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“Okay Vena, are you ready to meet a very special family member?” Vox softly but eagerly inquired as he held his daughter in his arms. The littlest V let out a happy squeal as she clapped her four hands together, briefly fluttering her tiny white wings in joy.
The Overlord of TV and Electricity smiled fondly at the display and placed his screen-shaped head to hers, letting her know how much he treasured her. He soon remembered the task at hand as he pulled away, placed a kiss between her big pink eyes and carried Vena out of their room.
The lavish penthouse the Vs called home was adorned with all manner of high-tech electronics, expensive statues, paintings of themselves, and a fully-stocked bar filled with almost every type of alcohol they could want. The smell of cigarette smoke still hung in the air despite Valentino leaving an hour ago to do business at the Triple X, but the scent brought a warm familiarity to Vox’s chest as he thought about his love. His other daughter Velvette, whom he and the moth Sinner had taken in as one of their own, was also absent as she was going to the new mall opening in the Third Circle and wanted to live-stream her trip.
No matter, Vox internally remarked. I can handle this by myself. He walked with purpose over to the blood-red L-shaped couch before he held Vena out in front of him and cooed, “Okay my precious. Time for you to meet my sweet, loyal fish baby.” The albino child babbled and chittered something unintelligible in an attempt to say what she was thinking, but the gesture only melted the otherwise hardened Sinner’s heart as he smiled back at her.
In a loud, commanding voice, Vox then called, “Vark!” out into the large room, making his daughter give a small jerk at the suddenness. They didn’t have to wait long as heavy, thumping footsteps came bounding in from the far-off door only a couple seconds later.
The fluffy baby turned her head this way and that, looking for the source until he appeared right in front of the pair. Before them was the TV Overlord’s beloved pet Vark, a hammerhead shark dog with shiny, light-blue coarse skin, white underbelly and a long fish tail that was currently wagging happily as he waited for his owner’s order. He also had a mouth full of sharp teeth, claws at the end of his feet and the biggest puppy dog-like eyes ever to belong on an animal. Panting with his tongue hanging out, he plodded on over to the two of them and sat down, turning his head from one to the other and back again.
“Vena, this is Vark, a very good boy who can be there for you as a friend and family member,” Vox calmly informed the littlest V.
The white, puffy mothling just stared at this strange creature, unblinking as she tilted her head in curiosity and making Vark mirror her actions. Vox gave a soft, electric chuckle as he patted the shark’s head for some well-deserved affection, followed by shifting Vena in his hold so he could slowly move her closer to their pet. “Vark, now I’d like to introduce you to Vena. She’s very important and needs you as her big, strong protector,” he said with an air of importance. When his daughter was only a couple inches away, Vena stuck out her top pair of hands as she tried to touch Vark; she was very excited to see this big new thing now and he was almost within reach.
The loyal pet was intrigued by the little poofy baby that looked suspiciously similar to his other owner, but so small and white that he knew they were not the same. He leaned in closer to the outstretched arms and sniffed her hands, making Vena chirp when Vark breathed warm air onto them. To the shark boy, he could pick up the scent of lavender oil, baby powder and the faintest trace of smoke, no doubt from being held by her dad Valentino; either way, he liked what he smelt and could sense she was a friend as well as his master Vox seemed to like her, so that was good enough for him. Vark made an approving humph sound before he licked both of Vena’s exposed hands, surprising the TV Sinner and his daughter as she pulled them back. The young mothling let out a squeal of happiness though, followed by several chirping sounds as she stuck out all of her hands now, hoping for the same outcome.
Vox gave a short snort at her reaction as he held her steady and gave a warm smile at how delighted Vena had become as well as how accepting and affectionate Vark was; eventually, he pulled his daughter back just a little so he could demonstrate petting his shark dog properly. “Watch Mein Schmetterling.” He proceeded to extend a clawed hand and gently patted the four-legged creature on top of his head, making the pet close his eyes with a toothy grin plastered on his face. Vox then moved his hand under the other’s chin and used his blue nails to his advantage as they scratched into Vark’s thick skin. The resulting gesture was met with a low, rough growl of sorts (almost as if the animal was attempting to purr), which made Vena gaze wide-eyed at him again before she gave a blep of her own. The powerful V stopped 30seconds later, much to the disappointment of the other two until he lifted the fluffy baby from under her top two arms and moved her in closer to attempt a proper pat.
Vark eyed the little one as she was now hovering next to him, where Vena proceeded to copy what she had seen her Daddy do. With her upper right hand, her tiny mitt patted the top of his head and probably would have been a touch rougher had she been older and stronger. The aquatic creature didn’t seem to mind though as he happily panted while Vena reveled at how he felt with her pink eyes held open wide in amazement. The future Overlord attempted to try and rub her hand more along the shark dog’s forehead, but Vox lifted her arm for fear that she might hurt her delicate skin if she did too much. Although her daughter held a confused expression from the move, it quickly turned to joy when she was brought face to face with her father, who’s own ruby eyes squinted with happiness before he placed another kiss on her head. Vena fluttered her wings again as she chittered and reached for her Daddy’s screen face, to which he welcomed with a broad grin.
A loud, gruff bark came from the family pet interrupted the sweet moment a few seconds later, but Vox continued to smile as he turned his child back to Vark and said, “Know Mein Schatz, that as long as you are within these walls, this fierce and loyal companion shall see that you are safe should my eyes ever be off you.” He then turned to the aforementioned animal and commanded to him, “Vark, you are to keep Vena safe and make sure she is kept happy whether we are apart or not. If anyone other than Velvette, Valentino or myself even comes near her, kill them with the utmost prejudice.”
Vox knew his messages were unlikely to be received 100% clearly, but his sharp-tooth pet did appear visibly more excited once his master was done talking. “Good boy,” he said as he gave an approving pat to Vark’s head, making him wag his tail faster and pant more rapidly. The Overlord of TV and Electricity then looked to Vena again as she blepped and babbled away before he softly cooed, “And now Mein Liebling, would you like to see a trick?”
The fluffy baby clapped her hands in approval with a wide grin across her small face, letting a few tiny fangs poke out and giving Vox the answer he was hoping for. With a smirk, he firmly uttered, “Vark,” causing the loyal pet to snap to attention. He waited all of five seconds before he calmly ordered, “Fetch.” Like a bolt of lightning, the four-legged shark took off back to his room to retrieve one of his many toys so Vox could properly play with him.
The powerful Sinner then leaned closed to his daughter and nuzzled her while she remained transfixed in the direction her new friend went. “And when he gets back, you can see just how good he is at handling our enemies,” Vox cheerfully told her, which earned him a brief look of awe from Vena that melted his heart even more. “Love you Mein Kleiner Stern,” was all he had time to say before the loud thumping sounds of Vark returning pulled the mothling’s attention away from him; he wasn’t sad though as their time together in this world was still only just beginning, and Vox would be sure to share all that he could with her, just like he had when Vark became part of their family.