"Butler," Artemis hissed, irritated with his bodyguard. Obviously, sometime during the night, he had realized how lacking he had been in his duties and was deciding to make up for it now by insisting on keeping watch the rest of the time they were in the rubble. "You are being ridiculously illogical," Artemis explained.
"How so?" He asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Think it through. If you kept watch all night after a taxing day, then the next day stay awake through it, and then keep watch the impeding night, the quality of your vigil will degrade with every consecutive hour alert. Eventually, you would be easily taken out. Instead, sleep now, with dawn approaching and the chances of an unlikely attack slimmer, and be rested for tonight. Honestly, it is elementary logic." Butler shrugged.
"I agree your argument makes sense, but I am still reluctant to abandon my duties."
"You did not seem to find issue with that yesterday." But he knew this was a slap and felt a tingle of remorse. He sighed. "Sleep knowing you will do your duty better tonight because of it." The older man sighed.
"Very well, Artemis, you win." The boy smiled for an instant before replacing his mask. "Just yell if anything goes wrong." He nodded and Butler used the procedures taught to him by his sensei to sleep well but lightly enough to be awoken by even a yelp.
"Good morning," Nadalia's voice said, husky with her morning grogginess after giving Butler a reasonable opportunity to fall asleep. Artemis hid his surprise well.
"Good morning," he replied smoothly, stroking his wrinkled tie down into his suit jacket. She scooted closer to him in order to speak softer.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked out of politeness.
"Decently, considering," she said back, gesturing around the cubby.
"Did we wake you?"
"Yes, I think so, but it's fine." The silence begins to increase. Nadalia, feeling awkward blurts out something to fill the void. "Dawn is my favorite time of day, if I'm ever up for it." He gave her a strange sideways glance.
"You mention this why?" She shrugged, too embarrassed to admit she doesn't like silence. The dreaded lack of conversation began again until Artemis responded to her original statement. "It is my favorite as well." She gave him a small smile.
"Artemis," she begins softly, "perhaps we got off to a bad start yesterday, I'm sorry, usually I'm not so moody or rude, I was just scared and worried." She nervously waited for his response. Although part of him wanted to see their rivalry through to the end, with his triumph, for the sake for his sickly mother he decided cooperation was the best choice.
"I think you are correct about our first day together. It would be nice to state that I am usually not so abrasive, but that is untrue, and therefore would be a waste of both of our time, but, I will admit that a large part of the tension between us was caused by myself." Seeing as they were working on getting along, Nadalia repressed her urge to interrupt him and correct his statement to 'all' the tension.
"Thank you for saying that," she cordially responded. He nodded. Silence.
"There happens to be a matter I wish to discuss with you, Nadalia."
"Then by all means proceed." He took in a heavy breath, as if to collect himself for what needed to be said.
"I don't know if you noticed this, but my mother is not well."
"What do you mean? She seemed fine to me." He attempted to suppress an eye roll but was unable.
"Hers is a mental aliment. She has severe depression and has ever since my father's disappearance. For the past year she has lived only in the past, being aloof, going even to extreme memory loss, mood swings between fatigue and rage, confusion, hallucinations." Her heart felt for this family that had gone through so much but hid it so well, especially Artemis. "Interestingly, since meeting you she seems to have been drawn out of it." She pondered this.
"Probably from the trauma from the opera house collapsing or she and you being in danger, her instincts kicked in to protect you and her," she offers.
"Interesting theories, but I assure you that is not how the mind nor my mother operates. Besides, the change occurred when she met you, not when she or myself were in danger." She bit her lip while thinking of other possibilities.
"I think you're seeing a connection where none exists," she suggests.
"Perhaps, but the timing was unbelievably specific."
"It's undeniably odd, that's certain."
"Precisely my thoughts."
"So what are your theories, boy genius?" she quires.
"Nothing worth mentioning, I am still working it through in my head, and will need to concur with an official expert before making such a conclusion."
"You've made me very curious, so I think you should tell me anyways."
"In this early stage, I do not believe that would be wise, but in due time I will. The main reason I am discussing this with you is that I am...concerned what her state will return to once you are gone. Assuming we leave this alive, we shall separate. I worry that the separation, at this premature state of her recovery, could be irreversibly traumatic."
"That is concerning, however, I see no alternative."
"Most likely, our area of the theatre will be excavated first, therefore the number of days until the rest of your family is rescued is completely unknown." She was glad he didn't mention the chance they were dead. At first thought he was changing the topic but the saw the true direction.
"Yes, that's right."
"Where would you stay until then? A hotel? How would you pay for it?"
"A hotel is certainly not possible, but I'm sure there will be areas for people to stay."
"Which will be the highest quality, most entertaining, sanitary, and safest place to stay," his voice heavy with sarcasm. Admittedly, he had her at quality but safe sealed the deal.
"There are hostiles around here, correct? Those are cheap, and safe," she mentioned, hesitating a little at the last word. He scoffed.
"Not very, especially for lone, young women." She bit her lip at his implication. "And what if you ran out of money? And do you have sheets on your person?" He didn't need to wait for her response. "Do you have any family or friends in the area?" He hoped the answer was no. She shook her head, the gradually deflating bedhead curls brushing her face which Artemis berated himself for noticing.
"Yes, it's quite the dilemma, thank you for spelling it out."
"Luckily for you, I spy a solution." Inwardly, Artemis prepared himself, this would be the first time he invited a girl to his house. "What if you stayed with us? For my mothers sake," he quickly added. She opened her mouth to reject the idea but saw the reason before the words came.
"Your offer is logical, I will consider it, thank you." she was floored by his generosity and tried to conceal it but the wonderment showed in her voice. He was willing to invite a stranger, who had begun as his enemy, into his home. Sure, it was to help his mother, but it was clear that she had no other options, he easily could have left her to fend for herself. She smiled at him to express her gratitude.
