☆Ife☆

Valko who looks up at you with his sad puppy eyes. His head is on your stomach, his whole body weight practically stopping blood flow to the rest of your body as he lays on there, but you so very much like this feeling as well as the fact his big and strong arms hug your waist. His soft looking lips frown a little, even pout if you squint. Even his fluffy ears folded.

"Oh come on.. my hand's hurting" you chuckle, resting your hand on his back.

Valko let out the most dramatic sigh you had ever heard, the kind that belonged in a stage play rather than your tiny living room. His shoulders slumped even further, somehow making the giant of a man look heartbreakingly small despite the fact he was currently crushing you into the couch.

"But..." he mumbled, his voice muffled against your shirt. "You were doing such a good job." A laugh escaped you before you could stop it. "Oh? Was I?"

"Mhm." He nodded with complete seriousness. "Five-star service. Best head scratches in the whole world." His fingers absentmindedly traced little circles against your waist as if he hoped the affectionate gesture would somehow convince your hand to keep going. "I'd even leave a glowing review."

"You are unbelievable."

"I've been told I'm unforgettable."

"You've also been told you're heavy."

"I choose to ignore that feedback."

He flashed you a grin that lasted all of two seconds before melting back into another exaggerated pout. Those warm yellow-green orbs found yours again, impossibly soft, practically shimmering with theatrical betrayal. His tail, as fluffy and long as can be, was dragging dramatically across the floor.

"Please?" he asked, stretching the word into something almost pitiful. "Just... a little?"

"My hand is cramping, Valko.."

"I can kiss it better."

You raised an eyebrow.

"I can kiss both hands better, actually."

"...That doesn't actually solve the problem."

"Okay, but it solves morale."

You snorted so hard your chest shook beneath him.

Valko whose smile returned instantly and ears perked up at the sound, victorious. He always looked happiest when he managed to make you laugh. His forehead nudged gently against your stomach in a lazy little nuzzle before he tilted his head to look at you again.

"I don't need scratches," he said after a thoughtful pause. "Oh, now you don't?"

"...I would also accept for you to play with my hair."

"That's the same thing, Valko." You slyly smile.

"I'd also accept forehead rubs."

"Valko."

"..Ear rubs?"

You couldn't help it. Another laugh bubbled out of you, and Valko beamed like he'd won an award.

"There it is," he whispered proudly. "Worth it."

Your tired hand drifted from his back to his messy hair almost on instinct, fingers brushing through the soft strands just once. Valko froze. His eyes fluttered shut. His head lifted a little to rub itself deeper into your hand.

A pleased hum rumbled deep in his chest, low and content, vibrating against you. Every bit of tension seemed to melt from his broad frame in an instant. He leaned harder into your touch, careful this time not to put quite as much weight on you, though his arms never loosened around your waist.

"There..." you murmured, combing your fingers through his hair one last time. "Happy?". He nodded. "So happy..for now. I might ask you for more later. Tomorrow if I'm merciful."

You rolled your eyes fondly, trying to look angry but your lips curling up to form a smile betrayed you. "I never agreed to daily appointments."

"You don't have to." His smile softened into something so warm it made your heart ache. "I already know you'll spoil me anyway."

"You are spoiled, that is true."

Valko who says he prefers the term 'enthusiastically loved'. You stared at him for a second before reaching over with your other hand to gently squish one of his cheeks. "You know," you sighed, "you're impossible."

"And yet..." Valko turned just enough to press a quick kiss into your palm, lingering there for a heartbeat. "...you still let me lay on you."

"Well, mostly because if I wanted to move you, I'd need a construction crew."

Valko whose laughter came easily, rich and warm enough that you felt it vibrate through his chest where it rested against you. It was infectious. Before long, you were laughing too, the room filling with the easy sound of two people who had long since stopped caring how ridiculous they looked.

Eventually the laughter faded into a comfortable silence. Valko rested his chin on your stomach again, absentmindedly tracing lazy patterns against your side with his thumb. The earlier theatrics were gone now, replaced by the quiet contentment that always seemed to settle over him whenever the two of you had nowhere else to be.

"You know..." he murmured, "I like this." You opened your eyes, looking down to him. "Being squashed?". He shook his head. "Being here.." His gaze wandered around the room before returning to you, softer than before.