~Mild Language~

Skulduggery pulled her inside, drying her immediately. He guided her to the couch, left for a moment, then came back with two mugs of tea. Ezra was still hiccupping from crying, but she was trying not to. "What happened, Ezzy?"
"Aphrodite's test. Dexter is- was- he-"
"So you found out." Ezra looked at him.
"You knew?!" Skulduggery nodded.
"He told me years ago. Begged me not to tell you. He thinks the world of you-"
"So he lied to me? He's a monster, Skulduggery. He's the people we fight against and you-!"
Skulduggery cut her off. "You don't believe that. He made a mistake. He didn't tell me everything, he just told me the bare minimum in fact, but he's one of the best men I know. There are reasons and circumstances for everything. Lord Vile. Darquesse. Those were his dark days, Ezra. He didn't lie to you, not really. Has he told you anything about his past?"
"No." Ezra said in a small voice, feeling like a child.
"Because he hates himself for it. He's spent the past 400 years trying to redeem himself, with us, with The Dead Men, with you, Ezra. He loves you more than anything. He'd give the world up for you if you asked him to." Ezra wiped her tears away and took a sip of warm tea.
"I just feel like I don't know him."
"You shouldn't. You know him better than anyone else. This doesn't change who he is now."
Ezra nodded. "You're right. I'm being overdramatic." She said, smiling sadly. "What was your test, then?" Ezra asked, desperate to change the subject.
"I was a detective, Valkyrie worked in a restaurant, there was a murder, I saved the day with my charm, the usual."
"When did you get to egotistical?" She asked, lightly pushing Skulduggery. He shrugged.
"Go to him, Ezra." He said, serious again.
"What do I say?"
"You're a smart girl. I'm sure you'll figure it out. Besides, so little sister of mine is short for words." He said. Ezra pulled him into a hug, burying her head into his shoulder. "Thank you." She whispered. He patted her back in reply.
A few minutes later, Ezra appeared in the living room at Dexter's (their?) living room. Dexter stopped, mid pace, mid bite on his already bleeding nub or a nail. "Ezra, I-" Ezra held up her hand, sat on the sofa and patted the seat beside her. Dexter sat down next to her.
"How many?" She asked.
"Ez-"
"How many?"
"48."
"When was the last one?"
"Before I met you. Technically."
"Technically?"
Dexter look at her, and she had never seen him more vulnerable in the whole time she had known him. He'd faced wars, Demons, Vampires, tortures, betrayal, and he had never looked as pained as he did now.
"You were my last victim, Ezra." He said, his voice catching in his throat. Ezra didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say.
"I walked into that pub with the intent of taking you with me. I walked in knowing that I would hurt you, or kill you. You were poor and I knew it. He knew it. He thought you were pretty, so said you were our next target. You were with them all, The Dead Men. Do you remember that night? When we first met?"
"I went to get the next round of drinks. We were celebrating Skulduggery's birthday. Back when he was human. Back when I was an elemental." Era said slowly, her tongue feeling dry and thick in her mouth.
Dexter nodded though.
"That's when I decided to strike. I walked up to you. I thought you would be easy. The pretty girls usually are. But you were different. You smiled, a genuine smile. You were even more beautiful up close, I was lost for words. I was never lost for words. You didn't know how incredible you were. Every man in that pub wanted you, Ezra, every single one looked at you like you a meal and they were starving. And you didn't even notice. You offered to buy me a meal, even with the small amount of money you had. And I couldn't do it. I couldn't take you. You were too good. I protested, but you got me the meal anyways. Then you invited me over to your table when you found out that I was alone. You asked me my name, then grabbed my hand and pulled me over. You introduced me to everyone, and they were too drunk to really understand much, but they all cheered."
"Who is the He?" Ezra asked.
"No. No, it sounds like I'm making excuses, but I was a horrible person, I was a monster, if I explain him, it'll sound like placing blame, but I'm just as responsible as he is."
Ezra looked at him sadly. "No more secrets." She said sadly.
Dexter took in a breath.
"He is my father. My mother and younger brother were killed, so he wanted to make people suffer the way we had. And I agreed. No, don't try to make it sound like I lost my way and all that bullshit. I knew what I was doing. I just didn't care. The night I didn't get you, he beat me. So I left. When you said you were all leaving, that's why I asked to come with you. He was getting worse and worse, more and more violent, more and more savage. It wouldn't be long before I was his text target, so I ran away." He looked up at her for the longest time, and Ezra didn't know what to say.
"I got really, really drunk the night I saw you kiss Tanith and made out with Sanguine."
Dexter looked at her and blinked, then laughed. It was such a light, humoured thing to say, said so quickly that it seemed odd and out of place given what was just said. Ezra sat on Dexter's lap and rested her head on his shoulder. "The past is the past. I wish you had told me, but I get why you didn't." She said, while absent-mindedly tracing shapes on his broad chest. He wrapped her in his arms, resting his head on top of her's. "I'm sorry." He said.
"Me too." She said.
"I forgive you."
"And I forgive you."
"I love you."
"And I love you."

GAAAAAAH I don't know why but I just had to give Dexter emotional baggage. Thank you guys for the wonderful revies, they mean the world to me! I hope you all enjoy! 3