Skulduggery was forced to wonder if any of the amusement he was feeling actually came from him. Not that it mattered, of course; the feeling was genuine either way, just different in its inception. That was something Skulduggery figured out for himself recently. Yes, he and Gabe had some sort of soul connection that allowed them to subconsciously share feelings back and forth, but that didn't mean Skulduggery was magically capable of feeling anything he couldn't have or wouldn't have before. An Archangel disguised as a dog knocking a priest over was amusing in any circumstance.
It made it easier to realise that Skulduggery was relying on Gabe, partway, for some of the stability from Necromancy and from what Landel had done. Because it meant Skulduggery was perfectly capable of achieving that stability on his own.
Not that he was going to get used to Gabe being there. The Archangel wouldn't stay forever, much as Gabe tried to argue to the contrary.
It also meant that their connection was deep enough - or perhaps Skulduggery just knew Gabe well enough - that when the innocent reply was delivered to Solomon, Skulduggery could almost predict what he'd see when he turned around. And, sure enough, there Gabe was, a large black Labrador. Barely in one place long enough to let that fact sink in to anyone's minds before leaping off to go and tackle Rafe.
"Well, that's one form of control, I suppose." Skulduggery shook his head bemusedly. "Hardly the sheepdog approach, but..."
Ghastly, his back very firmly towards the two romping dogs for the moment, helped Paddy back to his feet. "Sorry about that," he apologised on behalf of... maybe the Archangels, more likely everyone there. "You think you can handle anything at a certain point, and then..." He sighed. "And then there's that."
Paddy nodded as he dusted himself off. "It's quite alright. I'm fine. I could use a shower, but otherwise, I'm fine."
Ghastly glanced at Skulduggery. There was a moment, as their eyes met, where a thousand unsaid words passed between them. They twitched the corner of Ghastly's mouth up, and, preferring not to see the inevitable smirk on the tailor's face, Skulduggery was the one who looked away first.
Tussling dogs. It was - dare he say it - adorable. There was something fundamentally wrong with Skulduggery's feelings towards the romp at the moment, but he chose to ignore that.
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It made it easier to realise that Skulduggery was relying on Gabe, partway, for some of the stability from Necromancy and from what Landel had done. Because it meant Skulduggery was perfectly capable of achieving that stability on his own.
Not that he was going to get used to Gabe being there. The Archangel wouldn't stay forever, much as Gabe tried to argue to the contrary.
It also meant that their connection was deep enough - or perhaps Skulduggery just knew Gabe well enough - that when the innocent reply was delivered to Solomon, Skulduggery could almost predict what he'd see when he turned around. And, sure enough, there Gabe was, a large black Labrador. Barely in one place long enough to let that fact sink in to anyone's minds before leaping off to go and tackle Rafe.
"Well, that's one form of control, I suppose." Skulduggery shook his head bemusedly. "Hardly the sheepdog approach, but..."
Ghastly, his back very firmly towards the two romping dogs for the moment, helped Paddy back to his feet. "Sorry about that," he apologised on behalf of... maybe the Archangels, more likely everyone there. "You think you can handle anything at a certain point, and then..." He sighed. "And then there's that."
Paddy nodded as he dusted himself off. "It's quite alright. I'm fine. I could use a shower, but otherwise, I'm fine."
Ghastly glanced at Skulduggery. There was a moment, as their eyes met, where a thousand unsaid words passed between them. They twitched the corner of Ghastly's mouth up, and, preferring not to see the inevitable smirk on the tailor's face, Skulduggery was the one who looked away first.
Tussling dogs. It was - dare he say it - adorable. There was something fundamentally wrong with Skulduggery's feelings towards the romp at the moment, but he chose to ignore that.