Title: Chasing Morning - Chapter Three (part 2)

Author: Robin Graves

Rating: T-MA

Pairing: Graverobber/Shilo

Summary: Shilo quite literally, stumbles upon Graverobber after the night at the Opera. Graverobber takes her home and nurses her back to health, helping her through the inevitable withdrawal from seventeen years of drugs being pumped into her system.

Disclaimer: All Repo! characters and the Repo! world belong to TZ and DB and not me. No profit will be made from this. Please don't sue. I'm already a starving artist.

AN: This was all supposed to be one chapter, but stupid LJ thinks 17 pages is too much for one post!

"Hey, Snow White!" a young kid with black and red spiked hair crowed to her.

She smiled softly at him. "Hey, Dougie."

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his studded pants. "You here to see Robber?"

She shook her head shyly. "I came by to see Lil. Is she around?"

Dougie gave her a lopsided smile. "Yeah. I'll take you to her." He offered her his arm, and she slipped a hand into the crook of his elbow.

"Why do you hang out in a place like this? You're so much better than this. Better than him," he added as an afterthought.

Graverobber sidled around the corner, whistling a merry little tune. He stopped in his tracks as one of the Z addicts manhandled The Kid and proceeded to slander Graverobber himself. Who was he kidding? Hedgehog boy had a point. What was she doing here, a creature of the light dwelling in the shadows?

Seeing her with the boy struck a dissonant chord in Graverobber. She was so young. At eighteen, she had the whole world at her feet. If anyone could change the world, it was her. So why did she stay with him? It was a gift he certainly didn't deserve, but he would hold onto it for as long as he could.

He pasted on a grin and strutted up to the pair, draping an arm over Shilo's shoulders, ruffling her pixie-cut hair. She turned her face up to him, a smile lighting her feature.

"Hey, you," she murmured.

"Hey, kid." His gaze slid to the boy. "Glad to see you're making friends."

Dougie met his gaze defiantly. The moment the drug dealer showed up, Shilo's entire being lit up, and Dougie knew he didn't stand a chance. "Yeah, well I guess I'll be going."

"Have a good show tonight, Dougie," Shilo chirped.

Dougie smiled softly at her. "Thanks, Snow White." He raised her hand to his lips, brushing her knuckles with his lips. "Take care of yourself."

She smiled that heartbreaking smile. "Bye, Dougie."

"Toodaloo!" Graverobber sang, wiggling his fingers.

Shilo shook her head, rolling her eyes. "I'm here to see Lil. Come on." She grabbed his hand, dragging him along behind her.

"What are you seeing Lil for?"

She looked over her shoulder, raking him from head to toe with mischievous eyes. You'll see."

"Why do I get the feeling I'm in trouble?"

"It's a surprise. C'mon!" She led him down the alley to the shack with the bright red door.

"If I keep letting you lead me around like this, I'm going to lose my street cred."

"Nah, they'll just think you're nailing a hot, young piece of ass."

He stopped in his tracks. "Where did you learn to talk like that?"

She turned to him, rising up on her tiptoes. "I learned from the best, Robber," she cooed into his ear.

He grabbed her ass, pulling her roughly against him, so she could feel the effect her words had on him. "I think I just came a little," he growled at her ear.

She blushed fiercely at that, and he stroked her cheek. "Now, there's my sweet girl."

She smacked his hand away, muttering something about being an adult. He chuckled and trailed after her when she whirled around, striding purposely up the dodgy porch of Lil's humble abode.

She rapped sharply on the lacquered door. Moments later, it was thrown open by the freakishly tall blonde.

"Peanut!" she squealed, pulling the tiny girl into her well-muscled arms. "I suppose you're here for your commissions?" She slid her sly blue gaze to Graverobber. "And you brought your keeper, I see." She dropped a kiss against his cheek.

"Hey, Lil."

The 6'4" blonde stepped aside to let them in. "Get in here, you two." She led them into the parlor. She gestured to two boxes on a sanguine velvet chaise. "There you are. You haven't changed your mind about the show, have you?" She pouted prettily.

Shilo smiled. "I told you I would do it, and I will. I don't break my promises, Lil." She had developed quite a fondness for Lilith. She was kind hearted, but a shrewd business woman. She had agreed to do the two commissions for Shilo on the condition that Shilo was her featured model in Lilith's debut fashion show.

Graverobber's eyes narrowed. "What show?"

"Lil's fashion show," Shilo chirped.

"Have you both lost your fuckin' minds?" He whirled on Lil. "What the hell are you thinking, Lil?" His voice dropped to a low growl. "Do you know what will happen if the Largos find out?"

Shilo bristled. "Thanks, dad, but I'm not afraid of the Largos. I'm a big girl."

"I may not be your father, but I know how the Largos work. They'll know. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Graverobber, you need to calm down." Lilith murmured in her soothing contralto voice. "We've thought about this. There's a game plan."

"You're both insane!" he spat, storming out of the shack. The door slammed behind him, causing Shilo to jump.

Lilith heard the sniffles and wrapped her in a comforting embrace. "Don't cry, peanut," she cooed. "He's only angry because he cares about your safety."

Shilo snorted wetly. "He only cares about protecting his investment."

Lilith stroked a large, well manicured hand over the girl's cheek. "You have so much to learn about life…and men." She smiled softly, brushing the tears from Shilo's cheeks. "You'd better go after him. I wouldn't want him to terrorize poor Dougie."

"What does Dougie—"

"Just go!" Lilith turned Shilo toward the door, swatting her fondly on the butt. Shilo paused only to grab her packages and for Lilith to open the door for her.

"Thanks, Lil," she murmured, pressing a kiss to the big woman's cheek.

Lil stroke a hand over her hair. "Peanut, for you I would have kept my twig-n-berries." She laughed at the befuddled expression on the girl's face. "Now go find your Graverobber."

Shilo headed in the direction she and Graverobber usually took back to the house, but he was nowhere to be seen. She picked up her pace, worried to be out alone at night without him.

Dougie called to her from the backdoor of the seedy bar where his band played. She nodded her head in his direction, offering him a distracted smile. He put his cigarette back to his lips, smiling as he watched her head home.

Shilo rounded the corner, nearly tripping over a kneeling figure. Her eyes trailed up and widened on the sight before her. The mystery of the missing Graverobber was solved. He was leaning against the brick wall of the alley, with his hands tangled in a woman's hair while her head bobbed up and down on his crotch. He rolled his head to grin lecherously at Shilo, and she felt ill. His hand tightened in the woman's hair and his neck arched backward, though his gaze never left Shilo's.

He pushed the faceless woman away, buckling his belt and zipping himself back up. "Hey, kid. Fancy seeing you here," he sneered.

Something in Shilo snapped. She threw the larger of the two boxes she was holding at his head, causing the scalpel slut to duck and cover. The box missed by a fraction of an inch and fell to the filthy pavement, its contents spilling out. She whirled, striding away as quickly as she could without running. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her flee from him.

Graverobber watched her with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had known she would take this way home. It was the safest and fastest way to the house. He had also known that it would hurt her to witness his cruel little act of revenge. At the time, he hadn't cared. It wasn't until he let go into the scalpel slut's mouth and watched the girl's heartbreak projected clearly from those fucking doe eyes—eyes that had not yet learned to guard their secrets—that he felt the twinge of remorse.

He lowered his eyes to the box at his feet and wished he hadn't. It was a coat much like the one he was wearing; only this one was made of soft leather. The collar was thick, black sable. The kid had done the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him and he'd taken a giant shit on it. He let his head fall back against the rough brick of the wall. He didn't know why he'd done what he'd done. He only knew that he had to make it right between them.

By the time he'd collected himself, the scalpel slut had scampered away. It was for the best. The way he was feeling, he was capable of anything.

When he got to the gate, it was locked. Shit. His gut twisted. She was shutting him out. Well, he wasn't going down without a fight. He didn't bother with the intercom. If she'd locked him out, she sure as hell wouldn't answer him. She was a teenage girl, after all.

Scaling the fence seemed to be his only option, so he sucked it up and began to climb. Years of robbing graves and breaking and entering made him quick and nimble. One fence was not a challenge. He was up and over with very little effort.

A tug on the front door let him know she was serious. That left her bedroom window. Now that would be a challenge. The drainpipe wouldn't hold his weight, and the handholds on the house's façade were few and far between. Luckily, there was wrought iron trim along the side her window was on. He used it to scale the outer wall of the house to her bedroom window.

Apparently, she hadn't expected him to be up to the climb, because her window was wide open. When he pulled himself up and over the sill, his breath caught in his throat. Shilo had her back to him, wearing nothing but a black thong. When had she started wearing those?

His foot caught the sill and he went tumbling into the room. Shilo shrieked and whirled around, clutching a nightgown to her chest. Her eyes were wide and bright with tears before they narrowed into cold, dark slits.

"You locked the gate and the front door." He tried to sound nonchalant as he brushed himself off.

"I thought it might get the point across that you weren't welcome. Apparently, you're not as intelligent as I gave you credit for."

"No. I got the message. I just don't give a shit."

"Get out!" she spat.

"No."

"Get out!" she shrieked.

"Listen to me, kid." He clutched the duster in one fist. "This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me—the only nice thing anyone has ever done for me."

"The scalpel slut in the alley seemed to be doing something very nice for you," she sneered.

"Fuck, kid. That didn't mean anything."

Shilo exploded. "Stop calling me, 'kid!' I'm eighteen years old! I'm not a child anymore!" She threw her nightgown down and stomped a dainty little foot.

Graverobber could only stare. He'd never seen her completely nude. Her breasts were small and firm to match her perky little ass.

"What do I have to do to make you see that? Should I dress like them? Act like the girl in the alley?" He chest was heaving, flushed pink with her exertion of her tirade.

The part of himself that Graverobber had kept tightly in check broke free and he stalked toward her. "Is that what you want?" he growled. "To be used and forgotten? To whore yourself for the next hit of the glow?" he seethed. He couldn't remember being this angry.

He was so close now that Shilo could feel the heat radiating from his body.

"No," she whispered honestly, gazing up at him with sad eyes. "I just want you to see me." The admission was painful and ended in a chocked whisper. She looked away from him, tears welling in her dark, soulful eyes.

Graverobber's anger dissolved instantly. She retreated within herself, and he made a decision. He caressed one pale, perfect cheek with the back of his hand. "I see you, Shilo," he rumbled.

Her eyes darted up to check his expression. It was soft, tender, with the threat of something darker under the surface. She closed the distance between them, resting her head against his chest. His arms encircled her, one hand trailing up and down the smooth expanse of her back.

"Thank you for the coat."

"Happy birthday," she murmured.

His brow furrowed and he craned his neck to see her. "It's not my birthday, Shilo."

His use of her name sent a thrill through her. "I didn't know when your birthday was. I tried to find someone who knew, but on one could tell me. So, I decided to make today your birthday. You've been here for almost a year and we haven't celebrated your birthday yet. Birthdays should be celebrated," she mumbled. "I want you to know that I'm happy you were born.

Well fuck. Didn't he feel like Douchebag of the Year? His arms tightened around her and he buried his head against her shoulder. "Thanks."

"Do you like it?" she asked his chest."

"It's fuckawesome, Shilo."

She giggled. They stood there for a moment in comfortable silence.

"You're naked, Shilo. You should put on a nightgown."

"I have on panties," she offered.

"No. That is butt-floss. When did you start wearing thongs?"

She looked up at him with an impish expression. "Today."

The implication didn't escape him and Graverobber smirked. "You wore a thong for me?"

"No. I wore it for Dougie," she said nonchalantly. Graverobber's eyes narrowed dangerously and she giggled. "I'm kidding, Robber."

He caressed both hands down her back to cup her ass. "Someone's being naughty," he growled in her ear. "And naughty girls get spankings." He smacked one perfect cheek.

Shilo gasped at the contact. It shot a pulse of electricity straight to her core and she writhed against him.

Holy. Fuck. She liked to be spanked. And that was Graverobber's breaking point. He grabbed her chin in one large hand, forcing her face up to his. The other hand moved to the small of her back and pressed her to him tightly. "I think you need to learn who you belong to, little girl," he growled.

She shook her head slowly. "I've always belonged to you. From that first moment in the graveyard, I've been only yours."

That was all the encouragement he needed. He lowered his mouth to hers, cupping the back of her head with one hand, the other tracing the line of her jaw. She twined her arms around his neck, pressing herself flush against him. Her mouth parted on a sigh and he thrust his tongue into her mouth. He groaned at the taste of her—clean. Pure. Not contaminated with the foul taste of Zydrate. His hand at the small of her back was kneading the smooth, soft flesh there. She sank her fingers into his hair, tugging slightly.

He tore his mouth away from hers. "Fuck!" he exclaimed breathlessly.

Shilo's eyes widened and she tried to pull away. "I'm sorry! Was that wrong? I didn't mean—"

"Shut up," he muttered.

She blinked in confusion, causing Graverobber to laugh. He grasped the back of her neck. "It was exactly the right thing to do."

"Then why—"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" He used his grip on the back of her neck to pull her to him. "I'm going to kiss you again," he rumbled, eyeing her plump, kiss-bruised lips. He swiped his tongue across her bottom lip before taking it between his teeth.

Shilo whimpered, tugging on his hair. He groaned, gripping her hips and pressing her as tight against him as he could. "You're trying to kill me," he panted against her lips.

She shook her head slightly, giving him those mischievous eyes. "No. You're more valuable to me alive." She nipped just below his jaw-line with a slow scrape of her teeth. The sharp sound of his inhalation made her smile against his neck.

He pulled away from her, staring wide-eyed. "Am I going to have to use the parental controls on what you're watching at night?"

Shilo smirked at him, "You liked it."

He grinned lopsidedly, "Yeah, I did."

She grabbed him by the belt, tugging him to her. She rubbed her face against his neck much like Poe did when he was held. "Do you want me to show you what else I've learned?" she murmured into his neck. Her hand slipped down the front of his pants, grasping him firmly in her tiny hand.

Graverobber hissed, pulling back from her as if he'd been burned. "What are you doing?"

Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "I thought—"

"Kid, I—"

"So, we're back to that." She shook her head.

"Shilo—"

"It's fine." She bent to pick up her nightgown.

He watched her turn her back on him, crouching to gather her discarded nightgown. She pulled it over her head and padded toward the bed. Poe looked up at her, offering a squeak of greeting. She scooped him up and moved to the door. She paused, just before disappearing out the door. "You can stay in here tonight."

"Where are you sleeping?"

She ignored him, shutting the door behind her. What the fuck? Things had been progressing pretty fucking well. She'd been practically naked in his arms with her hand down his pants. He'd tried to slow things down, and she'd completely closed herself off to him. He sank onto the bed, head in his hands. Why, oh, why had he volunteered to become the guardian of an hormonal teenage girl?