-wearing painted counterpart right now, snooping.
“Finally!” Allie says impatiently.
“Sorry, my phone died.”
“Again?”
“Yeah.”
“You really need a new phone.”
“I know. So where are you exactly?”
“On an abandoned road next to a dark and creepy forest with a quarter tank of gas.”
She’s panicking, you can hear it in your voice.
You take great pains to keep your voice calm. “Still got that Thomas Guide under your seat?”
“Right now it’s in my lap being useless.”
“Passed any street signs recently?”
“Something basic like ‘Hill Street’ or ‘Vine’.”
“Okay. Let’s see what the directions say…”
You take out the crumpled paper, and it’s a painstaking couple of minutes trying to discover Allie's current location. After several arguments, petty name callings, and more than a few dropped calls, she finds the right road and is on her way in the right direction.
“Thanks pal,” She says with relief. “Now you have to stay on the phone with me until I get there.”
“Well that’s going to be a little difficult.”
“Why? Because Silco’s there? I should remind you that men are temporary, sisters are forever.”
You roll your eyes and lean against the railing. “No, I just mean the cell service."
“Right, okay. But he is there, isn't he? Did he talk to you?”
“He did, but he’s talking to mom now, believe it or not.”
“Woah! Okay, I need to hear about this asap! Did he… ? Yo … Silc – !”
The call drops.
You briefly consider heading back inside, tempted by thoughts of eavesdropping on Silco and your mother, but immediately discard it when the phone begins to ring.
“Okay so talk to me. What did he say to you? What did you say to him? What did mom say to him and him say to mom?”
“He invited me to come study with him. I guess his schedule’s pretty tight until November. But uh… he told mom I was important to him.”
“He told mom you were important?”
“Yep.”
“And what did she say?”
“She said she couldn’t blame him for having good taste.”
“Classic mom.”
“Yeah.”
“Wow. I can’t believe you have a real sugar daddy.”
“He’s totally going to buy me a yacht.”
“Seriously?!”
“No not seriously!” You laugh, and you turn as light and music intrude upon your solitude.
The groan of aged metal shuts both away, revealing Silco. Your stomach flutters as you straighten up, but he lifts a hand, revealing a cigar. He paces to the other side of the landing as he lights it.
“Hello? Sis?”
“Hey, yeah, sorry," You stammer. "What did you say?”
“Did I cut out?”
“Uh…” You eye Silco lounging against the railing. “Yep. You’re going to have to repeat everything you just said.”
“I said what happens next for you guys?”
“I don’t know. We’ll probably just play it by ear.”
“What about dates and hangouts?”
“Probably not a lot this month, but in November there’ll be more time to actually plan stuff.”
“Gosh, I can’t even begin to imagine what kinds of places Silco is going to take you for dates. Are we talking super exclusive clubs or like, cheap dive diners?”
“I don’t know.”
“Geez you’re being awfully unhelpful right now. Wait, Silco’s there isn’t he?”
“Yep.”
“Then what are you doing talking to me?”
“You asked me to stay on the line.”
“Yeah but that was before you were ‘important’ to him! Now get! But don’t forget to meet me in the parking lot. I’ll probably be there in like, ten, fifteen minutes.”
“Okay, sounds good. Love you.”
“Love you bye!”
You slip the phone into your bag, and let a few second pass as you observe Silco out of the corner of your eye. He seems relaxed, leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed, sucking on his cigar. You can't really read how he's feeling.
“So um... how was it? With my mom?"
His face is revealed by the faintly smoldering tip of his cigar. "Most illuminating."
"Who won the battle of wits?” You ask lightly.
“It was a stalemate. Though in truth she would have derailed me had she not been using tactics similarly employed by Jinx. I give your mother credit for her adaptability.”
“She’s a psychologist. She knows how to style-step during delicate situations.”
“Now who does that remind me of?” He releases a steady stream of smoke before smiling faintly.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree I guess."
“Yes. Though you are rather more diplomatic than your mother."
"It's a survival tactic."
"Which works out in your favor. And mine," He heaves a sigh as he presses the tip of his cigar into the railing. "It will be a relief to have you nearby to offer advice for my daughter, when I’m at a loss.”
He meanders closer, and you automatically take a few steps to meet him.
“I think you’ve been doing really well on your own.”
“Well enough, but you have reminded me time and again how little I understand a female frame of thinking. Sevika has been a poor example in that regard.”
You laugh. “I’ll bet. Well, I’ll do my best to help in any way I can.”
“I know you will. It's one of your many assets.”
You meet him halfway across the landing and lean back against the rail. He puts one hand on it as he stares out into the darkness.
Jinx.
You wonder what she’ll think about your relationship with her father. Being friends with her is one thing, but trying to fill the role of mother figure is another. You’re not sure you can do it. Like Jinx pointed out, you’re only old enough to be like a sister. Sister, though, is something you’re already pretty good at.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“Jinx. What’s she going to think? About, well –”
“Us?”
As he continues to gaze out into the night, you savor his use of the word.
There’s an Us.
Maybe in your wildest dreams did you think it would actually happen. It’s like a fairytale, or a six-episode Marvel spin off show set in an alternate reality.
There’s an us!
You feel like you’re glowing.
At last he smiles. “I imagine she’ll throw a party. I'm sure it hasn't escaped your notice that the girl has all but begged you to take me off her hands since you arrived in our lives.”
You cross your arms. “Yeah, but that was just teasing. Theory always looks better than reality.”
He turns his steady gaze on you. “My daughter is double-minded about many things, but when it comes to family she has particular ideas about who is allowed to stay in our innermost circle. She chose you, and she won’t change her mind about it simply because our situation has... developed further."
You're quiet for a moment. “I was worried my mom wouldn’t like me going out with you."
"Why?"
"Because you’re..."
"Old?"
"My boss.”
"She did refer frequently to the unorthodoxy of our relationship. I did my best to assure her of my good intentions, though I'm not certain she trusts my word."
"Give her enough time, and she'll come around."
"Time certainly reveals all truths."
He frowns, and you wish you could wipe the lines away.
“You know, I don't think I ever thanked you for lending me that dress. Or the jewelry. They were beautiful.”
"You chose to wear only the earrings, I believe."
"Yes. I appreciated your generosity, but it felt too... I don't know. I didn't feel right wearing anything else. I'm a pretty simple girl."
"What you chose suited you. In truth, there was no need to further to gild the lily."
You dip your head at the compliment. "I brought them with me tonight, so I could give them back. They're in my car."
He waves a tired hand. "Keep them and do with them as you will. Many of them were once gifts intended for Jinx, but she, like you, shuns such finery in favor of personal expression.”
You bite your lip.
"What?"
“It’s kind of funny. You’re the richest man in Zaun, and you can’t use any of your money to impress the women in your life.”
“The irony is not lost upon me.”
His expression is so bleak that you have to laugh. “At least you still have your good looks.”
“You're treading on very thin ice.”
“I’m not kidding! I think you’re very handsome.”
He stares into the trees. “I know what I am.”
Your heart squeezes as you take in his rigid profile. You long to throw your arms around him, but don't quite have the courage.
“You don’t have to agree with me about it, but I hope you’ll trust me.”
“I do trust you.”
“Then trust me about this," You say earnestly. "When I say I like your face, I’m not lying. And you would know, because I’m a terrible liar.”
”You are.”
"I know I am."
He swallows convulsively, returning your smile with a small one of his own before returning to his perusal of the forest.
You follow his line of sight, breathing in deep.
Cool, loamy earth fill your senses, along with the ghost of Silco's cigar smoke. There are no windows on this side of the factory, and the trees are tall enough to block out all but the faintest slivers of moonlight. Your eyes adjust slowly to the darkness until you can trace the shadows to the river, where the torpid, muddy waters have been transformed into a silvering ribbon.
Ever so slowly you tune into the ambiance of the forest. The music is muffled by the sheer mass of the building, allowing a serenade of crickets and toads to reach you on the balcony. Their song is unbroken, save for an occasional, mysterious creak or snap of a branch. Somewhere from the woods comes a mournful hoot of an owl.
It’s a perfect Halloween night.
“I have a request to make of you.” Silco says quietly.
“Hmm?”
“I hope that you will be sure to keep your mother updated as to our situation.”
“Sure but… why?”
“She claimed that if I failed to take care of you, there would be no place I could hide.”
You stifle a smile.
“She also may have mentioned something about a shovel."
This time a laugh does escape. “I’m sorry, my mom can be a little intense sometimes.”
“Something which I understand perfectly.”
He kisses you once on the temple, radiating warm tingles down the side of your face. He then slips an arm around your waist. You're still processing your incandescent happiness as you lay your head against his shoulder with a sigh.
You were wrong, before. Now it's the perfect Halloween night.
And it might actually be the most perfect night of your life.