Can I Keep You?

Chapter 6

Meliodas hummed happily as he carried food stuffs on one shoulder and a barrel under his arm in from the pantry from behind the tavern. He was in a fine mood... despite the nasty bruise forming on his face and the number of lumps on his head from the numerous punches Diane had thrown at him on his return to the tavern last night.

Nope, he was in the brightest of spirits and even the side glares he received from Diane and Hawk couldn't bring him down, not that he had ever let them affect his mood anyways.

They were preparing for opening early today as they had begun to move on to the next town before it was time to open. It wasn't far. It would take no more than a few hours at the rate Mama hawk was trotting. Tomorrow they would be in Camelot.

Merlin had already sent word ahead to Arthur to let him know of their arrival. She also warned him that Meliodas would be coming to meet with him early to discuss private matters.

Elizabeth wiped down the bar diligently, scrubbing around Ban as he lounged about while the others were cleaning, "Are you really leaving us today, Sir Ban?" her towel came to rest in front of him and he peered up at her from his place on his folded arms.

"Yup. But don't sweat it. I'll be back before anyone can miss my sorry ass." He cracked a lopsided grin.

She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "What is it that you're leaving for, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Huh?" He sat up, sizing up her curious glance then avoided it, twisting his pinky in his ear, "I'm going to see an old friend, is all."

"By that, he means he's going to see his girlfriend," Meliodas sidestepped a suddenly airborne mug flying at his face and grinned wickedly at the fox sin who had thrown it. "So you can go airing everyone else's dirty laundry but we can't return the favor? That's low captain." Ban growled with a straight face.

Meliodas merely shrugged, ending what sounded like a very intriguing conversation.

Meliodas had secrets no one was allowed to tell her? He was so forthcoming with everything; it had never occurred to her that he might keep anything from her. Though, he had a right to keep some things to himself, right? It's not like they knew each other very well.

It wasn't like she knew herself at all! Her thoughts caused a soft blush to spread over her cheeks and Meliodas watched her curiously with a raised brow.

"I don't really mind you heading out. I'm just curious about the timing."

Ban managed to shoot Meliodas a devilish smile, "You have your secrets, I've got mine."

Meliodas stretched over the counter, grabbing two mugs, "Fair enough." His voice monotone, as Elizabeth brought over a bottle of beer for him and he poured the contents into the two mugs, then passed one to Ban. They smiled at each other and clanked mugs. Ever the best friends...

"Who's going to cook my scraps now?" Hawk whined, trotting sadly in from outside. He, what Elizabeth could only assume, had been conversing with his giant mother and letting her know where to go.

"Master, you could use a few days away from the scraps. You're getting kinda fat."

Hawk squealed angrily, "You take that back!" He was trying to climb and attack Ban with everything he had, hoofs flying. Ban needed only to hold him back with a finger against his snout.

Meliodas and Elizabeth shared a smile before she giggled at their antics. How could anyone NOT miss a single person from this group? Each of the sins brought something special to the mix. A necessary piece to a whole that would not be the same if one was missing.