Turning Back The Clock

Turning Back The Clock: Chapter 2.

"How the hell could we let this happen?! We need to find him!"

"We've already tried everywhere Ban, the captain is nowhere to be found."

"Well than we haven't looked everywhere have we?! I refuse to give up! You damn well know he wouldn't for us!"

"But if it were you, would you want the only people stopping the demons from taking over to drop everything to find you? Or would you pray they would keep going regardless of losing you.."

King's somber words stopped Ban from storming off like his previous plan. Oh he wanted to. He wanted to leave, find the captian, and give everyone that dared stop him the middle finger. However the immortal knew deep down that the fairy was right, even if he didn't want to admit it.

Even if he did manage to find the captain, who knows how many demons he'd have to kill with not only getting in, but to get them both out.

And yet still at the same time... he couldn't bare to leave his closest friend like that... especially not after everything the blond had done for him.

"So than... what so we do?"

Diane asked, the only one to break the silence as no one else could give her an answer. Because everyone was torn between two choices, none of them wanting to have to make either one.
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Meliodas couldn't help but feel like he had done something wrong. Any time he tried to play with his dear brother, he would say he was busy or avoid the boy. It was even worse that the blond didn't know what he had done to warrant something like that. The two had been so close, Meliodas really looked up to his brother. So why was Zeldris ignoring him other then a short comment?

The hardest part wasn't even that though, it was the fear that his brother didn't want him anymore. After all, he was a grown up now! He had grown up things to do and didn't seem interested in his little brother who was still nine anymore. It didn't help that the boy was still trying to adjust to his brothers being grown up as well.

Estarossa told him that after an accident during the war, Meliodas got put in a coma and was put under a spell to keep him young and alive. The brothers hadn't thought he would wake up after so long, but a miracle had happened and the blond was perfectly fine. So shouldn't his brother be happy to have him back like Estarossa? Esta had barely let him out of sight, and those two hadn't even been as close as he was with Zeldy!

So... did Zeldris want him to stay under? Had he moved on and now the boy was only getting in the way?

That thought alone almost put the child in tears.

"Meliodas? What's wrong little one?"

Looking up at his eldest brother, he walked towards the demon without an answer to the man's question and wrapped him in a tight hug- only coming up to about his stomach.

Feeling comforted by the hand gently petting his hair, the boy's tears finally fell as small sniffles were heard. Which alarmed the elder sibling.

"Hey, hey.. what are those tears for?"

Scooping the child up into his arms, his previous aloof expression during battles was now soft and concerned, that of a caring brother.

"Z-Zeldy still barely talks to me... I k-know you said he needs time, but it's been a whole week and I miss playing with him. Does he... does he not like me anymore? D-Did I do something wrong?"

That left a pang in the demon's chest. The blond was getting ignored for something he had no idea the extent of. Of course he couldn't blame Zeldris's reaction considering what had happened between the two and how Meliodas didn't even remember the fights anymore, but at the same time, this boy crying in front of him wasn't the same one who betrayed them, and it was about time Zeldris saw that.

"I'll talk to him Meliodas, just be patient with him. Having you back again is.. difficult for him, after having lost you for so long. He's just trying to process it."

"But... why isn't he happy I'm back?"

A grim look briefly covering the silver headed man, he answered with a tone of equal stature.

"I don't know Meliodas... I truly don't."
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Zeldris had drowned himself in his work ever since Meliodas left the demon realm. But now that he was back, the unhealthy habit increased ten fold. He knew he should be happy to see his sibling smiling at him, but every time he saw the happy look in his eyes, it only reminded the demon of the indifference and hardness the blond previously had. And every time his little brother yelled triumphantly when playing... it simply reminded him of the battle cries the two shares during war.

He knew deep down that the boy desperate to get his attention wasn't the same as the one he had fought, but Zeldris couldn't bring himself to let his walls down even regardless of that fact. Because what if he grew to do the same thing as before? What if the ravenette opened his heart to the other again, let his guard down again, only for the boy to grow up and betray them once more? He almost didn't survive the first time, how could he handle it again? Or even worse, what if he remembered everything instead and looked at him with those hard emerald eyes again? Oh he definitely wouldn't survive that one.

But even so, when his eyes would land on the little boy playing with some animals or squealing in joy when Estarossa would pick him up, it took him back again and again to a time long ago when he had been the one to do that. When he had taught him about how to approach an animal, when he had been the one to pick up the younger boy and rough house with him. Oh how he wanted to do it again. How he wanted to experience those precious memories with his sibling again, to be truly happy with his sibling again....

But he couldn't, not anymore. Not after everything that had happened... not even when Estarossa brought it to his attention how his behavior was harming the blond boy oblivious to what had happened between them.

"Zeldris I understand you're still upset, but it isn't fair you're taking it out on Meliodas!"

"I'm not taking it out on him! If I were taking it out on him, he wouldn't still be in the castle, Estarossa! If he asks a question, I answer. If he needs something, I get it for him. What more do you want from me?!"

"It's not about what I want, it's about the fact that Meliodas needs his brother back! You two were always so much closer than me and him. He idolizes you Zeldris... you were always his hero."

The ravenette scoffed, a familiar wound being pressed at that.

"Oh yeah? That's why he left us for humans and betrayed everyone.."

He hadn't meant to say that out loud, but the words had slipped out before he could stop them, giving away the true root of this and leading Estarossa to say something that would affect him greatly..

"Zeldris, I know he made you feel like everything you two had as brothers didn't matter when he chose to leave so easily... that you felt unwanted. However you are doing the exact same thing to the person who practically worships the ground you walk on. Meliodas thinks you don't want him as a brother anymore. And if anyone understands what that feels like.. it's you."

Sorry for the abrupt end. I hope you like the chapter though! Gives more insight. ;)

Word count- 1332