Bespoke Tailors

Skulduggery, Valkyrie and Tanith sat in the back room of Bespoke Tailors whilst Ghastly headed off to make tea. The four of them were waiting for the rest of the dead men to arrive, and China. There was no particular reason for them all to be joining together, they just chose to be together. Tanith unfolded herself from the armchair, and headed into the main shop; her eyes fixing on Ghastly's most recently produced leather outfit. She ran her fingers across the fabric, feeling how beautiful and intricate it was.

"I thought you might like it." Ghastly said from behind her. She turned and saw him leaning against the door frame, holding a cup of tea, his shirt sleeves rolled up, revealing his bulging arms and engraved scars. Tanith let a smile play on her lips.

"It's beautiful." she said, turning back to the mannequin and admiring the outfit. "It's just so-"

"You?" Ghastly asked. "It was designed that way, it's why I created it. In fact," he continued, walking around the shop. "most of these outfits are based on you."

Tanith turned. "Really?"

Ghastly nodded. "See how they're all intricately designed, made with only the most beautiful and exquisite material. Extraordinary beautiful clothes, made for an extraordinary beautiful and wonderful woman." The two of them were silent for a moment, but the silence was quickly broken as Erskine Ravel burst through the shop door.

"Tanith!" he said beaming. "So wonderful to see you."

"You too. As always." she replied. Skulduggery and Valkyrie walked into the shop and Erskine beamed again.

"Val!" he said, striding over to give her a hug. Ghastly mumbled something that no one could really understand.

"Hi Erskine!" Valkyrie replied.

"How are the two most beautiful people on the planet?" he asked. Valkyrie and Tanith grinned.

"Not too bad thanks." Skulduggery replied. The two women laughed, and Erskine draped an arm around Tanith's shoulders and walked into the back room. Ghastly leaned against the desk as Skulduggery and Valkyrie stood with him.

"Do you think he does it on purpose?" Ghastly asked.

"Absolutely." Skulduggery replied. "It couldn't possibly be by accident. I mean, we really are the most beautiful people on the planet." Valkyrie elbowed him in the ribs and Ghastly rolled his eyes. Ghastly's eyes raised to the doorway as Tanith's laugh flowed through into the shop. Ghastly straightened up and walked into the back room, followed by Skulduggery and Valkyrie. Erskine was attempting to show Tanith how to play golf with imaginary clubs. Ghastly's shoulders sagged as he watched Erskine press himself into Tanith, moving her hips with his hands. Skulduggery coughed and sat down, with Valkyrie following his lead. Ghastly remained stood, his fists clenching in his trouser pockets.

The others arrived, and Valkyrie almost instantly moved next to Dexter Vex. China and Skulduggery were engrossed in conversation, whilst Shudder, Saracen and Erskine talked and made jokes about Dexter and Valkyrie. Ghastly, however, had gone into the shop to work on some clothes; to keep his mind occupied on something other than Tanith and Erskine.

"It's like the dead men reunion in there. I think they're missing a member though." said a soft voice behind him. Ghastly turned his head to the doorway where Tanith was stood. He looked back and continued working.

"I'm sure it won't kill them." Ghastly murmured.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Tanith said, gazing at her boots. "Erskine can be a real charmer when he wants to be." Ghastly remained silent and kept working. "Well, if you're not going to talk to me I'll just go back and join the others-"

"Why'd you do it?" Ghastly asked, standing up from his desk.

"What?" Tanith said, turning back around and walking into the shop.

"Do you and Erskine get a kick out of doing it or do you do it just to purposely hurt me?"

"Ghastly, I dont-"

"Don't give me that crap, Tanith. You know exactlywhat I'm talking about. So why do you do it? Do you and Erskine have little bets to see how long I can last before I eventually get fed up? Or do you think because you're this beautiful, wonderful, intelligent woman you can play with my feelings?" Ghastly was stood in front of her now, so close he could feel her breathing on his chest. "You know how I have felt for the last 6 years and you still act like you don't have a clue. Why?"

Tanith was silent for a moment. "I don't know." she replied quietly. Ghastly turned and walked away from her, running one hand over his head. "Ghastly, I am sorry. I just.. I've had a series of not nice boyfriends and I didn't want to mess things up and I never meant to hurt you-"

"So instead you left me madly in love with you for 6 years and did nothing?" Tanith was crying now, as she realised how much she'd really hurt him.

"Ghastly," Tanith began. "if I knew from the beginning that I could tell you exactly what I felt, and still feel, I truly would've. I would've told you how much I wanted you, how much I needed you, and how much I-"

Before Tanith could say another word, Ghastly had his hands on her face, pressing himself into her as he kissed her soft lips.

"-I loved you." Tanith said dazed, finishing off her sentence. The two of them stood in silence for a moment, and then threw themselves into one another. Tanith wrapped her arms around Ghastly's neck as he closed his arms around her waist as they kissed. Ghastly thought it tasted beautiful, mixed with the faint taste of salty tears that had run down from Tanith's eyes. He hauled her off her feet and she wrapped her legs around his broad torso. Her hands found his face and she pulled away; that beautiful smile appearing on her lips. Her hands ran down onto his chest and she began to unbutton his shirt.

"Not here." he whispered gently, and she smiled once again.