The Sparrow Flies North for the Summer (Valduggery)

Eyes Heart and Hair

After concluding her tale, the car fell into a comfortable silence; such a silence that hadn't been shared for quite a while.

"Well," said the skeletal man at the wheel, "that was some adventure you had."

"Yeah," replied the dark haired girl in the seat next to him. "Though it wasn't the same without you."

"Honestly? I'm surprised you survived without me."

"Glad to see your egotistical nature hasn't changed."

"Oh, this is nothing. Just wait until you see your present, then my ego will flourish."

"Present?" Valkyrie squealed, clapping her hands together quickly.

Skulduggery looked at her. "Please never do that again."

"What? Amn't I allowed to get excited?"

"Of course you are... but I don't consider my partner squealing like a little school girl as... professional."

"Humph." She folded her arms and sat back in her chair.

"Well, you can be a bit more excited than that," he shook his head. "That's just sad."

She stuck out her lower lip and looked up at him dejectedly.

"Can you at least tell me what it is?"

"Nope."  he said, popping the 'p'.

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"My answer hasn't changed."

"So...?"

"No."

"You're no fun."

"I am heaps of fun. You just don't appreciate me."

"Why'd you even get me a present?"

"Think of it as... a 'welcome home' gift."
"Oh. Cool. Thanks." She paused.
"So... should I get you a thank you gift for your welcome home gift?"

"You don't have to; just know that if you didn't, I would feel crushed and would wallow for days due to your lack of consideration."

She smirked. "Good thing I have a gift for you then, isn't it?"

"Oh? And would said gift happen to be your presence?"

"No. Well, possibly. Maybe. Sort of. Yes."

"Can I get a gift receipt?"

She gave him a dark look.

"I'm kidding, Valkyrie."

She smiled. "I know." She began to stare out of the window. Everything outside the car was a blur. A smudge o green here, a splash of red there.
Valkyrie smiled, truly happy for the first time in a long time.

********

Valkyrie had fallen asleep. Which didn't surprise Skulduggery. After such an eventful night, she deserved a rest.
He sighed. He had Valkyrie back. He had his partner.

She would never know just how long he had waited for this day.

A traffic jam was building up, and soon he had to slow, then stop completely. Taking advantage of this, he looked at Valkyrie properly.
She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, with a black hoodie and boots. Her hair was long and black, and he marvelled at the way it... was.

He missed his hair.

She looked tired, but peaceful as she slept. There were dark rings under her eyes, and, he noticed, a little bit of dried blood rimming her nostril. She'd patched herself up pretty well after the fight, but had missed the blood.