A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Here's the next chapter!
Chapter Three: Harmless Flirtations?
"Dom flirts with everyone, it runs in the family- you know how Neal gets."
-Kel to Cleon. Tamora Pierce, Squire
Finding a spot beside another supply wagon, Dom eased his horse along. He watched the two riders ahead of him. Though he was out of earshot, he knew the topic of their conversation. He had seen the look the young knight had given him.
He also knew that he was guilty of the things Kennan was most likely accusing him of. Dom had been flirting with Kel, though he knew he probably shouldn't have been, especially since her sweetheart was so nearby. But tried as much as he had, he couldn't help himself. Usually a little flirtation was what got Kel to smile and laugh. And it was harmless, so it was fine, right?
Maybe he should've left out the wink then.
Dom sighed to himself. Before he had been assured that Kel and Cleon were courting, life had been much easier for him. Now he had to worry that he was being too flirtatious with the lady squire, but he found it impossible to quit.
He kept reminding himself that she expected it of him anyway.
But besides that, he didn't think he could ever get used to seeing them together, knowing they were a couple. Sure, they never kissed in public or anything, which Dom was positive was Kel's rule and not Cleon's, but it was even the simple things that bothered him. And it still baffled him as to why.
For example, Dom had heard Cleon call Kel silly names on multiple occasions- 'pearl of my heart', 'dew drop', 'pearl of my desire'. It puzzled Dom as to how Kel put up with it. He found it sickening. But Kel would just laugh it off.
Another thing that Dom noticed was the way that the newly made knight always seemed to appear whenever Kel and Dom were simply talking. It was like Cleon couldn't even leave Kel alone for two minutes, and even less if she was around another man.
Dom hated to tell him that that was a difficult task, since she was often surrounded by only men.
"It looks like we have visitors!" Someone shouted from behind.
Sure enough, Dom looked up and saw Bazhir tribesmen cresting a hill.
More men Kennan gets to keep away from Kel, thought Dom wryly.
The huge riding party came to a stop. The Bazhir were there to welcome the Tortallan royalty as well as the rest of the Progress.
Dom was grateful that it was something to take his mind off of the couple in front of him, and why he took such interest in them.
Kel agreed with Raoul. Though Persopolis was indeed an interesting city, she was really getting used to living out of a tent. Neal, on the other hand, rejoiced at the thought of a real bed.
"It's about time we're going to be treated nicely on this Progress! I haven't had a good sleep in weeks!" he announced.
Leaning around Neal, Kel said to Merric, "No wonder he's been in such a foul mood."
The three squires were walking through Persopolis' marketplace, stopping to look at things here and there, but mostly they were just talking.
"And I had just assumed he had taken on the temper of his knight-mistress," commented Merric sarcastically.
Neal scowled at the red-headed squire, "And I had just assumed that your knight-master had taught you better manners than to annoy your elders."
"Are you calling yourself old, Neal?" Merric teased.
Sighing resignedly, he replied, "Of course not. But compared to both of you, I am five years your senior and therefore more mature."
Kel and Merric gave each other raised eyebrows and laughed.
Before Neal could reply, a voice drawled from not far behind them, "Making a fool out of yourself again, Meathead?"
"Meathead?" questioned Merric, laughing. "I'd like to hear the story behind that name," he told Kel.
Kel didn't respond. She was busy paying attention to the handsome young man walking toward them. Too much attention, she realized, as Dom came over and slung his arm around Neal.
He was now standing between her and Neal.
"I was simply explaining to my young friends that my years and maturity exceeds theirs," Neal informed his cousin.
Dom laughed much like Kel and Merric had.
He has such a nice laugh.
Pushing that thought away quickly, Kel piped up, "Well, Dom here exceeds you by two years, Neal, so you can no longer claim the title of seniority."
Dom flashed her a smile that made her pulse speed up as usual. "That's right, Meathead," he said, turning back to Neal, "I expect all respect out of you now."
Rolling his eyes emphatically, Neal said to Kel, "Well at least I prove to be more mature since I restrain from calling family members by such ridiculous names."
Kel smiled. "I think we're all more mature than you are, Neal- Except possibly Dom at times." She grinned at the sergeant.
He turned to look at her. "What are you trying to say, Kel, that Meathead is more mature than I?" Kel could tell he was amused by her statement.
"Perhaps, considering the pranks you enjoy playing with the Own so much," she replied, still grinning. "Some of them are quite childish," she teased. Actually, most of them were quite good, but she was having too much fun teasing him.
Dom smiled. "Childish? Pranks are vital to the Own's survival."
"Vital?" Kel questioned disbelievingly.
"Of course," Dom answered, grinning, "What better way to relieve the pressures of life on the road than pranks?"
Shrugging Kel said, "Meditation?"
"Reading?" suggested Neal.
"Gambling?" said Merric.
Shaking his head, Dom laughed. "We gamble all the time, so that's no different. As for meditation, I can hardly imagine any of us shutting up for that long a time. And reading- nice try."
"That's just because it was my suggestion," complained Neal.
Ignoring Neal's comment, Kel said thoughtfully, "I still think there's something better than to occupy your time with so many pranks."
"Yeah, but you sure don't want to hear about that," said Neal suggestively, causing him and Merric to laugh.
Grinning, Dom turned back to Kel, "You know, you might not think pranks were so bad if you got involved in some. It's fun, and I think you'd be pretty good at them, too."
She smiled, "Are you trying to recruit me?"
"Am I succeeding?" he asked smiling hopefully, "If so, I will gladly accept you among our ranks."
Kel felt flattered by his offer. Then grinning playfully, she teased, "Thanks, Dom, but I'd rather join the winning side…"
Merric guffawed, but Kel hardly noticed. Her eyes were locked with the sergeant's, whose blue eyes twinkled with amusement. He was giving her one of his signature bold smiles. Kel could feel her cheeks begin to redden.
She was just mastering control over her blush when Neal pronounced, in his usual drawl, "Can you two stop pretending not to be flirting with each other long enough so we can finally find something to eat? I'm starved!"
Whatever control Kel had had over her blush before completely vanished.
Wondering why she was blushing so profusely, Kel's own traitorous mind told her- That's because Neal is right, and you know it. You were flirting with Dom!
This realization made her blush even more.
"Well, we can't come between Neal and his stomach, now can we?" joked Dom.
Kel glanced up and what she saw surprised her.
It wasn't Merric's laughter or Neal's disgruntled face- that was a completely normal sight. It was Dom. There was a slight redness to his face, too.
Though it wasn't as obvious as she was sure her own blush was, there was no doubting the redness of his face.
Sakuyo laughs, thought Kel, disbelievingly. I've never seen Dom blush before, and certainly not around me! There must be some other reason…
She looked around, and then suddenly glanced up at the fair sky above them.
It must be the desert sun.
"You're so spoiled, Meathead, there are thousands of jobs worse than your own, and here you are griping about it. There's no use; you're the one who chose to become a page."
"A decision I'll probably regret for the rest of my life," mumbled Neal, looking down into his cup of cider.
The four of them were sitting in a small eating house, finishing off their filling meal. Neal was complaining about the serving duty of squires.
"It's our duty, Neal," said Kel to her best friend. "When you're knighted and get to have your own squire, I'm sure you'll enjoy the service."
"I know, I know," said Neal, waving it off, "but it's still such a pain!"
Dom laughed, "He's just complaining because he's stuck serving while lowly sergeants like me get to enjoy the party."
He was about to add that he was also occasionally favored with the lady squire's delightful company, but glancing at Kel and then at Neal, he decided against it. His earlier flirtations had already attracted his cousin's attention, and he didn't want Neal to get suspicious. All he needed was to have Neal watching him like a hawk- and Dom was sure another red-headed young man was already fulfilling that task.
"Yeah, and he's depressed that he's stuck serving old nobles instead of pretty young court ladies," remarked Merric after he took a swig of his cider.
About to comment, But what do pretty court ladies matter when he has the prettiest one serving beside him?,Dom caught his tongue fast. What was the matter with him? Whenever he was around Kel lately, almost all of his comments revolved around flattering her. He flirted with her before, no doubt, but now he did it almost involuntarily. He had to stop before others started to take notice- particularly her own sweetheart. He was a big fellow and Dom didn't wish to be made a part of the earth anytime soon.
As if the trickster god himself had heard his thoughts, Dom turned to see the same red-headed young man walk through the door. He wasn't sure why, but he almost groaned. Of course the knight immediately spotted their table- or the girl sitting at it- and made his way over.
Merric, who was sitting beside Kel, moved over as Cleon placed himself between them. Right away Dom noticed how close the knight sat next to Kel, and tried his best to ignore it.
"So, Meathead, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?" he asked, turning to his cousin beside him. He wouldn't admit that he was also turning away from the couple across from him.
"Oh, I don't know," Neal replied dryly, "I was thinking of basking in the sun and maybe taking up knitting with all the leisure time I have."
The rest of the table laughed.
"You mean no reading fat-headed books?" questioned Dom.
"Or eating your favorite vegetables?" grinned Cleon.
"What about visiting the sick?" said Merric.
"No sappy love poetry?" added Kel, smiling.
Neal rolled his eyes and sighed exaggeratedly, "And this is what I get in return for all these years of friendship…ridicule."
"Don't feel bad, Neal, you should feel fortunate that that's all you receive." Merric grinned and indicated Cleon beside him, "Poor Kel has to actually kiss this bird-brained piece of mountain."
Dom, enjoying the conversation up to then, suddenly had difficulty swallowing his ale. He was stuck between laughing and coughing.
Neal and Merric, with mouths empty of ale, roared with laughter.
Uncertain why the comment struck him as so comical, Dom finally managed to swallow and looked at the target of their fun.
Cleon's face turned as red as his hair, and Dom was sure it was a mixture of embarrassment and exasperation.
Kel, on the other hand, was expressionless and studying her half empty cup of cider.
"Shut it, Merric," warned Cleon as he glared at the young man. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Please! It's so obvious that the two of you are courting. And if the way you look at each other doesn't give it away, then you're sneaking around sure does!"
"We do not sneak around," retorted Cleon. Dom could see his blush deepen.
"Oh no?" chuckled Neal.
"No, we're just very…discreet," Cleon finished lamely.
Merric and Neal laughed loudly. "I hate to break it to you, but a big knight like you and the one and only lady squire cannot possibly be discreet," said Neal, laughing.
Seeing Kel's mouth twitch, Dom chuckled softly. Even she found the idea amusing.
The five of them were still on the same topic when they got up and left the eating-house. Walking back out into Persopolis' marketplace, Neal said to Cleon, "And you give me grief about my poetry- what about all those ridiculous names you call Kel? I mean, if that isn't obvious, I don't know what is!"
Merric agreed. Cleon was walking between the two, trapped by their questions and unrelenting teasing.
Dom walked a little bit behind them, listening in but not adding any of his own comments. Kel was walking beside him, doing the same.
He heard her soft laughter as Cleon tried to defend himself from his two friends.
Glancing over at her, Dom asked her what she was laughing about. Kel amusedly told him about the nicknames Cleon had accumulated for her over the years.
"He has so many, I can't even remember half of them," she said, laughing. Then she told him softly, "To tell you the truth, I've never really cared for those names. But he takes so much enjoyment in them…" she shrugged her shoulders, "I no longer try to stop him. Even though I still think he's silly to keep doing so."
Dom looked at her and grinned, "I may have to agree with you there, but I do have to give the boy some credit. He has wonderful taste in women."
Though the three walking ahead of them were talking too loudly to hear his remark, Dom knew that Kel had. What took him off-guard however was the noticeable blush that appeared on her face.
His steps faltered for a moment, as did his thoughts. Since when does Kel blush? Even when Merric and Neal had been teasing her and Cleon about their 'secret' relationship, she had been completely emotionless. It made Dom wonder as to why then she blushed at such a harmless flirtation.
Then he suddenly recalled a scene from earlier that day, when Neal had accused them of flirting. Kel had indeed blushed before. In fact, she had blushed twice in one day- and both times it had been a result of one of his own comments.
Dom's thoughts began to reel.
Why had she blushed? Was it because of something he had said or the result of something else completely? Thinking of which, why had he blushed earlier? He'd been caught flirting before. And Kel never blushed. Why now and twice in one day? Was it possible that she might…?
He glanced over at Kel, who had since rejoined her three friends ahead of them. She was laughing at something Cleon had said. Dom could see their eyes were locked as they smiled at each other.
Quickly shaking his head of such dreams, Dom also joined those in front of him.
He already knew how dangerous his previous thoughts could be…
A/N: So, Dom's having dangerous thoughts. Hmm, so he's had them before, huh? Interesting, interesting…I'll update soon!