Requiem: Chapter Seventeen...
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"I'm so bored in here that I think I might actually be going insane." Skulduggery was sat up in his hospital bed, still dressed in a medical gown and still covered in tape, but he could move more than when Val had seen him last. She'd brought him one of Gordon's books to read in his spare time.
"You need to rest up. Doctor Raze is still concerned about the condition of your bones," she warned.
"I don't plan to go smashing through any windows any time soon."
"Windows? Why windows?"
"Doors are for people with no imagination."
"That might be the most ridiculous thing you've ever said to me."
"I've said many ridiculous things."
"You have. But the door thing is definitely up there. Right next to 'The sparrow flies south for the winter'."
"That was an excellent way to give a signal."
"It didn't even make sense. Signals are meant to be subtle." She arched an eyebrow. "It was so obvious that you got punched in the face for it."
"I got punched in the face for calling the bar tender an idiot. The signal just happened to be given around the same time."
"You mean right before he punched you?"
"Did you come here to annoy me? Because you're doing an excellent job. Really top notch."
"I can leave if you want."
"God no. If I have to sit here alone much longer I'll end up getting myself thrown out. Doctor Raze is already telling me regularly that I'm frying her brain." He cocked his head. "Thank you for coming to see me. I'm not used to being out of action."
"Who'd have thought that after facing down Gods and killing hundreds of criminals it'd be a thief that got the better of you?"
"If it weren't for that magic of his he would've been no trouble. In fact other than that he was hugely underwhelming."
"But he still managed to almost kill you."
"He did."
"Is that embarrassing for you?"
"I'm never embarrassed. I'm far too cool for that." Valkyrie looked doubtfully at the hospital gown and the black tape.
"Yes. Yes you are." He chuckled and she grinned at him. "Have the others been to visit?"
"I saw Tanith earlier this morning, and Ghastly was here last night. Don't tell Doctor Raze he was here, I was supposed to be sleeping."
"But you don't sleep."
"I told her that. She said I had to anyway." He shrugged and then winced when the movement jarred his delicate bones. "Speaking of her, I'm sure she'll swoop in here to change my tape soon."
"Why does it need changing?"
"It only works for so long before it becomes nothing more than a strip of sticky material. It needs changing daily while my skeleton is still weak."
"Doesn't that hurt?"
"Oh, horrifically, yes. But I've had worse pains."
"I don't know if it's impressive that your pain threshold is so high or sad because you know how high it is."
"I'd go with impressive." His tone softened a little. "How are you, Valkyrie?"
"I'm alright. Still not quite over the fact that I shot someone, but I'm doing okay." She shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. He touched the back of her hand gently.
"Are you sure?"
"I had a nightmare about it last night, but I'm surviving. I'll be okay, really." She paused. "I did get a chance to think though."
"About?"
"This. Us." She gestured at the space between them.
"And what conclusion did you come to?"
"I want to know your thoughts first," she said.
"Hmm." He paused, considering his answer before giving it a voice. "I want to recognise my feelings for you. Of course I'd love nothing more than to act on them. I'm hesitant to do that for several reasons."
"And they are?"
"You're in enough danger already just as my partner. There are people that want me dead and will use anything to get to me. Becoming more than my partner would only escalate that danger." He shifted slightly before continuing. "I also enjoy our friendship very much. I wouldn't want to spoil that." He paused. "And I haven't had a girlfriend for a really long time. Not to mention I'm a living skeleton." Valkyrie nodded, processing his reasoning for a moment.
"Would you like to hear my thoughts now?" He inclined his head for her to continue. "I'm in danger all the time now that I'm an Arbiter. Everyone already knows who I am because it's impossible to associate with you and not be known. I like our friendship too, and we're both adults. If it doesn't work I see no reason why we can't just let it go sensibly and continue on as friends and partners. Lastly, and this really is the most important part, I don't care that you're a skeleton."
"I see. So does that mean I have to take you to dinner?"
"We already went to dinner."
"That was on a stake out."
"It counts. Also I hate fancy dinners and wearing dresses." She smiled. "How about we stick to what we know?"
"Punching people that deserve it?"
"Punching people that deserve it," she agreed. "And when we're done maybe we can hang out and not talk about work for a while."
"I'd like that."
"Me too." She hesitated. "Although, Tanith is going to want to know what this is." She gestured at the space between them again. "What do I tell her?"
"What do you want to tell her?"
"You're so evasive. It's very annoying." He chuckled.
"Tell her the truth then. Tell her we're seeing what happens."
"Alright. So does that mean we're dating?"
"I suppose it does." She nodded slowly. "I think I hear Doctor Raze coming."
"I don't hear anything," she frowned.
"Detectives," said the doctor as she appeared around the curtain surrounding the bed. "How are you feeling, Skulduggery?"
"Peachy," he answered. She shot him a withering look and he sighed. "Sore."
"And are you managing to move more?"
"Yes. I have control over all of my limbs again."
"Excellent, that means your spine is beginning to heal." She scribbled on her clipboard. "It's your favourite time of day again, as I'm sure you know."
"Oh joy," he muttered. "More pain."
"I can leave you in your current bindings and let you take months to heal if you'd like." She arched an eyebrow at him.
"No I most certainly wouldn't like that."
"Then shut up and lie down." He sighed again, but did as he was told. "Is Arbiter Cain staying or going?"
"That would be up to her." He turned his head so he could look at Valkyrie.
"I must warn you before you make your choice, it takes quite a while to change the bindings. Very few of Skukduggery's bones escaped damage."
"I'll stay," she decided.
"Alright then." The doctor nodded and reached behind Skulduggery's head to unfasten the gown, sliding it carefully over his arms and setting it aside. Valkyrie stifled a gasp. His body was littered with tape. Every single bone was bound.
"That looks like it hurts," she said softly.
"It does," he answered. The doctor began unwinding the tape from his fingers and hands, working quickly and carefully. Skulduggery fell silent as she continued, keeping his face turned towards Valkyrie. She watched as hundreds of tiny fissures and cracks were revealed beneath the bindings, spidering across the white surfaces.
"Stay still," the doctor said as he twitched at the sensation of her fingers dipping between the bones of his forearm.
"I'm trying my best, doctor," Skulduggery answered tightly. The pain in his voice made Val's chest constrict.
"Try harder," Raze replied. "If you move too much your skeleton will shatter. She'd finished unwinding the bindings around his arms now. She held them very gently, turning them carefully to inspect the damage. "Although I'm pleased to say the treatment is definitely working."
"How much longer do you think he'll be in here?" Val asked.
"A few more days. And then I'm going to send him home with instructions to rest again. And if he ignores those instructions and his skeleton turns to dust I will laugh." The doctor moved onto his rib cage, and Skulduggery groaned involuntarily as she tweaked a particularly sore spot by mistake.
"Do your parents know we're back?" He seemed to be looking for something to distract himself from the pain.
"Not yet. They think we're on the trip for a full week. If you're still in here after tomorrow I'll tell them we extended it."
"Fair enough." Raze started replacing the tape and Skulduggery fell silent again.
"Can't you meditate while this is happening?"
"I can't concentrate enough to do it," he answered. "And the pain would wake me anyway."
"This sucks," Valkyrie mumbled.
"Indeed it does, though the distraction is welcome. Thank you for staying. I know it must be strange for you."
"Why would it be strange?"
"You're watching a doctor tape the bones of a talking skeleton."
"Is that supposed to bother me?"
"Doesn't it?"
"Not really."
They continued chatting while Raze removed and replaced each binding with expert hands. Skulduggery's speech was stilted at times but he continued the conversation relatively easily. When Raze was done, she replaced the medical gown and fastened it carefully behind his neck.
"Alright, I'd like to test your range of movement. Can you wiggle your fingers for me?" He did. "And make a fist." He did as he was told. "I need you to push against my palm." He splayed his fingers and flattened his palm against hers, pushing until it hurt, and then repeated the process with the other side. The doctor ran through several more exercises with him and then scribbled on her notes. "Last test," she said. "Can you stand up? And I must stress that if you feel you can't then the safest thing to do would be to stop trying."
"I understand." He sat up slowly and pushed away from the bed. Valkyrie realised she was holding her breath as he straightened up. She was pleased when he didn't sway.
"Excellent. Can you take a step?" He did. "Valkyrie can you come here?" Val got up and came to stand beside them. "Skulduggery I want you to walk as far as you can, and then we'll help you back to the bed. If you feel anything shift or crack I want you to stop immediately." He nodded and started walking. His movements were slow and sluggish. He managed seven steps before he had to stop.
"That was much better than I expected. Well done," Raze said as they settled him back against the pillows. "You might be out of here sooner than expected. You're healing remarkably well." She excused herself and as soon as she left the skeleton sagged.
"Ouch," he groaned. "I'm beginning to think she enjoys hurting me."
"She wouldn't be the first."
"True. I miss throwing fire at people."
"You've only been in here a few days. It hasn't been that long."
"It feels longer."
"Tanith said time is irrelevant to somebody that has existed for four and a half centuries."
"It would seem Tanith is incorrect. I get bored very quickly."
"How on earth did you cope in another dimension?"
"I mastered elemental magic."
"Fair point." She thought for a second. "I could bring you more books."
"That would be nice." He picked up the one she'd brought him. "This was the novel he was writing when he died."
"It was."
"And the Darkness Rained Upon Them. I haven't read this one. Has Gordon come out of the stone yet?"
"Not yet, but I haven't been to check since before the stake out," she said guiltily.
"I think I'd like to go check when I'm allowed out of here. Would that be alright?"
"Absolutely," she nodded. "Oh, the Bentley is back in the Sanctuary car park by the way." She fished through the pocket of her armoured coat for the key and handed it back to him. "And it's completely unharmed. No scratches anywhere."
"Who drove it back?"
"I did. It's parked in your usual spot and it's absolutely fine. I even had it waxed for you."
"Where?" he asked warily.
"The same place you always get it done, by Marvin."
"Did you drive nicely?"
"Yes, I drove nicely." She rolled her eyes. "And you have the keys back now so nobody else will be able to move it."
"Thank you."
"What, no lecture on how I might have scratched the paint? You're not even going to insist I take a photo of it to show you?"
"I trust you," he answered.
"Oh. Does that mean I can drive it more often?"
"Definitely not."
oO0Oo
The next few days passed slowly, and all Skulduggery did was complain. Valkyrie smiled as she walked towards the Infirmary, remembering each of the many times Doctor Raze had told him to shut up. She pushed the door open and strode inside, and her heart leapt as she saw her partner standing by his bed and fastening a black tie around his neck. She could still see the tape wrapped around his fingers as he adjusted his collar, but he was much stronger.
"Hey," she said as she approached. He turned and tilted his head and she felt his warm smile even though she couldn't see it.
"Hello," he answered. He pulled on his jacket carefully and straightened up, looking immaculate in a dark blue suit and white shirt.
"I brought you a present," she said, keeping her hands behind her back.
"Is it flowers?"
"No. Why would I bring you flowers?"
"Usually people in hospital get flowers."
"Oh. Well no, it isn't flowers. It's your hat." She produced the hat and he sighed happily as he put it on.
"How I've missed my hat," he said lovingly. "I feel much better now."
"You look better. I was worried about you for a while there." He slipped his gloves on and stepped closer to her.
"You never need to worry about me. I'm like a cockroach. Very annoying and nuclear bomb proof." He closed the gap between them.
"You are annoying," she agreed. She reached up and straightened his tie, and he caught her hand as she went to move it away. His other hand moved to her hip. Even as a skeleton he made her heart race. For a brief second she wondered if there was something wrong with her, and then she banished that thought and let him kiss her. It was short and gentle and it ended too soon.
"You don't seem very annoyed by me." His voice was low and warm, smooth as honey. She could listen to that voice all day.
"It's hard to be annoyed at you when you're injured."
"I'm not nearly as injured as I was yesterday."
"If I could interrupt for a moment," Doctor Raze said, once again appearing out of nowhere and frightening Valkyrie out of her skin.
"Christ, you're like a ninja," she muttered.
"You may leave the Infirmary today but you are absolutely not fit for work, detective. The tape needs to stay on until tomorrow, at which point I'd like you to come back for a check up. is that alright?"
"It is. Thank you again."
"It's my job to help people. Even people as reckless as you."
"You flatter me."
"I'll see you tomorrow, detective." She disappeared as quickly as she'd arrived and Skulduggery turned back to his partner.
"I'm looking forward to seeing my car again."
"Let's go then," Valkyrie grinned. They left the Infirmary and she was happy to be walking through the Sanctuary with him again. He was a little slower than normal but his stride was steady and his back was straight. As they left the Administrator gave them a curt nod. "Won't Ghastly be mad that you left without telling him?"
"No. He knows I'm due to leave today. He's seeing Tanith tonight so I'm sure I'll see him at your apartment."
"Oh, you're coming home with me?"
"What else am I going to do? I'm officially on leave. I get bored on my own." She laughed, unable to keep it in.
"You're such a goon." She slid into the passenger seat of the Bentley and Skulduggery took his place behind the wheel.
"You really did get my car waxed," he mused.
"I did. Even paid for the interior doing."
"Thank you." He turned the key in the ignition and the Bentley purred to life like it had missed him as much as he'd missed it. He backed out of the space and joined the streets of Roarhaven City with ease. They drove to Gordon's mansion, and Valkyrie let the journey pass in silence. She was happy to let him enjoy being back in his car and allowed to go places again.
Eventually they stopped outside the mansion and headed inside. When Valkyrie saw the hazy figure floating around downstairs she almost screamed.
"Stephanie?" Her Uncle Gordon blinked and then his eyes fell on his friend. "Skulduggery? When did you two meet?"
"Months ago," Valkyrie answered around the lump in her throat. "The cradle stopped charging the stone. It's been years since I've seen you."
"We were actually coming to see if you could come out again," Skulduggery added. Gordon's eyes flickered to their clasped hands.
"It felt like no time at all to me," he answered, floating closer to them. "Is there a reason you two were holding hands?"
"It's a long story," Valkyrie mumbled, blinking away her tears.
"I have all the time in the world," Gordon answered.
"We met when a man named Requiem Jones began working with Argent Bright and Maylen Dark to infect innocent people in Haggard with Vampirism. We stopped him and became partners," Skulduggery said.
"We're Arbiters," Valkyrie continued. "We operate outside Sanctuary law and we've been working cases together. And then we decided we liked one another. Very recently actually."
"Hmm. That doesn't seem like a very long story," Gordon mused.
"There's more to it than that. That's the short version," Valkyrie said.
"What's that?" Gordon pointed at the very edge of a strip of tape peeking out from under the brim of Skulduggery's hat.
"Magic tape," Valkyrie answered. "That's part of the long story." Skulduggery took off his hat, removed his gloves, and slipped off his jacket to roll up his sleeves. Gordon's eyes widened as he counted the black stripes on his friend's bones.
"Technically I've been medically signed off work. We came here to see if you were up and about yet because I'm not allowed to punch anyone." He put his hat and jacket back on, choosing to leave the gloves in a pocket.
"Well here I am," Gordon grinned. "And I'm more than a little surprised to see my niece dating one of my friends. What will your parents say, Steph?"
"They've actually met him already. They call him Doug." Skulduggery tapped his collar bones and the facade flowed up over his skull.
"My word," Gordon yelped. "The last time I saw the facade it looked like a wax model!"
"China has had a long time to perfect it. It even has a heartbeat now," Skulduggery said, smiling broadly.
"Does it still change every time?"
"No. This is the face I've chosen."
"They do say blondes have more fun." Gordon waggled his eyebrows and Skulduggery laughed.
"It's good to see you again, Gordon."
"I know," he answered, and Skulduggery's grin grew wider. "So Steph, what's it like dating a skeleton?"
"My name is Valkyrie Cain now. And it has it's moments."
"Valkyrie Cain? I like it. It suits you. I've missed so much in what feels like the blink of an eye to me." Valkyrie's phone buzzed, so she stepped away and left the two of them chatting.
"Hello?"
"Hi sweetheart!"
"Hi mum."
"How was the trip? Did you take any pictures?"
"You know, I actually didn't. I enjoyed myself so much that I just didn't think to," she answered.
"That's a shame. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. It must have been wonderful."
"We ended up in a town with a nice restaurant and shops and a cinema and stuff. It even had an ornamental garden." It wasn't a lie, so she didn't feel bad telling her mum some details.
"And did you finally kiss the poor man after keeping him waiting all this time?"
"...I did." The squeal that came down the phone was so loud she had to move it away from her ear.
"Finally! Was it good?"
"Yeah, sure." She cringed, feeling uncomfortable.
"I know you don't like talking about it but I'm very happy that you saw sense. You're a lucky girl. Will you and Doug come to dinner now you're back? I'm making a roast tomorrow and thought you might like it." She paused to listen to a small voice yelling in the background. "Alice says you have to come because she wants to see Doug." Valkyrie chuckled.
"Alright, if Alice is demanding it then I suppose we'd better. We'll see you tomorrow night."
"Bye sweetheart." The line rang off and Valkyrie let out a pent up breath.
"Skulduggery?"
"Yes?"
"We're going to my parents house tomorrow night for dinner. Alice has been asking for you."
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