Work Text:
A cloudy day, announcing rain. Well, Valko had already said it would be raining, but you'd rather believe the weather channel. And guess what ? It worked. Both worked, actually.
Valko burried his head further in your hair. It has not been long since you had started spending nights together. You were more the avoidant type : leaving right after lovemaking, thank you, see you next time.
The first time, Valko had been too disturbed to say anything.
Not now. Definitely not now.
The second time, he made sure to talk about aftercare before. It had seemed weird. But you had let him cuddle you and it had felt… strangely right. To feel wanted besides sex.
You hid the tears, of course.
“You smell like rest,” Valko mumbled, gripping your waist tighter.
“-What does it smells like ?
-…Like rain today,” he answered, and you could not help your chuckle.
“-Do I also smell like leaving early for work ?
-No. More like staying here with me,” he said, keeping you against him.
Tighter in his arms. Safer for the day to come… Or just to keep you close to his heart, where it rightfully belonged.
“Valko… Urgh, let me go !
-But I want to keep you close !
-All day ? Don’t you have… Reunions and fake work to do like all CEO’s ?”
He chuckled frankly against your neck, peppering small kisses here.
“I would gladly throw all the fake work away if it could keep you here an hour longer,” he said as you got up, finding clothes hazardly on the floor.
You shook your head, quickly putting on the jeans and shirt from yesterday, while he yawned, going to the kitchen.
“What do werewolves eat for breakfast ?,” you asked from the bedroom, arranging your hair.
“You know, just the usual. A few children bones and human blood,” he said from the kitchen.
“I know that, you shook your head, walking to where he was, that’s nothing special. That’s what every Hunter takes for breakfast. But we also eat dog bones,” you said, tilting his nose before taking coffee.
Valko frowned, immediately offended. It was too easy.
“Dog bones ? I hope you don’t compare me to that.
-Valko. You literally smells the weather. Dogs can do that too.
-And wolves. And any other animals, you would know that if you got out a little.
-I do go out, it’s just-
-For something other than hunting Wanderers ?”
Valko saw it immediately. How you frowned, opened your mouth to answer, then decided it was not worth it. He was not worth it. Not worth an answer, not worth your time, and finally, not worth of your attention nor your affection.
Spiralling went fast. He learned that the hard way. But after a few time with you, he could predict.
“Hey. Stop that. Look at me.”
You did, biting your lip. Stopping the thoughts was not the hardest part.
“What I told you wasn’t disrespectful. It does not deserve to be shut down,” he said, hiding his worry pretty well.
Because it was what you did most of the time. Taking everything as an attack, because everything had once felt like one. And just a few days ago, you would have left. Feeling the shame of being teased, because it meant a reproach, not being good enough. And the spiral, that went as fast as a tornado.
“You have no reason to feel offended. And I won’t crawl to ask for forgiveness either,” he said softly but firmly.
You took a big breath. It felt ridiculous, honestly. To be offended for a little sentence.
But words were always harder to fight with. After all, you could anticipate a Wanderer attack all you wanted, and think of all the ways of doing your reports faster, it was still easier than finding a way to block words entirely.
Words from anyone, apparently. Who would have thought words cut sharper after giving your blades to a person you thrusted ?
“You’re right. Maybe it’s a bit early to be teased like that ?,” you suggested.
“But you teased me too.
-True. And I’m sorry,” you finally said, leaning your forehead on his back.
Here. It was sometimes easier to just give up a fight before it even existed.
Valko turned, taking you in his arms.
“It’s not even 8am. You need coffee before your glass of blood ?,” he whispered in your ear, trying to ease the tension.
It worked.
You chuckled against him.
“I should really go to the Association now.”
His ears went down in a sad puppy play. And the worth part was that he probably wasn’t even aware of it.
“Valko. No.
-I didn’t even-”
You cut him with a kiss.
“I have to go. Really.
-Can you leave me something ? So that I do not forget you ? So that I can look for you in a crowd ?,” he asked dramatically, not wanting to let you go.
You sighed, searching for something you could give up easily - because giving something to him meant he would never give it back.
“Ah, my hair tie. Here. For you.”
You took it off your wrist, offering it to him. A brown hair tie, basic, but one that smelled like you. And Valko was of course capable of scenting it from afar.
“Smells like you.
-And what does it smells like this time ?
-You coming back for dinner tonight.”
He stole one last kiss before letting you go.
“You’re so romantic,” he said, and you knew he was dead serious with the way he smiled fondly.
“You’re weird. It’s just a hair tie…
-No, it’s your hair tie,” he corrected, tail batting eagerly.
You waved at him to hide your smile.
“Bye, honey,” he said from kitchen.
“Bye, puppy,” you answered.