Oneshots!

#97 Going Back (Part 4)

Elizabeth cut through the crowd with a fire lighting her actions. Of course all combat was avoided due to their disguises, but they didn't mean she said excuse me and please as she marched towards the castle with the others in tow.

Even know she had such a grace and poise about her that was nothing like the clumsy and shy princess they knew. It was obvious she had a goal, and that nothing was going to keep her from it.

I'm not letting you stay here Meliodas. I know you don't want it, and I know why you're doing it. But please.. let us protect you for once? I'm well aware you're going to try to push us away to try to shelter us from your burden... but I know how to get you back.

I know what I'll have to do.
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Meliodas had sensed Zeldris's presence immediately, but he didn't have the energy to acknowledge his brother at the moment. Everything was still so new, so overwhelming. It was taking a lot of his composure to keep the stoic expression on his face.

He knew if it fell, many who didn't agree with Estarossa's decision to bring him back would see him as weak and try to take him on. And at the moment, with his head so foggy and his heart aching so much? He probably wouldn't have been able to win against many at a time.

Eventually though, he started to feel the demon walk away, and although he still didn't feel the energy to do so, Meliodas wanted to just get the angry and bitter comments out of the way now before they came at an even worse time.

"What do you want Zeldris?"

His tone wasn't as harsh as it used to be, sounding more drained than intimidating.

"I-I..."

The blond's head finally turned to look at the ravenette from hearing the very unexpected nervous, foreign, caught off guard tone.

Meliodas didn't say anything though as he watched his sibling seem to fight for his own composure, before he finally managed to settle on a neutral expression once again, something Meliodas looked away at since it didn't seem like words would accompany it. And if any did, harsh ones he didn't want to devote all his attention to.

"Why did you do it...? Why did you leave for that goddess? You were respected, awed, idolized. The proud first born and future king for the demon realm. So why? Why did you throw all of that away for the pain that woman put you through? What could she have POSSIBLY given you other than years of torment and pain? What could she have provided that this realm couldn't have for you?"

He let Zeldris rant, some parts neutral, others having anger seep into the words. However nomatter what the ravenette said about him, said about his love, or said about the disgrace he had caused by leaving, he never even allowed his expression to change. Because he already had his answer the second the demon had asked him the series of questions.

"Well? Answer me Meliodas! Was she really worth it!?"

"Yes, she was, Zeldris. I was the one not worthy of her."

That caused the anger to rise in Zeldris.

"Are you serious? You turned your back on me! You turned your back on the ten commandments! You turned your back on absolutely EVERYTHING here in the demon realm and you still say she was worth it!? That you regret nothing!?"

There were things Meliodas regretted. Not voicing just how ridiculous he thought the holy war to be, not being a better example as a brother so that his siblings wouldn't have become as misguided as he was, not finding a way for Elizabeth to be happy and at peace. The list could continue on infinitely as there were many, many, many things more he regretted deeply.

However even with all the grief and guilt that weighed heavily on what was left of his soul? There were an equal amount of memories filled with Elizabeth and his allies over the years that grounded his belief in his choices. He didn't deserve Elizabeth; a pure, lovely, bright creature who could heal the world's troubles with her smile, but she chose him. She chose a misguided, sin-ridden, monster of a soul for her mate. And even if it was selfish, even if it meant all of the pain he had caused himself and others...

That decision alone for someone like her to love him, the choice that she had made again and again in each life...

That made everything he had let go of worth it.

Meliodas knew how bad his peace with his actions was hurting Zeldris, even if that wasn't his intent. However there wasn't anything the blond could do about that. He hadn't been the example he could have been, and because of that, it was far too late for him to make Zeldris understand a semblance of the love he felt for his goddess.

The ultimate key the blond had discovered in his years, with as simple as it was, was the fact that emotions were not a weakness but a comfort and a relief. But even that lesson alone would fall on deaf ears if he tried to share it with the other as the demon was still following the old Meliodas's example that pride meant everything.

But what was pride if it left you with nothing to be proud of in the end? No loved ones or those who love you, no peace that could be envied, nothing but torments, guilt, and the empty cold surroundings of achievements and power that could never be as rich and strong as the warmth of the touch of those you love.

Pride was a poison that radiated from your very soul that burned and killed anything truly worth cherishing around you.

And Zeldris had unfortunately never been taught that.

"You're a sick, selfish, pathetic demon who sold himself to a worthless goddess and left everything for it! You're a fool Meliodas! You're a disgrace, and certainly NOT my brother!!!"

A small, sad, defeated smile came across Meliodas's face as he looked down at the ground below. It caught the ravenette off guard as it was something Zeldris had never seen before from the other in all his days allied or fighting with the demon.

"Yes, you're right Zeldris. I'm not your brother... A true brother would've taught you the important things. Would've guided you in your younger years towards the path you should've followed. I did none of that. I am a fool, and I am definitely not your brother. That is exactly why I understand your anger Zeldris."

It was said with such remorse, no anger, no bitterness, no sarcastic or mocking tones, just regret and grief and  complete resignation to the words his brother threw at him.

It confused him, it made him wary, and above all, it caused a feeling he didn't understand in the slightest.

It made him feel guilt.

Okay, different direction in their interactions than the narrative of Zeldris's thoughts from the last chapter, but that's because his pride and anger overtook the relief he had experienced at having Meliodas back. Also this was requested by SevenDeadlySinsLover. :)

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