Notes:

spoilers for the Spade Kingdom/Dark Triad Arc (Working under the assumption that the bad guys are defeated and the kidnap victims are rescued i.e. a happy-ish ending)
Mimosa doesn't know that her friend Yuno is the Spade Kingdom's long-lost Prince...

Chapter 3

Yuno found her where he knew she'd be.

The Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom, the Guardians of the Heart Kingdom, and the Spade Resistance were all camped out in the destroyed ruins of the Grinberryall Castle after the battle against the Dark Triad and the devils. The makeshift tents were supplied by the still-terrified people of Spade's Capital City, who all had been in the crosshairs of the battle. It was still a surprise that they hadn't lost any civilians, which had been called a blessing by God, but Yuno called dumb luck.

Yuno hadn't been hurt too badly, nor had been his former Vice-Captain, who battled alongside him to help rescue Captain Vangeance. Both had been easily healed in the field by Mimosa, so that Yuno and Langris were able to help secure the dead bodies of devils and the Dark Triad and its disciples alike.

The Black Bull Captain and Vice-Captain, the Heart Queen, Captain Vangeance, Asta and his devil Liebe, Noelle, the Green Mantis and Blue Rose Captains were the ones who had the heaviest injuries. The injuries were so severe that no one wanted to risk transporting them through spatial portals until they woke up.

So, needless to say, Yuno knew Mimosa would be in the medical tents.

But he also knew that she had no time to rest between her battle in the Heart Kingdom, training with the elves, and then the battle in Spade, where she joined Yuno and Langris and helped save Captain Vangeance. If Mimosa hadn't been there, they would have lost every single person that had severe injuries.

He found her kneeling at her cousin Noelle's bedside. Mimosa had a determined frown on her face as she used one of her healing spells on her.

"You're out of mana," said Yuno, glancing over at the other bed where Asta laid. Yuno grimaced at the sight of the anti-magic devil Liebe curled protectively around Asta in the same bed. He looked back at his friend and found that she hadn't heard him. "Mimosa!"

Mimosa startled and stopped her spell. "Yuno! Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine," said Yuno, curtly. "But you need to rest."

She shook her head. Stubbornly, Mimosa said, "There's still so many people that need to be healed. And I can't leave Noelle and Asta!"

Yuno stared at her. "You're not the only Healer wizard we have. Asta and Noelle would worry if you gave yourself mana exhaustion."

Mimosa pursed her lips together in a tight frown. "They won't let me see Captain Vangeance."

"You're not a doctor. The Captains and Vice-Captain Faust need doctors," said Yuno, unamused. "Don't make me carry you out of here."

"You can try but you wouldn't get very far," countered Mimosa, crossing her arms.

The former rookies of the Golden Dawn stared each other down. If an outsider saw, they'd think that they were about to come to blows. Mimosa looked beyond tired, despite the cross look on her face—not to mention her clothes were still blood-spattered and muddy. Yuno probably didn't look great either. He knew that his and Mimosa's staring contest would end with Mimosa relenting and taking his advice. Yuno just had to hold out.

"Are either one of you gonna throw a punch or not?"

Yuno and Mimosa looked over at the devil Liebe, who sat up in the bed (still next to Asta, much to Yuno's consternation). Liebe scowled heavily at them.

"We're not fighting," said Mimosa, gently, but the tone of voice that told Yuno that she was not going to give into his demand that she rest despite the fact that he was her friend and Vice-Captain.

"Dunno, sure looks like it."

Ignoring Asta's new best friend, Yuno said, "Mimosa, don't make me pull rank on you."

Mimosa opened her mouth to say something when Noelle spoke, as she sat up. "Mimosa, are you ok?!"

"Noelle," Mimosa said, rushing back to dote on Noelle.

Noelle batted Mimosa's hands away. Noelle's eyes reached Yuno and asked, "She hasn't rested has she?"

"No," said Yuno.

"Mimosa, go with Yuno. Me and Dorksta will be fine for a little bit," said Noelle, sounding a bit different than the last time Yuno had seen Mimosa's cousin. It sounds like Noelle found some actual confidence, instead of her normal bluster.

Mimosa put her hands down and sighed. "Okay, but only for a little bit."

Leaving Liebe to watch over Asta and Noelle, Yuno guided Mimosa to the temporary quarters of the Magic Knights of Clover. They passed by Captain Mereoleona berating both her brothers for being reckless fools who needed more training if they even thought they were gonna surpass her. Yuno made sure to avoid the Spade Resistance. He knew he was going to have to deal with the fact that he was the rightful ruler of the Spade Kingdom at some point but that day was not today. (And he hadn't even told Mimosa yet).

It was easy to find the Magic Knights' temporary quarters because the Black Bulls' base stuck out like a sore thumb. How Henry Legolant managed to make accommodations for the Magic Knights on the Spade Invasion was impressive. As they approached the base, he heard Langris and Finral before they saw them.

"Stop mothering-henning me, Brother, I'm fine," shouted Langris.

"You're still bleeding, you've been bleeding for hours," said Finral, in his squeaky panicky voice.

Mimosa immediately rushed over to where Finral and Langirs were bickering over Langris' health. "Vice-Captain Langris, let me see your wound!"

"I'm fine," Langris snapped at Mimosa.

"Don't speak to Lady Mimosa that way," scolded Finral. Finral said, in a kinder tone to Mimosa. "I can take care of him. You looked exhausted."

Yuno approached them and used his wind magic to lift Mimosa off the ground. Mimosa yelped rather unladylike. "You're going to rest now. Former Vice-Captain Langris, listen to your brother for once."

"Petty," mumbled Langris, as Yuno left him to be doted on by his brother.

Mimosa sat on the wind current, arms crossed and pouting petulantly at Yuno. She grumbled that she wasn't a child and that she was not sleepy.

"I will tell your brother."

Mimosa gasped, but it shut her up.

The Black Bulls' witch was in charge of doling out room assignments, so she pointed Yuno in the right direction to drop off Mimosa. The rooms were very basic but they'd do the job. He placed Mimosa gently on the bed. Yuno said, finding a bit of humor, "Do you need me to tuck you in?"

Mimosa scrunched her face and then she said, smiling finally, "Please."

"Awful, you're awful," said Yuno, shaking his head. But nonetheless, he pulled the blanket over Mimosa and tucked her in like she was one of his siblings in Hage. "Rest."

"You rest too."

"I will."

Yuno turned to leave the room, when Mimosa said, "Cousin Fuegoleon told me that you're the Spade Prince."

"Yeah, I am." Unfortunately, Yuno thought to himself. There was just so much to unpack with that news of his origins.

"Yuno, please don't leave Clover," said Mimosa, in a small voice. She sounded afraid. "I swear I will kidnap you back if you do."

"I am not leaving my home," replied Yuno, "or my family or my friends or my dream."

"Does the Spade Resistance know?"

"They will, once clean-up is done," said Yuno. He sighed. "Mimosa, rest. I'll still be here when you wake up."

"You'd better."

He felt a common surge of friendly affection for Mimosa, his best friend in the Golden Dawn. Yuno looked at Mimosa and said, "Thank you for being my friend, Mimosa."

Because she'd miss him if he was gone. Because they could talk about anything with each other, without being judged for being selfish or petty or stupid. Because he knew that she had his back and he had hers.

Tearing up but smiling widely, Mimosa said, voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for being my friend, too, Yuno."

Yuno gave a small smile. "Good night. Rest well."

"Good night. Rest well, too."

~fin