A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Lord Vile, Ghastly, Erksine, Geoffrey, Darquesse, or Valkyrie. Val is still 24, story is still in her POV.

I awoke at dawn the next morning, feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. The negative emotions the killer had used, however he'd done it had left me feeling drained. Skulduggery was already up and I wondered if he'd meditated at all. I showered and dressed, then went downstairs to find him meditating in his chair. I frowned, being able to tell by his face he felt the depressing lingering effects as well. I shook him gently and his skull tilted upwards.

"Valkyrie? What time is it?"

"Dawn, but I couldn't sleep. You looked terrible, I thought you might want to be up instead. That, and I could use the company." I admitted.

"Mmm. It has nothing to do with how depressed we both feel, does it? We should contact Gordon later to see if he knows anything. But until then, how about I make you breakfast? Cooking might calm my nerves, and I like impressing you."

"Are you sure you've meditated enough? I don't want to hurt you by keeping you up."

"Nonsense, frankly I'm glad you woke me. I had the most terrible nightmare, and I couldn't wake up. I assume the killer is winning and using the cave to boost his attacks. I'm so sorry you're involved in this mess, Valkyrie."

"I'm not. I want to be at your side when you need me. We're partners, remember? It's my job to stand by your side."

He got up and held me close, burying his skull in the top of my head. I thought I felt him breathe in, and pulled away, startled.

"When did you pick that up?" I asked, charmed.

"Recently. You like it? That's how I could start the fire as well. I'm not sure if they are natural abilities or my need to impress you. That's a very nice shampoo by the way, the scent works well for you."

"Skulduggery!" I said, surprised by his rare compliment.

"Now, now my dearest combat accessory, I'm only looking out for your welfare. The shampoo smells very, well, woodsy, I suppose. almost reminds me of the fire, but I like it on you. I wasn't aware women enjoyed smelling like anything other than flowers, but then you've never been all that womanly."

"Skulduggery!" I growled, following him to the kitchen. He merely waved a skeletal hand at me and began digging in the fridge. He got out eggs, bacon and bread, then started the coffee. He got out the stool and patted it and I reluctantly got up, still annoyed at his insult, but I forgave him the instant he smiled at me in delight as I sat down. He still didn't expect me to choose to be that close to him, I realized, so I watched attentively as he cooked, fighting off my dark mood, being sure to compliment his skills. Somehow it made me feel better, realizing that he was showing me a kindness and showing him one in return instead of letting him do all the work.

Being able to make him relax and forget the case even for a few minutes was worth not being so self-centered. Maybe it had been a good thing I'd been told how self-centered I was after all, but I still wasn't sending He of the Stupid Hair anything by way of thanks anytime soon.

"What are you thinking about? You looked so happy right now." Skulduggery said, shepherding me to the table with a smile. He set my breakfast before me, perfectly content to sit across from me and watch me eat. I wished right then I could tell him thanks, he deserved it. But I knew the truth would make him much happier.

"I just realized that I'm not quite as self-centered as I used to be. Making you happy this morning was more important that sitting back and letting you do all the work."

"Well, well. I don't know what's brought on the recent change of mood, but I like it. To tell you the truth I was thinking the same thing. About you of course, I've always been the epitome of generosity." He beamed at me.

"Actually, you have been. I'm assuming you didn't see to the care and feeding of all your partners."

"Can't say that I have. Not needing to eat myself I would just honestly forget. After the first couple starved to death I caught on though." He grinned.

"Skulduggery, that's terrible." I laughed.

"No, terrible is how the killer must be feeling hiding in his cave right now. Did you feel his reaction when Lord Vile showed up? That was priceless. Neat trick by the way, you being able to put my armour on me."

"Somehow Vile knew he'd need me to. Nobody ever complimented him on it, but he's quite the military strategist in his own right. He's able to anticipate the killer's moves that far in advance and plan accordingly."

"You sound smitten." Skulduggery said, amused.

"I am."

"Oh-ho, you are, are you? Need I remind you Vile almost killed you several hours ago?"

I shrugged. "The first time Darquesse saw you she thought of how easy it would be to tear you apart. You're lucky she liked you."

"My, the things you say!" He flushed and ducked his skull down.

We were in Gordon's study several hours later, Skulduggery still preening over the fact that Darquesse liked him. It was a strange reaction since he made no secret of his active dislike of her, but then Vile had hated her too. I wondered if that was how men were different than women, but supposed it wasn't. Skulduggery and I both knew not too many women would have been thrilled to accept Lord Vile's advances, but I thought it was nice having both the hero and the villain as my lover. I was lost in my thoughts when Skulduggery shook my shoulder. "Valkyrie!"

"Huh, what?"

"Brilliant." He sighed in disgust.

"What?"

"We've been discussing the case for the last ten minutes while you were off wool-gathering." Uncle Gordon put it. "At least tell me it was a story you were thinking about and we'll both forgive you."

"I won't." Skulduggery grumbled.

"Sorry, I'm not much of a morning person. Now what did you say again, Skulduggery?" I smiled at him and he huffed in indignation.

"You know I hate repeating myself."

"Said the man who tells the orphanage story constantly."

"I do not. But I've solved the case!" He stated proudly. I wanted to say 'What case?' since we knew were the killer was, but then I'd missed ten minutes of conversation. So I just looked at him and nodded for him to continue.

"First you have to acknowledge my genius and that I'm a far superior detective than you."

"I what?" I hissed.

"I'll take that as meaning you're utter awe of me."

"It wasn't meant as awe. You're the most conceited person I've ever met!"

"I'm taking it anyway. Now as I said, I've solved the case. Which means I know how to kill both the cave and the killer, because let's be honest, an arrest isn't happening at this point."

"OK-"

"We are going into the cave, because as I've always said, the idea of a living cave is just stupid. There is, however, a spirit in the cave, and that's what we need to stop."

"I'm still not seeing how going into the cave is a good idea."

"Oh, it is a horrible idea, the exactly wrong thing to do. Which is why Vile is going in with- Wait for it-"

"Skulduggery!"

"No, not Skulduggery, even Vile isn't THAT talented, he's going in with you when you're both out of control! Isn't that a wonderful plan?" Skulduggery asked brightly.

"Skulduggery, that's a terrible plan! Nobody will be in the wheelhouse! We could both go on a mindless rampage!"

"I know, isn't it wonderful? Because the first targets will be that killer and the spirit in the cave. You're far more powerful now after your Surge, and in the armour you'll match Vile for power. The two of you should have a lovely time together."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this." I turned to Uncle Gordon. "Don't tell me you approve?"

He nodded. "I do, actually. Even at your worst you and Vile will have a challenge on your hands. You'll need Lord Vile out of control, you'll need to be that way too. Even then there's no guarantee either of you will come back alive."

I looked at Skulduggery, then back at Gordon, who obligingly retreated into his Echo Stone. "Skulduggery, just the idea of Vile being hurt is enough to make me loose control."

"Good, because when he manipulated your armour, and honestly I'm still not aware of how he did it, well I am, but that's neither here nor there. But when he did he lent you his anger, his endless rage. Under the right circumstances that's a prefect weapon. That rage is what will enable Vile to fight and kill a demi-god or whatever the killer is now. It will enable you to fight by his side. This cave spirit, mostly likely is a lot like the Faceless Ones, not something your humanity wants a close look at, to be honest."

"What happened to everyone telling me to find good reasons to fight, noble ones?"

"That was before I figured out the wonderful thing about your Surge. You wore the armour before the Surge, you had, in a way, part of Lord Vile inside of you, he was there inside, during your Surge. That explains you being able to fly and do other things even outside the armour. Now that you've come into your power, you have part of him in you, always. So he'll teach you how to use that endless rage in a constructive, or rather, destructive manner."

"Is this going to involve more training?"

"Indeed it is. But we have a long time until nightfall, then Lord Vile will have you all to himself. Don't look so alarmed, Valkyrie, it will still be me, after all."

"Of course."

"Plus, Vile is very excited about training you. I've never seen him excited about anything, ever. It's a new emotion for him. Among other ones he feels for you." Skulduggery said playfully. He rose and held out his hand to me. "Shall we go? I'd rather tell Ghastly our brilliant plan in person than over the phone and I assume he's still at the Sanctuary."

I took his hand and managed a hurried goodbye to Gordon, as Skulduggery practically towed me out of the room. We were a few paces into the hall when he took me in his arms planting a searing kiss on my lips. I responded just as eagerly, gripping his shoulder blades to pull him closer, enjoying the deep growls it caused to come from him. Skulduggery opened his mouth the moment I gasped for air, placing his teeth above and below my lips, nipping gently.

Then his slightly parted teeth were on my lips, encouraging me to respond to his advances. Just as I felt my resolve slipping he pulled back looking rather pleased with himself. "That's just some of what Vile feels like doing to you tonight after your training is out of the way." He purred. He leant in closer and I swore I could catch a wicked glint in his eye sockets. "But I don't think he's planning on stopping there." Skulduggery straightened up, looking at me bemusedly. "You should see your face right now, Valkyrie. You can turn the most interesting shades of red when you blush."

I sighed and followed him out to the Bentley. It was going to be a long day.

Ghastly looked amused when we entered his office. "You two missed all the fun. Everyone is having a complete meltdown after last night. We are only four days from the dark of the moon, and having the killer up and about is dashing the hopes the cave would rend him to pieces."

Skulduggery smiled. "He's picking the best possible time, really. One of the charming things most people don't know about Necromancers is that truly talented ones can use the dark of night like they use shadows. He's giving us an unlimited supply of weapons."

Ghastly shook his head, still smiling and rose to make tea. "I shouldn't tell you this, as an Elder, but my orders, or rather my intent still stands, he's gone too far, he's too unstable. I don't like asking either of you to do this but-"

"Neither he or the cave can live, we know." Skulduggery put in, happily.

Ghastly turned in surprise. "We always arrest them, but this one, he's different, plus he knows too much. If he ever did speak he could ruin a lot of people, not just you, but almost everyone at the Sanctuary. Lots of interesting letters showed up today, letters the officials refuse to share. Three guesses who sent them."

"So they are not so much your orders, as the orders from the top. I suddenly feel like letting the man live." Skulduggery mused.

"You really want people knowing the truth about Darquesse?" Ghastly asked flatly, handing my tea over. I'd always figured he knew, he was far too good in the boxing ring not to recognize a fighter no matter how much they transformed. Skulduggery however seemed to turn a whiter shade of pale.

"You knew that as well?"

"Of course I knew, the Remnant couldn't block all my memories, and I do know my own daughter better than you think I do. I'd say she gets her temperament from me, to be truthful."

"Sprung from you complete, like Athena from Zeus, no doubt." Skulduggery muttered.

Ghastly just smiled in reply, then turned to look at me. "What idiotic plan did this genius come up with this time? Because I know that's what you're both here for." I told him the plan, expecting him to get angry, but his smile only deepened. I remembered then that they were both soldiers, both Dead Men, and they would have carried out missions like this countless times. This was no longer a case, but a mission in a war few would ever know about.

When I finished, Ghastly spoke. "Good, but of course the rest of the Sanctuary will be there and ready. Even Erskine is looking forward to enjoying himself. We can't join you two in the cave, and no doubt he will be very surprised to see Vile show up, but Geoffrey will be more than happy to work with the others to convince folks they never saw Lord Vile in the first place. Luckily the Sanctuary already has them all in place to protect certain higher ups, so they won't notice a thing." Both men smiled at each other and I was aware for the first time that underneath their everyday behaviour they were still warriors, and to an extent deadly predators that looked forward to the upcoming battle as a wolf does to the hunt. They weren't Dead Men just because they would fight for a juat cause, but because in a civilized world their apex predator natures left them with no other outlet. I smiled faintly at them both, fervently glad they were on my side.

We took our leave, and I could tell Skulduggery was amused to no end at his sudden license to kill. "We get to be a death squad of two, you and I. We should go somewhere and celebrate." He purred and half chirruped as he opened my door. I kissed his cheek through the disguise and he tilted his head endearingly in pleased response. I made sure to lean over for his door and he smiled at me as he got in. "Seat belt. I'm serious, wherever you'd like to go today, just name it."

I grinned over at him. "Provided you can stop somewhere for a Coke I'm happy just to cruise around for a few hours."

"Uh, 'cruise around'?"

"You know, Skulduggery, just drive around with the top down for a few hours. It's a pity we aren't in Christine, she had the best cruising music on tap."

"Right, you mean driving music, I think, and the radio is perfectly suitable for that. I honestly don't understand 'cruising' but I suppose a nice drive would be refreshing."

He stopped obligingly for a Coke, several in fact and a coffee apparently seeing I needed more caffeine for what I knew would be a rather long and sedate drive. I loved Skulduggery, I truly did, but we did have gaps in what we enjoyed.

He hated cruising with a passion, he knew perfectly well what it was. He wouldn't listen to music like 'Make me Lose Control' by Eric Carmen or even the Beach Boys. I'd have thought that someone his age would be impressed I enjoyed music from before my time, but he was stuck in a time warp as far as his musical tastes went. I still remembered how he'd almost wrecked the Bentley when I had adjusted the radio without telling him and 'Barbara Ann' had come on.

The thought caused me to grin as I got back into the Bentley and Skulduggery pulled away sedately from the gas station.

"You know Skulduggery," I teased him as we rolled on smoothly and serenely over wooded roads. "We need to update your taste in music. Say, The Beatles for instance." I knew what his reaction would be and his didn't disappoint me.

"Beetles are a garden pest, not a music group, as the screechy noise they produce attests to. That isn't music, Valkyrie, it's an assault on good taste. Never mind that for a good Irishwoman anything labeled the 'British Invasion' should be avoided at all costs." I laughed and he shot me an annoyed look.

"But the Americans love them." I teased.

"Americans love a lot of foolish things." He grumbled.

We drove for hours, ending back up at the inn he'd took me to by a completely different route. It was midday, and we'd both shed our jackets, Skulduggery smoothing his dark blue suit as he got out, fussing with tie and hat. He caught my look. "A man should always look his best." He told me.

"Mmm, you'll start wearing cologne next."

"I think I will. I don't suppose you have one of those small vials anywhere on your person? I know you collect those things." I nodded, handing over one I'd gotten unlabeled, thankful he'd never shopped online since I figured the skeleton figure on the full-sized bottle wouldn't have pleased him, Skulduggery being rather prickly about skeletons being used on anything.

He applied it judiciously after inhaling the scent. "I like this. What's it called?"

"I can't remember to be honest, I think it was an import, but it does smell good on you." I said, hoping nobody else in the entire Republic of Ireland knew it was called 'Bone Daddy'. But I'd never seen it for sale anywhere outside the US, so I figured the chances were slim. I motioned for him to keep the vial, and he nodded, pleased.

We went in, and found our booth waiting. I wondered if Skulduggery had called ahead and he nodded to my questioning glance. I smiled, happy we'd reached a point where no words were needed. The waitress came over with coffee and told me my steak would be up soon. I glanced at Skulduggery as she left and he shrugged elegantly. "I figured you like the steak here, and as I've said, I enjoy watching you eat. This could be a daily occurrence as far as I'm concerned."

"Skulduggery, you'd go broke. What about all the times you told me it was a good thing you didn't need to eat?"

"Oh, that? I was teasing. I've had over four hundred years to see the humour in being a skeleton." He sat back, clearly content with himself. I could see the cologne was having the same effect on him as it did on me. His body language looked relaxed, almost drowsy. I wondered briefly in the plant where they made it in America used some sort of narcotic in it.

A waiter brought my steak, and I could tell the scent caught him too. He inhaled deeply, then turned to look at Skulduggery, blushing. He gave a rather high-pitched giggle for a man and walked away. I realized he'd been flirting with Skulduggery and tried not to laugh as Skulduggery's pleased comprehension dawned in his voice. "Well, I'll be." He said, looking after the waiter in fond amusement. "I always knew I was attractive, but apparently this cologne could be a deadly weapon in the wrong hands. I don't think I've felt so distinctly masculine in several centuries, at least."

I smiled, enjoying the steak and his pleased reaction. "I'll have to see about getting you some more. But I think it is out of production. It does come from America, you know." I added, hoping to dodge his pursuit.

"You mean you simply gave me an imported scent, Valkyrie? That's incredibly generous of you. It must be hideously expensive. No, you figure out what the name is, and I'll see to ordering some for myself."

"Uh, I can give you some actually, I happen to have several bottles at Gordon's mansion. I've been to America you know, to see cousins from there. They took me to the mall to see a store they only have in America, insisting I'd love it since I dress in black."

"I see. I suppose it had some sort of properly somber name."

"Not really. It had a bright red neon sign that read 'Hot Topic'. But it was a decent sort of store if you don't mind that sort of thing."

"Mmm. So you bought cologne at the time for-"

"Goodness, not for anyone else. The scent reminded me of you, for some reason." I was telling the truth, I was just neglecting to mention the rather self-satisfied and well-dressed skeleton on the bottle.

Skulduggery tilted his head in pleasure, making another of his curious purring sounds. He offered me his arm as we got up to leave and I took it, enjoying his obvious pleasure at showing how proper a gentleman he could be. Of course I suppose a proper gentleman wouldn't have given me a searing kiss through the disguise when we reached the Bentley, but Skulduggery never did claim to be civilized.

First, my apologies. The fragrance 'Bone Daddy' is not sold outside the US as far as I know, and is, I think, out of production. But my new bottle came in today, so it HAD to be Skulduggery's signature scent.