Chapter 65: Stay you

I entered the dimly lit detention room, my eyes scanning the rows of empty desks until they settled on Lucy sitting alone in the corner. Her usually confident posture seemed a little bit calmer when she noticed me, a stark contrast to the forceful presence she exuded outside these walls.

"Lucy." I said approaching her. "Mind if I sit?"

She looked up, her eyes briefly meeting mine before returning to a distant stare. "Suit yourself." she mumbled, gesturing to the chair beside her.

Taking a seat, I hesitated before starting, "I heard about what happened Lucy."

Her eyes flared with a mix of anger and defiance. "He deserved what I did to him, he actualy should condider himself lucky that I only broke his right hand fingers."

I sighed, it is true that I find this situation amusing and that I like her the way she is but as the group 'leader' I need to give her a minimum of guidance. "What was it about in the first place?" I asked.

"He started talking about my body and how I look disgusting with my tattoos and muscles, but I tried to ignore it to not cause you problems, but when he recognised me being part of your adventuring party he insulted you, and that... I couldn't let that slide."

Placing my hand on her head patting it, I softly said. "You dummy, if you fought for yourself I would've accepted it but fighting for me... You really are crazy haha"

"So? Arent you going to give me a speech about not beating others?" She crossed her arms under her chest while looking down to hide her rosy face.

"I was going to but I changed my mind, I will give you a speech about something else." I spread my arms on the chairs leaning back.

"Im listening." She rolled her eyes leaning back on her chair too.

I took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "As for what he said about your muscles and tattos. That was way out of line, and as you said he deserves what you did for him." She is not buffed since she only is 13 years old, but she does have some muscles, more than most boys her age.

A bitter smile played on her lips. "Just another idiot who can't handle a girl with strength."

I shook my head. "Lucy, those muscles are a testament to your dedication and strength, both physically and mentally. They're a part of what makes you."

She shrugged, looking away. "Easy for you to say."

"No, really. Your strength is admirable. It's not just about how you look, it's about the power and resilience you carry within. You're not defined by someone else's narrow idea of beauty."

Her eyes softened, but there was still a hint of skepticism as she looked down. "You're just saying that."

'He probably is saying that just to make me feel better." She tought.

I leaned in, meeting her gaze. "No, I mean it. Your strength is inspiring. It's one of the things I respect most about you. You stand up for yourself, and that's something to be proud of."

She sighed, a mix of emotions playing on her face. "It just gets to me sometimes, you know? All the comments and stares." She never opens herself to anyone except for me and Ash a little bit with all the time he spent with her too, her relation with him is growing day after day.

"I can imagine it's tough, but remember, those who criticize are often the ones grappling with their own insecurities. Your strength unnerves them because they're not comfortable with their weaknesses."

Lucy nodded slowly, and I continued. "But you should never let someone else's insecurities diminish your self worth. You're so much more than how others perceive you. Your strength, your tattoos they're expressions of who you are, and I like you the way you are, so never change, okay?" I smiled softly at her.

She glanced at me, with rosy cheeks. Her pupils unsetteled. "Y-y-you what?"

Seeing Lucy's reacting, Amaya spoke inside my head. "Papa is rizzing girls hehehe."

"Shut up!" I pushed her face from my sight gently.

'Did he just say that he likes me, even though im like this?' Lucy said to herself

"Of course I like you, do you not like me back? I feel hurt, I always tought..." I was acting hurt but she immedietly replied, interupting me.

"I-I do! I do l-like you too..." She looked down while saying the last sentence, red faced.

'She looks cute when she is embarassed, hehe.' I thought.

She stayed silent for a few secondd, after that she lifted her head embarassement filling her expression. "B-BUT! Not the way you think. I-I actually love you. I love you More than just as a friend. It's been growing inside me for a couple of years and I felt the need to tell it to you."

'Damn, I did expect this but not this soon. I value our friendship so much, but I need some time to process this revelation and to find a solution for Elizabeth... Ahhh I dont know what to do, think Meliodas THINK!.'

While in my mind two chibi versions of myself were fighting, the first one wanted me to reveal my feelings immedietly too and tell her that I love her too since I really do, the other one wanted me to tell her to wait until we are older.

But what these two version failed to realise was that another chibi one was seated on a throne watching the fight to death with an evil smile on his face. He waited until the one who wanted us to start our relation when were older won as he walked behind him.

"Everything went according to my plan, your lifes and destinies were planned from my genius from the beginninh. You won but your already in a bad shape and worn off from the fight, easy to kill with one hit." The evil chibi said.

"What!? Who are you?" The injured Meliodas asked.

"I am Atomic!" The evil Meliodas replied as he punched him knocking him out.

"Now I will continue my plan fufufu." He said.

'Alright, I'll go with this.'

"I appreciate your feelings Lucy, you are someone very dear to me. This is something very serious for me so im gonna need time to consider it. Would you like to give me some time to think?" I gently asked with a serious expression on my face.

Her eyes searched mine for a response, but still she accepted. "I understand, Meliodas. I didn't expect an immediate answer. I just needed you to know."

Awkward silence settled between us until I broke it with a big smile, happy that I managed well the situation. "Good! In that case let's get going." I stood up dusting my pants.

"I still have an hour and a half in detention, just go first." She stayed on her chair.

"What are you talking about, forget about this detention bullshit, the president of the DC told you that its over. Is there something else to argue about?" I looked at her with a smirk.

Smiling too, she stood up from her seat. "Haha, your right." And as we were about to leave, I sensed a strong mana presence in the room right before the owl Cynthia owns landed on my shoulder.

'What the hell is that thing? I saw it before with tte director but now that its this close, it has crazy amout of mana... I guess Cynthia has a lot to say.'

"There will be a change of plan, we will go to the director's office." I softly slapped Lucy's shoulder as she followed behind me.

We walked our way to the director's office room with that owl on my shoulder. On the other hand, Lucy was having a lot of things going on inside of her head.

'He like me, he litterly said it. I dont know why but when he said that, my usually steady and rhythmic heartbeat seemed to quicken. My fighter's composure gave way to a palpable happiness inside my guts, It was a raw, genuine moment, and I could sense the impact of his words sinking in, but I tried to not show it at all to not embarass myself. It's possible, he just needs time!' Lucy said to herself.

Recalling that scene, a genuine smile spread across Lucy's face who walked behind me, and her eyes sparkled with a light that has not shined like that since the day I saved her. It was as if my words had unlocked a chamber in her heart, and the walls she'd built around it were momentarily forgotten. If I saw her at that moment, I wouldn't have recognised her at all.

Reaching our destination, I opened the door immedietly without knocking. "Just to make myself clear, I already lost all of my adventures money. Im definitly not paying the medical bills of that alcohol stinking teacher!" I annouced to Cynthia who was seated in front of me on her huge desk as her owl flew back to her shoulder, shamelessly, as if I wasnt an alcohol heavy consumer myself.

TO BE CONTINUED --->

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