The Demon's Lover (Meliodas)

Chapter 36

Meliodas and Ayano decide to go into the town to help rebuild while the demons are down. As they walk into the town, they see that it's already rebuilt. Ban and Elizabeth looking shocked as well. The two walk to them.

"Morning" Ayano greets

"Hey did you do this?" Ban asks her

"Huh? No, I was at the tavern with Meli last night" Ayano replies "maybe it was Merlin?" she holds Meliodas's hand "let's go see her"

They walk to her temporary home

"Yo Merlin!" Ban calls out

"Up here!" Merlin responds

"Miss Merlin, how come the town is all back to normal?" Elizabeth asks as they walk in

They see Merlin in a bubble bath with Escanor washing her shoulders.

"All back to normal? Far from it" Merlin tells her looking up from her book "Indeed, I have restored all the buildings by myself overnight.. but that only accounts for a little over half the destruction. While it is well within my powers to restore said buildings, I do not possess the means with which to bring back to life those killed by the demons. Nor can I mend the hearts of all the people that have been scarred by the horror and terror..

Furthermore, all the holy Knights and people struck by that Commandment have begun a pilgrimage towards Camelot. Which can only mean that the current stronghold of the Ten Commandments is Camelot... So it is no exaggeration to say that this battle has only just begun. There is far more chaos to follow... But make no mistake, this last war's victory belongs to we Eight Deadly Sins... Nobody would hang you for rejoicing and engaging in a bit of revelry over it, Captain"

Meliodas looks down "Right.." he tightens his grip on Ayano's hand and she kisses his cheek

"Cap'n" Ban puts Meliodas in a headlock before rubbing his fist against Meliodas's head "Where the hell did you sneak off to last night, ahh?! We didn't even get to celebrate properly! I was looking forward to our toast!"

"Ban.." Meliodas looks up at him confused

 "Sorry about yesterday.. I just didn't know what kind of face I was supposed to make or what I was supposed to say in a situation like that... But screw all of that... It's not like anything's changed between us, right?" Ban looks at him with a smile

"You have nothing to apologize for" Meliodas says looking at him

"That's true, I mean, the Cap'n is always the one sitting around with that stupid vacant look on your face, making everyone worry about y-" 

Ban was cut off by Meliodas punching him, sending him into a wall, to shut him up. Ayano laughs at the two.

"O, my friend, noble wrath" they look at Escanor "If even a curse should afflict our bodies... It could never taint the beautiful rose which blooms in our hearts. O, my friend, brave heroic sin" Escanor recites "Ahh, please, it is not what you think... I dare not presume to understand the myriad of emotions running through the Captain at this very instant!! I simply wished to state... Seeing as how they are cursed... The only they could understand the pain and suffering that it brings... Or something along those lines... So... Please... Try to cheer up if only a little bit?"

"I give it an 8" Meliodas says folding his arms over his chest looking at Escanor

"An 8?! Out of what?!" Escanor asks

"By the way... As far as beautiful roses go..." Escanor goes up behind Meliodas and Ayano "Well, it goes without saying that mine is Merlin... And yours is Ayano"