two world breakers in a pod

Untitled part

HEYYYY PEOPLES, CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY, MY PARENTS RANDOMLY GAVE ME A NEW PHONE AND PENS

anyhoo, this will probably be the last solely China and skulduggery chapter, ideas for those chapters have just been coming to head more

ALSO this is the longest chapter yet

skulduggery walked up the stairs to the library, he has found himself wanting to be around China more, he sincerely didn't know why. His ongoing theory was it was his paternal instincts kicking in, and it he just felt the urge to keep her safe. He didn't know why though, he knew that China was more than capable of defending herself, and functioning on a basic human level.

The distinct smell of the 3rd floorn hit his non existent nose. He didn't entirely know how to explain it. It reminded him of a mix of books, ethanol and wood polish. He didn't necessarily hate it, although almost everyone that visited, (including China- who literally lived there) said that spending to much time on the third floor of the apartment complex gave them severe headaches. Skulduggery didn't get headaches, so that could be part of the reason for his lack of distance for this particular smell.

Skulduggery trailed alon g the long corridor, it was lined with doors, there must have been at-least 30 of them, they were all polished and permanently stained a dark brown, skulduggery would know of course— who do you think did the paint job. First time visitors may be confused at all the doors that were bolted shut, but most people knew to walk the end of the hallway, where there was a door, all black, with a plaque that read "library".

when skulduggery walked through the door, he found himself wondering what the apartment complex's looked like before all the walls were torn down to make the library. He liked to imagine lots of tiny rooms, all with floral wallpaper.

he walked through the bookshelves, there were no windows in this particular library, China had mentioned once that she couldn't stand the idea of the sun fading the spines of her precious books. She always said that like the sun was something that she absolutely detested, and it could only ever have malicious intent.

he trailed his fingers along the books, they all varied in colour, size and height. He read some of the titles "a brief history of history" "an incomplete history of secret organisations" "fantastic beasts and were to find them" "signum linguistics for people with minimal intellectual ability". China had mentioned that last book was the one who guided her into becoming a signum linguist. He didn't remember where, or when, or the context, but he remembered her saying it. And that was about it.

He saw her at the end of this row, her long hair was tied up and she was trying in vain to put a book on the top shelf. Despite chinas multitude of admirable qualities, her height was not one of them.

"need help" skulduggery said, his tone tainted with amusement

"yes actually" do you mind putting this," she said putting a large green book in his hands "up there" she said pointing in the general of were she was trying to put it

"not in the slightest" he said, and slid the book onto the shelf

China flinched slightly "one spot to the left"

skulduggery very confidently, put it to the right

"my left you idiot" she said, a smile in her voice

skulduggery then proceeded to to put it back 8n the original spot

China sighed and grabbed the book, and playfully hit skulduggery in the back of the skull

"your pretty dim for a detective" she said and climbed up onto the first shelf and put the book where it was supposed to be