Chapter Text
“Look at that over there Yuno! What is it?!”
“Wait wait what the heck is this bug?!”
“No wait look at that! Is that supposed to be a mushroom?!“
Yuno sighs, trying to hide his face deeper in the Sheikah Slate as Asta continues to ramble. He wonders how this guy can be the most renown warrior in the Clover Kingdom, because for all his battle prowess Yuno doesn’t really see anything else he has going for him. The anti-mage lacks knowledge that is deemed necessary for practically any foot soldier in the Spade Kingdom. He also knows nothing of battle strategy, which makes it hard to believe he’s won as many battles as he has. Yuno is starting to think he’s being deceived.
“I’m gonna eat it!”
Yuno’s head snaps up at that statement, and he’s quick to stand up as he sees Asta holding a Zapshroom. The prince used a gust of wind to knock it out of Asta’s hand, watching the knight turn to him like a scolded child.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Yuno asks, not even bothering to hide the irritation in his voice.
“I’m hungry, so I’m grabbing a snack!” Asta points to the small patch of Zapshrooms beside him.
“You just told me you don’t know what that mushroom is, and you were going to eat it?” Yuno‘s eye twitches.
“I mean yeah, how dangerous could it be?”
“You’re such an idiot.” Yuno turns away and reaches into his bag, taking out the food he’d bought at the last stable they’d stopped at. A steamed fish.
“Here.” He offers Asta the food, who lights up immediately and grabs it.
“Thanks Yuno!”
He’s devouring the meal in seconds, and Yuno is glad for the peace and quiet while it lasts. The prince sits back down and opens the map on the Slate, pinning down the locations they’ll travel to next.
“So where we headed?”
Yuno groans as Asta leans over his shoulder, speaking while his mouth still holds chunks of fish inside of it. He pushes Asta way from his face quickly and glares.
“We need to go to the Spring of Power that’s just north of the Diamond Kingdom,” Yuno’s finger grazes the screen to where it’s marked. “If all goes well we should make it in less than two days.”
Asta nods, completely unaware of Yuno’s hostility earlier. His obliviousness only irks Yuno more, because there’s no way this guy is really this stupid right?
“Are you done eating?” Yuno asks once he sees that Asta’s food is already gone, standing and dusting himself off.
“Yeah! But aren’t you gonna eat?” Asta is quick to follow, falling into step beside the prince.
“I’m not hungry.” Yuno answers.
“But you haven’t eaten since last night.” Asta points out.
Yuno’s eyes widen, his gaze turning to Asta. He’s honestly surprised he noticed, given how carefree he seems to be. Yuno thought he’d be too preoccupied training and looking at things to pay him much mind.
“Why are you giving me that look?! I can worry too you know?!” Asta yells, huffing.
Worry? Now that was something else entirely. Yuno turns his head away and continues to walk.
“I don’t need you to worry over me. I can take care of myself.” He says, because it’s true. He doesn’t need some stupid knight that’s more brawn than brains following him around. The only reason he’s allowing Asta to come is because his father begged him, having worried for his safety out alone in the wild.
“Liar! You obviously do need someone to take care of you!” Asta is in front of him then, stopping him from continuing. “You’re not going anywhere until you eat!”
Yuno frowns, “I don’t take orders from you. We’re going.” He tries to move past Asta.
“Nope!” Asta blocks his path yet again, “It’s my job to take care of you, so you’re eating wether you want to or not!”
“I said no.” Yuno’s voice is staring to rise in volume, he needs to leave before his anger gets the best of him.
“Well I said yes!” Asta doesn’t budge.
Yuno huffs and clenches his hand into a fist, “Fine.” He summons his wind and uses a gust to toss Asta out of reach.
The knight goes flying into the air, but only for a few seconds. He lands before long, and Yuno curses his weakness. If it wasn’t for this damn curse then he would be gone by now.
Asta is staring at him, a mix of annoyance and concern sewn into his features. Yuno hates that look so much, he’s tired of it. It’s the look that always reminds him he’ll always be too damn weak.
“Yuno-“
“Shut up.”
Yuno cuts Asta off before he can even begin, because he doesn’t want to hear it! He can’t have someone else tell him he’s getting weaker by the day, how if he doesn’t hurry then the whole world will be doomed.
“Go back to the castle.” He says with the most stern voice he can muster. “And tell my father I’m not in need of an escort.”
Then he turns tail and runs, listening to Asta sputter behind him as he widens the gap between them.
He can’t stand to be in the same space with him for another second, not when it reminds him of his failure. Asta, who doesn’t have an ounce of magic in his body in a world ruled by it and still holds so much power, and Yuno, who lost his own magic and has been dubbed a failure of a prince since.
It just wasn’t fair.