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.

A Genie Named King

Chapter 11

They were half way across campus when Elizabeth's phone rang.

Meliodas and her had split from the rest of the group for the time being. Ban and Elaine were heading back to their own apartment (somehow also owning one in this city not too far away. Apparently business was good). Merlin, Gowther, and Escanor left as well, saying they had some other matters to take care of.

Meliodas honestly didn't want to know.

"Where the hell are you?!" Diane's voice hissed so loudly Meliodas was able to hear. Elizabeth winced holding the phone farther away from her delicate ears.

"We're still on campus," she told her friend, concern evident in her tone. "What's wrong Diane?"

"He - I - WE! Ugh!" Her frustrated shriek answered.

"King?" Elizabeth hummed knowingly as a soft smile tugged at her lips. She was a lot more understanding then Meliodas. He grabbed the phone from her, a frown on his face. Elizabeth mirrored his at having her device stolen and conversation interrupted.

"What did he do now?" Meliodas interrogated. He figured it was fine to leave the two of them alone. It had been probably a month since the last time and he'd never say it out loud (in so many words), but he was rooting for them.

"Well nothing re- hey!" Diane yelled in his ear, forcing him to hold it at arm's length. "I don't want to talk to YOU! Give Elizabeth her phone back! Or so help me when I -"

"Yeah, yeah," Meliodas cut her off quickly knowing too well that letting her finish a threat usually meant she'd follow through with it.

Elizabeth merely sighed as Meliodas handed her the phone back. "It's alright Diane," her calming tone soothed. "Meet me back at the apartment and we'll talk about it?" She suggested.

His girl paused for a few moments after that. He was unsure if Diane had spoken at all, he couldn't hear her like he did seconds before. Meaning she was most likely whispering now so he couldn't eavesdrop on her. Annoyance filtered through his head but he couldn't help but push it aside to admire Elizabeth.

The silverette exuded tranquility as she continued to spout reassuring words to her friend. "I'll have wine and ice cream." He caught her saying and almost laughed.

What a cliche fix for girl problems.

"Okay. I'll meet you there then. Bye," she said her farewell.

"What was that all about?" Meliodas tried again once she had put her phone back in her purse.

"Huh?" She looked back at him, slightly confused before she remembered. "Oh, Diane just wanted to hang out tonight," she shrugged.

The girl was a terrible liar.

"Sure," he took her hand, continuing their walk back to the apartments. "This has nothing to do with King?"

"W-What?" Elizabeth almost stumbled. He changed tactics and linked an arm around her waist instead. She always got a little (extra) clumsy when she was trying to lie.

He found it adorable.

"You mentioned King in the call," he commented aloofly.

"I did?"

"Yep."

"Oh."

"..."

"..."

He didn't speak again. She would fess up eventually, she always did. Elizabeth's inability to tell a lie was another one of those things he loved about her. He never would have guessed from her rich upbringing that she would be such an innocent soul. Her father and two older sisters did a fantastic job raising her.

Meliodas eyed his fidgeting girlfriend out of the corner of his vision. She would be this way no matter what, he decided as an affectionate smile broke across his face. Her family just let her be herself so he was thankful for that.

His, on the other hand, was a little less forgiving.

He rolled his eyes. What family?

He had bounced from foster home to foster home from the age of two until he was twelve. Ten years in the system had really had an effect on him. He was forced to build his walls up, never show too much emotion. It had taken him nearly another ten years to open up and become the person he was today.

He had Elizabeth (and Diane) to thank for that.

Meliodas subconsciously squeezed Elizabeth a little closer. Sure he liked to think he was a cool and collected guy most of the time (especially when compared to Diane's short fuse) but he had a bit of a temper. Elizabeth soothed his very soul. He never felt so at peace as when he was with her.

"It does have to do with King!" Elizabeth suddenly blurted out. Meliodas quirked a brow at her, trying to remember where they had been in their conversation. "Something happened with them and Diane seems torn on it! At first she seemed mad but then she seemed like she was going to cry! I have no idea what is going on! I can't believe that King would have made her cry Meliodas! I didn't think he would ever do that!" She stormed.

He had to agree though. King wouldn't make the girl cry on purpose. The Fairy King was far too enamored with Diane for that to be the case.

"She honestly seemed more upset with herself then anything," Elizabeth sighed lacing her fingers together in front of her.

"I'm just going to assume she overreacted on something then," he chuckled at the much more believable option. The silverette nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps you should talk to King about it," she suggested and Meliodas snorted in amusement.

The last talk the two of them had had was the night they met. That one had been confusing as hell (for the both of them he was sure). He didn't imagine that it would be much better a month later when they hadn't talked much since then. Despite them living together now, Meliodas really hadn't conversed much with the fairy.

He'd study, trying to get everything ready for graduation and King would sleep.

The Sin of Sloth made a lot of sense to him now that he thought about it. The man didn't do much.

"It would be good for the two of you to hang out," Elizabeth continued, ignoring his obvious skepticism of the idea. "I get the feeling that we will be seeing a lot of him," her eyes sparkled and Meliodas knew what she was thinking without even asking.

Something along the lines of : If him and Daine work out then we can do all sorts of fun stuff together!

Ever the optimist his girl.

"We live together Elizabeth," he reminded her. "Think we hang out enough."

She stopped, twirling away from his hold to place her hands on her hips. Here comes her 'angry' pose. He still enjoyed it, even eight months into their relationship.

"We both know you haven't been," she narrowed her eyes at him. She wasn't beating around the bush today.

"That's 'cause the guy sleeps all the time," he countered. He always liked to challenge her. Just a little bit to see that stance for a while longer. Elizabeth was slightly taller than him. A fact he didn't really mind as she bent over, granting him a wonderful view of her chest.

"And you've been busy with school this whole time. What else was the man suppose to do? He's not from here Meliodas." She emphasised here to remind him of a fact he often forgot.

King wasn't from their time.

And just like that, he felt like shit, guilt wracking his conscience. He frequently forgot that this was usually how an argument with Elizabeth ended. She never (never) did it on purpose but it happened nonetheless. Meliodas wondered if she even knew how skilled she was at arguing.

Girl should have been on the debate team, he mentally grumbled.

Elizabeth must have noticed his fallen expression as she placed a hand on his cheek. She guided him gently to look at her, her soft smile greeting him. His breath catching at her radiating beauty.

How did I get so lucky?

He wasn't talking about her physical appearance (though she definitely was an eleven on the scale of ten). No. He meant her soul. Meliodas never met someone like her. So kind, so considerate, so loving. He didn't understand what a perfect being like her saw in a man like him.

A demon.

And she an apostle of the goddesses.

Those facts made their relationship make even less sense to him. But if she was indeed a goddess and him a demon;

He'd worship her for as long as she let him.

"Meliodas," her gentle voice washed over him. "I know you're a good friend. I've seen as much with Diane and myself. You're an amazing person."

He got hung up on the friend bit she had just said. Meliodas frowned deeply as he pulled her aside into an alley near their apartment. He pushed her up against the wall, their lips just a breath away.

"I am not your friend Elizabeth." His hands wrapped around her, each taking a handful of her generous rear. "I'd better be much more then that," he growled.

Then he kissed her.

Elizabeth returned it eagerly, pressing her body hard against his. Her ferocity surprised him but he welcomed it. They broke momentarily from their kiss, panting for air. But he wasn't done with her, his hips pushed forwards into hers. A moan escaped her lips.

"M-meliodas," she whispered, voice coming out husky.

He nibbled her ear, the sensation causing her to arch her back. These were the times where Meliodas cursed his height as he was forced to let go of her ear. He settled with trailing kisses down her neck instead. Finishing at the junction of her shoulder, he softly bit her skin. He licked the tender flesh immediately after.

Elizabeth whimpered, grinding her hips against his in hope to relieve some of the pressure she felt there. He pushed back, his hands moving to her waist so she was flush with the wall. He pulled away slightly to look at her, taking pride in her lustful eyes and disheveled appearance.

"I am more then your friend Elizabeth," Meliodas repeated lowly, taking note of how she bit her lip at the way his voice rumbled.

"N-no," she said, voice shaky. "You are my beloved."

Meliodas grinned widely as her proper speech slipped in. "Beloved huh?" he teased her and she blushed darkly as she pouted.

She pushed gently on his shoulder so he took a few steps back. "Well I can't say lover," she mumbled and if he wasn't mistaken there was a touch of a bitter attitude there.

"Uh," Meliodas jaw went slack. "What was that?"

Elizabeth blushed hotly, avoiding his gaze at all cost. "N-nothing!" She sprinted away.

He chuckled throwing his hands in his pockets as he followed. Meliodas wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't heard it for himself. Elizabeth said lovers. Her voice hinting at a longing. That she would rather use that word.

Meliodas couldn't stop grinning.

Sure he had thought that she was ready a month ago (hence the weekend getaway) but things didn't really work out. King had kind of thrown a wrench in that whole plan. And Diane. He still swore the two of them were working against him.

Like tonight.

He could have just brought Elizabeth back to his apartment for some much needed relaxation but noooo. Diane and King just had to go and get in some dumb fight. Meliodas knew a misunderstanding was hidden in there somewhere.

King said something stupid and Diane blew it out of proportion.

Yeah, he thought shaking his head at the decidedly norm for the two. That's usually how it goes. King sure does have shit luck. And that was saying something considering life hadn't dealt the former demon the best hand either.

Meliodas climbed the stairs back to his apartment. Elizabeth would have already been back in hers getting ready for Diane, if the former Sin of Envy wasn't there already. He'd stop by a little later to make sure they were both there and everything was alright.

And maybe catch Elizabeth in her nightie, a lecherous grin spread across his face. Elizabeth adored her sleep wear (as did Meliodas). She tended to wear large shirts to bed, foregoing shorts or pants insisting they were limiting in movement. He agreed with her. Not to mention she had taken quite a liking to a few of his shirts, opting to wear those when he was around.

It drove him crazy. And she knew it.

Meliodas wasn't particularly large. A few inches shorter than his girlfriend and leanly muscled too. So when she would wear his shirts, they tended to be a bit on the… snug side. Riding high on her thighs and hugging her chest tight.

He groaned. He really needed to stop thinking about Elizabeth right now. A cold shower awaited him in the apartment after their litte detour to the alleyway. Thinking about her in his shirts did nothing to help relieve the pressure in his shorts.

King had better not be home yet, he silently prayed.

Sure he could make up some excuse as to why he had to shower (or not say anything and just take one) but King not being there would be easier. Despite all his grumblings about it, the fairy was actually a good roommate. He unlocked the door and was relieved there was no one in sight.

Guilt wracked Meliodas again as he thought about what a shit roommate he was.

Not long after they had left Merlin's office that first time, they had figured out they had no idea what to do with the Sin of Sloth. Ban and Elaine informed them that they had an apartment not too far away that they would be staying in. Elaine, being a good little sister, had extended an invitation to her brother which earned her horrified looks from King and Ban.

Meliodas couldn't blame the fairy for not wanting to stay with them. If Ban's open display of affections were any indication to what they did behind closed doors, he wouldn't want to stay with them either. No matter how good of friends they were/have become.

An elbow to the ribs from Elizabeth and Diane had him volunteering his extra room.

He would have done it without their prompting. Eventually.

Truth be told, Melidas had never had a roommate before. By some weird turn of events, each year he just ended up alone in the dorms until he finally decided to get his own apartment. He lucked out that Elizabeth and Diane lived here as well. The world did owe him a few favors.

Like he mentioned before, King didn't do much more than sleep. He still didn't do much more than sleep. But as Elizabeth pointed out, Meliodas was busy with school pretty much that whole time. King was sharp, he could tell. The fairy picked it up rather quickly that the blonde had too much going on, so he kept out of the way.

Hell the other man even cleaned the apartment a few times a week.

He wasn't sure if it was from sheer boredom or if it was just maybe his way of showing his appreciation without voicing it. Maybe both. Meliodas supposed he should be a bit more of a gracious host now that he could.

Starting tonight I suppose. Meliodas turned on the shower and got undressed. Hope he remembers the way back here, he idly thought as he stepped into the falling water.

King was lost.

Yes, he knew his way back to Meliodas apartment. Hell he even knew a few different ways between there and Merlin's office. But somewhere along the way he took a wrong turn (or five).

He had been occupied with his thoughts about what had transpired with Diane.

He groaned, flopping his head forward into his hands. He shook his head, "I can't believe I'm lost."

"Um, do you need help?"

King glanced up and his mouth dropped. Before he could stop himself, "Jericho?" slipped past his lips.

The woman eyed him skeptically. "How'd you know my name?"

His mouth went dry. There standing before him was yet another reincarnation! He was half tempted to roll his eyes because of course her name would also be the same as her past self. She raised a dark slender brow at him. Her lavender hair was up in a ponytail as a few strands framed her face. Her gold eyes were just as sharp as he remembered.

Shit, he thought. How many reincarnations are at this school? He knew she couldn't be much older than the others. And why does everyone have the same damn names? It could be considered a blessing in disguise, or just plain inconvenient in this case.

"Hey," she snapped her fingers in front of his face. "I asked you a question." She crossed her arms in front of her.

"Oh sorry!" he rushed to apologize and think of an excuse on the fly. Sometimes he wondered if it wouldn't have been better to keep Merlin's spell so he couldn't go blabbing like this. He eyed the backpack on her shoulder. "I, uh, recognized you from campus."

He prayed that was the correct term for the grounds of the school. He had come a long way in a month with his catching up on the times, but he didn't know everything.

Jericho's face softened. "Oh, okay. Now that you say it you look kind of familiar too." She leaned forward, inches from his face. King took an unsteady step back. "You're lost though?" He couldn't tell if she was asking to be helpful or judging him.

He gulped and nodded.

She frowned at him and he tried not to cringe. "You aren't that far from the school," she observed. "Where are you trying to go?"

King panicked and said the first thing that came to mind, "Earth's Coffeehouse!"

Jericho took a startled step back and King let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. It had been nerve racking having her that close, studying him with those sharp eyes. Like she was trying to learn all his secrets.

He had zero secrets that he wanted to share.

Her lips pursed together in thought before realization dawned. She snapped her fingers again causing King to jump. "You actually aren't far from there either!" She beamed and he was caught off guard by the pleasant expression.

The Jericho he knew only ever wore a scowl.

"I can take you there if you want?"

"Uh, I don't want to trouble you," King explained as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. He honestly didn't want to make her go out of her way just because he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. "If you just-"

"Oh it's no problem!" She interrupted him with a shake of her head. "I pass by it on my way to class."

King raised a quizzical eyebrow and she flushed.

"I mean I'm done with classes for the day but I was craving one of their sandwiches." She began scratching her cheek seemingly embarrassed, not meeting his gaze. "I uh, have some papers to drop off too," she lifted the strap of her backpack. "Graduation and all you know."

"Uh," he spoke completely baffled by the turn of events. First she wouldn't stop scowling and now she wouldn't stop smiling. He didn't know what to do. "I, uh-"

"I promise it's not a big deal," she rushed out, a light pink still clinging to her cheeks.

"Um," King sorted things out in his brain.

He really just wanted directions to the coffee shop, he could figure his way to the apartment from there. But if she was indeed going that way like she said then it would be rude (and awkward) to deny her help. He scrunched up his nose before letting it fall with his decision.

"Sure," he nodded and smiled kindly. "Thank you."

Jericho beamed, ecstatic at his answer. "Great!" She chirped grabbing his sleeve to tug him in the right direction. "It's this way."

"O-okay," he stuttered out, attempting not to stumble over his feet as she dragged him across an intersection.

He had never seen her like this before. It was a bit unsettling. She finally released her hold on him when they were safely back on the sidewalk.

"So," she started, glancing back at him before quickly looking away. "Um, what was your name?"

"Oh," King flushed, embarrassed that he hadn't introduced himself yet. "I uh, you can call me King."

"King?" she repeated, testing the name out. "That's an unusual name," she commented.

"It's a nickname," he shrugged falling into step beside her.

He never noticed before but they were the same height. It was a little weird not having to look up to someone when he talked to them. The only person King had a height advantage on in their group was Meliodas (a fact he often took some pride in). Elizabeth was close but still a bit taller. Diane was taller than him too, probably an inch taller than Elizabeth.

He sighed at the reminder of his fight with the former giantess.

"Is there a story behind it?" Jericho tilted her head, a pleasant expression still on her face.

She's pretty when she's not scowling, King surprised himself with the thought. Though he supposed most people are more pleasing to the eye when they weren't frowning. Jericho looked happy and that wasn't an expression he ever saw on her face.

Well that's not true, he snorted as he thought of her infatuation with Ban in the past.

"Something funny?" She tried again and King realized he hadn't answered her previous question.

"N-no," he stuttered out embarrassed by his rudeness. "Sorry. I was just thinking of something that happened a long time ago."

"Oh. About how you got your name?" Her lips pursed in thought. "Are you rich or something?"

"Uh, no, not really," King answered honestly. Sure he was the Fairy King but that didn't mean he was swimming in gold. Fairies didn't really care about material possessions.

"King!" A familiar voice called and he looked over. There in the doorway of the coffee shop was Meliodas.

The fairy sagged with relief. The blonde raised an eyebrow at his more relaxed posture but (thankfully) didn't comment as he walked towards the pair.

"I've been looking all over for you," he shook his head but King saw he was relieved as well. "We really need to get you a phone," he sighed. Then mumbled, "or put a tracking device on you."

King scowled at the comment and Meliodas grinned.

"Meliodas?" Jericho spoke up and the blonde finally noticed her.

"Hey Jericho," he waved lazily. "Thanks for finding my buddy. He's new here." He hid his shock well but King could sense his interest in how this had transpired.

"Huh," she directed her confused gaze to King. "I thought you went to the college?"

"I uh,-" He tried to swallow past the lump in his throat. He really hadn't thought this through.

"He just transferred," Meliodas saved him smoothly, not missing a beat.

"Oh, that makes sense. How do you two know each other?" She moved on and King sighed, thankful for Meliodas' help.

"Roomies," the blonde man shrugged.

"So you knew each other before he transferred?" King wanted to bang his head against the a wall in frustration. Why was she questioning everything? It's like she was purposefully looking for loopholes in their story.

"Yeah, long time ago," Meliodas answered vaguely and King's mouth unhinged at the devilish twinkle in his eyes.

The bastard was having fun!

Jericho opened her mouth to speak again but Meliodas interrupted her.

"Anyways, we better get that food ordered for them," he nodded at King. The fairy gawked at the sudden change in topic, urging his head to catch up. "For the girls." The former demon supplied.

"Huh?" he couldn't wrap his mind around what the man was hinting at.

Jericho scowled. "You have a girlfriend?" She glared at King and he flinched. That was the face he remembered.

Instead of forming a decent sentence he just repeated himself, "huh?"

"Yeah, sorry about that Jericho. He's a bit of a player," Meliodas shrugged, biting the inside of his lip to stop from grinning at King's completely confused face.

"Ugh," she moaned. "I knew I should have asked," she grumbled, walking away from the two to the counter. She ordered her coffee and made for the door. "Nice meeting you King," she gave him a wave and a sad smile.

"Huh?" King said even as he waved goodbye.

"Dude," Meliodas punched his arm lightly as the door closed. "You really need to not be so nice."

"Huh?" he repeated again.

The blonde chuckled. "She wanted you. It was pretty obvious."

"Huh?"

"Are you broken?" Meliodas questioned. He was having a lot of fun at King's expense, but he was getting a little worried about the fairy. "Jericho liked you."

"She what?!" His mouth dropped open. His vocabulary opening up to two words at least. Suddenly her little giggles and blushing face made a lot more sense.

"Is it really so weird for women to hit on you?"

"Yes, I mean no, I mean!" King thread his fingers into his hair, tugging uselessly. "She used to like Ban."

Now it was Meliodas' turn to be confused. "Huh?"

His hands slid out of his auburn hair to drag down his face. "She's a reincarnation," he told Meliodas under his breath.

"No kidding?" His eyes went wide. His brow then pulled together thoughtfully. "How many are there?"

"I have no idea," King sighed out. "I've seen a few since we got here. I'm guessing there's probably more."

"Really? Like who?"

King pointed a shaky finger (because he still couldn't get over the fact that Jericho hit on him, him!) over to the counter.

"What? Howser, really?" He tilted his head as he pondered it. "Makes sense I guess. I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say he liked past Diane too."

The Grizzly Sin didn't even reply, instead grumbling as he walked towards the counter. Meliodas trailed behind with a chuckle. Howser smiled in greeting.

"Hey guys!" He then looked at King who tensed. "Totally thought you were on a date there for a second King. I was going to come over and knock your teeth out for two-timing Diane," he continued beaming through the threat.

"It wasn't a date!" King hissed throwing his hands in the air. "I was lost and asked for directions here. She insisted she was already coming this way. I just met her today." He explained in a rush.

The two men gaped at him. "Seriously? That's how that all happened?" Meliodas laughed loudly.

King flushed. "Yes."

"She really was hitting on you!" The shorter man slapped his knee, continuing to laugh. "How didn't you notice?"

"I thought she was just being nice!" The red face man told them.

"Why were you lost in the first place?" Howser raised a brow at him, a gleeful smile on his face from the story. "Don't you have a phone?"

"N-no. I don't!" He stomped his foot impatiently. "Can I just order please?"

"How don't you have a phone?" Howser looked at him like he was some interesting museum exhibit.

"He lost it," Meliodas shook his head, laughter finally dying down. King was upset with the former demon but was thankful for his ability to come up with excuses for the fairy on the spot.

Howser nodded understandingly. King seized the opportunity to order something for Diane and himself before one of them thought to bring up something else to tease him over.

"I'm impressed," Meliodas nodded his praise as the two stepped out onto the street back towards the apartment.

"By?" King questioned dryly. He wasn't in much of a conversing mood at the moment. The thought of Jericho pursuing him was going to give him nightmares.

"You knew Diane's favorite," he gestured towards the bag in the other man's hand.

"So?"

"It took me forever to figure out Elizabeth's favorite thing there. The girl's always happy with anything," Meliodas explained. "You figured out Diane's in what? Probably that first time you guys ate there together?"

"So what if I did?" King defended.

"Not saying it's bad. Just curious how you know just from that."

The fairy scrunched his nose as they walked through the streets. He studied the blonde man who paid him no mind as he kept looking forwards. He decided there was no harm in telling him.

"She was nervous," he sighed, Meliodas' green eyes found his amber. King glanced back ahead. "In situations like that, people tend to go with something familiar. Something that would comfort them. So she ordered her favorite food," he shrugged.

"Huh," was all Meliodas said.

"What's a player?" King asked after a few moments of silence. It had been bugging him and it wasn't a term he was familiar with, unless one was talking about a sport. Which, given the context at the time, didn't make sense to him.

Meliodas grinned. "Basically it's saying you pretend to care about women only to get sex."

"What?" The fairy squawked, face paling before flushing a violent shade of red. "I am NOT!" He shouted.

The former demon chuckled at the auburn haired man's reaction. "I know. That's why it's funny. You're probably the farthest thing from a player."

"Hey!" King shouted, realizing the former demon was taking another jab at him. Meliodas continued laughing as they walked into the apartment building.

A/N: And the rating has officially change. Hopefully that's not an issue for anybody ;) I was looking back at this chapter and realized that I first started writing a good bulk of these last summer. This one was started in June. That being said, this story will follow the manga as close as I can but it IS an AU. Obviously the manga isn't completed and some of the things I have/will write may conflict with that. Hence this being an AU. Nothing huge but just a little reminder for you guys ;)

Poor King. He just can't seem to catch a break can he? But hey! We met another reincarnation! Isn't that fun? We get a little more insight into what happened in the month that passed. Meliodas being protective, Elizabeth being a sweetheart, and King being... well, King. XD What more could a chapter possible need?... Diane.. yep, we need some Diane and King in here. Maybe next chapter ;) haha

Side note, this is almost the longest chapter in the story. Most of that may be because of this author's note though, otherwise it clocked in right under 5k so... I should maybe just stop writing... XD

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! As always thank you for the continued support!

Luv~