Hi everyone! ^^
I can't thank you enough for all the favorites and follows, and who reviewed! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This one will be my first multichapter story, I hope you will like it! I am really havig fun writing Escanor and Merlin, and I hope I am also improving! :)
This will be a challenge, but I am really looking forward to it! *.*
Please, be patient with me! English is not my first language, and I'm sorry for any mistake I made!
Feel free to point them out to me, or I won't be able to improve :) I'll appreciate very much any useful comment and suggestion!
A very special 'thank you!' to BertazSleepyHead, who was the first to read this! She's a marvellous artist, she really inspired me! I recommend to go see her works on twitter ( BertazHead)! You won't be disappointed! ;D
Obviously all characters belongs to Nakaba Suzuki, etc...
I may have taken inspirations from other Fanfics, but I don't think to have taken something directly from others (if that's the case tell me, and I'm sorry, it wasn't on purpose, I swear!)
Nothing really explicit, only some suggestions..! ;D
CHAPTER 1 - DAY 1
"Explain to me again why we would have to participate in something like this"
King was obviously not happy with the proposition.
"Oh come on King! It sounds fun!"
"W-well if you think so Diane!"
Although it was easy to change his mind.
"He he he! Me and Elizabeth thought it would be a fun way to spend time with everyone!"
Meliodas grinned, proud of himself.
"It could also be the perfect opportunity to improve our friendship even more while having fun"
Elizabeth added with a hopeful smile, looking expectantly at all the others.
There were every kind of reaction to their idea: Ban seemed interested, Gowther was a little perplexed but curious, Diane was looking forward to it, King wasn't really sure it was a good idea, Merlin was intrigued, afterall it could also be seen as a social experiment, and Escanor was worried, unsure about all this.
In the end they all decided to give it a try.
"All right! We'll be split into couples in an absolutely random way!"
King wasn't all that sure about it.
"How would you do that?"
It was like Meliodas was only waiting for someone to ask exactly that.
"Hi hi hi! We thought about the perfect method! Ohi Hawk!"
The pink boar came forward with a box on his back. He wasn't really happy that he couldn't participate, but Meliodas had pointed out to him that in that case they would be an odd number, so he was appointed as Master Regulator, to supervise the game.
"Listen carefully you pigs! Now I, The Master Regulator, will explain: we made 8 cards, 4 Master and 4 Servant, on a side there will be the 'M' or 'S' for your role, on the back there will be a number, from 1 to 4, the Master and Servant with the same number will form a couple! You understood?!"
Everyone nodded, it was quite simple.
"Good! Now, who wants to be the first to draw a card?!"
Meliodas clapped enthusiastically, and one by one, every Sin got their card.
The couples and roles resulted like this:
Couple number 1, Master Diane and Servant Ban.
Couple number 2, Master Elizabeth and Servant Gowther.
Couple number 3, Master Escanor and Servant Merlin.
Couple number 4, Master King and Servant Meliodas.
"Good! That's it for the couples! Now explain the rules"
Meliodas was smiling, but not everyone was really happy with the results. King was staring sadly and angry towards Diane and Ban, who were looking at each other a little suspiciously and in confusion, Elizabeth seemed to be ok with it and Gowther really didn't care all that much, while Merlin was amused by her role and companion, and Escanor was completely red and at a loss for words, he was happy, but totally embarrassed.
"Kof kof! Attention to me! Your Master Regulator will now explain the rules: the game will last for a week, starting tomorrow. The Servant will have to do, of his own volition, at least one thing every day for his Master, practically you have to think of something to do that would please your Master; and the Master must ask at least one thing every day from his Servant, it's recommended to ask something that your Servant wouldn't usually do, but you can ask anything. Today you'll spend time with each other, deciding the limits of what the Master can ask, and talking about each other a little, so that both roles can begin thinking what to do starting tomorrow."
Hawk seemed really proud of himself.
"If you pigs understood everything then go! Begin!"
He shrieked when no one moved.
"Aye, aye"
Then everyone separated, choosing different spots to talk with their companion for the week.
Merlin watched the others go, before turning back to Escanor, who was looking everywhere but at her, blushing.
"Would you like to come to my lab? We can talk there without being disturbed"
She smiled at him, while he jumped a little at being talked to.
"A-ah, t-that would b-b-be good"
He stuttered, unsure and nervous, but followed her up the stairs.
Once inside, she closed the door behind them, and went to sit on her couch, inviting him to join her. He swallowed, nervous, but did as he was asked, sitting rigidly a good distance away from her. She smiled slightly, amused, and casually moved closer to him, before turning to her side so that she could look at him while talking. He nervously turned towards her, a little startled to find her closer than before.
She was watching him, like she was waiting for him to do something, so he swallowed again and cleared his throat before beginning to talk.
"S-s-so… we should d-decide what I c-c-can and c-can't ask y-y-you…"
He was trying to look her in the eyes, but he found he couldn't stand her gaze for long, looking at her, and then away, a few times.
Merlin smirked.
"I don't have a problem with you asking me to do anything"
That shocked him.
"Uh..?"
She smiled in amusement.
"I can do anything you ask of me"
She repeated with confidence.
"Are...are you s-s-sure?"
"Yes, I trust you"
She said that so matter of factly, that he was really taken aback, and speechless, by her faith in him.
"I would ask you only one thing"
She continued, pinning him with her gaze, she seemed really serious, so Escanor just nodded, standing at attention.
"Please, don't refrain yourself for me, I want you to ask me something that you really want me to do, not something that you think wouldn't inconvenience me"
She was smiling gently at him now, but her gaze was serious still, this seemed to be important to her.
"Ah-h...b-b-but… your experiments…"
He didn't want to take her away from her research, he knew how she enjoyed it.
She shook her head.
"It is only for a week, and I look forward to all the new things you will make me experience. Remember, it is recommended to ask for something that I would not usually do, and I like to experience new different things"
She was smiling, and Escanor could see the excitement in her eyes at the prospect of 'new things'. He chuckled slightly and then recovered swiftly, looking at her softly.
"Then, I w-will do my best"
If it was for her he would do anything.
She smiled, satisfied, and then grinned mischievously, coming nearer to him.
"This Servant is at your disposal for the entirety of the next week, Master"
She stated before winking at him, he gasped, blushing hard, and looking away while clearing his throat.
Merlin chuckled slightly, amused, and he smiled softly at the sight.
"I was thinking that, as my first step in doing something for you, I could let you choose how I will dress myself for this week."
Escanor was stunned and speechless, looking at her with wide eyes.
"I-I-I would n-never impose…!"
The look of reprimand in her eyes stopped him mid sentence.
"This week you'll have to impose yourself, the game request that you do, and I told you I don't have a problem with your requests, whatever you'll ask of me, and I proposed this, I am curious… but maybe that isn't something you'd like to do…"
She seemed almost unsure, and that was unusual for her.
"I-it's not t-t-that! I am ho-honored, but I wo-wouldn't want to choose something that would made you unc-c-comfortable, I don't want you to be uncomfortable w-with m-me…!"
He hadn't almost realized what he had confessed at the end, he snapped his mouth close, blushed hard and looked away, flustered.
Merlin looked at him, surprised by his words, but then smiled softly, watching him with something that resembled affection in her eyes. On instinct, she came closer to him and kissed his cheek, making him freeze for a moment and then flush even more.
"You're sweet"
She regarded him with a genuine smile.
"How about we choose them together then? You could describe to me what kind of clothes you would have me wearing, I could materialize them, try them on, and see if they would be comfortable."
He collected himself enough to be able to think about her suggestion.
"Yes, I t-think that would work. We could also go window s-s-shopping, so that I c-could get s-some ideas."
"Are you asking me to go shopping with you?"
She asked, with an eyebrow raised, and a teasing smirk on her lips, she was putting him to the test. He understood after a few seconds what she meant, and what she wanted from him, and clearing his throat he responded.
"I-I am asking you to c-c-come shopping with me t-t-tomorrow"
He tried to look serious and confident but his blush and stutter betrayed him.
She smiled, pleased.
"As you wish, Master."
The day after found our two Sins walking through the streets of a busy part of Liones' city, taking their time to browse the shop windows. They had decided to go in the morning, so that they could take their time, Merlin had even dressed less showing for the day, with a simple purple shirt and a long violet skirt, they didn't really hide anything for they were really snug on her curves, but they weren't showing the same amount of skin as usually. She thought to go easy on him, for now, his words the day before has resonated with her: she also wanted him to be comfortable with her, she was curious what part of his character he would shows her this week, and she wanted to put him in the conditions to be able to be more spontaneous with her.
They talked a lot while they walked, about anything really, but especially about the topic of clothes, seeing as they were their goal for today.
Escanor was also making sketches of some dresses, or just some details, on a journal that he had brought with him just for that purpose. Merlin was watching him, intrigued, she knew that he was a good enough artist, but she had never stopped to really watch him write his poems or draw something, she was really impressed and interested.
The Lion Sin noted the way she was looking at him, she seemed really captured by his hand moving on the blank page to create his sketches. He smiled softly, an idea forming in his head, and filed that away for later.
"It is a-almost lunch, w-would you like to r-return to the bar, or would you like to s-s-stay in the city and eat s-something out?"
He had made an effort to try and steel his nerves, and was able to stutter a little less than normal. The Mage looked at him, smiling.
"What would you like to do, Master?"
She smirked, remembering him that he was the one to call the shots now. Escanor gulped and then cleared his throat, blushing.
"I...I would like for us t-to have l-l-lunch here somewhere"
He didn't want to return to the Boar Hat just yet, he wanted to spend more time with her outside, just the two of them. Merlin smiled, nodding her approval.
"I-I heard about a good p-place not far from here"
They went to the lovely place, and ate comfortably together, till the sweets were brought out, and Escanor experienced a half heart attack when Merlin took a bite of his dessert directly from his spoon, and then asked him if he wanted to taste hers, her own spoon brought to his lips waiting for him to be fed. He swallowed audibly but then opened his mouth and let her feed him, turning a bright red color when she licked her spoon clean, right after feeding him. They stayed there for sometime, talking and laughing, and then went back to her lab in the bar, to see what dresses she would wear the next days.
Back in her room Escanor went to one of her desks, sat, and re-elaborated his sketches, trying to put into paper his ideas, while Merlin put on some tea, glancing at him every now and then, intrigued by his behaviour: he was completely concentrated on his drawings, his eyes had a light and a confidence that one could very rarely see in his night form, and she found herself drawn to him, appreciating this part of him, maybe because he was absorbed in his work just like her, when she was researching and experimenting.
"I think I am done"
He was so much lost in his world that he seemed to forget to be nervous, resulting in his lack of stutter. The Mage walked closer to him, stopping by his side and watching his journal: there were a good number of clothes, all in different styles, some dresses, some pants, some skirts, there was really an ample selection from which to choose.
"Escanor, I am really impressed! I could hire you as a stylist as a full time job!"
The Lion sin blushed, glad about the compliment, passing his hand on his neck.
"He he.. it is n-nothing"
He said humbly, but she dissented.
"They are really well drew, detailed, and well assembled, I am really looking forward to try them on, shall we start?"
She seemed really excited, he could tell from the spark in her eyes and her smile, he could only nod, he too wanted to see her in them.
Merlin usually wore what she felt like at that moment, using her magic, she wasn't one for shopping, wasting time trying on various amounts of different clothes, she had better things to do with her time, but this once, trying the clothes Escanor had created just for her, she had almost fun! She adjusted some of them, giving input and modifying them a little, but she approved all of them. At the end she let Escanor decide what she would wear for that evening, and his flustered choice went to a beautiful white dress: it had a heart neckline, it has no sleeves only two straps which covered a little portion of her upper arms, her shoulders were left bare, the bustier embraced her curves up to her hips, were the skirt then flowed down, on the front it stopped just above her knees while the back went down, gradually, almost to her ankles, the dress had some purple details on the neckline, the straps, the waist, and here and there on the skirt, and she was wearing some simple white and purple flats on her feet. It was really an unusual kind of dress, maybe she would never wear it on her own, but she liked it and admitted that it was looking really good on her, it made her feel different, but not so much that she couldn't feel herself in it, she liked this change.
"You really made a fine choice, Master. It isn't something I would usually wear, but I like it"
She looked like a goddess!
Escanor was practically speechless, his cheeks colored from the emotions and blushing even more at her words.
"W-why do you keep c-calling me.. uhm.. M-master?"
Every time she called him that made him flush a bright red, he felt strange, maybe because it was a reminder that she was letting him take control, that he was supposed to take control, even over her, and the fact that she didn't mind that had him almost dizzy with so many feelings.
"It is part of the game, it is a way to remember what our roles are"
She explained matter of factly, then smirked and bent towards him, a playful look in her golden eyes.
"But you, Master, can call me whatever you want"
She was being almost flirty, curious by his reaction. Escanor could only stare at her, his mouth open, astonished by what he was seeing: the light of the setting sun, that was entering from her window, was hitting her just right, making her smile and eyes even brighter, and she was absolutely glowing in that dress, she resembled a goddess even more.
"Beautiful…!"
He whispered that unconsciously and almost reverently, he couldn't really help himself. Merlin was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise by his response, she really wasn't expecting that, and she straightened up slowly, moving a strand of hair behind one ear, which had become red. She had received a lot of compliments by a lot of men during her long life, but never in a way so genuine, never so openly honest; he was often able to surprise her, in a good way, and that was something she really liked about him, she couldn't figure him out completely, he remained a puzzle to her, one she wanted to find out more about.
He seemed to be flustered about his unconscious response, stuttering and looking every which way, he had told the truth, but he was really embarrassed.
The Mage finally smiled, her ears still a little red from his compliment.
"Thank you"
She was smiling, really smiling, softly, at him, and he was glad to have embarrassed himself that way if this was his compensation for it, he would make a fool of himself every day of his life if it brought out a smile like that from her.
"Have you other requests for tonight, Master?"
She tried to turn back to a playful behaviour.
"U-uhm… have you ever had the t-time to watch or study the s-s-stars? Or read, or hear about the.. uhm.. stories and l-legends around them?"
Merlin thought a little about it.
"I studied some of it, but I never really had the time to delve into this argument, it seemed a little too far away from me, and I had so many others things before me to study, and I can't say I know of any stories or legends particularly"
Escanor nodded and took a deep breath, trying to formulate his next phrase.
"Then how about we t-take advantage of t-tonight to watch the stars? If you have some s-s-scientific books about them we c-could study the argument, both scientifically and f-f-fantastically"
He thought he did good by the end, sighing relieved and waiting for her response.
"Oh! That seems really a good idea! Attack an argument from various sides, it could give more insight about it overall, I really like your proposition, Master!"
Merlin was really intrigued and pleasantly surprised by his idea.
"But remember, don't be afraid to be even more commanding with me, Master"
She winked at him, making him blush all the way to his neck, and coughing slightly.
She chuckled a little, beginning to search for the books that she would need that night.
After a quick meal in her lab they took two scientific books that talked about stars, one of legends, a blanket to sit on the ground, and two journals to write down their observations and for Escanor to draw constellations and stories.
They went to a hill, not far from the bar and the city, he put down the blanket with little problems, and they both sat there, organizing their materials.
Once they were all set, they began watching the sky full of stars, trying to recognize some constellations with the books' help. Every time they found one, Merlin would read aloud some information from her books, writing down notes, and then Escanor would find some stories and legends about that particular set of stars, reading aloud, and transforming them in beautiful sketches; then they proceeded to discuss and make observations of their own.
The Boar didn't remember at all a time when she had so much fun learning something with someone else, or looking forward to it again, but Escanor was a marvellous study companion, he was really intelligent and wise, and also fun, while the Lion was absolutely on cloud nine, she was a splendid company, he liked talking with her, he was even able to make her laugh some, for that alone he felt very proud of himself.
"Oh.. it is q-quite late"
He commented at one point, feeling tired but regretting their time coming to a close.
"Yes, it seems so"
Merlin was feeling a little melancholy already, she was really having fun.
Slowly they took all their things and went back to the bar, Escanor escorted her to her room, both stopping outside her door, chatting a little longer and deciding what she would wear the next day.
"Thank you for the lovely day, I really enjoyed myself"
She was smiling honestly, and he gulped, trying to find the courage to speak.
"I enjoyed it too.. uhm.. w-well.. we didn't r-really finished the books tonight, so… we-I, I would l-like for us to do this a-again, t-t-tomorrow night... and m-maybe others night too.. to f-finish the b-b-books…"
He felt something warm and soft on his cheek, his eyes widening and blushing like mad, realizing it was Merlin's lips. She stayed there for a long moment, then withdrew from him slowly, flashing him a beautiful smile.
"I like your order a lot, Master"
He just stared at her, his mouth gaping open, and nodding dumbly.
"Good night Escanor"
"Good night Merlin"
She entered her room and closed the door; he went back to his room with a goofy grin on his lips, the feel of her lips on his cheek imprinted on his skin and in his heart.
This was the first chapter! I hope I have made you curious enough so that you'll be waiting for the next one ;D
I really enjoy challenging them with all different kind of situations, and I like to try and find out different aspects of their characters!
Yeah, I like experimenting with them! XD ^^
I'll repeat myself again: my goal isn't really for them to be perfectly on character, but I want them to act in the situation that I create for them. I like the idea of a situation like this, and I hope I make them act well enough for it to be enjoyable!
This is my idea overall, all my future Fanfictions included!