Title: Not According to Plan

Theme: #14 Radio Cassette Player

Fandom: Nanatsu no Taizai/Seven Deadly Sins

Pairing: KingxDiane

Note: AU. Simple one this time around. This also signals the last of the AU's for this challenge. The last three chapters will be set in the canon-verse.

Disclaimer: Oh the many things I would do to King if I owned him... I do know I don't own Meant to Be by BeBe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line. It's a catchy song tho.

Not According to Plan:

King opened the passenger door of the rundown '58 Bel Air miserably, ducking his head to avoid looking into the eyes of the drenched girl in front of him as she stiffly sat down in the car. When he was sure she'd had enough time to place her legs in the car he shut the door and the resounding slam as it echoed off the walls of the empty strip mall parking lot felt like a premonition of the future for the relationship he had been trying to nurture. The rain didn't let up as he dragged his feet to the other side of the vehicle, the sad droop of his rear bumper only making him feel even more dismal when he glanced at it. He took a deep breath before tugging on the latch of the driver side door and slipping in. He shrunk into his seat, drops of water trickling down from his fringe and over his rubbed raw red nose. The girl next to him said nothing but he could tell she was shivering. Mutely he started the car so that he could get the heater running.

As he fiddled with the dials there was a noise like a hum and he dared to peek at the figure next to him. Violet eyes caught his and quickly turned to stare out the window. Heat rushed into his cheeks and he thought he might cry. She didn't even want to look at him. His chest constricted and he blinked rapidly to fight the tears.

The date hadn't gone as planned at all. It was so pathetic that if he wasn't living the shame firsthand then King would swear he was in a ridiculous romantic comedy. The day had started promising enough. After many failed attempts to catch her attention the waitress of the Boar's Hat Bar had finally offered him the time of day, agreeing to an outing after he had comforted her hurt feelings over seeing her old crush happy with her friend Elizabeth. She had seemed cheery enough to see him when he picked her up in his Uncle's old car, the rustic look giving the vehicle charm as she had commented teasingly.

Then things seemed to turn for no reason whatsoever.

First they had gone to the movies only to discover that King had somehow managed to lose his wallet. Diane offered to pay but King couldn't stomach the idea of letting her pay. Instead he drove her to the seaside carnival where his friend Helbram worked for the summer and who could discreetly pass King some money. The outing seemed to lift when he bought her a stick of cotton candy that was bigger than her head. They rode several rides and even managed to enjoy themselves on most of them until King's stomach had finally had enough and he puked a mix of carnival fries and hot dogs onto the pavement. Diane, worried for him, had suggested they go back to the car to rest. King was humiliated beyond belief but he went along with it because he didn't want to make her feel worse than she appeared to. He rested and they enjoyed a nice talk about themselves before he felt ready to go back in to the fair. At the gate they made another unpleasant discovery. Once a person exited the carnival they were not permitted back in without paying. King had almost wept right then and there. He didn't have enough money to buy two more entry passes and tickets for the rides. Diane had grabbed his arm and requested that they go back to the car. As is the natural order of things, at that exact moment there was a crack of thunder and the two of them were drenched in minutes. They tried to get back to the car but with the rain came all carnival-goers as they scrambled to their own vehicles and by the time they made it to the car the two were soaked through and completely chilled.

The inside of the car was as silent as it could possibly be.

King struggled with the idea of what he could say to her but every time he opened his mouth all he could think of was how long he had been head over heels for her before she had actually said yes to him and now on their very first date he had managed to show her the worst time. He felt like such a failure.

Finally panic began to set in as the ringing quiet of the car sent his mind into a frenzy and he frantically smashed the power button on the old car stereo just for the sheer sake of doing something. There was a whirring of electronic sounds and a pop that made the two occupants of the car jump and then a soft whining before finally there was a click from the tape deck slot and music began to play.

Baby, lay on back and relax, kick your pretty feet up on my dash

No need to go nowhere fast, let's enjoy right here where we at

Who knows where this road is supposed to lead

We got nothing but time

As long as you're right here next to me, everything's gonna be alright

"He really made himself an eight track with all the current pop songs?" King muttered grumpily to himself. Only his eccentric uncle Dahlia would still be making mix-tapes for such an outdated piece of hardware. There was a giggle from Diane and King's head whirled in her direction, his eyes comically wide and his mouth slack as he wondered how she could possibly be laughing in such a situation. Her face was alight with humor as she shyly pointed at the stereo. "It's kind of appropriate isn't it?"

If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be

Baby, just let it be

If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be

Baby, just let it be

So, won't you ride with me, ride with me?

See where this thing goes

If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be

Baby, if it's meant to be

King's mouth worked itself into a half-smile, his cheeks warming as he turned his gaze down into his lap. The song, for some reason, was right on the mark. The day wasn't over yet. So things hadn't worked out so far. It was fine. There was always the sun at the end of the clouds. While there was no telling if he and Diane would work out in the long run that didn't mean he couldn't look forward to what the future had in store. Not only that but she didn't look like a girl that was forcing herself to remain in his company. If she really hated spending time with him she would have asked to go home already. It was one of the things he loved about her. She wasn't brutally blunt but she was honest.

King felt a jolt when freezing fingers brushed his knuckles from where his hand rested on the stick shift. "Di-Diane! Your hands are freezing!" He observed incredulously as Diane sharply reared her hand back. She was blushing.

"I-I'm sorry!"

"No! I-ah..wait." So flustered he couldn't even manage a proper word King instead reached out quickly and awkwardly clasped her fingers between his palms. "I-uh..Here."

He tugged her arms forward to place them in the direct path of heat from the vents and began gently rubbing her hands. He sighed deeply, expression despondent as he focused on his task.

"I'm sorry Diane."

Violet eyes framed by full lashes looked at the face of the young man. With his hair only partially dry and nose red he was a sorry sight. Diane had met him several months ago and her first impression hadn't been spectacular at all but he was genuinely sweet, something she had noticed over time as he made frequent trips to the Boar's Hat Bar. He was usually accompanied by his sister who was dating her coworker Ban, a man she didn't have a high opinion of. King was always a stuttering mess as he attempted to pull her into conversation but he did try. He had also been there the night when Diane was made aware of the relationship between her friend Elizabeth and her boss and long-time crush Meliodas. King had been furious with Meliodas in her stead and was there to comfort her afterwards when she had sat on the back stairs of the bar next to the dumpster and cried. He had supported her feelings for Meliodas, encouraging her throughout their friendship despite his own feelings. He had never pushed her outside of his first time asking her out and instead tried to be her friend. When he had suggested that they go out with friends to the movies it was her who had changed the status quo and instead requested that they go out together.

The day hadn't gone to plan. But he had tried so hard. And he was doing it all for her.

"Don't be." She gently replied, feeling particularly honored that a man was willing to be so invested in showing her a good time. Not for the first time she was impressed with how earnestly he cared about her. "Just because things haven't been perfect doesn't mean I haven't had fun."

At the hopeful but disbelieving look he offered her she smiled and leaned forward to place a soft lingering kiss on his cheek. "I'm really glad I came out with you today."

King stared at her in shock for a full minute before his face exploded in a burst of red. Diane let out a small concerned cry as King's head dropped back in a faint.

"King!? King!?"

Outside the car the rain had ceased and the clouds began to part, allowing a myriad of sunbeams to highlight and warm the world around them and the music in the car continued to play, the outdated cassette player skipping on occasion.

If it's meant to be it'll be,

So baby just let it be...

OWARI

Yet another one that can be set in the AU I created for these two in this challenge. Simple one this time around because as much as I love stretching themes, this one was rather specific and I didn't want to make it too unrecognizable. Also since we know absolutely nothing about the Fairy King after Gloxinia I decided to make him a wacky old uncle in this fic.

P.S: Did some minor editing to Kiss 26.

Twenty-seven down. I'm starting to feel sad about reaching the end. Only three more to go!