Uh oh…
How was he going to explain this…?
That's if Queen Nerea hadn't already seen…
If he was one for swears this would be the perfect time to use them…
How do you sneak something through a long corridor and a giant spherical throne room…?
He almost breathed a sigh of relief as the queen didn't acknowledge his presence, too absorbed in her paperwork. Slinking around the walls of the room, he slowly, silently made his way towards the archway to the left of the throne.
Please don't notice, please don't notice, please don't–
His eyes never left her for a second, as hers never left her papers.
She won't notice, she won't notice, she won't–
"Leander?" He froze as she spoke his name without shifting her gaze or so much as tilting her head.
"Y-yes? Your majesty?" He answered as stoically as possible, muscles wound tighter than a clock.
"What are you doing?" Came the inevitable question, he could feel a bead of sweat slowly trailing down his forehead.
"I-I um… Well I'm…" He struggled to find an answer, shifting his grip on the bag he was carrying behind his back. The queen turned her face towards him, her eyes boring into his very soul as he snapped his posture up straight, the bag still behind his back with his hands.
She opened her mouth to speak before pausing as she critically looked him over. Her ruby gaze narrowed as she caught the gaze that was desperately trying to avoid her.
"What have you done?" She changed her question, raising an eyebrow. Leander gulped and turned his face to the floor, knowing he'd been cornered.
"I, um… I uh…" He tried again. He gulped before raising his gaze to meet hers. "I may have stolen a bag of lemons."
She blinked.
Then stared.
"…Why?" Nerea leaned forward an inch or two.
"To prove a point." This just seemed to intrigue her but before she could continue her line of questioning, he brought the bag out from behind his back, reached in and pulled one of the lemons out. "Would you like one?" He offered in as casual a manner as possible. Her mouth opened with a response that never came before she paused and tried again.
"Alright." She shrugged and nodded. Leander couldn't help but smile as he used his telekinesis to fly the citrus over to her. Nerea plucked it from the air and held it there, quizzically watching it.
"What point did you prove with this?" The lemon was tossed into the air before she caught it again, curiosity lacing her tone.
"I'm not afraid of Peleus." He stated with a huff of indignation.
"So you…" She couldn't seem to help the snigger she tried to supress. "Stole his lemons?" She bit her lip.
"…" Leander paused to consider this. "When you say it like that… You have to question my methods..." He sighed as he awkwardly tweaked his glasses, the realisation sinking in. Nerea chuckled before tossing the lemon back at him.
"Perhaps." She smiled as she indicated back the way he'd came. "But it wouldn't bode well with the citizens if you were found guilty of theft."
His sapphire eyes turned to the entryway.
"Perhaps you're right." He made no move towards the hallway though.
"Leander?" The archon turned to her again.
"Hm?" Leander's head tilted in question.
"You'd best be going then?" She spoke in a guiding tone. He nodded but said nothing. "I for one, can't wait to see Peleus' face when he realises that you are the Hydropolis Lemon Thief." He perked up at that.
"Pardon?" It was his turn to stare in confusion. She chuckled again.
"Speio heard tales of someone having stolen the lemons of Hydropolis. The people are calling them, 'The Hydropolis Lemon Thief'." He blinked at her amusement.
"Ah." Was the only answer he could give.
"Ah, indeed." She nodded towards the entrance. "Now, haven't you somewhere you need to be? I wouldn't want to keep you." A tiny smirk twitched at his lips.
"Indeed." He headed towards the hallway before pausing mid step. "Although…" He glanced over his shoulder. "That title has a certain ring to it…" Nerea laughed fully this time, his heart soaring with her voice.
"Get out…" She waved her hand to dismiss him with a humorous tone. He chuckled.
"The Hydropolis Lemon Thief, away!"
He ran down the hallway to the sound of Nerea in hysterics.
Author's Note:
This is by far my favourite chapter yet. Since Nerea and Leander have known each other since they were kids and have loved each other for probably just as long, there's no way they don't joke around every so often.
Also yes. I did just spam my followers inboxes for this.
Maybe sorry?
Would still love to hear your ideas!
