Turning Back The Clock

Turning Back The Clock: Chapter 18

Meliodas hadn't been lying about the nightmares, nor why he didn't want to tell Zeldris about them. However he hadn't been so hesitant to talk because of them alone. He was hesitant and nervous because he didn't want to have to tell another lie. Which he felt his omission was.

Because he had started talking about those nightmares to avoid having to talk about last night again. Why?

Well, obviously partially due to the sins he had met with. However, there was another piece that Meli wanted to keep out that had occured awhile after those events.

Last night he had had a very particular dream, one that had to do with the very group he fell asleep curled up to. Although that wasn't the weird part, the weird part was how he felt about them in it. Like he knew them far more than he did now.

Meli wasn't dumb, he knew how most of the group looked at him like a ghost. And for the first two or three visits they kept calling him captain. He thought it was a weird human thing, but in the dream they kept calling him that too, and dream him didn't think it was weird at all. It felt like he was used to that name.

Now, the rest of the dream was nonsense, flying kitties with lasers and robots with paws. It was awesome, but the most important part was who was going on this adventure with him. And the emotions he felt around the group traveling with him. He felt nostalgic, confident, happy. Like he was with his closest allies in the world!

He even started having a dream that played out like a memory with him and Ban. He was in a dungeon with a guard about to meet the man for the first time, but as the door opened for them to meet, the dream changed into the one he told Zeldris about. The one with the chase.

He had forgotten all about it in the morning with his mind preoccupied with Estarossa. Even when he mentioned it then it had been an excuse, it wasn't until he started talking to Zeldris and his brother had asked what nightmares he had been having that the dreams all came back to him.

Which was why he now was out in the garden again after a nice big breakfast made by Zeldy; looking for the group he was sure he knew more than just in these occasional visits. Just not sure how he knew them.

Sitting on the little ledge that separated the forest and the garden, Meli began humming to himself while swinging his legs to keep boredom away. Hoping that soon he'd be able to get some answers.

He wasn't sure how long he was there just thinking about that dream and how he could possibly know these people, but soon enough he felt one presence, familiar with it as Ban.

Rather than turn around, little Meli laid down on the ledge to see the man upside down. There was a somber expression on his face, but he still smiled kindly at the child.

"Heya kid. Sorry I'm a little late."

"Where are the others today?"

"They um... they decided to hang back to rest some more."

It was obviously not the whole truth, but with how much the blond had been lying to his brothers lately, he didn't feel he could judge, much less bug the man about it.

"M'kay. That's fine! But uh.. Ban? I have a question for you?"

The man sat next to the boy lying down, one hand on his knee while the other supported his position on the grass.

"Sure. What's up?"

"I know you guys, right?"

For once the usual cool as a cucumber look Ban always had fell as he showed suprise in the form of widening eyes and a blink to process the words.

"What do ya mean?"

"I mean, the others always look at me really weird, and I keep feeling like Zel and Esta are hiding something from me. Sooo... do I know you? Like, more than I think I know you?"

Ban seemed unsure of what to say, his mouth opening to speak and closing in defeat multiple times. Yet his flustered state and inability to get any words out just proved Meli's theory right.

So he did know them more than they said. But how?

"So I do know you! How though? I mean, I had a dream last night about a dungeon with a guard. I think I was going to meet you or something? Like you were another guard? Or.. was it a prisoner?  I can't really remember too much other than that, but was that real or just another weird dream like the laser cats? I mean, I don't remember anything like that happening so it could just be a weird dream, but I do know you right?"

Once again, Ban paused. Looking solemn as this time he kept his mouth shut and looked at the boy with a serious and cautious expression. Meli hoped he didn't make Ban mad, he hadn't ever seen him so serious and stoic before.

Although, the next answer made him forget all about his fear.

"Yeah you.... you do know us, kiddo."

The answer sounded almost sad. Or was it... cautious? Like before? It was hard to tell, but Meliodas still felt his eyes lit up as his friend said that.

"I was right! I KNEW it! So how do I know you? Why don't I remember meeting you? What are you guys doing here? Did you come here to see me and I forgot about you? Is that why you were so weird at first? How did I ever meet a human though? I'm not allowed to leave the demon realm. Did you come here last time too?"

The blond was firing question after question at a speed that was hard to keep up with, although that wasn't why Ban said what he did next. Although... he felt it was quite the risky move to do so.

"I'll tell you everything kid, I promise. I just... I can't do it here, okay? I know you don't remember knowing me and I know that this is gonna sound super weird but I just need you to trust me in what I ask, kay? If ya still got any sort of gut feeling with me like I'm pretty sure you did when you met us, then please just trust me..."

Meliodas felt elation fade a bit as curiosity and worry filled him at how Ban was asking. How Ban seemed to be begging him to trust whatever he wanted to do or say next. What was so complicated or weird or bad about how they met? What was going on?

The blond's initial instinct was to be on guard, but it was training on how to deal with strangers that made him feel that way, and... Ban wasn't a stranger, was he?

Gut feeling? What does my gut feeling say about this? About Ban? How did I feel when I met them? I need to find out what my guts say now...

The boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting everything fade away as he focused on what that little feeling said again this time on what to do.

After a moment of thought, his eyes opened again and he looked over at the other with determination, knowing his answer with confident debate.

"Okay, I trust you."

Relief seemed to flood the man as a small smile came across his face before he looked around for any other people.

"Okay, then meet me here again tomorrow, okay? I... I'll tell you everything you want to know, I promise. I just need you to let me take you somewhere safe to do so."

"Sonewhere safe? But why isn't here safe? I have my big brothers and tons of guards are here?"

Once again Ban seemed to debate on what he should say, before settling on something that would keep Meliodas up for the rest of the night as he tried to understand what it meant... and why it didn't feel like a lie.

"Because kid.... your brothers haven't exactly been honest with you, and they won't like what I have to tell you."

I hope this was good, had to rush to finish before bed, sorry!

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