A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Anton, Skulduggery or the Dead Men. But I figured the world needed some more Valton. So enjoy!

Valkyrie hummed to herself as she worked, a red spray tank in one hand, sprayer attached via a hose in the other. Although she had people to cut the lawn and do other things, they only did so much and now she was spraying liquid death on the plethora of weeds that thrived in the nooks and crannies of the property and she was not feeling the least bit sorry.

Valkyrie, after all, wasn't much of a chore person. She did them if she had to, but since even on the secluded property she couldn't just blast the weeds with magic, the closest mundane solution would have to do. As she worked a tall man with long black hair rounded the corner of the mansion and started to walk towards her.

Even before Valkyrie could work up an excuse about using weed killer he was upon her, smiling down at her with that gentle smile at his. "Hello, Valkyrie. I rang at the front but got no answer." His gaze drifted to the red spray tank. "I thought people in your generation loved the environment."

"We do. But I'm also a Dead Man and any weeds growing on my property are the enemy. And killing them this way is more fun." Valkyrie grinned at him. "Hi, Anton, Good to see you. Let me store this away then I'll see about making us some coffee."

Valkyrie went to the garage and carefully stored the sprayer and tank away and then peeled off her disposable gloves. She tossed them in the trash then led the way into the mansion, Anton getting the door for her in a courtly gesture that made her smile again. "You wash up, I'll see to the coffee." Anton murmured so Valkyrie did, admiring the way Anton handled the French press.

She'd seen baristas mess up the simple process, but Anton worked with a precision she admired. He'd added the coffee and then various spices and some orange peel without even being asked, then turned the kettle on. "Mexican coffee's all right?" He asked and she nodded as she dried her hands. "I suppose I should have asked before making it," he said as he poured the water into the press, "but your kitchen is perfumed with it."

Valkyrie blushed slightly. "Yeah, I'm kind of a coffee junkie."

"No need to apologie. All the best people used to frequent the coffee houses of Paris." Valkyrie raised her eyebrows to that. She liked Anton, he was a great friend, but he didn't seem too social. Though now that she thought of it she could see him in a Parisian coffee house just fine. He served them and the got settled at the kitchen table.

"It's great to see you, by the way." Valkyrie said, trying to figure out a way to ask why he was there without being rude. "The Hotel's doing well?"

"Yes, and close enough to visit. Nice avoidance of asking me why I'm here, Valkyrie." Anton said in that quiet voice of his, but he seemed amused.

"Sorry, I never visit unless Skulduggery drags me somewhere, so it is always a mystery to me why people do it. But I have missed you. You're going to be close until midnight?"

"Yes, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to drop by and invite you out to lunch." Anton said and before she could protest about needing to change out of her ratty trainers, tee and jeans and grab a shower he went on. "The way your dressed is fine, don't tell Skulduggery this, but I know the best dive not far from here and I'm dying to go there."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's finish our coffee and go." Valkyrie said, excited at the idea of getting to go anywhere with Anton without the rest of the Dead Men along as an armed escort. Or chaperones.

Wheee! Let the Valton commence! Uh, let me know if you want more.