Ban lay in the ground, coughing up the remnants of blood in his esophagus. You had just stormed away, on the brink of tears, because of him. The words echoed in his brain, not showing any signs of ceasing, making themselves ever-present. Elizabeth stood, one of her hands outstretched in your direction. A frown graced her features, and worry was prominent in her eyes.

"... you aren't a burden..." she finished her shout in a whisper, knowing fully that even if she went after you and told you this, you would still feel horrible, and you probably wouldn't believe her. She could tell you thought she was afraid- the way horror struck your face when you saw hers made that too obvious. However, she wasn't. In her eyes, you were one of her best friends in the Sins, and to see you as emotionally unstable as you were really hurt her. Conflicted as she was, Elizabeth's Princess-sense (if you can call it that) was activating. She had to deal with the issues at hand and deal with other issues later. If, that is, she could refer to both you and Ban as issues.

She slid down the side of the crater, almost slipping, down to Ban, who was still laying in the dirt. He stared up at the sky, a nearly unreadable expression gracing his features, which only those who knew him very well recognized as him being conflicted. Very conflicted- and not often did he wear such an emotion. She rushed down to his side, laying one of her hands on his chest while the other stayed by her side.

She went easy on me. I can't fucking believe her.

"Sir Ban, are you okay?!"

She was pissed beyond belief, and she still didn't have the heart to hurt me to the best of her ability.

"Sir Ban!"

Funny thing is, I don't think she even realized she was holding back.

"Sir Ban, please answer me!"

"I'm fine," he finally responded, his voice gruff and upset as he shrugged her hand off and stood up. Elizabeth's eyebrows furrowed, and she quickly followed suit, rushing to follow behind the Fox Sin.

"But (y/n)!" She insisted, "She just attacked you with her full force!"

"No, she didn't," Ban huffed, beginning to trudge of the crater that was your arena. "Princess, she was holding back. A lot. You haven't seen (y/n) fight for real- I don't think you ever will. I don't think you'll ever see any of us fight for real."

"Holding... back..?" She asked, still following behind him. "But you didn't retaliate."

"Yeah."

"Why? It looked like she was hurting you," she pushed. Frankly, she was beginning to annoy Ban now. Well, not begin. Continuing to annoy him, but more than usual. So many thoughts and emotions were running through his head, his brain and body could hardly articulate one cohesive thought, much less express what he was feeling. He didn't want to deal with a pushy kid who wanted to play hero, not right now. He'd already had that kid- Katts, was his name?- who he tolerated, he must admit, asking him unendingly about the 'wonders of being one of the Eight Deadly Sins', and he didn't need some 16-year-old doing the same, but with his feelings.

"Look, Princess, I appreciate the concern and all, but you need to back off," Ban grumbled, glaring at the now grassy floor. They had finally exited the crater, making their way into the large clearing he and you had fought in. "(Y/N) has her reasons for shit, and I have mine. Not everyone is one of your subjects. We don't have to follow your orders."

Ban sped ahead of her, leaving her behind as he stormed to the bar. Gowther, Meliodas, and King stood by the patio, and Diane was sitting with her legs crossed, watching the Fox Sin curiously. Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise. It was abundantly clear to her now that Ban was extremely upset- but not at her. It was one of two things, the second being the most likely of the two.

First, he was mad at you. Maybe he really didn't think you were mature enough to go out into Belford on your own, and your childish rebelliousness to his words set him off.

Then, there was the second, which she favored. He was mad at himself. For what, she wasn't sure, but this was the more likely reality. Maybe he was mad because he allowed himself to get riled up and yell at you- or maybe he just felt bad. Then again, it could be something she knew nothing about- and probably never would know anything about. But, as she watched him storm up to the other Sins, she recognized the uncertainty and frustration that swam in schools within the crimson pools that were his eyes.

She had felt the same before- right when she was about to go off to find the Seven, or now Eight, Deadly Sins.

Ban trudged up to the Sins, a scowl etched permanently into his features. Meliodas raised an eyebrow at the sight, knowing what was happening, but confused as to why Ban would show his feelings so openly. King sighed, shaking his head as he sat upon the pillow, which doubled as his sacred treasure. Why can't he just admit that he likes her as much as she likes him? It's super obvious... King thought, watching the Fox Sin. Gowther was entirely indifferent, still processing the encounter. It made no sense to him, probably, he reasoned, because it was centered around emotions he wasn't around to see accumulate, nor did he understand what they were or how they worked. A true mystery, on his front. Diane was just overall confused- she was probably the only one in the group, save for Gowther, but he doesn't really count, who hadn't caught on to the upwards battle that was your and Ban's, if you hadn't already guessed, confusing-as-all-hell relationship. She was clueless, and truly thought that the two of you had gotten this mad over your maturity and how it affected your ability to do missions.

It was strange, really. She had always been one of your closest friends in the Sins, save for maybe King. But he was more like a brother, who you shipped insanely hard with the aforementioned giantess. Your OTP, followed close behind by Merlin and Escanor and, now, Elizabeth and Meliodas. You had secretly shipped yourself with Ban, but would never tell anyone that. Poor Gowther. Such a lonely doll.

"Hey Ban," Meliodas grinned, earning a glare from the Fox Sin. "Quite a fight you put up, there."

"As I recall, he allowed (y/n) to beat him senseless," Gowther interjected, addressing the captain, who sweatdropped. "Although it was interesting. She was only using a fraction of her power, yet, not observing from a technical point of view, it looked as though she was going all out. What a strange phenomenon... Please, Ban. I request that you explain the emotion behind your encounter to me."

"Buzz off, smartass," Ban growled, shifting his gaze to the magenta-haired Goat Sin.

"Interesting. You conveying anger in my direction, yet there was no instigation. The human heart is truly a a complex mechanism."

Meliodas swatted him across the head, causing it to cock to the side ever-so-slightly.

"Ow." Gowther spoke, his voice monotone and unwavering as he returned his head to its normal position.

"I think Gowthy over here needs to go in time out," Meliodas laughed, and Ban scowled further. The use of your stupid- extremely stupid- nickname for the Goat Sin made his heart throb uncontrollably. The thought of doing anything but comforting you and doing everything in his power to make you feel better made him sick to his stomach. He could only imagine that you were in some bar getting as drunk as you could, or, possibly, knowing you, sitting in a pastry shop eating your feelings away. Ban felt that was probably the more likely of the two.

"Inside," Ban grumbled, causing the Sins to look at him. "I'm going inside."

"Sir Ban, wa-" Elizabeth started, but she was cut off by Meliodas, who looked in her direction and shook his head. When the Fox Sin was inside, he spoke.

"It's probably best not to bother him."

"But he's obviously-!"

"Elizabeth, I know you want to help," the blonde man smiled gently at her, "But he's upset about stuff that's super out of our zone to deal with. Besides!" He dove onto her, a wide grin on his face as he hung on her from behind, his crotch pressed against her bosom and his hands fondling her beasts. She squealed, her face turning bright red. "You should hang out with me!"

"Captain!" Diane growled, her face turning pink as she held her fist threateningly. He laughed, releasing the girl, then took one final, worried glance in the direction of the bar, where Ban had trudged into yours and his shared room, falling into his bed and staring at the ceiling. His eyebrows were furrowed and his expression as frustrated and conflicted as ever. He growled to himself, clenching his fists tightly.

"What the fuck is wrong with me..?"

The Sins had stationed themselves in the main floor of the bar, an anxious cloud hanging over the room. Even Diane, who was outside, watching the still-bustling town of Belford, could fell the thick tension, so wishing she had a hypothetical knife that she could cut it with. Possibly eat it- she was hungry. Meliodas drummed his fingers against the wooden bar counter, eyeing the door, King, Ban, and Elizabeth doing the same.

It was now well into the evening, the sun having just fully set. You had left around four or five in the afternoon at the latest, which is a very generous estimate, by the way, and you still had yet to return. You were stubborn, that much was obvious, but you were very aware of your part in the Sins. You knew you had to return, and they knew you would.

Which is why they all grew more worried by the second- seeing as you hadn't come through the door.

"I should go out and look for her," King growled, causing everyone's gaze to shift to his, save for Ban's, whose eyes remained fixated on the door. "Something might've happened! This is the Black Pleasure District! She could've been kidnapped!"

"Do you really think (y/n) would allow herself to be kidnapped?" Elizabeth asked, her eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"Stop worrying so much!" Hawk huffed, chowing on some leftovers from the previous night. "She's one of the Sins, remember? Like hell she'd let any pig out there kidnap her."

"Which is why I'm worried!" King snarled back, "And why we should go look for her! If she's passes out in some bar, you can say 'I told you so', but if she's not, you'll have to thank me!"

"Look, King, Hawk's right. (Y/N)'s a Sin, she can handle herself," Meliodas sighed, looking at the boy.

"What if someone put a sleep enchantment on whatever she was drinking?! Or eating, knowing her..." He mumbled the last part, "Or if some Holy Knights took her by surprise and put her in that goddess-amber-thing they put you in at Vaizel?! Hm?! What're we supposed to do then? She's not as strong as you, captain, she can't break out of one of those things!"

Meliodas sighed, then turned his attention to the door again. He knew something was off, he wasn't that stupid, he just had to put trust in you. But it did lodge itself into his mind that you might truly be in trouble. His gaze then wandered over to Ban, who was eyeing the door with such malicious intent, that he thought it might explode at any moment from the sheer force of his gaze. A particularly fun idea crossed his mind in that moment, and he smiled his usual, cheeky smile.

"I agree, King!"

The boy looked taken aback. The captain had been pushing against his claim just moments ago, and now he wore a mischievous grin, and was agreeing. His eyes narrowed, knowing his superior had something in mind that wasn't favorable for at least one of the people in this room.

"Which is why Ban is going after her!" Meliodas grinned widely, King's eyes widening in tandem with the smile. Ban looked over at the blonde man, his features fixated in a permanent glare.

"No way, let Old Fart do it," he huffed, turning back to the door.

"King has stuff to do with Diane," Meliodas said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Then you do it."

"I'll be busy with Elizabeth," he purred, his voice suggestive as he wiggles his eyebrows at the girl, who chuckled nervously.

"Let her go."

"She'll probably get kidnapped or mistaken for a prostitute," The blonde huffed.

"How about Gowthy."

"There would be no benefit to me going," Gowther butted in, "Besides, allowing you to go would make it so that you and (y/n) can reestablish your emotional bond, which she greatly treasures."

Ban pursed his lips at the comment, and Meliodas knew in that moment that he finally got through. Well, Gowther did it for him, but he wasn't looking at the technicalities. Ban would give in, save her, and they would go off happily ever after with a rainbow of random, stolen stuff, booze, and pastries hovering above them. Beautiful.

"Fine," Ban huffed, "But only because I'm the only damn one here who'll do it."

With that he made his way out of the bar, and into the city. Meliodas and the other waited eagerly for the return of the two Sins, conversing about random topics to keep their minds off of the stress that your absence left. You were usually the calm wisecracker of the group, with nothing to fear or worry about. It was strange to not have you around to tease somebody or sing drunken songs, possibly ride on the back of King's Guardian.

Ban wandered through the city. The Main Streets were crowded, women who he found entirely unappealing constantly approaching him and complimenting his appearance, smirking as they told him the dirty things they would love to do in a bedroom with him. Most of the time her told them to fuck off, and when they were being especially pushy, he threatened to kill them. They all left with strong haste after he pulled out that one.

It annoyed, and worried, him every time he stepped into a bar or pastry shop and you weren't there, and when he had gone into every one he could find, he started to actually worry. He waved through the less crowded and sometimes empty streets, walking into every building, and when he didn't find you, walking into the next.

Finally, he was on the last street in the town, starting to lose all hope. You were gone, and it was because of him. It was all his fault. This is why he didn't want you going. It wasn't your maturity, or lack there of, it was his worry. He wanted to protect you. And now it was all thrown out the window because he had to open his stupid tra-

"GET AWAY FROM ME! BAN! KING! ANYBODY PLEASE HELP ME! HEL-mph!"

His head shot up at the shout, immediately recognizing the voice, but the fear and stress behind it surprising him, tugging at his heartstrings. His ears strained for any more sound, but none came. However, the shout was relatively close, and he had heard your voice get muffled afterward, very vaguely.

You were close.

Close.

He eyed every building, then spotted one three plots away from where he was standing. The thing that stood out to him was that there was a piece of singed clothing in front of the door, which was also partially charred.

"(Y/N)," he breathed, immediately beginning to run toward the entrance. He skid to a stop him front of it, nearly falling from the sudden stop at his monumental speed. He kicked down the door, and his eyes widened.

There you were...

And he was...

He was....

Ban growled at the sight before him, taking a step forward.

"What the hell is going on here?"

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