33

VERY IRRESPONSIBLE

Skulduggery and Tunica stood in the waiting room outside the sixteen doors foyer, waiting for Angel. Valkyrie sat on the green chair. Tunica sighed. "I'm bored."

"You're always bored."

"When I'm not doing anything, I get bored."

Valkyrie looked at the two. "You guys seem like you've known each other for years."

Skulduggery sighed. "We're old."

Tunica looked at him. "Hey, I'm a couple of hundred years younger than you are, Skull-head! Don't as well classify me as old."

"A couple?" Skulduggery laughed.

"There's going to be a fight right here and now in a minute," mumbled Tunica.

Valkyrie rolled her eyes. She then looked up as Kenspeckle walked into the room. She looked at him, surprised. Tunica stood up straight. "Hello, Professor Grouse. Coming to say hello?"

He glared at her. "No. Your brother asked me to drop of something for him."

"Really now?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. I thought he told me to get everything from you when we saw you last…"

"I see you're not frozen anymore. What did your brothers do to you?"

"Nothing. They were experiencing the same thing. Valkyrie's touch revived me."

He looked at Valkyrie. "Her?"

"She's an Ancient," Skulduggery commented.

He looked at them. "It's going to happen again and a simple touch won't stop it."

"We know," Skulduggery and Tunica said.

Angel walked in. "Ah, Kenspeckle. Thank you for coming. Follow me."

Kenspeckle followed Angel through the doors. Tunica looked at the clock hanging on the wall. "Man, I'm bored!"

"You're the one who told us to be here this early."

"Bro told me we had to be here this early."

"Still blaming them for everything?"

"Always."

"You know, one of these days, your going to have to learn to take responsibility for your actions, Tunica."

"Well, that ain't going to happen today."

"Is not."

"Agh, there you go again!"

The receptionist looked over the counter. "Spellcaster."

Tunica looked at her. "Yes?"

"You got a phone call yesterday. I forgot to give it to you and considering you weren't here…"

"Who was it from?"

"Your supplier."

"What was the message?"

"He wants to see you today at three to make the drop-off, or something like that," she continued to read through her magazine. "Just thought you'd like to know."

"Great," said Tunica folding her arms, beginning to frown. "Like I didn't have enough things to do today."

"You were just complaining that you had nothing to do," said Skulduggery. "You have a supplier?"

"Yes."

"Scratch that. What does your supplier supply?"

"You're just going to have to wait and see, considering you're giving me a lift to meet him and all."

"I am?"

"You are."

He sighed. "Please just tell me this: It's not drugs, is it?"

Tunica jumped up. "No! Hell no!"

"Just checking."

"How dare you think that, Skulduggery!"

They began to argue again. Valkyrie looked up at them. She laughed. They looked at her. "What's so funny?"

"You guys haven't been around each other for more than a week and you guys fight like you've been other for years."

"We don't argue," said Skulduggery, "We debate. If we don't agree on something…"

"Which we never do," said Tunica.

"…we debate with each other."

"That's what you guys are going to call it?" Valkyrie asked.

"Yes."

She looked at them. "Hey, look, I just say we argue," said Tunica.

Kenspeckle walked out of the foyer, Angel next to him. "Thank you again, professor."

"You're welcome, Sorcerer. I wish you luck tonight," he said. He looked at Tunica and Skulduggery. "Who knows what trouble they'll get you and Miss Cain into?"

"You think we're really irresponsible, don't you?" said Tunica folding her arms.

He looked at her. She thought about this. "Wait…"

"Tunica, if you're trying to change my view on you and your partner in crime over there…"

"Hey, this is a solo act, my friend. Skulduggery is merely a colleague in my criminal life."

"You're both bad influences and irresponsible! I'm shocked that Valkyrie still is around you two."

"I'm shocked that you actually care about someone other than yourself."

"Tunica!" said Angel sternly.

"No, don't apologize for your sister's actions. She'll learn one of these days," said Kenspeckle. He walked up to Valkyrie. He handed her a small bottle with bright pink liquid in it. "What's this?" she asked.

"If you happen to get into trouble tonight, which you probably will because of those two, this will help. It's a recovery potion. Its effects are only temporary, so if you happen to get badly injured, I say you should find help soon after drinking it."

"Thank you, Kenspeckle."

"You're welcome. I would like to see you again in one piece," he said looking back at Skulduggery and Tunica. They waved their hands in defence. They spoke in sync. "We promise we'll have her back to you in good shape…hopefully."

He shook his head. "Such a pity."

"You know, Kenspeckle, Skulduggery and I aren't that bad. Sure, we both have histories but it doesn't make us bad people…or irresponsible for that matter," said Tunica still trying to convince him.

"Tunica, you've never learned how dangerous your life is. Imagine yourself having a partner…"

"I had one, though. Skulduggery and I were partners when we worked for the Council."

Valkyrie's eyebrows rose. "And what happened after that?" continued Kenspeckle.

Tunica hesitated. "I quit."

"Why?"

"Because listening to men in power when they shouldn't be given power in the first place bugged me."

He looked at her. "That does not make us irresponsible."

"You're irresponsible because of the stupid and idiotic situations you get yourself into. You're a wingless fairy, for God Sakes. He's irresponsible because the partner he had before Valkyrie was killed on their very first case. Valkyrie now is being injured every single day because he didn't say no."

"Kenspeckle, Valkyrie is still alive, though."

"But is hurt every second day and brought in to my hospital near death each time."

"And she's still alive. And so am I, thank you very much. Yes, we all make mistakes but that's because we're only…" Tunica stopped, frowning. "You know what I mean."

"You're a threat to everyone around you, Spellcaster."

"I've been told…"

Skulduggery slapped Tunica's arm. She grabbed it and looked at him. "That's enough arguments for one day, don't you think?"

She thought about this. "No."

"Well, we have to go," he said pointing at the clock.

She sighed. "I'm right. You're sort of right. Let's leave it at that."

Valkyrie got up and followed Tunica and Skulduggery out the door. "You're going to get her killed one of these days!" Kenspeckle shouted out.

"No, I won't," said Skulduggery giving Kenspeckle a wave goodbye.

Tunica sat in the backseat as usual. "I won that fight."

"No, you didn't, Tunica. It was a draw because we couldn't finish it," said Skulduggery. "Besides, it could have been worse. He called me uncivilised."

"So you're the uncivilised skeleton and I'm the irresponsible wingless fairy. Hmm."

"You both were partners?" said Valkyrie looking at Skulduggery. He hesitated. "Sort of."

"Maybe," continued Tunica.

"I don't know."

"Don't remember."

"Can't seem to recall."

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow, still looking at them.

"We weren't really partners as say…" started Tunica rubbing the back of her neck.

"…We were more like colleagues," said Skulduggery.

Valkyrie looked at them, still. They sighed. "After my little incident in New York, the Grand Mage said I could repay my debt to society by becoming a detective with Skulduggery. I got tired of it and quit. Skulduggery and I didn't spend that much time together to be honest," said Tunica.

Valkyrie frowned. "Is there any other secrets you guys would like to share now instead of later because this is becoming annoying."

They thought. "We once dated," said Skulduggery.

"What?"

"No, only joking. Nope, that's pretty much all I can think of, for the moment anyway."

Valkyrie glared at him.

"Stop right here, Skulduggery," said Tunica.

Valkyrie looked outside. There was nothing but parks on either side of them. "This is where you're going to meet him?"

"Yep," said Tunica getting out of the car. "You're more than welcome to meet him too. He won't bite."

Valkyrie opened the door, as did Skulduggery. They got out and waited. A man in a tanned overcoat and hat walked up to them. They looked at him. Tunica smiled. "Gemmed, good to see you again."

"Pleasure to see you too, Tunica," he said shaking her hand. "I'm surprised you came back to Ireland, to be honest."

"Past is past, my friend. So, have you got the goods?"

He took out a black bag, about the size of a purse and handed to Tunica. She opened it and closed it immediately, grabbing her forehead as though she had a headache. She looked at him. "Very nice."

He handed her ten necklaces that had a small green gem on each of them. "You may want to wear these so you won't be affected by its powers."

Tunica took them from him. "Thank you."

He looked over at Valkyrie and Skulduggery. "Where are my manners? I am Gemmed Banner."

"I'm Skulduggery Pleasant and this is my partner, Valkyrie Cain," said Skulduggery.

"Charmed," he said smiling. "I am a gem supplier. You'd be surprising how powerful the little beauties are."

"I'll take your word for it."

"Well, I have to go. Sorry we couldn't speak with each other longer, Tunica. I have to get home to enjoy a nice night in front of the TV which I haven't seen in quite a while. Bye." He walked off.

Skulduggery looked at Tunica. "Your supplier?"

She grinned. "My supplier."