Chapter 3 - King

He really wasn't in the mood for this conversation right now.

No sooner had King gotten back from dropping off Diane, did he have a call from Meliodas. He was especially irritable after the scene in the car. Normally they were pleasant, if not full of Diane's voice as she talked about the previous night (leaving out any details of what happened after she left the club, thankfully). King listened like he always did, like a good best friend.

But the jealousy was extra strong this morning, causing him to act slightly out of character.

He couldn't exactly place what it was about the jackass named Howser that rubbed him the wrong way. From his stupid hair to the smug grin he'd given King as he left with Diane last night, King hated him. It honestly probably had more to do with King trying to seduce Diane and still failing to get her to take him home.

"Dude!" King flinched, Meliodas' voice far too loud. "Are you even listening?"

"No," he responded truthfully as he slipped off his shoes and walked to his bedroom.

King swore he could hear the damn man's smirk as he said, "Thinking of Diane?"

"What do you want Meliodas? It's to fucking early for this shit."

The blonde snorted. "We both know you were already up. Probably just getting home I'm guessing."

"Diane called Elizabeth."

It wasn't a question. He knew that after especially eventful or stressful nights, the brunette would usually call the silverette. And if last night didn't warnt a girl call, King didn't know what would. He'd been stupid last night. Crossed way too many lines. Diane, for the most part hadn't seemed entirely different this morning. He had mixed feelings about that. King half hoped that when he picked her up, she'd say something about last night. But she didn't, so he didn't bring it up either.

"Sure did and…" Meliodas paused thoughtfully, "I have to say I'm rather impressed, King."

"Fuck off, Meliodas," he growled. "I'm not taking any of your shit this morning." The wound was to fresh for the blonde to pick at right now. He assumed that his friend probably listened to the two girls chat and knew everything about last night in excruciating detail.

"I'm being serious!" Meliodas insisted, not a teasing hint to his tone. "I can't believe you finally took our advice to heart."

"Yeah, well it didn't work did it?" King grumbled collapsing on his bed. "Now I just feel even worse than I usually do. I shouldn't have even tried."

"Don't say that. You did just fine."

"I wouldn't have had to pick her up this morning if I did just fine," he snapped. "It should have been me at her place," he grumbled under his breath. He sighed heavily. "It's probably better this way."

"That sounds an awful lot like you're giving up, King."

"I gave it my best last night, and I failed. Think it's pretty obvious Diane wants nothing to do with me that way. I'm not gunna risk our friendship for a one night fling."

Meliodas snorted. "Yeah right, you're in love with her. Have been for years. It wouldn't be a one night thing."

King grounded his teeth. "Like I said, still failed."

"And like I said, you did just fine."

"Are you deaf, Meliodas?" King scowled, more annoyed then mad at his friend's insistence. "I asked her to let me take her home and she still went with someone else."

"But she was thinking of you."

King's mouth dried. A scratchy, "what," slipped past his lips.

"Meliodas!" Elizabeth hissed and King realized they weren't alone on the phone. He should have known. Just as Meliodas had a habit of listening in on Elizabeth's phone calls, she listened on his. The two were sometimes opposing, but maybe that's what made them work so well. "Don't tell him that!"

"He needs to know," the blonde reasoned back. "We're going out tonight King and you are going to do the same damn thing you did last night, got it?"

"Uh… I don't know if I can do that."

"Of course you can. Plus, you'll have a veeerry willing participant."

"Meliodas!" Elizabeth hissed.

"Seriously King, you shoulda heard the shit she was telling Elizabeth. I have no idea what exactly you did, but damn. That girl was thinking of you from when she left, til when you picked her up."

"Don't you dare say anymore Meliodas!"

"Ah, I gotta go," the blonde chuckled. "Angry girlfriend over here. See ya tonight King, pick you up at the usual time."

"Uh.. cya."

King's mind struggled to process the new information. Diane thought of him? Was it wishful thinking to believe exactly what Meliodas had been insinuating? That Diane was thinking of him the entire night. Even as another man's hands were on her skin. God knows King was imagining it was Diane gasping beneath him instead of whoever the other girl was - He honestly wasn't even sure if the two of them had exchanged names.

He groaned as he noted the growing problem in his pants. Even just imagining Diane beneath him was enough to make him hard. He sighed heavily, making his way to the bathroom to shower. He had plenty of material to work with thanks to Meliodas' little phone call. Not to mention Diane's obvious lack of bra when he picked her up. He really wouldn't have noticed if her breast hadn't been pressed against his shoulder as she reached in the back seat.

King was a cautious man, but in the shower, he let himself believe that Diane had been thinking of him all night. Just like he had been thinking of her.

Nine o'clock came fast.

He'd spent most of the day sleeping. Trying to recover from Friday and prepare for tonight. Sleeping let him ignore the nerves. Ignore the possibility of looking like a fool tonight. Of ruining his friendship with Diane. He'd settled with a loose fitting navy button up shirt and dark washed jeans.

"Yo, King," Meliodas greeted from the driver's seat as he climbed in the back. Helbram already there, Ban sitting in the front.

"Hey guys," King replied lazily, not bothering to stop a yawn from escaping him.

"Late night?" Helbram's lips quirked. "Diane keep you up?"

He scowled lightly, meeting Meliodas' eyes in the rearview mirror. "You didn't tell them?" He was surprised, actually. Not much was kept secret in their group of friends. Perhaps why they were all so close.

"Tell us what?" Ban twisted in his seat to stare at the ginger.

"Wasn't my place to tell," Meliodas shrugged as he pulled away from the curb.

"Ya right." King rolled his eyes. "But you can tell me what Diane says?" He challenged.

The blonde laughed. "That's totally different! Me telling you about Diane and Elizabeth's call benefits the both of you. Telling these guys has no effect on that situation whatsoever."

"What are you guys talking about?" Helbram insisted as him and Ban shared looks of annoyance. "What happened last night? What phone call?"

King debated what he wanted to say. Unsure if there was any point in telling them. They'd probably figure it out pretty quick if everything went right tonight. With my luck, it won't, he thought rather reluctantly. He shifted farther down in his seat, huffing as he crossed his arms and stared out the window.

"Long story short, it was just Diane and I out last night. She wanted me to show her how I pick up girls. Told her no and, in typical Diane fashion, she insisted that I hit on her. One thing lead to another and I stupidly asked her to let me take her home." King inhaled deeply at his long winded explanation.

"... I'm guessing she didn't go home with ya?" Ban studied him curiously.

"No. Someone else again."

"Shit," Ban and Helbram cursed together.

"King~," Meliodas teased with an overly bright smile. The man was obviously enjoying this way too much. "You're leaving out some very important details."

The ginger sunk further into his seat, not wanting to meet the prying gaze of his friends.

"You better tell them or I will."

"No!" King shouted, straightening in his seat. That was definitely something he didn't want. Meliodas had a way of over exaggerating. The blonde liked to call it being a good story teller. King called it bull shit. He tugged at the collar of his shirt anxiously. "Uh, according to Meliodas Diane, uh, t-thought of me from the t-time she left until I, uh, picked her up this morning."

"You picked her up again?" Ban exasperated, smacking his own forehead. "Idiot."

"Hold up, hold up," Helbram took King's shoulders and shook him. "Thought of you? What's that mean? What the hell kind of moves did you put on her Harlequin?"

King blushed hotly. "Just the, uh, dancing, and some… light flirting…"

Meliodas snorted. "Light?" He asked through his fit of laughter. "You're so full of shit!"

"Yeah, well, so are you!" King defended, face still warm. "I'm still not sure I even believe you!"

"Dude, I heard it with my own ears," Meliodas insisted. He shot Ban a crooked grin. "If he would have heard what I did on the phone, he wouldn't be so unsure right now. The way Diane was retelling the story I thought she was going to have an episode right there on the phone!"

"Meliodas!" King hissed vehemently. His hands gripped tightly on the seat in front of him. "Shut up!"

"Oh~" Ban shifted in his seat to stare at the ginger. "That's pretty impressive, King."

"That's what I said!" The blonde ignored King's threat. Typical.

"Who knew our little Harlequin had it in him!" Helbram chuckled along with the other two. "I mean, obviously we all know he has a weird way with the ladies, but with Diane of all people? All I gotta say is FINALLY!"

"Hey!" King scowled at the green haired man. "What the heck is that suppose to mean? You literally just told me yesterday that I was the best choice."

"Did I?" Helbram teased with a wide smile.

"Oh fuck you, Helbram."

"Why don't you save that for Diane?" The other man in the back seat suggested, wiggling his eyebrows. "From the sounds of it, tonight might finally be the night! You're gunna need all that stamina for our busty brunette beauty."

Sounds of ooooo came from the men in the front seats. And then all three of them cackled.

King mumbled, "why do I even hang out with you guys," under his breath. His face once again, on fire.

"Because!" Meliodas chirped happily. "We're your friends. And you honestly won't find better ones than us." He parked the car and spun around to look at him directly with a large grin. "Who else could give you such great advice?"

"How about we just go with, I'm to lazy to try and meet new people," King responded with a quirked brow and a barely there smile.

"That may have more to do with it," Ban laughed loudly. He threw the door open and got out. Leaning back in, he gave his signature crooked grin as he said, "now, let's get a little liquid courage in King so he doesn't fuck it up tonight with his nervous chatter."

"That's a tricky line to walk," Helbram hummed, opening his own door. "Talking and King almost go hand in hand! If we give him to much he'll never shut up!"

"Then we'll really just have to look out for him." Meliodas chuckled as he too got out of the car.

King rolled his eyes and followed his friends to their favorite bar, the Boar Hat. "Thanks guys, what would I possibly do without you," he told them sarcastically.

To King's great annoyance, the guys did actually watch his alcohol intake.

Most of the time when the whole group hung out like this, King didn't pay much attention to what he had to drink. Not like he would when it was just him and Diane. When it was the two of them he always wanted to make sure they had fun, but was still well aware of everything going on. Diane was a beautiful young woman afterall and not every guy that came onto her took no for an answer. But when they were in a group, King wasn't the only one looking out for her. Everyone watched each other's back and they all were able to have a good time.

Now, two hours later, they were back at the same club King and Diane had visited last night.

And King was extremely nervous.

"I can't do this, I can't do this," he mumbled under his breath as the four men walked in the building. The other three looked at him with varying states of weariness, already sick of his lack of confidence. "I think I'm just gunna go home, tell everyone I got sick, too much booze at the first bar or something."

He made to leave. A hand on each shoulder stopped him.

"Relax will ya?" Ban chuckled, he and Meliodas were the ones who stopped him from leaving. "Esh, if this is how you were last night, I have no idea how you were able to get Diane so riled up."

"Last night was different!" King argued. "It was just the two of us last night and I had more to drink than normal and Diane was egging me on the whole time and that guy she was hitting on had a stupid face and her telling me to hit on her was something that won't ever happen again! Dammit guys," he cursed as they dragged him over to the large corner booth they usually sat in. "I can't do this!"

"You can do this," Helbram insisted as he forced King to sit down. Ban disappeared to go order them drinks. "Just pretend it's like last night." His friend encouraged as he sat down across from him.

"I can't! I'm telling you, it was all a fluke."

"King, chill," Meliodas placed a hand back on his shoulder. "Everything's going to be fine. I really doubt that you can fuck up enough for Diane to not wanna jump your bones."

"Don't say that! It only makes me more nervous. I've been thinking about this way too long, it's too much pressure!" He ran his hands threw his hair anxiously.

The blonde and green haired men shared looks of annoyance. Both shaking their head in sync at his mini freakout. "What do you think it was about last night that got Diane thinking about you in a different way King?" Meliodas asked him, hand still on his shoulder. When King didn't answer, he shook him. "Well?"

"I… I don't know?" King really couldn't fathom why Diane had found anything he did last night that much different from the norm. Though, he didn't hit on her… ever. All the touching they usually did was purely for the sake of making another man jealous. Last night had been the first time they actually focused solely on each other. "I… was more bold... I guess?" He ventured.

"Yes," Meliodas let out a sigh of relief, squeezing his shoulder before letting it go. "You were confident King. Last night you took a chance and pushed for something you wanted. Diane noticed that. She noticed you."

His words had a surprisingly calming effect. Ban returned with drinks and King quickly chugged half of his. "Why hasn't she noticed me before," he said it quietly, not really expecting anyone to hear.

"You never treated her as anything but a friend before," Meliodas shrugged as he drank from his own mug. "I mean that's not entirely true, but you two do a lot of stuff that most friends of the opposite sex wouldn't. I think that's cause you've been friends for so long, that you both thought it was just normal."

"Whoa," Helbram nodded his head seemingly impressed by Meliodas' insight. King couldn't deny that he was too. "How the hell didn't I see that?"

"You've known them for too long?" Meliodas shrugged again, unsure of the answer to Helbram's question.

"Huh," Ban scratched his chin. "We shoudla been able to solve this shit years ago with that kind of insight. Where the fuck were you on that one Mel?" He smirked at the blonde.

"Just kinda figured it out," Meliodas laughed. "Plus, who thought it would take these guys so long to get to this point?"

King ignored them as the men continued talking about his and Diane's friendship. He'd always known it had been a bit different, but it was with Diane so it never really bothered him. He hadn't wanted anything more than what she was willing to give. That's why he helped her pick up men. Because it's what she wanted. It made her happy. And that was what he wanted, to see her smile. Even if it wasn't directed at him.

Tonight, he hoped to change that.

About twenty minutes later, the girls finally showed up. Elaine, Elizabeth and Diane had no troubles finding their normal meeting spot. His eyes found her instantly. Her hair was down in loose curls tonight. A simple green crop top displayed her large bust and the skin just below her navel. Tight, short denim shorts and a pair of practical orange-gold sneakers finished off her look. She was wearing his favorite colors, he noted, mostly because green always made her eyes pop.

When he finally was able to meet her gaze, the amethyst was shining. There was a shy, almost embarrassed smile on her lips. That definitely wasn't how he left her this morning. She hadn't acted any differently towards him, minus the kiss on the cheek thing, but if he really believed Meliodas then… well maybe she was just as nervous about this whole thing as he was.

Maybe Meliodas is right, he thought as he gave her a small smile, just as anxious, hell probably more so. For her, this was new. But King'd been wrestling with his feelings for her for awhile now. I should take the lead. Be confident.

She slipped into the booth next to him. King blinked, he swore Meliodas was just sitting there.

"Hey King," she greeted him, using the same nickname everyone but Helbram and Elaine did when they were with the large group. Harlequin was what she called him when they were alone. Much in the same way he never called her Di in front of anyone. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"How's it going, Diane? Sleep the day away?" He somehow easily slipped into their normal routine.

She smiled at him, some of the tension leaving her. She bumped her shoulder against his. "Like you didn't?"

"Maybe?" He smiled back at her, feeling himself relax as well at the familiar contact. "Good thing we grabbed breakfast. I didn't eat again until the bar tonight."

"Oh my gosh right?" She gave him a wide grin. "Same here. You're always thinking ahead, aren'tcha King?" She teased.

He was glad to see her become comfortable again so quickly. She had likely received just as much goading from the girls about tonight as he had from the guys. It reminded King of a very important fact.

They were friends before anything else.

So he would just relax and let whatever may happen happen. Screw what the rest of them thought. "Just years of experience, Diane," he responded clinking his mug against hers, both taking a drink.

"You know that makes you sound old, right?" She tried to hide her smirk behind her mug. Her fingers linking with his under the table, the touch warm and familiar.

"Better be careful, we're pretty close to the same age."

"Ah! But that two years will always be there. So, like it or not, I'll always be younger," she stuck out her tongue at him and winked. He shook his head.

King often forgot that Diane was two years younger than him, the same age as Elaine. His little sister was actually how the two of them met funny enough. She had brought the brunette over one day after school and King supposed even then, his young mind knew she was someone special. But he was still a kid and had no idea why his sister's friend was making him feel weird.

So King had pushed Diane in the mud.

Elaine had cried and called him a bully, rushing into the house to tell on him. Diane… she stared at him with those wide amethyst eyes for a few seconds. And then she pulled him right in with her. He had sputtered and teared up, he had always been a pretty emotional kid. Diane stared at him, confused before wrapping him up in a hug.

"I'm Diane. What's your name crybaby?" She had asked him.

"I-I'm not a c-crybaby!"

Diane had released him from the hug. Still very much confused. "Then what's your name?"

"Harlequin. I'm Elaine's big brother," he had told her, blinking back tears.

"If you wanna play in the mud together, Harlequin, you just ask!" She had given him a bright smile before splashing him with mud. By the time Elaine and their mother returned, both Diane and King were covered in mud, all smiles.

They'd been friends ever since.

It wasn't until almost fifteen years later he figured out he was in love with the girl.

Her twenty first birthday. Of course their group of friends went out. Having met everyone except, Helbram in college, they'd been friends since freshmen year. Ban and Meliodas a year older than King (the story of how he met them was a long one). Elizabeth was actually his age (they had a lot of classes together) along with Helbram. The night they celebrated Diane's birthday was when King had realized he was in love with his best friend.

Or the day after to be more specific.

It was the first night King had helped her pick up a guy. The first time he'd went to pick her up in the morning. When he'd gotten there, he was mad that Diane had waited outside. It was freaking December for crying out loud. He had turned the heat up on high, figuring she was going to be cold. She saw him, face lighting up as she sprung up from the steps. That was when the door had opened behind her.

From what she told King later, she'd left without telling the guy, and he hadn't been a fan.

The guy had grabbed Diane's arm and King saw red. Before he'd realized it he was out of his car and standing over the guy who had touched her. The man stared at him, clearly surprised.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on her," King had practically growled. "And don't ever even think of so much as looking at her again, got it?"

The guy nodded his head, scrambling to get away from the ginger. Probably thought King was insane. He had felt kind of insane. He remembered the intense feeling of guilt at hitting someone. He'd never let himself get so angry before, but at seeing Diane in what he thought was a dangerous situation, he'd snapped.

He'd turn around to apologize when Diane flung herself into his arms. King immediately wrapped his arms around her, whispering soothing words into her ear. She took deep, slow breathes and King led her back to his car. They sat in the backseat so he could still hold her. He rubbed his hands over her arms and realized how cold she was.

"Damnit, Di. Why didn't you wait in the lobby or something? You're freezing," he remembered telling her as he pulled her into his lap, trying to warm her up. A hard feat in the backseat of his grand prix, but he made it work.

Diane had rubbed her cold nose against his neck. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do."

"Don't apologize. I'm glad that you got out of there, that guy was an asshole," King found his anger rising again at mention of the man. He tried to stomp it down, reason with himself that he probably overreacted to the whole thing. He felt guilty over it, but he honestly couldn't say he regretted it. King would do it again if it meant that Diane was safe.

"How's your hand?" She had asked, her voice quiet.

"Huh?"

She didn't repeat herself, instead she had twisted in his lap, her back against his chest. Diane grabbed his right hand, fingers tracing gently over his knuckles. King had hissed in pain, her head whipping around, meeting his gaze for the first time. Her amethyst eyes were bright with unshed tears. Her face was far too close to his, noses almost brushing.

"You didn't need to do that for me," she had mumbled. "I could have handled him."

"I know." He had responded with a small smile, the left arm tightening around her waist. His right hand still in hers "I… got carried away I guess."

"You did," she had agreed. "But… thank you, Harlequin." She leaned back against him, intertwining their fingers and sighed. "You're such a good friend. Can we go back to your place?"

It wasn't until later that day, with Diane curled up sleeping soundly against his chest that the realization had dawned on him.

King had always been protective of Diane, but that morning had been different. He had hated that the other man touched her. Felt sick when he thought of what they must have done. He didn't want her to do that anymore, which he of course, had no right to say. But the thought forced him to think of something he'd never really put into words, but all his actions pointed to.

He loved her.

It took King another year before he released he was starting to lose control of his actions around her. Touching her too much. Diane never objected of course, but that only made it worse. That was about the time King started to follow her lead, waiting until Diane was gone to try and find a woman to help him relieve some of the pent up energy. It had felt like a betrayal that first time. It took a few more times for him to convince himself it was this or risk going too far with Diane and losing her forever.

It became a lot easier after that.

Each of them had relationships before Diane made it to college. About a month after she started, both relationships had ended. King's girlfriend had been the one to call it off. He hadn't understood why, but respected her decision anyway. Diane and her boyfriend decided to call it quits as well. Long distance relationships were hard to maintain.

The timing of it all wasn't something King had given much thought to until years later. It really probably should have been his first clue to everything.

"King, oh King~!" Diane's voice sang, waving a hand in front of his face to bring him out of his musings.

He grabbed her wrist and rolled his eyes. She giggled and he couldn't help but smile. "What?"

"It's your turn to buy a round!" She beamed at him brightly.

"What? Why?! I bought two already at the last bar."

"That's what you get for spacing out," Helbram teased from across the table. The rest of their group nodded their heads and snickered. Sadly, King 'spacing out' wasn't that odd of an occurrence. To bad for his wallet.

"Fine," King sighed heavily. There was no telling how long he had been lost in thought. Diane shuffled out of the booth so he could leave. "I'm gunna need some help ya know?" He told the table with a small frown.

"Diane will help!" Elaine helpfully suggested the brunette. "She's already standing anyways." She then giggled, her cheeks really rosy.

"Elaine," he started cautiously, eyeing his little sister, "how much have you had to drink already?"

"Shhhh, like four drinks and some shots," she told him with a conspiratorial smile, "don't tell Harlequin."

The table laughed loudly and King groaned. "Okay, six ales and a water."

"Don't puss out and get a water Harlequin!" Elaine protested, somehow understanding she was talking to her brother again.

"It's not for me," he said with a shake of his head. "And I think you're spending too much time with Ban." Because puss out, was not something his sister would ever say on a normal basis.

"Noo!" Elaine whined throwing her arms around her much taller boyfriend. "I love Ban!"

The white haired man smiled, "I love you too, Elaine." He pressed his lips to hers, his sister taking the kiss a step further.

"And with that, we're going to get drinks," King grabbed Diane's hand and lead her away from the table. The laughter followed them. Or maybe it was just Diane's giggles. "It's not funny," he mumbled back at her as he slowed their pace to the bar. "It's gross!"

"How is it any different than you or me making out?"

King stopped in his tracks and stared at her. Diane's cheeks turned a dark red.

"I mean with other people!" She quickly tacked on without looking at him. "How is Elaine and Ban different then you and I making out with… others?" She added the last part somewhat reluctantly.

"Because," he let her slip up slide. He rather liked Diane suggesting them making out, even if she hadn't done it on purpose. "Elaine's my little sister. That makes any adult activity," he shuddered, "she may or may not do, gross."

Diane laughed again, stepping up closer to him and resting a hand on his shoulder. She shook her head, "you're such a goof. You're lucky that Elaine's been with Ban for so long or it might be worse."

"I don't think that's possible. You don't hear Ban talk when it's just us guys," King responded with a frown, even as his hand went to rest on her hip. "Guys fucking insufferable, trying to bring up that kind of stuff just to get under my skin."

"Ban? Act like an ass? Noo~," Diane teased with a wide smile.

King was going to reply when his eyes caught the stare of an all too familiar tall blonde. King did his best not to scowl, really he did, but from the glare he was now receiving from the blonde, he must not have succeeded. Or maybe that had to do with him being wrapped around Diane again. Her eyes followed his and her body stiffened slightly.

"H-Howser?" Diane said, clearly surprised to see the man from this morning so soon.

"Long time no see, Diane," Howser changed his expression as soon as she looked at him. "Didn't think I'd run into you again tonight. Can't say I'm disappointed," he gave her what he probably thought was a charming smile as he eyed her body up and down.

King wanted to punch him. His grip tightened on Diane's hip, but he said nothing. It was up to Diane how she wanted to handle her latest hookup. King wouldn't get involved unless she asked him too.

"Uh, yeah," Diane scrunched up her face, seemingly torn between being polite and, what King hoped was, telling Howser to leave. "We were just on our way to get drinks for our friends," she stepped closer to King and he wrapped his arm around her. He took that as his que to lead the way to the bar. "Bye."

"Wait!" He reached out for her.

King managed to shift Diane out of the way so Howser's grip caught his arm instead of hers. His patience was already thin with this man after this morning's little incident. He grit his teeth, determined not to hit the guy. "What do you want? She said bye, so leave."

Howser glowered down at him and King cursed his lack of height. "I just wanted to apologize for this morning and make it up to you," he angled his head to try and catch Diane's eye.

"No thanks," Diane responded, her tone clipped. "I told you this morning, Howser. I wasn't going to see you again."

"But I-"

"She said no," King cut him off. He moved Diane behind him and glared daggers at the persistent man. Her fingers dug into the back of his shirt as she dipped her head between his shoulder blades. He could feel the tired sigh escape her lips, a sign she definitely didn't wanna talk anymore.

"Dude, chill. Why don't you just leave so Diane and I can sort this out," Howser glowered right back at him.

"I'm not gunna leave her alone with you when you obviously can't take no for an answer."

"What? That's not what this is!"

"From the looks of it this morning and the past few minutes, I'd say that's exactly what this is."

"Look, I was trying to spare your feelings," Howser started calmly and King wondered if maybe he had this guy wrong the whole time. Perhaps he was a better guy than he was giving him credit for. "I just didn't think you wanted to stay and hear about what a good time Diane and I had last night and this morning before you showed up."

Diane's grip tightened on his shirt, but that didn't stop him from breaking Howser's nose.

There were surprised gasps from all around him and before he knew what was happening, he was being ushered away. King found himself back in the booth, everyone minus Meliodas, Ban and Diane sitting there. A squeeze on his shoulder directed him to Helbram.

"Hey, you alright?" His friend asked him, concern heavy in his voice. "We came to see what was taking you and Diane so long and when we found you, you had your fist raised and a guy was on the floor holding his bloody nose."

"Where's Diane?" He asked his own question.

"She's fine," he shook his head at King's one track mind. When the ginger tried to leave, he rolled his green eyes. "She has Meliodas and Ban with her. Don't worry. She's explaining the situation to them and probably trying to talk them outta beating up that guy you hit. Wanna explain why you hit him?"

King grit his teeth. "No."

It was like the morning after Diane's twenty first all over again.

"I'm assuming it's because of Diane?" Elizabeth suggested carefully, her eyes boring into his own. King scowled down at his empty mug and nodded. "The guy from… last night?"

"Yeah," he reluctantly answered.

The silverette sighed heavily. "I thought she might have found a stalkery type again."

"Jackass wouldn't leave her alone," King spat out. "Had the balls to ask me to leave and when I refused, he… brought up what a good time they had together."

"And you hit him," Helbram smacked his forehead. "Sheesh, it's like Diane's twenty first on repeat!"

"What?" Elizabeth and Elaine asked.

King stomped on Helbram's foot harshly. Only Diane, Helbram and himself knew of that day. He had needed someone to talk to, someone who knew his long history with the brunette and wouldn't judge his actions to harshly. "Nothing," he hissed.

"Yeah, uh, nothing!" Helbram chuckled awkwardly as King scowled at him. "Oh, there they are!" the green haired man drew their attention to Meliodas, Ban and Diane walking towards them. "Get everything figured out?"

"Yep!" Meliodas grinned. "Guy won't be bothering Diane anymore, ain't that right Ban?" He elbowed the much taller man below the rips.

Ban gave him a crooked grin. "Sure is, Mel."

Diane was messing with the hem of her crop top. A nervous tick she had when she didn't want to look at anyone. Not a good sign. "What… did you guys do?" King asked cautiously.

"No worse than you," Ban answered vaguely as he turned that wicked grin on him.

Meliodas rubbed his chin thoughtfully, turning to Ban and then Helbram before settling on King. "Maybe we didn't monitor your drinks enough. Picking a fight with a guy twice your size? You usually aren't so stupid King."

He didn't get a chance to respond, Helbram jumping in. "One guess why he'd do something like that."

The men turned their eyes to Diane. The woman still not looking at anyone.

King immediately scowled. "No, don't do that. It was my own-" His words faltered as her gaze snapped up. Her eyes filled with tears. He swallowed down the rest of his words. He shuffled out of the booth and reached for her, "Diane I'm-"

She didn't wait for him to finish, instead, she bolted.

"Diane!" He chased after her, "wait!" He ignored the calls of their friends. Following the burnette past the bar, down the hallway to the bathrooms and turning the corner into a dead end. "Please. Let me explain!"

"Why did you do that?!" She yelled as she spun around to face him. Anger radiated off her even as tears fell from her eyes. "He was just trying to get a rise out of you, Harlequin! You should have just ignored him. Howser seriously could have hurt you! You're lucky the guys showed up when they did!"

"I know that!" King shouted back, mad that he couldn't protect Diane on his own. That Ban and Meliodas had to step in and handle it for him. "I just-" he stopped himself, hands forming shaky fists at his side, the one he'd use to punch Howser's smug face, throbbing.

"Just, what?" Diane took a step towards him.

He didn't answer.

Not until she forced his chin up with a surprisingly gentle touch. The anger was gone from her gaze, replaced with concern. "Harlequin. Talk to me."

Frustrated tears picked at his eyes. He quickly blinked them away. "I wanted to protect you and-and I didn't want to hear him say that. Not about you."

"You… you know what we did… you picked me up from his house," her voice was soft. Now it was her who couldn't look at him.

"I know but, I don't want to hear about him or anyone else being with you."

"... you say the same thing about Elaine…" She paused taking a step back and wrapping her arms around herself. "... is it cause I'm like a sister to you?" She looked up. Her expression conflicted.

"No!" He shook his head at her ridiculous conclusion. "No, that's not it at all!"

"Then what is it Harlequin?!" She poked his chest hard before throwing her hands up in the air. "If you have something you want to say just say it! I'm either like a sister to you or you're jealous!"

"I'm jealous!"

Diane faltered, she stared at him, dumbfounded. "You're… what?"

King was so done with pretending. Pretending that he wasn't jealous. Pretending that he didn't care. Pretending that he didn't enjoy her every touch. Pretending that he wasn't in love with his best friend. He was done.

"Jealous, Diane," he told her, taking a confident step towards her. "I. Am. Jealous."

She took a couple of steps back, putting her against the wall. "That… but.. What? That doesn't make any sense! Why would you be jealous all of a sudden?"

"It's not out of nowhere. I've been like this for years." He took another cautious step towards her, giving her plenty of time to decide if she didn't want to be here. "I've never been a fan of you going home with other men."

"Years?! But I only just-!" Diane nibbled her lip, pausing to think. Not something she normally did, King knew. He wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not. "You've helped me, Harlequin. If you cared about me going home with guys, why would you do that?"

Another step. "Because… you wanted me too." At her scoff he smiled. He knew she wouldn't like that answer. "And my own selfish reasons," he mumbled his confession as his feet came to a stop in front of hers.

"And those would be?" Diane pursed her lips as she looked up at him. She didn't seem angry with him, more curious than anything. A welcomed change from her tears from before.

The ones he had caused.

King frowned, gaze dropping from her eyes to look at her tear stained cheeks. He brought his hand up, thumb trying to brush away the paths, the reminder. Diane leaned into his hold ever so slightly, he doubted she even knew she was doing it. He brought his amber to meet her amethyst. Years of pretending, all about to be thrown away with a few words.

He was scared, he realized. He'd always been scared. That he'd ruin what they had. But he couldn't do this anymore. He had to tell her.

"I liked being able to touch you like that," the words fell from his mouth. "I liked you touching me. At the beginning it didn't matter that it wasn't real, because I could pretend it was. Took me a year to figure out that I was touching you too much."

"You could never touch me too much," Diane told him, her voice quiet.

He fought down the growl that wanted to escape him. But the way Diane licked her lips, made him think he wasn't as successful as he thought. He placed his other hand on her hip, thumb brushing the exposed skin. She shuddered. "I had to find a different outlet, or risk jumping you. Like now." King pressed her body back against the wall, hand moving from her cheek to the wall beside her head.

Diane looked up at him with hooded eyes. "I wouldn't have stopped you then and-" she licked her lips again, challenging his self control. "I don't want to stop you now." King swallowed hard as he stared at her. She leaned up, licked his ear and then bit it softly before whispering seductively.

"Do your worst, Harlequin."

A/N: Over 7k words and 21 pages. Man this chapter was long! XD Hopefully you guys enjoyed it! I find myself quite fond of this little universe I've created and (of course) debating if I want to add more snippets to after and before once this short story is finished. Like how King met Meliodas and Ban. How he met his college girlfriend and Elizabeth. Maybe the time he actually realized his feelings for Diane went past close friendship. All of these events that keep playing out in the back of my head as I add little snippets of the past to this story. Why do I have to give such thought to everything? It makes it difficult to get a story finished! haha

Okay, but back to the chapter. We get to see a bit more of the King we know and love. The nervous, not so confident, and all around just unsure. King's been holding back on his feelings for, roughly speaking, four years. That's a long freaking time. Especially when you compare it with Diane. She hasn't had nearly as long with these alien feelings for King but she acts on them anyways. Because that's just how Diane is. She doesn't hold back from what she wants and King, well, he's on the complete opposite side of that. He's always looking towards the future while Diane lives in the moment.

They're a curious mix to be sure. Hopefully the two can find some common ground next chapter ;) (not sure who I'm kidding. Anyone who knows my writing knows what's going to happen next.)

Thank you all so much for reading! Not sure how this note got so long. Be sure to leave a review and let me know what you think! I appreciate you all taking the time to read, fav, follow, and review this little side project! THANK YOU!

Luv~