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"Are you sure you can't come with me?"
Noelle sighs dramatically and rolls her eyes. She turns to face her boyfriend who is watching her with a pout on his face and the biggest puppy dog eyes she had ever seen.
No, she will not allow the kicked puppy act to win her over this time.
"For the hundredth time Asta no, I need to stay in Clover to help with repairs," she tells him again, "besides that I wasn't invited, it would be rude of me to tag along."
Asta has been requested to return to the Land of The Sun with Captain Yami in order to get some political affairs in order. With their help they should be able to officially gain an alliance between Clover and Sun.
Only problem is that the trip is going to last for one week and Asta doesn't appear to like the idea of leaving Noelle behind very much.
"But Ryuya won't mind I promise," Asta's eyes are the size of dinner plates, she has no idea how he can manage to perfectly imitate the pleading gaze of a lost kitten, "please Noelle come with me."
Okay the eyes do make her heart pang but she has to be strong.
"No," she squeezes his cheeks, "we both have our own responsibilities now Asta, we have to accept that sometimes we won't always be together."
Saying that out loud makes her stomach twist at the memories of the last time they were forced apart, which was also the last time Asta had been to Hino.
She shakes her head.
This time is different.
This time they're in control.
Asta looks down at the ground sadly and chews at his lip.
"Come on stop that," Noelle lessens her grip on his face and watches him fondly.
"Stop what?"
"Looking so sad."
Asta hunches his shoulders and looks up at her with big eyes once more.
"But I'm going to miss you."
"And stop being so cute!" Noelle squishes his cheeks again, making Asta laugh fondly.
The anti-mage leans back to look at her and she catches genuine sadness in his eyes for a brief moment before he quickly covers it up with his usual bravado.
"What's wrong?"
"I told you I'm going to miss you."
"Asta," Noelle says firmly, "What's really going on?"
The boy makes a face before groaning and flopping down onto their shared bed.
Noelle is silent for a moment, coming to sit beside him and watch him in curiosity and concern.
"I don't want to go."
Noelle frowns, finding herself to be a bit surprised by her partner's words.
"What? I thought you liked the land of the Sun? You said it was beautiful."
"It is," Asta casts her a nervous glare, "and I do but…I don't know I just don't want to leave Clover again…not yet at least."
Noelle brings herself down to lie beside, Asta turning his gaze away from her.
"Why not?"
…
"I guess I was more homesick than I had realized," he starts nervously, "I feel like I just got back, I don't want to leave again so soon."
"You weren't gone that long," Noelle reminds.
"Yeah but it felt like it was ages."
She frowns, sliding her hand across the bedsheet until it reaches his hand and she carefully intertwines their fingers.
"I know."
"It was so stressful," Asta grits his teeth, "I had no idea what was going on at home, no way to tell you guys I was okay, and when I got back I saw everyone like that."
"I know," she says again, squeezing his hand tightly, "it definitely wasn't fun for anyone."
"But you know," she tugs his hand and makes him look at her, "this is going to be a lot different…it doesn't have to be stressful."
Asta scowls like he doesn't believe her.
"It will be fine."
"What if things go wrong while I'm gone? What if you or Yuno, or somebody gets hurt-"
"None of that is going to happen love," she turns onto her side and smiles gently at him, "the danger is gone, everyone is going to be just fine."
"I still don't want to leave…I want to stay here with you."
"I'll be waiting for you when you get back."
Asta looks up at her and Noelle has to stop the laugh that tries to crawl out her throat at the sight of him because he truly does look like a kicked puppy.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
xXx
"You are one lovesick little puppy kid"
Asta looks over his shoulder to find Yami stepping out of the home they've been sharing in Hino.
It's night and his Captain had just caught him staring longingly at the stars.
"I can't help it," Asta whines, "Noelle and I just got together, it's not fair that we have to be apart so soon."
"Distance is par for the course in most relationships kiddo," Yami kneels beside him and ruffles his hair, "there's always gonna be times where you have to be apart."
"But why now?" Asta grumbles, "it doesn't seem fair."
Yami shrugs and lights a cigarette.
"Life's a bitch that way."
…
"Did you ever get homesick?" Asta asks curiously, "it must have been hard to be away for so long."
Yami just gives him a shrug and slams his lighter closed.
…
"I'm sorry Captain."
Yami scoffs, "for what?" He looks at Asta genuinely confused.
"It just must have been hard…I was gone for only a couple of days and…I was so sad…" he looks at the dark mage with round eyes, "and you were gone for such a long time and-"
A calloused hand plants itself on his head and cuts him off before he can go any further.
"It might have been tough but in the end everything worked out," Yami smiles fondly, "if I hadn't left home then I never would have met you lot now would I have?"
Asta laughs as the mage ruffles his hair.
"I am grateful I got to meet you," Asta grins, "you and the rest of the Bulls are my family after all!"
"Yeah me too kid," Yami suddenly has a mischievous look on his face, "so when you gonna man up and pop the question?"
"Pop the- oh you mean marriage?"
Yami laughs, "figured you of all people would know what I meant."
Asta feels his face heat up and he rubs at the back of his neck awkwardly, "come on sir me and Noelle just started dating don't you think it's a bit soon?"
Yami raises an eyebrow in disbelief and looks at Asta like he doesn't even know him.
Asta waves his hands around in a panic, "it's not like I don't want to marry Noelle, of course I do, but I don't want to scare her off and like well…look what happened the last time I asked a girl to marry."
Yami bellows a laugh, the noise echoing through the night.
"You never cease to make me laugh, kid."
"Glad you find it funny," Asta rolls his eyes, "I could ask you the same thing you know, when are you gonna propose to Miss Charlotte?"
"Who says we're even together?"
"Well, are you?"
"None of your business, kid."
"And me and Noelle's marital status is any of yours?!"
"I was just messing with you Asta," Yami smiles fondly at him, "it's good that you're taking this slow, you're both still young, just enjoy being together as you are now."
Asta can't help but return the Captain's smile.
"Thank you sir."
"And Asta?"
"You got real lucky with this one so don't mess it up."
"Same to you sir."
…
Asta laughs in a panic as he scrambles to his feet and runs, Yami chasing after him all the while and shouting profanities at him.
He might be homesick but things will be okay.
He'll be with Noelle again before he even knows it.
xXx
"Noelle!"
The water mage is practically barreled over by the overzealous Asta.
The boy is grinning ear to ear, clutching onto her in a tight embrace and all but weeping for joy.
"I missed you so much!" He cries as he presses his cheek against hers.
She can't help but chuckle, "you were only gone for a week dear."
"And it was the longest week of my life!"
She laughs again, pulling away from his embrace to look at him fondly.
"I missed you too."
Asta's heart swells at her words and he feels his stomach flip excitedly.
"I love you so much Noelle!"
"Keep your voice down," Noelle hushes, "everyone is staring."
"Let them stare, I don't care," he presses a kiss to her cheek, "I just really, really love you!"
"I love you too," she smiles, her face turning red, "now come on let's get you home."
Noelle gently intertwines their fingers and begins to pull him along.
"I want to hear all about your trip," she tells him with that smile still present on her face, "don't leave a single thing out."
"Only if you promise to tell me everything you've been up to while I was gone."
"Alright sounds fair."
"It's a deal then!"
"Deal."
Asta laughs loudly and tugs her close to his side.
"I really did miss you."
Noelle rests her head on his shoulder.
"I missed you too."
The homesick feeling in his gut is gone.
Because now that he's with her…
He's home.