#op ace

The trees are still too big, the road is still annoying and the forest still feels like home.

He walks up the familiar path with a grin on his face, hands behind his head “Wonder what old hag Dadan is doing now.”

When he reaches the hideout, loud shouting immediately answers his question.

Nothing changed at all.

Ace laughs “Yep. Definitely home.”

He pushes the door open “I'm back!”

The room goes silent… Dadan freezes, Dogra almost drops his cup and Magra stares.

For one second nobody moves, then Dadan punches him so hard he flies into a wall.

“YOU STUPID BRAT!”

“GAH!” Ace crashes into a table “WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!”

Dadan's eyes are red “FOR MAKING US THINK YOU WERE ABOUT TO DIE!”

“Sorry…”

“DON'T APOLOGIZE!”

“Then what do you want me to say?!”

“Shut up!”

“Okay!”

“NOT THAT EITHER!”

Ace laughs despite himself.

For the first time in months, everything feels normal.

Marineford still follows him. The fear in Luffy's face. Whitebeard. Everything he lost. Everything he almost lost.

But right now? Right now he's home.

A few hours later, the shouting has turned into drinking.

Ace sits at the table with a plate full of food.

Dadan watches him, still angry, still relieved and still pretending not to care.

“Eat slower.” she grumbles.

“I’m eating slowly.”

“You swallowed half the plate.”

“That’s slow.”

“Idiot.”

Ace grins, then he glances around and his smile slowly fades “Hey.”

Dadan immediately looks away. That’s suspicious.

“Where is she?”

“Who?”

“You know who.”

“Don't.”

“Dadan.”

She takes a drink “None of your business.”

Ace blinks “None of my—”

“Eat your food.”

“Dadan.”

“Eat.”

“Where is she? I know her well enough to know she came here.”

“You know nothing about her. Just eat.”

Dogra suddenly becomes very interested in the wall, while Magra coughs.

Nobody answers.

Ace slowly puts his fork down “...Why is everyone acting weird?”

“Not weird.”

“You are.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Dadan stands “Anyway! It's getting late!”

“It's the middle of the afternoon.”

“Very late!”

Ace narrows his eyes “Dadan.”

“Maybe you should leave tomorrow.”

“Leave?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“No reason. You're a pirate, you're probably busy.”

Now Ace knows something is wrong, because Dadan never wants him to leave, not after two years and not after believing he was dead or about to die.

He stands “Where is she?”

“None of your business.”

“Dadan.”

“Forget it.”

“No.”

“Kid.”

“You obviously know, tell me.”

Dadan's jaw tightens and for a second she almost looks guilty “Some things are better left alone.”

Ace freezes, his chest suddenly feels strange and heavy.

Two years ago. A face appears in his mind immediately. Your smile. Your laugh. The way you looked at him.

The way he had left before sunrise because he knew if he saw your face again, he would never go.

The way he told himself it was for your safety.

The way it hurt every day afterward.

“...she's here, isn't she?”

Nobody answers and that answers enough.

Ace turns toward the door.

Dadan immediately steps in front of him “Don't.”

His eyes widen “Why?”

“Just don't.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“That's not an answer.”

Dadan looks frustrated “Damn it.”

“Dadan.”

“Don't go looking.”

“Why?”

“Because you'll only make things worse.”

The words hit him harder than any punch.

“...What does that mean?”

Nobody answers.

Ace slowly walks around her “I'm going.”

“ACE!”

But he's already outside.

The village is quiet and the afternoon sun shines through the trees.

Ace walks familiar roads.

Some villagers recognize him immediately. Others stare like they have seen a ghost.

After all, the whole world watched him almost die.

Including you.

His stomach twists.

He wonders if you cried. He wonders if you hated him. He wonders if you moved on.

The thought hurts more than he wants to admit.

“...Guess I deserve that.”

Two years. A lot can happen in two years.

People change. Feelings change. Lives move on.

His feet slow.

What if you don't want to see him?

Then he spots someone and all his thoughts just disappear.

You.

Walking down the path. Alive, healthy and beautiful.

His heart stops.

As soon as you see him, you freeze too.

For a moment neither of you moves.

Ace can only stare.

You look exactly how he remembers, and yet completely different. Older and sadder but stronger.

Your eyes widen.

His lips part “...Y/N.”

Your face changes in shock, relief, disbelief and pain, all at once.

He takes a step forward “It's really you.”

Your eyes shine, and for one impossible second, Ace thinks you might run into his arms.

Instead your expression hardens, like a door slamming shut.

The warmth disappears.

Ace's chest drops “Y/N?”

You don't answer, your hands tighten, and only then does Ace notice the small child standing beside you.

A tiny hand holding yours.

The child hides partly behind your leg.

Ace glances at them briefly.

A cute kid, maybe three years old or something close to that.

He doesn't think much about it, his attention is completely on you.

“Y/N, I—”

You walk right past him.

Ace stands there, stunned.

The child looks up at him while passing, with his curious big dark eyes.

Ace turns immediately “Wait!”

You keep walking.

“Y/N!”

Nothing.

“Come on!”

Still nothing.

Ace groans “Okay, yeah, I deserve that.”

You continue forward “...But could you at least yell at me?”

Nothing.

“Throw something?”

Silence.

“Punch me?”

You finally stop.

Ace almost sighs in relief.

You slowly turn around, your eyes are shining again, but this time with obvious anger.

“Punch you?”

Ace scratches his cheek “Maybe not?”

“After two years?”

“...Fair.”

“After disappearing?”

“Yeah.”

“After not having contact for two whole years?”

“Okay, that one sounds bad.”

“Because it was bad!”

“There were reasons!”

“Really?”

Your voice cracks, and suddenly the anger doesn't sound angry anymore.

It sounds hurt.

Ace immediately feels worse “Y/N...”

“Do you know how… seeing that felt?”

His chest tightens “...Marineford.”

“Marineford.” you laugh sarcastically “I watched it.”

Ace freezes.

“I saw everything from here.”

His throat goes dry “Y/N…”

“I watched you die… they made it look like the heroes who killed the bad villain.”

The words hit harder than anything.

“I saw it happen…” your voice shakes “and I couldn't do anything.”

Ace can't move, can't speak and can't breathe.

“I just sat here and watched.” your eyes fill with tears “Everyone said you were dead. Then suddenly months later… MONTHS LATER the news says you're alive.”

A tear slips down your cheek “I was happy.”

Another follows “So happy. But do you know how angry I was?”

Ace swallows “...Yeah.”

“No, you don't.”

And somehow that hurts because it's true.

You wipe your eyes angrily “I hated you.”

Ace flinches, then you look away “...For about five minutes.”

His heart nearly breaks “Y/N...”

The child beside you tugs gently on your sleeve “Mom?”

The world stops.

Ace blinks.

Mom?

You immediately kneel and your expression softens “Don't worry, I'm okay.”

The child points toward Ace “Who is he?”

You freeze.

The child waits patiently, looking between both of you.

And somehow, for the first time, Ace notices something familiar about him.

The eyes, the hair, the smile… the freckles. But before he can think about it more, you stand “Let's go home.”

The child nods “Okay.”

You start walking again and Ace follows automatically, but you don't tell him to stop.

—-----------

The walk back is painfully quiet.

Ace follows a few steps behind you.

Your son occasionally looks back at him, curious and interested.

Not scared at all.

Every time, Ace awkwardly waves. The child waves back and then keeps walking.

The whole thing would almost be funny if your heart wasn't beating so hard.

Soon the familiar house comes into view.

The moment Dadan spots you, she practically bursts through the door “Y/N!”

You blink “Dadan?”

She rushes over, looking panicked “Listen, kid, we gotta—”

Then her eyes move past you and land on Ace.

Dadan freezes.

Ace awkwardly raises a hand “Uh... hi again?”

The woman looks like she wants to throw herself off a cliff “Oh for the love of—”

You immediately understand “Dadan.”

“I wasn’t gonna say anything!”

“You absolutely were.”

“I WASN’T!”

“You were.”

“I WASN’T!”

Ace points between both of you “Should I be worried?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

You and Dadan answer at the same time.

Ace blinks “That didn’t help.”

Dadan groans “So stupid.”

“Hey!”

“Inside.”

Nobody argues.

A few minutes later, everyone is sitting around the old table.

Your son escaped immediately as Dogra and Magra took him outside to play.

Which leaves only you, Dadan and Ace.

The silence is horrible.

Ace shifts in his chair.

You stare at the table.

Dadan pretends she isn’t here.

A fly buzzes somewhere.

Nobody speaks… the fly is honestly carrying the conversation.

Finally Ace clears his throat “So…”

Silence.

“Nice weather?”

You look at him.

Dadan looks at him.

Ace immediately regrets everything “...That was stupid.”

“Very.”

“Yeah.”

Silence again.

A few seconds pass then he says “You look good.”

You blink.

Ace scratches the back of his neck “I mean… not that you didn’t before.”

Dadan snorts.

“Okay, somehow I’m making this worse.”

“You’re talented.”

“Thanks.”

“You weren't supposed to take that as a compliment.”

“Too late.”

A tiny smile almost appears on your face and Ace notices.

His chest hurts, because for a second it feels like old times, but then the silence returns.

Until Ace finally sighs “Can I ask something?”

You shrug “You’re going to anyway.”

“Fair.” he pauses “The kid…”

Immediately your shoulders tense.

Dadan's eyes narrow.

Ace notices neither “How old is he?”

You blink.

That wasn't what you expected but you answer anyway “...Almost three.”

Ace nods “Oh.”

Silence.

Then… “He's cute.”

“...Thanks…?”

“Looks a lot like you.”

Dadan suddenly coughs so hard she nearly dies.

Ace looks over “You okay?”

“No.”

“Need water?”

“No.”

“You sound like you’re dying.”

“Working on it.”

Ace shrugs and then he looks back at you “So…”

You already hate where this is going.

“Did you adopt him?”

The room goes completely silent.

You stare.

Dadan stares.

Ace waits.

You ask, confused “...What?”

“You adopted him?”

“...Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know…”

“You just guessed?”

“Yeah. By Dadan’s reaction to me saying he looks like you.”

Dadan drags a hand down her face “He’s hopeless.”

“Hey!”

“No, she’s right.”

“Y/N!”

You almost laugh.

Ace points accusingly “You’re both being mean.”

“You’re making it easy.”

“Wow.”

He pouts, like a child… like the same idiot you knew years ago.

Then his expression softens “So... not adopted?”

“No.”

“Oh.” a pause “Then his father is here?”

You choke.

Dadan slams her forehead against the table so hard that Ace jumps “WHAT NOW?”

“Nothing.”

“You just headbutted a table!”

“Deserved.”

“For what?!”

“For knowing you.”

Ace looks deeply offended, then his attention goes back on you.

You stare.

Nobody answers.

“...So?”

You blink slowly “Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Yeah?”

“Seriously?”

“Yes?”

Dadan makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like suffering.

Ace glances at her “Why are you both acting so weird?”

Neither of you answer.

Ace frowns and then he starts thinking. You can practically see the gears turning.

“Okay.” he points toward the door “The kid is almost three.”

“...Yes.”

“I’ve been gone…” his voice trails off and his brow furrows “...three years.”

Your stomach drops.

Dadan closes her eyes.

Here it comes.

Finally.

Ace keeps talking, mostly to himself now.

“Almost exactly three years.”

Silence.

“And he isn't adopted.”

Silence.

“And everybody keeps acting weird.”

Silence.

“And Dadan wanted me gone before I saw you and him.”

Silence.

His eyes slowly move toward you, then toward the door and then back toward you.

The smile is gone, the joking is gone, the idiot is gone.

For the first time since he arrived… Ace is completely serious.

“...Y/N.”

Your heart pounds.

“How old is he exactly?”

You swallow “...two years and seven months.”

The answer comes out barely above a whisper.

Ace freezes.

The math is easy.

Gone for three years.

His face loses all color “No…” the word leaves his mouth before he can stop it.

Your eyes immediately drop to the table. Shame twists painfully in your chest.

You hate it, because you shouldn’t feel ashamed and you know that… but suddenly you do.

Maybe because of how shocked he looks, maybe because you never planned for this conversation, maybe because part of you is terrified he won’t want this. Terrified he’ll regret it. Terrified he’ll look at your son and see a mistake.

You grip your hands under the table “...I didn’t know.”

Ace doesn’t move.

“I found out after you left.”

Silence.

“I couldn’t tell you.”

Silence.

“Then…” your voice cracks and you look away “I didn’t even know where you were until you made it to the news and then… then everyone thought you were dead.”

The room becomes even quieter.

Dadan watches both of you carefully, ready to step in if needed… or out.

Ace is staring at the table, at nothing and at everything. Trying to fit this reality inside his head.

A child.

Your child.

His child.

The little boy outside, the one who waved at him earlier, the one with dark eyes, the one who smiled, the one who… suddenly Ace stands.

His chair crashes backward, making you flinch.

Dadan immediately rises “Ace.”

But he doesn’t seem to hear her.

“...That's my son.”

Nobody answers… nobody needs to.

Because the answer has been sitting in front of him this whole time.

And for the first time since you met him again… you realize he isn't looking at you anymore.

He's looking toward the little boy laughing outside.

As if the entire world has just changed, and maybe it has.

Because for two years, Ace believed he had left behind one person he loved.

Now he’s discovering he left behind two.

The door slams open and then he’s outside.

You stare after him and your heart immediately drops.

For one horrible second, fear grips your chest. Fear that he’s running away, that he’s leaving.

Again.

You push the thought away and rush after him “Ace!”

You reach the doorway just as Dadan catches your wrist.

You turn.

She’s watching the yard, watching Ace, and for once, she doesn’t look angry, she looks sad.

“He ain't running.”

Your brows furrow “How do you know?”

Dadan sighs “Because I know that idiot.”

Then she lets you go and says “Go.”

Dogra and Magra are playing with your son.

The little boy sits proudly on Dogra's shoulders while Magra runs around roaring like a monster “THE GREAT BEAST IS COMING!”

“NOOOO!”

Your son laughs so hard he almost falls off Dogra's shoulders.

“FASTER!”

“I'M TRYING!” Dogra complains.

Then your son notices Ace and the laughter slowly fades.

The boy tilts his head, watching him.

Ace stands completely still, staring.

Looking at him for the first time.

His son.

The words still don't feel real.

Your son waves with a tiny happy wave, the same one he gave Ace earlier.

Ace's face immediately crumples.

Your heart squeezes painfully, because now you understand this isn't rejection or anger… this is grief.

The little boy slides down from Dogra's shoulders and walks over, stopping right in front of Ace, looking up.

Ace looks down.

The resemblance is impossible to miss now.

Your son points at the red beads around Ace's neck “Pretty.”

A broken laugh escapes Ace, almost immediately followed by a sob “You think so?”

“Yeah.” the little boy nods confidently “Very pretty.”

Ace presses a hand over his mouth, his shoulders shake.

And suddenly every single thing crashes into him all at once.

Not just the fact that he has a son, not just the fact that he missed three years.

Everything.

He looks at the little boy, at the child standing in front of him, and his mind starts filling the empty spaces.

The spaces where he should have been.

He sees you standing alone.

Without him.

He sees you crying.

Without him.

Laughing.

Without him.

Getting sick in the mornings.

Without him.

Craving strange food.

Without him.

Growing bigger every month.

Without him.

His chest hurts.

He never saw your belly.

Never saw his son growing inside you.

Never placed a hand there.

Never felt the kicks.

Never talked to him through your skin.

Never watched you smile when the baby moved.

Never watched you complain when the baby kicked your ribs.

Never helped you tie your shoes.

Never carried things for you.

Never stayed awake when you couldn't sleep.

Never comforted you when you were scared.

Never promised you that everything would be okay.

Because he wasn't there.

Your son smiles at him with his tiny innocent smile.

Ace feels something break.

He missed the birth.

His son's first breath.

His first cry.

His first smile.

His first laugh.

His first word.

His first steps.

His first birthday.

Everything.

His knees almost give out.

“Ace?” your voice sounds distant, he can barely hear it.

Because suddenly another image appears in his head.

Marineford.

The crowd.

The execution platform.

The world watching.

The world cheering for his death.

The newspapers.

The broadcasts.

The fear.

And then… you watching, alone.

You believing he was gone forever.

Ace's breathing becomes shaky.

His mother suddenly comes to mind. The woman who carried him alone. The woman who suffered alone. The woman who watched the whole world hunt her child before he was even born. The woman who endured everything by herself.

And suddenly he understands that he left you carrying a burden alone.

He finally understands that while he had convinced himself he was protecting you, you had been surviving without him.

Just like his mother did.

The realization hits him so hard that he physically stumbles.

“Ace!”

You rush forward, but before you can reach him, he drops to his knees.

The yard goes silent. Everyone freezes, while your son blinks in confusion.

You stop moving “Ace...?”

His head lowers and his hands shake.

You have never seen him like this.

Tears hit the dirt beneath him.

“I’m sorry.” the words come out broken, barely audible.

“Ace...”

“I’m sorry.” his voice cracks “I’m so sorry.”

Your eyes widen.

Ace lifts his head and the view nearly destroys you.

“I missed everything.”

You immediately shake your head “Ace…”

“I missed everything.” his voice rises with desperation “His birth.”

Another tear falls “His first words.”

Another “His first steps.”

Another “His birthdays.”

A horrible broken laugh “I wasn't there.”

Your throat tightens.

“You were alone.”

“Ace…”

“I left you alone.” his voice breaks again “I wasn't there.”

Your eyes burn.

“You were pregnant and I wasn't there.”

You can't answer.

“You were scared and I wasn't there.”

Ace wipes his face, only for more tears to replace them “I should've been there.”

The guilt is eating him alive.

You can see and feel it.

“I should've been helping you.” his shoulders shake “I should've been holding you.”

Your vision blurs.

“I should've been holding him.”

The little boy quietly walks closer, confused, but sensing something is wrong.

Ace notices him, and that only makes him cry harder “I wasn't there.”

Then Ace lowers his head and the next words nearly stop your heart “Can you forgive me?”

You freeze.

Ace's voice becomes smaller and more fragile “Please.”

The yard is completely silent.

“I know I don't deserve it… I know I hurt you.” his hands clench “I know I left.”

You feel tears running down your own face now.

“But please...”

Ace looks at you, like someone terrified of the answer… “Please forgive me.”

His voice cracks completely “Please.”

And suddenly all you can see is the boy you fell in love with.

Your Ace.

Broken, crying and begging, because he thinks he lost everything… and he still doesn't realize that despite all the hurt… despite all the anger… despite the years apart...

You've never stopped loving him.

Not for a single day.

You want to say something, anything, but before you even can, a tiny hand grabs yours.

You look down and see your son is standing beside you.

Looking from you to Ace.

“Mom?”

Your expression softens immediately and you squeeze his little hand “Yes?”

He points toward Ace, toward the crying man kneeling in front of you “Can't you forgive him?”

Your heart almost breaks, because there is no judgment in his voice, only innocent confusion.

As if forgiveness is the easiest thing in the world.

As if love is simple.

You smile at him, then you lift your eyes.

Ace is looking at you and here your smile slowly disappears, a sad expression replaces it.

You look into his eyes and say “No…”

Ace freezes, his shoulders tense.

Regret fills his expression so quickly that your heart hurts, so you hurry to continue “There's no need.”

Ace blinks “What?”

You smile sadly “As I said this afternoon...”

Your fingers tighten slightly around your son's hand “I hated you for like five minutes.”

A tiny laugh escapes Ace, wet and shaky.

You let go of your son's hand, then slowly kneel in front of Ace, bringing yourself to his level.

His eyes widen slightly.

You gently take his face in your hands and your thumbs brush against his cheeks, ceaning away his tears.

Another one falls immediately and you wipe that one away too, very softly.

Ace leans into your touch without even realizing it.

“I understand your situation, Ace.”

His eyes immediately lower.

You gently guide his face back toward you “Look at me.”

Slowly, he does.

Your thumbs brush against his skin again “I loved you a lot.”

Ace's breathing stops.

“And I will never stop loving you.”

His eyes widen “Y-Y/N...”

“I'm so happy you're here now.” your own voice starts shaking “Sorry if I got mad or if I acted cold.”

Ace immediately shakes his head, hard “Don't apologize.”

You blink “Ace…”

“No.” his voice is firm despite the tears “You don't get to apologize for that.”

You stare at him.

“I left.” his hand gently covers one of yours “You had every right to be angry.”

Another tear slips down his cheek “You had every right to hate me.”

You smile softly “Good thing I didn't then.”

Ace laughs weakly.

You continue softly “I was scared too.”

His expression immediately changes… it softens.

“I thought our story ended there.”

Without thinking, he reaches for you, his arms wrap around you, holding you tightly “I'm here.”

His voice shakes “I'm here.”

You hold him just as tightly “I know.”

For a while neither of you moves or speaks.

Finally you pull back slightly and see your son is still standing there, watching everything carefully and curiously.

You smile, then gently place a hand on his shoulder “Kael...” (random name from google lmao sorry)

The little boy looks up immediately “Yeah?”

You smile softly, full of love , full of pride and warmth.

“This is Ace.” you glance toward him, then back to your son “Your dad.”

Kael blinks, then he looks at Ace.

Ace looks terrified, absolutely terrified… you almost laugh.

Then you turn toward Ace and your smile becomes softer, filled with so much love it almost hurts “Ace...”

His eyes meet yours.

“This is Kael.” your fingers gently brush your son's hair “Your son.”

Ace completely breaks again, with fresh tears appearing instantly.

“Hi...” Kael tilts his head “You're my dad?”

Ace nods immediately, quickly “Y-Yeah.”

Kael thinks about this then he says “Cool.”

Ace blinks “Cool?”

“Yeah.” Kael points at his tattoo “You have funny freckles.”

Dogra explodes laughing, while Magra nearly falls over.

Ace stares in horror “They aren’t… freckles…”

“They are… are you stupid?” Kael nods wisely.

Ace turns to you “I HAVE BEEN A FATHER FOR TEN SECONDS AND I'M ALREADY BEING BULLIED.”

“He's definitely yours.” Dadan says from the doorway.

“HEY!”

Kael giggles, then he says “Mom talked to me about you, you’re the very cool fire boy.”

Then, without warning, he steps forward and hugs Ace… small arms around his neck.

Ace completely freezes and his eyes widen.

His arms slowly wrap around him carefully, like he is holding treasure.

“Hi, dad.”

Ace makes a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob “Hi, kid.”

Ace reaches out for you with one hand and gently pushes you to kneel beside them.

You do so and then you wrap your arms around both of them.

Ace immediately pulls you closer and the three of you stay there, holding each other.

A family… maybe messy and maybe a bit late, but a family anyway.

Ace looks at you, you look at him, and this time, when he leans closer, you meet him halfway.

The kiss is soft, gentle and warm.

When you pull away, Ace rests his forehead against yours, finally smiling.

Then Kael tugs on his sleeve “Dad?”

“...Yeah?”

“Can I sit on your shoulders?”

Ace grins immediately.

The old familiar grin, the dangerous one that means bad decisions are coming “Kid, I can do way cooler than shoulders.”

Your eyes widen “Ace!”

Fire suddenly bursts around him as he shoots into the air with Kael in his arms.

Kael screams in delight “I'M FLYING!”

Ace laughs “THAT'S MY BOY!”

“ACE!”

“HE'S FINE!”

“PUT MY CHILD DOWN!”

“OUR CHILD!”

“PUT OUR CHILD DOWN!”

Dadan lights a cigarette “Yep.”

Everyone laughs.

And Ace…  he laughs the loudest out of everyone.

He’s alive, he’s home… exactly where he belongs.

He looks down at you with the softest expression you ever saw on him, making you smile softly back at him.

.

.

It's currently almost 2 in the morning and your getting ready for bed after drinking and partying all night.

Knock

Knock

Knock

You try to ignore the knocking, wanting to go to sleep.

Knock

Knock

No matter how much you tried to ignore it, the knocking just got louder and louder until you couldn't stand it anymore.

Standing up from your bed, you storm towards the door ready to throw hands at the person behind the door.

Pulling the door open, you open your mouth, ready to shout at the person but then before you could react, a pair of large arms suddenly wrap around your body.

"Huh?" You yelped.

"Y/n" he mumbles.

Your eyes widen, recognizing his voice.

A deep flush of red spreads across your face.

"Ace? What are you doing" you try to move away slightly but failed.

His grip on your body tightened slightly at the feeling of you moving.

"Mhm, why baby?" He whispers in your ear.

"Why won't you m'just look at me?" he sniffled.

"What? Why huh?" you asked, confused.

He trembled against you, and you could feel tears soaking your shirt.

"Ace?" you pull back a little, just to meet his gaze.

His hold on you loosens a little, letting you pull back a little.

His black hair was messy and all over the place. A flush of pink spread across his face. He looked drunk and exhausted, trying hard not to let the tears in his eyes fall down again.

You cup his cheek, and wiped the tears falling from his eyes. "What's wrong?"

He leaned onto your touch, tilting his face onto your hand.

"You're what's wrong" He grumbled.

“You looked so happy talking to that guy tonight,” Ace muttered, refusing to meet your eyes.

“The one that kept flirting with you.”

You frowned slightly. “Really? I dont even know the guy.”

“That doesn't really matter” he whispered.

“He got your attention so easily” He chuckled

“And I’ve been trying forever and you just brush me away”

Your chest tightened at his words.

“Ace…”

“I know I flirt a lot,” he explained. “But Im serious about you”

For a moment, all you could do was stare at him.

“I thought you were joking around” you admitted softly.

“You act like that with everyone, so I didn’t think you were serious and I was scared of embarrassing myself” you explained.

Ace finally looked up at you, eyes red and glassy. “So you really didn’t know?”

You shook your head before pressing your lips on his cheek.

“Idiot,” you mumbled, smiling a little.