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You hate it when it rains. Water floods the streets, raindrops patter on roofs and splash onto the ground below. The rain soaks through everything — your clothes, your boots, chilling you to the bone. Usually, you would try and be under shelter when it rained, but today the rain caught you out in the open, leaving you a shivering wet mess.
"Stupid rain," you mutter, kicking a nearby pebble. Water drips off your hood into your eyes and you wipe it away, leaving a wet trail from your eyes to your cheek. A sliver of rain drips into your mouth and you make a face, the water tastes terrible. You spit into the river and pick up the pace, eager to get to The Last Drop for a drink to wash your mouth.
People hurriedly rush past you, splashing water all over. More cold rain soaks your boots and you swear, pulling your drenched coat around you tighter. Merchants holler at others to give way, their carts barreling down the streets and kicking up even more water as wheels crash into puddles. You move out of the way as a wave of water leaps at you, bumping into someone else in the process.
"Watch where you're going!" The person snaps, shoving you angrily with their shoulder. You stumble, shooting them a glare before continuing your journey back to the warmth and dryness of The Last Drop. A warm glass of wine sounds good right about now, and maybe some whisky to add to the fire in your stomach.
A sneeze builds in your nose but you quickly force it down, pushing against the flow of the crowd to get home. The now drenched bag of vegetables you had managed to snag from a bunch of snobbish Piltovians presses against your chest, a spot of chill in your otherwise still rather warm body. You hope none of the vegetables are ruined by the rain, Felicia would be sad but she wouldn't blame you, neither would the two brothers either.
Sighing, you try to cover the bag as much as you can. The only good thing this rain does is wash away the smell of smoke, and well you suppose it clears away some of the polluted air, although it's quite hard to tell since you've been breathing that air since you were born.
You duck and weave amongst the crowd, finally reaching the last stretch of your journey where there's space to move around since merchants don't frequent here. With a sigh, you close your eyes, letting the rain fall on you. Without the noise of the market, it's serene, tranquil even, a sensation that's rare in the Undercity. You can see the lights of The Last Drop, a warmth beckoning you over and smile. You're almost there.
"Whatcha got there, little snack?" Someone blocks your path.
"A middle finger, now get out of my way," you snap back, rudely gesturing at the figure. The rain only makes you more irritable, you're cold, hungry, and someone purposely getting in your way is the last thing on your bucket list right now. Your mind doesn't even register how large the figure is compared to you, or that the size of his palm could probably fit around your throat and snap it with little to no effort until said palm reaches out and curls around your neck.
"Do I have to teach you some manners?" The figure sneers, lifting you with ease. Your precious bag of vegetables fall to the wet ground with a sad plop as you gasp for air, legs kicking. Your nails dig into the flesh of his arm, leaving scratches behind but black spots are already starting to appear in your vision. Each kick and scratch is getting weaker, but you still muster the energy to spit in his face and wheeze out a last insult.
"Anyone — ever — taught you — how — to — say please?" The grip on your throat tightens and the figure snarls in anger, but his face contorts into one of pain and suddenly you're falling to the ground, hitting it with a splash.
You cough, a hand pressed to your chest as your lungs heave, inhaling as much air as they can. The smell of iron is starting to fill the air, courtesy of your saviour. A smaller and more lithe figure dashes towards you, bundling you in a thicker coat.
"What are you doing out in this weather?" A familiar voice snaps. Amidst the raindrops blurring your vision, you can make out sea foam coloured eyes narrowed in a mixture of annoyance and concern which makes you choke out a laugh.
"Taking a shower." Apparently, it's not as funny to him as it is to you because he scowls even harder and pulls you to your feet. Slinging your arm over his shoulder, he bends down to pick up the now very drenched bag of vegetables you had so carefully tried to protect and begins helping you back to The Last Drop.
"This is a miserable shower you're taking," he mutters and you grin back at him.
"It's free." You snigger and Silco lightly smacks you on the head.
"Then maybe I should just leave you out here to take your free shower." He promptly drops you ungraciously into the nearest puddle.
"Wait! No! I want to go back!" You yelp, scrambling to your feet. He simply walks faster and you lunge at him, tackling him to the ground. He lets out a shout as his clothes get drenched while you laugh, straddling him. "If I'm taking a free shower you're taking one too!"
"I never asked for one!" He splutters, quickly moving the bag of vegetables out of harm's way before throwing you off and sitting up. He shakes the water out of his eyes, slicking his hair backwards and glares at you. The puddles reflect the neon lights behind him, framing him in a soft neon glow and leaves you gaping.
"You're not catching any flies like that," he mutters, splashing water in your face. The sudden chill snaps you out of your stupor and you feel your cheeks heat up. You quickly look away, half-heartedly splashing water back in his face.
"I'd prefer to catch someone instead," you mumble to yourself, shivering. Your antics have only served to further drench you, and now the thicker coat Silco had wrapped you in is soaked as well.
"Are the two of you done flirting or should I just leave you both to it?" Felicia stands at the doorway of The Last Drop, arms folded across her chest.
"We're not flirting!"
"As if I'd ever flirt with them!"
Felicia snorts from the shelter of the bar and Vander peers over her shoulder, curious, before smiling and heads back inside.
"Well, once the both of you have had enough of playing in the rain, get back inside and shower while Vander and I prepare dinner." She gives an annoyed huff.
"Wait! The bag! Vegetables!" You flail your hands at Silco, gesturing towards the bag that sat on the wet ground. "Are they alright?"
"They would have been more alright if someone hadn't pushed me into a puddle." Silco bends over to pick the bag up, checking its contents. "Hmm they look alright."
"Vegetables? So that's what you were up to this morning? Bring them in, I'll use them for tonight's dinner." Felicia grins. "Oh but don't you dare set a foot anywhere near the counter, I just cleaned the area."
"Dibs on the shower!" You run towards the door, eager to get away from the cold of the rain and into the warmth of the bar but Silco shoves you aside with his shoulder, glowering at you.
"You? I should be the one showering first! You pushed me into the puddle!"
"You're too slow!"
"Me? Slow? Who's the one who takes forever in the shower because they're just stoning there?"
"As if you don't stone!"
"Not if I'm holding up the queue!"
"Maybe they should just take the shower together," Vander hums.
"No!" The both of you chorus together, causing Felicia to giggle.
"They do indeed argue like a married couple."
"We do not!" You glower at Silco, who glowers back and you flip him off again. He rolls his eyes, taking the opportunity to duck into the corridor that leads to the shower and leaves you momentarily confused, until you realise that he's going to be able to shower first whilst you shiver in your soaked clothes that cling to you like second skin.
"Silcooooo!"