Her smile makes the lies he tells himself worth it. – Dance, by StoneHill ( xstonehill)

Meliodas braced his shoulders and regained his bearings as Galan's huge shadow loomed over him, like an ominous presence bringing fear into the hearts of everyone he cared about. Elizabeth stayed a little to the side, careful enough to still be standing after Galan had landed more than just a few punches.

Meliodas still didn't understand how she had gotten pulled into this. One moment they had been riding atop Hawk Mama, Diane frolicking by her side, and the next moment everyone was flying in all directions after the sound of a bomb exploding reached the Boar Hat. He and Elizabeth had then ended up here, in this dark, musty cavern that was probably infested with many sorts of little things that girls would definitely be afraid of, but Elizabeth had shown no sign of freaking out at the sight of a bug. He'd even seen her stamp her foot on something that curiously looked like a giant furry spider.

Of course, he was straying again. The enemy was right in front of him, and here he was looking out for her when she could do just fine by herself. Then again, he couldn't be reassured. After catching a glimpse of her broken body after Dreyfus had 'accidentally' shot her he couldn't bear to ever see her in that state again.

Meliodas' gaze hardened when his eyes averted to the armor-clad bastard before him. Previously he'd already harmed Merlin by turning her to stone, and although he knew she would find a way to right herself he did regret not warning her about Galan's skill beforehand. He had known Galan, for longer than you would normally expect, and knew what he was capable of. But all he could do now was fight him and try not to get turned into a statue.

He unsheathed Lostvayne and charged. He'd managed to land a strike on the back of his neck, and the sound of rupturing bones satisfied him. He heard a cry of anguish as he landed, eyes immediately falling on Elizabeth—the only thing that actually mattered right here in this cavern.

Galan twisted his wrists, his neck slightly done in. A metallic voice sounded from the armor that hid the monster within. "Argh, you little—!" Then Meliodas made the worst move possible.

He'd let himself be seen by Galan looking at the princess.

In his head he muttered, oh shit.

He could literally feel Galan's eyebrows raising in that helmet of his. "Ah." Suddenly the demon took on an air of sophistication, knowing he indeed had the upper hand in this fight. "So this is your weakness, isn't it?"

Meliodas did not answer. Elizabeth looked from him to Galan, waiting for someone to speak.

Galan flashed a snarky smile. "Thought so." Just as he was about to land a hand on her his finger was sliced off and flying across the cavern. Galan's blood tainted Lostvayne's blade.

"Hmm." Galan did not grimace at the pain, instead faced Meliodas, an urgent, fiery look on his face. "Do you love her, "Captain"?"

Meliodas stood rooted to the spot. Galan's words were charged with a sort of energy that demanded this question to be answered. Damn it. He knew what the demon was pulling.

Elizabeth blinked at the exchange of words between the two. When Galan motioned towards her she froze.

"Lord Meliodas, no!" she yelled at him. "Don't! It's a trap!"

"Shush, dear," Galan snarled. "This question's for him to answer."

Meliodas looked from Galan's shark-like grin to Elizabeth's horrified expression. He didn't want her to be worried, no… but he knew what would happen if he did not reply to the Commandment.

"Meliodas." Galan's voice sounded distant. "You know what the consequences are if you fail to answer me."

"I do." Frustrated he was at his choices: the thing about Galan was that once he asked you a 'serious' question—'serious' meaning charged with demonic energy that included his skill of turning you into stone if you told a single lie—you had to answer him. You could answer him anytime you wanted, and anywhere you were, as long as you answered him. As the 'Truth' Commandment, of course Meliodas was supposed to say the truth, but he was stuck: his answer had to be yes or no. If Galan had asked something like what his favorite color was, Meliodas could definitely wing it without giving a pig's behind.

But he was trapped, and Galan knew it. His shark-like smile gleamed with triumph. Another thing about Galan: he'd always been proud of every little glorious move he made.

Meliodas stared him straight in the eye. "I'll answer you."

Galan glared back with as much intensity. "I'm waiting."

Elizabeth probably didn't even know that he had been looking at her from time to time. To add onto his frustration the presence of Elizabeth was just what Galan wanted. He knew that Meliodas was never one to divulge any sort of secret. So he knew that his answer would hurt her.

Meliodas considered his options. The armor-clad idiot's face was so close to his he could barely fight the urge to finish him right there and then. But, even worse: whether Galan was dead or not, if you still told him a lie even when he wasn't in your presence, you'd still be done for.

For once, the captain of the Seven Deadly Sins was at a total, utter loss.

A small head canon I thought of. Scene is after they've met Galan but are on the move again toward the Land of Druids. Meliodas hasn't got his full power back yet. Next chapter coming soon!

-Mint-chan.