After Foaly got the van moving again, Artemis decided to question Holly's alter, who /insisted/ that she was too weak to sit up, and therefore still had her head on Artemis's lap.
"I know you're not Holly. So, what's your name?" he asked.
The alter frowned slightly. "Why are you being so blunt, Arty dear? Do you not like me? Now I feel bad," she said almost playfully, not sounding too upset.
"I'm sorry," the boy said.
"You should make it up to me," the elf said with a grin. She lifted her arms to wrap around his neck, presumably to make out again, but Artemis caught her wrists and gently made her lower her hands.
She pouted.
"Your name?" he asked again.
"Guess. If you're right, you get to kiss me. If you're wrong, I get to kiss you," she offered, still sounding sexy as hell. "I know you enjoyed yourself, Arty," she added.
The boy began to blush. "I-I-I, uhh, ahh, I-"
Holly's alter laughed, a low quiet, evocative laugh that made Artemis want to kiss her again.
"Your name," he said more forcefully.
You have to be firm with her, he thought. If you aren't, she'll keep playing with you.
The girl sighed resignedly. "My name is Rose," she told him, her voice sounding disappointed and closer to Holly's normal tones.
She was acting that way on purpose! She wants something out of me! he thought. Then, Of course she does. She wants to make out. Stop being so paranoid.
He froze, then shook it off. It's nothing. I'm fine.
"Hello, up there? Earth to mud boy! Or do I need to wake you up myself?" she whispered slyly.
"I'm fine, Rose. I swear. There's no need for your help getting my attention," he told her. "How much can you tell me about Holly's Complex?"
"I'll tell you if you give me another kiss," Rose suggested.
"No. Just tell me," he said, grimacing. "Please," he added.
What am I doing? I'm sure I'm fine. I'm just a little keyed up, and Holly's mannerisms are just bothering me. I'm fine. I'm fine.
His thoughts were interrupted by a pair of soft lips pressing against his.
He pushed her small frame down, away from his face and nearly shouted, "Would you STOP THAT?"
No.1 turned around in his seat, startled by the loud noise. Up until that point, they had been whispering quietly to themselves.
Butler watched them in the rear-view mirror with slitted eyes.
Artemis looked at them guiltily.
"Sorry. Everything is fine. I swear."
Slowly, No.1 turned back around and Butler stared out the window instead of at the mirror.
When he looked back, he realized Rose was still holding him, and was smiling at him with narrow eyes.
"Why do you have to be such a spoiler-sport?" she said, not sounding the least bit annoyed.
"No more kissing, no more flirting. Just answer my questions, okay?" He was hyperaware of everyone around him, now, and didn't want to be embarrassed again.
"Fine. I suppose, Arty, dear," she sighed, again sounding a bit like the Holly of old.
Artemis also sighed. "We figured out that her 'good' number is four. Does she have a 'bad' number?"
"Mm-hm," she hummed, not wanting to nod her head that was still in the boy's lap.
"What is it?" he asked, trying to sound neutral.
"Five," she said.
Artemis moaned internally.
If my suspicions are correct, this is going to be a long recovery.
