Chapter Text
Artemis was tying his boots’ laces in a neat little bow when she spotted him. HIs coat was already on, and to her surprise, it was the same one he’d worn yesterday. It still made him look like an eskimo, she thought, but in a kinda cute way. He hadn’t heard her approach, so she just got to pulling her shoes on and hoped that'd catch his attention. It did, and she was greeted by a warm smile; a far cry from the smug smirk she’d grown accustomed to. Then, to make matters stranger, he draped her coat over her when she turned her back. Turning round, she pulled her arms into it and looked at him with confusion etched on her features.
“Uhhh…. Thanks? I could’ve done that myself, y’know.”
“You are my honoured guest, Holly. Can a host not do something nice for his guest every once in a while?”
“Oh! I mean, yeah, thanks. But there’s really no need.”
God, what was wrong with her today? And what was wrong with him? He was all nice and smiley - and the Artemis Fowl did not smile unless he had some sort of fiendish scheme cooking.
“I was also unsure if you could reach the coat peg, and as funny as that may have been, I feared I would become the target of your frustration.”
There was the Artemis Fowl she knew. She didn’t even dignify him with a response, but she still knew he’d have his signature smirk plastered all over that annoying face of his.
“Come now. The snow will melt soon enough.”
“Isn’t it rude to rush your ‘honoured guest’?”
“It’d be ruder still to invite her on a snowy walk with no snow, so you’ll have to forgive my pressure.”
“Yadda yadda, whatever. Let’s go and get this over with.”
“Are you not looking forward to it? You seemed so eager not so long ago.”
“I’m looking forward to the snow. I’m not looking forward to trudging through it with you.”
All he did was smile and push open the door for her to leave. Stepping out into the crisp and chilly morning air, she gazed around at the pure white in front of her. There was white for seemingly all eternity, broken up by trees that were so distant they appeared as ink blots on the edges of a canvas. There was a click behind her, then the signature soft crunch of snow underfoot, and then Artemis appeared next to her.
“Shall we?” he asked courteously, hand outstretched.
She swatted it away and marched ahead. She wasn’t gonna let him ruin her walk.
~
They’d made it pretty far before she first slipped. He’d trailed behind her like a shadow for their journey, but he hadn’t spoken since he’d offered his hand. It had been tranquil, with the only sounds being the snow underfoot and the occasional birdsong or fall of snow as it was disturbed by a woodland creature. They were walking down a woodland path when it happened - she put one foot in front of the other when suddenly it wasn’t on the floor anymore and she felt a dreadful lurch backwards. She shut her eyes, well aware she was going to walk out of this slightly bruised at best. But it never came. Instead, she found herself wrapped in warm arms, with sky blue eyes looking down on her. She looked back, entranced.
“You alright? D’arvit, I didn’t know it’d be icy.”
“Yeah. I’m fine. You can.. Put me down now.”
“Oh. Of course. My apologies.”
They couldn’t bear to look at each other. As it had done so often in the past day, Holly’s mind was overwhelmed again. Not only had he caught her - somehow - but she’d then seem him flustered. Did… did she do that to him?
Taking another few tentative steps forward, she regained her confidence in her ability to walk. She just knew she had to be more careful now.
Only a few minutes had passed before she slipped again. She caught herself this time, rebalancing so she didn’t fall. She breathed out a sigh or relief until she heard a rather heavy thump from behind her. Whirling round, she saw Artemis sprawled out in a rather undignified manner, gently sitting up. She didn’t even register what she was doing, mind filled with concerns for him, until she again felt herself fly back. When she sat up, she saw him laughing at her. The nerve!
“Why, Holly, running on the ice seems foolish when you have just witnessed me embarrass myself.”
“I was checking if you were okay, you idiot!”
“I am fine, Holly. I have been through worse, as you well know.”
The memories were fresh, but still, they stung. Images of Artemis flashed through her mind. He was bloodied and beaten, too cold and too warm and - and dead. She shivered, and not from the cold. He saw her, and realised his mistake.
“I am sorry, Holly. That was crass of me.”
“It’s fine.”
He dragged himself up, not even bothering to shake the snow off. He had more pressing matters to attend to. He delicately padded over to where she sat in the snow, and once again offered his hand out. He didn't say anything, just smiled and nodded at her. This time, she took it - but only to pull herself up. Once that was done, his hands went back to his side, as unoccupied as ever. She wiped the snow off, and cast her eyes up to him, and raised an eyebrow. He raised one in return, completely unaware of what she was asking.
“You can be so dense sometimes, Arty.”
“Excuse me?”
She just stared at him.
“Holly, I truly do not get what you’re implying here. I’m a genius, not a mind reader.”
“Don’t pretend.” She was getting bashful now, turning away and fidgeting.
He just looked more baffled than ever, letting out a confused groan.
“This is just so we don’t slip again, okay?”
He began to speak before she intertwined his fingers with her own, and that shut him up. Now it was his turn to be bashful, and he mumbled out a noise that somewhat resembled ‘okay’.
They walked the rest of the way like that - fingers interlocked, arms occasionally bumping into each other. They didn’t slip again, but still they remained conjoined. For safety, of course. For safety, and not because they both really, really didn't want to let go.