Valkyrie slumped back in Skulduggerys sofa. 'So. Bored!'

The skeleton didn't look up from his newspaper.

'Deal with it.' She rolled her eyes at him.

'Useful.'

'Aren't I just? Why are you at my house anyway?'

'Well, like I said; I'm bored and I thought you might be kind enough to entertain me.'

'Remind me-how old are you?'

'Twenty-two.'

'There you go-you shouldn't need other people to entertain you still.'

'Tough. I'm different from any other girl.'

Got that right, Skulduggery thought and carried on reading.

The minutes ticked by slowly. Valkyrie got tired of staring into space and rested her head in her hand, elbow on her leg.

'So.'

'Are you still bored?' Skulduggery asked. She nodded.

'Of course.'

'Well, go and entertain yourself then.'

'How?'

'You'll think of something.'

'You're nice aren't you?'

'Indeed. I am the nicest person in the world!' Valkyrie sighed and brought the hand she was leaning on out in front of her.

'Okay-how can you be such a ego-maniac all the time?'

Skulduggery bent forward the newspaper so he could look at her.

'What's wrong with having a massive ego?' She shook her head.

'No no, I'm just asking how and why you have the ego the size of Australia?' He tilted his head.

'Because it's bloody marvellous to love yourself.'

'Language, Skulduggery.'

'Twenty-two years old, Valkyrie.' He said, unbending the paper to read it. She smiled.

'And you expect people to love you as much as you love yourself?' He shrugged.

'Of course-who wouldn't love me?' Valkyrie fell silent and swallowed. Skulduggery hesitated and bent the paper again to look at her.

'Was that not the right thing to say?'

'Why wouldn't it be?' Valkyrie said quickly. He paused and then nodded slowly.

'Riiight.' He said, dragging out the word. She sighed inwardly and stood up.

'I should be going now.'

'Why?'

'I just should be-' Skulduggery shook his skull.

'Don't go just because of something I said.'

'I'm not.' She lied.

'I'm sorry if I said something wrong-whatever it was.'

'It's fine-'

'Was it the "who wouldn't love me" thing?'

'Well-'

'Why would that affect you?' She looked at him.

'It's not hard to work out.'

'It wouldn't unless...'

'Any second now.'

Skulduggery tilted his head in deep thought. After a few seconds he raised his skull in realization.

'Oh...' Valkyrie nodded.

'There it is.'

'You...I...'

'You've got a real way with words, haven't you?'

'Behave, this is serious business,' he looked at her, 'you love me?'

'Correct.' He stood up.

'I am so sorry, I never realized.'

'And now you do.' He stepped closer towards her.

'Indeed.' Valkyrie bit her lip.

'And...Do you...feel the same?' He sighed.

'No, no I don't.' She nodded slowly and looked at the floor. Skulduggery leaned closer towards her and brushed a loose of hair behind her ear. She looked up at him. 'I don't love you Valkyrie, I adore you.'

She glowered.

'That, was, so cruel.'

'Sorry.'

'You should be.'

'You have my permission to kiss me anytime now.' She grinned.

'No.'

'Why not?'

'Because that was mean, and you don't deserve it.' He smirked.

'Do I have permission to kiss you then?'

'Of course.' He laughed quietly, and fulfilled that permission.