"Can I take a rain-check?" Dex asked not-quite desperately as Skulduggery called Ghastly. "Can I take a rain-check for the next hundred years because I'm pretty sure that's how long it's gonna take to get over the fact that God exists and Skulduggery's in love with someone but definitely not having sex because you're not having sex, I hope, because there's something kind of gross about that--"
At which point he had to stop and take a breath, and Corrival snorted. "Breathe," he said, "and leave. We've got a lot of work to do after our holiday yesterday afternoon. Tipstaff says the hardware's all installed in your office, Wreath, and includes vocal commands so you can't plead injuries to get out of it."
"Joy of joys," Wreath said deadpan. "By the way, Skulduggery, I want that cane you promised me. I'll even sacrifice some bells and whistles if I can get it by the end of the day, just in case there are other assassins waiting in the wings. And if you wouldn't mind giving a message to Merlin, I'd like to learn how to ward myself soon. Also starting today, if at all possible."
He did not say Merlin, Dexter decided. He did not say Merlin. Dexter had misheard. Dexter had misheard or the Necromancer had said it on purpose to make him blink. Because he was a Necromancer and Necromancers were petty vindictive bastards like that.
"Can I leave and pretend I never came back into the country?" Dexter mumbled vaguely, too shocked to even jump when the young man with the awesome hair appeared in the office. Unwillingly and rather numbly he rose and picked up his bag, and Wreath actually had the gall to give him a little, cheery wave with his good hand before they and Skulduggery vanished.
"--didn't have to hold me back like that!"
"You were practic'ly chompin' at the bit, li'l bro! I mean, geez, can'tcha even last for twelve hours without havin' to see your boyfriend?"
"Something was wrong. Solomon was being attacked. What was I meant to do?"
"Oh, I dunno. Wait and trust that they can handle things for themselves like you promised you would?"
Dexter blinked, stared, blinked some more. They were in Ghastly's shop, which Dex recognised because he'd dropped by last time to get some suits tailored. He recognised the shop. He recognised Ghastly. He recognised Tanith Low, and given other circumstances he'd have been surprised to see her there. He didn't recognise the young Teleporter with the hair, he didn't recognise the girl who'd grow up to look pretty damn fine, ans he didn't recognise the old man leaning back against the walls with his arms crossed in an 'I'm not getting involved in this but he's right you know' manner.
He most definitely did not recognise the tall African man with surprisingly doeful eyes and the shorter, Arabic man with tumbling curls and a slight frown, both of whom were stunningly beautiful. And arguing. In a tailor's shop. Sort-of. The Arab had just stopped and while he wasn't scowling, there was a definite trace of unhappiness around his mouth. The sort when the person knew someone else was right and didn't want to admit it.
Boyfriend. Chomping at the bit. Solomon attacked. At a distance from himself, knowing what he was about to do and utterly unable to stop himself from doing it, Dexter turned to Skulduggery and blurted, "You're in love with a man?!"
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At which point he had to stop and take a breath, and Corrival snorted. "Breathe," he said, "and leave. We've got a lot of work to do after our holiday yesterday afternoon. Tipstaff says the hardware's all installed in your office, Wreath, and includes vocal commands so you can't plead injuries to get out of it."
"Joy of joys," Wreath said deadpan. "By the way, Skulduggery, I want that cane you promised me. I'll even sacrifice some bells and whistles if I can get it by the end of the day, just in case there are other assassins waiting in the wings. And if you wouldn't mind giving a message to Merlin, I'd like to learn how to ward myself soon. Also starting today, if at all possible."
He did not say Merlin, Dexter decided. He did not say Merlin. Dexter had misheard. Dexter had misheard or the Necromancer had said it on purpose to make him blink. Because he was a Necromancer and Necromancers were petty vindictive bastards like that.
"Can I leave and pretend I never came back into the country?" Dexter mumbled vaguely, too shocked to even jump when the young man with the awesome hair appeared in the office. Unwillingly and rather numbly he rose and picked up his bag, and Wreath actually had the gall to give him a little, cheery wave with his good hand before they and Skulduggery vanished.
"--didn't have to hold me back like that!"
"You were practic'ly chompin' at the bit, li'l bro! I mean, geez, can'tcha even last for twelve hours without havin' to see your boyfriend?"
"Something was wrong. Solomon was being attacked. What was I meant to do?"
"Oh, I dunno. Wait and trust that they can handle things for themselves like you promised you would?"
Dexter blinked, stared, blinked some more. They were in Ghastly's shop, which Dex recognised because he'd dropped by last time to get some suits tailored. He recognised the shop. He recognised Ghastly. He recognised Tanith Low, and given other circumstances he'd have been surprised to see her there. He didn't recognise the young Teleporter with the hair, he didn't recognise the girl who'd grow up to look pretty damn fine, ans he didn't recognise the old man leaning back against the walls with his arms crossed in an 'I'm not getting involved in this but he's right you know' manner.
He most definitely did not recognise the tall African man with surprisingly doeful eyes and the shorter, Arabic man with tumbling curls and a slight frown, both of whom were stunningly beautiful. And arguing. In a tailor's shop. Sort-of. The Arab had just stopped and while he wasn't scowling, there was a definite trace of unhappiness around his mouth. The sort when the person knew someone else was right and didn't want to admit it.
Boyfriend. Chomping at the bit. Solomon attacked. At a distance from himself, knowing what he was about to do and utterly unable to stop himself from doing it, Dexter turned to Skulduggery and blurted, "You're in love with a man?!"