100 Prompt Challenge - Astelle

Prompt: Noelle wasn't the best at holding her liquor. Vanessa takes advantage of that.

—

The Black Bulls never did anything halfway.

If they were going to fight, they fought with everything they had. If they were going to drink, they drank like there was no tomorrow. And if they were going to throw a party?

It was going to be legendary.

Tonight was no exception.

The base was alive with music, laughter, and the sound of multiple property-damaging explosions. The war against the devils had ended months ago, and Captain Yami had declared it was high time they really celebrated.

Noelle, who had initially planned to enjoy herself responsibly, had made one fatal mistake.

She had underestimated Vanessa.

—

It started with a single drink.

Just one.

Then, Vanessa had handed her another.

And another.

And another.

"Noooelle~" Vanessa purred, draping an arm around her shoulders. "You always act so uptight. Loosen up a little, won't you?"

Noelle, already feeling the world tilt, scowled. "I-I am not uptight…"

Vanessa giggled. "You totally are. But hey! At least you're a cute drunk."

Noelle didn't process that. She was too busy glaring at a very specific person across the room.

Asta.

Her idiot.

Her stupid, oblivious, wonderful idiot.

He was chatting with Finral and Magna, completely unaware of how much she was suffering because of him.

Did he not realize how hard it was to like him?!

He was loud, ridiculous, and had way too much energy.

And yet…

Her heart still fluttered every time he smiled.

It wasn't fair.

She slammed her drink onto the table and stood up. "I'm going over there."

Vanessa smirked. "Oh? And what exactly are you planning to do, hmm?"

Noelle wobbled slightly, her mind foggy. "I'm gonna—gonna tell him how I feel."

Vanessa's smirk widened. "Oh, this is going to be good."

—

Asta had no idea what hit him.

One second, he was mid-conversation with Magna about training.

The next, Noelle had grabbed him by the collar, yanked him down—

And smooched him.

Right on the lips.

In front of everyone.

The entire party screeched to a halt.

Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. Drinks were spilled.

Luck blinked. "…Did Noelle just kiss Asta?"

Magna let out a strangled noise. "Noelle just kissed Asta."

Finral nearly fainted.

Vanessa? She was cackling like a madwoman.

As for Asta?

He was frozen.

Brain completely blank.

Noelle pulled away, a dreamy little smile on her face. "Mmm… you're warm…"

Then, just as suddenly, she collapsed against his chest.

Out. Cold.

Asta, still holding onto her, blinked.

"…Did that just happen?"

The entire room erupted.

—

Noelle woke up with a headache the size of the Clover Kingdom.

She groaned, rubbing her temples. Why did her body hurt so much? And why did everything feel… off?

She sat up slowly—

And froze.

She was in Asta's bed.

In his room.

"…Oh no."

Memories came rushing back.

The party. The drinking.

The kiss.

Her entire body stiffened.

Oh no.

She turned her head ever so slowly—

And saw Asta, sitting on the floor beside the bed, looking at her.

"Oh," he said, perking up. "You're awake!"

Noelle screamed internally.

—

Noelle cleared her throat. "A-Asta."

"Yeah?"

"…Did anything happen last night?"

Asta tilted his head. "You don't remember?"

She forced a laugh. "Haha, of course I remember! I just—uh—want to hear your version of events!"

Asta, still not suspecting a thing, nodded. "Oh! Well, you got really drunk."

Noelle felt her soul leaving her body.

"And then," he continued, "you walked right up to me, pulled me down, and kissed me."

She wanted to die.

"And then," Asta went on, completely unaware of her internal suffering, "you said I was warm, and then you just kinda passed out on me."

Noelle buried her face in her hands. "I see."

Asta scratched his head. "So, uh… does this mean you like me?"

Her head snapped up. "W-What?!"

Asta blinked. "Well, you did kiss me. So…"

Noelle's brain went into overdrive.

She couldn't just admit it! That was too embarrassing!

So, naturally, she did what she did best.

She panicked.

"I-It wasn't real!" she blurted out.

Asta frowned. "It… wasn't?"

"I was drunk!" she continued. "I-It was just—just a mistake!"

Asta looked at her for a long moment.

And then—

He grinned.

"Ohhhh, I get it," he said, nodding. "You're embarrassed."

Noelle sputtered. "I—NO!"

"You totally are."

"I AM NOT—"

Asta's grin only widened.

"You totally like me."

Noelle exploded.

—

For the rest of the day, Noelle avoided Asta like the plague.

Every time he got too close, she vanished.

Every time someone mentioned the kiss, she threatened them.

But Asta?

Asta was thriving.

Because for the first time in his life, he realized something.

Noelle liked him.

And that?

That was awesome.

So, naturally, he started messing with her.

Every time she walked by, he'd smile just a little too knowingly.

Every time she turned a corner, he was there, grinning.

And every time she tried to deny it—

He'd lean in just a little too close and say:

"Noelle, are you sure it was just a mistake?"

And every time—

Without fail—

She exploded in a fit of stammers and blushing fury.

It was hilarious.

—

Days passed.

Then a week.

Noelle had hoped—prayed—that Asta would eventually drop it.

He didn't.

So, one day, after training, she finally snapped.

"FINE!" she yelled, red-faced. "I LIKE YOU, OKAY?!"

Asta blinked.

Then, slowly—

A grin stretched across his face.

"I knew it."

Noelle groaned. "Just—just shut up and kiss me again already!"

Asta, still grinning, happily obliged.

And this time, Noelle was completely sober.