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The mage lifter her hand, speaking unfamiliar words, and the image broke. It didn’t happen gradually. It wasn’t a fog clearing. It was a mirror shattering. Like someone pulling the curtain, finally revealing what was behind all along.
What had always been there.
King pressed Chastiefol closer to his chest, staring up at the sky. His brow pulled together as the memory played in his mind.
Meliodas didn’t move as his appearance changed. As his façade fell. Black dragon-like wings, horns, a mark of darkness. True demonic features.
King sighed, slumping over Chastiefol. It wasn’t like it was really a surprise. Sure, King had been shocked – he’d never seen Meliodas' demon form before – but he can’t say he was surprised. Of course, he hadn’t known Meliodas was a demon. Though he had suspected it. There were some things about Meliodas that didn’t make sense. Now they did.
“You’re upset.”
King buried his face in Chastiefol at the sudden voice.
“I’m not really in the mood to talk, Gowther.”
The Sin of Lust didn’t listen. He simply sat down beside him. King glanced at him, watching him look up at the same sky King had just been glaring at. They sat like that for a few minutes before King’s frustration got the better of him.
“You’re not going to say anything?”
“You said you didn’t want to talk,” Gowther pointed out, turning to face him.
“I don’t,” King grit out. “So you’re just going to say I’m upset and then not talk?”
“It was an observation. We don’t have to talk about it.” Gowther tilted his head, thinking for a moment. King knew he wasn’t going to like what he said next. “But talking about it can help.”
Yep, not liking it. He almost wished Gowther hadn’t regained his memories and emotions, just so he’d leave him alone. Then again, he probably wouldn’t have anyway.
King sighed, “Of course I’m upset. I don’t know how you’re not.”
He might have suspected it, but it didn’t mean he wanted it proven that not only was his captain a demon, but he’d hidden it from them for years.
“Why would I be upset?”
“Why wouldn’t you be?!” King exclaimed, feeling his frustration rise yet again. “How can you act as if nothing’s changed. He’s been lying to us!”
“The captain has never said he wasn’t a demon,” Gowther reminded. And, yeah, he had a point.
“Wait a second.” Another thought suddenly hit King. He regarded Gowther for a moment. Gowther, another sin from the Demon Realm.
“You knew, didn’t you?” King finally asked. His shoulders slumped as Gowther looked at him confused. King clarified, "That Meliodas is a demon. You’ve known all along, haven’t you?”
“Of course I know,” Gowther acknowledged. “The original Gowther was Captain’s close friend.”
“Right…”
“But nothing has changed,” Gowther continued. He shifted slightly so he could look back down the hill they were sitting on. Reluctantly King did the same. He followed Gowther’s gaze, watching the same scene he did, wondering how they could see so different things.
The scene itself wasn’t anything new. A tale as old as their group. The rest of the sins, gathered together, talking, drinking, enjoying each other’s company. Meliodas and Ban looked like they were caught up in another ridiculous game. Ban had his arm casually thrown over Meliodas shoulders.
Nothing new, but at the same time, completely new. With only the sins around, Meliodas hadn’t bothered concealing his demonic features again. When King watched them all he really saw was the horn that Ban playfully tugged in his drunken stupor, and they way Meliodas’ wings unfolded for a split second to keep him from falling over.
“How can you say that?” King asked, looking back at Gowther. “That nothing has changed?”
Gowther seemed to think his words over before he answered, “When you say nothing, you refer strictly to the captain, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then nothing has changed,” Gowther stated simply, causing King to let out a frustrated sound. Gowther turned towards, his gaze serious as he met King’s.
“The captain hasn’t changed,” he repeated. “He has always been a demon. The only thing that has changed is your knowledge and perception of him.”
King glanced back at the others. Meliodas shoved Ban off him with a punch, in the same way he always did. The same spark in his eyes, the same laugh on his lips.
“Maybe I’m the one who’s changed,” King mumbled as Gowther stood up beside him. The doll paused for a moment.
“You know, you’re not the only one who is upset tonight. The captain is just better at hiding it. Perhaps the reason he hasn’t been honest about himself is because he’s been afraid of how you’d react.”
King looked down at his hands, fiddling with Chastiefol.
“But talking about it helps?” he commented, reusing Gowther’s earlier words.
“It can.”
“Yeah…” King looked down at Meliodas once more. “Maybe you’re right.”