#really wanted to write about Silco being a damsel in distress

[a-gal-with-taste]

Audacity of Rescue

A/N: Got some inspiration from this little fic from @chickenparm, that may or may not be on my religiously-read list, don't judge me, I can only IMAGINE what y'all got on yours-

Warnings: SFW; Crack only taken semi-seriously, kidnapping, rescue, power-dynamics, boss-employee relationship, rom-com/pre-slash if you squint, little bit of fluff, maybe one or two bootie-smacks & Silco finally shutting the fuck up

The proper response to your employer getting kidnapped is, rightfully, shock. No matter how high or low the pay, no matter if they are a decent boss or sent from hell itself, you would at the very least be shocked, if someone burst through the door, and announced that your boss had been kidnapped.

When it's Silco, however, the response is less shocked, and a bit more perplexed. Confused. Baffled, really, because... Silco had been kidnapped?

Even on your way to the warehouse in question, where your fellow henchman swore this was where he tracked the carriage, you can't help but turn again to Dustin, "You're sure?"

The confirmation, the fourth of the evening, doesn't erase your disbelief, even as your mind shifted into action-mode as Sevika gave the order to burst into the building, taking on the group by comeplete surprise, though not enough that they didn't leave more than a few bruises and scars. Sevika finally got tired of getting no further than the main floor, and snarled at you to go search out the Eye of Zaun.

Bewildered at the concept of the situation indeed, you hadn't hesitated to dash off in search of your employer.

It wasn't that your boss seemed untouchable, there was more than enough proof that the man was as mortal as anyone on the right-side of his face. But a kidnapping just seemed so... vulnerable. You'd never dare say it to his face, valuing your life over speaking your mind so openly, but the idea of the Eye of Zaun, head distributor of Shimmer, kingpin, King, and... well, the idea that it was Silco that had been shoved into a carriage, and driven off in the dead of night, just seemed utterly absurd.

About as absurd as the physical image of Silco was, with ankles crossed and tied while arms were pinned beneath him, writhing on the ground of the warehouse with muted grunts and snarls.

Muted, because clearly he had tried to talk his way out of the situation, and had gotten a gag for his trouble.

Silco. Bound, fuming and gagged.

It was the most absurd thing you had ever witnessed, and instead of more-appropriately reacting with shock of finding your boss tied up & gagged, you reacted instead at the bizarreness of entire situation of it-being Silco in such a predicament.

And you reacted, by laughing.

It was just a snort, short and sudden, but it had been enough for the man laying on the ground to snap his attention over to you. Unmatched eyes burned holes, with the fiery rage of an untamed sea, and the burning pits of hell itself. Rightfully, being caught in the attention of the Eye was infamous, but the pure venom in the way that Silco glared at you now, was quickly proving that both of the man's eyes could be just as deadly...

But then your eyes slipped from his, and caught sight of the gag again.

And another snort slipped out your nose, your hand reaching up to try and cover the noise. Though it wasn't hiding the unconscious, unhelpful curl growing on your lips, "I'm... so sorry."

The glare helped to stiffle it as you stepped closer over to the tied man, though even though his mixed-colored gaze was nothing short of furious, you found yourself biting your bottom lip as you ran your gaze down Silco's body, taking in his helpless state.

"By Janna, I just... I can't believe this is the world we live in," The next snicker also slipped out without permission, as you took note of the little half-bow knotted at his ankle. Another laugh tumbled from your lips, but this time actually provoked by what sounded like a suspiciously muffled 'shut up.'

Forcing your mind to remember exactly who this was, and the fact that your life was now on a timed-limit due to your initial outburst, you took your time to crouch down beside the trussed-up kingpins legs, reaching for the thick rope round around him.

Legs shifted just out of your reach, and your face deadpanned as you glared up at him.

Normally, when one met the enraged and defensive eyes of Silco, they'd be quick to look away. Consitering the shift in power-dynamics, you didn't even give him the courtesy of blinking, "Silco, come on. We're not drag this out more than necessary." If he seemed surprised at the sudden use of his name, in comparison to the 'boss' and 'sir' titles you usually used, he didn't react beyond a distrustful narrowing of his full-remaining eye until it was a mere slit.

A small sigh passed your lips, and you raised an unimpressed brow at him. "Do you want me to help, or do you want me to call in someone else?" You could already see the bastard start to nod, and added dryly. "Because, keep in mind, that's just another person whose going to see you like this. I plan to keep my mouth closed, you really trust everyone else to do the same?"

It wasn't that you particularly cared wheter or not someone-else took control of getting the Eye of Zaun freed, and spared him from further indignity at this predicament. But you knew the group too well, and though most would value their continuing employment, well-being, and state of living, drink flowed too well through your fellow lackeys.

You prided yourself on keeping this particular image to yourself, even after hitting more than a couple extra beers in the future. Not only as a humorous pick-up on your lowest days, to chuckle at when things seemed grim, but also because...

Well, deadly glare, less-than-ideal circumstance and wholly inappropriate-timing aside, the sight of Silco gagged was a mental image you rather selfishly wanted all for yourself.

Of course, you didn't dare voice that aloud, nor ever planned to. Had to keep professional. "If I wanted you dead or harmed, Silco, I would've done it by now." You point out with a frown, again gesturing to his bound legs, with both eyes darting briefly to catalog your every movement. "I know it's an extremely difficult concept for you but... trust me? Trust me to help you. If only to prevent my own demise." You added, not daring to overextended yourself by thinking your relationship went so far as trust.

Expecting another muffled round of snappish, probably sarcastic commentary, you were surprised when Silco instead reacted more cooperatively, shifting slightly on the bound arms beneath him to plop gold-tinged boots atop your own. Ignoring the expectant look from him, you muttered out a dry, "Well, thank you, your highness," and chose to focus on the knot-work instead of the low, warning grumble he offered in response.

Running your fingers on the thick, firm knot just above his ankles, you let out a small swear that had him tense. "These are good," You admitted, managing to wiggle a finger between pants and tight-rope and swear again when it didn't even budge. It made sense then, why Silco hadn't already gotten himself out of this situation. Knots tied too-well, and, judging by slightly ruffled clothing and crooked outturned-pockets, no equipment to saw through the bindings. You paused a beat, than, slightly sheepishly as you remember that you also weren't equipped for this, you quietly added, "Too good, actually... and I don't have a knife."

A questioning shout all but exploded behind the mouth-bit, and you frowned, "Well, sorry, but carrying a knife isn't a part of the official work-syllabus, now is it?" A bit surprised at yourself with how easy it was to snark and sass him, you caught the glint of shock in his teal eyes, just as you heard a distant, muted sound of warming, before the building gave a sudden shake. It went along nicely with the sound of an explosion.

"Great, looks like the fights starting to get juicy," You comment nonchalantly, knowing that you really were on a time-limit now as you reached over to curl your fingers around the lapels of Silco's vest. This immediately earned you two heels of booted feet, that nearly sent you sprawled onto your back.

He obviously wasn't able to say much, but the kingpin managed to work his teeth around the bit in his mouth to let out something that sounded close to, "What are you doing?"

"Again, believe or not, boss, helping." Hiding the sudden ache the new bruise gave you, you stared Silco dead in the eyes with a glare in your own. "There's a back door, and I got keys. We sneak you out, into the car, and back to the Last Drop before Sevika decides my scouting is taking too long."

Sevika would probably keep her mouth shut about this incident, if she were to walk through the doors right now. It would probably be easier, in fact, to run out and flag down Sevika from where she was knocking heads together, and cut out the middle man entirely by slashing the crimelord free.

But you knew it was highly likely that Silco's first act upon being free, would be to erase any and all memory of this humiliating incident. Which would likely result in your neck being snapped before you could blink, and so, for self-preservation reasons, this was a to remain a solo-operation.

The gag was just a bonus, as you really didn't want an ongoing string of commentary to go along with bending down to pick up the man by his vest, and haul the surprisingly-heavy leader of the Undercity onto one shoulder. Grateful for the extra muscle you'd built over the time with his gang, because although the man couldn't weigh 20 pounds soaking wet, it was still a weight you had to brace yourself for.

It didn't help that he decided to start wiggling. And yelling, loudly, from around the mouth-bit.

You imagine he wasn't muttering out praise and appreciation behind that gag, and found your irritation rising when you had to readjust him before he fell off, again, in his rather childish struggles.

"Oh, would you just...!" You don't know why it's almost instinctive, what you do next. Not much time to question it really, though, if Silco let's you survive the night, you imagine you would spend a fair bit standing in front of the mirror, glaring into the mirror-image of yourself.

To try and figure out what on earth possessed you to silence your boss's muffled complaints, growls and barrage of threats, by reaching a hand up, and swatting his ass.

For a moment, you think the rather light, if sharp blow, might've killed him.

Besides an immediate jerk at the tap, Silco goes stiller than death on your shoulder, and twice as quiet, to the point where you wondered if you were now rescuing a rigid corpse instead of a living man.

Then Silco started growling. This was different from his previous snarls, as this one was clearly wordless behind the gag, and in an unbroken, continuous stream of feral fury behind that gag.

But you found you couldn't care less, and the ability the gag gave you to freely speak without fear of immediate rebuke, made you even bolder. "Oh, shut up."

You enunciated your scowl with a small hike-up, further settling the tied kingpin over your shoulder, and not exactly being delicate with digging your shoulder-blade into his gut. "I'm rescuing you, boss. Something I could do more easier if you stopped squealing like a pissed-off feral rat every two seconds-"

The man indeed begin to sound rather rat-like through the cover over his mouth at that particular comment, and your audacity apparently knew no bounds in this situation.

Your hand flashed up, again, delivering another smack to his backside with the flat of your palm.

There was a small, muffled squeak, then blessed silence and stillness.

"Seriously," You hissed at him the moment he went quiet, body visibly shaking with anger. "Believe it or not, I'm trying do you a favor. Do you want half your force to come running and see you like this? Do you want an audience for this, Silco?" Perhaps it was the knowledge that, for your multiple indiscretions, you now faced a slow and painful death at his discretion, that made you unfearing of the man for whatever time he had left.

Unfearing, yes. But maybe, just maybe, you felt a bit of sympathy. You couldn't imagine this was a fun position to be in, and there were rumors of how Silco came to be, well... Silco.

"This never happened," You said, and bit more quietly and passively, as you made slower and careful adjustments onto your shoulder, bracing yourself against a wall to stand up fully with the added weight over a shoulder. All a bit more slowed and calculated, so he could anticipate; you hoped, when Silco inevitably came to strangle you, he would take the show of consideration on his behalf in mind. "We go to base, get you settled like nothing happened and we never bring it up again. Alright?"

Again, you had to wonder if the second-smack to his backside to shut him up, might've killed him again.

Remaining still and silent, you counted several seconds before the man relaxed a fraction. More akin to steel turning to hard-stone in comparison to actually relaxing, but it was an improvement nonetheless that made you smile slightly at the progress, and made it easier to start walking away from the fight, and to the back-exit.

You couldn't help but snort though, when you heard a muffled sentence as you walked out the backdoor with the tied crimelord slung over one shoulder like a slim, irate bag of flour.

"No, I think I'll leave that gag in," Again, a long glare in the mirror was due for when you got home, for what you said next. Well, if you survived the night long enough to get back home. "It's a good look on you, Silco."

The man got one more kick in, as you dropped him off in the passenger seat of the carriage. Despite the growing bruise, you couldn't help but bite your lower lip to hide a chuckle at the telling fact, that he waited until he was seated in the vehicle to lash out.

-

"Hey, Thieram!" Being one of the few remaining who occasionally used his legitimate name instead of the new nickname floating about, the bartender of The Last Drop acknowledged you with a bit more comradory.

That is, until he saw you walking into the empty Underground bar with his boss in your arms. Then, Thieram promptly dropped a glass.

"I'll pay off Ran's tab, if you promise to forget seeing this," You said sweetly after you caught your breath, if only to try and get the guy to look at you instead of gapping like a fish, for his own good. Looking down at the bound crimelord in your bridal-carry wasn't necessary, you could feel the heat of his murderous glare without even needing to be the central target. "...Thieram."

Arms were starting to strain under the weight of the lanky, Undercity's unofficial ruler in your arms, by the time he responded.

"Uh-huh?"

"Seriously, just do yourself a favor, forget you saw this." You said as you turned to the stairs, glaring up at each step before sighing, readjusting your tiring-grip. Gods knew you were already going to end up dead for this, you didn't want to know what your fate would be if you actually dropped the Eye of Zaun. "I'll pay Ran's tab, and he might just let you see morning."

That seemed to get him moving again, as you soon heard the telling scrape of broom-bristles quickly catching broken glass on the floor.

"He's won't say a thing, he'll sooner gurgle that glass than open his mouth," You muttered as you made your way up the stairs, back to the bannister for support before, after an eternity of climbing, you made it up to the second floor. A short breathing break, before you backed yourself into the room with a small kick, shutting the door behind you.

You managed to have enough strength in your growing-numb arms to set the man down in a slightly dignified way, nudging his feet onto the couch seat with your knee the moment your arms finally got a break. "Would you kill me if I went for a water-break?"

You couldn't help the small eyeroll when you only got a glare in response, adding fuel to the fire of his dual-colored gaze when he leaned his head towards you, turning to expose the back-buckle of the gag, and you only scoffed. "I don't need you monologuing on top for everything, just sit-tight for a couple more minutes."

Biting the inside of your cheek at the little joke wasn't helping matters, for Silco caught it immediately and narrowed his good-eye while the other flamed. To be spare from further scorching, you turned and headed to his desk, returning a minute later with not only a letter-opener; which was carefully placed down and set in-sight, but also a compact.

"Figure we got a five minute head-start on the rest of the team. If you want to look presentable, and not like you were just rescued from being tied and dumped on the ground of a warehouse, I can help with that," You offered, waving the compact slightly while his eyes flicked to it, than back to your face, a hint of confusion in the cutting glances. You could only shrug, appearing nonchalant. "It'll show you're unphased by this incident, like it doesn't even effect you. The guys will probably follow suit, and everyone will forget it much sooner."

Understanding shone briefly in his bright eye, but it took him another minute before he turned his cheek to show you the dark one, and hence, the side with ruined makeup and exposed scars.

This surprised you, but for the sake of letting him keep some of his grace, you only sat yourself on the edge of the couch, and didn't comment on the show of... well, not trust, because you could see both eyes trained wholly on you as you coated the small makeup-pad in the flesh-toned material. But at the very least, he didn't jerk away when you leaned over to start applying it to his skin.

"... First time I met you, you were doing this," You muttered, so quietly you thought he hadn't heard. Too focused on making sure the only thing touching the scars was the pad, you blinked when you finally heard the questioning hum. "Oh, uh," Swallowing, finally beginning to remember who this was, you felt a bit awkward recalling the memory. One that, judging by the slight perplexation under the irritation, he had little memory of. "Right when I joined up, Sevika brought me in to help deliver a report... you barely looked at me, too focused on application, or your reflection."

You got another short glare for your slight joke, which flickered out soon when your finger brushed beneath the lidless eye. An apology was quietly, quickly given, before you continued your work in silence.

Neither you or him pointed out the fact that your motions were a bit more clumsy, but somewhat matching in his own applicant technique. Silco, out of his condition, and you, out of self-preservation, or at least, as much as he would allow to be spared once he got his hands on you.

"There we go, good as new." Quick to snap the compact close and set it aside, your hand seemed automatic to reach up, and smooth back the errant strands of hair that had fallen from the ordeal. Even you knew that was much too far, and snatched your hand back the moment you realized what you were doing, letting out a weak chuckle as you avoided the burning gaze given to your face, "See, not a hair out of place."

The subject of your morality, and the fact that it would likely be ending soon, was becoming clearer by the minute. You couldn't even begin to list out all the things you had done this evening, that you knew for a fact had been carefully cataloged for reference when, inevitably, your demise came.

Still, you hoped some goodwill was spared for when the time came, as you made sure Silco had full view of you reaching for the sharp-enough letter opener, before you shuffled to the other end of the couch. Glancing up to meet his gaze, Silco's human eye glanced down from where he'd been watching your expression, to your hands and choice of cutting-material.

There's a beat, then a short controlled nod, before you felt allowed to lower it.

You hadn't wanted to openly shuffle around his desk, but you wish you had done so when you really had to press down in order to start sawing through the layer of bindings. Finally, it broke open enough for you to set the blade to the side, and tug the rest of it off of him. A pause, before you placed your fingers on his ankles. When they weren't jerked away, or kicked at you in newfound mobility, you slowly rubbed your fingers through the end of his dark pants-legs in order to circulate the nerves of his legs.

"Numbess?" You murmured, glancing up at him and managing another quirk of your lips after you met his unreadable gaze. "Can you wiggle your toes?"

Ah; there's the kick.

It's more of a nudge than anything, but gets the point across for you to hurry up. Silco is visibly tensing, shoulders turning squared after you, with growing hesitancy, place a palm there but he turns at the silent request.

You don't move your hand, even as you settle on your knees beside him in the couch, eyeing the knot at his wrist before squeezing your other hand on his shoulder, as you grab the knife. "I'm going to start cutting now, Silco," You murmured, feeling his eyes watching the knife unblinkingly until it goes out of his peripheral. A beat, then you feel him jerk beneath your thumb as it starts to run in small circles through his shirt, just as you place the blade to the ropes.

You don't pat yourself on the shoulder for this pitiful excuse of reassurance. And so you tell yourself you're only imagining the smallest, slightest hint of tension leaving his body, as you rub your thumb into a particularly tight muscle.

Perhaps he's just glad to be rid of his bind, you say, feeling dread start to truly coil within you as the last few binds start to snap, exposing reddened but thankfully uncut wrists. Or he's relaxing, because he's preparing to pounce and tear out your throat the moment he's free.

Oddly, it's the third option that gives you the most reassurance. The first two just open too many more questions for you to properly ponder... not that there's any time left to do so, for the final knot comes apart with a snap.

Immediately, you quickly drop the letter-cutter onto the ground beside the couch, again in full-view of Silco as you half-heartedly shuffle back on the couch, braced for his fingers to curl around your neck as you hear him grunt when he moves his hands up to the front of his body.

Throat feeling dry as you watch fingers curl, than stretch out to their full-length, the Eye of Zaun moves his hands up himself to the back of his head, fingers slipping along the leather-band before finding the buckle.

Your teeth grind slightly when you see the saliva dribble out, the bit in his mouth coated in the stuff at his removal. You have to glance away when you see him slowly work his jaw back to life, reaching up and, a little less elegantly, dragging the back of his wrist and sleeve across his mouth to catch whatever wasn't dripping off the gag...

Looking away, you find out quickly, was a potentially fatal mistake.

"Listen to me." You can't even nod when the hand snatchs around your throat, not yet clenching to drain you of life. But you imagine the fingers curled around, and the thumb pressing firmly just at the top-base of your throat, isn't meant to be a sign of comfort as Silco glowers directly into your eyes. Cyan has now turned icy, and even the hellish-red looks cold at he glares at you, merely inches apart. For a moment, you think the ice in his gaze might kill you faster than his strangle on you will, considering how ever part of you freezes as your wide eyes stay locked on him.

"... Nothing. Happened."

For a moment, there's no air.

Then, you take the small bit of mercy for what it is, and somehow manage to move your head in something that must've translated as a nod of understanding, for he only holds you to his face for another moment, than releasing you. He didn't squeeze, but you feel the need to suck in your next breath anyway, watching him lean down almost gracefully, to gather the remains of his bonds.

"Throw these out, and get out of my base."

"Sir, I have work-"

"Ah, so now you remember who you are working for?"

There's no real way to reply to that, so you quickly click your mouth shut as the Industrialist stands from the couch, pausing for a minute as he rolls his shoulders back. You hear a few pops, and a low, drawn out sigh of ease from the man before he turns, looking down at you in a once-more unreadable way.

"If I find a need for you," Silco said slowly - and a bit hoarsely, you noticed suddenly. "... then I'll come get you. Until then, you'll find it in your best interest to keep to the streets."

It was clear this wasn't the end. Even if your employer just made it clear that no memory of the incident was to extend past this room, nor be repeated by its two current occupants, it was clear it was something he was not going to forget entirely.

That, didn't terrify you.

What scared you half to death, was the fact that he looked like he was still debating how best to respond to your actions tonight, even as he silently tossed the cut-cords into your lap. You wasted only a beat when he jerked his chin to the door, and quickly stood, snatching them tight in your arms and keeping your lips pressed firmly closed as you started to the door.

Foolishly, you wondered how much of a heads-start you could get, though you'd doubt you'd ever be able to run from the overruling kingpin of Zaun. But at the very least, an extended-vacation might be a decent enough idea, until his ire (or whatever else he was thinking about in that unreadable gaze of his) finally burned out-

You were snapped from your thoughts by the call of your name, and equally snapped around to face him.

"Don't forget this," Silco said, striding up on only slightly stiff-legs, but his condition isn't what caught and held your attention, but instead, the gag that he dangled on one finger, by the buckle. When he laid it onto the pile of rope in your arms, your eyes could only stare at the still slightly-moist mouthpiece. Even as the kingpin leaned over you to mutter almost offhandedly, in response to your audacity of a rescue this evening, as his knight in less-than-shining-armor:

"And don't go around chatting about the events of tonight. Or else I may have to find a use for that."

-

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#we're getting a little goofy with this fic #i just #really wanted to write about Silco being a damsel in distress #and maybe one or two bootie smacks #just for fun #silco #arcane #arcane silco #silco x reader #silco and reader #sevika #oneshot #maybe #might do a part 2 of this it was fun #my writing #arcane fanfiction #lol arcane #humor #chickenparm religious reading list #everyone has one don't lie #arcane x reader #lol arcane silco