100 Prompt Challenge - Astelle

Prompt: An AU where it's Asta into Noelle, not the other way around. However like the Asta he is, he'd never shy away from expressing her feelings to her, and like the Noelle she was, the tsundere couldn't ever push him away. Asta slowly melts Noelle's cold heart.

—

The battlefield was where Noelle felt most comfortable.

The clash of magic, the hum of mana in her veins, the sharp focus of battle—that was what she understood. Emotions? Romance? Feelings? Those were a tangled mess she had no interest in unraveling.

And yet, there was one problem.

One Asta-shaped problem.

For as long as she had known him, Asta had been unwavering—relentless, even. He was loud, stubborn, and utterly incapable of subtlety. Whether it was training, missions, or proving himself as the future Wizard King, Asta gave everything his all.

Including the way he pursued her.

It had started small. A casual compliment here and there, an extra bit of attention that she had chalked up to simple camaraderie. But as time passed, it became harder to ignore. The way he always seemed to position himself next to her in group meetings, the way his eyes lingered a second too long when she spoke, the way his ever-present grin softened just a little when directed at her.

And, of course, the endless, endless declarations.

"Noelle! You look amazing today!"

"Noelle, I'm gonna train extra hard so I can protect you even better!"

"Noelle, when we get back, let's go get something to eat! A date! I mean—not a date unless you want it to be a date, but it can be a date—"

Every. Single. Day.

It wasn't that she hated it. It wasn't even that she found him annoying. Asta was her friend—her best friend, even. She admired his determination, his strength, his unshakable will. She liked being around him.

But romance?

That was something she didn't do.

Noelle didn't have time for silly things like crushes. She had goals, ambitions. She wanted to be strong, to prove herself. Love was an unnecessary distraction.

Which was why she refused to acknowledge the way her heart stumbled every time Asta flashed that stupidly bright grin at her.

Or the way warmth crawled up her neck whenever he got too close.

Or the way his voice—so loud, so full of life—had somehow become the most comforting sound in her world.

No. None of that mattered. It couldn't matter.

And so, like always, she shoved it down.

—

"Wow, you really are beautiful, Noelle."

Asta's voice broke through her thoughts. She glanced at him, frowning. "Huh?"

They were walking side by side through the marketplace after a mission, the setting sun casting golden light over the streets. Asta, as always, had insisted on treating her to food, despite her protests.

"Did you just say something weird?" she asked suspiciously.

Asta grinned, completely unashamed. "I said you're beautiful."

Her face burned. "Wha—what kind of idiot says something like that out of nowhere?!"

"A confident idiot!" he shot back with a laugh.

Noelle scoffed, crossing her arms. "Tch. You're ridiculous."

But Asta wasn't deterred. He never was. He simply tilted his head, a knowing smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "You always say that. But you never actually tell me I'm wrong."

She faltered.

Because—damn him—he was right.

Noelle couldn't tell him he was wrong. Because he wasn't. And somehow, that realization made her even more flustered.

"You're so full of yourself," she muttered, shoving past him.

Asta simply laughed, falling into step beside her once more. "Nah, just full of love for you!"

She groaned. "You're impossible."

"And you're cute when you're annoyed."

"Asta!"

—

The thing about Asta was that he didn't change.

No matter how many times Noelle brushed him off, no matter how many times she scoffed at his ridiculous proclamations, he never wavered.

He never pushed—never tried to force anything. He simply remained there, unwavering in his affection, waiting with that ever-present patience of his.

Noelle wasn't sure what was more infuriating—the fact that he refused to give up… or the fact that some part of her didn't want him to.

It was a slow, creeping thing.

The way she started noticing him more—the way his shirt clung to his muscles after training, the way his laugh sent warmth curling in her stomach.

The way she started seeking him out without thinking, gravitating toward his presence even when she insisted she didn't care.

The way she missed him when he wasn't around.

And then, one day, it hit her like a punch to the gut.

She liked Asta.

Really liked him.

The realization nearly knocked the air from her lungs.

Because if she admitted that—if she accepted it—then she'd have to do something about it.

And Noelle… Noelle wasn't sure she was ready for that.

—

It wasn't until they were caught in a particularly dangerous battle that everything came to a head.

Asta had taken a blow meant for her—nothing deadly, but enough to send him to the ground, blood dripping down his arm.

And in that moment, as Noelle stood over him, rage and fear collided in her chest, something inside her snapped.

"You idiot!" she screamed, casting a desperate healing spell over him. "What were you thinking?!"

Asta, despite his injuries, grinned. "Protecting you, obviously."

Her throat tightened. Her vision blurred.

And before she could stop herself, she grabbed his collar and yanked him forward—

And kissed him.

Asta froze.

Noelle froze, too.

For a split second, she panicked, about to pull away—

But then Asta moved.

His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, his mouth moving against hers in a way that sent heat pooling in her stomach.

When they finally broke apart, Asta's eyes were wide, his face completely red.

"Noelle," he breathed, staring at her like she was the only thing in the world. "Did you just—? Did we—?"

Noelle, equally red, cleared her throat and refused to meet his gaze. "Don't make a big deal out of it, idiot."

A beat of silence.

Then, Asta laughed—loud, bright, joyful.

"Does this mean you like me?" he asked teasingly.

She scowled. "Shut up."

He beamed. "You do like me!"

"I swear I will end you."

Asta only grinned wider. "Okay, but can you end me after we go on a date?"

She groaned, shoving his face away. "You're insufferable."

But this time, she didn't walk away.

And Asta, finally, had won.