Disclaimer: I don't want to have to type this again. Although I probably will have to for a very long time. Oh well. I don't own 'em.
Underneath the Surface - Chapter 1 - Dreams
"Kel? Are you all right?"
Kel snapped out of her reverie to look at Cleon. He was studying her carefully, his eyes scrutinizing her every movement. It had been like this since she had been jerked out of sleep that one night while they were on sentry duty together. She had been in a faze for the entire night, Cleon had observed. He was worried something was really bothering her.
"Kel?"
Kel shook her head. "It's nothing, Cleon. Just thinking." She nudged Hoshi forward a bit to get away from Cleon. He had been pestering her nonstop for the past couple of days. It's not that she was ungrateful for his concern... she just really didn't want to talk about what was bothering her.
That dream... she hadn't had one like it in years. She never dreamed about silly things like love and romance. If anything, she would be the last one to dream about something like that. So why now? And why with Neal, of all people?
'It's not like you have feelings for him,' she told herself. 'It was just another of those random things, that have no real relevance or meaning to them. It's not like it meant anything. Right.'
Kel sighed. Life really was just too complicated.
Cleon caught up to her rather quickly. They were on their way to Neal and Yuki's wedding. They had brought nothing but the essentials, spare clothes, food and supplies. They had both decided to buy a gift for the happy couple when they got back to Corus, and Lalasa had already told Kel that she was going to make her dress back at home.
"What are you thinking about?" Cleon asked her. Kel glanced at Cleon and sighed. He was the ever-pestering Cleon, after all...
"Nothing. None of your business."
"A certain Domitan, maybe?" Cleon asked probingly. Kel glared at him and nudged Hoshi forward again. This was going to be a long ride.
Cleon caught up to her again. "Don't try to avoid the question, Kel. I know that's what you were thinking about."
Kel just looked at him.
Cleon dropped the subject.
"So how are things with Ermelian?" Kel asked him after a while. His face brightened visibly.
"She's wonderful," he said softly. He looked up at her and grinned. "Not as wonderful as you, dewdrop, of course, but still..." he said as his voice trailed off. Kel smiled and sighed. It was good that he had found someone that he could love.
"Of course Cleon," she replied. Seeing Cleon like this made her happy.
"She has this habit of running her fingers through her hair when she's nervous. I just have to love her when she does that. It's one of those little habits that you can never stop, but she just looks so... innocent when she does it. And then, other times, she's like a little devil." He coughed, a blush rising to his face. "If you know what I mean."
Kel's cheeks turned red. She had a very good idea of what he meant.
"Cleon, stop. You're reminding me of Neal with that bluntness of yours." He coughed, and Kel slowly found a steady heat rising to her cheeks.
"Kel, why is it that whenever someone mentions Neal's name that you blush?" he asked her pryingly.
Kel proceeded to turn redder.
"It's not because of - him - it's because of what you said earlier," she replied quickly, hoping that he would believe her... stretch of the truth. Apparently, though, she had answered a little too quickly for Cleon's tastes.
"Are you sure? You wouldn't be hiding some secret passion for our lovable Meathead, now would you?" Cleon prodded.
"Dom and Neal? Cleon, what do you take me for, some kind of harlot?" Kel asked, feeling quite irked. (A/N: That's just such a funny word. ^_^)
Cleon turned red and quiet rested over the two companions once again. Kel sighed. Cleon's sometimes twisted sense of humor never ceased to amaze and slightly annoy her.
They rode for a couple more minutes before Cleon asked her, "are you sure you aren't hiding anything?"
Kel glanced at him. Why was he so intent on finding out about her imaginary love interests?
"Cleon, are you feeling all right? I think all this riding has interfered with your common sense."
Cleon put a hand to his forehead in a mock gesture. "Well, I do feel a bit warm, but I don't think I'm sick or anything..." He grinned.
Kel sighed and shook her head. He would never grow up.
"Cleon?"
"Yes, Kel?"
"Do be quiet."
Cleon smirked and let out a small snort. "As you wish, Lady Kel."
"And don't call me Lady Kel."
"Yes, dame Keladry."
"Cleon, shut up."
"As you wish, my pearl."
"CLEON!!!"
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
It was easy riding for a day or two. Kel and Cleon had stopped outside of an inn in the seaport town of Blue Harbour. After two nights of hard riding, it would be blessed comfort to be able to lie down in a real bed.
"Ugh," Kel moaned as she and Cleon made their way into the inn after giving their horses to the stable boys. "I'm about ready for a good night's sleep."
"Tell me about it," Cleon responded, his stride a little lopsided from sitting on a horse for so long. Opening the door, they took in the sight around them. Scantily clothed women bustled around, flirting with local men that flocked the taverns this time of night. A bard was performing in the corner for a group of avid listeners, while a bartender served an already tipsy looking man. Kel smiled tightly; the scene looked like something out of a Corus inn itself. It brought back memories of home.
Kel and Cleon walked over to a table and seated themselves. A man quickly came over to them.
"What'll it be, miss? Sir?"
Kel answered him. "Two rooms for the night, please. And what types of food do you have?"
The man looked between the two knights and cleared his throat. "Ahm... I'm afraid that we only have one room left for tonight. I'm dreadfully sorry, but..." He cleared his throat again, looking a bit uncomfortable.
Kel shot Cleon a glance. He was frowning as he returned her gaze. "I'll take the floor..." he said uncertainly.
"You don't have to," Kel told him. "You shouldn't have to-"
"No, it's all right," Cleon answered quickly, a tight grin spread over his face. Kel looked at him worriedly, but let it go. If he wanted to let her have the bed, then it was fine with her.
Cleon turned to the man. "We'll take that room, please. Now, what do you have to eat?"
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Kel sighed as she undressed in the small latrine in the room she shared with Cleon. It had been a long couple of weeks. Sleep had been scarce, since she was on sentry duty for a large majority of her time. Cleon... he had been... different. He had made things easier with his constant jokes but - other times he had just been a plain nuisance.
"Always pestering me about Neal and Dom and not getting enough sleep," she grumbled under her breath. Slipping her nightshirt on over her loincloth and brestband, she turned to look at herself in the mirror. She winced when she saw the dark circles under her eyes. They made her look even more like a Lump.
Kel rubbed her eyes and looked back at her reflection. She smiled. Without the bags, she might actually look half-decent. She had changed so much since coming to the Royal Palace to train to be a knight.
'For the better,' she thought as she opened the door into the bedroom. Cleon had already changed and was making a makeshift bed on the floor with the extra blankets the inn had provided them with. He looked up when he saw, her, but then went back to his work without a word. They were both too tired to hold a decent conversation, anyway.
Kel made her way to the bed, folded down the sheets, and lied down. She closed her eyes when she heard Cleon crawl into his own bed.
"G'night, Cleon," she whispered to him.
He let out a contented sigh. "G'night, Kel."
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Kel?"
Kel turned at the sound of that familiar voice. She smiled warmly at her best friend. "Neal!" she said, laughing as he picked her up and twirled her around in the air.
When he had finally let her down, he smiled at her warmly and took her hand. "Come on. I have a surprise for you."
Kel followed, a smile plastered on her face. She hadn't seen Neal in so long...
He led her through a field of wildflowers. They seemed somehow familiar to Kel. She shook her head. She had never been to a place this beautiful before, had she?
Greens and yellows and purples spanned across the horizon, drowning out the darkness. Kel followed Neal's outstretched hand through field after field, across a seemingly endless distance until Neal abruptly stopped. Kel furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Why were they stopping?
"Shh..." Neal told her, as if he had read her mind. "Just wait."
Suddenly, the fields became a mirage as Kel found herself standing in a forest. A gentle mist had settled around them, making it hard for Kel to see past the clearing they were standing in. Great evergreens reached for the heavens, their thistles quaking ever so softly. It was almost eerily quiet. Kel couldn't hear a noise for miles with the exception of her own breathing. Or maybe it was Neal's hand curved warmly over hers that was unnerving her so...
"Shh..." Neal repeated again as he took her and gently pressed her up against his chest. Kel felt her heart start to beat faster. Her breathing quickly became labored.
Neal smirked as he wrapped an arm around her waist. His hand moved to touch the small of her back. Kel felt heat rising to her face. "Neal? What-"
"I told you, shh..." he said softly as he gently moved his lips over hers.
Kel felt her blood thunder in her head. She just stood there for a moment before remembering to kiss him back. Her hands found their way to the back of his neck as he rubbed her back in tiny circles. His hands found his way to where her shirt was tucked into her breeches, and he pulled the shirt out, giving him free reign to her skin. Kel shivered.
Kel could feel him sliding his tongue across her teeth. She suddenly became dizzy and lightheaded all over. Just what were they doing, really?
Neal moved his hands from her back to the sides of her stomach, slowly edging her shirt out of her breeches. His fingers danced along bare skin as they moved upward. Kel moaned involuntarily.
Abruptly, he pulled away and grinned. "So. Did you like my surprise?" Kel looked at him in a daze, not comprehending the words he said.
"Hm. Thought so."
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Kel's eyes darted open as she moaned in frustration. So much for that good night's rest.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
A/N: HEHEHEH!!!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUN THAT WAS TO WRITE!!!!! HEHEHEHEHEH!!!!!!! Ok, I'm done. OMG! You guys gave me so many reviews for just a little K/N story! I mean, I didn't even stick together anyone weird this time... Heh... oh, go read Philosophical Disagreements. It's a convo I had with Kate that she posted. It's quite amusing, if I do say so myself. So... go read. ^_^ Heh... hope you all liked the chappie!
Much love,
Stacey
P.S. I've decided to put the thank yous at the end. Soooo... Here.
Lady Sandrilene - Heh... read Search for the Six. It's by my good friend, Kate. It's on my favs, so just go there. Even though I think you should be more open minded about weird couples, I have decided that you are a cool person for reviewing this story. (Since I do like this story ever so much.) Thanks!
Kate - I have no idea what to say to you after than WEIRD convo we had yesterday. Hehehe... Neal was quite good in the bathtub today, though. ^_^
Sarah - I'm not even going to bother talking to you. Finish your hw so you can call me!!!
Alex - go write more of Outcasts! More K/Niness! Heheheh........ thanks!
Jossie - I'll try not to give away much. I mean, I don't think I have so far. Erm... I feel very touched that you would read this instead of studying. Then again, I do that all the time, so... hehehe...... GO PROCRASTINATION!!!!!
SiriDragon - Thanx! Hermione/Snape is cool man!
Cinereath - Ack. Dom. No. Ack.
Kenta Divina - Truthfully, I don't know all the specifics as to what's going to happen, but I'll keep in mind what you said about Yuki. I don't like being mean to her, either, even thought it happens a lot. *sheepish grin*
Queen of Fluff - Why, hello. Yay for Neal! Yay!
QueenFrosteen - I know. I made a mistake with the whole "best" man thing. Oh well. *sheepish grin* Of course I like the K/N pairing! Hehehe... Thanks for reviewing!
Pam - SHUT UP!!!! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!! K then. Anyway, thanks for reviewing. DIE ENGLISH PAPERS!!!!!
Amethyst Eyes - Darn... Why couldn't he be dead... Then again, he does provide good comic relief... Heh...
Natalia - You are waaaaaay too obsessed with Owen. And I thought Kate and I were bad...
Michelle - I like the llama idea... sounds interesting!
Magelet - Oh, it will... *evil grin*
Judeeeeeeeee - Heh... strangeling. I really wanted to post this today, and I didn't know if you were going to be able to read it in time, so I posted it now. *winces* Sorry. Oh well. Future chappies will go to you though. Glad to know that you like my writing. *blushes* Then again, we're friends, so you're sorta obligated to tell me that, aren't you? Heh... CAFFEINE!!!!!!!
Larzdinn - See? I updated. K/N is my fav ship. Of course I couldn't just leave them like that. Sheesh... thanks!
P.P.S. About the dream, it was supposed to be random! That's why they switched surroundings like they did. It was actually sorta pointless, but oh well. I like it.
P.P.P.S. GO REVIEW!!!!! Heh...