Graverobber threw his arms up in the air, his coat tails fanning out behind him.
"Best. Night. Ever!" He yelled out across the headstones.
They walked through the graveyard, not in a hurry, not hiding. Shilo now in a plain black, hooded shirt and tight jeans. She'd stashed the Repo outfit in her mother's crypt. Graverobber remembered how she'd been dressed the night before, when she was chasing the bug, had she just been out tormenting Amber Sweet?
The thought made him even more giddy.
Shilo laughed softly while Graverobber flew around the mosoleum.
"And what was that you called her? Plastic skinned…"
"Silicone skinned waste…" Shilo clarified.
"Waste of a mouth!" Graverobber finished. "Fucking yes!" He says, pointing to her, both arms outstretched. "Fuck. Yes." He laughs, "Coffee and painkillers, good God yes." He runs up the steps and pulls himself on to one of the hulking statues.
"Aren't you usually more… composed?" Shilo asks, leaning against the stone wall. "Ducking into shadows, lurking behind head stones." She slid her body around the corner, out of the light. Graverobber leapt down to follow her. He presses close in the dark, Shilo's back against the wall.
"You don't get it, Kid," He put a hand on the edge of her hip. "I had to be that, that's how I stayed alive this whole time. I played the part, I shot up junkies, I fucked Amber Sweet! But you…" He leaned in closer, Shilo's eyes looked up at him with an allure that already drove him wild. "You bucked the system, you're above it all, and for some reason, I have no Idea why, you brought me up here too."
He stroked her cheek gently before leaning in to kiss her.
This kiss was not a hungry one, though Graverobber was plenty hungry for Shilo's touch. But this kiss was soft, gentle, grateful; Graverobber could think of no other way to thank Shilo for what she'd done for him.
Her hands travelled up his shoulders and their bodies pressed closer together until Graverobber could feel Shilo's heartbeat between them. He did not move, but staed perfectly still, his lips pressed to hers.
Shilo clung to him, her heart beating fast, her hands shaking. When Graverobber pulled away, he was astonished to see Shilo had tears in her eyes.
"What is it?" He said, reaching down to brush the little drops from her cheeks. Shilo blinked, like she was surprised the tears were actually there. Then she smiled.
"I just, I can't believe you're really here." She said, her eyes still looking sad. "I keep thinking I'll wake up and you'll be long gone."
Gone? Graverobber couldn't imagine ever leaving Shilo now. After these past two nights, the rollercoaster ride she'd put his emotions through.
Graverobber would have never thought, in a world where he carved a niche in death, that he could feel so completely alive.
Graverobber looked deep into Shilo's chocolate brown eyes. He studied them more carefully than he thought possible. but he still couldn't find the answer he was searching for.
"Why do you want me?" he asked, his voice coming out in a breath.
Shilo's brow furrowed, as if she didn't understand him.
Maybe she didn't hear, Graverobber thought.
"I thought it was obvious," She said, now Graverobber looked at her with confusion. "I mean, you have to know, Graves, I've been in love with you ever since that night in the alley."
Graverobber's breath halted.
Love? Love?!
His mind took off like a bullet. No no no no no no no no. Not good. Tell her no. Tell her nothing. Run! Run away!
He took a clumsy step back. Shilo's arms stayed outstretched for a moment before dropping to her sides, palms pressed against the stone wall. Her face was contorted in worry. Graverobber couldn't imagine how his own face must look.
He felt like he was going to throw up. He guessed he must look it too.
"Are you okay?" Shilo asked.
The last word punched him in the gut. All the blood rushed to his face and Graverobber was briefly grateful for the thick, white makeup he wore.
Just turn and run. You can't do this. You're a fucking monster! How could you let this happen!?
"Graves, are you okay?" Shilo asked again.
Suddenly, it was like a cord snapped in his brain.
THWAP!
And all the words tumbled down and spewed out of his mouth.
"Are you?!" He said, a little louder than he wanted. Shilo flinched. "Are you crazy are you high are you on something? Please say yes."
That way he could understand. Girls confessed their love all the time when they were doped up.
Shilo set her gaze on him.
"No." Her eyes giving away the pain his words were causing. But he couldn't stop himself.
It's too late. You're too far gone.
"What's the matter with you then kid?!" Graverobber braced himself against a rotting tree. The whole graveyard was spinning. Shilo turned her face down. "This night was going so well." He grumbled.
You blew it. The words burned in his head as silently cursed himself. You let your own selfish shit drag her in. You should have never stayed. Selfish selfish prick.
Shilo kicked at the dirt.
"You could have just said you don't feel the same." She muttered at her feet.
Graverobber peaked out from his hair that had fallen over his face.
"What?" He croaked out.
Shilo turned on him.
"You don't have to be an asshole just say you don't love me too!" She hollered at him. the loudest he'd ever heard Shilo speak.
Graverobber could feel the gears turning in his brain. Processing Shilo's words, then attempting to formulate a response.
She doesn't understand.
"I can't say that to you." He told her.
"Why? You've said everything else!" She said. Her voice cut through the air. Graverobber would never think of Shilo Wallace to look intimidating. But the look in her eyes now could turn a man to stone.
You need to be gentle.
"I…" He took two steps closer to her. "You know how I feel about you."
Everything. Remember Shilo? I feel everything.
Shilo glared at him.
"You just called me…"
"You are crazy." He said, interrupting her and crossing all the way back so she could see him clearly. Shilo's jaw was set, her gaze focused on his. "It makes sense for me to be in love with you." Shilo's mouth relaxed. "It'd be impossible to imagine me not loving you." Shilo's eyes settled. "But…" Graverobber's mouth felt dry. He was so close to her, his voice barely coming out. "You are not supposed to love me, Kid." Tears brimmed in Shilo's eyes. Graverobber reached down to brush them away.
"You can do a lot better than me."
She stared up at him, eyes glistening like the stars he'd never seen. She brought her hands up to the sides of his face. Graverobber felt Shilo pull his face down to hers. He did not resist her.
Shilo kissed him first on his forehead and then lightly on the lips. She held him there. Their brows touching, Graverobber listened to her breathing. His heart racing in his chest. His palms were sweaty. His throat still dry.
Shilo ran his fingers down through his tangled dreds.
"I love you." She said, "For who you are when we are together. I love you more than anyone in this shitty world."
And she kissed him again.
No running now.