With caution, you helped him remove the layers of makeup.

Silco's blue eye was firmly closed, only the other eye could not close. His breathing was calm, but he had to force himself to keep his hands still. He didn't know why, but again and again there was this desire to take your hands and to capture the warmth.

It had been a long time since he had felt anything so clear on the scarred side of his face. But whenever it was your fingers that touched him, it was as if he could feel the tiniest things in the world.

"Why do you suddenly feel the need to hide?", you asked.

The question had been burning on your tongue for some time. In your opinion, it didn't make sense that a proud man like him would suddenly want to make his appearance more appealing.

You had to admit that he was not even really unattractive. The scars were a bit alarming, but nothing out of the ordinary.

In Zaun there were injuries that were far more fatal, missing limbs, smashed heads and mouths without teeth.

Silco was nothing special in this hellhole.

With his lips pressed together, he finally gave in to the urge and grabbed your hand as if it were by accident and leaned back.

"I'm not hiding.", he growled, making it clear with a displeased expression.

"Why then?"

He hesitated. His lips curled and it was obvious that he was reluctant to reveal the truth.

"Jinx should not be afraid of me.", he admitted. "Sometimes she looks at me like that... then I don't know what to do. She's still a child, she doesn't have to understand what's happening to my body."

"One day she will have to know.", you said while your fingers cleaned the remains of his face. "She will notice changes."

"Of course she will. She is not stupid. She's so smart, so talented. But she doesn't need to know yet."

"She could help."

"I don't want her help as long as I have you."

At this remark, you paused.

Briefly you looked at him. Then you had to smile.

Not wanting to worsen his mood even more, you lowered your head so he wouldn't notice.

But Silco wasn't stupid, reached out and grabbed your chin.

"Let me see it.", he said without thinking.

The laughter froze with surprise.

Uncertainly you put your hand to your lips, but you couldn't hide the grin.

"See what?", you asked.

The touch of his hand on your chin made your heart beat faster. But you couldn't tell if it was from excitement or fear.

Suddenly his facial expression was gentle.

"Your laugh.", he said, looking at your face. "It's rare that people laugh in my presence."

You frowned in amusement.

"Maybe it's because you never seem to laugh yourself.", you freed yourself from his grip and playfully flicked two fingers against his forehead. "As vain as a peacock and yet not so full of life."

Surprised, he looked at you, not knowing how to react to the nickname.

"Peacock?", he frowned.

You nodded, climbed onto the table and positioned yourself exactly as you had the night before.

He backed away, his back pressed against the back of the chair.

Sitting in front of him, your legs apart, you tilted your head.

"Why so surprised all of a sudden? Didn't you expect me to get cheeky?"

Uncertainly, he shook his head.

"Maybe I should get rid of you after all.", he muttered. "You've settled in a little too well here."

Again you had to chuckle.

Now that it was clear that Silco was counting on your help, you didn't have to worry about your life being in danger.

The fear had vanished and instead the doctor in you awoke, to whom nothing else could give more pleasure than to explore the effects of your medicine.

With a cheeky grin, you took his head in both hands and positioned it so that you had a good view of his eye and the scars.

As if by reflex, he leaned toward you. His hands lifted and immediately grabbed your thighs.

With one eyebrow raised, you looked at him.

He shrugged.

"A habit.", he explained, but did not take his hands away. "May I note that the new pants feel much better? Your old clothes were horribly dirty."

Sighing, you shook your head.

"My sincere apologies.", you purred as your fingers examined his face. "Unfortunately, I didn't have the drug money to dress in gold and silk. Not everyone can be as extravagant as you, peacock."

An amused huff escaped him.

"I never expected anything. But simple cleanliness is not too much to ask."

"The unpleasant truth is, I have too little time for that and no clean water."

"There is enough clean water here to take a shower."

"But no soap."

His eyebrows raised, but he tried not to argue with you. Instead, his lips curled as if he were thinking.

Silently, he let the examination pass, then looked at you expectantly.

Your attention briefly turned to your thoughts. Your eyes jumped over to the table with the samples.

"The scars are unchanged.", you said, wiping the remains of his makeup from your fingers with a cloth. "And the eye has not changed visually either."

Your hand returned to his head. But this time your fingers stroked through his hair instead of the skin. Not surprised you had to realize that his hair was soft as silk and not straw-like and dry as the water in the lanes often caused.

The fine silver strands at the sides of his temples danced around your (S/C) fingers.

It felt like a kiss from the wind.

"The scars haven't grown that high yet.", he said, reaching for your hand to keep him from getting used to the pleasant feeling.

"I'd say that's good. For now."

"But the pain is gone. And I can see better."

"Hm. That's good. Did you feel anything else? Side effects or new symptoms?"

"No. But...", he sighed and brushed his hair back. "Never mind."

You bit your tongue, trying to stay civil. He was still the eye of Zaun after all.

"Listen, peacock, if anything feels strange I have to know. I don't perform miracles and can't cure what is unknown to me."

He glanced at you from the corner of his eyes.

"Rest assured that it's nothing related to the shimmer treatment."