Chapter 33

The next morning was surprisingly normal. I showed up at the bar, ready to be disappointed at the lack of meeting, only to find King was sitting there. Patiently waiting for me as he scrolled through his phone.

"Morning, Princess." He mumbled without a glance in my direction.

"Morning King…" I cautiously replied. This was the first time all week that King had greeted me normally. I wasn't sure how to take it.

His lips quirked as he put his phone down. "Coffee?" He offered in the same tone he always used.

"Please." I slipped into the seat next to him. "Big plans for the day?"

"Not that I know of…" King sipped at his coffee, then frowned, reconsidering. "Actually I do think the Boss had something. But he's been pretty hushed about it."

"Oh?" I blinked in surprise. Normally King never would admit having such knowledge. What caused the shift?

Yesterday. I had to stop myself from physically slapping my forehead. He told me his life story. That's bound to leave a person feeling more open.

It had happened with almost all of them, actually.

Ban's more harsh jabs toned down to harmless teasing. Diane, if possible, showered me with even more affection than she already had. Escanor, always friendly, now seemed more personable. King seemed to be more honest. A little more open.

And Meliodas…

The leader of the Sins had been surprisingly chipper all week. His smiles were a little softer when he'd look at me. Not near as much smirk as he used to flash. The kind of gentleness that reminded me of our night together. And had me flushing whenever I'd meet that tender expression across the room.

King hummed, resting in his chin in his open palm. "Not sure what he's got up his sleeve this time. But…" He shrugged. "I've got other things to work on today so I suppose if it's important, he'll tell me."

So Meliodas kept things from even King, arguably the most informed. Maybe all his aloofness wasn't just for show. It was possible that he didn't know.

"Well look at you two all cozy again!" Diane called as she rounded the stairs. A bright smile spread across her face. "Careful, I might get jealous!"

Both of us groaned.

"Diane," King started with strained patience, as if they had this conversation before. "Nothing is ever going to happen with me and Princess."

"I know. That was part of my conditions. I have to be there." She winked.

I laughed as King pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Not then, either." The ginger insisted. "It'd be too weird."

Well he wasn't wrong. But I couldn't decide if I should be offended or not.

"She's like a… sister almost." He said with a flush. "It'd be damn creepy."

My eyes widened and Daine just laughed.

"Well that's fair. It is weird when you put it like that." The brunette tilted her head to the side. She shrugged. "Eh, she's already banging the boss anyways. We missed our chance."

"Diane!" I squealed, heat erupting on my features.

They laughed.

"Not you too, King." I all but whined as I dropped my face in my hands.

"There's no secrets here!" Diane nudged my shoulder with hers.

I peaked out behind my hand just enough to glare at them both. "There's been plenty of secrets here."

King chuckled. "Well not anymore. You were new. Now you're not."

My head lifted out of my hands as I stared at the two.

"Whoa. Did I miss something good?" Meliodas' light hearted tone carried over to us. "Elizabeth, why's your face all red?" He teased with a cheeky grin.

"No reason!" I shouted before King or Diane could comment.

The couple exchanged amused glances.

"Not a thing." Diane nodded, slipping around the bar. She began to fiddle around with the bottles.

King silently sipped his coffee.

"Ah, come on guys!" Meliodas huffed, crossing his arms. "I wanna know!"

"Esh." Ban collapsed a chair down from me. "Why you so loud already, Boss? Too early for this shit."

"They're keeping secrets!" Meliodas turned to his right hand man.

"Buncha assholes."

"Thank you! At least someone is on my side." His green eyes titled my way. An entertained spark lighting them up.

Diane rolled her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, Boss!"

"Told ya they'd turn on ya." Ban drawled lazily. "Said it since the beginning."

King scoffed. "Please. You two wouldn't be here today without us."

"Be a hell of a lot happier."

"Sure about that?" King quirked a challenging brow. "Pretty sure you never would have met my sister if you didn't know me."

"... nevermind."

"Et tu, Ban?" Meliodas gaped at him in mock offense. "You're going to leave me in my time of need?"

"So whiny." I mumbled teasingly under my breath. But of course the whole room heard me and now everyone stared.

"Elizabeth." He leaned in closer. Those meadow green eyes shining in mirth. "You're making fun of me too? I thought we had something special."

My skin flushed.

The others laughed.

And Meliodas' expression morphed into that tender one he'd been giving me all week as his lips pulled further into a small grin. For a second, I thought he might kiss me. This was about how close we'd been when he'd initiated that night. That closeness only made me flush further.

The next moment, though, he had already disappeared from my view. The blonde strolling behind the counter and dishing out orders of things needing to be done around the bar before we opened.

It was all so… easy. Never before had I experienced such a simple and relaxed morning with the Sins. No underlying tension of my position eating away at the atmosphere. Just… fun. Like I'd been here for years and not just weeks.

Like I was one of them.

The thought made me bite my lips and glance down guilty. I had no place thinking such things. Despite knowing their stories and wanting desperately to help them finish this all, I still stood on the other side of the fence. My time with Meliodas, with all of them, was because of a few missing chainlinks.

Eventually the hole would be discovered and the damage repaired.

The wall separating us, replaced.

My heart clenched at the thought as the four of them continued to banter smoothly back and forth. Never before had I felt myself wanting something as badly as this. As their comodere. To fit in and feel like I had a place to belong.

The precinct should have offered this. And I guess to an extent it did. But that was only with Howzer - the man who had been my best friend for years- and Veronica. But my sister would never treat me like Diane does. Never so openly tell me about things going on in her life and offer me secret smiles.

I bit the inside of my lip, feigning attention to the conversation going on around me. This… longing wasn't good. When Meliodas had told me days ago that I would have to make a choice, I hadn't realized how right he'd be.

How impossible the choice would be.

The bar opened an hour later.

Business boomed nonstop for hours. Then all of a sudden it stopped. The last customer walked out and Meliodas flipped a sign.

"We're closing?" I furrowed my brow and glanced at the clock. 4:30. "It's a little early, isn't it?"

Meliodas hummed, walking around and picking up empty glasses. "Got stuff to do today. No time to dawdle."

The other three where out and cleaning up tables too. I quickly followed their examples and the bar was just as clean as it had been this morning.

Not even five minutes after finishing up, Merlin walked in.

I blinked, surprised to see her here in the daylight. "Merlin?"

"Princess," she dipped her head in acknowledgement.

Merlin pulled herself up to the bar, her shoulders slumped unusually low - like a weight sat heavy on them. This was not the woman I was so used to seeing at the precinct. Her usual confidence seemed to be lacking today.

I was surprised when Meliodas didn't come to the bar to greet her - instead nodding to the woman with his eyes on mine and then disappearing around the corner. Along with the other Sins.

It was just Merlin and I in the bar now.

"You look like you could use a drink," I broke the silence stretching between us, reaching for a beer mug before Merlin waved off my efforts.

"Wine, please."

I nodded, reaching instead for a stemmed wine glass, "Sure. What's your preference?"

"The cab sauv, if you don't mind," she answered almost uninterested.

I poured a glass of fragrant cabernet sauvignon a little heavier than usual and passed it to her with a small grin and she chuckled her thanks to me before taking an appreciative sip.

It was quiet between us again as she sipped her wine. Uncomfortably so.

I knew why Meliodas had left us alone, and no matter how many times I broached the subject, it never seemed to get any easier. Especially knowing now how all the others had come to be sins.

The lines seemed so blurred now.

I was finding it harder and harder not to sympathize with them - to convince myself that I wouldn't do the same given their situations. It was so much easier to stay righteous when I was ignorant...

That didn't make me any less curious how a woman like Merlin - a woman so accomplished and fueled by a sense of justice that she would volunteer her time and skills to aid the department - could become a sin.

"I'm told you're getting to know everyone's back stories," she spoke to my thoughts, and I was surprised by how forward she was.

I nodded as I watched her toy with the stem of her wine glass. "I'd like to know yours too," I offered softly. Something in Merlin's demeanor seemed really off. Why did she seem so forthright… and yet… so hesitant in telling me the truth? It felt different than the others.

"I suppose I'm the only one who hasn't fessed up, hmm?" Her eyes followed the slosh of wine as she twisted the glass back and forth, stirring the liquid inside, before taking a healthy sip. "Funny - ironic even, that you'd learn my story last." She grinned to herself and my brow creased, "Especially given that I'm the one who started all of this."

"What-" My eyes widened on the scientist as her words slowly sank in and she finally looked me in the eyes.

"I'm the one who created XGEN."

Luv: Guess what day it is!?

Dom: FRIDAY?! *Bounces excitedly, like she expected a cookie*

Luv: Um… I mean technically… yes? *gives a sheepish smile as she explains* I was actually going to say double posting day.

Dom: *Overly dramatic gasp like an old 50's commercial* Double posting day? What's that?

Luv: *regains her excitement and switches to annoying infomercial voice* It's where we post not one, but TWO chapters!

Dom: WOW! That's AMAZING!

Luv: I know right? Let's get to that next chapter already, shall we?

Dom: I mean… Yeah. We should...just probably do that thing. Why are people still reading this? Just go to the next chapter already. Weirdos.

Luv: DO IT!