Chapter 9: The Royal Treatment

After the ride, the couple stopped to get a snack. Elizabeth tried to pay for her own hot dog, but Meliodas insisted on getting them. She thanked him sweetly, and Meliodas even bought her a water, although he kept sneaking sips when he thought she wasn't looking. It was getting more humid despite the sun going down, the clouds overhead trapping the heat, so they slowly strolled together by the statue of Walt Disney. "The parade is in ten minutes," Meliodas said, nodding towards the groups gathering on the sidewalk. "I know a great place to watch."

"I'm sure you do," she giggled. "But it seems like it's getting crowded. Maybe we should do one more ride?"

"Great idea! And I know just the one." They headed towards the castle, and Meliodas was all smiles as they entered Fantasyland. "This is my home turf," he said, "so things should be fairly easy from here."

Elizabeth's eyes widened at the idea, and she followed him to the carousel. "I haven't ridden one of these in ages," she laughed as they approached.

"Good," he said, threading his hand with hers. Elizabeth was getting used to his affectionate treatment of her, nor was she surprised when they bypassed the line entrance. They walked around to the back exit, where a tall man with light hair was lounging against the fence, his long legs stretched out in front of him. "Escanor!" Meliodas called, and he looked over his shoulder.

"Captain!" He jumped up, and Meliodas hurried over, the two beginning an elaborate handshake that left Elizabeth completely confused. "A friend of yours?" she asked as the two tapped elbows. She recognized him as another one from the pictures on her phone, and she could not help the laughter that bubbled out.

"Elizabeth, this is Escanor." The handshake ended with a twist of their pinkies, and then he smiled up at her. "You're about to get the royal treatment."

"It's really okay," she said sheepishly. "The line's not even that long."

Neither of them answered, and Escanor waved a hand at them to follow. The ride was coming to a halt, and the riders began to disembark, walking in pairs and groups to the exit. Escanor closed the gate behind them, and then he spoke into his headset, "Hold the line, we have a VIP boarding first."

"Oh no," Elizabeth muttered. She glanced over at Meliodas, and when he looked back he quickly snatched the mouse ears from her head. "Stand up a little straighter, okay?" he said, pulling off his own.

"Why?" she laughed, and then Escanor opened the gate. Meliodas pushed her inside, and they followed him around the side of the carousel. "Hang on," Escanor said, and continued walking towards the entrance.

"What's going on?" she heard someone yell. "Is the ride broken?"

"Sorry everyone," Escanor said, holding up his hands. There was another employee standing at the entrance who peered around him, and then gave a snort and shook his head.

"What's happening?" Elizabeth whispered to Meliodas.

She felt his hand slide along the back of her thigh, the sensation making her jump. "A little straighter," he answered.

"We have a VIP riding first," Escanor told the crowd. "It'll just be a few minutes."

"A VIP?" one of the guests echoed, and people were craning their necks around to see. "Is it a celebrity?"

Elizabeth blushed furiously, scared suddenly that the game would be up. But Escanor folded his arms and said, "Hey! Did I say you could take pictures?"

"That's nobody famous!" yelled a guest, and another shouted, "This isn't fair!"

"Listen up," Escanor said to the crowd. "This girl here is the princess of Edinburgh, and she is a VIP priority. So if you want to ride this ride with her, then you'll need to speak to the Secret Service. Anyone here want to talk to the Secret Service?" There was a moment of silence, and then Escanor snorted, "I thought so. Now everyone just settle down, this will only be a couple of minutes."

He looked over his shoulder at them and jerked his chin. Meliodas grabbed her by the hand and hauled her up onto the carousel. "Get a horse on the inside so they can't see you," he said, and they quickly scrambled up on two horses.

The ride started, and Meliodas gave a cheer that sent Elizabeth into a fit of giggles again. The entire experience of coming to the park with him had been nothing at all what she had expected, and the thrill of breaking the rules to get onto the rides mixed with the sensation of the wind in her hair and the fast up-and-down movements of the horse. She was rather breathless when the ride came to a stop, her cheeks pink and slightly wind-blown, and Meliodas helped her down again before they headed for the exit.

"Thanks, Escanor," Meliodas said, and they fist-bumped on the way out.

"Yup," he answered. "Are you coming to the tavern tonight?"

Meliodas shrugged. "Maybe. If Elizabeth wants to go."

Both sets of eyes turned to her, and Elizabeth pressed her lips together. "I… I'm not sure. It's getting late."

"There you have it." With a final wave they set off, Meliodas strolling with his hands behind his head, Elizabeth still catching her breath from the excitement of what they had just done.

"You were pretty believable as a princess, you know," Meliodas said to her when they reached Main Street.

Elizabeth just laughed and shook her head. "Is this how you always go to the park?"

"What do you mean?" he asked, frowning.

"This!" she exclaimed throwing up her hands. "You got us into every ride. You seem to know everyone here."

Meliodas shrugged. "I've been here a while, I know my way around."

"That doesn't explain how you timed the shuttle, or the pirates. And all the risks the others take to sneak you in?" Elizabeth paused and looked at him closely. "Who are you, anyway?"

"Who am I? That's a loaded question." He looked up at her out of one eye. "Can you be more specific?"

"Why did Slader say you were insensitive?" she asked, hoping to catch him off-guard.

Unfortunately, Meliodas answered easily, "I do things my own way. I'm not that great with taking orders."

Elizabeth laughed. "You don't say."

They weaved around the crowd and onto the sidewalk as Meliodas continued, "Yeah, I've always been like that. My dad says it's the demon in me."

"Well my name means goddess, so we're evenly matched," she teased.

He raised his eyebrows at her in surprise. "You don't say! That works out well then. Hey, did you want a shirt or something?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "Why did you warn me away from Estarossa?" She sucked in a breath the second the question was out. The truth was, she had been having such a good time that Estarossa had never even crossed her mind; now she regretted bringing him up at all.

For the first time all evening, Meliodas went quiet, and Elizabeth could feel that he was suddenly unsettled. "He's not a bad guy necessarily," he answered finally. "His priorities are sometimes a little off though."

Elizabeth frowned. She was about to ask him what he meant, but Meliodas interrupted, "Here we are at the beginning again! Do you want to ride the Monorail?"

She looked up to see the entrance straight ahead and shook her head. "I'm pretty tired, and it looks like it's going to rain. We should probably head back."

"Sure thing." He sounded a bit disappointed, and honestly Elizabeth was too; but the entire adventure had been a lot to process, and now with his cryptic explanations all she wanted to do was lay on her bed and think. They walked towards the shuttle stop in silence, and Elizabeth noticed that this time, he did not take her hand.

By the time the shuttle pulled up at their stop, Elizabeth was yawning. She told him he didn't need to take her back to her building, but Meliodas insisted, so once again they walked together in silence. She started to get nervous as they approached her apartment, wondering what he wanted. Would he want a kiss? Were they just friends? Would he want to see her again? Did she even want to see him?

They paused at the bottom of her steps, and looked at one another for a long moment. "I had a lot of fun today," she said quietly.

"Me too," he answered, the corner of his mouth twitching up a bit. "Hey, Elizabeth-"

"Yes!" she answered, and when his eyebrows raised up, she stammered, "I mean-what were you going to say?"

Meliodas chuckled. "Nothing important. What did you think I was going to say?"

Elizabeth blushed a bit. "I don't know."

He nodded, that half-smile still on his face. "Well, see ya," he said, turning to hop back down the step with his hands in his pockets.

Elizabeth watched him go for a long moment, and then turned and climbed the steps. She had thought for sure he was going to ask to see her again, ask for her number, something… but at least that answered that question. She raised a hand to comb through her hair and realized she was still wearing the mouse headband. "Meliodas!" she called. "Wait a second!"

She turned and hopped down two steps as he turned, and she reached out to return the ears to him. He opened his mouth and said, "Just keep them," but somehow she tipped forward a bit too much, losing her balance for a moment.

"Careful there!" he shouted, in front of her in a second; Elizabeth gasped when she realized he had caught her again and saved her from certain injury again, only this time, he had a strong grip on her thighs now wrapped around him and his head was positioned to be buried straight into her chest. He peered up at her from her cleavage and said, "I'm starting to think you keep doing this on purpose."

"I'm not! I'm sorry!" she sputtered. Meliodas slowly let her down, his hands sliding leisurely along her thighs and roaming over her backside, his face staying squarely against her chest. Elizabeth's hands were on his shoulders, and she shivered for a moment to think how strong he must be to lift her so easily. Again, she could not help but wonder who he was and how all this happened, and as Elizabeth gazed back at him, she thought it would be very easy to like this boy, and that if he kissed her, she would let him.

But instead of kissing her, he eased back after a last squeeze of her body. "I'll catch you later," he said, laughing at his own joke, and then he was heading back down the street, disappearing into the night.

It wasn't midnight yet, so the apartment was empty. Elizabeth quickly showered and got ready for bed, and noticed the light flashing on her phone indicating there was a message. She swiped it on and a text popped up from an unknown number: Did you make it up the stairs okay?

Laughing, Elizabeth texted back: How did you get this number?

Less than a half minute later came the response: I have my ways. Goodnight.