"Sir Meliodas..really? Why are you dressing me up like this again? You never dress Ellie up!" Adelina said as she tugged one of the boots up her leg angrily.
"It's for a good cause Adelina. We're raising money to help rebuild the kingdom after what happened. Besides, Elizabeth is spending time with King Bartra and her sisters."
Adelina watched Meliodas with an emotionless face as he wiped down the bar, crossing her legs before her arms.
He sighed feeling his gaze on him and looked up. "I thought maybe, dressing up, getting into the holiday spirit and selling mystery presents to people may keep your mind off of things."
She sunk down in her seat slightly, lowering her arms and letting her defenses down. "I'm doing better Meliodas. I promise."
"You may think you're a good liar Adelina. But you never have been." Her head snapped up as he hopped over the bar and came to sit beside her.
"Do you remember? When we met?"
"Baste-" She froze at his harsh look and she sighed.
"I was beginning to think you were the one who didn't remember."
400 years ago
It was three hundred years after Adelina left her realm in search of her king. Two hundred years before meeting Lily.
Adelina had been cold and starving and wandering into a small pub, a flimsy red cloak thrown over her head and wings.
She sat down at a table and sighed in relief as warmth fanned her skin.
"This seat taken?" She looked up and met eyes with a small blonde boy with brilliant green eyes.
"Aren't you a little young to be in here?"
"Isn't that cloak a little light to keep your wings from freezing?" He challenged with a goofy smile as he sat down.
Her eyes widened and she quickly snapped her fingers making small vines tie his feet to the floor.
"Awe come on now. Where's your Christmas spirit?"
She looked at him warily and confused.
"I'm not looking to steal them. You looked lonely. And I sure do love me some-"
"No. No." She said, her hand itching to slap him.
"-boobies. So I can keep you company."
SMACK
He was on the ground. She stood up leaning over the table to see him as the guests grew quiet. He open his eyes and let out a loud laugh before hopping up. The crowd went back to their own business leaving the strange pair to themselves.
"Well definitely not what I asked for Christmas this year. But thanks I guess." He chimed sitting back down. She tilted her head in confusion and followed suit.
"You've mentioned this twice now. What is this Christmas?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Not a fairy thing?"
She pursed her lips and shook her head. "No. We don't affiliate ourselves with humans. She looked away. "For important reasons."
"Well that won't do. Let's go." He said grabbing her hand and pulling her up.
"Where are we going? Let me go! I don't even know who you are!"
"To teach you about Christmas!" He said as if it should've been obvious. He stopped once the exited the building.
He turned and gave her a bright smile. "The name's Meliodas."
"A..Adelina."
He began tugging her down the street.
"Meliodas this is fine and all but I didn't even get to eat!"
They spent the next ten years together. There was nothing romantic about their relationship. It was more like a twin sort of thing. Meliodas and Adelina were almost always on the same wavelength. It almost helped dull the ache of her missing king. Almost.
This was before they got separated though. Nothing bad occurred. Adelina got chased out of town by some hunters. Meliodas held them back to allow her to escape. They didn't cross paths again until after her and Ban's escape from Baste prison.
"When I saw you at Baste, you made no action that indicated you remembered me. I figured you had forgotten." She said softly.
"I remember how much you loved Christmas after I showed you what it was..I thought maybe celebrating it..and earning money to help rebuild would help you keep your mind off of things."
He heaved a sigh as he stood. "Keeping busy has always been your way to cope whether you'll admit it to yourself or not. But we're going to moderate it. I don't want you to neglect your own health. If you start feeling yourself slip into a state that you don't feel comfortable in..don't ignore it."
It was different seeing this side of Meliodas. It was almost a perfect mix of the man he is now and the demon he once was.
Yes, Adelina was fully aware of Meliodas' background. She had only witnessed it twice. In Vaizel, and in their time together four hundred years ago.
It was once again a Christmas. A man tried to steal her away for her wings. Meliodas...didn't take well to it.
That side of him made her uneasy..scared, yet protected. She was more scared for him then of him. She could tell that side of him, had caused him pain.
When Meliodas became serious, like he was now. She caught a glimpse of that side of him. It wasn't apparent, like a marking or black eyes. It was just an aura about him. That protective aura.
"Just don't hide it anymore Adelina. Come talk to me. Or to Ban. Or King. Any of us. We'll help you out okay?"
She smiled softly at him and stood up, flattening her skirt. "Of course Meli." She adjusted her hat and grapped a roll of wrapping paper.
"We don't open for another three hours. King is outside with Ban training. Would you like to help me?"
He gave a relaxed smile, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Yeah. Why not."
They laughed and spoke happily with each other. Taking breaks ever so often when Adelina felt a bit of darkness creeping through the edges of her mind.
It was okay that she wasn't okay at the moment. But Meliodas, King, Elizabeth, Ban, everyone, was slowly showing her how to piece herself back together and how to make peace with her past.
Meliodas leaned back with a bow on his forehead, watching his friend happily as she hummed Christmas songs to herself as she wrapped the presents for potential customers.
He was happy that she did remember. He hadn't thought she did. He knew all the trouble she had gone through, and thought maybe she blocked him out after he never tried to find her.
This is a good thing. He thought to himself. He looked out the window and furrowed his brow. But something is coming.
He looked back to the ginger who was swearing to herself about a papercut. He let the smile slip back onto his face and sat back up, grabbing a bow and placing it on the present she had just wrapped.
Whatever it is. It can wait. We deserve it.
"Merry Christmas Ad."
"Merry Christmas Meli."
Word Count: 1181
A/N: Sorry I know I only ever put out like a chapter than disappear forever. But I hope you enjoy these two new chapters. I wanted to show some relationships she has/has formed with other people other than King or Ban! Enjoy!