Falling Into Oslo

Snap!

Her words tumbled around in Meliodas' mind. 'I've been in worse situations before!' It made him curious; and not in a wondering way. In a nervous, panicked way. What other situations? He thought, and got out of his chair.
"Come on! We've held off going to the next town because of Kate's arrival, but let's round everyone up and get going!" Meliodas smiled, standing up.
"Are we taking Kate?" Elizabeth asked. It had been an hour since the girl ran out.
"Yeah, I'll go find her. You guys find Merlin and the rest," Meliodas called as he walked out the door. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he wandered around, the tavern getting farther and farther, smaller and smaller. Beginning to get worried, he picked up his pace to a jog, looking from side to side for the teenage girl. Not seeing anything, he began to run. This damned girl is always making me panic! He thought, looking around once more. But then, he heard it. Quiet, but there. Crying. Slowing to a walk, he came to a dip in the land and peeked over the edge. Kate sat at the bottom with her head in her hands, curled up against the rocks. Her sweater was torn on her shoulders and longer one ran across the bottom, exposing her stomach. Her pants were in the same state. From the skin showing, bruises and cuts stood out against her light skin, the biggest two on her stomach and her head, both bleeding profusely and, from the looks of them, quite deep. About to slide down the hill, Meliodas prepared himself. But as soon as he was about to come to her rescue, Kate stood up, sniffed and began walking up the hill.
"Crap! I don't wanna look like I was watching her!" Meliodas hissed through his teeth, taking off the other way from Kate. As soon as he was far enough, he turned around, shoved his hands in his pockets and began walking back towards Kate, whistling a random tune. He looked around, surveying the landscape before "finding" Kate.
"Oh hey, Kate! I was just looking for you! We're about to head off to the next town," he smiled, walking up towards the girl. She looked at him for a time, narrowing her eyes. She walked around him, carefully picking out every detail before smiling.
"Alright! Come on!" She said, and grabbed his wrist before running the other way. She laughed as she dragged Meliodas along, while the blonde haired boy just smiled goofily, which soon turned into a smirk. He yanked Kate backwards into his arms, and went full speed, everything whizzing past in a hodgepodge of colors, Kate, too stunned to do anything except wrap her arms around his neck. Meliodas looked at her wide eyes, her partly opened mouth, and smiled. He made her look at the land in awe. After what seemed too short, Meliodas arrived at the Boar's Hat, and set Kate carefully on the grass. Just as he did, the ground began to rumble, surprising the girl who scooted back against Meliodas' legs, the boy standing with a huge smile. Then, air rushed past the pair and they landed with a boom. "W-what just happened?" Kate said, her voice high and fearful.
"Hawk Momma is ready to go!" Meliodas smiled down at Kate, who was clutching his feet like a small child.
"What does that mean?!" She yelled, letting go of his legs. He chuckled.
"You may want to grab onto to something, the first time's a little rough!" He laughed as Kate threw her arms around his legs again as Hawk Momma took a step.
"WE'RE ON A GIANT PIG?!" She screeched, closing her eyes. Meliodas stared quizzically down at her.
"Do you not have them in Wisconsin?" He asked, lifting up one eyebrow.
"No!" Kate screamed as Hawk Momma picked up the pace.
"How do you get around then?" He snorted. Kate looked up at him.
"Please tell me you have cars," she groaned, slumping against his shins.
"Ca-ars?" He said quietly, testing the word.
"You have phone chargers, right?!" Kate begged, turning around and sitting on her shins. Meliodas shook his head.
"We don't have any of your Wisconsin 'Ca-ars' or 'Phony-Cargers here!" He laughed. Kate's face turned pale.
"So once my phone dies, I can't call my mom? Or-or any of my friends?" She asked quietly. Meliodas' face softened, sitting down next to the girl who was slowly closing down on herself.
"I-I... maybe Merlin- would a-" he sighed. "Kate... I'm sorry. I wish that I could get you back right now... Wait!" He said, jumping up. Turning around and swinging the tavern door open, he looked wildly around the room.
"Merlin! Could you cast a spell that could send Kate back?" He asked, a huge grin on his face. The woman just sipped her drink and shook her head.
"Can't transport people to worlds I don't know the exact address of," she said bluntly, taking another swig.
"Address?" King whispered quietly to Ban.
"Oh. Ok, thank you Miss Merlin," Kate said softly from the doorframe. She was hunched over, looking deflated. "I'm going to bed. Thanks for all your help," she mumbled with a small smile. The Sins nodded quietly.
"Wait! We need to take care of your injuries!" Diane called through the window, pointing at the pale girl.
"N-no, I've been worse," Kate smiled, and slowly headed up the stairs, each step creaking as she placed her foot on it. The Sins glanced at each other, confused looks on their faces.
"What does she mean by 'I've been worse'?" Hawk asked the question on all of their minds.
"The real question is, what has this girl been through?" Meliodas muttered.
"No, the question we should be asking is 'who is she'?" Gowther countered.
"Both." Elizabeth said and started talking to Hawk.
"I'll go dress her wounds," King said and hugged his pillow to his chest. Meliodas followed him up the stairs.
"What, is something wrong Captain?" He asked irritably.
"Just wanna make sure you don try anything," he said, absent minded. King's face turned a bright red.
"You're the one who would try something, Captain!" King shouted, clutching his pillow tighter. Captain shrugged and continued to climb the stairs. Grabbing the first aid kit from the bathroom, they checked to make sure the girl was fully asleep. After clapping quite loudly in her ear for ten minutes, they nodded and started to work, addressing the jagged gash on Kate's stomach. Getting a cloth and pouring some alcohol onto it, King carefully started to dab the irritated cut. Meliodas held Kate's hand, and as soon as the cloth touched the cut, his hand was squeezed with such strength that his knuckles cracked and Kate sat bolt upright, gasping. Looking down, she saw King's hand and followed it to his body.
"Ow," she growled through her teeth, snatching the cloth out of his hand. Pulling her hand out of Meliodas', she carefully started to expertly dab the cut, hissing at the contact. Her face changed into one of focus as she stuck her tongue out and narrowed her eyes. She pursed her lips together and puffed out her cheeks slightly. Meliodas studied her expression, a laugh building in his throat. She just looked so funny. But then, she smiled as she handed the red cloth to King, and held her hand out.
"Gauze." she said. The two boys stared at her. "Are you stupid? I need some gauze guys! I don't wanna disturb the wound right after cleaning it!" She grumbled, annoyance hinting in her tone. Shaking himself out of his daze, King supplied her with the white bandages.
"Um, you don't have to answer, but how did you learn to do this?" He asked quietly, Kate's face going back into one of absolute focus. One Meliodas found absolutely hilarious, his cheeks turning red from holding in his laughter.
"Busy," Kate grunted, gently putting on the gauze. She looked up smiling.
"There, happy?" She asked, gesturing to her bare stomach. She had ripped the bottom of the sweater off for easier access.
"No, we'll do the one on your head now, then the ones on your arms and legs," Meliodas stated, grabbing more supplies. They spent the next hour bickering on how to properly dress a wound, King silently handing Meliodas gauze and alcohol soaked clothes.
"There! Now, if you'll excuse me, I will be on my phone. Talking to my friends. Who are in another world. Bye!" She waved, and gave each of them a shove to which only King complied.
"I wanna see how this Phony works," Meliodas smiled, and jumped onto the bed next to Kate, who quietly scooted over. Meliodas followed, peeking over her shoulder at the black screen. Kate scooted over a foot, and Meliodas once again copied. Sighing, Kate started to scoot over, but with a squeal, fell off the bed and onto the floor, a loud thud following.
"I think your Phony is broken- what're you doing down there? The bed is much more comfortable! Oh well, I come and join you," he sighed and rolled off the bed. With no time to react, Kate could only let a squeak out as Meliodas fell on top of her. Grunting, she tried to push herself up, but to no avail. Throwing her arms out in front of her with a sigh, she clicked the home button the screen lighting up with her screen saver. Meliodas gasped, placing his chin on her head. Kate giggled and placed her thumb on the Touch ID and after a second, the home screens opened up, and another gasp was heard. Kate smiled.
"So, what do you wanna know?" She asked, inhaling. After a few seconds, Meliodas spoke.
"Who is that on your, uh... the thing that appeared when it lit up?" He asked, pointing at Brian. Kate let a dreamy smile come over her face.
"He's my boy-" she cut herself off as her throat closed up. Her eyes began to water. "He was my boyfriend," she said softly, placing her pointer finger on the picture.
"Was?" Meliodas asked.
"I... found him kissing-why am I telling you this?! I've only you for, like, a day and a half!" She yelled. Huffing, she opened the Photos app. "Let's change it, huh? Smile!" She said, looked up to see Meliodas looking down. She took the picture with a snap! Meliodas looked back at the screen in surprise, mouth open slightly. "This time, actually smile!" She laughed, and a small, shy smile came over her face. Meliodas grinned, tilting his head to one side. Snap!
"I wanna Phony!" Meliodas laughed. Kate rolled her eyes with a smile. They took more pictures, silly ones with their tongues out, ones where they're grinning, ones where their laughing with red faces from something stupid the other one said.
"It's... not... Phony!" Kate laughed, bringing a smile to Meliodas' face.
"Then what is it?" He asked.
"Phone. No 'ee' anywhere in there!" Kate snorted.
"Ohhh," Meliodas rolled his eyes as he drew out the word. Kate laughed and opened texting, and the first thing she saw was the text messages from Brian and Vanessa. Then, her friends Heather, Anthony, Abigail, Michael, Ethan, Alex and Adam who had stayed close to Kate even after the breakup had texted her, asking if she was ok. No, not at all guys, she thought, scrolling through.
"What this about Brian kissing Vanessa?" Meliodas asked, making Kate jump; she forgot he was there, even though he was in top on of her (Get your mind outta the gutter, ya filthy animals).
"Uh-you weren't-she- I... don't know," Kate sighed shakily.
"Well, you shouldn't be friends with her. She kissed your boyfriend. You shouldn't date Brian either. He kissed your best friend," Meliodas said easily.
"But it's not that simple!" Kate whined. He looked down and she looked up.
"How is it not?" He asked. Struggling for words, Kate waved her hand in the air only to end up sighing and shrugging. Before they could continue, the door opened.
"Captain, we're here- whoops! Was I interrupting something?" Ban asked cheekily. Kate's face turned redder than red and she tried to shove Meliodas off to get to Ban. Meliodas just smiled at the man.
"No, but come check out Kate's Phony-phone!" He corrected himself. Shrugging, Ban hopped right on top of Meliodas, crushing the air out of Kate's lungs.
"Oo! Kate, let's take some pictures with Ban!" Meliodas grinned. Slowly, Kate opened her camera, and Ban gasped. Smiling, she took the picture. Then, they all looked at each other. Snap! Then they laughed. Snap! They grinned. They stuck their tongues out, and Meliodas and Ban said something to make Kate's face red. The last picture was all of them smiling, Ban with his crooked, fanged smile. Meliodas with his cheeky grin, and Kate with a shy smile. Soon enough, each one of the people, even Diane and Hawk joined the picture taking, and Kate's phone was filled with silly selfies and moments of craziness. She scrolled through the pictures later that night while Meliodas was sleeping, a small smile on her features. She paused at one. She was smiling at the camera, but Meliodas was looking at her with a small smile. It was just like Kate had been in the picture with Brian; ecstatic. Except it wasn't her. She smiled and started to make a collage of all the pictures of the day. Entering the Settings app, she chose Wallpaper, and then Choose From Camera Roll. She chose the collage, fitted it, and when it asked her 'Set home, set lock screen, set both,' she paused before hitting 'Set Home'. She started making another collage. The ones of just her and Meliodas. That was her lock screen. Sighing she turned her phone off. 60%. I gotta use that sparingly, she thought. Curling up against Meliodas who was snoring with his arm around her, she smiled. Maybe Meliodas wasn't as clueless about relationships as he seemed. Maybe she shouldn't date Brian, like he said.