Valko is the type to get upset when he loses his wife in a crowd.
Sure, he is tall, but when his wife is smaller and lost in a sea of people, he gets agitated trying to find her again.
There are so many scents overpowering hers.
Too many voices drowning out hers.
So many unfamiliar faces. All indifferent. None were hers.
He didn't think something like this could ever upset him, but here he is frantically weaving through the crowd searching for that one familiar face, wanting nothing more than to gather her back into his arms again.
"Valko!"
He freezes.
"Valko!"
He takes off in the direction of her voice, quickly muttering insincere apologies to annoyed passerby as he races toward her.
"Val—oh!"
She's in his arms, startled by his strong embrace, his hold like iron around her small frame. He lowers his posture, face nuzzling against hers, not caring about the onlookers whispering at this vulnerable display.
"Valko—"
"Don't leave like that again," he scolds her, his voice softening, "Don't leave me again."
Her heart drops. She embraces him tighter. "Silly," she mumbles, "I went to buy you a chocolate milkshake."
He peers down at her like an upset puppy, pouting when she shows him the large plastic cup with two straws sticking out of the dome lid. "You should have told me. Just... don't do that again."
His hold on her hand is tighter, his presence closer than ever.
"I won't ever leave you," she promises, relieved when he smiles again.
Pairing: Valko x reader (ft. Sylus, Caleb, Rafayel, Xavier, and Zayne)
Summary: Your relationship with Valko is perfect. He loves you, and you love him. It's the kind of relationship you've yearned for. However, you never thought that you would be put in this situation mentally or emotionally until Valko disappears one day.
Note: I am back from my two-week hiatus, and it's definitely a much-needed break. I went through multiple stages of grief while I was on my break, and this is the product of said grief. This fic does touch on the topic of attachment styles—specifically anxious attachment. That is the only attachment style that I'm familiar with. Literally went through heartbreak during my hiatus; therefore, Infold should GIVE ME BACK VALKO!! Anyway, I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr), Ko-Fi (also Genshinluvr/Aaliah_exo), and AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Hurt/comfort, talks of attachment issues
Word Count: 8.1k
You wake up the minute the birds start chirping outside your bedroom window, as if they're aware that you want to sleep in because it's the weekend and you don't have missions to worry about. You try to ignore the chirping outside your window, but it's hard to do that when the sun is shining in your eyes. You try to reach for your blanket, but your arms are stuck at your sides.
It's not like your brain is already awake and your body isn't—no, it's because there are muscular arms wrapped around your body (including your arms). You reluctantly open your eyes, squinting when the sun shines into your eyes. You mumble, craning your head back to look at the person sleeping behind you. Instead of catching a glimpse of the sleeping man behind you, you get a face full of hair and wolf ears.
"Valko…" You mumble, trying to loosen his grip around you, only to fail.
You assume that Valko's still asleep because it's only seven in the morning, but the minute you say his name, you feel his ears twitch against your cheeks. You squirm in Valko's arms, only for him to tighten his arms around you even more. You reach towards Valko's ears, awkwardly petting his ear. Valko hums, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck.
You huff, continuing to pet his ears. "Are you actually asleep, or are you pretending to sleep?"
Valko sighs. "I was asleep, but then I felt you move. Let's sleep a little longer."
"How can I sleep in when the birds outside won't stop chirping?" You mumble. "Actually, how can you sleep so easily when your hearing is better than humans?"
Valko cracks one eye open to look at you. "I got used to it." Valko lies on his back, stretching his long limbs out on your bed with a yawn before pulling you into his arms, letting you use his massive bicep as a pillow.
You two lie in silence, listening to the birds chirping. Every now and then, you look at the top of Valko's head, watching his ears twitch at the littlest sound. It's one of the cutest things about Valko. His long tail appears from underneath the blanket, lying over you.
"You're staring." Valko murmurs, tilting his head in your direction, staring at you through his long lashes. "I can also hear your heart racing against your chest."
Valko rolls over on his side, pressing his hand against your chest to feel your heart drumming against your ribs. You huff, burying your face into his chest to ignore the heat rushing to your face. Valko's chest rumbles with laughter as he snakes his arm around your waist, pulling you flushed against his chest.
This is how your and Valko's morning typically goes—being rudely awakened by the birds chirping outside your window, cuddling with Valko on your bed while having small talk here and there, and it usually results in you burying your face in Valko's chest after a comment he made. Valko loves waking up in the morning right beside you, and despite not being much of a morning person, he wakes up before you do and would listen to you breathing.
Sometimes, you let out a snore, but not often! Of course, Valko doesn't let you know about it because he knows you would feel embarrassed and possibly banish him from ever sleeping beside you, and Valko does not want that to ever happen. It's been two months since you and Valko began dating, and every moment with you is something he always cherishes.
How Valko shows up at your apartment concerns you sometimes because he likes to chill on the balcony—not on the ground, but on the railing itself. The door to your balcony is open, the curtains are blowing from the breeze, and Valko is perched on top of the railing of your balcony.
You rush to the balcony and pull him into your apartment. "Valko! You can't keep showing up like this!" You scold him.
Valko's ears flatten on his head. "I can always show up at the front door, but I wanted to see you quicker. The balcony doors were open, and I couldn't wait to see you." Valko mutters, the apples of his cheeks turning pink while his tail stops wagging behind him. "You're not mad at me, are you?"
You stare at Valko in disbelief while he gazes at you like a kicked puppy. You sigh in defeat, stepping forward to wrap both your arms around his waist. Valko immediately melts in your arms, resting his chin on your head while wrapping his arms around your shoulders.
"I'm not mad at you, Valko. I'm more worried about your safety because what if you slip off the railing? I don't want you to get hurt." You reply, looking up at him.
"But I won't slip off the railing."
"What if you slip off?"
"I won't slip off; I will make sure to be careful, so you wouldn't be worried about my safety." Valko chuckles, nuzzling his chin on your head before he princess carries you to the couch.
Valko collapses on the couch, his back pressing against the cushions of the couch while you're lying on top of him. You rest your chin on his pecks, staring at him while he stares in return. You reach forward and run your fingers through his hair, gently petting his ears. Valko grabs you by the waist and tugs you upward, so you're face-to-face.
Valko smiles and caresses the back of your head. "Hey there."
"Hello to you too." You murmur, caressing his face with one hand while stroking his ear with the other. "I missed you, you know."
Valko nuzzles his face against your hand. "I missed you more." Valko sighs, tilting his head forward to press his forehead against yours. "Why do you have to live so far?"
You huff. "I can ask you the same thing, Mister Chairman."
Valko lays his head on his bicep, looking up at the ceiling while you're busy playing with his ears. As Chairman of EonCore Tech, Valko is always busy, but that doesn't stop him from visiting you whenever he can. Valko always makes time for you no matter how packed his schedule is. But if Valko can't stop by your apartment, then you two will be on a video call with each other.
"What's on your mind?" Valko murmurs, nudging you with his forehead.
"You." You simply reply. "You're all I can think of."
Valko's tail starts thumping on the couch after hearing your response. You look over your shoulder, then back at Valko. He has that look on his face; you can't think of a specific word to describe the look on his face, but you can visibly see his eyes softening at your response. Before you can say anything, Valko buries his face into your neck, wraps his arms around your waist, and rolls the both of you on your sides, half of his body on top of yours.
"God, you're so cute!" Valko exclaims, nuzzling his cheeks against yours, his velvety ears rubbing against your face. "And you're all mine!"
You can't help but laugh, the feeling of his ears tickling your face and a bit of your neck. "I'm cute?! Says the man who has furry ears sitting on his head and his fluffy tail that he likes to use as a blanket occasionally!"
"We can both be cute, but just to let you know, you take that number one spot," Valko replies, planting a big kiss on your cheek. "Cutie supreme."
You playfully roll your eyes, wrapping one leg around Valko's waist and burying your face into his chest, breathing in his scent. Valko's tail automatically wraps around your waist while he plays with your hair, kissing the top of your head and basking in your presence.
On the days when you and Valko are together, the weather is always beautiful. However, there are times when you and Valko do get caught in rain, but it doesn't happen as often. When you two do get caught in the rain, you and Valko would rush back to your apartment, drenched from the rain.
"Wait! I'm going to get a towel for us! Don't do anything, or go anywhere!" You exclaim, running to your bathroom to grab the extra towels in your bathroom closet.
You return to the living room to see Valko standing by the entrance, visibly shivering from the cold. When you two make eye contact, the look of mischief flashes across his face. You stop in your tracks, watching a mischievous thought brew in his head.
You point your finger at Valko, slowly approaching him. "Valko, don't you think about it!" You open the towel, getting ready to wrap him in it.
"You know it's instinct, [Y/N]!" Valko teases, getting ready to do the thing.
Just as you're about to wrap him in the fluffy towel, Valko starts shaking off the water from his ears and tail, sending water droplets everywhere. You tackle Valko—he did not move from the impact at all—with the towel and wrap him around it. Valko grins at you, reaching for the other towel around your shoulders and starts drying you off.
"You should take a shower before you get sick. I don't want you to get sick," Valko says, lightly booping your nose while he dries your hair with the towel. "I will clean up the mess I made while you take a shower."
You reach up, petting his damp ears and hair. "Alright, I'll do that. You can take a shower in the guest bathroom! I think I still have your spare clothes from the last time you were here."
You try to walk away so you can go take a shower and change into dry clothes, but Valko doesn't budge. You stand there in silence, staring at Valko while he continues to squeeze the water out of your hair. You attempt to walk off for the second time, but Valko pulls you back, wiping your face and neck with the fluffy towel.
You hum, pressing your lips into a thin line before saying, "Something tells me that you don't want me to leave just yet."
"Oh? And what can that be?" Valko asks, his eyes flickering from your hair to your face, tilting his head to the side as he waits for your response.
You groan, frowning at him. "Valko…"
"Alright, alright, I'll let you go take a shower and change out of your wet clothes." Valko concedes, his ears flattening on his head with a playful (yet dramatic) pout.
You stand on your tippy toes to kiss his cheeks before retreating to your bedroom to take a shower. While you do that, Valko searches for his spare clothes and retreats to the guest bathroom to take a shower. Once you're done with your shower and nighttime skincare routine, you exit your bathroom to see Valko in your kitchen, wearing the gray sweatpants and a black tank top that he left at your place from his previous visit.
"I am! Whatcha doin?" You ask, standing beside him to get a glimpse of what he's doing.
"I made hot chocolate for the both of us! Since it's pouring outside and we were caught in the rain, I thought it would be the perfect time to have some hot chocolate." Valko says, reaching for the whipped cream and spraying it onto the steaming beverage.
You watch Valko add some sprinkles to the top of the whipped cream before adding in wafer sticks, specifically the chocolate ones. You can't help but find his love for chocolate cute. Like, yes, a twenty-six-year-old Chairman of EonCore Tech is absolutely adorable for being enamored with chocolate. The soft ears and fluffy tail add bonus points.
From where you're standing, you turn on the TV in your living room and pull out the microwavable popcorn from your pantry, taking it out of the plastic wrap before popping it into the microwave. Valko hands you your hot chocolate with one hand while taking slow, careful sips from his cup. You gently blow on the steaming beverage before taking a sip.
"What do you want to watch?" Valko murmurs, watching you take deep gulps of the hot chocolate.
You shrug, wiping your mouth with your thumb and index finger. Valko chuckles, wiping away the whipped cream mustache from your top lip. You smack your lips, relishing the sweet and rich taste of chocolate and whipped cream.
"I'm not sure what to watch exactly, but what I do know is that every time I crave hot chocolate, you'll be the first one to make me hot chocolate." You say, patting Valko's arm.
Valko's ears twitch. "First one? Who are the others?" Valko raises his eyebrows at you, setting his cup down on the table and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Me, myself, and I, obviously." You snort. "I thought I made decent hot chocolates, but you go all out when you make them."
The microwave beeps, interrupting your and Valko's conversation. Valko opens the microwave to take out the popcorn bag, pulling out a plastic popcorn bucket to pour the freshly popped popcorn into the bowl. You close the microwave and watch him sprinkle in some flavoring over the buttery popcorn.
"Come on, let's go to the couch and start our little impromptu movie night!" Valko grabs his hot chocolate with one hand while clutching the popcorn bowl with the other.
You grab your cup and follow after Valko to the living room, where the streaming service is waiting for you two. Rainy days are always the perfect time to have an impromptu movie night with Valko, especially when you two cuddle with each other. Occasionally, you'd lie on the couch with Valko lying on top of you, letting you pet his ears and tail while watching whatever is playing on the TV.
"I love days like this, even if that means my ears and tail getting soaked in the rain." Valko murmurs, nuzzling his nose against your cheek.
You wrap your arms around his shoulders, running your fingers through his hair. "I love days like this too, Valko. You don't have to worry about your ears and tail getting wet because I'll help you dry them off."
Valko has always been sweet to you despite how you two first met. You were kicking his ass the first time your paths crossed, and since then, he pretty much fell in love with you right then and there. You can say the same for yourself, but it took a bit of time (not that long; maybe after a few days or a few meetings at best) for you to come out of your shell.
You and Valko always make time for each other, and that's something you've grown accustomed to. You're used to waking up beside Valko or to his good morning text messages (sometimes voice messages), and when the day is over, you either find yourself wrapped in his arms before drifting to sleep, or sending each other good night texts/voice messages to each other. Heck, even falling asleep over a video call is pretty common for you and Valko, and it became a routine for the two of you.
There's this new habit (routine?) you and Valko accidentally started. When you're rudely roused from your sleep because you have the sudden urge to go pee, Valko will accompany you to the bathroom. At first, the bathroom door will be closed, and he'll stand outside, half asleep and waiting for you to come out of the bathroom. But as this new routine continues, the door goes from locked and closed to cracked open, and next thing you know, Valko is standing right beside you, holding your non-dominant hand while you're doing your business.
"You know you don't have to do this, right? You can continue sleeping in bed while I pee," You mumble, washing your hands in the sink while Valko clings to you.
"I know, but I'm doing this to make sure you're safe," Valko mumbles against your hair, his eyes drooping from how sleepy he is. "And because I'm a stage four clinger, there, I admit it."
You laugh, turning off the faucet and drying your hand on the hand towel. "You are a stage four clinger, but I love it." You turn around and hug Valko, burying your face into his chest and breathing in his scent.
"Back to bed?" Valko murmurs, caressing the back of your head.
You hum, nodding. "Back to bed we go."
Valko scoops you into his arms and princess-carries you back to your bed, turning off the bathroom light in the process. Valko lays you on your bed before plopping beside you, tugging you into his warm embrace. Valko wraps his tail around your waist while he covers both your bodies with your blanket. Once you're both settled down, Valko kisses the top of your head and holds your hand.
The honeymoon stage in your and Valko's relationship continues for quite some time, but it was rudely shattered one day when you stopped getting text messages and phone calls from Valko. It happened so suddenly that it gave you whiplash. On Tuesday, you woke up to get ready to go to work, and when you checked your phone, you didn't get any good morning message or voice message from Valko.
"He's probably busy." You tell yourself before getting ready for the day, like usual.
You end up sending him a good morning text message as you're heading to the Hunters Association, not thinking much of it. After all, Valko is the Chairman of EonCore Tech, so he's incredibly busy and won't always have the time to send you a good morning text or voice message before heading to work.
"But he always texts me or sends voice messages to me no matter how busy he is…" You feel an eerily familiar aching sensation in your chest.
Your fingers hover over your keyboard, the text cursor blinking on your screen after you stop typing abruptly. The soft murmuring of your coworkers, the keyboard clicking in the background, and the printer humming don't block out the voices in your head. Instead, the voices in your head drown out your reality. You glance over at your phone, sitting face down on your desk. Usually by now, you should have gotten a few messages from Valko—heck, sometimes he likes to send you random pictures throughout the day.
But now? You look around, making sure that none of your coworkers are watching your every movement. You grab your phone, flip it over so the screen faces up, and tap on the screen. You have a few notifications, but none of them are from Valko. No text, no calls, nothing. Your heart falls into the pit of your stomach, making it nearly impossible for you to breathe. You eventually unlock your phone and check to see if Valko read your message at all, and to your dismay, he did not look at your message. It's left as delivered.
You shut off your phone and pinch the bridge of your nose, taking deep breaths in hopes that it will calm you down. But how can you calm down when a trillion thoughts are racing in your head, making it hard for you to go on with your day?
The day drags on, and everything is a blur for you. You feel like you're underwater, unable to swim to the surface to breathe. Your heart hurts, and you hate the feeling of helplessness. During your breaks, you'd send a few messages to Valko, checking up on him, telling him that you hope that his day at work has been great. But deep down, you're fighting the urge to blow up his phone with numerous text messages, asking him why he's not responding to your messages, and if he's tired of you already.
"Hey, [Y/N]! Wanna come and hang out with me after work?" Tara asks, leaning against the counter in the break room.
Distracted, you close out the message app after seeing that your messages are left unread. "As much as I would love to, Tara, I can't. It's been an exhausting day for me, and I just want to go home and relax."
Tara frowns, nodding. "That's totally fine if you can't hang out with me after our shift ends. I wanted to ask because you seemed down, and I thought that maybe you needed some company to take your mind off of whatever is making you sad."
You smile at Tara, trying not to break down into tears after hearing her response. You clear your throat, turning off your phone and slipping it into your pocket.
"How about we hang out at my place instead? I don't think I can go out while my mind's a mess."
Tara smiles, nodding. "Sounds perfect!"
By the time your shift is over, you and Tara walk back to your apartment after bidding your other coworkers goodbye. The entire walk back mostly consists of Tara talking your ears off and you responding here and there. You're grateful that Tara is the one to take your mind off Valko because you're on the verge of tears.
Once you're in your apartment with Tara, the floodgates open and you find yourself bawling your eyes out while Tara is comforting you. She pulls you to your living room, still hugging you while you're a blubbering mess.
"He still hasn't read my message, and he didn't even text or call me today." You wailed, unlocking your phone to check. "It's the end of the day, Tara. We've been together for a few months now, and this is the first time he's done this."
Tara takes your phone from your hands and scrolls through the messages you sent to Valko throughout the day. Even though it's been only a day, it's clearly affecting you a lot mentally and emotionally. Tara is aware of your relationship with Valko, and she's happy that you found someone who's devoted to you, but seeing you so heartbroken makes her heart hurt too.
"It's been a day; could it just be him being extremely busy and not having the time to text or call you?" Tara gently rubs your back.
You sniffle, wiping your endless tears. "That's the thing, Tara. Even on his busiest days, Valko still makes time to text and call me. Whenever he has a meeting, he lets me know ahead of time and still texts and calls me." You explain through hiccups.
"Have you tried calling him today? I know you've sent him text messages throughout the day, but maybe try giving him a call just to see?" Tara suggests, handing you your phone.
You take her advice and start calling Valko. The call went through, but Valko doesn't pick up your call. You attempt two more times before giving up—even though you're tempted to call a few more times just to see if he will answer your call. You toss your phone onto the couch as fresh tears pool in your eyes and roll down your cheeks.
"What if something happened to Valko? Could he be in danger?" A string of questions leaves your mouth while Tara pulls you into her arms and rubs your back.
Tara shushes you, patting your back. "I know you're worried about Valko, but you need to remember that Valko is an important figure in his company. I know that he would call and text you every day, but maybe this is the only time when he's not able to call or text you."
You look up at Tara, tears still blurring your vision. "What if Valko got tired of me after being with me for a few months?"
Tara scoffs, wiping your tears away. "That would be ridiculous if that were the case, but I highly doubt it. From what you've told me, Valko does not seem to be the type to do that. He sounds absolutely enamored by you, and to suddenly disappear without a trace is suspicious."
You hug the cushion to your chest, face puffy from all the crying you've done. "I know it's been a day, but I can't help but feel incredibly hurt by this. This isn't a one-or two-week relationship—we've been together for a few months now." You sniffle, warm tears cascading down your cheeks.
Tara stayed at your apartment until it was almost ten at night. The entire time she was at your apartment, she comforted you, had dinner with you, and watched some TV with you to help you take your mind off Valko's lack of response and phone call. However, after Tara left your apartment, you were officially alone with your racing thoughts.
You force yourself to do your night routine—take a shower, do your nighttime skincare routine, brush your teeth, and lie in your bed. You scroll through your text message to Valko; they're delivered and unopened on his side. Your heart aches, and you can't help but type in another message, sending it to Valko.
"Hey, I hope you're okay. I haven't heard from you in over a day, and I can't help but be worried. Please text or call me when you get my message."
You click send, watching the message appear and get marked as delivered. You let out a long exhale, closing out the message before scrolling through your social media to, hopefully, distract you. You eventually fall asleep mid-scroll, only to wake up every few hours to see if Valko read or sent you any messages. Much to your dismay, your messages are still marked as delivered, and you did not get any phone calls or voice messages from Valko.
Eventually, you give up on sleeping and just mindlessly scroll on your phone, checking the messages every so often. Before you know it, it's already morning, and you're forced to get out of bed to get ready for work. As usual, you send a good morning text to Valko, hoping he'll respond to that message despite the number of unread messages he has yet to open.
This is an endless cycle of you constantly checking your phone, sending messages to Valko, and sometimes sending voice messages for him to listen to if he ever gets the chance to open your conversation. You can barely eat or focus on your job without your mind wandering off to Valko. You're stuck in a mental prison, where you cannot do anything because of how much you miss Valko, how you crave to hear his voice and see him again.
You feel like your sanity is rapidly depleting if you do not get a response from Valko any time soon. It has affected you so much that many other people—besides Tara—are noticing it. You're sitting in a hotpot restaurant, surrounded by endless chatter and laughter. You watch Xavier put a few meats into the broth, keeping a close eye on the meat to make sure they're fully cooked.
Caleb rests his elbow on the table, looking at you closely. "You haven't been answering any of our texts for the past few days. Are you alright?" Caleb asks, scooping noodles and vegetables into a small bowl before putting it in front of you. "Make sure to eat. You look like you haven't been eating as much."
You nod, not saying a word, and start eating the noodles and vegetables Caleb picked out for you to eat. While you're slurping up the spicy noodles, Xavier glances at you through his lashes, watching you closely. You seem hollow; your eyes look empty, and your face is void of any expression.
"You've been posting a lot of cryptic messages on your social media, too. Whatever is affecting you mentally and emotionally is also crossing to the real world." Sylus comments, leaning in his seat with his arms over his chest. "Is this about that boy you're seeing?"
Your chopsticks freeze after hearing Sylus's question. Your heart beats painfully against your chest at the mention of Valko. You look away, trying to force yourself to eat so you distract yourself from the floodgates that are threatening to burst open in the hotpot restaurant.
Zayne clears his throat, flagging down a waiter to request more vegetables. After the waiter walks away, Zayne looks at you out of the corner of his eye. "Remember not to stress yourself out. It's not good for your heart or mental well-being. If you ever need anyone to talk to, we are here."
You sigh in defeat. "I tried not letting it get to me, but I can't help it," You mutter, biting your bottom lip as you watch Xavier scoop out the cooked meat and pour them into your bowl.
"How long have you been seeing this guy anyway? Judging by his social media, he seems to be super into you, so him suddenly ghosting you is a huge shock to the rest of us." Rafayel comments, wiping his lips with the napkin.
It didn't feel right to talk to your friends—other men—about Valko suddenly ghosting you. To a good handful of people (mainly men), confiding in another man about your boy problems seems problematic. It's almost as (heck, maybe it is just as) problematic when it comes to men confiding in other women about their girl problems. Plus, is it really a relationship problem when there's no issue in the first place?
"Maybe you should eat first before you tell us anything. I'm worried that you haven't been eating much because of how much this situation has been eating away at you." Xavier comments, pouring broth into your bowl.
You were hesitant about agreeing to have dinner with Sylus, Caleb, Xavier, Rafayel, and Zayne because you wanted to wallow in your apartment and cry your heart out after sending hundreds (not really hundreds, but enough) of text messages to Valko. But now that you're at the restaurant with your five close friends, you're sort of grateful that you left your apartment.
You watch them interact with each other, laughing, picking out the side dishes for each other, and teasing each other about not liking certain foods. Caleb poked fun at Zayne's hatred for carrots while Zayne fired back at Caleb's distaste for cilantro. Sometimes when your mind drifts back to Valko, Rafayel makes sure to get your attention before you can become consumed by your thoughts and fears.
"I have an art exhibit I'm hosting a few days from now! You should come and look around!" Rafayel says, shoving an enoki mushroom into his mouth.
You shrug. "I don't know if I can, Rafayel."
Rafayel pouts. "But you're my bodyguard, Miss Bodyguard! If you're not there to protect a renowned artist like myself, then who's going to protect me?" Rafayel bats his eyelashes at you.
"I can try to go, but I can't guarantee it." You murmur.
Caleb snorts. "Oh, we'll make sure you go. We're all going, pipsqueak." Caleb replies, crossing his arms over his chest with a smirk. "And don't try coming up with excuses on the whim."
You shake your head, fighting back the smile that's forming on your face. For once, you're glad that you let the others drag you out of your apartment. If it weren't for them, you would've been checking your phone every five minutes while losing sleep. The entirety of your dinner with your friends (?), you did not check your phone once. In fact, the screen was facing down the entire time.
Once everyone feels like they're about to burst from eating so much hotpot, you all go to the boba shop next door to get something sweet to drink. Despite feeling the urge to explode, you order your usual milk tea and happily sip on the beverage while the others around you are talking among themselves. For the first time since leaving your apartment, you check your phone.
Much to your dismay, there aren't any new notifications on your phone. Aside from messages from Tara and Simone, you did not receive any messages or calls from Valko. Your heart sinks into your stomach, and suddenly the milk tea doesn't taste appetizing anymore. You turn off your phone and shove it into your pocket, your foot tapping on the ground to try to ease the thoughts forming in your head.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Xavier asks, gently nudging you.
You let out a long sigh. "I do, but I don't want to cry in public."
"We can head back to your apartment to talk about it. The night is still young, and we don't mind hanging out with you a little longer if it means you have someone to talk to." Sylus offers, crossing his arms over his chest.
After everyone grabs their orders, you all return to your apartment to debrief on what happened between you and Valko. The conversation you imagined turned into a spontaneous sleepover because you thought that everyone was going to leave after the conversation, but then everyone is in their pajamas in your living room with pillows and blankets scattered around the couch.
"I didn't think we were going to have a sleepover." You comment, sitting in the center of the couch.
Rafayel pouts. "We wanted to keep you company and make sure you're okay. If a friend is heartbroken, then it's our job, as friends, to make sure you're doing okay and to take your mind off of it."
"And we don't want to leave you alone and wallow in your thoughts and go on another texting and calling spree." Caleb ruffles your hair. "Now, tell us what's been hurting you for the past few days."
The floodgates immediately burst open, and you're back to square one. You tell them everything. How Valko suddenly stopped messaging you, responding to your messages and phone calls, and didn't stop by your apartment in nearly a week, and you do not know if he's okay or if he just got tired of you and decided to ghost you in the end. By the time you're done explaining the situation, you find yourself surrounded by wet tissues.
You wipe your tears. "I don't know why this is affecting me so much. I've never spam-texted or called anyone who hasn't texted me in days—why is it different with Valko?"
"He could be somewhere with no signal. Has he told you anything related to family or work?" Caleb strokes his chin.
You shake your head. "That's the thing, though! Even when he's super busy, he would still call or text me. He doesn't let his busy schedule stop him from contacting me."
Everyone sits in silence, trying to rack their brain to find a good explanation for why Valko suddenly stopped texting, calling, and visiting you. No matter what answer pops up in their mind, you have something to refute the claim. At this point, you have no more tears left to shed, and your eyes are swollen, and so is your face.
Zayne briefly disappears to your kitchen before returning with a cup of water in his hands. Zayne hands you the drink, watching you quietly thank him and sip the water. Exhaustion hits you—after days of not getting enough sleep, and the constant crying is finally catching up to you.
"Do you think you can track him down for me?" You mumble.
Sylus chuckles. "I can track him down, but I don't think he would appreciate it. Maybe he went radio silent for a reason."
You frown. "You think he's deliberately ghosting me without telling me what's wrong?"
"It's not because he's tired of you; I can guarantee that. This is based on my assumption, alright? So take it with a grain of salt. Valko is the Chairman of EonCore Tech, meaning he's a very important person. When you're an important person who holds a lot of power and money, you tend to make enemies—intentional or not. Based on how he disappeared without a trace, Valko is either in hiding or someone kidnapped him."
You do everything in your power to remain calm. Everything Sylus says sounds very plausible. Valko has never mentioned anything about having enemies, but it's possible that he hid that from you (if he does have enemies) so you wouldn't worry or get caught in the crossfire if anything were to happen.
"You have many enemies, and everyone is afraid to cross paths with you." You mumble, taking another sip of your water.
Sylus chuckles. "Oh, sweetie. People are bold, and many have tried to harm me in many ways, but I'm untouchable."
"What do I even do now?" You ask, feeling nothing but defeat.
"That is something only you can answer for yourself. You wouldn't like our responses either way, but I do suggest some therapy." Rafayel comments.
Everyone looks at Rafayel, giving him the look that screams "shut your mouth" or "why did you have to put it that way?" Rafayel rubs the back of his neck with a nervous laugh, clearing his throat. You blink at Rafayel, letting the words sink in. Therapy sounds nice, but the real question is: do you have the time to go to therapy? Does it have to be in person?
"Just to be clear, I only brought up therapy because the behaviors you exhibited show that you have anxious attachment. That can be fixed by going to therapy—although there have been people who fix it themselves without needing to go to therapy, but I think professional help would make it easier for you to learn how to cope with and handle these situations."
You nod. "I will look into that. I just hate not having answers, and not knowing what happened and if he's okay."
Xavier sits beside you and opens his arms. You scoot closer to Xavier, wrapping your arms around his waist and resting your chin on his shoulder. The ache in your heart is still there, strong as ever. The best thing you can do for now is to try to continue to live your life and not let your thoughts consume you.
A few weeks go by, and you're still trying to get yourself back into your normal routine before Valko entered your life. Needless to say, it's far more complicated than you would like it to be because texting, calling, and seeing Valko daily was your new routine. Until he, of course, disappeared without a trace. You want to stop by his company's building so bad, but you don't want to show up looking like a crazy person.
Even though you have been slowly healing (and getting help from a therapist), there are times when you do break down in tears or check your phone to see if he called or texted you. How can you easily forget someone like Valko? You're lying in bed, staring up at your ceiling in the darkness. Usually by now, you would be on your phone, scrolling away. But you forced yourself to get into the habit of putting your phone in sleep mode, just so the notifications wouldn't interrupt your sleep.
It's hard to sleep sometimes, but you are getting more sleep compared to the first few days after Valko's sudden radio silence. Instead of getting three hours of sleep a night, you're getting five! It's not much, but it's better than three. When Zayne found out that you weren't getting the amount of sleep you need, he gave you a long lecture after completing your monthly checkup.
You roll over on your bed, shutting your eyes. The silence of your apartment is soon interrupted by the sound of tapping. You try to ignore it at first, assuming it was nothing and that the tapping would stop, but the tapping continues. It's coming from your living room, but you're not in the mood to get up from your bed due to how exhausted you are.
With each passing minute, the tapping persists and gradually becomes louder. You toss your blanket off your body and turn on your bedside lamp before leaving your bedroom to search for the tapping noise. The tapping is coming from your balcony door. You slowly approach your balcony and peek between the crack of the curtains. Your heart lurches in your throat, and tears immediately flood your eyes, blurring your vision.
You pull the curtains apart and see Valko standing on your balcony, dressed in all black with a hood over his head. You unlock and open the balcony door, now standing before Valko.
Valko stares at you like a guilty puppy that's caught doing mischievous things. "Hey, [Y/N]. I can explain—"
Without hesitating, you launch yourself into Valko's arms, throwing your arms around his shoulders and bawling into his chest. Valko immediately catches you in his arms, burying his face into your hair and breathing in your shampoo. Finally, after a few weeks, the weight in your chest has finally lifted.
"I thought you were tired of me and didn't want to see me again." You sob into his chest. "I thought I did something wrong for you to push me away."
Valko gently picks you up and carries you into your apartment, closing the balcony door with one hand. Valko sits on the couch with you on his lap, clinging to him like he's your lifeline. Valko caresses your face in his hands, trying to look at you, but you keep looking down, not wanting him to see your tear-streaked, swollen face.
"Did I do something wrong for you to feel the need to keep distance from me?" You squeak, hiccuping.
Valko shakes his head. "No, no. You didn't do anything wrong at all, my precious lily of the valley. You can do nothing wrong in my eyes," Valko coos, wiping the tears from your face.
Your lips tremble as more tears continue to roll down your cheeks. "Why did you leave me, Valko?"
Valko sighs, hugging you tightly to his chest and resting his cheek on your head. "I didn't willingly disappear. I would never do that, at least not without letting you know, of course. One day I was sleeping in my room, and the next, I woke up somewhere underground." Valko mutters, tightening his grip on you.
You stare at Valko in disbelief and confusion; the unshed tears roll down your cheeks the longer you stare at him. Valko wipes your tears away, nodding. He smiles bitterly, trying to find a way to explain the situation to you without stressing you any further.
"Let me get you something to drink, and I'll explain what happened within the last few weeks—months?—since my sudden disappearance," Valko says, getting ready to get off the couch and go to your kitchen, but you cling to him, shaking your head.
Valko laughs. "[Y/N], I'll be a few steps away. I'm not going anywhere." He kisses the top of your head.
You bury your face into the crook of his neck, wrapping your arms around his neck tightly. There's no way in hell you're letting Valko out of your sight after weeks of not seeing him or hearing from him. Valko chuckles, kissing the side of your head before getting up with you in his arms. Valko walks to your kitchen while carrying you. He grabs a glass cup from the cupboard with one hand, opening the refrigerator to fill the cup with ice and water.
After filling the cup with ice and water, he places you on the counter and hands the cup to you. You wrap your leg around his waist and pull him close to you while you're taking small sips from the cup. Valko watches you drink, his eyes going over the littlest detail.
"You have dark circles under your eyes." Valko murmurs, gently brushing the pad of his thumb over your under-eye. "Have you not been sleeping much?" His eyebrows furrow with worry.
You stop drinking your water and put it on the counter beside you. "I hardly slept since your sudden disappearance. The longest was three hours, and I would wake up every few hours checking to see if you've read my messages or sent me a response."
Valko sighs, resting his head on your shoulders. "I'm so sorry for making you worry. It wasn't my intention. Heck, I never intended to get kidnapped and locked away in an underground facility for weeks."
"I'm not mad at you, Valko. I was worried, hurt, and confused. Angry? I could never be angry at you. I'm just relieved to see that you're okay, and that you're back." You run your fingers through Valko's hair.
You and Valko slowly migrate to your living room. Once you're both sitting, Valko goes into detail about what happened within the few weeks of his sudden disappearance. Valko was kidnapped by people who wanted to take over EonCore Tech. Valko was aware that something felt off that very day, hence why he decided not to stop by your apartment to sleep over like he usually does. Valko didn't want to put you in danger.
Back at his house, Valko was sleeping but also on high alert in case something were to happen. Valko eventually dozed off after keeping an eye and ear out for any intruders. In the middle of the night, Valko woke up to the sound of footsteps, but they were faint. Just as Valko was about to spring up and confront the intruder, he was shot with a tranquilizer dart, immobilizing him and eventually knocking him out. Hours later, Valko woke up and found himself in an underground facility behind bars.
"I eventually escaped, but that means that they're still looking for me. I was hesitant about stopping by your apartment because I was worried that they were going to go after you next." Valko murmurs, running his fingers up and down your back.
You huff. "You know I can handle myself, right?"
"I know you can; I don't doubt your skills. But the thought of putting you in danger just for being associated with me…" Valko trails off, sighing.
"I don't care how dangerous and complicated the road gets when I'm with you. I've dealt with danger from every aspect of life and organizations; dealing with someone who wants to take over EonCore Tech because of their greed for money and power is just another group to add to the list."
Valko pulls you to his chest, kissing the top of your head. You snuggle against Valko, reaching up to pet his ears, only to feel his hair. You peek up, feeling around his head. Valko smiles and lets his ears and tail pop out. You pet his soft ears, missing the texture of his ears and tail.
"I missed you a lot. When I didn't get a response—a text, a call—from you, I felt like it was the end of the world." You murmur. "I couldn't do anything. I could barely eat, sleep, work, leave my bed without wanting to cry and spam your phone with texts and calls. I felt pathetic for relying on you for emotional and mental stability." You shake your head, laughing bitterly.
"You're not pathetic," Valko mutters, shaking his head. "Your reaction to my sudden disappearance is normal to an extent. I've gotten a few messages and emails from the others about how they're making sure to check up on you, and to make sure you're okay until I return. I appreciate them for that, and I'm thankful that you didn't give up on us."
"How can I give up on us? I would never give up on us." You whisper.
Valko leans down and kisses your cheek. "Good, because I would never give up on us either."
For once, after weeks of silence and the unknown, Valko is finally back in your arms where he belongs. Valko curls around you, wrapping both of his arms around your waist and pressing his chest against your back. He rests his chin on your shoulders, breathing in your familiar scent. The storm inside you is finally silent. He laces his fingers with yours, kissing your knuckles. You bite the inside of your cheek, nuzzling closer to Valko on the couch. Is it too soon to say I love you to someone you haven't seen in weeks?
Note: I wanted to write another fic while I was working on Valko's fanfic, but then I would burn myself out like I did with the previous updates (when I posted two fics at once for two updates). Now that I have completed the Valko fic, I am going to return to writing Leon Kennedy fanfics! It's fun writing for multiple fandoms, but it can be a bit overwhelming. I like to make things complicated for myself, as you can see. BRING BACK VALKO TO ME, INFOLD! :( Anyway, to all my new and returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr), Ko-Fi (Genshinluvr/Aaliah_exo), and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except for the listed sites!
Read more of my works on my Grand Masterlist, which contains every masterlist I have created! Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories there, too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
summary: in which you’re dating valko + experience a few different scenarios with him.
notes: all of these are prompts i’ve already done for the other 5 lis w/ the same titles! all of these are gender neutral and pretty fluffy + a few mentions of sexual acts here and there so MDNI / NSFW but that’s it ^^
p.s. og links can be found on my masterlist (- -)(_ _) i hope you enjoy RAHHHHHHH ty to everyone who requested these for valko. it was hard to narrow down but these were the most popular read SO !!!
guilty pleasure
in which the valko (accidentally) eats aphrodisiac sweets.
target locked
in which valko reacts to you being hit on by another guy.
ragebait
in which you attempt to ragebait valko.
three’s a crowd
in which you ask valko if he’s ever considered a threesome.
under wraps
in which you ask about valko’s condom size.
a/n: these were silly and basic but i wanted to do more valko so…yay…ty for reading (- -)(_ _)
— in which you survey terrorize your husband by asking how much he'd rate your marriage
ft: all 6 LIs x reader
content: fluff. raf's is kiiinda suggestive. xav and valko are sweethearts, zayne and sylus are menaces, caleb pulls an uno reverse. random mcdonalds mention?
notes: 10th post! this is crazy, tysm for all the love <3
You were holding two different pair of jeans, comparing the two as Valko kept spinning in circles and sniffing. You occasionally side eyed him as his eyes narrowed. He was honestly worrying you but he usually did with all this heightened sensitivity. "Is there something wrong—"
"Do you smell something? Like metallic?" He asked as he eyed you but you only shrugged.
"No why—"
Before you could finish he snatched you away from the clothing rack and to a bathroom. You yelped as he pushed you into a stall as you banged on the door. "Valko, what has gotten into you?"
He sighed in relief. "You're period is starting and you'll ruin your underwear if…you know." He rambled.
"I'm not—" Before you knew it you felt it causing you to hurry and use your emergency sanitary product.
The silence filled the area as he tried to listen for your distress or relief. "Thank you." You whispered as he nodded triumphantly.
"It's no problem. We should probably leave, I'll buy lunch!" He said as he waited for you to come out of the stall. He carried your bags all the way to the car as he talked about food options.
They should’ve dropped him ngl because I really lost love for the game and I lwk miss my hazel eyed husband sometimes.
"Boiled chicken???" the edge in your voice pierces through the air. High pitched and simply appalled by the words that had just exited your boyfriend's pretty mouth.
Valko shrugs, regarding your disbelief with a tad bit of defensiveness.
"What?" he suddenly feels guilty for no reason, curling over himself at the edge of the couch, a simple protection from your accusatory tone. "It's not as bad as you make it sound..."
"There's no way you're living like this bro," You seem genuinely distressed, and it throws the man for a spin, regarding your scrunched brows and shaking head with even more confusion.
And you genuinely are distressed.
What did he mean, he ate the same meal of white rice and boiled chicken everyday single day for the last month? Boiled!!
Why on earth would anyone subject themselves to such torture?
"You don't need to freak out over this, babe." The defense from Valko does nothing to ease your disapproval. "I need it for the protein," he adds rather weakly.
"But boiled!?? That's the worst way to cook anything!" You're up on your feet now, storming into the kitchen and forcefully yanking a pack of chicken from the fridge—undeniably bound to be the man's next victims. "Come on, now, I know your grandma didn't raise you like this. Aren't you rich too?? You could've hired a chef or something..."
You're rambling now. Half-formed thoughts, spoken more to yourself than to him.
Valko had seen you upset before.
Emotions rising, causing you to barge out of his place or shut down into yourself.
But he'd never seen you upset to the point of cooking.
And it is in this rage-fueled rant that you summon him to the kitchen, making a show of him standing behind you so that he could observe you making something that would not be a hate crime upon his taste buds.
"Look at your pantry. Look at all of these spices!" You scold, pulling out a rainbow of powders and herbs from his well-stocked pantry—all courtesy of the housekeeper, a new discovery for Valko himself. He usually stuck to the salt and pepper shaker on his dining table. "Use them!"
He hovers silently, obediently taking in your instructions as you expertly marinate the food in a fragrant asortment of spices and sear the chicken to perfection.
The aroma that fills the kitchen as the chicken cooks makes his stomach grumble, and a coy, self-satisfied smile paints your lips as you flip it over in the pan.
"See? You don't have to eat like a freaking prisoner." The plated result is perfectly crispy chicken with juicy flesh, simple rice and a quick salad you'd managed to whip up in less than 20 minutes.
He humbly accepts the food, before practically inhaling it under your watchful gaze. In less time than you can say, Valko has cleared the plate of all his contents.
You had proven your point. There was no point in Valko holding onto pride at this point.
"That was delicious...." The admission makes your heart swell, and his hand finds yours, covering it in his warmth. "Thank you for making this. Even though you fussed all the way."
"Of course I'd fuss," you huff, but now devoid of any of your earlier indignation. "And just to make it clear, I'm still telling on you to your family members." You slip your hand out of his to reach for your phone.
"Ugh, come on!" In just a second he's after you, plate forgotten as he focuses on chasing you around the kitchen. "You know grandma is not gonna let me hear the end of it!" Your giggles erupt in a bubbly mix, wrapping his heart in the effervescence of your joy.
Despite the appearances, there was something so comforting about being fussed over.
The feeling of being cared for.
Of being known even deeper than one thought.
And Valko wouldn't trade that for anything, and now, especially not a sad plate of boiled chicken over white rice.
-------------
Still missing Valko, but holding onto hope over here😔
summary: in which you propose a sex ban to the lads boys.
ft. xavier, zayne, rafayel, sylus, caleb & valko
notes: MDNI / NSFW (obvi), xavier’s a little greedy, zayne is barely surviving, rafayel Isn’t Surviving, sylus is an ass (lovingly), caleb is ridiculous, valko is just silly. no explicit mentions of gender (!!!), mentions of sex/sexual acts. brief mention of murder (guess who), and that’s it (i think)
p.s. valko is becoming my muse so his is unintentionally longer than the others…he speaks to me like sin to a sinner…yum…
a/n: i’ve unfortunately gotten back into hsr and have finally started wuwa and i cannot stop thinking about how predictable i am. my mains are just like caleb + valko and it’s obscene. my greed is neverending. beside myself with disgust at my desire (kidding) (i don’t rlly care it’s just silly)…ty for reading (- -)(_ _)
MC introduces Valko to chocolate bars with Krispie treats.
“If you wanted chocolate, you could have asked me.” Valko makes a mental note to assign one of his assistants to deliver a bulk order from the factory. All your favourites combined with his.
“I like going to the store and seeing what crazy flavours other companies come up with,” you say. You turn the chocolate bar over in your hands and examine the cross-section picture on the front.
Valko peers over your shoulder. “Chocolate with crispy rice? Does that even work? It sounds like they mixed chocolate with cereal and poured it into moulds.”
“You might be pleasantly surprised.”
Note:
I didn't have much of an idea for this prompt. I knew it was most likely meant to involve chocolate, so I decided to write about Valko trying a unique flavour.
I don't know if it's common outside of Canada, but here we get chocolate bars with Rice Krispies cereal in them, which is basically just puffed-up rice. It doesn't add a different flavour to the chocolate, but I love the crunchiness it adds!
Happy Reading! (｡･∀･)ﾉﾞ
“What’s this?” Valko brings the chocolate bar to his nose and tentatively sniffs it. “You went to the supermarket?”
“Yeah. I needed groceries because someone kept eating all my food.”
Valko gasps, looking around with wide eyes. “Who would do such a thing?”
You poke him in the ribs, but it’s like jabbing your fingers into solid stone. From the amused smirk on his face, it barely tickles him, and now your joints ache in protest.
“Don’t pout,” Valko says. He pulls you into his arms and kisses the crown of your head, nuzzling your hair. “If you give me a list, I’ll have someone deliver groceries regularly.”
“Shouldn’t you know what needs to be restocked if you’re the one eating everything?”
Valko chuckles. “And what proof do you have that I’m the culprit?”
You raise a brow. “Uh, I live here?”
“But did you see me eat all the food?” Valko grins and strokes your lower back.
“No, but I saw you eat all my chocolate. Not to mention your meal portions can be double the average person’s.” You wriggle out of his embrace and snatch the chocolate bar before Valko devours it. “This is a little reward for myself for running errands.”
“If you wanted chocolate, you could have asked me.” Valko makes a mental note to assign one of his assistants to deliver a bulk order from the factory. All your favourites combined with his.
“I like going to the store and seeing what crazy flavours other companies come up with,” you say. You turn the chocolate bar over in your hands and examine the cross-section picture on the front.
Valko peers over your shoulder. “Chocolate with crispy rice? Does that even work? It sounds like they mixed chocolate with cereal and poured it into moulds.”
“You might be pleasantly surprised.”
“I won’t know until I try a piece,” Valko crosses his arms, “but someone has no intention of sharing.”
You roll your eyes and open the wrapper, biting a chunk out of the bar. The chocolate melts as you chew, and the puffed rice adds a nice crunchy texture to the experience. “This is a treat for my hard work.”
“I’ve been good!”
“Have you?” You fix your gaze on him.
Valko grabs your hand and squeezes it. He softly calls your name. “Don’t be mad. I didn’t mean to empty the fridge and pantry without telling you.”
His pouty lips add to the sorrow in his amber eyes that glisten under the ceiling lights.
You ruffle his hair. “I’m just kidding. If you ask nicely, I’ll share some with you.”
“Can I please have a bite of your chocolate?” Valko claps his hands together in a pleading gesture, looking at you with an expectant gaze.
You peel back the foil and hold the bar up to his lips. “I don’t know what your definition of a ‘bite’ is, but you better not take more than half.”
Valko has a big mouth, and he’s able to fit an absurd amount of food in there. You’ve seen entire cookies the size of your fist disappear into the abyss.
The chocolate snaps between his teeth, and he only breaks off two pieces. Valko’s expression flickers across a variety of emotions. Surprise. Disbelief. And… Joy?
“Is it yummy?” you ask.
Valko covers his mouth with a hand and leans in for another bite that you begrudgingly allow. “Wait, why is this actually good?”
“This is what I’ve been telling you. A good chocolate bar isn’t just about taste; texture must be considered as well,” you say. “Caramel and nuts are classic ingredients, but there are always creative new ideas to discover. I even came across a chocolate bar with popping candy inside.”
“Popping candy?!?” Valko continues nibbling on the chocolate in your hands, asking more questions about what other types you saw and if you’ve tried them before.
“I’m not a chocolate fanatic like you—HEY! I told you no more than half!” You clutch the remaining few bites to your chest. While you were distracted, Valko guzzled about three-quarters of the chocolate before you noticed.
Valko licks his lips. Before you can react, he leans in and kisses you. He tastes sweet, overriding the bitterness of betrayal. Valko cups the side of your face, stroking your cheek with his thumb as his other hand wanders down.
He snatches the remaining chocolate from you and runs around the counter to the opposite side.
You stare at your empty hands in disbelief, clenching them into fists.
The balled-up foil bounces off your head, and you snap your gaze to meet Valko’s smug expression. Chocolate stains the corner of his mouth. “Bullseye!”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t come over there and kick your ass,” you say, taking a deep breath to settle the storm rising underneath your skin. Unconsciously, you lower your stance, ready to chase him at any given moment.
“Because you love me. I’ll also take you to the store to buy as much chocolate as you want!”
The two of you slowly circle the kitchen island.
“That sounds like an excuse for you to eat more chocolate,” you say.
Valko shrugs. “Maybe it is, but I really do want to go shopping with you. I want to learn more about your preferences,” —the tips of his ears flush red— “and maybe hold your hand as we browse the aisles.”
He’s so adorable it hurts.
You release the tension in your muscles. “...Fine.”
“Yes! It’s a date!” Valko grabs his keys and eagerly waits for you by the door.
You shake your head and follow after him. You’re probably going to come home with one of every kind of bar in stock at the store. Knowing Valko, he’ll finish it all within a few days.
End Note:
I didn't know how to end this one, so I apologize if it feels a little awkward. I knew I wanted it to end with them leaving for the store, but I couldn't figure out how to write it in a way I would be satisfied with.
The next prompt is Wolf Cub, which I'm so excited for. I will say upfront that it's not going to involve MC getting pregnant or having a child. But I think it would be really cute to see Big Brother/Uncle Valko in action.
I'll see you guys at my next hyperfixation! (。・∀・)ノ
summary: your closest in-game friend wants to meet in person and claims to be the chairman of the company that designed the full-dive gear. now he just has to prove it
wc: 4k
content: just a normal tech company, virtual reality, online friends to lovers, fluff
A soft, twinkling chime rang in your ears as the glowing blue mushroom dissolved in your palm, a floating green notification popping up in your field of vision: [Lunar Fungus x3 added to inventory].
The full-dive tech was so flawlessly advanced that you could feel the lingering cool dampness of the soil on your fingertips. It was a complete escape from reality.
You reached up, lightly rubbing the tip of your elongated ears. While you had kept your avatar’s body as similar to your real-world self as you could to avoid the jarring switch between bodies, you had allowed yourself this one fantasy trait. Under your fingertips, the cartilage felt completely real, twitching slightly in response to the ambient rustle of the digital forest.
A sudden glass-like shatter interrupted the calm, immediately followed by the metallic clinking of dropped loot hitting the forest floor. You looked over at the commotion in time to see a hulking figure step out from the brush. It was HowlKo. His massive, muscular frame carried a greatsword like it was nothing more than a feather. He would have been an impressive sight if it weren’t for the way his heavy burgundy tail thrashed behind him the millisecond his golden eyes locked onto your form still kneeling next to the patch of mushrooms you had spent the last hour foraging for.
“Hey, Ko,” you said casually, turning your attention back to your task, continuing to pluck the fungus from the root.
The frantic wagging of his burgundy tail stopped dead, and his golden eyes blinked at you in disbelief, his jaw dropping open. He lowered his greatsword, resting the heavy tip against the dirt.
“‘Hey, Ko?’” he repeated, his voice carrying an offended whine. “Really? That’s it? No ‘Thank you, Ko, for saving me from those goblins’?”
“I do not sound like that,” you protested.
He continued as if he hadn’t heard you. “I defeated the whole mob for you, and all I get is ‘hey?’ Unbelievable.” His fluffy ears pinned back against his hair, pouting. You rolled your eyes, a laugh bubbling in your throat at his antics.
You put on a grandiose voice. “You’re my hero, Ko! How can I ever repay you?”
He pretended to think about it, but he already had a request in mind. “Gimme half of those mushrooms.”
“No way!” you objected, the playful tone dropping instantly into a horrified hiss, clutching your inventory pouch close to your chest. “Do you have any idea how long it took to find these? Find your own!”
“They would have been forfeit if that mob had gotten you, so I could be asking for all of them,” he rebutted.
“That’s assuming I couldn’t handle them myself. Which I totally could have.”
“I have way more attack points than you—“
“And I have more hit points, so what’s your point?”
“Just gimme the mushrooms,” he pleaded. “I’ll trade you half the goblin loot.”
“No deal,” you hummed, popping the last of the mushrooms into your inventory with a victorious chime. “I don't need rusty goblin armor, and I have plenty of gold. I need these for my alchemy level.”
Ko let out a dramatic, exaggerated groan, throwing his head back so hard his fluffy ears flopped pitifully against his hair. He stomped over, his heavy boots rustling the grass, and plopped his massive frame onto the dirt next to you. He didn't even bother to sheath his sword properly, letting it clatter to the side. “You're so mean to me,” he whined, his tail giving a singular sad pat against the earth. He leaned sideways, heavily dropping his shoulder against yours. “I log onto this server every day just to be your personal bodyguard, and you won't even share a few measly mushrooms.”
You laughed, the tip of your sensitive ears twitching at the sudden warmth of his avatar leaning against you. “If you're so starved for attention, why don't you go bother the players in the town square?”
Ko huffed, his golden eyes narrowing as he turned his head to look at you, his tone shifting from whiny to something softer. Tentative, even. “Because they aren't you. Besides, you come over to my cabin all the time to cook and log off. If we’re going to spend hours bickering over digital mushrooms…” he paused, his tail giving a nervous twitch. “...why don't we just do it over actual dinner? In the real world?”
Your smile dropped as the weight of his question settled between you. You looked at him, at the golden eyes staring at you expectantly, the ones you had come to be so familiar with, and felt a pang of guilt in your chest.
“Ko…” you started softly, shifting your weight on the grass. “You know I love spending time with you here, but I don't think I’m comfortable with meeting in person.”
His burgundy ears perked up in a flash of confusion, his head tilting. “Why not?” he asked. “You already know me.”
“I know HowlKo,” you corrected. “But the real world is different. You could be literally anyone behind that avatar, and reality doesn't have the built-in player protections that Whispering Woods does.”
A heavy, stunned silence fell over the clearing. Ko sat frozen. He looked heartbroken, his fluffy tail dropping flat against the dirt with a pathetic thump. He let out a long sigh from behind the mask. “Okay, fair point,” he conceded, his tone shifting to something hopeful once again. He reached up, his large, clawed gloves unlacing the leather straps at the back of his head. “But what if you already know exactly who I am?”
With a soft click of the game’s apparel physics, the wolf snout mask dissolved into light. You blinked, tracking the movement as the pixelated shower of light dissipated. With the mask no longer blocking his features, you could finally see the strikingly sharp jawline, the perfectly sculpted lips, and the flawless symmetry of Chairman Valko—the very man who headed the tech company that had designed the full-dive gear you were currently using.
For a few seconds, all you could do was stare at the newly revealed lower half of his face. Then, a snort escaped you, followed by bright, airy laughter that echoed through the clearing. You leaned back on your hands, shaking your head in amusement.
“Oh my god, Ko, no way,” you giggled, completely missing the pouty expression on his gorgeous features. “A Valko mod? Are you serious? You really customized yourself to look like the EonCore CEO? How much real-world cash did you drop just to roleplay him?”
Ko’s jaw slackened— a handsome jaw, you had to admit, even if it belonged to a counterfeit billionaire. His virtual wolf ears drooped so much they practically disappeared into his hair. “I didn't buy a skin—”
“Sure you didn't,” you laughed, reaching over to pat his ridiculously perfect cheek. “It's a great prank, really. 10 out of 10 for originality.”
“But—” he started again, but you weren't listening, your attention instead taken by the timer you had set popping into view.
“Gotta go, Ko. Have food in the oven. See you tomorrow!” you said cheerfully, logging out before he could respond and leaving him in the clearing to ponder the best way to prove his identity to you.
— — —
When you dived back into the server the next evening, HowlKo was already waiting for you, his wolf mask back in place. He was pacing back and forth, his heavy tail thrashing behind him in a blur of agitation. The moment your avatar materialized, he stormed over.
“I’m gonna prove it to you,” he declared, skipping any sort of greeting.
You raised an eyebrow. “Prove what? That you're a secret billionaire?”
Ko didn’t answer. Instead, he swiped his hand aggressively through the air, summoning a glowing gold developer console that regular players absolutely did not have access to.
He typed in a command, and, with a deafening crash, a veritable mountain of rare items dropped to the ground, more than you’d ever seen in all your time playing the game combined.
“See! Look! Just a few clicks and I can have anything! Other players can’t do that, but I can.”
You gazed in awe upon the assortment of gold, gems, potions, even mythical weapons and armor. “Wow, Ko. You’re a skilled hacker,” you commented, totally missing the way his shoulders slumped in disappointment. “Seriously, though, be careful, or the actual chairman is going to ban your account, and I don't want to lose my favorite foraging partner.”
Ko felt like he was going to scream. What would it take to prove it to you? A small, pathetic whine escaped his throat. “Just…keep the loot,” Ko groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose right above the snout of his mask. He gestured to the fortune surrounding you. “Consider it a gift.”
You immediately took three massive steps backwards, putting as much distance between you and the contraband Ko had summoned. “No way. What if you get me caught for cheating, too?”
“Not how it works. And it’s already here anyway, so just take it.”
You staunchly refused, and Ko stared at you, his fluffy burgundy tail drooping. He looked so defeated that you caved, only a little, and plucked a health potion from the pile. It appeased him, if only a little, a small smile spreading under the mask. “If you really need to get rid of it all, I know this dragon player that would love to take it off your hands.”
Valko hummed, but didn't argue that the items were intended for you. He acquiesced and asked what the player ID was, pulling up that strange navigation console. He almost scoffed when the ID pulled up one of the most pretentious usernames he had yet seen, and he had seen many. “Abysm Sovereign?” he laughed, reading the name aloud. “Just who is this guy?”
His contagious laugh ignited your own. “You should see the rest of my friend list,” you giggled, already pulling up the list. Ko’s eyes scanned it, reading names such as PntMeLk1ofUrFrnchGrls, PommePommePilot, StarBoyLumiere, and, disappointingly, Dr. Z.
With the wealth transferred to a now very pleased dragon, you and Ko set off for his player residence, a gorgeous, secluded cabin tucked away in a seldom-visited corner of the map. The property, like all player residences, was restricted to those who hadn't been invited by the owner.
Once inside, you beelined to his alchemy table, eager to use those mushrooms. While you pulled items out of your inventory, Ko threw himself on the plush velvet sofa nearby. He finally removed his mask, tossing it onto the coffee table. His large frame took up the whole couch and then some, his feet propped on one armrest while he threw an arm behind his head as a makeshift pillow. His golden eyes tracked your avatar’s every movement, his gaze unbearably fond.
“You know,” he rumbled, “you're lucky I let you use my crafting tables for free. Most alchemists have to rent those.”
You didn't even look up from your stirring, the corner of your lip twitching into an almost-there grin. “I’m still not sharing the mushrooms.”
“Oh, come on,” he groaned. “You can't spare just one?”
You shook your head, not even trying to hide your smug amusement, airy giggles filling the room and embedding themselves in Valko’s fluttering heart.
By the time your brewing level flashed a celebratory [Level Up!] notification, it was getting late. You stretched your avatar’s arms, yawning. “Alright, Ko, I’m heading out for the night. It’s getting late.”
He sat up on the couch, his expression suddenly shifting into something serious, his intense gaze locked onto you. “Tomorrow at noon,” he began, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “There is a global EonCore Tech broadcast. Watch it.”
You blinked, throwing him a confused look, but agreed all the same.
“Promise?” he asked, his burgundy ears giving a sharp twitch.
You smiled softly at him, still wondering why he was so adamant that you watch. “Yeah, yeah, I promise,” you laughed, waving a hand at him. “See you tomorrow, Ko!”
You woke up with a groggy yawn, the phantom sensation of pointed ears still lingering as you rubbed your eyes. Glancing at the clock, your eyes widened. 11:58 AM. You scrambled for your tablet, quickly tapping onto the livestream you had promised Ko that you would watch.
The screen flickered to life, displaying a massive auditorium flooded with press. At the podium was the real Chairman Valko, so much more intimidating than your foraging partner. The one at the podium wore a suit that could probably cover your rent, his hair perfectly styled and golden eyes scanning the crowd. He also lacked the pointed ears and fluffy tail that you had become so fond of.
“As we move into the new fiscal year, EonCore remains dedicated to the safety and experience of its players,” Valko spoke, his smooth voice echoing through the speakers. It was the same voice that usually begged you to share potion ingredients, but here, it was devoid of any hint of playfulness.
You watched him, leaning back into your pillows. You almost scoffed. As if Ko could really be-”
“However,” Valko continued, pausing as he looked at the center camera lens. “With our recent update to the servers, we advise our players to exercise caution when playing the new events. You never know what kind of stray dog you might find. You may find the Lunar Fungus not worth the risk.”
Your jaw dropped, and the tablet nearly slipped from your grasp. The press in the auditorium didn't even blink, his vague warning likely sounding like a teaser for whatever new event was being added, but you knew better. A breathless, horrified gasp left your throat as your mind flashed back to the day you had first come across the wolf hybrid avatar.
Valko had wanted to test the gameplay personally, and thus HowlKo was born. The only problem? He was a disaster. You had been slowly but surely making your way through a dungeon when you heard a series of crashes. Turning around, you had found a towering, clumsy player with a wolf mask surrounded by level-two slimes he couldn't figure out how to target and bits of armor that had, up until a moment ago, been neatly displayed as a full suit.
You had sighed, easily slicing the slimes away and helping him up. From that point on, he hadn't left your side, clinging to you like a remora. He didn't know the map, he didn't know the crafting recipes, and he refused to leave your side, following along behind you everywhere you went.
“You're like a stray dog, aren't you?” You had joked back then, watching his tail give a hesitant, hopeful wag. You’d been inseparable since.
Back in the real world, you stared at the screen, mortified. Valko, Ko, adjusted his expensive cuffs, gave a polite nod to the press, and stepped away from the podium.
You couldn't get the VR set on fast enough, the sensory transition passing in a blur of blinding white pixels until your feet hit the wood floor of Ko’s cabin’s front porch. It was your day off, which meant you had a completely open schedule. Unfortunately, this also meant that you had nothing to distract yourself from dwelling on the fact that you had been calling a tech mogul a stray dog to his face for a year. Or that you'd accused him of hacking.
You didn't even bother going inside. Instead, you dropped onto the top step of the porch, wrapping your arms around your knees as you waited for him to log in. For twenty agonizing minutes, you sat there, staring at digital grass and felt the simulated breeze blowing through the clearing Ko’s cabin was situated in.
Suddenly, a chime interrupted the serenity, signaling the arrival of the owner of the cabin. In a blur of burgundy pixels, Valko’s avatar materialized just in front of the steps leading up the porch. Your head jerked up, watching him materialize in front of you.
He was wearing his wolf snout mask again, his massive greatsword securely strapped to his back. The second his boots hit the dirt, he registered your figure sitting on his stoop. A look of shock crossed his face.
“Did you watch the broadcast?” he asked, his deep baritone carrying a smug amusement.
You buried your face in your hands, groaning, more embarrassed than you cared to admit. God, you couldn't believe you had accused him of hacking.
“And what did you think?” Valko prodded.
“That I’m an idiot,” you lamented, your voice still muffled by your hands.
He chuckled, leaning down to pull your hands away from your face, the pout on your lips so endearing he felt his heart skip a beat. With your hands still in his, he pulled you up, leading the way into the cabin.
Your cheeks flamed. All you could focus on was the way his warm hand encapsulated yours so perfectly.
Inside, he removed the mask, letting it dissolve in a cloud of pixels, revealing the sharp curve of his lips in a smirk, his fangs flashing. “Y’know, I think you should make it up to me for calling me a hacker and a liar,” he teased, gearing up to once again pester you for those damn mushrooms.
You frowned, the floor suddenly the most interesting thing in the room. An uncomfortable guilt settled in your chest from your previous words. “‘M sorry, Valko,” you mumbled, barely looking up from the floorboards, like a child being scolded by a parent.
The grin fell from his face. He wasn't trying to actually make you feel bad, especially over something he wasn't even mad at. He certainly didn't want the first time he heard you say his name be because you were apologizing to him. “Ko,” he corrected bluntly. “I’m still your Ko. The version that you know is the authentic one. Nothing has really changed if you don't want it to.” He spoke earnestly, desperate to rectify the slight miscommunication and salvage your image of him.
You looked at him properly this time, searching his eyes for any hint of dishonesty. Finding none, you sighed, your shoulders slumping. “Why did you wait so long to tell me?”
He considered the question for a moment. “Because then you would have treated me like the EonCore Tech chairman.”
You were taken aback by his answer, but considered his earlier words. He was still your Ko. “For someone who wanted to avoid being recognized, you sure didn't change much about your avatar.”
The return of your sly grin lifted a weight from his chest. “That’s what the mask is for, duh. I’ve seen you almost every day for a year, and you never suspected it. Even when I showed you my face, you assumed it was a skin. So obviously hiding in plain sight was a great plan, thank you.”
You rolled your eyes, happy that your companion was here to stay.
“In all seriousness,” he began again, the brief levity broken as soon as it had been established. “I thought about what you said the other day. I’ve proved who I am, and I was serious about wanting to meet you in person. But if you're still not comfortable, would you be open to a virtual date? We can do whatever you want, right here on the server.”
His tail gave a small, hopeful wag, his eyes wide and sincere as he awaited your answer. Warmth bloomed in your chest and spread across your face to the tips of your ears. Slowly, you shook your head.
Valko’s shoulders dropped instantly, his ears drooping and his tail becoming listless. He couldn't hide the abject disappointment fast enough. “That’s alright,” he said, forcing a smile, wishing he had never opened his mouth.
“No, Ko,” you laughed gently. “I’m declining the virtual date.”
He snapped his head towards you, his ears perking back up. “You mean-”
You nodded. “In person,” you confirmed. “If the offer still stands.”
A beamed at you, his bright smile lighting up his whole face with unbridled joy. “The offer absolutely stands.”
— — —
The bell above the door jingled as you stepped inside the restaurant. You had half expected some over-the-top, expensive restaurant with a month-long waiting list. Instead, Valko had sent you the address of a dimly lit, likely family-owned hole in the wall. It was cozy, the decor outdated and the booths a little worse for wear.
“Do you recognize it?”
You turned around. Standing near a corner booth was Valko— the real-world Valko. He was dressed down in a sweater with the sleeves pushed up his forearms, looking impossibly handsome despite the casual clothing.
You blinked, looking around the exposed brick walls and checkered tablecloths. “Oh my god,” you breathed, a bright smile breaking across your face. “It’s the tavern in the city center.”
Valko nodded, thoroughly pleased that you not only recognized it, but that it made you happy. The dinner passed in a blissful blur. Any lingering nervousness you had entirely dissolved in the first ten minutes. He was the same doting and slightly needy partner you had spent the better part of the past year falling for. He poured your drinks, pushed the bread basket closer to your side, and listened to everything you said with rapt attention, his eyes soft and full of unwavering fondness that made your cheeks flush.
As the night finally wrapped up, he offered to take you home. You guess you shouldn’t have been surprised that he had a personal driver, but you were still flustered when Valko himself held the door open for you, sliding in beside you.
“So, Mr. Chairman,” you hummed. “You kept your identity a secret, hid a message in a global broadcast, and built a replica of one of your favorite restaurants in-game. Any other surprises up your sleeve?”
Valko hesitated, diverting his attention to the passing streetlights before looking back at you, so pretty in a way your avatar hadn’t been able to capture. “Maybe one or two,” he chuckled. He redirected the conversation back to you, not quite ready to reveal the rest and wanting more than anything to arrange another date to get to know the you behind the avatar who taught him the mechanics of his own game and so jealously guarded her inventory.
When the car pulled up the curb in front of your apartment building, Valko reluctantly slid out of the seat, holding the door for you and offering his hand.
“Thank you for tonight,” you said. “I had a great time.”
Valko nodded enthusiastically. “Of course. Would you, uh,” he faltered, red spreading across his cheekbones. “Would you want to do this again?”
You giggled, over the moon that he seemed every bit as enamored with you as you were with him. “I’d love that.”
He let out a relieved huff, the nervous tension visibly leaving his shoulders. You bid your goodbyes, but you’d hardly taken two steps before you stopped wrestling with your own cowardice, shoving it down as you whirled back around to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. With a final, whispered goodbye, you hurried into the building, leaving Valko to stand there with his fingers lightly grazing the skin your lips had been on just moments prior.
His heart fluttered like a trapped hummingbird, soaring high as he climbed back into the car. His mind kept wandering back to what it felt like to have you close—for real this time, not like when you’d cozy up next to him on the couch of his cabin.
He ran his hand through his hair, his cheeks beginning to hurt from how much he had been smiling. As he watched the scenery pass by, he wondered when and how he should tell you that the fluffy ears and tail he wore as HowlKo weren’t just digital accessories.
pairing: bf!valko x f!reader
cw: none, fluffy fluff fluff, established relationship
a/n: there's something so sexy about a man who's good with kids and respects/takes care of his parents. especially someone who's the eldest...
valko bf headcannons!
Valko masterlist
ᯓ★ family man valko who always thinks of his family when you two go shopping. no matter what you're buying or at what store you're at, he mentions them and buys things for them. "my cousins love these chips", "auntie said she needed a new one of these." etc. etc.
ᯓ★ family man valko who can cook pretty well. nothing extraordinary, but better than average. he learned from helping his auntie, mom, and grandma in the kitchen at family gatherings. but since he's so busy nowadays, he doesn't really have the time to cook proper meals apart from his prep meals for working out.
ᯓ★ family man valko who's really good at playfighting with his cousins. knows how to be rough enough so that they're amused, but never too rough to hurt. loves provoking them.
"really? there's four of you and you still can't take me down?" he scoffs mockingly, standing in the middle of the living room.
he holds an arm up, one child hanging from his bicep, swinging back and forth to try and make him fall. another is standing on the couch behind him with their arms around his neck in a chokehold, huffing and puffing to make him stagger. the other two are each clinging to his legs, trying to throw him off balance.
but nothing works, valko stands there unmoving like a statue. you watch in amusement with your arms crossed. he throws them another mocking comment, but you cut him off, pouncing on him and finally making him fall back against the plush couch.
his cousins shout in victory, finally getting off of him and running to their moms to go brag about finally "defeating" their eldest cousin. meanwhile, the two of you are still in the living room.
he stares up at you with wide eyes and parted lips, speechless. you make yourself comfortable atop his chest, grinning down at him. "shouldn't have spoken so soon, huh?"
"... you're crazy. what if I got hurt?" he asks, still bewildered.
"rub some dirt on it." you whisper teasingly before pushing yourself off of him and joining the kids.
but he's left lying there, staring at your retreating figure with dilated pupils like he just fell in love with you all over again.
ᯓ★ family man valko who's the eldest child of the family. so he's always been the one to buy them things and give them lifts. they all come to him for advice, and confide their biggest secrets and problems to him. they also all look up to him and wholeheartedly believe he's the coolest person to ever exist. they all love him to death, more than he'll probably ever know.
ᯓ★ family man valko who was the type to send out the youngest kids (aka the favorites) to the parents and tell them "go tell auntie you wanna eat take out. but don't say I sent you, okay?" and the poor kids, who tried their best to impress and please their favorite cousin, always nodded vigorously while he ruffled their hair, and acted like they'd been sent out on a mission with their life on the line.
ᯓ★ family man valko who gets crazy baby fever watching you play with his baby cousins. the fact that they all love you and welcomed you with open arms was already a good sign. but with you returning their love and affection so easily, as if they were your own, it only melted his heart more. he loved watching you from afar, as you giggled with them, tugging their cheeks, showering their heads and faces with kisses. he could only imagine how you'd be with your guys' future children.
valko rests his face in his hand, covering his growing smile with the heel of his palm. you're lying on the carpet of the room, surrounded by toys and children as they playfully tug at you, bite your hair, your face, your fingers. maybe other people would find it gross, but you didn't mind it. you reciprocated it instead. and valko loved you all the more for it.
one of the older cousins, who's closer in age to him, stands near him, eyeing him skeptically. "you've got it bad." they comment with a scoff.
that seems to snap him out of his trance. "what're you talkin' about?" he feigns ignorance.
"you're looking at her with those "I'm gonna put a baby in you" eyes." they chuckle.
his face flushes, and he frowns. "hey, don't talk about her like that." he throws a pillow at their face.
they dodge it skillfully, being used to it from all the years of playfighting at sleepovers with him. "just telling it how I see it." they shrug before walking off.
valko tries to ignore their remark, but he knows it's true. you'd make him the happiest man in the world by making him a father.
ᯓ★ family man valko who's phone wallpaper used to be a family photo for the longest time. now that he's an adult and has a big boy job at a tech company, he's further away from them, and thus can't see them as often. so he liked seeing them everytime he opened his phone, it reminded him of who he was doing all this for.
ᯓ★ family man valko who has since then changed his phone wallpaper. it's still a family photo he took at one of their dinners. but the main difference―one he deemed very important―was your presence in the photo. you were sat in the midst of all his cousins, and were holding the youngest in your lap, cuddling her like she was a teddy bear with your cheek pressed against the top of her head. if he could, valko already would've put this photo up in a museum. but having it printed and framed in his living room was enough for now.
ᯓ★ family man valko who encourages roughhousing against him with his cousins, but does not play when it comes to you. he knows them, he can take them, and he's used to them. but he worries about you getting overwhelmed. I can only imagine his conversation with them before they met you for the first time.
"no tugging, no pulling, no kicking, no punching―" he looks them all in the eye one by one, with his index finger pointed at them, his tone severe. "―and most important of all, no biting. do I make myself clear?"
they pout, not liking being told off. playfighting was their way of showing excitement. "... fine." they mumble.
but he shakes his head, unsatisfied. "I said, do I make myself clear?" he repeats.
they immediately straighten their postures. "yessir!" they shout in unison.
"good." he nods once, his smile returning to his face, before reaching out and ruffling their hair. "now go get ready, she'll be here any minute."
ᯓ★ family man valko who was shocked by your reaction when you learned of this. upon meeting them for the first time they seemed a little pouty or sad, like they were hiding something. and when you finally asked them what was wrong after valko left the room, and they told you everything, you were a little angry.
"valko! did you tell them not to play with me?" you frown once he comes back.
he freezes in the doorway, staring at you with wide eyes. "... I did. why?"
"well look at what you did to them, they're all sad now." you stand up.
"they'll be fine―" he scoffs with a nervous laugh. "don't fall for their puppy eyes."
you roll your eyes at him before holding both your hands out to the kids. "c'mon guys, let's go play outside and leave your lame cousin here."
their pouty faces morph into bright smiles as they all jump up, grab onto you and follow you out.
valko's left standing in the midst of the living room, baffled. "... they already like her more than me?"
ᯓ★ family man valko who never cusses at family gatherings out of fear of the kids hearing him. not even when it's just the adults and elder cousins. he doesn't want any of them picking up on bad habits.
ᯓ★ family man valko who's feminism stems from the fact that his pack is a matriarchy. with having so many important figures in his life that he looks up to being women, he naturally respects and loves them. was actually kind of shocked when he realized that that wasn't the norm in the world outside of his family, because it just makes sense to him.
ᯓ★ family man valko who eventually realized he had to learn to share you with his family. he couldn't blame them for loving you so much, since he was guilty of the same thing, but it still annoyed him a little every now and then.
"big sis, big sis! do you wanna play just dance with us?" the twins barge into the room where you and valko had run off to to hide from all the noise of the function. his teenage bedroom, to be exact.
your eyes soften, and you open your mouth to reply but he cuts you off.
"maybe later guys, she's busy with me." he folds his arms over his chest.
"whaaat? no fair, you've had her for like―a million hours!" they whine, grabbing at the doorknob, swinging it open and close repeatedly.
you laugh at their gesture and the way he rushes over to make them let go of the door. "yeah, well, she's my girlfriend. and she's tired, let her rest." he huffs.
you stick your head out from behind him to stare down at the pair of children. "actually―I'm not tired." you beam at them. they shout in unison and grab at your hands while jumping up and down.
valko gives you an exasperated side-eye. "why do you hate me?"
you chuckle as they start tugging you back downstairs to the living room, making sure to grab his hand along the way. "quit being dramatic and show me your dance moves, c'mon."
he rolls his eyes, but the second you turn away to face the twins infront of you, a smile breaks out on his face.
ᯓ★ family man valko who used to get teased by his aunties and especially his grandma whenever he'd come home without a plus one during the holidays. they'd hover around him, pinching his cheeks, grabbing and brushing his hair, smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes while calling him handsome and intelligent and wondering why he still hadn't brought anyone home yet. you can imagine their excitement when they finally met you, and knew from your scent alone that you were perfect for their valko.
pairing: bf!valko x gn!reader
cw: suggestive and sfw headcannons (they're separated), petnames, fluff, teasing and mocking
a/n: gonna make family man valko headcannons next, stay tuned for that... (edit: it's out and I linked it)
family man valko headcannons!
Valko masterlist
ᯓ★ bf!valko who likes to ragebait you, but isn't immune to it himself. if anything, he's kinda easier to annoy at times. it's all in good fun though, and he'd never get mad at you.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who will kiss, suck, lick or bite any sliver of skin that you expose to him. whether it be your neck, shoulders, ears, collarbone, back, arms, fingers, ankles—literally anything and everything. he's starving.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who doesn't go too crazy with nicknames for you. a bit basic, likes using "baby" and "pretty" a lot. he's a bit of a troll at times though, and likes using the most terrible petnames possible just to get a reaction from you.
"hey honeybun—do you know where my phone is?" he sticks his head in through the door of the room you're lounging in. eyeing you eagerly.
you slowly turn to face him, disgust painting your face as you side-eye him. "what did you just call me?"
"honeybun. y'know, 'cause you're sweet like honey and have nice buns—okay I can't do this." he breaks character, laughter bubbling out of him as he leans against the doorframe.
you join, laughing along with him. "never do that again."
ᯓ★ bf!valko who's always leaning on you, has his head resting in your lap, or even lies down on top of you on the couch while watching tv. it doesn't matter how much you protest and complain about how heavy he is, it doesn't stop him. if anything, it just makes him want to do it more.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who has a ridiculously attractive laugh. you thought it would probably be a little silly, but you were wrong. the first time you heard him really laugh out of true amusement, your entire face got red. not to mention the fact that his fangs and dimples show when he's laughing. also has those smile lines that everyone finds hot.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who never lets you carry anything, ever. whenever you two go out shopping for fun or for groceries, he will hold all the bags with both hands, bulging veins nearly popping out of his biceps as he holds onto 5 bags with each hand. but you still have the audacity to tease him.
"why don't you wanna hold my hand? are you angry at me?" you feign offense, pouting as you eye his obviously full hands.
he freezes, turning to the side to glance at you over his shoulder. "you serious?"
you nod, your frown only deepening as you stare up at him.
he shifts the bags in his left hand and barely manages to hold out his pinky finger to you. "c'mon," he points forward with a gesture of his head.
you chuckle, grabbing onto his pinky finger and walking alongside him.
"happy?" he asks with a scoff, but is unable to hide his grin. once you hum in agreement, his eyes return to the path ahead, his smile widening.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who, just like wolves who pick their partners for life and stick by their decision, saved himself for you. never dated, never kissed, never hooked up, never even flirted. he knew that the one meant for him was out there, and that he'd know it was them the moment he'd meet them. and when you ran into each other the first time? yeah, he knew you were the one. his nose and intuition never failed him afterall.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who acts very suave and confident, which he kinda is, but not all the time. it's kind of a cover-up that became half true somewhere along the way (fake it till you make it). sure he's much cooler now than in his teenage years, but he's still the virgin tech nerd who annotated biology textbooks for fun while having national geographic wildlife documentaries playing in the background.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who's a very outdoorsy man. always suggests going on walks, runs, or hikes with you. but he never takes the same path or trail twice. always insists on seeing new things. however, he knows that most people aren't big fans of hiking and stuff, so he never forces you, and is always encouraging when you do decide to. (also super grateful that you try out his hobbies for him)
"how much longer until we get back..." you whine, your arms dangling in front of you as they rest against valko's shoulders.
he readjusts you, tightening his grip on your legs as you melt further against him, threatening to fall off his back. "hey— you don't get to complain when you're being carried." he huffs.
"fine." you roll your eyes. "but you're the one who suggested carrying me around in the first place."
"what was I supposed to do? let you limp the whole way back? how gentlemanly." he chuckles.
feeling his chest vibrate underneath you, and the warmth emanating from him, you can't help but laugh as well. "alright, alright I get it." you press a quick peck to his cheek. "thanks."
ᯓ★ bf!valko who loves lying in bed with you, face smushed between your thighs. unconsciously gnaws and bites at the flesh of your inner thighs like it's a chew toy.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who sleeps with nothing but a pair of boxers on. with his naturally high body temperature, he's probably more comfortable sleeping nearly naked. never really thought much about it, but when you pointed it out the first time you slept together, he kinda got flustered. thankfully though, you reassured him you didn't mind as long as he was comfortable which he was grateful for (more eye candy for you).
ᯓ★ bf!valko who's a mouth breather sometimes, sorry. (canines expel heat and absorb fresh air through their mouths). he tries to stop it, and it's fine most of the time, but sometimes he can't help his instinctive nature and catches himself doing it unwillingly. gets a little embarrassed when you tease him for it. also snores.
ᯓ★ bf!valko whose fangs sometimes poke your lips or get stuck in the flesh while you two make out. it's gotten to the point where you're used to it and don't mind, but he still kinda freaks out everytime.
you're resting atop his lap, your lips moving against his like you needed him to breathe. and he returned that energy tenfold. his excitement caused him to be a little careless however.
you feel a sharp sting on the corner of your bottom lip and wince away from him. your tongue darts out to feel the spot he accidentally poked. there's no blood, but you can feel a little dent.
he eyes you with wide and worried eyes. "fuck, I'm sorry—" he lets out a quiet whine. "are you okay?"
you nod, chuckling at his pout.
his pout turns into a frown as he furrows his eyebrows at you. "I'm worried about you and you're laughing at me?"
that makes your chuckle turn into a full laugh. you lean into him, cupping his face tenderly before peppering kisses all over his face. "can you blame me? you look cute angry."
"... I'm not cute. I'm a grown man." he huffs, trying his best to stay annoyed, but once your lips press against a particularly sensitive spot near his jaw, he melts against you.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who loves seeing you try out new clothes, or pampering yourself. he just likes showing you off, and he loves it even more when you show off for him. probably loves praising you too. "you look so hot." "can't believe that's all mine." "that's the top you weren't sure about? it was made for you." and so on and so forth.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who steals food off your plate, especially stuff like dumplings or fries. will quickly grab the food and eat it in front of you while smirking. oh, and don't hold your sandwich up near him and look away for even a second, because he will lean in and take a bite of it. also the type to take huge bites whenever you offer him small bites of your food.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who puts his hand over your head when you're about to smack your head on something. doesn't even do it to be chivalrous or anything, it's automatic. also does it when it's raining.
── SUGGESTIVE
ᯓ★ bf!valko who would not care about you having body hair. he knows it's the natural state of your body, and likes it for that reason. would be devastated if you shaved your bush.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who's a munch. he likes it because it's one of the places where your scent is the strongest. likes giving more than receiving.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who wants you before you shower. when he texts you he's coming home, he always makes sure to add "don't wash". he loves your natural scent and musk, and doesn't want it to be erased by the artificial scent of body shampoo and soap. that's not to say he's unhygienic or anything, he likes both but has a very clear preference.
ᯓ★ bf!valko who you find yourself laughing with during intimacy. whether it's you mocking him for a strangled noise he let out, or him chuckling at your pleading face, the two of you always find a way to smile through it.
a/n: come back home dada please
if you liked this, you might like my family man valko headcannons!
He’s “just stretching” when he reaches over and pulls you into his lap while you’re trying to fold laundry. He’s “just making sure you’re warm” when he wraps his big arms around you and tucks you against his chest. He’s “just checking” when he leans down to nuzzle the top of your head for the fifth time in ten minutes.
You’re not even mad. How could you be?
Especially when his tail is wagging so hard behind him it’s practically creating a breeze, and his ears keep twitching happily every time you relax into him.
“You’re clingy today,” you tease, tilting your head back to look up at him.
“Am not,” he mumbles, but the way he immediately tightens his hold around your waist says otherwise. He buries his face in your neck, breathing you in like he needs it to survive. “Just like having you close. That’s all.”
You giggle and reach up to scratch behind one of his ears. The second you do, a low, happy rumble vibrates in his chest and his tail starts thumping even faster against the couch.
“Uh huh. Sure, big guy.”
He pretends to huff but ends up pressing a bunch of soft kisses along your shoulder instead, tail still going crazy. You’re both smiling like idiots.
Eventually he pulls back just enough to look at you, eyes soft and warm.
“…Can we stay like this a little longer?” he asks, suddenly shy.
You melt instantly, cupping his face and pulling him down for a proper kiss.
“Of course, baby. As long as you want.”
Valko’s tail does a full happy spin behind him as he tucks you closer again, perfectly content being your personal radiator.
୨୧ — Valko was sprawled on his stomach, one arm dangling off the edge of the bed, hair an absolute disaster, ears twitching occasionally at sounds only he could hear. His tail had escaped the covers sometime in the night and lay flopped over your legs like a furry anchor.
It wagged once. Twice. Even in sleep, some part of him always knew you were there.
You'd been awake for an hour already- crept out at an ungodly time to execute your master plan, then slipped back in to wait. The apartment smelled like vanilla and sugar and slightly burnt frosting (you'd scraped off the evidence), and the living room was housing a mountain of wrapped presents you'd been secretly hoarding for weeks.
His nose twitched.
There it is.
You watched his brow furrow, still mostly asleep, processing the unusual scent data. His tail started wagging faster. Then his ears perked up- one, then the other, swiveling toward the bedroom door like little radar dishes.
“Mmrph” A grumble. His arm reached out blindly, patting the mattress until he found your thigh and latched on, “Why's it smell like... cake?”
“Good morning to you too.”
One golden eye cracked open. Then the other. He squinted at you suspiciously, clearly not trusting his own senses this early, “‘S not my birthday.”
“It literally is.”
He buried his face back into the pillow, “Birthdays are for people who age. I refuse. I'm eternal.”
You snorted and scratched behind one ear. His whole body went boneless, a low rumble building in his chest.
Cheater, he thought hazily. Using the ears against me.
“Made you a cake,” you said in the sweetest fucking voice.
His head lifted. Both ears now at full attention, pointed directly at you with laser focus.
“…What kind?”
“Chocolate. Three layers. Homemade buttercream… There may also be irresponsible amounts of presents. That leather jacket you've been staring at for six months? Those limited edition headphones that sold out in three minutes?" You grinned. "Oh, and I contacted that artist you like for a custom commission- it won't be ready for weeks so you're getting an IOU with a badly drawn wolf on it. Don't judge my art skills."
His tail was going insane now- hard enough to shake the bed. But his face was doing that thing where he tried to look cool and unaffected and was failing spectacularly.
She remembered, he thought, something warm and overwhelming expanding in his chest. Every stupid little thing I mentioned once. She was listening. She planned this. For me.
You didn't get to finish the sentence.
Valko moved fast and suddenly you were pinned beneath him, his weight pressing you into the mattress, his face inches from yours.
“You,” he said roughly, “are so annoying.”
“Rude. I made you cake-“
“The most annoying person I've ever met.” He kissed your forehead. “Insufferable even.” Your nose. “Absolutely unbearable.” The corner of your mouth.
You cupped his face in both hands.
“Happy birthday, my little wolfie.”
He made a small, undignified sound. His tail drooped. His ears flattened.
And then he buried his face in your neck, arms wrapping around you tight enough to squeeze the air from your lungs, and just... stayed there. Breathing you in.
You held him tighter, scratching at the base of his ears as his whole body melted against yours.
His tail started wagging again- slower, softer.
Best day, he thought. Best person. Gonna marry her.
“So,” you finally said, breaking the silence, “wanna see your presents? Orrrr is it still too early?”
He bit your shoulder. Not hard. Just enough to make you yelp.
“Five more minutes.” He lifted his head, flashing that sharp grin- still slightly watery but getting cockier, “Then presents. Then cake. Then I'm gonna show you exactly how grateful I am. Repeatedly.”
“...It's eight AM.”
“And? I've got all day. You gave me three layers. That's at least three rounds.”
“That math doesn't-“
He dropped back down, pressing a kiss to your pulse point, “My birthday. My math.”
been seeing those "climbing my boyfriend to see if he'll notice" videos and valko would 1000% let you climb him like a jungle gym while not batting an eye. he doesn't even notice you setting up your phone and pressing record because he's so locked into his work. you would start climbing up onto the back on his chair and fully swinging your legs over his shoulders to the front of his chest. and the only thing he thinks to do is to hold your legs and stabilize you and as you continue your ascent to fully sit on his shoulders.
his eyebrows are still furrowed but softer now that you're in his presence. you tug on his hair like ratatouille and he's so surprised by the force that he yelps and actually goes with you. of course, he catches you and steers you back to center. the giggles are off the charts as valko has been accustomed with your silly ways. you comb his hair back and scratch his scalp as he taps away on his keyboard.
you try and ask questions to see if you can rile him up but he is genuinely so happy with answering them.
"whatcha doin?"
i'm just finishing these reports honey bunches of oats, i'll be done in 10 minutes max.
"what does that mean?"
it's just an identifier we use for the different types of metals we have.
"what should we have for dinner?"
mmm, maybe that yummy chicken you made last week. i thought about it this morning.
"who's my pretty boy?" you reach under his chin and give him the lightest scratch. his eyes sparkle as he looks up at you, giving you that love sick puppy smile that shows his canines.
This is already so good- the way Valko is just so smitten but he has to keep to himself (for now) FJFJDJJD
I just see the more and more they work together over time, eventually there’s some sort of tension between them. Lingering gazes and silences, Valko’s learning more about his mate and her mannerisms- maybe how he knows her focused face, or how she clicks her pen whenever she’s anxious or knowing her coffee order’s a caramel iced latte with oat milk (just saying as an example) or even how she doodles little stars and moons in the margins of her notepad- little things like that he notices as time goes on.
I HOPE MY HUSBAND RETURNS FROM WAR- SOBBING CHOKING CRYING THROWING UP-
but also- this is a great prompt and thank you so much!!! he's adorable and i'm so sad :(( thank you so much for reading and sending me this ask <3333
Valko didn't need you here. His team was handling it- But still, he kept asking for you to come by. He'd even gone as far as to hire your company on a retainer, which he didn't need. He had his own cybersecurity department- That didn't matter. If he was a client, then you'd come around more often. If he was a client that was paying an absurd amount, you'd give him priority over others.
This proximity, this nearness, gave him front row seats to watching you simply exist around him. And he was learning so much. All your little quirks, all your little habits, all your preferences. He was becoming privy to it all and he couldn't be more happy.
Even that day in the lobby- He'd gone right up and called his mother. He couldn't contain himself. He had gushed about how it everything and more to finally see you, smell you- And how everything his mother had told him couldn't even begin to compare to what it felt like in real time.
In the last week and a half, he felt like he'd come to know your soul. You were headstrong, kind, and always made it known when someone else interrupted you. You filled the room with your warmth and energy. And every time you came, you had your own travel mug with a hot drink.
Sometimes, it would be coffee, sometimes tea, and sometimes, hot chocolate with cinnamon. He could never pin down what you preferred so, he started to keep it all in the break room. In case you wanted something. Anything.
God, he was ready to give you everything.
Even now- He was staring himself in his laptop's camera, making sure his hair was right, his glasses were clean, and his tie was proper. You were about to come for another meeting which could very easily have been an email.
Simon knocked and Valko slammed his laptop shut. He winced, hearing a crack- He'd deal with that later.
"Sir, your 2 o'clocks are all here." Simon announced, and Valko waved at him to send everyone in.
She's here- Oh god- She's- He frowned a little, your scent was different than usual. New perfume? He waited for everyone to settle in the room then took another whiff. No. Not a new perfume. A lingering scent of someone's cologne. Earthy, oaky, manly.
Manly?!? His wolf panicked and he circled the room, trying to be nonchalant as his employees rattled off on how the project was almost complete and the suspended app would go back online soon. He wasn't listening. He was sniffing the air like the pathetic dog that he was.
"And that concludes it." Someone said and the laptops started to close. "We should up and running by Sunday midnight."
You nodded and thanked everyone for letting you be part of the team and how excited you were to see what the company did next.
Valko was in a frenzy. He had missed out everything because he was too busy sniffing you and trying to figure out what man were you smelling like and why.
"Good- Good- Send me all reports before 6 tonight." Valko smiled, trying to seem as if he'd been part of the meeting.
You waited for everyone to leave then turned to him. "I suppose this ends out contract?"
No!!!! He felt claws in his throat.
"What? No, no. You're on retainer." He offered politely, making you laugh. Yes! I did that!
"It seems like daylight robbery." You shook your head, "I can't take your money whilst doing nothing at all for it."
Valko smiled. You were just so considerate. How did he possibly get so lucky? He had no clue.
"I should-" You slipped your laptop in your bag and pointed to the door.
"How- How about dinner? As a thank you." He hoped you'd agree. "A neat bow to end our contract." And begin a new one. A private one. "Unless, your partner wouldn't like that?" Yes. That's a nonsuspicious way of asking. He felt every proud of himself.
"My partner?" You laughed a little, "No. I'm- I'm single. And even if I wasn't, I wouldn't go around asking for permission from my boyfriend."
HURRAY!!!! His heart thumped against his ribs.
"Oh-" He said smoothly, "My apologies. I thought I smelled men's cologne on you."
"My- You have a nose on you." You smiled, "No, I was just in a rush and used my roommate's perfume instead of mine."
Valko nodded, his shoulders relaxing a little, but still somewhat tense. Did that mean you had a male roommate? And you shared things with him? Were you two close? Had he seen you in your underwear? Did you two have sleepovers? Did you have a will they won't they situationship with him?
He was flooded with questions and had no answers. Just say yes to dinner and I'll figure this out.
"So... Dinner?" He smiled.
"I- I don't know-" You hesitated a little. "I'm not sure it would be appropriate-"
"It wouldn't." He answered, "But since you'd like the contract to end, it should be fine, yes?"
"I- Yes." You smiled and he felt like jumping with joy.
"Great." He nodded, his smile bright and wide. "I'll have Simon send you all the details." He offered his hand, "Again, you have no idea how much you changed everything when you walked into my lobby that day."
"It's really nothing." You said softly, shaking his hand.
"No. I really mean it." He said again, "You changed everything."
so idk about making it a whole proper fic but i'll do drabbles and little one shots about this specific storyline- Valko and his mate. So- you can ask for specific events with these two as well if you want! <33 love you!
The First Meeting
This was going horribly. You were talking, Valko was nodding, pretending to listen but he was not catching a single word.
You were here. In his office. But so were a handful of other people in this stupid room because this was a meeting and they had an agenda to fix the authentication layer of the new health care app.
He hated how there were so many scents overlapping your smell. He was pretty sure his employees noticed his very grumpy face. But much to his relief, they assumed that he was angry about this mishap. Not the fact that they were all crowded around his mate and talking to her and being in her vicinity- All the things that even he had barely gotten the privilege of!
"Alright." He spoke suddenly, and the room quieted down. "I think we've covered plenty of ground for now. Why don't we follow up the rest on Slack?" He asked. "Someone will add you to the company channel." He said so sweetly to you.
"Uh- Sir- Slack is only for employees-" Someone asked with confusion.
It took everything Valko had in him to not snarl at his employee and throw him out for even implying that you weren't to get access to everything and anything-
Don't these idiots realize they're speaking about my future wife? He glared at them, his back tingling as his tail wanted to be let loose.
"Consider this special circumstances." Since she'll own half of this company soon enough. He said through gritted teeth.
Everyone nodded and started to shuffle out when he asked for you to stay back.
Once the room was empty, and the last person left, leaving just you and him, he took a deep breath. Finally, just your scent. He sighed, then looked at you with a smile.
"I had a proposition for you." He was doing his best to be smooth. "How would you feel about me buying your company? You could be head of cyber security here?" Oh- And I'd get to see you everyday. Work with you all the time.
You stared at him with raised brows. "Excuse me?"
Uh oh- That's not the reaction I wanted. He almost pouted.
"I- Uh-" You gathered your thoughts to articulate yourself as kindly as you possibly could. "I think we've misunderstood one another." You looked at him.
His wolf cowered inside him. No- No- No- Mate is angry. Why is mate angry? Fix it!! Fix! Fix!
"I came to you as a favour to help you secure your app better. I'm not interested in selling or being absorbed into another company." You said firmly and Valko's wolf whined pathetically in his head.
"I'm- I'm sorry- I-" He stammered, a lump already forming in his throat.
You stared at him in confusion. Was this man about to cry because you said no to selling?
"I just- I wanted to-" He tried but what was he supposed to say? That he wanted to make sure you'd never want for anything. He cleared his throat and forced himself to calm down. "I apologize for assuming. Can I make it up to you?" He asked. "Perhaps, a dinner?" Yes- Yes. That was good. Very smooth.
You exhaled a soft laugh, zipping up your bag. "I don't think that would be appropriate. Considering we're working together at the moment."
Valko wanted to sob. "Maybe after we're done with this?"
"Maybe?" You said shyly.
Success!! His wolf jumped around. Valko smiled at you. "Maybe is good. I like maybe."
Valko had grown up being told that when he'd meet his mate, he'd know. He would stay up so many nights, asking his mom to tell the story of how she met his dad, how she knew that his dad was the one. No matter how many times he'd hear the story, he'd never get tired.
Maybe that was why he believed in love stories. Because how could he not? His parents' was the love story for the ages.
However, seeing how old he was now, he was starting to lose hope.
He had travelled the world, met countless people, and never once had he ever met someone that made him pause. That stole his breath, that made his wolf go wild, that pulled him as if they were meant for him.
Sure, there had been relationships, good fucks- some were genuinely nice women. One relationship had even lasted two years because it was so comfortable. But that was all it was. Comfortable. No one ever captured his heart. No one ever made his soul burn. No one ever made his wolf yearn for them.
Not the way his mother had always told that she did for his father.
So he told himself that love could wait. It would have to wait. He just focused more and more on the company. On his career. On everything other than what he wanted to seek out.
Even now, he was sitting at his desk, overseeing some papers when his assistant knocked.
"Sir?" He popped his head in the office. "We have a bit of a situation downstairs."
"What now, Simon?" Valko sighed and looked up.
"Uh.. there's a woman downstairs. In the lobby. Won't leave until she sees you." Simon explained.
"So? Call security or whatever-" Valko waved him away.
"That's the problem part." Simon swallowed. "She's not doing anything. She's just sitting there. Says that she needs 5 minutes only. Says that she'll wait."
"Wait?" Valko's brows furrowed and Simon nodded. He inhaled deeply and paused. "I'll handle it." Valko said slowly and then took another deep breath.
There were the usual smells. Office cedar, air fresheners, stale coffee, and something new. Different. Sweeter.
Valko closed his laptop and took out his nasal blockers. He usually wore them so his sense of smell wouldn't constantly be assaulting and distracting him. He took another deep breath and suddenly felt his wolf pawing at the back of his throat.
That was new. His wolf never did that. Had never done that.
He walked out of his office and the smell grew stronger. He followed it all the way down to the lobby and there you were. His heart stuttered, his wolf practically tried to claw out of his chest. He had to put his nasal blocker back in so to not lose control and show the whole building his tail.
"I heard you were looking for me." He said smoothly with a smile, offering his hand.
"Mr Ao! Hello!" You smiled brightly and his knees almost buckled. "I'm so sorry for showing up like this but I called and no appointments were available until next month and-"
He wasn't listening. He couldn't. You were shaking his hand and that's all that mattered. All this time he'd spent looking- Somehow you'd come to him. Just shown up out of thin air.
"But anyway- I found a backdoor vulnerability in your new healthcare app-" You pulled away from his hand and he almost reached out to grab you again. You didn't notice that. You were too busy opening your laptop to show him what you'd found. "I have a small cyber security start up." You explained. "And I thought that if I'd emailed you about this, it might look like a scam or something -"
You were still talking but all Valko was doing was looking at you. Your hair, your eyes, your smile, the way your mouth moved as you spoke, your hands as they glided over the keys on your laptop. Whereas his wolf was purring because he was just near you. A soft chant churning in his head. Mate. Mate. Mate. Mate.
"See?" You smiled, showing him your laptop screen. "That could lead to potential data leaks." Valko nodded. He had heard absolutely nothing you'd said. "Whoever built the authentication layer probably forgot to tie up the loose ends- It's nothing catastrophic. Yet." You turned to him and he was just... There. Without a single working braincell.
"Right... Can you show me the code again please?" He tried to piece together what you'd said.
You nodded and put your laptop on the receptionist's desk. Valko moved closer to look at your laptop over your shoulder and definitely not to smell you.
The nasal blocker was there but this close, he could still smell you. Like pine after rain. Like a warm beach day. Like midnight after a thick snow. Everything was so crisp and you were showing him a code that looked like hieroglyphics at the moment.
"Mr Ao?" You asked, unsure if he was even listening.
"I'm sorry." He gave an easy smile to cover up the torment inside him. "I'm a little distracted. Work and all-" He lied. Oh god I just lied to my mate what would mother say? He cleared his throat. "If you could give me your number, perhaps we can arrange a proper sit down and discuss this?" And then afterwards I'll throw you over my shoulder and we'll disappear for at least a month.
You smiled again and his wolf preened. You were smiling at him. For him.
"Of course." You handed him your business card.
"I'll take very good care of this." And you. Oh god I'll take such good care of you. He slipped the business card into his pocket.
You nodded, "Well.. um- I should go- I'm sorry for causing a scene and-"
Cause as many scenes as you want. Anything you want. His brain was burning up. This was everything and more than what his mother had told him would feel like.
"Thank you." He breathed out as you put your laptop on your bag. "For finding this." And me. Thank you for finding me. "We would have landed in a lot of trouble and lawsuits if you hadn't."
"It's really no problem. You're doing good work. I didn't want it to stop just because someone made a mistake." You assured him. "Thank you again for your time, Mr Ao."
"Valko. Please, call me Valko." He said softly. You'll be saying it for the rest of life, soon enough.
"Valko." You repeated and his wolf purred in his chest.
He shook your hand again, his other hand coming to cover yours completely. "I hope to see you again soon." And then never let you go.
