Chapter 6: It's a Feeling You Can't Miss

"Pay attention!"

Asta sighed, rubbing his head where Zora whacked him with a stack of papers and snapping him out of remembering a fond conversation with Yuno from yesterday evening. "Yeah, yeah, I'm listening, Zora. Like we haven't been running this place for ages. So you're telling the Daimon, Kere, and Furies all played tag and nearly destroyed Elysium in the process…again."

"Yes," said Zora, frustrated. "Gave the damn people, who are supposed to have peace there, heart-attacks, if you know, they were alive! Luck, Mariella, Sol, and the rest need to be reprimanded!"

"Fine, I'll come up with a punishment or something," said Asta, dismissively. Zora acted like Asta couldn't just snap his fingers and repair any damage.

Zora sighed, relenting his annoyance. "You know, you've been distracted lately."

"Hm," Asta hummed, wondering if Yuno would like to take a walk near the shore later.

"Asta," said Zora, seriously and concerned. Cautiously, he continued, "You've been spending an awful lot of time with the Kore."

Asta sat straight in his chair and narrowed his eyes. "Yes, and?"

Zora frowned. "Just be careful is all I'm gonna say, alright?"

Asta and Zora stared at each other. The God of the Dead and Death Himself had been together for a very long time, they knew each other very well, that words weren't always necessary between them. Though Zora griped and scolded and Asta had snarky comebacks, they did care about each other in their own ways, never being able to say it out loud. Asta nodded his head once and said, "Caution is one thing, but fear shouldn't hold you back."

Was it a shot at Zora for never saying anything to Kirsch? Yes, it was, but if Zora was going to broach the subject of Asta innocently spending time with his new guest, fair was fair.

Silent for a moment, Zora bobbed his head side-to-side and said, "Fair."

"…And that's everything that happened," said Lolopechka, tiredly. They had stopped by after a big meeting on Mt. Olympus. Lolopechka insisted on meeting. "You'll be summoned by Zeus officially soon."

Asta sat on the ground, with his sibling across the way in the mouth of the river. "Well, it's obvious that Yuno has to stay here when I go. This is a trap."

"Clearly. You might have to fight," said Lolopechka.

"Things might get tense for a moment, but we all have an agreement. No direct conflict," said Asta.

"Hmm, we'll see. Athena, Selene, and Aphrodite are all pretty bothered by this whole matter, just so you know. Dionysus is helping stave off the hunger of the humans for now, but he can't sustain it. We need William to undo the damage," Lolopechka said.

"They won't relent unless Yuno is back with them," said Asta. "Yuno has no inclination to return."

Lolopechka said, "Have you informed Yuno of the happenings on Olympus?"

Asta nodded. "They're pretty embarrassed that everyone's kicking up a fuss about them. I respect Yuno's decision to be with whom they wish when they wish, on their own terms. I get that Yuno is smart, funny, and beautiful, but Dante and Zenon are crossing a line."

Lolopechka pushed their glasses up on their face. They didn't actually need glasses, but it was for the aesthetic of having them. A grin spread on their face, Lolopechka said, "I've never heard you speak so highly of someone's beauty before, Asta."

Asta felt his face warm and pinched his own cheeks, realizing that he was smiling softly thinking about Yuno. Stop it. Yuno's under my care. There's a line. "Don't know what you're talking about, Lolo."

"I'm happy for you," said Lolopeckha.

Asta narrowed his eyes. "It's not like that."

"Sure."

Here's the thing. It's been weeks since Yuno came to the Underworld and weeks since Asta got to spend time with Yuno. Yuno was way smarter than Asta and they have a lot of good ideas to improve the Underworld. Yuno was beautiful, but it was more than just a fact—the way Yuno's face lit up when Asta showed him a new place in the Underworld or helped Asta take a walk with Cerberus made Asta always want that smile on their face. The two talked of everything and nothing until Zora came to fetch Asta for work with a disapproving scowl on his face.

It had been a long, long time since Asta had any inclinations towards, well, romance. And by a long time, it meant never. Asta hadn't felt this way about anyone. Unlike his fellow deities, he didn't see the need.

But now, Asta often thought that it'd be nice to have Yuno with him for the rest of eternity as more than just a guest, but a partner, someone to love him and be loved by him.

Still, Asta didn't dare do anything. Yuno made it clear that they had no interest in marriage. And it just wasn't feasible for Yuno to stay in the Underworld, like the others, because Yuno was a deity of life. Yuno's complexion paled and they were often cold the more time they spent here. Asta would just be as selfish as his damnable siblings if he kept Yuno here.

No, the right thing to do, Asta knew in his heart, was to ensure Yuno's freedom and let them go.

Even if Asta felt unbearably lonely at the thought.

"You need rest, Asta," said Yuno, as they patted each of Cerberus' heads in rapid succession.

"I'll be fine," said Asta, gently. His heart thumped loudly in his chest as he spoke. "Once things settle down, I'll rest."

Yuno frowned and said, worriedly. "You haven't been eating either. Miss Charmy complained loudly about it. You may be one of the Big Three Gods, Asta, but you still need to take care of yourself. Are you not feeling well?"

Asta's mouth twitched upward into a smile. "Any malady I ever get is one of my own doing, Yuno. I assure you that I am well."

"If you say so," said Yuno, not believing Asta in the slightest.

Letting out a snort, Asta said, teasingly, "Everyone with the sass."

Yuno smiled softly, walking over to Asta, leaving Cerberus (the spoiled pup) whining. With a smile on their lips and a shine in their eyes, Yuno was so beautiful that Asta's heart couldn't handle it. Yuno said, "It's more fun that way."

I love you, thought Asta looking up at Yuno. Instead of blurting out his feelings, Asta said, "I suppose…."

Asta got caught off by familiar screaming. Finral yelled, while another familiar person yelled back. Hermes had arrived unannounced, meaning that Lolopechka had been correct that Asta was being summoned.

Booming his voice, he ordered, "Finral, let him in!"

"Fine! Unbelievable! No respect, Kirsch!"

"You're a nag, Finral!"

"Kirsch! Now," snapped Asta.

"Coming," said Kirsch, flying over the River Styx and landing in front of a startled Yuno and annoyed Asta. Kirsch nonchalantly handed Asta the letter. "Guess you knew this was coming, Lord Hades. Hey, Yuno, Mimosa misses you."

"Tell her hi," said Yuno. Yuno leaned to try to read the summons. "What's that?"

Kirsch whistled. "A summons. Lord Hades is gonna have a conversation with the King and Queen about you."

"What," Yuno asked, biting their bottom lip and looking far too worried.

"Don't worry, Yuno," said Asta, smiling reassuringly as possible. "I've dealt with my siblings before, it's not a big deal."

"Should I go?"

"No, you'll stay here where it's safe. With me gone, you'll stick close by Vanessa and Zora," said Asta, seriously. Braver than he felt, he grabbed one of Yuno's hands and squeezed it gently. "Once this is over, you'll have your freedom. I promise."

Yuno stared at him with an incomprehensible look on their face. "Will you be in danger?"

"No."

Maybe.

"I've caused…"

"No, I'm gonna stop you right there. I chose to help you, didn't I? If it wasn't the situation with you, I'm sure my beloved siblings would have found another cause to summon me for whatever transgression they saw fit," said Asta, squeezing Yuno's hand in his again. "Everything will work out. Believe in me."

Yuno sighed heavily. They stared into Asta's eyes. Golden eyes nearly peered into his being and Asta shuddered.

Yuno said, solemnly. "I do. Thank you."

"You're welcome." I love you.

~to be continued