I'm so happy to be taking part in another challenge with my friends, woundedowl and lickitysplit! I hope you all enjoy these little one shots!

Challenge one: As a hello

~1~

-Let Our Love Unfurl-

For a moment her vision was blinded by soft tresses of pale gold, something you'd see when glancing towards the sky on a cloudless day at high noon. Her tresses were quickly swept away however by gentle hands eagerly working through them for the sake of styling. Gelda is faced away from the vanity at the young woman's instance. The vampire's overall appearance is supposed to be a surprise sprung upon her in the end, for what reason, she hasn't been able to guess. After all, the party she is attending that evening isn't even in her honor.

Elizabeth, the young apostle that was more than willing to befriend the revived vampire who felt like a pariah amongst the closely knit people and kingdoms that had long since moved beyond the decimation of her race, hums a smooth, blithe tune as she sweeps Gelda's hair the way she wants it, the sound of which causes the vampire princess of no kingdom to feel at ease. Her eyes of crystal blue slide across the stone floors splashed in the strong tones of late afternoon and her hands clench her in her lap, an instinctive wish to shy away from such brightness.

But then the calm tune behind her snaps off at the bridge causing Gelda's spine to stiffen. Though Elizabeth's sweet voice replaces it at once, filled with excitement and gratitude. "I'm so happy you agreed to come to the ball this evening! It wouldn't have been fun without you and Zeldris there."

Gelda's cerise lips twitch in a surge of mirth. She highly doubts that to be the case. The two of them will most definitely be the black sheep of the entire festivity. A clamp is secured to the side of her hair just as she opens her mouth to try and say as such. "You are very kind, Elizabeth, but Zeldris and I… I'm positive many still mistrust us." Or more like him. Not that that matters to the vampire. She'd stare her own death in the eye just to keep her purpose going.

Hands as reassuring as the gentle budding of petals in spring land on her shoulders, then squeeze. "Not many trusted the Sins when they first came out of hiding. Don't worry too much, Gelda. Besides, you have friends here."

For a moment, Gelda can't find the words to express the way her emotions sting at the back of her throat and build behind her eyes in relief. Elizabeth must understand the choked silence as she smoothly helps Gelda rise and finally turns her to face the vanity. What she sees is a woman tucked in a dress of pure violet, snug around her torso and curved to the shape of her bust. The skirt fluffs out down to the floor, ruffled delicately towards the base to give it a floaty feel. Astonished blue eyes then gaze at blond hair styled by Elizabeth's hands for once not done in her usual braid across her shoulder, but allowed to flow down her back in loose ringlets and pinned up on one side by a clamp encrusted by jewels of amethyst to match her dress.

Gelda is taken aback by the simple way her appearance would catch one's eyes. She feels like the single white rose blossomed among a bush of its ruby kin. She knows herself to be a princess, but to stand out in such a sumptuous way after so long is so foreign to her. The stunning beauty before her has to be someone else. She turns watery blue eyes in Elizabeth's beaming direction. "Elizabeth, I don't—"

The girl dressed up as much as she pulls her into a hug, glimmering from the inside out in her excitement. "You look amazing Gelda! I'm sure Zeldris will be so taken with you."

Gelda feels her skin warm when she allows the idea to flourish in her mind. 'Zeldris, taken with me?' She closes her eyes and tentatively brings her arms up to hug the apostle back. "Thank you."

Elizabeth merely giggles and hugs her tighter.

~.~.~

The ball fell over her like a tidal wave, abruptly without her having a chance to really catch her breath in preparation. When Elizabeth explained the ball, she'd told Gelda that it was in honor of a recent engagement. Though Gelda's mind had gotten a bit fogged with swelling nerves the moment she realized she was invited to join in. She and Zeldris. Things have been rather calm between the two after her revival—after he'd discovered her and swept her in his arms like she was his last breath and converged their beings relentlessly that is. Gelda hadn't exactly been at peace with her demise, but knew it was better than going on in an endless cycle without a purpose to guide her. It was when she was brought back—breathing, hearing, seeing, tasting, feeling—that she was able to feel that pulse of reason go through her again that she hadn't felt since she was last with Zeldris. That surge that runs from her head to her toes, tingly and fluttery as her insides swoon, every time she sees him.

She's been so on edge about the feeling lately, unable to stop her heart from jumping at the thought of him, the simple sight of him, that she's most probably started to worry the demon who picks up on the minute changes in her within moments. Simply meeting his gaze makes her belly tighten with sparked nerve endings. Just smelling something like cloves or ginger reminds her of him and she sighs in content. She finds herself staring through windows recalling times when they first met how they'd shared hushed whispers and slinked through the halls of her former castle like lovesick adolescents. She knows what's affecting her, knows it deep down as it tries to burst free with every flustered exchange she's shared with the stoic demon as of late.

And yet she finds herself uncertain of if she can voice it despite all they've been through together.

The ball begins in an upwards rise when she and Elizabeth make an entrance, some of the first few, and already Gelda can tell that she and Elizabeth are receiving quite the amount of stares from that crowd trickling in. Outwards, Gelda is poised to such notice, smiling the barest as she sticks to Elizabeth's side for the moment. She's gone through quite a few balls in her past and knows how to handle attention, but being in Liones is different. These aren't her people. She is a guest there. Therefore, her insides are beginning to seek the reclusive ways of Zeldris.

The moment Elizabeth is in range of the female members of The Seven Deadly Sins, she's practically swallowed up in their grasp, surrounded by smiles, laughs, and gushing felicitations which sparks Gelda's interest for a moment. Golden eyes in the face of the youthful fairy Elaine land on the vampire then and Gelda freezes. She feels the cool wispy feel of her power within her reaching out attempting to read the emotions bleeding from the floating fairy, but all she feels is kindness, and she remembers: She's among friends.

Blue eyes spy the hand reaching out towards her, beckoning her to come and join and she's about to accept it hesitantly, when a commotion towards the entrance of the cavernous room draws all of their eyes. All of Gelda's composure is lost when she sees him. Zeldris stands with a scowl next to his blond brother who smiles from ear to ear. His body for once not displayed in battle attire, but shown off in a suit tailored to his wiry build so that the muscles she's helplessly ogled before is merely hinted at. The obsidian of his suit drapes over his frame in a way she wishes she could lighting a small blush across her cheeks that she tries to force back in futile. Seeing the violet tie meant to complement her dress only makes her fidget more as her stomach flips continuously.

She can only describe him as devilishly handsome as he strides across the room with seemingly no concern to the eyes that slide along his form like sinful caresses. His figure commanding in a way he'd grown used to as leader of the Ten Commandments. It makes her a bit weak kneed to know that he's going to be joining her soon, the object of her affections, whose eyes swivel across the room once before landing right on her.

Gelda is unable to inflate her lungs for her next breath under his fixed stare, her heart being jolted by a connection so great she shakes with anticipation. The appeal in his onyx eyes is evident as he eyes her intently, roaming up and down, as well as the something sweet drizzling over it like honey. She knows his eyes are only for her at this point just as her own infatuated gaze is for him.

Hands clasped in front of her to hide the twitching within them and head tilted slightly down as she watches him approach through her lashes, Gelda tries to clear her muddled thoughts. She feels the rapid tick of her heart run all through her, her bottom lip gnawed at nervously as her emotions fill her stomach uncomfortably. Soon he'll be right in front of her, reaching for her hand as they formally greet for such an occasion; his scent swelling out around her as he pulls her close into his everlasting warmth. Her mind blanks as she's threatened to fall into a dreamy daze, the prospect of their impending joining almost too much for her. But she hastily tries to cool her hazed mind with the idea that she can be swept up in such activities after the formalities. She can't afford to mess up at her first ball in a new kingdom. Not in front of her new friends.

But then he's right there, a few scant inches in front of her, with a little smirk curling his lips up in such a way she finds all logic missing. He takes her hand into his warm, rougher one causing a charge to rise beneath her flesh and meet his like a current sorely missed. And Gelda's smooth lips open without thought, her eyes never once leaving his. "I love you."

The earnest confession raises Zeldris' eyebrow as his countenance shifts to something akin to pleased while she inwardly collapses into shock her ability to speak utterly lost.

"Finally!" The giantess, Diane, squeals, before being shushed by her significant other, the men that had made their entrance with Zeldris having apparently shared their greetings with the women behind her already.

Gelda's eyes widen tremendously as Zeldris studies her face closely for tense moments, her heart slowly beginning to crush her in its thunderous drums. 'I said that in front of everyone! What was I thinking? Surely he'll hate such exposure…'

But to her amazement, Zeldris slides an arm around her waist and tugs her to him as his lips go to her temple, a soft drop of sunshine, a tenderness he usually reserves for when they're alone. "I couldn't have asked for a better greeting, my Gelda." She clutches an arm around his shoulder to hold onto reality because somehow this is true and happening. The princess who had everything that meant nothing to her, then lost everything and gained her whole meaning when she met him isn't willing to let this go. "I love you too… This is what has been worrying you, is it not?" He guides her into a gentle spin away from the Sins' supportive observation just as she buries her face against his neck with a teary smile.

She finally meets his gaze once more and gives a breathy laugh overflowing with relief and elation. "I've been foolish."

His thumb swipes over her cheek while his eyes quietly contemplate her and she swears she's hyper aware to every sensation he brings about in her, this one causing a delicious tendril of fire to go down her spine. "No… Just rightfully cautious with everything that has occurred." His eyes suddenly become a quiet sort of fierce that halts them in the midst of their dance, locking her breath in place as she waits for his next words. "You don't have to worry about placing your trust in me and breaking because of it, okay?"

He pulls her head towards his before she can even decipher the gravity of his words, slanting their mouths together in such a way her damaged soul feels soothed, whole, at peace. Her heart flutters, missing beats here and there as he kisses her in the crowd of bodies that erupt in cheers of congratulations for Meliodas and Elizabeth's engagement. For once she knows what it's like to be home. It doesn't take a kingdom filled with her race or acceptance of those she doesn't know. All she needs is the love from the demon who promised her a future she always dreamed of once upon a time, a future he's delivering now that they both have a chance at it.