I hope she will say yes.
Artemis Fowl sat at his study's desk, massaging his temples, trying to figure out the best way to go about asking a very important question. A question that people all over the world struggle with around mid-February every year. The fact that others struggle as well did little to calm his nerves, though.
Perhaps I should simply ask her.
Nonsense. This requires delicacy.
"Hey Arty, what's up?"
Oh no. Holly had walked right through his study door and hopped into the chair opposite his desk, as if she owned the place. Have elves no respect for meditative thinking spaces? Or is it just this one elf in particular? Ah well, here goes nothing. "Well, if I'm being honest..."
"I would prefer that, yes," she smirked.
Out with it. "Alright, but only since you asked." Artemis cleared his throat with dramatic flair. "I feel no small amount of pressure asking this of the great-granddaughter of Cupid himself, but, Holly Short... will you be my valentine this year?"
Holly looked at him funny for a second.
Please say yes. Please say yes.
Then, affection spread across Holly's face as she took notice of the vulnerability in his features. "Artemis," she began, with the same warmth that had first thawed him all those years ago.
Artemis' breath caught. "Yes?"
"We've been married for years, now, Artemis." Holly's smile was worth more than all the gold in the world. "I should think, and hope, that you know in your heart the answer to your question."
Thank the gods. Artemis cleared his throat again. "Well, yes," he admitted. "But... it never hurts to clarify, you know."
"Oh?" Holly sat forward, intrigued.
"Yes," he said, leaning across his desk to nearly meet her halfway, "You can never be too sure. Seeing as I fall in love with you all over again each day, it seems only logical to ask you to be my valentine each year."
Holly could not decide whether to kiss him or punch him for subjecting her to such mush, so she split the difference, reached the rest of the way across his desk, and gave him a playful shove back into his chair. "Come on, Arty," she laughed. "This kind of flattery is not good for my ego."
Artemis mock-pouted and crossed his arms. "Might I remind you that it was you who waltzed into my meditative space like you own the place-"
"I do own the place."
"We own the place. As I was saying, you are the one who asked me what was 'up.' And then, a classic mistake, you asked for honesty."
Holly settled back into her chair, enjoying this latest round of banter in their lifelong game of wit. "Mm, yes, I should know better than to do that by now, shouldn't I?"
Artemis shrugged. "Ask, and ye shall receive. Or would you rather I hold back when I think of a particularly smooth line that describes how I feel?"
"Smooth?" she snorted. "Not a chance. In fact, you were so sheepish there that I could've counted you if I were trying to fall asleep."
In her presence, Artemis laughed easily. "Noted. I shall have to work on my delivery."
"Yes... but not too much. You've got to keep me grounded, after all. The praise might go to my head."
"Alright, then..." Artemis grinned wickedly, and counted off on his fingers. "You keep leaving dishes on the couch. You forgot to feed the fish all week. Last night you tracked mud in and ruined our rug. And you-"
"Okay, okay," frowned Holly. "Consider my ego grounded."
"Really, I could go on. It's no trouble."
"Do you want me to be your valentine this year?"
Artemis hesitated at the suddenness of the query. "Yes...?" he ventured, hoping this was the right answer.
Holly leaned forward again, beckoned him towards her, and smiled slyly. "Well then, Arty, you're just going to have to shut up."
It had been the right answer. Artemis shut up.
