I AM SO SO SORRY I'M FIVE DAYS LATE UPDATING. I won't bore you with my stream of (valid) excuses, but basically they stem down to 'I need to make sure I get into university'. It's not fun. :| Remember, I'm not updating at the end of this month. I'll try and update twice in December or January.
Thank you so much Void-san, Olympian-Goddess, .., and pearlgirl97 for your reviews on the last chapter. :) Your feedback is much appreciated!
Anyway, you've waited long enough so... Disclaimer: I don't own Artemis Fowl; that delight belongs to the hilarious Eoin Colfer.
Time always seemed to do the exact opposite of what you wanted it to. For what seemed the hundredth time in the last forty minutes alone, Quinn looked at her watch and saw it wasn't even one o' clock. It was another half an hour before lunch and another seven hours after that before the twins went to bed, which was also when she would be able to leave.
Frustrated, Quinn put down her glass just a little too hard and liquid spilled over the sides.
"Feck!" she yelped, before remembering there were two young'uns in the room. Luckily, they hadn't seemed to hear her. She looked around for a cloth of some kind; but of course, the Fowls were too rich to let scraps of material lie around. So she took off her top shirt and bunched it up to collect the juice before it got on the carpet or furniture.
"Ellen?"
"Yes, Quinn?"
"Where are the towels kept?"
"Hm?" Ellen looked up, saw the mess, and looked shocked. "Quinn! What did you do?"
"Quinn spilled her drink!" the twins laughed in unison.
"Yes, yes, I can see that." She sighed. "Well, Luke will be here by now so just ask him for some kitchen towels."
"Okay. Um..." Quinn picked up her shirt. There was a large red stain on the right-hand side. Ellen sighed again.
"Leave that here for now. You can take it upstairs with you when you go and get changed."
Quinn nodded sheepishly, dropped her shirt, and then headed to the kitchen. Hopefully, Luke really was there already, otherwise she'd have to dig around Indiana-Jones style for the kitchen roll.
Quinn had hoped to go the entire summer without goofing up - and only on her sixth day. It was bad enough around her judgemental friends, but around judgemental rich folks? No thank you. The only for her embarrassment to get any worse would be-
"Miss Murphy, what are you wearing?"
-the judgemental Artemis Fowl the Second to see her in a bit-too-tight light purple tank top. (In fairness, her boobs had grown since she'd bought the top. But that was what the over-shirt was for.)
Quinn turned to Artemis, laughed lightly, and subtly revealed a bit more cleavage in the hopes that he wouldn't be able to get too annoyed with her because he'd be too busy trying not to be distracted by her chest.
"Yes, it's nice, isn't it? I do have another shirt but I got juice on it so I'm off to the kitchen to get to some towels to clean up the mess and then upstairs to change. Catch you later!"
Laughing some more, she waved and almost ran the rest of the way to the kitchen, where Luke was cutting up some vegetables.
"Good afternoon, love!" He waved his knife at her and then went back to chopping. "What can I do for ya?"
"Yeah, do you have any kitchen roll?"
"It's over by there." Luke waved his knife again and then pouted. "How comes y'never come in here to just say hi?"
"Give it time. I've only been here a week," Quinn replied. How many sheets should she get? Two would probably be plenty. Rich folks could afford the best absorption. "Oh, don't cry. Next time, I'll just come for a chat, okay?"
"It's just the onions, love," Luke laughed.
"Oh. Well, see you later, then!"
"Ciao!"
Quinn rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself as she left the kitchen. But then she almost walked right into Artemis and her face immediately fell, although she did quickly force it back up. Still, Artemis hadn't missed her expression change, if his smug little grin was anything to judge.
"You ought not to be rude to your employer, Miss Murphy."
"Terribly sorry, Master Fowl."
Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"Um." Quinn mentally smacked her forehead. Who says um to a snobby rich kid? "If you'll excuse, please, kindly, sir...?"
Artemis raised the other eyebrow. Quinn felt heat flood her face.
"Miss Murphy, I hope you're not transferring your insolence to my brothers."
Quinn's face grew hotter, though now it was because she was angry.
"What are you trying to say?"
"They must grow up to be gentlemen, not vagabonds."
"What?" Quinn shrieked, outraged. She gripped the kitchen roll, straightened her back, and glared into Artemis' eyes. "Look, Artemis Fowl the Second, just because I don't act like a pretty fecking princess that doesn't mean I'm just some street rat who doesn't know proper etiquette! Perhaps you should be more worried about your prejudices than my so-called insolence. You get me?"
Artemis' muscles stiffened as he returned her glare, though his was ten times more frightening than hers would ever be. Quinn almost backed down - she was suddenly really quite nervous. Would he try anything with her? He would probably be a lot stronger than her, not to mention he could probably afford to pay off anyone who tried to put him in jail.
"Miss Murphy, I think you're quite mistaken," he said. "I am not prejudiced, as you so eloquently put it. Merely, I can tell the difference between a refined commoner and a good-for-nothing plebeian."
"You mean like how you can tell the difference between a fashionable haircut and whatever the feck it is you have on top of your head?"
"My hair is certainly more stylish than your nest."
"Only in an alternate universe where vogue is backwards!"
"What's going on out- Quinn!" Luke exclaimed, running out the kitchen to pull Quinn and Artemis apart. The animosity between them was almost tangible. "Quinn, don't you have a mess to clean up?"
Artemis smirked. "Yes, it's never too late to turn your life around, is it?"
Quinn tensed, but Luke grabbed her before she could lunge. Artemis gave her one last smug look, and then sharply turned on his heel and walked away.
"What was that for, Luke?" Quinn cried. She struggled violently to escape Luke's arms, until suddenly he let her go with a yelp and she dropped to the floor.
"Can ya be a bit more careful?" he asked, smiling weakly and rubbing his chest. "I'm not wearing a binder today."
"Ah... Sorry, Luke."
"S'okay, love." He patted her on the head and then helped her up. "Just try not t'get int'any more fights with Master Artemis, yeah? I don't want my favourite assistant nanny to get the sack."
Quinn grimaced. "But..."
"No buts." Luke put a hand on Quinn's shoulder and bent down to her level. "If y'get fired, Master Artemis can make it hard for ya t'get a job later."
They looked at each other for a few moments, and then Quinn sighed and looked down.
"Alright." She sighed again, though heavier this time to relieve some of the tension in her chest. "I guess it's a good thing Patty's treating me tonight, huh?"
Luke laughed and tousled her hair. "Thatta girl! Now, you got spillage t'clean and I got fish t'gut!"
Quinn hadn't gone out properly in ages - it had been at least a month before the exams. She could have snuck out if she wanted to but honestly, her future was more important than getting illegally drunk with a bunch of losers at a nightclub. Not that she told them that.
Either way, Patty was in Dublin. She was still mad at Quinn for not telling her the truth (god forbid any of her friends find out she willingly became a nanny) but her need to get away from her 'loony' family was stronger than her anger, so she'd invited Quinn out to hit the town. Luckily for Quinn, Mr and Mrs Fowl didn't mind her leaving early for the day as long as it was a one-time thing, and Ellen lived in Dublin and was willing to give her a ride. Not-so-luckily for Quinn, Butler would be picking her up at eleven whether she was ready to go or not, and he still scared the bejeesus out of her.
(Truthfully, Quinn quite liked Patty's Family. It had a much better atmosphere than hanging out with the Cuddihys, as much as Quinn loved them, and although it was sizable, it didn't have the same chaos the orphanage did. They were eccentric at best.)
The ride to Dublin had been fun, though a little awkward at first. Quinn and Ellen hadn't had much opportunity to talk without the twins around and even then, the two boys (and the rest of the Fowl family, to an extent) were what they mostly talked about. Quinn was happy when the atmosphere mellowed and they started talking about something else, even if it was school.
She was absolutely determined to enjoy herself tonight. Her argument with Artemis earlier had ruined the rest of the afternoon. But she had a wad of cash, a fake ID, and a gorgeous new top that deserved a smashing maiden journey, and there was no way she would let that rich bastard sour her night out. She already wasn't allowed to get more than vaguely tipsy.
Now, she was standing outside a club, freezing her arse off because her oh, so punctual friend wasn't there yet. She was halfway through a pissed-off text when Patty fortunately showed, looking a bit fed up herself.
"Jaysus, you took your time."
"Sorry. Fecking Kyle wouldn't tell me where he'd hid my purse." (Kyle was Patty's older brother. He was cute, a bit dim, and apparently held the Worst Sibling Ever award.)
"Well, whatever. You're here now so are we gonna go in or what?"
"Hell yeah - let's go get boozed up!" Patty laughed and Quinn joined in, but she felt her stomach sink. Brilliant. Patty wanted to get pissed. Now Quinn would have to concentrate to make sure she didn't too.
Bodies merged in the middle of the dance floor; hair and arms were everywhere; just underneath the smell of alcohol was the distinct stench of sweat from having a good time.
From the looks of things from Quinn and Patty's small table, modesty seemed to have taken the evening off. There would almost undoubtedly be people having sex in the toilets.
"Why did you pick this club?" Quinn shouted.
"What did you say?"
"What?"
Patty cupped a hand around her ear. Quinn leaned in and repeated, "WHY DID YOU PICK THIS CLUB?"
"WORD-OF-MOUTH SAYS THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST NIGHTCLUBS IN DUBLIN."
Quinn looked around. Yeah, this place did look very nice, but she was willing to bet it wasn't just a glowing review that was being passed around by mouth.
"THE BARKEEPS ALSO DON'T LOOK TOO CLOSELY AT ID."
Ah, so that was the real reason. This was the sort of sex-fuelled place Levi would pick more than Patty.
"I'M GONNA GET ANOTHER DRINK," Patty said, indicating her empty glass. "WANT ONE?"
"I'M GOOD."
"SUIT YOURSELF."
Patty left her glass and pushed her way through the crowd. Quinn sighed and stirred her rum and coke with her finger. Patty was still being a bit bitchy and she refused to dance until Quinn told her what she was doing in Dublin since it wasn't a boyfriend.
"SO ARE YOU GONNA TELL OR WHAT?" Patty sat back down, set her drink on the table, and stared at Quinn.
"NO."
"YOU OWE ME."
Quinn took a gulp of her drink, nodded, and beckoned Patty closer. No way was she shouting all night.
"I've got a job near here."
"A job? Why?"
"'Cause I need money, duh."
"Why'd you keep it a secret?"
"The others don't know I have rich friends. I'm a nanny for some kids."
Patty started laughing, so much so that she bent over in her chair. Quinn sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest, pouting.
"See, this is exactly why I didn't tell you."
"You? A nanny? Those poor buggers!"
"Whatever." Quinn swallowed the rest of her drink and slammed it down on the table. "I'm gonna dance. Are you coming or what?"
"Hold on, hold on. I'm sorry, alright?" Quinn didn't answer. "At least wait for me to finish this one, then we can dance together."
Quinn shrugged and looked away, still annoyed.
How long had they been dancing? Quinn had no idea. It had just been three drinks worth of moving to bad hip hop and dubstep. Three of her drinks, that is - Patty had had at least five.
Panting and with sweat covering her entire body, Quinn pushed her way to the edge of the crowd and fell into an empty seat with a brand new drink, though this one wasn't alcoholic. Patty followed her, giggling uncontrollably.
"Why have you stopped?" Patty shouted over the music. "I could dance for ages yet!"
"Then go dance! I just need a bit of a breather, is all."
"But Quinnnnn! I don't wanna dance on my owwwwwn!"
"I have to look after three-year-olds tomorrow; I can't wake up absolutely sore."
Patty sighed dramatically. At least, Quinn assumed it was dramatic; it was the sort of thing Patty did when she was drunk.
"Fine, then," she said, and then quickly disappeared into the mass of bodies again. Quinn shook her head and took a deep drink, and then watched the people, content to sit for a while.
Suddenly, a hand fell on her shoulder. Quinn looked up to see a sweaty, muscular man, easily six foot tall, standing next to her with a cocky grin on his face. He leant down and said into her ear, "Wanna dance, sweet cheeks?"
"No thanks."
He moved closer. "Aw, come on. You won't regret it."
"No means no."
"You're just saying that."
"No, I'm really not. Get out my way." She stood up with her drink and started to move past him, but he stepped so his body was pressed right up against hers. Sod the drink, Quinn thought, and threw it in his face.
"You bitch!"
The man grabbed her but, before she even had a chance to scream, a massive paw of a hand landed on the his shoulder and pulled him off.
"Hey, what-"
The man fell silent, and it wasn't hard to see why. While the guy towered over Quinn, Butler was even taller, twice as muscular, and a face that promised agonising pain if you disobeyed him.
"Leave," Butler said. And the man was gone.
Which, unfortunately, left Quinn in the spotlight.
Butler looked at her. He didn't say anything or change his expression, but Quinn definitely got the feeling that he was disappointed in her.
"We're going."
Quinn nodded and followed him wordlessly. As they walked out of the club, the crowd seemed to part around Butler like opposing poles, and the closest would often stop dancing or talking to stare. Quinn kept her eyes on the floor, strangely ashamed and not even a little bit tipsy any more.
There was a black, but otherwise nondescript, car just outside the club. Butler opened a back door for Quinn (that was probably a habit from his bodyguard training) and waited until she'd buckled herself in to start the car.
The silence was unbearable. Quinn remembered her argument with Artemis earlier and tears pricked at her eyes. Could he be right? Was she really an insolent, good-for-nothing plebeian? Was it too late to turn her life around?
She felt her phone vibrate in her bag and roughly wiped her eyes before she looked. It was a text from Patty. She sent a quick text back and then stared out the window, trying to pretend that bastard and his hurtful, maybe even true words didn't exist.
"B-Butler?"
"Yes?"
"How did you know where I was?"
"I tracked your phone signal."
"Oh."
Silence fell again, and again Artemis' words echoes in Quinn's head. "I can tell the difference between a refined commoner and a good-for-nothing plebeian." Butler probably thought that too. He looked middle-aged so he'd probably been with the Fowls for decades; he'd lived with the rich for decades. He was probably as disgusted by her as Artemis seemed to be.
"Butler?" Quinn said again, though this time much quieter and more vulnerable.
"Yes?"
"Are you disappointed I was at that club?"
"Yes."
"D-do you think I'm good-for-nothing?"
"No."
Quinn blinked, surprised, and a couple of tears fell free. She looked up and met Butler's eyes for a moment in the mirror.
"You and your friend shouldn't go to such an awful place. Not only are you underage, but they can be dangerous. It was a mistake. However, I don't think you're a bad person."
A wide smile spread involuntarily across Quinn's face. She wanted to ask, "Do you really think so?", but Butler had broken eye contact, and Butler seemed like a sincere person anyway. Laughter, equally relieved and happy, bubbled up and broke free.
"Thank you, Butler," she said once she'd finally calmed down. He nodded, but didn't make a sound. Her chest felt much lighter now. She smiled out the window, watching night time Dublin as it passed.
And then suddenly, she was being held in Butler's arms as he carried her effortlessly to her room.
"I fell asleep," Quinn said hazily, and then realised how much like an idiot she sounded. Well done, Captain Obvious.
Butler put her down and she realised they were outside the twins' room. She decided to peek inside to see if they were okay, and to her surprise, they were gone.
"Um, they're not in there."
"They must have gone to Master Artemis' room then."
"They do that?"
"If they wake up in the night, yes, usually."
"Should we go and get them?"
"I will. You should just go to bed."
"No, it's fine, I'll help. I am the assistant nanny after all." Of course, as much as she hated Artemis right now, she couldn't just forget about her ulterior motive for this job and pass up the opportunity to see Artemis' bedroom.
Butler waited for her to take off her shoes and jacket and dump her bag, and then led her to a wing which she hadn't yet had the chance to explore. Artemis' room was quite close to the edge of the wing, with the door open.
When Quinn first stepped into his room, she was...underwhelmed, quite honestly. She didn't know what she'd been expecting, but it was definitely something more excited than a standard (albeit expensive) bed-wardrobe-chest-desk, a couple of full bookshelves, and computers in varying degrees of disassemblement and gutting.
Butler didn't stop to look around, heading straight for the bed. Quinn followed him and saw not only Myles and Beckett sleeping peacefully, but Artemis, too. He had an arm over his brothers and was curled almost protectively around them. Quinn smiled softly as she admired Artemis' sleeping expression. Unlike when he was awake, there were no creases in his brow and his face wasn't stony or blank; rather, his forehead was smooth and betrayed no signs of stress, and his mouth was slightly open. Quinn found it quite adorable, until she remembered that Artemis was a prick and she hated him.
Butler picked up the twins and gave Myles to Quinn, him being lighter, and closed the door behind him to let Artemis sleep. When they placed the twins gently into their own beds, they barely stirred. And too tired to put her pyjamas on, Quinn just stripped, slipped into bed in just her underwear, and was sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Can you tell I've never been to a nightclub? Eheheh... Um, yeah. Just go along with it. It's a plot device, not a real place. ¬¬
Also, I hope you enjoyed the argument! It was fun to write Artemis getting riled up. By the help, no less! And that little moment of Quinn and Butler bonding in the car - personally, you know, as the writer, that is one of my favourite scenes in the story so far. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff! ;D
I've been quite involved in the LGBT community recently, which is how Luke is a transmale. (Honestly, it didn't even occur to make him not a transmale. How's that for rewiring brains for ya! :D (Give me a break, I'm proud of myself.)) How he and Quinn met will come up later in the story, as well as how he told her, so you've got that hilarity to look forward to.
There were a few one-liners, phrases, etc that are from the manga Ouran High School Host Club. I'm seriously obsessed with it right now. I didn't actually notice them until my reread. (This is a shameless plug. READ IT. If you don't have much spare time, watch the subbed version of the anime - there are lots of places to watch it online.) Also, throughout writing Butler's entrance, all I could see in my head was a character from OHSHC doing it. (You'll know which one I mean. Seriously.)
Again, so sorry for the massive delay! I really do feel terrible! (And sorry for the massive author's note.) And don't forget to take my poll for how many chapters you want. At the moment it's at a three-way tie which is annoying because I can't decide.
See you next time, folks! :D
