❄️

xavier

☆ if you need reassurance every day for a month, he'll give it every day for a month without making you feel guilty.

☆ his reassurances are incredibly verbal. he tells you exactly how he feels instead of expecting you to "just know."

☆ he's the type to randomly say, "i love you," while you're doing completely mundane things because he likes reminding you.

☆ he likes making future plans out loud because they're another way of saying, i'm still here

☆ "we should go there next winter." "you'll love this restaurant." "let's watch that together tomorrow."

☆ he also loves quiet physical affection. holding hands under blankets, resting his forehead against yours but his words do most of the heavy lifting.

☆ he thinks hearing "i choose you" should never become rare just because you're already together.

───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────

your voice came out barely above a whisper, "i'm scared you'll cheat on me one day."

the words had been sitting on the tip of your tongue all evening. you hated them. you hated how ridiculous they sounded. but they refused to leave.

xavier looked up from where he was sitting beside you on the couch, immediately giving you his full attention. he waited patiently. never rushing you to fill the silence.

"i know it doesn't make sense," you rushed out. "you've never given me a reason to think that. i just...sometimes i convince myself you'll realize i'm not enough."

you finally dared to look at him. there wasn't even a hint of annoyance on his face. only sadness that you'd been carrying that fear alone.

he reached for your hand, threading his fingers through yours. he was quiet for a moment before smiling softly.

"you know what i did this morning?"

you blinked through the tears in your eyes, "what?"

"i walked past that little bakery you like. they had strawberry pastries. i bought two."

you couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at your lips.

"when i found that movie yesterday, i saved it because i wanted to watch it with you."

another gentle squeeze of your hand. "when i was looking online last night..."

he glanced at you. "i found a house with a porch and a yard. it gets morning sunlight. i thought your plants would like it."

your breath caught but his voice was so calm, so certain.

"i don't spend my days wondering who else might make me happier. i spend them thinking about things i'd like to do with you."

another tear slipped down your cheek. "but what if one day—"

"there isn't one."

he moved his free hand to wipe the stray tear that made its way softly down your cheek.

"i love you. i'm faithful to you and i'm staying."

zayne

☆ he notices your anxiety long before you ever mention it. he doesn't confront you right away because he wants to make sure he isn't assuming your feelings.

☆ when you finally confess you're afraid he'll cheat, he goes very still. not because he's uncomfortable—but because he refuses to answer carelessly. he chooses every sentence with precision, almost like he's handling something fragile.

☆ he never calls your fears irrational. instead, he asks what experiences taught you to expect betrayal.

☆ if you need space he gives it but if he notices your hesitation, he asks "would reassurance help right now?"

☆ he remembers your answers. in the next few weeks he'll quietly adjust little habits without announcing it. if he's running late, he'll text. if someone flirts with him, he'll naturally make it obvious he's taken.

☆ he's never performative about loyalty. it's simply woven into how he lives. reassurance doesn't come naturally to him, but consistency does.

☆ even though sometimes he isn't the best at expressing his feeling through words, if you need to hear "i love you" ten times because anxiety is loud today, he'll say it eleven times.

☆ the first time you apologize for 'being too much', his expression hardens just a little and he says "needing comfort from your partner is not an inconvenience."

───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────

"can i ask you something?"

zayne looked up from the book resting in his lap. "always."

you gave a weak laugh before looking down at your hands.

"do you ever think you'd...find someone else?"

he closed his book, setting it neatly on the coffee table before turning his full attention toward you.

"what makes you ask that?"

"it's stupid."

"i didn't ask if it was."

you swallowed, "i just...sometimes i think you'll wake up one day and realize someone else is prettier or easier."

his brows pulled together ever so slightly. not in annoyance. in concern.

"you've been thinking that alone?"

your eyes stung, "yeah."

he reached over, carefully taking your hand as though asking permission first.

"i can't promise your anxiety will believe me immediately."

his thumb brushed across your knuckles, "but i can promise that i have never looked for someone else."

"i chose you. i continue choosing you. and if your mind forgets tomorrow..."

a faint smile tugged at his lips, "i'll remind it tomorrow."

rafayel

☆ his first reaction is pure disbelief. he's so dramatically offended that for exactly three seconds you think he's upset.

☆ then when he realizes you're genuinely scared, his entire demeanor changes immediately.

☆ he cups your face before you can apologize. he asks where this fear came from instead of arguing against it. after learning it's rooted in past hurt, he becomes incredibly gentle.

☆ he starts casually updating you throughout the day by narrating through voice notes. "look! i saw a cat. it reminded me of you because it ignored me."

☆ he'll absolutely start saying things like, "come with me," whenever he goes somewhere, just because he loves having you around.

☆ he'll dramatically hold your face in both hands and say, "you know I'm obsessed with you, right?"

☆ he becomes shamelessly clingy afterward, not because he's worried you'll leave, but because he wants you to feel how much he enjoys being close to you.

☆ if he catches someone flirting with him, he'll immediately find you in the room and throw an arm around your shoulders with the biggest grin, almost like he's saying, mine. see? you're mine.

───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────

"you think i'd cheat?"

you immediately regretted saying anything.

"i'm sorry, forget i—"

"no." he gently held your wrist before you could stand. "come here."

his voice had completely lost its usual teasing edge. you looked at him cautiously.

he sighed dramatically, "my love..."

he leaned forward until your foreheads touched.

"i get jealous when your attention is on a book for too long."

a tiny laugh escaped you.

"do you honestly think i'd go looking for someone else?"

"i don't know."

the honesty broke his heart. his fingers brushed your cheek.

"whoever convinced you love disappears that easily..." he kissed your forehead. "...was wrong."

then your nose. then each cheek.

"i am so embarrassingly obsessed with you."

you laughed through your tears.

"there it is. there's my favorite smile."

sylus

☆ sylus never dismisses fear, even when he thinks it's unfounded. he just isn't used to seeing that from you. he encourages honesty, even when it's uncomfortable. he'd much rather hear an irrational fear than have you silently suffer.

☆ he wants to understand the root before addressing the symptoms. he asks thoughtful questions — what started this? what does cheating mean to you? what would reassure you right now?

☆ he listens without interrupting. once he understands, he's incredibly direct. he doesn't make impossible promises. he simply tells you the truth.

☆ his confidence is strangely calming. and over time that confidence starts rubbing off on you. you find yourself borrowing his certainty when your own is shaky

☆ he treats the anxiety as something the two of you are facing together instead of something you have to fix alone.

☆ he isn't overly sentimental, but he's fiercely intentional. if he says, "i am yours," it's because he means every word.

☆ if you're having a particularly bad day, he'll quietly cancel less important plans without making you feel guilty, because to him, taking care of his partner isn't an obligation—it's simply where he'd rather be.

───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────

"you've been watching me."

you blinked suddenly feeling exposed, "have i?"

"for three days."

your cheeks flushed from embarassment, "i wasn't...it's not."

he reached over and took your hand, "what happened?"

you hesitated trying to find your voice. "i'm scared you'll cheat."

he was quiet. not because he'd run out of words. because he wanted yours first.

"what made you believe that was possible?"

so you talked. for nearly twenty minutes. he never interrupted.

when you finally finished, he nodded once, "i understand why your mind went there."

he lifted your joined hands, "i disagree with it."

his thumb brushed slowly across your skin.

"i don't divide my attention. if i choose someone..." his eyes met yours, "i choose completely."

then, after a beat, his expression softened just enough to betray the tenderness beneath all that composure.

"so next time your thoughts decide they're smarter than reality..." he brought your hand to his lips. "tell me...we'll argue with them together."

caleb

☆ caleb doesn't let conversations like this happen from opposite ends of the room. the second he realizes you're hurting, he's already pulling you into a hug.

☆ his love language is touch — back rubs, hair strokes, forehead kisses, holding your hand while you talk.

☆ he doesn't interrupt. doesn't rush to solve it. just lets you cry if you need to.

☆ he's incredibly validating. he treats reassurance like teamwork. "okay, what's your brain telling you today? let's hear it."

☆ once you've calmed down, he starts making you laugh again. he wants the conversation to end with warmth rather than tears.

☆ he has absolutely no shame about comforting you in the silliest ways if it gets you to smile again.

☆ if your thoughts are spiraling particularly bad one day, he'll distract you by pulling you into the kitchen to bake cookies at midnight or insisting on building a blanket fort together.

☆ he loves saying, "we've got time." as in, we don't have to solve this right now—you don't have to rush through your feelings.

───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────

"you've been quiet all night."

you kept your face straight, fighting back a frown. "i'm fine."

he opened one arm and you walked into it without thinking. within seconds you were wrapped against his chest.

"you know," he murmured. "i've learned that 'i'm fine' usually means the opposite."

you laughed weakly, "i'm scared."

his hand slowed on your back, "of what?"

"...that you'll cheat."

he held you tighter. not enough to trap you. just enough that you could feel every steady heartbeat beneath his hoodie.

"oh, sweetheart."

he rested his chin on top of your head.

"i'm so sorry someone taught you that love feels temporary."

his hand rubbed lazy circles across your back.

"you don't have to be scared by yourself anymore."

you stayed like that for nearly an hour. neither of you in any hurry to move.

valko

☆ valko is almost confused by the idea that he'd leave you. not offended—just genuinely unable to imagine it.

☆ in his mind, faithfulness isn't something he actively tries to do. it simply is.

☆ to him, you're his mate. that isn't something temporary or casual. he believes choosing a mate is choosing a life.

☆ family means everything to him. he loves talking about the family you'll build together someday—not as pressure, just because imagining that future with you makes him happy.

☆ he reassures through constant affection. passing by you? kiss on the head. sitting together? you're somehow already tucked against his side. walking through the house? he'll hook a finger through one of your belt loops just to steal you away for a hug.

☆ he's playful even during serious conversations because making you smile is one of his favorite ways to comfort you.

☆ he absolutely calls you ridiculous pet names in the middle of reassurance just to hear you huff. "my little worrier." "sweetheart." "my heart."

☆ if you're crying, he'll wipe away your tears with exaggerated seriousness before immediately booping your nose to make you smile.

───♡──────♡──────♡──────♡─────

"you think i'd leave my mate?"

you shrank a little, "it sounds silly when you say it."

valko sat up on the couch and opened his arms.

"c'mere."

the second you settled against him, he wrapped himself around you like he'd been waiting all day to do it. one kiss landed on your temple. then several more.

"you know what i think?"

"hm?"

"i think you have been thinking too much."

a small smile tugged at your lips. he noticed immediately. he gently nudged your nose with his own.

"i don't look at you and think about someone else."

"i look at you..." he smiled so warmly it almost hurt. "and i wonder what our home will look like. whether our children get your smile."

you stared at him, "you think about that?"

"every day."

he laughed gently and lovingly, "you're my mate. my family. the person i want beside me when i'm eighty and grumpy."

he reached up, brushing away a tear with his thumb.

"so no. i won't leave. that would require leaving part of myself behind."

xavier

xavier noticed the ring after your shift during a quiet dinner between two exhausted coworkers who happened to live in the same building. which, according to xavier, was a perfectly normal arrangement. even if he somehow always ended up eating with you. even if he always seemed to appear whenever you were carrying too many groceries. even if he somehow knew exactly when you had skipped dinner. you had stopped questioning it. tonight was no different. you sat across from him at the small table in your apartment, sharing takeout after a long day. xavier looked half-asleep.

"you're tired."

you looked up, "you're one to talk."

"i'm always tired."

you laughed then you reached for your drink. the movement caught the light. xavier's eyes shifted. the sleepy expression disappeared. only slightly but you noticed.

"xavier?"

he looked at your hand, "where did you get that?"

you glanced down, "the ring?" you smiled, "valko gave it to me."

there was a pause. not a long one. but long enough.

"the guy that sneaks onto your balcony at night?"

your eyes widened and you nearly choked, "YOU SAW THAT?!"

xavier blinked, "well i live a floor above you so...yes."

"you knew? since when?"

he tilted his head, "since the first time."

a blush creeped on your face. how many times did you have to tell him to use the door like a normal person. the small smile on his xavier's face faded as he looked at the ring again.

"protection?"

you nodded, "he said it would help keep me safe."

xavier was quiet, then he reached across the table. not to take it off. not to inspect it suspiciously. just to hold your hand. his fingers gently intertwined with yours.

"you trust him." it wasn't a question.

"yes."

he gave you a small nod, “good.”

you blinked slightly, confused but relieved nevertheless, "good? you're not upset?"

xavier looked at you with a slight smirk. that quiet, honest expression he rarely showed.

"i didn't say that."

you smiled, "there it is."

his gaze dropped to your hand, "i know valko."

"you do?"

"not as well as you do, apparently, but i know enough."

he had seen many things. many people. many reasons why someone would offer protection. and he knew the difference between control and care.

"this isn't meant to keep you away from danger."

"no. i don't think that's possible."

"it's meant to help you survive it."

you nodded. xavier looked relieved because that was what mattered to him. not who made it. not who gave it. not whether someone else had thought of protecting you first. only that you were safe.

still...his thumb brushed over your knuckles, "you could have told me."

you tilted your head, "about the ring?"

"about him."

you smiled, "are you jealous?"

xavier looked away, "no." then a pause, "maybe."

you laughed softly.

he sighed, "i just…" his voice lowered, "i don't like surprises when they involve you."

that was the most xavier answer possible—quiet. simple. honest.

you squeezed his hand, "you know i can protect myself."

"i know."

that was the thing about xavier. he never loved you because you needed saving. he loved you because you stood beside him. because you fought not just for yourself but for others. because you were you.

slowly, he lifted your hand. then, with a gentleness that felt strangely old-fashioned, he pressed a kiss against your knuckles. right above the ring. like a knight greeting royalty. like a prince making a promise.

you stared, "was that necessary?"

"no."

"then why did you do it?"

xavier looked almost embarrassed, "because i wanted to."

then his expression softened again, "keep wearing it."

you looked surprised, "really? but you're not jealous?"

"i am."

the honesty made you laugh.

"but i trust you." his fingers tightened slightly around yours. "and i trust that if valko gave you something to protect you…then he understands how important you are."

your heart softened, because xavier didn't need to prove he was the strongest. he didn't need to remind you of everything he could do. he simply stayed. a floor above you. a call away. beside you whenever you needed him. the ring might have been valko's promise, but xavier himself had always been one too.

zayne

zayne noticed the ring during one of your checkups. he knew the exact rhythm of your heartbeat. he knew the normal range of your vitals, the changes in your energy levels, and the subtle differences between when you were genuinely fine and when you were pretending to be. so when the scanner reacted differently near your hand, his attention immediately shifted.

"your hand."

you looked up at him, "my hand?"

"please."

you gave it to him without hesitation. his fingers closed around yours with practiced gentleness, his expression focused as he examined the unfamiliar object.

"zayne?"

his eyes remained on the metal, "where did you get this?"

"valko gave it to me."

the name was enough. not because zayne disliked him. quite the opposite.

"valko?"

you tilted your head, "you know him?"

"yes." his answer came quietly. "he was my lab partner during college."

you blinked curiously, "you two worked together?"

"for a time." a small, almost nostalgic expression crossed his face. "his interests leaned toward technology and scientific development. mine shifted toward medicine."

"but you stayed in contact?"

"not closely." zayne examined the ring again. "but i have always respected him."

that alone told you everything. zayne did not give his respect easily. valko had earned it.

"he was brilliant," zayne continued. "his approach was different from mine, but his ability to solve problems was exceptional."

you smiled, "so you trust him."

"yes."

immediate. certain. then his expression changed, only slightly. but you knew him—you knew when something was bothering him.

"what?"

"nothing."

"zayne. you know that answer never works on me."

his gaze lowered to your hand, "i am aware."

eventually, he sighed. "may i ask what he told you about this ring?"

you explained, that it was a protection charm, that it would warn others away. that it would shield you from threats you might not even know existed. zayne listened carefully.

when you finished, he picked up his scanner again. the results were unusual. the ring was not only functional. it was advanced.

"this is impressive."

you smiled, "coming from you, that means a lot."

but zayne remained quiet because he wasn't thinking like a scientist anymore. he was thinking like your doctor. your boyfriend. the person who had promised himself that he would notice when something was wrong. the person who was supposed to keep you safe.

"you're upset."

his eyes lifted, "i am not upset."

"you are."

he sighed, somewhat defeated. "perhaps."

zayne rarely admitted things unless he had already thought them through.

"i know valko's intentions are good. i know this ring is effective."

his thumb brushed lightly against your fingers.

"but i do not like that he recognized the need for this before I did."

your expression softened, "zayne…"

"as your physician, i should have considered every possible threat."

his voice remained calm, but there was weight behind every word.

"as your partner, i should have wanted to protect you before anyone else."

ypu shook your head, "that's not fair to yourself."

"it is my responsibility."

there it was. the part of zayne that never rested. the part that carried every life he touched like a promise.

you squeezed his hand, "you already protect me. why does this bother you?"

he was silent for a moment, "because i am accustomed to being the person who notices."

the confession was quiet. "i am the one who monitors your health. the one who treats your injuries. the one who understands the risks your body faces."

his gaze returned to the ring. "and yet someone else created something specifically to keep you safe."

you smiled slightly, "someone who knows you. valko trusts you. he knew you would understand what this was, and he knew you would help me."

zayne looked at you, the tension in his expression eased. because that was the truth. valko had not replaced zayne's role. he had reinforced it. after a moment, zayne lifted your hand and pressed a gentle kiss against your knuckles. careful. respectful. avoiding the ring.

"i am grateful to him. but i would appreciate it if you informed me before accepting any future protective devices."

you laughed, "are you giving me doctor orders or boyfriend orders?"

"both"

that answer came so quickly you couldn't help but laugh. zayne allowed himself the smallest smile. the ring protected you from dangers he could not always predict. but he would never stop trying to be the person who stood between you and harm. not because he had to. because loving you made it impossible not to.

rafayel

rafayel knew something was wrong the moment he saw the ring. not because he sensed danger. not because he noticed anything unusual about the craftsmanship. no—he noticed because it was on YOUR hand.

you were sitting beside him in his studio, watching him paint while he pretended he wasn't aware of your presence.

"you're staring. it's distracting."

you looked up, "that literally makes no sense i'm literally sitting quietly."

"it does to make sense. my studio my rules."

you sighed, "you invited me."

"that was because i needed someone to appreciate my genius."

"no you just needed someone to bring you lunch."

"that too."

you rolled your eyes, and when you moved your hand to pick up your fork, the light caught the chunky silver band with the shiny black gem around your finger. rafayel stopped. completely. the brush in his hand dropped to the floor and his hand captured your wrist.

"what is that?"

you glanced down, "the ring? valko gave it to me."

the silence that followed was immediate. you already knew the expression on his face.

"rafayel." you warned

"valko gave you a ring. a super giant tacky one at that."

you wrapped your hand around his holding it, "it's not what you think."

"i haven't said what i think." his voice was already getting higher pitched

"you're making the wounded puppy dog face."

"cutie."

the use of the nickname was a warning.

"what?"

"you are wearing another man's gift on your hand."

"it's a protection charm!"

he stared then scoffed as he pointed at himself.

"i am right here!"

you blinked holding back a laugh, "rafayel—"

"i'm serious!"

"you look offended."

"i am offended!"

you covered your face. of course. of course this was how he reacted.

rafayel crossed his arms, "he thinks he's so clever. trying to one up me with his werewolf prowess."

you tried not to laugh. "are you jealous of a dog?"

"i am jealous of the fact that he had the opportunity to make you something meaningful."

that caught you off guard because beneath all the dramatics was something genuine.

rafayel looked away, "he always does that."

"does what?"

"finds a way to be useful to you."

you softened because you understood. valko was his counterpart. the one who challenged him. the one who balanced him. the one person who could probably match rafayel's brilliance without being overwhelmed by it. and apparently, that extended to annoying him too.

"he was worried about me. he wanted to make sure i was safe."

"i know. i get it but it doesn't mean i have to like it."

you squeezed his hand trying to comfort him

"you are my boyfriend. you have nothing to worry about. no competition."

"i know i mean i am the god of the sea."

you blinked and tilted your head in mild confusion, "how is that relevant?"

"sweetie." he gestured dramatically. "the ocean itself answered to me."

you laughed, "you're ridiculous."

"and yet you love me."

"unfortunately." you mumble

he pulls your chair closer to him. then he took your hand. not to remove the ring. not to challenge it. just to hold you.

"i will be replacing this with an engagement ring someday sooner rather than later."

a faint blush found its way on your cheeks. as you placed your hand on his face craddling it softly.

he nuzzled up softly against your warm skin. because he might be jealous. he might complain. he might declare that the entire ocean was more than enough protection. but when it came down to it—rafayel knew valko wasn't trying to replace him. he knew who your heart belonged to enough to protect you. and that? that was something even a siren could respect.

sylus

his eyes narrowed slightly, "interesting."

sylus knew something was different the moment you crawled into bed. not because you announced it. not because you said anything. but because he noticed everything. the way you carried yourself. the way your posture shifted after a mission. the faint exhaustion you tried to hide. and, most importantly—the unfamiliar ring on your finger.

you immediately knew. that tone. that dangerously calm tone.

a slow smile appeared on his face, "i didn't give this to you sweetie."

"it's a protection ring."

"ah i see. who gave it to you?"

there was no point in lying. he would see right through it and that would make matters worse for you.

"valko." you said quietly

his smile remained but something sharper appeared underneath. he looked at the ring. then at you. then back at the ring.

"he's bold."

you sighed, "sylus please don't start."

"start what kitten?"

"whatever this is."

sylus looked genuinely amused, "i'm impressed."

"impressed?"

he finally took your hand, examining the ring close up. "not many people would have the courage to give something like this to you."

you blinked there had to be some kind of catch, "that sounds like a compliment.”

"it is...mostly."

sylus tilted his head, "although..." he looked around the room. at the weapons. the equipment. the rare protocores. the resources most people would spend their entire lives trying to acquire.

"you are the queen of the n109 zone."

you sighed, "here we go."

"you possess enough weapons to arm a small army."

he brought his lips to your hand, "you hunt wanderers for a living."

your breath hitched, "yes"

he continued placing soft kisses with every word, "you have survived situations that would kill most people."

"and this man looked at you and thought…that you needed additional protection."

you furrowed your brows, "he cared about me."

"i know."

the answer came immediately. that surprised you. sylus wasn't dismissing valko. he wasn't questioning his intentions. he understood. but that didn't mean he wasn't going to tease.

"he must have a death wish."

you shook your head, "you're jealous."

his red eyes gleamed at you, "am i?"

"yes." you said confidently

he smirked slightly, "i am a little."

then he looked at you seriously, "but not because i think you need me."

that made you pause. sylus was many things. confident. slightly arrogant and terrifying. but he had never once mistaken your strength for something he needed to fix.

"you see i know what you're capable of."

he never once let go of your hand. only now moving closer to press his forehead against yours

his voice softened, "that's why this is amusing."

"amusing? why?"

"because valko created something to protect someone who is already dangerous"

you smiled, "the man who was once a dragon. you think i'm dangerous?"

a smirk tugged at his lips, "that's why i chose you."

your expression softened because underneath all his teasing was something sylus rarely admitted. pride. he wasn't proud because you needed protection. he was proud because you didn't.

"so you don't want me to take it off?"

he tapped the ring lightly. "if valko created something that increases your chances of survival, then he made a good decision."

he brushed his fingers lightly over your knuckles, "besides...the ring suits you."

you raised an eyebrow, "really?"

"yes. although i would have chosen something more expensive."

you laughed, "he made a protective artifact. i am sure resources were limited."

he pulled you closer by your waist, "i can do that. and i will do it better."

sylus would always pretend he was competing. with valko. with danger. with the entire world. but the truth was simpler. he didn't want to be the reason you were strong. he loved that you already were. he just wanted to be the one standing beside you when everyone else finally realized it.

caleb

caleb noticed the ring before you even remembered you had it on. that was the thing about him. for all his teasing, all his effortless smiles and careless jokes, caleb was always paying attention. especially when it came to you.

you were sitting beside him after he got back from a mission, half-listening to him complain about the deepspace tunnel and being away from you for so long. the room was quiet except for the occasional sound of his voice and the soft tapping of you on your phone.

then you moved your hand to show him something funny and caleb stopped mid-sentence, "where did you get that?"

you looked up, "what?"

his gaze dropped to your hand, "the ring."

you glanced down, "oh. i forgot i was even wearing that."

that was when his expression changed. a hint of recognition but mostly jealousy. he reached for your hand, his movements slower than usual. his fingers carefully ran up your palm so he could examine the band.

for a moment, he said nothing. then his thumb brushed against the cold metal, "no way...this material."

his eyes lifted to yours, "where did you get this?"

"valko gave it to me."

the name made him pause, "valko?"

you nodded, "do you know him?"

a strange silence settled between you because you had seen caleb recognize weapons, technology, and artifacts before. but you had never seen him look at something like this. like it had brought back a memory.

"caleb?"

he swallowed quietly, "this is the same material."

his gaze drifted to his arm. his prosthetic. the realization hit you immediately.

"the same as your arm?"

he nodded, "the composition is similar."

you stared at the dark metal band more closely, "so valko or his company made your arm?"

caleb didn't answer right away. he didn't need to. you knew what that meant. because valko hadn't just given you something powerful. he had given you something connected to caleb. something made from a material that had once been part of his survival.

"you knew?" you asked softly, "that he could make something like this?"

caleb shook his head, "no but i should've guessed."

he looked away for a second, a small smile tugging at his lips. his voice became quieter, "i didn't know you were close enough that he would give you something that could protect you."

you watched him carefully because you knew caleb better than anyone. you knew the part of him that joked whenever things got too serious. the part of him that pretended he wasn't afraid. the part of him that would throw himself into danger before admitting he was worried.

"it isn't like he knew you well enough to give you a million dollar arm?" you joked trying to ease the tension

"a fake arm isn't the same as a guy giving a girl jewelry...especially a ring."

you frowned slightly, squeezing his hand

"he wasn't trying to be romantic i can assure you."

caleb sighed, "and yet somehow that makes it worse."

he knew valko had the best intentions. even though they weren't the best of friends he knew he was a family man much like caleb. he knew he cared about the world. and even though he didn't want to admit it out loud, caleb felt a sense of gratitude. not just for you. but for him. because caleb was used to protecting.

then he squeezed your hand back. "still. if this ring keeps you safe…" his thumb brushed gently over your fingers. "then i'm glad you have it, and not just because it's powerful." caleb looked at the ring again. "but because someone saw you the way i do. someone saw someone worth protecting."

the hunter association headquarters never truly slept. even at seven in the morning, the forty-story tower hummed with activity. uniformed enforcers hurried through the polished halls with datapads tucked beneath their arms, analysts called out casualty reports from the operations center, and giant digital displays scrolled a relentless stream of alerts across the lobby.

PRAEDATOR SIGHTING – DISTRICT 9

CASE CLOSED – TWO CASUALTIES

ENHANCEMENT WEAPON RECOVERED

the headlines had become as ordinary as the weather. you barely glanced at them as you stepped through security. you pressed your wrist against the scanner. a soft chime sounded.

ENFORCER ID VERIFIED.

"good morning, enforcer."

you gave the guard a small nod before continuing toward the elevators. the younger recruits scattered out of your path almost instinctively. not because you demanded it. because everyone knew your reputation.

five years with the hunter association. zero failed missions. one of the highest praedator capture rates in the your division. you were efficient, professional, reliable.

the elevator doors slid open on the twenty-eighth floor. rows of desks overlooked a massive holographic display of the city, each district illuminated in varying shades of blue and red depending on current threat levels. markers blinked along the northern sectors. it must have been another rough night.

you made your way to the briefing room just as the clock struck seven-thirty. conversations quieted when commander jenna entered. the veteran enforcer wasted no time.

"let's begin."

the room darkened as a projection flickered to life. a map of the city appeared, followed by images from overnight incidents. a destroyed subway platform, "district nine." black scorch marks climbed the surrounding walls. commander jenna enlarged a metallic fragment recovered from the site.

"this isn't standard praedator damage." murmurs spread through the room, "that looks manufactured."

jenna folded her hands behind her back, "it is."

the room fell silent, everyone knew what that meant. praedators were dangerous enough on their own. artificially enhancing one was something else entirely.

"the weapon recovered at the scene matches prototypes previously linked to EVER."

a collective groan rippled through the room.

"they're going to start another media war with EonCore, as if we don't have enough problems."

commander jenna shot them a warning glance, "this is no longer a corporate dispute."

the hologram shifted again showing a graph climbed steadily upward. illegal enhancement weapon recoveries. civilian deaths, disappearances — all increasing.

"if EVER continues distributing this technology, we'll be dealing with unstable mutations on a scale we've never seen."

nobody spoke after that, the numbers spoke loudly enough. jenna dismissed the room one assignment at a time. teams assembled. files exchanged hands.

eventually, "enforcer." she sat behind the desk and slid a thin black folder across the surface, "your next assignment."

you opened it and the first thing you saw was a photograph — a man with short crimson hair and golden eyes that seemed almost unnatural beneath the camera flash. with a confident smile, he was young, too young, you thought, to be leading one of the most influential companies in the country.

the name beneath the photograph read: VALKO - Chief Executive Officer – EonCore Tech

you looked back up, "a corporate executive?"

jenna leaned back in her chair, "his company has become the primary target of several attacks over the past month."

you skimmed the report. vehicle sabotage. office break-ins. anonymous threats. attempted theft of classified research.

"they've requested association protection?"

"not exactly. they requested a liaison."

you frowned slightly, "meaning?"

"you'll be embedded at EonCore Tech for the foreseeable future."

you turned another page. public schedules. building schematics. personnel records.

"the official objective is to coordinate security with their internal team."

you waited, "there has to be an unofficial objective."

jenna gave the smallest hint of a smile, "there always is."

she tapped another document hidden beneath the first. CLASSIFIED

"EonCore has invested heavily in anti-enhancement research. they also possess one of the world's largest private databases concerning praedator biology."

you understood immediately, "you think they're hiding something."

"i think every corporation with that much money is hiding something. we've found EVER technology at multiple crime scenes. EonCore insists they're trying to stop it."

"you don't believe them."

"i don't believe anyone."

you closed the folder, "when do i leave?"

"tomorrow, and one more thing...don't underestimate valko."

you glanced back at the photograph, "he doesn't look particularly dangerous."

jenna's expression remained unreadable, "neither do most predators."

by the time you reached your apartment, the city skyline had dissolved into streaks of orange beneath the setting sun. your building was quiet and forgettable. exactly how you liked it. you unlocked the front door, then locked it again — deadbolt, chain, electronic security panel. every evening, the same routine. the apartment itself was immaculaty clean. nothing that suggested someone truly lived there.

you set the mission file on the kitchen counter before walking toward the bathroom. only then did your posture change. the tension you'd carried all day settled into something heavier. wearier. you knelt beside the sink and pressed against a loose tile beneath the cabinet. a hidden compartment clicked open. inside rested several black injectors lined up with military precision. no labels. no instructions. only a silver serum suspended inside each vial. you picked one up with practiced familiarity.

rolling back the sleeve of your shirt, you exposed faint black veins spreading beneath the skin of your forearm. far darker than any bruise. they pulsed once, twice. hungry. you exhaled slowly before pressing the injector against your arm. there was a sharp hiss, then the serum disappeared beneath your skin.

pain bloomed instantly. you gritted your teeth but made no sound. seconds stretched into minutes. the veins slowly receded. your breathing steadied. when you finally looked up, your reflection stared back from the mirror. for the briefest moment—your eyes weren't their usual color. golden light shimmered through your irises. predatory. inhuman. then, just as quickly, it vanished.

you rested both hands on the sink, "one more mission," you whispered to yourself.

on the kitchen counter, the file lay open. valko's yellow eyes seemed to stare back at you from the photograph. neither of you knew it yet, but tomorrow, two secrets would collide.

the glass façade of EonCore Tech catches the morning sun like a mirror, reflecting the city back at itself. you pause at the bottom of the entrance steps, the mission file tucked beneath your arm. the building is nothing like hunter association headquarters.

where the association is all concrete, steel, and function, this company is almost inviting. living walls climb the exterior columns, their greenery softening the sleek architecture. employees filter through the revolving doors with coffee cups in hand, laughing quietly among themselves. it doesn't feel like the headquarters of one of the most powerful technology companies in the world. it feels...normal.

"identification, please."

a receptionist offers a polite smile from behind the marble desk. you present your credentials and her expression shifts almost imperceptibly before she nods.

"we've been expecting you, enforcer."

of course they have. the elevator ride to the executive floor is silent. just a smooth ascent accompanied by the faint hum of machinery hidden somewhere behind polished walls. when the doors slide open, a woman in a tailored navy pantsuit is already waiting.

"enforcer?" she asks, "i'm mr. valko's executive assistant."

she extends a hand. professional and measured. you shake it briefly.

"it's a pleasure to have the hunter association working with us."

her smile is practiced enough that you can't tell whether she means it.

"this way."

the executive floor is quieter than the rest of the building. glass offices overlook the city skyline. engineers and analysts move between conference rooms carrying holographic tablets, their conversations low and purposeful. no one stares. no one whispers. still, you notice more than a few curious glances. an enforcer doesn't exactly blend into a place like this.

the assistant stops outside a pair of dark wooden doors, she hesitates, "before you go in...mr. valko prefers honesty."

you wait for her to elaborate.

"if something concerns you, tell him directly."

"that's unusual advice."

a faint chuckle escapes her, "you'll understand."

she knocks twice before opening the door. the office is larger than you expected. floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with light. shelves lined with engineering awards and patents occupy one wall, while the opposite side holds a massive digital display filled with rotating project schematics. the desk itself is surprisingly uncluttered. only a tablet, a fountain pen and a cup of coffee that has long since gone cold. the chair behind the desk is empty.

"you made good time."

the voice comes from behind you. you turn instinctively, a man stands near the windows, hands tucked into the pockets of charcoal trousers. he's taller than the personnel file suggested. well over six feet. broad shoulders pull naturally against the crisp white shirt beneath his rolled-up sleeves, the fabric stretching across forearms that look more suited to combat than boardrooms.

then he turns fully toward you and when his eyes meet yours for the briefest moment...something twists uncomfortably in your chest. recognition. not of his face. of something else. something you can't place. it's gone as quickly as it came.

"enforcer," he says, crossing the room with an easy confidence. "i'm valko."

he offers his hand. his grip is firm, warm and calloused. not the hand of someone who spends every day behind a desk.

"you expected someone older," he says.

you blink once, "i didn't say that."

"you didn't have to." the corner of his mouth lifts into an amused smile, "it happens more often than you'd think."

you release his hand, "i'm here to assess security risks and coordinate with your team."

"so i've been told."

his gaze lingers on you for a fraction longer than is comfortable. sharp. observant

"i should warn you," he continues, "my schedule tends to become everyone else's schedule."

"i'll adapt."

"i figured you would."

there's no arrogance in his voice. no challenge. just quiet certainty. for reasons you can't explain...it annoys you. you don't answer because somewhere in the back of your mind a voice you haven't heard in years whispers that something about him feels wrong. you hate that feeling and you have no idea why.

by the third day, valko comes to one conclusion. you are impossible to read. most people change around him. executives become eager to please. investors become calculating. reporters become relentless. even enforcers, despite their training, usually carried a quiet suspicion into every conversation.

you did none of those things. you simply...worked. you arrived at EonCore every morning at precisely eight. you drank your coffee black. ignored every attempt at office gossip. spent lunch reviewing security reports instead of eating with everyone else. and every evening, without fail, you disappeared exactly thirty minutes before everyone else left. he noticed because noticing people had become second nature. running his company required it and surviving had demanded it.

the investigation wasn't progressing nearly as quickly as either of you wanted. EVER had become meticulous. every warehouse connected to enhancement weapon trafficking had already been emptied before association teams arrived. every digital trail ended with dead servers and fabricated identities. someone inside EVER was always one step ahead. which meant someone was feeding them information.

"you think there's a leak," you said quietly.

valko nodded, "i know there's a leak. my company has lost four researchers in two months."

he met your eyes, "they disappeared after meetings only a handful of executives knew about."

you studied him for several seconds. long enough that he wondered what conclusion you'd reached.

"you trust your employees?"

"i trust very few people."

"and me?"

he smiled, "i haven't decided. and you?"

with a completely straight face you said, "i don't trust CEO's"

"ouch!" valko fiegned heartbreak, putting a hand over his chest

for the first time since you'd arrived, he heard something close to a laugh. it was small and brief, gone almost immediately. he found himself smiling long after the conversation had ended.

that afternoon, the two of you inspected one of EonCore's research facilities on the edge of the city. the laboratories developed suppressant technology for unstable mutations. at least, that was the official project. you examined every room carefully.

valko watched as you questioned technicians. you never raised your voice. never intimidated anyone. instead, you listened. people volunteered information they hadn't intended to share simply because you gave them space to speak. he understood why the association considered you one of their best.

it happened as you were leaving. an alarm — three sharp bursts then the windows exploded inward. glass showered across the laboratory floor.

"EVERYONE DOWN!"

you reacted before anyone else. a flash grenade rolled through the broken window. you kicked it back outside an instant before it detonated. the explosion rattled the building and masked attackers poured through the smoke. valko recognized the insignia immediately.

you were already moving. faster than he expected. one attacker swung a reinforced baton toward your head. you caught his wrist, twisted and disarmed him in one smooth motion.

another charged from your blind side. valko intercepted him, driving a shoulder into his chest hard enough to send him crashing into a workbench. you glanced at him, surprised by his actions.

"you fight!"

"i've had practice."

there wasn't time to ask more. the firefight lasted no more than five minutes. by the time the association reinforcements arrived, the attackers had retreated, leaving behind only shattered equipment.

"you should get that looked at."

you looked down. a thin line of blood ran from a cut across your forearm.

"i've had worse."

valko frowned. it wasn't the wound that bothered him. it was your reaction to it. or rather...your lack of one. you'd barely acknowledged the injury. almost as though pain wasn't unfamiliar.

later that night, after everyone else had gone home, valko remained in his office overlooking the city. the security footage from the attack replayed on the monitor. not because he was studying the attackers. because he was studying you.

he paused the footage just before the first explosion. your head turned a fraction of a second before the glass shattered. before the alarm, before anyone else reacted, as though...you'd heard something no one else had.

his expression slowly hardened, then he watched the recording of your movements during the fight. they were too precise, too instinctive. an uncomfortable feeling settled in his chest.

he leaned back in his chair, golden eyes fixed on the frozen frame, "who are you?"

about a week later you finally had a lead. an unregistered EVER warehouse sits on the edge of the harbor district, forgotten by everyone except the tide. you pull your suv into the shadow of a rusted loading crane and cut the engine. rain taps steadily against the windshield, soft enough to blur the city lights beyond the docks.

valko glances out the passenger window, "so this is where EVER likes to hide its secrets."

you unclip your sidearm from its holster, "one of many places."

the mission briefing had been simple enough. an anonymous source claimed EVER operatives were retrieving experimental data from an abandoned shipping warehouse before relocating it elsewhere. if the information was real, it could expose another distribution network for praedator enhancement weapons.

simple missions, you've learned, rarely stay simple. you step out into the rain. cold air fills your lungs as your boots splash onto cracked asphalt.

"you always walk this fast?" valko asks.

you don't answer, but you slow just enough that he falls into step beside you. the warehouse looms overhead, its steel walls stained with years of salt and neglect.

you crouch beside a side entrance, "the lock was replaced recently."

valko kneels beside you, close enough that your shoulders brush. you pretend not to notice.

"so the tip was real."

he removes a slim device from his jacket pocket

"you carry lockpicks?"

"it's a quantum decryptor."

"of course it is."

a quiet laugh escapes him. you find yourself looking at him before you realize you've done it. his attention is fixed on the keypad, as the device hums softly. for someone who spends his days in boardrooms...his hands don't match. they're rough and scarred. not the hands of someone who has only ever signed contracts. you noticed it when you first met but there was something about seeing them work like this that only fueled your suspicions further.

the lock clicks, "there."

you blink, realizing you'd been staring, "nice work."

"i'll treasure the compliment."

the corner of your mouth threatens to lift but it doesn't quite make it.

"come on," you say.

"you almost smiled." he remarks

"i don't know what you're talking about."

you push the warehouse door open before he can continue. inside, darkness swallows the two of you. the beam of your flashlight cuts through rows of abandoned shipping containers. the place smells of rust and seawater. there is no movement. no voices. you raise one hand and valko stops immediately.

your gaze sweeps across the rafters, "there."

he follows your line of sight. a nearly invisible wire stretches across the hallway at ankle height. a pressure trigger. you step over it carefully and behind you, valko does the same.

you continue deeper into the warehouse. somewhere above, metal creaks. your hand instinctively drifts toward your weapon. a heartbeat later—something whistles through the air. you don't think you just move.

only a hand catches your wrist first. strong fingers wrap around your arm and pull. your back collides with a solid chest just as a steel dart slams into the wall where your head had been a split second earlier. the impact echoes through the warehouse. for one suspended moment...neither of you moves. his arm is still around your waist. your heartbeat pounds against your ribs. you can feel his breathing, much closer than either of you intended.

"i..." valko clears his throat. his voice sounds strangely quiet, "sorry."

he still hasn't let go. you look down at the hand around your waist. then back up at him.

"you can let go now."

his eyes widen almost imperceptibly. he releases you so quickly that he nearly takes a step back. a faint flush creeps across the bridge of his nose. you pretend not to notice. mostly because you're trying very hard not to acknowledge how warm his hand had been. you continue into the darkness together.

the deeper you venture into the warehouse, the newer everything becomes. the rust gives way to polished concrete. old shipping containers are replaced with reinforced security doors. EVER had gone to great lengths to make this place look abandoned.

you kneel beside a fingerprint scanner, examining the wiring, "it's active."

"so they're still here."

"or they left in a hurry."

a faint electronic chirp echoes from somewhere beyond the wall.

valko's expression sharpens, "server room."

you glance toward him, "how do you know?"

he gives a small shrug, "i've spent enough years around data centers."

together, you breach the security door. rows of servers stretch into the darkness, blue status lights blinking in perfect synchronization. you move to secure the room while valko connects a portable drive to the central terminal. his fingers dance across the holographic keyboard.

"they're encrypting the archive."

"how long?"

"a minute."

"you've got thirty seconds."

he smirks, "i like a challenge."

you roll your eyes. the lights suddenly flicker and your earpiece crackles with static. then there are footsteps. multiple sets, moving fast.

"they're here."

valko doesn't look away from the terminal, "fifteen seconds."

the first operative bursts through the doorway. you fire. the stun round catches him squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling backwards into another guard.

a second slips past rushing towards you. you pivot, blocking a knife strike with your forearm before driving your elbow into his ribs. valko slides beneath the swing of another attacker, grabbing a fallen metal pipe. he fights like someone who's been forced to. not elegantly but eficiently.

you cover him without thinking. he returns the favor just as naturally. one operative raises a pistol behind your back. before you even register the danger—the pipe leaves valko's hand. it spins through the air and slams into the man's wrist. the weapon clatters across the floor. you don't hesitate and one swift kick sends the attacker crashing into a server rack.

"you okay?" valko asks.

"i'm fine."

before he can complain at your stubbornness. the terminal chimes.

"done." he disconnects the drive, "we have everything."

suddenly the entire warehouse shudder and warning lights ignite overhead.

SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE INITIATED

"they're destroying the evidence!"

the two of you sprint through collapsing corridors as explosions ripple through the facility. concrete rains from the ceiling. a support beam crashes into the hallway behind you. another detonates ahead. your only path narrows to a single opening.

"go!" you shout.

valko hesitates, "you first."

"valko—"

"you first!"

there's no time to argue. you dive through the opening. he follows an instant later. the floor beneath your feet gives way. instinct takes over. you catch the edge of the collapsing platform with one hand. the other slips. for one terrifying second...nothing. then strong fingers wrap around your wrist. valko. his jaw is clenched as he braces himself against the remaining concrete.

"i've got you."

"you need to let go."

"and let you fall?"

"the ledge won't hold both of us."

he meets your eyes, "then we'll find another way."

you don't know why those words affect you as much as they do. perhaps because no one has ever said them to you before. he pulls with everything he has. you scramble upward just as the platform finally gives way beneath him.

without thinking, you catch the front of his jacket. your momentum sends both of you tumbling onto solid ground. for several long seconds, neither of you moves. your foreheads are only inches apart. you can hear his breathing. and how it slightly hitches. your hand is still gripping his jacket.

"we're alive," he says quietly.

you nod, "yeah we're alive."

the moment breaks when another explosion shakes the warehouse. you stand almost immediately.

"so much for subtle."

against your better judgment...you smile. he sure has a way of breaking the tension. by the time you reach the extraction point, the rain has become a downpour. the nearest safe shelter is an abandoned ranger station tucked into the hills overlooking the harbor. it's old and cold but dry enough.

you light the oil lantern while valko searches the cabinets for supplies.

"a first aid kit."

he sets it on the table.

"i don't need—"

"you do."

"it's only a scratch."

he gives you a look.

you sigh, "fine."

you sit. he kneels in front of you, opening the kit with practiced hands.

"you've done this before."

"more than i'd like."

he gently rolls your sleeve back. the cut across your forearm is deeper than either of you realized. blood stains the fabric.

"i'm going to clean it."

you nod. the antiseptic stings. your fingers twitch instinctively.

"sorry."

"it's fine."

"no," he says quietly. "it isn't."

his voice catches you off guard. there's genuine concern there. he wraps fresh gauze around your arm with surprising care. his fingertips brush your skin. neither of you speaks. the rain drums steadily against the roof. the silence isn't awkward. it's...comfortable.

"you know," he says at last, "you're terrible at admitting you're hurt."

you stand to retrieve another bandage. pain flares sharply through your side. you inhale through your teeth.

valko notices immediately, "stop."

he carefully lifts the torn edge of your jacket. his expression changes. a deep slash stretches across your ribs.

"you should have told me."

"there wasn't time."

"there is now."

you reluctantly allow him to inspect the wound. he reaches for fresh gauze. then pauses. the bleeding...has slowed. far too quickly. the torn edges of your skin begin drawing together. his eyes remain fixed on the injury. you follow his gaze. your stomach drops. the suppressant. it had worn off during the fight. beneath your skin, faint black veins begin to emerge like ink beneath glass.

you both freeze and the lantern flickers. for one endless heartbeat, the room is silent except for the rain. you slowly meet his eyes. waiting. for fear. for disgust. instead...valko simply stares. his golden eyes widen—not with horror, but with something far more unsettling. recognition. memories seem to cross his face all at once. then one thought settles above all the others — she's like me.

the lantern between you burns low, casting unsteady light across the abandoned ranger station. shadows dance across the wooden floor, stretching and shrinking with every flicker of the flame.

you reach for your shoe to find a small compartment that held medication. the dark veins beneath your skin slowly fade as the last of your suppressant struggles to do its job. your senses starting to stir. then it all faded away into nothing — human again.

you expected accusations but instead, valko quietly asks, "how long?"

his eyes never leave yours, "how long have you been hiding?"

the question catches you off guard. not what are you? not how did this happen?

you swallow trying to maintain your composure, "eight years..."

the answer leaves your lips before you've decided to give it.

"i was attacked," you say, your voice barely above a whisper. "when i was younger."

the memory presses against your chest like a weight.

"i don't remember much."

that isn't entirely true. you remember flashes. an alleyway, the sound of sirens and the smell of metal. golden eyes piercing through your own before pain shoots through your neck. every time you reach for the rest of the memory, it slips through your fingers like smoke.

"i woke up in a hospital."

your gaze falls to your hands, "they told me i was lucky."

you laugh softly although there's no humor in it.

"they said i'd survived." a long pause, "they were wrong."

valko remains completely still listening intently.

"the changes started a few weeks later."

you flex your fingers unconsciously, "my hearing, my sense of smell. the nightmares. i thought i was dying."

you shake your head, "i wished i was."

the words hang between you — heavy and honest.

"i learned to hide it. got my hands on suppressants. forged medical records. i built my whole life around making sure no one ever found out."

you let out a slow breath, "if the association discovered what i am..."

you don't finish the sentence. you don't need to. both of you know exactly how it would end.

then valko speaks, "you've carried that alone."

you nod, "i had to."

his expression softens, "no. you shouldn't have had to."

something in his voice makes your chest tighten. he isn't offering sympathy. he's speaking as if he understands. as if the loneliness you're describing isn't something he's imagining. it's something he's lived.

"you don't seem surprised," you say quietly.

his jaw tenses. for just a moment, it looks as though he's about to say something.

instead, he looks down at his hands, "i know what it's like to hide."

the answer is simple but he doesn't elaborate. some instinct tells you not to push. whatever he's carrying...he isn't ready to set it down. not tonight.

"thank you," you say instead.

his brows lift, "for what?"

"for not looking at me like i'm a monster."

valko's answer comes without hesitation, "i don't believe in monsters."

the certainty in those words steals the breath from your lungs. the corners of your eyes sting. you blink the feeling away before it can become something else.

outside, thunder rolls across the hills. the old station creaks in response. valko stands and crosses to the fireplace, feeding another piece of wood into the fading embers. orange light blooms across the room. it's warmer now. it feels safer.

when he returns, he lowers himself onto the floor beside you instead of taking the only chair. your shoulders almost touch.

"you know," he says after a while, "my assistant keeps insisting i need hobbies."

despite yourself, you smile, "and?"

"i told them running an international technology company was a hobby."

you let out a short laugh. a real one. almost a snort. it escapes before you can stop it.

valko turns to look at you, "i think that's the first time i've heard you laugh."

heat rises to your cheeks, "don't make it weird."

he smirks, "i wasn't going to."

"you were definitely thinking about it."

you lean back against the wall, letting your head rest for the first time all day. without thinking, your hand brushes against his.

you instinctively pull away, "sorry."

he gently turns his hand over, palm up. an unspoken invitation. you hesitate only a second before placing your hand in his. his fingers close around yours. neither of you says a word and the storm outside feels impossibly far away.

"i'm scared," you admit. the confession is so quiet you're not sure he hears it.

his thumb brushes lightly across the back of your hand, "so am i."

you turn toward him but he's already looking at you. for a moment, there are no secrets. just two people who have spent years believing they had to face the world alone.

you close the distance first. the kiss is tentative. a question more than an answer. when you begin to pull away, valko takes the lead. his hand cupping your cheek, gravity pulling you closer. and for the first time in eight years...you don't feel alone.

the drive back to EonCore is uneventful. you catch yourselves reaching for the radio at the same time. your hands brush but you pull away.

"so you will take the lead when it's a life or death situation but when it comes to choosing music you shy away," he teases

you open your mouth to respond but then opt to roll your eyes in annoyance and defiance instead.

he sighs dramatically before selecting the first station he finds. classical music fills the car.

you stare at him, "this is what you listen to?"

"you had your chance." is all he says

back at headquarters, the atmosphere is anything but relaxed. the executive floor buzzes with activity. analysts rush between workstations. engineers huddle over projections. news broadcasts play silently on every monitor.

EVER FACILITY DESTROYED IN OVERNIGHT EXPLOSION.

no mention of the hunter association. no mention of you or valko. good. the coast is clear.

"mr. valko." his assistant appears almost immediately.

"you have three board meetings, two interviews, and legal has been waiting since eight."

valko looks at you before answering, "reschedule as much as you can. "

"they'll complain." she insists

"they always do."

and with a brief sigh, "i'll tell them."

in his office the portable drive sits on the conference table between you. the reason you nearly died. valko places it into a secure terminal. a progress bar appears.

DECRYPTING...

"how long?" you ask.

"not long." he leans over the keyboard, "i wrote part of this security architecture."

"you can bypass your own encryption?"

"i'd be disappointed if i couldn't."

the progress bar reaches one hundred percent. folders bloom across the display. financial reports, shipment manifests, laboratory inventories. exactly what you'd expected.

you begin organizing evidence while valko answers another incoming call from his legal department. he steps into the adjoining office.

"i'll be right back."

you nod without looking up. the room falls quiet. one folder catches your eye. no project designation. no department. just two characters.

V-17

your fingers hesitate over the keyboard. a personnel file? an experiment? you click and the screen loads slowly. then—a photograph appears and your breath catches. a teenage boy stares back at you through the monitor. his crimson hair is longer than it is now. his face is thinner as bruises darken his jaw. metal restraints bind both wrists. his golden eyes—you know those eyes.

your heartbeat falters. the file header appears beneath the image.

SUBJECT V-17

STATUS: ACTIVE TEST CANDIDATE

your pulse begins to race. page after page unfolds before you. medical examinations. drug protocols. psychological evaluations. injection schedules. every report carries the same corporate insignia. they hadn't recruited Valko. they'd owned him.

you scroll faster, eyes flashing back and forth between his office and the screen. experiment logs describe repeated attempts to induce and stabilize praedator mutations. there were failures, fatalities, escalating procedures. the notes become colder with every page.

"Subject demonstrates increased aggression following serum administration."

"Restraints reinforced after Incident 14."

"Memory degradation expected."

"Continue conditioning."

you grip the edge of the desk so tightly your knuckles whiten. a final attachment waits at the bottom of the folder.

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE

your cursor hovers over it. some instinct tells you not to open it but you do anyway. static crackles across the screen and a timestamp appears - eight years ago.

the image sharpens into a stark white laboratory corridor. alarms blare as scientists sprint in every direction. a teenage valko stumbles into view. he isn't attacking. he's running. bare feet slip on polished floors slick with blood. he looks over his shoulder—not like a predator chasing prey, but like a frightened boy trying to escape something worse.

the footage jumps to another camera — a crowded street with people running and screaming. your chest tightens as you watch. his movements are frantic and security officers close in. someone fires and he lashes out with panic. then the camera catches a familiar face in an alleyway corner. a younger version of you. standing frozen.

you can't breathe. you know what's coming. the recording continues as you watch the terrified boy reach for the nearest movement—and pounce.

everything goes black. the file ends. the monitor reflects only your own stunned expression. somewhere behind you...the office door opens.

"you found something?"

valko's voice is warm, almost relieved after spending the last ten minutes trapped on a call with his board.

you don't answer. your eyes remain fixed on the monitor as your pulse pounds in your ears. his footsteps are quiet against the hardwood floor. he circles around the conference table, a faint smile still lingering on his face. it disappears the moment he sees the screen.

the room seems to shrink around both of you. he doesn't need to ask what file you opened as his breathing falters.

"no..."

his gaze slowly lifts to you. only now does he notice your expression. not anger. not hatred. something infinitely worse. heartbreak. you push your chair back so abruptly it topples onto the floor. the sharp crack echoes through the office.

valko instinctively reaches toward you, "please..."

you take one step back, "don't."

the single word stops him cold, "i can explain."

you shake your head and take another step backward towards the door.

"i didn't remember." his voice trembles, "not until now."

you can't bring yourself to listen. not because you don't believe him. because part of you understands. that's what hurts the most. logic is telling you this isn't him. but your emotions are screaming otherwise.

you grab your jacket from the back of the chair. as you pass him, your shoulder slams into his hard enough to turn him sideways. valko doesn't move. for several long moments, all he hears is the fading echo of your footsteps. then his eyes drift back to the monitor. the security footage begins playing again. his younger self stumbling through endless white corridors. always running.

his voice breaks, "i did that..." the words barely leave his lips.

the memory he'd buried for years crashes over him all at once. not as a monster but as a frightened sixteen-year-old boy who had no control over what had been done to him. yet to him it doesn't matter. the outcome is the same.

you don't remember leaving the company. only driving. the city rushes past in every sound is too loud. your hands tighten around the steering wheel until the leather creaks beneath your grip. you force yourself to inhale. it doesn't help, your heart won't slow.

the suppressant...something's wrong. your skin burns. the veins beneath your wrists pulse worse than they ever have. dark lines begin spreading rapidly beneath your skin. not now. please.

a horn blares as you drift into the next lane. you jerk the wheel back just in time. your breathing grows ragged. you can hear conversations through closed car windows. you smell gasoline from three streets away.

every instinct screams — run, hide, hunt.

"no." you grip the steering wheel tighter, "you are not losing control."

you barely make it through your apartment door before collapsing against it. pain tears through your chest. the veins race up your forearms as you crawl toward the bathroom. your fingers fumble beneath the sink until the familiar hidden compartment springs open. only one remaining injector remaining.

your breath catches and with hands shaking, you jam the injector against your thigh. the suppressant hisses into your bloodstream. for one terrifying second...nothing happens. the hunger claws at the edges of your mind.

you squeeze your eyes shut, "please..."

another second. then—the burning slowly eases. the veins retreat. your breathing steadies. you slide down the bathroom cabinet until you're sitting on the cold tile floor.

a tear slips down your cheek. then another and you can't stop them from coming. not because of the suppressant or the fact you experienced a frenzy for the first time in years. but because every time you close your eyes...you see him. the valko you have grown accustomed to over these past weeks. the one you tried to stay civil with despite your racing heartbeat and faint blush that kept coming everytime you were around him. then you saw the boy who stole your life. and the realization hits you all over again — they're the same person. you bury your face in your hands. and for the first time in years you cry until morning.

the pounding on your apartment door drags you from a sleepless haze. you stare at the ceiling until there is another knock, more impatient this time.

"you in there?"

you force yourself upright and unlock the door. your coworker tara stands in the hallway, coffee in one hand, communicator in the other.

"there you are." she studies your face, "you look terrible."

"i didn't sleep." you say rubbing your eyes

"no kidding." she scratches the back of her neck awkwardly, "you heading to headquarters?"

"eventually"

her expression shifts, "you...haven't heard?"

"heard what?"

a strange silence settles between you.

"valko surrendered. he walked into headquarters an hour ago. declared himself an unregistered praedator."

you don't hear the rest. your feet are already moving. the association is in chaos. reporters crowd the entrance. camera flashes explode from every direction. enforcers struggle to hold the line.

you shove through the crowd but someone catches your arm.

"the containment wing is restricted!"

you wrench free but another officer steps into your path.

"you can't—"

"i said move!"

something in your voice makes him hesitate, just long enough for you to sprint down the corridor. toward the reinforced blast doors marked:

PRAEDATOR CONTAINMENT

the scanner recognizes your credentials and the heavy doors grind open. rows of reinforced cells stretch into the distance. you know exactly which one they're using. the final cell — maximum security. you stop outside the glass. inside, valko sits alone. his wrists are bound in inhibitor cuffs. the crimson hair that was always perfectly styled now falls untidily across his forehead. he looks exhausted but slowly lifts his head. your eyes meet through layers of reinforced glass.

the door groans shut behind you and the sound echoes through the containment wing. a guard stands just outside the reinforced glass, arms folded across his chest, "five minutes, enforcer."

you don't answer him. your eyes have already found the camera mounted in the upper corner of the cell. when your gaze returns to valko, he's already looking at you. then almost imperceptibly his eyes flick upward. a tiny nod, he understands — we're being watched.

the warmth that had existed between you only yesterday vanishes from your face. you become the enforcer again. your boots strike the concrete as you cross the room. valko remains on his knees. inhibitor cuffs locking his wrists to a heavy restraint ring bolted into the wall behind him. dark circles shadow eyes that haven't slept.

"you came," he says.

before he can say another word, you seize the chains in front of his shirt. the guards outside straighten immediately. you jerk him forward. the chain between his restraints snaps taut with a metallic crack. his body lurches toward you as he doesn't resist.

"you don't get to say that."

your voice is sharp enough to carry through the speakers.

his gaze never leaves yours, "no," he answers quietly, "i don't."

for one heartbeat, you're close enough that only he can hear your whisper, "play along."

then you're pushing him backward again. to everyone watching it looks like fury. and they wouldn't be wrong, it isn't entirely an act.

"why did you turned yourself in?" you ask, voice gruff.

his shoulders rise and fall with a slow breath, "because i remembered."

your fingers tighten around the chain linking his wrists. the steel bites into your palms, "remembered what?"

"my life." his laugh is hollow, "or what was left of it."

he lifts his cuffed hands slightly. the inhibitor lights pulse red around his wrists.

"i've spent years wondering why parts of my childhood simply...weren't there. i convinced myself it was trauma."

his gaze drifts to the floor, "i guess i wasn't entirely wrong about that."

"i stopped taking EVER's suppressants after i escaped. they weren't just suppressants. they dulled everything. my instincts, my emotions, my memories. they kept us compliant."

the words hit you harder than you expect. you swallow, "they experimented on you."

"they manufactured me."

his answer is painfully matter-of-fact.

"but they never decided who i wanted to be."

your grip loosens, only slightly as you listen.

"so i started EonCore."

a faint, bittersweet smile touches his lips. "i couldn't remember every detail. but i remembered enough. enough to hate EVER. enough to know someone had to stop them. i wanted technology that healed people."

your chest tightens and you step closer. close enough that the cameras can only see your back. from their angle, it appears you're crowding him — threatening him.

instead, your voice drops to barely more than a breath, "you didn't know."

his answer is just as quiet, "it doesn't matter."

"it matters to me." you grip the front of his shirt again. to anyone watching, it looks like you're seconds away from striking him. instead, hidden by your body, your trembling fingers brush against his cheek. a touch so gentle no one else could ever notice.

his breath catches. not from pain but from the realization that despite everything...you still can't bear to hurt him. your hand travels down to his neck down to his chest. the moment passes so you shove him backward again.

"do you have any idea what you've done?"

your voice rings through the cell. the guards outside assume you're talking about the 'attack' on EVER. but valko knows better.

"yes." he meets your eyes, "i'd do it again."

you realize something then. he took the blame. he protected your identity. you turn away before your expression can betray you.

"they asked where i got my research. so i handed over every classified file from my company. they asked how i became a praedator. i told them it didn't matter."

your heart twists painfully. you bring yourself close to whisper words only he can hear, "you lied."

"i protected you."

tears threaten to spill from your eyes, "why? you don't owe me that."

he looks at you as though the answer should be obvious. "i almost destroyed your life…and somehow, you've only ever saved mine."

you blink rapidly, refusing to let the tears fall. your mind begins assembling facts instead of feelings. the experiments, the enhancement weapons, the evidence sitting inside valko's office. there is no way he handed over the one thing that could be used to destroy both of you. a plan begins taking shape. one dangerous enough that it might cost you everything.

the lobby of the headquarters feels wrong without him. the sleek glass walls and polished floors are exactly as you remember them, yet the building itself seems quieter. employees move through the atrium in hushed voices, conversations dying the moment someone mentions the morning's headlines.

you keep your association badge tucked inside your jacket as the elevator carries you to the executive floor. the doors slide open andfor the first time since you met valko, his office stands empty. the lights are off. the chair where he spent countless evenings reviewing evidence remains pushed back exactly as he'd left it. you stare at it for a long moment.

then quiet knock breaks the silence, "enforcer."

you turn and his assistant stands in the doorway, impeccably dressed despite the exhaustion evident in her eyes. she doesn't ask why you're here. instead, she simply walks to valko's desk, unlocks the bottom drawer with a keycard and removes a small black flash drive. without a word, she places it in your hand. the metal feels cold against your skin.

"he knew i'd come back."

a faint smile touches her face, "it wasn't difficult to predict."

your fingers tighten around the drive as she continues speaking

"he said that if anyone came looking for it...it would be you. he said 'she'll know what to do'"

you look down at the flash drive. every crime EVER had tried to bury. it's all here.

"thank you," you say quietly.

she shakes her head, "don't thank me. mr.valko trusted you. "

she looks directly at you, "so...i think i should too."

you nod once then leave EonCore without looking back. when you get back to the hunter association, the crowds had not gone down.

inside, commander jenna straightens her shirt "you understand what today's briefing is about?"

you meet her eyes, "i do."

she nods, "i assume you'll summarize the investigation before we discuss valko's sentencing."

you don't answer and she takes your silence as agreement. the auditorium doors open and a wall of camera shutters erupts. you step onto the stage alone. a single podium waits beneath the hunter association crest. rows of reporters fall silent as you approach the microphone.

you set the flash drive on the podium. the room waits.

"so," one reporter calls out, "is this the conclusion of the valko investigation?"

you look across the sea of cameras then calmly answer, "no. today is not about valko."

a murmur spreads through the audience. you continue, "this investigation began as an inquiry into the illegal development of praedator enhancement weaponry."

a remote rests beside the podium. you press the first button and the screen behind you illuminates. laboratory photographs. medical reports. children and teenagers in rows of reinforced containment rooms. gasps ripple through the room.

"the company known as EVER has spent years conducting illegal human experimentation."

another slide flashes on the screen. injection schedules. subject numbers. corporate approvals.

"they abducted civilians. they experimented on children. they manufactured biological weapons under the guise of scientific advancement."

every sentence lands heavier than the last and no one interrupts now.

"they profited from fear and suffering, and they intended to continue."

you press another button, executive signatures from government officials, bank transfers showcasing bribes. each claim you make being backed by evidence recovered from the enemy's own servers.

"the association now possesses documentation identifying the executives responsible. this evidence has already been distributed to the appropriate investigative authorities."

then comes the question you knew was inevitable. a reporter near the front stands, "what about valko?"

the room quiets once more. the initial shock wearing down. you take a slow breath then look directly into the nearest camera.

"valko was never the architect of their crimes."

his file designation visible beneath the image - SUBJECT V-17

"he was one of its victims."

shock sweeps across the room once more and you continue before anyone can interrupt.

"as a minor, he was subjected to repeated experimentation without consent. his biology was altered and his memories were manipulated. then he escaped."

another image appears. the opening ceremony of EonCore years later.

"afterward, he founded EonCore. every documented action taken by his company demonstrates a consistent effort to oppose EVER's research, expose enhancement weaponry, and develop technology intended to protect both civilians and praedators."

you pause to let the audience take in the weight of your words.

"judge him by the life he chose to build. not by the crimes committed against him."

you leave it at that. no mention of the frightened girl who survived. no mention of the enforcer standing behind the podium who carries the same secret he does. those truths remain yours.

outside the auditorium, phones begin ringing all at once. breaking reports flood every news network. authorities execute search warrants. EVER headquarters is surrounded and its executives attempt to flee but they don't get far. the empire that spent decades hiding behind closed doors begins to collapse in broad daylight.

the applause is the first thing that surprises you. it isn't loud or celebratory, it's respectful. it follows you as you step away from the podium, journalists already shouting questions you have no intention of answering.

the doors close behind you, muffling the chaos into little more than distant noise. one of the administrative officers waits at the end of the corridor.

"commander wants to see you."

you nod once your feet already heading in the direction of her office, "i figured."

the commander stands by the window in her office overlooking the association courtyard. emergency vehicles continue arriving below, each carrying more evidence seized from EVER facilities across the city.

without turning around, she says, "you did good work today."

you remain standing, "i just did my job."

a small chuckle escapes her, "you did far more than that."

she finally turns to look at you and gestures toward the television mounted on the wall. news footage fills the screen. EVER employese escorted away in handcuffs. laboratories sealed. victims reunited with families. the company logo being removed from headquarters.

"you've changed things."

her voice carries something close to pride, "the council is already discussing a promotion. i imagine there'll be several offers before the week is over."

you listen quietly then reach into your jacket. her smile falters the moment he sees your hand. you place your badge on the desk and it lands with a soft metallic click. for a long moment...neither of you speaks.

"what is this?"

"my resignation. it's already signed."

"you've barely had twenty-four hours to process everything."

"i don't need more time.".

"what are you going to do?"

you think of a rain-soaked ranger station and a man who built an entire company trying to stop the people who ruined his life. for the first time...The answer comes easily.

"i think..." you let out a quiet breath. "i'm going to find out who i am when i'm not just surviving."

the commander doesn't try to stop you again she simply nods, "i hope you find her."

you leave your badge behind and without looking back...you walk out of the hunter association for the last time.

home. it feels differrent now. less like a prison and more like what could be a fresh start. you set your keys on the kitchen counter, the sound echoing through the empty space.

the resignation had felt strangely...light. years spent chasing criminals, suppressing your own instincts, pretending to be someone you weren't. now the badge was gone and the mission was over. valko had been cleared. and for the first time, you had no idea what came next.

you busy yourself unpacking the small box you'd brought home from the association. a framed photograph of your academy graduation. a few case files. a coffee mug someone had gifted you years ago. nothing that really mattered, but still mementos nevertheless.

a knock at the door breaks the silence. three steady knocks. your heart skips, it couldn't be—you shake your head. the association wouldn't have released him that quickly. you cross the apartment almost without thinking. your hand rests on the doorknob. you pull it open before you can sense any doubt. valko stands on the other side. no tailored suit. just dark jeans, a charcoal sweater, and the same golden eyes you've searched for in every crowded room since walking out of the containment wing.

he offers the smallest, most uncertain smile, "hi..."

the last few days have carved new shadows beneath his eyes, yet somehow...he looks lighter too. as though setting down the weight of eight years has finally allowed him to stand up straight.

you step aside, "you should probably come in."

when he enters the apartment suddenly feels much smaller. you close the door as he looks around the room before his eyes settle on the half-unpacked box sitting on the table.

"you resigned."

you nod, "i did."

"are you alright?"

you let out a soft breath you didn't know you had been holding, "i don't know."

you laugh quietly, "i think that's the first honest answer i've given in a long time."

he smiles yet neiher of you quite knows how to bridge the distance still standing between you.

finally, valko speaks, "thank you."

you shake your head immediately, "no. you don't have to thank me."

"i do. i almost destroyed your life."

he doesn't look away and instead steps forward, "i can't change what happened. i can't give you back the years you spent hiding. i can't erase what EVER did to either of us."

his voice softens, "but somehow..." a sad smile touches his lip, "you've only ever saved mine."

your chest tightens and tears prick at your eyes, "you make it sound simple."

then you meet his eyes again, "when i woke up after the attack..." your voice is barely above a whisper, "i thought my life was over."

his stoic expression crumples. letting his guard down more as he hears you unburden yourself

"i didn't know what i was anymore. i wasn't human but i wasn't...whatever they wanted me to become. i spent eight years surviving. taking suppressants, hiding from everyone but worst of all...hiding from myself."

you give a small, humorless laugh, "i convinced myself surviving was enough but it wasn't."

you slowly close the distance between you. taking one step then another until only a breath remains between you.

"ever since i became a praedator..." your fingers lightly curl around the fabric of his sweater, "i never really knew how to live."

his hand hesitates before gently covering yours.

"i went through every day pretending. pretending i wasn't scared or lonely. pretending i didn't wish someone would just...see me."

a tear slips down your cheek, "then you did." you smile through it, "you never looked at me like i was a monster. you looked at me...like i was still me."

his thumb gently brushes the tear away.

"so for the first time..." you laugh shakily, "i think i finally have a chance. a chance to learn how to live."

you squeeze his hand, "if it's with you."

his eyes shine and for a moment, he simply looks at you, as though committing every word to memory.

"then..." he steps impossibly close, resting his forehead against yours, "let's build a new life together."

you reach up, gripping the front of his sweater tighter. he tenses for the briefest second, remembering another room, another day, another time you'd grabbed him by the front of his shirt. this time you don't shove him away- you pull him closer. your lips meet his and the kiss is slow. neither of you rushes it. it tastes of relief and of forgiveness still being learned. when you finally part, neither of you moves very far. you rest your forehead against his again.

outside, evening sunlight spills across the city. for the first time in a very long while...tomorrow doesn't feel frightening. it feels like something waiting to be built.

Epilogue

three years later

morning sunlight pours through floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the building with warmth. laughter echoes somewhere down the hallway. the kind that only exists when people finally feel safe.

you smile to yourself as you straighten one of the paintings hanging along the corridor. bright handprints. crooked stars. tiny fingerprints scattered across a painted night sky. every piece had been made by someone who had once believed they didn't have a future. yet now they decorated the walls.

a pair of arms slides gently around your waist from behind, "you've been staring at that painting for five minutes."

you lean back against him instinctively, "i was appreciating the artistic talent of the youth."

valko hums thoughtfully, "thinking about having some of our own?"

you freeze slowly, then dramatically turn toward him, "valko."

"what?" his playful smirk grows, "i'm just asking."

he presses a quick kiss to your temple before stepping beside you. a simple silver wedding band catches the morning light as his fingers find yours. today, he's in rolled-up sleeves with an employee badge clipped carelessly to his shirt - founder, teacher, mentor.

across the hall, a little boy peers nervously around the corner. he can't be older than nine with dark hair and wide amber eyes. his sleeves are pulled low over his hands, trying to hide the faint black veins creeping across his wrists. the moment he notices you've seen them, he quickly tucks his hands behind his back.

"i'm sorry," he blurts. "i didn't mean..." his breathing becomes uneven. "i know i'm not supposed to—"

"you don't have to hide." the words leave your mouth gently.

he freezes and you kneel until you're eye level with him, "you don't have to hide here."

his eyes dart uncertainly between you and valko. "but...my mom says people get scared."

you understand that fear better than anyone. you experienced it yourself up until these last few years.

you smile softly, "they might. but that's because they don't understand yet."

you glance toward valko and he understands immediately, coming close.

"so..." you continue, "we're going to teach them."

the boy blinks, "really?"

valko crouches beside you, resting one forearm across his knee, "really. and we'll teach you something too."

the boy looks at him curiously, "how to fight?"

valko chuckles, "no. how to live."

the child frowns, "i already know how."

valko shakes his head with a warm smile, "i thought i did too."

he glances toward you, "i spent years surviving. so did she but surviving and living..." he squeezes your hand gently, "aren't the same thing."

the little boy considers that very seriously, "so what do you teach?"

you exchange a look with valko and he gives the smallest nod. you answer together, "control. choice. confidence."

the boy tilts his head, "no suppressants?"

"only if someone needs them temporarily," you explain. "they can help while your body is adjusting. but they aren't the answer."

valko smiles, "we're here to help you understand your instincts. not fear them. you're still you — always."

the boy slowly brings one trembling hand out from behind his back. the dark veins are still there but for the first time...he doesn't try to hide them.

a woman appears at the end of the corridor, "leo?"

she rushes over apologetically, "i'm so sorry if he wandered—"

"he's alright," you assure her. "he was just asking questions."

the woman notices your hand resting comfortably over leo's. her eyes begin to glisten.

"i didn't think..." she swallows hard. "i didn't think there was anywhere people like us could go."

valko smiles gently, "there wasn't."

he looks around the bright hallway. the classrooms. the gardens outside. the families talking over coffee in the common room.

"so...we built one."

you smile at leo, "just promise us one thing."

he nods eagerly, "what?"

"when you grow up..." you gently brush a strand of hair from his forehead. "if someone else is scared...help them the way someone once helped you."

he thinks about it seriously for a moment before giving the most determined nod you've ever seen.

"i will."

outside the windows, the morning sun climbs higher into a cloudless sky. three years ago, tomorrow had been something to fear. now it was filled with children laughing and families beginning again. people learning that they didn't have to hide who they were.

you look at valko and he catches your eye immediately. still as if it were the easiest thing in the world. still as if choosing each other was something worth doing every single day.

he smiles, "so...i think we are ready."

you sigh dramatically, "i married a menace."

but then you see the hopeful look in his eyes. the same eyes that once carried nothing but guilt. the same eyes that once believed he didn't deserve a future. now looking at you like he could actually imagine one.

"you did. any regrets?"

you pretend to think about it, "ask me again in another twenty years."

he laughs, "i'll hold you to that."

hand in hand, the two of you walk down the corridor toward another day of teaching people that they were never monsters. only people who deserved a tomorrow.

xavier

☆ is probably the only one who accidentally enables it (not that it was ever a problem) because...he's exactly the same.

☆ you'll be walking somewhere with a purpose and end up sitting in a park an hour later because you both got distracted by flowers or squirrels running around

☆ other people think you're being romantic gazing into each other's eyes. but in reality you're actually both thinking about entirely different things.

☆ one random "what if..." turns into a two-hour conversation neither of you expected.

zayne

☆ he appreciates that you see possibilities other people overlook, especially since he tends to look at things more strategically.

☆ he puts extra reminders in your phone because you forget literally everything

☆ he'll pause mid-sentence because he knows your not actually listening. instead of getting annoyed, he'll gently tap your forehead or brush your hand with a "come back."

☆ buys you a "dream" journal so you can keep track of all your thoughts throughout the day and tell him about it later.

rafayel

☆ he absolutely loves it. treats every daydream like you are telling him a story. he immediately wants details.

☆ uses your thoughts as inspiration for his works of art. you both could spend hours creating fantasy worlds together.

☆ he encourages every bizarre tangent because your imagination fascinates him. will even give you random prompts.

☆ if you have been mentally checked out for longer than he can be patient for he'll suddenly be very dramatic about it. "oh what a tragedy. i've lost my partner to the mysterious realm of thoughts."

sylus

☆ he quietly watches you because your expressions keep changing with whatever story your imagining and he finds it adorable.

☆ steers you out of the way of any obstacles with ease as you are looking around.

☆ his favorite thing is when you suddenly say something that clearly continues a conversation you been having with yourself for the last twenty minutes

☆ answers all of your "hypothetic" questions completely seriously

caleb

☆ calls you astronaut. teases you by saying, "mission control requesting your return." while he waves a hand dramatically in front of your face.

☆ he times how long you were daydreaming and then says you owe him that time back in cuddles because you weren't "paying attention to him"

☆ whenever you notices tiny things that may be insignificant to others he will be by your side thinking they are the most fascinating.

☆ doesn't mind repeating himself if he has to. but will hold your chin up to meet his gaze in an attempt to maintain your focus.

valko

☆ he absolutely steals your attention back or tries to distract you from your own thoughts. lightly kissing your face or nuzzling up to you until you eventually crack.

☆ he learns and senses the differences between your "i'm disassociating" stare and your "i'm daydreaming" stare and knows how to pivot accordingly.

☆ if you're staring absentmindedly at him instead of through him, he'll catch the difference. "so you've either be admiring me for the past 5 min or you have completely forgotten i exist."

zayne

☆ has to convince you a swear jar is "fun" and not an actual disciplinary measure.

☆ doesn't swear like...ever. the strongest thing you've heard him say is a disappointed "good grief."

☆ doesn't actually mind your language, but after hearing you say "fuck" in almost every sentence. he quietly admits, "perhaps the jar would be... beneficial."

☆ you try to negotiate that "damn" shouldn't count. he produces the written rules he typed up.

☆ raises an eyebrow every time you freeze halfway through a curse. "i heard the beginning of that."

☆ secretly skims a few dollars from the jar every now and then...only to buy himself coffee, pastries, or books with your swear money.

when you catch him with a new dessert, "is that my swear jar money?"

"technically, it became community funds."

☆ at the end of the month he'll show you the total with an almost amused smile. "you've been improving."

xavier

☆ forgets the swear jar exists. forgets where the swear jar is. forgets whether you already paid.

☆ he doesn't swear much at all. mostly because he doesn't react loudly to things.

☆ if you're having a genuinely awful day, he'll pretend he didn't hear you.

☆ accidentally contributes because he mutters something under his breath after burning dinner.

"i didn't think you knew that word" then he blushes in embarrassment

☆ you try to sneak ones past him in the hopes he didn't hear you but he has rabbit ears so he will slowly push the jar towards you

☆ he'll occasionally "fine" himself even when he only thought the swear and didn't say it out loud.

rafayel

☆ the original swear jar lasts about two days before one of you says, "this is boring." so it becomes your jar vs. his jar. at the end of the week, whoever has more money loses and the winner gets to choose the prize.

☆ he turns decorating your jars into a little project. painting little flowers, fishes, and adding your initials.

☆ you discover he's surprisingly easy to bait when he's in the middle of painting.

☆ he learns your weaknesses too. things like mild inconveniences, technology not cooperating or stubbing your toe.

☆ he starts using colorful language associated with the sea, "mother...of pearl." and "son of a sea cucumber."

☆ in the end rafayel wins but he ends up having so much fun that he asks, "one more week. double or nothing."

sylus

☆ although he finds your potty mouth kinda attractive the swear jar was absolutely his idea.

☆ immediately starts engineering situations specifically to make you swear. sneaks up behind you. hides the tv remote. wins games by one point and just waits for you to blow up.

☆ every time you slip, he says "language kitten." with the the biggest, most insufferable grin you've ever seen.

☆ purposely says things like, "go on. say it. i know you're thinking it."

☆ keeps exact count of your "streak" before he breaks it. "three days. new record."

☆ will occasionally swear himself just to confuse you before going, "mine don't count. i'm the treasurer."

caleb

☆ starts out fully committed to the swear jar then realizes very quickly there's a much better payment system. "coin...or kiss. your choice."

☆ you immediately realize he'll almost always "reluctantly" accept the second option

☆ the rules evolves into: one swear = a kiss. multiple swears in one sentence = longer hug. really creative profanity = "dealers choice"

☆ loves hearing you stop yourself halfway.

"motherfu—...fudge"

"nice save."

☆ if you try to walk away after swearing, he'll gently block the doorway with the jar.

☆ by the end of it, the swear jar has maybe six dollars in it because caleb keeps waiving your fines in exchange for cuddles. he claims it's because "physical affection builds stronger habits."

valko

☆ you aren't sure who's idea it was or rather why either of you thought it would be a good idea.

☆ he lasts approximately four minutes before forgetting the swear jar exists. "wait. i didn't know we were starting now!"

☆ the jar fills at an alarming rate because the two of you get into conversations that are basically competitive profanity.

☆ he tries to make loopholes.

"if i whisper it, does it count?"

"yes."

☆ eventually both of you are tossing coins into the jar mid-conversation without breaking eye contact.

☆ the jar ends up funding vacations because neither of you has any self-control.

"we should probably stop swearing."

"yeah..."

"..."

"fuck."

*clink*

a month ago, the internet had been on fire. not just because love and deepspace had announced a new love interest. because they'd taken him away before anyone had the chance to meet him. you still remembered where you had been when the notification appeared.

Official Statement from Infold.

your heart had leapt into your throat

Dear Miss Hunters,

We have decided to cancel both the launch and any further development of the new love interest. We also commit that no additional love interests will be introduced in future content plans.

you hadn't finished reading it the first time. the comments beneath it had said enough.

Justice for Valko.

Bring him back.

You can't treat us like this.

He deserved better.

within minutes, hashtags exploded across every platform. edits of his reveal trailer flooded tiktok. artists worked overnight, posting illustrations of the red-haired wolf beneath the glowing moon. theory channels insisted it was an elaborate marketing campaign.

"it has to be," one creator confidently declared. "there's no way they'd throw away a character with this much hype."

except...they did. a week later, the hashtags slowed. two weeks later, discussion shifted toward the next event banner. by the end of the month, it was like valko had never existed.

everyone moved on. everyone except you.

your monitor cast a pale blue glow across the bedroom as the trailer played for what had to be the hundredth time. moonlight poured through towering pine trees. a figure stepped from the shadows. red hair. golden eyes.

valko looked directly at you, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

"do you dare follow?"

you smiled despite yourself, "i guess i would have."

you knew every second by heart. the slight raise of his eyebrow. the confident smirk that made the fandom collectively lose its mind. the glimpse of sharpened canine teeth.

the trailer ended. without thinking, you clicked replay. again. you leaned back in your chair, hugging one knee to your chest.

"this is getting pathetic."

maybe it was. but every time you tried logging into the game something felt...wrong. the game hadn't changed. the home screen still greeted you with the same music. events arrived on schedule. everything functioned exactly as it always had. yet there was an emptiness you couldn't ignore.

you should have been unlocking valko's memories. listening to his voice calls. reading anecdotes. grinding affinity levels. instead all you had were three trailers, a handful of promotional images and the outline of someone who had never been allowed to become real.

it felt like someone had quietly torn an entire chapter from a book before you'd ever gotten the chance to read it. you minimized the trailer and opened the official statement again.

maybe you'd missed something. some hidden clue. some promise. some tiny sentence that hinted they'd changed their minds. there wasn't one. just polished corporate language. carefully chosen words. an apology that explained nothing.

you sighed and closed the page, "i know it's silly."

your eyes drifted back to the paused trailer, "i know you're just...code"

the word tasted wrong. you had never met him. never played his route. never experienced his story. yet every teaser had made him feel...alive. not because of the graphics but because someone had poured genuine care into creating him. someone had written his dialogue. designed his smile. imagined the sound of his voice. and now, he would never get to become who they intended him to be.

your fingers absentmindedly reached toward the monitor. they rested lightly against the glass over his face.

"you would've been my favorite."

only silence answered you. outside, the city had grown quiet. a few distant cars drifted through the streets below before disappearing into the night.

still...you couldn't bring yourself to pull your hand away.

"i hope..." your voice was barely above a whisper, "wherever you were supposed to end up..."

you smiled sadly, "someone got to know you."

for just a second...the paused image seemed different. his eyes felt strangely warm, like they were looking back at you.

you blinked, "nope."

definitely sleep deprivation. you powered off the monitor, plunging the room into darkness save for the faint glow of the streetlights filtering through your curtains.

your phone read 2:37 a.m. you should have gone to bed hours ago. tomorrow you'd log in again and collect the daily rewards. pretend everything felt normal. maybe eventually it would. maybe one day you'd stop thinking about a character who never even had the chance to exist.

the thought settled heavily in your chest as you slipped beneath the blankets. you closed your eyes and within minutes, exhaustion pulled you under. until you heard a soft noise.

tink.

something struck the glass. you frowned without opening your eyes. probably a tree branch. except...you didn't have a tree outside your balcony.

tink. this one was louder.

you groaned, rolling onto your back, "what now..."

your eyes opened and the clock beside your bed glowed 4:43 a.m. you listened. nothing. maybe you'd imagined it. you were just about to lay back down when—

tink.

"you've got to be kidding me!"

heart pounding a little faster, you slipped out of bed and quietly crossed the room. you hesitated beside the curtains. every horror movie you'd ever watched suddenly replayed itself in vivid detail. someone was outside. but that shouldn't have been possible. you lived on the third floor. another pebble hit the glass.

before you lost your courage, you grabbed the curtain and pulled it aside and your mind went completely blank. there was a man standing on your balcony. not climbing. not hanging from the railing. just standing there as though appearing three stories above the ground in the middle of the night was perfectly reasonable.

moonlight caught auburn hair that shimmered in the breeze. sleeveless black shirt. broad shoulders. golden eyes. no, that wasn't—he smiled. the exact same smile you'd watched a hundred times on your computer. you forgot how to breathe.

"there you are," he said with an easy grin, relief softening his features as if he'd finally found someone he'd been searching for. "i was beginning to think i had the wrong balcony."

"i..." your voice barely worked, "you're..."

you rubbed both eyes and looked again. he was still there. every detail was perfect. every strand of hair. every sharp angle of his face. every expression you'd memorized from limited official content and countless fan edits.

this wasn't possible. you had finally lost it. a combination of sleep deprivation and stress. this was an extremely vivid dream. that had to be it.

he looked at the closed balcony door, then back at you, "so..." he asked, almost sheepishly, "can i come in?"

you don't move. you aren't entirely convinced you still remember how. the balcony door separates you from the impossible. maybe if you don't unlock it, you'll wake up.

your hand remains frozen around the curtain.

"i..." you swallow. "you're not real."

he frowns and scoffs, "i certainly hope i am."

"no." you shake your head. "no, you're—"

you gesture wildly toward him, somehow expecting that to explain everything.

"you're you."

a small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, "i'll take that as a compliment."

this isn't happening. it can't be. you pinch the inside of your forearm hard enough to sting. he's still here. you pinch yourself again.

"are you alright?" he asks, concern beginning to replace the playful expression on his face.

you stare at him then at the red mark forming on your skin, "you should disappear."

"i beg your pardon?"

"when i wake up."

a beat of silence passes before realization dawns across his face.

"ah." he laughs. it's soft and low. exactly like it sounded in the trailer.

"you think you're dreaming."

"i know i'm dreaming."

you squeeze your eyes shut. count to five. open them again. valko is still patiently standing on your balcony. still looking at you as though the strangest part of tonight is that you haven't invited him inside.

he glances over one shoulder at the neighboring apartments before lowering his voice conspiratorially.

"if it helps," he says, "i'd rather not explain to your neighbors why i'm loitering outside your balcony at this hour."

despite yourself a nervous laugh escapes. the sound surprises both of you.

you look back at the locked balcony door. every sensible instinct screams not to open it. but if this is a dream, it doesn't matter. and if it isn't - you don't even know what that would mean.

with trembling fingers, you unlock the handle. the door slides open and cool night air spills into your apartment. valko steps inside as though crossing that threshold is the most natural thing in the world. for a moment, neither of you speaks. he's taller than you expected. the promotional art hadn't quite captured the sheer size of him. nor had it conveyed the quiet warmth radiating from him, or the subtle scent of cedar and rain clinging to his skin.

your apartment suddenly feels much smaller. he takes a slow look around as curiosity flickers across his features.

"this is..." he pauses, "different."

you don't miss the hesitation, "different from what?"

he turns his attention towards the kitchen, the living room, the hallway that leads to your bedroom.

his brow furrows almost imperceptibly, "i can't quite explain it."

he continues looking around with growing curiosity, "the architecture is different...the lighting...the air."

his golden eyes settle on you again, "and..." a faint crease appears between his brows, "you look different."

your stomach drops, "i think," you say carefully, "you have me confused with someone else."

"i don't." he says matter-of-factly.

"you do...you've never met me."

his answer comes without hesitation, "but i have. i knew to come here."

you take a slow breath, "valko...sit down."

you close your eyes for the briefest moment. this conversation is about to become infinitely more complicated. you motion toward the couch, watching him carefully as he steps farther into your apartment. despite his general confusion, his movements are effortless and confident, like someone accustomed to occupying any room he entered.

you remain standing, keeping a healthy distance between yourself and the man who, as far as reality was concerned, should not exist.

he notices immediately, "i promise i'm not dangerous."

"i don't know that."

"and yet you opened the door." he says slyly

you sigh shakily, "i may regret that."

he smiles barring his pearly canines, "i hope not."

silence settles between you. it isn't uncomfortable. it's just...palpable, almost indescribable. he studies your apartment again, this time more carefully. books stacked beside the couch. a charging cable stretched across the coffee table. a mug that still smelled faintly of peppermint tea. then his eyes land on your computer monitor. the screen had gone dark after falling asleep.

he gestures toward it, "you were working?"

"not exactly..."

"then what kept you awake?"

you hesitate, "you."

his brows lift, "me?"

you nod slowly, "i was watching your...trailers."

"my..." the word dies on his tongue, "trailers?"

your heart pounds. there's no easy way to say this. no gentle introduction. no version of this conversation where he doesn't think you've completely lost your mind.

you finally take a seat across from him, fold your hands together and take a deep breath.

"i need you to answer one question honestly."

"you have my word."

"what city are we in?"

he answers without hesitation, "linkon."

you nod once, "and who am i to you?

his expression softens, then a small frown appears on his face. he seems confused and slightly offended by the question.

"you've always been..." he pauses and his gaze searches yours, "it's difficult to explain."

he presses two fingers lightly against his temple, "i remember wanting to find you."

"why?"

"i don't know...instinct is the only way i can describe it."

now he realizes that he sounds like the insane one.

"when did we meet?"

his brow furrows deeper, "i.."

his lips part, then close again. for the first time since arriving, uncertainty flashes across his face.

"i don't remember."

your stomach sinks. he remembers you. but not how, not when, not where. just that he had to find you.

you stand abruptly, and disappear into your bedroom, heart racing. when you return, your phone is already unlocked. the official love and deepspace youtube channel fills the screen.

you stop in front of him, "you're going to think this is insane."

"i'm beginning to suspect nothing tonight can surprise me anymore."

you ignore the joke and with a shaky thumb, you press play. the familiar trailer begins. the music starts then moonlight, and a line of text appears. then on the screen, standing exactly as he had a few moments ago on your balcony.

his own voice fills the apartment, "take me in for the night."

the trailer continues until the game logo fades into view. you pause the video.

the room is deathly quiet for a while. oh god you broke him. his yellow eyes remain fixed on the screen.

suddenly, "that's...me."

a part of you wants to gloat say 'i told you so' while the other doesn't know how to continue on.

"i don't remember saying any of that." his gaze slowly lifts to yours, "what is this?"

you inhale slowly, "this..." you gesture toward the phone, "is a promotional trailer."

"for?"

you almost can't bring yourself to say it, "a video game."

he laughs once not because he finds it funny but because the alternative is absurd.

"i think you've misunderstood something."

"i wish i had."

"i'm not..." he gestures vaguely toward the phone, "fiction!"

"i know you aren't."

"you just said—"

"i know what i said!"

your voice comes out louder than intended. you force yourself to continue.

"you are here! you're sitting on my couch." your throat tightens, "and yet...you shouldn't exist."

you open the official statement before handing him your phone. he hesitates before taking it and begins reading. the further down the page his eyes travel, the more the color drains from his face.

his grip on the phone tightens, knuckles turning white. "so they..." his eyes return to yours. "canceled me."

the word lands like a stone, tears welling up in your eyes.

"it wasn't your fault. there was backlash online."

you sit beside him, careful to leave space between you and yet desperately wanting to reach out to him.

"people were devastated."

you pull the phone closer and open social media. old posts. archived hashtags. petitions. compilation after compilation. millions of views. millions of people excited to meet him. millions of people mourning someone they'd never even known.

he sits there for you arent entirely sure how long and scrolls quietly through every drawing. every edit. every comment. as his expression becomes harder to read.

"they...cared...so much" he says looking up at you

you nod, "they still do. i know i do."

he doesn't register the last part of what you said as questions flood his mind.

"then why..." his voice catches, "why wasn't i released?"

you lower your eyes, "i don't know. i've spent weeks trying to understand it. i thought maybe there'd be another announcement. a delay. a rewrite. anything. but there wasn't."

the apartment falls silent again. he sets your phone carefully on the coffee table. neither of you speaks for what feels like several minutes.

finally, his voice is distant, "so linkon and everyone i know...doesn't exist?"

you slowly nod, throat dry as you can't form anymore words. his shoulders slump ever so slightly. the realization comes in waves. not all at once. everything he'd believed to be true. every memory. every place. every person - reduced to data.

then another thought seems to strike him. slowly almost afraid of the answer he asks, "and you?"

your heart aches, "i'm..." you look down at your hands, "i'm just someone who plays the game."

"you aren't..." he searches for the right words, "the person i thought you were."

your blood runs cold, "i don't even know who that person is."

it doesn't make sense to you. why would he know he has to find you? you aren't the heroine. not a deepspace hunter. you are just well...you.

he leans back against the couch staring at nothing, "so if..."

his voice is barely audible, "i don't belong there...and i don't belong here..."

his golden eyes finally meet yours again. lost and vulnerable. nothing like the composed ceo from the trailers.

"where do i belong?"

you wake to the smell of coffee. for one blissful, fleeting second, everything feels normal. the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. the comforting weight of your blankets. the distant hum of traffic outside.

then your eyes snap open. your heart immediately jumps into your throat. you throw the blankets aside and hurry into the living room.

valko is standing in your kitchen. wearing the same clothes from last night, as he examines the buttons on your electric kettle with intense concentration.

"good morning."

the greeting is so casual that it takes your brain a second to catch up.

"you—" you point accusingly, "you're still here."

he looks over his shoulder, "i certainly hope so."

his smile is small, "well it's not like i have anywhere else to go."

so...last night wasn't a dream. you sink onto one of the kitchen stools. for a moment, neither of you says anything. valko returns his attention to the kettle.

"i believe i've lost."

"what?"

"it keeps beeping at me."

you follow his gaze. the kettle flashes an error because it isn't sitting correctly on its base. you walk over, adjust it, and press the switch. the water immediately begins to heat.

he watches with genuine fascination, "that's all?"

"that's all." you say patting his shoulder

"things are way more...advanced in linkon."

"and you've been awake for how long?"

"i'm not entirely sure."

your eyes sweep across the apartment. nothing appears out of place. the books are still stacked neatly. the couch cushions haven't moved. even the blanket you'd forgotten to fold has been draped neatly over the armrest.

"you cleaned."

he looks almost embarrassed, "i couldn't sleep."

something in your chest twists. you remember how the night ended.

"where do i belong?"

neither of you had found an answer. instead, you'd made up the couch with extra blankets while insisting he take it. the kettle beeped again signaling the brew was done.

you reach for two mugs, as he settles behind you. the only sound was your spoon tinkering, mixing cream and sugar before you cleared your throat, "so...we need a plan."

you turn passing valko a cup, your hands slightly brushing. he jolts lightly at the contact before nodding, "that's a good idea."

you settle on the couch, pulling out your laptop, "the obvious option..." you hesitate, "would be telling infold."

his expression changes immediately, "they made me?"

"they did."

"and you trust them?"

you don't answer because you don't know. you shouldn't. not after everything they have done.

"unfortunately that doesn't really matter. they know way more about this than i ever would."

"true..but they canceled me. who know's what they would do to me now."

he lightly shudders at the thought and you wince, "i know...but i don't think they'd hurt you."

"you don't know that."

you close the laptop before you'd even begun searching, "you are right i don't know anything."

you laugh quietly, "i don't even know how you got here."

"the balcony."

you roll your eyes, "you know what i mean."

you rest your elbows on your knees, "wait a minute. there was that astronomy article..."

he looks over, "what article?"

"last night before you appeared..."

you scroll until you find it, 'rare total lunar eclipse expected to coincide with heightened solar activity.'

he reads over your shoulder, "it says events like this haven't aligned in decades."

"it happened just after midnight. about the time i was watching the trailers and well...spiraling."

you both turn to look at eachother, before he speaks "about the time i arrived."

it's the closest thing to a lead you've found.

you set your phone down, "until we figure this out..." you glance around your tiny apartment, "you can't exactly wander outside."

he sits quietly for several moments then looks around your apartment, "but..." he begins standing, "if staying here puts you in danger, i should leave."

"what?! you have nowhere to go!"

"i'll figure something out."

"you don't have money."

"i'll earn some."

you sigh. he really is considering walking out your front door with absolutely no plan.

"please... don't leave."

he hesitates. but you reach for him anyway, touching his wrists and bringing him back towards you.

"we'll figure this out."

"together?"

the question is so quiet it almost breaks your heart. you nod, "together."

something in his expression softens. not relief. not happiness. something deeper. like a man who had spent the last twelve hours believing he belonged nowhere...had finally been offered somewhere to stay.

you sit at the edge of the couch, staring at the small pile of things you've already accumulated this morning. his shoes are by the door, the phone you used to show him the trailer, and the almost-empty coffee mugs sitting on the table.

valko stands near the window. he's been there for several minutes without moving much, just watching the street below like it might explain itself if he looks long enough.

you break the silence first, "you're going to need stuff."

he turns slightly, "stuff?"

"yeah...like clothes"

he gestures to his outfit, "what's wrong with this?"

you laugh lightly, for how smart he is supposed to be he is a bit dense.

"you're going to live here."

the word hangs between you both for a second longer than it should — live.

you stand, walking toward the kitchen counter as you start listing things on instinct.

"toothbrush. soap. food. more clothes. chargers, actually i don't even know if you need chargers—"

"i don't think i do."

"you see? that's the problem. i don't know what you need."

valko finally turns fully toward you. there's no panic on his face. just focused, steady attention like he's evaluating a situation he intends to solve.

"you are treating this like i am unprepared."

"you are unprepared!"

"yes well i am adapting."

"you arrived here twelve hours ago!"

you exhale, rubbing your forehead, "okay new plan, you need supplies and i can't just…improvise your entire existence out of my apartment."

you grab your phone, "we're going out."

valko watches you unlock the screen, "outside? you just advised against that."

"i still advise against it! but we don't have any other choice."

ten minutes later, you're both standing at the door. you've done what you can. cap, mask, sunglasses — it still doesn't feel like enough.

valko adjusts the cap once, then looks at you smiling, "good enough?"

"no but it'll have to be."

you open the door and the outside world feels too normal — too bright, too loud. unaware of what's walking beside you. valko stays close, not crowding you, but matching your pace with quiet precision. every few steps, his gaze shifts, observing and processing his new surroundings.

the first stop is a general store, it's practical and less risky. you grab a basket and hand him one. he takes it like it's standard procedure.

"so," you say, "we're starting with basics."

you move methodically through the aisles. every item you place in the basket, he studies like it matters more than it should. like he's rebuilding an entire system from scratch.

the clothing aisle is next. you slow down instinctively.

"what's wrong?"

"it's… personal stuff."

he tilts his head slightly, "then i will follow your lead."

that's it. just trust again. you pick out essentials quickly and you try not to think too hard about the fact that you are now actively selecting the building blocks of his life.

at checkout, the total flashes on the screen. you pay before he can even look at it too closely. you gather the bags. they are heavy and real — it's evidence. as you step outside, valko adjusts the strap of one of them over his shoulder. you notice something then. he isn't struggling with the weight. certaintly not physically. but most surprisingly not mentally. he just…accepted it.

you look at him as you start walking back, "you're handling this really well."

he glances at you, "you are doing most of the adaptation work."

"i'm not the one who got dropped into another world."

"no...but you are making it really easy to choose to stay next to you."

that stops you mid-step. you don't respond right away. life continues like nothing unusual is happening. but for you—that sentence lingers.

time passes in a way you don't really notice at first. not in days or weeks that feel defined. just...repetition.

there is a rhythm now. morning light seeping through the blinds and quiet conversation. afternoon silence broken by small experiments—him learning how your world behaves, you learning how little confusion he actually carries about it. evenings together on the couch. sometimes talking. sometimes not.

you don't remember falling asleep. one moment you were sitting on the couch with a book half-open in your lap, valko's voice somewhere in the background asking something you can't quite make out then, there’s warmth.

soft fabric pulled over you. the faint scent of clean laundry and something faintly woody. his scent, you knew it by now. the way it envoloped your entire apartment.

you blink slowly and the room is dimmer. you realize you're on your side, curled slightly, a blanket tucked neatly around your shoulders.

you didn't do that. you shift a little and hear movement nearby. valko is sitting at the edge of the couch. you try to sit up, but the blanket resists in that too-comfortable way that makes your body betray your argument.

"how long was i out?"

"forty-seven minutes."

you stare at him through sleepy eyes, "you were counting?"

his gaze doesn’t move away, "i wanted to make sure you were still breathing normally."

the city outside continues like nothing unusual is happening but inside your apartment, something has quietly shifted shape without asking permission. later, you don't notice when it becomes routine. that's the strange part. it just… happens.

you reach for his hand on the off chance you leave the apartment. the first time, it's instinct. the second time, it's habit. by the third, it feels wrong not to. valko looks down at it once when it happens. he doesn't ask you to let go. instead he tightens his grip and tries to hold back a grin that wants to take permanent shape on his face.

"is this necessary?" he asks one day, lifting your intertwined hands up

you hesitate, "no...i guess not"

"then why do you do it?"

your brain short-circuits cause the honest answer feels too simple.

"because i want to," you say finally.

that seems to satisfy him and he brings your hand up to his lips leaving a gentle kiss there that has you blushing.

you start sharing things without thinking about it. a childhood story while making instant noodles. a memory you didn't mean to say out loud until it's already out there.

"why did you start playing the game?" he asked while you were eating dinner one night

you poke absentmindedly at your food before answering.

"in case you haven't noticed..." you say with a small laugh, "i don't really have a life."

you meant it as a joke. he doesn't laugh, instead, he tilts his head ever so slightly.

"i don't think that's true."

you shrug, "it kind of is. i worked, came home, ate whatever was easiest. went to bed then did it all again the next day."

valko listens head propped in his hands like everything you say is stored somewhere important.

"i guess..." you sigh. "life wasn't bad. it just wasn't...fulfilling."

you laugh quietly, "but it still felt like i was watching everyone else live."

his expression softens, "and the game changed that?"

you smile at the memory. of creating your character. choosing your main love interest when your real love life was tragic.

"it gave me something to look forward to at the end of the day."

"i don't think you were searching for a game." he responds

"you were searching for connection."

you hadn't thought about it like that before.

"maybe." you smile to yourself, "you might be right."

"and now?"

a slight smug smirk forming on his lips, already knowing the answer but asking you anyway.

"what do you look forward to?"

you open your mouth trying to come up with a joke or something to ease the tension. yet nothing comes because the answer is embarrassingly obvious.

"you."

then the world interrupts. a notification from infold. you open it without thinking.

Infold Official Statement

your stomach tightens immediately. that same dreadful feeling you had before. valko notices your expression before you even speak.

"what is it?"

you hesitate then turn the phone slightly toward him.

To our Hunters,

Following recent developments and renewed interest in Valko’s character, we would like to address ongoing speculation regarding his future.

At this time, we confirm that while there were internal discussions regarding the possibility of reintroducing Valko into future content, unforeseen complications involving his existing character data have rendered further development unstable.

We appreciate your passion and continued support.

you lower the phone slowly, "they were going to bring you back."

valko completely seems to ignore the words on the screen. picks up his fork and starts eating again.

"i see."

"that's it?" you stutter out

"what would you like me to say?"

"i don't know...something."

that night, you start researching...again — lunar eclipse timing. celestial alignment anomaly. rare atmospheric event cycles

"there's another one. the same kind of alignment that was happening the night you showed up."

he studies the data without interrupting you as you scroll further.

"there are articles about unusual energy fluctuations during these events. some people think they're just atmospheric interference. others think—"

you stop yourself, because it sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud. valko finishes it anyway.

"that it's some kind of portal."

you nod once, "yeah."

he leans back slightly, "and what does your research suggest?"

"that it could explain how you got here."

then you add, quieter, "and maybe how to send you back."

the word back sits differently now. he hears it but he doesn’t react immediately. instead, he looks toward the window. the night outside is still.

then he speaks, "and if it can...what happens then?"

you close the laptop slightly, "i don't know. do you want to go back?"

it comes out softer than you intended. and you hope he doesn't hear the fear and disappointment in your voice.

valko is quiet for a long time, contemplating your question.

then, "i do not think i know what 'back' means anymore."

you should feel relieved. this is solvable. there is a mechanism. a way to fix what broke.

instead you feel something tightening quietly in your chest. because neither of you sounds like you are talking about a problem anymore. you sound like you are talking about a choice.

later that night, after everything has gone quiet again, you somehow end up curled up by his side. his warmth radiating over you. it's comforting in a way you have never felt before.

valko breaks the silence first, "if i leave through this event" he says, "i will return to a world where i was never completed."

you look at him. this is closest you have been. you notice every bit of texture on his face. and for a moment he is as real as he as ever been.

"and you will remain here."

you swallow, "we should probably fix this."

it should sound certain but it doesn't.

valko studies your expressions for a moment. looking for any hint of doubt or sadness.

then says, quietly brushing a piece of hair behind your ear, "i do not think i want to be undone."

that word lands differently than everything before it. undone. not returned. not reset.

then you say, "neither do i"

ever since discovering there was another celestial event approaching, sleep had become a stranger. not because you were afraid. at least, that's what you kept telling yourself.

you had spent days searching for an answer—for a way to undo the impossible, to return valko to the world he came from if such a thing was even possible. but now that there was finally a lead, now that there was something tangible to work toward, yet...you couldn't bring yourself to keep researching. every article about the eclipse felt less like hope and more like a countdown. you caught yourself looking at the calendar far too often. every crossed-off day tightened something in your chest.

and somehow neither of you could bring yourself to speak about it anymore. valko lingered near open windows. he spent longer on the balcony at night. sometimes you would catch him standing perfectly still, his attention fixed on the moon.

"what is it?" you asked once.

he didn't look away. the gravitation pull drawing him closer.

"it feels..." he searched for the word, "louder."

"the moon? i don't hear it."

his brow furrowed slightly, "i feel it."

you remembered what he'd told you before. the closer the full moon became...the harder it was to ignore the wolf within him.

but that night, neither of you slept. the clock on your nightstand read 2:07 a.m. you sighed and threw the blankets aside. just like the night he arrived. you stepped into the living room to see the balcony door was already open. moonlight spilled across the floor and valko stood outside, one hand resting lightly against the railing.

he turned as you approached, "you couldn't sleep."

it wasn't a question. you leaned against the doorframe.

"neither could you."

a quiet smile touched his lips, "no."

the night air was cool and the city was unusually still. you looked up at the moon hung low and bright above the rooftops.

"come on."

he glanced at you, "where?"

you smiled faintly, "just around the block."

"but it's late."

"exactly." you slipped your shoes on, "there won't be anyone around."

after a moment's consideration...he nodded.

you had grown so used to seeing valko in disguises that it took you a second to realize something was different. halfway down the quiet sidewalk, you looked over—and stopped walking. he wasn't wearing his cap. the breeze stirred his short red hair away from his forehead. nestled among the crimson strands were two soft wolf ears, tipped with darker fur, as naturally as if they'd always belonged there.

one ear twitched. valko noticed your silence.

he looked over, "what is it?"

you couldn't answer immediately. you were too busy staring.

"your ears..."

understanding dawned across his face. instinctively, his hand lifted to cover them.

"i apologize. i should have concealed them."

"no!" the word came faster than you intended. "they're..." you smiled before you could stop yourself. "beautiful."

for perhaps the first time since he'd arrived in your world...valko looked genuinely surprised.

"you think so?"

"i know so."

he watched you for a long moment. his golden eyes turning brighter.

"i forgot that they were visable." he admitted quietly

"the moon?"

he nodded, "it becomes... difficult."

you stepped closer, very slowly. "so this is what you meant."

one flicked again at a distant sound you couldn't hear.

you laughed softly, "can i ask something?"

"you may."

you hesitated for a moment. then almost whispered, "can i...touch them?"

the question seemed to catch him completely off guard. for a heartbeat, he simply looked at you. then...he nodded bringing his head down to meet your height.

you reached up carefully and your fingertips brushed impossibly soft fur. one ear twitched beneath your touch and valko inhaled sharply.

"i'm sorry!" you pulled your hand back immediately.

"did i hurt—"

"no." his voice was breathier than before but his hand reached up to your wrist to hold it in place against the weight of his ear.

you laughed, relief washing through you, "they're softer than i imagined."

he peered up to look at your expression, "i wasn't aware you'd imagined them."

the two of you continued walking beneath the moon, unaware that across the street, someone walking their dog had stopped. their phone rose slowly. the camera zoomed in. the recording lasted only twelve seconds. it was uploaded before sunrise with the caption —

i went for a walk at 2 a.m. and... am i losing my mind, or is this literally valko from love and deepspace?"

you didn't know any of it — not yet. you returned home just before three. for the first time you dragged him into your bedroom. your safe space. and fell asleep on the bed, your body curled up against his while an old movie played quietly in the background.

valko stayed awake because he knew these moments had become precious. because he had someone he wanted to protect. the eclipse drew closer. and somewhere, beyond the safety of your apartment, twelve seconds of borrowed happiness had already begun spreading across the internet.

the day of the eclipse arrives quietly. no warning that the world is about to ask both of you to make a choice neither of you is ready for.

it is simply another day. one that hangs over the apartment from the moment you wake. neither of you mentions it as you cross it off on your calendar. not while making breakfast or while washing dishes. but every glance at the clock reminds you that time is moving whether you want it to or not.

by evening, the silence has become unbearable.

"i can't stay here."

across the room, he looks up immediately concern washing over his face, "you wish to leave?"

"if we're going to wait..." you force a weak smile. "i'd rather not do it staring at four walls."

he studies your expression. not that he really needed to. his senses had been hightened. he could physcially smell your emotions

"you've been afraid all day."

you laugh softly, "i've been pretending not to be."

the looming eclipse and the exposure of valko has been the only thing on your mind. they know now without a doubt that he exists in this world - that he is with you.

he stands without another word, "then let's go."

"i used to come here sometimes," you say after a while. "when things became...too much."

the woods sit just outside the city. far enough away that the skyline is only a distant glow beyond the trees. the air is cooler than usual. everything smells clean after the afternoon rain. you walk slowly along an old trail, your flashlight mostly forgotten at your side. tonight, the full moon is bright enough to guide you.

your hand finds his without thinking as his fingers lace with yours almost immediately. you shouldn't be touching, what if he goes all wolf mode and mauls you. you should be afraid of that possibility. except you aren't. because you trust him now. more than you have ever trusted anyone in your real life.

he looks around, "it is peaceful."

"it usually helps me think." you sigh

"is it helping?"

you shake your head, adjusting your grip on his hand giving it a tight squeeze. a reminder he is still here.

as the moon climbs higher, you notice the changes in him beginning. his hearing sharpens first, head turns toward sounds you can't detect. leaves rustling somewhere deeper in the forest. an owl taking flight. the distant snap of a branch.

then his eyes. their familiar gold grows brighter, almost reflecting the moonlight.

finally...his ears. they appear gradually this time. the breeze catches the dark tips of the fur.

"i can hear your heartbeat."

your breath catches, "can you?"

he nods, "it changes when you're worried."

you look away, embarrassed, "i was hoping you couldn't tell."

"i always can."

it was true. it didn't take super werewolf powers to figure you out. just gentle observation.

you find a small clearing where the trees part just enough to reveal the sky. the eclipse has begun. a shadow slowly creeps across the moon. the forest grows strangely still. even the insects seem to quiet. you sit together on an old fallen log.

finally, you whisper, "if this works...you could disappear tonight."

the words sound unreal like saying them aloud might make them true.

he takes a deep breath before asking, "and if i do?"

you swallow the forming lump in your throat, "i'll have to keep living."

now he looks at you, "you say that as though it's difficult."

"it will be."

the confession escapes before you can stop it and you close your eyes.

"i wasn't supposed to..." your voice cracks, "fall in love with someone who wasn't even supposed to exist."

the forest is silent carrying your words far away.

"i kept telling myself this was temporary."

you laugh once through the tears gathering in your eyes.

"but somewhere along the way..." you finally meet his gaze, "you stopped feeling that way."

he reaches for your face carefully, as though afraid you'll disappear if he moves too quickly. his thumb brushes away a tear before it can fall.

"i have been trying to understand what i feel."

his voice is barely louder than the wind.

"at first i believed it was instinct. then i believed it was a memory. but neither explanation remained true."

his eyes never leave yours, "the life i remember belongs to someone i no longer recognize."

his hand slips gently to cup your jaw while the other moves to guide you by the waist closer to him.

"the choices i have made since arriving here...they belong only to me."

the eclipse darkens another fraction of the moon as your vision blurs.

"i love you."

the words leave you before fear can stop them.

"i know this situation is impossible, and maybe it's selfish, and maybe i should want to send you back, but..."

your voice breaks, "i don't want to lose you."

he rests his forehead against yours. steadying himself. anchoring his emotions to the one thing he can control. his feelings for you.

"i love you...my mate."

the world seems to stop and for one perfect moment there is nothing except the two of you. lips nearly meeting to solidify a bond. then—flashlights.

"over there!"

voices echo through the trees and the spell shatters. he turns immediately, creating a shield between you and the approaching lights.

several figures emerge from the darkness wearing jackets marked with the developer's logo.

one steps forward, "there he is."

another raises a hand towards you, "please remain calm."

you let out a disbelieving laugh, "calm?"

"we're not here to hurt either of you." another voice says

"we're here to resolve an unprecedented situation."

the lead representative looks directly at him, "you don't belong here."

before he can answer, you step in front of him, "no!"

the representative's attention shifts to you, "we understand you're emotionally involved—"

"you don't understand anything!" your anger surprises even yourself.

the representative remains annoyingly composed, "this isn't the time—"

you take another step forward, "it is exactly the time! you decided his story was over. you treated him like defective data. and now that he's standing in front of you..."

you gesture toward him, "breathing, thinking, choosing..."

your voice trembles, "now you suddenly remember he's valuable."

"this isn't about value." the man says to you

"no?" you laugh bitterly, "then why did it take him becoming real for you to come looking?"

another member of the team moves closer. the word 'developer' written on the pocket of the jacket.

"we need him to come with us voluntarily."

"he has a name!" you snap.

the developer finally looks past you, "for what it's worth..." he speaks directly to the wolf, "the decision is yours."

the clearing falls silent. the moon slips deeper into shadow and the air begins to hum. leaves lift from the ground without wind. the world itself seems to hold its breath.

for the first time in valko's life...no one else can choose his story. only him.

no one moves as the eclipse has swallowed nearly the entire moon. the air vibrates with a strange pressure. valko's claws and canines now growing to their full size.

the employees remain several feet away, careful not to provoke him further.

"look you've become something we never anticipated."

another member steps forward carrying a small tablet, "the anomaly is stabilizing."

the director nods, "the eclipse is creating a temporary bridge. if you choose to return, we believe we can restore you to your world."

then he looks at you, "if you choose to remain...we cannot predict the consequences."

you instinctively tighten your grip on his hand. every atom in your body screaming at you to run. to take him away and hide somewhere in these woods.

the representative notices as your panic begins to set in

"so...what's it going to be?"

no one argues. no one tells him what his purpose should be. no one writes the next line for him.

he closes his eyes, a faint salty rim of tears appearing as he turns toward you.

"you once told me something."

"i did?"

"you said that being alive meant choosing."

he smiles gently, "i finally understand."

Ending One

he reaches for both of your hands, "i have thought about the world i left. the one that was created for me."

he pauses, "but i have never felt more alive than i do in this world...with you."

he turns to speak directly to the crowd of professionals in white lab coats.

"i have learned what it means to live. to choose. to fall in love."

he smiles as he wraps his furry burgundy tail around your waist.

"i appreciate what you created but...i am no longer your creation."

the eclipse brightens and the strange light surrounding him begins to fade instead of pulling him away.

the representative watches quietly, as the earth around valko accepts and grounds him as one of it's own children.

"understood."

another member protests, "we can't just—"

the man interrupts, "if he has the ability to choose...then our responsibility is to respect it."

infold moved on again, no relaunch, no new love interests. some players continued while others like yourself stopped playing all together. at times part of you felt guilty that you couldn't share him with the world, but this version of him was yours.

slowly he began building his own life. he learned about computer science and mechanical engineering. determined to make the world a more "user friendly" place.

one night after a long day of working on his passion project, there you both were, standing on the same balcony where everything began.

he slips an arm around your waist, "you know...what would you have done if you hadn't opened the balcony door that night?"

you laughed slightly nudging him in the side, "i probably would've gone back to bed...or called the cops."

"oh really and how would you have explained that to them? you thought you were dreaming."

"sometimes i still wonder if i am..." you say softly as you looked up at the night sky.

there was no eclipse. no portals. no one chasing you. this time it was just the two of you.

"want me to prove this is real?" he asks eyes flickering to your lips.

you didn't need to answer. his hand cupped your cheek. and when his lips met yours, the kiss was soft and unhurried. a promise of a choice unbroken.

when you finally pulled apart, your foreheads rested together.

he smiled nuzzling his chin against the top of your head, "see you didn't pinch yourself this time."

you wrapped your arms around his waist, "i don't have to anymore."

Ending Two

the wolf stands quietly beneath the eclipsed moon. then he smiles, sadly yet also peacefully.

"when i first arrived...i believed this world was my home."

he gently brushes a strand of hair behind your ear.

"you taught me what ordinary life felt like. you taught me love."

tears spill freely down your cheeks, "so stay." the words break apart as you say them, "please."

he closes his eyes for just a moment, "if i stay...millions of people lose someone they have been waiting for."

you shake your head, "they'll be okay."

"but i know they won't."

he smiles sadly, "because i remember the look on your face when we met. i remember what you showed me that night."

he glances toward the representatives, "it was hope...that i would return."

he looks back at you, unable to hold back his own tears "i finally understand why i was created."

"it's not to belong to a company but to remind people that stories can make them feel less alone."

you begin crying harder, "i don't want to let you go."

he presses his forehead against yours, "i know. and if our lives had been different..."

he smiles gently, solemnly, "i would have stayed."

the eclipse reaches its peak as golden light surrounds him.

"i will remember this life." he whispers holding onto you for as long as he can. memorizing your touch.

"i will remember you."

"and every time someone chooses kindness..."

he kisses your forehead gently, "i think a part of me will find its way back here."

you force yourself to release his hand. not because you want to but because you love him enough to let him choose. he steps backward into the light. the forest glows. then— he is gone.

six months later, the game relaunches his story. the announcement crashes every server within minutes. when you finally load into the opening chapter...he appears exactly as you remember.

for just a second he looks directly toward the screen. a glimmer flickering in his eye, almost as though he recognizes you.

you smile through your tears, "welcome home."

a/n: yeah....soooo im crying i want him back so bad and i want to remain hopeful so that is what against all odds i will choose to do.

so i wasn't expecting him to just suddenly be added back into the update but i still had some hope given that the "coming soon" would be there and it's not. it's gone. i still want to have hope i really do. i want to believe that they can bring him back but it's definitely getting harder to be cautiously optimistic when there really doesn't feel like there's any reason to be.

i think all the emotions finally hit me today. it sucks so bad to want to continue to hold a grudge and be upset and boycott and fight for valko and the continuity of the game while on the other hand its actually so exhausting like i just want to go back to normal and be happy but i can't just go back to pretending like he doesn't exist when he already had such a major impact on me and everyone.

so now if i were to log back in, it would be a constant reminder of the fact he was supposed to be there it will always be in the back of our minds now no matter how much time passes.

i feel sick to my stomach even thinking about playing despite the fact i literally have over 30 cards i need to play through that i spent my resources and money to obtain. i can't even think about what i want to do or how to move forward as a player. everyone has to make that choice for themselves and we all have our reasons for leaving or staying so i think at the end of the day we need to remember to be kind to each other.

as for now i am so defeated by this company and the anti's and most of all the silence. so i can't in good faith make a level headed choice.

i want to continue writing and editing because it makes me happy and makes me feel connected to the community in a way i never have before. unfortunately at the same time it is hard to remain levelheaded and find joy and motivation in creating when we are at such a standstill.

the fact that gaming is such a major hobby and interest of mine that brought me to these other hobbies (writing, editing) they feed off each other so it naturally makes sense that if i feel conflicted over one thing it will spill into the others. so honestly i am not sure how i want to move forward with this either.

the last thing i will say right now is if you choose to stay or not i appreciate everyone for the support i have recieved on my works but also the courage to fight for what's right. take your time to make the choices that feel right to you.

i have a lot to say about the announcement from this morning so please bear with me if my thoughts arent completely concise.

first of all i am extremely disappointed in their decision to cancel the launch of valko. i don't see how this fixes any issues or how there really is any positives. now they have to go back and redo everything they had planned in an attempt to fix things and it will be rushed or caused further delays.

i see how there was other issues being raised from the chinese community (references to 731, and a criminal stalking case) but in any case they could have postponed his release to remedy these issues instead of canceling him altogether.

personally i didn't see him being released as a negative or a threat to the progression of the other guys stories because i can understand how in the end he was probably setting things up for the future of their stories and the main story in general.

they already stated their plans for the future although again i still saw a lot of frustration and agreed they could def have posted some kind of roadmap or something to reassure fans with actions rather than words that the other li's wouldn't be forgotten.

again in my opinion i didn't see his release as an issue because 1. there was always supposed to be a 6th li. and 2. even though zayne is my main i love all of them and can appreciate that this is an otome game with multiple perspectives. so having a new li was only going to further enhance my love. but even if you only have one or two mains and you weren't too fond of valko the answer was simple. ignore him!

as much as i tried not to get attached until he was actually in the game i really believed valko was going to be a breath of fresh air, a new energy to the game and its characters. i have been faithfully playing for a year and 6 months, i have spent money, i have poured a lot of myself into playing. this game did a lot to remedy parts of myself that believed i was unlovable or undeserving of love.

the past few months again in my opinion i could tell the writing or direction for some cards had changed but i always tried to see the positive. i def think for some people the game was getting a bit repetitive and the introduction of a new li was really going to lift spirits and create a path forward for the game and players alike.

i already unfollowed the account on all social's however i have a lot of cards i spent money on that i need to playthrough, and i wasn't even completely caught up on main story myself (i was avoiding it honestly because i wasn't ready for zayne heartbreak) but now i feel obligated to continue playing (at least through the cards i have) not really out of love but because to me it feels like a waste of my resources and i was at one point really excited to play through them.

so i was ready for a new face, i was ready for whatever lessons about love i could have taken away from valko being released and his connection with mc. now the longevity of the game is comprimised and my devotion to it.

i also think it is completely disrespectful and disgraceful to their team, the va's and everyone who worked hard on making valko a possibility. i can't imagine your creavitiy, your livelihood, and passions to be diminished in the way they have over the company not having any integrity.

once i do that though i am unsure and it is very unlikely i will continue playing in the future as it would be difficult for me to find happiness in a game when the company only cares about the wishes and concerns from one demographic of people.

i sincerely hope they find some way to remedy this situation and release him even if its not this next month i have to have hope that they will see how this is truly going to negatively impact them and they take back their decision.

one thing is for sure even if i stop playing the game completely the 5 li's and even what we did get from valko will stay with me forever and i will continue to love them in whatever ways i know how. whether thats making edits or writing i don't think i could ever stop creativity expressing my love for them, because they brought those passions and a spark back to me and i am so grateful for that.

anyway i hope everyone does what is best for them and can find some any joy remaining in the community or takes a break if they need to. we are all in this together ♡