A/N: I had this idea swirling in my head for a while now, so I thought I'd put it down and see what you guys think of it. It's a one shot, but I think it has the potential to become a longer story. If you have some ideas of your own I'd love to hear them ^^
Disclaimer: I don't own Repo! The Genetic Opera, nor any of the characters (unfortunately)
It was a couple of hours after dusk had set in. The alleys were only lighted with some laterns that were scattered around. The Graverobber was making his way to his regular spot, where the junkies and surgery sluts were no doubt already waiting. There was a Zydrate support group meeting going on tonight, so that meant a good night with lots of 'costumers'. And that meant a fancy breakfast in the morning.
While he was selling his goods, he hadn't noticed a small figure with spiky hair sitting on top of a dumpster. She was studying the man with a slight smile on her face. In the 3 years that past, he had barely changed thing. She noticed he had gotten new boots and that his dreads had different colours, but other than that he was exactly the same. It took a while for him to finish up business, but she didn't mind. She was having fun just watching him, he was still entertaining to look at. She lit a cigarette to pass the time. She smoked slowly, while she watched him reeling in costumers.
It was a busy night for the Graverobber. To his satisfaction he noticed that every week more and more addicts joined the ranks. Business was going really well, for him anyways. Most Z peddlers were having trouble getting the stuff. They were youngsters who didn't know their ass from an elbow pad. But there were also a few who were apparently rivalling him. He heard of one, a woman who called herself Low, who had started two and a half years ago and had grown to be quite successful. She worked at the other side of the city. He had wondered who this woman was. He couldn't find anyone who knew who she really was or where she had come from. He didn't find that surprising, since most of the people who had seen her were just addicts looking for a fix.
The hours had passed fast. Dawn was already coming, when most of the junkies had split. He was busy putting his equipment away, when the Graverobber noticed a slender figure watching him. He looked up at her and scanned her body. He didn't know who she was, but she did have something familiar over her. He racked his brain, but nothing came out of it.
The young woman grinned amused. She let herself slide off the dumpster. "Looking good Graverobber. Long time, no see."
"You know me..." the man stated, his eyes becoming slits. He circled her, looking her up and down. He would've known if they had ever shared a bed. She looked very attractive, but she didn't have that strung out look. So she wasn't a addict he had shared a bed with.
The woman gasped in mock horror. "You don't remember me. I feel hurt." Her face changed back into a smile. "I will introduce myself. Something you neglected the first time we met." She said pointedly.
"Oh?" He seemed sceptical. He -always- introduced himself. He was a gentleman after all. Well... some of the time anyway.
"My name is Low," she started and saw his eyes light up with recognition, "But you always called me kid."
"Shilo?" he spluttered, "You grew up kid! Look at you. All woman." He appreciated her figure. She had changed from a scrawny little girl to an attractive lady. She clothes she wore accented her slim body. The black leather trench coat, tight jeans and knee length boots suited her well. She had come out of her sick state and grown into womanhood.
"3 years can change a lot," Shilo simply stated, twirling her slim fingers into her hair.
"I'll say, I really didn't recognise you."
She smiled, "That's good. It means no one will tie me to that god awful event."
The god awful was of course the Opera, where she had lost both her father and her godmother. The Graverobber remembered that day very clearly. He had spend some time looking for her afterwards. He had given up pretty soon. She apparently didn't want to be found.
"So how did you get into the game?" They were sitting in a sleazy diner, digging into stacks of syrupy pancakes, eggs and bacon.
She was stuffing her face with all three at the same time. He looked a bit disgusted at this display. But she didn't care. She was never allowed to eat like a pig. But now she was going to do it, everyday for the rest of her life. When she had swallowed, she answered: "Needed money, ran into some peddlers. Not all of them nice, not all of them very intelligent. And when you've been screwed over as much as I have been, you learn fast."
He nodded in agreement. He had been there, before he became successful. He noticed her studying him.
"What are you looking at, kid?" The Graverobber asked.
"You know," she said slowly, "I always had a thing for you?"
He smirked, "Really? Wouldn't have thought."
"Well, you were one of the first, besides my father, I had an actual connection with. And besides that, you're quite crazy. I loooove the crazy," Shilo grinned. He shook his head, chuckling to himself.
~~~~~~
About an hour later they were walking in the bright sunlight. Shilo thought it was around noon by now. They walked in silence most of the way. But the Graverobber still had one question burning in his mind. "Why did you come to visit me?"
"Because you're hot," she replied dryly. He raised his eyebrows. "And because I have a proposal."
"A proposal?" He was saying the words thoughtfully, like he was trying to taste the words.
She nodded. "I have enough sources to get my Z from, but it's getting more and more dangerous, since crazy Amber upped the guards roaming the grave yards. I need a steady source, because otherwise it's bad for business. So I was thinking maybe we could arrange an exchange. I have a very big client base. I know you have your wacky escapism skills-"
"Wacky escapism skills?"
"You're agile, whatever," she said impatiently, annoyed that he cut off her story. The Graverobber noticed and smiled to himself. "Continue."
"You're agile," Shilo repeated, "So that got me thinking. If you get me the stuff, I will split my earnings with you."
He was all ears. "How much?"
"40/60. I take the 40, you take the 60, because you go through more trouble than I do."
"And why would you think I would go into that business arrangement with you?"
They had just turned into an alley where the sun never visited. Her pale skin seemed to light up, strangely enough.
"Because you like me and you find me attractive," She replied shyly. He was aghast.
"I don't think attraction should play a part in our business deal." The Graverobber replied seriously. She was right of course, but it ishouldn't/i be a reason to go into business with someone.
"Why not?" She got closer and closer.
"Because seduction should only be used in sales pitches, " He said backing away.
She smirked and licked her lips, "What is it, that you think I'm doing now?"
He had no words, but he tried to get away from her. Not that he disliked her now. He was impressed with her. It explained how she had become so successful. But he didn't want to be seduced into a deal. Either come up with a good argument, or get lost.
Suddenly he struck something hard. It was a wall. Shit.
Shilo softly pressed her body against his.
"Come on Graverobber. You used to help me out all the time. Why not now?" she said in a low husky voice that send shivers down his spine.
Indeed, why not now? It was a good deal. Yes, his ass would be on the line, but it was already anyway. And like the kid explained, he had wacky escapism skills.
Suddenly he grabbed her firmly by the arms and pushed her up against the wall with a swift turn. Now he had the upper hand. He was towering over her, while he kept her pinned down.. She seemed more amused than shocked. The Graverobber actually found that rather enjoyable. He smirked, looking down on her body. She was really damn fine looking.
"Alright..." he said in his low voice, "We have a deal. But no funny tricks."
Shilo put on an innocent pout. "Would you really think that of me?"
He suppressed the urge to bite that lip. No one had gotten to him like that in a really long time. "I just might," he growled, "I heard what you're capable of."
She smiled cheekily at the memories, "Oh yeah... But those people were a lot more stupid and my lively hood didn't depend on it."
He arched an eye brow. "Oh really?" He knew the stories. No one could accuse the Graverobber of being badly informed.
Shilo shrugged, "Maybe once or twice it did, but I got on my feet well enough."
He smirked. She had changed from a scared little bird into a confident woman. All that innocence she had once possessed was all gone. But she seemed to have at least some standards, which made him respect her. Slowly and slightly reluctantly, he let go of her.
She checked her watch. "Shit... I gotto go. Sleep waits for no man. Tonight is another working night, especially since last night I didn't work at all."
He watched her as she skidded out of the alley. Then she turned around and said, "When are you going scavenging for Z?"
"Tomorrow," the Graverobber replied. She nodded slowly, "See you tomorrow then. Great working to be with you."
He wasn't so sure of that.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the story. Let me know what you guys think ^^
