AN: Annnnddd the finale! This was very fun but also very difficult T^T. Would you believe me if I said I finished the first three drafts in a week while chapter 4 remained stagnant for like three? XD. Life got in the way and writer's block reared its ugly head. Also, I've realized that I'm terrible at writing endings :P, or maybe I just don't like endings in general?
Too Late 4
"Hey." A warm hand gently grips her shoulder and an equally reassuring grin is directed her way. Verdant green orbs served to anchor the water mage back to reality.
"You don't have to force yourself to say anything. You can tell me when you're ready." It was just like Asta to be this supportive, despite having no idea what she was even trying to accomplish. And yet she can't find herself to appreciate his patience, not when it would mean cowardice on her end.
"NO!" The woman shouts and Asta slightly flinches from her outburst.
"No?"
"Who knows when I'll get another chance? We almost lost you – no that's not right, we did lose you. It just so happens that you came back." Noelle grits her teeth at his rigidness.
Truth stings for the both of them.
When Asta agreed to resume their conversation after dinner, he didn't expect a magic communication device to be shoved into his hands.
"It's Yuno." Is all she says before walking a few paces away, he assumes it was to provide them privacy.
When he turns to the device, what greets him was a familiar brother in not so familiar clothing. Discovering that Yuno is a long-lost prince had been crazy enough, but to find out that he's currently the acting king of Spade is simply insane. It makes him question how Noelle of all people kept contact with him even though they had never been particularly close.
After going through the disbelief of Asta's return, the mage on the hologram smiles.
"Looks like I beat you to our promise." His brother smug as ever points out, as if the antimage hadn't gone away for three years stuck in another dimension. If Asta was being honest, he thought that Yuno would express more gratitude with his return, bragging was the least of his expectations! Maybe heartfelt reunions between family simply didn't exist. Before he could complain about it though, the wind/star mage spoke again.
"Now it's your turn Asta, don't take too long."
Yuno is a man of few words, even less were the moments when he expressed encouragement. His previous statement may not seem like much, but the devil host understood what he was trying to say.
'I have faith in you Asta, always.'
"Hmph, I'll catch up to you in no time!" The shorter mage declares.
Their conversation afterwards led to the two brothers catching up and talking about their family, the changes Hage had been through. The village along with the Church had been steadily improving ever since the pair became Magic Knights, it was good to know that hadn't stopped even when one of them had been away. Apparently he had Noelle to thank for that, which only served to confuse him but Yuno shrugs when he asked why she had done it.
Now that Asta thinks about it, it's kind of amazing that she was thoughtful enough to reunite him with his brother without him asking.
He always knew she was kind but the water mage exceeded even farther than what he expected especially since Noelle as far as he knew wasn't personally involved with Hage at all. Still, it's probably foolish to assume she did it for him.
Asta calls out to her while she busied herself with putting the device back in her pocket.
"Why are you in Hage?" The movement of her hands stop and silent contemplation settles within her ki.
She doesn't face him when she answers his question.
"It just felt like the right thing to do. Yuno moved to Spade as the crowned prince and you still hadn't returned so I've decided to keep an eye on them in your place." Noelle was turned away but he can tell she was fiddling with her fingers as she spoke, oddly stiff. The male wonders why she felt embarrassed.
"So this whole time I've been gone, you were looking out for them?" He was partly expecting her to demand praises like usual, along with her signature phrase 'Of course I did, I'm royalty!' yet all she does is shyly nod.
"Thank you for taking care of my family. I really appreciate it." She hums a response, still refusing to look his way. How odd, conversations with Noelle had always been casual and easy.
Normally he is as dense as a rock, but even he is aware that something is strange between them. Asta isn't smart enough to identify what it was exactly but he can definitely sense a lingering tension. In any case, how can he make this less awkward for her?
His gaze automatically locks on the grimoire latched onto his belt.
"That reminds me! I'd like to introduce you to another family of mine. Liebe –"
"No." Asta can already imagine the devil's deadpan expression.
"You can't just stay there being all antisocial. When we get home, you're meeting the rest of the Black Bulls too." Liebe clicks his tongue in annoyance.
"Fine." Finally, the little guy exits from his book and balances himself on one of Asta's shoulders.
"Noelle this is my brother Liebe, Liebe you remember Noelle, right?" The devil scoffs.
Meanwhile Noelle finally faces them, her eyes sparkled in astonishment. He is glad to know that her soft spot for the cute and creepy is very much still there. Liebe seemed unnerved, also aware of her tendencies.
"You can stand on my shoulder too, if you want!" She offers.
"Pass-"
"There's no harm in it." Asta decides to indulge her by placing the protesting demon on her left shoulder. Liebe frowns at him, eyes clearly screaming 'traitor'! He'll gladly take that label when he observed her ki squealing in joy.
"Normally I'd ask how a devil became your brother but no – I'm too distracted." She nuzzles her cheek to her new adorable companion.
"What the-hello? Personal space!"
"I wanna keep him." Noelle demands with a straight face and her hostage looks at him in horror.
"I ain't no poodle, unhand me woman! I'm literally evil incarnate!" The water mage only coos as the devil rants and insists that he is not CUTE. Rather than be dismayed, she places a kiss on his cheek. Finally having enough of her coddling, the not cute little devil stumbles back into the safety of the grimoire flustered beyond belief.
The book reopens a second later.
"I feel assaulted. Never touch me again." Liebe slams it back shut.
"He definitely likes you." Asta comments with a smirk.
"I DO NOT!" The book screeches and the two friends burst in laughter.
Afterwards, another pause of silence ensues but at least she was looking at him now. Her fingers mindlessly grip onto the blades of grass around from where they sit.
"It's weird, I've thought about this conversation all the time and yet I can't bring myself to say anything." Noelle admits and he shrugs not particularly concerned with talking. So long as they are in each other's company.
"Maybe you don't have to." He suggests but she purses her lips.
Asta could ask if there was something she wanted to say, but directly confronting her about it might cause the tension to return.
He can always wait.
The antimage looks up, admiring a beautiful sight, gradients of blue and purple encompass the atmosphere and numerous clouds block some of the stars above. The inky black skies of hell didn't have the privilege of being decorated with glimmering lights nor the sun, its only illumination was the hellfire beneath the ground. Having a light source be inverted was quite the disorienting experience. The clean source of oxygen is also welcome, it makes him ponder on the possibility of his lungs suffering any long-term damage. His train of thought is broken by the sensation of a warm hand on top of his.
"Noelle?" Like a cat being spooked, she immediately flinches away in response.
"I – I just wanted to make sure you were here, don't think too much about it!"
"Okay." He says but how could he not think about it when the contact was surprisingly pleasant? Her touch was soft and left a tingly sensation on his own rough and calloused hand.
"You really had us worried with that stunt of yours." The water mage grumbles which successfully stirs his attention away from gazing at his hand.
"Sorry. It was a spur in the moment and we didn't exactly have many options left." He apologizes yet there was no doubt in his mind that he would do it again in a heartbeat. Maybe she knew it as well because she releases a heavy sigh.
"Is it going to be like this all the time?" He tilts his head at her question.
"What do you mean?" Noelle props her chin onto her folded hands, her legs curling up from underneath. Her posture makes him wonder if she got cold from the evening chill but he senses her discomfort went beyond their physical environment. The last time he'd witness her look this unsure was back when she still couldn't control her magic.
"I understand that you would do just about anything to protect other people. It comes with the job of course, it's what we're supposed to do. And yet…. thinking that I lost you Asta, scared me more than any devil could." The antimage understood where she was coming from, he himself experienced a surge of anxiety when he found out that the Heart Kingdom had been attacked on the same day Dante ambushed the Black Bulls.
Not knowing if Noelle was okay felt excruciating, although Luck confirmed to him that everyone was alive, Asta had to see it for himself. It's why he rushed to the water mage the first opportunity he could, and he'd been so relieved to see her 'safe and sound' albeit injured in the middle of battle.
"You protect us because you don't want other people getting hurt even at the cost of your own life, but how do you think that makes us feel? Why should your life be risked for the sake of ours?" His eyebrows scrunch in thought, he never really thought about it. All that really mattered to him was the safety of everyone. If anyone else were to die he'd regret not doing more to help.
"You're always saving me, you know? Sometimes I want to do that for you, too." Noelle uncurls her legs and arms, the more she spoke the more she seemed to recover her confidence. At this point she is able to maintain eye contact with him. Funny that he'd been wanting her to reach this level of comfortability all night but now that he gets it, he finds himself suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"I want to protect you be-because – I – I –" His vision catches her biting her lip, he wonders if this was her bracing to finally say what she wanted. "– you're important to me and I don't want to lose you."
Ba-dump.
"I can't ask you to change s-so can you just promise to be more careful? Or even better take me with you! At least then we can fight together." Her words strike him as familiar; she had said them not long ago but now he is aware of the genuine worry behind her request.
Asta can't help but be shocked. Of course, she wanted to protect him, he felt the same way for her - what with their strong bond and trust, caring for each other was implicit. Still, his reaction to her admission is what caught him off guard. Noelle didn't need to tell him any of this but the giddy feeling in his chest spoke otherwise.
"Thanks Noelle, you're important to me too! I'm glad to know you always have my back." He beams.
Something is odd though. While she wasn't necessarily lying, she wasn't being entirely honest either. It was clear to him that the water mage meant to say something else but ultimately chose not to. Maybe she still needs time to trust him. Which means he still has to keep waiting.
Asta holds out his hand.
"Can I?" He asks, half bracing himself knowing that she is perfectly capable of sending him away flying for even attempting this.
"Huh?"
"I want to make sure you're here too."
Noelle owlishly blinks for a couple seconds; she inches closer after comprehending his request. A smaller hand slowly melds with his, restarting the tingling of his fingers and it's not the only sensation that returns.
There it is again, the loud 'Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.' echoing from his chest.
"I-I'm only doing this 'cuz you asked. 's not because I l-like it or anything." She reminds even as she weaves their fingers together.
"Okay." He replies, still admiring this novel experience.
Asta wonders why Noelle kept making his heart stutter recently. The answer would probably remain unknown to him for the time being but at least he is sure of one thing.
Noelle makes him happy.
'Home.' His heart chimes again.
It dawns on him that his longing in the last three years only ceased after he found her.
He can't believe he found his way back to it. To her. And he realizes that he never wants to leave again.
Noelle had been antsy the whole flight back to base.
After last night's failed attempt at a confession, she wanted to do nothing but hide at the safety of her room in shame. However, succumbing to that cowardly urge would be unacceptable; she'd been given a rare opportunity and she wasn't about to lose it. Thus, the water mage promised herself that no matter what happens, she will confess before entering that door.
This is it. She reminds herself as they land a couple meters away from the Black Bulls hideout.
"Asta, I – I – uh-uhmm –" Noelle bit her lip in frustration willing herself to speak the words that need to be said.
Suddenly she becomes hyperaware of her body's reaction; her breath is shallower, palms uncomfortably sweaty, stomach constantly performing summersaults. And she knows it reflects her heart trembling in fear. What comes out of her quivering lips were mumbled gibberish that was nonsense even to her own ears.
"Hey." A warm hand gently grips her shoulder and an equally reassuring grin is directed her way. Verdant green orbs served to anchor the water mage back to reality.
"You don't have to force yourself to say anything. You can tell me when you're ready." It was just like Asta to be this supportive, despite having no idea what she was even trying to accomplish. And yet she can't find herself to appreciate his patience, not when it would mean cowardice on her end.
If Noelle gave up now, it would mean nothing has changed, that she's still afraid of the consequences her confession would bring. She just got him back, she doesn't want to make things awkward for him. Maybe tomor – no, she can't keep making up excuses.
Her mind flashes to the last time she'd seen that reassuring expression on his face, causing vivid memories to reappear: a menacing portal swirling, a palace reduced to debris, bleak skies and winter snow, tension pulling at the seams, and a desperate cry.
An epiphany solidifies Noelle's will.
The fear in her remains but now it is overshadowed by something even worse.
Her mind is scarred by a vicious cycle of countless sleepless nights, endless falling tears and incessant regret.
Every. Single. Day.
"NO!" The woman shouts and Asta slightly flinches from her outburst.
"No?"
"Who knows when I'll get another chance? We almost lost you – no that's not right, we did lose you. It just so happens that you came back." Noelle grits her teeth at his rigidness.
Truth stings for the both of them.
"It shouldn't have taken you almost dying for me to admit how important you are to me, or how amazing I think you are, and how grateful I am for meeting you." Focused too much on withholding her ability to speak, she doesn't notice the rising heat to Asta's cheeks.
"These past three years, I've had to live with that regret. I agonized over the idea that I might never be able to tell you anymore. I was living my own kind of hell, and I don't want to have to go through that another time." Noelle holds onto his hand, her grip tight despite the slight tremor brought about by nerves.
She takes a deep breath and finds that what calms her is a memory of a woman's voice – tender and fluid like the sea.
'I'll be rooting for you, Noelle.'
The water mage ensures to maintain eye contact, determination reflecting in her magenta irises.
"Asta, I don't want to lose you again before I can tell you I love you."
There, she said it. She finally told him how she feels!
Oh God.
I just confessed.
With her accomplishment neither elation nor relief reaches the youngest Silva, instead anxiety coursed through her veins reminding her that this was not over yet. Not until she deals with Asta's response. The antimage blankly stares at her, he appeared to be collecting his thoughts and she prays that smoke doesn't come out of his ears.
"If – if it means we'll always be together from now on then, sure." He intertwines their fingers, reminding her that she was holding his hand the entire time.
"I'll marry you."
Wait ma-marriage?
"Wha – that wasn't what I….. con – confessions and proposals aren't the same thing moron!"
"They're not?" He cluelessly inquires and her fear has fully subsided at this point; replaced with annoyance. Figures.
"Of course not! Sure, it's where it might lead but that's not until much later."
"Oh."
Is that really all he had to say?
Part of her wanted to strangle him for being ignorant while another remained in disbelief. In spite of her misinterpreted confession, the fact remains that Asta accepted how she felt and even agreed to return it.
She assumed anyway, if his hand refusing to let her go was any indication.
"But I can't really see myself with anyone else." Asta adds as his thumb starts to mindlessly etch circles on the back of her palm.
"While I was away, the thought of you made me think of home and it always motivated me to return. When I finally got here, I noticed being with you again feels a little bit different; hearing you say my name makes my heart beat faster, knowing you want to protect me makes me really happy, and holding your hand makes everything else just disappear." Her cheeks flare when she observed his concentrated gaze focused on their hand holding.
"I can't really explain why I feel this way, all I know is something between us changed yet some things have always stayed the same." The water mage notices that throughout speaking he had somehow gotten closer. With his free hand, he pulls her closer til their foreheads touched. It astounds her just how different his voice currently sounds from his usual upbeat tone and annoyingly (endearing) loud volume.
"I always feel home when I'm with you, Noelle." He spoke as if he is revealing a precious secret, and in a way he is. If he felt anxious right now nothing gave him away, and Noelle can't help but be envious.
Isn't it crazy how he came to admit all of this to her when not even a day has passed? What took her five years to accomplish only lasted a couple hours for him.
Asta truly is amazing.
But she will not let herself get left behind, Noelle cannot let her fear control her any longer. Hence, she doesn't bother to contemplate nor scrutinize over what she does next.
In expressing her overwhelming joy, she leans forward and she can sense his hesitancy to respond to her kiss at first. Eventually however the hand on her nape tilts her head as he brushes his lips against hers. Her stomach flutters in happiness and she is certain that her heart might leap out of her chest. They are both lost in each other before they realize they had an audience hollering in front of them. She jumps away from him at their unexpected intrusion.
"Finally!" Behind the still broken door that used to be the entrance, was all the Black Bulls members sporting teasing smiles.
When the whole base gets flooded by a tsunami of water magic, Noelle insists it was not her fault.