#swsb

Familiar Faces | ao3

Chapter tags: Silco/Reader, Silco, Alternate universe Silco, Reader-insert, reader works for Silco in original universe, Vander, Jinx, Powder, Mylo, Claggor, slowburn, friends to lover, but also don’t really like each other to lovers, depends on the universe, eventual romance, alternate universe (s02e07), reader is transported to the alternate universe and is really confused, flashbacks, dubious hexcore usage, writer has a poor grasp on the science and magic system, just go along with it, no use of y/n, implied older man/younger reader, gender-neutral pronouns Cw: canon-typical violence, eventual smut (maybe??) bugs (kind of, reader uses the descriptor of something feeling like maggots in their skin)

Rating: Mature, possibly explicit in the future, 18+ minors dni

Chapter word count: 5.6k

Banner from cafekitsune

You weren’t exactly sure how you ended up here. One minute you were walking into Jinx’s workshop while she was working on a weapon with the Hex crystal she procured, and then next, you were here. You’re not quite sure what went wrong, maybe you scared her and she connected a wrong wire or she dropped something, but whatever happened caused a loud, blinding flash and you landed here. Wherever here was. You thought at first, you had passed out from the explosion. Your head tucked into your arms that rested on a cool, sturdy surface.

“You know,” a gruff voice spoke your name. “If I was really boring you that much you could’ve just told me.” You felt the vibration of a deep, hearty chuckle.

You slowly and cautiously lifted your head. It took a moment for your eyes to focus in on the large figure in front of you, your brain throbbing in your skull, but then as if a cold bucket of ice water was dumped upon you, your spine straightened and your eyes widened. A shock ran through you, leaving your mouth to go dry.

“Vander?” you managed out a quiet rasp that almost came out entirely cracked.

You watched the man in front of you chuckle once again as he finished cleaning a glass before whipping a towel over his shoulder. “The one and only.”

‘Alright,’ you thought as you looked at the man, completely dumbfounded ‘this is the most real feeling dream I’ve ever had.’ Promptly, you brought a hand up to painfully connect it to your cheek in a loud smack.

This earned another chuckle from Vander, though it was paired with a concerned look this time. “Doing alright there?”

You moved your head around slowly to take in your surroundings. Illuminated by the warm lighting you found yourself sitting on a stool at a bar. Around you was cheerful hustle and bustle. In one corner, there was a group of friends drinking merrily as they all participated in a card game, in another, there’s a couple on what looks to be a date. Your bleary eyes then roamed to the next table and you felt a shudder like no other crawl up your spine. Jinx and three other boys sat at a table, happily conversing with each other. You couldn’t place the feeling that crept through you like maggots in your skin when you realized that the two boys strongly resembled the handmade dolls Jinx had kept in her workshop. The ones she had never explained to you who they were but left you assuming the worst.

The Jinx you observed in front of you was vastly different from the one you knew, yet still very clearly her. She looked younger, softer. Her two long, wild braids were traded for choppy short hair that was put into two buns on the top of her head. Her face wasn’t long and hallowed, cheeks filled out, proof of eating fulfilling meals. Yet, the most striking difference you noticed was her eyes. Her eyes were still a dusty blue, but what caught you off guard was the joy you saw behind them, the contentment. It was a look you had only truly seen a handful of times from her but even then, it was never this pure. ‘That isn’t Jinx’ you thought, at least not the one you knew. You overheard one of the boys call her ‘Powder’. You furrowed your eyebrows as you thought back to the few times you’d witnessed Jinx talk to herself. There were 4 names you often heard: ‘Violet’, ‘Mylo’, ‘Claggor’ and ‘Powder’. That must’ve been who she was before Jinx. The revelation hit you like a brick to the face, your mind scrambling for any explanation as the original thought that this was just a dream started to become more distant because this just felt too real.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, you heard yet another voice, it was deep and silken, one you would recognize anywhere as it called your name in an attempt to pull you out of whatever trance you were in. “What’s going on with her?” the voice spoke again.

Your blood turned to ice, fighting to push through your very veins as you slowly turned your head back to look at the person who had joined Vander behind the bar. You couldn’t hide the look of horror etched onto your face.

Silco.

He called your name out once again, waving a hand in front of your face causing you to squeeze your eyes shut and shake your head, shedding off your trance-like state. “Are you feeling alright? Do you need anything?” His tone was concerned, caring. His eyebrows were furrowed as he examined your face with worry.

Your eyes darted all over his face, taking in every detail. The differences weren’t as overt as Jinx’s but they were there. The scar was still there, creased into his face but his eye wasn’t widened and red. Unpoked and un-prodded by Shimmer-filled syringes. Instead, there was a hazy grey that covered over his iris like a thin veil. His usual slicked-back hair was traded for a more casual, loose look that let it fall naturally.

“Yeah,” you took in a deep breath before stumbling out of your seat, using the bar to support your arms as you stood up. “I just-“ your eyes moved from Silco to Vander, then to Jinx, and finally landed on the door “I just need to get some air.” You stagger over to the door, your head dizzying from the bizarre environment. As your hand pressed the cool surface of the door to push it open, you hoped to find some odd solace and normality in the smoky, neon light filled undercity.

Solace and normality were not what you felt as you took in the outside surroundings. Instead of neon lights, the night was illuminated by soft, colorful lanterns. Instead of the smoky air, there was the smell of freshly made food coming from multiple vendor stands. It was beautiful, but it was not what you knew, not even close. For a minute, you just stood there, taking in the beauty of this unfamiliar Zaun. The sun had set, yet children were running around, innocently playing. People strolled about in Piltover-like garb. The sounds of children’s laughter and adults joyously chatting filled your ears. You stumbled over to the nearest bench to plop yourself onto before you toppled over from the sheer shock and confusion. As a gentle breeze washed over you, you heard the faint rustling of some papers. You turned your attention to the space next to you, occupied by a newspaper. You reached out to grab it, your eyes immediately landing on the date. It was 2 years in the future. Your eyes frantically looked up to survey the area around you once again. No, no, it was just too different. There’s no way you were only transported to the future, this had to be an alternate timeline as well.

You were so focused on the city in front of you that you didn’t notice a figure coming to sit next to you. You’re snapped out of it when you hear the sound of ice clinking as a cup is held out in front of you. Your eyes land on the drink and trail the arm handing it out to you up to meet the face of Silco.

He let out a small chuckle “It’s only water. I figured you’re not much in the drinking mood.”

Your eyes moved back to the cup being held in front of you as you slowly reached for it, your fingertips lightly brushing his as you took the water. You brought the cool, refreshing liquid to your lips before speaking again. “Do you ever feel like you woke up in the wrong universe?” You could feel his eyes on you, but you didn’t meet them as you continued to look over the city around you.

It’s silent for a moment as his eyes finally leave the profile of your face to look in the same direction as you. “All the time.” he spoke deeply, quietly. “Every time I wake up I wonder how I was so blessed to be in a universe where everything worked out.” he let out a breath. “I think of all the ways this all could’ve turned out and I can’t help but shudder at the thought of what could’ve been, what I could’ve been.”

You responded only with a nod. The way he spoke sent shivers down your spine. He said he shuddered at the thought of what could’ve been, without knowing you’ve shuddered at the thought of what has been, what he has been.

You were there at the fall of Vander. Well, you weren’t actually there where it happened, but you witnessed the aftermath all around you. You weren’t close with him, sure you knew him, everyone in the lanes did, but he was more of an acquaintance. You visited The Last Drop a few times, had some fun nights, exchanged a few drunken words, but that was the extent of your relationship with him. Compared to now, you were such a kid back then. Sure, you were technically an adult but you were still so green, so hopeful for the future. Everything fell apart when he died. It wasn’t until Silco had risen from the shadows when everything was pieced back together again. Sort of. He took control of the lanes. Took control of The Last Drop. Maintained some kind of order amidst the chaos. Downtrodden, dying Zaunites clawed their way for just a drop of Shimmer. It was disgusting. What he did was disgusting. Sure, he was fighting for the independence of Zaun, but in doing so he had used and discarded the very people he was fighting for.

That’s why you didn’t necessarily want to work for him. You didn’t respect him. But you did, however, respect the cause. The end goal. And as far as you were concerned, no one was as close to achieving it as he was.

You never approached him at first, though, and neither was it vice versa. It was Jinx who discovered you.

You see, living in Zaun wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. You had to fight and occasionally… okay very regularly steal. You didn’t enjoy it per se, but you were very good at it and it was very satisfying at times, especially when you had nicked something off from some good-for-nothing bozo. You never took from anyone in a less fortunate position than you, it just wasn’t in your morals. But pricks, specifically drunken ones that hung around The Last Drop, that was more your style.

One night, during a particularly bountiful harvest, as you slunk around the club pickpocketing from every poor soul around you as you blended in with the dancing and flashing neon lights, little did you know that a certain blue-haired teenager was watching you with excited curiosity from the bar. It happened all at once, this little blur of blue forced herself into your life and convinced you to work for The Eye of Zaun himself. Of course, he didn’t agree to it immediately.

“Look at them!” Jinx presented you in front of Silco, gesturing her arms out over you. “They probably stole everything those poor suckers down there are worth without them even noticing!”

You remember as you stood there in his office for the first time as he sat at his desk, his cold eyes, one a pale blue and the other a dark red surrounded by a void of black, looked over you with scrutiny. It seemed his face had a permanent grimace etched into it. He wasn’t a very physically imposing man, he didn’t appear to have the musculature of the usual Zaunite man, though it was hard to tell because of the elegant, collared coat he wore that appeared as if it were to swallow him whole. He dressed almost as if he were from Piltover but his face clearly indicated he was a Zaunite, through and through. It wasn’t just the scar that made it apparent. It was the crookedness of his front teeth, the weary lines creased upon his face, and the sharpness of his features. No, he was a child born from Zaun and no amount of fancy clothing or slicked-back hair could hide it.

“So,” his silken, indifferent voice began as his eyes continued to relentlessly scan over you. “You stole from my patrons? Most of whom work for me?”

“Well,” you drew out guiltily as you felt the pace of your heartbeat pick up. Unable to think of an excuse you press your lips into a thin line before opening them with a small click of your tongue. “Yes, pretty much.”

His face remained indifferent. He could’ve killed you right then and there, and most likely, was going to. But, maybe, you thought, he was refreshed with your blatant honesty.

After much convincing from Jinx he eventually relented into what you could’ve only described as an interview. You sat there in his dimly lit office, the only light in the room emanating off the small warm-toned lamp on his desk, and the neon lights of the night from outside the large circular window behind him. He had dismissed Jinx so it was just the two of you. You sat in a plain, hard wooden chair, your head having to tilt slightly up to meet his face as he sat cross-legged in his plush, maroon, button-tufted one. He sat high, his eyes narrowing down to look at you. Like a king on his throne looking down at a subject. You try not to be obvious about the indignant scrunch of your nose.

It felt like eons of silent scrutiny, his eyes hovering over you before he finally spoke, swirling a short glass of whisky in his hand. “Family?”

“Dead” you answered, your face and tone dispassionate. It wasn’t the most uncommon answer for a Zaunite, in fact, it was probably more common to have your whole family dead than alive. You were just lucky you were old enough to take care of yourself by the time your parents died. You didn’t have any siblings to worry about. It was just you. Of course, you were sorrowful over the loss of your parent, they will forever be a scar scorched upon your weary heart. But Zaunites didn’t have time to grieve. It had been years since you lost them during the failed uprising. You didn’t allow yourself to get choked up about it anymore. Only allowing it to pass through your thoughts during late hours when you couldn’t sleep.

“Lover?”

The blunt questioning caught you off guard for a split second before you let out a breathy, sardonic chuckle, amused at the idea “No,” you answer “It’s just me if that’s where this line of questioning is going.” You looked down in thought “I imagine whatever I am will die with me.” The words came out more candidly than you intended, more despondent than humorous.

He regarded you coldly, his eyes slowly scanning over your face. He remained emotionless but you could see the cogs in his head turning, looking over you as if you were a puzzle to solve “No” he spoke, his voice low and honeyed “I believe, in joining me, you would die with having much more purpose” His eyes met yours in a cool gaze, the eyebrow on his good side raising a little while the other, drawn on one, stayed frozen “Or, if you’re lucky, perhaps live with that purpose”

You let out a short chuckle through your nose “Well, at least you’re honest about my prospects,” Feeling a little bold, you raised a subtle, inquisitive brow “And what about you? Do you plan to live or die for the cause?”

You swear you saw the smallest, amused smirk on his face before he took a sip of his whiskey, placing the glass down on the wooden desk with a soft thud. “I do not have plans on sacrificing myself anytime soon if that is what you’re asking. I plan to see the great Nation of Zaun come to fruition,” his finger played around the rim of his glass “I would however, still die for the cause if need be.” he trained his eyes back on you “Would you?”

There was a palpable tension in the air as you sat with the question, but it didn’t take you long to produce your answer “No.” Sure you could’ve lied, cried out with bleeding heart passion ‘Yes, of course, I would give my life for Zaun!’ But what would the point be? Whether he hired you or not was relatively inconsequential to you. “I would do a lot to help make Zaun a better place for people, but I am no saint and I don’t want to be mistaken for one. If you’re looking for a martyr, that’s not me”

He offered you no emotion as he considered your response. It was frustrating. The only expressions he’s shown you being a quirk of his brow or a tilt of the corner of his lips. If you had half a mind you would grasp the man by his shoulders and shake him until he made a different expression. “No,” he finally spoke “I wouldn’t say ‘martyr’ is exactly what I’m looking for.” he took in a breath through his nose, leaning back into his chair “You can start tomorrow. Your honesty has a… refreshing quality to it” he admitted “Do try not to get too comfortable, though. Honesty is a fickle thing. In this line of work, it can often get you killed.” His cold voice came out as a warning. You knew this wasn’t just advice in regards to interacting with other people in this work but for him. He was telling you he would value honesty but only to an extent, and you’d be wise to heed his warning.

You felt a shiver run down your spine before giving a firm nod of understanding.

“Good,” he spoke lowly before looking down at the paperwork on his desk, picking up his pencil, indicating that the discussion was over. “You may leave.”

It wasn’t long before you had learned what his relationship with Jinx was. He trusted her and she was something of a daughter to him. She didn’t talk about it much to you, the whole story seemingly too traumatic to retell, clearly not having fully processed whatever had happened. But, what you were able to piece together from vague, sometimes crazed comments and context clues, you understood that she was abandoned by her sister at a young age and Silco took her in. You knew it wasn’t the full story, maybe not even the true one, but you didn’t have a death wish so you weren’t going to ask either one of them.

Despite Silco’s reluctance to hire you at first, you proved yourself to be useful. Part of it was out of spite towards him. You wanted to prove his lack of faith in you wrong. Some may have viewed your hard work as seeking his approval, but no, you and he both understood the true purpose behind your industriousness and grit. He saw it in your eyes every time you would go up to report a completed task to him, your eyes didn’t search his face like a puppy waiting to be called a ‘good boy’ like most of his other workers. You stood there reserved and indifferent, your eyes never moving from the same spot on his face. Of course, he would never say it, but you could tell he formed some sort of begrudging respect for you, or at least for the way you carried yourself.

Now, there you sat on a bench in what you can only assume was an alternate universe, side by side with your boss or apparently in this universe, your friend.

You took another sip of your water as you gave him an acknowledging hum. You brought the cup down holding it with both hands to rest it atop your thighs. You didn’t dare to look at him, to meet the hauntingly familiar face of this Silco. You’re not sure what you’d find there. You’re not sure what you’d feel. Your body felt tense, your muscles so stiff you feared if you moved they might creak.

You chose to train your eyes on the drink in your lap even as you felt him turning his head to look at you. “Remind me,” you start as the question creeps into your head, making its way to your tongue “How long have we been friends again?”

He let out a small, breathy chuckle as he turned his head back out to look at Zaun “Almost 6 months,” he answered with no hesitation. Your eyes dared to flicker up to look at his side profile and you noticed the small, content smile on his face. “Almost 6 months since Powder brought you in, insisting Vander hire you”

It was your turn to smile now, you couldn’t help it as it crept onto your face. Of course, even in this universe, it was her who got you a job. Your mind wandered as you thought about your life here. How did you meet Powder in this universe? Did she find you like she did in your universe? What were you doing before? And most importantly, were you a bartender now?

You let out a soft chuckle “She’s a force to be reckoned with.” Which earned a small laugh from him as well. Your ears perked up. You’d never heard him laugh or chuckle, or make any joyous noise before. It was breathy, deep, and reserved. You found yourself enjoying the unfamiliar sound.

After a beat of silence, he let out a sigh and put a hand on top of your thigh. You suppressed the surprised breath that wanted to leave your lips. You expected the touch to make your blood run cold but instead, you were greeted with a strange warmth. His touch was hesitant and gentle. He didn’t squeeze or let the weight of his hand press down on you. He was trying to comfort you. “Truly though, are you well?” He turned his head once more and this time instead of seeing your head turned down to look at your glass, he met you face to face. His eyes searched yours. “I don’t recall ever seeing you so.. distant”

For a few seconds, you could only look into his eyes as well.

You recalled the handful of times you had looked into his eyes. It was a rare occurrence. Sure, he had no problem looking at you, either scrutinizing you with his gaze or showing a silent, almost pleased regard to a job well done. Though, every time you strained your eyes up to look back at him he would only allow the contact for a fleeting moment before directing his eyes elsewhere and dismissing you. The last time he had ever looked you in the eyes was the last time you saw him before being transported to this strange, blissful universe. His eyes had been full of rage, a streak of purple dribbling out of his scarred eye exhibiting that he had just gotten his shot. You had just gotten back from a particularly dangerous assignment, one that did not go according to plan in the slightest.

You were tasked with sneaking into a rival chem barons warehouse and extracting some valuable equipment. In a move that was entirely unlike you, you had accidentally kicked a glass vial as you crept, immediately alerting warehouse guards of your presence. It was a nasty scuffle, as you booked it for the nearest exit, bullets whizzing past you, one grazing your shoulder. You let out a yelp of pain as a large warehouse guard pinned you against the wall, your torn shoulder hitting the cold metal behind you. You wriggled under his grasp, one hand pressing your shoulder back and the other reaching up to grasp your neck. Your fingertips wiggled as they grazed against the knife in your holster. Your hands finally tightened around the blade and you brought it up to stab the man in the neck. He collapsed before you, your vision was blurry as you looked down at your bloodied hands. Before you were able to process anything, you heard the sound of gunshots once again. Clumsily you found your footing and started running again. You’re not sure how you escaped, your vision hazy and your ears ringing, but you found yourself leaning on a wall in an alleyway, clutching your shoulder as you took in a ragged breath.

By the time you had gotten back, he had already heard what had happened. His worker had started a scene at a warehouse, and now his name was plastered all over the event.

The moment you walked in he had flung out of his seat, loudly hissing “How could you be so brainless?”

You had stood there as still as a soldier, your back straightened and you kept your eyes trained in front of you, not moving, not following his figure as he walked around his desk. “I made a mistake.” You felt the blood from your wound trickle down your arm, pooling at your fingertips, mixing with the blood of the man you killed, and dripping on the floor. “It won’t happen again.”

He let out a singular breathy, irate laugh “You’re certainly right it won’t happen again.” He crept toward you, as a predator would to its prey “I should have you killed for this.”

Your neck tensed at the words, the tendons slightly stretching out, still, you stood there stoically, your eyes refusing to look at him. “Are you not?” You inquired through a breath. “Or am I to be fired? Banished from the lanes perhaps?” Against your better judgment, the words came out as a slight scoff.

You failed to keep in a small gasp as he reached his hand up to you, his fingertips lightly pressing into the sides of your cheeks as he guided your head up to look at him. His gaze was wild and intense. You couldn’t decipher what it was if it was intense anger, judgment, or maybe even concern. You didn’t know and you didn’t want to know. You imagine you probably looked like a scared, wide-eyed creature, caught under blinding lights.

“Banish you from the lanes?” He let out a low, sardonic chuckle as his face inched ever so closer, stopping just before your noses could touch. You swear, that for a split second his eyes flickered down to your lips before his low, velvety voice spoke. “No, I don’t imagine there is any dark corner of Zaun you could flee to that would relieve me of the knowledge of your existence” He released your face to slowly trail his hand down to your shoulder, letting his thumb graze over the wound. It wasn’t a hard touch, but it was enough to make you wince and hiss slightly in pain. “This should be lesson enough”

There you were now, sitting on a bench looking into those very same eyes, but this time they were attached to someone who was almost completely different. Your mouth slightly parted as you analyzed the Silco in front of you. There was such tenderness and care in the eyes you had grown to know as cold and callous. You let out a breath and softly shook your head as you collected your thoughts. “I think I just need to get some sleep.” You paused as you looked up to the sky “It’s been a.. weird day for me.”

“Right,” his hand abruptly left your thigh, as if he just then realized what he had been doing. “Of course.” He stood up and gave you a faint, sweet smile, offering his hand to help you up.

You didn’t fail to notice the light blush dusting over his cheeks. You found it embarrassing how you internally reveled at the sight. When working for him, the thought had passed by you sometimes, that he was a beautiful, wretched thing. The thought was always fleeting but left destruction in its wake. When reporting back to him, you would sometimes find your eyes trailing the lines of his scars, your fingers tingling at the thought of what it would be like to feel them, rough and rigid in all of their wicked glory. You wondered how he would respond to the touch. Would he flinch? Would his eyes flutter shut as he leaned into your touch? Would he too revel in your soft flesh meeting his timeworn face? You knew the story of how the river toxins ate through his face and corroded his nerves. You wondered if he couldn’t feel anything there at all now, or if perhaps instead, he was extra sensitive there, the nerves not completely wasted away, just there under a thin layer of skin waiting to be touched. You always had to shake the thought from your head. Snuff it out before the flame grew. You knew it would only leave you as nothing but a charred pile of bones in the end. He was not a man to be loved. He was not a man that wanted it. You were so sure of it. But as you looked up at the man in front of you, offering his hand in support as a light pink painted over his pale cheeks, you wondered if you were perhaps wrong. You knew you were staring at that point. Taking in the details of his face. He was entirely different yet somehow, wholly the same. The Silco before you seemed to be entirely made for love and you were afraid you were starting to believe that the Silco you knew had a part of him that was made for it too.

You see him start to shrink under your prolonged gaze, his hand faltering. But before you let him drop it to his side you offered him a soft smile before placing your hand on top of his palm. You wondered if he too felt the subtle spark emanating off of the touch. You wondered how often he touched you like this in this universe. Was it a common occurrence? Simple, genial touches exchanged between two friends? Were they ever perhaps something more? You were only left to wonder as he helped you to your feet, his hand releasing yours as soon as you found your footing.

He pulled open the doors of the bar, holding them open and allowing you to go in before following. The kind gesture almost seemed to be second nature for him. He looked a little confused when you sputtered out a “Thanks,” as you walked past him as if he didn’t know why he was being thanked.

“Ah, there she is.” You hear Vander’s hearty voice exclaim as he propped his elbows on the counter. “How are you feelin’, lass?”

You gave a weak smile as you approached. Your eyes darting to Powder who was now at the bar as well, two elbows leaning on to it to prop herself up as she stood cool and casually. “I’m uh… I’m doing alright.” you sputter out “I think I just need to go home, get some rest.” you then immediately realized that you were not quite sure where ‘home’ here was. Was it the same place as your original universe or somewhere entirely different? “Home…” you muttered the word to yourself “Speaking of, can somebody walk me home? I just don’t think I’m in any state to get there by myself.” you let out a weak and breathy chuckle, hoping that excuse was believable enough.

You noticed a small, mischievous smirk play on Powder's lips as she looked between you and Silco, her face quickly dropping to appear casual as she pushed herself off the bar “Well, I have to meet up with Ekko to discuss what we’re doing for the innovator's competition” she then leaned slightly over the bar to put a hand on Vander’s shoulder “And Dad here has to close up the bar, so that leaves…” her eyes trailed to the man standing next to you as she donned a cheerful face “Uncle Silco! Be a gentleman and walk the girl home, would ya?”

All eyes fell onto him. His own eyes propped open a bit in a silent surprise before he cleared his throat and answered “Oh uh yes, of course.”

“You gonna be good to come in tomorrow?” Vander chimed in with the question.

You nodded, your eyebrows and the corners of your mouth downturned in a determined expression “Yes,” the answer came out weakly so you cleared your throat before speaking again “Yes, I’ll be fine. What time am I coming in?” your eyebrow raised slightly as you asked.

Vander let out a deep chuckle as he ran a rag over the surface of the bar “Jeez, you must be really out of it. 4 o’clock as always”

You awkwardly chuckled “Ah right, of course,” you spoke as if you were suddenly remembering, tapping the side of your head to indicate being a ditz “Silly me.” They all looked at you silently, one of Powder’s eyebrows raised in amusement and confusion. You just blinked and cleared your throat again before turning around “Right then, let’s go.”

Silco walked slightly ahead of you, pushing the door open for you yet again. As you walked out of the bar you heard the faint voice of Vander as he talked to Powder, the low rumble of a chuckle coming out of him “You’re gonna give that poor man a heart attack one day.”

Muscle Memory | ao3

Chapter tags: Silco/Reader, Silco, Alternate universe Silco, Reader-insert, reader works for Silco in original universe, Vander, Jinx, Powder, Ekko slowburn, friends to lover, but also don’t really like each other to lovers, depends on the universe, eventual romance, alternate universe (s02e07), no use of y/n, implied older man/younger reader, gender-neutral pronouns, sexual tension, like a lot of it, sexually charged dart match Chapter CW: Vomiting (Only in the first paragraph), mentions of nausea

Rating: Mature, possibly explicit in the future, 18+ minors dni

Chapter word count: 7k

Taglist: @karolinda007-blog

Banner from @cafekitsune

You felt yourself cocooned inside a soft blanket, your body sinking into the firm mattress. You struggled to peel your eyes open, feeling a deep pit of nausea crawling up your chest. Rolling over to the side of your bed, you expel mostly water. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of your face making a soft patter as it hit the floor. With a groan, you rolled back onto your back, staring at the ceiling. You pried your hands from the comfort of your blanket to rub your eyes. Looking back at you was a ceiling that was no longer riddled with damp spots and cracks filled with crudely made drywall mud. You blinked the bleariness from your eyes as you remembered.

Right.

Alternate Universe.

Silco.

Bartender.

4 o’clock.

You craned your neck to the left, the side of your face sinking into the pillow as you looked at the small clock on the bedside table.

2:30.

You huffed, it wasn’t often you let yourself have the privilege of sleeping in this late, but you supposed it could be excused in this… less than average situation. You unraveled yourself from the blankets, the cool air hitting your skin immediately causing goosebumps that woke you up completely. You yawned as you sat up, swinging your legs off the side of your bed. Two feet met the cool, wooden floor beneath you. You wiggled your toes at the sensation. It was cold but not nearly as cold as the cement floor you were used to. 

For a few minutes, you just sat there reflecting on the events of last night. 

After you had walked out of the bar, Silco and you walked side by side as if it were a normal occurrence. Sometimes he would turn at a street corner, expecting you to turn at the same time, but not knowing where you were going, you kept on walking, nearly tripping over yourself when you realized he had turned. By the third time he caught you off guard with a turn you weren’t expecting, he just started to lightly grasp your upper arm whenever he was about to turn to make sure you followed. You knew, to him, you probably just seemed so out of it you couldn’t remember how to get home, but in reality, you just had absolutely zero clue where you were headed. The streets of Zaun were so different that even if your apartment was in the same spot as your universe, you doubted you would’ve been able to navigate yourself there. You took in the environment around you, the cleanly bricked streets illuminated by string lights. Buildings were whole and decorated rather than falling apart. There were no newspapers and tape covering windows or wooden panels covering holes in roofs. The night sky was clear with stars instead of the thick blanket of smog that you were used to covering the city like a permanent rain cloud.

“When did everything get so beautiful?” you questioned softly as you looked around in quiet awe.

Silco had let out a soft chuckle beside you “I ask myself the same question sometimes” his head turned up to look at the stars as you walked in tandem “Sometimes, it feels like it happened all at once” he then tilted his head back down to return his gaze in front of him. His voice softened ever so slightly as he continued “And other times, it feels as if it was a painstakingly slow process.”

The irony was not lost on you as you visualized what was the current state of your Zaun. You couldn’t help the way your mouth contorted into a tiny, bitter smirk “I know the feeling” you quietly concurred.

At that moment, a part of you wanted to scream. You wanted to cry. You didn’t know what this was. Or why you were brought here. You just knew that you would now be forever cursed with knowledge of how good things could’ve been. That this future was so close and yet just out of reach for your universe. How could you ever possibly go back after seeing this? But how could you possibly stay? You weren’t sure if you even had the privilege to choose. Part of that realization relieved you, that you didn’t have control over that. But you would’ve been lying if you said it didn’t awaken a simmering anger deep in your chest, being so helpless. Being left to the whims of the arcane. You didn’t, however, scream and cry at that moment. You just continued to walk in silent resignation. Letting the sound of your congruent footsteps, soles meeting brick, rhythm in your ears.

“Am I a good bartender?” You had abruptly asked, forcing the topic of the conversation to be changed. 

Silco let out an amused hum, a smirk playing on his lips as his eyes moved to look at you from the side “Feeling doubtful of our skills, are we?” His tone was light and teasing.

The playful roll of your eyes came to you so naturally. As if you two had danced this dance many times before. 

It would’ve been so easy to think that this could’ve never occurred with the Silco you knew. That he was too rigid, too mean, to have ever let an interaction like that occur. And the truth was, he was rigid and he was mean but he wasn’t soulless. A memory flashed through your head, projecting over the Silco next to you. You were back in your Zaun again, back with your Silco. His arm was slung over you as he drooped weakly. You think you were walking down the very same street except going toward The Last Drop rather than away. His other arm clutched to his side, his hand covering the edge of his abdomen. He had just been shot. A meeting had gone wrong, people scattered everywhere. You remembered how he froze as the gun was pulled out, as the trigger was squeezed, as he then stood there with the bullet in his skin. Sevika had been on the culprit in an instant and you didn’t know why, but your first instinct was to run over to Silco before he could topple over. Sevika had stayed behind to fight, allowing Silco and you to make your escape.

Your eyes glanced over to him as you supported him. His jaw tensing and his scowl deepening by the second. You could tell he absolutely despised being seen like this, being so vulnerable. His silence lingered thick in the air. His mind had always possessed more fortitude than his body. He wasn’t weak by any means, his multitude of scars demonstrating that, but still, he was not the type to just walk a bullet wound off. You practically felt the ire simmering off his body. You still don't know what possibly possessed you to break the silence, but you did.

“How are you holding up?” The question came out slightly heaved as you took on some of his body weight.

“I’ve just been shot” he hissed out, the words causing spit to fly through the air “How do you think?”

“Right,” You let out an exasperated exhale through your nose, you weren’t able to stop the slight roll of your eyes. You’d been shot before, you knew it wasn’t pleasant in the slightest, but you also knew that the bullet didn’t hit any organs, he wasn’t dying and his passionate anger sure attested to it. “Just thought I should ask.” The two of you continued to walk in limped steps. His entire body weight wasn’t leaned onto you, he still had some strength, you were mostly there to keep him steady. “You know, you could be a little nicer to the person literally helping you to safety right now” You don’t know what emboldened you to say that but the words had already left your mouth.

He let out a scoff in response “I’ll consider it when we actually make it to safety”

You had two options at this point. Continue with your audaciousness or relent. Unfortunately for you, it wasn’t like you to back down. “Or I could just leave you here.” you threatened in an almost teasing tone, clearly not being serious considering you were still walking with his arm slung over your shoulder.

“You do that, and I can guarantee you won’t live to see tomorrow.” His voice was a threatening growl, but you could feel his body tensing, his breath becoming more ragged. He knew he was at your mercy.

“Relax” you puffed some air through your nose. His arm was starting to slide off you so you readjusted yourselves pulling his arm tighter around your shoulders “I would never actually do that” Your arm then instinctively moved down behind him, your hand landing on his hip bone to keep him steady. You felt his body tense faintly under your touch and you ignored the swirling feeling in your stomach.

Hunched over as he continued to walk in tandem with you, his eyes had to turn upward to look at your face. You saw his head slightly turned to your direction through your peripheral as you kept your eyes straight ahead. You basically sensed the lightest smirk on his face, it was condescending, satisfied, and teasing all at once. You wondered how he was always able to convey so many meanings in just one gesture. “I’m sure you’re tempted, though” his voice was low and gravelly.

You remembered how you let a soft, breathy chuckle out at that. Maybe it was because of his sheer audacity, maybe it was just the whole situation, but either way, you just did. “And you’d be right” 

You flung the memory from your mind with a squeeze of your eyes and a slight shake of your head. No, it was much harder to think about how this kind of banter had happened before, because that made him human to you, it had made him more than The Eye of Zaun, and it had made him too similar to this Silco you were growing fond of. 

“No, I’m just curious what you think” you replied as the memory faded from your thoughts.

“Well I think” he started “that Vander wouldn’t have hired you if you weren’t good”

You laughed at that “I don’t know, Powder can be pretty convincing”

“That is true” he stopped to look at you “but I don’t think anyone would ever need to be convinced of your talents”

The way he looked at you made you queasy,  a subtle nausea that crawled up through your chest. Like he would personally pluck the stars from the sky for you if you had asked. Like there was something he wanted to say constantly hanging on the end of his tongue but refusing to leave his mouth. Like that night you had carried him home, you ignored that swirling feeling in your stomach. It was soon after that you had arrived to your place. Sure, enough, it was the same apartment from your universe only… much more renovated.

You sat on the edge of your bed letting out a frustrated groan as you thought about it, running your fingers through your hair. Being stuck in an alternate universe was challenging enough. But having to deal with him? The way he looked at you? The way he spoke to you so softly? That was a completely different challenge in itself.

Your knees wavered at first as you stood up, still adjusting to the new universe. You stumbled your way over to the full-length mirror that rested against your wall. Like Silco and Jinx, there were subtle differences about you. Your hair was a bit longer and your body was softer. You lifted your baggy shirt up to look at your stomach, it was pliant and scarless. Your hand ran over your new body grabbing parts of the tender flesh. The change wasn’t too drastic but it was evident you weren’t running anymore, weren’t fighting, weren’t just surviving. You took a step closer to analyze your face. Your cheeks were more filled out and the dark circles under your eyes were lighter. You tested out a smile in the mirror to see how it looked, it felt so natural to do, you must’ve been happy here.

The afternoon was filled with several more surprises as you looked through your apartment. It almost felt like you were snooping, the way you were looking through drawers and cabinets, opening journals and books, trying to see what little pieces of your other self's life you could put together. You pulled some clothes out of the dresser chuckling a little as you looked at the material. It is exactly the kind of clothes you had always imagined yourself wearing if you had the privilege. Still matching to your original style but neater and more put together. 

As 4 o’clock neared you started retracing your steps from last night back to the last drop. It was much easier to navigate in the daylight. The city was bustling, street vendor shops open and busy, children running through the streets, and the sunlight shining down from the clear sky. Your hair is blown forward from the breeze of a monocycle whizzing past you. A profound joy bubbles up inside of you as you walk through the city in all its glory.

Your steps faltered as you approached The Last Drop, your eyes scanning over the exterior of the building. You hadn’t truly had the opportunity to look at it the night before. No longer was there the blindingly green neon lights arranged to look like an eye. The building itself was a pleasant mixture of mint green and brick red, its signature sign in the same place it had always been. That was the one constant of the building, you noticed. In your timeline, even when Silco had taken over the sign remained as the iris of the bar's signature green eye. You never understood why he kept the name, kept the sign. But you had your theories. Perhaps it was his way of conquering it, mocking Vander, saying ‘It’s mine now, I’ve corrupted it and you aren’t here to do anything about it” or maybe, a part of you thought, it was his deranged way of keeping an old friend’s memory.

Your knowledge of Silco and Vander’s relationship was limited. It was kind of an open secret in The Lanes, that they used to be friends so close they would call each other ‘brother’. You didn’t know the full story, but you knew that the two had a falling out at some point during the failed uprising, and the next time Silco was seen, he had that scar. When Vander died and Silco took over, you would hear hushed voices of the older Zaunites discussing it. Eventually, though, the whispering stopped, afraid of inciting his rage. 

You were pulled from your thoughts when you felt a hand connect to your shoulder in a friendly smack “Look who it is!” The voice of a young man exclaimed cheerfully “Powder told me you weren’t feeling well last night, how are you doing?” 

Your head whips to see a young man at your eye level, wearing a pale green blazer with a white shirt and vest. His stark white locs were pulled back into a ponytail and small gold earrings on each lobe reflected off of the sun. You didn’t recognize him but there was something familiar about him you couldn’t quite put your finger on. Your mind scrambled to remember something Powder had said last night.

“I have to meet up with Ekko to discuss what we’re doing for the innovator's competition”

“Ekko!” you tried to match his cheer, your eyebrows raising a bit as you tested the name, hoping you were right that this was who she was referring to. When you’re not met with confusion, you continue “Yeah, yeah, I’m feeling a lot better” It wasn’t completely a lie, you were feeling better, the pounding in your head dulled and the nausea was subsiding. Still, you weren’t exactly feeling great.

“That’s good, see you inside.” He offered you a friendly smile and patted your shoulder as he walked past you making his way into the building.

You followed soon after, laying your hand flat against the door as you pushed it open. The vibrant aura immediately flooded your senses. You were able to get a much better view of the interior when you weren’t still completely reeling from your interdimensional travel. Your eyes scanned across the room. Ekko, Powder, Mylo, and Claggor were all sitting in booths at a table, merrily talking to each other. On the other side of the room, you see a few guests pulling levers on rudimentary arcade games. The room was bright, light spilling in through windows and the detailed glass surroundings of the door. As you walked in, you noticed a dartboard hanging on the wall. Underneath were papers taped onto the wall, all doodles from Powder you assumed. Some were scores of past games, but one you noticed was an ongoing tally of games won. You fondly smiled as you looked at the scoreboards she drew, one of them containing drawings of Silco, Vander, a man who could only assume was Benzo, and you. You eyed the scores, Benzo far in first, Silco and you tied for second, and Vander in last. The scores between Silco and you caught your eye, you wondered if there was an ongoing competitiveness between the two of you. It sure sounded like you. And it sure sounded like him.

You turn around as you hear Vander call your name “Hey, you turned up!” He heartily exclaimed as he poured a drink for a customer  “How are you feeling, lass?”

You warmly smile as you walk up to the bar “I told you I would,” you rest both your elbows on the bar “And I’m doing alright”

He chuckled as he placed the glass he filled and slid it to the customer “Well what are you just standin’ there for? Start pouring some drinks.”

That’s when you visibly froze. You didn’t actually know how to bartend, that was a skill that was completely original to your alternate universe self “Right,” you nervously chuckled as you pushed your elbows off the table “Pour some drinks.” you repeated as you hesitantly walked behind the bar.

The moment you got behind the bar, Vander finished up a drink he was pouring and took the towel off his shoulder, softly whipping it over yours “I got some crates in the back alley from a shipment this morning, take care of things while I bring them in, would ya’?” 

It was more of an instruction than a question as he started walking away before you were even able to answer. You felt sweat collect on your brow as you internally panicked, hoping the raw fear wasn’t visible on your face.

You looked around at the various taps and barrels, at least they were all labeled. Maybe this wouldn’t be so hard, maybe people would come in and simply order whatever was on tap. You squeezed your eyes shut as if to reset yourself and took a deep breath. You literally worked for Silco, you’ve done countless dangerous jobs, surely you could handle bartending. 

When you opened your eyes, a young man was sitting at the bar, you put on the most polite smile you could muster up and went up to him “What can I get for ya?” You hoped that came out like it was normal.

You simply nodded as he ordered a Whiskey Sour, the smile stuck on your face with blank eyes. The second you turned around your smile dropped. Whiskey Sour? That was just whiskey and lemon, right? But how much? You internally panicked as you reached for the bottle of whiskey under the bar. As you started pouring it into a glass your muscles suddenly moved on their own, turning the bottle up before you could pour too much in. You could’ve cried out of relief.

Thank Janna, this body had muscle memory.

You still had to think though, the cogs in your head turning every time a drink that consisted of more than one ingredient was ordered as you tried to figure out what was in it. You continued to make drinks as the sun started to set, the golden light cascading in through the windows. You were so caught up in the drink-making frenzy that you didn’t notice someone standing behind you “Need a hand?” You jolted in surprise, your hand jerking the glass up causing the ice to jump out and part of the drink to splash onto your shirt. You turned around to see Silco, his face being shocked as well at first but soon melting into a gentle chuckle. You placed a hand on your chest as you regained your breath from the scare. “I’m sorry, I thought you knew I was there,” he spoke between his low, soft laughter.

Just as you thought you were snapping out of your shock from the dichotomy of the two timelines, he had to let that joyous sound fall from his lips again. Like a stricken chord from an unfamiliar song, causing goosebumps to crawl up your arms and a strange feeling to settle in your chest. You tried to ignore the quick palpitation of your heart. If his smile was like a knife to your gut, his laugh was like the knife being twisted. Your jaw tensed as you resisted the urge to become slack-jawed. Quickly composing yourself, you straightened your back and swatted his shoulder before turning back to the bar, continuing the drink. “When did you even get here? I didn’t see you come in.”

“From the back, I was helping Vander with the shipment” His head gestured towards the back door.

You shook the drink in a shaker, keeping your body turned away from him “Where is Vander anyway?”

You heard him start to move behind you, picking up a towel from under the counter “I believe Powder and Ekko stole him away. No doubt making him listen to their ramblings over the innovator’s competition” his rich voice spoke with a hint of amusement.

You gave him an acknowledging hum in response as you poured the drink into a short glass. You swiveled on your heels to turn around and walked up to the front of the bar, placing the drink down for the customer. You spoke again as you turned around, resting your palms on the edge bar as you leaned back. “I should be fine here, I don’t need any help” you hoped that was convincing enough.

The truth was, you probably did need the help but there was something in your gut telling you to keep your distance from this Silco. Whatever was happening between him and your other self was something you didn’t have the heart to look into. If you thought too deeply about it, you might find something there. You didn’t know what the probability of getting back to your original timeline was, but in the event that you did, you were already going to have a hard enough time interacting with Silco again, you didn’t want to make it even harder for yourself.

He let out a small chuckle as he walked up next to you “You, my friend, have always been a bad liar,” he then leaned slightly over the counter, speaking to a customer that had just walked up “What can I get you?”

Right, of course, he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. It may have been an alternate universe, but it was still Silco. You let out an exasperated sigh as you turned around to face the bar, standing parallel to him “I am not” you let out defensively.

He gave a short, playful scoff, his head turning to look at you before bending down to get a bottle of ale “Whatever helps you sleep at night, darling”

Your heart stuttered at the nickname. It rolled off his tongue so smoothly, so casually and he didn’t seem phased by it at all. Sure, it was playful and teasing, no real weight being held in its usage, but the endearment was still jarring. As every interaction with him had left you so far, you were asking yourself if this behavior was normal between the two of you.

Yet another thing for you to ignore.

 ─── ⋆⋅⋅⋆ ───

An hour went by as the two of you worked in tandem, shoulders sometimes brushing lightly as you passed each other. You tried to maintain the wall you decided to put up, but it soon proved to be much more difficult than you thought it would be. Your responses to his quips and comments spilled out of your mouth naturally and unwittingly. The two of you conversed as if it was a well-practiced waltz. The banter, the teasing, the small smiles you saw creased into his face as you would pass each other. It was almost too much, you had felt yourself dizzying slightly. He was spinning you too much in this dance. 

As the bar started to settle down, Powder and Ekko emerged from another room, planting themselves on stools at the bar.

“Well, we’re utterly doomed.” Powder's raspy voice spoke as she laid her head on the table in exasperation.

Ekko sighed as he placed a hand on her back “Oh come on, we’ll figure it out,” he comforted her “We still have plenty of time.”

“Are the geniuses having doubts?” Silco turned around as he cleaned the inside of a glass

Powder let out a muffled “Yes” at the same time Ekko confidently spoke “No”

“We’re just” Ekko started, squinting a little as he articulated his thoughts “Lacking inspiration on what to make for the competition is all”

Facing away from them, you looked up in thought, recalling a sweet drink that you saw Jinx sometimes get when she was lost in her woes. You poured out a carbonated lemon-lime drink and mixed it with a sugary pomegranate syrup. You spun around and placed the glass down with a soft thud, causing Powder to lift her head slowly from the table. You popped a metal straw in the drink. Her face softened as she looked between you and the drink. 

“Thanks,” she quietly muttered with a smile hinting on the corners of her lips as she went in for a sip.

Behind you, you heard the thunk of a door closing which was soon followed by Vander’s hulking figure behind Silco and you. He clasped two study hands, one on your right shoulder and one on Silco’s left. Vander’s face turned slightly to regard Silco “You’re not scheduled today, what’re you doin’ behind the bar?” 

A small teasing smirk rose on the corner of Silco’s mouth “Our little star bartender needed the help,” 

“Ah right,” Vander’s robust voice spoke with a smile as he patted Silco’s shoulder “Cause you’re so selfless” he quipped, causing Silco to raise his good eyebrow up in mock offense. He released your shoulders “Well, about time to close up, Powder, Ekko, want to help two old men and a tired bartender out?”

The four of you then began to clean, Powder sweeping the floors, Silco cleaning glasses, Vander cleaning the bar, and Ekko and you splitting up cleaning the tables. Cheerful chatter broke out as you all worked, Powder and Ekko spitballing ideas for the competition and talking about their day and Vander enthusiastically responding. Silco, who even in this universe wasn’t the biggest conversationalist, would occasionally chime in with a few comments and quips. You, for the most part, stayed quiet, both from not knowing how to participate and from just wanting to listen to them all interact. You reached a table pressed up against the wall, next to it was the dartboard you noticed earlier. Your strokes over the wooden table with your damp, soapy rag became weaker as you fixated on the board and the scores. 

Clearly lost in thought, you were snapped out of it by Silco’s playfully goading voice from across the room “Contemplating our next match?”

You covered up your distracted mind with a playful snort “Yeah, just coming up with all the ways I can beat you” 

“Then I don’t suppose you’d be opposed to a match when we’re finished up here?” He raised his good eyebrow “We need to break our tie after all.” 

The way he spoke was reminiscent of the Silco you knew but just in an entirely different context. This wasn’t charged with ire and power, this was playful, over something trivial, but still low and velvety. You’d be lying if you didn’t say it didn’t stir something deep within you, a warm queasiness settling low in your stomach like molten hot butterflies. 

“Fine then,” You tried to retain an entirely blasé look on your face as you turned back to continue wiping down the table “You’re on.”

It wasn’t long after that you all were finished. Powder lazily slung an arm around Ekko “I’m gonna walk boy genius over here back to Benzo’s” 

Vander’s head perked up lightly “Mind if I join? I got some business to do with him”

Powder enthusiastically agreed as if this had been rehearsed, the three sharing a look between each other like they knew something Silco and you didn’t. You watched the confident smirk that was on Silco’s face falter, his good eye suddenly looking nervous at the prospect of being alone with you.

‘Ah,’ you thought as a realization dawned on you ‘he’s all bark and no bite’

When people were around he was smug, he was witty but you had seen him yesterday when you were alone. You saw the nervous fidget of his hands, the blush sweeping across his face after he realized he was touching you, his small silences as he chose what to say next. There was something there, something real, something raw.

And something that was entirely too much for you to think about at that moment.

Ekko bade farewell to you two and Powder and Ekko did the same in case you were gone by the time they got back.

You were the first one to walk over to the dart board, a mixture of enthusiasm and pure, unadulterated dread. 

“Eager, are we?” The tease fell from his lips. You could basically feel the expression he was making behind you as he followed. A small smirk twisted from the scarred side of his face. 

You didn’t turn around. You walked up to the board and plucked the blue darts from it, zeroing in your focus on the approaching game and nothing else. “I can’t wait to watch that smug look fall from your face when you get your ass handed to you” you quipped at him, allowing your eyes to fall on him for a split second to drive the point home, You stepped back with the darts in hand, your eyes following Silco as he went to collect his darts. 

He walked back and got up onto a table in a half sit, his legs long enough to be firmly planted on the ground, mostly using the table to lean back on. One hand laid flat on the table behind him to keep him propped up. His other hand holding his red darts. With the same expression on his face, he simply raised an arm up towards the board, gesturing for you to go.

You felt like you wanted to crawl out of your skin from the way he observed you. It felt downright libidinous how his eyes traced over you as you held your first dart up. You saw him in the corner of your eye, leaning onto the table in a blasé manner, his good eye half-lidded, and his fingers splayed out atop the table. 

Maybe this dart match wasn’t a good idea. 

You tried to block him out of your peripheral as you kept your eyes trained on the darts, biting the inside of your cheek as you focused. One round, the two you had agreed on. One round to break the current tie. You could do this. You brought your arm lightly back and propelled the dart forward. With a satisfying thud against the cork, your dart pierced the middle double ring under the 18. Not exactly where you were aiming but still a nice 36 points. You suck in a deep breath as you prepare your next dart, gliding off your fingers it lands on another double, 28 points. You couldn’t help the small, proud smile that graced your face. Your dart skills here clearly outweighed the ones from your timelines. Your eyes flickered to the side to glance at Silco, his eyes still trained on you, focusing on you like you were focusing on the dart board. “Feeling nervous?” You teased.

He let out a soft chuckle “I’ll let you know after you throw your last dart”

You shook your head with a smile as you focused back on the board.

Breathe in

Relax wrist

Pull back

Throw

The dart hit the board, delivering a satisfying thud. A wide smile slowly spreads across your face as your eyes narrow onto the dart's location.

Bullseye.

You couldn’t help the way you clasped your hands together and gave a little victory jump. Practically beaming. “Ha!” You exclaimed excitedly as you pointed to the dart “Look at that!”.

Lost in your celebration you didn’t notice the genuine smile perking up on the corner of Silco’s lips as he looked at you with the most ardent endearment.

Reeling from that high you composed yourself, pressing your lips together as you tried to suppress your smile. You stepped back, gesturing your hands to your spot with a bow, playfully inviting him to take his turn. With a curl of his lips, he pushed himself off the table and strode over.  

“Nervous yet?” You continued your light ribbing.

“If you think that scared me,” he started, glancing back at you with the corner of his lip curling up into a slight grin “you’re sorely mistaken” he spoke low and smoothly before training his eyes back on the board and throwing his first dart with a quick flick of his wrist.

You rolled your eyes playfully as you relaxed yourself on the table he was previously on, 

crossing your arms over your chest. With a precision that almost makes you jump up, he hits the same spot you did on your first try. 36 points.

His lips crooked into a wry smile. “Only 118 points,” he spoke to himself with a quick cock of his head, the smile unmoving from his face “That should certainly be doable”

You lightly scoffed, lolling your head back in exasperation.

You could tell he was pleased with your annoyed reaction, his back straightening a little. He was like a bird showing off his feathers, putting his ego out on full display. Whether it was just to get a rise out of you or to impress you, you didn’t know. But you think it was probably both.

He lifts his arm back up again for his second throw. Another sound of a dart hitting cork filling your ears. 

Bullseye.

He didn’t turn to face you but you could feel the cocky grin basically radiating off of him. “Are you going to perhaps ask again if I’m feeling nervous?”

You leaned your hips against the end of the table as you eyed the man with contempt. He gave a slight chuckle at your charged silence as he raised his final dart up.

He trained his eyes on the board, his hand slightly teetering back and forth as he calculated his precision. His cocky expression never wiped from his face. As he moved his hand back one more time, ready to launch the dart. You spoke.

You quite don’t know what emboldened you, you probably were just fed up and wanted to see that smile wipe off of his face. But perhaps, something deep inside of you just wanted to see him blush again “I could give you something to feel nervous about” you spoke in an almost annoyed mutter, just loud enough for him to hear.

The dart released from his hand.

4 points.

His shot was thrown off.

You didn't have the time to process what you just said as you jumped up in elation. You raised your arms and let out a triumphant  “Ha!” You strode over the scoreboard and scratched a tally next to the drawing of your face.  You were practically beaming as you turned back around to him, approaching him to gloat. In other situations, you would’ve been a humble winner, but with him, he released a feral competitiveness inside you. In the midst of your jubilant and prideful celebration, you didn’t notice how close you had gotten to him. The realization only hit you like a cold splash of water when you saw that beautiful sanguine color splashed across his pallid face. You weren’t paying attention to know if it bloomed from your little comment or your closeness.  It had only just donned on you then that his scar was on full display, uncovered by any makeup. In your universe, that was a rare sight. Here, it appeared to be the norm. It had never occurred to you as to why your Silco covered his scar up. 

You noticed how he would avoid his reflection. Most people, when they walk past a reflective surface like a dark window or a shiny glass, can’t help but take a peek at how they look at that moment. But whenever Silco passed one, he wouldn’t even move his eyes to take a glance, avoiding it like a plague. He kept his eyes trained forward, stoic, and unyielding to the vainness of the rest of humanity. But perhaps it wasn’t vainness he was avoiding, but shame. 

You’d seen him bare-faced, rarely, but you have. You never thought it affected his face too terribly. You could clearly picture his face without the scar carved into him. No, whatever it was from the scar that truly affected him ran more than skin deep. His shame, his agony, his rage burrowed itself into his heart. Each aortic pulse pushing those feelings fervently through his veins like the molten lava seeping from a volcano. 

It was a constant reminder of the betrayal. A constant reminder of the weakness he felt that day. A constant reminder of everything he left in the past. 

His head turned downwards to look at you. Eyes flickering across your face, his good eye wide. Eyes, lips, eyes and then settling in on the spot in between your eyebrows to feign eye contact. You felt the heat of his breath mist over your nose. You quickly sobered your expression up and cleared your throat, stepping away as you felt a heat bloom in your cheeks. You extended your hand out to be shaken. “Good game, good game” you awkwardly spoke as you nodded your head.

He cleared his throat as well, his face quickly morphing into nonchalance as he reciprocated the handshake. “That was unfair, you know.” He spoke lowly and mirthfully. His grip around your hand was tight, nothing painful, but firm.

You looked up to the ceiling, feigning innocence “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about” 

Your eyes look back down to meet his as the two of you entwined your hands for a period of time that was entirely too long to be considered a brief handshake. Slowly, he released his hand, his thumb grazing over your knuckle as he retracted. “I’m sure you don’t,” he spoke with a curl of his lips. He gave you a quick bow of his head “I suppose you’re officially our second-place dart player. Now you just need to worry about Benzo.”

You let out a singular breathy laugh “Right, it’s about time someone new took on the mantle of ‘resident dart master’.” The two of you shared a dry chuckle before falling into a short silence. Feeling your eyelids grow heavy, you broke it the silence by dismissing yourself “well, I better get home.” You point both thumbs over your shoulder towards the door.

“Right, of course” he nodded before he raised his good eyebrow “Remember the way?”

You pressed your lips together and nodded. You weren’t sure you could spend another minute with this man without doing something you might regret later. You bade each other a good night before turning around to walk to the door. As your hand wrapped around the handle, you thought aloud to yourself “Shouldn’t Vander and Powder be back by now?” 

Your question was answered as you pulled open the door, Vander and Powder scrambling to look like they were just about to walk in. 

“Oh would you look at that,” Powder exclaimed with a sheepish smile “You’re leaving just as we were coming in,” she snapped her fingers in feigned disappointment “And here I was hoping to catch the match.”

Vander just nodded in agreement, mumbling something along the lines of “Oh, yes.”

The door was way too far from the dart board for them to have been eavesdropping. Were they waiting out here while you two played? You banished the thought from your head. You were beginning to pile up on things you should ignore. You chuckled and shook your head in disbelief as you walked past them. “I’ll see you tomorrow, you guys.”

As you waved to them, walking away, Vander called out “Who won?”

“Ask him,” you gestured your head to the establishment with a proud smile before turning back around “Goodnight!”

That night, as you curled up into the comfort of your bed, your dreams were full of him, but which one of him you could not recall.

Maybe one of them dreamed of you too.

a/n:

Well, this certainly is a chapter that exists. I’m not sure if anyone was actually waiting with bated breath for the next chapter of this fic but if you were IM SORRY it took so long. I lost motivation when it got to the dart scene because I didn’t know how to write a dart scene because I do not in fact know how to actually play darts. So apologies if the writing quality drastically went down during that. Anyways, if anyone has any good writing tips for stuff I could use instead of repeating shit like “he grinned” or “she chuckled” that would be much obliged.

And yes, I do in fact headcanon that Jinx/Powder would FIEND for a good shirley temple.

You weren't sure how you ended up here and you weren't sure how you were going to get back.

All you knew was that as you looked upon his wretched and beautiful face, you were feeling things you hadn't allowed yourself to before.

Tags: Silco, alternate universe Silco, Reader-insert, reader works for Silco in original universe, Vander, Jinx, AU Powder, Ekko, Heimerdinger, Mylo, Claggor, slowburn, friends to lover, but also don’t really like each other to lovers, depends on the universe, eventual romance, alternate universe (S2E7), reader is transported to the alternate universe and is really confused, flashbacks, dubious hexcore usage, writer has a poor grasp on the science and magic system, just go along with it, no use of y/n, implied older man/younger reader Cw: canon-typical violence, eventual smut (maybe??) bugs (kind of, reader uses the descriptor of something feeling like maggots in their skin), vomiting, nausea

New to this so let me know if I missed any! Will also update as I write.

Ongoing total word count: 12k

Not sure where this fic will go but I’m just gonna say 18+ minors dni to be safe.

Cross-posted on ao3

Chapters

Chapter 1 - Familiar Faces | ao3