"Ashe, nicknamed Princess of the Shadows, your ex, grand bitch, Demon's hoe. All of them work, and I have one of those pesky goddesses to thank for the last two." I took a deep bow, my hood coming off as I raised my head, making direct eye contact with Meliodas, whose eyes widened slightly.
Finally.
_
He stared blankly for a moment, before grinning and giving me a wave. "Hey Ashe, long time no see!"
I couldn't help but feel disappointed by his reaction. I wasn't sure what I'd expected, but it definitely wasn't such a... casual reaction. But 3000 years was a long time, and people change as time passes, so it wasn't surprising that Meliodas had also changed.
Demon or not, he was still a living being and hence susceptible to change.
I stared into his emerald eyes, a blank expression appearing on my face, but I quickly forced a smile, not wanting to put too much thought on the fact that despite it having been thirty centuries, he didn't seem at all bothered by not having seen me throughout the lengthy period time.
Maybe I was overthinking things, or maybe he really hadn't thought of me at all.
Meliodas turned back to everyone else, but I noticed the way his eyes lingered on my chest before he did, causing me to slightly regret allowing Merlin to design my outfit: it was a black crop top that zipped up at the front and black shorts (both made out of a flexible material so it would be easier to fight in), while she'd told me to keep my wild hair out instead of putting it in a ponytail like I'd usually do.
When I'd allow it to freely cascade down my back in its choppy layers, I couldn't help but think of- and quite painfully miss- Derieri, who's hair was similar to mine.
Merlin asked the mage named Vivian where Elizabeth was and as the pitiful mage made her escape, Meliodas stopped anyone from going after her, stating that getting Elizabeth was far more important.
I couldn't stop the pang of pain I felt at his words. Nor could I understand how someone could be so dedicated to someone; to go as far as dealing with their death every couple of years just so they can see them again. Just so they can fall in love with them again. Over and over.
If that was love, what label could be given to what me and Meliodas had once shared, because I was once convinced that he truly was the love of my life.
With my thoughts wondering, I hadn't noticed when Merlin transported us to the palace, right outside the king's room.
"It appears to be my unworthy disciples handiwork." Merlin explained, referring to the barrier surrounding the king's room. Meliodas made his way forward, raising his sword and I had to stifle a harsh laugh as Merlin told him he wouldn't be able to break the barrier, and yet she managed to do so by simply opening the wooden door.
Despite some of our differences (and the fact that she'd literally handcuffed me with a really pretty bracelet), Merlin seriously amazed me.
Perfect Cube: A spell from the Demon world able to deflect any kind of power; I vaguely remembered Chandler the Pacifier Demon explaining it to me, as well as how to cancel it out, though I'd never quite managed to get the hang of it, and his constant praising of Meliodas didn't help either.
How had an amateur like Vivian managed to get her hands on this kind of spell?
"Mel-" I began, but was cut off as a head of mint ran into the demon's arms.
"It hasn't even been a day since we've been apart. But I've missed you so much, I couldn't stand it!" She exclaimed, as she nuzzled her face in Meliodas's neck. My nails made deep marks in my palms as I watched the scene before me.
Another Holy Knight, who was the second Grandmaster, appeared at the door by the name of Dreyfus. And apparently Hendrickson was dead? I wasn't too sure of that fact.
It seemed that I'd managed to space out as I stared at the gap between Elizabeth and Meliodas- the gap that was barely there- and had missed the moment when Dreyfus had admitted to his sins, only returning to reality when I heard the two words I didn't want to hear again.
"What do you mean Holy War?!" I exclaimed. "I've had enough of that k4to last me eternity."
"Huh? Who's this Sir Meliodas?" Miss Minty asked.
"Oh, that's one of my old friends, Ashe. Ashe, this is Elizabeth, Elizabeth, meet Ashe." He smiled.
"Friend is one way to put it Meliodas." I scoffed. "And I'm pretty sure you don't sleep with your friends." I muttered out the last part so only I'd hear it, but Meliodas seemed to have also heard it as I saw the faintest blush appear on his cheeks as he briefly made eye contact with.
Elizabeth stayed silent but I saw her look from me leaning against the doorway, to Meliodas next to her, as though trying to find and connect the missing dots.
The rest of the people seemed to have gotten sick of the suffocating silence, so I decided to break it them. "Please, Sir Dreyfus, continue with your remorseful retelling of your life's greatest regrets." I dramatically declared, causing the older man to slightly jump in his red armour as story time continued.
"I never thought that Hendrickson would be mad enough to plot the Demon Race's resurrection." That immediately caught my attention, as my first thoughts were Zeldris, Derieri and Galand. My three friends from the demon race who I truly treasured. Monspeet too, but I wanted no part in the love confusion between him, Derieri and Rajine.
The rest of the story was a blur to me as I anticipated the return of my real friends.
"I'd like to treat him in Camelot. Is that alright?" Merlin asked the two princesses.
Why did the king choose to lay on the floor when there was a bed right next to him?
"Are we going home?" I eagerly asked, all the questions I'd had for Meliodas no longer feeling important as the most relevant one had clearly been answered.
Merlin gave me side glance, a small smirk on her face, but didn't reply.
"I don't know what's going on, but looks like everything's settled." Meliodas cheerfully said.
Arthur, the precious person he was, took Meliodas's hand in his and spoke to him, his sweet words dramatic as he asked Meliodas for help.
"Sure thing." He replied, and my gaze travelled to where Elizabeth was as she gasped and her eyes widened. Tch.
"R-really? Then please come with me right-" I cut him off.
"Please don't." Pushing myself off the wall, I walked over to the pair, my boots almost inaudible against the wooden floor. "Arthur you have me and you have Merlin. I don't mean to sound arrogant but we're enough. And I'm sure Liones..." I glanced at Elizabeth, "...needs him more than Camelot does."
"Ashe has a point, I am needed here in Liones but if I'm ever in the mood, I'll be sure to come over to Camelot. Plus there's the Boar Hat which I need to attend to. But if I'm ever in the mood, I'll see you there" Meliodas nodded, the grin never leaving his face and I almost dug my nails back into my palm.
Merlin let out a laugh, looking at my fists which were tightly clenched at my sides and Arthur's face. "He got you good, eh?"
"Alright let's go!" I said, when Meliodas asked if Merlin would be re-joining the Sins. Merlin let out another laugh as she supported King Bartra and they disappeared with Arthur in a flash of gold, Merlin simply saying "If I'm ever in the mood."
She left me.
With him.
How could she?!
Taking a deep breath, I stopped Elizabeth from saying what she was about to say and grabbed Meliodas's arm dragging him with me back to the door.
Merlin must've had a reason to leave me behind, and it was probably exactly what I was about to do.
"But-" Elizabeth started.
"It's okay Elizabeth, Ashe tends to be quite demanding." Meliodas chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. "I'd know that." He whispered to himself as I waved a hand and we both disappeared, the last thing we saw being Elizabeth's blue eyes.
_
When we arrived, I intentionally let go of his arm, knowing that it had been a while since he'd teleported with me and wouldn't have remembered exactly how to safely land.
"I think I deserved that?" he wondered out loud.
"That and much more." I calmly said, as I sat on one of the large stones; I was sat higher than him as he crossed his legs on the floor and looked up at me and I couldn't help but feel powerful as I looked down at him.
"So... what did you wanna talk about?" He finally asked.
"You know at first I was exited to finally meet you again, then I was nervous. Then for some strange reason, I was scared. Scared of meeting you. Don't ask why, I wouldn't know the answer, but then I finally see you and all you say to me is 'hey'. Fucking 'hey'.
Even if it was someone you'd briefly met, I'm sure you would've said something more than 'hey', but we have history, Meliodas. Do you understand what I'm saying? I expected a little more from you." I ranted, but finally decided to allow him to speak.
"Well, I didn't know what else to say. When I saw you I felt all these weird things that I haven't felt in quite a while so I wasn't sure if I should say 'hey' or 'hello', so I went with 'hey', 'cause that's what most friends say to each other right?" he smiled.
"I-" He cut me off.
"And, I didn't know if I'd be able to fully speak to you without acknowledging everything that happened 3000 years ago.
During these years that I've been immortal, I had time to think of how badly I treated you without meaning to, I found new people despite you still being there and didn't hesitate to dedicate myself to them, because you meant so much to me that it hurt and I wanted you far away from the troubles that followed me around, while also wanting you by my side like you'd always been.
I was selfish and I didn't think about how it would feel for you to see me like that Because I know that I would've hated seeing you with someone else." He softly spoke, his mood completely changing to something more serious. Something more honest.
I had nothing to say as I took in his words, but as I was about to say something that I probably should've said 3000 years ago, a tremor shook the ground, causing me to fall off the rock I was sat on and land directly on top if Meliodas, our foreheads touching.
"We still need to finish this conversation, but first, lets go find out what's going on, okay?" he said to me, his bright eyes looking into mine.
His face looked exactly the same as it had all those centuries ago. His eyes shone just as bright.
The only thing I could say had really changed was his aura and the way he carried himself. It was still all similar to how he used to be but I could see the small changes.
I didn't say anything, only nodding as I thanked whatever caused that tremor for stopping me from saying what I definitely would've regretted.
Saying something which when replied to would undoubtedly break my heart beyond repair.
But regardless of the remaining unspoken words, I was glad. Glad that a part of him still cared. But was it selfish of me to want something more than care?
A/N: Chapter Two's done! Thanks for reading guys and please comment your thoughts, questions and opinions, I'd love to hear what you think.
I forgot to mention at the beginning that this contains spoilers so if you haven't watched as far as Ashe is thinking, I apologize for not adding a disclaimer for spoilers beforehand.
Anyways, it's currently 3am in London and I have a really bad headache so I'm sorry if its not properly edited- I'll definitely go through it in the morning.
Also, I've recently been watching a lot of romance anime's, so if you have any recommendations, please let me know!!
Jā na!