Chapter Text
It had been two months since Valentino had seen Vox in person. Val missed him. Not that they didn’t talk on the phone or see each other in a video call, but it was not the same. Even throwing a fit didn’t have Vox come up to calm him down. And Val had tried that several times.
It didn’t matter how he talked to him, Vox appeared to have zero interest in snapping out of whatever stupid mood he was in.
It was annoying. Vox hadn’t come back up to the penthouse either. Velvette said as much. She was almost as frustrated about this as Valentino. Almost. She couldn’t be as frustrated, because she was not Val. Bringing up why Vox was into his new fortress of solitude had gotten him nowhere. Val had to break open another door. Which was impossible, after Vox had reinforced the last one.
It had taken Velvette a few weeks to break the latest code to unlock the door, but she had managed it.
“You’re amazing,” Val said as he prepared to head down into the basement. He was going to fuck Vox’s ass. He had a craving that no one else was satisfying.
“I don’t care what you do to him. Just get him out of that fucking office.”
Val gave Velvette a thumbs up before heading down the elevator. All the way down to Vox’s office door. Vox owed him.
Grumbling to himself, Val threw open the door and strode toward the desk. “Vox! I’m getting you out of this office if it’s the last thing you do!”
Somehow, he’d managed to completely surprise Vox. At least, that was the impression Val had gotten when Vox smacked a knee against his desk and cursed. Huh. Whatever he was up to, it wasn’t even watching Val through his cameras. And Val hated that even more.
“Vox… I’m going to eat you alive, baby.”
Vox looked tired. The blanket he had wrapped around him doubled that impression. Val couldn’t remember ever seeing Vox in his office wearing a blanket, glowering out of his cocoon as if Val had done something wrong.
“What the fuck, Val? How’d you get in here?”
Val’s antennae perked straight up. It wasn’t like the room was stuffy. Vox had amazing circulation in his offices. Yet there was some sort of smell Val couldn’t pin. Perhaps some of it was whenever the last time Vox had gotten off (so he must have been watching Val at some point!), but there was something else. Something unrecognizable.
“Gah. It was Velvette, wasn’t it. Of course she found the next closest—” Vox cut himself off as Val advanced on him. “Get out!”
Val wasn’t about to do that. He went to remove the blanket. Vox snarled and pushed him away. It was such a stupid fight.
Pulling it away, Val looked down at Vox. Vox. His first thought was somehow Vox had managed to gain way too much weight in only a few months. Next came the other idea. The idea which was impossible. One which made too much sense of the particular roundness but not of how they were Sinners.
Because it was Val, his cock hardened under his zipper. “Vox? Is that a baby in there?”
Vox gritted his teeth, but said nothing. He glared.
Eventually Val’s shock moved aside enough for him to process his other feelings. Possessiveness, for one. Excitement? Sure. Envy. Would he have to share Vox? No. No way.
But having something that was a piece of Vox? It was intoxicating. It had to be his. It was his. Right? Not that they were exclusive or anything, but… What if it was someone else’s?
The anger surged forth. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why would I want to talk about it?” Vox replied, still glaring. “CEO of Voxtek. You know how humiliating this is? No. You wouldn’t.” He grabbed the blanket back and covered himself up once more.
Still hadn’t actually said the words, but whatever. Val wanted to reach out and reassure him, but at the same time… Val was angry. Either this was his and Vox hadn’t told him or it wasn’t and Vox had let some lowlife make a claim on him. The more he thought about it, the more furious he became.
“Is it mine?”
Vox’s eyes narrowed. He said nothing.
Val seethed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” His fists clenched at his sides. He had nothing against Vox fucking around with other demons. Val wasn’t a hypocrite. Vox was not one of his whores. But this was different. It had to be his. He refused to think it was someone else’s. “Are you ashamed of me? Think I’d do something? You tell me. Now.”
He leaned in, gripping at the arms of Vox’s chair. His antennae brushed over the top of Vox’s monitor.
“Ashamed? Of the best and the strongest? You are that.” Vox rolled his eyes. “But you’re also the Overlord of Lust and around fucking everyone. You are a porn director. We are the Vees. I think you can imagine what I thought.”
Val snarled, his lips brushing against Vox’s screen. “You’re deflecting! Tell me everything. Right here, right now. Or I’ll get you on your knees.”
Vox’s hands moved over his stomach. He sneered. “Deflecting? I don’t even want them! You and Velvette aren’t about to handle this? Tied down by this? But, by all means, get me on my fucking knees, you ass. Try me.”
There was one word which hit him and it hit him hard. “There’s more than one?” One of Val’s hands drifted down to Vox’s stomach. “Twins?”
His anger was gone.
Vox wasn’t looking at him anymore. Even with as close as Val was to his face. “Triplets.”
Val’s antennae shot straight up. Triplets. Three. Of course there were. It had to be. They were the Vees and Vox’s penchant for the number three would follow them around forever. But in this particular case, Val loved it.
“So much for us all being infertile after death.” He finally touched Vox’s stomach. They had to be his, even if Vox refused to say as much. Right? “I would be an exception to the rule.”
Val puffed up a bit. He was still horny as Hell to see Vox like this, but at the same time there was far too much affection to think of what it could mean for them. Three little electric moths?
They would be moths, right?
“We’ll need a nursery or something, right?” Val tried to think of what was needed for babies. Had Vox planned on staying in here forever so he and Velvette wouldn’t know anything about it? No way. That wouldn’t have worked.
“I know what I need.” Vox folded his arms across his chest and turned away.
Val caught the chair before it could turn too much and made Vox face him again. He refused to stop touching Vox’s stomach. It was so strange. Vox was always so flat.
Vox looked like he wanted to smack Val’s hand away, but he hadn’t done it yet.
“You’re hot as Hell like this, amorcito.”
Vox rolled his eyes. “Damn it, Val.”
“Do you still have your cunt—”
“We aren’t fucking!”
Vox finally pushed Val back from touching him. He got to his feet as easily as he had without triplets inside of him.
Val might have been disappointed, but even he could admit to himself that fucking Vox wasn't of the highest priority right now. He grabbed Vox and yanked him in.
“Maybe not, but you sure aren't staying down here.”
“I’m not leaving this office.”
Val picked him up. A part of him expected Vox to teleport out of his grasp, but all Vox did was smack him with both fists and feet.
“A bath would be good.” Vox had kept up with his hygiene to a point, but Val knew if he had never snuck out there was no way he had thoroughly bathed.
“Fuck you!”
Vox panicked as Val took him from his office, but Val rushed to the elevator without any eyes falling on them. Straight up to the top. Vox had paused in his protests while they had gone down the hall, but picked it up again in the elevator.
“Put me down, you asshole!”
“Oh.” Val rested his head against Vox as he pat his ass. Any day and he wouldn't be able to fit into these pants. Val really had gotten to him just in time. “If you really wanted to, you could get out.”
Vox kicked him again, but as Val had stated he did not teleport.
Val kissed Vox on the ass as he received a blow to the head. “You knew you couldn't do this all by yourself.”
“Damn it, Val! It hurts to be carried like this!”
Val pulled him more properly into his arms. Vox glowered in his general direction, but stopped fighting. He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to glare a hole into Val's shoulder. Val rubbed over Vox’s stomach again. It didn’t seem like he’d actually hurt him.
“Are you… okay?”
Vox flipped him off. He had to be fine.
As the elevator doors opened, Vox pushed out of Val’s arms. Val let him while making sure Vox didn’t head back through the elevator. Vox stomped forward with Val trailing after him and watching every single change in the way Vox carried himself. Of course there would be so many changes, but it was fascinating. As fascinating as the very idea that the dead could create life.
“Fucking finally!” Velvette called out. “You got him.”
Vox’s screen looked to drain of colour as he moved in the opposite direction. Val grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Shouldn’t we tell babydoll the good news?”
“News?” Velvette asked.
“Good?” Vox nearly shrieked.
To Val’s surprise, Vox shifted behind him as Velvette came into view. She raised her eyebrow. Val tried to step to the side, but Vox kept him between himself and Velvette.
“What is going on?” she asked, unamused.
Honestly, if Vox refused to treat this as a good thing, it was up to Val. “Voxy is pregnant!”
Velvette’s reaction was not what he had hoped. It was a lack of reaction. “Ha. Very funny. Did you sit in that chair for so long you got fat, V?”
“Yes!” Vox snapped back.
“What?” Val spun around and dragged Vox out front. “Does this just look like fat to you?” He yanked Vox’s shirt up and Vox yanked it back down.
Velvette recoiled, disgust written all over her face. Vox stormed off to his third of the penthouse. Val almost went after, but snarled at Velvette as he heard a door slam.
“What the fuck, Velvette?”
“He can’t be!” Velvette exclaimed. “That’s impossible! Sinners can’t get pregnant!”
“Then how is he having triplets?”
The disgust turned to horror. How was Valentino the only one who thought this was a fantastic miracle? Something no one else was capable of? Only him and Vox together (because they had to be his).
“I’m going to be sick,” said Velvette.
“Oh, fuck you!” Val sneered. “I have to make sure he isn’t about to teleport off and hide in another part of the tower again. Thanks for nothing!”
“You muppet! I’m the only reason we got to see him at all!”
Despite her snappy words, the twitches of her mouth told Val she actually might be nauseated. Maybe she had a bad experience with pregnancy when she was alive? Though maybe she was putting herself in Vox’s shoes too much. Val could see Velvette only seeing babies as parasites. Well, Vox was acting like that too.
“This is something no other Sinner has ever done!” Val grabbed her by the shoulders. “Imagine what that says about what we’re capable of!”
“If ultimate power in Hell comes with the ability to reproduce, I’m leaving the Vees.”
That Val knew was an exaggeration, but he still hated to hear it. Scowling, he flicked the centre of her forehead. “Don’t even joke about that.”
“It’s impossible,” she reiterated.
Ugh. Val couldn’t even with her right now. Why did no one else think this was a good thing? An excellent thing? A powerful thing! “You apologize to him! He was already ready to hide in his fucking office until they were born, you know!”
Velvette looked extremely uncomfortable.
“You could at least get him some good clothes!”
He stalked off. At least this time Vox was locked up in his room. Maybe taking a bath. Oh, how Val wanted to see how he looked naked like this. How dare Vox not let him know. Val could have watched him grow into this. He scratched at the door, but Vox didn’t respond.
Well, he wouldn’t let Vox hide himself upstairs for too long, but he would give him some time to get comfortable.
It could not be possible. Vox storming out like he had meant he would rather her believe Val’s nonsense than the truth. But she hadn't died yesterday. It wasn't rare. Sinners did not procreate. Val didn't bother to pretend it had happened to any of his whores. If it was just fat, surely Vox wouldn't have collected it all in his stomach? Plus he could have cut it out…
Velvette hadn't thought Vox could get fat. He was at zero percent to start with even when his silhouette would have benefited from a little in certain places.
She wanted Vox to get rid of it. Go back to normal. But she waited until Valentino had stopped sniffing at Vox’s bedroom door like a dog before she stood at it herself.
Vel: can we tlk
Vox: In bath. If that's fine with you, sure.
He would not have offered if she could see anything neither of them wanted her to see.
Vel: k
The door unlocked and she went in.
His room was even more sterile than usual, because of the months it had been since he’d been in it. She had gotten the impression something was terribly wrong, but seeing his untouched shark stuffies and his immaculate (though unnecessary) physical media shelf without a single case on its side was upsetting.
As upsetting as Val’s lies? No. It was time to uncover the truth. Whatever it might be.
As Vox stated, he was in the bath. He definitely looked like a man who had not relaxed in several months and still wasn't doing a good job of it. She kept her distance so he could still have some privacy as she hopped onto the far side of the counter. She could only see his face in the reflection of the television screen which wasn't even on.
“Well, you refused to say what was actually happening before. Best give an explanation before I decide to believe Val’s codswallop.”
It had to be bad. Was this some bloatware which had become literal and Vox was too embarrassed to ask for help? It would not be the first time his pride had gotten in the way of his sense. As disgusting as he looked, she would deal with it and help him out. It was what they did.
The longer it took for him to answer, the larger the pit in her stomach became.
“Val wasn't lying.”
Her response was automatic. “Stop jerking me around.”
“My dear… I would give anything for there to be another answer.”
Her jaw dropped. “You're not serious.”
He shut his eyes. Velvette was left with complete dumbfoundedness.
Velvette didn’t know what to feel. How to feel. Everything told her this had to be impossible, but at the same time she knew Vox wouldn’t debase himself like this. He wasn’t lying to her. She wasn’t sure whether to be furious he had kept this from them for as long as he had or completely understanding or—
“Why didn’t you get rid of them?”
“I tried,” he said wearily.
She wasn’t sure if she believed him. All she knew was she had nervous energy pent up in her limbs and her phone wasn’t doing anything to help. She slid off the counter and headed back into the bedroom, trying to find the words to say.
“Did you really think you could get away with hiding in your office for nine months?” she called back as she opened his closet. She would have to actually look at his new body. No. No, she wouldn’t. Not yet.
“Got away for over two, didn’t I?”
She simply had to change the fitted nature of it all into stretch fabrics. Elastic waistband with stretch silk lining, stretch satin, and stretch cotton sateen. Three. Val had said triplets. There was no way in Hell. One was one thing, but… but fucking three?
Regardless, the clothes ought to be more comfortable. Maternity clothes were not Velvette’s forte. Why would they be? Sinners were the main market and which of them would need that? None of the Hellborns had complained about it. She already had to make things which allowed for so many body types. It worked.
“They are your idiot’s, right?”
She expected an answer for that at least. Velvette was certain Vox hardly fucked around with other people. Maybe a little, but nothing like Val. Though that wasn’t a good comparison, because no one fucked around like Val did. Still, Vox was too focused on Val to go around and fuck others too much. She was certain of it.
Vox didn’t say anything. She glanced in to make sure he was awake. He was checking his nails.
“They are Val’s, right?”
He didn’t even look up at her. She found herself wanting to crawl out of her skin. Maybe it meant Velvette should have stopped talking. No more questions. But they spilled out of her mouth anyway.
“I know you have plug and play parts, but I can’t believe you made yourself a fucking uterus.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then how—”
“Velvette, for the sake of our partnership, don’t ask that question. You do not want to know the answer.”
Vox was right. She didn’t. However, this had little to do with what Velvette did or didn’t want. If Vox hadn’t made himself a place to house these little buggers, it meant either they had made a home in another part of him they shouldn’t have or it had somehow grown inside of him.
She felt sick. All she wanted to do was leave, but she remembered to come up with some comfortable pajamas. The suit he had been wearing for the last couple months would go in the incinerator. It was so scuffed and worn. She couldn’t believe he had managed to do that for such a long period of time.
“Fixed some outfits for you,” was all she said.
“Thanks.”
Surely there was something else she needed to say. Ask. Except Velvette couldn’t think about it. It was all too wrong. Instead she left the room with all plans to get back to normal. This was not her problem. It was Vox’s. And Val’s, most likely. She had not signed up for this. Nowhere in her contract did it say that she had to handle some hellspawn and if the two of them didn’t deal with theirs, she could say it was getting in the way of their business until they did.
Velvette went down the lift to her department. It was time to check on some of the new advertisements. All of the best ones greeted her as the lift doors opened. She stared at the poster of her and Valentino.
Velvette’s Love Potion!
She stared.
Velvette barely got to the bathroom to check that no one else was in there before she threw up.
Val refused to go for days without seeing Vox again. The very next morning he went to Vox’s office. His home office, this time, because he had a feeling Vox had refused to head all the way down to any of his other floors to start work in his condition.
That feeling was proven to be correct. Vox was sitting at his desk, pretending to stare at his screens, but obviously looking at his shark tank instead. At least, until Val took a step forward. Val caught Vox shut his eyes as he turned his back to Val’s approach.
“Don’t be like that, mi luz.”
As Val wrapped his arms around Vox, he knew Vox was turned on. He didn’t have to look down for that. Not that he could. Vox’s stomach was in the way. Something about that really did something for Val and he wasn’t sure what it was. Usually when they did breeding kink it was Vox getting off on the thought of putting a baby in Val. Vox had always been less enthused about the other way around and Val hadn’t had a particular desire for it to want to push.
“Stop touching it.”
“I wouldn’t have to if you had let me explore this earlier,” Val reprimanded. Even through the clothes (which Velvette must have nicely resized for him) he could tell how taut Vox’s skin was already. Val started kissing Vox’s neck.
Vox pulled himself partially out of the embrace by turning his chair around. “The fuck, Val! I’m working.”
“You’ve apparently been working for months without letting me see you!”
“I don’t see the issue.”
Val saw red. “You don’t see the issue?” What the fuck was Vox’s problem? He leaned in, grabbed the arms of Vox’s chair, and pressed his stomach against Vox’s.
“There are plenty of issues. You're the one who is missing the right ones.”
The right issues? Val stared. Vox obviously wanted to turn his head away from him, but didn't. He didn't teleport away again, so he couldn't have wanted to do it too badly.
“You were panicking,” Val decided. “Didn't know what to do. Velvette might be shocked, but we’re all in on this together. We are the Vees.”
“This was not in her contract.”
“Not mine either, but hey.” Val brushed a finger against the side of Vox’s face. “I’ll be here with you.”
Vox glowered. What? Did he not believe him? Did Vox think this would be some sort of passing fancy and not something he had wondered about in life, given up on, and then realized in death he still wouldn't have another shot?
“You know how I have no balls, mi luz?”
With a sigh, Vox shrugged. “How could I miss it?”
“Didn't have them in life either.” Now he had Vox’s attention. “Born without.”
“One of the many reasons your cult decided you were the Antichrist?”
Val laughed. “Well, they weren't known for their high intellect. Just for following Padre’s word.”
“I don't see what this has to do with now.”
“This has always been impossible for me!” Val ran his hands over Vox’s front. Vox might have flinched, but Val couldn't stop. It had all looked to be in his stomach, but was there a little padding in Vox’s chest too? “I… I want these kids. I want a family. I won’t leave you.”
Vox didn’t look as touched by the words as Val had hoped he might. Especially as he had heard Vox grumble many times (a couple decades ago, but still) about how his wife had left him for her lover—their daughter in tow.
“You won’t leave me? You’ve got to be kidding me. Of course you won’t. We have a contract. We’re the Vees.”
“I meant outside of that!” Val chittered, a snarl overcoming his features.
“Don’t make me laugh. We’re business partners.”
“Friends.”
“Right. And friends.”
Thank fuck Vox hadn’t said otherwise, because Val could have killed him. He knew better. Sometimes Vox didn’t make sense, sure, but Val knew Vox well enough to know they were friends. All three of them.
“You want the kids? You can have them.”
Val blinked. “You don’t want them?” Sure, maybe Vox was upset he was pregnant (his fragile masculinity and all), but if he was going through the whole process anyway?
“I already told you I would have gotten rid of them if I could!” Vox shoved Val’s hand away. “You’re acting so weird! Sure, fine. You want them. But just because they exist isn’t about to turn us into some picture perfect couple! That’s not how anything works. Why would you want that anyway?”
Val’s eyes narrowed. Something hurt about it. There was a part of him which wanted to do exactly that. Just to prove Vox all wrong, of course.
“I don’t see why you’re not excited about this,” he finally said.
“I take it you never had to take care of kids when you were alive.” Vox rested his head in a hand.
“Yeah, but they weren’t mine.” Val knelt down to put his hands around Vox’s stomach again. He could tell Vox wanted to retreat, but didn’t. “I couldn’t.”
“Right, right. You explained that. But why does that mean you want them now?”
“I always want what I’m told I can’t have.” Val pushed his face against Vox’s stomach to continue to explore the strange sensation of it all. “Nothing means as much to me right now as what you have inside you right now.”
Vox didn’t say anything. When Val glanced up, Vox was simply glaring.
“What.”
“Children are not something you have just because you’re told you can't have them.”
“Why not? Shouldn't only people who want children have them?”
Groaning, Vox put both hands against his face. Val lowered his head further.
There it was. Slightly tenting Vox’s new slacks. Vox had needed him and Val was derelict in his duties to leave Vox so needy. It had been so long. Val couldn't stop not wait to have his hands all over Vox’s naked body. It didn't matter if Vox would likely only want to top. Val would convince him to switch things up later. For now, he would happily let Vox split him open.
He put his mouth on Vox’s slacks and Vox yanked him upright. Val blinked.
“No.”
“No?” Val reached down and squeezed. Vox’s hips jumped up. “But your body says otherwise, amorcito.”
Vox was already flushed—beautiful lines of desire in the pixels of his face.
But he grabbed Val’s wrist and pulled him off. “Wouldn't be the first time I didn't agree with my fucking body.”
Val didn't understand that. “But you're turned on.” It wasn't like being tired or something that people didn't want happening. Why not have sex when you wanted it? Vox was always pushing it off because of work, but… “And it’s been so long! I’ve missed you.”
“Val…”
There was a warning in Vox’s tone, but also a squeeze to Val’s wrist. Vox would crumble with a little more pressure. Val knew he would feel better after sex. Sex usually settled Vox down a lot. He reached for Vox’s zipper with another hand.
“Val!”
He was yanked up by the ruff. Val snarled, but Vox turned Val’s attention to one of the screens. It took him a moment to focus, but it was a feed of his studio.
“What— What is that bastardo doing?” Val snapped. “I can’t leave him alone to direct Angel for two minutes!”
He would pluck Travis from head to foot if he had been wasting time all day like that. Even more so because of what he had just interrupted. For a second, he considered ignoring it and staying with Vox, but Val knew better. He had to go put his foot down in his department before anyone else thought they could do something just as stupid.
It was good for Travis that he made Val a lot of money, because sometimes Val really considered wrecking him for good. And not in the fun way.
When Val had a couple more failed attempts at getting into Vox’s pants, he shot Travis in the head. He had been so close the first time and Vox had used that first interruption to steel his loins against Val.
Unacceptable.