Fletcher frowned at Gabe's uncharacteristic treatment of Shudder, but he didn't ask. Not even when he was supporting Gabe alone into the same bedroom the Archangel had used last night, and Shudder remained back in the living room. Fletcher figured it wasn't any of his business, and Gabe had enough to worry about with the worsening injuries, so Fletcher ignored the burning curiosity and helped him get situated instead.
There was a weird tingle to the air in the room, similar to the fading tingle in his hand, except that this was a nice tingle. A healing tingle. And Fletcher was pretty sure he wasn't imagining this one. With China's control over magical symbols, he wouldn't rule anything out.
He didn't end up waiting the full fifteen minutes, or even half of it. When Fletcher walked back into the lounge and realised Shudder might have a lot of questions, he also realised he couldn't quite face sitting down and answering all of them.
"I'm getting Skulduggery," he announced once he was over the threshold. Fletcher waited a beat for any objection, and then Teleported away.
Which meant that he was waiting in the front hall a little longer than Skulduggery anticipated. When the detective finally came down to meet him, Fletcher tried to head off any questions before they could start. He didn't want any questions. For some reason, he just couldn't handle questions right now. Everything that happened in the last few hours was really starting to get to him.
"Gabe's fine," were the first words out of Fletcher's mouth. "He'll be okay. He was acting weird around Shudder, though."
"I'm not surprised. How's Anton?"
It was a question, but Fletcher was a little too confused to mind this one. "He's... he's fine. He's probably the most fine out of all of us. Why?"
"I told him who Gabe really was."
Fletcher froze as Davina Marr and a pair of Cleavers entered the hall, Marr barking out orders as she went, holding what Fletcher could only assume was the Desolation Engine. His eyes fell on it, and he instinctively pulled away before turning to stare at Skulduggery all over again. "You what?"
"He took it well, apparently. Not even a question yet?"
"I... didn't really give him a chance," Fletcher admitted.
Skulduggery chuckled. "The next few hours should be fun, then. There's nothing more we can do here. Let's go."
"Scarab got away?"
"For now. The important thing is, Professor Grouse is safe, Gabe is back, Scarab has to choose between two unknown targets he was counting on, and I still have my hat. It's progress."
"Your hat?"
"I very nearly lost it. Is there a reason you're avoiding the trip back?"
"No." Fletcher knew he'd answered a bit too quickly, but he didn't try to add anything else. "Are you ready?"
Skulduggery tilted his head in what Fletcher was beginning to recognise as an expression of amusement. "Yes."
At least he wasn't angry. At least he wasn't lashing out. Not that Skulduggery did lash out, except for that one time at China, but it still made Fletcher feel infinitely better to see that Scarab's escape hadn't killed Skulduggery's sense of humour. "Okay then."
They Teleported back into the safehouse, and for the first time in a while, Fletcher was relieved he wouldn't have to Teleport again for a bit. Not that he was getting dizzy or anything, but... Gabe was right. He didn't particularly enjoy being a taxi service.
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There was a weird tingle to the air in the room, similar to the fading tingle in his hand, except that this was a nice tingle. A healing tingle. And Fletcher was pretty sure he wasn't imagining this one. With China's control over magical symbols, he wouldn't rule anything out.
He didn't end up waiting the full fifteen minutes, or even half of it. When Fletcher walked back into the lounge and realised Shudder might have a lot of questions, he also realised he couldn't quite face sitting down and answering all of them.
"I'm getting Skulduggery," he announced once he was over the threshold. Fletcher waited a beat for any objection, and then Teleported away.
Which meant that he was waiting in the front hall a little longer than Skulduggery anticipated. When the detective finally came down to meet him, Fletcher tried to head off any questions before they could start. He didn't want any questions. For some reason, he just couldn't handle questions right now. Everything that happened in the last few hours was really starting to get to him.
"Gabe's fine," were the first words out of Fletcher's mouth. "He'll be okay. He was acting weird around Shudder, though."
"I'm not surprised. How's Anton?"
It was a question, but Fletcher was a little too confused to mind this one. "He's... he's fine. He's probably the most fine out of all of us. Why?"
"I told him who Gabe really was."
Fletcher froze as Davina Marr and a pair of Cleavers entered the hall, Marr barking out orders as she went, holding what Fletcher could only assume was the Desolation Engine. His eyes fell on it, and he instinctively pulled away before turning to stare at Skulduggery all over again. "You what?"
"He took it well, apparently. Not even a question yet?"
"I... didn't really give him a chance," Fletcher admitted.
Skulduggery chuckled. "The next few hours should be fun, then. There's nothing more we can do here. Let's go."
"Scarab got away?"
"For now. The important thing is, Professor Grouse is safe, Gabe is back, Scarab has to choose between two unknown targets he was counting on, and I still have my hat. It's progress."
"Your hat?"
"I very nearly lost it. Is there a reason you're avoiding the trip back?"
"No." Fletcher knew he'd answered a bit too quickly, but he didn't try to add anything else. "Are you ready?"
Skulduggery tilted his head in what Fletcher was beginning to recognise as an expression of amusement. "Yes."
At least he wasn't angry. At least he wasn't lashing out. Not that Skulduggery did lash out, except for that one time at China, but it still made Fletcher feel infinitely better to see that Scarab's escape hadn't killed Skulduggery's sense of humour. "Okay then."
They Teleported back into the safehouse, and for the first time in a while, Fletcher was relieved he wouldn't have to Teleport again for a bit. Not that he was getting dizzy or anything, but... Gabe was right. He didn't particularly enjoy being a taxi service.