A/N: I don't own Anton, Valkyrie, or Skulduggery because owning fictional people is wrong, that's why.
We arrived at the restaurant, a quiet place I'd never been to before and got a small table for the three of us. Anton, ever the gentleman pulled out my chair for me then gently pushed it in and I thanked him. He smiled and seated himself. "I'm glad you came at last, Valkyrie. Skulduggery's told me how you've always been busy so we could have time to catch up and that's very sweet of you, but not necessary." I smiled and nodded then glanced over at Skulduggery.
He shrugged, carefully keeping his façade's expression blank. Skulduggery had lied for me, covered for me and I wondered just how much he knew. Most likely everything, but he'd never said a word. I wondered if he had done it to protect Anton's feelings or mine. The waiter came and handed us menus and I busied myself with selecting something.
"Get anything you want, Valkyrie, my treat." Anton said, flashing me a gentle smile and I nodded, noting he hadn't changed much. The tall man still dressed like a funeral director. He had long black hair that he wore loose and he carried himself like the Dead Man that he was.
"Thank you, Anton. I think I'll get an appetizer and a coffee, that should be plenty for me." He nodded, then looked up from his menu.
"Want to share a sampler then? I'm not very hungry either and the portions look immense." He gave me a hopeful smile and I nodded. I realized he was trying really hard to bond as friends so I put any romantic notions aside.
When we'd ordered and got our coffee I looked at him. "I still keep expecting you to be angry that I fought one of your guests to tell the truth. I know how you feel about that."
Anton looked surprised. "He was no longer a guest at the time. Even if he was I don't care how much training or how good you were at the time, Valkyrie. You were a teenager up against a homicidal maniac with a personal vendetta against you. I apologize for that." He said.
"Oh, no need." Skulduggery said airily. "That's how Billy-Ray and Valkyrie show eachother they care." I growled and kicked him under the table and he yelped them shot me a glare.
"That wasn't very nice." He grumbled, rubbing his leg.
"But it's what you deserved, Skulduggery. You shouldn't talk to people the way you do." Anton put in and I laughed at the shock on Skulduggery's façade. Our appetizer platter came and we both stared at it. There was enough food there for four healthy adults, and the plates took up most of the table.
The waitress grinned. "Nobody's been able to finish one of these yet. Let me know when you want a container for your leftovers. She handed us two empty plates to serve ourselves from and left. I looked at Anton and he smiled and shrugged gesturing for me to dig into the deep fried assortment first.
Skulduggery watched us, his head tilted thoughtfully. "So, Anton, how is the Midnight Hotel doing?" He asked and I raised my eyebrows at his tone. He was clearly leading Anton somewhere or making an opening for him.
"Oh, wonderful, Skulduggery. Thank you for asking. Now if I could just find someone to help with all the paperwork I'd be a happy man." Anton replied in the same tone then both men looked at me expectantly. I wanted to argue that it was a looking like we'd have a lovely summer in Dublin for once, and I hated paperwork, but then I figured out I'd be in the hotel with Anton and the job sounded a whole lot better.
"I'd get a room?" I asked and Anton nodded.
"I'm holding one in reserve for you as we speak. I could really use the help, Valkyrie. I haven't kept good records since I built the place and now I'm paying for it. I don't answer to the Sanctuaries of course, but I do answer to myself and office work is not one of my strengths."
I nodded and was about to answer when his mobile rang and Anton excused himself from the table. Skulduggery looked at me pointedly and I sighed but he surprised me when he spoke. "Nothing like having to work for the man for a whole summer to cure you of what ails you, Valkyrie. Anton's a very lonely man in many ways, you're one of the few people who isn't terrified of him or his Gist and I'd appreciate it if you remember that. He needs a friend." He finished softly and I smiled at him.
"Yeah, but I'll miss you." I said, and it was the truth. Skulduggery just smiled.
"You have your mobile, and frankly it isn't like Anton to take anyone on, ever. The poor man scares people, Valkyrie. He could use the company and your bags are in the boot of the Bentley anyhow and there's precious little you can do about it." He smiled and by the time Anton returned we'd agreed I go for the summer.
Anton's face lit up. "Good! There are also other odd jobs, but I intend to give you room and board and pay you so it should be fun. Besides, it is a hotel so you'll get all the cable TV and Internet connectivity you could ask for."
"I will?" I asked doubtfully, wondering how a hotel that moved every twelve hours had managed it.
"Mmm. Mages all want to have connectivity and all the comforts of home and since it is a hotel, they expect more. We're also more fortified against zombie attack, by the way." He smiled gently and I found myself grinning back.
Soon enough we were being dropped off in front of the Midnight Hotel, and I wondered what I had gotten myself into.
Did you catch the sneaky reference to "Phantasm"? Anton is said to be extremely strong so he sort of reminds me of the Tall Man for some reason. I so want a guest either named A) Angus Scrimm or B) Jebediah Morningside.