A/N: Wow! That's the most reviews I've ever got in one day!!! YAY! I'm
appreciated. YAY! People are reading this. YAY! I've just finished my
exams!
Sorry about that, I'm a bit hyper right now. Hehehe, I loved writing this chapter.
I love you people! I don't think I have to tell you to keep reviewing!
Disclaimer: All belongs to Eoin Colfer, except for this plot which I am now proud to say is mine!
Fowl Manor Dublin Ireland Artemis's POV
Artemis had been observing Holly off and on since he had brought her to Fowl manor. When he had gotten her away from the alley that night, his house had been the logical place to bring her. He still felt indebted to the Elf after all those years and despite what she may think of him, he wasn't evil.
He had phoned ahead and told Juliet to set up a room for their unexpected 'guest', relating the less embarrassing details of their meeting. He had briefly considered setting her up in the room she had been held captive in but had decided against it, that idea was a little too twisted.
He felt a little guilty watching her, but it was completely possible that she would hurt herself. Her healing had been a violent one and Artemis had had to restrain her thrashing arms and legs through some of the journey home.
Other than that, he had been mildly surprised to see that she was deceivingly peaceful while she slept. Artemis decided that the tough persona that she displayed normally was only a façade. A mask. Hiding some deep seated emotion. This was something that he did automatically, analysing people's character. Some people thought it was him being rude but he honestly couldn't help it.
Artemis looked up at the monitor now. But Holly wasn't there! A brief moment of irrational panic swept over him until he thought to check the other screens and found her walking among one of the hallways, scowling at a portrait of his great grandfather.
Artemis took a deep breath and thought to dissect his sudden burst of emotion but found that he kept getting distracted. He followed her progress as she went down numerous corridors, with apparently no destination in mind. Resignedly, he decided that he clearly wasn't getting any work done so he may as well go and talk to her now.
It took him only a few minutes to locate her. She was in the second training room, taking a 'lesson' from Juliet. Butler had taken a seat close to the door and was watching with obvious amusement.
Artemis felt no need to interrupt immediately so he took a seat behind Butler and watched. It was really more verbal sparing then actual contact. He almost chuckled when Holly used his name as a distraction.
The captain was definitely feeling better then. It was remarkable, that fairy magic. She had been shot four times with a high voltage gun, and now, one day later was alive and kicking. If somewhat sloppily.
Artemis was also aware of another thing. Holly's attitude seemed to have changed completely. This carefree, light girl who laughed every few seconds was totally unlike the reserved, fierce Captain Short that he had become accustomed to. Maybe he had never truly known her at all.
He noticed Butler watching closely too. "Enjoying the sights?" He asked dryly. Butler jumped but didn't turn.
"Are you?" Artemis was forced back into his thoughts again. He really was placing too much efforts on thoughts of Holly. So that meant...what?
Holly hadn't has this much fun in a long time. She felt unreasonably happy and light. It had been a long time since she had engaged in a physical activity purely for fun. She found herself enjoying every second of it.
Straightening up suddenly and staring at the blank wall behind Juliet, she suddenly feigned shock. "Artemis?" She exclaimed. Juliet instantly turned from her fighting stance and looked at the empty space behind her. Holly quickly tripped her up while she was distracted. That one, she had learned from Julius Root.
"Hey, no fair!" Juliet protested, getting up.
Holly laughed. "Everything's fair!"
Juliet scowled. "What's the matter, old woman? Too frail and wrinkly to fight properly?" She asked throwing several punches. Holly averted them easily and laughed again.
"Hey, you'll be old and wrinkly long before I will. Besides, you- should.treat your elders with respect." She added, missing a kick. Juliet threw the elf to the floor.
"Wrestle-mania, eat your heart out." Holly looked up amusedly from the floor.
"Careful, mud girl. Unless you want to be watching the newly installed wall sized tv with wrestle-mania all day."
"Yeah, because that would be original." Juliet muttered. Holly stayed down, laughing uncontrollably.
".Hogmaaan!" She choked. She flipped up, feet first. Juliet fumed.
"That's it, I'm gonna kick your-"
"I apologise for interrupting your little dispute," A voice came, making both girls jump. ".But would it be possible for me to talk with our esteemed 'guest'?" Holly turned to see Fowl, sitting on a bench behind Butler. Amazing! She hadn't even heard him come in. She automatically straightened up, meeting his gaze. "I will wait outside." He finished, standing up leaving the room.
Holly turned back to Juliet. "Rematch?" She asked.
"Sure. Don't think you're getting away that easily, elf-girl."
Holly had to laugh. "I'm shaking." She stepped outside. Fowl was waiting for her. He gestured for her to follow him and led her a short distance, into a library. The walls were lined with countless scripts, all well kept and undamaged. They stood there for a second, somewhat awkwardly.
"How do you feel?" Artemis asked finally. Holly was taken aback. There wasn't a trace of concern on his face but the fact that he had asked at all was surprising. Still guarded, she folded her arms across her chest.
"I'll live. So what now? Are you going to tell me I can't leave your house?"
Artemis hardly reacted. "If I did endeavour to kidnap you again do you really believe that I would leave your door unlocked and allow you to wander freely about the grounds of my abode?"
"No," She admitted. "But then, why bring me here at all?"
"You were injured. Did you really expect me to leave you in that alley?"
"That's what the Fowl I knew would have done." She muttered.
"What makes you think you know me?" He asked simply. That made her pause. "No answer? Well in that case maybe you can answer something else. What exactly is the situation below ground?"
"I already told you all I could. And I really shouldn't have told you even that. Now, what happened to Walsh?"
"He got away."
"WHAT?" Holly screeched. "B-but he had bullets in him, and you had two guns! How could you let him escape?" Holly was furious.
"I was a little preoccupied carrying you away." He replied calmly.
Now Holly was stunned. "You carried me? Why? I-I mean thanyou." Then she was guarded again. "Well, now I've screwed up again. I've got to go. What happened to my communicator?" It had been in her purse. "Round device?" Artemis inquired. "I'm afraid it was beyond repair by the time we arrived here. You did receive one message however, from Foaly."
"What did he say?" Holly demanded urgently.
Artemis paused to recall the message from memory. "Root has been RFC'd. Council searching for you. Incoming shuttles blocked by Sabres. Contact me on private frequency. Yatush Cra."
Holly had to lean on the wall for support, shock coursing through her body. How could things have gone so wrong?
"I take it things aren't going according to plan." Artemis stated. Holly began walking towards the door. "I wouldn't leave yet. It's ten o'clock in the morning." Holly stopped and turned on her heel.
"And what so you propose I do mud boy?" She asked. She could feel tears beginning to form in her eyes but she forced them back. She would not cry in front of Fowl.
"Well to start with, you could reframe from calling me mud boy. As you can plainly see I am no longer a child." It was true, Holly could see that Artemis had matured but she really wasn't in the mood to agree.
"Aww, you think your all grown up. Well you are still a child compared to me. I will address you how I please for the short time that I am forced to remain in your presence."
"You know, you don't have to keep finding reasons to distance yourself from me. It's not as if you're human." He replied tonelessly. Holly fumed at his lack of emotion, she knew it was irrational but his superior attitude made her even angrier.
"I'm more human than you are." She spat.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Artemis asked.
"I'm talking about your whole attitude. Show no emotion, feel no emotion. It seems to be working really well for you. It's making sure you can go on hurting people with a clear conscience. Hey! Maybe that's why you haven't got any friends. Tell me Fowl, what are doing? Trying to protect you from getting hurt? Or trying to protect others from seeing the real you? It must be a dark and rotten place inside of you."
Artemis was taken aback by her outburst. Holly's words had just spilled out of her, but they had rung true in her head. "No answer?" She mocked, turning his words on him.
"Whatever. Later mud-man" She said sarcastically, turning on her heel and leaving the library. She stomped back to her 'room' and slumped onto the bed. Finally, she allowed the grief to wash over her, and began to cry. RFC was LEP code for removed from commission. It was only ever used when the person had been killed.
Sorry about that, I'm a bit hyper right now. Hehehe, I loved writing this chapter.
I love you people! I don't think I have to tell you to keep reviewing!
Disclaimer: All belongs to Eoin Colfer, except for this plot which I am now proud to say is mine!
Fowl Manor Dublin Ireland Artemis's POV
Artemis had been observing Holly off and on since he had brought her to Fowl manor. When he had gotten her away from the alley that night, his house had been the logical place to bring her. He still felt indebted to the Elf after all those years and despite what she may think of him, he wasn't evil.
He had phoned ahead and told Juliet to set up a room for their unexpected 'guest', relating the less embarrassing details of their meeting. He had briefly considered setting her up in the room she had been held captive in but had decided against it, that idea was a little too twisted.
He felt a little guilty watching her, but it was completely possible that she would hurt herself. Her healing had been a violent one and Artemis had had to restrain her thrashing arms and legs through some of the journey home.
Other than that, he had been mildly surprised to see that she was deceivingly peaceful while she slept. Artemis decided that the tough persona that she displayed normally was only a façade. A mask. Hiding some deep seated emotion. This was something that he did automatically, analysing people's character. Some people thought it was him being rude but he honestly couldn't help it.
Artemis looked up at the monitor now. But Holly wasn't there! A brief moment of irrational panic swept over him until he thought to check the other screens and found her walking among one of the hallways, scowling at a portrait of his great grandfather.
Artemis took a deep breath and thought to dissect his sudden burst of emotion but found that he kept getting distracted. He followed her progress as she went down numerous corridors, with apparently no destination in mind. Resignedly, he decided that he clearly wasn't getting any work done so he may as well go and talk to her now.
It took him only a few minutes to locate her. She was in the second training room, taking a 'lesson' from Juliet. Butler had taken a seat close to the door and was watching with obvious amusement.
Artemis felt no need to interrupt immediately so he took a seat behind Butler and watched. It was really more verbal sparing then actual contact. He almost chuckled when Holly used his name as a distraction.
The captain was definitely feeling better then. It was remarkable, that fairy magic. She had been shot four times with a high voltage gun, and now, one day later was alive and kicking. If somewhat sloppily.
Artemis was also aware of another thing. Holly's attitude seemed to have changed completely. This carefree, light girl who laughed every few seconds was totally unlike the reserved, fierce Captain Short that he had become accustomed to. Maybe he had never truly known her at all.
He noticed Butler watching closely too. "Enjoying the sights?" He asked dryly. Butler jumped but didn't turn.
"Are you?" Artemis was forced back into his thoughts again. He really was placing too much efforts on thoughts of Holly. So that meant...what?
Holly hadn't has this much fun in a long time. She felt unreasonably happy and light. It had been a long time since she had engaged in a physical activity purely for fun. She found herself enjoying every second of it.
Straightening up suddenly and staring at the blank wall behind Juliet, she suddenly feigned shock. "Artemis?" She exclaimed. Juliet instantly turned from her fighting stance and looked at the empty space behind her. Holly quickly tripped her up while she was distracted. That one, she had learned from Julius Root.
"Hey, no fair!" Juliet protested, getting up.
Holly laughed. "Everything's fair!"
Juliet scowled. "What's the matter, old woman? Too frail and wrinkly to fight properly?" She asked throwing several punches. Holly averted them easily and laughed again.
"Hey, you'll be old and wrinkly long before I will. Besides, you- should.treat your elders with respect." She added, missing a kick. Juliet threw the elf to the floor.
"Wrestle-mania, eat your heart out." Holly looked up amusedly from the floor.
"Careful, mud girl. Unless you want to be watching the newly installed wall sized tv with wrestle-mania all day."
"Yeah, because that would be original." Juliet muttered. Holly stayed down, laughing uncontrollably.
".Hogmaaan!" She choked. She flipped up, feet first. Juliet fumed.
"That's it, I'm gonna kick your-"
"I apologise for interrupting your little dispute," A voice came, making both girls jump. ".But would it be possible for me to talk with our esteemed 'guest'?" Holly turned to see Fowl, sitting on a bench behind Butler. Amazing! She hadn't even heard him come in. She automatically straightened up, meeting his gaze. "I will wait outside." He finished, standing up leaving the room.
Holly turned back to Juliet. "Rematch?" She asked.
"Sure. Don't think you're getting away that easily, elf-girl."
Holly had to laugh. "I'm shaking." She stepped outside. Fowl was waiting for her. He gestured for her to follow him and led her a short distance, into a library. The walls were lined with countless scripts, all well kept and undamaged. They stood there for a second, somewhat awkwardly.
"How do you feel?" Artemis asked finally. Holly was taken aback. There wasn't a trace of concern on his face but the fact that he had asked at all was surprising. Still guarded, she folded her arms across her chest.
"I'll live. So what now? Are you going to tell me I can't leave your house?"
Artemis hardly reacted. "If I did endeavour to kidnap you again do you really believe that I would leave your door unlocked and allow you to wander freely about the grounds of my abode?"
"No," She admitted. "But then, why bring me here at all?"
"You were injured. Did you really expect me to leave you in that alley?"
"That's what the Fowl I knew would have done." She muttered.
"What makes you think you know me?" He asked simply. That made her pause. "No answer? Well in that case maybe you can answer something else. What exactly is the situation below ground?"
"I already told you all I could. And I really shouldn't have told you even that. Now, what happened to Walsh?"
"He got away."
"WHAT?" Holly screeched. "B-but he had bullets in him, and you had two guns! How could you let him escape?" Holly was furious.
"I was a little preoccupied carrying you away." He replied calmly.
Now Holly was stunned. "You carried me? Why? I-I mean thanyou." Then she was guarded again. "Well, now I've screwed up again. I've got to go. What happened to my communicator?" It had been in her purse. "Round device?" Artemis inquired. "I'm afraid it was beyond repair by the time we arrived here. You did receive one message however, from Foaly."
"What did he say?" Holly demanded urgently.
Artemis paused to recall the message from memory. "Root has been RFC'd. Council searching for you. Incoming shuttles blocked by Sabres. Contact me on private frequency. Yatush Cra."
Holly had to lean on the wall for support, shock coursing through her body. How could things have gone so wrong?
"I take it things aren't going according to plan." Artemis stated. Holly began walking towards the door. "I wouldn't leave yet. It's ten o'clock in the morning." Holly stopped and turned on her heel.
"And what so you propose I do mud boy?" She asked. She could feel tears beginning to form in her eyes but she forced them back. She would not cry in front of Fowl.
"Well to start with, you could reframe from calling me mud boy. As you can plainly see I am no longer a child." It was true, Holly could see that Artemis had matured but she really wasn't in the mood to agree.
"Aww, you think your all grown up. Well you are still a child compared to me. I will address you how I please for the short time that I am forced to remain in your presence."
"You know, you don't have to keep finding reasons to distance yourself from me. It's not as if you're human." He replied tonelessly. Holly fumed at his lack of emotion, she knew it was irrational but his superior attitude made her even angrier.
"I'm more human than you are." She spat.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Artemis asked.
"I'm talking about your whole attitude. Show no emotion, feel no emotion. It seems to be working really well for you. It's making sure you can go on hurting people with a clear conscience. Hey! Maybe that's why you haven't got any friends. Tell me Fowl, what are doing? Trying to protect you from getting hurt? Or trying to protect others from seeing the real you? It must be a dark and rotten place inside of you."
Artemis was taken aback by her outburst. Holly's words had just spilled out of her, but they had rung true in her head. "No answer?" She mocked, turning his words on him.
"Whatever. Later mud-man" She said sarcastically, turning on her heel and leaving the library. She stomped back to her 'room' and slumped onto the bed. Finally, she allowed the grief to wash over her, and began to cry. RFC was LEP code for removed from commission. It was only ever used when the person had been killed.