Standard disclaimer applies.
Attention, can anyone nominate this fic for a C2 Commie? nn;; ah well...
Hija readers! Sorry for disappearing. My beloved cat got jealous of my PC. But all's well, now I have a laptop and halfway through my Iruka-Kakashi doujinshi, "Eleven Kisses". Yes. That eleven kisses. As it took me half a year to draw it in my spare time, expect it to come out next year. Tee-hee. Oh... and thanks for staying this long. For today...
Chapter V
All Ends... But, well?
For a man who poached missiles for breakfast, Butler felt dread.
Artemis was still screaming his name over and over: "Buttie! Buttie! Buttie! Buttie!"
There was a code in the Butler family that the Butler name was sacred and woe to anyone who maligned it. But if your Principal calls you... never mind. What do you do? Finally, the poor bodyguard mustered his resolve and rushed towards his charge. Some murmuring by-standers were pushed aside like rag-dolls in the process, but, a few casualties were to be expected.
Artemis' world stopped as Butler scooped Teddy in mid-air. The poor bear flopped tiredly in Butler's hands, as if fainting in relief for being saved from a near disastrous landing. Artemis sobbed and hiccupped and launched himself at Butler's direction, falling on the big man's chest. The genius, dastardly he might be, was still a child, and with a child's concern yet. He hugged Teddy with all his might and swore not to let go of him again.
"Artemis, are you all right?"
Artemis sniffled a yes, all the while trying to control his tears, as a man should. Just as he was almost calm again, another shrill crying echoed in the room.
"Bear! Bear!" Kiara, the blond pony-tailed girl from chapter 3 bawled inconsolably. Only then did everyone notice the crumpled remains of a teddy bear very similar to teddy, its stuffing spilling beneath Butler's shoes.
Another shiver coursed through Butler's skin. The Manual didn't prepare him for this! As Butler stood undecided, Artemis wriggled free of his grasp and nervously stood in front of Kiara.
"Here..." Artemis' hands trembled a bit but his resolution was firm.
Kiara sniffled as she inspected the bear. Sure, the Teddy Roosevelt original in mint condition could fetch more than our measly yearly salary, but a little child has more important criteria. Feeling Teddy's smooth fur, smelling teddy's strawberry-cotton perfume, and hugging Teddy's soft body, Kiara knew that this was a beloved friend.
"Thanks" she let out another two breaths before giving out a radiant smile. Artemis didn't know what pushed him to give up Teddy. But before he could change his mind, Kiara gave him a lighthearted smack.
Needless to say, it was a howee1 moment. Artemis couldn't quantify his reason, but he knew he did right. Blushing hotly, he shuffled back to his bodyguard and demanded to be carried.
"You were a service to your name, Artemis," Butler carried the still sniffing boy on one arm, letting Arty hide his head on his bodyguard's shoulder. He didn't expect this gesture from his Principal, and for this, he was pleasantly surprised. This child must have something good in him yet. Butler patted Artemis tenderly.
There were ooh's and aahs at the front – single women whose sight narrowed to this gallant Uncle(?), Father(?) who has raised such a dear lovely tender child. And oh, by the way, look at his index finger, no ring!
But at the back, where little Artemis faced, the attendants shivered in dark foreboding as the angelic child glared at them with obvious evil intent.
As Artemis would undoubtedly be inconsolable if he stayed at the Daycare any longer, Butler decided that his charge has learned a lesson.
Paying the cashier, he will file this little incident at the back of his mind, and later on, forget this ever happened. For the little Fowl however, the matter was far from over.
A couple of years later, in Artemis' second year of school, and the age he earned his first hundred thousand euros, the first thing he did was buy the Daycare Center.
(I couldn't write anymore about that. What happened next has been hushed up).
That night, after Artemis has been scrubbed and washed and changed to his pajamas, Butler went to his room to read him a bedtime story.
"Well, Master Artemis, you've had a very exciting day today, didn't you?"
Artemis rolled his eyes in exasperation. If Butler's idea of exciting was bacterial contamination, he'd rather watch Blarney. He hugged his new teddy bear (Kiara's, actually. Butler sewed it back) as he patiently waited for Butler to settle in.
"So, what would it be?" he began to pull out a selection of Blarney's and Telly TubbDubb's tales. Artemis crinkled his nose in disgust. This was where most of his spats with his nannies originated. If he reads one word... just one word...
"Oh... so, you don't like these? How about 'The Ocean World of Jacques Cousteau'? or 'The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire'? or..."
Artemis didn't know if he should be more surprised, or elated as Butler pulled out book after book of meaningful subjects. They settled on "Dinosaurs and Birds: The Debate on Creationism and Evolution". And though it was Butler who fell asleep first, Artemis still looked at his bodyguard with newfound respect. It will take years before they cleaned out the bugs in their working relationship... where Artemis matured enough to grant Butler his trust, and where Butler understood enough to grant Artemis authority.
But today was a start at least.
Don't Underestimate Me
By Turin
The End
June 30, 2007