Disclaimer: I do not own The Seven Deadly Sins. I'm merely borrowing the characters and having some fun with them.
I do own this story.
Goldilocks and The Sins
Chapter 10
Months passed by in a blur for Meliodas.
He was quickly learning his place among the Sins both in battle and at the bar. After King had given him the nugget of information about his timing being the only thing off, he swiftly mastered the simple counter move. Soon he was creating a few moves on his own. He even beat Ban some of the time when they sparred. His new teammates were so impressed with his progress that King allowed him to accompany him on his next trip out.
He said it would be good for him to learn more.
Meliodas agreed eagerly. They left the following day, each of them giving their woman a quick peck on the cheek before heading out. The two made it about a mile into the woods before Ban showed up.
"I told you that you didn't need to come," King grudgingly repeated, leading the way out of the forest.
"Ah, but we're a team!" Ban laughed, mussing King's hair. "With the three of us, we'll be able to beat down anything that comes our way!"
Meliodas let out a chuckle as King pushed Ban's hand away. He didn't really care one way or the other that Ban was with. The three of them did always manage to have fun together. It just meant Meliodas might not do as much learning as he should on this trip.
Probably why King didn't invite him in the first place.
"It's been awhile since I've been out anyways, figured I was due," Ban shrugged.
King let out a heavy sigh.
The trio continued their journey, eventually ending up in the same village Meliodas had been in months before. The same one where he had heard the rumors of the bar serving ale in the woods. The town bustled as people made their way about running their errands. The local business' doors were open, letting in the warm morning air.
Meliodas inhaled deeply as he caught a whiff of fresh baked bread. He'd have to convince King to grab some on their way back through. Or the blonde would just go there. Not like King or Ban would stop him. Despite being the youngest or an infant, according to King, he was still an adult by the human society's standards.
Meaning he'd do what he wanted.
King followed the main street and lead them to the edge of town. Meliodas figured they'd be heading out that way. To his surprise they stopped in front of the bar. The same one he had gotten his information from. His eyes widened.
"You gotta be kidding," Meliodas blurted out just as King had raised a fist to the door.
The fairy king quirked a brow at him. "What do you mean?"
"This is the bar," he said simply, mind still trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle.
"Yes Capt'n, it's a bar," Ban rolled his eyes at him. Apparently someone needed more sleep.
"No, no," Meliodas shook his head. "I mean," he ran a hand through his hair. "This is the bar."
"Okaay," King trailed off not picking up on the significance of this particular bar right away. A look of realization finally passed the fairies features, his eyebrows shooting up high. "OH! This is the bar? The one you," he lowered his voice. "The one you heard the rumors from?"
The blonde nodded eagerly.
King frowned and Ban laughed. Instead of knocking like he planned on doing, the cider haired man twisted his wrist slightly. The door clicked and unlocked. The fairy grumbled under his breath as he pushed the door open, Ban still chuckling while Meliodas watched dumbfounded.
"What the hell was that about?" He turned to his white haired friend.
"You just got someone in trouble~," the Fox Sin sang, his joy at the situation evident. He waved at the open door, intending for Meliodas to enter first.
"Who?" The Dragon Sin asked as he stepped through the threshold.
Ban shut the door behind himself as he followed the blonde in. His crimson eyes scanned the dark room, the only light shining in from the tinted windows. By the bar he saw King, arms crossed tightly in front of him as he scolded a man behind the bar. Ban snorted.
"Probably that guy," he gestured towards the bar as he made his way there. Meliodas not far behind.
As they got closer Meliodas was able to get a better look at the man. He had silver hair and a goatee. His eyes were a sharp blue as he argued with King. Ban took a seat not too far from the pair. Meliodas stood next to him, silently observing.
"I did no such thing," the older looking man denied calmly. "You know I guard secrets well. That's why you stationed me here."
"Yes it is, Hendrickson" King's arms settled back by his side. He glanced at Meliodas out of the corner of his eye. "I just have one more question on the topic."
"Ask away Sir," the man's shoulders relaxed slightly, thinking he was off the hook.
"Recognize him?" King pointed at Meliodas.
Hendrickson turned to look at them, as if just now realizing King hadn't been alone. His sharp blue eyes locked with Meliodas' green and he paled. The blonde quirked a brow at his behavior and waved.
"How's it going Hendy?" Meliodas greeted him, an easy smile forming on his lips despite the tense atmosphere.
Ban busted out laughing at the nickname he used. The blonde's lips twitched, wanting to snicker along with him, but he was worried he'd seriously gotten the man in trouble. Hendrickson had been the bartender during most of Meliodas stay in the village. The older man was kind, if not a bit of a stick in the mud.
On his last night in town, Hendrickson hadn't been working. He had been in the bar though so Meliodas invited him to share a drink. Two hours later and his new friend was seriously drunk. They got on the topic of ale and Hendrickson told him that the best ale was in the forest. The other worker, Dreyfus decided his friend needed to be cut off after that. At the time Meliodas found it odd, but now;
It made sense.
"Damnit," King swore, a hand running down his face. "I seriously wasn't expecting it to be you. Dreyfus maybe, but not you."
"Please Sir, it was an accident! We were discussing ale and I just told him the best could be found in the forest! I didn't realize he would actually go there!"
"So you knew he left?" King asked dryly.
The accused gulped and nodded. "When he didn't come back in a week I thought he must have moved on, or gotten lost."
"You were going to leave him out there on his own?" Ban asked seriously, his brows now knitted together. "We're supposed to protect the people, Hendy."
"I know I know, I panicked!"
"Clearly," King glared at the man and he cowered.
Actually, cowered.
Meliodas had never seen such a thing in his life. He knew King could be a strict man. He knew that it came with the territory of being a king, making the tough calls for his people's safety. But as far as Meliodas could see, this situation didn't warrant such dictation.
"Hey," the blonde placed a calming hand on King's shoulder. "No harm no foul right? I mean it all worked out in the end, maybe it was supposed to happen?"
"That's true," Ban added instantly relaxing. "If it hadn't been for Hendy here, we wouldn't have Capt'n!"
Hendrickson furrowed his brows. "Capt'n?"
"He means me," Meliodas rolled his eyes good naturedly at his friend.
King sighed heavily, drawing their attentions back to him. "It did end well. You lucked out Hendrickson. If it happens again, I will not be so merciful."
The other three shivered at his icy tone.
"Thank you Sir," Hendrickson bowed. "But what exactly worked out from my misstep?"
"Meet the eighth Sin," King waved lazily at Meliodas. "Dragon Sin of Wrath, Meliodas."
The silver haired man's jaw dropped. "Y-you?! You're a Sin?"
"Yep!" Meliodas stated proudly puffing out his chest in mock bravado.
Hendrickson ignored him, looking back at King. "How sir? He's just a human! You'd let a normal being like him join but not me?"
"Hey!" Meliodas scowled, offended.
"Hold your tongue Hendrickson," King commanded coldly, stopping the argument between the two. "He's not human. Not completely anyways. What kind of being he is, is of no consequence to you. All you need to know is that he is a Sin, and all that entails."
Hendrickson bowed his head in shame. "Yes Sir. My apologies for my rudeness."
"It's fine," King commented lightly, the air around them finally easing. "Go get Dreyfus so we can get down to business. I'd like to be back home by nightfall."
Hendrickson nodded and made his way to the door at the back. As soon as he disappeared behind it, Meliodas and Ban rounded on King.
"Shit," Ban cursed as he cackled. He slapped King on the back. "I forget how funny it is to see you all serious like that."
"Ugh, shut up Ban," King dropped his head in his hands. "We're here on business, I have to be serious," he grumbled.
"At least he waited 'til Hendy was gone?" Meliodas suggested helpfully, trying to hold back a laugh.
Truthfully, seeing King like that always set him on edge. But Ban joking about it helped ease his shaky nerves. Meliodas was pretty sure Ban did it to calm his own as well. He wondered if King knew that, despite Ban's teasing, the Fox Sin got the chills from King being serious just as much as anyone.
As the taller man continued to tease the poor fairy Meliodas thought, probably not.
"And Hendy- awesome name by the way," Ban nudged the blonde in the ribs, "should be happy you were here. If he woulda let that slip to anyone else, well, let's just say King wouldn't be so forgiving."
"You make me sound like an ass," King huffed, dropping down onto a bar stool. He propped up an elbow and rested his hand in his open palm.
Ban opened his mouth to comment, but Meliodas interrupted. He knew the white haired man would say something to provoke the fairy and he didn't really want to deal with mediating that. Meliodas had questions and he wanted them answered before Hendrickson and Dreyfus got back.
"So what's the deal with Hendy?"
"You mean what he said about joining the team?" Ban tried to narrow down the question.
"Well that and why he's here." Meliodas nodded.
"He's a druid," King explained. "Long ago he wanted to join our ranks, but he didn't fit the criteria."
"Because of Elizabeth?" Meliodas took a guess.
"Right," he confirmed. "We already had a druid as a Sin. We didn't need another. He also doesn't fit the other qualifications."
Meliodas nodded, not needing him to explain further. Hendrickson didn't have a sin to stake a claim to.
"He's the main contact here at this outpost," King went on to explain. "There is one at every one of the establishments set up across the land. This is the closest one to the forest."
"So there are people in this town that aren't human?" Meliodas eyes widened. He hadn't noticed a damn thing when he came through all those months ago.
"Don't blame yourself for not knowing," Ban said as he helped himself to a beer. He ignored King's frown. "Takes awhile to pick up on others, most of them have to learn how to mask themselves to be allowed out of the forest. Only a trained eye could spot them."
Well that did make him feel a little better. He wondered if he could see them now. "How many does this village have?"
King looked up to the ceiling as he thought. "About half of the population I suppose, maybe more. People like to use this one as a pit stop before heading elsewhere. It's how this town stays so busy despite it's more remote location. It's well known by every being from the forest since this is usually their first stop on the way out. There are many more locations, but this is the only one everyone knows about."
"Some are hidden?" Meliodas managed to ask. His mind was reeling with this new information. King hadn't been kidding when he said there was more to learn.
"Not necessarily, you just need to know what to look for. The only ones who know every location are the Sins, so you'll need to pick those up too," King paused at the look of horror on Meliodas face. "You'll learn them all eventually. No rush," he assured the newest Sin.
Hendrickson returned with Dreyfus. The man had brown hair reaching his shoulders and purple eyes. Meliodas instantly recognized him and waved. The brunette's eyes widened slightly as he studied the blonde. Meliodas dropped his hand awkwardly.
"So you were telling the truth," Dreyfus grumbled.
"Of course I did," Hendrickson shook his head in exasperation. "Why would I lie to you about something like this?"
The larger bartender turned back to his coworker. "You can't tell me you believed it when you first heard it," he protested. He jutted a finger at Meliodas, "this guy, the final Sin? It's a bit far fetched don't you think?"
"Hey!" Meliodas protested. "Why's it so weird?"
Dreyfus whipped around, spouting his apology. "I didn't mean it like that. Just that we wouldn't have expected an outsider with such a strong taste for ale to find the place in the forest. We had assumed you were a drunk."
Meliodas' lips parted in obvious offence.
"Don't lump me in with you!" Hendrickson demanded cutting off any complaint Meliodas was about to voice. "Sir, I didn't think that you were a drunk! Just that… well.. You really knew how to put down ale. The most we've ever seen in fact."
"Got that right!" Ban chuckled swinging an arm around the blonde's shoulders. "This guy here beat me and Escanor in a drinking contest."
"What's so special about him beating Escanor?" Dreyfus tilted his head.
"Day Escanor, as in the strongest one and highest tolerance on the team Escanor," Ban explained.
Meliodas held back a chuckle at the preposterous title Ban had come up with. Seriously, where did he get these? While he did believe that Escanor's noon form held the title for most powerful, he highly doubted the man's tolerance had been tested before. Ban tended to exaggerate on things.
"Whoa," both man awed.
King shook his head at the way this conversation had turned. They were here as a simple check in and learning exercise for Meliodas. It would be a long time before King had the demon do these on his own, but each visit was a lesson.
"If you don't mind," King irritably cut off Ban mid sentence, "can we please continue with the actual business instead of idle chit chat?"
"Yes Sir!" Both Dreyfus and Hendrickson answered, backs straightening.
A few hours later and Meliodas saw why most of the time King went alone on these things.
They were extremely boring.
The only upside to the whole ordeal was Ban managing to convince the stiff fairy to let them have drinks while they discussed. The white haired man sure knew what the blonde needed to stay focused. Now, while the meetings were boring, it more or less had to do with the fact that Meliodas had no idea what they were talking about. More often than not the casual sipping of his ale was the only thing drawing him back into the conversation.
At least he was holding up better than Ban.
The Fox Sin passed out on the bar about fifteen minutes in. Deciding to catch up on sleep instead of, as he had mumbled to Meliodas just before he drifted off, being bored to death. He had to admit he was a bit jealous of Ban's ability to give zero fucks about the formality King tried to uphold. Though Meliodas figured he wasn't far behind, the demon still wanted to put forth the effort to learn as much as he could.
The information had to stick eventually, right?
"All the outposts are connected, Meliodas," King's voice cut through the blonde's haze drawing him into the conversation. "There's a system in the back that allows them to talk with each other on a daily basis if they so desire it."
"You mean a phone?" Meliodas quirked a brow.
"Not exactly," King sighed. It seemed he was as exhausted explaining as Meliodas was listening. "They are similar but our system is much more reliable since it doesn't rely on cell towers."
"Huh? What does it run on then?"
"Magic, of course," Dreyfus answered him. "It's the most reliable power source we have."
"That's not to say we use it often," Hendrickson explained. "We use electricity and the other… human methods for power unless it's to use the MaCS in the back to comunicate with other outposts."
"Macs? Like the computer?" Meliodas quired interestedly. "Don't tell me Apple's involved in magic now."
"No," King shook his head. He fought back a grin at the confused expression Ban wore. It really had been awhile since the Fox Sin had gotten out. "MaCS stands for Magical Communication System. We aren't involved with Apple in anyway."
"Shouldn't it be M.C.S then?"
"MaCS is easier to say," King shrugged.
He couldn't argue with that kind of logic. He supposed if anyone overheard them discussing this mysterious communication system, then they probably would think it's just a computer.
"Why in the hell are you guys talking about fruit?" Ban quirked a brow at them.
"It's a technology brand," Meliodas summed up for his friend. He turned to Hendrickson excitedly. "Can I see it?"
This was more up his alley. The politics that they had discussed before were boring. The MaCS they mentioned though? That was worth seeing. Meliodas found everything having to do with magic completely exhilarating. So imagine his disappointment that the only bit of magic used at the Boar Hat was the portal.
He hadn't even been allowed through yet.
Escanor had told him not to be too worried about it. He explained to Meliodas that it had been years before King had allowed him through. The demon wasn't happy with that bit of information, but it did make him feel better. Escanor really was the nicest one, when he wasn't in his day form, after Elizabeth.
"Don't you have one back at the tavern?" Hendrickson questioned him.
"Uh, if we do I haven't seen it?" Meliodas looked expectantly at King.
The fairy shrugged. "We do but I tend to keep it hidden."
"Why?"
King pointed a finger at Ban. "He thinks it's funny to make prank calls to the other outposts." He rolled his eyes at the now grinning man.
"It's funny and you know it," Ban slapped the fairy on the back.
"Not when you cause a panic," King grumbled sliding his hand down his face.
Meliodas laughed at his friend's antics as the Fox mussed the Grizzly's cider hair. King complained loudly telling the taller man to, "knock it off or I'll kill you," at which everyone laughed. The fairy sighed heavily in defeat.
"I suppose I'll just show you the one here," King stood up from his chair. He walked towards the back room that Dreyfus and Hendrickson had come from earlier.
Meliodas thought it was funny to see King walk. He only ever did when they left the clearing surrounding the Boar Hat. Said something about you never know who's watching or something to that effect. To which Meliodas told King he thought that was stupid. Someone could be watching him in the Boar Hat's clearing as well.
King replied with there's magic protecting this place from unwanted eyes.
Meliodas shut up after that. The conversation still kinda gave him goosebumps. The more he learned, the more he realized what a fluke it must have been for him to even find the clearing. He knew it had something to do with being lost and having magic, but much past that, he didn't have a clue how he found the tavern.
Fate played a part he supposed.
"Well," King started as he gestured towards a desk. On top of it rested a white plate with three pegs underneath it, propping it up. "This is it."
"It's a plate?" Meliodas walked towards the thing unsure.
"No, it's what we use to communicate across long distances."
"How do you think this is a phone?" Meliodas looked at him dubiously.
"I said it worked like one, not that it was," King shook his head. "It creates a hologram of sorts for whoever is on the other line."
"That's cool," he admitted as he examined the MaCS from different angles.
"That's where we'll end today," King spoke. Meliodas looked up to see him talking with Dreyfus and Hendrickson. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with us."
"Of course Sir," Hendrickson said as he and Dreyfus bowed.
"Would you like to stay for food and drink?" Dreyfus asked hopefully. Meliodas figured that the face time with King didn't happen too often.
"Thank you for the offer but-," King started.
"We accept~!" Ban cut in eagerly. The fairy glared at the immortal man. "Not like we have to be home by a certain time. They'll all be fine for a few more hours!"
"Fine," King huffed. "Just for a few hours."
Meliodas and Ban exchanged gleeful grins.
A few hours turned into the trio being there well into the night. Meliodas and Ban danced on top of a table to an old drinking song, forcing King to accompany them. They held him up in between them so the fairy had no chance of escaping. Meliodas wondered if Hendricksen and Dreyfus regretted extending them the invitation. The other patrons seemed to enjoy their acts.
Despite King's complaining, Meliodas knew the Fairy King was having fun. He still refused to dance with them, but he played other drinking games. Some of them he even kicked their asses in. Quarters, the object of the game bouncing a coin into other players drinks, being one of them.
"How are you so good at this?" Ban complained after another coin landed in his cup.
King shrugged as he tried to hide a smug smile, "just lucky I guess. It's easy if you just predict the coins trajectory."
"The what?" Ban gave him a doubtful look pausing as he lined up with Meliodas' mug.
"The path the coin will take," King simplified.
"Eh, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing," he waved the fairy off and slammed the quarter to the table. It flew high and missed Meliodas' glass by a mile.
"Sir," Hendrickson interrupted their game. His hands were clasped tightly in front of him. "I think there's something you should hear."
King sighed heavily as he pushed his chair away from the table. "Lead the way."
Meliodas raised a contemplative brow as he watched the pair walk away. He wondered what that was about. He looked at Ban, finding the white haired man frowning as he watched King and Hendrickson disappear into the back room. His crimson eyes locked on Meliodas.
"Is that normal?" Meliodas decided to ask.
Ban shrugged. He took another drink before he finally answered, "can't say I know for sure. I don't go out on too many of these."
"It seemed… almost urgent?" The blonde frowned as he tried to name the feeling he got from Hendrickson. His eyes found their way back to the door.
"Eh, I'm sure it's fine," Ban waved aside his concerns and lined up another quarter with Meliodas' glass. He shot the quarter down onto the table, softer this time, and landed it in the blonde's drink. "Yes! Drink up Capt'n!" He demanded gleefully.
Meliodas sighed as he directed his attention back to the game.
A/N: Hello luvly readers! It feels like it's been forever! (ignores that it's only been a week) I just can't believe how far this story has come! From a oneshot (ignores that she's doing the exact same thing with Genie) to this little short story! I say short cause.. well guys.. there's no easy way to say this but, we are closer to the end of the story then the beginning. (Pats self on back for cryptically saying the story is going to end. Which really all stories do so it shouldn't be a surprise. Am I rambling in my own thought bubbles? Yes. Yes I am.)
Hopefully you all enjoyed that.. um.. little treat? Last chapter? And of course this one! Things are going to be picking up very soon guys. Prepare yourself ;) Wait.. does that sound ominous? Did I just sound like King? (you don't really need to peer into my head on this one...)
Anywho! Thanks everyone for the continued support! Reviews of course are always welcome! I reply to each one that lands on my inbox! It just... sometimes takes a while ;) Happy reading!
Luv~