Holly watched Artemis turn and walk away, then entered the kitchen where Butler was.
The bodyguard didn't look up when she entered, just assuming it was Artemis as he figured even if Artemis had untied the elf he hadn't let her out of her room.
"Artemis," he began, but Holly cut him off.
"Guess again," she told him.
"Holly?" He spun around. "Holly! You're free!"
She smiled slightly. "I don't know about free, but I'm untied," she agreed. "And I finally have circulation in my wrists again!"
The manservant chuckled softly. "Yes, and I imagine it feels rather good after so long." He paused. "Anyhow, how'd you get untied?"
"Artemis let me out," she answered, taking a seat a the table. "I managed to convince him I wasn't suicidal anymore, or at the very least sane enough I wouldn't stab myself again."
Butler nodded indulgently. "A definite improvement. I just wondered if it had anything to do with you sleeping with him."
Holly's head snapped up. "What are you talking about?" she demanded.
Butler rolled his eyes. "Go ahead, try to play innocent with me, but I saw you two snuggled up together up there, and I have to say you looked pretty comfy."
"I was," she murmured, then she seemed to realize what she said. "Hey! What were you up there intruding for anyways?"
The manservant raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I was only checking to making sure he wasn't beating you senseless again or something. He was up there with you an awful long time; I couldn't help wondering why. Excuse me for being concerned for your safety!"
"Well, thank you for your concern, but even if something had happened between me and Artemis, it still wouldn't be any of your business," Holly snapped.
"Your welcome." He paused. "And Holly... I have to say, I approve. Just as long as your being careful. I mean... He is still twelve years old."
"Butler!" Holly exclaimed, her face turning tomato red in an instant. "I am very aware of that, and trust me, I never even thought of doing something like that with that Mud Boy... Until now..." She wrinkled her face in disgust. "And either way, it didn't happen! Nothing happened! I swear! Now please, drop it, forget about it, and do not even think about bringing this up to Artemis!"
"Do not bring what up to me?" the human asked as he entered the room.
"Oh D'Arvit..." muttered Holly.
"I heard that, Holly," Artemis informed her as he walked to the other side of the room and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "Now tell me: what is it that is not supposed to be brought up to me?"
"Ask Butler," Holly said. "I might puke if I have to repeat it..."
"Oh, don't be so over dramatic," the boy scolded her before turning to his bodyguard. "Now what is this about? I insist you tell me."
So Butler told him. Artemis choked on the mouthful of water and had to spit it out in the sink.
"That is lucredious! Whatever gave you such an idea?" He demanded, after recovering from a coughing spasm and wiping his mouth on a towel.
"Well, let's see, perhaps the fact I went in there and found you two snuggled up under the covers together on Holly's bed!" Butler said, narrowing his eyes.
"Butler, I assure you, no such thing happen. Holly and I are not in any relationship quite so intimate," Artemis said. "And contrary to what you may believe you say, nothing like that happened. I went in and talked to her, and I was merely comforting her when she fell asleep on my shoulder. I had already untied her, and when I tried to lay her down so she could sleep I found that she had ahold of my jacket, so instead of waking her I laid down with her. She needed the rest." He stopped. "That's all that happened. Understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Now, in the future, please try not to jump to such rash conclusions. And you," Artemis said, turning to Holly. "Such things do not need to be hid from me. I don't care if you find them embarrassing or not, I need the truth and only the truth. Hear me?"
"I wouldn't technically being lying..." Holly argued hesitantly.
"Holly, a lie by omission is still a lie. Now, answer me, am I clear?"
"Yes," the elf sighed.
"Good." He took a seat beside her. Then, changing the subject completely, he asked, "how long until the food is done, Butler?"
Butler studied the food in the pot before him briefly, then said, "now, actually. Would you mind getting me some plates?"
"Sure," he said with a shrug. He set his water down beside Holly as he got up. "Captain, are you hungry?" he asked, pausing halfway through getting the plates out.
"I- I'll take some," Holly said quietly. "Thank you. But please don't call me that again."
Artemis frowned. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. Next time I'll think more about it before I speak.." He trailed off when he saw Butler looking at him. "What?"
"You. You say you have no feelings for Holly, and yet she is probably the only person I've ever heard you say such a thing to."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, for one, you actually apologized. And two, you just said you weren't thinking when you spoke to her. I have never known you not to be thinking before, ever, even when you didn't had to be thinking you were. It's just surprising... And very contradicting to what you are actually saying."
The genius scowled. "I don't know why you keep jumping to conclusions today, but it's really annoying," he informed Butler, then took the plates and silverware and started setting the table.
Butler chuckled.
Artemis paused halfway through setting the table. He was about to set the silverware in front of Holly, but thought better of it before he could finish. "If I give you the knife, are you going to try to hurt yourself?" he asked her.
She scowled. "No, Artemis. I already told you, I'm not suicidal anymore. Maybe still depressed, but not suicidal."
"Good." He laid them down in front of her, beside her plate, and finished setting the table. Then he returned to his seat.
Butler brought the pan over from the stove with a part of pot holders, then place the steaming object in the centre of the table. "Careful, it's hot," he warned, as if they couldn't see it.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Holly drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We couldn't tell."
"Holly," Artemis said again, frowning disapprovingly. "You should really hold your tongue."
Holly just shrugged.
The boy sighed. He knew she wasn't going to listen, and he couldn't bring himself to yell at her and make her listen, because truth be told, he was relieved she was acting like this. She sounded more like the elf he had met in the field that first night, more like her old self, now than she had since he'd moved her up from the basement, and even then. It made him realize that ah might actually, finally be out of her depression.
So he just shook his head and turned to his food.
Butler grinned inwardly, shaking his they say there's nothing between them...he thought before picking up his fork.
530! GO!