Birds chirp melodically outside the glass-paned window. The first rays of sunlight beginning to stream through the thick morning fog surrounding the city of Liones.

Meliodas awakes with a long stretch, glancing lovingly at Elizabeth still asleep at his side before quietly sliding out of bed and sneaking out of the room. Grabbing his boots and sword on the way out before silently closing the door.

A week has passed since the defeat of the Demon King and end of the Holy War. Finally free from the conflict, Britannia was still actively celebrating their new found peace.

One of the final celebrations was being held tonight at the Boar Hat before Zeldris returns to the Demon Realm to start his life with Gilda, and Meliodas leaves Liones for his long awaited honeymoon with Elizabeth.

The celebration was bitter sweet for Meliodas. He was happy for his brother now that he is able to realize his dream of becoming the Demon King, ruling Hell peacefully with Gilda at his side. But he was also saddened by the thought of parting from his brother again after only just rekindling their friendship.

With a conflicted sigh, Meliodas makes his way downstairs, awkwardly hopping as he puts on his boots and mounts his sword across his back. Trying to push the nagging worries out of his mind, focusing instead on all the preparations he needs to take care of for tonight.

Heading out the door into the brisk morning air he makes his way into town at a casual speed, taking in the sight of the kingdom finally at peace. Feeling a bit more lighthearted, he puts his hands in his pockets and enjoys the view as he makes his way down the hill into town.

Wondering in the back of his mind what Zeldris thoughts were in regards to being separated from his brother once again. Their relationship was no longer fractured, but is nothing like it once was. Meliodas wasn't even sure if he would be welcome to visit the Demon Realm if he wanted to see his brother.

'I wonder what his thoughts are right now. Excited probably now that his wish came true.' Meliodas thinks to himself. Once again trying to push the bittersweet feeling down from where it lodged itself in his throat. 'Never mind that, let's just focus on getting the supplies we need.' He scolds him self mentally, quickening his pace as he makes his way into the now awoken city.

~~~

'I wonder what Meliodas is thinking of at this moment? I reckon he's smitten about breaking the curse on his goddess. I doubt he has anything else on his mind, much less-' The door handle turns, stopping Zeldris mid-thought as Gelda enters the room.

They were currently staying at an Inn on the outskirts of the city pending their return to the Demon Realm. The amenities were foreign to them but Zeldris would be lying if he said he disliked the lifestyle. He greets Gelda with a hug, enjoying the blissful feeling that comes from embracing someone you love.

'Perhaps the mortal world isn't all that bad if I ever want to visit - Wait what am I thinking, why would I want to visit?' Zeldris thinks to himself, stiffening at the intrusive sentimental thought. "Something wrong Zel?" Gelda asks gently.

Zeldris starts to shake his head No before stopping under Gelda's knowing stare. With a sigh he decides to be honest with the vampire "I - I am … conflicted." He stammers out, loathing the flood of soft feelings that was holding his mind captive.

"Conflicted about …" Gelda prompts with a small smile. "Meliodas." Zeldris says curtly. "Ah, having second guesses about returning to the Demon Realm?" She asks, sitting down on the bed, gently tugging her lover to join her.

"No, no of course not. I want to return as the Demon King and lead Hell beside you." Zeldris assures her quickly, "It's just been … nice having Meliodas around again." He mumbles, turning away from Gilda as she lets out a quiet giggle from his words.

"And you're too stubborn to tell him yourself that you don't want to lose your relationship, so instead you're internally torturing yourself?" She finishes for him. Zeldris shrugs, refusing to face his lover.

Gelda chuckles lovingly, pulling the small demon to her chest for a hug. "Listen Zel, there is no reason to feel ashamed of wanting to be around your brother. And there is certainly no reason to fear talking to him about it - In fact I would bet he is worrying about the same thing." She says, moving her hand comfortingly in small circles on his back.

"Do you really think that?" Zeldris asks hopefully, retreating into the tranquility of his lovers affection. "I do. You're both a pair of softies after all." She teases, smiling as Zeldris' ears began to burn red and he muttered something about being the Demon King.

"You should talk to him about it before the celebration tonight." She urges, holding back another teasing comment. "I can't just go out and say it out of nowhere. I would look like a fool." Zeldris complains in frustration, burying his face into his hands in defeat.

"You're so dramatic. If that's how you feel then fine, find a way to 'break the ice' so to speak. Then you can talk to him about your mushy brotherly feelings." Gelda responds with another teasing smile. "It's not mushy! It is totally normal for me to desire to keep seeing my brother after being apart for 3000 years." He says back hastily before continuing with more composure "However you presented a very good idea. And I think I know just what to do to 'break the ice'." He finishes with a mischievous smirk.

A few minutes later, he was striding out the door of the Inn heading to the residence where a certain mage was staying. Upon hearing a voice telling him to enter before he even had the chance to knock, Zeldris opens the door to find Merlin standing in front of her workbench, a terrifying looking experiment before her. "What do you require Zeldris?" She asks, blunt as ever. "Merlin, I have a favor to ask."

~~~

Storing the last of the supplies into their places, Meliodas stands up with a huff slapping the dirt of his hands. "Supply run complete. Next up, helping Merlin gather some ingredients for whatever sketchy spell she's itching to try." Meliodas says to himself, chuckling at his scary friend.

He makes his way back outside, the sun now at its peak above him. This time he heads away from the city in the direction of the thick woodland bordering the kingdom where Merlin had instructed him to go. Claiming the ingredient gathering process requires two people.

With all the preparations for the celebration that night complete, Meliodas was desperate for another mindless task to keep him from dwelling on his conflicted feelings he was sure his brother didn't share with him. Yeah gathering ingredients with his friend sounded like the better option.

Meliodas arrives at their predetermined meeting place marked by a large oblong boulder after about a fifteen minute walk. Merlin of course just had to drag them in the middle of no where, deep into the woods for her precious ingredients. However the said mage was nowhere in sight, and it wasn't like her to be late.

"Immobilize!" A green flash of light was upon him before he come summon his Full Counter. Hit by the spell directly he collapses to the ground, no longer possessing the ability to control his body below his neck. "Merlin what the hell, did I piss you off or something?" Meliodas asks, struggling to move his body an inch. He felt disconnected from all the nerves below his neck line.

"No not me Captain, someone else. But don't worry the Immobilize spell won't last much longer. I just needed it so I could do this without you getting in my way." Merlin responds, casting another enchantment - This spell however was familiar to Meliodas.

His arms were bound above his head with wispy deep purple chains, his legs pulled taught below him with the same magic. 'I recognize this spell, Merlin used it just the other week. She cast it on -

"Hello brother"

- Zeldris' Meliodas finishes his thought with a sinking feeling in his chest as his brother emerges from the shadows between the trees with a triumphant smile. "Well I did my part. I have an experiment to tend to so I will make my leave now. Zeldris I expect you to keep your word - 10 gallons of Purgatory venom. I need it for another experiment I've been wanting to try." Merlin says, giving them a quick wave goodbye before teleporting away.

"Zeldris, what is this, why did you commission Merlin to do this to me?" Meliodas asks in feigned annoyance. He already knew what was happening but was trying anything he could to stall the inevitable. Giving a test tug to each of his limbs, the blonde-haired demons panic sinks even deeper as none of them retreated an inch to his efforts.

"Oh I think you know exactly what this is about. If you recall I told you myself that we would settle things after our father was defeated." Zeldris responds, sauntering closer to his immobilized brother who's escape attempts were becoming more aggressive by the second.

"Yeah well, what I remember is you complaining about me having Merlin's magic to keep you still. You hypocrite." Meliodas says pointedly in regards to the magic bonds restricting him from moving. He was desperate to regain any control of the situation but Zeldris was having none of that.

"This is just making things even. It's only fair that I get the same advantages as you - not that I would need an advantage anyway mind you." Zeldris responds, squatting down next to his brother until he was only a mere few inches away.

Meliodas shoots his brother a silent pleading look as his brother dramatically set his hands above him in preparation, he already new his fate was sealed. But hey, at least he wouldn't have to focus on his lingering fears in regards to not seeing his brother again. 'Maybe it will even be enjoyable to relive our childhood fights -'

Meliodas stiffens as his brother begins his attack. His hopeful thought cut off as he quickly realized Zeldris didn't plan on making the exchange 'enjoyable' by any means. "Wahahait Zel pleahase. We c-can tahalk ab-about thihis." Meliodas pleads as Zeldris dances his fingers up and down his older brothers ribs.

"There is nothing to talk about. Now stop arguing and accept every once of my vengeance." Zeldris responds curtly, moving his assault lower to squeeze Meliodas' hips as his brother pleaded and thrashed below him. "NOHOHO AHAHA DAHAHAMN YOUOU ZEHEHELDRIS STAHAHAP!" Meliodas calls out, squeezing his eyes shut while still trying to fight against the bindings with all his strength. The deep purple chains gave no sign of breaking, to be expected of Merlin's work.

"Did you stop when I asked you to? Did you give me a scrap of mercy when you tortured me?" Zeldris asks him, widening his grip to claw at both sides of his brothers lower ribs. "TOHOHRTURED? SOHO DRAHAMATIC." Meliodas manages to tease through his laughter. "I'm being dramatic huh? Okay then I guess you won't mind if I do this." Zeldris fires back, spidering his hands up his ribs - Making a clear bee line for Meliodas' arm pits which he knew for a fact was a weak spot they both shared.

"WAHAIT WAHAHAIT IM SOHOHORY I DIHIDNT MEAHAN IT!" Meliodas desperately tries to take back his words but Zeldris merely smirks and continues his assent. Loving every second of his sweet, long awaited revenge.

"Again, did you stop when I begged you not to go there?" Zeldris asks "YOHOU WEHEHERNT BREAHAHAKING!" Meliodas responds through his laughter, which was growing frantic now that Zeldris was quickly closing the distance to his under arms.

"You could have told me Gelda was alive from the start." "YOHOU ACTIVAHATED ELIZABEHETHS CURSE. I WAHANTED REVEHENGE." "I only did that because I thought you killed Gelda. So again, your fault for not telling me."

The banter continued until Zeldris finally decided it was time to go in for the kill, digging all eight fingers into his brothers arm pits. Zeldris was grateful to be so far into the woods after the scream Meliodas released. It surly would have brought in half the town.

"AHAHA STAHAP STAHAHP STAHAHAP PLEAHAHASE!" Meliodas cried, giving up on fighting against his bonds to focus on his very survival. "Did you say something brother, I can't seem to hear you over the sound of you begging for mercy." Zeldris teases darkly. Enjoying the sight of his older brother frantic with laughter, squirming under his fingertips - A genuine smile on his face.

"PLEHEHEASE ZEHEHEL PLEAHASE!" Meliodas begged, his blonde hair even more wild than usual as he shook his head back in force in protest. Meliodas, the former leader of the 10 Commandments, a God slayer feared and idolized by all races - Was now reduced to a hysterical pile of mush beneath his brothers fingers as he relentlessly sought out his weak spots.

Zeldris didn't hold back for a moment. Wiggling his fingers deep into the hollows of his brothers arm pits while digging his thumbs into his upper-most ribs. Meliodas wasn't even able to beg anymore, succumbing to the merciless attack falling into a mix of silent and snorty laughter.

Feeling slightly merciful, Zeldris pauses his attack to move further down to his brothers legs. Meliodas gasps for air the moment the torture ceases, grateful for a moment to breath. His relief was short lived however, tensing up again when he feels the younger demons hands latch onto the muscles an inch above his knee-caps.

"Noho Z-Zeldris don't you d-AHAHARE!" His plea was interrupted as Zeldris ignored his words, beginning his attack anew. "YOHOHOU JEHEHERK, STAHAHAP!" Meliodas cackles, desperately thrashing from side to side as much as the magic bindings allows him to.

Zeldris' revenge was already fulfilled, now he was merely having fun. And stalling admittedly, unsure if he was ready to discus the real reason he summoned Meliodas to this place.

"ZEHEL MEHEHERCY PLEAHASE I CAHANT TAHAKE IHIHIT!" Meliodas cries out, hysterical with laughter as Zeldis switched between squeezing the sensitive muscles above his knees and scribbling his fingers underneath his knees on the unbearably ticklish skin.

Sensing his brother was truly at his limit. Zeldris ceases his attack, and rises to his feet. Mentally preparing for what was to come now that the metaphorical ice was broken.

Meliodas lays on the ground for about a minute, enjoying the wonderful thing called breathing before clearing his throat to get his brothers attention. "So uh, you letting me out of these bro?" He asks tentatively, still all too aware of his vulnerable position.

"I suppose so. Merlin you can release him now." Zeldris says, knowing full well the mage was surly watching them this whole time. Immediately the wispy chains vanished and Meliodas regained control of his limbs.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he pulls his arms in and sits himself up to a cross-cross position with a grunt. Zeldris remains standing, frozen in place as he wasn't sure how to start.

"If you're worried I'm going to retaliate you can rest assured I won't, at least not right now anyway. I'm too wiped out for that." Meliodas says with a chuckle. "It's not that, there's just … something I wanted to speak with you about." Zeldris responds sheepishly, settling down on the ground across from him brother.

"Oh? What is it then?" Meliodas asks curiously. Pushing through all the voices in his brain calling him weak and soft, Zeldris speaks honestly to his brother "What will become of our relationship after tonight?"

Meliodas was quiet for a moment before responding "What is it that you want to happen with it?" He asks slowly. "Hey, don't put it on me!" Zeldris argues in embarrassed frustration. "Oh I see what's happening. You just don't want to admit that you're gonna miss having me around is that it?" Meliodas responds with a beaming smile.

Zeldris wanted the ground to open beneath him, he would rather be fighting the induras of Purgatory than respond to his brothers question. Unfortunately him, his silence was all the confirmation Meliodas needed.

"Awee my little brother does care, that's adorable." He teases, laughing as Zeldris flashes him a red-faced glare. "Whatever. All I wanted to know is if maybe you would want to visit Hell every so often. Or perhaps I could spend some time up here in your kingdom - After I've made myself well established in Hell first of course." Zeldris stammers, unable to meet his older brothers gaze.

"Zeldris relax, there is nothing wrong with wanting to see your family. I'm honestly really relieved that you feel that way." Meliodas says, adjusting himself to sit next to his brother who slowly turned his head to meet his older brothers gaze.

"I meant what I said about visiting your kingdom, and having you visit Hell. I wouldn't mind getting used to having you around again." He grumbles. Meliodas' heart nearly burst with relief from his words. Wrapping his arm around his brother in a half hug. "Yeah I would like that."

By now the sun was beginning to set over the kingdom. Singling it was time to return to the Boar Hat for the celebration. Now they were not only celebrating the start of Meliodas and Zeldris' new lives with their lovers, but also the start of their new lives with their rekindled friendship.

Arriving back at the tavern just as the others were arriving, the festivities began immediately. No more suppressed bitter sweet feelings, no more lingering fear of having to live in regret. Only hope for the future that they will face together, as brothers.