A/N: I don't own Dexter, Anton, Larrikin, Valkyrie, Ghastly or Skulduggery.
The Midnight Hotel had moved on to Irish soil perhaps an hour earlier, but Dex still couldn't sleep. Restless, he got up, hoping that Anton had really meant that the kitchen was open to guests. He was pulling out the makings of a sandwich when he sensed a presence in the doorway that loomed silent and terrible in its stillness. Then Anton moved and the strange effect was broken.
"Before you eat, I want to show you something." Anton said quietly, and he led Dexter back into his office, then through to his private room. There above the fireplace was a painting of Anton and Larrikin. It was tastefully does in oils, and to most people it would have looked as though the older mage was simply standing behind Larrikin's chair in a protective fashion.
But the longer Dex looked, he realized the painting shifted subtly. The chair disappeared and both men were standing, looking at one another and there was no mistaking the love and devotion in their eyes. "She showed up several years ago out of a pouring rain with that tucked under her arm. It was the best she could do for me after they muted her powers and left her as she is. I held that poor sobbing child until she fell asleep."
"And your realized just a very good friend wouldn't give you such a gift. Or want to bring him back for you."
"That innocent child felt guilty, Dexter. She felt guilty for loving me because in her mind I will always belong to Larrikin. And maybe that's why I fell in love with her. She looked so lost and helpless that night. And she came to me of all people."
Anton led the way back and Dex made them both something to eat. "It's like we're being paired up, isn't it? With the person we're meant to be with?" He asked and Anton nodded absently then looked at him.
"I've never blamed you, Dex. Not once. Larrikin chose to lay down his life, the same as any of us would have for you. You have to forgive yourself. And I have to forgive myself for not being there to protect him." He said softly.
The men ate in silence after that, and Dex knew Anton had helped him in his own way. He didn't want Dexter ending up like him he guessed. Anton laughed softly and Dex looked up. The older mage ran a hand reflexively over his short salt and pepper hair. "Do you know what she told me during the war? I'd lit into her for something she did earlier that day and she hissed at me that the only thing she'd ever liked about me was my long black hair and that was gone." He smiled, clearly amused.
"She's always been a scrapper. Who found out what about her and judged her?" Dex asked and Anton shrugged.
"Wasn't any of us in the hotel, so I'm guessing Ghastly. He wants to live in the world he's told he has to live in and he most likely took it out on her. Skulduggery trying to interfere made it worse and I think you know why. All the centuries those two have wasted." Anton sighed then shrugged. He bid Dex a quiet goodnight then left to make his rounds of the hotel.
What? You know I pair those two all the time.