Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from The Seven Deadly Sins/ Nanatsu No Taizai. They all belong to the wonderful Nakaba Suzuki.
This story, however, belongs to me.
~21~
-My Urge To Protect Your Shaken Trust-
Meliodas stands beside her with a cold expression as goddesses look back and forth between them openly. Elizabeth hates the attention, but she has to maintain her stoic appearance no matter what. Meliodas never seems to have a problem with it, so she has to learn how to shake off their judgements with ease too. She leads them without a direction in mind through the winding depressions in the clouds that weave through pale stoned structures with glimmering glass windows. Pillars spiral up towards the sky as they hold up the roofs of the more colossal buildings that seem to emit their importance in their impressive stances.
She turns her gaze to Meliodas as her voice comes out light and soft, so no one passing by can really hear what she's saying. "So where do we go from here?"
Meliodas gives her a sidelong look as his lips curve up slightly in an amused smirk. She can't imagine what could be so funny. "You're going to go look for the spell and leave me to my devices."
She raises an eyebrow as someone brushes past her and she's forced to scoot closer to Meliodas in their walk. She feels his arm brush against hers with every step. "So the same situation that happened in the demon realm can arise here as well? I don't think so."
Now his eyes seem to glow with a slightly darker emotion that causes her skin to tingle in the sudden awareness of his proximity. "Are you implying that you'll have to punish me?"
"W-What?" She breathes under a hushed breath. That's not at all what came to mind when she'd said that! More like he'd get into trouble with the goddesses. But suddenly the idea of being able to tie him down and let her most hidden desires run wild sounds all too pleasing to her mind. Still she ends up hissing out in a flustered tone. "Meliodas!"
He chuckles softly as he turns his gaze away. The smirk that draws up on his face causes an intense rushing sensation in her stomach that's hard to ignore. She puffs her cheeks out momentarily, attempting to wash away the emotions he roused in her in that single breath. "What's wrong with simply accompanying me, demon?"
She watches as he gives a little shrug. His gaze is bored again as he stares around the various set ups that line the "streets" of the realm. But when he looks at her, a tiny glimmer of appreciativeness rests within his gaze. It makes her look away as she senses her cheeks warm. She just ends up gazing right into the watching eyes of the goddesses that wander about however. Instantly, she attempts to rein in her comfortable posture beside him, knowing that it shouldn't be so normal to be this at ease beside a demon.
His tone is low and reasonable, bringing her eyes back to him immediately. "I just want to explore the place. Never actually been. Besides, I don't think these goddesses would appreciate us two being in a secluded area alone for a long period of time, don't you think?"
No, they wouldn't. She still can't help the subtle pout that pushes out her lips. "Fine. Just please don't cause any harm," She begs of him quietly.
He stares into her eyes for a long moment seeming to search for something before he looks ahead. She wants to smooth her thumb along his jaw in hopes of easing the tension she sees rise there. "I can do anything else then?"
She pauses in thought. What could anything else entail? She sees the tension in him beginning to spread further throughout him rapidly in her hesitation and finally decides to give in. "Yes. Just don't hurt anyone." She almost whines.
"Fine. I won't." It's a rather brusque response, but she's still pleased with it.
She only wishes others weren't around so she could show him how much.
~.~.~
The great part about being a demon in the goddess realm, Meliodas finds, is that everyone moves out of your way so you don't have to watch where you're going. Of course, he realizes, that's usually the case for him even in the demonic realm. But for here, it's not out of fear and respect. It's out of pure loathing and disgust. His eyes glance duly around at the light colored stands filled to the brim with absolutely pure fruits. The silver fountains that depict goddess pouring water in elegant poses. The thin rivers, he wanders closer to, that seem to run off into glowing white nothingness. He stares harder at this and wonders what would happen if someone were to fall down there. He chuckles darkly as he strides away from it with a silent plan to perhaps push a goody two shoes down there if they bother him enough.
He decides it's a decent civilization, but far too perfect, too pure. He finds a tree on the outskirts of "town" and leans against it. The ground is covered in clouds and he wonders how it is the trees can grow in such a way. He takes a seat and runs his hands through the wispy like substance, only to find a bit of dirt underneath. He smirks slightly. "Not so perfect after all." The bark may be extremely light as well as the pale leaves, but not everything can be perfect. He aims his elbow at the wood behind him, then jerks it back with the right amount of pressure. He holds his palm out precisely to catch one of the falling apples casually.
As he eats, he studies the goddesses with a critical eye. It's obvious there's a nice blend of dull and bright ones, so perhaps they aren't trying to be perfect. But they do expect you to live up to certain squeaky clean standards. "And Elizabeth has fallen short to them, hmm?" He comments with a trace of bitterness at them thinking her as anything but immaculate. His hand encircles another apple and begins to clutch it much too tightly. 'Didn't I just say nothing's perfect? She's not an exception damn it!' But as he pictures her smiling visage surrounded by long, beautiful silver strands of hair, he finds himself believing undeniably that she is the exception. She is his perfect goddess. He won't accept anyone thinking otherwise.
The red apple he strangles in his hold is pretty reflective. In fact, he manages to catch sight of a certain goddess headed right his way. He only wishes it was Elizabeth and not her lackluster friend. He doesn't look up when she stands before him. "What do you want?" he inquires as impassively as he can muster.
"Let's get this straight, demon. I don't trust you. No one here does," She whispers crossly.
"You don't have to," He interrupts the beginning of her little spiel as he begins to idly toss the abused apple up in his palm. "In fact, I advise you not to."
"This is what I mean. You think you're so high and mighty! As if you don't even have to look at the person talking to you because we're all "beneath you". That makes me sick." The ire just rolls off of her and bounces right off of him.
But Meliodas decides to humor her with a glance. She's just as unremarkable as always. Short purple hair, dark brown eyes, and a pitiful power compared to his Elizabeth. Nothing at all impressive about her. He gives her a mocking smirk. "That's because you all are below me."
Her teeth bear in a vicious grimace. "Elizabeth is foolish for even letting you come near her! I know it was a plan. All demons have that sick drive inside them to hunt goddesses down and take from them what's precious. She was just goal on your list to conquer. And now you have," She tells him knowingly with a frigid frown that hardens the features upon her face.
Meliodas lets the apple in his palm drop as anger begins to run along the back of his neck with a demanding he can't brush off. He rises in a slow menace as all the amusement in his features wash away as a deadly warning replaces it. "What I do with Elizabeth is none of your damn business."
"Oh really?" She cuts in with a smugness that only pisses him off further. "And why is that? You have more plans for her then? Was I right? Is she going to end up in bed with you again, like a common wench?"
He snarls as his hand snatches her throat so quickly it's impossible to fight back the rage that writhes frantically beneath his skin. He jerks her down to her knees as his hold remains firm. The heat in his skull tells him to squeeze, to make her pay for her slight against Elizabeth. But then he remembers his silverette's pleading and he only just manages to keep himself from strangling her. The goddess grips his wrists, attempting to get him to release her, but he's not done with her just yet. "You dare speak of your next leader in such a way!? To call her a whore!? She's well above you and all the rest of these weak bitches who believe they can just gather together to try and bring her down!" He brings her face filled with bitter hatred closer to hers. His tone begins to lower to that of a chilling darkness, "Elizabeth is everything you all should aspire to be, but will never achieve, because she's absolutely resplendent."
Veronica forces out a cold laugh once she gives up on trying to escape. "What are you? Her little advocate? She's been touched by the hands of a demon. If she actually let that happen, wanted it to happen, then she's far from perfect. She'll never be a good leader. I don't think she'll even be given the chance anymore."
His fury cycles in his chest in a maddened roar. Meliodas tosses her to the ground, catching all the eyes of the goddesses passing by on the edge of town in doing so. But he does not care. This little bitch continues to push. Continues to try and run Elizabeth's name through grime. He won't hear it. He won't stand for it. "You all can think whatever the hell you want about me. I don't give a damn. But when it comes to her, to Elizabeth, you will watch what you say in front of me. Or I swear it, you will most assuredly come to regret that unwise decision of yours."
His eyes burn into every goddess he sees standing tense as they watch the scene unfold. He means every word. If he hears something like this again, he'll regretfully have to break his promise to her to not harm anyone.
Veronica rises as her hand slightly runs across her neck. She stares him down with a bravery she'll soon be sorry for. "She got you to fight her battles? How pa—"
"Complete that sentence and you won't draw your next breath," He cuts her off deadly calm. "She didn't put me up to anything. I make my own decisions."
Veronica shakes her head in disbelief. "I'll take your advice then. I won't ever trust a word you say."
He shrugs uncaringly. Let her this be her death wish then. Veronica turns from him abruptly and pushes past the crowd of goddesses with forceful steps. He's more than glad to have her out of his sight. He didn't know how much longer he could hold himself back from forcefully silencing her. Meliodas strides back into the town, pleased to note that the goddesses back away from him at his approach. As he weaves through the lengthy streets with his eyes sliding from left to right, observing the houses in hopes of perhaps being able to pick out Elizabeth's, he hears their quiet chatter. How they speak of him and his defense of Elizabeth.
His expression remains smooth, but his thoughts begin to buzz. It happened so quickly he hadn't give it a thought, but now as he inspects it further, the emotion that welled up inside him then wasn't only a blind fury. It was a fierce protectiveness. She'd threatened what was his and it was only logical that he rise up to protect Elizabeth. It still leaves him a bit off balance as he wanders through the buildings. He has to come to a stop when he turns down a narrow passage, just to lean against the cool stones of a plainly shaped building. He'd protected her instinctively once more and he doesn't regret it. Should he?
As he sinks to rest against the house, he decides that no, he doesn't. He wants to be able to be her shield if she ever needs it. Meliodas swallows as a shiver travels through him with the new realization. He leans his head back against the support behind him and just lets himself take in this new prospect slowly, so he can adjust. He's grateful for the time and silence this little pocket of seclusion allows him as he doesn't need those disparaging goddesses witnessing him in such a vulnerable state. Only one person should ever see him like this and she's the very cause of it in the first place.
~.~.~
A line of books lie before her, all open to various pages as she tries to find something similar to what she and Meliodas has encountered multiple times. Magic hums through the air as she sighs softly, turning an aged page when she finds nothing. The room she's in is large yet hidden far below the public library up above. She looks around momentarily at the softly glowing candles with a slight curve to her lips. At least total darkness isn't what keeps this place protected like in the demon realm.
The twists and curves of the lettering in these books make much more sense to her than the harsh texts she tried so desperately to decipher before. Elizabeth sighs as she leans over her current book and runs a hand listlessly over the page. Her eyes drift to the empty seat beside her before snapping back to what's in front of her. She keeps thinking of that realm. She can't seem to help it. And as she does, her mind wanders to Meliodas. She wishes he were down here with her. Even if he were just complaining about how boring it was and how their writing was too elegant, it would have still made the place feel less empty. It would have made this more fun. He seems to make everything more interesting nowadays. She can't seem to fathom how that is.
As her eyes scan the pages, taking in information that means nothing to her, her hand reaches up to twist a lock of her hair mindlessly. "What are you doing right now, Meliodas?" She voices wistfully.
Harsh thumps from the stairs behind her cause her to jump, startled as her question becomes answer for her. "Oh, I'd be delighted to tell you, Elizabeth. He's out strangling people willy nilly."
Elizabeth jumps up from her seat to spin around to face Veronica in shock. "What!? He wouldn't-"
"Look at me!" Her friend cries as she points at her neck which is certainly showing light bruising.
A sick feeling begins to form in Elizabeth's stomach as she draws nearer to her friend. Her hand extends out tentatively to touch the inflamed area. She tries to steel her expression when she realizes her hand is shaking. Her eyes lock on Veronica's enraged browns as her voice comes out somber. "He wouldn't… I asked him not to…"
"And you believed him!?" Veronica angrily pushes her hand away as she begins to shake her head in utter disbelief. "You really are under some kind of spell. You've been stuck with a demon for over a month and now you somehow think that what? Just because he fucked you he'll change for you!?"
Elizabeth recoils back as if slapped. Her eyes turn down as she once again feels the weighted feeling of shame begin to drag her down. "Don't be crass, Veronica." She forces herself to speak past the sour taste in her mouth.
"You're the one sitting here thinking about a demon of all things. Elizabeth, what have you become? Why have you fallen so far?" Her friend berates her.
Elizabeth tries to wield that strength she had before when Meliodas told her she could handle the goddesses before. But... he lied to her. He hurt her friend. The evidence is right in front of her. A new sensation begins to flood her then. One that burns painfully as it causes her eyes to sting, but she fights the sensation. She trusted him. That was stupid. She's done too many foolish things when it's come to him already. And the bitter anger of this situation is not only turned on him, but herself as well.
"I thought that since we'd been "partners" for this mission, he'd at least listen to this one thing I'd asked of him. I guess I was wrong." She turns her cold eyes to Veronica, who has the common sense to flinch back, "That does not mean I will make that mistake again. Not again. We will find what we're looking for and then we'll part ways. We'll be true enemies then. And I'll… I'll go after him with everything I have."
Even as she says this, she has a hard time believing she'll be able to do it. She doesn't know if she can hold a weapon towards Meliodas with the intent of harming him. Not after what she'd done before. She almost squeezes her eyes closed against the twinging of her heart as the memory forces its way into her mind again. No, she can't. She won't be able to. It nearly brings tears to her eyes as she realizes Meliodas probably wouldn't have a single problem harming her however. 'Veronica's right. What have I become?'
She keeps her expression serious nevertheless, as her friend gauges her for her truthfulness. It's a slight relief when she realizes she's passed as Veronica turns away from her and begins to gaze around at all the books she has lined on the table. Her friend wanders towards them with curious eyes. "Why are you searching through all these anyway? If I wasn't so good at somehow knowing where you always are, it would have taken me forever to find you."
Elizabeth almost smiles at her older friend's words and the nostalgia it brings up. Veronica always seemed to come to her when she needed her friendship the most when they were younger. But as Elizabeth set out to become stronger on her own, she became less dependent on her friend. "We're just trying to find a certain spell. I didn't make too much head way however. I'm going to have to come back tomorrow though. I have a demon to deal with right now," her light tone shifts to a darker one as Meliodas' image flashes through her mind and she tightens her fists.
"Okay, just be careful. He's… unstable."
Elizabeth doesn't comment as she takes her leave in search of a certain blond.
~.~.~
It takes a bit of wondering and lots of open staring from the other goddesses, but she eventually finds him, asleep against the side of her house. She wants to be angry, well she still is, but seeing him in such a way brings a little smile to her lips as she approaches him. The world is dark blue as the clouds glow in the light of the moon. As she kneels beside him, she finds that he looks peaceful… But such a look does not exempt him from her disappointment and the ire that resides in her.
So after she runs a hand slowly through his hair and gently caresses his check, she takes a firm hold of his ear and yanks.
"Shit!" He exclaims loudly in waking.
She isn't quick enough to draw her hand back before his catches the offender preparing to do it brutal harm, until his infuriated eyes land on her and he stills. She keeps herself steady, even if her heart is racing wildly in nervousness of what he'll do. His hold on her wrist remains light as his brows slowly furrow. "What the hell was that for?" He asks lowly.
She merely raises an eyebrow as if that's all the answer she needs to give before she releases his abused ear and slips her hand easily from his. She rises and begins to walk around the house. Elizabeth walks up the few steps of her porch as she sees him following behind her from the corner of her eyes. "Come, demon. I have much to discuss with you about your behavior today."