The two of them tumbled into his quarters, arms tangled up between them. It was late, and they were giddy for an unknown reason. It was strange, his face hot like he was perhaps a bit tipsy, but he was as sober as a stone. Somehow Ban’s face was flushed like he was definitely drunk, as well. Neither of them had had anything to drink that night, surprising Meliodas. Ban never turns down alcohol, but anytime throughout their night out that he had asked why, Ban would just grin, his sharp teeth glinting in the low light of the tavern they had been chatting in. And then Meliodas would let it go because Ban was infuriatingly handsome and it was incredibly distracting otherwise.

There has been a weird tension between them lately, Meliodas mused as Ban lumbered over to his kitchen table, relaxing into the chair. The tension was most notable tonight. The whole night at the tavern, even as they were eating, Ban’s hands never strayed far from him, kind of holding him. It was hard to keep his composure for so long, yet still, here Ban was lounging at his table.

Meliodas walked behind Ban, intending to tell him to get out. However, Ban’s eyes that were so locked onto him, had an indecipherable emotion in them. They raked over his face, stopping a moment on his lips before following the line of his neck further and further down. Meliodas flushed a bit more, wondering how far down he was looking.

But that line of thought ended quickly, with Ban leaning back against the table, legs slightly spread. It was so cliche, but Meliodas’ mouth went dry as his own eyes wandered down, tracing the shape of Ban’s body. Not that it was hard, with how tight his clothes were.

Suddenly, Meliodas realized he was very obviously checking out his (objectively hot) best friend and his eyes snapped back up to meet his gaze. Ban was smirking now, very smugly if he might add, and Meliodas wanted to crawl into a hole forever. Or maybe burn Liones down and kill Ban.

Meliodas didn't get to decide which one of those lovely options he wanted to pick from because very slowly, Ban had risen from the stool and moved towards him. His hearts pounded in his chest like a war drum, as Ban manoeuvred him more towards the table, back to the moonlight and almost standing over the stool.

It was thanks to his sharp and calculative mind, Meliodas very quickly realized where Ban wanted this night to go. Where they both wanted it to go.

“Hey.” Ban’s voice was hushed, like he was trying to test the waters of whatever this was. His eyes were sharp however, no doubt scanning his face for an unspoken no.

”Hey.” Meliodas responded in kind, as prickles of self doubt started to take a stab at the hellfire burning under his skin. Ban’s face softened, like he knew the cold water realization was making its way through him and Meliodas realized too late that he must’ve pulled some kind of expression.

This was getting ahead of him, losing control of this chaotic night. If he didn’t do something now, he’d end up ruining the one good friendship he’s ever had. He started to push out from where Ban hadn’t quite cornered him, hands against his wonderful chest, when Ban’s hands covered his flushed cheeks, the difference in temperature enough to startle him.

The rays of moonlight hit the side of Ban’s face, illuminating him in an unworldly glow. The feeling of a deep deep sin had burrowed in his soul, worse than anything he’s ever felt. Ban looked down upon him, his face cradled between his palms forcing his gaze upwards. That was the only forceful thing about him in that moment, his soft sharp angles more attractive and gentle than anything he’s ever seen.

These thoughts were more emotional and loving than he could handle without making a joke at their expense. He needed to diffuse this tension. But he was too awestruck, reverent. The joke he had almost said died on his tongue like a poison, and he wanted Ban to cleanse him of it.

Normally, their relationship was naught more than best friends, a deep conversation illuminated by a fire’s glow scattered in between their frequent spars and missions. and perhaps the odd time where Ban was like this, holding him like he was precious, looking at Meliodas like he was Ban’s new religion and he was the God, not a demon. It was these times, his eyes shining like rubies, that Meliodas felt seen, so deeply seen that perhaps Ban was the only one in the whole world that truly understood him. He finally relaxed into the feelings that overtook him.

His dark room left shadows caressing the planes of Ban’s face, and Meliodas was not entirely convinced it wasn’t his own magic’s deep need to curl around him, to be inside his frame and grow within the marrow of his bones. His need to claim what he loved as his.

This waxing poetry pushed against his lips as his breath ghosted past them. Ban’s eyes locked upon his and Meliodas leaned into the heaven that was the steadfastness of Ban’s chest, intoxicated by this tension between them.

Meliodas’ hands uncharacteristically shook as he reverently traced the line of Ban’s open shirt, clasping his hands behind his neck. Ban had frozen underneath his wandering hands until Meliodas leaned into his palms, eyes fluttering closed.

Ban shifted closer, and Meliodas opened his eyes once again, leaning into Ban’s left hand more. His hair fell in front of his eyes, and Ban’s right hand tucked it behind his ear.

“Like gold.” Ban murmured and Meliodas felt a pulsing need rush through him, as well as whiplash at his ever changing feelings.

Meliodas strained, pulling himself taller to breathe Ban’s air, to be closer. Ban leaned down a small amount and closed the distance. For a moment again, he felt undeserving of this, nervousness gripping at his hearts, but as their lips brushed, well, he felt naught but Ban’s mouth upon his.

It was so gentle, so soft and loving, that it made Meliodas melt underneath him, but it wasn’t enough.

A ferociousness surged up deep within his chest as inhumane noises rose unbidden from his throat. He was desperate as the dam broke and he poured his feelings into the grip of his nails as the base of Ban’s neck and the press of their lips. Ban immediately rose to the unspoken challenge, kissing him like he truly meant to eat his face.

He wanted to bite Ban, Meliodas very quickly realized into these kisses, he wanted to bite him so badly his teeth hurt. He realized just as quickly he could not truly bite Ban, demonic teeth and all. As quickly as the pure want that flowed in his veins had arrived, a new horrible emotion arrived.

Guilt.

Ban didn’t even know he was a Demon.

Meliodas pushed Ban away, rather aggressively he might add, regret feeling like cold water down his back. Ban made a confused sound as Meliodas slipped under his arm and towards the kitchen before he processed what Meliodas just did. As he stood there, feeling still the liquid heat running through his veins, he knew that trying to compose himself would be next to impossible, and as much as he would like to think so, he was not known for beating the impossible.

“Meliodas?” Ban’s hurt bled into his tone, even as he tried to keep it out. Meliodas stood with his back turned, so Ban couldn’t see his still flushed face.

Unfortunately, even with the mood as dead as a decomposed carcass, at least one of his hearts skipped a beat at Ban’s use of his first name. Like he was some lovesick maiden, and as lovesick as he was, he was certainly no maiden. That meant he could do this. He was no amateur.

“We…” Meliodas started, first cringing at his voice, then swallowing around his dry throat, “We shouldn’t do this.”

The silence that followed was so silent, Meliodas could see Ban’s frown in his mind's eye.

“Why not?”

Meliodas swallowed again, realizing that maybe he had a nervous tic, and searched his mind for a reason that wasn’t ’Hey, I’m a Demon and you probably wouldn’t want to kiss me after you find out’. However, much to his dismay, he did not have one on hand and this time honesty was not the best policy. It was, frankly, never his policy.

Honesty would blow this friendship, or maybe not friendship, to pieces.

He also knew, in the forefront of his mind, that if he said any other reason Ban would refute it, and his lies would end up exposed anyway.

Meliodas turned around to face Ban. He was hoping to play it off as a joke but he…he couldn’t. Not when Ban was looking at him like that, like he deserved anything he wanted and not the worst the world could offer. Meliodas has rarely let himself feel this week, only in those moments just before the cycle repeats does he release the tail from his mouth, that he allows this… vulnerability.

He’s developing whip lash from the progression of the night, yet…

Guilt curled in his chest, crawling up his throat, choking him like a hand that feeds. He wanted to bite that too. Maybe more than he wanted to bite Ban.

That horrible inhuman demonic urge came unbidden again, like all his urges that he ignored. The carnivorous, violent urges to rip Ban apart or fuck him till he dropped.

Perhaps some nails have been loose in his brain because even as a Demon, it’s not normal to equate beating someone up and wanting to be underneath them as both pleasurable. Meliodas grit his teeth against the thoughts swirling inside his mind.

Ban’s eyes searched his face and Meliodas did know what he’d find. Normally he kept a great poker face but he felt so exposed and he could not hide any longer.

He did not deserve to cower any longer. Ban deserved to know.

“I’m from the Demon Clan.” Meliodas blurted it out before he could stop himself and it came out in one swooping breath. “My father is the Demon King and I was a member of the Ten Commandments.”

He paused for a moment before adding, “If you know what the Commandments are. It’s certainly been a while.”

Meliodas didn’t dare look up. Ban definitely had no idea who the Commandments were. He half expected Ban to start laughing, Demons were naught more than a fairytale now.

Instead he heard Ban’s sharp intake of breath.

“You’re a Demon?” His disbelief cut through Meliodas’ skin, usually so thick. Hellblaze hugged to Ban tighter now but Meliodas still didn’t look up. He let his silence give Ban his ascent.

Ban ran an almost shaking hand through his hair, tugging lightly at the roots. His voice quivered with unnamed emotions.

“How?”

It was an impossible question for Meliodas to answer. He’s already said far far too much.

“I understand if you don’t want to continue whatever that was or even our friendship.” Voice cold and detached, too much like his old self. “But you-“ Ban cut him off.

“Are you hard of hearing too? I asked how, Meliodas.” His tone was severe, enough to make Meliodas fall silent, his name said so differently from mere minutes ago.. “How the fuck are you a Demon?”

Meliodas stayed silent, eyes trained on the ground like he was hunting it.

“Oh. So now you’re doing the silent and blank stare shit again.” Ban muttered. “Great, this is just fucking great. Just my luck too.”

“Sorry.” After an apology, something that does not often grace his lips like he was still the arrogant prince he once was, Meliodas made his way to push past Ban to leave.

Yeah, sure, these are his quarters and Ban should be the one leaving, that’s how that goes, but Meliodas has a sinking feeling Ban would want to stay to talk or argue and he just couldn’t. He didn’t have that in him tonight. He never would, if he would be honest for once.

He just ruined another one of the best things to happen to him, by way of his Godsdamned heritage, yet again and he just needed to find somewhere to cry. Alone. He was better off that way anyway.

Ban stopped him, reaching out as Meliodas brushed past. The Human gripped his upper arm, right over the ouroboros. It gave him another huge reason to leave, a very sobering reminder.

“You’re not dumping this one on me and leaving.” Ban hissed, and even as inept as Meliodas was with this sort of thing, he could tell he was beyond angry. “Answer me, Godsdammit! How are you a Demon?”

Meliodas felt his own stroke of anger too, the unfairness of everything hitting him like an Ark.

“Well, when a mommy Demon and a daddy Demon love each other-“ Meliodas snarked, feeling trapped in his own quarters and knowing that it wasn’t true for him.

“Not like that. You know what I mean”

“Maybe I don’t.”

Ban laughed at that, a humourless sound that pierced him deeper than it should.

“Gods, you’re such an asshole.” Ban said dryly.

“Comes with the territory.” Meliodas shot back.

“Yeah? Well you’re also an idiot.” Meliodas opened his mouth to protest, but Ban beat him to it. “And we’re talking about that once I’m done here.”

Now confusion joined the party in Meliodas’ head. He tilted his head to the side as Ban looked like he was stalling something. Meliodas pulled at Ban’s grip on his arm halfheartedly.

“Done what, exactly?” Meliodas asked slowly, feeling very stupid and new. Ban’s hand, the one not on his arm, came up beneath his chin tilting his face towards him.

He didn’t get a verbal answer, just a chaste kiss. In hindsight, Meliodas will realize that it was very obvious that was coming, however, at the moment he was very much distracted by Ban crowding him against a wall. He could deal with his own snarky comments later.

The thought of ‘oh that’s what he meant’ echoed in his head as Ban pressed up against him again, letting go of his chin in favour of grabbing the hair at the base of his skull. The kiss was deepening, and Meliodas was drowning again.

Embarrassingly enough, Meliodas whimpered just a bit at that, the way Ban tugged at his hair, holding him there. Not that he’d ever admit to it vocally. It was quickly swallowed up by Ban’s mouth anyway, so no harm no foul.

He all but dragged Meliodas towards his table, positioning him in the place he was in before. Reverent touches that Meliodas didn’t deserve from gentle firm hands held him by the waist. Lightning skittered up his spine as his back hit the edge of the tabletop, one of Ban’s hands sliding from his waist to hold himself up.

They finally broke apart, with Ban whispering soft kisses to his lips as Meliodas heaved in heavy breaths. Then, Ban started down his neck, moving his shirt collar away and fiddling with his lower buttons. He sucked marks into his neck, at the juncture where his shoulder peaked through the shirt collar.

Murmuring his name like a prayer against his skin, Ban held him there, against him, as Meliodas held him closer like it would bring rapture.

Ban pulled away for a moment, lips skittering together as their eyes locked. Tension snapped like a whip between as he gazed at Meliodas’ face with what Meliodas could only assume was lust.

“Can I…” Ban’s voice was tougher than usual as he trailed and fiddled with the hem of Meliodas’ pants. His hand travelled lower, pressing against him through his pants. “Please, Meliodas, I need you.”

Ban sounded desperate and wrecked in a way that made Meliodas feel powerful. He didn’t even have to think about it, he wanted him inside him more than anything else in the world. He felt himself getting hot between the legs at the thought.

Ban fell to his knees before him, like pupil to pulpit, Meliodas bracing himself against a table. With a care Meliodas could not understand, Ban pulled one shaky leg over his left shoulder, the one with the scar. Satisfaction rose up in Meliodas’ chest at his mark on Ban for all to see. Not that anyone else needed to know that primal urge.

"What-" He cut himself with a sharp gasp as Ban pressed his fingers against him through his pants. He was some sort of pent up because that pressure was so close to over the edge he felt like crying.

"What is the goal here?" He tried again, the last word coming out louder than the rest. He damn near squeaked like some demonic mouse, mortifyingly enough. Ban hummed against his inner thigh, too close yet so far from where Meliodas desperately needed him.

"You said your father was a God right?" He undid Meliodas' pants "The Demon King right? Is he the one with that cult for him? Am I getting that right?"

Ban pulled Meliodas' pants down past his knees and kissed his other thigh, as Meliodas mumbled out a ‘yea that's the one’. Arguably the Supreme Deity also has a cult but Meliodas felt now was not the time to argue semantics. More like what on this cursed plane of existence did his Father have to do with his sex life?

Meliodas groaned, and figuring there was no harm in asking, took the so-called jump. "What does that have to do with-" He stopped for a deep breath, "with this!?" He bit back another whine as Ban’s breath fanned over the overheated area, Meliodas’ breath now coming out in pants. His knees felt unstable and he was gripping the table like he was falling off a cliff and maybe, in a sense, he was.

Ban huffed a laugh, still not removing his head from in between Meliodas' thighs, quivering with the effort of not squashing Ban’s head like a pumpkin. His magic was swirling around on Ban’s waist, just below his hemline, tracing his fox tattoo.

"What? Demon prince and older than I can think of, and you don't know why I'm doing this? Haven’t you been around an awful long time?”

"Well. I know what you’re doing, but why-" He was cut off by himself again. This time the moan slipped out, as Ban licked a long stripe across him, with just enough pressure. Meliodas felt that Demonic need rise up in him again and he’s never wanted anything more than he did in that moment.

“Asshole" he grumbled trying to hide how much he needed it, but Ban just laughed brightly, like this is exactly what he wanted to be doing. It was definitely what Meliodas wanted him to be doing. He wanted Ban to be doing more.

Ban’s grin then turned wolfish, like he knew exactly what Meliodas was thinking.

"I'll tell you why I’m doing this…” Ban paused, mischievous in a league of his own, it seemed. “I'm creating a new religion. Something just for me to follow."

Ban said it like he was some sort of genius for this, like he hadn’t just pulled Meliodas’ hearts out of his chest. His brain went miraculously silent. Honestly, it took the cake for the strangest thing he’d ever heard.

"You're what?" The words came out quicker than he’d realized, disbelieving then softer. “For me…?”

It was weirdly vulnerable, with Ban looking up at him from his vantage point of the apex of Meliodas’ thighs and Meliodas’ shaky hands. Shaky hands that flew to Ban’s hair tugging at it as Ban pressed his tongue against him again, deeper yet, breaching him, crucifying him. It was an out of body experience, beyond the realm of what he thought he was getting tonight.

Beyond the realm of what he deserved from someone like Ban. He was a mess, almost on the verge of tears, his magic wrapping Ban in a blanket, still horny beyond belief. Yet Ban seemed to take this all in stride, like he wanted Meliodas to stay, like he wanted him in that same bone deep way.

"I'm gonna worship the shit out of you meliodas." Ban spoke again, voice almost reverent, against his overheated skin. “Till you believe you deserve it.”

“Black flames, huh?”

Meliodas glanced over his shoulder and gave a hum of acknowledgement. He was not fully giving his attention to Ban yet, letting the words go in one ear and out the next. Administrative work has kept him occupied the whole day, courtesy of being the captain of the Seven Deadly Sins. And, regardless, he didn’t really have the time to get tangled up in Ban’s newest scheme.

That didn’t matter anyhow. Ban managed to always distract Meliodas anyway.

“Huh, Capt’n?” Ban leaned over his shoulder, somewhat caging him in. Meliodas sighed, relenting under absolutely zero pressure and somewhat relaxing into Ban, embarrassingly. His head stayed facing downward, still trying to focus on what he was doing before.

“What do you want Ban?” Meliodas was still not quite interested in whatever Ban had to say this time and barely noticed, nor paid attention to, the mood in the room. Severely misreading the situation led Meliodas to be flippant in his tone, careless in a way that had obviously irked Ban further. Like a string pulled taunt and as angry as he was, Ban was tense enough to snap.

“Black. Flames.” Ban enunciated each word, like he was trying to get Meliodas to understand something he wasn’t getting, forcing him to pay attention. His voice was hard as stone, a barrier growing between them with every passing second, like a chasm he could never close. “Did you not hear me the first time?”

Meliodas froze as he finally noticed. Ban’s musical lilt to his voice, his easy going questioning was nowhere to be found in this space, replaced by something more aggressive. Briefly, he wondered if he’d walked in mad and Meliodas just hadn’t noticed. Ban was stiff, strung tight with the tension between them, tension that Meliodas was not fully comprehending.

This anger was an old one, a wound that was unwilling to close. That was unfamiliar in this setting, any arguments they had were usually settled within the day. None such arguments took place today and Meliodas hadn’t even seen him all day till he’d caged him in.

This couldn’t end well, in a historical sense.

“And what about them?” Meliodas tried to keep the same indifference, his tone stable and monotone but … this really can’t be good. He’s been so careful, for the most part and in his own way, but he’d taken the minimal knowledge into account, never showing his true nature or face. It’s not like the Humans he interacted with on a day to day basis had any real knowledge of the Demon Clan, or so he’d always hope.

“You have them, yeah? You use that magic.” Ban said this with that same tone, so matter-of-fact and furious. There was a stutter in one of Meliodas’ hearts, and he’d hoped there’s no way-

“You cut my face with those flames.” Ban pressed it again, trying to get a response from him.

“I …did.” Meliodas was frozen, glued to the spot where he stood like a statue. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been found out like this, when someone had put together the scattered evidence so carefully as to unravel his largest secret.

“That’s Demon magic.”

Ah.

That right there was Meliodas’ fatal mistake. Ban knew about Hellfire. Ban had fought a Demon before, had killed one, so he’d heard, and he’d seen that magic before Meliodas-

“I’m aware.” He willed his voice to remain steady, awaiting Ban’s next query, but kept his response simple. He was still trying to keep the longevity of the secret that could ruin what life he had here in Liones.

But all he got back was silence that lasted a beat too long for him, and he could feel the intensity of Ban’s permeable emotions. Tremors ran through Ban, his arms shaking in an uncharacteristic way, like it required a great deal of effort to maintain this position.

“Meliodas. Why do you use Demon magic.” Ban’s voice was all desperate pleading and anger at the same time.

He returned the heavy silence back twicefold, staying absolutely board stiff, his gaze locked firmly on the stone wall in front of him. The way Ban had once whispered his name with such delicate admiration contrasted heavily with this.

“You…” Ban slammed his hand against the wall beside the desk, the thud striking Meliodas to his core. He really really screwed this up, the dreadful thought possessed him as Ban lost what little cool he had. “You can’t even answer me! You know…your silence is a yes, Meliodas.”

And, Meliodas knew that of course.

Which is why he stayed silent while Ban glared holes into him as he remained completely still while feeling, for once in his life, very much like the prey. It’s why he remained facing away from what he was sure to be pure anger in Ban’s eyes, clenching his fists against the wood of the table, his nails digging rivets into the grains.

But Ban had stopped himself, silencing the emotion that was bleeding into his tone, the unsaid feelings begging to be heard. Like always, Meliodas did not initiate further conversation, or argument about feelings and secrets. He knew he couldn’t even if he wanted to, and Gods did he want to, he always wanted to. For every lie and untouched past that was uncovered from the shadow, Meliodas had more waiting in the wings, each one more inconceivable than the last. Each one exposing the dirt he’d been keeping on himself for thousands of years.

Well.

It’s not like he could change this future anyway. Ban already figured him out, had confronted him, and now all that was left was the exile. For Ban to turn his back on him like all the Human friends he’s had before, to leave him alone, to label him a liar and deceiver. He might as well actually say it, to ease the mind of someone he cared so deeply for.

“I don’t just use that magic, I am actually a Demon.” Meliodas kept it as plain as possible, leaving out all of the story. That didn’t matter right now nor did it lessen the blow. Ban sucked in a gasp at Meliodas’ blunt admission, the sound cracking into the air like a whip. Feeling like he has nothing else to lose in this, Meliodas continued on, “And it’s called Hellfire, our magic that is.”

Suddenly, there was no pressure on his back, no Ban breathing down his neck, just nothing. He heard heavy footfall, almost like Ban was purposely stomping his way to the room’s door. Meliodas finally turned his neck to slowly look at him as he left, the hollow feeling in chest creating violent surges of yearning.

He never even saw what expression Ban had on his face before he left. At that, Meliodas scoffed at himself. Like that mattered anyway, now or ever. The relationship he developed with Ban was good as dead now.