Title: Before there was Love….

Theme: #17 Kilohertz

Fandom: Nanatsu no Taizai/Seven Deadly Sins

Pairing: KingxDiane

Note: AU. Spoilers(?) I suppose...But only if you never saw past the first episodes/chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't even want to own Nanatsu no Taizai...I just want to own King... and turn him into my adorable widdle man-slave. XD

This chapter is dedicated to WolverWolf5 who sent me such a kind and supportive review. I was inspired, touched, and so completely happy when I read it. I was able to push out a ton of ideas for this fic; please remember I will not be abandoning it, and I'm glad that I was able to make someone so happy with my little undeserving tribute to Diane and King. Thank you so much Wolver. I hope you like this next one although it might not be what you were looking forward to.

Before there was Love...:

"Harlequin! Come on! I've been waiting forever!" Elaine shouted from the foot of the stairs. Her youthful features were twisted in a scowl, her white ribbon sandals tapping against the floor furiously. "Harlequin!" She yelled, debating on stomping up the stairs and into his room to drag him out by the ear.

Before she could make good on the threat a head of fine apricot hair popped out from the doorway closest to the stairs. "Ne, Elaine... I've changed my mind." He told her with a yawn. "I don't feel like going."

Twin patches of red bloomed on his sister's cheeks and she huffed noisily, feet slamming down with a snap that reverberated off the walls. "Harlequin!"

With that the boy's room was invaded by a frightful force of blonde-haired fury and he was forced out of his pajamas and into a hooded long sleeved shirt that hung low on him with black shorts that ended just past his knees. He wore a pair of black and white chucks to match and his sister had combed his hair back in an attempt to tame his unruly bangs and cowlick.

They made it downtown by taxi and he reluctantly stepped out and onto the curb in front of an unimpressive structure with chipped bricks, blacked out windows, and tattered welcome mat. A hanging sign over the door that squeaked whenever the wind struck it portrayed a pig with a top hat over the old time letters that spelled, 'Boar's Hat Bar'. There was a line of people waiting to get inside being moderated by a man wearing a sleeveless vest and yellow hair slicked up into a stylized pompadour. It reminded him more of a club than a bar and he huffed in irritation as he followed his sisters lead.

Elaine ignored her brother's disposition with admirable ease, flashing two passes at the doorman. Harlequin scowled as he followed her, his hood falling over his brow. The two looked like minors, both five feet three inches tall, with round pink-cheeked features to match. Their IDs were handed over for inspection at the door past the coat check before they were allowed in the room proper.

The bar was packed. Black top tables crammed with customers while a live band played in a small corner. A dance floor equipped with appropriate lighting was mobbed by a mesh of bodies moving together to match the music's beat. The entire space had a feel of a modern dance club and Harlequin hated to think of his sister becoming a regular in such an environment. He spotted waitresses in short black skirts with pink button tops pacing the floor with trays and notepads. The doors to the back alley exit were flanked by imposing figures. At the bar was a short blonde-haired green-eyed man he recognized. He tapped Elaine's shoulder and pointed the man out when she looked back in confusion. When she spotted the familiar figure behind the counter she nodded in Harlequin's direction and the two headed there, easily fitting between people and making it to the bar without incident.

Meliodas was smiling, friendly, and cheerful when the two stepped up and settled onto a pair of swiveling stools. The bright-eyed owner of the bar greeted them with a wide grin. "King, Elaine! Thanks for coming!"

Harlequin made a noncommittal noise while Elaine smiled prettily as she responded, "Thank you for the invitation Meliodas-san! We appreciate it!"

"No problem. Ban should be due for a break any minute. OI! Useless hog!" He called out suddenly, waving someone over from within the crowd. Harlequin felt his eyes pop dangerously when out of the throng came a tray of plates and empty glasses balanced on the head of a pink pig.

"What is that?!" Harlequin blurted out suddenly and the creature turned it's black eyes on him menacingly. "That's rude you know! I am Master Hawk! Leader of the Scraps Disposal Committee!"

Stunned the young man sheepishly offered an apology. "Ah... yes. Forgive me Master Pig."

"That's Master Hawk!"

"Oi, Useless Pig." Meliodas interrupted. "Not a useless pig!" Hawk snorted back. "Go get Ban." Meliodas continued, unconcerned as he wiped down ale mugs. "Tell him to let Gowther cook for awhile."

"G-Gowther?" King asked, familiar with the glasses-wearing odd young man they mutually knew. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Meliodas thought for a moment. "Mmm.. Yeah. Never mind. See if Escanor would mind cooking."

Hawk left and Meliodas turned to serve some customers on the other edge of the bar. King glanced around, bored, before he crossed his arms and settled them on the surface of the counter and laid his head down. He hated loud places like this. He just wanted to go home and take a nap. Elaine moved beside him and he propped his chin up with his hand to watch her pull out a compact from her purse and frantically check her reflection. Harlequin struggled not to roll his eyes. "Elaine stop. You look fine." She stilled, nodding slightly before putting the case away just in time for a pair of strong arms to wrap around her and lift her off her seat.

"Ban!"

There was no mistaking the happiness in her voice when she said his name like that. Harlequin looked away, disgusted. He was not fond of Ban, the man who had captured his sister's heart, and was even less in favor of watching the man behave affectionately with her. Ban was a giant to Elaine's small self, with hair that rose in white spikes that worked well with his sharp red eyes. He was muscular and well-built though his height gave him a long-limbed appearance. King had to grudgingly admit that his sister could have certainly chosen worse. Ban's devotion to her was apparent, only a fool would dare claim that he would stray. He critically eyed other patrons, giving his sister the small semblance of privacy one could give someone in a bar. It was when he was snorting with disdain over a young man's poor choice of clothing and sipping from a glass Meliodas had set in front of him that a tall figure suddenly slid up beside him to balance her arms on the counter, setting down an empty tray. Heat flooded his senses.

"Captain! Captain! I need four Holy Knights, a Vaizel Midget, and two Captain's Special!"

Harlequin felt himself choke, the burning in his mouth catching in his throat. It suddenly became very difficult for him to swallow. He began coughing painfully, his eyes watering. He distinctly heard Elaine voice an inquiry before Meliodas pushed a chaser towards him and King grasped at it desperately, gulping it down madly.

The violet-eyed waitress that had shocked him was leaning over, her features twisted to show her concern while she held a gentle hand to his shoulder. "Are...are you alright?" She asked hesitantly, unsure of what could have caused his episode.

King's face was florid and he could practically feel steam coming out of his ears. "Brother?" Elaine's scrunched features, reaching for him, Ban's arms still wrapped around her middle. King swallowed thickly. He couldn't do it. He couldn't speak. Ducking his head he gripped the edge of the counter with fingers that were slick with sweat. He heard Elaine reassure the brown-haired beauty who seemed uneasy about leaving him but finally conceded, grabbing the full tray of drinks and prancing back into the crowds.

"Brother, are you alright?"

"Ah...Yeah..." He could breathe now that the lovely woman was no longer so close but he still felt as if someone had hammered on his chest and set his ears on fire. "Don't worry about him Elaine." Ban sang, his voice full of repressed laughter. King managed a dark glare in his direction before sliding from the stool. "I'll be right back." He muttered.

"Good luck!" Ban teased while Elaine watched her brother with a small smile. King left them with a rude gesture directed at his sister's boyfriend. He caught the sight of brown hair pulled into twin ponytails easily as the waitress was taller than most of the other women in the area. He headed towards her with a nervous twist of his collar. She was pretty, with a curvy figure that was only enhanced by the club uniform. Her eyes were a shimmering lavender that reflected the lights of the room alluringly. Before he knew it he was at her back as she finished handing out drinks to a table and he felt himself go weak in the knees.

"Ah, Excuse me."

She turned, eyes narrowed before lighting with recognition. "Ah, you were the one choking at the bar. Are you alright now?" While her consideration was appreciated he couldn't stop the embarrassed blush that stained his cheeks. "Uhm... yeah." The lump in his throat was back, making it difficult to speak while his mind seemed to be overloading. His chest tightened and the rapid beating of his heart was starting to get deafening. He didn't know what about her had attracted him so but he was stuck from the moment he heard her speak. He started to feel overwhelmed. Thinking was no longer operational. So he decided to go with feeling.

"W-will you please go out with me!?" He blurted out in a near gasp, arms rigidly pinned to his sides, back straight, standing on his tip-toes. His heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his eardrums. Sweat collected along his hairline and he prayed he wasn't coming off as too desperate. Her eyes widened, her brows rising. For a single moment of time that felt the length of an eternity they were stuck in a frozen instance, their eyes locked, one cautiously hopeful and the other in confused surprise. Just as King thought his heart might give out she brilliantly smiled at him and he felt a leap in his chest. Such a beautiful look, emitting such radiance, and he smiled back, relieved, as she said-

"I'm sorry! But my heart belongs to the Captain!"

H-huh?

She continued to smile, blissfully unaware of the impact of her words. "You're nice to ask but my dream is to be with the Captain forever. I'm so sorry!"

She left him with a wink and he stared after her with his mouth hanging open, eyes distraught, and the sound of Ban's open-mouthed laughter ringing from the bar.

OWARI

Hmm... Yeah. So this one is based on my watching the Vaizel Festival episode(s) again and kind of wanting to do a fic where Diane completely dismisses King in favor of Meliodas. She did this rather often in the beginning of the series and I notice that it's not mentioned as much anymore. I personally liked that Diane was crushing hard on Meliodas before she realized she loved King. I'm sorry it's short but that's kind of the point of this challenge for me so sorry for letting people down. I see that little Elaine and Ban shoulder angels decided to dominate this chapter and I'm disappointed in myself for that but at the same time I say Why not?

Next one will be the half-way mark! I should do something special huh? Lol. I hope you're all looking forward to it! It's going to be SUPAH MEGA fluffy!

Only sixteen more to go!