Our Love | Asta x Noelle FanFic

practice

Noelle

The next morning, a loud knock jolted Noelle from her sleep. She groaned, rubbing her eyes as she glanced at the clock. It was 7 AM. Dragging herself out of bed, she shuffled to the door and opened it to find Asta standing there, looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

"Hey, you ready to practice?" he asked cheerfully.

Noelle blinked, still groggy. "For what?"

"For Damon. I thought we were starting today," Asta reminded her.

"But it's seven in the morning, Asta."

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Do you want me to come back at a later time? I thought we should start today with something basic like... holding hands."

Noelle almost choked at the suggestion. "Holding hands? That's... basic?" she mumbled.

"Yeah, totally," Asta beamed. "You know, just to get you comfortable."

"Fine," she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Give me a few minutes to get ready."

Ten minutes later, Noelle stood in the common area, dressed and somewhat more awake. Asta approached her with his characteristic enthusiasm. "Okay, let's start."

He extended his hand toward her, and Noelle hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his. She immediately felt a surge of warmth, not just from his touch but from the simple act of holding his hand. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she hoped he couldn't hear it.

"See? Easy, right?"

"Yeah, easy," Noelle replied, though she was going crazy on the inside.

They walked around the hideout, hand in hand. Noelle found herself hyper-aware of every sensation, from the roughness of his palm to the way his fingers interlaced with hers. They passed a few of their squad mates, who gave them curious looks but said nothing.

Asta then suggested, "How about we try some conversation? Like, pretend we're on a date."

"Okay," Noelle replied, her voice wavering slightly.

"So, Noelle," Asta began, trying to mimic a suave tone, "what do you like to do for fun?"

Noelle couldn't help but giggle at his attempt. "I like training, reading, and... spending time with my friends."

"Nice! I like training too, obviously," Asta mentioned, laughing. "And eating. I love eating."

"That doesn't surprise me," she responded, smiling genuinely for the first time that morning.

Asta looked pleased. "Hey, you're pretty good at this."

As they continued their "date" practice, Asta started giving her advice. "You know, guys also like it when they feel like someone is really listening to them. Eye contact is important, too."

Noelle raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you die and turn into Cupid? How do you know all this?"

He chuckled. "Well, honestly, I'm just basing this off of what I like. But, I'm pretty sure it applies to most guys our age."

Noelle chewed on her bottom lip. He was talking about what he liked? This was dangerous territory for her feelings. "S-So, what else do guys like?" she asked, in an attempt to sound casual.

"Well, we like it when girls show interest in what we're saying. Like, when you ask questions and really engage. And..."

Asta paused, looking at Noelle with a thoughtful expression. "Smiling. I... I mean we, like it when girls smile. Kind of like how you're smiling right now. It's genuine and lets us know that you're interested."

Does he realize how much it sounds like he's flirting?

"T-Thanks, I guess," she managed to say.

"No problem. Let's keep practicing," Asta responded, oblivious to everything. "You'll be ready for Damon in no time."

They continued with Asta guiding Noelle through different scenarios: walking in the town, sitting together on a bench, even mimicking a dinner conversation.

As they sat on a bench in the hideout's courtyard, Asta grew silent, turning to her with a thoughtful expression.

They shared a quiet moment, and Noelle found herself lost in his eyes. For a brief second, it felt like everything else faded away, leaving just the two of them. She quickly looked away, breaking the spell.

Asta cleared his throat. "Okay, I think that's enough for today. How do you feel?"

Noelle took a deep breath. "I feel... good. Thanks for helping me."

"Anytime," Asta spoke, his smile as bright as ever. "Let's meet up again in a few days."

Noelle nodded. As she watched Asta walk away, she let out a deep breath she hadn't known she was holding. Practicing with him was both exhilarating and painful.

Deep down, Noelle knew she couldn't keep this up. If this 'practice' with Asta continued, she was going to fall even deeper in love with him.

She was only going to set herself up for heartbreak.

***

published: june 6, 2024 lol
im mass publishing since these chapters were pre-written.