Valko realizes something about the core members of Onychinus.
It almost made him shed a tear when it hit him.
You, Sylus, the twins- probably even more of the syndicate. None of you have what could be referred to as a family. You had(have) Caleb, an adopted brother that blurs those lines with the way heâs seen and heard things, and a deceased granny ,who was actually part of the group that experimented on you as a child.
Sylus is an anomaly not even you have fully broken open to see all the nitty gritty. By your account, you think Sylus is someone far older than he lets on and has spent most of his life alone. No wonder the boss of Onychinus is so intense with his affections with you.
The twins have only ever had each other. They didnât divulge their ability to feel one anotherâs experiences, Valko just knew how to find the right files. Any records of even their biological mother are nonexistent. Chances are sheâs likely dead so that EVER could have their test subjects. He knows they were 16 when they made an attempt on Sylus and subsequently opted to be his, self-labeled, evil henchmen.
Even Mephisto! Mechanical bird he may be, but even mechanical birds enjoy flocks and other bird-things.
While Valko could easily understand that each of these people have become the analog of a family together, they still lacked core familial bonding experiences, and that simply could not stand.
So he started to plan. He got his younger family members in on the truth of the matter that could keep their lips sealed to start it.
Targets: you, Sylus, and the twins
His younger family would take care of wrangling all the tĂas and tĂos. Heâd handle Aubela and all her matriarchal glory. Once Aubela was on board, everything else would naturally fall into place.
Maybe Valko skirted around the details about the origins of his new âfriendsâ, but the moment he lamented that theyâve never had a true fiesta, Aubela was on board.
âTodos deberĂan conocer el amor de la familia. Eres un buen chico, Valko.â She had said. Heâs been riding that high ever since.
Stage two of Operation: Fiesta- getting the lot of you to come hang out. Luckily this part was simple. He just declared it was happening. The twins were with it immediately, asking the level of mayhem allowed. The moment you got excited, he knew Sylus would follow.
What none of them expected was the immediate assimilation into the family. The twins were swept up by tĂŹas and doted on.
âYou need to eat more-! Honestly, youâre all skin and⊠oh. You do have some muscle.â
While the twins werenât in their crow masks, they still wore more casual-setting ones that he had the family briefed on so it was really only the youngest ones asking why they kept their faces hidden.
Luke flexed for the auntie that had been critically assessing the boys for the always, 100% accurate conclusion that they were not eating enough.
âItâs a shock I know. Itâs hard to look this good.â Luke enthused.
âIf youâre so strong, come help me carry these charcoal bags!â TĂo Carlos called from another room, but Kieran was the one to leave to go help.
Valko went ahead and introduced you and Sylus both to Aubela who was already resting in her rocking chair with her cat, Julian.
âYou could say Aubela is the real boss of our whole family.â Valko grinned, pride in his words. âEveryone listens to Aubela.â
âExcept you, chico.â Aubela chastised. âNo chancla could ever make you listen.â
Your giggles were all he needed, honestly. Such noise drew Aubelaâs attention and she waved you closer. You obeyed, bending over slightly so wisened hands could cup your cheeks. Hands that bore the wrinkles and scars of a mother that guides several generations. They were kind, but firm.
âPobrecita. La vida te ha sido dura. La abuela lo ve.â Aubela murmured, thumb tenderly rubbing the apple of your cheek.
âÂĄValko! AsegĂșrate de cuidar bien de ella, Âżme oyes?â
Valko had nearly started to defend himself when Sylus replied smoothly, âĂl la cuida muy bien, abuela. No hay de quĂ© preocuparse.â
Heat rose to Valkoâs cheeks as Aubelaâs attention turned to Sylus and just as sheâd done with you, she waved Sylus over who also obeyed without word. Some mightâve worried about Sylus being this close to their grandmother, but not Valko. Not even with the Aether Core that lay hidden in Sylusâs right eye.
Sylus didnât hide from her assessing gaze, meeting it with calm certainty.
âTienes los ojos muy frĂos. Seguro que hace mĂĄs calor adentro.â Aubela murmured at first before patting his cheeks with affection. âDeberĂas comer mĂĄs. EstĂĄs muy delgado.â
That made Sylus laugh as he stood back up, nodding.
When you looked to Valko for translation, he just shrugged stupidly. âAubela says he needs to eat more.â
âThatâs what Iâm always saying!â You scoff, earning a glance from Sylus.
Something about the way he said it made you go quiet and turn away, cheeks going red.
In general, the festivities were as wild as any family gather, especially when the alcohol got flowing. Even Valkoâs mother had made it to you, Valko, and Sylus. She gushed over you, cooing in a strange mix of English and Spanish that you were just so darling and beautiful. Then she left a bomb as her parting gift.
âI canât wait to see what beautiful babies you two have. Oh, I thought my Valko would be stuck in his little world of tech and science forever.â
The silence between the three of you was thick with a tension that build off of Valkoâs and your own burning cheeks.
âShe makes a good point.â Sylus murmured, smirking. âThose would be very beautiful babies.â
In any other world, Valko mightâve leapt at the chance to be a, perhaps literal, horn dog, but Sylus was a complication. Not an unwelcome one, but it had Valko approaching things more thoughtfully. He never wanted to cause animosity or hurt, and Sylus would never betray if he felt either at any point. His guard was intense and his one weakness was you.
âI⊠I think-â you started, then paused, clearly feeling a little shy in that cute little head of yours.
âGo on.â Sylus prompted softly.
âI think⊠youâd both give me beautiful babiesâŠâ you were so quiet one mightâve thought you didnât speak at all, but there was no mistaking the pink that started coloring Sylusâs cheeks and ears.
Valko laughed, hand on his stomach. Oh you were in so much trouble now. He leaned in after his laughter settle, intentionally wiggling an eyebrow at you.
âSo when you losing the birth control then, pretty girl?â
You shoved him back, giggling nervously then. Instead of answering you made your way to where all the tĂos converged with beers in hand and meats were artfully cooked.
That just left Sylus and Valko.
And Valko was grinning just as much at Sylus.
âThis isnât going to be a competition.â Sylus seemingly said to no one in particular.
âNooo of course not⊠but just so you know- itâll be me.â
âDonât be so certain.â Sylus scoffed.
âYouâre like- 80 or something. That means alllll your little swimmers are geriatric too.â
âYouâre ridiculous and Iâm leaving.â Sylus drawled before following after you.
âYOU KNOW IâM RIGHT-!â Valko barked, laughing.
An: I canât explain it to you, but I feel big Mexican/latin American energy from Valko and his family dynamics. Itâs not my culture to share though, ultimately, so please just know this was written with nothing but love and I apologize for any ignorance or issues with the Spanish itself. This is still just meant to be for fun.
âEveryone should know what family love is. Youâre a good kid, Valko.â
âPoor thing. Life has been hard on you. Grandma can see that.â
âValko! Make sure you take good care of her, you hear me?â
âHe takes really good care of her, Grandma. Thereâs nothing to worry about.â
âYour eyes look really cold. Iâm sure itâs warmer inside.â
"You should eat more. You're too skinny."
