Fic - Artemis+Holly - Halloween
Jun. 12th, 2020 11:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lady_mabArtemis was just putting the finishing touches on to his outfit when a knock sounded at his window. He straightened his tie and checked to make sure he was presentable before pushing open the glass.
He felt a breath of chill autumn air brush his cheek, and he let a small smile cross his lips. “How unexpected, Captain Short. I would have thought even crime would make an exception for today.”
Holly shimmered into view, dropping a sheet of cam foil to the floor, and Artemis couldn't resist raising an eyebrow in surprise. She was dressed in surprisingly normal clothes—a simple violet frock and rather worn down brown boots. Come to think of it, he wasn't sure if he had ever seen her out of uniform—well, save their trip to the past but that hardly counted and he had hardly been considering her clothes at that time.
“Just 'Miss Short' for now,” Holly said, locking her hands behind her back in a rather childish fashion. “Even the LEP gets the day off for Samhain.” Her smile was as equally bashful as her stance.
“And it is a full moon as well.” Artemis returned her smile as he straightened his cuffs. “So, to what do I owe this rare honor, since I am guessing that the world doesn't need my help for once.”
She rocked back on her heels. “Well, I had been hoping to play the role of a nasty little fairy and steal you away, but...”
He gave her a confused look, so Holly tapped her cheek and grinned. “Oh,” Artemis said as he suddenly understood her meaning. “I'm wearing a mask.” He touched the decorated mask with the tip of two fingers, feeling the grooves and ridges that gave it character. “A bit of the Old Magic, then? I didn't think that had actually worked.”
“Masks are supposed to obscure your identity, correct? Well, I'm not as stupid as our ancestors, and it's fairly obvious that it is you, but the rules still apply.” She gave him one of her characteristic smirks, though she couldn't hide the giddiness behind it. “Why are you wearing a mask, anyways? You're even dressed fancier than usual.”
“Well, it is Halloween.”
“Yes, obviously. Do you think the Commander ordered me to dress in civvies and come pay you a visit?”
“While that would have been very surprising and more than a little awkward, I would suppose not, now that I think about it.”
“Right? But why the mask? I didn't think you were the type to celebrate Halloween by dressing up.” Her eyes widened a fraction with impish delight. “Did you actually have a moment of Brotherly Compassion and take Myles and Beckett trick-or-treating?”
Artemis frowned, tightening his tie unnecessarily. “Nonsense. Juliet is with them right now. My parents always have a masquerade this time of year. Or, that is to say... We did.” A stricken look passed over his face so quickly that anyone would have missed it. Well, anyone but Holly that is.
She stood up on her toes and touched his cheek with one hand. That seemed to give him enough strength to regain his composure and resume his train of thought.
“When I was younger, before my father disappeared. I tried, once, but I had to cancel it because my mother.” His tone was clinical and withdrawn, but he didn't falter. “After that, it didn't take long before we went missing for three years, so who knows what they were up to then.” He smirked, though it quickly shifted into something resembling embarrassment. “Well, I mean, asides from the obvious.”
Holly was about to ask what he meant when the sound of the twins came bouncing through the solid wood of the door and broke through their quiet. “Ah,” she said, understanding.
The Irish boy jerked back from Holly's hand, a barely noticeable sheen of embarrassment still lingering on his cheeks just visible below the mask, as Beckett and Myles collided with his door in an attempt to enter.
Holly scooped up her sheet of cam foil and was out of sight by the time Myles jimmied the simple lock and the twins entered.
“Who were you talking to?” Myles asked as their brother turned away from his window with an exasperated sigh.
“No one,” Artemis said.
“Simple-toon,” Myles muttered.
“Loony-toon,” Beckett diagnosed with a disapproving click of his tongue that made him seem all too much like his twin. “Mom wants you downstairs! She wants us all together for a picture!”
“Then stop giving your poor nurse a hard time and get changed,” the older brother said sternly as he shepherded them out the door—this time using his specially installed deadbolt to prevent further entry. When he turned back to the window, Holly had returned to view.
“Sorry, I didn't realise I'd be interrupting such a big event for you and your family.” She pulled herself up to sit on the sill for a quick departure. “I'll kidnap you another night.” She grinned and was about to slip away before Artemis grasped her arm.
“Stay,” he said, then closed his eyes and gave an oddly childish sigh when he heard the voices of the twins again. “I mean, it is up to you if you would like to, of course.”
She regarded him for a moment, but with the same level of mock concern that she always did when she was feeling adventurous. “But I don't have a mask. And I'm hardly dressed for a fancy Fowl party.” Not that she knew how fancy Fowl parties really were, but if the young master's typical 'casual' dress was any indication, she was not going to fit in.
“Nonsense,” Artemis said, offering her his hand. “Mother has several masks as she always buys another whenever she visits our villa in Italy. I'm sure she would love for you to borrow one—and seeing as you're quite stocked on magic, you could always shrink it to fit your face.”
Still a little dubious, Holly took the offered hand. “And what about my dress?”
Artemis helped her down from the sill before hooking his arm through hers. “When you're on my arm, no one will think twice about what you are wearing.”
She planted a hand on the door to keep it closed as he started to pull it open. “Because they only need one thought, and that'd be something along the lines of 'What is that?!' Lest you've forgotten—” She waved one hand above her head to indicate her height, while the other tugged at the tip of one pointed ear.
“Lest you've forgotten, Holly, this is a costume ball. And I'm rich.”
She snorted. “What does being rich have anything to do with it?”
He gave her his best vampiric smile and for the first time she noticed the elongated and sharpened canines. “We can afford really realistic prostheses. If anyone asks, your ears are fake. Just the way we played it for Damon Kronski.”
Holly winced at the memory, but still couldn't help the laugh. “Alright then, Fowl, you win.”
The journey to the master bedroom was without incident, though Artemis hurried them along. Once inside, he pulled away and disappeared into the massive walk-in closet. The sound of a few halfhearted grunts and the opening of several boxes floated out before he reappeared. Holly had to keep from laughing at the slightly rumbled state of his tie. In his hands was a mask that matched the color of her dress, inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl.
Her eyes widened, and she had a hard time finding the words to say as Artemis stepped around behind her and positioned the mask over her eyes.
“How does it feel?” he asked, voice close to her ear as he learned over to do his own check.
Holly rolled her shoulders and popped her neck.
Artemis could feel the mask shrinking and he pulled back on the ribbon to keep it in place. “Better?”
“Much,” she answered and he tied the ribbon securely. Holly gave a few experimental tosses of her head before turning to face him. “Are you sure Angeline won't mind?” She touched the mask with tender fingers.
“I'm sure Mother will love that her masks are being worn. She loves them all, but finds hardly any occasion to actually wear them.” His fingers traced down to her chin, tilting her face up slightly so the mask would catch the light. “Ready?”
“Not really, to be honest. I'm about to parade around in front of a bunch of Mud Men with nothing but a mask to hide my identity” She shrugged. “No big deal, right?”
“I promise they won't try to kidnap you and get money in return, if that is any consolation.”
Holly was glad to hear the twinge of apology in his voice. “I believe you,” she said.
They were at the ball in almost no time at all, and despite her earlier words of bravery, Holly felt ill-prepared for the sheer number of people in the ballroom. Gowns rustled, masks and jewels gleamed in the light, and laughter nearly drowned out the music (knowing the Fowls, Holly figured there was a live ensemble hidden from view).
Butler was at Artemis' side in an instant. “Miss Short,” he said by way of greeting. “Pleasure as always.” If he was surprised at all by her presence, he didn't show it.
“How is Juliet?” the girl wouldn't remember her, but she at least had to inquire.
“Splendid,” the bodyguard replied. “You might spark a memory or two if she sees you, but—”
“It took me quite awhile,” Artemis confessed. “Even as we fought trolls.”
“Logical until the very end,” Holly said with a roll of her eyes.
“I trust you know you can rest easy tonight, Butler,” Artemis said, trying to resist the urge to smirk at Holly's comment.
“Of course. But just because I can doesn't mean that I will.” The bodyguard bowed his head respectfully. “Your parents are looking for you.”
“Yes, the twins alerted me,” the Irish boy said, his voice flat. He turned to Holly. “Might as well go say hello then before I have to subject you to the twins' insanity.” With the fairy's arm still linked with his, he led the way through the crowds – easily making his way to the other side of the ballroom.
Holly gasped as she followed along, amazed by the expensive fabric and jewels. There was still a part of her fairy blood that was drawn towards displays of wealth (of course, she wouldn't tell Artemis that).
“Mother, Father,” Artemis said, drawing Holly out of her trance. “The evening seems to be turning into quite a lovely affair.”
Angeline beamed, leaning over to plant a splendid kiss on her son's cheek. “I see you've brought a guest.”
Placing a hand on the small of her back, Artemis urged Holly forward. “Mother, I believe you two already know each other.”
“It's good to see you again so soon,” Holly said, a bit embarrassed as the woman clasped her hand warmly. “I hope you don't mind...” She touched the mask she wore.
“Of course not. Consider it a thank you gift for earlier.” Angeline winked and smiled.
“Father,” Artemis cut in. “This is Holly Short. She's a... business partner of mine. And a dear friend.”
Nervous, Holly held out her hand. “It's great to finally meet you, Sir. I've heard a lot about you.” Well, more than that, she had helped save his life. But unlike her efforts to rescue the missus, she never had the chance to talk to him after.
Artemis Senior took her hand, studying it for a moment and the way his own seemed so large. Then he smiled and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I hope my son has been behaving himself around you.”
“Father!” the younger Fowl replied, eyes going wide for a moment then narrowing.
The tension she had been feeling broke, and Holly laughed. “No, he's been a wonderful help to me.” The pair of them exchanged a brief, knowing look, and Artemis' embarrassment dissipated long enough to allow a small smile.
His father watched them, clearly understanding that there was something that he was missing. Their matching heterochromic eyes were only the first indication.
Artemis regained his place at Holly's side, his arm once again hooked around hers. “I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to have a dance with her before the family photo.”
“The twins will likely take ages to get ready,” Angeline said with a sigh, glancing back over her shoulder. “But by all means. You'll hear them when they arrive.”
He gave his mother a polite nod of the head, and guided Holly back towards the dance floor. “Any chance you would be willing to kidnap me if I take off this mask?”
The fairy laughed. “And risk getting in the way of happy family times? Really, Artemis, you haven't had nearly enough of those. Maybe after the photo,” she amended, catching his near-desperate look.
“Watch out or Mother might try to drag you in to it as well,” he told her, a smirk forming on his lips at her look of horror.
“Foaly would know about it as soon as the shutter snapped,” she groaned and shuddered at the idea. “Alright, after the photo.” Holly gave him a wink, then gripped his hand a bit tighter. “And you are aware that I don't know any Mud Man dances... aren't you?”
Artemis swung her out in front of him, placing one hand on her hip and moving both of her hands into place. “I'm quite an excellent leader. Just try to avoid stepping on my feet.” He flashed a vampiric smile, and Holly couldn't help but laugh as the ensemble started up a waltz.
