Valkyrie woke to a crash coming from downstairs, followed by a string of curse words. She sat bolt upright, was about to jump out of bed when she heard more cursing, in a familiar voice. She relaxed, then frowned, and stood. Valkyrie grabbed her dressing gown and wrapped it around herself, then yanked the door open and walked downstairs. She entered the kitchen.
"Hi," she said, eyebrow raised. She leaned against the doorframe as Skulduggery Pleasant turned, clad in a navy suit and hat. He looked good, as always.
"You're awake," he said. She nodded and smiled, and he paused. "Hello."
"Hi. What are you doing?"
He tilted his head. "Nothing."
"Whatever it is, it's noisy."
"Apologies. Did I get you up?"
Valkyrie sighed. "Just there," she replied, walking through to the dining room in her uncle's ridiculously big house. "You must have dropped something."
"It was Fletcher, actually."
Valkyrie groaned. "He's here?"
"He was here. I told him to go away or I would shoot him."
"You're mean," she laughed.
"I do what has to be done," he responded.
She pulled up a chair, and sat. He came over and leaned on the table. She smiled up at him. "So," she said. "What you making?"
"Food."
"I know that, you goon. What food are you making?"
"That my dear," Skulduggery said. "Is what you may call a surprise."
Valkyrie blushed. She looked at him for a moment, then scowled. "I hate surprises," she snapped half-heartedly.
"Which is why I don't provide them often. You can be quite scary when you want to be."
She smirked. "What's the occasion?"
Skulduggery tilted his head. He didn't say anything, and few seconds passed.
Valkyrie's smirk dropped, replaced with a confused frown. "Am I missing something?"
He leaned in, and whispered in her ear, "Happy Birthday," before walking out.
She jumped up, grinning. "I forgot," she said, incredulously. She paused, pressing her fingers to the spot that his teeth had brushed her skin. She shuddered, and shook her head.
"Impossible," Skulduggery called from the kitchen, making her snap out of it. "You've not stopped blabbing about it for the last month."
"Week."
"Month."
She rolled her eyes, and walked back in. Skulduggery was standing in front of the stove. She started walking over, but couldn't get far. Her body hit an invisible barrier and her eyes bulged. "You can't lock me out of my own kitchen!"
"I can, and will," Skulduggery said. "It's a surprise."
Valkyrie glowered, but sighed. "So what are we doing after this?"
"Surprise."
"I hate you."
"I know."
"Do you know what the worst part is?"
"No."
"You hate surprises too."
"I've never denied it."
"Hypocrite."
Skulduggery chuckled. "It'll be worth it."
"It better be."
"Of course it will." The smirk radiated from his tone. "It's me we're talking about here."
She rolled her eyes again, then turned and sat back down in the dining room. "Hurry up," she yelled.
"Coming..." A few moments later Skulduggery emerged, holding a plate stacked with pancakes. In his other hand, he held a mug. He placed them down in front of her, and sat in the chair to her left.
They turned to face each other.
"Blueberry pancakes and black coffee - one sugar," he said smugly.
She grinned. "Wow. Looks... Amazing. Thanks."
"No problem," Skulduggery said.
Valkyrie turned to her plate, and tucked in. "This is so good! When did you learn to cook like this?"
"I didn't. It just happened. Another one of my natural talents."
Valkyrie looked at him, then went back to the food. She swallowed. "So when did you get here?"
"About an hour ago," he said. "I thought I'd arrive early."
"Wow," she said again. "You're... Wow."
"I know. I called your mother, by the way."
"Oh?"
"I told her you'd come over tomorrow."
"Great, thanks."
"Think nothing of it," he said. "But..."
"But...?"
"I'm being a brilliant friend."
"Yup, you are. So am I, as always."
"Indeed."
"So what do you want?"
They laughed. Valkyrie took another mouthful of her pancakes. "Seriously, Skulduggery, these are awesome. I should have a birthday more often. I'm thinking like... Once a week?"
"But then I would have to be nice to you all the time."
"Nah, not really. You just have to cook."
"Oh good," Skulduggery muttered.
She turned back to her food. A few mouthfuls later, she looked around again. "What?" she asked. Skulduggery was watching her, head cocked to the right.
"Nothing," he said. Valkyrie arched an eyebrow and he straightened his head. "Nothing," he repeated.
"Fine," she smirked, and resumed eating.
Twenty minutes later she had finished the food and was dressed, in jeans and a top - the spaghetti strap that Stephanie had bought all those years ago - and her black jacket. She grabbed her phone from the table in the hall and walked into the living room. Skulduggery looked up.
"You look nice," he commented.
"Why thank you," she replied, twirling round in a circle. Valkyrie grinned and went to the armchair he was sitting in and perched on the edge. "So what are we doing today, then? Will you tell me now?"
"No," he said. "I'm afraid we're going to have to delay. I got a call, China wants us at a meeting."
She frowned. "What about?"
"Meeting with a few grand mages to talk about the treaty... You know how it is."
"Yeah," Valkyrie said. "Yeah, okay."
"Sorry," Skulduggery said, standing.
"Will I change into my work clothes, or...?"
"Not unless you especially want to," he said. "We'll go straight from the meeting."
"Cool," she said, smiling. "When do we leave?"
"Soon. I really am sorry about this."
Valkyrie smiled. "It's fine," she said. Valkyrie hesitated.
He was looking at her, and although he didn't have a face he looked... sad. "Seriously," she said. "It's cool."
She stood and he did the same, and she was about to walk out when a thought came to her.
She pushed down all the doubts, and walked up to him and pressed her lips to his teeth. Skulduggery stiffened, then activated his facade and kissed her back. Valkyrie smiled against his lips, and just as he was about to put his hand on her waist, she pulled away. She saw the slightly dazed expression on his face, and smiled slowly. "Surprise," she said.