"Looks like you'll have dessert, after all," Lina said with a grin.
Zel started. "Wha-what?"
"You have a spoon, too," Lina pointed out. "So now you have to try some." At his look, she added, "I insist."
When Lina Inverse insists upon something, that something better be done. Zel knew that. Most people who'd ever met Lina knew that, for that matter. Therefore, Zel had no choice but to pick up his spoon. "I won't try it before you have," he insisted.
"Oh, fine," Lina capitulated, and took a conservative (at least for her) bite.
Zel watched Lina's eyes fluttered close, and an expression of pleasure play across her face. Zel found himself biting his lower lip.
"It's really good," Lina informed him, opening her eyes. "Try it!"
Zel got himself a small spoonful, taken as far away from where Lina had gotten he spoonful as possible. He was a bit surprised at how good it was.
"See?" Lina crowed triumphantly. "Toldja so!"
"You were right," Zel conceded, setting down his spoon.
"Aw, aren't you going to have more than that?"
Zel shook his head. No way. He wasn't the resident masochist, after all.
"Fine. Be that way," Lina said, pouting cutely for a moment before tearing into the dessert. Zel nonchalantly studied the ceiling. He did not look down again until he heard Lina sigh, signaling she was finished.
"Did you enjoy dinner?"
"Oooh, yes," Lina answered. Then, before realising what she was saying, she added, "And the company."
Both of them blushed at that. They were saved from a rather awkward moment by 'Jean-Louis,' who handed Zel the bill. Zel quickly extricated the proper amount, as well as a generous tip, given solely for the waiter's timely interruption.
"Ready?" Zel asked simply, offering Lina a hand up.
"Sure," she said, taking the offered hand.
Zel let them out of the restaurant, not even bothering to see if he was getting strange looks. It just didn't seem to matter all that much.

______

--Elizabeth, Trickster Priestess ~_~