My Cause-

Disclaimer- I do not own the characters or lyrics from the movie Repo! The Genetic Opera

Plot Summary- A year after the events of the Opera, Amber (the new CEO of GeneCo) assaults and leaves Graverobber for dead. Fortunately for him, a certain teenager stumbles upon him and takes care of him. Grilo.

The night had ended sooner than he imagined. By morning, he was no closer to escaping from his locks, and in fact, had only managed to agitate his rib, and fatigue himself.

That, and now his shoulder hurt—something kept poking him there.

He at last looked down and saw a thin, silver light. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a needle. Shilo must have left it there while she was fixing his jacket.

And if he could get it…

Graverobber leaned his mouth down; poking himself in the lips several times before finally cradling it in his mouth. He brought up carefully and then rose up. His hand barely reached it and if he wasn't careful; it could drop, ruining any chance of escaping.

His fingers grazed the sharp end until he got a good grasp. Without taking a moment to appreciate his skill; Graverobber worked to set himself free.

Usually, he had better tools for lock picking, but had learned the skill using things like pins. Graverobber could particularly recall using his mother's bobby pins to sneak out of the house whenever his mom and dad decided to actually be parents and try to set boundaries. He'd have to remember to tell Shilo about it—if he made it to her in time.

The first cuff unlocked after ten minutes, the second one went much faster. He fell down, his wrists aching with the relief of freedom. Phase one complete; phase two, find the kid.

()

Shilo stepped out of the limo; hood on over her face, sunglasses blocking her view from the world. She sighed; the trip was to visit her parents, but felt like she was walking to her own grave.

The guard nodded and opened the cemetery door for her. Shilo nodded back as she walked the path, knowing by heart where exactly her parents laid to rest. The mausoleum was the most secure in the graveyard—locked, coded, everything to keep people away. It was a hefty price but no one dared to defile her father's grave, or reawaken her mothers. Even Mag's presence felt near by; despite being cremated and 'casted into the wind' as requested.

Her words traced the inscriptions Marni and Nathan Wallace and found the inscription for her name when she died Shilo Wallace. Graverobber's words came to mind once more.

"Your deaths mean nothing now that I'm doing this." Shilo murmured. "You'd be so ashamed if you could see… if you were alive. Crawling to the Largo's like a dying dog. For what? A drug dealer? My conscious…Out of all the people I could be in love with—why did it have to be the guy I had to give up everything for?"

No answer. Not that she expected one.

After a few moments she left the monument. Wincing with the gate closer behind her—what a metaphor. Two women, a little older than she was, were peering through the gates from a safe distance.

"Is he there?"

"I don't see him; maybe he's a wall again." Shilo pretended not to listen, slipping the ring off her finger so it'd drop. They couldn't have been talking about Graverobber? Could they? He would have left the opera in time to make his rounds—with his recent reappearance, he really couldn't afford not to.

"They might have just taken his body to Amber. I hear she was looking around for Graves a few weeks ago."

She picked her ring and slipped it on her finger. So he never arrived at his post—which could mean several different things, but the most likely of all was that Amber had caught Graverobber.

()

"Where is he?" Shilo declared loudly. All made up and pretty; Amber looked at Shilo, trying to feign boredom. "We had a deal, and if you've touched a hair on him!"

"I don't know who you're talking about." Amber said.

"Don't play coy with me, he was here last night and now I find out from a couple addicts that he's gone? Seems a little suspicious? I swear Amber if you…"

Amber sighed loudly. "Fine, I admit it—I did catch him prowling around here and captured him. But I assure you, I didn't kill him; in fact, he seemed to enjoy it."

"What are you…?" Amber again, produced her hand-held hologram machine. Shilo was really getting sick of it; but not quite as sick as the vision before her eyes.

Graverobber was chained to the wall; Amber pressed firmly against his body. They were talking, but he didn't seem very angry or upset by it and in fact, seemed a little aroused by it.

Shilo watched in horror as Amber leaned in to kiss him. Looking away, she bit her lip. "Sorry to say; it doesn't look like your friend appreciates all he's done for you."

It was all she could do to catch her breath. Amber smirked; maybe the little brat wouldn't have to die after all. She closed the hologram before Shilo could see the part where he refused Amber's advances. Maybe if he couldn't turn him against her; she could turn her against him.

With a sigh, Shilo finally got the courage to speak. "Do you…Do you still have him?"

"Follow me."

()

Amber's guards opened the door and let the two girls filed in. Shilo wasn't sure if she could look at him. Could still hardly believe the man in the hologram was the person who had valiantly tried to save her—told her he wasn't worth the sacrifice she was making.

Maybe he was right… Maybe not.

"Where the hell is he!" Amber shrieked. Shilo looked up and saw that the chains Graverobber were in where completely empty—and obviously not by Amber's will.

As Amber ordered her guards around, the young girl made a realization. By god—Graverobber hadn't done a thing. It was all Amber. She felt foolish forever thinking otherwise. Shilo smiled; she owed him an apology. "Wow, not even chains could make him wait for you, could they?"

Amber growled at Shilo. "Or for you!"

"No, he came to me willingly. Got caught trying to save me. And even when you locked him away and offered him freedom for sex, he refused you didn't he?" Shilo dared to push Amber further—liking the way she fumed when Shilo spoke. "That just drives you crazy, doesn't it? You always thought you could have any man and now suddenly, it's not true—worse than that. He'd rather have ugly old me than sexy, plastic you! Maybe you're just getting old…"

"Shut up! Just shut your goddamn mouth!" Amber yelled. The CEO looked to one of her guards and spat. "I want you to find him and bring him to me, immediately!"

Shilo stepped aside to let the guard go. Still reveling in the victorious moment. "Don't forget… You kill him, and I'll walk right off that stage. I've been looking at this the wrong way all along. Having me work for you; doesn't mean a damn thing as long as I have him and you don't."

"Ms. Wallace, it's time to get ready." The other guard broke in. Shilo eloped her arm through his.

"Enjoy the show, Amber. Hope it was worth it."

Amber watched as Shilo walked away; assured that she had the last laugh. Amber flipped out the hologram machine and watched the video through. Saw the same things Shilo initially saw. The lust, the desire, the need.

Then in was gone—she back up away from him and the rejection and shame set in. Amber couldn't watch it anymore; she threw it against the wall, releasing a blood-curdling scream.

Neither would be spared. She'd destroy both Shilo and Graverobber. If they wanted to be together, that was fine. They would could even have matching gravestones.

They could die together if they so chose.

()

"Fuck, trouble." He said, noticing the GeneCops. The minute they pointed at him, he turn and ran. It was almost show time and he had yet to find Shilo. He tried her room, and various different paths and it seemed like it was all a wild goose chase. He was getting tired but couldn't stop. He couldn't let Shilo die.

It was no use—he couldn't shake the cops. Graverobber decided it was best to merge with the crowd, running instead towards the gathering audience.

For once, luck graced him. The cops seemed to get lost in the crowd, giving him plenty of time to make an escape. It earned him some interesting looks from the high society crowd, but when the lights went down, no body seemed to notice. Graverobber cursed; it was show time.

He kneeled down against the wall; watching as the composer led the orchestra into the opening song. It gave him time to think of what to do and how to do it. He wasn't sure of either one. Maybe he could catch Shilo's attention from the crowd; or perhaps find her backstage.

The last idea went out the window as soon as the curtain rose. A single spot light casted the middle of the stage. The figure was smaller than usual in her long, pitch white gown, the straps barely noticeable over her pale shoulders and under white lace. Shilo was on her knees, hands held up as if to protect herself. Graverobber could only figure the point was to make her look weak.

The long, straight extensions made her look a little more like the first instance they met. She brushed a few strands away as she started to sing.

I'm...infected
I'm infected
by your genetics

Shilo, I'm the doctor
Shilo, I'm your father
Oh, Shilo, that was close!
Take your medicine

I'm infected by your genetics
Shilo, you're my patient
Shilo, be more patient
You have limitations, don't go chasing flies
I must be protective
You cannot be reckless
That's what is expected when you are infected

I'm infected by your genetics
I'm infected by your genetics
And I don't think that I can be fixed
No, I don't think that I can be fixed
Tell me why, oh why are my genetics such a bitch?

It was one of her songs. Graverobber was so engulfed by it, he barely noticed the shaking of the stage light. He looked up to see Luigi holding the cord to the main light; just over Shilo's head. With his knife up, he was ready to cut it. It was now or nevr.

He says I have her eyes; did I also inherit his shame?
Is heredity the culprit?
Can I stop it, or am I a slave?

"Kid!" He shouted, standing up suddenly. Everything stopped—the orchestra, Shilo's singing, even Luigi paused as the second light fixed itself on Graverobber. Shilo was stunned as she stood up.

"Graverobber?" Amber watched with red eyes at the side of the stage. She shouted up to Luigi.

"Go on!"

He ran up to the stage, managing to climb up, though not without badly hurting his rib. He fought with his burning lungs as he fought to reach her. Shilo seeing his distress moved forward the catch him just as Luigi cut the light.

Before Shilo could even touch him; he grabbed her arms and turned her away, sending both of them to the ground on their knees. The spotlight crashed to the floor; the glass and debris casting off in every direction.

Shilo pulled him down on top of her when they hit the ground. Her fingers grasped on to his coat to dear life. He took stock of their injuries—he was still aching and she was scared, but thankfully, unharmed by the fixture.

"You know how to make an entrance don't you?" Shilo asked in a shaking voice. Graverobber laughed and grazed his hand against her face to calm her. Or was it to convince himself that she was still alive?

"Sorry, liked your performance so much. Didn't want you to make an exit."

They helped each other stand, Graverobber looked up to see Luigi disappearing. Shilo looked after him. "How did you …"

"That wasn't supposed to happen!" Amber screeched, stomping across the stage.

Graverobber peered over his shoulder at Amber, and whispered the same thing he had told her weeks ago. "Fucking Amber, who else?"

Shilo realized what had just happened—Graverobber hadn't saved her from an accident. Amber had tried to kill her like she almost did Graverobber. And after eliminating Shilo, there'd be no reason to keep him around; especially if he didn't submit to her desires.

She pushed Graverobber off of her and stood up. Shilo hadn't meant to hurt him after he saved her, but she had to think quick. They had escaped Amber's execution, but it wouldn't be long before another ax was over their necks. "What the hell? I could have been killed!"

The crowd cast glares and looks of disgust at Amber. The CEO had to feign a smile; she had hoped to cash on the accident, but now if she wasn't careful; the little brat would end her. "I apologize, Ms. Wallace…"

"Don't Ms. Wallace me! What exactly are you running here? I…I have half a mind to sue you for the company!" Shilo declared. Amber's smile lowered itself almost as soon as she said it.

"You can't… you signed away." She whispered under her breath.

"Maybe you should!" A man declared suddenly. The crowd cheered along. Graverobber smirked as he caught on with what Shilo was hoping to do.

Shilo leaned in. "Yeah I did—when I was seventeen… Was I even of legal age to sign it away Amber? How about the fact I was still grieving over my father, huh?"

"Don't forget, she's an addict." Graverobber muttered matter-of-fact like.

Shilo lowered her smile as the betrayal marked Amber's face. She remembered what she said earlier to Amber.

Perhaps the countless surgeries were just an attempt to escape what she was clearly missing from her life. Someone who looked at her and was happy to see her. Someone who wanted her for who she was and not what other people wanted. Someone like Graverobber to live and die for her.

Someone she didn't have to challenge and push to get attention from. "There's a easy way to let it go. Just leave us—him and I alone, and we'll leave right now."

Amber didn't say anything; didn't have to. She knew she had no choice but to agree. Shilo walked over to Graverobber and helped him up. Both of them to exhausted to enjoy the victory. "Come on, let's get out of here… Who'd want to own this hell whole anyway?"

"Kid…Sounds like poetry to my ears."

They stepped off the stage, Shilo with her arms eloped with Graverobber's. People parted for Shilo to walk through just as they had over a year ago. Only this time she wasn't alone.

"Amber wanted you all along you know…" Shilo said, looking over her shoulder at the seething woman who had tried to kill them both. "I think because you're the only man who's ever rejected her."

"Hmm," He hummed with a smile. "Think she would have given it all up for me?"

"You serious?" Shilo joked, leaning her head on his shoulder. Two people opened the door for her so they could stroll through. "Sorry old man, but your no prized pig—a girl would have to be crazy to give up anything for you."

"You wound me kid."

Free. Shilo thought as they strolled away from their imprisonments and almost deaths. Free to joke and be happy.

More importantly—free to be with him.