"I can't stand it any longer. Stop, Skul. Just… Stop." He is frowning, and the laughing man who has been stumbling about the room in a vague imitation of a waltz is smirking.

"It can't be that bad, surely," he says, and he careens straight into the scowling blond who has his arms akimbo and his mouth twisted with irritation. Inexorable, like some manic hurricane, Skulduggery sweeps his friend into a loose orbit, still humming energetically and without much of a concern for pitch.

After a moment's struggle, the blond starts to correct his friend. It starts with him singing gently with his clear, smooth voice over the busy hum, and then he forces him to slow, to become measured. With feet and hands, he adjusts legs and arms, and before too long, they are dancing both sedately and well.

Finally, they collapse, and Skulduggery is laughing and the other is just smiling. "What is it?" inquires Skulduggery, voice warm.

"I am amazing," is the answer, spoken smugly.

"That you are," responds Skulduggery, and before anything more can be said, Skulduggery Pleasant is kissing one of the dearest friends he has on this earth, and Dexter Vex is kissing back.


A/N: Presumably an improvement on turnip-ism.

~Mademise Morte