Author's Note: Disclaimer applies to all chappies – I forgot to place one, did you notice? So, uhm, this is a fanfiction based on Eoin's Artemis Fowl Books. Hi Eoin!

POV switches between Butler and Arty, so I hope you don't get confused.

Thanks for all the reviews, The Black Coyote, Kelly Holden, The Oracular Fox, Lalala (like to sing? nn), Sofia666, Gaara&Neji, Kry's Law, Spirchick39, Sir Francis Drake's Heir, Apo, Kez and all those who would review in the future!

Reviews help. What can I do? They're just fun to read!

Round II – Psychological Warfare

Butler cracked his knuckles, preparing for the task ahead.

Know thy enemy.

Strange how that lesson came to mind as he changed his Principal's diaper. But his instincts were seldom wrong, and if his instincts told him to be wary of a... a... 3-ft fairy, then he would. From here on, he would treat his Principal as a Threat to both their well-beings. Hence, Artemis would have to be...

Neutralized.

Artemis eyed Butler warily. With the sole exception of his parents, Artemis found it impossible to trust other people. It all boiled down to his first Nanny, an old woman who treated him like a piece of furniture. When Artemis cried to get her attention, she spanked him and even threatened to throw his teddy away. Artemis got even by throwing his bottle at her. His aim was terrible, and he seldom connected – but it became apparent to the parents that Grandma must go.

If only it were that simple with Butler. Butler caught his bottles, ignored his tantrums, purloined every ball... He was a nanny who was a cut above the rest. He would have to change tactics.

"Master Artemis, please wear your cap."

Hm. At least he didn't use baby talk.

Butler tucked his Sig Hauer under his vest and picked Artemis with one hand.

"I have observed that you are antisocial with everyone not of your immediate family. That is acceptable – you can't be too careful. But you must also learn the niceties of social behavior."

Artemis tilted his head. He didn't understand where this was going.

"We're going to Daycare."

Alarm bells rang in Artemis' mind when he heard 'Daycare' in such an ominous tone.

A month before, Butler staked out 3 different top daycares within the city, background-checked all regular customers and staff before finally settling on Little Angels Haven.

"G-g-good morning S-s-Sir...", the teen stuttered as Butler's bulk blocked off a portion of the sun's light, bathing the interior in darkness. "H-h-h-ow may we help y-you?"

"I would like to enroll my nephew, John Matthers."

Sheila, as her name plate indicated, shakily wrote the alias on the logbook. "P-p-please sign here S-s-sir."

"I would prefer to stay and watch John, if you don't mind."

"N-n-no p-p-problem, Sir... y-you can s-stay on the bench."

"Beside Blarney?" he glanced at the purple dino.

She nodded.

"Very well," Butler glanced at the little children aged 1 to 3 who were playing in the large indoor play ground. They looked happy enough. He, Sheila, and five other staff were the only adults present. If something happened, he could grab Artemis and be out of here in an instant. "Here is Master John," then he bent over and whispered to Sheila, causing the youth to blush deeply, "Please do not call him cute, or use any juvenile tone when you talk with him."

Butler took his place beside Blarney the Dino and proceeded to read the latest issue of 'Guns and Ammo.'

"Oh!" Sheila was pleasantly surprised. Master 'John' was a beautiful baby. Round grayish blue eyes that just shone with intelligence, midnight black hair that framed his pale chubby face.

Sheila gently took 'Master John' from the very large man. She was frightened of him, what with the dark shades and shaved head... but he was handsome, in an exotic fashion. Mixed parentage kind'a gave one that edge. John must'a be a rich kid or sumth'n to have such a nanny.

"Ohh, you're sooo adorable!" she cried, pinching his pale cheeks. "You're so cuute, I could eat you up! Maybe it's because that big bad man doesn't play with you that you're in a bad mood today! Well, I'll fix that!"

Little John fidgeted and groaned. Sheila didn't notice as her attention was already at the children playing on the swing.

"We have a new one, guys! Meet Baby John!"

The children stopped their game and looked at the tod she was carrying. Kiara, the little blond pony-tailed girl burst into tears, and Ed ran behind the play pen, terrified.

"H-hey, wha?" her first thought was the Eurasian man followed her and the children saw him, but the absence of a partial eclipse crossed out that explanation.

If only she had listened to Butler's admonition –

TBC

Note: Children have an instinct for danger. They are closer to our primal selves, their minds still uncluttered with modern knowledge and trivia. Ed and little Kiara simply reacted as a normal human ancestor would when faced with danger. If Sheila were smarter, she would've noticed the danger sign and bundled the children away from here. But no, she simply left the cold-hearted beast inside a pen with little children!