Coco: Hey, guys, here's the first chapter to Monroe's mini arc :D I plan to added in one or two more before we make it to the battle in the capital where they have to fight Hendrickson and the New Generation. I didn't end up adding in any of the other Apostles in this arc, but one will be added during the Necropolis Arc. At least a snippet though he might just be in a backflash-not sure yet. Though a few of them have been mentioned in like the last chapter in this arc, which I have finished XD Don't know if I'll upload them all at once though. This first chapter isn't much. Mostly just a little filler before the action goes down in the next chapter. But I hope you like it :D
As rain poured across Britannia, the group at the Boar Hat were grounded from traveling with the weather making it impossible to move forward. Hawk's Mom had buried herself underground last night when the weather really took a turn for the worse and luckily, they were able to hunker down near a cave, so Diane would have some shelter. And the rain hasn't let up since.
"Looks like we'll be delayed by another day." Meliodas said as he stared out the opened door at the weather. "It just doesn't seem like it's going to let up anytime soon."
"I'm sorry," Elizabeth said. "If I didn't need to stay in Dalmary those three more days, we might have missed this storm and been in Carina by now."
"We don't know that for certain, so there's no point in apologizing, Elizabeth." Monroe pointed out.
Said young woman was outside on the porch. Just barely at a safe distance from getting soaked by the rain as the wind seemed to blow it every which way.
"She's right." Meliodas said as he turned to smile at Elizabeth. "It'll let up eventually and we'll get going then."
Elizabeth nodded though she still felt as if it was partially her fault they were stuck in this weather. As Meliodas joined her at the table, Ban came down the stairs while letting out a yawn. He had slept in rather late today, and when he woke up his snuggle buddy was nowhere to be found. He spotted her though as he looked outside.
His little Mo who protested very loudly against she and Elizabeth sharing beds with men much older than them. It had been cute seeing her face turn red and nose scrunch up. Then the pout she had when she lost the argument had been priceless.
"Mo," He called out while walking towards her.
She turned to look at him as he stepped out onto the porch to stand behind her. Which meant she had to tilt her head up, so to look at him.
"You're going to catch a cold out here," He warned her.
"I'll be fine," She said as she brought her knees to her chest. "It isn't that cold out here anyway."
Ban chuckled as she turned her eyes back towards the rain. She always did love the rain for some reason. She used to go out and play in it and not come back in until someone realized she was gone and had to go get her. He's brought her back inside soaked to the bone many times, and her mother had not been happy. And Cordelia had been one scary lady. Ban's pretty sure Monroe was the only one brave enough to ever disobey Cordelia after she laid down the rules. Ban then took off his jacket to place over Monroe's shoulders, which had her flinching in surprise. She looked back at him in question though brought the jacket around her tightly.
"Gotta keep you warm." Ban said as he sat down behind her.
He then reached out to grab her around her waist, which had her blushing as he pulled her back into his lap.
"B-Ban," She began to protest.
She tried to crawl her way out of his lap but he wasn't letting her go easy that was for sure. He kept his fingers into her belt loops meaning she couldn't leave. She almost felt like crying from the embarrassment. She gave up eventually as she fell back into him. He chuckled as he looked at her pout.
"What?" He questioned. "You used to sit in my lap all the time, right?"
Monroe looked away with her face just becoming warmer as he wrapped his arms around her.
'Yes, but it was different back then,' She thought to herself.
Though it did feel nice, so she just leaned back into him as she had done back at Dr. Dana's. Besides, they have already shared a bed together, so she supposes this wasn't that big of a deal. Didn't make her blush go away though. As they sat on the porch together, Elizabeth smiled at them.
"When Monroe spoke about Sir Ban, I never knew they were this close," Elizabeth said. "Though I supposed it should have been obvious considering how fondly she always spoke about him. Her entire face would light up. It was one of the few times I actually got to see her happy after the incident with her family."
"Yeah, Monroe, has always been that way with Ban," Meliodas said chuckling. "I remember the first time they met."
—FLASHBACK—
"So, what is this place?" Ban asked as Meliodas led him up to a large house.
"This is the home of a Holy Knight of the Kingdom," Meliodas said over his shoulder. "He opened his home to me and those I can gather for the Seven Deadly Sins."
Ban hummed thinking that was rather generous of the guy considering he had no idea who Meliodas would be bringing back into his home. Meliodas paused at the door while turning back to look at Ban.
"I warn you now," Meliodas said. "Once you pass through this door, there is no backing out. This will be your home, and she won't let you say otherwise or let you try to leave. And she's a little monster, so watch out."
"She?" Ban questioned.
The door was then opened was a beautiful young woman, and Ban wondered if this was the "she" that Meliodas meant.
"Meliodas, welcome home." The woman said giving a kind smile. "I see you found who you wanted."
"Yep!" Meliodas said nodding as he grinned. "Cordelia, this is Ban. Ban, this is Cordelia. The wife of Asthore the Holy Knight who's letting us stay here."
Cordelia looked at Ban with a tilt of her head while narrowing her eyes at him. She was probably thinking he was so kind of thug or something.
"Well, you'll certainly need a shave and a nice hot bath." She said chuckling. "I'm sure you haven't had either in a while. I will also have a meal prepared for you."
Ban's eyes widened a bit since he wasn't expecting such hospitality. It wasn't something he was used to. He then looked down when a little blur hit Meliodas head on. The blonde made a show of hitting the ground while sprawling out his limbs as he let out an overexaggerated huff. There was giggle from the one who hit him, and Ban saw it was a little girl with silver hair.
"Welcome home, Melly!" She said smiling. "I've missed you."
Meliodas laughed while propping himself up on his elbows to smile at the girl sitting on his torso.
"Oh yeah?" Meliodas asked. "How much did you miss me?"
"This much!" The girl said trying to hold her arms out as far as possible.
Meliodas's smile widened as he stood up while holding the girls in his arms. He turned to Ban.
"This is the little monster I mentioned." Meliodas said poking the girl's cheek.
"Oh, so this is the scary monster?" Ban asked smirking.
The girl turned her blue eyes at him, and without any hesitation whatsoever gave him a big, friendly smile. It threw him off guard for a second since most children ran away screaming or hiding behind their parents when they saw him. But this girl didn't show an ounce of fear whatsoever. In fact, her entire face seemed to light up as she looked at him.
"Monroe, this is Ban." Meliodas introduced as he set her down. "Is it okay if he stays here with us?"
"Yeah!" Monroe said nodding with her smile widening. "Welcome home, Ban!"
She then held out her arms to him expectantly, and he picked her up carefully as if she was made of glass. She wrapped her arms around his neck while nuzzling into the side of his face.
"I guess I'm okay with never getting to leave," Ban said chuckling.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
"After that they were inseparable." Meliodas said. "Wherever Ban went, Monroe was right behind him. And whenever we were away, Ban would worry about her and wonder if she was doing okay."
Elizabeth smiled as she continued to watch the two as they spoke quietly together while watching the storm.
"Sir Ban makes Monroe very happy," Elizabeth concurred.
Meliodas nodded in agreement as the two on the porch continued to watch the rain. Monroe was close to nodding off when the mark on her neck burned. She frowned reaching up to scratch at it wondering what she was doing wrong now. Images of Elaine then flooded her mind making her grit her teeth harshly.
'Why must you remind me?' She thought angrily. 'I know he and I will never be together. You don't have to throw it up in my face!'
The images slowly melted away as did the burning sensation, but any sense of peace was long gone. Monroe sighed then carefully stood up away from Ban. Said man looked up at her curiously wondering what was wrong. Not to mention, he immediately missed her warmth. She slid his jacket off her shoulders to hold back out to him.
"Mo, what's up?" He asked as he took it.
"Nothing," Monroe said. "I think I'm going to check on Diane. I'm sure she's lonely."
Monroe then jumped off the porch into the rain. She briskly walked past the tavern up towards the hillside of trees that led up to the cave Diane was in. Ban watched her go knowing that something had to be up.
"She gets like this sometimes," Elizabeth, who was in the doorway now, said.
Ban turned to look at Elizabeth as the princess was looking out at the rain with a saddened expression.
"Ever since her father and brothers' deaths, she changed a lot." Elizabeth said. "She stopped playing with my sisters and I. She stopped laughing and smiling. She focused solely on training and pushed herself to points that would break others. But every once and while, she'd just walk away. Take off. There wouldn't seem to be any real reason for it. But everyone knew to leave her alone. My older sister Margaret would say she just needs time, and Monroe would always come back."
Ban frowned because that didn't sound like Monroe at all. The kid he knew shared everything—even her problems. She never just walked off if she was upset. She'd bring it to someone and looked for some kind of comfort or guidance.
"One time she did confide in me though," Elizabeth continued as her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
—FLASHBACK—
"I don't know what I'm doing anymore, Princess," Monroe confessed to Elizabeth.
The two were sitting out in the castle garden together with Monroe's head bowed and resting against her clasped hands that were being supported by her elbows against her knees.
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth, who was fourteen at the time, asked.
"I train and fight to become stronger," Monroe said. "I do it so I may protect your family and this kingdom. But…it all just seems like too much sometimes. I just wonder if what I'm doing is actually making a difference."
Elizabeth looked at Monroe with wide eyes as the older girl continued to stare down at the ground.
"My family is dead," Monroe said. "And I was supposed to die with them on that day. I'm sure life would have went on just fine if I had. So, what is my purpose for being here? Is there even one?"
"Don't say such things!" Elizabeth said reaching out to grasp Monroe's arm. "If you had died, I would have lost my dear friend! And Gilthunder and Griamore would have had to mourn their cousin. And Lord Dreyfus has already lost so much of his precious family as well. He was so happy when he heard you would live—he was moved to tears."
Monroe let out a dark and humorlessly chuckle at the mention of her uncle that had Elizabeth stiffening.
"My uncle…right, I'm sure he would have been terribly upset if I had died." Monroe said.
"Lady Monroe, what do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.
Monroe sighed before she stood up though she allowed Elizabeth to keep clutching her arm.
"Nothing, Princess," Monroe said. "Forgive me for ruining your evening. I need to check on the patrols around the castle. Please, excuse me."
Monroe gently pulled her arm from Elizabeth then walked off leaving the princess sitting there wondering what had made Monroe say such terrible things.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
"Her words had frightened me," Elizabeth confessed. "Monroe who is always so strong and so sure seemed so tired and weak—not that I mean to insult her. I just mean her will seemed so weakened as if it had taken all it could take."
Ban listened intently to Elizabeth's words as he felt his heart clench. Monroe actually said those words? She thought life would have been alright if she had died when her father and brother did? How could she think that? If he had heard of her passing, he would have went mad.
"She told me the next day that she would be taking a small sabbatical," Elizabeth said. "She needed to clear her mind and reassure herself of her purpose. I wasn't sure what she meant by her purpose, but I was worried to have her leave where I could not follow. But she promised she would return to me, and Monroe has always kept her promises. So, I made her a promise that I would wait no matter how long she went away."
And Elizabeth would keep waiting. No matter how many times, Monroe walked away to clear her mind or if she just needed to follow her own path, Elizabeth would wait for her. She would wait until Monroe was ready to share everything with her.
"I'm grateful to you, Princess," Ban said honestly. "For looking out for her."
"No, no, I haven't really done anything," Elizabeth said shaking her head. "I want to do more for Monroe because she is my closest and oldest friend. She has bled for me and my family. She has fought for the kingdom and its people without asking for anything in return, but I want to repay her for everything. I just don't know how."
Elizabeth said this sadly as tears entered her eyes. She then looked to Meliodas as he gently stroked her hair.
"You do more than you know, Elizabeth," Meliodas said. "Besides, Monroe has her own reasons for doing what she does. She does the things she does because she wishes to protect what is dear to her. Those things include you and the kingdom."
Elizabeth smiled as he said that because it made her happy even if she still wished she could do more. Elizabeth then wiped the tears from her eyes before they could fall.
"She loves you all deeply as well." Elizabeth said. "After we fled the capital, she was adamant about starting to search for you all immediately. She kept saying you all could save the kingdom, but more than anything she wanted to see you all again. Especially, Sir Ban."
Elizabeth smiled at Ban as she said this and the man gave a humorless chuckle as he turned his attention back towards the rain.
"Always said that kid had a horrible taste in men," Ban said.
Elizabeth blinked in confusion at his words wondering what he meant, but Ban didn't elaborate on it as he stood up.
"I'm going after her, Captain," Ban said as he slipped on his jacket.
"Alright, take care," Meliodas said waving.
Ban just nodded then stepped off the porch into the rain. He headed off in the direction Monroe went.
"Do you think they'll be okay?" Elizabeth asked in concern.
"Sure," Meliodas said then smirked up at Elizabeth. "And now we have the place to ourselves."
He snuck his hand underneath her skirt as he said this, and she squealed in surprise.
"Cut it out, moron!" Hawk shouted as he jumped through the door to kick Meliodas.
Meliodas flew out into the mud as Hawk gave a huff. Elizabeth sweat-dropped guessing Meliodas forgot about Hawk.
"I can't believe you walked all the way out here without something to keep you dry," Diane said in a scolding tone as she built a fire.
Monroe sneezed from behind Diane as she stripped out of her wet clothes. Since it was just the two of them here, Diane suggested they dry her clothes over a fire. Diane had something in her bag, they could wrap around Monroe like a blanket, so she wouldn't be too exposed.
"Guess I wasn't thinking." Monroe said. "Sorry. Just wanted to check on you."
Diane, who finished building the fire, sighed though a smile pulled across her face as she turned around to get into her bag to get out a cloth from it. It was a bit on the transparent side, but it'd do. They were both girls after all. After Monroe finished stripping Diane, wrapped the tinier woman in the cloth.
"That's nice of you, but I'm fine." Diane said as she gently picked up Monroe.
She set Monroe down in front of the fire then sat next to the girl while putting her clothes over the fire to dry.
"Besides, we both know the real reason you're here is because you needed to get away from the others for a bit." Diane said. "So, what happened? The Captain and the Ban become too much too handle?"
"No, it's not that," Monroe said. "I…just remembered something unpleasant. And I don't know I guess I just felt more comfortable coming here to you than staying there."
Diane nodded in understanding before the two fell into a comfortable silence. Diane then chuckled, which had Monroe looking up at her.
"What's so funny?" Monroe asked curiously.
"I was just thinking of one of those times you snuck out in the rain," Diane said. "You came to see me then too. You were upset with your father and the Captain because they left on a mission without telling you. And you were worried about them."
Monroe remembered that. She was crying so much, and the only reason she hadn't went to Ban was because he was away too on his own mission with King.
—FLASHBACK—
Monroe let out a sniffle as she sat on Diane's knee. The two of them were under the roof of the large building that her father had builders make for Diane. The giant might not be able to come in with the rest of them to the main house, but at least she had her own roof over her head for times like this.
"There, there," Diane said using her finger to stroke the top of Monroe's head. "They'll be back soon. All of them will be."
Monroe wiped at her eyes to get rid of the tears before they could fall, but the sniffles still left her as she tried to hold them back.
"The Captain and Asthore are really strong, remember?" Diane continued. "Don't you believe in them?"
Monroe nodded her head as she looked up at Diane who smiled down at her in return.
"Then don't you worry," Diane said winking. "We'll be seeing them soon. Then you can scold them for worrying you."
"Promise?" Monroe asked.
"I promise," Diane said nodding. "Until then you can stay out here with me as much as you want."
This brought a smile to Monroe's face as her tears became long forgotten. Monroe then slid off Diane's knee while holding out her hand to her.
"Let's go play!" Monroe said with her smile widening.
"But it's raining," Diane said tilting her head.
"It's the best time to play!" Monroe said giggling.
"Well, okay," Diane said laughing.
Monroe ran from the building with Diane crawling out after her. Once they were outside, Diane watched as Monroe ran across the stone patio before sliding across the slick parts, which sent water everywhere. Monroe let out a laugh as she spun around with more water being sent everywhere. Diane smiled as she watched Monroe enjoy herself.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
"Mother scolded me for being out in the rain like that," Monroe said. "She was worried I might catch a cold, and I did."
"You didn't seem to learn your lesson," Diane pointed out. "Because the next time it rained, you were back out playing in it."
"I loved the rain so much." Monroe said smiling slightly. "I still do. I could sit here all day and just listen to it."
She closed her eyes as she said this while bringing her knees to her chest and her new "blanket" tighter around her as well, she placed her chin on her knees as she let out a happy hum. Her peace was broken, however, by the sound of a very family voice.
"Well, well, what's this?"
Monroe squeaked with her eyes snapping open to see Ban standing in the mouth of the cave. He was grinning right at her as her mind screamed at her for her current lack of clothes.
"Ban!" Monroe and Diane exclaimed.
Diane quickly scooped up Monroe to shield her from Ban's eyes as Monroe's face flamed red.
"What?" Ban asked the women. "Why you yelling at me for? I just came to check on Mo."
"A little warning, huh?" Diane demanded. "She isn't exactly descent at the moment."
"Yeah, I saw that," Ban said.
Monroe's face turned even darker red as she wished at that moment that she could curl up and die.
"Pervert!" Diane accused as she glared at Ban who was checking on Monroe's clothes casually.
"Gees, calm down, will ya?" Ban questioned. "I didn't see anything important. Will you set her down now, huh? I'll close my eyes. See? ~"
To show he was being genuine he covered his eyes with his hand. Diane continued to frown at Ban, but she slowly set Monroe down. Monroe tightened the blanket around her then hurriedly went to check on her clothes. They were still drying which mean, she'd have to wait before she could put them on. She groaned while sitting back down. She then looked to Ban who looked as soaked as she had been when she got here.
"You didn't have to come after me," Monroe said. "I'm fine."
Ban just hummed in reply as he turned around while lowering his hand. Monroe supposed she was okay with that since his back was turned.
"Yeah, well, I just worry about you, Mo," Ban said as he sat down at the mouth of the cave. "And the Princess told us some pretty interesting things after you left."
Monroe frowned wondering what Ban meant by that. Did Elizabeth tell them something odd?
"But we'll talk about that later," Ban said.
Monroe didn't like the sound of that one bit. But she didn't protest as she leaned into Diane's thigh. The giant girl reached down to gently pat Monroe as they all tried to warm by the fire.
Ban looked down at Monroe's sleeping form as she laid curled up against Diane who was asleep as well. Both girls had fallen asleep as they waited for Monroe's clothes to dry. They were now, but Ban didn't have it in him to wake Monroe to have her get dressed, so they could return to the bar. Besides, it was still storming hard outside and night had fallen. It would be best to wait till morning to head back. As he stared down at her, he could see the scar on her back through the cloth.
"I really did almost lose you," Ban said to himself as his hands clenched tightly into fists.
And what the princess told him about Monroe wondering if it had been better if she had just died that day instead, still played through his mind.
'I won't allow it,' Ban thought. 'I won't let her die. I can't lose her.'
Ban then sat down beside her while reaching out to stroke her silver locks away from her face. She shifted in her sleep, but otherwise she remained asleep.
"I'll take care of you—always," Ban said leaning down towards her. "I promise."
He placed his lips against the back of her head. He messed up in protecting someone important to him before, but he wouldn't do that with Monroe. He'd keep her safe, and make sure she lives a long and happy life. He pulled back from her to continue looking down into her peacefully slumbering face.
