I own nothing recognisably Tamora Pierce's. She owns the characters, etc. I just decided that it would be amusing to see Kel and Dom blush over bananas…
#
"This isn't funny."
Kel was glaring quite viciously at Yuki. Yuki was just ignoring the Lady Knight, admiring her own handiwork with a wide smile.
"It's not funny," she agreed. "It's beautiful! Kel, you look amazing. Look in the mirror. Now.."
Kel rolled her eyes, but obeyed guardedly. Her reflection looked naught like her. Her hair had been let out, after having grown much longer over the days travelling. Her eyes were lined with make-up; her lips with lip make-up.
I look…Kel thought, astounded…I look like a lady.
"You look beautiful," Yuki agreed. Kel didn't realise she had spoken aloud until that moment.
It had been Yuki's idea. To do what she was going to do, she needed confidence. And this did just the trick. Each Midsummer's Eve, New Hope held a dance-type ball, where the residents went to have fun.
Yuki had somehow bribed Kel into going.
"He'll be blown away," Owen agreed, nodding enthusiastically.
They all turned to look at him. "How did you get in here?"
Owen shrugged. "Through…the…door…?"
Kel hit him round the head with her fan.
#
Dom stood in his lodgings, staring blankly at the wall. He had been doing this for quite a while.
Well, a long time, to be truthful.
So long, in fact, that when a servant came in to say that he needed to be on the way to the ball, he realised he'd been staring at the wall, lost in thought, for over four hours.
He swore under his breath, fixing his garments and the sword that he kept hanging at his belt at all times.
Grabbing the bouquet of flowers Neal had so grudgingly got for him, Dom made a beeline straight for the ballroom.
She was standing there with Yuki. Dom couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked, even more beautiful than she did every day in all her knightliness. Hooking one hand in his belt, he walked over to the small company with a smile.
Yuki grinned at Dom and vanished into the ballroom.
"You look beautiful," Dom complimented, kissing Kel's hand with a gentle smile. Kel gasped, surprised, and playfully swatted him away. He passed her the flowers and Kel, much to his pleasant surprise, blushed prettily.
"Shall we?" he asked, waving at hand at the ballroom, and then holding out his hand. Kel blushed, again, clumsily grabbing his hand, and following him into the ballroom.
And so the game begins, Kel thought, throwing one last glance at the smug Yuki.