Work Text:
The moonlight filtered down from topside through the always-lingering haze, seeking its way down to the window of the Last Drop, bathing the hard floor of the attached bedroom in a soft glow.
The Eye of Zaun, head chembaron and man leading the uprising of the nation of Zaun, lay unprotected in his bed. A soft blanket draped over his body comfortably, his good eye closed and the other, holding that eerie red glow, staring unseeing at the ceiling. One leg was lifted, tenting the cover up around it.
The door to Silco’s bedroom creaked open and in slunk a small girl. Bright blue hair, carrying only her stuffed rabbit, which she had a death grip on.
“...Silco?” she called in a quiet tone, rousing the man. He jerked upward (always on edge, after Vander’s betrayal), his gaze immediately landing on her. He frowned and glanced behind her at the open door. “Jinx, what are you doing here? You have your own room.”
She hunched her shoulders, her already small form looking even smaller. “I know. I’m sorry.” She bounced on her feet anxiously and, noticing the shine underneath her eyes, Silco squinted at her. She was tearing up.
He puffed a sigh, forcing himself to relax. She was a child. She was in a new place. Probably… afraid. And Silco was the adult she’d decided to attach herself to. So he eased his posture and leaned back against his pillows. “It’s alright,” he offered, holding out his hand.
The door creaked shut as Jinx pushed it.
Then, quickly, she made her way to the bed and hopped up, sitting back on her heels just out of Silco’s reach. She clutched her rabbit to her chest and hid her face. “I- I just saw… stuff. In the corner of the room. It was really dark. And lonely. So I thought, you know, maybe, if you didn’t mind…” she trailed off and began getting that distraght look she always did when she thought of her sister, so Silco leaned up to cradle her hand in his. “Jinx. It’s okay.” His voice was rough with drowsiness. He tugged her with him as he leaned back again and she followed, slipping under the covers directly beside him.
He hummed and turned toward her, cradling the girl against his body as he’d done only a couple weeks ago when he’d first found her. His hand gently pressed into her shoulder blades.
She burrowed closer, letting out shaky breaths. She was just barely fighting back tears.
Silco thought and decided to reach back, over the side of the bed, and grab an extra blanket. He tucked it around Jinx, ensuring she was warm and comfortable. That settled her a bit more. He took a pillow and gently stuffed it behind her back so that she would feel secure from all sides. He was at her front, the pillow was secure against her back.
“There. Better, hm? Now sleep,” Silco urged, resting his arm over her small body and closing his good eye again.
Jinx sniffled again and nodded under his jaw.
After a minute, she shifted. Then shifted again. She wrapped an arm around him and dug her fingers into his pajama top. He felt her head moving onto his chest.
Silco cleared his throat and she stopped, but he could feel her muscles tense.
To calm her again, he ducked his head and gently pecked her forehead. Then he tucked her face under his jaw (despite the discomfort of someone else touching his neck) and began singing in a gentle, sleepy, gruff tone.
Dear friend across the river
My hands are cold and bare
Dear friend across the river
I'll take what you can spare
I ask of you a penny
My fortune, it will be
I ask you without envy
We raise no mighty towers
Our homes are built of stone
So come across the river
And find the world below
The melody, familiar to most children in the undercity, soothed Jinx a great deal. She relaxed against him and her eyes closed, her death grip on her bunny relenting just a bit. Silco continued humming softly, his voice deep and subdued.
His fingers carded through her short, clipped hair, softly scratching her scalp. He fell silent again once her breathing had evened out.
He curled one leg around her instinctively; something in Silco knew how to be a parent. Then he let himself drift off with his daughter tucked safely against him.