Chapter Text
The sweetest sounds I'll ever hear
Are still inside my head
The kindest words I'll ever know
Are waiting to be said
The most and entrancing side of all
Is yet for me to see
It’s so much blood. It was all Yuno could think as he looked at the beaten and the bloodied boy who held his necklace in his hands. His pendant, something so important to Yuno, and Asta knew it too. It was why he fought so damn hard to protect it.
Asta was strong in a way Yuno never even realized. Not until this very moment, not until he realized he needed to be too. He couldn’t sit back and let this happen again, he wouldn’t sit back and cry next time. He would fight too and he would be strong .
He had to be.
To better their lives and the lives of those at the Church, to protect the other kids, Father Orsi, Sister Lily, and (of course), Asta himself.
He lent against Yuno, and Yuno could only fervently wish he was stronger so Asta wouldn’t have to lean at all. So he could carry the boy himself, so he wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place…
If he had been strong enough to carry Asta, Asta wouldn't have tripped. Sending them both spiraling to the ground.
It was freezing out, Asta was bleeding and injured and Yuno was useless . He wanted to cry, so desperately he wanted to cry. But he refused to allow himself to, no. The first part of becoming someone strong meant that he couldn’t be that anymore. Someone weak, someone who cried at everything. A crybaby. Still, he couldn't help but whimper. “I’m so sorry Asta.”
And Asta, in all his Astaness , waved off his apology. “No, it’s okay…" He was barely conscious. "I’m good.”
Yuno would have called him a liar but only refrained due to the fact Asta probably believed that he would be okay. It was just like him too... believing in something so obviously untrue. He had such a strong will, he always had. Knowing Asta, he could survive on audacity alone.
So, trying to use all the strength he could, he hooked Asta’s arm over his shoulder once more and tried to pull him up. Asta himself seemed to be completely unconscious now, it was worrying.
“Oh my…”
If Yuno had actually succeeded in picking up Asta, he would have dropped him in his shock at someone actually caring enough to take note of them.
Unlike the man before, this one didn’t seem to have malicious intent. Rather, he seemed a bit mysterious with that mask of his. Though, there were kind eyes behind it. Yuno recognized that much.
The man approached them too, his eyes were drawn to the red splayed across Asta. Despite his kind eyes, despite the man seemingly appearing to mean no harm, Yuno couldn’t help but draw Asta closer. He couldn’t risk the other boy being hurt again, he just couldn’t .
As if sensing his very fears, the man said. “I mean you children no harm.”
Yuno wanted to believe him. Desperately, he wanted to believe him. As much as he wanted it to be otherwise, he wasn't strong right now. He wouldn't be able to do this on his own . At least, not right now.
He wasn’t going to be able to save Asta.
The man hesitantly took a step closer, keeping a clear eye on Yuno’s expression and body language. His comfort .
“If you’ll allow me, I could heal your friend.”
Despite his wants to be someone who didn’t cry, Yuno couldn’t help the small tremble of his lip. “You could?” He thought of Sister Lily and her healing magic, maybe this man was like that?
The masked man with kind eyes gave forth a nod. “I’m a magic knight you see, I have healing magic. If you’ll allow me, I could heal your friend.”
“Please!” Yuno begged without a second thought. He had never disliked a feeling so intensely before, having to beg for help from a stranger to save Asta. He’d become strong enough so he’d never have to beg for help again, so he’d be able to save Asta himself .
The man nodded, approaching them and kneeling down to reach Asta better. Yuno watched with fascination, the magic on the tips of his fingertips as it healed all the injuries plaguing the other boy.
Asta remained unconscious, but his injuries became nonexistent. All that remained of them were the already dried blood on his clothing and skin.
“Thank you so much,” Yuno said, fighting the tears of joy already building in his gaze. No, he wouldn’t cry. No .
“Would you mind if I accompanied you boys home?” The man asked kindly. “It’d make me feel a lot better knowing you both got home safe.”
Asta was out of it, this was all up to Yuno… this man had healed Asta, and Yuno himself was quite scared if he were honest. As much as wanted to be brave, he wasn’t. It was freezing cold in the snow and it was quite a trip between where they were now and the Church. A trip he’d have to carry Asta for….
“You… you can.” Yuno agreed, albeit shamefully.
He’d never be this weak again, he decided. He would never need to rely on anyone else to save Asta or anyone else he loved, he would do it himself.
The man nodded. “My name is William Vangeance,” He introduced. “And you are?”
“M- my name is Yuno and this is Asta.” Yuno replied, suppressing a sniffle.
“It is lovely to meet you both, Yuno and Asta.” William offered a smile, however, his smile faltered. “Yuno, if you don’t mind me asking… where did you get that pendant?”
Suddenly unsure and fearful of repeat offense, Yuno exclaimed. “It’s mine!” He’d never raised his voice at someone like that before, but Mr. Vengeance didn’t seem insulted.
The other’s eyes looked over Yuno, as if he finally realized something. Then, smiling, he said. “I see.” Far gentler he spoke. “I’m sorry for the question, this isn’t the time for it.”
He reached forward, eyes set on Yuno for permission. Despite his own fear, Yuno gave it with a nod of his head. Vangaence lifted Asta into his arms with ease.
Yuno wished he was that strong .
Mr. Vangaence escorted them back to the church where Sister Lily met them at the door. Despite her increasing aversion to Asta’s marriage proposals she still cared for the young boy immensely, just as she did Yuno. Father Orsi met them outside as well except he was crying horribly at the sight of them.
Eventually, Mr. Vangaence was to say goodbye. He promised that he would come to visit, not that Yuno had actually asked him to. But he did owe the man a great deal, and he remembered that gratitude whenever he caught sight of Asta alive and breathing.
That goodbye only lasted a small time, for a few days yonder, the man returned.
I’d like to adopt Yuno . He heard Mr. Vangaence say to Father Orsi and Sister Lily.
To which he wanted to reply. Why?
Yes, they were orphans. But the church wasn’t exactly a foster home where you could easily adopt a child. At least, Yuno hadn’t thought so. All his life he had never seen someone adopted from the church before. No one had wanted to. Their village was in the middle of nowhere after all. No one wanted an extra mouth to feed, that was what the church itself was for.
“Yuno…” Sister Lily had begun looking at him as if he had a choice, something which Yuno knew he didn’t.
It was Asta who had found him that day after he had runoff. It wasn’t like Yuno to run off, typically it was Asta with Yuno being the one to find him. Today, it was the opposite.
Asta, who didn't have a scratch on him on account of Mr. Vangaence’s magic.
“Hi.” Yuno was the one to greet him despite his own dismay.
Asta, someone typically rambunctious, seemed a bit subdued.
“I don’t want to leave.” Said Yuno, but Asta didn’t reply. He was thinking hard, something entirely unlike him.
“It’d be easier for Sister Lily and the old man if you did,” Asta said and Yuno gaped.
“Asta-”
“It’d make the little kids sad. And me a bit too…” A bit? He turned to face Yuno, and he-- somehow, Asta smiled. “But I’d also be happy for you.”
“Happy… for me?”
Asta nodded. “Yep! You’d have a family! And you could visit us all the time I’m sure too! And you said you wanted to become a Magic Knight too that night, right?” Yuno remembered, that night Asta had gotten injured. He had said that. “This will help with that! Giveya leg up!” Asta proclaimed as if it was that simple. As if it wasn’t leaving Father Orsi, Sister Lily, all the kids, Asta .
“Won’t you miss me?” Yuno asked, once more fighting the instinct to let tears fall.
“Of course I will!” Asta replied in an instant, his smile remaining. “But it’ll be okay.”
“Asta-”
“It will .”
He was so confident. Yuno wished he could share such confidence.
“Um… hello boys,” Before them, there he was again. Mr. William Vangaence.
The man who was stealing Yuno away from his life.
“Sorry to interrupt,” He said and looked to Asta. “May I have a moment to speak with Yuno?”
Asta pursed his lips, thinking only for a moment before saying. “Alright, Mr. Weird-Mask guy.”
The man didn’t seem bothered by the title as Asta stepped away.
The masked man took a seat next to the other boy. “Yuno…” Mr. Vangaence began. “I understand you must feel very scared right now, but-”
“I’m not scared .” A lie. “I’m angry.” Not a lie. He was both scared and angry. Furious and terrified. “I don’t understand why you even want me.”
Mr. Vangaence stared at him only for a moment before a gentle smile came on his face. “Do you believe there’s something wrong with you?”
Yuno frowned. "N-no, but-”
“But what?”
Dejected, Yuno said. “But no one wants random orphans in the middle of nowhere.”
The man frowned. “What if I were to tell you, you weren’t?”
“Weren’t what?”
“A random orphan.”
“Then… what am I?”
And the dearest love in all the world
Is waiting somewhere for me
Is waiting somewhere, somewhere for me
“Asta!” Sister Lily called to him. “Yuno’s all packed up, it’s time to say goodbye!”
It’s time to say goodbye . Despite his smile, Asta felt a dread stir in him at the prospect. Saying goodbye to Yuno… had he ever done that before? They had always been together, and when he didn’t see him he knew he’d see him soon . Saying goodbye was never something they’d had to do ever before.
He was happy for Yuno, if not a tad jealous (if not a tad sad). He was going to miss him so much… but it wasn’t like Yuno would be gone, he’d still visit. He would still b a part of their lives, Asta was sure.
Yuno was saying his goodbyes to the rest of them, Father Orsi was sobbing and the little kids seemed tearful as well.
Guess it was on Asta to be the strong one.
“You all packed up, right? You didn’t forget anything?” He asked, not caring either way. Yuno was never one to care for material objects or things, all except the one that sat settled on his neck.
“No, I didn’t…” Yuno frowned at him, to which Asta gave him a light shove.
“Stop being so sad!” He ordered.
Yuno gaped at him. “Wha- wha-”
“Don’t be sad!” Asta repeated stubbornly as if it were that simple. “Everything will be okay! This isn’t the end, right? It’s only the beginning! We’re gonna become badass Magic Knights, right?”
“Asta!” Sister Lily reprimanded him. “Don’t use that word.”
Asta chuckled. “Sorry Sister Lily!” Faintly, he wondered if Yuno would miss this.
“But we will… won’t we?” Asta raised his arm for a fist bump. He had to be the strong one after all, and if he and Yuno were to hug he may not be able to hold back his own tears. And Yuno, with his big glassy honey-colored eyes, returned the fist bump. “
He nodded firmly. “We will!” And with that, he returned the fist bump.
So, refusing to let himself let his sadness show, Asta grinned fully. “I’ll see you around Yuno.”
Yuno gave a tight nod, his face scrunching as he tried to hold back from crying (Asta recognized the expression on him). “I’ll visit, I swear I will!”
“And I’ll be waiting!” Asta promised him, and he would.
He did.
He waited long and hard for Yuno to return. Eagerly awaiting to see his closest friend once again.
Yuno would return, Asta was sure. He assured himself again and again, as each year passed with no sign of Yuno.
He waited and waited.
But Yuno never did.