Turning Back The Clock

Turning Back The Clock: Chapter 5

Zeldris couldn't sleep that night as an overwhelming amount of guilt was running through him. Even though he had been snippy, even though he had been cold, even though Meliodas couldn't remember what had happened to cause such a reaction, the boy didn't respond with anger or tears or bitterness that would all be justified on his end. Just pure worry for his brother and a pure wanting to make things he didn't even know about right to make his sibling feel better.

Zeldris had just been so focused on keeping his distance, on guarding himself for what he felt was inevitable, that he hadn't realized as much as he should have that his little brother really was just that; his little brother.

He was the same sweet, loving, patient, and kind child he always was. And because of that, he wrote those little notes that clenched the ravenette's heart so painfully to read.

Maybe Estarossa is right? He's so different then what I had gotten used to. He's trusting, generous, loving. It might be possible as long as we make him stay away from the humans to keep him that way. To keep him here, with us. I just.. don't know if we can truly have the same relationship as before with how I've treated him since he got here. Even if he forgives me, it's been so long since I've been the goofy, protective, older brother I was back then. However to him it's merely been- well- two weeks. Which means every slip up I have, every awkward moment where I try to recreate that side of me will stick out even more so to him. Where do I even start trying to rebuild our relationship again? I've drowned myself in my work for years, and I don't have many hobbies because of that. Not to mention, I can't even remember what Meliodas liked to do at that age other than occasionally rough house and play swords. But I just... don't believe I'm ready to do things like that yet. Not with how fresh some wounds are between us. Even if Mel doesn't remember them, I still do...

Trying desperately to think of something, anything, that the two could do. Only one thing came to mind as he hoped it would be good enough for the boy.
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Zeldris was surprisingly nervous as he waited for Meliodas to arrive. Although he did tell the blond the two would be doing something that day, he hadn't explained what to make it a surprise. However, now that everything was in its place and he was simply waiting for his sibling to arrive, he found himself very nervous at what the boy would think of the activity.

Was the ravenette getting ages mixed up and at this time the child would have no interest in it? Would it go horribly wrong after the years it had been since the man had done this? There were so many variables that had the demon's nerves through the roof, yet luckily, it wasn't too long before the blond showed up to the site in the kitchen.

"What's all this big brother?"

It was early in the morning since Zeldris preferred getting things done at that time, so Meliodas's little voice was still slightly scratchy with sleep as the blond rubbed his eyes to try to be rid of it.

The ravenette walked over to the child and patted his here gently before answering.

"I figured what better way to bond than to do so over cookies? Well, making and then consuming cookies."

Emerald eyes lit up at that.

"Really!? You want to bake with me!?"

Whew, he does like baking at this age. I'm glad he's so excited over it, especially since this was normally something he would do with Estarossa.

"Oh are we making sugar cookies? Or snickerdoodles? Oh oh! Or what about raspberry!?"

He chuckled at Meliodas's enthusiasm before answering.

"I thought we'd stick to a classic for today since it's been quite awhile since I've done anything like this. So how chocolate chip?"

"Okay! I love chocolate!"

"Good! Now, I'm gonna need your help to do this. I thought a baker like yourself would like to make these by scratch, but I don't have much experience. Would you mind showing me how?"

That wasn't entirely true, Zeldris knew how to make cookies by scratch due to lessons he had taken as a child himself with Estarossa. However, he wanted to make Meliodas feel important in this role, and it looked like it worked as the boy had the cutest little proud sparkle in his eyes at hearing that.

"Okie! Yeah I can help you!!!"

"Great! Alright, what do we need first?"

"Mmm we need... flour! And baking soda, sugar, brown sugar, and um.. what's the last thing.."

The boy pondered for a moment while Zeldris got each item out as the boy had listed them. Also sneaking the one Meliodas was missing into sight to trigger his memory.

"Oh yeah! That's right, we need salt too for dry ingredients."

"Got it. Now is there anything else?"

"Yes, I still need to list the wet ingredients silly!"

Zeldris smiled softly at how excited Meliodas was about this, looked like it was definitely one of his better ideas.

"Butter, vanilla extract, two eggs, and the chocolate chips of course! But we don't need those until everything is mixed first!"

Once again the ravenette patiently got everything required before allowing the boy to get the measuring cups and inform him of which powders required which amount.

As Zeldris allowed the boy to take over mixing, he himself turned on the oven and got the baking pan that would be needed for the next part.

"How hot does the oven need to be again?"

"Esta always sets it at three hundred and fifty degrees!"

"Alright then!"

I guess my memory with this stuff is better than I thought. All the steps Meliodas has said so far have been the same ones Estarossa taught me when I was little.

"I'm all done mixing Zeldy-"

The boy stopped talking right after that, as if catching himself.

"S-Sorry."

Realizing that the blond was still under the impression that the ravenette hated that name, he turned around, got some flour, and booped the bashful boy's nose.

"It's alright, you can call me that all you want. Sounds less formal than big brother, yeah Meliodas?"

That seemed to make the blond happy as the smile came back on his face and he nodded.

"Um, if I call you that, could you call me Meli again? I-It sounds weird hearing you say my full name. I always feel like I'm in trouble when you do.."

Feeling a bit guilty at that as the flinching the child always did made much more sense now, Zeldris smiled softly before patting the boy's head.

"Sure Meli, I can do that."

A goofy grin came onto the child's face before the two went back to cooking.

"I really like it when you call me that."

"Funny, you always hated that nickname when you were small."

"Yeah I did didn't I Zeldy? I guess... I just missed it for some reason. Maybe because I was asleep for so long and didn't hear it."

Zeldris paused for a moment before forcing himself back to turning the dough into little balls on the tray.

It's honestly hard to tell if it's an innocent statement or part of your old self shining through when you say that Mel... and I'm wondering if it is your old self, than did you truly miss me as much as I missed you? And maybe hid it as I did?

Then why did you strike first? What made the humans more important if you truly felt the agony I did over these last three thousand years?

Hope you like the chapter everyone!

Words- 1323