His voice echoed in her ears, a pleased grin spreading across her pale little face.
Starving...
That growled out baritone thrilled her in ways she didn't really understand. Shi had poured on the charm in the basement to make sure he wouldn't leave. For all of her reasons, one thing was consistent.
Graverobber needed to stay in her house by any and all means necessary.
With barely any effort, she pushed the massive fireplace forward, still shocked at her tiny body's new potential. It was exhilarating to know that what she struggled with weeks ago, now barely caused her to blink. She wasn't lying when she said she was stronger than him...
Shi headed to the kitchen, hyper aware of Graverobber storming up behind her. Her heavy boots made no sound on the hardwood floor, his a thunderous cacophony. It was almost painful to her sensitive ears; after being alone for so long, she had become used to silence.
She swept into her kitchen, like the proper Lady of the house. Pots and pans began to appear and disappear in rapid succession, with no rhyme or reason. Ingredients pulled out of the fridge hastily; some met with a nod and smile, others a look of revulsion or frustration before disappearing once more into the large cooler. Spices and herbs were pulled out from a wooden cabinet and drying rack, some of them she had harvested herself that very week.
She always found a sense of peace in a kitchen. Working with her hands to create something solely designed to help another person. It was everything to her; to tend to someone she cared about. And she had never had the chance to before. Shi had nearly forgotten about her unwilling house guest, and with a slow turn she flashed him a guilty smile.
Graverobber was leaned against the door frame of her kitchen, ankles and arms crossed in defiance. His typical pose, coat pulled tight around him as if he was cold. She made a note to turn up the heat, poor guy was probably frozen solid by the looks of him. His face was his neutral smirk, but his eyes were distant as if seeing something only he could witness.
"Get comfortable, Graves. You look like your waiting for my father to storm in any moment with a shotgun and a preacher."
His eyes widened to near saucers, for a moment a crack in his perfect façade. Graverobber looked so exceptionally guilty, she wondered what he could have possibly been thinking. It was strange to her, to see him make such a face. Logic just seemed to fail her, and she didn't like that one bit.
"Kid... unless you really do want me dead at yer feet, stop trying ta give me a heart attack."
Tilting her head to the side, large butcher knife in hand, Shi eyed her hostage. He made no sense. She had performed the proper behaviors to get him to desire her and follow any instructions she gave him. She had his obedience and agreement on her imposing on his life. Though whether you could argue if it was truly imposing when you were in fact prolonging it, was neither here nor there.
And he continued to act strangely. Shi knew that physically she was pleasing to the eye, she possessed a great deal of characteristics men went for in breeding stock. And she knew that he had helped her before, though his reasons for that were still a mystery. True, she liked him. He was different; the very fact that he challenged her perfect logic made him all the more intriguing. It would be a lie to say she did not find him attractive. The tall, muscled build, thick mane of hair, full and generous lips. But it was his eyes and voice that made even her tremble a bit. Ranging from sweet sky blue to storm cloud grey, navy to cobalt and in the right light, the color of his livelihood. The voice was another confusion. Low in timbre, thick and melodic that caused her nerves to tremble with every change in pitch. A traitorous part of her admitted to wanting him, and she felt an iron band of dread weave around her heart.
She shook her head, the default mask of a smile tracing over her racing brain. She would figure this man out. The puzzle would be pieced together and she could go back to her ghosts and her research. She nodded towards the chair, filling her dark eyes with a perfected fake sparkle of mirth.
"And then who'd keep me company all those lonely nights?"
It made her feel cheap, to flirt so wantonly. But it was a necessary evil, and he was not a wretched man. It could have been worse. Had it been one of the Largo boys, she would have claimed her own life by now. No. It had to be him. And she knew that to keep him intrigued, she needed to continue her little game.
Turning back to the food, Shi lost herself in the act of cooking. Before too long a large pot, now full of all manners of ingredients began a steady churn. Focusing, with the tip of her tongue trapped between her teeth and slightly poking through pale pink lips, she deposited batter to the top of what would soon be dinner.
Time passed in companionable silence. It was perfect, and Shi found herself enjoying Graverobber's company immensely. They had had conversations without breathing a single word. An arched eyebrow here, demurely looking away there. A soft scoff under ones breath and a gallant shrug. All of this added up to a camaraderie that took Shi's mind off work completely.
Shilo quickly tugged on a pair of oven mitts, flushing in embarrassment before carefully carrying the large pot to the table. She tried to tuck her hair behind her ears, and blushed again, eyes looking down.
"I..I made beef stew... and dumplings. You... you look like you haven't been eating too much lately so, I figured you might like something warm and filling?"
Her voice was gentle and soft, as she scampered around in the kitchen, grabbing him a bowl, spoon and glass and quickly began to set up his meal. A large glass of juice, and enough food to feed probably three people all set out in front of him. Shilo headed to the fridge, cheeks still stained pink and rummaged around before withdrawing a black opaque bottle with a re-sealable top.
Graverobber didn't seem to notice the change in behavior, eyes closed in bliss at the wonderful scents coming from the little stove. His stomach growled in anticipation and before long he dug into his food with as much grace as he could manage. He ate and drank greedily, letting the silence pass between them for a few minutes before looking up at his kind host and giving her that strange look again.
"Ummm, kid? I can wrap both my hands around yer waist with room ta spare. What's with the liquid diet?"
She had the bottle to her lips, pausing just before taking the first sip. Shilo's eyes grew almost imperceptibly wider, and she gave a nervous chuckle in response.
"I've been sick. Solid food makes me all nauseous and I don't want to deal with that tonight..."
The look he gave her, she definitely could translate. Shilo squirmed in her chair uncomfortable under such scrutiny. After a few long moments and him not giving in, she tosses her hands into the air with a sigh.
"When I feel better, I'll eat something substantial, promise."
He still did not look satisfied, but he nodded slowly, eyes clearly telling her that she would not be able to weasel out of that arrangement if she wanted to.
"Okay, kid. I'll hold ya to that."
The comfortable silence returned, Graverobber now taking his time with the plate before him and Shilo taking long pulls from her water bottle. After a few more minutes, he gave her a crooked smile, lapis eyes sparkling and voice filled with a sense of awe.
"Kid, this is.. pretty good."
"Glad you like it."
The pair finished their respective meals, Graverobber leaning back in his chair, completely at home in his surroundings now. His arms crossed behind his head, eyes shut and feet propped up upon the table. Shilo couldn't help herself but trace her gaze along those long legs, over the holsters to the belts about his waist. Her mouth watered, eyes glazing over with a hint of desire. With a shake of her head, she drove those thoughts to the back of her mind and stood, pushing her chair in behind her.
"You want to go take a shower? I have some work I still need to do."
He creaked one eye open, smug grin plastered over an arrogant face. He leaned a touch more in the chair, just barely setting it on edge to topple.
"Trying ta get rid of me, already?"
"No. Just don't want my sheets smelling like Zaddict."
Placing the chair back on four legs, he rocked forward, pulling his legs off the table and steepling his fingers beneath his chin. His grin was teasing, as he tried to look serious. Or as serious as possible.
"You know, Zaddicts smell better on the outside, then on the inside, Kid."
She arched her eyebrow, arms folding under her ample chest and pressing her breasts together and up a good few inches.
"I'll keep that in mind. Doesn't change the fact that if you're going to stay in my room you need to not smell like cheap slut."
Graverobber ran his pale slender hand through his hair, eyes drawn to the stairs. It'd been awhile since his last good shower, even then it'd been a cold one. His body trembled for a few moments. Like anyone who ever had to live on the street, the cold was something he couldn't bear. Not anymore.
With a gentle, honest smile, Shilo wrinkled her nose cutely at her old friend.
"I have hot water, soap, shampoo, conditioner. Huge towels. Washing Machine. Hell, play your cards right and when I'm done, I'll even brush your hair."
It was hard to tell with the sexual overtones had stopped, but indeed they did. Unlike with others, the shifting of gears did not seem uncomfortable. Their conversation flowed from one emotion to another, this one clearly nothing more than her opening her heart to a friend in need. Just... Kind. No more, no less. Shilo wanted him to feel safe and taken care of. She honestly did care, and after getting a good look at him, she realized something.
Maybe just maybe, he needed her too.
A soft chuckle teased it's way out of his throat, as he cast her a gentle smile.
"Fine then, you go do stuff, I'll go take a shower."
Shilo beamed at him, before hurrying about to pick up his plate and put it in the sink. Her thermos went back in the fridge after a few more long pulls from it, a satisfied little moan when she was finished.
"Leave your clothes in the hall and I'll wash them for you. I think Dad's robe is still in the closet."
".... Yer Dad's robe?"
"Don't worry. It's not like he had a chance to use it. He was never home."
"...Alright, kid. Whatever you say."
Shilo had turned back to the sink to begin scrubbing the dish when a pair of warm strong arms linked around her waist to pull her tight against a familiar form. His lips fell to her ear, letting out a soft moan and kissing the overly sensitive tip. One hand palming a rounded hip, the other ghosting up her thigh and stomach to ghost over the swell of her breast and the column of her throat. With a soft kiss to her pulse point Graverobber purred into her flesh. Shilo gripped the countertop as a shiver coursed up her spine, causing her head to tip back and a soft moan pass her lips.
"Shame you hafta work, kid. I was hoping you'd let me scrub yer back."