"So how long are you going to sulk now?" Skulduggery asked.
Valkyrie sat in the passenger seat of the car highly tempted to move to the back. Sometimes Skulduggery just picked the wrong moments.
"What's done is done and you know that. It's sad and unfair but he's not going to come back"
"Too soon Skulduggery" she snapped back at him and to her surprise he was quiet. After a moment of peace Skulduggery opened his giant trap again.
"Interesting" he said.
Unable to understand him, curiousness ate her away. She beared with it a little while longer before she couldn't resist anymore.
"Fine you win. What's so interesting Skulduggery? Why don't you enlighten poor pathetic me?" she wasn't in the mood to play his games today.
"Well I just never thought Ryan was your type. I mean look at your history, there's Fletcher there's the vampire-"
"We don't talk about vampires"
"I just didn't think you'd get so worked up over this guy" he finished.
Valkyrie didn't say anything and looked out the car window. She mulled it over in her brain trying to answer the question herself.
"He- Ryan reminded me of myself" she answered softly. When she didn't hear a reply she continued.
"His fate was sealed. He wasn't in power of his own life. Something was inside of him that would one day take over him. One day that's going to happen to me too" she continued. She didn't face him, she didn't want him to see her weakness and her sadness.
A bony hand rested on her shoulder. Surprised she turned to face him.
"Whatever happens. Whether Darquesse does take over. Whether I'll never see you again. I promise I'll never stop trying to bring you back" he told her.
"Idiot aren't you supposed to kill me if I turn to Darquesse? You need to protect the world"
"I need to protect you" he said not facing her, his hands back on the wheel of the car.
Valkyrie curled up on the seat bringing her knees to her chin and wrapping her arms around herself.
"If you know I'm about to turn into Darquesse give me a kiss before I do" she said.
"What!" Skulduggery said genuinely surprised.
"I gave Ryan a kiss before he changed back to Deacon. I don't know, I think it would be comforting"
"Oh the young and free youth" Skulduggery commented exaggerating his despair.
"No old man jokes they don't work for anyone without wrinkles" she snapped back, but honestly she was a little depressed at his answer. She wasn't lying when she told Ryan she goes for older guys...
"Well honestly Valkyrie I don't know how that would work. Without lips and all. And-
"Just forget it" she said quickly.
"Now if I had a fake face on maybe-"
"Shut up Skulduggery"
"But I highly doubt it would wor-
Not even understanding what she was doing herself Valkyrie unbuckled her seat belt, turn his skeleton face towards her his face in her hands and planted a kiss on his bony facade.
Quickly she retreated back to her seat and put her seatbelt back on.
"There" she said flustered but she didn't let him see that, "It works"
She didn't dare look at Skulduggery. It was only until several red lights later did he speak.
"I feel like something was just taken away from me"
"Oh shut up Skulduggery!"