He was going to strangle him.
He was so going to strangle him.
During those 9 months filled with anxiety and anticipation, Zeldris had counted on Meliodas to add him and Gelda on what to do during and after the pregnancy –and even before it, he will never forget how much he wanted to smash the blonde's head against the floor when he started to give him "mating process tips" as he had called it- but besides that little incident, Meliodas had been really helpful to both of the new parents and actually good at calming his nerves, no matter how annoying he was at times.
Meliodas promised him he would be there before the twins were born on the last card he send them, a month before Gelda went into labor and his seven hearts almost came out of his chest over his beloved's cries of pain. At the end everything went well, the two babies were healthy and strong and the new mother's regeneration powers made her recover from the task at seconds after it was over, but he wasn't thrilled over being left alone on his panic after being promised otherwise.
Now Zeldris wasn't stupid. He knew his brother`s responsibilities as king most of the time kept him locked at the castle or, most commonly, on the front lines making sure that no enemy would advance toward the now pacific kingdom. Even after passing the throne to Leonor, his granddaughter, Meliodas's duties didn't lessened at all, the new queen never married anyone so the people never stopped viewing him as their king, and it was natural, he never stopped looking for them and protecting them, nothing changed except that now there was a new queen fulfilling the former one's role.
The former one's role
He flinched lightly at that, stopping to wrap his coat around him more tightly as he got closer to the massive castle, the only reason why he ever was on this place instead of enjoying his time with Gelda and their daughters on the peace of their home was for an explanation, a he better get a very good one.
Originally, Zeldris wanted to wait at home until Meliodas eventually showed up on his door with that apologetic, regretful smile he was so used to see on his brother's face, along with a story about how thousands of dragons attacked Liones the same week that he so brilliantly decided to give every knight on the kingdom some vacations and how it took him longer to clean all the blood and meat out of the streets that the actual work of killing them…and the worst part is that it would be true. Hell, knowing Meliodas, it probably would be a much reduced version of what actually happened.
So he waited, for days that turned weeks that turned months. Nothing. Not a word from Meliodas nor Tristan, not even a card. Which was even stranger, he almost could understand his brother being too busy helping Leonor with the kingdom and such, but Tristan retired from the Grand Holy Knight position years ago, it was so strange that his normally responsible nephew didn't not only show up to the birth of the twins on his father's' place with a apologize for his behavior on his behalf, but also for him to not write him a card in all those months, asking if everything went well…so that was what did it, something was wrong and Zeldris traveled all the way here to find out exactly what.
His first thought was a war, while it was true that besides some incidents outside of the normal, ever since Meliodas took control of Liones everything went well in terms of international conflicts. The two brothers, alongside with the third Fairy King, the new Giant Queen and the King of Camelot, had made peace between their respective clans, and even if it pains him to say it, later thanks to the help of the Archangel Mael, with the Goddess Clan. The problems outside of the former queen of the goddesses came with humans that abandoned the kingdom of Liones after not accepting the fact that they would be ruled by a demon out of all things, it got worst once they saw how rotten the goddesses as well after the Supreme Deity almost got Britannia destroyed….again, making them demand the queen and specially the prince's head on a plate.
Of course, that all they got was pain after trying to touch his brother's precious family.
Zeldris was there when it happened once. The absolute hatred Meliodas's eyes held as he beheaded a group of bandits that thought that kidnapping the, in that moment, 7 year old prince was a good idea still send shivers down his spine. He grew up seeing his brother crush skulls and take souls without any mercy, without regret, without anything more that mild boredom and even so….
The Meliodas he saw in that moment was 100 times scarier.
"So unless someone has a suicide wish, a war is out of question" He huffed, once more adjusting the coat around his neck.
He hated that stupid coat, he hated it almost as much as Meliodas breaking this promises and out of nowhere breaking communication. Almost.
But there was no other way for him to peacefully walk around Liones streets, or at least that is what Meliodas said a few years ago when he visited with Gelda for the first time.
"I know that you'll dislike this but…..err….how do I put this? Your presence can and will trigger the trauma of my people" The way the blond nonchalantly put his arms behind his head while giving him that blank stare did trigger something at Zeldris, the need to punch him.
"What Meliodas means…." Elizabeth's sweet voice broke in before a fight issued, putting her hand on her husband's shoulder to make him step back as his expression, or lack of, changed to a smile the moment the new queen's check gained a pink tint as he passed his arm around her waist, holding her close to him "Is that the people of Liones suffered quite a lot after the Commandments attacked- I am not saying is your fault!" she raised her hands in front of her the moment she saw his frown and how he was about to reply, being stopped only by Gelda putting her hand on his shoulder and murmuring an "let her finish" as he relaxed and took step back again, taking her hand on his as Elizabeth send her a little grateful smile. She knew this was a hard topic for everyone involved, on the corner of her eye she could clearly see Meliodas's smile disappear as he avoided eye contact with his younger brother, his glance going to a no distant enough past "I don't blame you or any of the demons, it is true that some did terrible things purely out of hatred and a twisted satisfaction, but Melio- I was on the same boat as you guys were 3 years ago! We were following the orders of our ruthless parents….there was no other choice! I don't blame you to not want to….to end like Meliodas and me…."
Her voice trailed off and her husband flinched at the mention of the curse, making Zeldris's frown dissipate a little as he let a sight to let out what was left of his previous anger, clenching Gelda's hand as they shared a look. When meeting the other couple normally never mentions their past, preferring to tell them stories of the things they did on their journey, so they truly aren't used to this heavy atmosphere, even among themselves it was obvious that the new rulers of Liones didn't address some parts of their story much, hence Elizabeth stopping herself before she mentioned Meliodas's past persona "But?"
This time it was Meliodas who completed his wife's previous statement, putting a hand on her shoulder and giving her a little grateful smile before turning toward his younger brother, all trace of any joke gone as identical emerald eyes met "But the people don't understand this and I….can't really blame them, or force them to forgive the demons" Zeldris wanted to make a sarcastic remark about how Meliodas was talking as if he wasn't a demon himself "and I mean all demons" Well there you go, his older brother's way of reading people always sucks the fun away.
"So what now? Do you want me to stay away? So much for family bonding…." He tried to sound as sarcastic and cold as possible, but the worried look Gelda was sending him told him exactly how that sounded to everyone
"No, no, no! If that was the case I would have never accepted being king" "And I would have never accepted being queen" The couple's voices echoed thought the empty halls, Zeldris and Gelda couldn't help but take two steps back on their sudden outburst, but Meliodas wasn't done yet "I want you and Gelda to be part of lives regardless of what everyone says. Zel, I lost 253 years of your life, I don't want to lose more, and I certainly don't want to keep the baby away from their uncle and aunt" He exclaimed, passing a hand thought Elizabeth's still flat belly as she put her hand over his and nodded.
Zeldris's eyes wavered for a moment, forcing himself to break eye contact with Meliodas's fervent stare, a little smile forming on his lips as he looked to the side closing his eyes, he could almost feel the smile Gelda and Elizabeth shared after the little exchange of the siblings. He didn't want to stay away from Meliodas and his family either, spending time with the one he loved over everything and the brother he longed to know all his life was what he biggest wish, but even if he hated to admit it they did have a point, if his presence alone created another international conflict what was even the point of defeating the Demon King? Meliodas would had to decide to live with them on the Demon Realm or in Liones with his wife and unborn child and everyone knew what he would pick, not to mention that the moment that his relation with the Commandments, something that was keep between just their closest allies, was revealed to Britannia his family, his baby, an innocent creature that has no role on this ancient conflict, would be in danger. But still…..
"Alright then, what do you have in mind?"