#Like sure the sword she could've been holding could be the Goddess Sword and she just somehow sent it to Skyloft after dealing with Demise | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

gareleia · 1 month

Text

THE KNITTING SAGA BUT MAKE IT SAD

part 1 part 2

lets talk about relationships, shall we. i'm gonna focus on Athena & Telemachus this time, but Hermes will have his turn later

let's be real, Athena is a hardass. sure, she cares, but she's so emotionally constipated that it really doesn't show that much. especially before she goes through that character development arc after her break with Odysseus in My Goodbye

(and what a crisis that is)

(because her masterpiece??? failed her??? but she trusted him??? she made him as in her image as possible??? he was supposed to be perfect???)

(and if he's not perfect, then she failed,,, and she can't fail, she doesn't fail,,, she's a goddess,,, war strategy is her domain, surely there is no way her plan could be flawed,,,)

(what even is the point of her if she's not perfect)

so yeah, she's a hardass. even on baby Telemachus who'd never held a sword before - especially on baby Telemachus, because he's the son of her favored Champion. he may be waaay younger than any of her previous pupils, but she's expecting him to shine just as bright.

Athena, on the first day: let's get down to business! make your father proud! you won't have a weakness! by the time we're done! you're the saddest pupil that I've had! and you haven't got a clue! but I will make a man outta you! Telemachus, a literal toddler, holding a wooden sword as big as himself: ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

and for years to come she trains him relentlessly. she's honestly trying to be nice about it, too. it's just that Athena doesn't do soft or gentle, her default is a neutral face of displeasure, and her idea of encouragement is saying you're not as bad as you used to be, or something along these lines.

Telemachus: *succeeds at something* Athena: *raises an eyebrow in a slightly different manner than usually* Telemachus: *le gasp* could it b-be? am I doing a good job??? Athena: it's… acceptable for your age.

she never once tells him she is proud of him. because surely he already knows. he doesn't need to hear it. his father didn't, after all (odysseus so fucking did)

and this goes on until Telemachus reaches double digits. then My Goodbye happens, and Athena has Feelings™. she's having an existential crisis, and has to confront the fact that she had done something wrong while training Odysseus, and she can't understand what. which is terrifying, because what if she makes a mistake like that with Telemachus. will he fail her too?

will she have to leave him too, so she doesn't watch him die horribly in a tragedy that could've been prevented if only she had made him see-

so Athena doubles down and starts demanding more and more from Telemachus. the praise goes from sparse to non-existent, and nothing he does seems to be enough anymore. she goes from tough love to borderline verbal abuse, thinking that it's the only way to keep him safe and prepare him for the future.

and Telemachus endures. he has to, because he doesn't want his mother to worry. doesn't want to appear weak. Odysseus had done it, so it's only fair his son should too. and when his dad comes home, he'll be sooo impressed. he can do it!

except…. not really. it's been a losing battle since the beginning, and deep down he knows it. he cant win with Athena, not on his own.

???: if you want to impress her, you'll need the blessing of a certain god! divine intervention! someone who's not afraid to- telemachus: aeolus, what are doing in my closet?!

so anyway, Aeolus and winions start helping him via winds and stuff, and Telemachus actually starts exceeding everyone's expectations. it's not that he'd been bad before, but he's soft, and not quite strong enough physically to make up for his gentle constitution

everyone is cheering him on. he's the talk of the palace! his mom is so proud! the suitors start sizing him up with consideration instead of dismissing him outright! (and tele, baby, that's not a good thing! ಠ_ಠ). Athena seems pleased for the first time in ages!! but he knows that it's all a lie, and it's killing him.

cause he's a good, honest boye, and he wants to succeed on his own merit, not because of cheating and lying to everyone he loves. that's vile and dishonorable.

que some very important island-wide competition that everyone is expecting him to join and win. maybe it's even his duty as a prince. like, a right of passage from complete boyhood to adolescence.

and there's,,, a lot of pressure on Telemachus to suceed. everyone and their mother are telling him that of course he's got this, he's a prodigy! def his father's son! nobody doubts his incoming victory! he's got this! he definitely won't disappoint them!

random noble: we'll be cheering you on, young prince! truly, we are blessed by the gods to have such a talented successor to the throne! we'll watch with keen eyes as you triumph over your foes and bring even more honor to your family! b(￣▽￣*) telemachus, eye twitching: y-yeah… thank you… (ㆆ _ ㆆ)

so, the night before the competition Telemachus can barely sleep, he's so wrecked by guilt and nerves. he keeps thinking - what would his father do in this situation? all the stories he'd ever heard of Odysseus always painted him as some kind of invincible, righteous, all-capable genius. so the idea of his dad ever grappling with guilt and feelings of inadequacy is just laughable. (oh, if only he knew)

so, he goes to his mom for advice. because Penelope is awesome. but he can't bring himself to admit that's he's cheating - what if she's ashamed of him? he brought dishonor to his father's name, and if anyone knows - will he get exiled?

so yeah, he basically has a panic attack and cries for like, half an hour straight.

telemachus, bawling: if I lose tomorrow, will you hate me? will dad hate me? I can't do anything right and I'm a failure and a horrible person and- just- what do I do, mother? penelope, holding him: oh, love. sometimes you're so similar to your father I wonder if the gods haven't returned him to me in spirit through you.

because no matter what everyone else says, Penelope knows the truth - Odysseus always followed his heart. oh, how he may have tried to forget he had one, to only ever use his head. but a heart he did have - does have, they have to believe that - and it's a bright and a gentle one. he may have been hardened by years of pain and struggle in a way that Telemachus hadn't yet (and Penelope's heart breaks from knowledge that her son will be, one day). but deep down, at ther cores, Odysseus and Telemachus are strikingly similar. and she loves them all the more for it.

and so, with his mother's blessing, the young prince does just as she told him to: follows his heart. he thanks Aeolus for their help, and asks them to stop giving it from now on. either he'll suceed on his own merit, or he'll wear his failure as a badge of honor and an incentive to do better.

and he loses. badly.

and the world,,, doesn't end? sure, the suitors sneer and jeer, but there's a surprising lack of disowning and exile going around. and the nobles tone it down significantly with undeserved adoration, which is definitely a plus, as far as he's concerned.

the only thing is. Athena.

oh boy.

because she's not stupid. Telemachus may have gotten away with cheating so far, but now he'll have to answer to her why he had flunked so badly, and she won't buy his go-to excuse of 'I got nervous!'

athena, expression unreadable: so. care to explain yourself, my stupid pupil? telemachus: w-well, you see… ha-ha… it's, uh… a funny story… athena: you threw away your best advantage! you've had a god perfectly willing to assist you and yet you still somehow managed to lose! telemachus: wait, what-

so yeah, Athena knew all along.

athena, mildly insulted: how stupid do you think I am, boy? telemachus: but! but! but!.. you never said anything! didn't even scold me for cheating! athena, even more insulted: child, I am the goddess of war strategy, where did you get the idea that I ever play fair abd straightforward? leave that to ares, the simple-minded fool!

to clarify, she's not upset at him for cheating. she's upset that he stopped doing so. so she throws some choice words at him, implying he lacks both talent and intelligence

and Telemachus defends himself by saying that he'd rather fail on his own merit, than abandon his principles and win by lying and dishonoring his family. in response, she calls him naive.

he tries to implore to her connection to his father by saying that he was just trying to do what's right. he was following his heart, just as Odysseus had always strived to. and he's training to fight for his loved ones, not for glory of being known.

it's a one hit K.O., because it reminds Athena of her recent break-up with Odysseus. of everything they spat at each other during My Goodbye. of anger, if hurt, of disappointment, of betrayal, of I loved you and you failed me, of I loved you and I failed you, of good riddance! and y̶͈̔o̴̘̖͆u̶̻͆͒��'̸̫̩̌̉r̷̼͝e̴̩̒ ̴͎̻̈́̎ȧ̸̦l̵̗͙͌̐o̸͚͕̚n̷̟̯͠e̵̳̩͠

and is their whole line just cursed? is it their way of punishing her for something? why do they both hurt her so? is it her fault?

telemachus: athena? are… are you okay? (‘-’*) athena, coming off MG flashbacks: well, obviously, boy, why would you even ask that (ಥ﹏ಥ)

Telemachus just hugs her, because she obviously needs it. and she melts into it like never before.

because she wasn't made for empathy or kindness. she's born to be ruthless and cold. she's not supposed to love and be loved care about anything but winning. it doesn't come natural to Athena, until recently she had truly thought herself unable to, and yet-

yet here, right in front of her, is a boy who loves for the both of them. loves the whole world - sincerely, selflessly. a truly kind and caring soul (the noble even joke that is true father is Polites).

she can't love.

but maybe… maybe he will teach her.

maybe he already did.

or maybe she always could.

she forgets sometimes, that her fingers know not only the roughness of swords and spears, but also the gentle softness of weaved silk. creation goes hand in hand with destruction, and she can bind countless threads together without breaking them.

and what are humans, if not strings, waiting to be cut by the fates?

also, if Telemachus can teach the goddess of cold cynicism and detached cruelty kindness of all things, then she can teach him swordplay.

yes, it's a threat.

22 notes · View notes

aldbooks · 1 year

Note

Hi! You still taking from the prompt list? :)

“Do you love me?” Or “tell me a secret?”

I feel like maybe they can go together too

For Gwynriel ❤️

I think this was supposed to be a fluff prompt but, as is my wont, it turned angsty ha ha. It starts off a bit E/riel but don't worry, it's just pre relationship Gwynriel. Before they realize their feelings.

---

Azriel panted heavily where he lay on his back in the middle of the training ring. Sweat coated his body and seemed in no hurry to cool in the humid night air of summer. He'd come up here to think, as was his habit, and had only collapsed a moment ago, once he'd worn himself out with exercise. Still, his mind would not quiet.

She'd looked so beautiful at dinner, with her golden curls glowing in the candle light and a warm smile on her face. It had been an age, it seemed, since he'd last seen her, determined to follow Rhys' edict that he stay away from her no matter how much he wanted to do the opposite. It was for her sake, he reasoned. Both of theirs, if he were being honest. He could not have her, not so long as she was tied to him, and he would not torture either of them by allowing them to grow any closer. To want anymore than they already did. So, as he had done for the last five centuries with another, he yearned for her from afar.

He sensed her before he saw her, her bright voice floating over to him like a song. His shadows hummed with pleasure at the appearance of their new favorite.

"You know, I think I've had a dream just like this," she said. He could hear her smirk. "Except my blade was at your neck and you were surrendering.... hold a moment would you?"

He wasn't sure he could've moved just then if he wanted to. His body felt heavy, his limbs unwilling to obey a single command. So he lay there, staring up at the stars until he felt the cool kiss of metal at his chin. His eyes slid over to her where she gazed down at him with a laughing smirk, her eyes glittering. She looked like a conquering goddess, a Valkyrie of old.

"There," she said. "That's quite a picture. Thank you for your cooperation, I'm not sure when else I might have had the opportunity to see that."

A laugh huffed out of him before he could stop it and she beamed, pulling her weapon away. "May I join you?"

He waved a hand, too tired to do more than flick his wrist. "If you must."

"Don't sound so excited," she quipped as she set aside the sword and knelt down, laying out beside him with her body sprawled in the opposite direction, mindful of his wings. Her head rested a few inches from his and he breathed in her familiar scent.

There had always been something soothing about it. There had always been something soothing about her. He couldn't explain what it was, this mysterious quality she seemed to possess that put him at ease no matter how foul his mood. But he was grateful for it.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

"Tell me a secret," she said.

He blinked and glanced over at her. "You first."

Her eyes narrowed. "A secret for a secret?"

He shrugged, not really caring what innocent secret she might impart- he could not imagine her having any true secrets, she was practically an open book- so long as she kept speaking. He liked her voice, especially when she sang. It calmed him.

She hummed in thought. "Sometimes, late at night, when it's really cold, and I can't sleep..."

For some reason, those words sent a jolt of adrenaline through him, momentarily stopping his heart before it began galloping forward again. A flush crept up his neck as he silently chastised himself for the foolish though that had flitted through his mind, hoping she did not notice in the dark.

"...I bury myself under the covers with the light I nicked from Nesta and read until I wake up with my face stuck to the pages."

He chuckled. Just as he thought. He dismissed the image that had sprung to his mind unbidden a moment ago, burying it somewhere deep where he vowed to forget its existence. This was Gwyn. Of course she was speaking of reading and not anything so scandalous.

Gwyn grinned at the sound of his laughter, as though that were exactly what she'd been after, and turned her face to him. "Your turn," she smile dimmed, her expression turning softer. "What is bothering you?"

He just barely held back a flinch. "I don't know what you mean."

She made a skeptical sound. "Azriel, you only ever come up here when you can't sleep. Something is clearly weighing on you. You don't have to speak of it, of course, but don't insult my intelligence."

He sighed, a slow exhalation between his lips. She was right of course, she always was. Not that he'd ever in a million years admit that to her face. She'd be far too smug, it'd be unbearable.

He hadn't had any intention of speaking about his feelings for Elain. Other than the brief, tense conversation he'd had with Rhys on Winter Solstice, he hadn't spoken to anyone about it. Though, he was sure the others at least suspected.

And yet, he found his mouth moving, words pouring out of him in halting sentences. "There is- a lady that I- that has been the object of my attention for some time." Beside him, Gwyn lay quietly still, listening. "But she is- I am beneath her." He said, forgoing any mention of 'the lady' already having a mate.

She scoffed. "Well that's shite."

He jerked, surprised by the crude word on her lips. He turned to her in bewilderment. "Excuse me?"

She did not turn to him but he could see her lids flutter as she rolled her eyes. "You heard precisely what I said. That's the most ridiculous thing you've ever said. You are not beneath anyone."

He gaped at her in astonishment. How could she say so? She, who had seen him in the peak of blood lust, slaughtering with impunity. A vehicle of pure wrath. How could she think such a beast worthy of a lady? Even if she did not know who the lady in question was?

"Don't look at me like that," she said, sliding her gaze to him for a second. "It's true."

Shaking his head, he said- "Gwyn, I am the bastard born son of a male who's family rejected me the moment I was born. I am a disgrace in the eyes of my own people."

Her eyes flashed, even in the dim darkness he could see it. His shadows stirred in agreement with the anger in her hard expression. She shrugged. "So what?"

He blinked. So what?

"Cassian was born a bastard too. For that matter, so was I. Does that make either of us beneath any other person?"

"No," he growled, repulsed at the idea that anyone would think her unworthy.

She turned to him, her teal gaze holding his intensely. "Then why are you the exception?"

He shook his head, rejecting the notion she was attempting to force upon him. His heart resumed its racing beat from a few moments ago. This time, for a very different reason.

"I- you do not know the things I have done."

She scoffed again. "Please. Everyone in Prythian knows who you are, Spymaster. It does not take much genius to imagine the deeds you might have committed in your efforts to keep this court safe. No matter how dark, to my mind, they make you a hero. Not a monster."

He stared at her, aghast. No. No, he was not a hero. He was a torturer. A spy. A thief. A killer. He was a monster.

"I am not a hero."

"Says who?" she argued. "The people you've had to hurt to protect us? The ones who seek to cause harm? Perhaps you are not a hero to them, no. But to us- to me, the other priestesses in the Library, the people of this city- you are."

He said nothing, stunned.

Yes, his shadows whispered. You are her hero.

He shook his head again, dispelling the words. "Gwyn, I- I did not save you. I- we got there too late..." His voice was barely above a whisper as he voiced the guilt that had followed him since the night he'd found her and Mor had brought her here. The guilt that had tried to rear its head when he saw her again, but which he'd stamped down, not wanting her to be reminded of that horror. Better for her to think he did not remember.

Something hollow flashed across her face, there and gone in an instant. "Yes," she agreed. His heart cracked. The guilt punching through his ribs. "You are only one man, Azriel. You cannot be everywhere at once. I'm not sure anything could have spared us such destruction that night but, you got there when you could. And because of that, I am still alive. The other priestesses who still reside there are still alive. The- the younglings... you helped me save them. And I will always be grateful for that."

Her stare held him locked in place, unable to look away from the truth and sincerity in her eyes. She did not blame him. He swallowed thickly.

"If this lady-" she said, her eyes seeming to glow. "-does not think you beneath her, then why should anything else matter?"

"She doesn't know," he said quietly. "The things I've done. She has no idea."

Her expression was unreadable as they stared at each other. "Then tell her."

He flinched.

"There's no use fretting over it otherwise. The only way to know about her for sure is to tell her. Either she accepts you or she doesn't. Either way, it is not a reflection on you. It does not qualify any of the negative thoughts you hold about yourself, only you can dispel those, not anyone else's opinion. It just means you're not compatible, and that does not make you beneath her, or less worthy of love."

Not for the first time, this young priestess, wise far beyond her years, left him speechless.

"You should not settle for less than that. Should not compromise yourself for someone who does not see you and accept you exactly as you are. Because you deserve that. Wether you wish to believe it or not. "

Something flickered in her eyes, an emotion he could not name but that called out to him. To that broken, frightened child in him, that had grown to believe he did not deserve the things he so desperately wanted. Love, companionship, compassion. To not be alone.

A spark lit, deep in his chest, glowing warmly until it spread through him as he finally recognized the look she was giving him.

Acceptance.

#anon ask #gwynriel #gwyn x azriel #gwyn and azriel #azriel and gwyn #azriel x gwyn #writing prompts

80 notes · View notes

manawari · 1 year

Text

A post abt those pictures on the wall bc why not!

HAE-IN LOOKS LIKE THE GODDESS SHE IS!!!!

I wished we could've witnessed the wedding, but I'll take what I could get 🤧

Jin-woo is handsome as always. Just look at him, getting married to the girl he had always loved since the past timeline and the person whom he promised to see again. I bet he reminisced these moments like he did on their first date, heck he must've teared up too! Because in this timeline, nothing was going to tear him apart from Hae-in and he could finally get to do the things he had been longing to do with her. Eat breakfast together without someone calling him due to an inevitable threat? Yes. Tease her all he wants just to see her adorable flustered face? Yes. Jogging together and betting on a race? Yes.

He was finally happy and content. There was no one else he imagined sharing the rest of his life with, but her.

Ah, what a wholesome moment!

Bellion holding a small wooden sword gives me serotonin! HE'S SO PRECIOUS!!

The frustrated Igris in the background was the highlight in the entire photo XD

SU-HO YOU ABSOLUTE MENACE!!!! XDDDD

Poor Igris, doing everything he can to tutor the Little Lord, but seems like Su-ho prefers to do other things — *cough* swordfighting with Bellion *cough*

I bet there's always a bet going on between Igris and Bellion on whoever Su-ho likes to spend time with. However, the winner is pretty obvious lol!

Once again, Su-ho is so much more of a menace than his father XDDD

Jin-woo having date nights with Hae-in that leads to his trusty shadows to look after his gremlin of a son. Igris prefers educational activities, Bellion always suggests they should play swordfight, Tank seeks cuddles from his little master, Tusk entertains Su-ho with his powers — Igris bans him from doing it or else he won't let him near the child ever again — so he reads Su-ho stories instead, and Beru. . .

Beru wants to watch historical kdramas in peace, but always ends up having a gremlin on his head and latching on his antennae.

AND FINALLY

BABY SU-HO !!!!!!!!!!

HE'S SO ADORABLE

LOOK AT HIS CHUBBY CHEEKS

Why does he have to grow up so quick 😭

Hsfajgsjshajshkshajwgjsbdnhd

I'm sure everyone who came to see him all wanted to hold him XD

Jin-ah and Jin-ho bickering on who gets to hold their nephew first. Kyung-hye being the one to hold him instead, then Il-Hwan following afterward.

Jin-woo cried in his son's birth— no one better tell me otherwise! Cue Hae-in patting his shoulder while cradling her baby in her arm. She must've glanced at Su-ho and whispered, "don't mind your daddy. He's just being too emotional."

#solo leveling

23 notes · View notes

artkaninchenbau · 3 years

Photo

[Commissions] [Ko-Fi Store] [Patreon] [RedBubble]

#My art #Skyward Sword #Legend of Zelda #Ghirahim #Yes hello hi this headcanon/theory has lived in my head rent free for a decade and I finally needed to get it out somehow #So here is a sketchy ''what if'' comic #Because I do often wonder whatever happened to Ghirahim after SS-- when he disappeared from Demise's hand did he just perish?#Did he flee? What happened? Is he out there somewhere still?#Well that's not the main point of this #The main point of this is me wondering if Ghirahim was created by Hylia #The thought brought on from minor things like Ghirahim looking like nothing else Demise spawned into existence #(Seriously even Batreaux looks more like a ''Demon Lord'' than this twink does)#Or Ghirahim knowing when and where Zelda was to bring her down to the surface #Or just me finding it unlikely Demise knew how to create a living sword and how to make it nearly identical to one that didn't exist yet #To other minor things like Hylia holding a one-sided blade in the opening cutscene as she sends Skyloft to the skies #Like sure the sword she could've been holding could be the Goddess Sword and she just somehow sent it to Skyloft after dealing with Demise #But also that one-sided sword aside from the handle does look quite a bit like Ghirahim's sword #(Also I do wonder how the Goddess Sword got to Skyloft if Hylia still had it when she was on the surface fighting Demise but okay)#Or how usually when someone gets stabbed by the Bane of Evil they die from it (like Ganondorf in TP or WW)#And yet somehow Ghirahim survived being stabbed in his heart (?) three fucking times #If the headcanon that only true evil could be hurt by the Master Sword is true then what does that say about Ghirahim #Lastly we do know that good beings can be corrupted by evil to do bad things. We see Ghirahim do this to Koloktos in the Cistern #So uh yeah #What if Hylia created Ghirahim. What if he was stolen and corrupted by Demise and thus replaced by an uncorruptable human + blade #What if he was both Hylia's sword and her original chosen hero #Is that why he knew where Zelda was and had an idea of how to track her down on surface #And... is he still out there?#While I did draw this as a ''what if'' post-SS comic I would be more interested in seeing this scenario explored in the future #As in I'd genuinely be interested in seeing a game about a Link in the distant future finding him (sleeping in his sword form)#And getting rid of Demise's corruption (if that's even possible) (Who knows) (Demise's evil runs deep. Perhaps he can't be saved)

2K notes · View notes

tigerroseblue · 6 years

Text

Seven Deadly Sins Oneshot: Illusions

Hey, here's an angsty oneshot I wrote for something thestarrynightgazer drew. So, hope y'all enjoy it! Warning: Ban's potty mouth. And Meliodas seems to have caught it. Oops.

I still couldn't believe it. Ban was here, really here. In Purgatory. I couldn't decide what I was more amazed by–the fact he was here or the fact that he had jumped right in before finding out if there was a way out of this hellhole. I still felt like he was an illusion, something that would fade away as soon as I touched it and leave me here to become just another shadow of a soul, roaming the landscape.

We had paused in our search to find the exit and had killed another indigenous monster to eat. Even in Purgatory, where the landscape was toxic to anything that didn't belong there, Ban still managed to make the meat taste pretty damn good.

I could feel his eyes on me as I used my bone sword to skewer the meat. "Hey, Cap'n?" He spoke up, wary curiosity clear in his voice. I knew what he was going to ask. My body started shaking before he even opened his mouth. Tears welled in my eyes and started down my cheeks. "What exactly did your old man do to you?"

I didn't answer, trying to control myself. Damn it, I thought, upset. After all these years, trying to get a hold of my emotions so I wouldn't blow up every damn time I lost Elizabeth, I can't even stop myself from crying. What am I doing? Get a hold of yourself!

I could feel Ban blatantly staring at me by now, concerned. He obviously wasn't used to seeing me weak, something completely on purpose on my part. Even as a young child, I had learned to hide any weakness. Being weak led to being hurt. That was all there was to it. So, I did another thing I did all too well: deflect the shit out of the question.

"Aw, the old fart just kept me in a damn cage. Pretty damn boring, to be honest," I said, grinning painfully. Ban was not amused. "Cut the shit, Cap'n. No more lying. Give me the whole story, think we're past the deflecting shit by this point." I flinched. Damn. I had really spent too much time with this guy. Throughout the centuries, I'd been able to have friends, but kept them at arm's length. No one found out who or what I really was. If anyone got remotely close, I'd disappear. It was easier that way. Safer, for both me and them.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the sight of my best friend. And he was my best friend. The first in almost 3000 years. Right after the Holy War, it was all too easy for people to recognize me and no one wanted the last Demon anywhere near them. And as the years past, any friends I made eventually died. So, not only did I have to watch Elizabeth die over and over again, I also got to see what friends I'd made grow old and die while I remained unchanged. Some never asked why I didn't age. Others never stopped asking. And others grew fearful of the man who couldn't age and who had a past no one knew.

Damn it, I hated my old man.

"Why did you come down here?" I asked shakily. "What kind of question is that?!" Ban growled. "I came to get you!" I shook my head. Damn it...stop crying! You have no right to cry after all you've done! "Why? You could've just left me here," I said, leaning down, elbows braced on my knees. "Would've been a lot better for everyone." Ban snarled. "What?! No it wouldn't! What about Elizabeth?! Or the Sins?! We need you!"

"No you don't!" I yelled suddenly. Ban stopped speaking, stopped moving. I didn't straighten from my hunched over stance. In fact, I curled more into myself, trying to block the pain. Block the pain...? A voice inside me mocked. What pain? You're the Demon Prince, a monster whose killed countless people! You can't feel pain! You have to have a damn heart to feel anything, especially pain. I wanted to scream at it. All I am is emotions! I wanted to argue. I don't have my strength and my self control is shot to hell, as my freaking tears show! But I couldn't argue with that damn voice, cause it was right. Even if all I was was Meliodas's soul, I was him and he was me. I was the sum of his experiences, of his–our–stupidly long life. If he was that heartless, cruel Demon Prince, so was I.

"Twenty years ago," I started, filling in the silence my outburst had started, "a Red Demon attacked the Fairy King's Forest and killed Elaine, your lover and King's sister. I'm a Demon, remember?! I should've sensed it! I'm the fucking Prince of the Demon Clan! How did I not sense one of my own kind?!" I could feel Ban start to speak, but I bowled right over whatever he was about to say. "I let the love of your life die right in front of you! Great best friend I am! And King! King lost his sister, his kingdom, everything! He told me to my face I couldn't be trusted anymore! And how can I blame him?! There's so many things I could've–should've!–told you! But I didn't! Cause I was so goddamn afraid!"

I was shaking, tears running down my face in steady streams by now. I couldn't remember the last time I'd cried like this. The first time Elizabeth died, when I didn't let go of her cold, lifeless body for what must've been over a day, hoping that it was just a nightmare and I'd wake up and she'd be there, smiling down at me with so much love, I could barely believe that it was for me? When her first incarnation told me about the curse and I realized I was doomed to lose her over and over again? After I had been so fed up with everything, I attempted to kill myself in so many different ways, but nothing would work and nothing was going to free me from my hell?

"I was afraid of losing Elizabeth if one of you spilled the beans and she regained her memories. I was afraid of losing all of you, if you all knew the truth. If you knew what I'd done, what I had been, and decided I was just another monster, like the Demon that killed Elaine..."

"And the others?" I continued, my voice low and harsh. "Diane had her memories wiped and forgot everything about the person she loved, for the second time, because I didn't realize Gowther was losing it! Merlin's entire home was destroyed by my father when she was just a child, leaving her with nothing! Gowther has no emotions and lost one of the only people that ever loved him, trying to stop the Holy War that I started! And then lost the other one after he'd woken up after being asleep for almost 3000 years along with the dead body of his father! And Escanor's power that he hates was once a Goddess's that my brother killed!" I shook my head. "And that's just the Sins!"

"Elizabeth has died 107 times! Her Clan betrayed her! Her own mother murdered and then cursed her! Because she had the horrible luck to fall in love with my worthless ass! Britannia itself was almost destroyed by a war that I started! All the Clans were almost eradicated! The Demons and Goddesses were sealed away, the Giants and Fairies were almost annihilated, and the only reason the Humans survived was because they played both sides! And now it's about to happen again! I didn't protect the key to the Demon's prison well enough and now they're back and pissed off and ready to kill everything in their path in order to get their revenge! And all of you are in danger, cause I selfishly wanted to see my ends met, even if it meant sending people who were completely clueless about the situation into battle!"

I took a deep breath, winded from my continuous crying and yelling. "So tell me, WHY THE FUCK WOULD ANY OF YOU NEED ME?!?!" I screamed.

Ban didn't answer. I leaned over more, resting my head on my arms, covering my face with my trembling hands. I couldn't tell if the trembling was a result of adrenaline, rage, sadness, or a mixture of all three. I waited for him to respond. Maybe now he'd see that I wasn't worth it, that all I had done was hurt them.

"You're fucking stupid," was his response. That...was not what I was expecting. I finally looked up. He stared at me, determination burning in his red eyes. "Listen, maybe our lives have been fucked up all to hell. But that's not your fault. Maybe you should've told us what was going on, but not wanting to see the woman you love die for the 108th time is a pretty damn good fucking reason not to say anything, in my opinion. And I'm pretty sure King'll agree with me, he'd do anything for Diane. And whatever your fucking psychopathic family did has nothing to do with you. And the princess would tell you she didn't care what happened, she loved you, if she was here. And maybe you started that war, but the Clans sure as hell helped it along. And maybe you lost that damn key, but it was bound to happen anyway and you protected it good enough," his hand rubbed along the scar I'd given him. "So, your argument is shit. Let's move on to what your son of a bitch father did to you."

I stared at him, taking a moment to comprehend what had just been said. Then, I started laughing. It was a broken, strangled laugh, but it'd do. "Oh, you know, the usual. Just created illusions of my worst damn fears and tortured me with the fact that I'd fucked up in so many different ways, it's a damn miracle anyone gives a shit about me." I laughed again. "What the fuck did I do to deserve all of you?" He shrugged. "The fact that you dragged all of us out of our shit and gave us a purpose again?"

I shook my head, choosing not to address that comment yet. "At first, I was pretty damn confident, you know? Telling him I was getting out of this dump and making it back to you guys and we were going to kick his Commandment's asses. But he knew exactly what buttons to push. With his magic, he created illusions of all of you. The Sins, Elizabeth, even Little Gil... I knew all they were were illusions, but that didn't matter in the end. I still heard all the accusations. Of how I'd ruined your lives, how much I'd fucked everything up, how so many people would still be alive if it wasn't for me. And I did exactly what that bastard father of mine wanted: I cracked. Then, he didn't have to worry about me escaping, I was too mad with guilt and rage to do anything."

I closed my eyes, remembering all the illusions had said. "Elizabeth asked why she'd fallen for me, a monster who after all these years, still hasn't done what I'd promised. All you guys told me I'd destroyed your lives and threw you into a war that wasn't yours to begin with and that I was going to get you all killed. Little Gil blamed me for Zaratras's death and Hendy and Dreyfus's possessions. Zaratras's dead body then blamed me for leaving his son fatherless and forced to go against everything he stood for to protect the person he loved. Baltra blamed me for bringing his kingdom and family into a fight they had no chance of winning. My brother blamed me for starting the war and betraying them. And all those countless people I couldn't save...I saw all their faces again. I heard their screams. All the while, my father just had to chime in with his little tidbits and remind me of my days as the leader of the Ten Commandments and how much death and destruction I had left in my wake back then."

I pressed my palms against my ears, trying in vain to shut out the memories. "I hate who I was back then. I was a true monster that didn't care about what atrocious actions I was committing. Not a day goes by that I don't regret my past. I can't believe Elizabeth ever stuck with me. She should've seen a lost cause when she saw me, but she didn't care. She loved me anyway and I'm so lucky to have her. And you guys. After everything I've done, how I hid so many things from you, things that could've saved lives, how can you sit there and tell me this isn't my fault?!"

Ban sighed. "Damn, Cap'n. I'm not used to being the voice of reason. Listen, when you found all of us, we were nothing but broken bastards who didn't have the will to fight anymore. After Elaine died, I didn't want to do anything. We both know I could've escaped from that prison they had me in after Elaine died. But I didn't, cause I didn't have anything to live for anymore, but I couldn't die either. And while I don't exactly see eye to eye with the others all the time, I know they're the same. We might've not liked you dragging us from our shit at first, but you did it and made us get back up and start fighting again. If we die in this war, at least we'd die fighting for something, instead of just laying down and waiting for death to come."

He got up and walked over to me, slinging an arm around my shaking shoulders. "So, let's get out of this dump, save our women, end this damn war, then drink enough alcohol, it sends even you into a fucking coma, agreed? And I'll make sure to tell your father to go fuck himself while we're at it." I laughed, sounding slightly choked. "Only you, Ban. Only you." He laughed with me and stood up. "And after this is all over and done with, we'll open the bar again with all the Sins! And Elizabeth and Elaine too!" He said, walking off.

I stood up and wiped away the tears. "Yeah," I said, grinning. Maybe he's right, I thought, following alongside Ban. Then again, maybe they're just all idiots and I've screwed up for the last time and they'll hate me when we get back. But first of all, we have to get out of this damn place. The rest can just fall into place as it will...Though, cussing out my dad sounds really fucking fantastic right now.

25 notes · View notes