100 Prompt Challenge - Astelle

Prompt: A spar between the magicless swordsman and silver-haired princess devolves into something more intimate.

—

The Black Bulls' training grounds were quiet in the late afternoon, the usual rowdiness of the squad absent as most had either retreated inside or gone on missions. It was just Asta and Noelle now, standing across from each other in the worn-down field, catching their breaths after another intense exchange of blows.

Noelle wiped the sweat from her brow, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "You're not holding back at all, are you?"

Asta grinned, twirling his Demon-Dweller sword in his grip. "Of course not! You're strong, Noelle—I'd be insulting you if I didn't go all out!"

She scoffed but couldn't stop the small smile tugging at her lips. "Tch. You really are a battle-crazed idiot."

"Hey! I take offense to that! But, you know… in a good way."

Noelle rolled her eyes before taking her stance again, magic flaring around her. The air shimmered with the pressure of her mana, and Asta felt the familiar thrill of battle coursing through his veins.

They lunged at the same time.

Asta dodged a high-velocity water bullet, closing the distance between them in a flash. Noelle pivoted, summoning her lance of water and meeting his blade mid-swing. The impact sent a sharp tremor through both their arms, but neither backed down.

Noelle's footwork was flawless—elegant, precise. Asta's movements, though seemingly chaotic, were calculated, honed through countless battles.

The fight blurred into something more.

Instincts sharpened.

Bodies moved on their own.

Every parry, every strike, every shift in their stance drew them closer.

Too close.

Asta blocked an overhead strike, and Noelle pressed forward, the momentum forcing their bodies together. His breath hitched when he realized just how close her face was to his—so close that he could see the slight flush on her cheeks, the beads of sweat trailing down her collarbone.

His grip faltered for a second.

Noelle seized the opportunity, twisting her lance and shoving him backward. But Asta, instead of pulling away completely, grabbed her wrist mid-motion, dragging her with him as they tumbled onto the ground in a tangled mess.

Noelle landed on top of him.

Asta blinked.

She blinked.

Neither moved.

The world had suddenly shrunk to the space between them, and Asta became hyper-aware of everything.

The way Noelle's hands were pressed against his chest.

The way his own hands had instinctively found her waist.

The way her breath was warm against his skin.

The way her eyes—so sharp and determined just moments ago—had softened, flickering with something uncertain.

Asta swallowed hard. "Uh… Noelle?"

Noelle's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.

They had been this close before. They had shared moments of tension, fleeting glances, lingering touches—yet this felt different.

The air between them crackled, but this time, it wasn't magic.

It was something far more dangerous.

"Asta…" Noelle finally whispered, voice barely audible.

His fingers twitched against her waist. "Yeah?"

She didn't answer.

Instead, she leaned in.

It wasn't a kiss. Not yet.

But it was close enough that Asta could feel the ghost of her lips near his.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears.

His hands tightened around her, his body reacting on pure instinct.

And Noelle—her eyes were lidded, her breaths shallow, her body trembling just slightly against his.

It would be so easy.

So easy to close the distance.

So easy to let this spiral into something neither of them could take back.

But then—

"Oi, you two degenerates! What the hell are you doing rolling around in the dirt?!"

Zora's loud, obnoxious voice shattered the moment.

Noelle jerked away as if burned, scrambling off of Asta like she had just realized she had been straddling him.

Her face turned scarlet. "I-Idiot! W-What are you looking at?! W-We were just sparring!!"

Asta sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh… yeah! Just a spar! Nothing weird going on here!"

Luck smirked. "Looked plenty weird to me."

Magna appeared beside him, arms crossed and shaking his head. "Tch. Damn kids these days. Can't even spar without getting handsy."

"I-It wasn't like that!!" Noelle practically shrieked.

Asta let out a nervous laugh. "Ha… ha… maybe we should call it a day?"

Noelle shot him a glare so heated he swore he could feel the steam coming off of her.

But even as she stormed off, sputtering, Asta couldn't help but grin to himself.

Because for a moment—just a moment—Noelle had wanted it too.

—

The sun had long set over the Black Bulls' hideout, the sky a deep navy sprinkled with stars. Most of the squad had either gone to bed or found some other way to keep themselves entertained—likely with drinking, fighting, or some unholy combination of both.

Asta sat outside the training grounds, staring up at the sky. His heart was still hammering in his chest, hours after the incident.

Sparring with Noelle always got his adrenaline going. But that?

That had been something entirely different.

The way she had hovered over him. The way she had looked at him. The way her body had felt against his—

He groaned, slumping forward, gripping his hair. "I'm going insane."

"Good. That makes two of us."

Asta jumped, spinning around to find Noelle standing just a few feet away, arms crossed, looking absolutely furious.

And also… embarrassed.

The moonlight illuminated her face, highlighting the telltale blush on her cheeks. She wasn't in her usual combat attire anymore—just a simple loose blouse and shorts, her silver hair slightly tousled as if she'd been tossing and turning in bed.

Asta swallowed. Don't think about how cute she looks. Don't think about how cute she looks—

Noelle stomped forward, standing over him, eyes burning. "What the hell was that?"

Asta blinked. "Uh… what was what?"

Her glare intensified. "You know what."

He scratched the back of his head, suddenly very aware of how small the space between them was. "Well… I mean… I guess we kinda—"

"We did not!"

Asta smirked. "Oh? So I imagined you almost kissing me, then?"

Noelle's entire body tensed. "I—I wasn't—! That's not what happened!"

He grinned. "So what did happen, then?"

She opened her mouth, then promptly snapped it shut, turning away with a huff.

Asta watched her, amusement flickering in his chest despite the tightness in his throat. Because despite her flustered denials, she hadn't left.

She hadn't run.

And maybe… just maybe… she didn't want to.

Slowly, he stood up, closing the distance between them.

"Noelle." His voice was softer now, gentler. "If you wanna pretend nothing happened, I won't push you. But…" He hesitated, his fingers twitching at his sides. "If you don't—"

She turned to him sharply.

And then, without warning—

She grabbed his collar and yanked him down.

Asta barely had time to react before her lips crashed against his.

His brain short-circuited.

Warm. Soft. Urgent.

For a moment, he forgot how to breathe, forgot everything except the way she was kissing him.

And then his body caught up.

His hands shot out, gripping her waist and pulling her in as he kissed her back, harder, deeper.

Noelle made a small sound against his lips—a noise that sent a shockwave through him, that made him tighten his grip, pressing her flush against him.

Her hands curled against his chest, fingers gripping his shirt like she didn't want to let go.

Neither did he.

Asta wasn't sure how long they stood there, lost in each other, in the heat of something they had both been ignoring for far too long.

When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless, faces inches apart, foreheads almost touching.

Noelle's eyes were wide, dazed, lips slightly swollen.

Asta grinned, voice husky. "So… we did almost kiss earlier."

She scowled, but there was no real heat behind it. "Shut up."

He chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before pulling her into his arms.

This time, she didn't push him away.