Chapter 4

Iza wake up a second time that day, a little disappointed frown was on her face. Since it was a short nap she didn't dream anything, didn't see anything.

It's not like I can understand anything about them anyways, but sill…

The brunette shook her head to clear her thoughts, her short locks caressing her cheeks at the movement, reminding her that the braid that usually held her front bangs away from her face was undone when she fainted the day before, the ribbon that normally put it together was missing so she didn't bother to put her hair in place again.

As she put sit upright, placing her legs on the edge of the bed, her hand traveled to her skirt's pocket and was surprised to find her dagger still there.

So the only things missing are the ribbon, my jacket, my gloves and my boots…I'm just going to assume that the last two are somewhere in the room and Meliodas just….just took them off…then why didn't he take the dagger too? I mean even if he has no ill intentions yesterday I almost pierced….his shoulder…after aiming to the throat…fantastic.

She sighed while hugging her knees close to her chest, burring her face on them "What I'm even doing? Evelyn was right, I should never have left home…"

"If you really think that, why would you go this far?"

Iza didn't even flinch at the sudden voice that interrupted her trains of thoughts, his slow breathing near her was the first thing she noticed after waking up.

Wait a second…slow…he was sleeping….near me….next to me….I slept with a man I just met…..what?!

"D-d-did you….did you….d-do something while I….while I..?!" she stammered as the rest of the sentence became completely indistinguishable, her eyes widening more and more by the second.

"Relax, I fell slept on the floor using the bed as a pillow, so technically only a 20% of me slept with you…..well let's make that 25%... fine 30%" Meliodas pointed out while sitting on the other extreme of the bed, facing her "But if you have so much energy to have a panic attack it means that you're feeling better, I'm glad"

The moment she felt the mattress sinking a little on the other side of the bed she knew that what he said was true, as she would had noticed the moment he lay there even if she was sleeping. A guilty look replaced the previous fear as realization hit her and the last phrase just made her feel worse I'm such a idiot "I'm….sorry, you have been nothing but kind to me and all I do is accuse you of things I don't even have proof of…even when I threatened you with a dagger earlier you didn't get mad at me and instead left me stay more time….the soup was terrible beyond words but I'm beyond grateful for it….is just that….it scares me, is my first time being on my own and… I can't go back, I don't want to be a coward that runs to her parents the moment something don't go as planned anymore, so…until I stop being such a burden, I can't go back…so to answer to your question, that is why I came this far…and I don't even know how far this, I just walked and walked until I found some civilization..."

Even as his bangs hid his eyes, a little smile formed on the demon's lips "Oh really? Because I think that going from Fowey to Essa alone with a dog is very impressive for a "burden", don't you think?"

"Yeah….wait what?...this is….? how did you know I was from…?...what…?" questions filled Iza's mind, what he just said sounded too far away from her troubled mind to grasp Essa is over 20 km away from Fowey, even with Tris's help there is no way someone like me could….

"If you really think that, why would you go this far?"

If I can't trust in myself…why should I trust someone I just met?

"But if you have so much energy to have a panic attack it means that you're feeling better, I'm glad"

It could be just an act to fool an idiotic girl that doesn't know better…

I said that you were brave, not that you have good self-steam

...then again, I'm truly an idiotic girl that doesn't know any better.

"…Meliodas, is that true?...are we…really in Essa?"

A small pat on the head was all the response she got and all that she needed, even as she feel the tears wanting to be let out she didn't cry, not yet, as she was too overwhelmed by the very unfamiliar feeling she yearn during years, the feeling that told her that the first step of her journey was over.

Pride.

She was genuinely proud of something she did, instead of feeling like a burden.

Alongside another feeling she was quite familiar with, but this time it wasn't accompanied by self-loathing by receiving help.

Gratitude.

She was really grateful to this stranger, not for saving her, if not for putting those words in her heart, the words that made her stop to appreciate what she did..

You are brave

By putting her trust in her, she has put hers on him, and that was something we would always value.

So the next step is going to be the hardest test until now

"Well, well, well, it seems like you have arrived to your destiny" Meliodas proclaimed while putting his arms behind his head and looking at her expectant, his usual smile in place "I don't have all the details and you don't have to tell me everything, but to answer your question or at least one of them, I knew that you are from Fowey for the weather, that place is one of coldest town in Britannia, Tris is obviously a carriage dog and you are wearing snow clothes, plus your complaining about the weather before falling sleep earlier seeing how Essa is cold too but not nearly as cold as Fowey….yeah, everything give it away, now you have to tell me how you knew I was a Holy Knight"

"Oh so now we are playing detectives?" Iza giggled, putting her last thought aside for the moment "Simple, the sounds that your boots made, at first it was a little confusing, I heard a similar sound with some knights outside of the bar but their footsteps were more…heavy, so I assume that you didn't use a full armor or you were just lighter that they…so, Sir Holy Knight, did I guess any of it right?

"20 points, smart girl, so this night I will take you out as a prize, unless you want me to make you dinner?" He teased will taking her hand to help her stand, guiding her toward the door "Let's go! I know that I promised I would bring Tris here but since you're awake why don't we go for him and then go for dinner? I still need to pay Milo for….everything, now that I think about it…but better eat well for tomorrow, is going to be a great day"

This is where my second step starts

"Um…Meliodas? I'm really thankful for everything you have done for me, seriously you have no idea, I will never forget your kindness but…please….let's forget that this happened, ok? I appreciate what you're trying to do but I left Fowey to stop being a burden to my parents, I don't want to be a burden to you, so after I get Tris back I will be on the road again, I need to search for lodging and more importantly a job, so don't worry about me" Iza murmured quietly, feeling the tears on the corner of her eyes ready to run down her cheeks, but she refused to let them down.

"Huh? Burden? What are you talking about? People that work aren't burdens, which is why tomorrow we are going to go find you a job!" Meliodas exclaimed happily giving the confused Iza her jacket and gloves "Besides, it gets quite lonely here, it wouldn't better for the two of us to have someone to talk to? Everyone wins, so what do you say, want to be roommates?"

For a split second, Meliodas could swear he saw her empty orbs spark to life, that same spark that filled Elizabeth's blue orbs, he was sure that if it was her she would be wagging her wings happily and for an even briefer moment he could actually see them...

"Someone to talk to…is that really all you wanted from me? Some company?" Her voice woke up him from the illusion as instead of a goddess a human girl was standing there, waiting for his response.

"Well, I'm not going to force you or anything if you don't want to, is your choice," Besides, is not some company, is your company "But remember this….getting help don't make you weak, nobody can stand by will alone, everybody needs some help and you can help them in ways that you can't even imagine" you can change them…no…they change for you…you can save them….

"I…I…."

Is your choice

I chose….to trust him.

"Once I get a job I will repay you to the double I promise!...Roommate" She smiled brightly at him, taking his hand as the two left the house.

"Oh! Before I forget, here" He put a blue ribbon on her free hand, the same one that was putting her back together in the braid before.

The first thing she learned to do on her own.

And with that, Iza finally left the tears flow.