Past Hidden by a Broken Smile (Being Edited)

Chapter Eight: Pages of a Book Long Lost

Zeldris headed back inside with a mind full of panic, confusion, and most of all.. questions.

He was desperate to know how that person knew Meliodas, and it just raised the frustration he felt at the fact that he would know the answer if he had been a part of his younger brother's life, or maybe even prevented the question itself.

What did they want? Were they trying to hurt Meliodas? Had the blond gotten in with a bad crowd? Forced from his thoughts by the chatter in the small, fire-lit tavern, his eyes immediately went to the large smile on his brother's face and the laughter that accompanied it.

He couldn't ruin it.. not now. He was shaking with how much he wanted to bombard Meliodas with questions, but he knew that his brother needed this, he looked so happy, and he would not ruin it this time.

Sighing, he put his gift back in his pocket, knowing if he were to approach his sibling he wouldn't be able to restrain himself.

He would wait until tomorrow. He would do it right this time. He had to, he couldn't lose his brother again, he wouldn't survive it.

Taking a few more deep breaths to try to steady his heartbeat, the ravenette smiled at the sight of the blond being tackled in a hug from their oldest sibling. He felt bad for putting Estarossa through so much, he had lost a brother that day too, but Zeldris has shut down instead of being support to him.

He had always resented the elder moving on so fast, but he himself had forced the man to move on quick. Because if the silverette didn't focus all of his attention on his drunk of a sibling... well, the ravenette probably would've died a long time ago.

With another heavy sigh, Zeldris sat down in one of the empty chairs to the side, left with only his thoughts and the knot in his stomach that refused to go away as he thought of just how to bring this about to his younger brother's attention when the time came.
_________________________________________

A few hours, three broken tables, and several drinks later, almost everyone had gone to bed. The only remaining up being the three brothers, soon to be two as one needed to work tomorrow.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay up and help you clean? It doesn't feel right making you clean up the mess from your own party."

The blond just chuckled and gave the two a grin they had both deeply missed.

"Don't worry Esta, I don't mind! Besides, it's my tavern so technically I'm responsible for this mess, not you guys."

Estarossa frowned, but didn't push the boy any further, knowing that he wouldn't get anywhere with the sibling who's stubbornness rivaled that of the ravenette's. Saying his goodnights to the two, he finished his trek upstairs and turned off the light in the room the two stayed in, showing his soon to be state of sleep.

After the door was shut a moment after, Meliodas turned to his elder brother with a confused look on his face.

"Aren't you gonna go to bed too? It's pretty late Zeldris."

The man in question looked up from the chair he was sitting in, a bit startled as he had been lost in his thoughts for quite awhile now.

Throwing on a playful smirk to hide his worry, he decided to use what he always did to deflect a question.

Humor.

"Oh I see how it is.. trying to get rid of me huh? Well sorry mister but it won't be that easy."

Meliodas pouted slightly as he realized what his older brother was doing, but decided to play along.

"Damn.. and my diabolical plan almost worked too! Guess I'll have to try murder next. I know how to make it look like an accident."