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 he’s 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 didn’t divulge their ability to feel one another’s experiences, Valko just knew how to find the right files. Any records of even their biological mother are nonexistent. Chances are she’s 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 tías and tíos. He’d 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 “friends”, but the moment he lamented that they’ve never had a true fiesta, Aubela was on board.
“Todos deberían conocer el amor de la familia. Eres un buen chico, Valko.” She had said. He’s 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 tìas and doted on.
“You need to eat more-! Honestly, you’re all skin and… oh. You do have some muscle.”
While the twins weren’t 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.
“It’s a shock I know. It’s hard to look this good.” Luke enthused.
“If you’re so strong, come help me carry these charcoal bags!” Tío 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.
“You could say Aubela is the real boss of our whole family.” Valko grinned, pride in his words. “Everyone listens to Aubela.”
“Except you, chico.” Aubela chastised. “No chancla could ever make you listen.”
Your giggles were all he needed, honestly. Such noise drew Aubela’s 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.
“Pobrecita. La vida te ha sido dura. La abuela lo ve.” Aubela murmured, thumb tenderly rubbing the apple of your cheek.
“¡Valko! Asegúrate de cuidar bien de ella, ¿me oyes?”
Valko had nearly started to defend himself when Sylus replied smoothly, “Él la cuida muy bien, abuela. No hay de qué preocuparse.”
Heat rose to Valko’s cheeks as Aubela’s attention turned to Sylus and just as she’d done with you, she waved Sylus over who also obeyed without word. Some might’ve worried about Sylus being this close to their grandmother, but not Valko. Not even with the Aether Core that lay hidden in Sylus’s right eye.
Sylus didn’t hide from her assessing gaze, meeting it with calm certainty.
“Tienes los ojos muy fríos. Seguro que hace más calor adentro.” Aubela murmured at first before patting his cheeks with affection. “Deberías comer más. Estás muy delgado.”
That made Sylus laugh as he stood back up, nodding.
When you looked to Valko for translation, he just shrugged stupidly. “Aubela says he needs to eat more.”
“That’s what I’m always saying!” 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 Valko’s 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.
“I can’t 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.”
The silence between the three of you was thick with a tension that build off of Valko’s and your own burning cheeks.
“She makes a good point.” Sylus murmured, smirking. “Those would be very beautiful babies.”
In any other world, Valko might’ve 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.
“I… I think-“ you started, then paused, clearly feeling a little shy in that cute little head of yours.
“Go on.” Sylus prompted softly.
“I think… you’d both give me beautiful babies…” you were so quiet one might’ve thought you didn’t speak at all, but there was no mistaking the pink that started coloring Sylus’s 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.
“So when you losing the birth control then, pretty girl?”
You shoved him back, giggling nervously then. Instead of answering you made your way to where all the tíos 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.
“This isn’t going to be a competition.” Sylus seemingly said to no one in particular.
“Nooo of course not… but just so you know- it’ll be me.”
“Don’t be so certain.” Sylus scoffed.
“You’re like- 80 or something. That means alllll your little swimmers are geriatric too.”
“You’re ridiculous and I’m leaving.” Sylus drawled before following after you.
“YOU KNOW I’M RIGHT-!” Valko barked, laughing.
An: I can’t explain it to you, but I feel big Mexican/latin American energy from Valko and his family dynamics. It’s 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.
“Everyone should know what family love is. You’re a good kid, Valko.”
“Poor thing. Life has been hard on you. Grandma can see that.”
“Valko! Make sure you take good care of her, you hear me?”
“He takes really good care of her, Grandma. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Your eyes look really cold. I’m sure it’s warmer inside.”
"You should eat more. You're too skinny."
