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.
"Could you bring me some clothes?" A few days after that incident, and once he was sure he could walk around fine, Graverobber decided it was time for him to leave. If he didn't get back out in the graveyard and the streets, he'd lose his clients, and he'd need to find a new place to stay. It wouldn't be easy but it was becoming more and more difficult to be around Shilo and pretending to be playful rather than flirtatious.
Shilo looked up from her book, a deer in the headlight look in her eyes. "What?"
Graverobber sighed and leaned forward, testing to see if his rib would hold with the bandage. He had seen Shilo change it enough times, if he could move with it on, he could do it himself. Even though it was more pleasing to him when she did it. Thus…back to why he had to leave. "Look kid, I hate to split, but if I don't get my Z and sell, I won't have an income, and if I don't have an income, I can't get away from Amber."
"You wouldn't be able to anyway!" Shilo said suddenly, putting her book aside and standing from her chair. "Amber owns this town now, and if she doesn't find you, the gencops will! You can't hope to run away from them in your condition."
"I'm gonna damn well try—but I need the money kid. I can't live off your generosity for the rest of my life you know… And don't even think of offering me money!" He growled just as she opened her mouth to bring up the suggestion. She huffed, how could someone who knew for really a number of days know her that well?
Shilo thought of another idea. "Alright fine, I'll go get your clothes and change into something more comfortable…."
"Hell. No." He said, realizing what she had meant by that little statement. With a low voice she responded.
"Hell yes." Shilo retaliated, her hip cocked to the side and both hands planted firmly on them. Graverobber couldn't help but admire the view. "I'm not going to let you get yourself killed, so if you insist on putting your head on the chopping block, then at least let me come and keep the axe away."
He raised an eyebrow at the metaphor; she rolled her eyes and continued. "Besides, it'll be a good chance for me to study my anatomy and to get use to working with the dead. Come on Graves, think of it as a favor to me."
It wasn't—he damn well knew it wasn't. No good could possibly come from taking Shilo to the graveyard, especially when he recalled their first meeting. But Shilo's expression told him this wasn't a fight he could win—just as he was leaving whether she liked it or not, she was going whether he liked it or not.
"Fine kid, you want to spend all night chasing corpses be my guest. But my job ain't easy." He said with a smug grin. Shilo laughed and went to get changed.
When she returned, she had extensions again—this time dark dreadlocks in her hair and heavy make up on. She wore a loose billowy top and pants that seem to cling to every curve of her body. If it hadn't been for that satisfied smile, he might not have recognized her. "Damn kid…you look like a scalpel slut."
Shilo playfully punched him on the arm and set down his clothing. "Duh, that's kind of the point… No one will recognize me if I look like everyone else. Which brings me to my next point…" She lifted up a black jacket with various buttons; likely something that had belonged to her father. He grimaced at the clothing; never really caring for today's high society fashion. "If you're going out, you can't be Graverobber… So no wearing that filthy old coat, it's not fixed yet anyway."
He hated to admit it, but she was right. He couldn't be recognized by anyone. Not the guards, not the cops, not even by his costumers. They could easily rat him out to Amber for a high enough price.
Shilo picked up other articles of clothing, blushing slightly when her hand landed on a pair of boxers. She immediately put it back down. "And no make-up…You actually really different without it so I think we wouldn't even have to change your hair…. I'll just let you change, call me if you need any help."
She did just that; allowing him a chance to put his own clothes over his aching body. Every now and again, he'd feel a little short of breath, but he managed to push through, he would still need her help more than he wanted to admit.
He didn't want her pure hands on his dark job. Graverobber was never a clean soul; he accepted that a long, long time ago, but Shilo—the last thing she needed was to be contaminated by him.
Although, he doubt even his dirty hands could leave a mark on her immaculate soul.
()
"Hey Rob?" Shilo whispered in the dark, as she kept watched by the tomb door, looking at Graverobber every now then. He cringed at the name they had decided to use; hardly creative or poetic, but at least they wouldn't immediately recognize him. Shilo insisted that she call him that so she wouldn't call him Graverobber in public.
"Yeah Black? He responded, using her coded name for a similar reason she was currently using his. He tried to fight off the mannerisms that made him so identifiable, but it was like wearing a different skin. He groaned in pain when he thrusted the needle into the skull.
Shilo smiled; unlike him, she rather liked her chosen name. "Your name…isn't Rob is it? I mean, I know it's not….GR, but I was thinking maybe you choose that nickname because of your real name."
"Right, has nothing to do with my profession." The blue liquid filled the vile, giving him that good feeling he always got doing it. In a way, the blue coloring was addicting enough to him. Mostly because seeing it meant he could expect to get paid for it. "If you're asking what my real name is, Black, now is hardly the time or place."
That's not what his tone indicated. His tone indicated that whatever his real name was, it was better left dead and buried in the tomb. "And what if I ask you later?"
"Why does it even matter to begin with?"
Shilo shrugged. "I don't know, just curious I guess… Until I washed your face, I didn't even know what you really looked like. It's like you lead two different lives." Graverobber closed that tomb and walked over to another one; having more trouble with it than he did the one before it. Shilo walked over from her post and helped him pull it open. "Here, let me get the next couple..."
"You don't…."
"Yeah I do, remember?" Shilo retorted. Graverobber did in fact remember, but simply hadn't recalled that moment until now. He handed Shilo his bag of newly bought supplies and kept watch at the door.
Shilo held the thin needle against the pale light and then lowered it down against her victim's skull. The first tap was weak; Graverobber chuckled; even when Shilo glared at him. The second tap broke through the skull and Shilo collected the blue prize.
In the light of the glow, Graverobber could look past the heavy make-up and see the girl who wrote songs and desired to change the world. He saw the girl he met so many years ago; afraid of her own shadow and unsure of the outside world. Yet now; Shilo had proven herself capable again and again of adapting and surviving this world. And some how, it made her seem….more desirable than ever.
Although, even as a kid, she was pretty cute. "You're beautiful." Graverobber murmured.
"What did you say?" Shilo asked, removing the needle and closing the tomb up. Graverobber shook his head, trying to free the thoughts from his head.
"I said it's beautiful." He covered quickly, trying to hide his true desire behind his hair. It was one thing to flirt with her; it was another when he was beginning to sound serious.
()
"Where's Graves?" The heavy breathing woman slurred as Shilo leaned against the wall, only revealing herself to be a friend of Graverobber's. Graverobber himself, was hiding in the dumpster, keeping a listen to make sure Shilo did the job as she was told. The last couple hits, she had sounded nervous and unsure, not at all forceful or cold as the job called for. He was surprised when she spoke confidently.
"Fuck Graves, as far as your concerned, alright? Do you have the money or no?" Shilo asked, extending her hand out. The woman grumbled but pulled the money from her boot, handing it to Shilo. Satisfied, Shilo motioned for her to take position as she loaded the gun.
Within a few moments, the woman was drugged and scrounged away like a mangy ally cat. Shilo stuffed the money in the bag. "How you doing, Rob?"
"Just fine, Black." He chuckled. "Great job on that one. Sure you don't want to give up this doctor stuff for a life of peddling?"
"Pretty sure." Shilo said. "Hold on, another one's coming."
He heard heavy, uncoordinated footsteps walk towards them. "Whoa, hey there… Your not Graverobber…."
Graverobber frowned; it was a male costumer, one who sounded too husky for his liking.
Shilo remained strong. "You can just call me Black….Money?"
"Yeah, yeah, got it here." There was the crinkle and rumple of bills. Shilo reached out her hand to take it but the man pulled them back; a smirk on his face. "Although I wonder… I heard that Graverobber use to take sexual favors. Do you have a similar policy, Black?"
Shilo was disgusted he'd even suggest it. There was one man she'd ever consider doing that with, and he was currently lying in the dumpster. "No, cash only!"
The man reached out for her; making Shilo back up away. Unfortunately, her back hit the dumpster, trapping her between it and the man in front of her. He pushed her up against it, startling Graverobber. He opened the dumpster lid slightly to get a look; his blood running cold at the sight before him
"Get off me!" She yelled, pushing against him with her newly formed muscles, he simply pushed her again, bringing his mouth down against hers; claiming her first kiss.
It only lasted a second, Graverobber didn't even get his hands on him; Shilo kneed the man in the groin and pushed him away from her. Shilo slipped away quickly, just in time for Graverobber to open the dumpster and slammed the man's head down on the edge; sending him down quickly. With a gasp, Shilo back over to the man.
"Holy—is he okay?" She asked herself more than her companion.
"Who cares K…Black, we need to get out of here before the gencops come."
Shilo peeled back his eyelid to be sure. Satisfied he didn't have a concussion, she stood straight and helped Graverobber out of the dumpster. Once he was free, he looked down at their broken costumer. "He'll be feeling both of those tomorrow…where'd you learn that?"
With her hand still in his, she glanced around. "I've been working out—come on, let's go this way." They walked at a quick pace, escaping before the man would be found. Laughing as they made their way home; never once letting go of each others hands.
The man was eventually found; but not by a friendly force like Graverobber had been.
()
"Sweet mother of god…" Shilo murmured as she flung against the wall of her parents mausoleum. Graverobber slide next to her, out of breath and side hurting from their quick escape, but wearing a smirk on his face like he had just finished sex.
"Too much for you kid?" He asked, feeling safe enough to use his little nickname for her. Shilo shook her head, wiping her face and smudging her makeup in the process.
"No just… I kind of panicked when he got close. Then suddenly I just…. reacted. I had adrenaline rush and it was fucking awesome!" She laughed, trying to steady her shaking hand. "I guess I can see why you're so fond of…"
She trailed off, pressing a finger to her lips. Graverobber noticed the sudden change in aura; she went from on top of the world to bottom of the pit. "Kid?...Shilo?"
"That was my first kiss…and I didn't even want it." Shilo said with a sigh, trying to fight back the tears. "Hell, I don't even know his name."
Feeling guilt (was it guilt? It was such an annoying feeling) that she had lost something obviously so important to her. It shouldn't have surprised him; Shilo was sentimental in that sort of way. Valued and cherished her life because she, up until a few years ago, didn't have one.
Out of obligation, or so he told himself, he tried to comfort her. "Hey, If it makes you feel any better…My first kiss is the only first I remember."
Shilo narrowed her eyes in confusion. "I don't…." Realization hit her. "You don't remember losing your virginity? How is that even possible?"
Graverobber laughed. "It was a while ago… But I remember my first kiss because it lead to what I think is my first time."
"What happened?" Shilo couldn't help but ask. He would have told her to leave it alone; except the puppy dog look in her eyes swayed him otherwise. That and, he did kind of owe her for going through her things earlier in the week.
He tried to remember to the best of his abilities. "God…I must have been fifteen. I was at this concert and this chick came up to me. I think her name was … Fuck, I don't remember what her name is, but she was pretty. A vision worthy of my teenage wet dreams."
"So, we hung out together and enjoyed the concert. At some point, she leaned over and kissed me. A sloppy, earth-shattering kiss. And being fifteen and all—I kissed her back. I didn't know she had just taken a pill…I either blacked out or was too high to remember but when I came through- naked and top of her back stage, hours after the concert."
Shilo watched something come over the man. It wasn't regret like she had been hoping find deep down inside, but instead, he seemed happy. Like an old man recollecting a wonderful day he had seen long ago.
He had a nice smile. Not the ones he put on for his potential costumers. But a genuine human smile. Shilo couldn't help but smile along with him. "Sounds like you were womanizer even back then."
Graverobber cringed at the low tone of Shilo's voice. "Jealous much, kid?"
The sadness and adrenaline wore off and Shilo was left only with the mix of jealousy and desire. Perhaps feeling bad that he had made her angry; Graverobber leaned over and whispered. "They called me Terrance then."
Shilo's eyes widened at the recall of their earlier conversation. She looked at him, her eyes catching his. "Terrance?"
"Mhm." He retorted matter of fact like. "Don't get into the habit of calling me it though."
"We'll see." Shilo teased, leaning her head against his shoulder. "We should get inside…"
The moment her head touched his shoulder; he remembered exactly why he had to get away. Her smallest touch was enticing to him. Graverobber struggled to get up. "You know, I actually should…sleep somewhere else tonight. I've bummed off you enough."
He groaned as the pain stung his side. Shilo's eyes traced as she watched the Z peddler limp away; obviously in no condition to be on his own and very well knew it. Shilo quickly stood up and caught up to him. Her hand caught his shoulder and turned him back to her. "Why are you so….Why do you want to get away from me so much?"
So she knew. Graverobber looked away from her face. Shilo's heart felt like it was being shred apart. "Are you tired of being around me?"
"Kid…"
"Because I refuse to be like your zydrate sluts!" He was taken back by that—surprised that she would even lower herself to them. Shilo pointed to herself. "Because I haven't gone to concerts or had sex with so many people I couldn't even remember their names!"
"Hey, keep it down!" He snapped. Shilo crossed her arms, trying to calm herself down. If she continued making a scene, the gencops would see.
The tears she was holding back finally started falling down her face. "God, I sound pathetic..."
"No, you sound stupid." Graverobber whispered bluntly. Shilo wiped the tears away from her eyes, ready to lay into him once more. "Kid, do you seriously think those sluts have anything on you? They don't have a damn thing on you!"
He wiped the tears off her face. Her unchanged, unscarred face. She had been through so much, but was unmarked by her experiences. Shilo didn't need surgery to make herself complete—she was made so by surviving her own experiences.
She deserved to hear the truth. "I was trying to get away from you kid because… your beautiful, and I don't deserve you …Hell, I don't even deserve your kindness. You would have done yourself a lot good if you had just let Amber finish me off."
Shocked, Shilo had to process what he was saying. He—the man she desired most in the world—was saying he liked her. Could barely contain himself around her. It sent shivers down her spine.
Shilo put her hand over his and smiled. "What? And miss out on more of your puns? You're just too charming for your own good."
She leaned up and kissed his lips. The pain it caused was well worth the warmth it brought to him. Losing what was left of his control, he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss.
It might has well had been the first time for both of them; for no other kiss could compare.