Work Text:
Noelle was half-heartedly wiping down a dirty table; she didn't particularly like her job, but it was the least dangerous job she could get in that town.
She owned a saloon, an old, rustic one. She bought it because it was the cheapest in town. Now, she understood why. The place was falling apart and reeked of smoke and cheap whiskey. The small windows provided poor ventilation.
All kinds of customers passed through the saloon every night, though most were gunmen stopping over on their long journeys through the Wild West.
She also had regular customers. Most of them were old creeps who wanted to watch a young, beautiful woman make their drinks. They would get drunk and say all kinds of disgusting things to her. For instance, Noelle had to clarify more times than she would have liked that she was not a whore.
Her profession was exhausting. However, if she wanted to work—and at a job that wasn't risky—that was her only way out. Nearly all women spent their lives taking care of their children, cleaning the house daily, and cooking meals. She did not want that life, and she had known it ever since she was a child.
Nevertheless, this work also brought her some good things. She had met her best friend there, with whom she works now, Kahono. Moreover, she also got to know her… situationship, it was complicated. He was also a gunman, but he was completely different from the rest. When she first saw him, she felt a flutter in her heart. Although he was handsome, she didn't fall for him because of that. Still, that was important, too.
She stopped wiping the table and remembered how that young man had defended her from those jerks.
One night, one of the older men got so drunk that he tried to sexually assault her. Despite his age, he was surprisingly strong. He grabbed her by the waist, pulling the hem of her shirt up and making her bra visible to everyone in the bar. However, just as he reached for one of her breasts, the young man pulled out a gun and–
Bang!
He fired at his hand, grazing it. The old pervert fainted, and everyone ran away. Well, everyone except him.
“Name’s Asta, you should be more careful with all these geezers, they are capable of anything” he introduced himself, putting away his gun.
“I’m… Noelle” she said, in shock. What the hell just happened?
“Sounds nice,” he lit up a cigarette before talking again. “You should learn how to defend yourself. After all, I won’t be here all the time” he teased, taking a puff.
Noelle got a little offended at the man’s comment. “I can handle them on my own, I don’t need more men in my life”
“Huh, really? At least pull down your shirt please, no everyone wants to see your body”
Then, she realised that her shirt was still up, and pulled it down with embarrassment. “So what do you suggest I do? Close my business, train until I’m strong enough to deal with the old ones, and then open the saloon again? All of this not working of course, therefore not getting paid anything” she said, angrier this time.
“That’d be great actually” he took another puff. “Jokes aside, I could train you. I come to this village from time to time, but I’m willing to come more if it’s for a pretty lady like you” Asta said dramatically, though he was being honest.
The bartender sighed. "All right, if you really want to, I guess I should take that opportunity."
"Great. See you first thing in the morning, Noelle," he said as he headed out, leaving her alone.
It was the first time he had pronounced her name. Noelle wasn’t sure why, but she felt a tug at her heartstrings.
She was surely falling for him.
Ever since that day, now seven months ago, they have been training together. Noelle had gotten much stronger, she could handle problematic clients without any problem. There was no need for her to continue her training, but they still saw each other. Their relationship grew closer, much closer. Now, their “training sessions” normally ended up being a make-out session. It happened a couple months ago, and since that time it has become a regular thing in their routine. The tension between them was obvious from the start. However, they were just “friends”, and that frustrated her. We kiss, we hug, hell we even cuddle! And we’re not an item? I know I can also ask him out, but how? Lately, he rarely shows up, and, when he does, we just make out. Love is so difficult, I wish everything was simpler. It would be easier if one day he comes through that door and says “I love you, will you be my girlfriend?” she thought, wiping the table harder and harder every time. Nevertheless, she was interrupted by a loud noise.
She raised her head so quickly that she almost got whiplash
There he was, Asta, the gunman that drove her crazy. It seemed that her thoughts came true, except for the fact that he was about to fall at any moment. She ran as fast as she could and caught him before he could fall into the ground.
“What the hell?! Asta?!” she said, confused. His clothes were bloody and covered in dirt. Something must have happened… But what?!
She tried to sit him on a stool. Then, she noticed that his right side was bleeding. His eyes were lost. At this rate, if she didn’t do anything he would faint.
"Hold on, okay?!" I’m going to take care of that. Let me just take the bandages real quick.” She was in a hurry.
As Noelle healed his wound, Asta returned to reality.
“Thanks, Noelle” he expressed his gratitude, grinning faintly.
“Thanks?! When I’m done with this you’re going to tell me down to the smallest detail!” she said, bandaging his chest.
“Okay, okay! By the way, don’t take too long. I know you love my muscles but don’t take advantage of me just because I’m injured” he teased her. Gosh, he loved to mess around with her.
“It’s not the time, Asta” she declared, seriously.
It didn't take Noelle much longer to heal him.
“Well? Will you tell me what the heck you were doing to get injured this bad?” she asked, visibly upset.
“C’mon, it’s not that serious. That bullet didn’t even hit me! It just grazed me!”
"Do you even hear yourself?! You came here covered in blood! You almost collapsed in my arms!" the girl exclaimed, losing her temper.
“Noelle, I’m okay” he said, this time wanting to reassure the girl.
“No! You are definitely not okay!”
Asta wanted to reply to her, until he noticed with concern that she was trembling. She’s angry… Wait, no. Is she… scared?
“Are you alright, Noelle?” he asked, worried.
“What do you think?! This isn't the first time I've seen you walk through that door badly injured!”she yelled. Tears threatened to roll down her face. “Don't you ever stop to think about how it affects me to see you like this? This is becoming a common thing week after week, and I am not willing to see it as normal!" She felt her cheeks start to get wet.
“Then don’t” he simply said. “I'm a gunman, Noelle. What did you expect? To not get injured? That’s not compatible with my job, and you know that, from the very start”
“What are you implying?” she questioned, slightly gritting her teeth. And that’s not true, at the start you just got minor, understandable injuries. Bullets did not graze you at all.
“I’m just saying what I do for a living. If this is too much for you… It’s better to part ways. My main goal was to make you strong enough to protect yourself from harm, and I've achieved that goal long ago.” Asta explained.
A hush fell over the room.
Noelle couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
"What am I to you?" she unexpectedly asked.
“Wha-”
“Answer. What am I to you?” she repeated, highlighting each word.
Their eyes met. Hers were teary and red, while his were confused, with a hint of sadness.
“You are a friend I made a few months ago.” he said, lowering his gaze. He knew how deeply this would affect the girl, but it was the best for both of them.
“So the kissing, the cuddles, the hugs, the late-night talks… They meant nothing?” she stuttered. She felt her breathing quicken.
Asta did not answer.
“Tell me… Everything… Was it all for nothing? Just for… fun?” her voice was getting higher.
“Noelle, believe, it’s not what you think-”
“Not what I think?” she said in disbelief. “Really? You just told me we’re “good friends”, but do friends kiss? Do friends sleep together, cuddling? Do friends make out? Do friends… Do friends do everything we have done together? I thought… You were different. Every guy I’ve met in my life was a dork, I guess you’re not too far from being that.”
“Noelle, listen, I-”
“And now you tell me to listen to YOU?” she yelled, angrier than ever.
“Asta… I… thought… You loved me.”
“And I do” he affirmed, looking in her eyes.
“You do? Then what’s this nonsense you’re talking about? Friends don't love each other like this, ” she said, almost hollering.
“I’m telling you to listen!” Now he was the one shouting. “Noelle, I know you love me, and I can assure you the feeling is mutual. However, we cannot be together. My job is unsafe, risky. Anything could happen to me, at any time. This time I was lucky, but who knows how the next one will go? I want to spare you from that sorrow. I just want to protect you”
“Protect me?” she chuckled, incredulously. “Pushing me away is a way to protect me? Seriously? Do you know what hurts more than the thought of you being injured?”
“The thought of you never coming back at all. Of never seeing you again, knowing you are out there, living your life.”
“Maybe I'll be dead by then.”
“I prefer to be by your side when you die. At least I would know I’ve spent all the time I could with you, the one I love.”
Her words hit him harder than any bullet ever had. Then, he wondered, was he doing the right thing by pushing her away? Even though Noelle was right, he couldn’t bring himself to admit it.
“Asta… If you know you could die on any mission, why don't you do everything you want? That way, if you die one day, you won't have any regrets. You'll know you did everything you ever wanted.” she reasoned, intertwining their hands. "We're young. There are gunmen out there who have lived over sixty years. Think about it, please," she pleaded, frowning.
Asta thought long and hard. Was the girl’s suggestion right? Yes. Could he carry it out? He didn’t know.
“I just… I don't want to make you suffer because of me…”
"Asta, you're already making me suffer. Let’s be happy… together. No matter what the future brings. Even if your fate is to die young. Do I have to repeat myself? You are the one I love, my soulmate. I will never move on from you. Even if you leave now, I’ll always carry you in my heart.” Noelle was not joking. All she wanted was him.
Another silence filled up the old saloon.
“You know what? Fuck it. I don’t know when I’ll die, but I think it’ll be better if I’m with you.” he was tired. Tired from everything. He deserved something good in his life. He didn’t care if it was selfish, his job was dangerous enough to care.
Noelle let go of his hand accidentally. Her heart was about to explode. “Are you… being for real?”
"Yes," he said confidently. "We love each other, and you're right. I would lament dying without you as my girlfriend.”
Noelle felt her tears streaming down her face. She immediately kissed the boy. A deep, hungry kiss.
Asta didn’t know when he would die.
Noelle didn’t know how much time left she had with him.
But both knew they loved each other, and they wouldn’t let time ruin it.