Artemis briefly highlights his illegal ventures, describing how Holly became involved when he kidnapped her to his latest mission where he suffers from Atlantis Complex. Tinsley hangs on his every word, but as the story progresses, he notices she grows paler. By the end of it she looks overwhelmed.
Please, please, don't shut me out now, Artemis finds himself pleading, but he doesn't show how vital her view of him is externally. Holly knows how important it is to him though, so when Tinsley is speechless after he concludes, she feels a tight knot forming in her stomach. Holly decides to play cupid.
"I'll be staying in your room tonight while Artemis fixes my wings." She tells Tinsley, knowing Artemis will have no objections; after all, Tinsley's room is the farthest away from the other bedroom so it holds the least chance of discovery.
"Oh - well, sure." Tinsley says, distracted by the millions of conflicting thoughts racing around in her head. "I'll - go - set up a bed for you."
She leaves without another word.
Holly turns to Artemis. He looks distressed, at least as distressed as he'll allow himself to look.
"Arty, look, it's a lot for her to soak in for one day. Give her some time."
Artemis nods, trying his best to act as if it doesn't bother him at all.
But it does. More than he wants to admit to himself.
He tries to distract himself, motioning Holly to help him move the desk against the wall with the dent to cover it up. He may not have a lot of muscles and Holly is so small the desk could swallow her whole, but between the two, they manage. Artemis replays the scene over and over.
She walked out without a word as to what she thought. The sound of her footsteps as she leaves. The scent of her perfume had wafted through the air as she stood; he hadn't noticed at the time, but it was a vanilla scent. All of this, without a word.
Her silence must mean….she doesn't want a criminal as a friend…
Holly sneaks into the room around one that night, after she's certain everyone is asleep so no one will see her. Her neck is giving her a sharp pain every now and then, and she's not looking forward to sleeping on the guest room's couch, but tomorrow morning she has things to say to Tinsley and doesn't want to miss the chance.
To her surprise, she finds Tinsley has fallen asleep on the couch, leaving the bed for Holly. Did she intend to fall asleep on the couch, or was it by accident? Knowing as much as she does about her, Holly concludes it must be that Tinsley opted for the couch because she is being nice.
As Holly tucks herself into bed, amazed at how comfortable it is, she hears a murmur. Afraid someone is outside the door, she hides herself under the covers, only to realize a second later its Tinsley, mumbling in her sleep.
"Artemis, I'll get the right answer for sure this time…" She says. "Don't leave…"