Chapter 5

My mouth opened as I eyed the building in front of me speculatively. I took a breath, prepared to let all the questions building in my throat out in one long exhale, but found myself snapping it shut once more. Nothing I could possibly ask could adequately sate my morbid curiosity and confusion.

"I didn't break you, did I?" Meliodas' voice cuts through the millions of questions racing through my head and I glance over to see him watching me - no doubt entertained by my reaction after having pulled the blindfold from my eyes.

"... a bar?" I hated how incredulous I sounded. How many times was I going to let this jack-ass blind-side me?

"Yep! Welcome to my place, Princess," Meliodas makes a grand gesture to the building. Hanging by the front doors swayed an engraved sign that read 'Boar Hat'. What the hell is a boar hat? "This is where we'll be staying until we get your shit sorted." He beamed, pulling my attention away from the odd name.

I eyed the bar again suspiciously. It looked like a complete dump - like someone had set up shop in an old abandoned grocery store and was trying to pass it off as a functioning business. It was surrounded by shitholes on the right and left, smack dab in the middle of 'the wrong part of town'. Why anyone in their right mind would come to this place for a drink was beyond me. And what was worse was that in the time that the department had known about the Sins, not once had anyone found this place? Was the entire force completely incompetent?

He slipped his hand in mine and once again I was struck by the strangeness, not to mention forwardness, of his actions. It was so… casual. Intimate even.

"The place should be cleared out by now. King's parking the car and Ban is supervising. Though I think his drunk ass just wasn't ready to walk," he chuckled as he tugged me along. "Downside of the base being a bar, I suppose. We get drunk a lot." That last comment had a hint of pride behind it.

"Your base… is a bar?" I furrow my brows as I repeat my question. I'm still dumbstruck by the sheer ridiculousness of it. There's no way that a powerhouse group like the Seven Deadly Sins operated out of this dingy shack. I've seen drug dealers with better digs.

He throws a cheeky grin over his shoulder. "Sure is, Princess."

"Thought you were going to start calling me by my name."

Meliodas hums as he places a hand on the door. "Pretty sure I said I'd call you Princess or Elizabeth. Just figured Princess would be better for now." He quirks a brow at me, smile still resting on his features. "Unless you want everyone to know who you are?"

Was that a threat? I frown as I watch him, choosing to remain silent instead of arguing further.

"Well," the blonde pushes the door open. "Let's introduce you to the-" he stops, face blanking as he eyes the packed bar.

"Meliodas!" The voices cheer.

"The Boss is back!" someone shouts.

"Who's that Mel?"

"She's awfully pretty." Someone else shouts from further back before a chorus of catcalls and whistles erupted out. I have never been so aware of my v-neck tee-shirt as I am right now, and I can already feel my face start to heat up, but quickly fight the flush that threatens to overwhelm my complexion.

Seven - yeah right! There's gotta be fifty people here easy! Are all of them Sins?

Suddenly Meliodas lets go of my hand only to wrap an arm around my waist. "Yo everyone. This is my new girlfriend. Feel free to call her Princess." The wide grin answers all the questioning glances.

I'm stunned. His girlfriend? I stared at him before the wink he sends me shakes me out of my daze.

"I am not your girlfriend." I growl out through teeth clenched so tight my jaw starts to ache from the pressure.

Instead of responding to me he merely turns to the crowd, arm still around my waist. He makes a show of rolling his eyes and chuckles. "Princess is a bit shy, so don't bug her, got it?"

Sounds of acknowledgment echo through the bar and then just like that, everyone's back to their drinking.

A barely audible sigh passed his lips. "Damnit Di," he mumbles and pulls me along with him towards the bar. Weaving our way around tables full of men and women alike, all of whom look like they might break me in half at first word of my profession.

Despite the crowd, I'm able to take stock of the area. It's much nicer than it appeared from the outside. Hard wood floors and walls that are a combination of wood panel and stone, like a rustic wine cellar. Against the far wall near the bar were aging barrels stacked to the exposed metal rafters above, which were wrapped in lights that gave the room a warm glow. Alright, so even I had to admit this place was a gem - a real diamond in the rough, and apparently it's charms were not wasted on the groups of bikers who seemed to be regulars here.

"Di," Meliodas called as we continued to weave our way towards the large counter that made up the entire back wall of the open tavern, it's wooden shelves stocked with every brand and type of alcohol imaginable. He frowns slightly, as no one calls back. "Diane!"

"Yes boss?" A young brunette, pigtails swinging dangerously as she popped up from behind the counter, answered with wide eyes.

"Didn't King tell you to close up?" He asked her as we finally find ourselves standing at the bar counter.

Her face fell for a second before she directed her attention to placing three large beer mugs under their respective spigots and pulling all three levers, filling each to perfection without so much as a bat of an eye. "I tried! People wouldn't stop coming in and ordering drinks and I know how you hate it when we turn away customers!" She spun back around and her amethyst eyes are shining with unshed tears. "I'm really sorry!"

There's another audible sigh from the blonde as he looked out at the crowd in contemplation, "Well, nothing we can do about it now," Meliodas stated. He looked at me with a questioning gaze. "Know anything about waiting tables?"

That's a joke, right?

Before I can even respond, Diane's already talking again, all traces of tears gone. "Is this her?" She holds out a hand to me, "Hiya! I'm Diane or Di for short." She winked.

"Uh," I take her hand uncertainly. Is this woman just a worker, or another Sin? "Elizabeth."

"But call her Princess in front of the customers, alright?" Meliodas swiftly added in a hushed tone.

"Sure thing, boss," she nodded and smiled kindly at me. "Nice to meet you, Princess." She giggled. "I have a spare uniform if you're going to be waiting tables with me."

Wait… so… not a joke?

"Go ahead and grab it," Meliodas answered for me. "I'll take this, what table was it?" He finally removed his arm from my waist to take the tray from her.

"Table five. Wait here, I'll be right back," she tells me.

And just like that, I'm alone - not even a chance to argue. I use the opportunity to casually study the bar and it's occupants. The Seven Deadly Sins, the name of Meliodas' ruthless gang runs through my head. But who in this bar is a member? Or are all of them? Maybe everyone down at the precinct had it wrong. The self proclaimed title of Seven Deadly Sins, was just that, a title. Not the actual amount of members.

And I just willingly walked into their lair. Alone.

A chill runs up my spine at the thought. Alone suddenly had an entirely different meaning for me. I could feel it. Suffocating - sapping the air out of my lungs.

"Here ya go!" A chipper voice breaks me out of my thoughts. I find the owner to be Daine. "If you want, there's no one in the break-room right now, you can change there." She points to a door behind the bar.

I gingerly accept the outstretched clothes. One look at the small pink top and I cling it to my chest as if she had just passed me lingerie and I was afraid everyone in the bar would see it. "I can't wear this!" I hiss.

Diane frowns, "why not?"

What she's wearing finally registers in my mind and it's just as I feared. She's wearing a pink crop top. My frown matches hers as I reply, "it's hardly appropriate."

"Appropriate?" The brunette quirks a brow. She then giggles as she says, "we're waiting tables - in a bar no less. I think this uniform is suited just fine for that."

"Or shows that your boss is a total perv," I mumble under my breath, shooting the man in question a glare from across the bar.

"Aren't all men?" Daine snorts with a wide smile as she tilts her head, pigtails falling over her shoulders.

For the first time since this whole ordeal started, a small giggle passes my lips.

"There's a laugh!" she beams. "I was hoping you wouldn't be a super stick in the mud," she sticks her tongue out teasingly as she winks. "I know these uniforms aren't exactly ideal but trust me," she leans in close to whisper. "You'll get really good tips."

I can't help but chuckle again. The absurdity of working at a bar frequented by questionable clientele while I'm supposed to be hunting down criminals is too much. I smile at Diane, thankful that at least someone normal happens to be in this bar. I can't let myself get too close to her, but having someone to talk to besides Meliodas is reassuring.

"Hey slackers!"

Speak of the devil, my smile dips as Meliodas' approaches the bar.

"We're not slacking," Diane argues. "I just got her the uniform. Are King and Ban back yet? There's been people wanting to order food."

"Should be back any minute now, just putting the car away," the blonde answered her vaguely.

"Gotcha," she nods. She turns back to me and says, "come find me when you're changed, alright Princess?"

"Okay." I respond and Diane disappears into the crowd. I round on Meliodas. "How exactly do you expect me to work here?"

"Well, I'd suggest taking orders and then fulfilling them, but that's just how I like to run the place," he shrugs and the sarcastic tone to his words is not wasted on me.

I ignore him and hold up the pink shirt and small skirt, "wearing this?"

"It's the tavern uniform."

"You call this a uniform?" I hold it up to my chest, the disgust for the outfit is all over my face, "It's like a costume straight out of the playboy mansion or something," I hiss lowly.

A smile plays on his lips. "Had to get the inspiration from somewhere."

My jaw unhinges for a second before I regain my bearings. "This is not appropriate attire for a waitress to wear. It shows way too much skin! And this is a bar! Shouldn't everyone be walking around in leather pants or something."

"Ah, ah, ah Princess," he shakes a finger at me in mock disappointment. It'd be a lot easier to believe if he didn't have such a large grin on his face. "I really don't like to label the people that walk into my fine establishment here. There isn't really a theme to speak for so the workers wear whatever I want them too."

"You're a perv."

Meliodas shrugs, "I mean, if you don't like it, you could always go back to your department."

I chew on the inside of my cheek, repeating I will not shoot this asshole in my head. "You know, it's illegal to blackmail an officer of the law." I state low under my breath so he was the only one who could hear it.

He doesn't respond to my statement, instead his grin renews as he suggests, "you should go get changed. Diane doesn't have much patience."

I frown, both annoyed with his lack of respect for my stature as an officer and finding it hard to believe that such a sweet girl like Diane would get upset. At anything, really.

CRASH!

Both of us turn to find a tray of drinks on the ground. A table of men laughing while the rest of the bar is eerily silent. All eyes are on Daine as she spins towards the chortling men.

"Alright, you got one chance bozos," she speaks in the same sweet cadence she had when talking to me earlier, contradicting the look of murder on her features. "I know you're new in here, so let me fill you in on the number-one rule of the bar: NEVER touch the waitresses. Now," she cracks a knuckle, a terrifyingly sugary smile on her face - one that radiated the fury of a woman scorned. "Which one of you idiots, touched me? Come clean, and I won't throw your asses out."

"Ah, come on sweet cheeks," one of the men spoke up. "Wes was just having a little fun," he slurs.

Diane punches him square in the nose. The guy falls to the ground in a heap of pain.

My eyes widen at the display.

"You need to redefine your definition of fun," Daine suggests as she pulls back her fist.

"H-hey!" Another man at the table yells, him and his group having jumped from their seats. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"

Diane frowns. "Putting an asshole in his place. Wanna join him?"

"You really think you can take the three of us all at once girly?" A man with black hair questions tauntingly, squaring up to Diane in an attempt to intimidate her.

I can see where this is going. I instinctively reach for the holster hidden under my jacket, only to find a hand on my wrist. Instantly I know it's Meliodas.

"Let me help her," I whisper.

He snorts. "Trust me, she isn't the one that needs help here. Besides, pull that gun and you'll blow your cover. Your chance to crack that case of yours, poof - up in smoke." I glare down at him to find that somewhere along the way he had grabbed a mug of beer. He casually takes a sip, eyeing the scene with lazy interest. "Glad King isn't back. Don't feel like dealing with that mess."

"King? What does he have to do with this?" I'm completely flabbergasted at his lack of concern for one of his workers.

"Hmm?" He hums as if forgetting I was even there. His green eyes land on me. "Oh, the two of them are dating."

"Oh," I glance at Diane and then back to Meliodas. "So Diane is the one all of you were talking about in the car?"

He grins. "Put that together, did you?"

Another smack of flesh against flesh.

I whip around, another one of the men is a pile of limbs on the floor. Diane's standing there casually, a hand on her popped out hip. A bored expression on her face.

"Look, can ya guys just leave? You're not much of a fight and I have other things to do," she explains as her other hand gestures around the room. The bar responds with calls of agreeance. "See?" She taunts the men. "So just scram."

The men from the rowdy table get up to leave.

Diane sighs as she hunches down to clean up the mess, her back to the men.

One of them grasps a bottle, clearly wanting to cause her harm. My eyes go wide as I open my mouth to yell.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Meliodas suggests. I had been so focused on the hooligan that I hadn't seen Meliodas move through the crowd to stand between Diane and her attacker. He has a death grip on the man's arm, forcing him to drop the makeshift weapon. "See, I'm all for a good brawl, but attacking someone when their back is turned? One of my waitresses at that?" A far too innocent smile plays at the blonde's lips. "Do you have a death wish?"

"N-n-no!" The man stutters, tugging at his arm uselessly, his fingers turning a sickening pale white from the lack of blood-flow.

The man cries out as Meliodas' hold on his arm tightens. "You're lucky you caught me in a good mood today," he lets go of his prisoner. "Also pretty lucky her boyfriend isn't here."

"Boss!" Diane interjects, a blush on her cheeks.

"He wouldn't have been so nice," Meliodas stresses his point even as he sends Diane a teasing smile. She merely huffs and crosses her arms. "Now," he directs his attention back to the men. "Get out. If I ever see you at this bar again, you're dead," he said with a cheeky grin.

Goosebumps erupt on my skin. Despite the expression on Meliodas' face, I can feel the malice behind his words.

So this is the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Dom: Hey Luv! I had the best idea! We should make up cool code names for each other!

Luv: *Long confused pause* … don't we already have code names?

Dom: Yes. But I mean even cooler names than we already have. Something that describes us to a 'T'. But the best part is no one will ever know who we're talking about!

Luv: I'm not even sure what we're talking about half the time… New code names? My memory isn't so great ya know?

Dom: It'll be fine! Like… *stares at Luv deep in thought* … I got it! You're code name would be "Blushing messy bun that hides behind desk"! *Smiles triumphantly*

Luv: Oh ha ha. That's a bit long for a codename don't you think? Aren't they suppose to be short and to the point? Like…. "Rambling Wine" *giggles*

Dom: *Pouts… then grins like a cheshire cat* Oh, I see! So is "Obsessive KING-pulsive" better? *Huge grin and a suggestive wiggle of the brow*

Luv: … Next Time on Don't Trust Me: Elizabeth starts to see the many sides of the Sin boss - perhaps even a side she wasn't expecting. And before she has time to recover, it's time for her first shift as a waitress. But that's not all. It's time to get some answers.

Dom: *Shrugs* I thought it was clever. But I suppose you can't get much cooler than our names. I mean, they already describe us so well.

Luv: I'm taking your "great idea" privileges away. *turns to leave, ignoring the wide-eyed look on Dom's face* See everyone in the next chapter!

Dom: *chases after Luv* Noooooooo! I didn't mean it! Come back! I love you!