Hey y'all! This is a going to be a dumping ground for any Nanatsu no Taizai shorts that I end up writing. They'll probably mostly be Melizabeth because I'm a sucker for romance and those two make me d'awww hardcore, so consider yourself warned.

Short #1: Trust

Pairing: Meliodas x Elizabeth

Elizabeth woke with a jolt. Her chest expanded and retracted in quick succession and her eyes opened wide, straining to adjust to the dark as her heart pounded against her ribcage. Adrenaline coursed through her as shadows of night terrors continued to be conjured by her imagination, but after a drawn out moment her breathing slowed and her head cleared. Just a dream, she assured herself, raising a hand to her chest. Just a nightmare.

Lowering her hand, Elizabeth cast a glance around her darkened bedroom in the Boar Hat. Her eyes had adjusted now and she could make out the outlines of furniture illuminated by the few pale bars of moonlight that streamed through the room's only window. In the wee hours of the morning the Boar Hat presented a very different image from its typical daytime liveliness. The whole establishment was silent; its air still and its colors muted. It was odd to Elizabeth, who was unaccustomed to the bar's nighttime demeanor, but not uncomfortable. As her gaze settled on the waning crescent hanging just within view outside her window Elizabeth attempted to recall the dream that had woken her, but the images had already faded back into the depths of her subconscious and try as she might she couldn't recall them.

With a tiny, barely there sigh, she turned her head down to look at the figure slumbering peacefully beside her. Meliodas hadn't stirred in the slightest upon her awakening—not that he could've if he'd wanted to, being bound as he was every night by a concerned Hawk. Elizabeth watched him breathe slowly and deeply and a pang of guilt rose within her. It was because of her that he was forced to sleep constricted by rope. No matter how she looked at it, it couldn't be comfortable. Of course she knew that he could easily break out if he wanted to, but he allowed himself to be subjected to the ropes for her sake.

He allowed himself to be subjected to many things for her sake.

Elizabeth frowned and her eyes steeled with resolve. This would end tonight. Maybe Meliodas was prone to being a little handsy with her, but hadn't he proved over and over again that he wouldn't hurt her? He had always done his very best to protect her, even to the extent of putting his own life on the line without a second thought. And maybe there were things about him that she didn't know...things that even frightened her a little...but there was no one in the world she trusted more than him.

That's right, she thought as her fingers found the knots holding his ropes together. I trust Lord Meliodas. A few seconds and a handful of light tugs later the slumbering boy was free and the ropes were tossed carelessly to the floor by the bed. "There you go," she whispered as quietly as she could as she settled back down beside him. "Sweet dreams, Lord Meliodas."

Within the space of a few breaths she was asleep once more; a small, satisfied smile on her face.

When it was clear that she was soundly back in dreamland, a pair of bright, emerald eyes alighted on her motionless form. They gazed intently and unwaveringly at her sleeping face for a prolonged moment, then their owner's arms snaked carefully around her, embracing her gently but securely. "Sweet dreams, Elizabeth."