She didn't know why, but Merlin wasn't really amused by the situation
My second Fanfiction, yey! :D
I'm finding really enjoyable writing these two! They really give me something! ^^
I also hope that I'm able to give something enjoyable to you all ;D
I want to thank everyone who click 'favorite' on my previous story, and who left reviews! Thank you so much! I was really overjoyed!
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!)
It was a normal day in the lives of the Boar Hat's residents, it was a peaceful day, when one wants to take things slow, and appreciate the calmness of the moment.
Some of the Sins went out to buy groceries, while others decided to stay at the bar in tranquility.
Even Merlin took a break from her experiments to enjoy some quiet time with her comrades. She was sitting at a table with Elizabeth, talking and sipping some tea, something that the princess found herself quite good at making.
Meliodas and Ban were at another table, playing cards, something they rarely do, preferring to fight each other by other means, but this day was so peaceful that even the fight-hungry Ban was almost calm.
The moment was interrupted by the door opening and some loud talking and laughing. King, Diane, Gowther and Escanor were back, with the shopping bags with all the goods they needed.
They continued chatting and, strangely, teasing Escanor; it wasn't strange that the Lion Sin was being teased, it was strange that these particular people were teasing him, usually it was Meliodas and Ban who did that.
The cheerful commotion drew the attention of the other Sins.
"Yo! What's it all about?"
Asked the Captain with a smile, curious.
"Oh Captain! We found those girls, again!"
Answered Diane, giggling.
"Which girls?"
The Dragon Sin was trying to remember some particular girls that they knew.
"You know, Escanor's harem!"
This time it was King answering, grinning and teasing the poor Lion Sin who was completely red.
That statement was welcomed by a moment of silence, and a stuttering Escanor trying to deny and dismiss all this discussion.
It was already too late, he could tell by the wide grins on Meliodas and Ban's faces.
"Ooohh! THOSE girls! What was it this time?!"
"They invited him to his club, that they recently founded"
Gowther's statement was welcomed by a burst of laughter, grins and giggling all around.
Elizabeth was hiding her smiles behind her hand, and looked to Merlin when she noticed the lack of sounds from her table companion.
The Mage was frowning, looking from one Sin to another, trying to understand what was happening.
The others were talking about the situation like it was common knowledge, but it was the first time she heard anything about it: evidently some girls were buzzing around Escanor, and they were doing it for some time, so… why wasn't she aware of this?
She was an excellent observer, particularly when it concerned Escanor, she was always trying to find out more about him and his powers, all for science and knowledge purpose, of course. So why had she missed something like this?!
She didn't know why, but Merlin wasn't really amused by the situation.
She couldn't believe she had missed something like that! She felt lacking in some way. What if some of those girls weren't just what they seemed to be? What if some ill-intentioned tried to approach him? What if an evil mage tried to capture him?
She wasn't amused, at all!
Instead she felt worried, and strangely on edge, about her ignorance and about the situation all around.
"Lady Merlin, is everything alright?"
Elizabeth asked, concerned, seeing how the mage's expression became darker.
Immediately Merlin plastered a fake smile on her face.
"I'm perfectly fine princess"
It was a blatant lie, but Elizabeth knew better than to try and pry something from the black haired woman.
"So buddy, will you go? It seems that those girls reeeeally want to know you"
It was Ban, he was teasing the poor man but it was also a jibe directed at Merlin. The Fox Sin had thrown an arm around Escanor, but he was watching the Mage in the corner of his eyes.
Merlin's expression darkened even more at those words, but she wasn't watching the commotion.
"I-I-I don't k-k-know, they were just k-k-kind people, it was n-nothing, really!"
The poor Lion stuttered, blushing, trying to look everywhere but at his comrades.
"I think you should go! Who knows, you might get lucky!"
Meliodas grinned at his companion, receiving support from the other Sins.
Hearing their encouragement Merlin's lips formed a thin line, her eyebrows twitching in clear discomfort and disapproval.
Suddenly she stood up, and walked briskly and tensely towards the stairs.
"Merlin..."
His voice blocked her on the spot, tightening her fists, she turned her head slightly towards him. He was staring at her, with those deep, blue, and shining eyes, regarding her, confused and a little saddened by her sudden departure.
That all was clear, and it was also clear that the attention of everyone in the tavern was now directed at her.
She tried strengthening herself, and smiled briefly.
"I need to go back to my experiment"
She managed to say only that, and then all but fled up the stairs, never looking back, so she missed his heartbroken expression and his shoulders falling in defeat, and stopped only once she arrived inside her rooms.
Sighing aloud, she passed a hand among her hair, frustrated.
What was wrong with her?! She didn't even need to justify her actions!
But his tone and his eyes almost pierced her, making her feel guilty, and she didn't know why, she didn't have a reason to feel guilty!
Merlin tried to distract herself returning to her cauldron and her experiment, but she couldn't stop her mind from wandering for long.
She managed to distract herself with her magic for some hours, but the thoughts in her head didn't leave her alone, snapping her concentration on more than one occasion.
She tried to reason with herself.
His safety wasn't really a problem, she...they would know if something bad happened to him, they would go rescue him, and he could always take off his glasses and transform, so that wasn't really a problem, although she was still worried about the possibility.
On the other hand, he had all the rights to go and find someone who could make him happy, someone to live his life with.
These thoughts were doing nothing to make her feel better, on the contrary she felt disheartened and even lonely thinking about the possibility that Escanor could leave them, that he could leave her…
Merlin jolted in surprise, where had that thought come from?!
Of course she would miss him, he was one of her companions, the truth was that the Seven Deadly Sins had become like a family for all its members, so, it was normal that she would be saddened if a member of her family left.
The more she tried to convince herself, the more her heart hurted, and she felt even worse.
At the end she gave up on her experiment, she was going nowhere, too distracted by her thoughts.
Merlin walked to the window, leaning on its frame, sighing aloud looking out at nothing in particular.
She felt so out of herself, she was confused, irritable and depressed, she really wasn't herself today.
It was ridiculous! What was she doing?! She had to recollect herself!
She gave herself a mental slap and tried to focus once more, but something outside caught her attention.
Or someone.
Wasn't that Escanor?
He was alone, and he seemed to be directed towards the city.
Could he be heading to those girls?
Merlin frowned, displeased, but shook her head, trying to dismiss that thought.
She had no right.
Although, she could really use a walk, maybe that would help her.
Without thinking much more about it, she went downstairs, not looking or addressing the others there, and went out.
The other Sins looked at each other with matching knowing grins on their faces.
The bets were on!
Merlin was following him, she knew it, no matter her excuses to just be going in the same direction as him, and she was trying to not get caught.
She really didn't know what she was doing! She had no reason to be acting this way, she could just go to him and ask where he was going, that was the right thing to do, but something was stopping her from doing the right thing, and instead, she found herself shadowing him, curious and worried.
They travelled through the city's outskirts, it was late afternoon, there were only people who were going back home walking around.
Finally Escanor stopped in front of a house, it wasn't anything that caught the attention of the passers-by, it was just a normal house like all the others, it hadn't anything distinctive.
Merlin hid behind another building, looking at the scene from the side, noticing now that Escanor had with him a book, no wait, it was his poetry journal! The one she gifted him all those years back.
This new development made her feel rather awful, that journal was precious to him, she knew, and he wouldn't recite his poems for just anyone, hell, he wouldn't write poems for just anyone!
They didn't have to wait but a few seconds before the door was opened wide, and two girls all but grabbed him and took him inside.
This view and the knowledge that he had taken the time to write poetry for those girls, and now he was going to recite those poems to them, had her rooted to the spot, one hand on the building, as if in need to be supported, and the other in a fist against her chest.
Her heart hurted, and she was feeling sad and angry at the same time, she had never felt this way, it was almost as if she was…
...no, surely not! It was preposterous!
Green really didn't suit her!
...but there wasn't really another explanation, or another truth explanation that was. She could have tried to find other excuses for her feelings and behaviors, but that was all they were, excuses.
She sighed aloud.
Ok, if the problem was really that, then the reason was really obvious… but what was she to do about it? What could she do about it? What did she want to do about it? Then again, the answer was simple:
She'll take her man back!
Her moment of resolution was interrupted by the house door being opened again, and Escanor coming out from it. He stopped for a moment to give his farewells to the girls, that looked a little sad but smiled at him, and finally he left, presumably setting out towards the Boar Hat.
Merlin was a little taken aback by the scene, but recovered quickly and followed Escanor.
This time she made herself known.
"Escanor"
The man stopped, almost jumping in surprise at her call, and turned toward her.
"M-m-merlin! W-what, uhm, what are you d-doing here? Ah! T-t-that is none of my b-business, s-sorry"
He was visibly flustered and blushing.
The Mage smiled softly at him, her heart lifting at his presence, and she felt warm, she always felt warm when she was with him, but she thought it had something to do with his powers, now she knew better.
"There's no need, I was simply… taking a walk"
Her pause didn't go unnoticed, it was peculiar, she never seemed unsure, and he could just stare at her while she looked aside, moving some hair behind an ear that he could swear had become a little red.
It couldn't be, it was the sunset lights, for sure.
"Ah… w-w-would you like to walk b-b-back with me? Or maybe you're n-not d-d-done yet"
She looked back at him smiling brightly.
"No, I'm done, I'll gladly walk back with you"
Escanor was almost blinded by her smile, she was so beautiful when she smiled like that, it was a real treat for his soul.
He recovered quickly and gentlemanly offered an arm to her, that she took, smiling even brighter for a moment.
They began walking silently back, satisfied by the presence of the other by their side, but Merlin curiosity had to be satisfied soon.
"So... did you go to see those girls, the ones that the others were talking about earlier?"
She could be subtle, she liked to be subtle, but this wasn't one of those times, she wanted answers, and she wanted them now.
Escanor jumped in surprise and blushed furiously.
"A-a-ah… y-yes, it was the r-r-right thing to do, t-they were kind"
Merlin's expression saddened a little at those words.
"You recited poems to them"
It wasn't really a question, his journal was in his hand and it was absolutely visible. She tried to maintain a neutral tone, but her discontent could be felt, and she unconsciously tightened her grasp on his arm a little.
Escanor was taken aback by all this, watching her worriedly.
"I…"
He wasn't really sure what was going on, he only knew that he wanted to see her smile again.
"I… it was the r-r-right thing to do, I didn't know how to b-better express myself, I didn't k-k-know of another way to, uhm, graciously reject them, and to t-t-thank them"
It needed a few seconds for Merlin to comprehend those words, and when she did she suddenly stopped, making him stop as a consequence, so that they were looking at each other, her harm still locked with his.
"Merlin?..."
"You… rejected them"
It was almost a request to confirm that she heard that right.
"Ah-h y-yes. I couldn't l-l-ead them on any longer, I had to, uhm, m-m-make it clear that I wasn't interes-t-ted in them… that my p-p-poems are really only for… uhm... one person…"
At the end of his sentence he was almost whispering, blushing hard, but glancing at her meaningfully, and he found her looking at him, speechless and surprised.
The meaning of his words was completely obvious.
Escanor looked away in a matter of seconds, and Merlin almost didn't realize how her expression was changing, and that now she was sporting a really bright smile, and that her ears were red, again.
She couldn't begin to analizes what she was feeling, her heart beat fast and she could feel warm all over.
The dark haired woman then pressed herself closer to his side, intertwining further their arms, gripping him surely, and looking at him softly, that bright smile never leaving her face.
The Lion Sin was taken aback, again, but he could only stare at her, transfixed, he had never seen her smiling so genuinely or so brightly, or seen her eyes so expressive and soft. He didn't really understand what it meant, but it had to be something positive, right?!
Without a word Merlin began walking again, Escanor following her necessarily, seeing as how she wasn't going to loosen her grip on him anytime soon.
Along the road they chatted amicably, of anything that came up, both of them never stopped smiling, in a way or another.
Soon they arrived back at the bar, stopping just outside the door, as if crossing it would end the moment between them.
Merlin let his arm go and turned to look at him, and her companion almost stopped breathing: they had never been so close.
"Thank you for the lovely walk back Escanor, I really enjoyed it"
"A-ah.. i-it was m-my pleasure"
He was blushing and not looking her in the eyes, while she was staring fondly at him.
"Goodnight Escanor"
"G-g-goodnight"
He was almost sad to see her turn and walk those two steps that distanced them from the door, but he could do nothing about it, he never liked to see her go away from him, but it was inevitable.
Suddenly Merlin stopped, just reaching for the doorknob. He looked at her quizzically and then surprised when she turned around, walking back to him.
He could say nothing.
He could physically say nothing.
The reason was stunning and unbelievable, it seemed that Merlin was kissing him…
Merlin…
...was…
...kissing…
...him!
He almost couldn't understand, he was just too shocked, so much that he stayed rooted to the spot, completely frozen.
The kiss was just a press of lips to lips, but that was enough for the warmth to spread in both their bodies.
Soon Merlin was standing back, the faint blush on her cheeks visible, and smiled at him.
"Maybe tomorrow you could recite some poems for me?"
Escanor had only the time to nod mechanically, while a dreamy smile formed on his lips, before she teleported away.
He stayed there, dumbfounded, for a little while longer, trying to understand everything that occurred that evening, and being able to only walk to his room in a dream like state, thinking about all the poems he could recite for her the next day, and about new ones he could create.
They weren't in the known, but thanks to them, there was money changing hands and bets being paid that night!
I hope you liked it! ^^
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! (yes! I'm planning to write more... so I hope you enjoy my stories, because you'll be seeing me again, or, reading me again, I hope! XD ^^)