Chapter Text
“You need to make some friends.” Butler said one day while they were out in the garden. Artemis paused from where he was watering the flowers on his old ‘grave’.
“Friends?” Artemis scoffed. “I have friends.” His gaze shifts over to Butler, “What brought up this train of thought?” He asked.
“Human friends.” Butler corrects himself. “Your mother is worried about your… social life.” There's a slight tilt to the end of his words to suggest it's not just about his social life.
Artemis sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. He knew mind wiping any trace of the People from his parents would have some consequences. He just didn't realize those consequences would result in this. His parents want him to be normal, and even though they know his life has always been the farthest thing from normal, they still try. A small part of him is warmed by their concern. It confirms that even with the additions of the twins to the family, his parents still care about him. Though he could do without the concern for his social life. Artemis is perfectly content with the few friends he does have in the People. If he wanted ‘human’ friends he would have gotten them ages ago. HIs peers have just never been up to his standards.
“Please tell Mother that I’ll take her thoughts into consideration, but not to get her hopes up.” Artemis says somewhat dismissively as he waters the last of the flowers. The bluebells and foxglove, particularly, are blooming well under the meticulous care they’ve been receiving since his ‘death’.
Artemis sets the watering can aside and starts to make his way back towards Fowl Manor, Butler following close behind. This could be troublesome. Artemis knows his mother, Angeline, won’t give up easily, and his father, Artemis Sr, will just go along with whatever his mother says. He’ll need to figure out how to deal with this in a way that makes his mother happy but also isn’t a complete waste of time. Artemis lets his mind wander, starting to compile a plan, as he walks through the halls of the manor. As he walks past a lounge he briefly catches the end of a news broadcast.
“–Once again the Avengers have saved New York city. The recent damages and destruction may be daunting but Tony Stark has graciously offered to pay for the rebuilding process–” Artemis doesn’t catch the end of the broadcast but what he heard was enough for him, a sly smirk slowly grows on his face.
New York… it’s perfect, the Avengers and Tony Stark are there. It’s been a while since Artemis last saw Tony. The last time was during a meeting with him when Artemis was ten, it was during the period of time where he was looking for ways to keep his family powerful and afloat despite the disappearance of his father. Artemis sneers at the thought of how that meeting went. It ended in disaster, Tony didn’t agree to the deal and instead brushed him off like he was nothing, like he was just a mere child. More pieces of Artemis’ new plan click into place. He has to make new friends, but he can also use this opportunity for some… petty revenge. He has the free time after all. As Artemis enters his office he turns to Butler who’s closing the door.
“Butler we can hold off on telling Mother anything yet. I think I will take up her advice and… make some friends”, the words friends get stuck in his throat for a moment, “ahem… however I’ll be heading out of the country to do so. I’ve already met with most of the people here that would be suitable for friendship, and none of them were up to my standards. So I’ll look elsewhere.” Artemis declares as he sits down at his desk chair.
“Where will we be heading then?” Butler asks, still standing by the door but with his hands behind his back.
“To New York of course!” Artemis replied, another sly grin growing on his face.
“New York? Is there any reason for New York specifically?” Butler asks, walking over to the desk and starting a call on Artemis’ laptop.
“It seemed like a good starting place, and I’m… interested in the superheroes they have there.” Artemis says, raising an eyebrow as he sees who Butler is calling.
“Ah I suppose you would, considering they all started to pop up during those years you were gone.” Butler finishes pulling up a call with a certain Holly Short, feeling like this information is something she should know of.
The call goes through and Holly’s face appears on the laptop, “Mud boy! Didn’t expect a call from you today! What trouble did you get into today?” Holly smiles as she leans back into her chair, already preparing herself for some juicy news.
“Nothing yet, but perhaps soon.” Artemis also leans back, interlacing his fingers in his lap.
Holly leans forward, an intrigued look now in her eyes, “Oh do tell.” She encourages.
“Well I’m about to head to New York to… “make more friends” as my Mother would put it.” Artemis said with a sigh.
Holly breaks out into a wide grin, “Oh Artemis! Finally have to come out of your shell huh?” She leans forwards, elbows on her knees and her hands cradling her head, and asks “So… what plan do you have in mind there?”
Artemis scoffs, a look of fake hurt crossing his face, “Holly I can’t believe you would think of me that way. I’m just going there to sightsee, and maybe see their heroes.”
“AHA! It’s the superheroes you’re going for! Let me guess you’re going to study them and figure out everything you can about them, before finding a way to screw them over if needed.” Holly deduced, “Though… if you are going to New York, I’ll have to inform the council. Ever since those Avengers popped up the council has been trying to keep an eye on them. So having you and the Avengers be in the same city, the council will need a heads up. Just in case things go down.” The intrigued look in Holly's eyes grows, knowing that things most likely will go down if Artemis is involved.
Artemis is silent for a moment, planning the best way to keep the council off his back while he’s in New York. He doesn’t need the council breathing down his neck as he plans his revenge on Tony. That would just be an extra headache to deal with.
“If it’ll make the council feel any better, I can always keep an eye on these Avengers for them. Since I’ll be in the city anyway.” Artemis proposes with an innocent look on his face.
“I’ll let them know then, that THE Artemis Fowl graciously has decided to help out in keeping on eye on things, and out of the goodness of your heart I’m sure” Holly teases, already seeing through the so-called innocent look.
Artemis smiles and his eyes soften slightly, a rare thing, “I’ll have to count on you for that then.”
They spend the rest of the call catching up with each other. Artemis shared stories of what the twins, Myles and Beckett, were up to lately. While Holly ranted about her coworkers and what nonsense she’s had to deal with as an LEP officer. Occasionally Butler interjects with his own little tidbits as well. That night ended peacefully and for a brief moment Artemis contemplated that it wouldn’t be too bad to have more people to chat like this with.
It didn’t take long for Artemis to get ready for this trip. It only took a few days for the plane tickets to be booked and his parents to be informed of his plan. While his mother seemed a bit disheartened at the fact that he was leaving Ireland, that was overshadowed by the joy that Artemis was taking her advice. His father just made sure that he was bringing Butler with. Which seemed absurd to Artemis, why wouldn’t he bring Butler? Especially if he’s leaving the country. Still the concern was… nice. The twins just asked for souvenirs from the trip. Which Artemis promised to keep an eye out for some. By the time Artemis was on the plane a small apartment was already bought for them to stay out. Artemis only brought Butler with him to New York as Juliet had to stay behind to watch the twins, though she made sure Artemis promised to call with updates and to spill any ‘tea’ as she put it.
It was night when they landed, the noise of the city is what hits Artemis first, then the smell. His nose crinkles at the smell of smoke, gasoline, people, and just general New York smells. It hasn’t even been a day and Artemis is already regretting his decision. Is revenge really worth all this? That thought only lasts a second before it’s brushed aside, if it’s not worth it yet then Artemis will just make it worth it. Butler, like the amazing and competent man that he is, already has a car prepared for them as soon as they leave the airport. Artemis doesn’t even question how he did it, instead just climbing into the back seat. As Butler drives through the crowded New York streets, Artemis opens up his laptop and gets to work. If he wants to get anything done he’s going to need information. Information about the Avengers and Tony. This information will be the starting point Artemis needs to get closer and observe. Best case scenario he manages to get into Avengers Tower. Worst case scenario… he’ll have to forge some documents and get in anyway. After everything Artemis has been through in his life, he refuses to be stopped by simple limitations such as not being allowed to waltz right into a building.
Soon they arrive at the newly bought apartment and Butler drives the car into the underground parking. The apartment is already nicely furnished without a speck of dust. It has three bedrooms: one for Butler, one for Artemis, and a spare. There is also a study room for Artemis; who wastes no time in heading straight for it. He sits down at the desk and continues his research, looking for who around Tony would be the easiest to get closer to. Artemis had already started to hack into Stark Industries to look for weak points. It doesn’t take long for Artemis to find one. His signature vampire-like grin grows on his face as he starts to dive into the employee files of Stark Industries.
Butler enters the study and notices Artemis’ grin, leading him to bluntly ask, “Are there any upcoming plans I should be aware of?”
Artemis looks up from his laptop screen, grin only widening, “Nothing too important… I just found the person who’s going to be my new ‘friend’.” Artemis turns the laptop so the screen faces Butler.
Butler steps closer and leans in, raising an eyebrow, “Peter Parker? He doesn’t look like the type you usually make friends with.” Butler’s tone makes it clear that he suspects there is something more to this but is waiting for Artemis to tell him the whole plan.
Instead of explaining and revealing his secret agenda Artemis just says, “Well the type I usually go for is never up to par. So I decided to try something different.”
In reality it’s because of two words that sit innocently on Peter’s file, “personal intern”. A direct link to Tony is just what Artemis needs. All he needs to do now is figure out this Peter’s schedule and have a ‘coincidental’ meeting. Artemis is confident he can play his cards right and worm his way into being Peter’s ‘friend’. How hard can it really be? Especially for someone of Artemis’ intellect. Artemis then goes back to his snooping as he hopes that tomorrow can be the day he makes his first move.