February 10, 2013

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, I will never own the characters or the series. This is a non-profit hobby I do for enjoyment. Nothing here is real and anything else is pure coincidence. However, the small village mentioned beneath is real, and located where stated.

A/N: I have not read the Last Guardian, so this takes place after the Atlantis Complex. I have perhaps read half of the first chapter, but anything else I have no idea what happens in the Last Book.

WARNINGS: This story will contain slash, so please don't ask me if this will be A/H in anyway. The first few chapters will be safe, but I'm putting it as T+ just in case.

Butterflies of God

By lumidai

"Me and you, let's become butterflies. So we could fly away, far away from here."

Artemis Fowl, age 25.

Artemis Fowl is a broken boy. Experiences from his childhood had made him cruel and cold, and with his intelligence and wealth, the most dangerous person. He plotted against beings for his own reasons. He hurt other people to get what he wanted, and he knew he did, but he didn't care. Thankfully the fairies had managed to assemble him again, just a bit, but being away from them just reverted him back to what he was, and those frail pieces broke down again.

Humanity had disappointed him too much.

After the incident in Atlantis, Artemis was taken to extensive therapy in the clinic in the Lower Elements. He enjoyed the time he spent there, no matter how tedious the therapy sessions were. But, once the time came, and once he finally submitted into the final tests without humiliating the gnome doctor, he was let go onto the human world.

A normal life, Angeline had wanted. Well, as normal as a Fowl could get.

His father shared the business with him. They both shared the power, they both put their intelligence to it and Artemis won his own money legally. Obviously, Artemis started working after graduating, because it was obligatory to have a degree, no matter how intelligent Artemis was.

During his college years, he realized that his generation was lost. They were loud, immature, and couldn't go off without having sex once in a while. They were sensitive, crying and getting mad over little unimportant things. Those years were barely passed with an ounce of patience, and he paid them no importance. He didn't have many friends, but he didn't mind.

Adults were no better. Judging every little thing, and mocked your defects. They were manipulative, not only greedy. Artemis could stand these people, make them putty in his hands, because he was like them. If not worse.

And for a considerably young age in the business, he was very successful. He's had things planned out for him since the beginning, and he's bettered the plans.

His family was very proud. His father couldn't stop talking about his genius son to his peers. His brothers, Beckett and Myles, looked up to him. Especially Myles, who did everything to copy him. Beckett just smiled and obeyed and listened to him the best he could.

Angeline was also very proud. But she wasn't blinded by the success and polite facade. She could see the ugliest defects of her son.

Angeline Fowl, even though she was about to hit fifty years, was still bursting with energy. She's started many foundations for humanity, and now she has started another. Warm homes for warm hearts, was the title, or something like that. Artemis didn't hear, Angeline had been too excited and was talking to fast. It was help for the orphanages and homeless people.

And so he could sponsor and help out, Angeline dragged Artemis with his brothers. Butler came too. "You'll love it!" Angeline had said. Obviously, Angeline's reasons were others, but Artemis was too annoyed to notice.

They traveled to a small village millions miles away from the busy city life, a small quaint village with the name of Dalkey in the Dublin County. It overlooked the sea, and was filled with small seaside restaurants, plus a castle and a mountainside folly, it was quite nice.

They stopped in front of a small building at the edge of the village. The matron was a small, elderly and pudgy woman, and came out almost immediately to give them a big hearty salute.

"Oh, I'm so happy you're here! Welcome, welcome! I hope you feel comfortable, perhaps we should-" Artemis lost attention.

The building from the outside looked decent. It was a small mansion with made with cobble, and besides was a small bronze plaque that read "Saint Bridgid's Home for Children". Once the tour started, then you could see in what conditions they were.

Moldy was the word Beckett used. Deteriorating was one that Myles used. Both fit, Artemis thought.

The paint was chipping off, some of the floors were chipping too and a few were pure concrete. In some corners, there was mold and holes, and there was water dripping from the ceilings too.

"I try to keep it clean, so it doesn't look so bad," says the Matron. "But some things can't be helped. The council has been saying they'll help but no help has been given."

The kids looked like all their clothes were hand-me-down. A lot of their pants or sweaters were sewn. There were a few toys, the Matron says that they shared. There were a few helpers here and there, but too little for the amount of kids that were here.

"You will have absolute support. The Fowl Enterprises will help fund it, right Arty?" says Angeline, looking at her son expectantly.

"Of course," Artemis says, but he could really care less. He had nothing else to do here, especially not for screaming children.

Their tour continued. They went to what seemed a backyard, that was a large field of green that had some swings and a slide and was closed off by a wooden fence. Kids were shrieking and laughing, surrounded a tall figure, a boy it seems, begging for piggy back rides.

"Make a line!" the boy says, smiling kindly to the kids and picking up a small boy first.

Then they went to the kitchen, which was in such poor state and the most deteriorated, Artemis was slightly disgusted by it. They went up the stairs and went to the nursery, where the babies were currently having their nap. Some were sharing cribs. They went to the dormitories, boys and girls had separated rooms. The boy's room overlooked the backyard, which had a lovely view of the castle from beyond. It was painted blue, with lots of drawings stuck onto the wall. The girl's room was painted a light tone of pink, with lots of flowers and other girly things in it. This looked in best conditions, as the Matron said that the children were her priority.

They went down the stairs and passed by the nurse's office. They paused for a moment to look into another room, but Artemis looked into the office.

"...and you have to be more careful too. You're so little you can get pushed around so easily." The voice spoke sweetly, it was the same boy from the backyard. His voice was gentle, like he was trying to be soothing for the little girl that was still whimpering. He bandaged the small girl's arm and after he finished he kissed it. "Better now that I kissed your boo-boo goodbye?" he smiles.

The girl giggled and nods. "Thank you, big brother-"

Artemis turned away to walk on.

"May we meet the children?" Angeline asks once they finished their tour.

"Of course!" The Matron gave a large smile, and held a finger up. "Just a moment, wait for me in the lobby please." The Matron left and they walked to the wide lobby. The mansion, the Matron had said, had been donated to them more than sixty years ago.

Moments later, a large line of children came in, and they were ordered from oldest to youngest, some of the oldest carrying a baby, sometimes two children were holding hands.

"Now kids, I want you to to introduce yourselves to Mrs. Fowl and her family. Remember your manners."

First they all greeted them with a loud "Good afternoon!" The Matron first introduced them to the ones who can't speak yet, then the kids continued.

The small girl with a bandage on her arm went first. "I'm Amelia, and I'm three!" She held out three fingers.

They went on. The oldest must've been a ten year old girl.

"Are these all?" asks Angeline, looking at the Matron.

"Well, some are having their nap, and..." she cleared her throat. "It's your turn. Don't hide, come now, they mean no harm.

There was some rustling and shuffling heard. The same boy from the backyard and nurse's office, was leaning against the wall and slowly went up to the line. "My name is Christian, please call me Chris. I am seventeen years old," he says, not looking up and he was fidgeting with his hands. He looked up slowly and gave a small smile of gratitude. "Thank you so much for your help." He bowed his head.

Artemis gave him a better look now. The boy, Chris, was considerably short and had soft features for a male. His skin tone was medium, with a few beauty marks. His hair was a chestnut brown. It was long and messy, probably for all the activity he's had with the children. His eyes were a dark shade of green, and his eyes were wide.

Curious, how such an old boy could still remain at an orphanage.

"How darling," Angeline says, smiling wide. "I will have a talk with my son here and we will come back tomorrow. I can't wait to see them again."

Artemis wanted to scowl, but he says, "We will have mother's assistant contact you through nonetheless."

"Thank you so much!" says the Matron for the umpteenth time, but now she was near tears.

The children had left, but the Chris still lingered, mixing in the background. As they walked out, Artemis saw the Matron holding his hand. Once they left, he could hear her expressing her happiness. Chris shared her excitement, nodding to her.

His voice seems louder now.

-o0o-

The next day, no matter how much Artemis protested, he returned with his mother.

"I don't know why mother wants me there. It's not like I'll help physically, and I'll only interfere with Mother's plans."

"Your mother has her reasons," Butler says. "Perhaps she just wants you to observe, to learn."

Artemis scoffed. "I took care of Beckett and Myles when they were toddlers, I know enough. And what else? To see how good can change something? She'll have to try harder," he rolls his eyes.

Butler frowns. It was strange, even after what they've been through, even after Holly had drilled morals into him, Artemis turned into the same person. Why was the question. "But you're a good person. You've helped before."

Artemis stood silent then walked on. "Humans are another thing. Helping them directly is something else. I rather not touch the topic."

Once they were shown the more serious things, what needed to be tended to right away, Artemis was free to wander around with Butler.

The backyard was out of the question, and the kitchen was too disgusting, ahem, in such a poor state.

He walked to what was probably the quietest place in the orphanage right now. The dormitory. He walked to the doorway, and stood there.

"Does your head hurt?" asks a familiar soft and soothing voice. It was Chris again, sitting besides a little boy who was holding his head. He ran his hand through the boy's hair, like a mother would to her child.

"Yes..." replied a smaller voice, allowing the gesture.

"Well, perhaps a nap will take it away. Once I'm finished with chores, I'll take care of you, how does that sound?" Chris asks, sounding a bit cheerful now.

"O-Okay," the boy nods.

Chris laid him down on the proper bed and tucked him in, then resumed making the other beds, replacing the dirty sheets with the most cleanest.

Butler cleared his throat.

Chris jumped at the sudden sound. "Ah! I'm so sorry, did I ignore you?" He moved around in place and wrung his hands nervously. "I didn't notice you were there, Mr. Fowl."

"It's fine," Artemis replies, looking at him. It was amusing, watching him fluster. Chris bit his lip, squirmed, looked at everything except him and Butler. It was difficult not to chuckle.

"M-May I help you with something? Are you lost?" Chris stammered.

Artemis shook his head. "No, it's fine," he repeats. "I'm just watching. You may resume what you were doing."

Even Butler looked at Artemis, that was so unlike him.

"Alright," Chris says slowly, blinking. He was more clumsy now, since he knew that he was being watched. He bumped into more things, dropped some sheets, and hurt himself. This time, Artemis chuckled.

"I-I'm sorry I'm such a klutz," says Chris, picking it a blanket up.

"You're in no pressure," shrugs Artemis. "Are these your only chores?"

Chris shook his head. "I have to clean the girl's room too."

"Am I disturbing you and making you feel uncomfortable in any way?" Artemis asks.

Chris shook his head furiously. "N-No! I'm just not used to people watching me. It's new to me."

"Butler here won't hurt you," Artemis jokes.

Chris gave a soft laugh. "He is scary but I know he won't hurt me."

"I wouldn't say that," Butler says. Chris cringes.

"Ah, I made a list of what the things the house has. The Matron will look at it, and I want to make sure it's correct. Will you look at it for me?" Artemis says, taking a sheet of paper out, handing it to Chris.

Chris barely looked at it. "It's fine," he says.

Artemis looks at him intently. "Are you sure? Especially with the broken stairs?"

"There were broken stairs here?" Chris looks at the list.

Artemis frowns. "Did you even read it?" asks Artemis.

Chris stares at the list, but not at them. He shook his head.

"Do you even know how to read?" Artemis says, getting irritated now.

Much to his surprise, Chris shook his head again. "No. I don't."

Artemis stood straight and now both him and Butler stares at Chris. "Are you serious? You don't know how to read?"

Chris shook his head.

"Why? You can't even do math?"

"I can do math," says Chris. "I just can't read. I only finished nursery school and primary school. Never went to secondary."

Artemis took a step back. Idiots were something he was used to, but this...? "And why is that?" he asks.

Chris hesitated. "I couldn't afford school supplies or other things the school asked for. Plus, the Matron needed more help here. I couldn't leave her alone."

"So you're basically uneducated by choice?" Artemis says slowly.

Chris winced. "Basically," he nods.

But with reason, said the small voice in Artemis's voice. His conscious. Much to his annoyance, it sounded like Holly. He gave a large sigh. Might as well do something to distract myself with, he thought.

"Would you like to read?" he asks Chris.

Chris looks up and nods this time. "Very much."

"I'll teach you."

I took the Artemis Fowl OC litmus test and Chris passed.

Yes, this will be slash, so there will be a romance between the two. I estimate thirteen chapters for this story, with an epilogue. And as requested, I'm making Artemis the dominant partner, or seme, however you want to call it.

Thank you so much for reading, and please review, I'd like to hear your thoughts.