Cursing herself for being here at this time, Elizabeth stood in front of a bar she found herself going to more than she'd like to. But what other choice did she have? Drowning herself in alcohol seemed like the only thing that'd bring her any comfort.

She wore what she'd normally wear when she found herself in this bar. It wasn't anything too fancy; just a deep v-neck t-shirt that shows more cleavage than she'd like, and a pair of light-wash jeans that likely show off her curves, but she didn't bring herself to care. She knew she was pretty; she had guys hitting on her all the time. Of course, she always rejected them, but there wasn't much else she could do. Except for the times where she had accepted them, but that's in the past.

Her silver hair gets softly blown by the wind as she clutches her purse tight when she opens the door leading into the bar. The cool air of the AC hits her skin, and she lightly shivers from the contact. Immediately, she feels everyone's eyes on her, but she tries to shrug it off as she walks over to the bar and slides herself onto a stool.

The bartender turns around and looks at Elizabeth. His amethyst eyes boar into her aqua ones, and it makes her smile. His ginger hair moves with him as he tilts his head to the side.

"Back again, Miss Liones?" He chuckles. Elizabeth narrows her eyes at him, and it only causes the man to laugh a bit harder.

"Hush, Arthur," she scolds. "And don't call me Miss Liones, alright? Elizabeth is fine."

Arthur turns around and grabs a bottle of whiskey. "Haha, alright, Elizabeth. The usual, I assume?" Elizabeth lays her purse on her lap and sighs. She hums her approval in response, looking at the plethora of bottles of alcohol to distract herself from the reasons as to why she's here again.

Drinking alcohol was one of the more effective ways that actually relives her stress. Her father, Bartra Liones (and also the president of the entire country), wanted her to work as a government official, which is something she never wanted to do. If she was honest with herself, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do as a job. She loved taking care of animals, but she also loved doing art.

She was torn between actually complying with her father, or actually choosing something that'd make her happy. Elizabeth heavily sighed as Arthur pushed her drink towards her. She looks up from her lap to look into his purple eyes, and shows her appreciation with the brightest smile she could muster. The ginger haired man puts both his elbows on the counter of the bar and leans against them. "So, what's wrong?"

"What makes you think something is wrong?" Elizabeth counters. But she knows he's right. Her father has done nothing but pressure her into taking a position into the government. She doesn't want any part because she knows how terrible the government is. They're all horrible people. Elizabeth trusts her father; don't get her wrong, but... She just does not have a good feeling about him being president.

He flashes her smile as she takes a sip from her whiskey. "Well, for one," Arthur begins, "you only come here when you're fairly stressed, and you brought your good purse with you," he says as he points a finger on the counter above her legs where she placed her purse. Elizabeth looks at him with slightly wide eyes, and realizes that maybe she's known him for far longer than she thought.

"Plus, it's your seventh time here this week," he adds. "It's Wednesday."

She tries her hardest to stop a blush from coming onto her cheeks, but they already feel warm. She tries to hide her face from him with another gulp of her drink. "Alright, fine. You got me," she admits defeat.

"What's wrong?" He prompts once again. Elizabeth puts her cup down and traces her finger around the rim.

"Don't you have other people to service?" She tries to distract.

"They can wait," he decides. "My dear friend comes first," Arthur finishes with a wide smile.

The silver haired woman sighs, and inevitably looks into her friend's eyes. "It's just, y'know. My father, and all," she says, but she knows it's not saying much. Arthur merely nods, patiently waiting for her to continue. "He really wants me to work in the government; probably in court. And he's gotten my sisters to try to force me into it, too," she goes back to tracing her index finger on the rim of her glass.

"Have you tried doing something else?" The ginger asks. "Like something you really like doing."

Her cerulean gaze leaves his violet, to once again stare at the liquid in her glass. "That's the thing, Arthur; I don't know what I should do. I like animals, so maybe I could open a pet clinic. Or I could just focus on painting stuff, y'know?"

Arthur straightens his posture and crosses his arms. "Hm," he hums thoughtfully. "Yeah, you did graduate from vet school a bit ago, right? Opening a pet clinic doesn't sound so bad."

"Do you really think so?" She doesn't feel confident in herself in doing something like that, let alone go against her father's wishes at all.

"Hell yeah! If you need help with anything, I'm more than happy to oblige! You know that."

She smiles to herself, but mostly to Arthur. "Thank you, I'm grateful to have you as a friend, you know," she tells him. He chuckles and leans over the counter to put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's really no problem, Elizabeth." He squeezes her shoulder and his eyes dart to other customers. "I've got to serve other people, okay? Feel better."

And just like that, he's already halfway across the room, asking people what they want. Elizabeth softly exhales through her nose as she grips her glass. She brings the glass to her lips, allowing a significant amount of alcohol into her mouth. It slightly burns on its way down, but it isn't unpleasant. She starts feeling a bit tipsy, thanks to the alcohol, but it still hasn't taken her mind off her problems as she expected it to.

She feels her phone vibrate in her back pocket, but she ignores it. Elizabeth couldn't care less about who could be texting her. It could be her father, but he'd only pester her about work.

Elizabeth knows her father means well, but she just can't wrap her mind around his reasoning. Why does he want her to do his bidding like she's some kind of obedient dog? Why did he get her sisters involved? How come her sisters don't get to work under the government? It isn't fair. Does he not want her to be happy? Is it so much to ask for?

As she's questioning her father's motives, she feels a cold drop of water seep into her jeans, the liquid touching the skin on her legs. She raises a hand to her face and she realizes that she's started crying. Elizabeth doesn't blame herself; no one would happy under her circumstances, though they aren't as drastic compared to other people that have it worse than she does, but she can't help but cry.

She continues to silently cry, not really caring about her tears seeping into her pants.

"Why are you crying, Princess?" She hears a voice next to her say. Elizabeth opens her mouth to say something about hitting on her (frankly because it's not the first time someone had slid in next to her and tell her some lewd joke about her bust or anything of the sort), but when she looks at him, her mouth instantly closes.

His blonde hair is probably the most messiest thing she's ever seen, his green eyes so rich and hold an unreadable expression, his smile luring her in more than anything. She looks him up and down, in the most nonchalant manner she could. He's wearing a thin coat over a black shirt and a pair of black pants to go with it.

She will say though; he looks rather young - maybe barely eighteen, but she's sure he's older.

"I don't feel like a princess," is her response. Elizabeth looks down at her lap, wiping her tears away and she sniffles. She looks at him again, only to see a frown replacing his smile.

"You certainly look the part," he comments. She doesn't know if it's the alcohol or his comment, but Elizabeth feels herself heat up from her toes to her forehead.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She pouts. Elizabeth takes another gulp of her drink.

"Well, it's just out of all the women here, you're the only one who's actually caught my eye," the unnamed man says. After drinking the remainder of the liquid in her glass, she eyes him suspiciously.

"Are you trying to hit on me," she says with a drunken smile.

Elizabeth could never hold her liquor, no matter how many times she ends up coming here.

"No," he answers. "But I can be if you want me to."

She goes wide eyed, tracing her finger on the rim of her glass, looking at it once again in attempt to distract herself. She's only known the man for about thirty seconds, and he's already managed to make her blush harder than any other time that she's been here.

"You still haven't answered my question, Princess," he points out with a smile, his green eyes examining her like no tomorrow. Elizabeth may no be able to see where he's looking right now, but she can just feel his gaze on her figure.

Elizabeth closes her eyes, wondering if she's actually passed out on the counter, only dreaming that this man is here talking to her. "It's nothing, really," she lies. Elizabeth wasn't about to just tell a stranger half her life problems.

"Sure doesn't seem like nothing if you're silently crying about it," the blonde man counters.

"It's the alcohol," she deadpans, pressing her forehead onto the counter. Blaming the alcohol was always something this silver haired woman did. Always got her out of situations like this, so it was okay, she thinks.

He only hums, his gaze still on her.

She then hears footsteps to her left, hoping the man left her alone, but that's not the case. She peers the slightest bit to the left, her forehead still pressed against the counter, and she still sees that same pair of black pants. Elizabeth exhales softly through her nose once more, hoping the man next to her didn't hear her.

"Ah, welcome back, Meliodas!" She hears Arthur say in front of her, back to where he was when she first walked in tonight.

At least now she knows who the footsteps belong to.

"Are you getting acquainted with Elizabeth?" The ginger man asks the blonde named 'Meliodas'.

"Elizabeth," the blonde says her name, and it sends a shiver up her spine. She lifts her head up, thinking it wasn't a weird feeling, but she really has no idea why she shivered like that when he said her name. "Sure was, Arthur!" Meliodas responds cheerily. "She was telling me about how much she wanted another glass!"

No, no I wasn't, she thought to herself. But another round doesn't sound terrible. "Oh, my bad for making you wait, Elizabeth," Arthur apologizes. Elizabeth only smiles, because she's really at a loss for words. Arthur takes Elizabeth's glass to refill it. "What would you like tonight, Meliodas?"

"Your finest ale, please!" The blonde says. "And I'll pay for her drinks, too."

To this, Elizabeth whips her head to looks at him dead in the eyes. "N-No, that's quite alright. I can pay for my own drinks," she says. She couldn't believe this stranger wanted to pay for her drinks!

"I'm sure you can, Elizabeth," he purrs her name, sending another shiver up her spine. "But it'll be my treat. What'dya say?" He insists, a grin on his face while his emerald orbs look into her blue ones. He's really not taking no for an answer, is he?

"Alright, fine," she gives in. He smiles even wider in triumph and victory. Arthur turns around with two glasses in his hand; one for Elizabeth and the other for Meliodas. With no hesitation, the silverette takes her glass from Arthur and starts sipping away at her drink. This seems to catch Meliodas's attention, though.

"Quite the eager one, Elizabeth," Meliodas says after he gulps down a bit of his own alcohol. Elizabeth stops drinking for a moment to stick her tongue out at him, making him chuckle. She blushes as she goes back to her own drink, liking the way his chuckle sounded in her ears.

Elizabeth is positive it's the alcohol that's making her feel this way.

Before she knows it, she's already finished with her second glass. "If you want another one, I'll gladly pay for it, too," Meliodas says, taking another swig of his own drink.

"It's like you want me to be severely drunk," she says, but still passes her glass back to Arthur, asking for another refill.

"Maybe I do," the blonde responds with a wink when she looks at him.

Raising an eyebrow at him, she scoffs lightly. "What exactly are you planning?"

Arthur passes her the third glass of the night, and it probably won't be the last. "What, can't I make a woman feel good?" Meliodas asks when he puts his mug down. Does he not realize how suggestive he's being? She can feel herself flush more than she ever has in her life, and she doesn't know how to feel about it. Either way, she's getting drunk whether she likes it or not.

The silverette looks up to meet Arthur's eyes, but she can see that Meliodas' words have him flustered, too. "Depends," she responds, drowning herself in her own drink.

"Oh?" Meliodas continues, "how so?"

"Well, are you trying to get into my pants or do you just randomly come up to different women at a bar and buy them drinks?" Elizabeth counters while she looks into Meliodas' emerald eyes sternly. He chuckles.

"I'll only do whatever you want me to do, Princess."

She slumps a bit on her stool. "That doesn't answer my question," she stubbornly says.

Meliodas' expression is nothing but a cocky grin. "Which do you think it is, Princess?" Which does she think? How in the fuck should she know?! For all she knows, he'll probably get her drunk enough to kidnap and sell her off as merchandise.

"You could be doing both," she decides. Her eyes dart back to her drink and she stares at the liquor. Because in hindsight, what kind of motives would this man have to even talk to her in the first place? There's over three dozen people in this bar; plenty of people on the dance floor not to far from where she's sitting, so there's no reason as to why he'd be picking on her.

So, what does he want? She can't wrap her head around it. Maybe it's the alcohol - certainly it's the alcohol that's preventing her from thinking straight, and she really curses herself for coming here tonight. But at the same time, she really needed it.

If only her father wasn't so driven by power and that cursed need for the power, she wouldn't end up in a bar so often.

The man next to her shrugs. "Maybe, but I'm not."

"Then what is it?" Elizabeth says, clearly frustrated, her blue eyes simultaneously locking onto his light green orbs, searching for something - anything in his eyes. He gives no response; only another cocky grin. Just who is this man? She groans, both literally and eternally. She's never met someone so infuriating and unreadable. And cocky.

That's pretty much how some of her night goes. Elizabeth asks questions, Meliodas offers almost no answer, and she's gone through about six glasses of whiskey. Or is it seven? Eight? She's lost count, and totally drunk off her ass. If her drunken giggles and hiccups weren't evident enough, she didn't know what could be convincing.

Arthur stands behind the bar, where he has been practically the entire night. His arms are crossed, his posture giving the impression that he's disappointed, but his eyes only hold worry. "Elizabeth, did someone drop you off here?"

Elizabeth giggles and hics again. "Hehe, Gil dropped me off!" The ginger hums, acknowledging her answer.

"Gil?" She hears Meliodas say to her left.

"Oh, Gil's just a friend of hers. Also her older sister's boyfriend," Arthur answers for her. Meliodas sounds a little 'ah' at the information. She doesn't really appreciate Arthur just telling this guy information about her family and friends, but she somehow suspects that she's gonna be seeing a lot more of this mysterious blonde.

"You don't mind driving her back to her place, would you Meliodas?" Arthur asks while Elizabeth hiccups and leans her head on Meliodas' shoulder, a wide drunken smile on her face. "I'll give you her address."

Meliodas looks down to the silverette, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Sure," Meliodas accepts. "I don't mind. Just text me the address, 'kay?" He then throws some money for the drinks onto the counter. She hears ruffling of fabric, then she feels an article of clothing covering her arms.

And just like that, Elizabeth is on her feet. She feels a hand on her hip and her arm draped over someone's neck. She hiccups and leans into the body holding her.

"You've got it bad, huh," Meliodas says. She can hear the arrogant smirk on his face.

"Shut up," Elizabeth hisses then hiccups. "You're the one who said you'd pay for my drinks."

"Coulda denied the proposition," he replies as he pushes the door leading outside open.

"Well," she nearly stumbles on her own steps, but Meliodas holds onto her, preventing her from falling. "You were rather insistent in buying me alcohol." The blonde man only lightly laughs as he guides her to what she assumes is his car.

It's a black convertible (looks rather expensive and quite clean), and it's probably one of the most priceless cars she's ever seen. The roof of the car was up, too. He presses her against the hood of the car, and she giggles like there's no tomorrow. Meliodas opens the passenger's door for her, and he helps her get in.

"I can get into the car perfectly fine," she pouts. His emerald gaze avoids her as he closes the car door and walks around the vehicle to get into the driver's side.

"In the state you're in, Princess? I think not," he retorts as he starts the car.

Elizabeth hiccups once more as she looks out the window. Not long after, she hears a notification from a phone, but she knows it's not her phone because she left it on silent. The silver haired woman spares Meliodas a single glance; all she sees is a blustering smile as he looks at the softly illuminated screen. He seems to have felt her gaze because he immediately locks their gaze.

Her skin flushes pink and she looks away, causing the blonde to chuckle. "Don't worry, Princess," he says. "I'm taking you home, okay?"

"Stop calling me Princess," Elizabeth mumbles under her breath. Whether he heard her or not; she can't tell nor does she care. She doubts she'll remember anything from tonight, and she's mostly glad, but at the same time... She's partly not. She's still curious as to why Meliodas was so persistent on buying her drinks.

Maybe she'll find her answers soon enough, but she doubts it.

The streets were pretty empty for the most part; they only stopped at one or two red lights. She starts dosing off, but the brightness of the street lights keeps her from falling asleep. Which, she supposes is good, seeing as she doesn't even know Meliodas.

Before she knows it, the car pulls up into a small parking lot that she recognizes too well. They're at her apartment complex. Meliodas stops the car, turning it off completely. He climbs out of the car, soon helping the drunk woman out of the vehicle. She drapes one of her arms over his neck as she climbs out of the car. His hand immediately lands on her hip, the contact rather warm.

The blonde closes the car door behind them, and starts guiding her toward the building. "Which room is yours?" He asks.

"Mm," Elizabeth hums, then hiccups. "One oh-seven."

"So, up the stairs? Perfect."

Elizabeth clumsily climbs the stairs with Meliodas trailing closely behind her. With the amount of alcohol in her system, she can't bring herself to care about personal space. They're then met with the sight of her door, and she nearly collapses, but Meliodas catches her.

Meliodas chuckles, that damned cocky smile on his face. "Be careful now, Princess." Elizabeth grumbles under breath as he pulls the door open. Once they're both inside, Meliodas guides her past her kitchen and onto her couch in the living room. He puts her down on the couch gently, and she smiles bashfully, then another hiccup.

The blonde spins on his heels, probably to get her a glass of water, but the alcohol in her system had other plans. "No," she protests, reaching an arm over to him. "Don't go. Please."

His emerald orbs look at her, and he softly sighs. "Alright, fine," he complies. Elizabeth swears alcohol is going to be the death of her. He sits next to her, but then she pulls him into her bosom and holds him tight. She feels his cowlick tickle her cheek, and she can't help lightly giggle.

Elizabeth closes her blue eyes, and she feels him return her embrace. A small smile sneaks its way onto her lips.

"Wanna tell me why you were crying, Princess?" Meliodas asks. She hums in slight annoyance, but she has a feeling he won't drop the topic until she tells him.

"Just... stressed, because of my father," Elizabeth admits. The blonde gives a short 'huh', letting her know that he heard her.

She takes a minute to listen to him breath. Somehow, it calms her nerves. Elizabeth can feel his heartbeat from under her, and that also seems to calm her, too, oddly enough. "Is he abusive?" He then asks.

"Oh, Gods no," she says. "The only thing he abuses is his power," the silverette mumbles. She nuzzles her nose into his hair, surprised his hair smells like something from a fantasy world. Nothing bad, of course, but she hadn't expected it to smell this... good.

The smile on her face remains for the rest of the night as sleep takes over her entire person.

{-}

When she wakes up, she's on her couch, enveloped in a warm blanket. Elizabeth groans as she opens her eyes, the harsh light of the sun attacking her eyes. Her head feels like someone's been hammering a nail into her skull, and she really wishes she hadn't gone to the bar last night.

Rubbing her eyes, her vision slowly accommodates to her surroundings. The silver haired woman suddenly feels a bit too warm, and removes the blanket from her body. She decides to get water and some painkillers, seeing as this hangover is probably the worst one she's ever had. Elizabeth stands up and stretches before walking into her open kitchen.

She grabs a clean cup and fills it with water while she fishes through her kitchen drawers for painkillers. When she finally finds the painkillers, she downs two small pills along with some water.

She sets the cup down on her counter, and notices a note that she swears she hasn't seen before. She picks it up, and can't recognize the handwriting.

Good morning or good afternoon, Princess. I hope you slept well.

You were rather content with me in your arms, but unfortunately, I had some business to deal with. I hope your head doesn't hurt too much; wouldn't want you to suffer because I insisted you drink more than you should have. Sorry for that.

By the way, you left your purse in my car and I hadn't realized and you obviously didn't either. When we meet again, I can give it back to you. You also have something of mine, Princess. In fact, you're probably still wearing it as you read this. No worries, though.

Here's my number; it's on the back of the note. Text me when you wake up, okay?

- Meliodas

After reading the note, that's when it hits her all at once. Meliodas got her drunk, and he took her home. She really hopes he didn't take advantage of her while she was worse than drunk.

Regardless, Elizabeth blushes as she touches her arms to feel fabric separating her skin from the cool air of her apartment. True to his word, his phone number was on the back of the note he left her.

She reaches for her phone in her back pocket, and she checks the time. It's barely eleven in the morning. Elizabeth then sends him a nice message after putting his contact in her phone; nothing too fancy, nothing too friendly, either. At least, she hopes.

(Elizabeth) - 11:08 A.M.

Good morning, Meliodas.

Her phone buzzes not even a minute later. Great response time, she supposes.

(Meliodas) - 11:09 A.M.

Morning, Princess. How are you feeling?

(Elizabeth) - 11:09 A.M.

Alright, I guess. I just took some painkillers.

Do you still have my purse?

(Meliodas) - 11:11 A.M.

Yeah. Did you have anything important in it?

(Elizabeth) - 11:13 A.M.

No, nothing really. Just some money to pay for the drinks, but turns out I didn't need to money after all.

Thank you, by the way.

(Meliodas) - 11:14 A.M.

For the drinks?

(Elizabeth) - 11:14 A.M.

No.

For getting me home. I haven't gotten that drunk since I graduated school.

(Meliodas) - 11:16 A.M.

It's all good, Elizabeth.

Oh, and by the way?

Make sure you lock your door before you leave your house. ;)

(Elizabeth) - 11:17 A.M.

Never mind. I take back my thanks.

(Meliodas) - 11:18 A.M.

Aw, come on! Don't be like that.

Something just came up. I'll text you later, alright? Have a great day.

(Elizabeth) - 11:20 A.M.

You too.

She put her phone down on the counter and she exhales through her nose. Maybe she was wrong about the blonde. He seems so... considerate and kind. Over text, at least. But it still doesn't excuse why he even approached her at the bar in the first place. Nor does she know how he knows Arthur. Her ginger haired friend never mentioned a 'Meliodas', ever.

Elizabeth will have to just ask Arthur later, she supposes.

Sighing heavily, as if it would relieve any stress from her body, Elizabeth turns around and opens her fridge. She takes out two eggs to make herself some breakfast. Elizabeth places the eggs next to her stove and she takes out a pan from one of her cabinets. She set the pan onto one of the burners and sets it to medium heat. Elizabeth then takes some cooking spray and sprays the pan so the eggs won't stick.

After some time, she cracks the eggs and they start to cook. By no means is she a good cook, but it isn't terrible.

Soon enough, when she feels like her eggs are ready, she takes out a plate and a fork, and she prepares her food. Elizabeth sits down on a stool she has behind her kitchen counter and she starts eating. She grabs her phone and starts scrolling through it, not exactly sure what to do. Her phone then dings; a message from one of her friends.

(Gil) - 12:03 P.M.

How are you, Elizabeth? I got a text from Arthur. Said you were super drunk.

The silver haired woman softly chuckles. Of course Arthur told Gilthunder she got drunk off her ass last night.

(Elizabeth) - 12:04 P.M.

I'm fine, just a minor headache is all.

Probably the worst hangover of my life, though. I don't remember much from last night.

(Gil) - 12:06 P.M.

Well, no matter. You'll feel better soon.

I'm coming to pick you up soon. Just a heads up.

(Elizabeth) - 12:06 P.M.

Wait, why?

(Gil) - 12:07 P.M.

I'll tell you soon. Get ready, Elizabeth.

(Elizabeth) - 12:08 P.M.

Um, alright. I'll be ready soon.

(Gil) - 12:10 P.M.

Okay, I'll be waiting in my car outside.

Great. Now she has to take a shower and pick out clothes and leave the comfort of her home. But for what? Elizabeth doesn't have a single clue. When she finishes eating, she gets up and puts her plate and fork in the sink. As quickly as she can, Elizabeth races past the living room and into the hallway. She inside her room, already in her drawers taking out a modest blouse with short sleeves and shorts. She throws her phone onto her bed.

Then, she darts into her bathroom, and turns on the shower head. She strips herself of her current clothes, and blushes when she slowly removes Meliodas' jacket. Elizabeth shakes her head, trying to get him out of her head. There's no reason why she should be blushing; most of the alcohol in her system is gone.

The silverette enters her shower, the warm water relaxing her. She turns around to wet her hair as she grabs her shampoo. She lathers up both her body and hair, soon rinsing it off when she's scrubbed it in well enough.

When she gets out of the shower, she grabs her towel to dry herself. Elizabeth also takes out her blow dryer to dry her hair because she is not going out in public with wet hair. The silver haired woman takes Meliodas' coat with her.

She dries her silver hair as quickly as she can before she starts dressing herself. When she's done dressing, she goes into her closet and grabs a pair of pearly white flats. Elizabeth sits on her bed to put the shoes on her feet.

Her silver hair cascades down her back when she stretches after the shoes are on her feet. She takes her phone next to her to check the time. It's nearly twelve-thirty. Sighing, she leaves her bedroom, and as if on cue, she hears honking outside.

Elizabeth quickly brushes her bangs with her fingers to make sure they don't cover her eyes. Taking her apartment key from the kitchen counter, she turns off her kitchen lights. She comes outside and makes sure to lock her door before shoving her key into her pocket along with her phone. Elizabeth looks over the railing of the second floor and sees an all too familiar head of pale pink hair. She smiles when her blue eyes find Gilthunder's.

Swiftly going down the stairs, Gilthunder's ivory car looking cleaner than usual. The silver haired woman opens the door to the passenger's side and climbs into the car.

"Did you get a car wash?" She asks. Gilthunder chuckles as he begins to drive.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Kind of," Elizabeth laughs. "Why did you have me get ready?"

The man driving spares her a single glance before returning his eyes to the road in front of him. "Well... Your father requested your presence," Gilthunder reveals

She couldn't believe her ears. "Again? That's the fifth time this month!"

"I can't exactly do much if I'm honest, Elizabeth," her friend tells her, his eyes still on the road. "Unless you wanted to do something else, you know. Like opening an animal shelter or something. I know how much you love animals," Gilthunder says.

She doesn't respond; not at first, anyways. She really does want to open a pet clinic, but at the same time, she doesn't want her father to be furious with her. Maybe she'll just take her chances, then.

"Arthur told me he thinks I should open a pet clinic," Elizabeth tells him. He nods. "I think I want to."

"You think?" He prods, still driving.

"No, I want to," she determines. Gilthunder hums again as the car comes to a stop at a red light. "Where are we even going, anyway?"

"The bank," Gilthunder simply answers.

"Again," Elizabeth deadpans.

"I'd go myself, but I'm not related to your father," he ends with a short laugh.

"Why not Margaret or Veronica?" She says. She's tired of depositing or withdrawing money for her father.

Gilthunder sighs. "They were busy and you weren't. It's simple, really."

"Simple, my ass," Elizabeth retorts as she pulls out her phone. Not a single notification. She sets it on her lap. "He can do it himself." The car starts moving again and he shrugs.

"Maybe so, but he seemed rather insistent you do it."

She huffs in a fit of anger, but mostly annoyance. Elizabeth folds her arms under her chest, no doubt making her bosom pop more than it already does. She can't bring herself to care. Elizabeth knows Gilthunder wouldn't come onto her, given the fact that he's dating her sister and they're more like best friends than anything.

Gilthunder's been her friend for as long as she can remember. He's always there when she needs him to be. Margaret's quite lucky, Elizabeth thinks. She's never met someone so kind and understanding as Gil.

Even so, she doesn't understand why he's doing what her father asks him to do. As far as she knows, she isn't working for him. At least, she hopes not.

"We're almost there, Ellie," Gilthunder says, bringing her out of her thoughts. He called her Ellie... He usually doesn't call her by her nickname unless he knows there's something bothering her.

"Ellie?" She questions.

"What?" The pale pink haired man says as he parks the car by the bank. "Can your dear friend not call you by your nickname?"

"You only call me Ellie when you think I'm bothered by something," she counters as she grips her phone in her right hand.

"Not when I think; when I'm sure," Gil corrects.

She huffs again. "What does he need me to do this time," Elizabeth says, uninterested and tired. Gil reaches back behind him into the backseat to grab the fattest wad of cash she's ever seen. He passes the money to her.

"He needs this deposited," he simply states.

"Great," she replies sarcastically. Elizabeth opens the car door and climbs out, clutching both her phone and the cash. "I'll be back," but she doesn't wait for a response as she closes the car door, not sparing a single glance behind her to look at Gilthunder.

She walks across the street, looking both ways to make sure she doesn't magically get hit by a car on her way to do something her father could have easily done. When she's secure on the sidewalk, she goes into the bank. Just to her luck, there's multiple lines with people either wanting to deposit or withdraw things or take out a loan.

Exactly what she wanted. Definitely not a waste of time. At all.

Exhaling through her nose, Elizabeth walks to what she thinks is the shortest line. To pass the time, she starts scrolling through her phone, clutching the money close to herself just in case.

Just as the woman gets lost while scrolling on her screen, she hears an awfully familiar chuckle behind her. Elizabeth tenses up as she whips her head to see a mop of blonde hair and rich green eyes. And the god forsaken cocky grin.

"Didn't think I'd see you here, Princess," Meliodas says.

Elizabeth scoffs. "Did you follow me here or something? I thought something came up," she speaks, quoting something he'd told her about an hour ago.

"I didn't lie," the blonde responds, lightly pushing her to move her with the moving line in front of her. "Something did come up, and it's been dealt with. Did you come here with someone?" He changes the subject.

She clutches her father's money tighter. "Yes, with a friend of mine. Why?"

His green eyes look sternly into her own blue ones. "Tell them they can go about their day. You're coming with me, Princess."

What? Is he trying to deliberately kidnap her right now? "What? Why?"

"I'm gonna take you out for coffee. As an apology for getting you drunk last night."

She really thinks about it. Coffee doesn't sound bad, not in the slightest. Ultimately, she agrees. Elizabeth can't function all that well without a cup of coffee.

"Alright, fine."