“You’re restless.”
Valko’s ears pinned to his head, grimace tugging at his lips.
“Yeah? Wouldn’t you be?”
Valko counted one, two, three steps. He was currently perched on the edge of the Onychinus skyscraper, one leg dangling over the precipice. Sylus stood just to his left, hands in his pockets. The red moon of the N109 Zone hung ever present in the eternal night sky.
“No.” Sylus shrugged. “I would’ve taken action by now.”
Valko growled, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
“Yeah, well I can’t take action without riskin’ my family. I’m not about to put them in danger.”
The quiet stretched between two beasts. Valko might’ve thought Sylus had left if the rich cologne and natural musk wasn’t still filling his nose.
“There’s benefits to having attachments.” Sylus eventually settled on. “Just as there are benefits to solitude. I never considered myself the former. Having to consider the effects beyond oneself hardly seems worth the effort.”
Valko didn’t respond right away, just breathing in the night air as the city below carried on as it always had.
“If that was true, Onychinus wouldn’t be a lifeline to so many little guys scuttlin’ about down there.”
“Are you implying something, pup?”
“I’m just pointing out what’s there. You stepped up and became an authority when anarchy was rampant. It’s wild here, but there’s an established pecking order now. Stability. People need that sorta thing.”
“I don’t make deals where I don’t benefit. Anything that occurs beyond that is up to the people involved.”
Valko couldn’t help himself from forming a grin. Even the tip of his tail wiggled.
“Uh huh. Yeah. Sure. You keep telling yourself that, big guy, but you aren’t whatever monster you keep seein’ yourself as. Maybe you were once, but I don’t-“
Valko’s trailing thoughts were cut off when a strong hand came from behind to wrap around his throat. The heat of Sylus was at his back, crouching down, as the criminal boss kept a firm, but not damaging hold.
“You speak with so much confidence as if you know me. It’s almost cute.”
Valko’s tail started wagging faster. Oh- he knew this game. He knew it very well.
“I know enough to recognize when game of chicken starts. I’ll have you know I’ve never lost one before. You could throw me off this building right now and I still wouldn’t submit.”
Valko could feel Sylus laugh, the sound rumbling against his back. The fingers on his neck tightened briefly before letting go. Valko nearly whined when Sylus started walking back towards the doorway back into the base.
“That’s it?!” Valko did end up shouting, a half hearted arm raising in disbelief.
Sylus paused in the doorway, glancing over his shoulder.
“Who needs a game when we can make it real. C’mon. We’re doing this in the ring. Prove to me you can back up all this barking of yours with some bite.”
Valko never scrambled to his feet so fast before, running eagerly after the older man with slightly rosy cheeks.
When the two men were passing you by mid-game match with the twins, Valko was visibly excited to Sylus’s passive exterior.
“Gotta teach this old man a lesson.” Was something along the lines of Valko’s growing anticipation.
“Bro you’re cooked.” Started Kieran.
“Boss will wipe the floor with you.” Ended Luke.
Both Sylus and Valko had paused at the elevator to wait for your reaction in particular. Neither of them complained when they saw your face steadily growing more red.
“Are you guys… uh… going shirtless or-“
The twins fell into each other with ripping laughter much to your dismay.
“ITS AN HONEST QUESTION”
“Why don’t you come watch and see for yourself, babydoll.” Valko encouraged, already running back to your side to scoop you up and toss you over his shoulder much to your shrieking laughter and smacking hands.
“Bad! Put me down!”
“Nah.”
You couldn’t even look to Sylus for help, because as Valko passed him to enter the elevator, a firm hand slapped your ass.
“SYLUS-!” Your squeak was punctuated by the closing elevator with either man inside.
Luke and Kieran simultaneously gagged.
“I was considering watching…” Luke started
“But they will definitely get nasty by the end of it.” Kieran ended with a sage nod. “Good thing this base has like. Several gyms.”
“Ugh… yeah… he only uses that one, right?”
…
“Right???”
“I dunno bro…”
“Fuck. Start looking up some deep cleaners, dude.”
