Clothing
It was dark outside. It was one of those nights when common, ordinary people stayed in, tucked under a blanket on their couch, watching TV, snuggling. But then again, Valkyrie had never been common or ordinary. And neither was Darquesse.
So, as they sat in one of Dublin's many rooftops, she contemplated the dark night. It was beautiful; it was her friend; it was…
WOW! Getting a little too poetic, aren't we?
Yeah… we kind of sound like Caelan right now.
The old Valkyrie, the one that was still pretending to be good, would have pretended to feel bad about that comment. This new one just laughed. Darquesse liked new Valkyrie.
Because she had lied to Skulduggery. Valkyrie was still there. She had just changed. Not her personality… that was intact. She still cared about her family. Her friends. But she had embraced her inner self, and she had never felt so good.
You know, for a psycho.
She felt… she felt too good to go back to being just Valkyrie. It would crush her. Because she was too selfish to ever give up that level of freedom and power and importance.
She thought back to the conversation she'd had with Fletcher when they'd broken up. He was right. She was selfish.
New Valkyrie felt something twitch in her stomach, which had not happened since she had become whole with Darquesse.
Why are we thinking about Fletcher? She didn't answer. Valkyrie! Why are we… wait a second… do you… do we have feelings for Fletcher? Oh me! – Get it, 'cause we are as powerful as gods? No? Not laughing? Ok, your choice. – Valkyrie! Do we have feelings for Fletcher?
Of course we do; he's our best friend, especially since China and Tanith are out of the picture. Not to mention Ghastly.
…I thought Skulduggery was our best friend.
Well, yeah, but he's like… over four hundred years old, he doesn't count.
And yet you mentioned Ghastly, who is also over four hundred. I don't know how old China really is, but I'm guessing not too much younger. And Tanith isn't exactly our age either…
Well… she looks young. Skul doesn't.
Riiiiiiiighttt… 'cause there are young-looking skeletons. Val? You realize that you cannot lie to me, right? I mean, I am inside your head, remember? All those questions were mere formalities.
Well? Would you care to share your conclusions, then?
You already know it. You just can't admit it, can you?
Why don't you do it for me? Do I like Fletcher or not?
Yes, you do. But you already knew that. As you so well pointed out, he is our best friend. What you really want to know is if you love him.
We dated for two years. We've been through that already.
Yeah… but you didn't love him.
I did too!
You did not.
I did too!
Val…
Right, right. Inside my head. Sorry.
The point is: you liked him back then. He was hot.
He still is.
Yeah, I know, did you notice that he has been working out?
God, yes, he has. Remember when we caught him in a towel?
Yeah, those were some abs… and those arms… ok, focus here!
Right, right… focus.
So: you liked him, he was – he is – hot, so you went along with it. You liked to kiss him. You liked to hug him. You liked that you were his whole world; you liked that he smiled whenever you showed up and that he was always there for you. It was never like that with Caelan. I mean, you broke up with him because of that.
Yeah, but I also broke up with Fletcher.
Because he was making you feel bad. And besides… you didn't have this perspective back then. You didn't have me. Now…Well… you have me; you have perspective… and you finally love him.
But he doesn't want me anymore. He was with Myra, for our sake!
Ah! I knew you couldn't resist it.
Yeah, it was kind of funny. But seriously, now, he is over me.
No, he isn't.
Yes, he is.
You don't believe that.
Yes, I do.
Valkyrie! Will you please just cut the crap?
Fine, but what does it matter? He won't want me like this.
Excuse me? First of all, we are a team: so he doesn't want us; second…
What? What is second?
…yeah, I've got nothing.
Great; just great.
Now, hold on, there. If you feel bad, I feel bad, you know that.
Thanks, but that doesn't exactly cheer me up.
No, Val. I think you're getting stupid. We share our feelings just as we share our thoughts, remember?
Oh, right. I'm not stupid, by the way.
Yeah, I guess deep down in my heart I know that…
Shut up… so what do we do now?
Well, we win him back, of course.
Yeah… yeah, you're right. We can do this.
Sure we can; I mean, we killed faceless ones, we battled Nefarian Serpine…
Twice. We battled him twice.
Yeah, right; we fought against remnants, vampires, and god knows what else.
We know what else.
Not funny anymore, Valkyrie.
Yeah, I know. Just felt like annoying you.
Really? You really are stupid.
No, I'm not. I'm funny.
If you say so. Where was I? Oh, right. We got our freaking head out of our body. We will not chicken out over a boy. It will be a piece of cake. Cause let´s face it: what isn't, for us?
Yeah… let's get going, then.
She stood up.
Hey, Val?
What?
Well, he really did seem to like those belly dancers, but I don't think that going to him like this is a really good idea.
Right. We're still dressed like a bride of blood tears. Guess I forgot about that…
Come on, we need some new clothing.
They flew towards the mall, arms spread out like Superman. Valkyrie laughed, clearly having fun. She would never get tired of this. Darquesse smiled.
Then we can go get our guy.