#libra's febuwhump 2023

[librathefangirl]

We All Bleed for a Reason

ao3 (2k+; One-Shot)

(First Holy War Era) It was easy to distrust the Prince of the Demon Realm. It was a lot harder to distrust a demon who would sacrifice himself for a goddess. / Elizabeth introducing them to the Demon Prince turned traitor was a lot more chaotic than Gloxinia had first anticipated. Febuwhump 2023 Day 15: Self-Sacrifice.

Warnings: Blood and Injury.

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

When Elizabeth had first suggested the idea, Gloxinia had been strictly against it. It hadn’t been fear. He was the fairy king, he didn’t have the luxury for fear, nor would he give any demon the satisfaction. No, he hadn’t been scared but he had been apprehensive. After all, this wasn’t just a demon that Elizabeth had claimed as an ally. He was pretty much the demon. The first-born prince and expected successor to the Demon King. Not to mentioned all the rumors and horror stories about him from the battlefield. As leader of the Ten Commandments, Meliodas was as ruthless and skilled as they came, cutting down anyone who stood in his way. Until Elizabeth, it seemed. Gloxinia might not have liked the situation, but Elizabeth did have his trust.

Gloxinia sat crossed legged in the air as they waited, wringing his hands together. Drole glanced at him but didn’t say anything. Gloxinia knew he too had his doubts about this. After all, the idea of a demon in Stigma was absurd. Unthinkable even – but so was the idea of a goddess and a demon together. Now, Gloxinia hadn’t actually seen Elizabeth together with Meliodas, but he’d heard her talk about him, he’d heard the rumors about the two of them that had been circling around for a good while now. He had also heard the rumors about Meliodas turning his back to the demons and leaving the Demon Realm. A demon prince turned traitor, now that was a thought.

When it came down to it, Gloxinia was willing to give Meliodas the benefit of the doubt. For Elizabeth’s sake. To be honest, Gloxinia was curious about him. If nothing else, it’d be an intriguing meeting.

They didn’t have to wait too long before two figures approached them. Elizabeth was recognizable immediately, her pure power unmistakable. The other was almost as apparent. Gloxinia’s hair stood on end at the sinister power that could only belong to someone of Meliodas race and rank. Elizabeth held Meliodas’ hand as they landed in front of them. For a moment their wings entwined around each other like a unification of light and dark. Then Meliodas’ wings disappeared.

“Hey! Sorry we’re late,” Elizabeth greeted with a bright smile. She glanced at Meliodas with a look that clearly meant something Gloxinia couldn’t quite grasp. “We… got caught up in a discussion.”

Meliodas raised an eyebrow at her and shook his head lightly. Gloxinia noticed it wasn’t just the wings that had vanished. The darkness in his eyes and the demon mark on his forehead were both gone now too. Instead, there were eyes as green as Gloxinia’s own forest and a face that, well, frankly didn’t fit the most feared demon around. Huh, definitely intriguing.

“Mmm, still stand by what I said,” Meliodas said, causing Elizabeth to huff. She tugged him even closer by his hand.

“Shush, this is fine, you will be fine,” Elizabeth mumbled quietly – but not quietly enough. Gloxinia shared a look with Drole at that. The same thought crossed both their minds. Apparently, Elizabeth was the only one who had thought this was a good idea.

Gloxinia frowned. It didn’t seem like the – former or not – leader of the Ten Commandments would be apprehensive to meet them. Even if they were the kings of their own races. While Gloxinia would never openly admit it, he was pretty certain Meliodas could take either of them in a one-on-one battle. Depending on how reliable those rumors were. Yet, that was the conclusion he drew from the duo’s conversation. Meliodas hadn’t wanted to meet them anymore than Gloxinia and Drole had initially. Now though, Gloxinia’s interest was definitely piqued. If only he could know for sure what the demon was thinking and feeling, but Gloxinia got nothing. Meliodas was a complete blank in a way Gloxinia had never seen before – which was equal parts intriguing and frustrating.

Elizabeth kept her gaze locked on Meliodas as she waited for his response. He didn’t say anything, just sighed quietly and flashed her a smile. It said I trust you more than it did I agree with you. Elizabeth seemed satisfied at least. She turned her attention back to Gloxinia and Drole, who had quietly observed the interactions between the two.

Elizabeth had barely even opened her mouth when all hell broke loose.

Meliodas was the first one to notice. His eyes turned black and his wings formed behind him before Gloxinia even knew what was going on. Elizabeth and Meliodas tumbled to the ground at the same time the new demon threw his spear. He didn’t last long after that as Gloxinia and Drole both sprung into action. Still, the guilt stabbed through Gloxinia – how could he have missed the demon’s approach? Had he been that focused on Meliodas? Drole let out a sharp curse beside him, snapping Gloxinia back to the situation in the worst way possible.

“Are you two okay?” Drole asked as Gloxinia’s gaze zeroed in on the ground. There was blood in the grass. Bright red and undeniably fresh. There was a lot of it. Shit!

Elizabeth shot up to a sitting position, seemingly unharmed underneath wild locks of silver. Her breath stuttered in her chest as her too wide eyes took in the scene before her.

“Meliodas!” Her panicked cry almost made Gloxinia’s own throat feel raw. He landed on the ground beside her. Like a helpless aid, not even sure how to react himself. This… was not how this was supposed to go. Good or bad; this hadn’t even been an option.

“Hey? Hey, Mel?” Elizabeth breathed and stroked the fallen demon’s cheek. Meliodas was slumped over on his side, the spear sticking out in an angle from both his back and front. Now, Gloxinia definitely wasn’t an expert on demon anatomy, but he couldn’t image that the spear hadn’t punctured something vital. Especially given the blood that pooled around them. How much blood did a demon have? How much could they afford to lose? Gloxinia felt a little startled by his own worry.

“Meliodas?!” Tears fell from Elizabeth’s eyes as her voice cracked. Meliodas groaned. His hand clumsily reached up and grabbed hers. Elizabeth let out a choked gasped, holding onto the hand like a lifeline. Meliodas’ eyes slowly blinked open. Gloxinia let out a long breath of his own. Not dead. He felt more relieved than he probably should for an ally he didn’t trust.

“Yo,” Meliodas slurred and for a moment Gloxinia thought Elizabeth was actually going to hit him.

“Idiot!” she chided, burying her head against his shoulder instead. Meliodas chuckled softly. One hand came up to brush through her hair while the other remained closed around hers. It would have been a sweet sight if it hadn’t been for the fact that he was still skewered on a spear. It certainly changed everything. Not just the imagery, but Gloxinia’s own thoughts too. Ally or not, self-sacrifice was not something he would have attributed to the demon.

Elizabeth helped Meliodas sit up, wincing along with him all the way. She removed her hand from his to instead hover both of hers frantically over his bloods-stained skin. Gloxinia knew she longed to just reach out with her magic and make it all go away, but there was little she could do as long as the spear was still there.

“Why would you do that?” Elizabeth asked. Her voice had gone from panicked and heated, to quiet and soft. Meliodas brushed away the tears from her eyes, even having the audacity to try to smile at her. It failed miserably, looking more like a grimace than anything else, but the intention was clear. Meliodas, impaled through the chest and bleeding all over the ground, was trying to comfort Elizabeth. Either meeting Elizabeth had changed him completely or everything Gloxinia had ever heard about Meliodas was complete and utter bullshit.

“Well, you’ve only got one heart, and I happen to really like it.” Meliodas shrugged casually, immediately gasping at the movement. “Besides, I, ahh, damn… I still got five beating ones.”

“Five?!” Elizabeth’s voice rose in pitch as her eyes widened. Again, not an expert, but Gloxinia was pretty sure Meliodas was supposed to have seven hearts.

“Yeah, ah,” Meliodas smiled sheepishly. “Bad angle.”

“Oh, oh! Okay, uhm, Drole?” Elizabeth steadied Meliodas, wrapping her arms around his and looked up at the giant. “Can you help him?”

“Of course,” Drole responded and knelt behind them. Gloxinia could see the way Meliodas tensed up as Drole grabbed hold of the spear. His shoulders went rigid, and his knuckles turned white around his curled fists. Elizabeth reached down and uncurled one of Meliodas’ hands, tucking her own back inside it. She gave it a reassuring squeeze. Meliodas met her gaze, the unyielding trust in his eyes almost making Gloxinia feel like they were intruding on a private moment.

Gloxinia took place on Meliodas’ other side, bracing against his shoulder to help keep him steady. He noticed Meliodas glancing at him from the corner of his eyes, but Gloxinia kept his own focus on the spear and Drole’s hand. He wasn’t quite ready to deal with – whatever the hell this was. Gloxinia had thought he knew what to expect when they came here today, but that just wasn’t it.

“This is going to hurt,” Drole warned.

“Yup,” Meliodas agreed, closing his eyes tightly. Elizabeth squeezed his hand again. Drole shared a look with Gloxinia and Elizabeth – and then he pulled.

The sound of the spear being extracted was awful. The wet scraping of wood and metal against flesh. The splashing of more blood falling into the grass. The poorly suppressed scream that cut off into what Gloxinia could only image was a vile string of demonic curses.

Drole let the spear drop to the ground with an unpleasant splattering as Meliodas collapsed against Elizabeth. She pulled him even closer, rubbing at his arms and muttering quietly to him. Slowly Meliodas’ breathing evened back out. When he blinked up at her, his eyes were still as green as before. Gloxinia floated back into the air while Elizabeth’s hands instantly hovered over Meliodas’ wounds again. This time there was nothing holding her back. Elizabeth’s magic flowed from her hands into his wounds, willing them back together; willing five beats into seven.

Gloxinia found himself watching Meliodas watching Elizabeth as she worked. It was clear by now that Meliodas and Elizabeth weren’t exactly your average demon and goddess. Their relationship at all was a before unheard thing. There was no basis for this. Yet at the same time, Gloxinia couldn’t help but be in awe at the way Meliodas looked at her. Here he was, a wounded demon, completely at ease under a goddess’ hands, not even paying attention to the magic that touched him. The goddesses might be well-known around Britannia for their miracle healings, but to a demon that was surely the last thing their power was associated with. Despite all that, there was nothing but trust and admiration and – dared Gloxinia say it – love in Meliodas’ gaze.

Intriguing didn’t seem to be quite enough. Watching the two of them was… enchanting.

Elizabeth leaned back slightly when she was done. She watched Meliodas with baited breath, as if she still thought he would crumble to the ground. Meliodas just grinned at her and leaned up to place a kiss to her cheek. Her face flushed with color.

“You are a fool,” Elizabeth muttered, shaking her head.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Meliodas mumbled back, his voice soft as he brushed his fingers across her cheek. “I’m here, Ellie. I’m not going anywhere.”

Gloxinia shared another look with Drole before Drole – bless his soul – cleared his throat and finally reminded the two that they weren’t actually alone. Elizabeth’s cheeks grew even redder, but Meliodas just turned to them with a startingly easy smile playing on his lips.

“Gloxinia, Drole, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Meliodas greeted, despite whatever qualms he’d had before coming here. Then his smile faded as his gaze flickered to the ground. The change was almost as startling. The barely noticeable tenseness to his shoulders, the heaviness in his eyes. The fact that he seemed unable to even meet their gazes. “Under more civilized circumstances that is.”

Meliodas seemed determined to just keep shocking Gloxinia today – proving him wrong even. These were hardly civilized circumstances, not after that attack, but at the same time, Meliodas was right. Things between the four of them could have been so much worse. Meliodas had been the leader of the Ten Commandments. His role was hardly a secret. All of them knew that he very much had had a crucial part in the destructive demonic forces that had cost countless beings their lives. Not just goddesses and humans, fairies and giants too. Of course, every race had some blame in the state of the land, but Gloxinia had never expected Meliodas to acknowledge it all like that.

“Nice to meet you too, Meliodas,” Gloxinia returned, finding himself to actually mean it. Then the serious moment broke as Meliodas gave another crooked, sheepish smile.

“I, uh,” he glanced down at where he and Elizabeth were still seated on the ground, “would have like to not be sitting in a pool of my own blood, but I guess I can’t be picky.”

“Well, it’s quite the impression, if nothing else,” Drole commented, causing Gloxinia to snort. That was a bit of an understatement. Meliodas laughed too, a light and happy sound, as he let Elizabeth pull him up on his feet.

“Well, I do aim to please.”

Yeah, Meliodas was not how Gloxinia had anticipated. At all. Maybe Elizabeth wasn’t so crazy for choosing him after all – No, it definitely was crazy. Insane even. But maybe Gloxinia was just as crazy. Because he had the feeling the four of them would get along just fine.

[librathefangirl]

Of Brothers and Wars

ao3 (2k+; One-Shot)

Ever since the druids’ cave, things had been different. Of course they had; Meliodas was a demon. King knew that now, and Meliodas knew that he knew. Though at the same time, things hadn’t changed. Life went on, somehow. They went on. That is, until the fight with the demons. The problem was, King had seen the end of Meliodas’ fight. Meliodas had let the demon go. On purpose. Febuwhump 2023 Day 17: Silent Tears.

This goes off-canon after the trip to Istar and King's confrontation with Meliodas in the cave. King doesn't leave the group (because Elaine resurrects later or something) and then some non-canon stuff happens.

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

Ever since the druids’ cave, things had been different. Of course they had; Meliodas was a demon. King knew that now, and Meliodas knew that he knew. Though at the same time, things hadn’t changed. They’d been forced to leave the cave, Meliodas had gotten the rest of his power back, and neither had brought up the subject again. King had left the confrontation with more questions than answers. It seemed like the only thing that had actually changed was King’s trust in his captain. From there on, he kept a closer eye on Meliodas, which Meliodas clearly was aware of – but life went on, somehow. They went on. That is, until the fight with the demons.

All in all, the fight was rather mild. More confrontation than battle. They’d been split up and hadn’t managed to defeat any of the few Commandments that were actually there – but the Commandments hadn’t been able to defeat any of them either. A tie would have been, in King’s book at least, a win. Except, he hadn’t expected a tie. With the Ten Commandments’ magic still depleted and Meliodas’ restored, he should have been able to win a one-on-one fight. Right?

“Sorry. Guess he slipped away.”

The problem was, King had seen the end of Meliodas’ fight. If one could even call it that. Sure, there was blood enough to hint of a fight, but what he had seen… That wasn’t even a confrontation. It was more like a stand-off. No matter what Meliodas did say, no matter what excuse he made up – King knew. Meliodas had let the demon go. On purpose. There was no slip-away. It was a decision.

Later that night, King found Meliodas alone on the porch to the Boar Hat. He had his arms crossed in front of him, leaning against the railing. His gaze was stuck on the stars high above them. It was a peaceful night, but King felt anything but. Accusing the captain of the Seven Deadly Sins of aiding their enemies? It was a thought that had crossed King’s mind before, but not one he wanted to voice again. Especially if it meant having it proven right this time.

“Can I help you with something, King?” Meliodas suddenly asked without turning around. Now or never then. King braced himself, taking a deep breath.

“What happened back there?”

“What do you mean?” There was no defensiveness to his voice. No anger or sign he had even been offended at the apparent accusation. Meliodas sounded the way he always did. It made King want to take it back, but then again, Meliodas hadn’t just turned demon overnight. He had been deceiving them for years. King’s grip tightened around Chastiefol.

“You know what I mean. What happened with the Commandment?”

“I already told you.” Meliodas glanced back at King. His gaze lingered briefly at Chastiefol’s spear form. Though his expression remained as unreadable as ever. “He slipped away.”

No, he didn’t, King wanted to say. Actually there was a lot of things he wanted to say. Yet he couldn’t bring himself too. Despite confronting Meliodas in the druids’ cave. Despite everything King had done or said since. Despite whatever he was feeling – he couldn’t do it. Confronting Meliodas about this meant proving he couldn’t trust him. If Meliodas let their enemies go just like that, how could they even continue like this. How could they fight beside him? Trust that he would fight for them and not the demons?

It was answers King needed, but not ones he wanted. Because he wanted to trust Meliodas. Even if he couldn’t right now. He wanted him to prove that King was wrong, that he was exactly the same as he had appeared to be when King had first met him. He needed Meliodas to prove that all those years together, all that trust, wasn’t for nothing. King would rather be wrong than realize that his captain was like the rest of the demons.

“Right…” King mumbled, turning Chastiefol back to its pillow form. He hugged it to his chest as he turned towards the door again. He couldn’t do this. Not tonight.

“I know you don’t trust me.” Meliodas’ voice stopped him in his tracks. King turned back around, but Meliodas’ gaze was back in the stars. “And I know there is nothing that I can say to change that. You can’t make someone change the way they feel about demons just because you want to.”

His tone and words sounded old and tired, showing more of himself than he normally would. They reminded King yet again that he didn’t know Meliodas. Not really. Certainly not where he came from. They also made a heavy – and guilty – weight settle in King’s stomach. He didn’t like the way those words made him feel. He had legitimate reasons not to trust Meliodas. It wasn’t just because he was a demon. He was actively keeping things from them. Even letting their enemies get away.

“Speaking from personal experience?” King couldn’t help but ask. Meliodas sighed out into the night.

“More like the experience of a very dear friend. If she saw you wrong someone, it didn’t matter who you were or even what they were. She was really stubborn like that.”

Meliodas’ voice was fond as he spoke, and once again, King was left with questions rather than answers.

“I can’t decide how you feel,” Meliodas repeated and finally turned around to face King. There was a deep sadness replacing the usual mirth in his eyes. “But can I ask you something, as a big brother?”

The question seemed so odd and completely out of the blue that it caught King off guard, but at the same time piqued his interest. What had his relationship with Elaine to do with this? King landed on the floor beside Meliodas, giving him one short nod. He’d hear him out. If anything, maybe he would actually get some answers out of Meliodas this time.

Meliodas didn’t start speaking right away. King watched closely as he turned to the side for a moment, watching the night sky yet again. Briefly, there was almost something wistful about his gaze. Then his face fell. His expression wasn’t blank, but King still couldn’t understand it. Meliodas sighed as he turned back towards King.

“Tell me something, King,” Meliodas  asked, and King knew that however the next moments played out, they would decide the future of his and Meliodas’ relationship. “What would you do if you and Elaine found yourself on opposites sides of this war?”

King couldn’t help it; he recoiled as if struck.

“What?” he squeaked out. Meliodas immediately grimaced.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean, I just- Ah!” Meliodas ran his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry, King. I don’t know how else to ask this.”

King crossed his arms over his chest, “What exactly are you asking?”

Meliodas sighed, frowning at the floor. He seemed to be mulling over his words for a long moment before he spoke up again, “If you and Elaine had found yourself on different sides of a war, just like this one. Worse than this one. On different sides of a so-called holy war…”

King didn’t move a muscle, hanging onto Meliodas’ every word. He knew, of course, that Meliodas really was over 3,000 years old. He had to be. It was the only explanation for how he knew the Ten Commandments personally. He had just never expected Meliodas to actually talk about it.

“What would you have done?” Meliodas asked once more. King was grateful when he didn’t stop for an answer because he honestly didn’t know what to say. The Ancient War… He couldn’t even imagine what that had been like, let out image him and Elaine on different sides of it.

“If you knew she would never come with you, and you could never stay with her, not without becoming something you didn’t want to be.” The words seemed to pour out of Meliodas now. He stared intently on a crack in the floorboards, his hair hanging down over his eyes. King felt his own uneasiness grown with Meliodas’ distress. Whatever he had expected, it wasn’t this.

“If he- If she stopped seeing you as her brother. Even if she hated you and wanted you dead. If she tried to kill you-” Meliodas drew a shuddering breath, his voice barely above a whisper as he continued. “Could you do it? Could you actually kill hi-her, for the sake of a war?”

“I-” King shook his head, giving Meliodas the only honest answer he could, “I don’t know.”

“Yeah,” Meliodas let out a wet laugh as he looked up at King again. King was startled to see the tears rolling down his cheeks. “It was kind of a big ask, wasn’t it?”

King swallowed thickly. He had gone out here to confront Meliodas about his allegiances, now he was watching Meliodas cry and didn’t know what to do. It seemed that, even when he did get answers, none of these things went as he expected them to.

“But no,” King spoke up again, wanting to give Meliodas something at least. “I can’t image I could ever kill Elaine. No matter what happened.”

“Yeah,” Meliodas mumbled. He brushed away the tears, but it did little to ease the sorrow from his expression. King ran the conversation back through his mind. He took a deep breath. There was still one thing he needed to know for sure.

“So, that demon-”

“Zeldris.”

“Zeldris,” King repeated. “He’s…?”

“My little brother, yeah.” Meliodas sighed, his eyes still shiny with tears as he turned to lean against the railing again. King wondered what it was he saw as he watched the night sky. His gaze seemed to be thousands of miles away – or maybe it was thousands of years?

“For what’s it worth,” King said, standing beside Meliodas. “From where I stood, it looked like he didn’t want to kill you either.”

“I don’t know about that,” Meliodas mumbled. He shrugged once, more casually than anyone should in this situation. “I wouldn’t even blame him if he did.”

King didn’t say anything, but Meliodas seemed to catch his shock, because he gave him a crooked, cheerless smile.

“It’s not a pretty story,” Meliodas explained, glancing at King. “Whatever guilt you may carry, you’re not the worst big brother here. Zel has his reasons to hate me. They all do, I guess.”

All the demons had a reason to hate Meliodas. King let the thought sink in for a moment. It certainly spoke for Meliodas not being in league with the Ten Commandments.

“All of them?” King questioned. It was a bold claim to make. Meliodas regarded him for a moment, tilting his head slightly.

“Well, I can’t speak for every single demon,” he started. “And I know one who probably doesn’t, but he’s a bit of a special case. But, yeah, the demon race holds no love for me.”

He give him that twisted smile again and King shifted slightly where he stood.

“You sound like you regret it?” King pointed out. Meliodas gaze turned sharp for a moment; his voice strained as he spoke.

“My little brother wants me dead.” He then sighed once more, any fight draining from his eyes, and turned back to the sky. “I have a lot of regrets where he’s concerned. But just because I don’t find all demons evil monsters, doesn’t mean I agree with what they’re doing. I’m not with them, if that’s what you still believe.”

King didn’t know what he believed anymore. So, he focused on what he did know. Because Meliodas still looked like a kicked puppy and even though King’s trust had been broken, he hated seeing him like that.

“Well, I don’t know what happened.” Because you still won’t tell me. “And I don’t know your brother, but he didn’t kill you today, at least.”

Meliodas hummed, a small smile ghosting over his lips, “No, he didn’t.”

In the end, King ended up actually getting some answers. He wasn’t sure what to do with them, though. On one hand, Meliodas basically admitted to letting the demon go. But on the other, he hadn’t done it because of some loyalty to the Ten Commandments. He had done it because of family. How could King blame him for that?

Meliodas was, apparently, a 3,000-year-old demon who had done something to give the entire demon race reasons to hate him. King wasn’t sure if he was ready to start trusting him again. Not when there was still so much he didn’t know – but there was still time. Meliodas could still prove King wrong. Could still prove that King could trust him. After all, this whole thing with the demons was far from over.

[librathefangirl]

Bleed This Water

ao3 (2k+; One-Shot)

Meliodas’ hand shot out almost instantly, grabbing hold of Ban’s arm as he bristled at the jeer. He had a point of course. Even if King in that moment wished he would have just let Ban fall for the apparent provocation. He shoved back the mental image of Diane’s upset expression at insults like that and focused back on the matter at hand. The captain was right. The last thing they needed right now was a bunch of dead villagers. Especially ones who were only armed with… water? Febuwhump 2023 Day 12: "Can you hear me?"

Warnings: Fantastic Racism, Blood and Injury, off-screen deaths of unnamed characters.

Another canon-divergent story. No specifics, just the fact that the Sins know about Meliodas being a demon.

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

They’d barely left the village before they were stopped by five men. By the looks of them, King would say they came from the village he, Meliodas and Ban had just left. They were blocking the path. Four of them were carrying heavy buckets while the man in the front had his arms crossed over his chest. He sneered at them; his nose raised in the air. These guys clearly had a problem with ego. From where King stood, they didn’t seem to have a lot to back that attitude up with. Meliodas moved forward slightly, standing a few steps in front of the others.

“Do you mind?” Ban asked, his jaw painfully taut. King knew it had to kill him to not just throw them into the forest and continue their way. Honestly, he would let him. Today had been exhausting. He didn’t have the energy to deal with stupid villagers trying to prove something.

“Actually, I do, monster,” the man in the front spit out. Venom laced the word and King was instantly on high alert. It wasn’t like he wasn’t aware of the reputation the Seven Deadly Sins had throughout Britannia; seven sinners, that’s what King Bartra had foreseen. Maybe these guys were after more than just proving themselves – or proving themselves in a different way.

Meliodas’ hand shot out almost instantly, grabbing hold of Ban’s arm as he bristled at the jeer. He had a point of course. Even if King in that moment wished he would have just let Ban fall for the apparent provocation. He shoved back the mental image of Diane’s upset expression at insults like that and focused back on the matter at hand. The captain was right. The last thing they needed right now was a bunch of dead villagers. Especially ones who were only armed with… water? They were armed with water. Killing them would be, well, overkill. Were they seriously confronting three Deadly Sins with nothing but water? They might not have worn their armor right now, but still… Yet, no matter how King looked at it, that was the only answer he found. The clear liquid in the buckets had a sharp and somewhat sweet smell, but it seemed to only be water.

The man to the leader’s left shifted from foot to foot, his gaze darting between the knights before him. He bit his lip, the water almost spilling from his bucket as he changed his hold. King noticed how Meliodas’ gaze flickered to the bucket. In contrast to King’s confusion at their weapon of choice, a realization seemed to pass over Meliodas. For the briefest moment, King watched as his eyes widened and he staggered backwards several steps – then two buckets worth of water hit them.

Ban’s affronted cursing cut off sharply when Meliodas screamed.

King had known Meliodas for years, had been in more fights and battles with him than he cared to count. He had never – not once – heard him scream like that before. The sound sent ice through his veins. Ban seemed equally frozen to the spot, both of them staring at their captain shocked.

The villagers took that moment of distraction to throw another bucket of water. This one was solely aimed at Meliodas. The water hit its mark before either King or Ban could do anything to stop it. Meliodas let out a new set of screams. Somehow, they sounded even worse than the first. Meliodas collapsed to the ground, shaking arms covering his face.

King sent Chastiefol forward right in time to shield Meliodas from the third and final wave of water as Ban pounced on the attackers. King ignored the sound of fighting – slaughter – as he kneeled in front of Meliodas. His hand hovered over his shoulder, unsure whether or not to touch him.

His skin looked like it was steaming. Blood speckled his arms as his skin looked raw and burned. It wasn’t lasting, thank goddess. The injuries were quickly healing, leaving only the blood and the memories. His screams still echoed hauntingly in King’s mind. Meliodas still hadn’t moved from his defensive position though. His breathing was ragged, chest heaving as his whole body seemed trembled. King was almost scared to know what kind of damage the water had done to his face. What the hell had just happened? He’d thought it was just water. Strangely smelling water, but still just- Shit!

It was holy water. The realization did little to ease King’s horror. It all made sense now. The villagers had seen them fight and must have figured they would have to be demons because of it. Something that would merely have been an annoyance – and really? The demons had been sealed away for 3,000 years now – except Meliodas was a demon.

Okay, it wasn’t actually “holy water”. There was no such thing. Meliodas had actually looked quite miffed at the idea that something like prayed-upon water could bring him down when the subject had first come up. Holy water was a stupid notion created by humans who had never even seen a real demon. It was a fairy tale for those scared of the horrors of the shadows, for those who wanted to believe that a prayer could protect them from the demons should they ever return.

No, given the smell, this so-called holy water came from The Pond. King didn’t know its actual name because it lacked a name in the common language – and well, Meliodas obviously didn’t speak the language of the goddesses. Either way, it was a revered pond in the Celestial Realm, the water of which had been blessed by the Supreme Deity herself, and therefore held destructive qualities against anything impure. Or so the legends told. King didn’t know how much of that was actually true. It wasn’t like he’d ever had the chance to ask any goddess about it. According to Meliodas though, the pond was considered so sacred that I hadn’t even been considered as a weapon against the demons. If it had, perhaps the ancient war would have gone down a lot differently – or maybe not. King doubted even a pond like that had enough water to stop an entire race.

King wasn’t entirely sure how exactly these buffoons had gotten their hands on water from the Celestial Realm, but he supposed the old shaman that “heard the voice of the goddesses” maybe wasn’t as crazy as he’d been deemed by the rest of the village. Not that any of it mattered anyway. What mattered was Meliodas – who still wasn’t moving!

“Captain?” King asked, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

He quickly removed it again as Meliodas let out a sharp growl. A warning. Meliodas folded into himself; his arms disappeared from his head and instead dug into the earth before his knees as he tucked his chin against his chest. King still couldn’t see his face. Meliodas’ bangs hang down, hiding him from view. King could see his lips pressed tightly together though. The skin around them covered in small bloodspots. It was probably healed by now. Meliodas’ arms almost looked uninjured at this point. King didn’t know what to do; he should be fine by now! Another growl sounded. It soon tampered off into a whimper. King turned and shouted over his shoulder.

“Dammit, Ban, stop kicking the dead and help me!” his voice cracked at the end, desperation seizing his throat. Meliodas was supposed to be fine by now. At least by the looks, but this was holy water – or whatever you wanted to call it – were the effects graver than they looked? Was there something King was missing?

“What’s happening?” Ban asked urgently as he ran over to them. He was covered in blood that wasn’t his. He kneeled by Meliodas as well, and just like King was stopped in his approach by a low growl. This one louder – less warning and more warning!

“I- I don’t know?”

“Hey, Cap’n,” Ban tried to get his attention but refrained from touching him. “Can you hear me?”

Meliodas didn’t respond. He just folded even more, until he was practically touching the ground with his head. His hands dug even deeper into the earth and – darkness flared around them. It was only for a fraction of a moment, but it was enough for both King and Ban to notice it.

Well, shit.

Ban rose to his feet, basically lifting King by the collar of his clothes. He took a couple quick steps back and then unceremoniously dropped King to the ground again. The fairy wasted no time flying into the air, sending him a sharp glare. Only for a second though, before his attention was back on their captain.

“It’s okay, Cap’n,” Ban said as more darkness flashed from Meliodas hands. Some of it even travelled up his arms. King shifted a little in the air, gaze flickering between Meliodas and Ban. He didn’t know exactly what had gone down in Danafor, but he knew how destructive that dark power could be.

At least, the reality of what was happening filled King’s mind and suddenly it all mad sense. The holy water itself shouldn’t have been enough to incapacitate the captain like this. It hadn’t been enough. The water had startled him, injured him, even caused him to collapse. It would have been a quick recovery, but… It also triggered him. Triggered that underlying demonic defensiveness. And with the pain and the injuries and the situation and- His control had slipped.

He hadn’t growled to keep them away because he was hurt. He was scared that he would hurt them.

Okay, now that changed everything. King threw a quick glance at Ban, bracing himself a little before asking, “Do you need us to leave?”

“Like hell we will!” Ban shouted immediately. Yeah, he had figured he wouldn’t agree. Idiot.

“I wasn’t asking you!” King snapped back almost as quickly.

So, maybe King let himself get baited by Ban as they continued. Maybe Ban let himself be baited back. It wasn’t like the small argument back and forth that broke out was either of their intention. Maybe a part of King had hoped for just that. It felt normal, expected – as safe as anyone could around Ban. It made King forget himself and how suffocating the whole situation was. He didn’t feel tense, he just felt annoyed. For a moment, it was just him and Ban going at it again. Any second now the captain would-

It was as if someone hit the balloon with a nail. He and Ban deflated at the same time. The guilt seeming unanimous between them. When King turned back to look at Meliodas with flushing cheeks and a hammering heart, he could swear the captain’s mouth had twitched. Just the slightest bit for the tiniest moment.

"You want us to leave?” There was no way Ban would actually do that, but the fact that he was even asking was telling. Meliodas shook his head. A small, but oh so noticeable motion. King felt the air rush through him. They both stood still, watching him for a bit longer.

When his fingers uncurled from the ground, they approached him again.

“Can you hear me, Cap’n?” Ban asked again, as he crouched beside him. Another motion, this time a nod, and King let himself really feel the relief. “Good.”

Ban punctuated the mutter with wrapping an arm around Meliodas. The captain let out a small yelp as he tumbled backwards, falling against Ban’s chest. Ban kept him there and used his other arm to turn it into a full embrace, propping his chin on the captain’s head. King finally got a good look in his face. By the blood left, he was almost glad he hadn’t seen the initial damage. As it was, King was just happy to meet the green of his eyes once more.

“You okay, Captain?”

Meliodas’ gaze flickered around them; “The villagers?”

King rolled his eyes. He probably should have expected that.

“Dealt with,” Ban muttered darkly behind Meliodas, who actually had the audacity to sigh.

“That-”

“Was self-defense,” King finished. Meliodas raised an eyebrow at him. Okay, yeah – King didn’t care if he’d had a point this time. Those guys got what they had coming.

“They tried to kill you,” Ban pointed out. His tone wasn’t harsh, but Meliodas’ gaze still fell as his smile slipped.

“That wouldn’t have killed me,” Meliodas mumbled, falling quiet for a moment. “We should probably head back now.”

King nodded his head, regarding the captain briefly, “You good to walk?”

“Oh, I’m fine!” Meliodas immediately insisted and jumped to his feet. To his credit, he didn’t waver. King shared a glance with Ban as Meliodas dusted the dirt of his clothes. Between Ban and Chastiefol, they could handle it if that turned out false.

“Home we go then,” Ban hummed.

[librathefangirl]

Help Me Brother, for I Am Falling

ao3 (1k+; One-Shot)

(Modern All-Human AU) He shouldn’t do this. Worst Big Brother Award right here. The last thing he wanted to do was risk dragging his baby brother back into this mess. He just didn’t have anywhere else to go – and by some miracle, Zeldris opened the door. “Yo, Zel. Been a while,” Meliodas mumbled, trying to smile as he leaned heavily against the wall. His vision blurred slightly around the edges. Oh, that probably wasn’t good. Zeldris’ eyes narrowed, “What the hell are you- You’re bleeding.” Febuwhump 2023 Day 10 (Alt. 3): Soft Words.

Warnings: Past/Referenced Child Abuse, Blood and Injury.

Also written for the prompt: "Next time, call someone else for help." "Love you too, X!" (by @whump-galaxy)

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

When it came down to it, Meliodas didn’t want to come here. He just didn’t know where else to go.

He couldn’t involve the others. Not with this. This was too close to home and all the things he wanted to keep hidden – he needed to keep them safe from. He couldn’t risk. Even if Merlin still was an option. She did know about his dad and, well, everything. That didn’t mean he wanted her involved though. Besides, as far as he knew she had locked herself in her basement with yet another experiment. He’d probably bleed out before he managed to get her to the door. He wasn’t too keen on chancing it with the hospital either. That was way too much vulnerability for what little trust he was willing to grant Galand.

Which left…Zeldris.

He shouldn’t do this. Worst Big Brother Award right here. The last thing he wanted to do was risk dragging his baby brother back into this mess. He just didn’t have anywhere else to go – and by some miracle, Zeldris opened the door.

“Yo, Zel. Been a while,” Meliodas mumbled, trying to smile as he leaned heavily against the wall. His vision blurred slightly around the edges. Oh, that probably wasn’t good.

Zeldris’ eyes narrowed, “What the hell are you- You’re bleeding.”

“Mm-yeah. Ruined my shoes.”

Zeldris stared at him like he was crazy. His gaze flickered from Meliodas’ face to his bleeding side to his splotched shoes and back up to his face again.

“Why are you here, Meliodas?”

Meliodas tried not to flinch at strictness of his tone and the insistent use of his name and nothing else that Zeldris still clung to years after he had first stopped calling him brother. It was fair. Meliodas didn’t have any right to expect him to treat him as family after all that happened. He wasn’t about to deny his brother his anger. He just hoped he had a little bit of mercy left for him.

“I-… I need your help.”

Zeldris crossed his arms over his chest. His jaw was almost painfully clenched – even to Meliodas’ muddled mind. He glanced down at Meliodas’ side again. How much blood had he lost now? Meliodas wasn’t sure. Thinking was a lot harder than it was supposed to be. His hand was slick with it, that he knew at least. He kept having to reposition it against the wound.

“Why me?” Zeldris eventually asked. Meliodas couldn’t meet his eyes. Instead, his gaze fell to Zeldris’ bare feet. He was digging his toes into the carpet. Oh, he was anxious. As a kid, Zeldris would always step back and forth, his feet always fiddling, when he didn’t like the situation. To Meliodas, it had been a sign to reach out and steady him. Now, he didn’t know how to do that.

“I didn’t know where to go,” Meliodas admitted.

“And you thought this was the place?”

Zeldris was right. Here Meliodas was, ruining his baby brother’s life again. Except this time, it was a life he had made for himself. All on his own. Piece by little piece. Meliodas shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be here.

“’m sorry,” Meliodas mumbled. When he pushed away from the wall, the entire room spun around him. The floor threatened to jump and slap him. Still Meliodas managed to take a few staggering steps towards the elevator. He didn’t get far though.

“Stop.” Zeldris grabbed hold of his arm. His skin felt warm against Meliodas’ – or was it Meliodas’ that was cold? When Meliodas turned to look at him, Zeldris’ blurry face wasn’t meeting his. He was looking somewhere over his shoulder. “You’re bleeding all over the hallway.”

Oh… He wasn’t wrong.

“You won’t make it to the hospital like this.”

Meliodas shrugged, almost toppling over with the action, “wasn’t goin’ to a ‘ospital.”

“Oh, good. You were just planning on dying in my elevator like an idiot then.”

Meliodas wanted to say something to that. He really did. But it took all his energy to not fall over as Zeldris guided him into his apartment. Black dots danced across his vision.

“Sorry,” he murmured one last time before the darkness took over. The last thing he heard was Zeldris letting out a loud curse.

-X-

Meliodas wasn’t sure how long he had been out for. When he woke up, he was surrounded by warmth. It was such a strange thought; family and warmth didn’t go together. Not in his family. Maybe once, he and Zeldris had shared it – but it had been years since that.

“Come on, Meliodas,” Zeldris’ voice said to his side. It was a quiet whisper, a lot softer than what Meliodas’ was used to from his grumpy baby brother. “Open your eyes, please.”

Meliodas wanted to. Especially at the waver in Zeldris’ voice. He just couldn’t get his body to move. God, everything hurt.

“I-…” Zeldris broke off. Meliodas could feel something brush briefly against his hand. Zeldris drew a shaky breath. “I can’t watch my big brother die.”

Oh…

“Ze-ngh.” Okay, not as eloquent as he aimed for.

Slowly, Meliodas managed to blink his eyes open. Zeldris stared at him like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. His hand was resting right beside Meliodas’ on the bed. Bed? Oh. He was lying in Zeldris’ bed, a soft blanket covering him and his brother sitting on a chair next to him.

“You’re awake.”

Meliodas cleared his throat, trying for a smile, “Don’t sound too disappointed.”

Zeldris bristled at that. As he diverted his gaze, Meliodas took the time to take the situation in. There was a big first aid kit and some supplies covering the bedside table. The blood was gone from Meliodas’ hand. His side was also very clearly not bleeding anymore. When Meliodas touched it, his fingers met smooth bandages.

“Don’t touch that,” Zeldris sighed. “You’re going to rip your stitches.”

“Stitches?” Meliodas echoed.

“Yes. Stitches.” Zeldris turned back to him, meeting his gaze. He looked wrecked. Meliodas had fainted to Zeldris in soft over-sized clothes and hair looking like he just woke up. Now Zeldris looked like he hadn’t slept for days. His hair was a complete mess, sticking up in all the wrong directions, and his eyes were red. Had Zeldris… been crying?

“You stitched me up?”

“What, you thought I’d just let you bleed out?” Zeldris looked away again. Meliodas swallowed around the emotions welling up in his throat.

“No, I just…”

“Whatever,” Zeldris mumbled, shoulders tense. “I don’t have time to deal with your dead body.”

But he did have time to sit by Meliodas beside for who knew how long.

“Thanks, Zel.”

Silence fell over them as Zeldris kept staring at the wall. Once again, Meliodas felt helpless at his brother’s pain. Moments passed before Zeldris spoke up again.

“I thought you were done with him. I mean, you left and… and-”

Zeldris trailed off and Meliodas felt his heart break. If he could do it all over, he’d do it all so different. At least where his baby brother was concerned. How would things have turned out – how would they have turned out if he just…

“Why would you go back now?”

“I haven’t!” Meliodas cried out. Was that really what Zeldris thought of him?

“So, you just get stabbed for fun?”

“No, I…” Meliodas sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I haven’t. I didn’t want to do this, but… He threatened my friends, Zel! I just… How could I drag them into that?”

Zeldris didn’t say anything, but Meliodas knew that, at the very least, Zeldris understood that. He too had to have people he wanted keep safe. Someone he wanted to not let their father ruin.

“That’s why I made a deal with Galand.”

“You think that’s wise?”

“No, of course not, but I had no choice,” Meliodas sighed again. “Galand is a man of his word. I did this, to stay out of it. I have no intention of ever going back to him.”

Zeldris nodded and Meliodas leaned back against the pillows, feeling the energy drain. He was exhausted. Zeldris somehow looked worse. Meliodas reached out, brushing a few fingers over Zeldris hand.

“I, uh, I need to get to work.” Zeldris cleared his throat, standing up. “You can stay here- Actually, you need to stay here. I’m not stitching you up again. You can borrow some clothes from the closet if you want and, well, there’s some leftovers in the fridge. So, you know…”

“Thanks…”

Zeldris walked to the bedroom door. With a hand on the doorknob, he paused, “Hey, Meliodas.”

“Yeah?”

“Next time, call someone else for help.”

A smile pulled at Meliodas’ lips.

“Love you too, Zel!”

[librathefangirl]

With the Forest as My Witness, I'll Silence All My Screams

ao3 (2k+; One-Shot)

(First Holy War Era) It wasn’t like Gloxinia didn’t know how the goddess clan felt about demons. None of them were subtle about it. He knew they still didn’t trust Meliodas. He just never thought they’d try something like this. Febuwhump 2023 Day 9: Voice Loss.

Warnings: Fantastic Racism, Attempted Murder, Blood and Injury, Blood and Gore, Burning flesh.

Oh, the struggles I had with this fic! And it just kept growing. I honestly thought it'd be less than 1k when I started it.

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

Gloxinia and Drole had gone out to find Meliodas. Normally Gloxinia wouldn’t be that worried about the demon. It wasn’t like Meliodas couldn’t take care of himself. He was probably one of the most capable people in Stigma – and Gloxinia hadn’t even really seen him go all out. He’d heard the rumors though, heard the horror stories about Meliodas’ feats as the leader of the Ten Commandments. He held power and skill even the goddesses feared. So, no, normally neither Gloxinia nor Drole would be worried about Meliodas being somewhere alone.

Though it was rare these days, to not see Elizabeth and Meliodas more or less connected at the hips. At least for this long. Where one was, the other was almost definitely close by. Then again, almost instantly after the four of them had returned, after a mission off-base, Elizabeth had been called away by Nerobasta. Gloxinia hadn’t seen Meliodas around for a good while now either. Whether it was cause for worry or not, Gloxinia couldn’t shake the bad feeling. One Drole seemingly had shared, because he had been the first to suggested tracking Meliodas down.

The feeling only got worse the further they went. Gloxinia couldn’t even explain why he had it. He had no real basis for it, but it still felt like something was wrong. Like something worse was about to happen. The out-of-place power he could feel in the forest did nothing to ease the disturbing feeling. Even added to it as Gloxinia could pick out Meliodas presence along with it. His was strong as usual, of course, yet at the same time… It almost seemed diminished against the other. That wasn’t right. Gloxinia shared a quick glance with Drole just before they pushed past the last trees and-

It wasn’t like Gloxinia didn’t know how the goddess clan felt about demons. None of them were subtle about it. He knew they still didn’t trust Meliodas. He just never thought they’d try something like this. Especially so close to the base. Inside the Fairy King’s Forest. The thought almost made him feel sick - though nothing compared to the scene before them.

They’d found Meliodas. That was the one and only good thing Gloxinia could take away from this. He was there – but not safe. He was alive – but not well. He was being attacked by a goddess.

She had Meliodas pinned against a tree; one had wrapped tightly around his throat. The ark light emitting from it was searing and charring, filling the air with the sickening smell of burning flesh. It was enough to make Gloxinia nauseous. The sight only worsening the feeling. The skin underneath her hand was turning a bubbling black, blood seeping out between her fingers. Meliodas face was twisted in pain. Sweat beaded his forehead as unshed tears glistened in his eyes. His hands trembled where they were wrapped around the goddess’ wrists. Despite his wobbling arms, the goddess struggled against his force. Still though, her grip remained firm. Her fingers digging into his throat, drawing out even more blood. Meliodas let out choked, gurgling sound. A small trail of red trailing down his chin. His fingers weakened their hold around her.

Why isn’t he fighting back? Gloxinia wouldn’t say he was someone easily shaken, but this… He didn’t even know how to process what he was seeing. He felt frozen in place, but that though kept repeating. Why isn’t he fighting back?!

She was a decent fighter. A great addition to Stigma’s forces; but she held no authority, no special power. In the face of the eldest son of the Demon King, the once leader of the demonic army and alleged future ruler of the Demon Realm? She shouldn’t have been able to get the upper hand in the first place. Let alone inflict an injury of that extent. Meliodas was pushing her back enough to keep her other hand away from him, but he wasn’t fighting back. There was no sign of darkness. No demonic powers; his eyes as green as the forest around them.

“What the hell is going on?” Drole’s loud voice cut through the scene, just as it seemed to have cut through his typical calmness. Gloxinia was grateful though, for him doing what he couldn’t.

The goddess jumped back, startled, and the light disappeared from her hand. Her eyes widened as she turned their way. Had she really not noticed them – noticed Drole – approaching? Powerful as he was, stealth was not a common skill amongst giants, especially one of Drole’s size. Her gaze flickered towards Meliodas, who had crumpled to the ground the second she let go. Her panic was almost overwhelming.

Gloxinia’s hands clenched into fists. Meliodas still lying at her feet was the only thing keeping him from brining Basquias down on her ass. What the hell was she doing? What’s going on here?!

Logically, Gloxinia knew exactly what was going on. There were no nuances, no explanation needed. The goddess had just tried to kill Meliodas. Right here and now. Because apparently that was something that happened in the midst of fucking Stigma.

The goddess shrunk back as her eyes met Gloxinia and Drole. She stumbled backwards several steps, almost falling over Meliodas’ sprawled hand. Her own bloody one shook as she raised it in defense. She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly as she frantically looked around them.

“Choose your next words carefully.” Drole seemed to have regained his composure. His voice was even as he spoke, but Gloxinia knew him better than that. He could still her the simmering wrath just beneath his words. His advice was pointless though. There was not a thing the goddess could say in this instant that would save her from making an enemy of the two kings. She seemed to know that too. Because in the next moment, a rush of wind gushed over them as she rapidly took off into the sky.

Gloxinia noted Drole following her path with his gaze. He didn’t feel the need to do the same. They both already knew where she was heading; to the Light of Grace. To Ludociel. There was no doubt in Gloxinia’s mind that the archangel knew about this. For all he knew, he was probably behind this. Why else would a common soldier like her be attacking Meliodas like this? Was this why Elizabeth had been dragged away? So she wouldn’t be here?

Meliodas started moving on the ground and it was enough to finally snap Gloxinia into action. He quickly landed and kneeled on the ground next to Meliodas. The demon was still slumped over. One hand dug into the ground. His arms quivered as he pushed himself up into a semi-kneeling position. He continued to be bent over, but at the very least his face was off the ground. His other hand was pressed tightly around the wound to this throat.

Gloxinia wasn’t sure what to do. His fingers twitched as he hovered his hand over Meliodas’ back. He threw a quick glance at Drole, but the giant wasn’t looking in their direction. His eye firmly trained in the direction of the tower; one pair of arms crossed tensely over his chest, and both sets of hands curled into fists. He was standing guard. Gloxinia couldn’t blame him. He had never thought Ludociel would actually… What would have happened if they hadn’t found Meliodas when they did? What if they hadn’t gone to look for him? Gloxinia shuddered at the thought.

“Are you okay?” he asked, stupidly, and the idiot nodded his head. He probably should have expected that. Gloxinia knew how distraught it made Elizabeth, that Meliodas would always dismiss his own injuries like that. In the moment, with Meliodas’ blood spread over the forest floor around them, Gloxinia would admit she wasn’t alone in that sentiment. Nothing really seemed to rattle him – beside threats against Elizabeth – so of course he’d claim to be fine after a literal attempt on his life.

“I-” Meliodas tried to speak, but what was supposed to be words broke off into a garbled mess of pained sounds that made Gloxinia’s own throat seize and almost sent Meliodas back to the ground.

“Whoa!” Gloxinia quickly grabbed hold of Meliodas’ shoulder and pulled him up till he was sitting on the ground. The closer view of his throat sent a new, fresh wave of nausea over Gloxinia.

“Don’t speak. That’s- Don’t speak,” Gloxinia insisted, rubbing Meliodas’ arm in a poor attempt at comfort. Meliodas grimaced, nodding his head again. “We’ve got you.”

Drole turned to look down at them. His mouth a thin line as he saw the mess under Meliodas’ hand. At least now, blackness covered Meliodas’ eyes as he pushed darkness into the wound. Slowly, painstakingly piecing the burned flesh together again. Gloxinia should have felt relieved, should have just let him tend to his wound in peace, but in that moment he couldn’t stop the words.

“Oh, so now you use your powers?” The bitter comment went against the suggestion Gloxinia himself had made just seconds ago. He couldn’t help it. Not with the sudden rise of anger, this one directed at Meliodas himself.

Meliodas glared at him. The intensity severely decreased by the tear tracks now donning his face and the fact that he couldn’t even pull himself off the ground. Still, an attempt was made. The smeared blood painted a morbid image as a small, almost non-existent sigh pushed past Meliodas’ lips. Despite the size, its message was clear. Gloxinia pushed back at the anger. He could yell at him when this was all over.

Gloxinia let out a sigh of his own, asking “Why didn’t you defend yourself?”

Meliodas looked from Gloxinia to Drole and back. Then he just shrugged, his free hand making a non-committed wave in the air. Gloxinia really hoped he meant that as in a what could I do way and not as a dismissal of the whole thing.

“I’m not saying it was wise,” Drole spoke up. He was looking directly at Meliodas, ensuring he had the demon’s full attention. “In fact, it’s probably the most stupid decision I’ve seen, but… Stigma’s only demon attacking a goddess without any witnesses wouldn’t have been wise either.”

Gloxinia didn’t want to admit Drole had a point. He really, really didn’t. But Drole did have a point.

The cleverness behind Ludociel’s plan was becoming cleared by the second. Meliodas – the one demon around – had been attacked by a goddess away from everyone else. In the end, it would have been his words against hers. They were very few, who would actually believe she had instigated the whole thing. If Meliodas hadn’t thought back – and they hadn’t been interrupted – he would have been killed. If he had chosen to fight back – use his demonic powers – then that would be all the proof needed to declare him untrustworthy – no better than the demons they warred against. No matter the outcome, Ludociel would have gotten rid of Meliodas and not even Elizabeth could have stopped him.

Gloxinia didn’t know what to say to that, so instead he just watched Meliodas. He seemed to struggle. The darkness flickered as he focused on the wound with a pinched expression. He wasn’t bleeding anymore, but his skin didn’t look much better. Gloxinia grimaced. It still looked so bad.

“We should find Elizabeth, she can-”

Meliodas let out a sharp, wordless shout. He grabbed onto Gloxinia’s arm with both hands as he shook his head rapidly from side to side. Gloxinia pressed his lips together – ignoring the way the blood on Meliodas’ hand seeped into his own skin – of course he doesn’t want her to know.

Gloxinia wasn’t exactly thrilled of the idea of telling Elizabeth himself. She was already upset and enraged at the way Meliodas was treated, especially by Ludociel. If they told her he’d tried to have him killed… Gloxinia didn’t want to image how’d she look at that. He sighed, frustrated, but it was Drole who spoke.

“Meliodas…”

Meliodas dropped Gloxinia’s arms. He looked them in the eyes, one at a time, his own gaze steady and unwavering, and shook his head once more. He wasn’t begging this time. It was a statement. He couldn’t even speak, and his throat looked like a burned hog, but Meliodas was not about to let them tell Elizabeth about this. Of all the stubborn-

“Even you can’t just shrug this of, this is serious!”

Meliodas avoided his gaze. His bangs fell over his eyes as he bowed his head slightly. Then he shook his head again and looking up at them again, made some gestures that Gloxinia could barely discern.

Nope! Not happening. Gloxinia was not about to concede that Meliodas had any point whatsoever. Behind him, Drole sighed, equally frustrated. How the hell were they supposed to just accept that their friend had almost been murdered, and telling someone would change absolutely nothing?

“…No… poi-nt,” Meliodas grit out. His voice sounded like he had shards of glass shoved down his throat. Gloxinia was not happy about this but…

“Okay, fine,” he grumbled. Only because they didn’t need to hurt Elizabeth too. “We won’t tell her.”

“This time,” Drole added. Gloxinia nodded sharply. If this happened again, he’d personally help Elizabeth hunt Ludociel down. Meliodas seemed to accept the compromise and brought his hand back up to his throat.

Yeah, okay, that was enough. Gloxinia didn’t know if Meliodas struggled due to the damaged inflicted or because it had been caused by ark, but he couldn’t watch this anymore.

“If you’re not going to let Elizabeth help you,” Gloxinia gently slapped Meliodas’ hands away, “then at least let me.”

Meliodas looked up confused, but Gloxinia was already pulling Basquias into its seventh form. The Moon Rose towered above them in all its impressive glory.

“Droplet of Life,” Gloxinia called out, letting the magic fall over Meliodas. In an instant, nothing but flawless skin was left. Any remains of the damage gone, any remains of Ludociel’s actions too.

Meliodas touched his throat in awe, “You didn’t have to do that.”

“You know, some people would just say thank you.”

Meliodas gave him a soft smile, not quite meeting his eyes, “Thank you, Gloxinia. Really.”

“Yeah, well,” Gloxinia tried to shake off the unease left by the whole situation. “Demon or not, you’re our friend.”

Gloxinia shared a look with Drole at that. In his eye, his own determination was reflected. From here on, they’d keep a closer watch over Meliodas. Just in case Ludociel got any more dangerous ideas. Gloxinia wasn’t exactly comfortable letting Meliodas deal with something like this on his own.

“Come on, you two, we should head back before Ellie gets worried!”

After all, his self-preservation seemed to revolve more around Elizabeth’s well-being than his own.

[librathefangirl]

A Debt to Pay - Chapter 2

ao3 (Chapter 2/3; 2/4k+)

Febuwhump Day 19: "You deserve this".

Warnings: Blood and Injury, Torture, Kidnapping.

At long last: chapter 2!! ;D

It should be noted that this fic does not follow canon timeline. The defeat of the Demon King has happened, but Escanor is still alive and the whole chaos thing with Merlin has not happened.

Read Chapter 1 here! Read Chapter 2 on ao3 or under the cut!

In hindsight, Meliodas had not thought this one through. At all. Not that he would have changed anything given the chance. He stood by his decision. There was no way he could have actually let Gowther go through with that stupid plan of his. Confronting – going off alone! – with a demon who wanted to kill you was insanity. Maybe that made Meliodas the biggest hypocrite around, but he didn’t care. He was the captain; Gowther was his responsibility. He was not about to let him kill himself.

That being said, Meliodas probably should have put a little bit more thought into this – thought about what would happen after he got Gowther out of harm’s way. Galvina certainly had. There was no improvising on her part. She’d had a solid plan going into this from start to finish, the only thing that had changed was him for Gowther. For what it was worth, that meant Meliodas’ plan had worked. Now he just needed to figure out the end of the story.

A lot easier said than done. At least if you were looking for a happy ending. The moment they had stepped through the portal, Galvina had slapped a pair of handcuffs around Meliodas’ wrists. It was a solid pair, well-made and high quality. Thick but light, the black-ish metal glinting ominously in the light of the sun. Recognition pricked at his mind; he knew these cuffs. To Meliodas there seemed to be a hum to them, but he knew that was his imagination. He did know this kind of cuffs, they were completely silent to those around them. He’d never actually been on this side of them before. The moment they had shut around his nest, he’d felt the pull and grip of them; the feeling that there should have been a hum louder than a wasp’s nest. They’d been crafted by a demon with the intent to be used against his own kind, as was the Demon King’s wish – a pair of handcuffs capable of inhibiting even the demon clan’s powers.

Guess he wasn’t going to fight his way out of this one.

“Where are we?” Meliodas asked, looking over his shoulder at Galvina. The only response he got was Galvina glaring at him and shoving him harshly to keep him moving. Meliodas resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead looked around as they continued their walk. If he were to guess they’d entered one of the pocket dimensions existing in-between the human and demon realms. They weren’t widely known – although most things regarding the demon realm weren’t widely known amongst the humans – but easily accessible if you knew the right way. Truth be told, Meliodas was relieved. He hadn’t been in the Demon Realm in 3,000 years. He wasn’t sure he was ready to go back there just yet. He especially didn’t want to make that trip with a demon criminal who planned to kill him.

– X –

Fine. I accept your deal. I guess he has learned his lesson about following orders now. So, I’ll take my justice with you. Let’s go!

It felt like Gowther was trapped in a Nightmare Teller.

Don’t leave.

Except this wasn’t some crafted nightmare.

You’re gonna be okay.

This wasn’t a nightmare at all.

Is-... Is this goodbye?

This was all real.

I hope not .

An unalterable reality crafted by Gowther’s own actions.

Look after the others for me, will you?

“Are you okay?”

Gowther startled at Elizabeth’s question. He blinked repetitiously, his focus returning to the present. It didn’t feel any less like a nightmare. Elizabeth sat down beside him, meeting his gaze with a weak smile and eyes glistening with unshed tears. Gowther looked down at the floor. She was worried about him. She shouldn’t be – if anything, she should be blaming him.

“I’m fine. Merlin fixed me.”

Elizabeth shook her head, “That’s not what I meant. How are you feeling?”

Gowther didn’t want to think about that. For once, he didn’t want to understand, he didn’t want to feel it at all. He wished he could look at this without any feeling. Maybe he would still have come to the same conclusion his heart was. The facts pointed to one thing.

“This is all my fault.”

“No,” Elizabeth immediately insisted. “It’s not, Gowther. I know that for certain.”

“How?” Gowther watched as she took his hand in hers, a warm feeling slowly starting to spread through him at her kindness and attempt to comfort. “You weren’t there.”

“Because I know Meliodas.” Gowther looked up at her face just in time to see a tear slide down her cheek. “Because this is what he does. Always has been.”

A soft smile graced Elizabeth’s lips as she looked off to the side. Her gaze turned distant, trapped in memories long ago; maybe back in those early days with Meliodas, maybe somewhere in the multitude of lifetimes they’d shared since.

“Whatever happens,” Elizabeth squeezed his hand gently, “Meliodas will try to protect the people who matter the most to him, no matter the cost. Especially if it’s his own life.”

Her words hung heavy in the air between them. Logically, Gowther saw the truth in them. He might not have known Meliodas through all the lifetimes Elizabeth had, but he still knew him. Meliodas, who’d made himself a traitor to his own kind and family, to fight by Elizabeth’s side. Meliodas, who’d almost turned himself into the one thing he didn’t want to become, to end the curse and save Elizabeth from more suffering. Meliodas, who’d tried to face the Demon King alone, to keep the others away and not have them risk their lives for him any further.

“But,” Elizabeth continued with another reassuring squeeze. “We will find him.”

The tears still shone in Elizabeth’s eyes, yet her gaze was steely. She held her head high, any trace of fear gone from her face. She looked the epitome of the princess she was raised as, but also every bit the goddess who had dared to stand against the gods. Gowther didn’t have to look in her mind to know that whatever doubt she still held was now locked away tightly. To her, there was only one end to this.

Gowther envied her confidence; the refusal to believe this might end in tragedy. The future was too uncertain, the factors too many. Galvina’s behavior alone foretold a different outcome. She was explosive in her actions, driven by her thirst for revenge almost to the point of madness. At the same time, she was determined too; she knew what she wanted and how to get it. She was not about to let anything get in her way. Gowther wasn’t sure they would find Meliodas in time.

– X –

The destination of their journey turned out to be a cross between a cave and an old cottage, or an old wooden cottage jammed into the cracks of a mountain. It seemed a perfect match for Galvina; cold, callous, and firmly stuck in the past. Galvina wasted no time shoving Meliodas inside. As soon as they entered, Meliodas felt the drop in temperature. If he’d been human, he would probably have been shivering. As it was, the low temperature just burned across his skin. The wound on his arm felt especially hot, like a small fire dug into his flesh. When the door shut behind them, Galvina didn’t even bother to lock it. Not that it really mattered. Galvina quickly dragged Meliodas to the wall opposite the door. His back was slammed roughly against the wall, the cuffs threatening to break the skin on his wrists as Galvina attached them to a dangling hook hanging from the ceiling. 

Meliodas’ new position strained painfully through his shoulders and back. No matter how much he stretched, the height of the hook left his feet barely touching the ground, forcing his cuffed wrists to support most of his weight. His cut arm had gone from a small burn to sending ripples of fire throughout his body. Meliodas breathed harshly through his nose, trying to let the new pains wash over him. Once they were firmly shoved to the back of his mind, he redirected his attention to Galvina again.

She had started pacing. A small dust cloud followed in her steps, the sound of them echoing in the small room. Her hands moved quickly in harsh jerking movements. The fluidity she had shown earlier in the fight was all gone now. Similarly, Meliodas could feel himself losing the confidence he’d had when initially confronting Galvina. Though, truth to be told, that confidence had been more of the failure-is-not-an-option variety than the this-is-gonna-end-well kind. Meliodas had always been confident in his own ability; he’d also learned quickly how to be confident even when he wasn’t. A part of him had known this wouldn’t end well, but he had known he could keep Gowther from taking the fall for it too. Gowther was his responsibility, and so was Galvina. As the leader of the Ten Commandments, he was the one who deserved her rage.

Galvina finally came to a stop in front of him, her jaw clenched so tight Meliodas would have worried for her teeth – that was if she hadn’t been plotting his painful demise that very second. For a moment, they both just stared at each other. The only sounds in the room were the slight rattle of the hook’s chain and their strained breathing; Meliodas’ from the position he’d been forced into, Galvina’s from poorly suppressed emotions.

“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”

Meliodas tilted his head to the side, taking her in. Her jaw was still clenched enough to make her words sound sharp and forced. The tension running through the rest of her body was almost palpable. Meliodas was in no position to oppose her, not with the restraints hindering his movements and powers. Right now, all he had were his words. 

“What exactly do you want me to say, Galvina?”

Her eyes flashed, miasma leaking out from her like a physical manifestation of her hatred; “That you regret ruining my life!”

Regret… Right. Galvina saw herself as the only victim here. She was putting all the blame on the Demon King and those following his rule. She wasn’t wrong about that, nor about Meliodas’ part in this – but she was also completely disregarding the pain she herself had caused, the civilians’ lives she had ruined. Just like she had been about to do all over again, attacking Gowther for something that hadn’t been his choice.

On one hand, Meliodas could appease her rage, feign a confession for all his wrongdoings, and apologize for even the parts he didn’t regret. This whole ordeal would probably be a lot less painful for him if he did. On the other hand, it wasn’t in Meliodas’ nature. He had learned a long time ago not to let others scare him into submission, even if they had power over him – and Galvina had the power to kill him today. Meliodas hadn’t been born as the most feared demon; he had grown up around demons who were stronger than him, bigger than him, older than him. Even if Meliodas couldn’t do anything to defend himself, he wasn’t about to just submit to her either. If he did he was telling her she was right, and then there would be nothing stopping her from taking her revenge on Gowther as well. Meliodas could only trust that she would honor their deal for as long as he was still alive. He could pray she’d stick to it even after his death, but he couldn’t count on it. By then at least the others should be all caught up. They would keep Gowther safe.

“You don’t want me to say that,” Meliodas responded at last.

“Do NOT tell me what I want!”

“You don’t just want me to say it, you want me to actually regret it. But I don’t. I told you before, Galvina, I’d do it all again.”

She didn’t explode at that like Meliodas had expected she would. Not that it meant that her reaction was any safer for him. Meliodas was well aware of the all-silent kind of wrath, and just how deadly it could be.

Galvina leaned closer, her breath blowing in his face with every hissed word, “I will make you regret it.”

Yeah, this isn’t going to end well , Meliodas thought to himself as Galvina turned around. She walked over to the wall to the left with determined steps.

The room they were in was scarcely furnished. To the right of where Meliodas was hanging were the bare necessities: a bed, a chair, and a table with the remains of a meal. On the other side, the wall that Galvina had approached buckled and bent with the mountain it was embedded in. On one of the few flat portions hung several weapons. All sharp and deadly. Galvina knew how to properly wield them too. She, just like Meliodas, had been raised in a war. For a while, it had felt like fighting was all Meliodas knew how to do. He wasn’t sure Galvina had ever left it behind. Her hand trailed over her assorted weapons; brushing over a double-bladed axe; testing the weight of a curved dagger; before finally she picked up a spear with a slender head that no doubt could still cause serious damage.

I’m sorry, Elizabeth – gods he wished he could see her face one last time – I can’t give you the life I promised.

Galvina returned to Meliodas, the spear now held tightly in one hand. As she met his gaze, he saw no remorse. In her eyes, she wasn’t doing anything that wasn’t her right. This was why she’d never been offered a spot in the Ten Commandments. This self-centered entitlement that had left ruins in her wake with no regard for enemy, ally, or civilian alike. Even if Meliodas had trusted her on his team, his father would never have trusted in her loyalty.

“Last chance, traitor.”

An eerie calm surrounded her. There was no reasoning with her, Meliodas knew, no way out of this. Ge just hoped Elizabeth and the Seven Deadly Sins would stay away from here.

“I can’t give you what you want.”

Galvina pressed her lips together, taking a deep breath through her nose; “Fine.”

She moved with fluidity and speed, barely giving  Meliodas any time to react before she had driven the spear into his leg. The edges of his vision blurred as a blinding pain erupted through his body. Galvina kept pushing and pushing, pulling a scream Meliodas couldn’t suppress, and she didn’t stop until the spear hit the wall behind him. Finally, Galvina let go of the spear. Both she and Meliodas were breathing heavily. Blood oozed out around the spear, slowly running down the front and back of his leg and pooling on the ground under him. Galvina leaned down close to his face once more, meeting his gaze without hesitation.

“You deserve this.”

The stench of blood hung thickly in the air. It made Meliodas feel woozy – or maybe that was the pain? Or the blood loss? No, not the blood loss. The impalement had been clean, missing anything too important, while the spear itself kept most of the blood from spilling out of the wounds.

“You – ugh – you really think so… huh?”

Galvina turned around and walked over to the weapons again, “And soon you will too.”

– X –

Tension filled the room. Gowther and Elizabeth sat in silence now, his hand still cradled in hers. As time had passed, the others had gathered around them too. They were scattered around the room in various states of worry. Diane sat on Gowther’s other side, biting her lip. Escanor was basically shaking with anxiety as he eyed the door Merlin had disappeared through earlier. King had abandoned his position by Diane’s side in favor of stopping Ban from destroying the wall. Ban was… still destroying the wall. King’s efforts seemed rather futile. To Gowther it looked like it was more about having something to do than actually saving the wall. King did look the least anxious out of them. Gowther could understand it. He was doing the same thing right now, watching the others instead of thinking about the fate he had doomed Meliodas to.

Suddenly the door slammed open. The room froze, all of them staring at Merlin with bated breath.

“I know where they are."

To Be Continued

[librathefangirl]

Zaratras didn't know what he had expected as they neared Danafor. He'd heard the rumors, of course. Even in just the few days since Danafor's fall, they had already spread far and wide. Zaratras wasn't sure what to make of them; they were hard to swallow. One day, Danafor was a kingdom that rivaled Liones in power, the next a burning hole in the ground. It was hard to even imagine a destruction of that scale, capable of wiping an entire kingdom from existence. Perhaps that was what Zaratras had expected: overexaggerated rumors. Though, as he and King Bartra drew closer and closer to the fallen kingdom, the truth stared them down with unforgiving darkness.

LOOK! Look! I've started on my next Febuwhump story (finally). It's for Day 18: Can't Stay Awake. In which I take that first meeting between Zaratras (+ Bartra) and Meliodas (+ baby Elizabeth) and turn the whump dial up to 100.

[librathefangirl]

From the Ashes

ao3 (One-shot, 3k+)

Given the king’s visions and the rumors circling around about Danafor’s fall, Zaratras and King Bartra set out to the ruins of the once flourishing kingdom. Not sure what to expect, they’re met by a young boy and a baby, at the brink of collapse. / A whumpier first meeting between Zaratras (+ Bartra) and Meliodas (+ baby Elizabeth). Febuwhump 2023 Day 18: Can’t Stay Awake.

Warnings: Blood and Injury.

Would you look at that, I finished something! :) This fic also marks my 20th story for this fandom, yay!

Anyway. This is the kinda story where I take canon (in this case, Zaratras and Meliodas' first meeting) and then make it angstier!

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

Zaratras didn’t know what he had expected as they neared Danafor. He’d heard the rumors, of course. Even in just the few days since Danafor’s fall, they had already reached far and wide. Zaratras wasn’t sure what to make of them; they were hard to swallow. One day, Danafor was a kingdom that rivaled Liones in power, the next a burning hole in the ground. It was hard to even imagine a destruction of that scale, capable of wiping an entire kingdom from existence. Perhaps that was what Zaratras had expected: overexaggerated rumors. Though, as he and King Bartra drew closer and closer to the fallen kingdom, the truth stared them down with unforgiving darkness.

If it hadn’t been for the king’s nightmares, he’s not sure they would have been here today. But as it was, here they were. Despite their disheartening quest, it was a nice day. The world seeming oblivious to the horror that had befallen this place. The clouds above provided a welcome respite from the summer days’ smoldering heat. The wind blew softly around them, ruffling their hair and sending the grass dancing beneath them. They came to a stop on a hill just a stone’s throw away from where Danafor was supposed to tower high. The sight that greeted them had both of them staring in horror. King Bartra spoke his shock aloud as Zaratras took in the scene that was once a bustling kingdom. Thick black smoke rose from the crater into massive clouds, darkening the skies. In a way, it felt like standing at the edge of hell looking in.

Over the wind, the sound of footsteps reached Zaratras’ ears, pulling his focus from the darkness. Slow, shuffling, and a bit uneven. Zaratras’ muscles tensed up, his hand going unconsciously to rest on the hilt of his sword. He narrowed his eyes at edge of the hill as the sound got louder. In an instant he was on high alert, prepared to defend his king if needed to. Then the source of the sound came into view.

“Look!” Zaratras called out. His hand left his weapon to point at the approaching figure. Surprise melted into his words and dug away at his apprehension. “There’s a young boy.”

He had his head down, blocking some of Zaratras’ view, but he seemed to be in a bad state – and oh so young. Seeing him reminded Zaratras of his own son, let behind in the safety of Liones. This boy must have thought he was safe in Danafor too. A new sense of unease settled heavily in Zaratras’ gut; no matter how old, no child should be involved in something like this.

“Hey!” Zaratras raised his voice even louder, trying to get the boy’s attention. “What happened here?”

The boy didn’t react. Zaratras wasn’t even sure he had even heard him or was aware of them at all. He just continued walking; his head pressed down as he hugged whatever he was holding closer to his chest. A striking smell of blood carried with him, breaking through the otherwise overwhelming smoke from the ruins of Danafor. The boy was limping slightly, but just kept walking.

Zaratras jumped off his horse and moved to approach him. He kept his hands free and raised, not wanting to startle the boy. At the same time, his instincts seemed to scream at him to grab his sword. He mentally shook his head at that, ridding himself of those thoughts as much as possible. He was just a child – even if it did look like he was holding onto a weapon himself – he was hardly a threat. What was concerning though was the fact that he still hadn’t reacted to Zaratras’ presence. Had his ears been damaged? Had his eyes? Was he even aware of where he was?

Suddenly the boy stopped. Zaratras stopped too, finally getting a good look at the boy as he slowly raised his head. A bad state was a severe understatement. His blonde locks were haphazardly miscolored by soot and blood and who knew what else. His clothes were in a much similar state. There was a large tear in the fabric of his right arm, showing off the pale skin below. Most of the boy’s face was tainted red with blood as well – a lot seemed to origin from some injury hidden by his bangs. It all, thankfully, seemed to be dried. As far as Zaratras could tell, the boy wasn’t bleeding anymore. Briefly he wondered, watching as the tears that silently ran down the boy’s cheeks mixed with the grime, if all of it belonged to the boy himself. There seemed to be an awful lot of blood. Then again, head wound did bleed a lot.

The most shocking part, except that the boy was still standing for his entire body seemed to tremble with the effort, was the baby cradled in his arms. It couldn’t be more than a few days old at most. Free from the boy’s tattered state, the baby slept quietly in his embrace. In the boy’s hand was not a weapon as Zaratras had initially thought – or not exactly; it looked like a handle, perhaps from a blade of some kind, shaped like a dragon. Its eye seemed to follow you, gazing into your soul.

Once more, Zaratras shook himself free of the eerie thought, focusing back on the boy. He still hadn’t said anything. He was almost as still as a statue too – if it wasn’t for the little things. The heavy breathing. The way he held the baby just a little closer. The unsteadiness of his whole being.

“Hey, those are some serious injuries,” Zaratras said carefully, stepping closer to the boy and bending down so he wasn’t towering over him. The boy didn’t react. His gaze seemed to be miles away.

“You should lie down for a bit,” Zaratras tried again. Before you fall down. He reached out a hand towards the pair. “Let me take the baby.”

SMACK!

The harsh surface of the dragon handle struck against Zaratras’ hand with surprising force. It left his fingers stinging as he quickly pulled his hand back.

“Don’t touch her!” The boy’s voice was strong despite the slight waver in it. At least he was looking at Zaratras now. His gaze was sharp even with the tears still falling from his eyes. His arm shook under the weight of supporting the baby’s weight. His other arm was raised, pointing the handle out at Zaratras. The boy’s focus was zeroed into a single point: keep anyone away from the baby. “Don’t touch my woman!”

Zaratras floundered for a moment, “W-Woman?”

He didn’t get any time to ponder the very strange reaction any further, because it seemed that act of defense was the last straw for the boy. He let out a sort of shuddering groan as his legs gave out. The boy fell to his knees with a thud, bending over with the baby cradled to his chest. His breathing was reduced to gasps. Before Zaratras could reach out to help him again, the boy collapsed entirely. Even as he lost consciousness, the baby seemed to be at the forefront of his mind; the boy twisted as he fell, the baby turning up safely on top of him as he hit the ground back first.

For a brief moment it was as if the world stopped.

Then Zaratras sprung into action; shit! He quickly kneeled by the pair. The boy was sprawled out at an awkward angle; his legs was still tucked beneath him, the baby and handle still clutched in his hands. His head had rolled to the side slightly, showing more of the bloodstained face. He looked so incredibly young. Now, that Zaratras got a closer look, it seemed that none of the boy’s injuries were fresh. Something that was both reassuring and concerning.

How had he ended up like this? Why hadn’t those wounds been taken care of yet? Had he actually been in Danafor when it fell? Was he the only survivor? What about the baby? Where did she come from? How did she end up with the boy? How come she was unharmed when he clearly wasn’t? What the hell had he meant by ‘his woman’?

The questions were too many.

So, instead Zaratras focused on what he could do something about. The present. They could figure out everything else later. He gently tapped the boy on the cheek, then shook his shoulder, calling out to him. He didn’t react. It had been days since the supposed – and by all means real – disaster at Danafor. The boy clearly hadn’t gotten any medical attention, had he even slept? Zaratras wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.

While the boy was clearly out for the count for the time being, the baby had started stirring the moment he collapsed. Her face was now scrunching up distressingly, big blue eyes filling with tears. Removing her from the boy’s arms was a lot harder than it should have been. Whoever she was, it seemed the boy was willing to go to unknown lengths to keep her safe. Her first few cries echoed across the hill as Zaratras finally managed to pry the boy’s hands off her. He hushed her gently when Bartra spoke up behind them.

“Zaratras.” He looked back to meet the king’s gaze. “Give her to me. I think we’ve seen all we need here. Let us bring them back to Liones. They could both use a medic and a hot meal.”

He definitely wasn’t wrong there.

“Yes, sir!” Zaratras replied, standing up and handing the baby over. Bartra managed to lull the baby into a new sense of safety as Zaratras turned back to the boy. When he lifted him into his arms, he felt too light. Once more Zaratras couldn’t help but wonder about the odd pair’s fate.

– X –

It was almost a full day after their return to the castle that the boy finally stirred from his sleep. Zaratras had spent most of the time in the guest room that now hosted their two rescues from Danafor. It had been King Bartra’s idea – both the room and Zaratras’ presence – and Zaratras himself would be the last to oppose it. He wasn’t sure the boy would even remember him, but if he did, maybe Zaratras could help ease him into his new reality. Even if the boy didn’t, Zaratras couldn’t image just putting the pair out of his mind. Not before he knew they were okay.

They had already been looked over by a medic by now, of course. Zaratras’ initial assessment had been fairly accurate. Thankfully, the baby had been unharmed, and with a good meal and some warmth had fallen peacefully back asleep. Unfortunately, the boy had been as bad off as he’d seemed. Maybe even worse. Zaratras had noticed his limping but hadn’t quite thought much about the injury behind it. The medic had been horrified and shocked at the idea of the boy actually walking on that ankle. When Zaratras had gotten to see the swollen and blue limb, he’d shared that thought.

Over the course of the day, the boy’s injuries had been tended to as well as they could; cleaned, treated, and bandaged. With a lot of struggles, a servant had even managed to get some water into the boy. The baby for her part, was kept mainly in that same room, by the boy’s side – even as her own needs were tended to by a nursemaid. This was partly because they weren’t quite sure what to do with her yet – nor her actual relation to the boy – and partly because Zaratras feared how the boy would react if he awoke without her there. Even at the brink of collapse, he’d focused on keeping her safe, trying to ward Zaratras’ initial attempt to help them off.

When there was a sudden sound from the boy’s bed, it seemed like Zaratras was once again proven correct. The sound wasn’t exactly a gasp – or a groan or a cry or anything Zaratras knew how to describe. In fact, it was unlike any sound Zaratras had heard coming from a human before. One hand fumbled through empty air as the boy moved the dragon handle closer to his chest with the other. Through his rest, they had let the handle remain within the boy’s possession. His grip on it almost fiercer than the one he’d had on the baby back by Danafor. Since it was just a handle and not an actual weapon, it seemed like causing unnecessary distress to remove it.

On the bed, the boy’s eyes snapped wide open. That same harmless handle was now extended threateningly in front of him, ready to ward anyone unwanted off just like before. He was crouching on the bed before Zaratras had even realized he’d moved. When Zaratras rose from his chair, he made sure to do so slowly.

“It’s okay, you’re safe here,” Zaratras tried to assure the boy, keeping his hands raised as a sign of the  truth in his words. He wasn’t a threat, he just wanted to help him.

“Elizabeth,” was the boy’s only response. His voice was hoarse but determined. Ah, so that was the baby’s name. That was a start.

“She’s okay, she’s right over there.” Zaratras motioned to where the baby was resting. “She’s just sleeping.”

The boy moved before he had a chance to stop him. He jumped off the bed and scrambled over to her – despite how he was limping heavily, despite how it must’ve aggravated his injures. Pain pulled at the boy’s face, but he didn’t even slow down; focused only on the small baby. He favored one leg as he leaned over the baby’s crib and with shaky fingers stroke her puffy little cheeks. The baby – Elizabeth – smiled in her sleep.

“You’re okay, you’re okay,” the boy mumbled almost as if to himself, tears shining in his eyes. “I’ll protect you this time. I promise, you’re gonna be okay.”

Zaratras cleared his throat gently, “She’s fine, you have my word. But you should lie back down.”

The boy turned his face to meet Zaratras’ gaze, one hand still hanging low inside the crib. He was now holding onto Elizabeth’s little hand; her fingers curled around one of his one, holding onto him just as much. His thumb rubbed soothing patterns on the back of her hand. It seemed to calm both the little girl, who had moved slightly at Zaratras’ words, and the boy watching him with that look. It was guarded and calculating, unfit for such a youthful face.

After several long seconds in tense silence, the boy turned back to Elizabeth, watching her sleep peacefully. Another moment passed. Zaratras waited. Then the boy spoke up again.

“Where are we?”

“In the kingdom of Liones. You are both safe here. I am Zaratras, the Great Holy Knight. King Bartra and I met you outside of-… We met earlier. Do you remember?”

The boy’s expression turned pinched for a moment; his mouth turned into a tight line, his jaw tensed up to what had to be a painful amount, his eyes narrowed slightly. On the hand still gripping the dragon handle, his knuckles turned white. Then it all went away just as quickly. The boy smiled softly down at Elizabeth.

“Liones, huh?”

He didn’t ask about Danafor, or if there were any survivors. Maybe he didn’t need to.

“Yes,” Zaratras replied, even if the comment hadn’t really seemed like a question. “His majesty wanted to make sure you were both okay. You are free to stay here as long as you want.” Or need. Did they have somewhere else to go? Some family that was worried about them?

The boy nodded his head, “She’s really okay?”

“Very much so,” Zaratras assured, stepping a bit closer. The boy had started looking more unsteady on his feet, as if his legs struggled under the weight of keeping him standing. He was now bracing himself against the crib with both hands. His gaze seemed a bit dazed as he continued watching Elizabeth sleep.

“I’m more worried about you,” Zaratras continued. He placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder, causing his eyes to snap to him. “What’s your name, son?”

The boy’s eyes widened for the briefest of moments as he regarded him, “…Meliodas.”

“Okay, Meliodas.” Zaratras nodded his head, squeezing the boy – Meliodas’ – shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting matter. “You should get some rest. Those injuries still need time to heal.”

Meliodas shrugged his shoulders, “I’m fine.”

He still sat down in the chair next to the crib, so Zaratras would take it as win. He doubted he would be able to get the boy back into bed anytime soon. So, instead, he gathered the bowl from a nearby table and handed it to Meliodas.

“You should at least eat something,” Zaratras told him. Meliodas looked about ready to protest when his stomach let out a loud grumbling protest. Zaratras chuckled as Meliodas’ face flushed red. He then silently accepted the bowl and began to eat the soup, his gaze falling back on Elizabeth.

Always watching, always returning to her.

As Meliodas ate, Zaratras talked about what had happened since their arrival at Liones, especially in regard to little Elizabeth. He watched as Meliodas relaxed more and more at each reassurance that she was fine and taken care of. Halfway through the meal, Zaratras had to save the bowl midair when it slipped from Meliodas’ grasp. Meliodas blinked at him a couple times, almost unseeing, then just curled up on the chair. It couldn’t have been all that comfortable, given his still healing injuries, but Meliodas seemed content. He watched Elizabeth’s chest rise and fall as he steadily lost his own battle against sleep. Zaratras returned the bowl to its former place on the table quietly. At least he’d gotten some food into Meliodas for now. They could try again later.

When he turned back, the boy was fast asleep in the chair, his head leaning against the edge of the crib. Zaratras couldn’t help the soft smile that crossed his lips at the sight. Stubborn boy, that one, that was for sure. He placed a blanket over Meliodas’ sleeping form and managed to sneak a pillow under his head to give him some softness during his rest. He didn’t dare to move him to the bed again, not at the risk of the boy once more jumping out of it as soon as he awoke.

If Meliodas wouldn’t take care of himself, Zaratras would have to do it for him. At least for now, until he was properly healed. Then they could figure out what to do.

[librathefangirl]

No Kin of Mine (But a Kin of Kind)

ao3 (2k+; One-Shot)

(Dragon Meliodas AU) The first time Meliodas met his would-be brother was in the secret highly reinforced cage in the pit of the dungeons. Of course, this was before he was forced into the form of a demon and enslaved as a son of the Demon King. It was years before he would even consider Zeldris his kin. … The hatchling shifted from foot to foot, his hesitation hanging heavy in the air – until suddenly he pushed himself through the food hatch and into the cage. Febuwhump 2023 Day 14: Captivity.

Warnings: Captivity, Cages, Chains, Imprisonment, (Self-)Starvation, Referenced Off-Screen OC Deaths, Suicidal Thoughts.

Oh-uh, new AU alert! This is actually one I've thought a lot about lately, and definitely want to write at least one full multi-chapter story for in the future (dealing with their present-time lives). The context for this AU is simple; Meliodas was never the Demon King's son or an actual demon, he was born a dragon.

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

The first time Meliodas met his would-be brother was in the secret highly reinforced cage in the pit of the dungeons. Of course, that was before he was forced into the form of a demon and enslaved into the life as a false son of the Demon King. It was years before he would even consider Zeldris his kin.

Meliodas was still reeling from the realization that he was the only one left of his entire clan and edging closer to meet them in death by the minute. He’d accepted it though. After all, death was a welcome embrace in comparison swearing any kind of loyalty to the so-called king of the realm.

The Demon King was a monster. That was all there was to him.

It had been weeks since Meliodas saw the light of day or shine of the moon. He wasn’t even sure how long. It was all just a pointless circle of pain as demons came and went from the room. He’d seen the Demon King himself a handful of times – he’d bargained and threated and sworn his horrible plans – but it had been a while since last. Mostly it was just his underlings coming into the room. Only the Demon King’s most trusted were allowed into this part of the dungeon. That also meant his most cruel. After all, who else would take the two young of a family and slay everyone else in hopes of making weapons of dragons. The demon didn’t even have the guts to fight his own war.

Zejlah was dead too. Meliodas was certain of it. With the way her back was shaped, she would never have been able to fly or even fight properly – they’d called her useless, defected. Meliodas knew in his heart they’d killed her when they took her away – and he had been completely helpless to stop them. His parents were dead. His sister was dead. He hadn’t protected anyone… He was alone now.

Meliodas had been lying down in the cage when he caught the new smell. His body screamed at the restrictiveness of the cursed chains. They weren’t pointless per se, even a dragon of his age could match most demons around here. At least the non-battle ones, whose focus lied with weapons and not directly participating in the conflict in the goddess clan.

It was a new demon in the room. One with a sent Meliodas didn’t recognize. They were powerful. Meliodas could sense a great power approaching – but also one that seemed… sheltered. Like its holder didn’t know how to properly use it yet. Like they lacked the knowledge and skill, maybe even the confidence to wield it. The demon peeked around the corner. Definitely lacked the confidence and-

Oh. It was the hatchling.

Meliodas knew about the hatchling of course. Everybody knew about the prince of the Demon Realm after all. He had never seen him before. Given the way he was literally tiptoed up to the cage, looking over his shoulder every other step, he clearly wasn’t allowed down here. Meliodas wasn’t sure how he got past the guard, but he supposed the hatchling knew his way around the palace. What he didn’t get was why? The spines of his back stood up as the hatchling came closer. Was he here to poke at him too? To hurt him like his father?

Meliodas let out a low rumbling growl. The hatchling immediately froze. His eyes widen as he met Meliodas’. The hatchling swallowed. The sound echoed slightly in the quiet room. He rose his hands up – he had no weapons or tools. Meliodas couldn’t help but notice that they were trembling. Was this really the Demon King’s hatchling?

When Meliodas didn’t move or growl again, the hatchling swallowed again and stepped closer. He stopped at the thick bars around the cage. He quietly watched Meliodas as Meliodas watched him. He seemed young. Old enough to sneak around the palace alone, but still young. Meliodas didn’t really understand demon ages – their lifespan was so short. The hatchling couldn’t be all that older than Zejlah had been, comparatively speaking. He had a wild tuft of black hair on his head and eyes in the greenest shade Meliodas had ever seen.

His father had told him about that. That a demon’s eyes turned black with their power. It happened when they used their powers, but they could also do it voluntarily. If they choose to, they could cover just their eyes without actually using their powers. They did that to intimidate, or when they felt threatened. Meliodas had never actually seen a demon’s true eyes before now. Why was the hatchling showing them to him? Even if Meliodas was chained and caged, no one else did that.

Meliodas tilted his head as he observed the hatchling. The hatchling gasped quietly at the movement and a spike of curiosity mingled with the heavy stench of anxiety. Meliodas felt his own interest rise. This hatchling was nothing like he’d imagined. Nothing like any other demon he’d met so far. There wasn’t anything evil to him, no sinister sadistic urge.

The hatchling kneeled on the ground, pulling the bag he had carried off his shoulder. As he opened it, Meliodas was hit was a scent so delicious that his stomach let out a loud earnest scream for food. He couldn’t remember the last time he ate something. The demons had given him food – a malnourished weapon was a weak weapon – but he hadn’t eaten it. The water he’d still drunk. Accepting death and choosing death was two very distinct things.

The food the hatchling pulled out of the bag was nothing like the food Meliodas had been given. That had barely counted as food. This was a proper, actually cooked meal. By the size of the fish, this wasn’t the hatchling’s food either. No, it was decent size for a young dragon. Meaning, he had to have gotten this specially with this in mind.

Meliodas rose as much as the chains allowed him, his spines rising in fear once more. He had brought him food. His father must have sent him. In an attempt to keep Meliodas from starving himself.

While the hatchling’s eyes widened again. He seemed determined to not shake this time. He met Meliodas’ gaze head-on. Oh, he reminded Meliodas of Zej. In his eyes there seemed to be the same spark Zejlah had gotten so often. The spark that meant she had just decided to do something inherently stupid that was going to pale Meliodas’ scale by the end of it. For a while, he’d been certain he would be the youngest dragon with pale scales – all thanks to his reckless little sister of course. He guessed he was saved from that fate now. It wasn’t like he actually cared if the demon hatchling was reckless or not. He had no reason to.

As Meliodas watched him the hatchling took a deep breath and opened the food hatch. With a strong push he sent the fish a good bit into the cage. When it came to a stop, he looked up at Meliodas. Meliodas glared at him. Nice try, but he wasn’t falling for it no matter how much his stomach rumbled.

 The hatchling frowned when Meliodas didn’t eat it. He rubbed his hands together. The determination gave room for the anxiety again. Good. He could be anxious. It didn’t matter his feelings; Meliodas had made up his mind. He wasn’t going to be some weapon. The goddesses had never done him anything. If they’d declared war against the demons, it probably was their demons fault. It wasn’t like Meliodas had seen any reason to save them. So, the Demon King could continue his poking and his hurt and his stupid little games. Meliodas didn’t care anymore. The demons had already taken all his reasons to live, why not let them take his life as well.

A loud sigh pulled Meliodas’ focus back to the hatchling. There was a clear smell of frustration coming off him. It seemed so out of place with the nervous fiddling, Meliodas tilted his head amused. Only for a moment. Then he lied down on the ground again. The hatchling wasn’t here to hurt him, and he didn’t have the energy to play his games – whatever they were.

The hatchling shifted from foot to foot, his hesitation hanging heavy in the air – until suddenly he pushed himself through the food hatch and into the cage.

Meliodas startled. What the hell was he doing?

The hatchling stared at him wide-eyed as he got to his feet. Yet still, there was no darkness in his eyes. When was the last time someone was this close to him without any weapon or tool to hurt him? They watched each other, waiting for someone to strike. Slowly, the hatchling moved to the fish – and pushed it even closer to Meliodas.

Why? This didn’t make any sense. Sending the hatchling into his cage, unarmed and unsupervised, it didn’t seem like something the Demon King would do. It didn’t make sense. If this wasn’t the Demon King’s doing, the why was the hatchling so determined to get Meliodas to eat.

Why?

The hatchling gasped and stumbled backwards until he fell on his back. Sitting up, he stared at Meliodas. His eyes were impossible wide, and his mouth hung. Meliodas stared back, equally shocked. He hadn’t meant communicating with the hatchling.

The hatchling drew a shaky breath and got back to his feet. He stretched to his full – yet still very small – size, keep holding Meliodas gaze.

“You need to eat,” he said. Meliodas was too busy to wrangle his own emotions to even try to get a grasp on the hatchling’s. What was he doing?

Why do you care? Meliodas asked. The hatchling’s eyes widen slightly again as Meliodas’ voice reached his mind. The hatchling dropped his gaze. The frown was back on his face.

“I… There’s enough death as it is. We shouldn’t be killing creatures of our own realm.” He looked back up at Meliodas. “Father will kill you if you don’t cooperate. And you will kill yourself if you don’t eat!”

Well, yeah, that’s the idea, little hatchling, Meliodas wanted to say, but he kept the thought to himself.

But why do you care? Meliodas asked instead. This still didn’t make any sense.

“I don’t want you to die,” the hatchling admitted. Tears shone in his eyes and oh by the goddesses, how was this Meliodas’ life? How was this the Demon King’s hatchling.

Meliodas huffed out a sigh and pulled the fish closer to him. The hatchling got a stupid grin on his face as he saw him eat it. Meliodas ignored how fucking good the food tasted and instead focused on how ridiculous the situation was. The Demon King’s hatchling had snuck into the dungeon, broken into his cage and then manipulated him into eating with the power of hatchling tears, all because he didn’t want a dragon he didn’t even know to die.

While Meliodas ate, the hatchling talked. Meliodas didn’t know if it was because he was nervous being in cage with a dragon or if he just didn’t have anyone else to talk to. He talked a lot. He didn’t mention the war or the goddesses or the dragons. Instead he talked about stupid everyday things. Mostly what he had done today, and how dumb he thought his master was for not letting him carry a sword outside of training. It was almost endearing. Of course a hatchling wasn’t allowed to carry a sword. Not even the Demon King was that foolish.

When Meliodas was done, the hatchling was too busy to notice. He was in the middle of a story of how his master – Cusack? – had been teaching him to form his wings. He wouldn’t be taught to fly yet, he’d told Meliodas grumpily, but he was learning how to shape his wings. The idea of creating your own wings with the power of darkness was absurd and intriguing to Meliodas. Meliodas didn’t stop him from his story. He just put his head on the ground and listened to the hatchling talk.

Neither seemed to realize what they were doing until suddenly a door open with a startling creak. They both shut up to their feet. The hatchling’s eyes widen yet again as he stared at the staircase leading to the door, his hands pressed against his mouth. His fear was almost overwhelming.

Without thinking, Meliodas pushed him to the ground with a gentle nudge and folded his wing around him.

He was hiding a hatchling under his wing, and he had a demon against the most sensitive part of his wing, were two thoughts that fought for the prize of most panic-inducing.

The guard peeked his head around the corner. His tense expression quickly became a bored one when all he saw was Meliodas glaring at him from the cage. By some miracle, he didn’t notice – or didn’t care about – the open food hatch or the hatchling’s discarded bag. He disappeared up the stairs again, grumbling about someone hearing voices and the door slammed shut behind him.

Meliodas sighed deeply, pulling back his wing. What the hell was he doing?

“Thank you,” the hatchling whispered as he looked at him with a genuine expression.

Meliodas just huffed and lied down on the ground. He turned his head away form the hatchling. He hadn’t done it for him. Meliodas would just have been blamed if the hatchling was found in his cage. That was all. He was just looking out for himself. He had no reason whatsoever to care for the hatchling. Least of all try to protect him from his own kind.

It didn’t matter if he reminded him of Zejlah. Or if he had stupidly green eyes that never turned black as he looked at Meliodas. Or that he had a stupidly pure grin. Or that he stupidly cared that Meliodas lived. Or that he stupidly would just sit around and talk to him.

Behind him, the hatchling crawled back through the hatch, picked up his bag and snuck back out from the dungeons. In the absolute silence that followed, Meliodas told himself he was still just trying to understand the confusing night. He didn’t actually wish that the hatchling had stayed.

---

And just like that, we are officially halfway through my Febuwhump stories! Yay! (And even though February is now over, don't worry, I will continue finishing all of these stories!)

[librathefangirl]

My Love, It Burns

ao3 (3k+; Chapters 3/3)

The realization burned. An ember deep in her heart growing hotter and hotter the worse the situation got. It hurt. After all, Elizabeth had spent over 3,000 years avoiding this very moment. Not always consciously, but when the memories had been there, she had hoped and prayed and wished for this day to never come. Now it was here. Febuwhump 2023 Day 13: Forced to Hurt a Loved One.

Chapter Warnings: Blood and Injury.

Read Chapter 1 on ao3 or under the cut!

The realization burned. An ember deep in her heart growing hotter and hotter the worse the situation got. It hurt. After all, Elizabeth had spent over 3,000 years avoiding this very moment. Not always consciously, but when the memories had been there, she had hoped and prayed and wished for this day to never come.

Now it was here.

The ambush had been unexpected. They’d been caught off-guard, even overwhelmed. Something had to be done. As Elizabeth met Meliodas’ gaze, they both knew what that was. She didn’t want to, but she knew. Tears stung her eyes as Meliodas nodded his head at her from across the battle. He didn’t see another way out, and try as she might, neither could she. Meliodas stood tall; his gaze unwavering even as his hands shook. In his eyes, there was unyielding trust as he gave his life to her – and a resigned acceptance Elizabeth didn’t want to see. It was the only way.

She hated it. Hated, hated, hated it.

In the end, it was a move Elizabeth had learned in the first holy war; something she had always been capable of in some way. You might even call it her ultimate move. It was powerful enough to sear away any darkness it crossed paths with. In the best or worst way, the damage could be irreparable. A destructive explosion compared to the well-aimed stab of an Ark.

In the end, it was a move Elizabeth had dreaded the day she would willingly have to unleash it.

After it happened, Elizabeth couldn’t move. Her limbs felt like rocks – heavy and unmoving – yet at the same time they trembled like leaves in a storm. Her breaths were stuck somewhere between her chest and her mouth, which was too dry to even form words. Even if she could, she didn’t know what she would say. What could she say? There was no word that could change what had just happened. What she had just done.

Gloxinia was by her side, his hand rubbing circles across her back – it felt wrong. She was the assailant, not the victim. He shouldn’t be comforting her. Drole spoke above her, voice laced with concern as he asked if they were okay – no… She wasn’t the one hurt. He shouldn’t even be asking about her. Why were they focused on her? It wasn’t right. She had hurt him! Why were they worrying about her? She had- They shouldn’t- She-

A hand wrapped around her own and suddenly the air reached her lungs. Tears burned her eyes as she clung to him. She had no right to depend on him like this – to have him as the only thing keeping her together – when she had been the one to hurt him. If she hadn’t regained control when she did, if he had just been a little closer, she could have killed him.

Fingers brushed against her cheek; taking away her tears and putting her back together all with one touch. She pressed one hand against her mouth, stifling the sobs as she looked up at him. Green eyes that could drown her if she only gave them the chance met hers.

“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth cried, and somehow the words made it out of her mouth still sounding like words. Meliodas had the audacity to smile at her. Even though his expression looked a little too pinched, even though she could see exactly where her light had struck him, even though the darkness inside him had to be screeching at the damage she did – he was still trying to comfort her.

“Hey, it’s okay, don’t worry,” he told her. That damn fool. She could see the way his body was still trying to repair itself. She could feel the turmoil of his power. How much was he hurting because of her? Why was he the one caring for her?

“Are you sure you should be moving?” Drole suddenly asked.

“You shouldn’t,” Gloxinia answered before Meliodas could. He had backed away slightly – letting Meliodas take his place beside Elizabeth – and was now eyeing the demon critically. Meliodas just rolled his eyes.

“I’ve had worse,” he insisted. His breath hitched a little around the pain. Elizabeth didn’t know if she should be relieved or horrified that it probably was true. “Are you okay, Ellie?”

Elizabeth shook her head, pushing back a new wave of tears, “I’m sorry.”

Those seemed to be the only words she could manage. The only words she should be saying.

“Come on now,” Meliodas mumbled and pulled her into a careful hug. “I’m just glad even goddesses can lose their cool.”

She could see Gloxinia shake his head, hear Drole’s deep sigh. If the surge of power hadn’t left her exhausted, Elizabeth would have given him her piece of mind. As it was, she only let her head thud against his chest. Despite everything that had happened, Meliodas’ hearts still beat, slowly and steadily. They were the only sound she needed in her life.

“You shouldn’t joke like that,” Elizabeth muttered. “I could have-”

“But you didn’t,” Meliodas cut her off. “I’ll be fine, okay? I’m still here.”

Right then and there, Elizabeth made a vow to herself. Never again, would she hurt him like that. Control or not, her light would only ever heal him. Never harm.

3,000 years later, she would break that very promise.

When Elizabeth opened her eyes, her body ached all over. She’d been exhausted before, had been hurt before. Except literal death, it all faded compared to this. That is, until she remembered what happened. The stab through her heart was indescribable. She had done that. No accident, no holding back this time. She had-

“Elizabeth?” A hand squeezed her shoulder. No, it was all wrong. It wasn’t the one she wanted – the one she needed to keep her together. “You’re finally awake. Are you okay?”

Elizabeth met Merlin’s gaze. The tears trailed down her cheeks when she tried to form an answer. Any answer. She couldn’t do it. Somehow, Merlin understood it all anyway. After all, there was only one thing that mattered right now.

Merlin looked away. Elizabeth could feel her heart break. No… Please, no.

“He…”

To Be Continued

---

Since I couldn't decide which direction I wanted the story to go, you now get to choose your ending:

Chapter 2: Good Ending (read on ao3 here) or Chapter 3: Bad Ending (read on ao3 here)

[librathefangirl]

One Day This Will Be Over (One Day This Will End)

ao3 (500; One-Shot)

Meliodas hadn’t said a word since Merlin had found him. He was sitting by the grave – and had been for who knew how long. The rain poured down, but he didn’t seem to notice. He didn’t even react as Merlin approached him. His eyes stuck on the cross but unseeing. Dirt and blood covered him. Febuwhump 2023 Day 16 (Alt. 7): Immortality.

Warnings: Blood, Suicidal Thoughts/Ideation, Mentions of Canonical Character Deaths (Elizabeth's reincarnations).

Just a little short something today (a quintuple drabble, actually).

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

Meliodas hadn’t said a word since Merlin had found him.

He was sitting by the grave – and had been for who knew how long. The rain poured down, but he didn’t seem to notice. He didn’t even react as Merlin approached him. His eyes stuck on the cross but unseeing. Dirt and blood covered him. It colored his clothes. It smudged across his skin. It stuck in his hair, giving him a frantic appearance.

Merlin didn’t ask. She didn’t need to. What she saw was enough. It painted enough of the unpleasant picture for her to not want the rest of the answers. At least, despite how hard it was seeing Meliodas like this, it could have been worse. It had been a lot worse before.

Slowly, Merlin got Meliodas away from the grave and out of the cold. Meliodas barely reacted – silent and still, he let her guide him. Merlin tried to not be discouraged. It could have been worse. This she could deal with. So, she focused on her task: first, the wet clothes; then, the dried blood.

Meliodas didn’t even wince as she scrubbed at the dried-in blood and dirt, rubbing at the skin of his cheeks. Eventually, all that was left was his hair. It was a mess. No, it was worse than a mess. By the gods, how long had Meliodas been sitting like that?

Little by little, his hair looked blonde again. Merlin dried it off and began combing through it. Partly, because he really needed it, partly because it gave her something to do. She wasn’t quite ready to leave him on his own just yet. Still, she wanted to give him the time he needed. That was, after all, all they had. The clock had been reset once more.

“Merlin?” It was the first time either of them had spoken for what felt like hours. The first time Meliodas spoke since she found him. His voice was hoarse and barely audible.

“Yes?” Merlin hummed, continuing her work. At first, it seemed like he wouldn’t continue. Then he spoke up once more.

“Would you kill me?”

Merlin paused. She met his gaze in the mirror. His eyes were red and puffy, fresh tears making them all shiny. She sighed softly.

“I will not.”

“Please?”

Merlin avoided his gaze at the pleading tone. She focused on her combing as she shook her head.

“No.”

There was another beat of silence. Then,

“It hurts.”

“I know.”

“I just-” He seemed to struggle with his words. “I just want it to stop.”

Merlin faltered once more. She felt helpless at his pain. After all these years, after all these Elizabeths, even with Merlin and Meliodas joining together to find a solution, it almost seemed pointless. So far, all their ideas and attempts had been failures.

“I know,” Merlin repeated. For now, that was all the comfort she had to offer. “But we will end this. Maybe not today, but it will stop. I promise you that.”

---

For those who might have noticed, yeah, there is kind of a reference to Chapter 2 of Who'll Hug the Prince of Hell? in this one.

[librathefangirl]

The Heat of the Storm

ao3 (2k+; One-Shot)

While searching for a rare relic, the Seven Deadly Sins are forced to take cover from a harsh blizzard. As they wait out the storm in a cave, Merlin notices Meliodas unusual and dangerous reaction to the cold. After all, demons and blizzards does not mix well. Febuwhump 2023 Day 11 + Alt. 9: Fever + Natural Disaster.

Warnings: Near Death, Blood (as in one sentence mention of blood).

I decided to combine Day 11’s prompt (Fever) with an alternate (Natural Disaster).

Also, once again, I am completely disregarding canon timeline. Basically, the Sins are all together, they know Meliodas is a demon but not about Elizabeth or the curses (except Merlin), and the demons are still a threat against Britannia.

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

It was Gowther’s inattention that finally caused Merlin to realize her mistake. Although, mistake was a little harsh. It was an oversight. One she should have caught giver her long history with Meliodas – and his absolute dismissive attitude towards his own health – but not necessarily an error on her behalf. They’d all been preoccupied.

Coming to Oveder had been a known risk. Doing that always meant taking a chance, given that the pocket dimension was constantly plagued by one weather phenomenon after another. In that regard they’d been lucky – at first. They had managed to find the lost relic, which would provide a key element in the upcoming fight against the demons, and almost made it back to the gateway. Almost. The blizzard had hit, and they’d been forced to take cover from the harsh cold.

Merlin had noticed Meliodas stumbling more than usual as they had made it to the cave, but they had all been stumbling. You didn’t just simply walk through an Oveder blizzard unfazed. She hadn’t thought anything of it. Until now.

They had discarded their cold armors in favor of huddling together around the small fire. King and Diane were clinging onto each other, limps practically tangled into knots. Diane was in her human size as the cave wasn’t big enough for a giant. Ban had an arm wrapped around Escanor who - well, shaking like a leaf seemed a bit like an understatement to how the man was handling the cold night. Merlin was looking over the relic, making sure it hadn’t sustained any damage in the blizzard, when she noticed that Gowther wasn’t studying the  group’s responses to the weather anymore. His gaze was instead trained on the other side of the cave. A troubled frown pulling his eyebrows together. Merlin followed his line of sight. Meliodas had chosen a spot as far away from the fire as possible. He was sitting slumped against the cave wall, his chest rising rapidly with his breathing.

Fuck!

Merlin stood up so suddenly the flames almost went out at the gush of wind the action kicked up. The others let out surprised - and unnoticed – shouts as Merlin quickly made her way over to Meliodas. The closer she got, the worse it looked. His face just seemed more and more flushed the closer she got. A pinched expression colored his face as he had his arms wrapped around his midsection. Shit. At least, if nothing else, he was aware enough of the situation to avoid the heat of the fire.

“Don’t.” Meliodas slapped away her hand when she pressed it against his forehead. His gaze just barely missed its mark as he glared at her. Any other time he might have looked intimidating, now though, he just looked miserable. It seemed like a miracle he was even staying more or less upright at the moment.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Merlin growled at him. She put her hand back and had to suppress the instinct to instantly pull it away again. His skin wasn’t just warm, it was burning to the touch.

“’m fine,” Meliodas insisted with slurry words and failed to swat her away again. Merlin humored him only for the sake of turning to Gowther as he appeared at her side. The frown was still on his face as he watched the captain for a moment, before giving her a rundown of his own observations. With a fever that high, a human would have been brain damaged by now. It was fine, Merlin tried telling herself. Meliodas was a demon. They weren’t there yet.

“In this state he won’t make it through the storm,” Gowther noted. Merlin sighed, scooping up a handful of snow from the ground. Behind them, the others seemed to have caught on to just how serious the situation was. Even if they didn’t understand it.

“Merlin, what’s going on?” King asked. Merlin ignored him in favor of squeezing the snow between her hands.

“I know,” she told Gowther. The snow melted under her warmth. “But I’m not sure how much we can do.”

Gowther nodded his head, his focus still on the captain. Meliodas’ eyes had slipped close somewhere along the way, his body tipping forward slightly. Merlin opened her hands to look at the snow. It had mostly melted into water at this point. Bracing herself, Merlin shoved it against Meliodas’ skin.

As expected, Meliodas’ reaction was instantaneous – and violent. He let out a loud yelp, his limbs kicking out in an attempt at escaping the sudden attack of coldness. One of his feet caught home, hitting Merlin right in the side. She toppled over with a pained grunt. Never underestimate the strength of a demon. Even one on the brink of unconsciousness.

“What are you doing?!” Diane cried out horrified at the same time as Escanor’s aghast, “Miss Merlin!”

“Fuck,” Merlin cursed as she pushed herself upright again. Gowther had managed to grab hold of Meliodas, restraining him to keep him from doing any more harm. A thin trickle of blood ran down the side of his head from where he’d hit it against the wall in his struggle. Merlin hadn’t counted on a reaction quite that strong. He’d seemed worse off than that. He was worse off. That was the problem; his defensiveness rising with the vulnerability of his state. This would make this a lot harder. At the very least, subduing him had been easier than it would have been if Meliodas had chosen to fight them off fully conscious. It would be a matter of keeping the defensive instincts to a minimum it seemed.

“What the hell is going on?!” Ban yelled angrily. He sounded like he was one second away from rushing over to them. Probably would have if Escanor hadn’t practically been hanging off his arm.

“What’s wrong with the captain?” Diane asked as King opted for just shouting Merlin’s name, the authority of a king in his voice. Any one of them would have been enough to make a civilian or even a normal holy knight spill their guts. Merlin sighed. She supposed she would have to deal with them as well. Before they made the situation worse. Meliodas, in his delirious state, would not react to kindly to the continued shouting. Especially with the frustration they were all emitting.

“Try to get his temperature down,” Merlin said and left her water pouch by Gowther’s side. “I’ll be right back.”

When she returned to the group by the fire, Merlin spoke up before any of them could.

“Keep your voices down,” she hissed and kneeled by their bags. They’d lost most of their supplies when the storm had initially hit, but maybe she could savor enough to make a potion.

The other four shared a look before Escanor spoke up tentatively, “Miss Merlin, what’s going on?”

“We need to cool down the captain,” Merlin told them as she emptied the last bag.

“Cool down?” King asked incredulous. “It’s a blizzard. It’s already freezing.”

“To a human,” Merlin pointed out. She frowned at the content strewn before her. This wasn’t enough. Making anything usable out of this would be tricky. “Or a fairy or a giant.”

“What?” The others shared another look, clearly lost at what Merlin was trying to tell them. Escanor glanced between Merlin and the captain. Merlin followed his gaze. Meliodas was taking small sips from the water, even letting Gowther put a little of it on his heated skin. It wouldn’t be enough. Meliodas still seemed semi-conscious at best, and not fully aware of the situation.

“But not a demon, it that seriously what you’re saying?” Ban asked, pulling Merlin’s attention back. She wished they would just let her figure this out. They needed something to reset his temperature with. “Because I’m pretty sure Captain gets cold too, Merlin.”

Merlin sighed, meeting their gazes one at a time. The complete lack of knowledge about demons – even within their own group – was astounding. Perhaps expected, but still astounding.

“A demon’s body temperature is reactive against their environment,” Merlin began explaining. “In hot environments, like say Hell, their own body temperature is a lot cooler. To optimize their body functions and keep them from overheating. In cooler environments, like Liones and Britannia, their body temperature is slightly warmer than a human’s. The colder the environment, the warmer the body. In a blizzard like this one, a demon’s body might overcompensate to keep them from freezing, even to the point of a dangerously high temperature.”

“So, basically, the captain will cook to death if we don’t cool him down.”

“Ban!” Diane cried out appalled. A tense silence fell over the group. Despite his harsh wording, Ban was right. That was what was happening.

“What can we do?” King asked. They were all looking at Merlin, begging her for a light at the end of the tunnel.

“For now, we need to keep his temperature down. Until I can figure out something else.”

Escanor looked over at the rest of their group again, watching Gowther use the water or melted snow in his attempts to help the captain; “I’m assuming we can’t actually use the snow itself?”

“No,” Merlin shook her head. “It might have worked for a human, but-”

“But not a demon,” Ban repeated. His voice was clearly frustrated, his hands clenched into fists. Merlin couldn’t blame him. It was an awfully hopeless position. Especially for those without any knowledge to find a better solution. The Seven Deadly Sins weren’t used to not doing something – to not being able to help.

“We can’t risk making it worse and causing his temperature to rise even more.”

“So, what can we do?” King asked again.

“Please, Merlin, there has to be something,” Diane pleaded.

“I was hoping to make a potion, but I’m not sure even I could turn this into something.”

“A potion, to do what?” Escanor asked curiously.

“To reset his core temperature,” Merlin explained. She’d gone back to staring at their supplies. Even if it seemed pointless. The knowledge, the right answer, was always there if one just knew how to look.

“Reset it?” King echoed. “Would that even work? I mean, we’re still trapped in this blizzard.”

“Yes,” Merlin hummed. “But it would give us time if nothing else, and it might even trick his body. Make it think-”

Merlin trailed off. The answer appeared before her like a flash of lightning. Of course. It seemed so obvious now.

“Make it think what?”

“We need to make it think it’s warmer than it is,” Merlin said, studying the supplies with newfound vigor. A new potion forming in her mind. “We need to heat him up.”

“What?”

“Yes.” Merlin didn’t waste any time explaining her now fully formed idea.  It was risky – incredibly risky – but it could work. I had to. It was the only shot they had.

Despite any hesitation they might have had about the plan, they all set into action. For their captain. King helped Merlin prepare her potion, while Escanor went over to Gowther to get him up to speed and help him get more fluids into Meliodas. Ban made a new, smaller fire that Diane then created a dome-like barrier around with the earth. The only openings were the “door” and a crack in the top to let the smoke out and the air in. Still, it would be hot enough to sweat in there.

“Merlin,” King asked, glancing to make sure nobody was listening in. “If this doesn’t work, what will happen?”

“We’ll kill him.” King closed his eyes at that, but there was no shock. “His temperature will rise to unhealthy levels, and if his body continues to perceive the environment as cold, it won’t fall again. The heat will cause permanent damage to his body and mind. Best case scenario, it will kill him.”

King nodded his head solemnly, looking down at the potion they were making.

“And this will help?” he asked.

“Hopefully,” Merlin started. She didn’t like the uncertainty of that, but this was a risk chance at best. “It will protect him from his high temperature without interfering with his body’s reactiveness to the environment.”

“Hopefully,” King repeated. A shared prayer between six.

Soon the preparations were all done. Meliodas had more or less fallen unconscious by that point, but they still managed to get him to drink the potion. Ban placed him inside the dome and Diane shut the door behind. All that was left to do, was wait. Wait and pray and trust their captain.

Merlin knew of course that no matter what happened today, Meliodas would come back to them. Eventually. One of the few instances that she was grateful of his cruel curse. Although, an emotionless Meliodas was not what they needed right now. They needed their captain, just as he was. Explaining his return from death to the other Sins as well as Liones would also be a handful. For now, Merlin opted for some of Meliodas’ let’s-worry-about-that-when-it-happens attitude. If they were lucky, it wouldn’t come to that.

They were lucky. By some miracle, they were lucky.

When morning came, the blizzard had lessened into a bearable storm and Meliodas was still alive. He was by no means fine, but his temperature had fallen to a non-fatal level. They made it back to Liones with a crucial piece of relic and without any casualties. Elizabeth had met them at the gate and made an entire night of worries and anguish disappear in one teary hug. She always had been astounding.

And so, the Seven Deadly Sins shook of another near disaster and continued on, but there was one thing that kept nagging at Merlin. She knew exactly what it was. It wasn’t something she’d been confronted with before they were framed. After all, back then, the other sins hadn’t known about Meliodas being a demon. Now though, she saw the way they had all worked together, to find a solution for something seemingly unsolvable. Something that had to do with the captain’s past and true nature. Seeing all that, it was hard to not think about Meliodas’ other secret.

Merlin had argued before that he should entrust the others with his and Elizabeth’s curses. He’d always refused – claiming that they’d never believe it or trust him or it wasn’t worth the risk to Elizabeth. Now two of those claims were invalid. They already knew he was a demon and still trusted him, and them not believing it wasn’t really a reasonable issue. That only left Elizabeth, who would be a lot safer with the curse broken. Perhaps it was time to raise the subject again. Seven heads were a lot better than two. Liones’ wasn’t the only fate they could save.

---

Fun fact: I got the name Oveder from the Swedish word “Oväder”, which means storm/bad weather.

[librathefangirl]

Seven Sentence Sunday: Febuwhump Edition #2

Hoping to get a lot more of my Febuwhump stories out next week, so here are some random sneak peeks!

Day 9 (Voice Loss): They’d found Meliodas. That was the one and only good thing Gloxinia could take away from this.

Day 12 ("Can you hear me?"): "Dammit, Ban, stop kicking the dead and help me!" King's voice cracked at the end, desperation seizing his throat.

Day 26 (Forced to Choose): Zeldris wanted to kill Meliodas for this. Actually, that was exactly what he should do. That way, he wouldn’t have to deal with this problem in the first place.

[librathefangirl]

The Things I've Done (The Sins I Carry)

ao3 (1k+; One-Shot)

After years of being under a curse, finally being able to be you is a lot easier than dealing with the sins you have committed. A nightmare leads Gilthunder to the Boar Hat in the middle of the night. Febuwhump 2023 Day 8: Panic.

Warnings: Blood and Injury, Character Death in Dream, Panic Attacks.

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

“Then I’ll teach you a charm,” Meliodas told him simply. His voice a calming touch to Gilthunder’s shaky nerves. Meliodas’ smile was as bright as ever, his gaze earnest as he met his gaze. Gilthunder closed his eyes. His voice shook as he spoke the words Meliodas taught him.

“I-I am m-more p-powerful than… than any of t-the Seven Deadly S-Sins.”

Gilthunder curled his trembling hands into fists. The sword felt heavy in his hold. He forced the breathes in and out of his body. He couldn’t waver – not now, not ever. Determination flooded his mind.

“I am now more powerful than any of the Seven Deadly Sins.”

Gilthunder opened his eyes again, feeling unnaturally calm. Meliodas’ expression had fallen. His eyes stared at Gilthunder, wide and distant. He formed slow, soundless words. A harsh cough suddenly wracked his body. Blood painted his lips a bright red as it sprayed across Gilthunder’s chest. His eyes screamed the betrayal his mouth couldn’t.

Gilthunder gasped. He flinched, almost staggering backwards, but his hand was still wrapped tightly around the handle of his weapon, keeping him in place. His gaze fell to his sword. The blade was piercing Meliodas’ body, piercing his heart. Blood flowed from the wound, coating the weapon with it. It reached all the way to Gilthunder’s hand – tainting it – and fell to floor to pool around their feet. There was so much blood. Too much. It seemed impossible for it all to have come from one being; unthinkable for Meliodas to still remain standing.

Gilthunder’s hand shook. No, he didn’t want this. Yet still, he couldn’t bring himself to let go of the sword. He wanted to, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t!

Meliodas let out another breath, choked and wheezing, causing more blood to spill past his lips, “Little Gil…”

Gilthunder’s gaze snapped up to Meliodas’ face. He didn’t want this! Tears ran down his cheeks. Emerald eyes stared back at him, now void of life.

-X-

Gilthunder shot up in his bed. Panic squeezed his throat so tight no scream would come out. He wrapped his arms around him, tears burning his eyes. He tried to breathe through it; in and out, in and out, in…

It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream, it’s just a dream.

Out… When nothing helped, he threw on a jacket and headed outside. The air was cool as it whipped across his face. His legs trembled slightly as they steered him by their own accord.

It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream, he desperately continued his mantra.

The thing was though, it wasn’t. Gilthunder had tried to kill Meliodas. More than once. He actually had struck him down. He had prepared to deliver the finishing blow. If Meliodas hadn’t freed him when he had, Gilthunder would have helped Hendrickson kill him.

Before Gilthunder had even planned or realized it, he was standing outside the Boar Hat. It wasn’t an accident – you didn’t just accidentally walk to the Boar Hat. Still… he couldn’t bring himself to knock on the door. Gilthunder sighed, his hand dropping back down. He turned his back to the door.

“Yo, Little Gil.”

If he hadn’t choked on his own breath, Gilthunder would have shrieked. Instead, the sound caught in his throat. As it was, he only startled bad enough to fall head-first down the stairs as he twisted around at unexpected voice. He barely had time to see a mop of golden locks before he was facing the stars high above. Their peaceful twinkling seemed like a mockery to his racing heart.

“Whoa! Take it easy, Little Gil, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Meliodas punctuated the sentence with a small laugh and looked down at Gilthunder. As always, his smile was bright, his eyes earnest. Gilthunder felt like he was going to be sick. Meliodas was pulling back up to his feet before he can process what was happening.

“You alright?” he asked. The smile was still present on his lips – lips painted red with blood – as emerald eyes studied Gilthunder – eyes void of life.

He couldn’t breathe.

“Little Gil?”

The next few moments were nothing but a blur. A blur and panic – because Gilthunder couldn’t breathe. Can’t, can’t, can’t!

He was vaguely aware of Meliodas guiding him down to sit on the porch steps. Of how he kept speaking softly to him. Of words that became a strange buzzing in his ears. A hand grabbing his and placing it on a chest. A heart that beat strongly and calmly and not at all like it was trying to escape its confines within his body like Gilthunder’s was.

“Breathe,” Meliodas encouraged him. Gilthunder could feel him breathe underneath his hand. In and out. A peaceful, steady rhythm. Gilthunder tried to mimic it. “That’s it. Just follow my lead. Breathe.”

Eventually – somehow – Gilthunder’s heart stopped its rebellion, his lungs remembered how to work, and he wasn’t actively dying. Meliodas had stopped talking, but his fingers were still gently wrapped around Gilthunder’s as they kept his hand against Meliodas’ chest. His skin burned when he remembered what had happened.

Gilthunder tugged his hand back. Meliodas shouldn’t be comforting him. Meliodas’ own hand fell to his knee. He tilted his head, watching Gilthunder.

“I’m okay,” Gilthunder mumbled.

“Mmm, that seems like an overstatement,” Meliodas hummed. “But I guess I don’t have to ask what you are doing up and about.”

Gilthunder winced at that. He couldn’t really say the same thing though – Meliodas didn’t even look like he’d gone to bed in the first place. He was dressed up as always, seemingly milling about the Boar Hat in the middle of the night. What had he been doing? While Gilthunder clearly wasn’t the most aware, he was fairly certain the door hadn’t opened behind him. Yet Meliodas seemed to have noticed the second he arrived at the tavern.

“Can’t sleep,” Gilthunder admitted , which definitely was an understatement. One Meliodas seemed to catch up on if the look he sent him was anything to go by.

“Yeah,” Meliodas said, shifting to a cross-legged position beside Gilthunder. “You wanna talk about it? Your nightmare, I mean.”

Gilthunder didn’t answer at first. This hadn’t been part of the plan – not that he’d had one to begin with. He could barely even meet Meliodas’ gaze, yet sitting here next to him, the truth slipped out anyway.

“I killed you.” The confession tasted sour on his tongue. His stomach twisted uncomfortably at the memory. “In the dream I-… I stabbed you in the heart.”

“Oh… Well, one’s not too bad.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.” Meliodas was waving it off before Gilthunder could even process what he’d said. “I’m just saying, it was a dream. You don’t have to feel bad about things you do in a dream, Little Gil.”

Gilthunder clenched his fist, shaking his head, “But it wasn’t just a dream.”

“What do you mean?” Meliodas asked, as if it wasn’t obvious. As if the memories weren’t a permanent fixture in Gilthunder’s mind, along with all other horrible things he did these past ten years.

“I have tried to kill you,” Gilthunder cried out. A wave of fresh, hot tears threatened to fall. “I almost did kill you in the Forest of White Dreams!”

Meliodas didn’t deny it, he just nodded his head at him, humming slightly.

“You know what else you did?” Meliodas questioned, meeting Gilthunder’s teary-eyed expression with a soft smile. “You saved my life, from Hendrickson.”

“The only reason he almost killed you was because you choose to save me instead!” Gilthunder protested.

“Well, I did promise you ten years ago, didn’t I? I’ll always come to rescue you.”

The tears finally fell as the only guilt Gilthunder was faced with was his own.

“Besides, the only reason you almost killed me in the Forest of White Dreams was because I let you. I needed to find out where the others were and that was just the fastest way.”

“Maybe,” Gilthunder admitted. Meliodas did have a point. Gilthunder striking him had been on his terms. In hindsight, his fighting before and after had almost been like night and day. Gilthunder had tried to kill him, and Meliodas had let him. “But I still would have killed you if I could have.”

Meliodas sighed at that, seemingly frustrated with the way the conversation was going, “Then why did you?”

“I- What?”

Meliodas looked at him seriously, the smile gone, as he repeated, “Why did you try to kill me?”

“I had to do it!” Gilthunder sniffed. “I had to keep Margaret safe, I didn’t-”

“Exactly!” Meliodas beamed at him. “You did it for Margaret. Did you do bad things, yes. Did you hurt people, yes. But… you did it all for the woman you love. That might not make any of it okay, but I get it.”

Meliodas glanced off to the side, his bangs covering his eyes, “I know what it’s like to do anything for someone that precious to you.”

There was a weight to his words, a certain edge to his tone – it felt painful and personal and unintelligible. A part of Gilthunder wanted to reach out a soothe that ache, but he didn’t even know how he would begin to do so. And almost as soon as it had appeared, it was gone. Meliodas turned back to him. The smile back on his lips.

“You didn’t fail,” he told him. “You protected Margaret, and that’s the important thing, okay? As for the rest, well, you can still atone for your sins. And I don’t blame you for what you did.”

“You should,” Gilthunder mumbled. The guilt still heavy in his mind. How could Meliodas just shrug it off like that?

“Okay, then how about you start with that atoning right now?” Meliodas suggested, standing up.

“Huh?”

“Let’s head inside and grab a drink, just you and me. Then you can apologize properly, if that’ll make you feel better.”

Meliodas was opening the door and disappearing inside before Gilthunder even had the time to decide if he wanted to protest or not. He didn’t. That sounded perfect actually. It wouldn’t actually change anything, but, if nothing else, it was a start.

“Okay.”

[librathefangirl]

A Debt to Pay

ao3 (1k+; Chapter 1/2)

This was why Gowther had gone alone. He hadn’t wanted the others involved in this. Especially not the captain. Galvina was fixated on revenge. At least the others were strangers, irrelevant faces in her blind rage. Meliodas was not. He’d been there 3,000 years ago, and as the leader of the Ten Commandments she could just as well blame him for Gowther’s actions. Febuwhump 2023 Day 7: Made to Watch.

Warnings: Blood and Injury.

Also written for the prompt: "Is this goodbye?" "I hope not." (by @whump-galaxy)

Read on ao3 or under the cut!

In the end, the surprise should probably have been that it hadn’t happened earlier. Gowther had spent a lot of time in the Demon Realm. Plenty of time to make enemies. He and the original Gowther had been part of the Ten Commandments. They’d left the Ten Commandments. Both actions had angered a lot of people. With the demons being sealed away for 3,000 years, they’d had nothing but time to hold grudges.

Which is why Gowther had gone alone.

Perhaps that had been his first mistake. Thinking he could deal with Galvina on his own. Or perhaps the mistake had been thinking he could actually get away with it. Gowther hadn’t particularly expected to come out of this unscathed, or maybe not at all. Galvina had made enemies of the Ten Commandments with her greed for power and complete disregard for anyone else. Of course, she had been considered an enemy primarily for her disregard of the Demon King’s rule, but it was her lack of compassion that made Gowther want to deal with her without the rest of the Seven Deadly Sins. She had left devastation in her wake even within the Demon Realm. If Gowther could help it, he was going to keep her away from his friends.

And he’d thought he had succeeded. He’d thought that none of the Sins had realized the messages she’d sent him. The threats. He’d thought that he could slip away and none of them would know what happened. He should have known better. Perhaps then he wouldn’t be in this situation now; collapsed on the ground with Meliodas standing protectively in front of him, helpless to do anything to help his captain.

Galvina not being a part of the Ten Commandments hadn’t been for a lack of power or skill. She held her own very well against Meliodas. Though Meliodas stood his ground as expected. Normally, Gowther wouldn’t have been worried about him. Normally, Meliodas wouldn’t have been so focused on keeping Gowther safe. Blood trickled down Meliodas’ arm and dropped off his fingers. It was idiotic. Gowther was a doll. He couldn’t feel pain. Meliodas shouldn’t worry about him.

Yet no matter how he moved, or the battle turned and twisted, Meliodas always remained in between Galvina and Gowther. A sturdy, unwavering shield. It was clearly frustrating Galvina more and more as the fighting wore them both down. Gowther wanted to tell Meliodas to stop – but he couldn’t find the words.

This was why Gowther had gone alone. He hadn’t wanted the others involved in this. Especially not the captain. Galvina was fixated on revenge. At least the others were strangers, irrelevant faces in her blind rage. Meliodas was not. He’d been there 3,000 years ago, and as the leader of the Ten Commandments, she could just as well blame him for Gowther’s actions.

Suddenly Galvina landed a lucky punch and Meliodas spit out blood on the ground. She took his moment of collapse as an opportunity and quickly stepped around him. Towards Gowther. Gowther was torn between the need to know that Meliodas was okay, and the wish for her to just take him and get this over with. Just as she’d planned to when the captain had first shown up. The portal was still open behind them all, waiting for her to return to wherever she came from. Most likely somewhere in the Demon Realm.

“Galvina!” Meliodas called out. His next words were too quiet for Gowther to hear – but Galvina did. She froze in her stride, her whole body tensing. Meliodas had her full attention. He staggered to his feet, still speaking. Gowther desperately wished he knew what he was saying. In the next moment, Galvina was in front of Meliodas. Her blade pointed at his throat. The captain had his own sword pressed against her chest. He calmly met her gaze as she hissed at him. Meliodas spoke again. Then neither of them moved for a long moment. They remained standing there, unmoving but staring; their weapons ready to kill.

Then Galvina stepped back. Her sword lowered, though her hand remained tight around the handle. One wrong move and she’d strike again. Meliodas nodded his head. He dropped his sword, even letting it fall completely from his hands, and turned his back to Galvina. He walked up to Gowther as she glared at them – but she didn’t stop him, nor did she try to kill him. Something that should have made Gowther feel relieved. He didn’t.

Meliodas kneeled by Gowther, gently grabbing his face. Gowther leaned into the touch as he tried to get his voice to work again.

“You okay?” the captain questioned. Gowther shook his head. That wasn’t important.

“What’s… happening?”

“Hey, now,” Meliodas hushed. “Don’t you worry about that.”

He was smiling, of course. The captain was always smiling. Though it seemed tainted. A faded shadow of his usual smile. Like a broken mask he could no longer hold, falling off bit by bit. It left an uncomfortable feeling in Gowther.

“Merlin’s gonna fix you right up again,” Meliodas promised. That isn’t important! A tear slipped down the captain’s cheek. Gowther gasped. Though before he could force more words out, Meliodas turned his head. He was still cradling Gowther between his hands as he glared at Galvina.

“So,” he spat out. The sharp tone was a stark contrast to the softness he’d just spoken to Gowther with. “Do we have a deal?”

Galvina’s face twisted displeased, “I never said such a thing.”

Meliodas sighed, “You’re pissed about getting thrown in prison, I get that, but there are consequences to your actions. You’re smart enough to realize that, Galvina.”

“Then he’ll have to face his.”

Meliodas’ face hardened, darkness covering his eyes at the clear threat to his comrade.

“Gowther was acting as a proxy to his creator. He’s not the one you’re after.”

“Then where’s the real one,” Galvina asked, crossing her arms – barely avoiding stabbing herself in the process. Meliodas winced at the question.

“Dead,” he admitted. Gowther let out a small whimper and Meliodas’ thumbs instantly started moving across his skin, trying to soothe him.

“Then he will continue being his proxy.”

“No,” Meliodas growled. There was enough bite to it to cause Galvina to pause. “I told you. If you want to punish somebody, take me. Leave Gowther out of this.”

“ N-No… ” Meliodas quickly hushed him again.

“The Demon King might have been the one who ordered your arrest, but I was the one who sent Gowther there. I was the leader of the Ten Commandments; I decided your fate. And if I had been there personally, you wouldn’t have gotten off so lightly.”

Galvina’s hands shook slightly, her free one curling up into a fist.

“And I’d do it again. You hurt civilians, Galvina. Children.”

She huffed indignantly, “Fine. I accept your deal. I guess he has learned his lesson about following orders now. So, I’ll take my justice with you. Let’s go!”

Meliodas looked relieved while Gowther only felt panic. No! No, please, no.

“Don’t leave,” Gowther begged. Meliodas wiped away the tears running down Gowther’s face. He wasn’t smiling anymore.

“You’re gonna be okay,” Meliodas insisted. That only made Gowther cry harder.

“Is-… Is this goodbye?” It wasn’t a question he wanted to ask – but he needed to know. Gowther didn’t understand what the captain was doing. What was the plan?

“I hope not.” Meliodas’ voice was a mere whisper. Then he rose to his feet. His hands slipped from Gowther’s face, leaving emptiness in their place. Meliodas turned around. Galvina was standing by the portal, waiting impatiently.

Now was when they’d do something, right? Yes, Gowther could barely move. Yes, Meliodas was unarmed. But they’d figure something out, right?

Right?

Meliodas paused. He glanced back at Gowther with a final, pained smile, “Look after the others for me, will you?”

Then he started walking away.

NO! Gowther managed to struggle to his feet. He desperately tried to follow Meliodas – but his legs failed him. He collapsed back to the ground after just one step; his body too beaten and broken to even carry him anymore. All he could do was watch his captain disappear with the demon who wanted them both dead.

Eventually, the rest of the Seven Deadly Sins found Gowther – but not Meliodas. Because he left. Gowther didn’t know if he was coming back.

To Be Continued

---

Oh, look, it's a two-parter! I'm just gonna leave you with this cliffhanger for a while 😈 Chapter 2 will be posted when I finally make it to Day 19 of Febuwhump 2023.

[librathefangirl]

Libra's Febuwhump 2023

So, with Febuwhump officially over, I wanted to take the time to do a little check-in, see where we've gotten so far (Don't worry, all stories will still be written, just, you know, not in February).

Fics Posted: 14. Chapters Posted: 21. Total Word Count: 32,052. Fandom: The Seven Deadly Sins / Nanatsu no Taizai.

Here's a complete list of the stories so far:

Touch Starved - Who'll Hug the Prince of Hell (6,650 words)

5 times someone held Meliodas when he felt like he'd break, and 1 time when he wasn't the one breaking / aka sad boy gets surprised hugged.

2. Flinching - A Touch of Light (1,590 words)

A chill she couldn’t shake formed in her gut. Meliodas – the Prince of the Demon Realm, the Leader of the Ten Commandments, the Next Demon King – was frightened by her mere touch. / Elizabeth struggles with what it means to be a goddess befriending a demon.

3. Muzzled - One Man's Beast (3,051 words)

(Monster Sins AU) The boy twisted uncomfortably at the scene in front of him. He should have seen this coming. Nothing good ever came from working with a monster hunter. The creature in the cell was unlike anything he had ever seen. Granted, he hadn’t actually seen a demon before.

4. (Alt. 6.) Limp - I'll Carry You(r Weight) (941 words)

Those monsters choose the right time to flee. Now Ban was too preoccupied with Meliodas’ unconscious ad bleeding from. As it was, they’d get to live another day. Ban gently scooped Meliodas up in his arms. As he did, he couldn’t help but quietly curse at how tiny he felt.

5. "That's gonna scar" - Marks of a Brother (1,730 words)

When Zeldris was just a little baby, there was a gomicl dragon attacking the palace. Meliodas had barely started his official training with Chandler, he was in no position to do anything – but he knew where his father's priorities were. His baby brother was the only pure thing left in this wretched place. Someone had to keep him safe.

6. Secrets Revealed - There All Along (826 words)

King sighed, slumping over Chastiefol. It wasn’t like it was really a surprise. Sure, King had been shocked – he’d never seen Meliodas demon form before – but he can’t say he was surprised. Of course, he hadn’t known Meliodas was a demon. Though he had suspected it. There were some things about Meliodas that didn’t make sense. Now they did. “You’re upset.” King buried his face in Chastiefol at the sudden voice. “I’m not really in the mood to talk, Gowther.”

7. Made to Watch - A Debt to Pay (1,389 words)

This was why Gowther had gone alone. He hadn’t wanted the others involved in this. Especially not the captain. Galvina was fixated on revenge. At least the others were strangers, irrelevant faces in her blind rage. Meliodas was not. He’d been there 3,000 years ago, and as the leader of the Ten Commandments she could just as well blame him for Gowther’s actions.

8. Panic - The Things I've Done (The Sins I Carry) (1,704 words)

After years of being under a curse, finally being able to be you is a lot easier than dealing with the sins you have committed. A nightmare leads Gilthunder to the Boar Hat in the middle of the night.

9. Voice Loss - With the Forest as My Witness, I'll Silence All My Screams (2,476 words)

It wasn’t like Gloxinia didn’t know how the goddess clan felt about demons. None of them were subtle about it. He knew they still didn’t trust Meliodas. He just never thought they’d try something like this.

10. (Alt. 3.) Soft Words - Help Me Brother, for I Am Falling (1,464 words)

(Modern All-Human AU) He shouldn’t do this. Worst Big Brother Award right here. The last thing he wanted to do was risk dragging his baby brother back into this mess. He just didn’t have anywhere else to go – and by some miracle, Zeldris opened the door. “Yo, Zel. Been a while,” Meliodas mumbled, trying to smile as he leaned heavily against the wall. His vision blurred slightly around the edges. Oh, that probably wasn’t good. Zeldris’ eyes narrowed, “What the hell are you- You’re bleeding.”

11. Fever (+ Alt. 9. Natural Disaster) - The Heat of the Storm (2,456 words)

While searching for a rare relic, the Seven Deadly Sins are forced to take cover from a harsh blizzard. As they wait out the storm in a cave, Merlin notices Meliodas unusual and dangerous reaction to the cold. After all, demons and blizzards does not mix well.

12. "Can you hear me?" - Bleed This Water (2,150 words)

Meliodas’ hand shot out almost instantly, grabbing hold of Ban’s arm as he bristled at the jeer. He had a point of course. Even if King in that moment wished he would have just let Ban fall for the apparent provocation. He shoved back the mental image of Diane’s upset expression at insults like that and focused back on the matter at hand. The captain was right. The last thing they needed right now was a bunch of dead villagers. Especially ones who were only armed with… water?

13. Forced to Hurt a Loved One - My Love, It Burns (3,225 words)

The realization burned. An ember deep in her heart growing hotter and hotter the worse the situation got. It hurt. After all, Elizabeth had spent over 3,000 years avoiding this very moment. Not always consciously, but when the memories had been there, she had hoped and prayed and wished for this day to never come. Now it was here.

14. Captivity - No Kin of Mine (But a Kin of Kind) (2,400 words)

(Dragon Meliodas AU) The first time Meliodas met his would-be brother was in the secret highly reinforced cage in the pit of the dungeons. Of course, this was before he was forced into the form of a demon and enslaved as a son of the Demon King. It was years before he would even consider Zeldris his kin. … The hatchling shifted from foot to foot, his hesitation hanging heavy in the air – until suddenly he pushed himself through the food hatch and into the cage.

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Thank you so much for all the love you guys have showed so far!! I'll hope you'll stick around for the rest of the ride (and everything that comes after) ❤️❤️