Our First Fall (Melizabeth)

30. Bubbling Pastries

Our days were lazy, filled with soft touches and easy peace. I wanted them to last forever, to stretch them. The city was so far removed from the war it was easy to fall into a state of denial. Meliodas admitted it would be so simple to wash our hands of the rest of the world, but those fantasies shattered the illusion, making it harder for both of us.

Today though, it didn't matter. Estarossa ran after a stick and Meliodas wrestled it from him. He would return it just to throw it again. We were waiting for Merlin and her father in her front yard. Her home, a two-story brick complex, was connected on either side by two other identical houses. The street was empty as the square had drawn everyone in because of its bustling activity.

"I've never been to a Festival before," I told Meliodas, excited to experience one. "The Goddess Clan did ceremonies and such but I've only ever known the world as a war zone." His spine straightened, he threw the stick and looked back at me with widened eyes.

"I... knew that, but I didn't think of it that way before." He admitted, scratching at his head over his ear. "This treaty is the first peace you've known?"

"Yeah." I smiled, "You gave me that." He looked pleased and it's so rare to see him grow pink I marveled at him. The dog barked and our shared moment popped. I looked down at my shoes. I'd worn a demon-dress today, low cut and a slit up to my thighs on either side. With a little self-conscious tug, I pulled my dress down to cover a little more, inevitably showing a little more up top.

The door opened behind me and I turned, Merlin grinned to us as she stepped down, guiding the wheelchair with the handles. Meliodas breezed by to take over and lift Gregory to the pathway over the step with a steadier control than Merlin managed.

"Thank you." Gregory's raspy voice said, his sagging face with discolored blotches twisted into a smile up at Meliodas. I waved, coming forward to take Meliodas' arm, ready to set out. Merlin pushed her father as she told us about her latest experiments and stopped to greet Estarossa with under the ear pets. "I don't know how you got so lucky," Gregory said and I looked over to see who he was speaking too.

He was doing better. The madness always eased back in. With each day I fought it, it came back quicker than the last. Gregory's beady eyes were looking at Meliodas and I flushed as Meliodas took my hand to interweave our fingers between us.

"She came to me, can you believe that?" Meliodas joked, eyes dancing with joy when he looked over at me.

"Lies!" Gregory admonished, his hand rose from the blanket in his lap to wave the absurdity away. "You should have to fight armies of men to earn your place at her side."

"Oh!" I exclaimed, my face burned as Meliodas laughed.

"Don't think I won't!" He vowed, "Now eyes to yourself old man, I don't care the shape your in!" Gregory laughed with him and I turned to Merlin with wide eyes for help or at least companionable exasperation. She shrugged, gripping the wheelchair again and pushed him down the street.

"Do you hear that, Merlin?" Gregory asked, looking back at his daughter with a smile.

"I did Papa." Merlin answered, "Sis-sis does look good. Confidence becomes her." She smirked.

"Stop talking as if I'm not here!" I huffed, wondering if I was more confident? Had the exploration of my sexuality affected how I carried myself? I looked down at my dress. Maybe I shouldn't have chosen this one today. Meliodas squeezed my hand and I met his eyes.

"You're exquisite," he spoke, and I flushed as his free hand came up to squeeze my breast.

"Young man!" Gregory scolded, more energy exuded than I've seen from him in days. Meliodas dropped his groping, my eyes wide.