"I don't show off," Skulduggery responded using a tone that wasn't quite seriously arguing with Gabe's, but not quite whimsically amused either. Because he didn't show off. He didn't have to. "I merely display my abilities at opportune times. I do boast, though," he admitted easily. "Only way to get a real reputation, boasting. And if I was already on my way to hell, I doubt one more small sin in the pile is going to make much difference."

The expression that crossed poor Fletcher's face was something between concern and worry, but the teenager didn't try to say anything. Not in front of Barney. The words hadn't really been directed at him, but the expression still tugged at Skulduggery, and the detective wasn't quite sure why. All he knew was that he suddenly felt something very close to gratitude for how Fletcher had reacted to everything within the past few hours. The Teleporter knew what was at stake here, even if he didn't quite understand. And he was still here. Here and worried.

Never in a millennium would Skulduggery have predicted an outcome like this to a situation like that, even disregarding the Archangel. Although it was probably thanks to Gabe that Ghastly hadn't torn Skulduggery apart limb from limb.