And that, Valkyrie decided, was about as close to either Skulduggery or Gabe admitting feelings for each other as she was going to get. It wasn't even an admittance, really, but a heavy implication on the Archangel's part. First love. Her grin, if it was possible, grew even wider.
"And how was your day?" she pictured her mother asking.
"Oh, I watched Merlin accuse an Archangel of being embarrassed about sex. Because he was teasing said Archangel about a relationship with a living skeleton who doesn't look like a skeleton anymore. Because they actually do love each other, the non-skeleton just won't admit it. You know. The usual."
Skulduggery's face was carefully blank, and his head tilted thoughtfully to the side. "I have never taught Gabe how to blackmail anyone. I'm not fourteen. Raphael is the last person I'd like hearing any of this. And you." Skulduggery turned his whole head towards Gabe, which was probably a leftover habit from when no one could see where his eyes were pointing. "If this all-important and urgent thing is in any way related to that Talk, I know a certain carnival we'd all be much more interested in attending."
Valkyrie begged to differ, but she kept her mouth shut this time. She knew what Gabe probably wanted to talk to Skulduggery about. She'd kind of been hoping she could be there for that conversation, but given what Skulduggery's reaction might be? She was okay with letting an angel handle that one. "Hey, Fletcher. Want to go to a carnival?"
Fletcher crossed his arms. "No. For the first proper date, the guy asks the girl out."
"What?"
"It's the rules. I know that much. The guy has to make the first move. You don't get to decide where we're going."
"Seriously?" Valkyrie rolled her eyes. "Outdated notions of chivalry aside, ask me already."
"Want to go to a carnival?"
"See, how was that any different?"
"It just was." Fletcher grinned and offered Valkyrie his hand. "May I have the pleasure of this dance, m'lady?"
Valkyrie pursed her lips. "I've changed my mind. I could get used to this."
no subject
"And how was your day?" she pictured her mother asking.
"Oh, I watched Merlin accuse an Archangel of being embarrassed about sex. Because he was teasing said Archangel about a relationship with a living skeleton who doesn't look like a skeleton anymore. Because they actually do love each other, the non-skeleton just won't admit it. You know. The usual."
Skulduggery's face was carefully blank, and his head tilted thoughtfully to the side. "I have never taught Gabe how to blackmail anyone. I'm not fourteen. Raphael is the last person I'd like hearing any of this. And you." Skulduggery turned his whole head towards Gabe, which was probably a leftover habit from when no one could see where his eyes were pointing. "If this all-important and urgent thing is in any way related to that Talk, I know a certain carnival we'd all be much more interested in attending."
Valkyrie begged to differ, but she kept her mouth shut this time. She knew what Gabe probably wanted to talk to Skulduggery about. She'd kind of been hoping she could be there for that conversation, but given what Skulduggery's reaction might be? She was okay with letting an angel handle that one. "Hey, Fletcher. Want to go to a carnival?"
Fletcher crossed his arms. "No. For the first proper date, the guy asks the girl out."
"What?"
"It's the rules. I know that much. The guy has to make the first move. You don't get to decide where we're going."
"Seriously?" Valkyrie rolled her eyes. "Outdated notions of chivalry aside, ask me already."
"Want to go to a carnival?"
"See, how was that any different?"
"It just was." Fletcher grinned and offered Valkyrie his hand. "May I have the pleasure of this dance, m'lady?"
Valkyrie pursed her lips. "I've changed my mind. I could get used to this."