The Disaster Seashore

Summary: Noelle was just trying to get Asta's attention long enough to ask one simple question… Why did everyone else have to make it so difficult?

A/N: This is just a quick little thing I wrote out after basically marathoning the Underwater Temple Arc. Weird pairing, I know. But I kinda like the dynamic (and the art….) so here you go! Your first ever Noelle/Yami fic! (to my knowledge)

This takes place during Episode 40. Yes, I know Charlotte has a crush on Yami and I still think they're cute too, but you know what? I don't see Asta ever reciprocating Noelle's feelings and Yami might as well have all the tsundere women he wants.

With a huff Noelle turns from Magna, trudging over to a lone palm tree that offers her some shade. A small place for a quiet reprieve as the others continue making absolute chaos on the beach.

How they can throw fireballs and mirror missiles so casually next to civilians is beyond her. Even with everyone having magic - well, almost everyone - it could still cause an accident. As a Magic Knight they should be more aware of their surroundings. It was a miracle they hadn't run anyone over yet, with Asta heading the idiot-train.

He still hadn't even given her a single glance! He was much too occupied having fun with everyone else to notice her and her new swimsuit. Not for her lack of trying, though…

Ugh. Why won't Stupidsta notice me?

Because he only had eyes for Rebecca… Of course, that's what it was. Why else wouldn't he turn around when she was insisting on his opinion of her outfit? It's not like she had bought it for him or anything…

Nope. She would never do anything like that!

Noelle glances over as Asta runs in the sand: his silver hair wet, causing little streams of water to flow down his body… Specifically over his glistening abs. The sand kicking up around him forming a little halo-

The picture-esque scene was broken from Charmy landing on his head, slobbering over a broken watermelon. That woman-child even had the gall to eat the thing while Asta continued to run! While the others chased after him…. Or rather Luck chased after Magna who still hadn't had the decency to cover up!

Like, really!? First Luck goes and sets Magna's swim 'shorts' on fire and then they race around like obnoxious children, running into Asta when she was just about to get his attention, and now instead of getting something else to wear after her water magic accidentally hit him and put out the fire - causing the loincloth to drop - he was just running around naked as the day he was born! With no care for any women or children in the vicinity!

I can't believe the first man I saw completely naked was Magna… I need to go bleach my eyes. Royalty like me shouldn't be subjected to such insolence.

There really could never be a moment of peace with her squad. Why the hell had she agreed to join the Black Bulls? Oh right… because she can't control her magic and none of the other squads would have given her the time of day. Damn it.

Noelle's fingers curl into fists, nails threatening to pierce the skin when a hand settles on her head.

"Getting a little fired up there, princess?"

Noelle blinks, jerking her head out from under his palm she side-steps Captain Yami, turning to face him with her arms crossed at her midriff, eyes narrowed. "The title of princess is reserved for the King's daughter, if he had one. I may be royalty, but I'm not a princess. Don't ever call me that again."

Yami raises one brow, pulling the cigarette from his mouth to exhale a cloud of smoke before speaking, "What's got you acting like a firecracker?" His gaze runs over her body. "That's a nice swimsuit. Just get it?"

Her lips twitch, a soft burn forming on her cheeks. "I didn't have anything for the beach, so Vanessa took me out last night to get a bikini. I couldn't wear any of hers with them being so… small." The little black piece Vanessa had offered her had literally just been string. The top might have covered her nipples, and the bottoms wouldn't have left much to the imagination either.

Yami lets out a chuckle and Noelle frowns, biting at her lip. How could he be so laid-back all the time? "So you had fun with Vanessa? That's good."

Her mouth nearly falls open and she can feel her hands curling into fists once more. Fun!?

"I did not! She practically stripped me in the middle of the store! Asta's brother, Mimosa, and that Klaus guy showed up because she made me squeal! It was embarrassing having them all staring at me in only a damn towel! Klaus even got a bloody nose just like Gauche whenever he talks about Marie! It was a complete and utter mess! And Vanessa wasn't even trying to help me. She was too busy making googly eyes at Yuno! You should've been there to talk to her about her behavior!"

"Yeah? Sounds like I'll have to tag along next time you and Vanessa hang out. Seems I missed out on all the fun." Yami rests the cigarette back in his mouth as Noelle stares at him, aghast.

How could I have said that!? To even make the suggestion that the Captain should have been there to witness the most embarrassing moment in my life so far!?

Oh no! What if he took her words to mean she wanted him to have seen her nearly naked!?

Noelle takes a step forward, fingers twitching at the air. "I-i just meant-"

Asta chooses that exact moment to dash across the sand in front of them, the chaos train following in his wake, some odd-looking blonde twitching in the sand after having been run over. Noelle thinks she recognizes him, but her attention is focused on Yami and how she could convince him she hadn't meant to make such an inappropriate comment.

The words are on the tip of her tongue, but-

"Alright, that's enough fun and games!" Yami cracks his knuckles. "Everyone get in a line or I'll kill you!"

And he walks off in the direction of the others, an executioner's intent hanging in the air.

Noelle lets out a sigh, fingers grasping at empty air. Of all the days for her luck to be nonexistent… Why did these things always happen to her?

She watches Yami round the others up, the way his muscles ripple as he plucks them up then sticks them promptly in the sand… Asta's not the only one with abs, and despite herself she can't help thinking the Captain is attractive. In a dark, savage kind of way.

He did compliment my outfit…

No one else had noticed it. And as selfish as it was she wanted more compliments.

Maybe I can pull him aside later… Show off a little.