Story: Trick of Fate
By: Minuiko
Summary: During the ten day celebration in Corus, Yuki decides to break with Neal, and Dom with Kel (Pretend that they were together, alright?). So Neal and Kel decide to pretend they're in love to win back their original partners. But what if they accidentally fall for each other? K/N
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Six: Of Fluff and Unaccepted Apologies
"Yuki."
"Kel."
"What are you doing here?"
Kel bowed her head ironically before answering stiffly, "Can't a person go to her dressmaker's without her other so-called best friend jumping down her throat?"
"I am NOT jumping—"
"What are YOU doing here?"
Yuki answered calmly, "I will be attending tonight's wedding and ball, and so will you, I believe. I was hoping that Lalasa would help me pick out a dress."
"Who're you trying to impress, Neal? You could've worn your old kimono for your Yamani pretty-boy." Kel couldn't believe what her traitor mouth was saying. Hadn't the Yamanis taught her better than to shoot off insults like an idiot who didn't know any better?
Yuki opened her mouth, ready to retaliate, then closed it. Kel sighed. "Forget it. Yuki? Sorry. It's none of my business." She turned to Lalasa. "Have it ready by five?"
The shorter girl nodded, then began taking Yuki's measurements. Kel just left, rubbing her temples and wondering what got them all into this mess. And why was she angry at Yuki for hurting Neal? She understood Yuki. It wasn't her fault—well, it was, sort of. It was her fault that Neal was miserable, though he tried hard to act normal. But Kel herself was fickle, rather. She was being hypocritical. So why was she boiling with anger, seeing Yuki?
A flash of very blue eyes passed. It was Dom. Without Rita, for a change. Kel fought not to ask him what was up with him: she couldn't trust her judgement around him. He looked thoroughly confused and almost regretful, which didn't help her at all, as he looked extra innocent that way. So instead of talking, she just lifted her chin and kept walking.
Dom caught her wrist, his eyes pleading. "Please, Kel, can you forgive me? I'm really sorry about hurting you, I really am, but just give me another chance?"
Kel struggled inside. This was her chance to be with Dom, what the entire point of going with Neal was all about. But somewhere inside, she wanted to see him suffer, to see him struggle. And wouldn't he hurt her again? This—this kind, cute, near-perfect-in-an-oddly-human-way kind of person that Dom became— it was all a deception. He wasn't reliable around other women, no matter how nice he was. Before really giving it some thought, she replied coldly, "I'll think about it. Be sure not to play with any other of your sex-toys while you're on probation. Good day, sergeant."
"Kel—"
She yanked her arm away. "I said I'll think about it."
Kel ran. She ran until her head cleared from all the hazy thoughts around her head. 'What if he really meant it? It's possible. He was nice enough.'
'No, he just wants a girl to toy with.'
'I thought you loved him.'
She yelled aloud, "I do! I—it's just, whenever he's around, I always melt like, like some court lady! I don't want to! I want control of my life, I can't always agree with him, I need time to think!"
'You were a bit harsh with him."
'He was harsh to me.'
'You're smarter, aren't you? Aren't you? Keladry of Mindelan, Lady Knight and Protector of the Small, Yamani-trained female warrior?'
'Alright, I don't know what came over me . . .'
Her hazel eyes lowered. 'I can call the whole operation off. I don't have to win him back through Neal. I've been stupid this whole time, it's useless . . . I'm over him, I'm completely over him!'
Yet, as his hurt sapphire eyes ran through her mind, she knew it wasn't true. She kneeled, whispering with disgust, awe, and disbelief, "I'm . . . I'm still in love with him . . . that bastard . . ."
Silent tears fell from her face. "I want it to be over. I hate him, I hate him . . . I hate him for making me feel like this . . ."
Dom was the kind of man girls fell for, she reflected bitterly. Kel wished she weren't one of them. He kept his promises when they didn't involve romance; he was hapless in that area. Arms were draped around her. She stared into familiarly glinting emerald orbs. "Does this mean you want to call the plan off, love?"
She gave a thin smile. "No, you still need Yuki. I just—I hate Dom! I hate loving him, I hate him for being such a good actor, I-I hate . . ."
Neal was running his fingers through her short brown hair comfortingly. "I know . . . Shh, I know . . ."
She cried into his shirt, a little bit ashamed. The last time she'd cried—well, she didn't remember the last time she'd cried, it was so long ago. Neal grinned. "Kel, you're getting my shirt wet."
"Sorry. Do you remember when I last cried?"
Neal frowned slightly. "I think this is the first time I've ever seen you show self-pity. The very first time."
She laughed quietly, wiping her eyes. She rarely lost control like that. Well—she was rarely so hurt emotionally. Dom WAS nice enough. He was always nice. A player, but nice. She was just unreasonable, she decided. Straightening she told him, "I need to go back to Lalasa's. I think she's done with the dress by now."
He grinned, teasing, "What, no kiss good-bye?"
Her eye twitching, she stepped up to him. "Is that a challenge, Queenscove?"
Neal just stared at her. "Since when do you comment on my lame, lame jokes?"
Kel grinned recklessly. "Since now."
She kissed him once on the mouth, then left without turning back, imagining Neal's shocked expression. As she was leaving, she touched her mouth, bewildered. 'What . . . just happened? I just kissed Neal, willingly. Maybe it was to take my mind on Dom?'
Walking to Lalasa's, she admitted to herself, 'For some reason . . .that . . . wasn't so bad.'
I DON'T KNOW WHY I PUT THAT IN!! I just felt like it. Kel is very pissed at Dom, but still loves him . . . Yes, she was a bit emotional, unlike our traditional Kel . . . You think it was a bit too harsh? There was finally a Kel/Neal moment! Without them acting!
Sorry if it was a bit short . . . but I just updated in less than 24 hours, so that's okay, right?? Now. Think you can manage a review?
By: Minuiko
Summary: During the ten day celebration in Corus, Yuki decides to break with Neal, and Dom with Kel (Pretend that they were together, alright?). So Neal and Kel decide to pretend they're in love to win back their original partners. But what if they accidentally fall for each other? K/N
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Six: Of Fluff and Unaccepted Apologies
"Yuki."
"Kel."
"What are you doing here?"
Kel bowed her head ironically before answering stiffly, "Can't a person go to her dressmaker's without her other so-called best friend jumping down her throat?"
"I am NOT jumping—"
"What are YOU doing here?"
Yuki answered calmly, "I will be attending tonight's wedding and ball, and so will you, I believe. I was hoping that Lalasa would help me pick out a dress."
"Who're you trying to impress, Neal? You could've worn your old kimono for your Yamani pretty-boy." Kel couldn't believe what her traitor mouth was saying. Hadn't the Yamanis taught her better than to shoot off insults like an idiot who didn't know any better?
Yuki opened her mouth, ready to retaliate, then closed it. Kel sighed. "Forget it. Yuki? Sorry. It's none of my business." She turned to Lalasa. "Have it ready by five?"
The shorter girl nodded, then began taking Yuki's measurements. Kel just left, rubbing her temples and wondering what got them all into this mess. And why was she angry at Yuki for hurting Neal? She understood Yuki. It wasn't her fault—well, it was, sort of. It was her fault that Neal was miserable, though he tried hard to act normal. But Kel herself was fickle, rather. She was being hypocritical. So why was she boiling with anger, seeing Yuki?
A flash of very blue eyes passed. It was Dom. Without Rita, for a change. Kel fought not to ask him what was up with him: she couldn't trust her judgement around him. He looked thoroughly confused and almost regretful, which didn't help her at all, as he looked extra innocent that way. So instead of talking, she just lifted her chin and kept walking.
Dom caught her wrist, his eyes pleading. "Please, Kel, can you forgive me? I'm really sorry about hurting you, I really am, but just give me another chance?"
Kel struggled inside. This was her chance to be with Dom, what the entire point of going with Neal was all about. But somewhere inside, she wanted to see him suffer, to see him struggle. And wouldn't he hurt her again? This—this kind, cute, near-perfect-in-an-oddly-human-way kind of person that Dom became— it was all a deception. He wasn't reliable around other women, no matter how nice he was. Before really giving it some thought, she replied coldly, "I'll think about it. Be sure not to play with any other of your sex-toys while you're on probation. Good day, sergeant."
"Kel—"
She yanked her arm away. "I said I'll think about it."
Kel ran. She ran until her head cleared from all the hazy thoughts around her head. 'What if he really meant it? It's possible. He was nice enough.'
'No, he just wants a girl to toy with.'
'I thought you loved him.'
She yelled aloud, "I do! I—it's just, whenever he's around, I always melt like, like some court lady! I don't want to! I want control of my life, I can't always agree with him, I need time to think!"
'You were a bit harsh with him."
'He was harsh to me.'
'You're smarter, aren't you? Aren't you? Keladry of Mindelan, Lady Knight and Protector of the Small, Yamani-trained female warrior?'
'Alright, I don't know what came over me . . .'
Her hazel eyes lowered. 'I can call the whole operation off. I don't have to win him back through Neal. I've been stupid this whole time, it's useless . . . I'm over him, I'm completely over him!'
Yet, as his hurt sapphire eyes ran through her mind, she knew it wasn't true. She kneeled, whispering with disgust, awe, and disbelief, "I'm . . . I'm still in love with him . . . that bastard . . ."
Silent tears fell from her face. "I want it to be over. I hate him, I hate him . . . I hate him for making me feel like this . . ."
Dom was the kind of man girls fell for, she reflected bitterly. Kel wished she weren't one of them. He kept his promises when they didn't involve romance; he was hapless in that area. Arms were draped around her. She stared into familiarly glinting emerald orbs. "Does this mean you want to call the plan off, love?"
She gave a thin smile. "No, you still need Yuki. I just—I hate Dom! I hate loving him, I hate him for being such a good actor, I-I hate . . ."
Neal was running his fingers through her short brown hair comfortingly. "I know . . . Shh, I know . . ."
She cried into his shirt, a little bit ashamed. The last time she'd cried—well, she didn't remember the last time she'd cried, it was so long ago. Neal grinned. "Kel, you're getting my shirt wet."
"Sorry. Do you remember when I last cried?"
Neal frowned slightly. "I think this is the first time I've ever seen you show self-pity. The very first time."
She laughed quietly, wiping her eyes. She rarely lost control like that. Well—she was rarely so hurt emotionally. Dom WAS nice enough. He was always nice. A player, but nice. She was just unreasonable, she decided. Straightening she told him, "I need to go back to Lalasa's. I think she's done with the dress by now."
He grinned, teasing, "What, no kiss good-bye?"
Her eye twitching, she stepped up to him. "Is that a challenge, Queenscove?"
Neal just stared at her. "Since when do you comment on my lame, lame jokes?"
Kel grinned recklessly. "Since now."
She kissed him once on the mouth, then left without turning back, imagining Neal's shocked expression. As she was leaving, she touched her mouth, bewildered. 'What . . . just happened? I just kissed Neal, willingly. Maybe it was to take my mind on Dom?'
Walking to Lalasa's, she admitted to herself, 'For some reason . . .that . . . wasn't so bad.'
I DON'T KNOW WHY I PUT THAT IN!! I just felt like it. Kel is very pissed at Dom, but still loves him . . . Yes, she was a bit emotional, unlike our traditional Kel . . . You think it was a bit too harsh? There was finally a Kel/Neal moment! Without them acting!
Sorry if it was a bit short . . . but I just updated in less than 24 hours, so that's okay, right?? Now. Think you can manage a review?