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"I don't get it." Was a sentence you were not expecting to get said as you were tucked in the corner of the Boar's Hat bar. You slowly looked up from your book to see Meliodas, your leader and current benefactor staring down at you. Honestly, you didn't have to look too far up, he was the pint-sized captain after all. "I'm sorry Meliodas, did I miss something?" You slowly set your book down in your lap and turned your full attention.

In response, his hands that had been set on his hips crossed and he cocked his head. You didn't really understand what all this posturing was for. "It's like I said, I just don't get it. Why are you curled up on yourself all the time?"

"I...don't want to take up room that your customers should have when they visit your bar." Even on your tongue that sounded like more of a question than an answer. You peered over his shoulder and spied into the gap to the kitchen where you saw Ban shamelessly popping himself a bottle while he cooked for the patrons. "Speaking of that, shouldn't you be pouring right now--?", "That's not what matters here!"

Suddenly, you were caged under the Sin of Wrath as he stared wide-eyed down you. You blinked back up at him, your hands itching and ready to raise the book on your lap to smack him aside if he wanted to try playing any of his little tricks on you. You weren't the princess, you wouldn't hesitate even if he was the one providing for you. "It's not just when we're open, you do it aaaaaall the time. You stand hunched in the back and you don't talk most of the time! What is it? Are you being pushed around?"

"Not by anyone other than you." You shot back at without mercy. You ignore his whine about "How mean you were being" and smiled all the same.

For a moment, you thought you dodged the topic.

Then he was leaning in closer to you, you could feel the weight of him over you as he continued to ignore the basic premise of personal space. He smells nice, you noticed in a haze. Like freshly cut wood and the light bitterness of the ale he served. It was a good smell, you decided. The magic was quickly shattered. "Is it because of your weight?"

This tactless little--! You snatched the book from your lap and raised it up to hit him when all of a sudden he was gone from you and rinsing out tankards as if the interaction never happened. You eyed him with suspicion. You got the feeling that wasn't going to be the end of it. You let your eyes linger for a bit longer than what was strictly necessary before turning back and cracking open the story he had interrupted.

You failed to notice his eyes were glittering with purpose.

It started to happen a bit later. Little things you didn't expect, minor acts of kindness and compliments began to find their way into your routine. It almost seemed like a kneejerk reaction at this point. The moment you came down from your room upstairs, hair a tangled mess of bed head he would greet you cheerfully as "beautiful."

Other times you would be passing by him as you waited tables and as you passed he would let you know what a good job you were doing and how yes that guy was totally looking at your butt.

You didn't get it. Now you were the one confused.

You weren't the most confident in yourself, doubly so when someone like Elizabeth was around with her flawless skin and perfect body, but you weren't so insecure than you needed constant reassurance in your appearance the way he seemed to think you did. Still, you couldn't deny how nice it felt. It felt...good to be told how nice you looked. You were worried, maybe you were more starved for reassurance than you realized.

It felt like you were going around in circles so to finally put an end to it, you decided to confront Meliodas when the others had gone out to shop at the latest stop the Boar's Hat made.

He had just finished polishing the counter when your hands slammed down on it. His emerald eyes stared down for a minute before slowly traveling up to meet yours with a bright cheery grin. "Hey-ho, (Name)-eyo! You didn't go out with the others?"

"You know I didn't, you're the one who said it would be best if I hung back." You deadpanned before giving him an intent look. You knew he could tell where this was going and by the way he seemed to shift on his feet he didn't want the conversation to happen. He wasn't going to derail you before you even got started. "I want an honest answer, Captain. What's gotten into you recently? Every other sentence that comes out of your mouth is some kind of compliment. I don't know why you're doing this." He blinked numbly in response. "You don't?"

"I wouldn't be asking if I knew!" You steamed but then like magic the blonde had hopped the counter and was suddenly getting very handsy with you. His hands groped and stroked over the curves and roles your extra weight gave you looking all too pleased. "Meliodas what are you doing--?!"

"Shh. I want you to just look at this." Against your better judgment, you complied. It did feel nice having him pet you, after all. His hands were almost massaging you as he began to speak again. "You don't notice it the way I do. I see how you hide your body in loose clothes and try not to stand out. I dunno why. You're soft in all the right places. I love your shape."

His words were accompanied by a squeeze that made you let out a short squeak and whirl on him, only for him to pop up at your other side. He nuzzled his short frame up against your side and looked up at you smugly. "I like all of this. All your jiggly bits. And I don't want you to think badly about yourself, even if you don't really notice you're doing it in the first place.

The honesty in her words and the way he looked up at you had whatever retort you were planning die on your tongue. All he wanted was for you to feel as beautiful as he saw you to be.

No more, no less.

Letting out an exasperated sigh you let your arms enclose around him in a nice tight hug, that the Sin had no problem in returning. "You could have just said so from the start you know. It would have saved me from thinking you lost your mind."

"I did. I am absolutely crazy about you." He retorted completely straight face and had you cracking up with giggles in his arms. "What are you even saying?!"

"I'm saying I love you." Came his sincere answer. In response you just cuddled him in closer, turning to press a kiss in his sunny hair.

"And 'sides, a guy like me will always want a little cushion for the pushin', with my muscle I would bruise your--"

"BY THE GLORY OF LIONES SHUT UP MELIODAS."