Work Text:
Shortly after his thirty-third birthday, Artemis Fowl, accompanied by Commander Holly Short of the LEPrecon,, came to prevent a catastrophe that threatened the world, again. Although it was fair to say that it had been a while since a similar event happened, and it had also been a considerable time since the two had last met. Ten years specifically.
Butler had to stay in Haven for a few more hours to treat some injuries he had suffered the last day, so Holly, as a precaution, decided to accompany Artemis to the Fowl residence to ensure that there was no danger. Artemis had been suspiciously quiet during the trip to Ireland.
While she checked the rest of the house, he sat on one of the benches on the porch of the house. Normally he would go straight to his office when he got home, but he felt compelled to stay outside for a little longer. It was a warm summer night, with a clear and starry sky. He knew Holly loved to fly on nights like this.
"It looks like everything is fine," Holly said when she found him on the porch.
"Good."
"I have to go, lots of reports to fill out."
"Of course you do." Artemis said in a tone that Holly couldn't identify if it was sarcastic or not. But she could clearly hear a certain bitterness in his words.
She told herself that she should leave. But as you probably already know Holly Short has always had a problem with following orders.
"I've missed you these past few years." she said.
"Really? Because the world had to almost end for me to have the opportunity to see you again."
"I was too close to you, and vice versa, I had to distance myself. Just so you know I was even mentioned in an encyclopedia that came out a few years ago in the entry on Stockholm Syndrome."
A small, amused smile appeared on Artemis' face.
"That's not funny Artemis. I had to hire a lawyer to get them to take the quote down." Holly said.
"My sincere apologies," Artemis said, but now he was having to control himself from laughing and he couldn't hide it from Holly.
"I hate you so much," Holly said.
"No, you don't."
"I know, that's the problem," she said without looking at him.
Artemis became serious, and even though he didn't feel comfortable talking so openly about what was going on in his head, especially when emotions were involved, he decided he needed to say the next sentence:
"Holly, I will continue to respect your decision to stay away if that's what you really want, but you should know that distance won't make my affection for you diminish."
"Why are you saying this?"
"Because I only have a few decades left in this world, and I'd rather spend them with you than anyone else."
"And Minerva? You seemed to like her."
"I did, a little at least, and we dated for a while but it didn't work out, and for a long time I've felt nothing but friendship for her, and even if that wasn't the case from what I understand now she's married to a skier who won a few medals at the last winter games. But that's irrelevant. This conversation isn't about me and her, it's about me and you."
"We wouldn't work, Artemis."
"Why not?"
"Many reasons, and I know you're smart enough to know them all, and probably even some I haven't thought of yet."
"I know the reasons why it would be hard, but I'm sure it wouldn't be anything I wouldn't be able to handle."
"I know how important family is to you, we're different species, we wouldn't be able to have children, do you really think you'd be okay with that?"
"I have brothers and I'm quite confident that the Fowl line will continue even if I don't contribute to it, in fact a few weeks ago Myles confided in me that he intends to ask his girlfriend to marry him by the end of the year."
"I'm not talking about bloodlines, I'm talking about family, about what it's going to be like when you go visit your brothers and see them with their children, you're going to miss not having gone down that path."
"Maybe. But not as much as I would miss you."
Holly looked at him, smiled sadly and said:
"You sound a bit like Orion right now."
"That was a pretty harsh criticism, Holly."
"It wasn't a criticism."
"Was it a compliment?"
"Just an observation."
He smiled.
"I really have to go." she said.
"I know."
"Goodbye, Mud Boy."
Artemis thought about protesting that he could hardly be considered a boy at his age, but before he had the chance, Holly kissed him lightly on the lips and he decided not to say anything and just enjoy the feeling.
After the kiss, she rested her forehead against his, she standing and he still sitting on the bench, for about ten seconds, and when she pulled away, she didn't say anything, there was no need to say anything, her eyes already spoke more clearly about her feelings than she ever wished, and so she simply flew away, leaving the Fowl residence behind.
Artemis noticed that Holly had forgotten to turn on her camouflage shield, so he stood on the balcony watching her go away until her figure had completely disappeared in the night sky.