A/N: This is ANOTHER overdue CaramelPenguin prompt! (I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get a lot of your amazing ideas written up!). Honestly, I have a HUGE backlog of stuff to finish and post for 3,000 years, so don't be surprised if there's a sudden influx of updates for this fic. I had a lot half-written stuff in my files when I started final exams (over a year ago). And, yes, I did procrastinate to finish them - I'm so sorry my loves!
To make up for the EXTREMELY long wait time, I'm posting this up with two other chapters: 'Hot and Heavy' and 'I Can't Stand It'. After that there's an August and another long entry (Evenfall) that's currently being worked on.
Unfortunately, I can't guarantee any regular updates (I'm a student doing A-levels so author here studies to the max) but I'll try my best. One by one, my list of MANY WIP stories will be knocked down.
Till next time my lovelies,
D.L.D
Clouds (July)
Lazy summer days were always at their peak in Britannia. Unlike the arid and harsh desert heat of the Demon realm, unlike the blinding, batting heat of the Celestial realm, Britannia was a calm in between. Both hot and mild, dry and humid, the air always hung with semi-moisture as the sun beat down its harsh and scorching rays. Yet, that harshness wasn't felt when a breeze rushed on by, soft and whispering as it traveled across the land.
Meliodas had grown used to Britannia's summers. Over the years he had found his own way to adapt to the less harsh and more forgiving climate of the mostly human realm. Instead of bracing for three months of intense solar flares and dry, scorching air, he prepared for the return of a much kinder, much softer summer that made its mark in the bittersweet apples that dropped in its later stages. Normal seasonal tortures, such as surviving the sweltering heat or making one's way through the dusty and barren streets just to find a decent speck of shade, were now ditched for more simple, easing pleasures.
Now, Meliodas could walk about without worrying too much about the harsh glint of the sun. Now Meliodas didn't have to fight with demons, just as tired and sweaty and heat-stroked as himself, just to find some small speck of semi-coolness. Summer in Britannia was a much easier affair. Summer in Britannia was something thoughtless and carefree. Perhaps that was why the other races appeared to adore it so much.
Honestly, Meliodas had no clue as to why summer was so adored when he first came here. Sure longer days and warmer weather meant that life was much more comfortable - but his interpretation of summer was the dry, merciless season that made one feel as if they were about to shrivel up into a raisin, only to be blown away and buried in arid desert sands.
Only after spending a good ten years in Britannia did Meliodas begin to see how summer could be relaxing, carefree even. But only after ten years. And even then he did not hold it highly within his own opinion, much preferring his realm's own summers in comparison of brilliance.
Yet something was slowly changing his mind.
"You've never done cloud racing before?" Elizabeth gaped at him, her blue eyes wide as her jaw hung open. Disbelief was on her features, clear as day, as she gawked at the demon. Behind her, a pair of white wings ruffled. "Truly never?"
"Never," Meliodas confirmed, shaking his head in response to her shock.
Once again he had found himself humouring her, talking to her, mindlessly finding his way back to her and the crumbling remains of the floating Theater. Honestly, Meliodas had lost track of the many excuses he gave for being here at this present moment. Over time he had come to just realize that giving excuses only made it worse, all of those little lies tumbling and falling to form a dangerous web of words.
Around twenty years ago, he met Elizabeth, right in the middle of the battlefield, soaked in the rains of a torrid summer storm as they faced each other on opposing sides of the muddied fields. Strikingly, she had thrown her sword away from herself, tossing it into the filthy mud as she looked him in the eye. That single action, that single decision, had changed the path of his life. All those years ago, Elizabeth had mystified Meliodas, entrapped him with her unusual allure and way with words that just put a person at ease. By throwing that sword aside, she had done something; by throwing that sword she had interested him in some way. Today was no different, twenty years later, as they sat side by side, staring at the clouded summer skies.
"Well, that changes today!" Elizabeth announced, rather firmly for her, as she grabbed his hand and dragged him up with her. Her wings twitched with determination. "Today is too fine a day to waste!"
Usually, Meliodas would decline this offer. Usually, Meliodas would be too busy and entangled within the bloody and viscous war that seemed to grow as the decades ticked on by. Carefree pastimes, the idea of racing like children in a marketplace, were ideas that Meliodas could not stand in the past. Raised to be entirely nonsensical and win a war that had been waging for much longer than he could remember, he had no time for such frivolous ideals. He had no time for such simple games.
Yet, like always, Elizabeth was the exception. Like gentle sunlight, she made him stop and pause to appreciate those small, forgettable moments. Just like twenty years ago, in the middle of that summer storm, she had that same irresistible pull around her; Meliodas just couldn't say no. Who could say no when she appeared so excited about sharing this simple game?
"The rules are very straightforward," Elizabeth explained, already on her feet and brimming with pure, tangible excitement. A wide grin stretched on her lips, illuminating the glimmer in her crystal blue eyes. "Although it's called cloud racing, this game has nothing to do with racing. In fact, it's got everything to do with how good at hiding you are."
"So like hide-and-seek?" Meliodas surmised, always being quick on absorbing the rules of a new situation. Observation was key to what he was raised to do; being highly observant was something that was ingrained deeply into his brain.
Elizabeth nodded and he shrugged, "Seems easy enough."
"Oh, it is!" Elizabeth hummed, agreeing. Now she was stretching, her lithe arms pulling toward the sky as her shoulders clicked. "But since it's not against the rules, you also get to lead the seeker in the wrong direction. I always used to trick Mael into thinking that I was way below where I really was..."
Meliodas caught the memory sparking with her words, the goddess' excitement almost tangible. Often, she grew excited at the prospect of doing the silliest of things. Whether it was spotting the first flowers of a new spring, or dragging him along to a quaint human festival, she always grew ecstatic at the prospect of doing something fresh. Seeing more of the middle realm that lay between the extremes of the celestial and demon realms always sparked a keen interest within her.
At first, Meliodas had noted this quality as something he could exploit. With Elizabeth's eagerness to explore and love of experiencing new things, Meliodas thought that he could trick her. Manipulate her. Little did he know, that in his own quest to unpick her piece by piece, he would end up tangling himself more and more within the idea of her - of being a vital part of her existence. Now, two decades later, he couldn't think of denying any of her whims.
Even if it was just a silly race...
"So I'm guessing it's a good game then," Meliodas cut into Elizabeth's reverie, raising a brow. A sly grin formed on his face as he nudged her. "And if you could beat Mael, you're probably the best."
"Well..." Elizabeth bit into her lip, pink spreading over the bridge of her nose. Adorably, she scratched at her arm, smiling sheepishly as she glanced at the demon through her long lashes. "I wouldn't say I am the best, but I have played many times. It used to be a pastime."
Another little detail he has learned about her. Another puzzle piece that laid itself before him, clicking into this grand picture that he always tried to ignore. Day by day, moment by moment, she kept adding it to it. Piece by tiny piece, bit by bit, she was building up this picture, this image, and it was becoming clearer and clearer each time he tried to ignore it. Pretend that it didn't exist and reside within his brain.
More and more of his memories were being dedicated to her. Pleasant times, joyful times, were steadily featuring a growing common theme. One that shouldn't be encouraged. One that he should have seen coming from a mile away.
But, like the fool he is, Meliodas had ignored it. Like everything to do with her, how she affected him, he had chosen to ignore it.
"Alright," Meliodas hummed, feeling his joints click as he stretched. A decision had been made: he will play this game with her and make it another pleasant memory. Another joyful time that will reside within his brain. "I'll let you have a head-start."
"But- "
"I'm only gonna offer once."
No argument offered, Elizabeth let out a small squeak before she sprinted off as quickly as she could. Chuckling, Meliodas watched as she rushed far away from him, the sight reminiscent of their days of facing each other on the battlefield. Back then, in those days, she had been dressed in striking armour, casting beams of bright light all over the place whenever the sky was clear enough to offer sunlight. Always, Meliodas would be able to recognise her, bright like a ball of starlight with her silver hair and glittering armour. Then, of course, there was the even more obvious distinction: her wings.
On the battlefield, in the heat and midst of the war, head-starts were rarely given. Mercy was a rare thing in the world of war and brutal combat. Meliodas was raised to be a fighter without a shred of mercy or sympathy within his body - not even trace amounts in his solid bones.
So, to him, it was ironic that he stood here now, giving the goddess a head-start in a trivial game that children often play. Past Meliodas - the one he had always known - would have never done this; like the arid and scorching summers of his home realm, his birthplace, past Meliodas wouldn't be so generous. Instead he would harsh and brutal, taking all he could get and leaving little or nothing behind to be restored.
Right now, Elizabeth had made a decent start. Not long after she'd left, she had disappeared over the floating Theater's edge, the tips of her white wings being the last thing he spotted of her. By now she could be miles away, kilometers away, and he wouldn't have a clue. At least, he figured if hadn't known her so well he wouldn't have a clue.
"Ready or not, here I come," He grinned, knowing exactly where to find her. This game would be easy to win.
Honestly, for such a sharp and observant person, Elizabeth had thought that Meliodas would find her sooner. When she had first suggested cloud racing, remembering when she played it with Mael, Elizabeth had believed that it would take five - ten - minutes at most for Meliodas to find her. With how well he knew her and with the little material she had to work with, Elizabeth had thought that finding her would be a piece of cake.
However, the reality said something entirely different.
Right now she was back at the Theater, staring at the crumbling remains as she toyed with the frayed rope of an ancient bell. After looping around the floating location, playing with the clouds and catching loose raindrops on her fingertips, Elizabeth had come right back to the beginning. Her safe spot.
Up in the clouds, fingertips brushing against wispy cumulus clouds, she would always feel at ease. Hiding on this tower, definitely suffering from an infrastructural issue, had been one of her best ideas yet. Stretched all around were the clear blue skies of Britannia, a golden sun shining in the distance with the warm, golden rays of a fair summer day. Not a single rain cloud was in sight. Not a single trace of thunder. Good, she had never liked thunder much anyway.
Plus, with the quiet and the sunshine she was beginning to remember why she had enjoyed Britannia so much. Over the past few years, filled with the excitement and enjoyment that came with meeting up with Meliodas, Elizabeth had forgotten about the small pleasures, the tiny treasures, littered all around the land. Golden sunshine, beautiful plants - oh and the array of wildlife, all types of life, that subsisted off a single, earthy planet. Yes, she had forgotten about that.
"Twenty minutes now," Her soft voice murmured, brows furrowing as she peered into the clear horizon. This definitely wasn't like him. At all.
Twenty minutes had passed. Twenty minutes and Meliodas had not found her. Maybe something had happened. Maybe, in his quest to hunt down her hiding spot, Meliodas had ventured a little too close to the Archangel's borders.
Inside her chest, Elizabeth felt her heart twinge at the thought. Yes, maybe he had. Maybe she should check.
Scrambling to her feet, the goddess frowned as she glanced into the horizon. Clear blue, calm blue - speckled with an array of stunning, white clouds. Not a hint of trouble swam in the skies, which was believed to be a good omen by many humans. Clear skies, a good day to go to sea. Clear skies, your picnic wouldn't be ruined by the horrid, sopping wetness of an unexpected storm. However, the clearness of the skies irked Elizabeth, tugged at her already bundling nerves.
Yes, she should check.
About to go, she was about to go, when she caught a flicker of movement. Barely there, hidden within the swirls of clouds, she'd spotted it. Seen it.
"You found my spot, huh?" A smile couldn't help but curve onto her lips. "Well, you don't win until you catch me."
And with that she disappeared into the clouds, falling right into their fluffy abyss.
He had nearly had her. Damn it, he had nearly had her! Yet, like always, Elizabeth just had to go and swipe the rug from under his feet, innocent smile on display as she inadvertently flipped the game on him - quite literally.
Basking in the golden sunshine, she had been quite the picture. Surrounded by a swathe of soft clouds, almost as if she were sitting on them, the goddess had bathed in the golden light of the sun, face turned towards the heat and thin arms stretched out behind her. Angelic - yes, that was the word most would use to describe her: angelic. Elizabeth had looked perfectly angelic up there in the clouds, not a care in the world as she basked in the sun.
Until, she had let slip that she was keeping count.
"Twenty minutes now."
Clearly, he had heard her. Wasn't hard for him to hear a voice he always listened out for. No, Meliodas could always pick up on her mumbling, the slight whispers that left her lips whenever she got nervous. She hated that about him - claimed it bordered on invading her privacy since she always thought aloud. To him, it was rather endearing. He didn't many people who just let their thoughts slip out the way that she did.
Maybe that was why he had slipped up. Swirling the sea of clouds, inching his way closer - right in her line of sight - had been his mistake. Just as he was about to grab her, victory urging itself into his veins, she had evaded his grasp. Grinning that innocent, wonderful smile of hers, she had giggled and then disappeared once more. Poofed into a trail of clouds and cool water vapour.
Naturally, Meliodas had followed. This was a game and he was going to win it. Yes, he was competitive. Part of him blamed the need to be useful, to be good at something, for his competitive edge. Whenever he was in battle, even when he was younger, dragging his brother's along to hunt dragons, Meliodas had always been an all-in contender in whatever he did. If he did something, he had to be the best. He simply had to win.
So here he was, chasing after her, chasing the light laughter that rang in the air as they passed over Britannia, definitely far away from the Theatre now.
Elizabeth was definitely faster than he remembered, or maybe she was sneakier. Popping out of nowhere, making silly faces as she disappeared into the clouds. Or maybe this was her having fun, trying to get Meliodas to have fun with her, as she joked about and danced around him. At one point, he had nearly caught her, palm ghosting the skin of her ankle, as she performed a quick twist in an effort to mimic what must have been a dance move. He couldn't tell from the raspberry she blew his way.
Then, she slipped up.
Immediately, he seized the opportunity. Sudden, swift, precise: just as he always had been, he managed to capture her in one smooth movement, thick, muscled arms caging her against his body.
"Gotcha!"
He won. Simple. He won.
"Told you it was fun," Was her response, strawberry blush across her porcelain skin. Huge, her grin was huge as she turned to glance at him. "And I even managed to crack a smile out of you."
A smile? Oh, so that was what this strange feeling was. Tugging at his cheeks, filling his veins with a feeling much lighter than simple, clear-cut victory. He was smiling. And now he was laughing, full-bellied laughs that shook both of them. A strange sound it was - one that was becoming more common around her. Yet, Meliodas found, he was growing quite used to it filling his ears, filling his days, whenever she was around.
"I'm glad you had fun," Elizabeth's own laughter joined his, softer, sweeter. "Do you want another round?"
"Yep," He nodded, feeling somewhat like a child again. Wild, carefree, bumping into objects as he ran amok about the castle. Grinning cheekily, he added, "But this time I get the head-start."
"Alright," Elizabeth nodded, unable to fight the grin that tugged at her lips. Nor the fit of giggles.
Then they were off again, racing through the clouds like two children on a summer's day, their laughter echoing through the clear skies.