There were many things about the next few minutes - or however long the span of time was, since it was getting difficult to tell - that Skulduggery had been expecting. The apology, without any regret. That was a definite. The way Gabe's soul drew up close, which was less of a definite, but just as unsurprising.
Realising Skulduggery's own thoughts. The subsequent confusion. The complete lack of any self-doubt, any suspicion, any anger. Blaming himself, almost immediately. All expected, all unsurprising, all objectionable.
But then something else happened. Something so far unexpected that it had never occurred to Skulduggery as a possibility, even in all the multiple scenarios that ran through his head every moment of spare time he had. There was a memory of a conversation he'd never had, between two people - no, not people, beings - he'd never believed existed. That was surprising. But even that paled in comparison to what happened next.
Skulduggery froze. Really froze, not just a physical skeleton growing still, but his entire existence spinning to an abrupt halt.
For what felt like an eternity, he couldn't even think. It took real effort to spin his thoughts back into motion, and the instant they did, they shot off in every conceivable direction. What did this mean? It was Gabe's true name. Gabe's true name. Gabriel was offering Skulduggery something that, up until now, only his fellow angels and God Himself had ever possessed. Yes, it was different, because God could always interfere where His son was concerned. Skulduggery wasn't anywhere near as powerful as Gabe was; he might not be able to keep it hidden. Psychics weren't able to read his mind, but Sensitives in general could still have visions about him. Not to mention Skulduggery wasn't sure how any of this would work practically; he'd never be able to pronounce what Gabriel was giving him out loud, much less use it to control anyone.
But then again, he wouldn't. Even if he could. Even if he had any idea how to manipulate his own soul. And that was the point, wasn't it? Gabe was giving him a way to control an Archangel, with the full knowledge that Skulduggery would never choose to do so. Just like Gabe wouldn't.
Equals in more than just what they had. Equals in what they chose to do with it.
The open, genuine, and honest level of trust stunned Skulduggery down to his very core. The metaphysical equivalent of being struck speechless, some part of him noted. He tried to focus enough to give Gabe an answer, but the fact that he wasn't quite sure what his answer was meant that no amount of focus was going to achieve anything.
Finally, he managed a short and startled 'Really?'
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Realising Skulduggery's own thoughts. The subsequent confusion. The complete lack of any self-doubt, any suspicion, any anger. Blaming himself, almost immediately. All expected, all unsurprising, all objectionable.
But then something else happened. Something so far unexpected that it had never occurred to Skulduggery as a possibility, even in all the multiple scenarios that ran through his head every moment of spare time he had. There was a memory of a conversation he'd never had, between two people - no, not people, beings - he'd never believed existed. That was surprising. But even that paled in comparison to what happened next.
Skulduggery froze. Really froze, not just a physical skeleton growing still, but his entire existence spinning to an abrupt halt.
For what felt like an eternity, he couldn't even think. It took real effort to spin his thoughts back into motion, and the instant they did, they shot off in every conceivable direction. What did this mean? It was Gabe's true name. Gabe's true name. Gabriel was offering Skulduggery something that, up until now, only his fellow angels and God Himself had ever possessed. Yes, it was different, because God could always interfere where His son was concerned. Skulduggery wasn't anywhere near as powerful as Gabe was; he might not be able to keep it hidden. Psychics weren't able to read his mind, but Sensitives in general could still have visions about him. Not to mention Skulduggery wasn't sure how any of this would work practically; he'd never be able to pronounce what Gabriel was giving him out loud, much less use it to control anyone.
But then again, he wouldn't. Even if he could. Even if he had any idea how to manipulate his own soul. And that was the point, wasn't it? Gabe was giving him a way to control an Archangel, with the full knowledge that Skulduggery would never choose to do so. Just like Gabe wouldn't.
Equals in more than just what they had. Equals in what they chose to do with it.
The open, genuine, and honest level of trust stunned Skulduggery down to his very core. The metaphysical equivalent of being struck speechless, some part of him noted. He tried to focus enough to give Gabe an answer, but the fact that he wasn't quite sure what his answer was meant that no amount of focus was going to achieve anything.
Finally, he managed a short and startled 'Really?'