Disclaimer: I own neither Artemis Fowl nor Kuroshitsuji, all the teapots and spoons in the world could never change that fact.
Summary: AU. Imagine if Artemis and Holly never made it back to their own time after N01 sent them back but instead they get sent off to 18th century England in which they come across a certain awful nobleman and his butler.
"Goodbye Ciel!" Elizabeth's playful voice shouted as the main door shut behind her. Ciel sighed, "Ah, I hope she gets a little less energetic when she gets older." He stretched, turning around to face his butler, "Why are you smiling Sebastian?"
"Oh nothing really, but it seems as though two very interesting characters have appeared before us." Sebastian said as he knelt down to fix the bow tied around his master's neck.
"What are you talking about Sebastian?" Ciel asked, growing annoyed at how vague the butler's answer was.
"I mean to say that there appears to be a very interesting creature awaiting your arrival in the staffroom." Sebastian said. He had sensed the magic that came from Holly the minute he set eyes on her. The boy was also odd in a way he could not explain and the resemblance he had with the young master not only mentally but physically could not be ignored either.
"If you are lying, you will be punished." Ciel said harshly, only slightly interested about what Sebastian was talking about. A certain envelope with the royal marking on it had been gathering most of his attention at the moment.
"Yes, my lord." Sebastian said, still kneeling with his right hand above his heart.
Artemis and Holly sat quietly at the table awaiting the arrival of the Butler Sebastian's master. When the tapping of two pairs of feet against the cold, tiled floor could be heard through the wooden door, they both stared at the knob as it began to turn. The door swung open and Sebastian stood beside a boy whom in Holly's opinion looked eerily like Artemis. The minute Holly laid eyes on Ciel, she felt a chill run down her spine. He was about the same age Artemis was during the Fowl Manor siege but his eyes told differently. They were cold and showed no signs of human empathy and the smile plastered onto his face was evil and fake. The boy knew what a smile looked like but his act could not beat Holly's fairy senses. By the looks of it, this boy had not truly smiles in quite a while. Holly realized this in only a manner of minutes and shifted her gaze upon Artemis, only now truly realizing how much the boy had changed during their adventures. His eyes were still calculating and his mind was mostly logical, but in the very back corner of his brain, he had trust. Trust that his friends would come save him if ever need be, trust that his parents love him, and trust that he himself was a human being a not a robot in a shell. Holly knew that the boy that stood before her with blue tinged hair did not share that trust, for all that the boy knew, he was alone.
Artemis sat there at the staffroom table with his arms folded across his chest awaiting the arrival of the 'young master.' When the boy stood before him, Artemis let out one of his evil grins. When it happened he felt a bit surprised, the grin felt right on his face. Like he had found an old hat that he loved but had lost and was now caught up in a loving reunion. His evil grins had been growing few due to the lack of schemes and the Fowl family going legal. (Or at least that was what his father and mother believed. Artemis still took part in a number of illegal operations but a lot less then a few years ago.) When Ciel stood in front of him leaning casually on a cane and a smug looking grin on his face, he immediately knew that the boy knew that they were not from here.
The boy began to talk, "Hello, I would like to apologize for what my butler told me was his barbaric reaction to your kindly stroll." The boy's words spoke of apology, the only thing Artemis and Holly could hear was punishment.
Artemis stepped into his spoiled brat role, quickly removing his irish accent and replacing it with a flawless English one, "Indeed! Your Butler over here called me and my beloved a couple of rats!"
Everyone in the room quirked an eyebrow at Artemis' use of the word beloved and Holly shot him a quick glance that meant 'what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about?'
Ciel smiled, "Beloved is it? I'm sorry; I had no intention of making you look like a fool when you two were having an outing. Please accept my offering of tea and biscuits before you go, you likely skipped out on teatime."
Artemis cleared his throat, thinking about the consequences of accepting their offer would lead to. Mother is dying and Jayjay is out in the forest somewhere, it would not be wise to stay. The part of Artemis mind that wanted him to stay rebutted, We still have no sure way on getting back to the present. It would be much safer to stay here and enjoy a friendly tea. Artemis seriously doubted the safety aspect of this tea but couldn't argue with the fact that they still had no way of going back home. He sided with the curious part of his mind.
Holly, Artemis and Ciel were sitting at a circular table with a pristine white table cloth set upon it. On the table were various biscuits, cookies and cakes that all looked delicious. In front of each of them was a baby blue china teacup with intricate floral designs. The butler Sebastian stood beside his master.
The four of them were silent as they ate a couple of desserts and drank their tea but as Ciel finished his and lay in on the plate; he began to talk, "So Mr. Fowl, you told my butler that you have a summer estate here… but there are none under your name."
Artemis let out a mental groan; Of course he knows about the estates around him, how could I have been so stupid? A fake smile appeared on his face, "The estate is a bit east of here, nearer to the city than to here."
"Oh, I see. Then you walked all the way from your estate all the way here?"
Artemis' smile widened, "No of course not. As your Butler could tell, I am not in the greatest physical shape." Sebastian nodded slightly as his master turned to him. "No, my aunt Maybelle had dropped me off after I had asked her to."
Ciel knew that the boy's words were utter rubbish, and he knew that the boy knew that he knew (OMG I ACTUALLY DID THAT!) Artemis tilted his head, smiling politely. He obviously knows, the question is; who's going to break their role first.
Ciel let out a sigh, "You're smart aren't you?"
Artemis smiled, I win! "I like to think so."
"Good," He leans forward and lets out a menacing smile that might've even caused a shiver to ease down Butler's spine. "Then I hope you understand when I ask you, who are you really?"
Artemis smirks and straightens his back into the chair going into business mode, "My name is Artemis Fowl the Second, head of a criminal empire since I was eleven. I have made encounters with things that you would probably never believe existed and save the world on numerous occasions." Artemis crosses his arms and smiles, he knew it wasn't smart to bring up the fairies though not even directly but he felt a chill from the glare Holly was giving him. This boy is now my rival, I am certain, I intend on beating him at everything before I go back to my home in the present. Then a small nervous thought passed through his mind, If I ever go home.
Ciel wondered what the boy had meant by 'thing he would probably not believe existed.' What did the boy know? His butler was a demon, can't get anymore non-existent than that. "What things do I probably not believe exist?" Ciel asked impatiently, he wanted to get this over with so that he can do what the queen wants, though I have a feeling that I am not going to be able to get rid of this boy so soon.
Artemis wanted to make a cocky grin and reply 'fairies' straight away, but the dagger shooting out of Holly's eyes made him falter. "Oh nothing of any importance to you."
"You are guests in my home, I insist that you tell me, or else." Ciel let the words hang in the air awaiting the boy, Artemis' reply.
Artemis knew what the or else had meant, he used it countless times. But that was when Butler was with me, though Holly is amazing, I feel that Sebastian is of something else. Even Artemis, the once strictly logical being, let his gut take power when he saw the Butler Sebastian after he stepped out from behind the tree, it was a strange fear he had not felt before. It was as if he was a master playing with puppets, not caring whether or not they break.
Artemis began to speak but was interrupted by Holly whispering a few words behind him, "Demon…" It was a mere whisper; Artemis had only heard it because she was sitting right beside him, then a thought struck him. The Butler had been able to hear them whispering from behind a tree, yards away, it may be possible he heard this. And if he did… what would his reaction be?
The Butler let an obvious smile form on his face. Artemis saw it, pure evil, a kind that would make the most hardened mobsters squeel in fear, for a moment he sat there paralyzed. Sebastian dropped his smile as he looked at his pocket watch, "Young Master, it is time for your lessons with Miss Hannah." When the smile had vanished, it was replaced with worry that seemed almost comical after the evil that was once on his face. Artemis tried to make himself believe that he had just imagined it but he knew he didn't. The man in front of him was a demon.
Ciel pushed away from the table and stood up, grabbing the cane that was leaning against the table. His face remain still and cold as he spoke, "I would like to invite you to stay at my manor for a few days. It was my fault that you had been taken off the trail and as I am certain you have gotten yourselves lost. I think you should sleep here until your aunt picks you up."
Artemis and Ciel looked each other in the eyes seeing a perfect rival in front of them and they shared an obnoxious smirk. Then, Ciel turned around and began walking out of the staffroom with his head held high and as his Butler began to follow him, he said, "Sebastian, buy our guests some clothes fitting of our era."
Sebastian smiled, once again recognizing how much Ciel's mind had been able to take on the situation with so little information. "Yes, my lord."