A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Ghastly, or Tanith. Val is still 24 as it is the same day.
I stepped through the mirror, ending back up in Uncle Gordon's attic. The mirror shattered behind me and I sighed. Well, that was that, then. My clothes were in tatters from the fight and I needed the armour off, but I cast a quick look at Tanith and Ghastly as I passed. Skulduggery was speaking to them. Tanith gave the men a quick smile and followed me down the stairs. We are like sisters, so I didn't mind her following me into my bedroom. She looked demurely at the carpet as I shed my ruined jacket, suit coat and tailored shirt. I looked in the mirror admiring myself, tossing my hat to the bed.
I was apparently his exactly replica, and well, I really was fascinated with my own workings. How my bones went together. The alluring composition of my ribs, the arm bones and how my shoulders flexed like his. But it somehow felt like cheating, looking at myself like this. I could sense her discomfort and smiled. I reached up and touched the sides of my jaw, the armour coming away in front. Then it was all off and I stood in my usual clothes. I glanced over at her. Tanith was still really interested in the floor.
"I am still me, you know." I told her. She looked up, saw the armour off and looked relieved. Surely she didn't find me that ugly. But she took one glance at the armour, now somehow standing in the corner and dressed, and cringed. I sensed a lecture coming.
"Well, what is it?" I asked.
"How can you look at that, see him like that, and be in love? It's just creepy. I'm sorry, but it is. I know you love him, and I approve, but looking like that?" She shook her head and left. I went over to the armour and looked at it.
The tattered clothing hung off of it, the skull wore a perpetual snarl. The hands were clenched and the eye sockets seemed to glare at the room. But I only saw Skulduggery in the armour, and he often wore that expression when he fought. I realized of course other people didn't see this, but still. There was nothing frightening here, only his masculine power... I blinked in surprise. Now where did that thought come from? I thought of him as a man of course, always had. But I'd never allowed myself to cross the line and think of him as masculine in an attractive sense.
Yes, I was in love with him, the armour's very form made me have to admit that. But anything else made me a tad uneasy. This was my partner after all. It was Skulduggery Pleasant. How could I possibly be thinking of him in a romantic sense? I sighed, but felt the air currents in the room shift as I did. I looked over to the doorway, saw Skulduggery looking at me with the same bemused expression as before. "Handsome devil, isn't he?" He said happily, wandering over to inspect the armour. He picked up a skeletal hand, flexing it. "Very fierce looking. Do I really look like this in battle?"
I smiled at him. "You know you do, and don't pretend you don't. You're just pleased somebody else noticed." He nodded in agreement, his skeletal hands running over the armour, testing here and there.
He turned to me, cast me a playful glance. "I wasn't here of course, but we weren't admiring ourselves in the mirror, were we?" I felt the heat rise to my face and he continued. "I could tell by Tanith's disgusted look when she left. Do tell me you had some clothes on at the time." His voice was a velvety purr. "I wouldn't want to think you were taking advantage of me."
He stepped away from the armour and wrapped his arms around me, looking down in amusement. Out of the armour I was slightly shorter than him and looking up at him made my stomach do backflips. "You are sure about this, right?" He asked gently. I nodded and closed my eyes as he brought his teeth to my lips. Softly at first, but then with more assurance. I felt an electric current go through me, and it felt like my heart stopped.
I wrapped my arms around him tightly, bringing one hand up to pull his skull even closer. He deepened the kiss, making soft sounds, his hands roaming restlessly up and down my back, seeking purchase.
"Skulduggery!" It was Ghastly's voice. He stood in the doorway, looking appalled.
Skulduggery looked up, arms still wrapped around me and cast him an amused look. "Hmm?"
"Come down to the kitchen, I'll make tea for the rest of us. And just don't do that. God." He sounded faintly repulsed and I buried my head in Skulduggery's shoulder and burst out laughing. He joined me, the rich sound melting my heart all over again.
"Well, that went well. I suppose they were going to find out some time and no time like the present." He kissed me again, but more chastely than before. He ran an affectionate hand over my hair, beaming down at me.
In the kitchen Ghastly had made tea, his solution, I noticed, to everything that made him nervous. I smiled at him and Tanith and they managed faint smiles back. I knew I had to say something first, and I knew they really weren't interested about their rescue at this point.
"You both know I'm twenty four right?" They nodded. "And I get to make my own decisions on who I'll choose to be with, right?" They nodded again after a slight hesitation. "Then I choose Skulduggery and that's all there is to it."
"We're happy for you, both of you, really." Tanith said. "We were just-"
"Shocked?" Skulduggery supplied. They both nodded. "As was I, but Valkyrie does have exquisite taste in men, or at least now she does since she's chosen me." Ghastly almost choked on his tea and I couldn't help laughing. Skulduggery grinned over at me; he was clearly in the mood to have fun with this. "So, what do you think we should name the children?" He asked happily. I burst out laughing harder this time as Ghastly and Tanith sat looking dumbfounded.
I had to let them off the hook, as funny as this was. "God, he's kidding! I only kissed him just now. Honest. I didn't even know he felt the same way." They looked relieved and I resisted the temptation to say more than a kiss would happen if the would just please leave now. It wouldn't have of course. Skulduggery was far too much of a gentleman for that.
We made small talk for a while, then they got a taxi and left, Skulduggery seeing them off as I lounged on the sofa in the living room, half asleep. I head him lock the door, and he came into the room looking more pleased than usual with himself, if it were possible. He sat in a chair opposite, looking at me. It should have felt awkward I guess, being alone for the first time after he and they had found out that I loved him, but it wasn't. He stretched his long legs in front of him, propping his feet up on the ottoman, and pulled his hat low over his brow. He folded his arms over his chest, and I could see his smile deepen.
His skull dipped slightly and I could tell he was slipping off into meditation. I reached up and turned off the lamp, soon asleep myself.