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Valentino wasn't one to worry — too much that is. His leg was bouncing as he attempted to watch Angel's show. His mind was elsewhere and he wasn't sure why. He couldn't pinpoint why his heart was racing or why he felt like something was wrong and it bugged him. Valentino took out his phone, checking the time for the umpteenth time before he unlocked it and scrolled through his contacts. He clicked on Vox's, noting that the other hadn't been active for a few hours or seen his messages. He squinted at the phone for a moment before moving on to Velvette's contact. He sent her a message, knowing how fast she would answer. But she never did.
His worry skyrocketed and he couldn't take it anymore. While Angel and Summer were speaking with one another, Valentino had left in a hurry. It confused the two but they shrugged it off, thinking it was something else and not Valentino's strange suspicions. He tried to call Vox, but was only sent to a voicemail. “Pick 𝘶𝘱 damn it.” He muttered through gritted teeth as he left the studio and got into his limo. “Straight to the house.” He told the driver as he continued his failed attempts to contact Vox.
Arriving to his shared home with Vox and Velvette was faster than what he had expected, but he was happy to know that the driver wasn't as incompetent as he looks. He gets out of the limo and rushes to the front door, rushing into the home. He noticed how quiet it was, something rare for the three of them. It bugged him and made his head feel weird, but he brushed it off. “Vel? Vox? Are you two here?” He called out into the quiet home. “I have been trying to call you two for the past two hours and -” Valentino's rant was cut short by a sobbing Velvette running out from the kitchen.
“Vaaaaal!” She sobbed. Valentino looked over her, noting the amount of blood she was covered in. “I - I'm sorry! I didn't know! I thought - I didn't know he would -” Velvette was hiccuping, tears continuing to stream down her face as she attempted to speak. Valentino put his hands on her shoulders, kneeling slightly.
“Vel, calm down and tell me what is wrong.” He spoke slow and soft, wanting to figure out the issue as quickly as possible. Though, in his mind, he was concerned ; where was Vox?
“Vox!” She sobbed out. Valentino's eyes widened at that. He looked back down at her bloody clothes and hands. His blood ran cold and he was quick to run to the kitchen. There, against the wall, lay Vox with a hand on his stomach. Velvette ran into the kitchen, sniffling. “I dunno what to do.” She cried. Valentino's breathing became heavy. He took off his coat and fell down to his knees. Moving Vox, he used his coat as a pillow for the Overlord. He looked up to Velvette.
“I need you to come here.” He said, his voice rushed. He tried his best to keep from panicking. Velvette nodded and made her way to the two, dropping to her knees. “Put your hands on his wound and place pressure. I'm going to call for help, can you do that?” He asked her. Velvette only stared at Vox, the tears flowing. “Vel, I need you here with me right now.” Valentino put a hand on her cheek, gently moving her head so that she looked at him. “Apply pressure.” He said, his voice slow and low, eyes never leaving her's. Velvette nodded slowly and put her hands on Vox's wound. Both flinched when Vox let out a groan. “It's okay, Voxxy, it's okay.” Valentino whispered to him as he took out his phone. Valentino took a hold of Vox's hand, squeezing it tightly as the phone rang.
Velvette only let the tears fall silently, continuing to apply pressure to Vox's wound while Valentino told those on the other side of the phone what was happening. She was scared. Her heart and mind racing, her breathing heavy and body shaking. She was afraid of what might happen to Vox. It was her fault that he even got hurt.
She shouldn't have trusted him.
Why did she trust him?
When help arrived, both Velvette and Vox were taken, Valentino telling the girl he would be right behind them.
Pacing the hospital waiting room, Valentino was getting constant messages and calls, all going unanswered. His boots clicked against the tiles as he paced, awaiting a nurse or doctor or someone. When someone had arrived, they explained that Velvette would be alright. She had some cuts and bruises, but she would be fine. He let out a soft sigh to that. “What about Vox?” He asked. The other blinked up at him, confused. Valentino glared slightly. “Vox? You know, the Overlord? The one with the TV head?? The one that was bleeding out!” Valentino yelled, getting closer to the nurses face. The nurse swallowed thickly and flipped the page on their clipboard.
“I - I apologize sir.” They stuttered out. “Uh, he - he is still i - in surgery.” Valentino let out another sigh. He knew Vox would come out of this, but he was still worried for the other. “Would - would you like me to take you t - to Miss Velvette..?” The nurse stuttered. Valentino nodded and let them guide him to the room that Velvette stayed in. The girl smiled at Valentino as he walked over to her bedside. The nurse left the two alone.
“Where is Vox? Is he okay?” Velvette asked, watching as Valentino grabbed a chair and sat down.
“He's in surgery still, but he will be okay.” Valentino smiled softly at her. Velvette nodded, happy to hear that Vox would be okay.
“Vel,” Valentino started. “can you tell me what happened?” He asked her, his voice soft like it had been at their home. Velvette's smile faded and she looked at her hands. Valentino's brows furrowed. “Vel?”
“I wanted him to come with me..” She said. “A guy had asked me out and I was scared so I asked Vox to come with me..it was fun, Val.” She looked at him with a soft and small smile, tears filling her eyes. “We all had fun and everything seemed fine. But once we got home...he took out a knife and tried to stab me. Vox got in the way and was stabbed instead...!” Velvette sobbed. Valentino had a sympathetic look on his face, his eyes soft. He moved from the chair and sat on the edge of the bed, giving the sobbing girl a side hug. They stayed like that for a while, only until a nurse entered the room.
“Uh, Mister Vox is out of a surgery and can have visitors.” They said before leaving. Velvette pat Valentino on the chest, smiling up at him.
“Go see him. They'll let me outta here soon. If not, I'm stabbing someone.” She hummed. Both stifled laughs. Valentino kissed Velvette on the head and left the girl to get some sleep, knowing just how tired she actually was. He followed after the nurse, tears filling his eyes when he saw Vox in the hospital bed. He was quick to enter the room and make his way beside Vox. The nurse, once again, closed the door, leaving the two alone.
“Vox.” He whispered softly. Vox was awake, he could tell.
“Never let Vel date. Ever.” Vox joked. Valentino smiled, the tears falling from his eyes. Vox frowned. He put a hand on Valentino's cheek, wiping away the stray tears. “Hey, don't cry, love. Everything is fine.” He assured Valentino. The moth pimp only nodded in response. Vox smiled at him. Vox took off Valentino's hat, setting it aside so that he could pet Valentino. The two sat in a comfortable silence. For the last few hours, silence had been the thing Valentino hated, but knowing that Vox was okay helped with the racing thoughts. “Val..” Vox said softly, his voice almost a whisper. Valentino looked up at him, his antennas up. He watched Vox let out a breath. “Don't leave me, alright?” Vox turned to look at him, smiling. He took Valentino's hand, squeezing it. “Stay with me?” Vox asked, his eyes searching Valentino's face.
Valentino squeezed back, nodding his head. “Of course. I would never leave you, Voxxy.” His voice cracked as he spoke. It was rare for Vox to ask for Valentino to stay with him.
If he's half asleep and Valentino is getting up? He would squeeze Valentino's waist and ask him to stay.
If both had gotten into an argument? Vox would hold his face and whisper softly to Valentino, asking him to not leave and just stay.
Vox let out a soft chuckle, kissing the back of Valentino's hand softly. Vox had fallen asleep a little while later, something Valentino understood. It didn't take long for him to follow suit, his head laying on the bedside, their hands intertwined.
Valentino planned to stay with Vox for as long as it took.
He never wanted to leave Vox.
“Val. Come on. Let's go home.” Velvette whispered, her hands on his shoulder. Tears fell silently as Valentino stared at the empty bed. It had been three days and he was still there.
Valentino hadn't moved.
He hadn't eaten.
Nothing.
He promised he wouldn't leave Vox.
His entire life was gone.
No one could get Valentino to move, to leave the hospital and go home.
Velvette couldn't do it.
Nurses and doctors couldn't do it.
Even the girls couldn't get Valentino to move.
Valentino couldn't leave.
He couldn't leave when he felt as Vox's hand stopped squeezing his.
He couldn't leave when nurses and doctors had run in.
He couldn't leave when they rolled him out.
He couldn't leave when they said he was gone.
He just couldn't leave Vox.
But Vox left him...
He promised he wouldn't ever leave Vox. Why did he have to promise that? Why didn't Vox promise to never leave him?