it's been so so so long and im so sorry

live happens and i haven't had much time to write. hopefully that'll change tho

happy reading my lovelies :)

ooo

Meliodas lays idly on his bed.

Phone in hand, he stares at the time. It's nine at night, and he wonders, still, how he should approach the entire getting Elizabeth to see her family ordeal. He also supposed that maybe another reason he wants to help her is because he doesn't really have a family of his own. All he truly has is his brother, his brother's girlfriend, and a few distant uncles that weren't related to him by blood.

Getting her to be better acquainted with him and tutoring him was still his number one reason, though.

Pressing his lips into a thin line he wonders if Ban would be willing to give him Diane's number. He knows Ban hangs out with King a ton because he's dating King's sister, and hanging out with King means he'll also have to see Diane a whole bunch, too. At least, he assumes so.

But after their sort of argument a few days ago, when Meliodas told his best friend to basically shut the fuck up, he isn't sure if Ban is going to be compliant. Which isn't that much of a deal. It would just be a pain in the ass to find some other way to get to Elizabeth's best friend. Sure, he knows where their dorm is, but of the three times he's gone over, Diane was never in sight. Knowing his luck as well, she probably especially won't be there if he needs her to be.

He feels his lips part as he sighs heavily. There's no harm in trying, right? If Ban doesn't want to help him, he'll just turn elsewhere. Maybe King might help…

Meliodas calls Ban and he waits patiently for his friend to answer the call. It, thankfully, does not take long at all.

"Yeah?" Ban says, some noise from the background bleeding into their call. Is he watching TV? "What's up, Mel? Wasn't expectin' you to call. Haven't seen you in a few days either."

"Just calling to check up on you, I guess," the blonde replies. Which isn't that much of a lie. Ban hadn't returned to their shared home since he called the night he took care of Elizabeth in her drunken state. "And I want to apologize for… for blowing up on you the other night. It's just—you know I haven't been with anyone in weeks."

It's silent for a moment. The type of silence that no one can bear. "It's alright. I was sorta out of line, too," Ban grimaces. He says something else, not directed toward him, and Meliodas understands now. He's over at his girlfriend's place - at least judging by the way his best friend had said Elaine. "So, I'm apologizin' too. But we're not best friends for nothin'! What else do you gotta say?"

"I need help," Meliodas says slowly. Ban simply hums in response, listening. "I want to take Elizabeth upstate so she can see her family. I need– um– I need Diane's number so she can help me set something up. Can you send me her number?"

"Princess' family?" Ban echoes. "Why'd you wanna go an' do that for her?"

Meliodas swallows. He can't very well just tell Ban his ultimate, terrible, horrible, fucked up plan on doing every little nice thing for Elizabeth just so he can get into her pants. Eventually. So, instead he says, "I just wanna do something nice for her. She told me…" Can't tell him Elizabeth misses her family like crazy and is probably really, really stressed because of it. No, she trusted him with that information and asked him to not tell anyone. "She told me it's been a while since she last saw her dad and stuff and would like to see them, but she can't 'cause of school and her job."

That isn't revealing too much, is it? Oh God, he hopes not. Elizabeth will probably (actually) murder him if she finds out from Ban that Meliodas told someone about her family situation.

"Oh."

"…Yeah."

Then Ban chuckles, genuinely catching Meliodas off guard. "Nah, nah, I get it. I mean yeah - I'll send you Di's number. Just don't be weird 'bout it, alright? And hey, can I ask you somethin'?"

Meliodas actually releases a sigh of relief, thinking Ban would absolutely deny helping him. "Thanks. And yeah, man. Anything," he promises.

"Why do you wanna help Elizabeth?"

Oh. Of course Ban would ask. He expected nothing less from the guy he's known for years. The very same guy that can see through him. Well, usually anyway. His phone vibrates against his ear and Meliodas assumes it's Ban sending him Diane's number. He grins triumphantly and he really could just hang up the phone (really probably should), but he knows he shouldn't.

Ban wasn't his best friend for no reason, after all. Plus Meliodas would not be able to deal with a hot-tempered Ban and his unending questions.

"It's just a simple thank-you," he answers. "Y'know, for her tutoring me."

"Oh, is she doin' it again with ya?"

Maybe Ban could have worded that a bit differently… Meliodas exhales softly, his brows knitting together. "I… I don't know yet. But I still have to pay her the two days she did tutor me. And I thought, why not do this nice thing for her for the hell of it? Y'know?"

"Huh," Ban sighs. "Well, whatever ya do, don't go hurtin' her, a'ight? I haven't really known her for too long, but she's like a little sister to me, okay?"

The blonde feels his heart stutter in his chest. He knows Ban had a little sister when he was younger - around four years old when he was eight - and she unfortunately passed to a terrible illness. Ban never said what illness, either he never remembered or naming it would be too painful to endure even saying, but Meliodas understood. He lost his father to lung cancer. His mother, well… she up and left when he was young so there isn't much he can say about her. But he wouldn't be too surprised if he found out she passed away due to some illness the same way his father had.

However, to hear Ban say Elizabeth Liones is like a sister to him… God. She must have done something so above and beyond that Ban sees her in that light now. That, or something about Elizabeth reminds his best friend of his actual little sister…

He shakes his head. It's not his business. He won't ask, no matter how curious he is.

"I'd never hurt her, Ban, so don't get your panties all twisted."

In response, Ban guffaws loudly.

After a few more minutes of chatting, talking about the rent they need to split for their shared home, Ban hung up the call, telling the blonde he's tired and would love to go to bed. To which, Meliodas laughed and told his friend to sleep well.

Now, as he inputs Diane's number into his contacts, he sighs. What if Diane flat out refuses to help him? What if she thinks Meliodas will be up to no good? Or worse, think he'll try to suck up to her to get her to complain to Elizabeth about tutoring him again? He actually shudders at the thought - he wouldn't go that low. No matter how badly he might need Elizabeth's lessons.

He clicks on Diane's new contact and he presses on the option to send her a text. Meliodas chews on his lip, trying to conjure some kind of friendly approach to make it seem like he isn't some creep.

-Hey Diane, Meliodas writes. -It's Meliodas. I know this seems weird, but I need your help. I wanna help Elizabeth see her family this weekend.

Diane's response is almost immediate. It kind of surprised him. -That IS weird. Why do you suddenly wanna do something like that for my best friend? And why do you need my help? Can't you just ask Ellie herself? Not that she would give you any info anyway.

-It's really not as sudden as you think, Meliodas replies. -She said something about wanting to see her dad and stuff the other day and I wanna help her do that. But I need her sister's number or something cuz I wanna set up some sort of surprise for her. Can you help me or not?

-I mean, I could. But why does Meliodas Vayne of all people wanna do something so kind for a girl he barely knows? Huh. Well sure, he doesn't know her that well. He'd like to get to know her, but with his horrible reputation, Elizabeth has made it clear that she thinks he's some man-whore.

-I already gave my reasons, Diane. If you think I'm doing all of this to somehow sleep with her or get her to tutor me again, try again.

Yet, that's exactly what this is, isn't it? He wants Elizabeth to view him differently—to view him in a different light, and hopefully one that will at some point allow him to touch her freely, to allow him to please her the way his dick so desperately wants. He is an asshole - Meliodas knows that - so why is he consciously letting himself become infatuated with Elizabeth? Why is he continuing in these endeavors for a girl that won't ever look his way?

Sure. He wanted a challenge. He wants to do anything and everything in his power to woo this girl (only for the sake of sex, mind him). Meliodas wants to sweep this woman off her feet—wants to show her, ultimately, what he really is. Nothing more than a fuckboy.

-Okay, Diane responds in a text. Those three little dots reappear as she continues. -I have absolutely NO reason to believe you. But you also wouldn't go out of your way like this for just anyone, as far as I'm aware. I'll send you her older sister's number, but if I find out you're gonna do something fucked up, consider yourself a dead man. Got it?

-Oh yea. Loud and clear, ma'am. Thank you.

True to her word, Diane sends him Elizabeth's sister's number, adding her name at the end of her message. He smiles triumphantly, slowly but surely getting closer to his goal.

Margaret. That's the name of her sister. The one that had a kid not that long ago? Meliodas assumes so - though he doesn't really remember Elizabeth talking about her other sister. He knows her father was hospitalized - other than that though, he knows nothing else. Now, the real nitty-gritty, will Margaret accept his help? Will she help him set up a weekend for her beloved little sister to visit?

Only one way to find out, he sighs to himself.

ooo

Elizabeth hums softly to herself as she cooks in her shared kitchen. Rice, and another thing she's yet to decide on. She contemplated ordering something, she really did, but in the end she opted to just make something from scratch. Well, mostly.

Diane would be home soon from her night classes for the week, and Elizabeth wants to make sure her friend eats a good meal when she comes back.

Her eyes flit over the empty pan on the stove and suddenly she remembers she had chicken marinating from last night. So on impulse, she moves to her fridge to pull out said chicken, frowning a bit at the color of the liquid her chicken had been bathing in. All seasonings and a bit of milk - so it wasn't actually gross. Just the color.

Pretty soon, she has the chicken cooking in the pan and she smiles to herself. Lord knows she'd be starving if Margaret hadn't taught her how to cook during her teen years.

Abruptly, her phone rings on the coffee table. Her ringtone is loud within the confinements of her dorm, and she practically runs out of the kitchen to see who exactly it is that's calling her.

Elizabeth wonders if it is Mael calling her over the only social media platform he follows her on. Instagram is capable of calling, right? But why would he call and not send her a message first? Maybe he would rather have a voice-to-voice chat instead of messaging. Which, she supposed she could understand.

But it isn't so when she reads the caller ID flashing across her screen. Margaret. Her older sister.

She answers without pause, smiling brightly as she presses the phone to her ear. "Margo!" Elizabeth says her oldest sister's nickname.

"Ellie!" Her lavender-haired sister replies. "I miss you, my little princess. How are you? Healthy, good and happy, I'm hoping. I won't have it if I hear otherwise, young lady."

Elizabeth laughs, opting to sit down on her sofa as she speaks to her loving sister. "Yes, I am all of that, Margaret. How are you? And the baby? Has Gilthunder stopped by to see both of you? How are Veronica and Father?"

Margaret laughs on the other end of the receiver. "Oh, sweetheart, Veronica is okay. Father has recovered, too. He misses you," she whispers suddenly, her tone mellow as if her eyes are watering. And Elizabeth can't blame her - her eyes and nose burn with the tears that wish to brim in her tear ducts. "Gilthunder is here until the next semester begins. And Chion is perfect. Well, as perfect a little five month old baby can be. He still cries as loud as the day he was born," she laughs, humor lacing the sound.

"I would still rather be over there, listening to Chion cry than here, missing all of you," Elizabeth admits. "I'm still so upset I missed his birth after I promised you I wouldn't…"

"Elizabeth," Margaret says her name in this strange tone. Not strange, no. But her sister has never said her name in such a desperate way. "You had to take a very important test. I've already told you a million times before; I understand your predicament. I forgave you. I'm so proud of you, you know that? Going to school to become a nurse or doctor. That's more than I could ever do. Father and Vero are proud, too. Even Gilthunder and both of you go to the same school."

"I just can't forgive myself." Elizabeth whispers, eyes watering all the more regardless of her efforts. "It makes me happy knowing you're all proud of me. Really, it does. But I miss you all so much - every single day I beat myself up for not choosing a school closer to you all."

"Ellie," Margaret starts. But she stops as quickly as she started, sighing into her phone.

Elizabeth sniffles, feeling a tear roll down her cheek. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound sad. I really do just miss you. It's been so long, you know?"

"Yes. I know, my princess." A pregnant pause. The silverette can hear the smile in her sister's voice as she speaks again. "Listen; do you promise me if you're given the chance to visit, you won't throw it away? You'll come regardless of how or when you get here?"

That's… an odd question. Of course in a heartbeat, Elizabeth would drop everything to travel a little over twelve hours to see her sisters, her father, and her little five month old nephew. Why wouldn't she accept that chance? It's been nearly a year at this point since Elizabeth has seen any of her family's faces in person—why wouldn't she jump on the first opportunity to see them?

"Of course, Margaret. I prom—"

The smell of something burning causes her to trail off, and her eyes widen at the realization. Her food is burning. Her damn chicken is being burnt to a crisp!

"Elizabeth?" Her sister questions.

Elizabeth stands from the couch, her head pounding from how quickly she got up. "I'm sorry Margaret, I'll have to call you back; my food is burning!"

Margaret makes a confused sound in her throat, but she doesn't have the time to actually say another word - Elizabeth is hanging up, practically throwing her phone on the couch and rushing into the kitchen to make sure her chicken isn't really burning (or to see if it's at the very least salvageable).

Luckily, Elizabeth sighs heavily, her food is relatively okay. The very outer layer of the skin of her chicken burned but it's not anything she can't just… peel off. Still edible, still digestible. It's perfectly fine! Now she just wonders if Diane can pin-point the smoky flavor of where she burned the chicken on complete accident when she sinks her teeth into the meal…

Later, a few hours into the night - nearly two in the morning at this point, Elizabeth sighs, eyes finding the entryway of her dorm. Diane hadn't texted her but she can assume she's either with King or she stayed over at Elaine's place. Her staying at Elaine's wasn't uncommon - just not as usual as her sleeping at King's.

Elizabeth gets up from her couch, stretching as she does, and she makes the choice of turning off every light in the dorm before she heads off into her own room to be consumed by the sudden overwhelming need to sleep.

Shutting her bedroom door behind her Elizabeth sighs heavily through her nose, squinting slightly as if it will help her see through the darkness that shadows her room. Of course, it doesn't, but her muscle memory kicks in and she drops her phone on her nightstand (forgetting to put it to charge as well) before she drops onto her bed, her face meeting her soft pillow. Has her bed always been this comfortable?

Her eyes closed on their own accord. Elizabeth is so tired. In more ways than one - most in ways that cannot be fixed by sleep.

As she takes a deep breath in, her phone rings loudly on her nightstand. Her eyes shoot open, a groan escaping her lips. She reaches an arm over to grab her phone - the screen far too bright for it to be this dark in her room - and she frowns slightly at the name that flashes on the screen.

It is two in the morning. So what could Meliodas Vayne possibly want at this hour? If he begs her for another tutoring session she might just lose it…

She answers the call, bringing her blanket up to her body, muttering, "Hello?"

"Yo, Ellie," Meliodas greets, his voice somewhat husky from either sleep or because he is just as tired as she is. Her stomach flutters and she hopes to some Lord above it isn't because of his voice. "I didn't catch you at a bad time, did I? I'm sorry if I did."

"I was about to fall asleep," she says. "So yes. Bad time."

"Sorry," he repeats. "What are you doing up right now though? You don't have anything important to do tomorrow? Or well, today, I guess."

Elizabeth closes her eyes, basking in the warmth of her bed. "I was waiting for Diane to come back. I cooked us dinner but she hasn't returned. I packed up what was supposed to be her share and here I am. In bed."

Meliodas hums on the other end. "Maybe she had some really important stuff to do and it exhausted her. Does that sound like something she would do?" Why is he asking?

"Sometimes she would," the silverette answers anyway. Curse her own nature for being so honest. "Now that I think about it, I think she had a bunch of assignments to do for some of her classes… Diane's probably either at King's or at Elaine's…"

"She's more than likely okay then. Hey, do you work tomorrow—today?"

Does she work today? It's Saturday. She didn't work yesterday, and if she remembers her schedule correctly, she will most definitely have to work a shift tonight. Not until six - and it'll be from six to midnight. A wonderful six hours she will absolutely enjoy enduring. It is good money though… But to work on the damn weekend when she is supposed to have Saturdays and Sundays off? Gross.

"Yes," Elizabeth responds. "I do work. I have a six hour shift; from six to midnight. Why?"

Meliodas curses, something she can't really decipher. "Can I take you to work? Unless you're already gonna have Diane or someone take you - then that's okay."

Huh. Strange. "I haven't heard from Diane for the majority of today. I think it's safe to say I don't have a ride to work, so… yeah, you can drive me. Just please don't be an asshole and sit at a table and annoy me my entire shift. It was bad enough when you did it the first time," she cringes.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he chuckles and Elizabeth swears she can hear the damn smirk in his voice. That stupid, husky, sleepy voice— "You said at six right? I'll try to be there to get you at like… 5:30? Does that sound okay?"

"That's okay," she says, her words trailing off into a yawn.

Meliodas laughs softly into his phone. "You sound tired, Ellie. I'll leave you to your sleep now. Um—goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow."

Her voice sounds so impossibly gentle and soft as she says, "Goodnight. See you then."

Their call is over and Elizabeth isn't sure if she returned her phone to the spot it was on her nightstand before Meliodas called; sleep exhausts her body and she cannot help but give in to the siren's call and drift off into a deep, comfortable slumber.

ooo

5:30 comes around much, much sooner than Elizabeth would have liked.

She wasn't exactly opposed to seeing Meliodas today - not exactly, but having to work today? Ugh. Working on the weekends when she's supposed to have them off was not fun. She always got the worst customers on the weekends. Cocky, full-of-themselves assholes were the types of people she would usually serve on her supposed off days…

Pulling her silver hair into a bun, Elizabeth suspires at her appearance. Off-white button up shirt, dark pencil skirt and white apron. This horrid uniform that her job requires her to wear. It's not necessarily bad, but to be wearing this in the cold ass weather during the winter time? Terrible - absolutely and utterly terrible.

Maybe she should take Diane's advice to heart and boycott her uniform policy…

What would Margaret or Veronica have to say, Elizabeth wonders? Would they have the same opinions as Diane or would they tell her not to think anything of it and just work to get it over with? Would they tell her to quit her job and find a different place to work at where she'll actually be appreciative of her hard work and efforts?

Her eyes water at the thought; Margaret would tell her to take it easy and take breaks whenever and however she can, but Veronica, being so hot-headed and short-tempered, would tell her to leave her job and look for a different line of work - one where she wouldn't be taken for granted.

And it pains her so, so much—being away from her family, from the very people she's lived with her entire life. Her sisters, her father, her childhood home… Why hadn't she chosen a school closer to them? How could she be so stupid to think she wouldn't miss her family?

Look at her now—kicking herself for not choosing a different school - for subconsciously keeping herself away from her sisters, her father, and before, unknowingly, her little nephew—

A knock sounds at her door and she is quickly snapped out of her odd trance. Elizabeth wipes her tears away and straightens herself before she forces herself to move to answer the door. Her body feels heavy yet weightless all at once - especially when, expectedly, she opens the door to find Meliodas, a smile on his face, standing just before the threshold that separates her dorm from the rest of the world.

Not exactly meaning to, she sniffles and she watches Meliodas' smile drop a tad with a raise of his brow.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

Her heart drops to her stomach - for what reason, she can't pinpoint - and she moves backward to let him inside. "I'm okay," she insists, closing the door behind him as he walks in.

"Your eyes are a little red," Meliodas observes, back to her front as he looks at every little object in her living room, as if he hadn't been here before. "A little glossy, too. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, really." If he asks her if she's sure one more time, Elizabeth isn't sure what she'll do…

He turns to her, expression mostly unreadable - yet the concern was clear in his emerald-hued eyes. "If you really say so. But… is there somethin' you wanna talk about, maybe? I'm sure you don't wanna be going into work with shit on your mind or some sort of burden on your shoulders."

Has she always been so easy to read? Especially to a man that barely knows her?

"Maybe on the ride to my job?" She says, grinning softly despite herself. "Do you want a drink or snack or something before we go?"

Meliodas purses his lips slightly as if truly contemplating her offer. Though, he shakes his head, a small smile overcoming his features. "Nah, I'm alright. Maybe you should get some water before we head out though. You look like you need it."

"I am fine, Meliodas–" Elizabeth insists "–I don't need water, and I don't need anything to eat. I'm fine."

In response, the blonde shrugs. He extends an arm toward the door that leads into the outside world, the silent question of leaving swirling in his eyes. The green in his irises are bright under the lights in her dorm and Elizabeth really can't deny that the emerald hues are pretty. He had to have been blessed to have such pretty eyes…

And that will be the only compliment she ever gives him, whether she admitted it out loud or not.

They don't speak another word to each other; they simply walk out of her dorm, silent as Meliodas guides her to where he had parked his car.

Strangely enough—Meliodas opens the passenger's car door for her, a hopeful glint in his eyes as he grips the handle of the door. Elizabeth raises a brow, cursing the harsh winter weather to prick at her exposed skin, curious as to what Meliodas might be thinking.

When they met for the first time, at her work, he seemed nothing more than one of those typical high school jocks: condescending, arrogant and can't ever take no for an answer. She supposed maybe she still sees him as just that, but there's something else… He told her he wanted to be friends with her, and is treating her with such an odd kindness - all of it confuses her in the end, though.

Surely there's an ulterior motive, isn't there?

Knowing Meliodas' reputation, his lackluster behavior when it comes to maintaining relationships, Elizabeth can't help but think… there is something else he wants from her, right?

Or maybe she's just overthinking it - Meliodas wouldn't go above and beyond for her (or for anyone, for that matter) just to get into her pants. It sounds ridiculous now that she thinks about it. Meliodas sleeps around - goes from girl to girl without as much as a goodbye.

She isn't on his list, isn't being put on some pedestal in his eyes.

Elizabeth softly exhales, darting her gaze away from his. She climbs into his car and folds her arms under her chest and Meliodas closes the door with a soft thunk. Her gaze is transfixed on the window of the door and she absentmindedly observes him through the corner of her eye as he walks around his car, his destination being the driver's seat.

The ride so far, for the lack of a better word, is quiet. And boring. The only sound filling the silence is the soft rumbling of the car's engine and the occasional honking of other cars on the road.

"Do you wanna talk?" Meliodas finally says, breaking the silence that littered the air.

Her gaze slowly shifts from the outside world to Meliodas. His eyes are focused on the road, the dip and tip of his nose slightly red from the cold, his lips in a straight line. He seems oddly expressionless, but she supposes he can't be blamed.

"I'm just…" she starts. "Just missing my family. I talked to my older sister last night, before you called," she admits, and why she is admitting this to him she has no clue. "Gilthunder is still with her and I guess I'm a little jealous of him. He doesn't really have the same responsibilities that I do, academic wise. He has a kid." She laughs, partially because of the way his eyes had widened when she mentioned Gilthunder. "He has a kid with my sister and I wasn't…"

"You weren't there," Meliodas fills in. "But it's okay, isn't it? Did your sister tell you it was okay?"

She nods. "Yes, she did. But still, guilt eats away at my heart. I promised her I would be there and I wasn't. I couldn't leave– I still can't leave– and the only way I can talk to her or my nephew, or my father and other sister for that matter, is through a damn screen. I just… I wish I wasn't here, on my way to work. I wish I was over there with them, helping with the baby and pretending like everything in the world is fine."

Elizabeth observes him as he swallows thickly, daring to glance at her as they approach a red light. His green eyes shine despite the gloomy weather and the snow falling slowly from the sky. "You know… there's no use crying over spilt milk," he says and she bites her lips, stubbornly looking away from his face. "Besides, I'm sure you'll be able to visit sooner rather than later."

His choice of words is so weirdly… vague. Yet somehow, at the same time, so absentmindedly positive. None of this sounds like Meliodas Vayne - popular playboy of their university. But if he really is trying to make her feel better…

Is it working?

A tiny, minuscule voice in the back of her mind says yes, but she tries to push it back farther. "You're right," she replies with a small voice. "I just can't help but miss them a ton."

Meliodas doesn't say anything after that. They sit in silence once more, the car ride resuming in its boring tension. A sigh leaves Elizabeth as she ponders the conversation she had with the blonde driving her to her work. She really does miss her sisters and her father - and damn it, she wants nothing more than to meet her nephew for real, and not over a phone call.

But she supposes, like Meliodas said, there really is no use crying over spilt milk. If she stresses herself out any more than she already is with school and her work, she might go insane.

When Meliodas parks his car close enough to her job, and shutting off the car, his gaze meets Elizabeth's. She offers him a small smile in gratitude—because really, he didn't have to take time out of his day to drive her to work, especially so late in the evening.

She tears her gaze away and forces herself to open the passenger's car door. Climbing out, she's surprised to hear Meliodas exit the car as well.

The cold immediately is unbearable; biting at her skin that causes her entire body to shiver. Elizabeth observes the blonde, watching as he shrugs off his jacket to reveal a long sleeved shirt hugging every dip of his taut muscles - holy shit, had he always been that… ripped? How often did he work out?!

"Here," he says, holding his jacket out to her. The soft glint in his eyes tells her he won't have it if she objects.

"Y-You don't have to give me your jacket," she denies stubbornly, lifting her hands up to her arms to shield herself from the cold. "I'll be fine once I'm inside, I promise."

He doesn't look convinced. Meliodas raises a brow at her and urges her to take his jacket. "You'll get sick at this rate, Ellie," he says, "and we both know it would suck if you started feeling like shit while you're working. So take it, okay?"

"But—"

"No, no buts. And don't worry your pretty little head about me, 'kay? I've dealt with worse."

Elizabeth frowns however he doesn't seem to be giving her any other choice. She takes his jacket and shrugs it on, amazed at how warm it feels. (It smells good too, but she wouldn't dare ever admit that to him. She would consider death before admitting something like this to him.)

"I don't think they'll let me keep it on," she says. "They're strict when it comes to the dress code…"

"Then I'll talk to whoever's in charge today," he responds. "I'll be damned if they make you work like this; you can get sick so easily!"

Elizabeth raises a brow at him as she hugs herself in an attempt to keep the cold from getting to her. It's… admirable, almost, how much care he's showing to her but why? It's so sudden and so odd coming from him—usually the only thing he cares about when it comes to a girl is when she'll spread her legs for him…

But maybe he's trying to change his behavior for the better? She can't lie either; he sounds like her father telling her she'll get sick if she doesn't cover up.

"I'll be surprised if they actually pay you any mind." She sighs, turning her gaze away from his face. And she means her words– her employers and coworkers don't typically care about what anyone else has to say, whether it's good or bad. If they turn Meliodas away, she won't tell him she told him so.

Meliodas however simply chuckles, putting a hand on her shoulder to get her moving. "I told you before I have my ways, didn't I? Don't worry about it too much, Ellie."

Elizabeth, at her wits end, chooses not to respond. She merely thinks, what a weird thing to say, as she clutches the blonde's jacket closer to her body, trying to keep the cold air from touching her skin.