Oneshots!

#53 MelBan Request: Hibernation AU

"What the hell is wrong with him Merlin?! Answer me!"

"I'm trying to find out Ban, but I need you to be patient while I do."

"Be patient? BE PATIENT!? THE LOVE OF MY LIFE PASSED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TAVERN AND WON'T WAKE UP! DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME TO BE PATIENT MERLIN!"

She wasn't phased by his outburst but she was clearly annoyed by his lack of compliance.

"I understand you're worried, but the longer you throw your tantrum the longer it'll take for us to get results, and we don't know if out Captain has that kind of time depending on what's happening."

Ban hated that she was right but accepted it nonetheless. He sat down with a scowl and an impatient jitter running through him as he tried his best to keep himself from barging in. However he couldn't keep himself from jumping from his seat when Merlin returned a few hours later with a tired look on her face.

"Well? What's going on with him?"

Well it's a bit... complicated."

He didn't like her tone when saying that, especially since Merlin never had an issue talking about things regardless of the emotions involved.

"How the hell is it complicated!? What's going on!?"

She opened her mouth to reply but by the time she did, Ban was already moving on elsewhere as he saw the door slightly ajar behind her and was met with the sight of a whimpering Meliodas who looked so hurt and miserable.

He didn't move for a moment as he was still trying to process, but when he heard Meliodas whimper out the word "mate" Ban snapped and rushed into the room.

He knew that the blond sometimes referred to him as mate, but it was typically when he was in a very good mood or hurting very badly because for either one he had his guard down a bit more and was calling Ban something that demon's referred to their chosen significant other as.

That's why Ban reacted the way he did, because based on how Meliodas was whimpering and squirming around, he was in pain. Enough so that he called out for his mate to bring comfort.

Going into the room regardless of Merlin's protests, he got down to Meliodas's level and lightly ran his hands through the boy's hair while leaving a few kisses as well.

"I'm here baby I'm here... Your mate's here."

He watched as the blond calmed down some before his eyes fluttered opened. A slight daze over his features.

"M-Mate..?"

"Yeah baby I'm right here."

Without another word Meliodas pulled Ban down in the bed and snuggled into his chest, a satisfied purr leaving him that was accompanied by a small sigh of relief.

Ban was shocked by the action of course, but didn't have a chance to comment on it as his thoughts were interrupted by Merlin.

"If you had waited to listen to me, I would've explained this instead of you getting stuck yourself."

He was confused about what "this" meant or was, however he sighed before muttering an apology, this time allowing her to explain properly.

"As you already know, Meliodas is a submissive demon, and as such during stress looks for the comfort of his mate to provide safety. This being one of those times."

"But why is he in stress to begin with!? What the hell is going on!?"

"To put it simply, he's in a hibernation of sorts."