Please forgive me everyone! Another three weeks, ANOTHER THREE WEEKS AFTER I SAID I WOULDN'T TAKE THAT LONG. I cannot stress how sorry I am, I was on holiday for one of the weeks but the other two I have no excuse. With school starting up this week it could take me even longer. On a good note though, the last time I updated, all my regulars (yes that is what I mentally call those who review on of my chapters omg I love you guys) and their reviews came zooming in.
merendinoemiliano: I try my best, thanks!
Silver: I haven't got round to reading them but I checked your account. The stories look awesome! I even spotted some Percy Jackson which makes me happy. I'm loving your ideas, I'll probably use most of them to be honest XD. Thanks for your lovely review as always.
Drama Lover's Dream 513: You are literally an angel disguised as a human... or should I say Goddess. Ok I'm sorry XD. I'll keep repeating this, you are incredibly kind.
Ok guys...a few thank yous coming bare with. Thank you too...
KHB123, Cutesy Nay and Court818 for following!
Cutiebug59 for favouriting!
Glitter1000 for following and favouriting! Also to Grace Jones... for some reason I can't type your user name and I tried so hard I'm sorry!
And finally Kurama Yin-Yang for doing everything humanly possible.
I really appreciate it everyone!
"Hey guys!" Meliodas chirped as the girls came down the stairs. Elizabeth saw his eyes trail to her as she wrapped her arms around a grumbling Diane's neck for dear life.
They had stayed in the rooms on the upper floors of the Boar Hat. The girls in one and the guys in the other. Meliodas had, of course, protested again. Apparently he should've been allowed to stay with his girlfriend. Elizabeth had just giggled at him, kissed him on the cheek and wheeled away leaving him spluttering.
Yes, Meliodas spluttered. It's the apocalypse. What would it be next? Blushing?
Anyway, the five had explained the situation, leaving out some unnecessary and quite possibly fatal detail, and what would hopefully come out of the next few days. Hawk had been under one of the tables for the first part of the conversation and when he accidentally brushed against Gowther's leg, the Captain of the Sins had thrown the little boy at by his ear.
So in short, everyone was slightly groggy from the lack of sleep and extremely on edge. That didn't stop the small blonde and silver haired girl from attempting to raise the spirits.
"Good morning Meliodas, everyone! I hope you all slept well." He shot a grateful smile in return. They were both trying, trying for their friends and trying for each other.
"Anyway, I made breakfast!" Silence. All eyes drifted to Meliodas, including Hawk, who now had a huge smirk planted on his face. Many looked on in horror, others hung their heads with dread. He knows he is terrible, so why is he doing this? Why put us through that pain?
"I'm sorry y'all," Ban added almost solemnly, picking himself up of the floor. "I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen. I was bout to go get Ellie but the cheeky little bastard knocked me out before I could even reach the stairs. I have failed you all!" He wailed dramatically.
No one really had the nerve to laugh as their captain brought out plates of food. It looked amazing, it smelled delicious, but its taste? Elizabeth and Hawk were the only ones that had trained themselves to keep it down, for the others it was a slightly different story.
Everyone took their seats and grimaced as Meliodas placed down the cutlery. They exchanged glances before Ban spoke up.
"Hell naw, I can't take this suspension anymore ima just have to brave it." And with that, he shoved a large forkful into his equally large mouth. All the teenagers and Hawk watched with wide eyes as he froze, his fork slipping from his grasp and clattering on the floor. Then he followed the piece of cutlery and landed with a thud, unmoving.
Elizabeth wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry.
"Come on guys, eat up! It's a wake up call. Captain's orders!" Merlin sighed, taking a bite before placing a hand over her mouth and turning a peculiar shade of green. Escanor followed suit, spitting everything back out as soon as it went in.
Soon all the Sins were either were either throwing up, collapsing or unmoving. Elizabeth gave Hawk a reassuring smile before having some of her boyfriend's food herself. Her face remained blank, but as she chewed a revolting array of tastes exploded and swarmed her mouth. Still, the girl just swallowed it and went for more.
Meliodas gasped, coming up behind Elizabeth and hugging her.
"She ate my food! She actually ate my food! Elizabeth, you are so perfect and amazing and please don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Normally that would have caused at least a small ripple of laughter, but everyone was too busy dealing with their Captain's food.
"Of course, you have to eat it as well Meliodas," she stated calmly as she took a sip of water, washing the despicable taste from her mouth. The said boy just chuckled happily and replied to her with triple the enthusiasm than before. If that was even possible for half seven in the morning.
"I would rather go to hell than have even a mouthful of my evil creation." The blonde left her side and yanked his best friend up from the floor by the back of his shirt. He trudged over to the kitchen, hauling Ban along. "Come on buddy, let's actually go make something edible now."
Elizabeth just sighed heavily as they went before going to help Diane off of the floor. She half carried the brunette over to a round table in the corner of the tavern and sat in the seat opposite. Her friend seemed to be recovering, her extremely pale face gaining some colour.
"I don't... I don't understand," Diane gasped out. "How do you eat it?" Elizabeth just brought a hand to her mouth, giggling. They had about half an hour until Gilthunder came, and the silver haired girl wanted to spend it with her best friend.
"Just imagine, there are some people out there who don't have anything to eat at all." She rested her chin in her palm, staring into nothingness sadly. "I wish I could change that."
Diane's face morphed into a gentle smile as she rubbed the older teenager's arm reassuringly.
"You're always so kind Elizabeth, but you have to remember that you can't help everyone." Elizabeth's gazed turned to Diane's, her rosey lips stretching into a large grin.
"Well, the least I can do is try and save you all from my boyfriend's cooking."
"Oi, I heard that! You're lucky I like you!" Meliodas called from the kitchen. He had always had impeccable hearing, it was slightly creepy. Once King had confessed to liking Diane down the end of a busy corridor, and of course the blonde had heard from the other end and 'accidentally' told Ban. The man didn't drop it for a whole two months, although the only person who didn't catch wind of the teasing was the brunette herself.
Elizabeth had scolded them both.
Diane burst into laughter, but cut it off fairly quickly, her lips pursed. The other girl's eyebrows shot up as she tilted her head, curious.
"Are you alright?" She asked, dropping the level of her voice to a hushed whisper. Diane just nodded vigorously, fiddling with one of her bushy pigtails. It is always such a dead giveaway with her. "Diane?" Silence. "Please, if there is something wrong you can talk to m-"
"Really, I'm fine! Stop being nosy and mind your own business!" She snapped angrily. None of the Sins ever got frustrated with Elizabeth, so for Diane to lash out at her? King glanced in their directed, eyebrows furrowed. Meliodas poked his head around the door, an unreadable look in his eye but still that same cheery grin on his face. Ban could be heard taking in a very sharp breath of concern.
The question was, was that concern for her or Diane?
Elizabeth's eyes widened as the brunette raised her voice. She knew it shouldn't have affected her that much, but she couldn't help the fact that her eyes teared up. Meliodas's smile dropped from across the room as he scanned her face.
Her friend put a hand to her mouth at her sudden outburst and reached for the other girl's hand.
"Elizabeth, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-"
"It's quite alright Diane, I know you didn't mean it," she cut in gently. The silverette used her free hand to wipe her watering eyes, a sympathetic smile gracing her beautiful face.
"It isn't... I'm sorry I snapped at you. I just..." she leaned closer, "it's my neck." Then it hit her.
It was Elizabeth's turn to gasp. Diane had been strangled! It must have been painful and yet no one new about it, or at least that it was hurting. She carried you down the stairs, remember where you were holding? At this the teenager couldn't take it. She sucked in a ragged breath as tears started to spill down her cheeks.
She had hurt her best friend. She hadn't even noticed the pain she was in!
Diane looked around, panicked and unsure of what to do before settling for rubbing Elizabeth's hand soothingly with both of hers.
"I knew you would react like that, that's why I didn't want to say anything."
"I... I made it worse for you!" The silver haired girl whisper-shouted, trying to muffle her oncoming sobs.
"You saved my life! Please don't be sorry, and please don't tell anyone." She wanted to argue, but just ended up nodding subtly. I have to respect her wishes. Diane let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
And with that, the brunette swiftly stood up and left through the front door, claiming to 'need a breath of fresh air'.
Elizabeth followed suit and made her way to he staircase leading to the upper floors of the Boar Hat. She brushed past Meliodas without another word, trying to ignore his slight grimace. All she really wanted was a hug, but that would've drawn even more attention than she already wanted.
The girl hobbled up the stairs before entering the room on the first floor, leaning against the wall to steady herself and her tired legs. She flopped face first onto the large bed and groaned.
Elizabeth was slowly being crushed by the pressure and the weight of the whole situation. She was only seventeen years old! Why do I have to deal with this?! Why me? She thought sourly, a bitter taste in her mouth. One worse than... than...
Worse than his food? Another voice spoke quietly in the back of her head. It was gentle, calming, more civil than the last. He is why you're enduring this, remember? It's all for him. All of it.
"Elizabeth?" Came a voice as well as a knock of the damaged wooden door. Speak of the devil. Elizabeth didn't need to turn around to see who it was, instead she just stayed where she was, face buried into the covers on the bed. A couple of seconds later she felt a weight on the other side and a creaking.
The silver haired girl didn't protest as Meliodas gathered her up into his arms, guiding her head to lay on his chest. He was being so careful, as if she would fall apart any second.
He was probably right.
"This is the first time we've been alone since you remembered," he commented lightly. The girl just closed her eyes, relishing the peaceful moment.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. Elizabeth could guess what look she was being given in that moment. "I know you'll say I don't need to apologise, but I want to." She look a breath.
"When I walked into that classroom, your eyes held so much agony, so much longing. I didn't understand at the time, I just felt terrible for you." The grip around her tightened. "You lost me twice, all while dealing with your father and trying to keep up appearances. You had lost so much and more."
"You couldn't have done anything, it wasn't your fault in the slightest."
"I just... I should have been able to tell!" Meliodas drew in a sharp breath as she raised her voice. "I should have known, I should've been clever for once in my life and put the pieces together."
"Eliza-"
"No, please just listen!" The blonde nodded, going quiet. Maybe it was because she needed to rant, or because of what she was saying, or because she raised her voice. That was something Elizabeth Liones never did. She sat up, looking at him dead in the eye.
"I knew you were lying, I could tell on the first day. If I had been just a little braver and not listened to you, then I would've been there for you sooner." Meliodas's eyes, those emerald orbs she adored so much, widened drastically. "But I kept doubting myself. God, do you even remember what I said to you?"
'You do know that the Commandments aren't in the room. You don't have to act like you love me.'
"Everyday I wanted to ask you just one simple question that I could never seem to get out. Do you know what it was?"
He frowned, searching her face for the answer.
"'Do I know you?' And if I had..." she trailed off at the endless possibilities.
"I still would've lied," he interrupted, no unkindly. "It couldn't be helped Elizabeth, all that mattered was that you were safe. I was a coward as well. I even sent Diane to the hospital that day you woke up because I couldn't face you myself."
Right, she'd been meaning to ask him about that. Not that it mattered. The fact that he even sent someone to check on her made her heart flutter. The girl opened her mouth to say that, no, he wasn't a coward, he was the bravest man she had ever met, but a call came from downstairs.
"C-Captain! Miss Elizabeth! W-we have... some guests!" Escanor's shaking voice barely reached them. Elizabeth turned, giving her boyfriend a 'we'll talk about this later look', before climbing off of the bed.
But upon making her way towards the stairs, a pain shot through her legs. I didn't listen to my mother, I have been walking on them too much. The teenager's knees buckled and Meliodas, who had been keeping a close eye from behind her, steadied her by the waist and scooped her up. As the pair made their way down, someone called out to her.
"Elizabeth! I'm so glad you're alright! Your sister and I have been so worried." Gilthunder surged forward, taking his future sis-in-law from the blonde boy and wrapping her into a hug. The smaller girl couldn't help but smile at the warmth she felt.
"Hey Little Gil," sung Meliodas happily. It was ridiculous. He was at least two heads smaller than the pick haired man and a couple years younger, yet Gilthunder had always looked up to him. Elizabeth could not wrap her head around it.
"Ah, not just Little Gil. If it isn't the Trio of Troublemakers!" Howzer and Griamore exchanged confused glances, but the third just chuckled in a good natured sort of way.
"It's good to see you Meliodas. So, what's going on? That call seemed pretty urgent."
A nervous laugh bubbled up from Elizabeth as she way placed onto one of the bar stools. She fiddled with the edge of her top, cringing.
"Well... here's the thing..."