Twenty-Nine: Stoned
Everything passed through Holly's half-lidded eyes as slow as a hearse. The noise of the officers outside her cubicle was garbled and slurred as though passing through a thick plasma gel. She stared listlessly into space, not an ounce of energy within her enough to drag back her wandering mind to focus on the digipad she was aimlessly scrawling onto, something which Trouble would be complaining about tomorrow.
"This is useless," she muttered, letting her head drop onto her desk with a small thud.
Earlier that day, she had dropped off Artemis at Dr J. Argon's Clinic for a scheduled check-up. The complex was erratic somehow, so it was hard to determine whether he was progressing for better or for worse, making Holly feel anxious and worried. This was where Holly's mind had been all day.
Suddenly, the unintelligible murmurs surrounding her stopped to be replaced by footsteps too heavy for a fairy. The last step was instantly followed by a rap on her cubicle door.
"Holly?" came Artemis's voice.
The elf abruptly sat up. Artemis was not to be discharged until an hour more. Why was he in Police Plaza?
"Miss Holly?" he repeated in giddy tones, knocking again.
"What are you doing here, Orion?" Holly hollered, yanking the door open, and was met with a sight that made her jump a step back: a huge bulge that was somewhere around Orion's pelvic region, which was, only moments ago, an inch away from her face. A hand on her heaving chest, eyes wide, she dispelled words much colourful than a simple d'arvit!
Orion knelt and sat on his heels, slightly breathless. Holly noted Orion's dishevelled state that Artemis would have never allowed to happen unless they were saving the world. And that acceptance was hardly met with thanks and praise.
He smiled at her a goofy smile and looked down. On his lap, he unfolded the hem of his untucked shirt (much to his boorish alter's embarrassment), previously the bulge, to reveal a collection of colourful pebbles.
"Take one," he said, grinning. "I've searched far and wide for the greatest stones to offer you, Princess."
Holly eyed the stones sceptically. They looked like any other normal stone.
"Why?" she asked slowly. She was, of course, not as aware of Orion's magic stone obsession as the noble steed.
Averting his eyes like a child guilty of nicking a biscuit, he said, "It's a gift," which led to suspicion.
Neither spoke for a moment, and elf crossed her arms.
"All right!" Orion cried, raising an open palm in defeat. "All right, Princess, I give in! I cannot bear to deceive you anymore. I have heard that penguins have this courtship ritual: the male searches the kingdom for the greatest and most magical pebble of all and offers it to his betrothed, and then they are sealed forever as lovers. Such magic, such love..."
"Orion, it's a myth," said Holly almost exasperatedly. She felt a bit of sympathy when his face fell. How could this be Artemis? "It's partially true though."
Orion beamed. "Really?" he asked excitedly.
"Well, penguins build their nests with pebbles. And the 'courtship' happens while they build the nest."
For a while, Orion pondered this, rocking back and forth on his heels.
"Miss Holly," he said at last, the title making the elf huff, "it would be my great honour to build a bivouac with—"
"No, Orion."
The boy's enthusiasm was instantly wiped off from his face.
Sighing, Holly briefly cupped his cheek in one hand and smiled up at him. "C'mon. Let me take you out for dinner, then back to the clinic. My shift ends in eight minutes."
I had half of this written since October and only finished it tonight. Days without internet actually force me to write. Wow. I will probably update tomorrow (or the day after). No promises.
Reviews are nice to see in the morning. *hinthint* Goodnight.
