"I put myself back together, which was rather painful, then climbed out of the river and rejoined the fight."
Like, minuscule spoilers for book 10? But also a headcannon? Not sure how to classify this...
Skulduggery Pleasant sat.
The room was dark to match the night, the curtains drawn so even the yellow gloom of the lamppost was kept firmly outside.
It was fine. He didn't mind the dark. Never had.
Skulduggery Pleasant sat, and he thought.
"I put myself back together-"
That was what he had told her all those years ago as they sat in Gordon's kitchen. Valkyrie had never asked him about that. He supposed she'd had other things on her mind at the time. Things like living skeletons and secret wars and magic.
Valkyrie.
She'd be asleep, wouldn't be up for several hours. Or maybe she was awake. He knew she had nightmares. He ought to call. To make sure she was alright. After all, these last few days had been…stressful.
Smoke's hand on his ankle. Smoke's voice penetrating his skull and twisting through his mind.
Valkyrie on her knees, his hand curled around the gun, his gun as he pressed it to her head. So very ready to shoot and paint the walls with that remarkable brain.
He realized he was holding his phone, his finger hovering over the speed dial.
The rational part of him chose that second to make an appearance, pushing down the building agitation.
What if she's asleep, it said. You know she hates it when you wake her up early. And do you really have an excuse ready?
He considered this. After a moment Skulduggery placed the device back in his pocket.
If Valkyrie needed him, he decided, she would call. They were partners, proper partners again. He ought not keep imposing himself on her for attention like that again.
He wondered how long it would take for her to make fun of him again. Or maybe she wouldn't mention it at all and they would both pretend he hadn't been behaving in a desperate fashion ever since her return.
Like a drowning man missing land
He leaned back in his chair. His thoughts had circled back to water again. How quaint.
Valkyrie had never asked him how he'd put himself back together.
Phantom hands ghosted over his ribs
She should have asked-
A cooing, mocking whisper
Because-
Silver hair, a smirk
He couldn't have done it by himself…
So yeah. Thanks for reading~
I actually forgot I wrote this but then I found it again and here it is!