Broken

"B-Big brother.. I-I'm scared."

"Shh! They'll hear you, Zeldy."

"A-Are they gonna hurt us?"

"I won't let that happen. I promise, you're gonna be okay."

Meliodas held the small child in his lap as the thumping continued upstairs. Their mother and father had made this space for when the humans inevitably attacked, but the only problem was they had made it before the children were born. So when everything happened and the guards were at their door... there was only enough room for two.

The parents had rushed the children into the crawl space with as much food and water as they could fit before the guards broke down the door and entered the home.

Thankfully, the men hadn't seen the two shivering boys hiding below. However unfortunately, Meliodas- the elder of the two children- managed to get a glimpse of what was going on up there. And what he saw would stay with him for the rest of his life. Haunting his days, and filling his nightmares.

He looked up just in time to see the whispers exchanged between the guards as they glowered at his family on their knees. Before another hushed sentence was given that caused the guards to take everything from him.

Two swords drawn. Two lives ended.

Meliodas couldn't make a sound. Couldn't even move his body beyond the shaking it did beyond his control. All he could do was stay where he was with bated breath, and hope that this would be the only suffering he would experience for the night.

The next moments were spent in agony as he tried desperately to see all he could up above through the little cracks.

Was it only one minute or ten that passed by as he held his younger sibling tightly? Meliodas wasn't sure. But he did know that he could hear the men's footsteps growing dimmer as they slowly trickled back towards the door.

T-They're leaving! We're safe! Mother and father... saved us.

The thought was bittersweet as a pain filled Meliodas's heart. He was grateful, but also deeply saddened. Not just by his parents loss, but also by the knowledge that he would have to be the one to shield and eventually tell Zeldris what had happened. It would be his responsibility to tell his sweet little brother everything. All fell on his shoulders now.

Feeling tears fill his emerald eyes, Meliodas tried his best to keep them from being shed. After all, they'd land on Zeldris's little head and give away all without a single word. He had to be stronger than that.

So, with a little squeeze to the boy in his lap, the elder regained his fragile composure, and began observing once more to make sure the two boys were truly safe.

And was he glad he took another look...

There on the floor that separated the enemy from themselves was a little pink bunny worn from use.

It was Zeldris's favorite toy. As well as a dead giveaway that more were present.

Meliodas felt a knot press against his lungs that prevented breath from leaving him. As well as a shiver of cold terror as one of the soldiers in heavy silver armor stepped on the rabbit, and sealed their fate.

Demanding that the others do another sweep of the house, the shiny man was clearly seen to be the comander of the little group. And he himself began searching throughout the house with careful purpose. He took slow, heavy steps that thunked against the little crawl space. It was a sound Meliodas was sure he wouldn't forget. Nor the look in the man's golden eyes.