---------------EUPHORIA---------------
TWO:
Punishment
"Neal, eat your vegetables."
She waited, but he didn't touch them. Without even looking at her, he continued to cut up his meat.
"Perhaps I should rephrase that. Neal, eat your vegetables immediately."
This time, he did look up, and loftily asked, "Oh? And what if I don't?"
"Then I'll do something drastic."
"Drastic, huh?"
"Yes. And fatal."
"Hmmm. 'something drastic and fatal', or vegetables? I'll die either way..."
When Kel raised her eyebrows, he shrugged, and speared a piece of carrot.
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Ezeko's thunderous voice could be heard across the practice courts. It was almost silent otherwise; the drills were tiring, and the pages didn't want to waste breath on chatter.
"Kel, don't whack my collarbone."
Kel smiled grimly and lashed out with her staff again.
He raised an eyebrow as a droplet of swear dribbled down the side of his face. "Perhaps I should rephrase that. Kel, don't you dare whack my collarbone ever again."
This time, her smile was impish. "Oh? And what if I do?"
"Then I'll do something drastic!"
"Really? Drastic?"
"Yes. And fatal."
"Well, I'm afraid that I highly doubt you'd be able to kill me, so... I think I'll hit you again." He felt it harder this time as the already bruised bone was struck again.
"Maybe you're right," he said, words punctuated by heavy breaths as the pain and the tiring drill began to get to him. "Maybe I wouldn't be able to kill you. But you do need punishment."
"I suppose I do," she replied mildly. She then pushed her staff forward so recklessly that the wood made contact with his knuckles. He hissed in pain and shook his hand out, holding his staff one handed.
"I think, however, I will administer your punishment later this evening."
"And I will look forward to it," she said dryly.
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Neal knocked sharply on her door, exactly three times. By the time she opened it, he was lounging in the doorway, sides of his mouth turned up with smug mischievousness. "I have come to hand out your punishment, Mindelan!" he announced, and strolled into her room. Scowling, she left the door open, and turned to him.
"Oh, the joy," she drawled. Neal ignored that; his eyes drifted around the room as though examining it. Abruptly he moved, and pushed Kel away from the door so she was out of view from the hallway.
He leaned over, brushing a tiny piece of fluff from her shoulder. Still considerably too close for Kel's comfort, he looked up into her dreamer's hazel eyes.
"I know what you're scared of most," he murmured.
Confusion leaked onto her face. "What, heights?"
"No." He looked down, licking his lips thoughtfully. The next word was spoken precisely, but his voice had a slight huskiness that made goosebumps tear down Kel's back. "Romance."
Minutes later, Neal was shoved out into the hallway by shaky arms, and the door slammed shut.
"That was rude," he commented mildly. "More punishment tomorrow, I think."
Grinning broadly, Neal stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked away.
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I like writing Neal... He's a fun character. I think, maybe, he wouldn't joke around with romance like this in the books (he seems very serious about Daine, etc.), but hey, this is a fanfiction. I'm allowed to distort him. (I don't really think of this one as a drabble, but more of a shortened one shot, but I don't like short one shots much, so here it is.)
By the way, most of the drabbles will be set in Page. That is the most viable of all the books for pairings with fellow knights-in-training. I think other types of pairings (Dom, for example) will be set in Squire. Well, we'll see. Next up is a KelOwen. Oh - and thanks to Drop Your Oboe, tawni butterfly and IamMEagain for the reviews :) Drabbles are a pleasant way to work up inspiration, and getting reviews and readers is just a plus. So thank you very much, and to everyone who's put this story on alert. See you tomorrow.