Disclaimer – My psychologists have convinced me I am not Eoin Colfer. This means I don't own Artemis Fowl.
Artemis Fowl sat smugly in a fancily cushioned chair inside "Bella Gourmand". The restaurant was a five star, specializing in French food. A French restaurant in Ireland. "Rather comical" as Artemis would have said. But, after recent event Artemis would not be pulling the usual jokes he made. Why would a genius mind such as his be so...silent and unconcerned? Because of recent event, that's why.
Six months ago Angeline and Artemis the first had set off in the lier jet to Japan for their anniversary. Of course, they where unknowing that they would never get to Tokyo, let alone halfway there. Butler has been assigned to watch the now nearly sixteen-year-old Fowl boy. As they where passing over the sea, an engine had some complications and the plane went down. The corpses of Angeline and Artemis the first where found merely two days after their absence were reported. Funny thing is, the bodies both had a nine-millimeter bullet in each cranium. Engine complications did not send random rounds firing into the cockpit.
Artemis had been traumatized, of course. He confined himself to his room, only permitting Butler in patterns during the day to bring him food and fresh towels, and laundry. He had slowly started to end his reclusive stage. The plane crash had been only four months in the past, and the boy seemed to still be empty. As the day it happened, but he was making progress. Coping faster than the normal teenager. He knew people died, and he would have to deal with it. But, it had seemed so unfair. He had been given his parents' company for fifteen years, and suddenly they had been torn away from him. Fifteen years was a long time to get over. Fifteen years of habits, familiarity. Everything was different, new, nothing seemed quite right.
Finally Butler has persuaded the nearly sixteen-year-old to come out of the house. He was quiet, but did not seem suicidal or depressed. In fact, he was starting to show small signs of the old Artemis here and there. Manicured nails and Armani suits again.
Butler watched Artemis flip through his menu, and under the sleeve of his black dress shirt Butler recognized the pale pink of fresh scar tissue. "Have you decided on your meal, Butler?" Artemis asked so suddenly the giant man almost had to look around to make sure nobody else had said it, that is was surely Artemis. "Oh, yes sir." Butler answered his employer. It was at that moment the waitress appeared to take their drink orders.
She was dressed as all the others. Pleated black miniskirt, black polo shirt, tights and black leather pumps. But, it was she, herself that made Butler do a full over. Her face was pale, almost paler than Artemis himself. You could see the blue vein in her temple slightly. Her black waist length hair flowed over her shoulders in waves of straight black mass, so whole and pure you could almost get lost in it. Her eyes where that extraordinary of mint, jade and emerald green all mixed in one, and they appeared three dimensional. Her face itself was very attractive, but it was not her slim curves, or amazing legs, or the fact that she was only about five feet tall that Butler was searching her. He was searching her for weapons.
He noticed it before Artemis. The soft rippling of hard muscles under the skin. Teenage girls aren't usually that well muscled. She appeared not to have any weapons What Artemis noticed first of all was the bruises running up the inside of the girls porcelain-like arm. "My name is Claudia and I will be your waitress tonight, may I take your drink orders?" She asked. Artemis responded first "Tea, Earl Grey if possible." Followed shortly "Merlot, please." The waitress did as all others do, scribbled down their orders and retreated gracefully to the kitchen. Too graceful, she moved like a killer, like a leopard ready to strike.
Artemis put down his menu, and crossed his hands over it. "Butler, I must have a haircut scheduled." She stated, running a hand through his raven hair, what reached just past his ears now. Butler took a good look at his employer. He had changed n the last few months. He had filled out considerably, natural wiry muscle, and he was quite a bit taller. His eyes held the look of maturity beyond his years. "I'll remember that. Juliet is becoming excellent in her art." The ex-bodyguard added. "The waitress is quite attractive." Artemis stated, and Butler was reminded he wasn't just starting to look like a sixteen year, he was starting to think like one too. The waitress returned, leaving their ordered drink in front of them. It was at this time Butler got a sufficient look in her eyes. Before he judged her to be seventeen or possibly eighteen. Now, her eyes betrayed her and he concluded she was either fourteen or fifteen.
"Do you have your meals selected from our extensive menu or will you require a few more moments to decide?" Claudia inquired, rather intelligently for a sixteen-year-old girl. "I will have the Calamari special." Artemis responded, nodding towards Butler, who ordered Chicken Parmesan. The girl started gracefully for the kitchen again.
As dinner came and went, Fowl and his ex-bodyguard exchanged conversation. When the bill came Artemis paid it, leaving a sizeable tip.