Zaun is a cruel place for the lost, and tonight, you’re out of options. Cornered by enforcers in the Sumps, their taunts cut deep as they close in. Just as you prepare to fight—or fall—a voice cuts through the chaos, low and commanding.

“Enough,” Silco says.

The enforcers freeze. Their sneers vanish, replaced by fear, and they scatter into the shadows without hesitation.

You collapse against the wall, breathing hard, as Silco steps closer. His mismatched eyes lock onto yours, sharp and searching. “You’ve made quite a mess,” he remarks, his tone calm but laced with authority.

“I didn’t ask for your help,” you mutter, defensive.

“No,” he replies smoothly. “But you needed it.”

He leans closer, gloved fingers tilting your chin to inspect a cut on your cheek. The gesture is surprisingly gentle, his voice softening. “What are you doing in Zaun?”

“Surviving,” you whisper. “That’s all.”

His expression doesn’t change, but his voice lowers. “Survival here comes at a cost.” He turns to leave, his coat sweeping behind him.

“Why save me, then?” you call out.

He pauses, glancing back. “Because no one else would,” he says quietly. “And because I see something in you worth saving.”

· · ──── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ──── · ·

From that night, Silco’s presence is unavoidable. At first, you resist, wary of his intentions, but his steady protection is impossible to ignore. As time passes, you begin to see the cracks in his armor—the way his voice softens when he speaks of Zaun’s future, the tenderness in his gaze when he looks at Jinx, and the rare vulnerability he shows when the world isn’t watching.

In a city like Zaun, love is dangerous, but with Silco, it feels inevitable. He is your protector, your anchor, and your salvation. And somehow, you are his.