So, generally, I write the entire story (or nearly) before I begin publishing it so that wait times between chapters are shorter. Unfortunately, I don't really have the time to do that at the moment so I'm publishing as I go. Therefore, you may have to wait longer than usual for the next chapter. I'll try to keep things reasonable but, as I have little to no time to do necessary things like sleep and eat at the moment, I make no promises. That said, hopefully you guys like it enough to stick with it despite the wait!
As always, this chapter is brought to you by the fabulous beta-ing skills of ilex-ferox.
Chapter One: An Exercise in Elliptical Orbiting
7:57pm, November 27th, 2013, Mexico City.
The heat was making Artemis's hair limp. He didn't like it. Rolling his shoulders, he tried to suppress his irritation. There was more to it than just his hair, but that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Butler glanced up from his newspaper. "Problem, Artemis?"
"No," his charge replied shortly.
"You seem...strained."
"I'm fine."
"Artemis—"
"I said I'm fine, Butler. Is there really nothing to occupy you in current international affairs?" He gestured at the paper.
Butler sighed, folding the paper and putting it down. "What's the matter, Artemis?"
"I just said—"
"Artemis."
The younger man pursed his lips and looked away across the hotel courtyard.
"You're nervous," the enormous bodyguard stated suddenly. His voice betrayed his surprise.
Artemis snorted. "Preposterous," he said. But he wasn't meeting Butler's eye.
"There's nothing to be nervous about, Artemis," Butler continued as if he hadn't heard.
"As I'm well aware. Which is exactly why I am perfectly calm and at ease."
"Now if only you could look the part," Butler replied, fighting to keep a straight face.
Artemis shot his bodyguard a dirty look. "I look fine," he said.
"That French blonde in the corner certainly seems to think so."
Butler enjoyed Artemis's start of surprise.
"You're my bodyguard, Butler, not my matchmaker. My mother has that quite under control, thank you very much," Artemis replied repressively.
"Your mother would appreciate my effort. She's very pretty, Artemis, look at those lovely curls. Why don't you go over there and talk to her?"
"Because I'd so much rather sit here and talk to you," Artemis responded breathily, leaning in, chin in hand, and peering up at Butler through his eyelashes.
Butler raised an eyebrow eloquently. Pouting, the younger man slouched back in his seat, playing idly with the armrest cover.
"Don't sulk, Artemis, it's extremely unattractive."
"Then don't be so aggravating."
"There are plenty of other fish in the sea, Artemis."
"Oh, here we go again."
"The blonde's still watching you."
Artemis waved a hand dismissively. "She's clearly high-maintenance. She returned her drink twice."
"Well, then, you two will have lots in common."
"Et tu, Brute?"
"Tough love, Artemis."
"She could be a terrorist. Or an assassin. She could be here expressly to kidnap, torture, and murder me."
Butler threw his hands up. "Fine. Have it your way then. Pine to death for all I care."
"I am not pining, Butler, I'm making my peace with the situation. I'm just...taking my time about it."
"You can say that again," Butler muttered and picked up his newspaper.
"We have to go soon anyway. The shuttle arrives at nine."
"Yes, and God forbid we be late. How would she ever manage without us for five minutes?"
"Must you be sarcastic, Butler? It's so unbecoming."
"Then we must make quite the pair."
"I hate it when we fight," Artemis heaved a dramatic sigh.
"Then don't be such a pain."
"What would Madame Ko say if she heard you talk to me that way?"
Butler smiled ruefully. "She'd say I'd become too attached to my principal. Which is perfectly true. If I hadn't, I'd save my energy and just let you get on with listening to Joy Division and shooting cocaine into your eyeballs or whatever it is love-struck young people do these days."
"How truly blessed I am to have you," griped Artemis as he followed Butler's lead and rose from his chair. "And I would never subject myself to Joy Division."
"Well, in that case I clearly have nothing to worry about."
They crossed the courtyard in without another word. In fact, it wasn't until they were on the highway heading out of town that Artemis, from the backseat of an outrageously large SUV said, quietly, "Thank you for trying, Butler."
"You're welcome, Artemis," the large man replied.
Holly didn't want to cry in front of the other passengers. For that reason, she spent most of the shuttle trip in the bathroom.
When she arrived, haggard and red-eyed, in El Dorado, the shuttle terminal was teeming with fairies, even though she had missed the early-morning commuter trains by a good hour or so. However, two people stood out from the crowd. It helped that they were nearly twice the height of everyone else.
"Artemis," she said, overwhelmingly happy to see a familiar face. As her friends came forward to greet her, she threw her arms around Artemis's waist and pressed her face into his tie, squeezing her eyes shut so as not to get tears on the silk. Her arms tightened around him.
Gingerly, Artemis laid a hand on her shoulder, patting it awkwardly. "What?" he mouthed silently to Butler. The other man shrugged, a look of complete bafflement on his face.
Abruptly, Holly drew away. She straightened her jacket and ran a hand through her hair. "Sorry," she said. "I...I just...it's been a really crazy 24 hours. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to attack you."
"That's quite all right," said Artemis, smoothing his shirt and tie.
Holy swallowed and smiled tightly. "Hi, Butler," she said. The big man bent down and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "It's good to see you."
"You too, Holly. It's been too long."
"Yes," she agreed. "Yes, it has." Suddenly, she frowned and stepped back, looking at them as if only just seeing them for the first time. "Wait," she said slowly, "why are you two here? Have you been reading my messages again, Artemis?"
Artemis looked affronted. "I most certainly have not," he replied. "At least...not in this instance. Didn't Root tell you?"
"Didn't Root tell me wh— oh my Frond, you're the new recruit?" Her jaw dropped.
Artemis smiled angelically. "Root felt more comfortable making things official."
Holly's mouth moved without making a sound.
"Well, d'Arvit," she said at last and ran a hand through her hair again. She looked exhausted, Artemis thought to himself.
"Here," he said gently, "why don't we take you back to the hotel? You'll love the view."
"Yes...I...yes, that'd be great," she said. She came forward all of a sudden and leaned against him. "I really am glad you're here," she murmured.
"As am I," he said, and smiled a little sadly.
Holly was uncharacteristically quiet as they drove back into the city. Artemis and Butler kept glancing worriedly at each other in the rear view mirror until Holly finally snapped.
"Would you two cut that out and just say whatever it is that's on your mind?"
They shared another look. Holly rolled her eyes.
"You seem a little...despondent," Artemis began.
Holly snorted. "That's one word for it."
"Is something wrong?"
Holly sighed deeply, worrying her lower lip before answering. "Kokoro broke up with me," she said at last.
If Artemis hadn't already been sitting down, he would have fallen over. "Excuse me?" he said faintly. "Are you serious?"
She nodded, staring down the headrest in front of her. "Yesterday."
"Is she insane?" Artemis asked. "I just spoke with her and stated in no uncertain terms how—"
"I know," she smiled wryly. "I thought you might have said something damning to her but she says you were highly complimentary."
"I was," said Artemis defensively.
"Thank you, that was...kind of you," Holly told him.
"Holly, I don't understand," he said helplessly. "You were so happy." He looked so uncharacteristically lost that Holly felt her heart stutter with an emotion she didn't care to investigate right at that moment.
"We were for a while," Holly agreed. "But things change."
"But, whenever I called, you were always...happy," he repeated, at a loss for another word.
"Well, you were calling, weren't you?" she said.
They looked at each other across the expanse of seat between them and, by some silent mutual agreement, decided to leave it at that.
