Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Seven Deadly Sins: Zeldris x OC)

Chapter 3

"A lady is inside the freaking pod! It's a monster!" Hawks yelled as he scuttled away. King and Elizabeth were taken aback while Merlin leaned forward with an intrigued look.

A girl who looked to be around Elizabeth's age lay in the shattered remains of her capsule, her breathing deep and even as if she were just sleeping. Her dark gray waves of hair brushed against her rosy cheeks, her black dress spreading out around her legs. A single tulip was clasped between her hands, which rested on her navel, and as the group watched all of the petals suddenly wilted and fell away.

"Good afternoon, sleepyhead," Meliodas murmured as he brushed the back of his fingers gently across her face, a conflicted expression on his face. "Open your eyes for me... Andrea."

With those words, the girl's eyelashes began to flutter.

"She's waking up!" Elizabeth gasped, rushing forward to sit the girl up in case she hurt herself on the shards of wood surrounding her.

"Princess, be more careful-" King warned a moment before Andrea's eyes completely opened. Eyes like creamy hot chocolate stared at the girl in front of her, their brown depths widening as she took in the platinum silver hair and familiar face.

"Ellie...?" she murmured softly, disbelief lacing her voice.

"I'm afraid that you may be mistaking me for someone else... My name is Elizabeth," Elizabeth explained gently, masking her confusion.

"Elizabeth... My apologies," Andrea said as she rubbed her eyes, then stretched to pop the aches out of her joints. Finally, she turned towards the blond male crouched beside her. "Well, what're you waiting for, Meli?" she asked with a teasing grin.

"Andreaaaaaa!" Meliodas cried out as he tackled both girls to the ground. He nuzzled his head affectionately against Andrea's soft hair as he nearly squeezed the life out of her.

"Time out, time out," she wheezed, patting Meliodas's back. "I just might fall back into a coma if you keep this up."

"Whoops," Meliodas chuckled sheepishly as he sat up, helping both girls back up.

"So who the heck is she?" Hawks asked, finally mustering up the courage to snuffle Andrea's fingers.

"Awwwwww! It's a talking pig!" Andrea squealed as she glomped Hawks, laughing as he squealed in panic.

"She's a vegetarian, porkie. Your loin is safe where it is now," Meliodas teased, then hopped to his feet. "Guys, this is Andrea, my darling little sister!" he declared, gesturing towards the smiling girl.

.
.
.

"Sisterrrrrr?!?" the entire group, save for Merlin, shouted in disbelief, looking fervently between the two.

"What the heck?! You guys don't look alike at all! She's tall, for one!" Hawks argued.

"We're not blood related," Andrea explained.

"I picked her up one day and just decided to adopt her!" Meliodas followed up with a nod.

"More like I picked you up when I found you at the edge of my forest, about to starve to death because you can't cook to save your life," Andrea jabbed.

"Trivial details," Meliodas said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Um... Lady Andrea?" Elizabeth asked tentatively.

"Just Andrea is good, Elizabeth," Andrea replied. "What is it?"

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly refer to Sir Meliodas's precious sister so casually! ...If I may be so bold, why were you in that wooden leaf bud?" Elizabeth questioned.