I do not own Seven Deadly Sins or any of their characters.

Laying Low

Oswald tossed the hay bales into the loft and sighed, glancing to the side at Derieri, who was lounging on a hay pile, wearing a skirt, blouse, and black boots now. They had stolen the clothes for her so that she could hide that she was a demon, though it hadn't helped them much with getting a place to stay. Finally, they found an older couple living on a farm and agreed to work it in exchange for a place to stay.

Monspeet threw his own hay bail up into the loft and turned to Oswald. "I'm impressed you can still speak after that story yesterday." He picked Oswald up by the throat, Oswald using darkness to keep him from squeezing. "I'll say this one time. Derieri is not yours. You're a disgusting hybrid freak, and you should be eradicated. However, Derieri has chosen to allow you to live, so you live. But Derieri is not yours. So don't overstep your bounds. I won't exterminate you so long as you don't ty anything funny."

"I'm impressed," Oswald said. "I didn't think you had it in you to go against her wishes, or to be threatening in any way other than your power. However, I'm going to give you only one warning. If I had been trying to kill you or Derieri at any point, you'd be dead. You attack me, you die." He batted Monspeet's arm away and dropped to the floor, walking back out the door.

He walked back to the hay bails, glancing at Derieri who was lounging on the one pile of hay they had left her, watching the clouds and not particularly caring to do anything. He picked up the next two bails and walked back toward the barn. He tossed them up into place just in time for Jericho's face to flash through his head. He stopped, features sinking and shoulders sagging slightly as he walked to the door and stopped, staring in the direction of Liones. He wondered what she was doing. What they were all doing. He wondered if they were searching for him. Or if they'd still welcome him back. Probably not. After defending Derieri, they'd probably try to kill him on sight. He sighed miserably and shook his head. It didn't matter anymore. That part of his life was over. Time to move on to the next.

He continued to transport the hay bails for about another ten minutes before they had bailed up Derieri's pile as well and were finished. The old couple gave them a couple more jobs to do before they called it a day. They all headed back to the barn where they were staying and Oswald climbed to his loft and hay bed, sitting down and pulling the blanket over his legs before looking across the barn to Derieri. She was already laying down, seeming to be asleep, and Monspeet was sitting up, watching Oswald blankly. Oswald sighed quietly and lay back down, closing his eyes. After a few seconds, he heard someone sit down beside him and opened his eyes, rolling onto his back and staring up at Derieri, who was staring down at him.

"Why don't you go back?" Derieri asked. "Don't you have friends there?"

Oswald watched her for a moment before sitting up, leaning against the wall of the barn, Derieri leaning against the railing across from him. "I do have friends there, or at least, I did. I doubt they'd still think of me as a friend. But I don't mind. I can live without them as long as I'm with you."

Derieri stared at her lap for a moment. "You're an idiot. I've seen the way you look when they cross your mind. And I know you want to go back. You shouldn't choose me over them. Because you'll just end up alone."

Oswald felt his chest clench but nodded. "I know. But I've been alone for three thousand years. I'm used to it."

Derieri huffed, shaking her head. "You're a goddamn moron."

He remained silent as she walked away. She was right. He was being stupid. He should go back to the others. Derieri wasn't fighting anymore, so he wouldn't have to worry about her being killed, or having to kill her. And if he went home he could maybe still be with Jericho. And he might be able to patch things up with the others still. But if he stayed, he'd lose his friends. He'd lose Jericho. And Derieri's feelings wouldn't change. He sighed, curling into the fetal position before forcing himself to drift off.

Over the next few days, they did a wide range of tasks from haying, to digging ditches, putting up fences, tending to the livestock, and repairing a part of the house. As they did, Monspeet continued to be cold and unwelcoming to Oswald, and Derieri continued to promise him that he wouldn't win her over. They had continued their nightly conversations, however. Derieri had wanted to know how the world had changed, and what he had done since they had been sealed. She had been interested in his blacksmithing, saying it sounded fun, but he assured her it wasn't. It was just hot and exhausting.

Oswald drove his shovel into the ditch again and sighed heavily. They'd been there for a while. A week or so. Maybe a little more. He dumped his shovel full and drove it into the ground again only to stop, his senses tingling as Jericho's power spiked. It wasn't on the level of a battle. More akin to training. And with it, Arthur and Guila's powers both spiked as well. Oswald swallowed hard, gritting his teeth and forcing himself to continue digging.

"I don't understand you," Derieri said, standing at the top of the ditch behind him. "You miss them so bad you want to cry. And you know I'm safe. So why do you stay? Why do you continue to suffer even though you don't have to?"

"Because I'd rather suffer with you than live happily without you," Oswald said, voice quieter and more frail than he intended.

Derieri slid into the ditch and turned him by the shoulder, then slapped him. "Stop being such an idiot! Living a life of misery is just stupid! You should strive to find happiness! Even if it's not with the person you hoped!"

"It doesn't matter," Oswald said. "I can't go back. Not yet. I still owe you too much."

"For what?" Derieri asked.

"For getting Rajine killed," Oswald said, tears beginning to fall. "For not being able to save you from the coffin. For causing you to lose your arm, and your hearts. For causing you so much pain. I can never repay those debts. So I'll stay for as long as I need to. I'll stay and I'll shield you from any pain that may come, no matter what it is."

"I don't need a bodyguard," Derieri said. "I can handle myself, and pain is natural. Everyone feels it. Hiding from pain isn't right, and you can't protect someone from all pain."

"I know," Oswald said, tears sliding down his face as he turned away. "Of all people, I know you can't hide from pain, and you can't stop from feeling it. But I'll do whatever it takes to keep you from it. Even if I..."

Derieri stared at him in silence for a long while. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Oswald asked, turning back to her, thoroughly confused.

"I'm sorry," Derieri repeated. "Everything I did to you...all of the beatings, blaming you for my sister...I forced you to start blaming yourself even more than you already were, and I made you feel guilty over something you couldn't control. And for your parents too. I made you feel like a monster just because you were born different. And you had to live with that, alone, for three thousand years. Hating yourself and wanting to die but unable to end it. You've suffered more than I could ever imagine, and all because of me. If anyone owes someone, I owe you. You've protected me, and tried to help me the entire time we've known each other, and yet I caused you so much pain. I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to feel sorry abou-" He stopped, eyes widening, as Derieri stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him.

"Just stop," Derieri said. "Stop being so goddamn perfect. Be selfish for once in your life. I can take care of myself, so worry about your self for once and just go be happy."

Oswald smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "I am happy. Even if it's not exactly what I want, I am happy as long as you're there. I told you, you mean everything to me."

"Damn you," Derieri said, smiling as she pulled back and wiping her eyes before her tears could fall. "You really are stubborn."

"Of course," Oswald smiled. "If I was anything else, there's no way I could get through the walls around your heart and steal you from Monspeet."

"It's not like that," Derieri said. "My sister was the one that loved him."

"And because of your respect for her feelings, you refused to admit your own," Oswald said. "It's alright. I'll steal you soon. And then I get to see the look on his face when he realizes I didn't listen to his hands-off-Derieri speech."

Derieri snorted, rolling her eyes. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"You're one to talk," Oswald chuckled. "Now, are you going to help me dig this hole, or are you just going to lounge around like always?"

Derieri smirked. "I suppose I can help out a little. You'd probably get it wrong without help. After all, you're just a boy. You're all useless without girls."

Oswald chuckled, returning to digging as Derieri used her left hand to break the dirt up quickly. They worked tirelessly but quickly. After a few more minutes, the hole was finished and Monspeet moved the outhouse onto it. Once finished, the three of them headed over to where they had been digging trenches in order to divert rain to stop the farmhouse and barn from flooding. They set to work, and after several hours, they finished just as the sun was setting.

"I think that's probably enough for today, don't you?" Oswald asked.

"I fucking hope so," Derieri groaned. "I'm exhausted."

"Well, you haven't been working the entire time we've been here, so that's to be expected," Oswald shrugged, then danced out of the way of a borderline playful punch from her.

"Are you calling me lazy?" Derieri asked.

"Of course not," Oswald said. "Just entitled."

She punched him in the shoulder and he winced, rubbing it. Oswald glanced at Monspeet, seeing him glaring at him from behind them, so he winked back at him and subtly flipped him off before heading into the barn. He climbed up to his loft and sat down, sighing, Derieri sitting across from him after a moment.

"So...tell me about Elizabeth," Derieri said, Oswald remaining silent for a moment. "What really happened back then?"

"She had no idea we were there," Oswald said. "Ludociel had said the barrier was protection from the Demon Clan, and would keep them out of the Fairy King's Forest. But in truth, it was bait. Elizabeth had no idea what was going on until she saw us. By that time, it was too late. Ludociel used her wanting to create peace with you to stall you long enough for the trap to be sprung. But because of that, you assumed she had been a part of it all along."

"So...she actually was innocent then," Derieri said. "I suppose...I owe her an apology then."

"For the record, Nerobasta deserved what she got," Oswald said. "She was with Ludociel when he caught me and your sister."

Derieri nodded. "And then she tried to kill you again for existing."

"She was never going to be strong enough for that," Oswald said. "But I'm glad part of the reason you fought her was for me."

Derieri snorted. "Don't kid yourself. I was out for revenge. It was just a coincidence that I saved your ass from that. And don't give me that bullshit about her not being strong enough. I saw you trembling when she was manifested."

Oswald chuckled. "Alright, alright. But still."

Derieri smiled, then sighed. "We should get some sleep. We still have work to do in the morning."

Oswald nodded, smiling. Derieri stood to leave, but Oswald caught her arm.

"Wait," Oswald said. "I have something for you."

"What?" Derieri asked just as a glowing red circle appeared under each of them.

"Holy Equality," Oswald said, then grunted, blood spraying out of his mouth as three spots in his torso erupted into agony before it began to fade to a white-hot ache.

At the same time, Derieri gasped, falling to her knees, a hand going to her chest as she gasped for breath, eyes bugging out of her head. In an instant, Monspeet appeared over Oswald, only for Derieri's left hand to catch both of Monspeet's.

"W...What did you just...do?" Derieri asked.

"You sacrificed six of your hearts in order to become an Indura, but when you were transformed back, you didn't get your hearts back, so I gave you three of mine," Oswald said.

Derieri stared at him before tears began to slide down her face. "You idiot!" She threw her arms around him, sobbing into his chest, Oswald wrapping his arms around her as well. "Thank you."

Oswald tightened his hold, tucking his face into her hair and Monspeet glared at him before turning away and heading back to his own balcony. Finally, Derieri pulled back, wiping her eyes.

"I...I can't...I don't know how to..."

"You don't have to thank me, or repay me," Oswald said. "I wanted to do it. I don't need all seven anyway."

Derieri laughed before reaching up and pressing her lips to his. Oswald's eyes widened but she pulled back before he could return the kiss.

"Thank you," Derieri said, wiping her eyes again. "This doesn't mean I have feelings for you. I just needed to thank you."

Oswald smiled, nodding. "Feel free to thank me anytime."

She rolled her eyes, pushing herself up, still smiling. "You're lucky you just halfway killed yourself." She turned, walking back to her own bed and lay down. "Goodnight Oswald."

"Goodnight Derieri," Oswald smiled. "Night Monspeet."

Monspeet just glared at him before rolling over, pulling the blanket up. Oswald smirked and also rolled over, pulling up his blanket. Maybe he was making better progress than he thought. Now if only he could give her back her arm.

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