#yunoasuweek

A Fate-FULL Encounter

AU (Day 7 of YunoAsu Week 2019)

  It was the 30th Annual Clover Citywide Food Festival.  Clover City’s streets were full of street vendors, food trucks, restaurants with lines going around the block, and demonstrations by the Golden Dawn Culinary School at the city square.  21-year-old Golden Dawn Culinary School senior Yuno Zephyr was not amongst his classmates at the demonstrations, however.  No, Yuno was one of several to be chosen to taste test non-Golden Dawn food and report on it for the school blog and CloTube™ channel.

  Normally, during the Festival, Yuno would have been holed up in the test kitchens preparing food with the other behind-the-scene type chefs, bakers and cooks, but Yuno was in his last year of culinary school and this was his major senior assignment.  A perfectionist at heart, Yuno was intent on finding the best food, interviewing the chef and breaking down a well-done meal.  There was no way that the elitist rich annoyances were going to beat Yuno—not after all his hard work to be the top of his class.

  Unfortunately, Yuno had been wandering Clover City streets for the last four hours—he had tasted dozens of various food types.  While everything was decent, it was not mind-blowingly good.  Under the boiling late-spring sun, Yuno almost wanted to give up, especially since he felt his pasty white skin reddening with sunburn.  He took a sip of his water and sighed as he went down the next street.

  Clover City was not your average city.  It was a foodies’ paradise—every hole-in-the-wall joint existed, every foodie CloTuber lived and worked here and it was home to culinary elites, culinary schools of varying levels of prestige (the top was the Golden Dawn) and it was the home to KING, the 5-star restaurant of famous chef, author, traveler and food historian Julius Novachrono.  Yuno moved to Clover City when he was 18 and luckily got accepted to the Golden Dawn Culinary School on a scholarship.  He grew up in a small town miles south of Clover City, called Hage Village at an orphanage run by a kind nun named Sister Lily and an excited priest.  It was a quiet life and he learned a lot of cooking and baking from Sister Lily, who in a previous life had been a baker and chef.

  “Get your killer hamburgers here!  All free for the last day of the Festival,” screamed an annoyingly loud voice.  It was someone with a cart.  The guy was probably around Yuno’s age, but he was on the short side, with wild grey hair and bright green eyes.  The guy did not look like he cooked hamburgers all the time, as he clearly worked out.

  No, Yuno, focus, he told himself.

  Warm and slightly flustered now, Yuno felt a headache coming on just from today’s excitement, but he needed something for his assignment.  Sighing, Yuno went over to the cart and found that people were not flocking to this guy’s cart.  Hamburgers and other “fast food” types were not his favorite but it’s not like Yuno never indulged in fast food, especially when he was in a studying zone.

  “Hey, pretty boy!  You want one,” said the loud guy.  On closer inspection, Yuno was startled at the bright grin on the grey-haired young man’s face.  It was kind of endearing. 

  Yuno nodded.

  The grin got brighter as the guy quickly and clearly expertly put together a hamburger on a paper plate for Yuno.  “Let me know what you think!  I used a different cheese than regular yellow and a different blend of meats for the patty!”

  Yuno eyed the food on the plate.  It was not attractive at all—hastily thrown on the plate.  While the presentation was awful, taste was what mattered.   As habit, Yuno analyzed what he seen on the burger.  Thin patty grilled perfectly on the outside, a slice of cheese (taste will tell him which kind), and chopped onions all between potato buns.

  Without much fanfare, Yuno took a bite and chewed slowly to savor the flavor.

  The grey-haired cook looked excited and expectantly at Yuno

  Yuno was startled at how freaking wonderful this simple hamburger tasted.  It was the best thing he ate all day!  Yuno felt his lips upturning into a smile (causing the grey-haired man to get a very pleased look on his face) but before Yuno could compliment the amazing cook, there was some whistles blowing.

  The police were there.  “HEY YOU WE TOLD YOU, NO PERMIT NO FEEDING THE PUBLIC!”

  “Aw, shit,” said the grey-haired man, wincing.  “Sorry, gotta run.  Thanks for eating!”  With clearly expert skill in evading the cops, the hamburger cook packed his cart and bolted with it down the street.  The cops rushed past Yuno to chase after him.

  Yuno was just stunned.  He knew that it was hard (and expensive if you didn’t know the right people) to get food permits, but Yuno never thought one of the non-permit people would make the best thing Yuno ever ate in recent memory.

  Hurt/Future

  “It’s time to get up, love,” said Asta, softly shaking Yuno’s shoulder to wake him up.  Asta was already fully dressed in his Black Bull formal wear (who knew that was a thing?)

  “No, let me sleep,” muttered Yuno into the pillow.

  “You’re going to be late for the ceremony, Mr. Wizard King,” said Asta, lightly teasing him.  They both just turned 25 years old and Yuno was chosen at the new Wizard King.  Asta was very proud of Yuno.  He was just so happy that one of them made it to the top.  Asta shook his head and leaned down to kiss Yuno’s cheek.  “I told you to not stay up late reading.”

  To most Yuno would be the type to be a morning person, but Asta knew full well that Yuno was rather cranky in the morning.  Asta was always ready to go as soon as he woke up.

  Yuno grumbled, “Just because you have a bunch of nervous energy does not mean that you can wake me up at the crack of dawn.”

  “It’s 7 in the morning,” said Asta, sighing.

  “Crack of dawn,” replied Yuno.  “The ceremony is at 1 in the afternoon, Asta.  I love you, but let me sleep.”

  Asta huffed.  “I had Finral go and pick up Sister Lily and the rest from Hage to watch the ceremony.  We have to meet them for breakfast and take them out on the town before, remember?  And you have to fill out a bunch of paperwork from the Parliament before the ceremony.”

  “You’re more nervous than me and I’m the one becoming Wizard King,” said Yuno, finally sitting up.  Asta felt a burst of fondness as the disheveled morning hair and bleary eyed Yuno.  “Everything is going to work out fine.”

  “I know that,” said Asta, rather defensively.  He knew it sounded defensive and he knew that Yuno would pick up on it.

  Yuno held out his arms and motioned for Asta to come for a hug.  Asta was not one to ignore a hug from Yuno. 

  Asta snuggled closer to Yuno. 

  “So, what’s really wrong?”

  “This was our dream,” said Asta, softly.  “We’re going to change things, aren’t we?”

  “Hmm, yeah,” said Yuno.  Without stopping, Yuno continued, “If anything ever happens to me, you’ll be next in line.  The only reason why you weren’t chosen this time was because some people think it would be better to have a Wizard King with magic.” 

  Asta knew it to be true, despite Asta and Yuno have a comparable list of accomplishments and deeds, Yuno was still chosen by the Magic Knights (who picked the best of the Magic Knights to be the Wizard King).  “Nothing’s going to happen to you until you’re old and gray.”

  “You know I can’t promise that,” said Yuno, solemnly.  “After what happened…”

“No,” said Asta, interrupting Yuno’s train of thought a most beloved Wizard King who everyone dearly missed.  “We won’t have to worry about things like that because I’ll be by your side.”

  Yuno kissed Asta on the head.  “Of course, we’re both being silly today, aren’t we?  So when’s the kids, Sister and Father getting here.”

  “Soon,” said Asta, breaking the hug.  “Get dressed and ready.  I’m going to ask someone in Golden Dawn palace for a spar.”  Asta moved to leave the room.

“Don’t get your dress robes dirty!”

Family/Gifts

  Yuno did not know why he was so nervous.  He, Asta and Nash (who was a Black Bull Magic Knight now) were at the old orphanage in Hage Village for a visit with the rest of their family.  Sister Lily and Father had been so excited for the unexpected visit.  They had been putting the money that Yuno, Asta and now Nash sent to them to good use—providing food, clothing and improved shelter.  With both Yuno and Asta as both Magic Knight Captains their pay increased tenfold plus they received hazard pay for any especially hard missions.  No matter how many times Yuno and Asta both argued to move the rest of the family somewhere closer to either of them, it was met with refusal since Hage was their home.

  The reason for the visit was actually important.  While Nash, the Golden Dawn, and the Black Bulls knew about Asta and Yuno’s relationship, Yuno had not wanted to break the news to Sister Lily and Father in a letter.  They deserved an in-person announcement from Yuno and Asta. 

  He was not nervous that they would be upset or angry with them for being in a relationship since they were the ones that taught acceptance and tolerance as boys.  No, Yuno was nervous because once the rest of the family knew it was going to be more real.   The Captain of the Golden Dawn and wind wizard knew it didn’t make any sense, since he and Asta had been together for nearing a year now.  But having Sister Lily and Father, who raised both of them into the men they were today, know meant something more.

  Asta shot Yuno worried looks during dinner, but Yuno ignored them.  Yuno talked to Asta about everything before they showed up there.  Asta was going to do the announcement and Yuno was just to affirm their relationship.

  “Alright, boys, I’m happy to see you but why you came all the way out here when you all are so busy,” Sister Lily asked.  She always was able to see right through them and their shenanigans.  She raised an eyebrow and arms crossed.

  Asta was not one to back down.  “Yuno and I are boyfriends.”

  Utter silence befell the table when Father laughed.  “Hah!  Knew it, Old Man Pickery owes me a drink.  He bet that it wouldn’t be until after one of you became Wizard King!”

“Father,” scolded Sister Lily.  She smiled at Yuno and Asta.  “We’re so happy for you two.  I always knew that your bond was irreplaceable and strong.”  The rest of the siblings, and even the new siblings that Asta and Yuno only ever provided for, had grins on their faces.  It looked like Yuno and Asta were not being subtle at all.

  “You know, we must have been obvious this whole time.  This was probably why the Black Bulls weren’t surprised,” commented Asta, smiling fondly at their family.

  “Golden Dawn squad wasn’t surprised either,” said Yuno, shrugging. 

  “That’s because every time you ever meet on the field you make goo-goo eyes at each other with dopey smiles on your faces,” snorted Nash, disbelief in his tone at the idiocy of both his older brothers it seemed.

  Asta burst out laughing and Yuno smiled, rather amused. 

Magic/Special

  Here was the thing for Asta—people (i.e. his Magic Knight friends) did not believe that Asta had a romantic bone in his body.  At one point, Noelle explained to him rather patiently for her that she had been threatened back at the beginning because of the way that Yuno looked at Asta.  Yuno looked at Asta, Noelle explained to him, like Asta was everything precious in the world.

  Asta knew it in the back of his mind.  Since they began a new aspect to their relationship, Asta never felt unloved.  Granted, he always felt special when he was with Yuno, because Yuno was the first to believe in him, the first to treat Asta as an equal despite Asta having no magic in a magical world, and the one person to truly understand Asta without having to explain anything.  It was just there was an extra dimension now that Yuno was unable to hide the affection and fondness when they were together these days.

  Asta knew that maybe his personality did not allow him to express his love in ways that were obvious to other people.  He was loud and kind of stupid and a whole lot sarcastic, but he knew that he loved Yuno, so much.

  Who would have thought out of the two of them that Yuno would be the one having an easier time expressing his feelings than Asta?  Asta had always been more social than Yuno, who preferred the quiet and reading than large crowds.  It was fine, because Asta liked that about Yuno and Yuno had Asta to make sure that Yuno didn’t spend too much time in his own head.  Yuno was forever unperturbed and did not let much get to him.  It was an enviable trait.

  Asta told Yuno every time they were able to meet up despite their busy schedules (especially now since Asta was the Black Bulls’ Captain) that he loved Yuno and always tried to plan dates that Yuno would enjoy above all else.  Sometimes, Asta felt like he was not doing enough to cherish and love Yuno and he did not know why.

  It was something that kept him up at night.  He should really be sleeping at the moment, especially since come morning he would be headed back to the Black Bulls hideout and had to say a temporary goodbye to Yuno once again.

  “You’re going to kill yourself with overthinking,” said Yuno, tiredly.  Yuno was using his chest as a pillow and Asta had his arm around him. 

  “Did I wake you?”  Asta pressed a kiss on top of Yuno’s head in apology.

  “Even when you’re thinking, you have to move around, Asta,” said Yuno, fondly.  “What’s wrong?”

  Asta sighed.  “You know I love you right?”  He held Yuno closer.

  “Hmm, yeah,” said Yuno, sleepily.  “Love you, too.”

  “You’re special to me.  The most important,” continued Asta.

  Yuno scoffed.  “I know that already.  You don’t have to tell me all the time, you know.”

  “I should tell you all the time, because you are…”

  Asta was interrupted by Yuno lurching forward to kiss him on the lips.

  “I know because you’re Asta and you have always thought I was special not because of my magical abilities but because I was just Yuno and that was enough.  Now rest.  You have to deal with your idiots’ tomorrow morning.”

Fortune/Competition

  Like everything in their relationship, Yuno and Asta’s romantic relationship was just as competitive.  In fact, confessing to each other and starting this new adventure as a couple increased the level of competition.  

  But instead of power-ups and accolades, Yuno and Asta both spent time attempting to one-up each other on the rare dates (for they were busy with their respective careers as Magic Knights).  Asta loved the big grand gestures which embarrassed Yuno to no end.  Yuno preferred quiet evenings where he just got to be with Asta without any outside interference.

  The thing was that Yuno always wanted to take care of Asta and spoil him.  Asta had always been the stable support of their family back in Hage Village—Yuno was well aware when things had been tight in some harsh winters that Asta had gone without food to make sure everyone else ate.  Asta put everyone else above himself.  Becoming Wizard King would allow Yuno to not only take care of Asta but also their family and ever-expanding group of friends.  Asta was not humble in some ways, but when it came to things that mattered, he was.

  Yuno always admired Asta and strived to become a strong-willed person like him, after all.  And perhaps maybe, Yuno wanted Asta to think of him that way.  There was something always in the back of Yuno’s mind even at 23 years old that maybe Asta still saw him as the crying little boy who didn’t know how to stand up for himself.

  “So you want to climb this mountain again like when we were sixteen,” asked Asta, amusedly staring at the hellscape that was Ultime-Volcano Mountain Trail where the Crimson Lions were known to train.

  “You scared?”  Yuno smiled.

  “Nah.  The hot springs are worth it in the end,” said Asta, grinning.  “And I see you brought food.  Who cooked it for you?”

  “Klaus, he was rather insistent since it was for our date,” said Yuno.  “You ready?”

  Asta smirked, leaning over to grab Yuno’s Golden Dawn cloak to pull Yuno close to Asta’s level.  Yuno flushed and not from the overwhelming heat of the active volcano as Asta kissed him briefly on the lips.

  Then, Asta bolted, activating his Anti-Magic demonic powers to get a head-start.

  Yuno rolled his eyes and activated his own magic to give chase.

  Asta arrived first at the top.  “I win.”

“You cheated,” said Yuno, blandly, but not angry.

  “Nah, you just got distracted,” replied the love of Yuno’s life.  “Now, where’s the food?”

“Are we going to at least wait until the volcano goes dormant and the hot springs appear, Short-sta,” teased Yuno.  Asta just laughed and nodded as they both were hovering over the top of the volcano waiting for the evening sun to finally set.

  Yuno was glad to settle down and eat after expending some magic.  Even though both Asta and Yuno had done training at various Grand Magic Zones, it was still an experience and a half.  Asta dug in first with Yuno eating a bit more civilly.  Asta did have to eat regularly with Charmy so one learned to eat faster.

  It was nice sitting under the moonlight, eating with his most important person.

  “So,” said Asta, swallowing his bite of food.  “Captain Yami is retiring.”

  Yuno stilled.  “What?”

  “Yeah, I was surprised too,” said Asta, thoughtfully.  “But apparently, he and Captain Charlotte came to an understanding or somethin’ and now they are going to travel all the way to Captain Yami’s homeland in the East.”

  “Wait, Captain Charlotte’s retiring too?”

  “Yep,” said Asta.

  “We’re losing two of our strongest magic knight captains and you’re not worried?”

  “They ain’t gonna be gone forever,” said Asta.  “And besides, Sol’s strong enough now to take over for Captain Charlotte.”

  “And any word on who’s replacing Captain Yami,” asked Yuno, hesitantly.  If Asta became a Captain, he and Yuno would have to work twice as hard to get any time together.  Yuno barely had enough time as it was as the Captain of the Golden Dawn, but if Asta was the Captain of the Black Bulls, and knowing Asta as well as he did, they might not see each other as often.  The Golden Dawn and the Black Bulls got very different tasks handed to them. 

  But Yuno knew that Asta would be the best person to take over the Black Bulls.  Asta had been worried, Yuno knew from late-night conversations, about possibly having to take over another Knights squad and leaving his second home.  The Black Bulls had been so accepting of the magical-less boy at the start and supported Asta throughout all his trials and tribulations, including when he almost lost the use of his arms to a curse.

  “Captain Yami gave me the chance to be where I am today.  If he didn’t think I was interesting, I would have been back in Hage Village,” said Asta, thoughtfully.  Yuno doubted it.  Asta would have found a way to become a Magic Knight or someone important if he had not been chosen for the Magic Knights. 

  Asta continued, “The others are upset that Captain Yami’s leaving but happy that he’s happy with Captain Charlotte.  It’s going to be down to me or Noelle to be the Captain.”

  Yuno felt the familiar jealously rise at the mention of Noelle, who was Asta’s other best friend, but knew he was being ridiculous. “How does everyone feel about it?”  Asta shrugged.

  “If they want Noelle over me, I would get it.  She’s a Royal and she’s freaking powerful,” said Asta, grinning.  Yuno agreed.   Noelle was a powerful elemental water wizard, on par with Yuno as an elemental wind wizard.

  “But you’re stronger than her.”

  “Ah, yeah, but she’s smarter than me.”

  “In some ways yes, but others, you are,” Yuno said defensively for Asta’s sake.  “Becoming Captain will mean that you’re one step closer to becoming Wizard King.”

  “And I would have caught up with you and Leo,” said Asta, nodding.  “But whatever happens, everything will work out.  I will find a way to become Wizard King no matter what.”

  Yuno smiled fondly at Asta and his never-ending determination.  It was one of things that were amazing about him.  Yuno blurted out, “I love you.”

  Asta startled for a moment and grinned back.  “Love ya, too.  Thanks for always believing in me.”

  Slightly flustered, Yuno said, trying to change the subject because things were getting too sappy for him at the moment. “This is a pretty great date, isn’t it?”