A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Dexter, Anton, Ghastly, Saracen or Erskine. Uh, Val is in her 20's I guess. Story is in her POV.

I walked out of the hair salon, feeling on top of the world. I was wearing a sexy black dress and heels and with my hair done and a slight curl to it, I knew I was owning that dress. As I hit the sidewalk looking for the Bentley the catcalls started.

"Hey, pretty lady!"

"Ay, mami, you lookin' tight!"

I looked up sharply, ready for a fight and saw a group of men standing together, heads bowed so I couldn't make out their faces. Behind me, the Bentley pulled up, and I could hear Skulduggery get out, but I was still in shock as the men lifted their heads to stare at me.

"You're all a bunch of friggin' idiots." I growled as Dexter Vex and the other Dead Men grinned at me. "At least he has manners." I nodded my head towards Anton, who'd kept to the shadows, watching the other men tease me.

I turned on Skulduggery who was leaning against the Bentley, clearly amused. "You said I had a hot date tonight! That you'd pick me up here and you'd arranged a date with that hot guy from the Sanctuary!"

"Did I?" He asked innocently and I wanted to strangle him. "Mm, well you do have a hot date, with the other Dead Men!" He chortled. At least that's what I think he said, Dexter wasn't through teasing me yet.

"Val likes a boy! She's going on a date!" He was singing as Ghastly opened the van for us, grinning like an idiot.

"With a purty boy!" Saracen put in, and they both burst out laughing. My cheeks were flaming bright red in shame as we all got settled in and my idiot brothers-in-arms couldn't resist messing up my hair or making stupid comments about my perfume.

"If we've got a mission, at least tell me we're stopping so I can change." I growled at Skulduggery, as I wrapped my arms around myself to cover my exposed cleavage.

"That we are." He agreed and soon Ghastly had pulled into a fast food place where I changed into the clothes Ghastly had brought for me then joined the others in grabbing a quick meal.

"Sorry about the teasing, Val. But you did look pretty." Saracen said, smiling an apology at me.

"We're used to seeing you dressed for combat. Who knew there was a girl underneath all those clothes?" Dexter asked and his lips twitched.

"That's enough, children." Anton said and the men promptly settled down. "You looked lovely, Val." He said, treating me to a rare smile that made me blush.

Erskine wasn't saying much of anything though he was looking at me strangely and I could only wonder what our mission was and why my friends were all making such a big deal out of a stupid dress.

Wheee, randomness! Let me know if you want more!