It Takes Time / Reaper x fem!OC

5. Breakdown

Sienna had finally reached the point where, in theory, she was no longer scared of Reaper. Her mind had turned him into a movie villain, with an unreal quality to his actions - and an odd sense that any fear of him was irrational.
In reality, his massive figure and rumbling voice terrified her more than anything she'd come across so far; but in her constant isolation a switch had been flicked inside her and something had changed. Sienna no longer cared. She was past caring.

Her family had died in the omnics wars, as had many of her friends: it had been brutal and violent, but Sienna had survived alone. The only person in her life was Jack Morrison now, and although he wasn't old, he wasn't the young Strike Commander he had once been in his youth. Especially considering her situation, he wouldn't be around much longer either, she suspected. It wasn't a harsh judgement, just a factual one, but the sudden morbidity of it made Sienna snap back to reality, a shiver running down her spine.

Judging that the time until Reaper would come visit to be long enough, Sienna headed to the shower to calm down.
The tiled floor was still wet from her last shower, having left it in great haste, so Sienna threw her clothes onto the bed in the main room quickly before hopping in. This time, her muscles were truly able to relax in the hot shower, as Sienna turned up the heat just to the edge of scalding, feeling it trip her nerves and making her feel alive again. The days had been long and dark and quiet and the roar of the water through the shower, droplets running in soft paths down her skin, pushed away the reality of her capture.

For just a second, Sienna allowed herself to fall back into her memories; of the day Soldier 76 picked her up off the street, months ago now. It was the first kindness anyone had shown to her since the war, and he had done it without hesitation. Yes, she'd briefly known him from before the war, but she doubted he'd have done any different if she'd been a complete stranger.
Underneath that gruff, cold exterior, Jack Morrison was truly a kind hearted man who would always do the right thing - Sienna knew that as a fact. Over the past month she'd grown to know him better than she ever thought she would.

But that was the deal.

When Reaper had first said it, Sienna hadn't spoken up.
'It was supposed to be an upper hand for me' She grumbled. 'But to even think of Jack like that would be... Wrong.' And it was just that. Reaper believed Sienna was Jack's 'little girlfriend', and that would be why he would come to rescue her, but it couldn't be further from the truth.
'If anything, it's me who sees our relationship as meaning anything. That man... He's like a father to me now. But Jack would do what he's done for me, for anyone. It's in his heart, I'm no special person.'
Sienna truly believed her own words, so as she tilted her head under the shower stream, she knew he wouldn't come for her. Nothing mattered anymore.
Stepping out of the shower a few quiet minutes later, the origin of the clear liquid running down her cheeks was undeterminable. Grabbing one of the towels on the side, Sienna opened the bathroom door to fetch her clothes, having forgotten she'd left them on the bed, her mind still wrapped preoccupied in her haunting memories.

Padding quietly across the floor in her towel, Sienna reached her clothes on the bed, not noticing the illuminated figure leaning in plain sight against the window. As she adjusted her towel slightly Reaper shifted his leather clad feet on the floor, producing a quiet yet painful scraping sound that made her eardrums crawl.

'Oh'

Sienna couldn't help but stare, having snapped her head towards him immediately at the sound. She clutched her towel more tightly to herself, feeling her legs weaken, and willed herself to stay standing.

'That's all you have to say to me?' His voice was uncharacteristically soft, but still carried that lilting, gravelly tone. He leant forward off the window, his huge frame blocking out the light.
'What, after all that confidence earlier? Has the cat caught your tongue, or did you learn your place finally?' The words were still harsh and his throat growled, but his malicious tone wavered momentarily.
For a moment neither of them spoke, and Reaper waited expectantly, twitching claws creating dancing shadows on the ground. Suddenly, he seemed to tire of the silent game and stalked forwards, creating a circle around her.
'Did I finally break you, little Girl? Or do you just miss your cowardly Soldier that much?' Sienna's eyes had glazed over, and her senses dulled. Nothing mattered anymore, really.
'Will you still miss him when I rip him limb from li-' the mocking interrogation was cut off all of a sudden.
'Jack's not coming.' Sienna didn't even bother to hide her emotions, and her own voice cracked, betraying her already red eyes. Reaper was behind her now, but he'd stopped moving and it was impossible to gauge his precise location.
Sienna heard a rustling, and then his voice sounded as if directly above her, his silky cloak licking at the sides of her arms.
This time it was barely more than a whisper, a mere breath of air, but in Sienna's ears it was louder than anything he'd said before.  'And why, do tell me, wouldn't he come for his little girlfriend?'
Unable to control the pricking feeling in her eyes, she clenched them shut and her hands balled into fists.
Stay strong, Sienna. You were taught to be brave.
'That's not... I'm not-...' She paused, gathering her nerve.
'We're not like that. Jack just... He picked me up off the street. I'm nothing to him.'
Suddenly, Sienna whirled round to face her tormentor, and found herself a centimeter from his wide chest, strapped up in black armor and ammo. She was tall, but he was taller and she couldn't help but feel tiny and intimidated; dwarfed by his enormous size as soon as she saw it. Immediately she could smell him: musky, dark and... Earthen? It was too human a scent, and threw Sienna's mind off course so that she stumbled slightly. As quick as a flash, Reaper's hand reached out and grabbed her arm, stabilizing her and pulling her back in.
'I thought I made it clear I would kill you' the white mask drew closer, and Sienna could feel his breath on her neck now.
'Jack would never know. So don't lie to me, Girl. I will make your life living hell.' As he growled out his threats, the clawed hand on her bare arm grew tighter and tighter and Sienna couldn't help but flinch away, but Reaper's iron grip kept her immobilised. Memories of her capture days ago were drawn out; only this time she couldn't feel his claws. Thankfully.
'It's not a lie. That's why none of this matters' Sienna tilted her head down, her hair catching on his armour. 'He won't come, and if you don't want to let me go... I guess that doesn't matter either.'
Gabriel Reyes, the man under Reaper's mask, shifted as if uncomfortable with the situation, and this time is was him who remained silent for a moment. Without another word, he gruffly let Sienna's arm go, turning abruptly away and striding towards the door, silent shadows seething around his feet like snakes.
Getting over the shock of his sudden movement, Sienna watched him leave and called out once more, clutching onto her towel like a security blanket.
'I know you see everything I do. I know I can't escape from this place. But-'
she considered her words quickly, gritting her teeth 'but please. I can't take the silence anymore.' Tucking her pride away, Sienna kept her voice strong. 'I don't want to beg, but please.'

His cloak continued to swipe the floor as Reaper quickly crossed the few paces to the door, ignoring the girl's pleas.
The door opened to let him out, and Sienna sank to her knees in despair at his lack of acknowledgement, towel bunching up on the floor.
This is the end, I guess. I've lost my only chance.
'Reyes' Sienna's voice was soft and quiet, but Reaper didn't even hesitate as she watched his back disappear behind the slamming door, taking her hopes and crushing them like her arm in his iron grip.