Turning Back The Clock

"I... I don't know."

That was the only thing Meliodas could bring himself to say. He was trying hard, but nothing came up at all to give a better reason. There wasn't a memory in his mind that would be causing this crushing weight of emotion.

He saw through blurry vision that Zeldris was analyzing him for a moment. As if trying to see if he was lying or not. However after a minute of this, his eyes softened and he pulled the boy into a hug.

Something that only made the pain worse as Mel tried to pull away briefly. It was agony being near the other, so being hugged by him? Feeling his heartbeats? Smelling his familiar scent? It all just made it worse.

However, in a few moments of the other squeezing him tightly as the blond fought, the hold turned comforting. His crying got worse for some reason, but the overwhelming grief was fading.

It was odd, but it seemed that the cause of these strange feelings, was the only thing calming it down now.

He began craving the warmth as if he has never been hugged by his sibling in his life. As if the ravenette had left and he had missed him dearly.

Eventually the sobs went to sniffles, the sniffles to shaky breathing, and the shaky breathing to the relaxing of tense muscles as a mix of exhaustion and comfort came over him.

"You okay Mel....?"

Zeldris's voice was incredibly soft and gentle, as if he were scared his little brother would break again if he spoke louder.

The child nodded, but squeezed the ravenette tighter when he tried to pull out of the hug.

"Mel...? What's going on with you?"

The worry was back in the gentle voice, but Meliodas still just held tight with no reply.

Because he didn't have one.

"Just.... please don't go. I don't want you do go..."

Zeldris seemed to tense slightly, before he sighed and re-adjusted to hold Meliodas in a way that allowed him to softly pet his messy hair like he used to when the boy was very small.

"I'm not going anywhere alright? Take as much time as you need."

In other situations the ravenette might have been irritated by not getting any answers and being stuck in an uncomfortable position, but right now he didn't mind at all. He'd give Meliodas all the comfort he needed. Because the way he was talking....

It reminded him of the thoughts running through his own mind after his little brother left.

_________________________________________

"You guys gonna come out or what?"

Meliodas was in the garden again a few days after his breakdown to get some fresh air, and while doing so he had sensed six presences (and pig) again nearly immediately.

He didn't say anything for awhile and just played with some sticks, but after ten minutes of the presence remaining, he finally decided to speak to them.

Three of them stepped out of the nearby woods looking just as nervous as last time. Only this time a little startled as well.

"H-How did you notice us?"

The one who had been floating with a pillow before was the one who spoke now as Meliodas responded nonchalantly.

"You guys have a presence I can sense easily. Although I don't know where you guys went awhile back. I was pretty worried actually."