Archive of Our Own

The breeze was warm unlike what it should have been just coming off the beach at night, the reflection of the stars on the black water skewed by slow waves. They were hypnotizing, blurring every so often as they rocked with the sea, and it was hard to look away so you didn’t. No, you just sat still on the blanket laid on the sand, your legs crossed and another small throw covering them to protect them from what you thought was going to be a chilly night. It ended up being the opposite, so now it was simple comfort as you sat there. It was quiet, nothing except a swell of wind every so often and the push and pull of the tide, but it was broken after a few, long moments by footsteps muffled by the sand. You didn’t have to look to see who it was, there was only one person who knew where you were at that time, and only one person who would’ve thought to join you.

“So you’re really doing it, huh?” you asked, waiting until there was a flop next to you and a tug on your smaller blanket. Playfully you kept it captured, but the material was easily pulled from your grasp in favor of covering another pair of legs.

“Yup!”

With a grin you glanced over, catching sight of a particularly fiery seventeen year old who was looking past the water himself. It was only when you turned your head fully that he must’ve caught it out of the corner of his eye for he turned his head to look at you as well. His expression was one of curiosity, yours must’ve making him confused which you weren’t shocked by. Ace was an oblivious man sometimes, most of the time, but you were sure what was written on your face was heavily convoluted for that’s how your feelings were.

You were happy for Ace, happy that he was holding onto his dreams and going for it, but what did that mean for you? A regular girl from Foosha Village who had some rough and tough friends, three boys who were dirty and gross only for two to grow up at your side, that’s who you were. You weren’t anything special, taken in by the mayor and for the most part raised by Makino who opened her arms to your friends as well. They were up with Dadan which answered a lot of questions about their manners, but more often than not they were running around the village and you tagged along. At first you were “stupid girl”, then you were “stupid Y/N”, and finally as slight maturity set in, you became just Y/N.

You were “just Y/N”, and you were going to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground - that’s what was meant for you.

“I’m gonna miss you, you know,” you murmured.

A loud laugh rang across the water, echoed back into your ears, and while it was a sound that normally brought a grin to your face, all it brought was a hesitant smile this time. You didn’t mean to put such a damper on the mood, truly, but you couldn’t bring yourself to reassure Ace that everything was okay when it wasn’t. It was fine, sure, he was setting out to reach his goal, but was it okay? Not for you.

“Hey, what’s that look for? I’ll come back and visit.”

Ace really didn’t get it, did he?

“Will you?” you asked tentatively. “Will you really remember to come back after everything you’re going to see?”

“Duh,” Ace said with a blink, “you won’t be out there so of course I’ll come back.”

What?

Your eyes shot up from where they had drifted, wide in surprise and your jaw a little slack. It must’ve been a whammy of a combo for when your face came into view, Ace faltered. He stumbled something out, nonsense, but what you had really locked onto was the way his freckled cheeks burned bright.

“Wait, that’s not what I mea -”

“Then what did you mean?”

Hopefulness, that’s what you were feeling.

“I just …” Ace trailed off, having to force himself to look away from you before he grumbled. “Don’t be stupid, you know what I mean.”

“Ah, so I’m back to being the stupid girl, am I?”

“No!”

Finally you laughed, your spirits successfully lifted but due to the turmoil of your company, and though you were entertained you knew you had to put Ace out of his misery. He didn’t do well with embarrassment, and you figured that if you wanted him to stay at your side any longer then you were going to have to clear the air. So your laugh turned soft, your gaze even more so, and soon you were smiling sweetly at Ace who was still doing his best to stop his face from heating up.

“I know what you mean, I just … didn’t think you’d mean it, you know?” you said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“Ace, calm down,” you said, still smiling as you shook your head. “I didn’t think you thought about it.”

“What?” Ace asked almost stupidly. “That I’d miss you? Of course I’m going to miss you, idiot, I basically grew up with you.”

“Is that it?” you dared to ask. “You grew up with me?”

That wasn’t it, and even though you asked you knew it wasn’t. Could Ace tell you that was it and leave it at that? He could, and you’d have to accept his denial of what really took place in Foosha Village. What was that exactly? It was secret breakfasts in the woods, faking illness so that no one knew it was the two of you just sneaking away to spend the day together except everyone did know. Soft smiles, lingering stares, moments like this one where it was just you and Ace alone enjoying a moment of peace. They were simple things, sure, but not to you, and at that very second you had to wonder whether or not they were simple for Ace, too.

“… is it?” you urged, hanging onto the very edge for Ace’s answer.

… was it?

Ace couldn’t look at you, not with the way you were staring at him. It put him at a loss for words, left him unsure of what he said because he thought that’s what he had meant, but you were countering him with something he never really considered. It made sense, girls were always worried about stuff like that when all he had previously been occupied by was his grand idea of piracy. He always knew he wanted to set out to sea, make a name for himself, but to you it was a name you already knew and liked everything attached to it. That’s what he was faced with now, your silent almost confession while he tried to grasp on to any sense of intelligence about these things he had.

“Can I tell you when I visit?” was what he settled on, not the answer you wanted but the only one he could offer. Right now, with the day he was to leave creeping up faster and faster, it was all he could think about. He thought about you, and he thought about Luffy and Dadan, too, but his focus had always been set ahead. You weren’t asking him to stay, you would never do that, but you were asking him something else important he couldn’t quite think about yet.

You were only slightly disappointed, for even though Ace didn’t reject you he didn’t supply a proper answer either. It was better than nothing you supposed, and if that was the best you were going to get then you were going to have to settle for it. Ace didn’t mean any harm, he wouldn’t hurt you on purpose, but there was this dull ache of want for more that lingered. You weren’t even sure you’d get more and you should’ve been more upset that you were going to be left wondering, but you knew Ace needed time, and if that time had to be spent away then so be it.

“You promise you’ll come back and not forget about me?” you asked, looking away yourself and back to the water that was still as dark as ever. There was a touch however, one that lit everything up brilliantly, and when you looked down at your side Ace’s hand had crept over and covered yours. You didn’t dare move, you didn’t want to and scare Ace away, so you simply stared a moment longer before looking out to the sea again and enjoying the warmth.

“I promise.”

Two years.

Two years of transponder snail calls, of letters, of you hearing about all of the great things Portgas D. Ace accomplished. He kept in touch with you and never wavered, and though he was gone he kept his promise. Well, half of it, for he certainly didn’t forget about you but that visit wasn’t coming around, and you felt as though it wasn’t going to come around soon. It wasn’t brought up, you didn’t say anything because it was out of fear of pestering Ace, but god did you ever want to see him again.

You figured that after at least a year you were going to get over it, forget about the feelings you had because Ace wasn’t going to be around to make it difficult for you. With him out of sight and therefore mostly out of mind, you thought that all of that mess would just fade away, yet it seemed to only get stronger the longer Ace sailed the seas. You wanted him back, wanted him to return to Foosha Village and stay at your side, but for a pirate that was impossible. A pirate traveled, saw and experienced new things and lived freely which is what Ace always wanted to do. You weren’t going to be responsible for crushing his dreams, and so conversation and writing to one another was what you took despite wanting to ask him to just come back.

The life you lived in the last couple years, though not nearly as exciting as a certain pirate’s, was nice! There was always entertainment in Foosha Village, particularly with Luffy around, and in your hometown you found safety and comfort. You knew the people like the back of your hand, liked them a lot and cared for them deeply, but it just wasn’t the same without a certain freckled face. It was, however, that same freckled face that made you yearn for more.

What was it like out there? Was it as amazing as Ace made it sound? … What things would you see?

With a sigh you slumped over the counter you were behind, Makino’s bar opening in an hour and some, and you tasked with cleaning up before doing so. Your schedule was a morning shift and you didn’t mind that, except for the fact that your work could be done within minutes. You supposed it was for safe keeping, and though you were sure no one would be so disrespectful that they’d just barge in, it was a safety measure. Still, regardless of that, you were going to be incredibly bored for the next hour while you waited for someone, anyone to come in and join you.

The bell rung, and the surge of excitement you felt at not being by yourself was so strong it would have knocked you off your feet had you not froze in the next second. You had company alright, and while you were expecting Makino or even Luffy with some crazy plan, you got neither. No, what you got instead stole the breath from you, and you could only stand still and stare at the man before you.

“Not even a “hello”, huh?”

Oh my god.

“Ace!” you shouted, and just as you did your body unlocked and your feet moved faster than your head. It caught up when it was too late, and all you could hear was Ace’s laugh in your ear as he caught you after you lunged at him. You could practically see the grin on his face, and you were sure yours was just as wide as you threw your arms around Ace’s neck to hug him tight.

Everything was blank the moment you saw him, but reality slammed into you and an embarrassment shot through your whole being. Your face was hot, fiercely so, and you were just about to let Ace go when his own arms wrapped around you and held you close. It was then that you relaxed, and you settled into the hug just as Ace turned his head and buried it into your neck. He seemed to hold you tighter then, and you responded by daring to step even closer to fill whatever space was left between you.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” you murmured, and you felt your throat get tight as the words barely made it out. It was enough to draw Ace’s attention, and he gave you a squeeze before backing off a bit, and while one arm fell to your side the other came up to wipe your eyes.

You weren’t sad, obviously, and you couldn’t exactly say they were happy tears though that was certainly part of it. So many things overwhelmed you in that moment that you knew you were going to laugh or just cry, and unfortunately the latter hit you like a ton of bricks. Your short laugh was watery as you kept wiping your eyes, but more tears came and you couldn’t move fast enough. That was when your arm was gently pulled away, and when you looked up you could see a soft smile through your blurry gaze. Your face was even more warm then, Ace’s hands on either of them, and his thumbs were stroking your cheeks to clear the tears.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, and even though you shook your head he still felt a wave of guilt.

Ace didn’t mean to stay away for too long, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to, it was just that a lot of things happened. The things he saw, the things he did, they were big and grand and he wouldn’t change them for the world, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t think about home, think about you. He was lucky enough to still have communication but it just wasn’t the same as having you like this, in his arms and close, and he was realizing that the longer he stood there.

“No, it’s okay,” you eventually replied, still choking out laughs and bringing your hands up to cover Ace’s and pull them away. “I’m just - … I’m so happy to see you, and I’m surprised, and I’m sad that I’m only seeing you now but I’m still so happy.”

It was a poor explanation but it still made Ace smile even wider, him eventually laughing himself and then scooping you up in his arms again. This time it was even tighter than before, so much so that he heard your breath hitch, but he wasn’t interested in letting you go just yet. In fact, now that he had you this close, he didn’t want to let you go ever again. Ace’s heart sank when he realized he was going to have to eventually leave again, but he shoved that down so that he could enjoy the present moment.

“If anything I should be sorry,” you said, though it was muffled from where your face was buried into his chest.

“Why?” he inquired, looking down at you and waiting for your head to pop up.

“Because I made you all messy,” you responded, you being the one to pull away a bit so that you could clear the smeared tears. “You know, all over these,” you explained, gesturing to his chest. “Where did these come from, by the way? Pretty sure you were scrawny when you left.”

The grin that was on Ace’s face quickly turned down, and he was pouting at you within seconds. Despite that he went red, a blush heating up his cheeks as he tried to blow it off with a scoff. He could see that you were amused, seeing right through his tough facade. Really he should’ve known better, he was transparent when it came to you, and so here he was - bashful because you were staring.

“Shut up,” he grumbled.

“Pirate life that good, huh? Geez, maybe I should head out and get some beefed up arms or something,” was your tease, taking a step back and looking up at Ace’s face which was suddenly wearing a serious expression. The crimson had long since faded, and now he was watching you carefully.

“You should.”

With a blink you registered the two words, but for some reason it took you a second to really get it. Then all you did was laugh, the kind with your hand on your stomach and the other covering your mouth. Giggles exploded behind it, and you just couldn’t stop at the prospect of you running around as a pirate. It was ridiculous honestly, that idea, because not even in the back of your mind did you consider the option. Yet here Ace was, staring at you with a look that made you realize it wasn’t just a joke.

“Wait, are you serious?”

“Yeah, why not? Not like there’s much going on here, it’s still the same as it was,” Ace shrugged.

“Hey now! This is still our home,” you responded, swatting at Ace. “Besides, you haven’t even told me anything about it! I have to know what I’m getting myself into before I decide anything.”

It was a joke, you were kidding, and you intended for it to be that way but instead Ace caught your hand and held it. You stared at your locked fingers before looking up curiously, you being watched back with a rather tender look that you really had never seen on Ace’s face before. It captured you, you couldn’t look away, so you were stuck simply staring up at him and waiting for something, anything.

“Will you let me tell you about it?”

You were nodding before you even realized it.

“Good,” Ace replied with a crooked smile, and your hand was held tighter, “but I think I owe you something first.”

“What’s that?”

“An answer.”

It all came rushing back in that second, the very moments spent leading up to Ace’s departure. It wasn’t that you didn’t think you’d get your answer, Ace was a man of his word, but it had just been so long that you kind of forgot about it. It was as if you hadn’t however, not with the way your heart immediately kicked into gear and started pounding in your chest.

“Yeah?” you murmured.

“Yeah.”

Your pulse was racing, you could hear it in your ears, and you swallowed thickly in anticipation. It was happening though you didn’t think it’d happen as fast as it was, for even though you forgot you had once figured it was still going to take time. Ace wasn’t the “feelings” type, in fact he was the “run away from feelings” type and so getting him to collect them was one thing, then saying them was something else. Although here he was, looking at you so sincerely as if you were seventeen and you had just asked.

“What is it?” you dared to breathe, though you soon found it hard when Ace stepped close to you. He guided your hand that was in his up to his shoulder where he rested it before his came down and held your waist. The other one rose and tipped your chin up, forcing your head back a little so that you could see him even better than before.

Ace didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to when actions spoke louder than words. It was as simple as him keeping your head still while his lowered, and he heard your breath catch when he was only inches away. His eyes quickly darted up to meet yours, and with such an inviting gaze he couldn’t help himself any longer. He had spent enough time thinking about it, mulled over his thoughts, because even if life threw a lot of things at him you were always in the back of his mind. When would he see you next? What did he mean back then? He hadn’t even truly figured that out, but all he knew was that you were important to him, and this? This was right.

When Ace placed his lips on yours everything went blank but it wasn’t in a bad way, rather it was such an outpouring of questions that got answered with a simple kiss. Your eyes fluttered shut the moment your mouths touched, your fingers curled into the muscle of his shoulder, and your free hand came up to rest on his chest as you leaned into him more. A strong arm scooped around your middle and held you even closer, tugged you in, but even though Ace did that he was still pulling away. Your gaze was lidded when your stare focused, trained on Ace’s face which was a light pink just as you were sure yours was, and time stood still. It was short though, for all it took was a glance at Ace’s lips before he ducked down and crashed them into yours once more. It took you off guard, you letting out a muffled sound of surprise, but it quickly turned into a pleased sigh as your hands slid up until your arms were circling his neck.

Ace took the moment you wavered into his hands and took a step forward, making sure his arms were securely around your waist so that you wouldn’t fall as you were forced to step back. Sure you stumbled a bit but you caught yourself and let him guide you, and he did so until you were pressed up against the bar. With how strong he had become it was easy to lift you after his hands scooped under your thighs, and without breaking the kiss you were lifted up onto the counter. Ace pulled you right to the edge, fitted himself between your legs, and his hands were gripping your hips tightly as if he was keeping you in place when he broke the kiss again.

“No, wait,” you whispered, but you figured the break was just a second to get some air for soon enough you were being kissed again.

A desperation laced this one leaving you with a spinning mind and a whirling in your stomach. Your arms slipped from Ace’s neck so that your hands could move to his chest, shamelessly feeling the muscles under your fingers as he held you close. The need grew fast, built up, stacked, and it wasn’t long before Ace’s hands were on the move - up the curve of your waist, lingering high while the other brushed up your arm, and soon he was holding the side of your face. Your head was tipped, yours and Ace’s mouths slotting together closer and making you moan softly. It was just enough that it must’ve given the pirate confidence because before long Ace’s tongue was rushing past your lips and finding yours to twist around it, and it pulled another pleased sound from you that was a slight whimper.

“I thought I recognized that face coming off the dock.”

There was a split second in which you and Ace froze, and it was the next one where you were pulling away and quickly avoided the amused gaze you felt on you. A hand left Ace’s chest and came up towards your mouth, you quickly wiping your lips that had become slick with the aggressive affection you had just experienced. You couldn’t look, you knew it was Makino as she was the one who was coming in after you, and the embarrassment that flooded you was so intense that all you could do was hide your face in Ace’s chest and simply die.

“Why don’t we get some lunch and get caught up?”

Thank god.

It had been a couple days since Ace appeared, and those couple days had been so incredible for you that you knew they were going to be some of your favorite ones. Having Ace around was like a breath of fresh air, and the stories he told were amazing and grandeur, and you were hooked. They were told among other things the two of you did, joined at the hip with a slight unwillingness to separate, but there were things Ace had to do that had nothing to do with you so you released him, but it wasn’t long before he was back.

The two of you spent a lot of time walking around, recalling memories and laughing about all of the stupid things you guys had done as children in the village. There were a lot of things you didn’t remember that Ace did, and by the time the day was done your stomach hurt from laughing so much, the grin on your face making it sore. There were still lots of things to see, to do while he was there, but with his inevitable leave you wanted to soak up more memories that you could make with him.

“I haven’t been here in forever,” you said, a basket swinging in your hand as Ace carried a blanket that was slung over his shoulder.

“Really? We came here all the time.”

You peeked over, seeing that Ace was looking ahead but soon he turned and looked at you, maybe catching your staring or maybe just curious. He was right after all, the spot hidden in the woods one you and he frequented a lot, yet you were telling the truth. You hated that you were, that this special place was one that had been forgotten, but it just wasn’t the same without Ace around. That’s what you told him, too, and you watched as, for the third time since you’ve seen him, redness crept over his cheeks and made him look away.

“Thought maybe you’d bring someone else here,” Ace commented after a few moments, and you knew exactly what it was he was asking without doing so outright.

“There’s no one else I want to be here with,” you replied, now blushing yourself and looking down at the ground you were walking along. “Is … Is there someone you would’ve brought?”

“No,” Ace responded with reassurance, “just you.”

You bit back the big grin that was attempting to break across your face, but you failed miserably and glanced over at Ace. He peered over at you as well, and you shared a look before bashfulness took over and both of you turned your gazes in front of you. The silence that settled then wasn’t awkward, actually rather nice, and it became even more so when you reached out and took Ace’s hand in your own. You felt it flinch, and you thought that perhaps you had been too bold, but soon his fingers curled through yours and he gripped tight.

It was only a few more minutes of walking before both of you stopped in a clearing, small but one nonetheless, with a grassy patch near a large, thick tree that stood high even among the tallest of ones. They shaded the area, the sun in the sky but leaves skewing the beams on the floor of the forest. It was deep in, it’d be hard to stumble upon it, and yet you and Ace had found it one day while wandering around for the hours that you did.

The two of you definitely weren’t lost and just needed a spot to rest, nope.

With your great memory and Ace’s bravery when it came to creatures and the like, that place became for just the two of you. Much like now you’d find yourself walking at his side with a basket of snacks, much needed items for a particular pirate who was hungry all the time. The spot was a perfect size, the blanket Ace was holding thrown down and nearly covering the whole area, and within seconds he was plopping down and tugging on your hand until you were sitting yourself. You were brave, sitting closer to Ace than you ever thought you would, and your bravery earned you an unnatural warmth that made you recoil.

“Are you okay?” you asked, almost a little panicked as you pushed the basket away and shifted to your knees.

“Yeah, wh -” Ace was cut off by your hands, the back of one on his forehead and the other cupping his cheek only to be taken by one of Ace’s again, “why?”

“You’re so hot!”

“Well thanks,” Ace said smugly, smirking, but despite his tease you were looking more concerned than ever.

“You know what I mean,” you pointed out, giving him a dull look. “Your temperature is insane. Do you feel sick?”

“Oh, that? It’s probably just my devil fruit.”

You gaped.

“Your what?”

Ace laughed then, loud and boisterous at the shocked look on your face, and once it petered out he was simply grinning at you. His other hand, the one that wasn’t holding yours, raised in between the two of you, and he let a snap of his fingers produce a flame that danced on the tips of them. You gasped, startled, and Ace could tell by the way you lurched that your instinct was to put it out so he quickly made it disappear with a swirl of his hand. You were silent, Ace figured in awe, and his smile shrunk into a smirk as you brought up your own free hand and pressed it to his. It was still a lot warmer than normal, hot even, and your hand jerked back a bit before you were pressing against it once more. Palm to palm, fingers lined up, you stared at them before looking at him again.

“I can’t believe you ate a devil fruit,” you stated.

“It was either that or die, and in my defense I didn’t know what it was when I ate it.”

“You didn’t know what you were eating?! Ace, it could've been something that killed you!” you shouted, fighting your urge to whack him upside the head. “We would’ve never known!”

“Well it didn’t,” he said simply, and he watched as you sagged in defeat.

“You’re just like Luffy, I swear.”

Ace snorted and his eyes rolled, waiting for you to retract your hand before he reached up and pulled his hat off so that he could place it atop your head. He dropped then, laid back with his own head propped up by a root, and with the grip he still had on your other hand he pulled you down, too. You lost your balance with a “woah!”, fell as you did and crashed into Ace’s chest, and he let you get comfortable before an arm slung across your back.

“Yet you’re here with me and not with him,” Ace pointed out, and he watched as your face twisted up.

“Gross, absolutely not,” you grimaced, propping yourself up on his chest and watching as Ace chuckled. “Pretty sure Luffy has never made me want to kiss him.”

“So how long have you wanted to kiss me?”

“You tell me first.”

“No, you tell me.”

“I -” you broke off with a stutter, and while your face warmed up you found yourself not sheepish at all. So much had just been thrown out on the table, spread across it and put out in the open, so what was the point of being shy now? “Remember that time we came here the night before your birthday?” you asked, and a soft smile slowly spread over Ace’s face. “I wanted to give you a kiss as your present.”

“You should’ve,” Ace said, his hand coming up to tuck a bit of hair behind your ear, “because that was the first time I wanted to kiss you, too.”

You leaned into the touch, into the extra warmth of Ace’s hand, and you let out a small hum as you did. A little bashful, that was as far as you got because such a nice feeling rushed through you that you were immediately distracted. Your heart was full, ready to burst, and something so pleasant was swelling inside of you that it forced your own smile to grow wide. It all came down to Ace, to the man underneath you that came back to Foosha Village and immediately swept you up. What was hours felt like a lifetime, but now everything just felt like some fantastical dream.

“Can I kiss you now?” you offered, and the way Ace’s face lit up made you light up yourself. You giggled, pushed yourself just a bit more to hover, and when Ace’s hand fell from your face and to your waist you leaned in. Gently you placed your lips against Ace’s, and even though they were still a little sore from earlier you were more than happy to push into it. It was soft, careful though curious, and even though you had been so hungry last time you now just wanted to drown in the sweetness.

“Again,” Ace said when you pulled back, your kiss short, though it was soon forgotten because Ace was too impatient and lifted his head to capture you in another one.

There was no resistance from you, in fact if anything you were eager to return the affection and melted. One of your hands landed beside Ace’s head to keep yourself balanced, fingers curling against the root and propping you up, but the other crept up to hold the side of his face as you leaned into the kiss even more. It was soft, slow, and you were letting it linger before you were smiling and giggling. It ruined it, sure, but the giddiness left you with such a good feeling that you couldn’t help it. It was butterflies, fireworks, all that and more, and once again were you pulling away but staying close with your forehead touching Ace’s.

“I can’t get enough of you,” you whispered, and Ace’s hand lifted from your waist to cup the back of your neck. His thumb stroked a spot gently, caressed the soft, sensitive skin that sent shivers up your spine and made goosebumps erupt all over you.

“You’ll have to get your fill before I leave again.”

Oh. Right.

There was a wave of sadness that crashed through you in that very moment, a chilly grip on your heart making your chest tight, but you forced yourself to push it away in favor of enjoying the moment you were in. There wasn’t any room for any of that stuff, no time to worry about it when Ace’s company was just temporary, so you smiled at him and your own free hand lifted so that you could watch as you traced over the splattering of freckles on his cheeks. You did that for a few seconds before your fingers brushed over his nose and down towards his lips where you traced the seam of his mouth. It was a quick pucker to leave behind a tender kiss to the tips of your fingers, and you smiled at the contact before pulling your hand away and leaning down once more.

The thrill that shot through Ace when your lips met again was breathtaking, the adrenaline that came along with it addicting. He was eager to press into it, to get more, and almost immediately did you give in to his desires and let the kiss deepen. Ace took advantage of that, the grip on the back of your neck tightening to keep your head still as head coaxed your mouth open and rushed his tongue in. A flavor that only came from you flooded him then, made him sigh through his nose contentedly when he got a taste, and he was devouring you even more when your own noise was released. He swallowed it up, wanted more and bit down on your lip to make you gasp which you did, and he would’ve smirked had he not been occupied with exploring your mouth again.

Shuddering, you let out a short whine when Ace took over despite you being the one to cage him in. You didn’t stand a chance, not when Ace was such a force to be reckoned with, and so you let him have his way with you which left you a mess. You couldn’t help it, not with the way you felt about the pirate, and it was as that thought lingered that you became hungry for more. You moved, swung a leg over Ace and perched yourself in his lap all without breaking your connection. It was firstly for the sake of your balance, but secondly it left you in a stronger position, and soon your tongue was fighting back which must’ve surprised Ace because he let you in immediately. You took that chance, that advantage and ran with it, a hand on Ace’s chest to prop you up and the other climbing until you were gently cupping his cheek.

Ace’s mind was reeling, him simply a slave to the feeling that wrapped around him. His head was foggy, becoming even more so when he felt you lean into him more and fit against his curves. His hands had shot down to politely stay at your waist, but it wasn’t long before they were trailing down so that his fingers could dig into your hips. Ace had the opportunity to catch his breath when you broke away, but it hitched when he felt your soft, swollen lips press just under his jaw. He hadn’t realized how sensitive he was until it happened, and the further you kissed the harder it was to push this wonderful, extraordinary feeling that was creeping up away.

You didn’t mean to push your hips into Ace’s hands, but you needed to climb higher because with the advantage you had you didn’t want it to be taken away. You had a feeling that wouldn’t matter all that much, not when you felt Ace’s throat bob under your lips as he swallowed. It came with a nervousness, you were sure, because not much could affect Ace the way you were, and you had no intentions of stopping.

“Shit.”

Maybe.

Popping up with concerned curiosity, your brow furrowed when you caught Ace’s lidded stare. Whatever he swore about wasn’t on his face, and that only made you more and more worried. Had you done something wrong? Had you gone too far? You thought Ace had been enjoying himself, but maybe you were wrong.

“Is everything okay?” you asked tentatively, hoping that it was.

“Yeah, i-it’s just …” Ace tripped, a slight despair appearing on his face.

With the way your weight had settled you felt Ace shift underneath you, almost as if he was uncomfortable. You had to wonder what the problem was, why he looked distressed, but there was the slightest raise of his hips that pushed against you and suddenly you had your answer.

“Oh,” you murmured, quickly shuffling off of Ace who made some sort of noise when you accidentally brushed against the excited bulge in his shorts, “sorry.”

“What? Wait, don’t apologize,” Ace said, pushing himself up onto his elbows. “I should say sorry.”

You bit down on your lip as you shook your head, glancing down at where Ace was straining against his bottoms, heavily contemplating your thoughts. You mulled over them for just a moment before you were flicking your gaze to meet Ace’s. Slowly and carefully did your hand come up, rest on his thigh, and you offered a reassuring smile.

“Can I?” you asked with a politeness you never gave before, and that was saying something considering your sweet disposition. It was for confidence, sure, but what you wanted was consent which you were given shortly after when Ace nodded.

You were suddenly nervous, unsure, but you had made a decision and you had to follow through, so you did. Your hand crept over, careful in its path, and soon it was brushing over the bulge which made Ace grunt a little. His hips jerked and you paused, but your mind was put to rest when he whispered a raspy “keep going”. You followed the request, pushed a little harder, and you were rewarded with some sort of pleased groan.

With a satisfaction starting to brew Ace laid back on the blanket with a sigh, his eyes shutting once more. He was a little anxious himself, but it was clearing more and more the longer you massaged the hardness in his shorts. What was nervousness was replaced by excitement, and he was getting less embarrassed about the way he thrust up into your hand which wasn’t giving him nearly enough. Ace let you know that, too, released a bit of a frustrated sound that must’ve caught your attention because you stopped. That was the last thing he wanted, and his eyes popped open again to see you, to gaze at you when he asked for more, but it was as if you read his mind for your hands returned.

This time you went for Ace’s belt, and you were surprised by how quickly you were able to get it undone, letting it hang open as you moved to undo his shorts. You were slightly shaky, a little unsure, but when you looked at Ace who was watching you, face flushed and lips parted to release low, even breaths, you gained confidence. It was that, that had your hand diving past the layers of material until you found what you were looking for, grasping Ace’s thick cock and carefully pulling him free of his confines. You heard a noise, a breathy moan which must’ve been of relief when you freed him, and once more your eyes traveled until you were staring at where your hand was wrapped around Ace’s dick.

When your hand started pumping Ace’s stomach lurched, surprised by how a simple stroke shocked him with so much pleasure. It was you, he knew that much, you apparently being able to easily turn him on which was both a blessing and a curse. In this moment it was absolutely a blessing, your hand drawing up and down at a pace that was starting to not be enough. His gaze had flicked away from you and down to where you were working him, and his hips lifted again.

“Faster,” he whispered hoarsely, and you were obedient which made him groan when you listened to him. It felt good, too good, and he couldn’t help himself from thrusting up to meet your strokes. You were gentle when your fingers swiped the tip of his cock, catching the wet drop that was leaking from it and smearing it down his shaft to make your gliding a little slick. It drew another noise from Ace, a loud one, but it was eaten up by you when you dove down and kissed him again.

You couldn’t help it, Ace just looked so good and you desperately needed something, anything, and the only thing you could go for was a taste. What you were doing left Ace compliant, him letting you rush your tongue into his mouth once more for the taste only he could provide you. You were slow despite your hand speeding up, and you swallowed any sound that slipped from Ace as you continued stroking him. You were distracted enough by your task that you hadn’t noticed Ace’s own hand beginning to creep, it was only when it slipped under your shirt and brushed along the curve of your waist that you noticed because of the tickle. You had to break the kiss to giggle a bit, but it was cut short when Ace’s hand slipped even higher. You let it, allowed him to touch you as you touched him, and his fingers slipped under the cup of your bra and pushed it up so that he could grope your breast. Immediately your nipple hardened under the adventuring, excited and pert as it was flicked lightly, and shortly after it was pinched and you gasped.

Ace’s exploration had made you pull back even more, in fact you sat back on your heels and left him cold after extra heat rushed through him. He was about to complain considering he wanted more, but he was immediately distracted when your fingers curled around the bottom of your shirt, and you were pulling it over your head to drop it to the blanket before you were unclasping your bra next. You were revealed to him then, your breasts free and perky, and all Ace could do was stare before he swallowed thickly and looked up at your face. You were red, shy at your move, and though it took a second you were opening your mouth and asking the most wonderful question.

“Can we keep going?”

“See? Told you I’d find you.”

Ace’s visit had brought many, many wonderful things. It was certainly an eventful one, one that answered a lot of questions you had, but then it also had done a good job at leaving you with more. It was towards the end of Ace’s visit that he made a declaration, and it was one that had you thinking so incredibly hard about the fact that you could do it.

“Come out to sea and find me, you chicken.”

That was what he had taunted you with, teased you, and while you were sure it was a joke you didn’t really take it as one. Well, at first you did, and you even laughed it off when he had initially said it, but it was towards the end of his visit that you took it seriously.

“I will.”

There was confusion that wrote itself across Ace’s face when those two words slipped past your lips. He wasn’t sure what you meant, your statement vague, and he was sure you must’ve caught on because soon you were smiling and laughing. You reached up, fixed his hat a bit, and then your hands landed on his chest and you leaned into him.

“Give me a bit of time and I’ll do it, I’ll find you.”

You did.

“Y/N!”

Your name rung loudly in the air, clear even from where you were up on the deck of your ship, and you were laughing loudly when you watched Ace launch himself. You weren’t entirely sure how big his steps were because he was just moving so fast, but he was climbing up the ramp that had been set down on the small, hidden beach for a supply run. You knew it was coming, you bracing for the impact on the wooden planks, yet when Ace slammed into you, you were stumbling back and catching yourself on the railing. Soon enough your own arms were wrapping around Ace, his already squeezing you tight and almost making it impossible for you to move, but you managed and hugged him just as hard.

“Hi,” you whispered after a moment, your greeting muffled from where your face was buried into Ace’s shoulder but it still came across for he responded with the same thing.

“I can’t believe you did it,” he said next, his own face buried into your neck as he seemed to hold you even tighter. “I didn’t think you would.“

“Uh, ouch?” you said, though it was playful and the smile said so when you pulled away and looked up at Ace. “You all became pirates, why couldn’t I?”

“Because you’re Y/N,” Ace laughed, an arm still around your waist, but it was slipping off when you stepped even further away to see him better. He stared right back, looked you over, but he was quick to meet your gaze again and then that brilliant grin of his was shot at you.

At that moment you went head over heels.

Everything, it all came back at once and you were nearly knocked off your feet. It had been a year, days and days passing after Ace left again, and the yearning you felt only got stronger. You missed him, especially after the intimacy the two of you shared because it was shortly after that, that he had to head out again. It didn’t hurt exactly, it wasn’t painful, but it was certainly difficult. It was that, that helped you make your decision, because if you wanted to see Ace again you were going to have to step out of your comfort zone, and so you did with a small craft and a few friends.

Quickly did you meet and make more of them, some staying right where they were and others deciding that they wanted to join you on your journey. You considered yourself lucky to meet such wonderful people because your crew was made up of spectacular ones, and soon enough you were on your way to The Grand Line. It was exciting as much as it was scary, but there was only one thing on your mind when you set out that none of that mattered.

You hadn’t gone out with the intention of being a pirate, and you weren’t even sure if you qualified as one considering all you did was sail and visit all sorts of new spots. There wasn’t an illegal thing under your belt, but you were associated with a series of pirates and that was just as dangerous. You figured it was going to be even more so once the word got out that you were connected to the infamous Fire Fist Ace, but in the moment with him standing in front of you, you really couldn’t find it in yourself to worry. Maybe you should’ve cared more, maybe there should’ve been more concern for the safety of your crew, but you couldn’t help it when you had gone out on a mission.

That mission was successful, and now you could breathe easy.

“You’re not actually a pirate, are you?” Ace asked next, and he watched as you laughed and then shook your head. “Thought so.”

“No, no, I could never. I’m not scary enough, you know? I’d be the worst pirate out there,” you said.

“Nah, I’ve met some pretty bad pirates and you’d be fine. Intimidating? Definitely not, but you’d manage.” Ace laughed himself when you pouted, but it didn’t last long because his finger came up and poked your cheek and you ended up grinning. “You’re supposed to be happy to see me.”

You didn’t respond right away, instead took a moment to do as he had to you and looked him over. He had grown a little more, shoulders broader and chest wider, and those arms? God, those arms. In that moment you wanted to be wrapped up in them, held close, but many months had passed and you weren’t sure where you stood right at that second. Things could change, right? They didn’t for you, if anything everything just got stronger with the absence, but you didn’t know what was on Ace’s mind.

“I missed you.”

You were knocked from your thoughts when you heard Ace speak, his voice softer than you ever heard and it was drawing in all of your attention. Ace was not an emotional man, there were very few things he let slip through his cracks like his cocky confidence and slight temper, but stuff like this? Warm, gentle feelings? Those were almost only for you, and it gave you the hope that maybe things could be just as they were. You couldn’t be completely sure, you didn’t want to overstep, so you just smiled sweetly and clasped your hands together behind your back.

“I missed you, too.”

That was that, you both watched each other, and a silence settled that was a little tense. There was no denying that what had taken place a year ago was something special, something that wasn’t to be simply tossed to the side, but it had been quite some time so what could that mean? You didn’t know, you were just confused as hell, and here you were having your crisis in front of the man you had missed so much who you had only found minutes ago.

Your internal battle must’ve lasted a while, leaving you oblivious and apparently very blind because before long there were boots in your gaze that had turned down to the deck in shyness. You stared at them for a second, the leather scuffed and scratched, but they were nothing too interesting so soon you were lifting your head. When you did Ace was standing in front of you, closer than you initially thought, and he was without shame when he reached for your hand.

“I thought I was going to have to wait until I could visit again.”

You shook your head, let his fingers slip between yours before you squeezed, and you dared to step closer. The heat that exuded from Ace reached you, wrapped you up and made you warm, and you were relaxing even more with the familiar feeling. You looked down at your hands, just for a second before glancing up at Ace again, and your smile became so incredibly tender it could’ve melted.

“I couldn’t wait that long,” you said, shrugging a bit.

“I’m glad you’re so impatient,” Ace chuckled, giving your hand a bit of a tug until you were within holding space again. This time when Ace wrapped his arm around your waist it was tighter than ever, making sure you couldn’t go anywhere, but he figured you weren’t interested in leaving any time soon.

“Sue me.”

“I’d rather kiss you right now, actually.”

“You better not, I’m not watching that,” came a third voice.

“Sita! We were going to sneak off the ship!”

“Yeah, well, this is gross.”

You weren’t even surprised, unaffected while Ace jumped a bit and whipped his head to the right. All you could do was sigh while you were sure Ace was holding his breath, and your head hung before you looked to the side as well. For a moment you stared at a blonde woman, her arms crossed and a bit of a scowl on her face, but then you dropped Ace’s hand and gestured to him.

“Guys, this is -”

“Ace! I’m so excited to meet you, Y/N talks about you all the time.”

“Chell!” you exclaimed, embarrassed.

“That’s my name,” she perked, pointing at you even though she was still looking at Ace who was a little wide-eyed at the two new appearances. “Navigator! At your service! Well, Y/N’s service I guess.”

“Uh,” was what came out of Ace’s mouth, and you almost snorted at the dumbfounded look on his face. “Yeah, nice to meet you.”

“Well we’re gonna go now, right Sita?”

“I don’t know, I kind of wanna watch more o -”

“Right, Sita?” Chell interrupted, swinging her hip out and knocking it against your helmswoman who stumbled and glared.

“Fine, but you’re buying me lunch,” she said, immediately stalking off without introducing herself and heading to the ramp, Chell following behind.

“Aw, man …”

The two from your crew made it onto the beach, both you and Ace watching as they walked up the sand for a moment before turning to one another again. You offered an apologetic smile after you winced a bit, your nose wrinkling when Ace’s expression remained as it did - confused. For a second you didn’t know what to say, but Ace took over after breaking free from his stupor.

“She’s something, isn’t she?“

You knew what Ace was talking about, Sita’s personality always a little off putting considering her rough and tough nature, and you knew that it would’ve come up sooner or later. It was probably better that it happened now instead of when Ace settled in a little more, so you were quick to address it.

“She means well, she’s just blunt … and a little jaded but we don’t get into that,” you explained, whispering the last part as if she’d be able to hear you all the way up the beach. You were sure she could hear Ace’s laugh though, but suddenly she was in the back of your mind because that smile lit up again and your heart swelled.

“Well you were always patient with all sorts, I’m not all that surprised,” Ace responded, and he was still grinning when once more he reached out to take your hand after tugging your arms apart. “Now, about that kiss.”

Maybe things were the same after all.

They weren’t.

Things were one hundred percent not the same, and it was all your fault. You didn’t mean to feel the way you did, you didn’t mean to see Ace and immediately … well …

Anyways! It wasn’t that things were weird, nor was there an issue in reconnecting, it was just that some things came forward so violently that everything changed for you. Suddenly you felt things stronger, your thoughts more occupied, and you didn’t know that after a year you could feel more than you already did. That? That wasn’t the problem.

“Just tell him.”

That was.

There was a sigh that escaped you and your head hung, your eyes staring at the planks before you looked up again sheepishly. You couldn’t help it, you were nervous! It wasn’t like you to be so, you weren't shy or introverted, you didn’t get bashful often, but when it came to him? Well when it came to him, he was a problem because he made you that way. For one of the few times in your life you felt an unbridled feeling to just throw up, to just toss yourself over the side of your ship because you were so incredibly anxious that you truly didn’t know what else to do. You were a confident woman, you didn’t take shit and things of the like, yet here you were, an absolute mess simply because of feelings.

Intense feelings.

Very, very intense feelings.

“And if he doesn’t say it back? It’s been over a year,” you stated, raising an eyebrow as your arms folded over your chest. “What then?”

There was silence as you offered the possible situation, and a few of your girls looked at one another before back at you with wide eyes. You could see it immediately, the way they didn’t have an answer for you, and all you did was shrug your shoulders. For a moment it lingered, that quietness, and all it did was confirm that your concern was valid; you knew it was already, you didn’t have to say it out loud. You didn’t mean to be so pessimistic and stubborn, you didn’t mean to deny your crewmates, but the fact of the matter was that you had to be realistic, and there was a great possibility it wouldn’t work out. Part of you doubted that, doubted that it would go poorly, but the other part of you was frightened.

“i just …” you trailed off, dropping your arms with a great heave and letting them hang at your side. “I don’t want to ruin anything.”

“But it’d make you feel better, wouldn’t it?”

The voice was soft, almost a little meek, and you immediately recognized it as the ship’s doctor. You watched him carefully, watched as the few that were talking to you parted to invite him into the conversation. He was staring back, and despite his gentleness you could see a little bit of fire. It was his own confidence, he was sure of what he said, and in doing that it only whittled you down further.

“If you tell him, regardless of the outcome, you’ll feel better. Hanging onto something like that starts to eat at you after some time, we don’t want to see that happen to you,” he explained, and the part of your crew that had approached you to interrogate you turned back to look at you, almost a little concerned while they nodded.

“See? Moshi gets it,” your navigator pointed out, now being the one to cross her arms. “Listen, we all think you should say something but in the end it’s up to you, but like he said it’s going to keep breaking you down. It’s a big feeling, you’re not supposed to hold it in.”

They were right, and both you and them were very aware of the fact. You? You really didn’t want to face it, yet it was as if you had been backed into a corner, and with that came the settling of realization. You really weren’t going to get out of this, were you? They said you had the option, that it was up to you, but with their piercing gaze and knowing expression, you suddenly became aware of the fact that your answer had been made for you. That was why, within seconds, you deflated and sighed, bringing a hand up to rub your face.

“Fine,” you mumbled, brow furrowing. “Fine, just - … just don’t say anything to him, please?”

“What would we say?”

“I-I don’t know, just anything!” you exclaimed, you throwing your arms up slightly in what could only be called dramatic. It was then that an annoyed sigh caught your attention, and you were glancing over at where the helsmwoman stood, looking a little impatient and honestly? A little offended.

“What do you think we’re going to do, confess to him for you? That’d go over well.” There was a scoff and then with a flip in her voice to something a little more soprano she said, “‘Oh, Ace! Can’t you see? I lo -”

“Stop!” you shouted, throwing your hands out to cover her mouth but all she did was snicker and step back. Even then, even when she joked, there was a bit of seriousness behind her voice that, despite her teasing, told you she cared herself. Sita wasn’t the type to be so invested, in fact a few times she made a point to not make it her
business, but something must’ve happened because that day she approached you intently and pointed an accusing finger in your face. You were startled until she said something, until she brought it to your attention that you had been distracted and a little mopey, and while she was right you still defended yourself. That was when the rest of your crewmates followed along, and soon enough you were surrounded with no escape.

“I’m scared, okay? Bringing this up could just throw everything off,” you muttered, giving another excuse.

“Y/N, you should see the way he looks at you,” Chell pointed out, you looking at the navigator next and her offering a sweet smile. “It’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen,” Sita chimed in, “but she’s right. The dork’s got it bad.”

Your heart kicked into overdrive at that very moment, racing so intensely in your chest that you thought for sure you were about to drop right down to the wooden planks and die. It wasn’t that you didn’t believe them, you just didn’t want to admit that, that meant they were right. Now that you thought about it, it was less stubbornness and more self-preservation, a way to stop you from getting hurt if everything was to go the wrong way. That was your greatest fear, that you’d confess your feelings just for them to be denied. If that were to happen it’d be a gentle let down, Ace was incredibly sweet after all, but it’d still put a major bump in the relationship you had with him.

That’s what made it so hard, the fact that what you had with Ace was halfway, unfinished. It started in Foosha Village, started innocently, then not so innocently, and now here you were in limbo. You knew you had strong feelings for Ace though you weren’t sure if he had them for you still. Like you had said, it had been more than a year, so what did that mean? Did he feel the same way? Did he …

Probably not, not the way you felt.

Your crew didn’t mind the slight break they had now that you had successfully completed your mission, in fact they were absolutely elated that they could stick around a city and just enjoy it. So far it had only been a few days, and it didn’t seem as though Ace was in a hurry either. Whether it was you or he simply didn’t have anything pressing you didn’t know, but regardless you were just happy to know he wanted to stay with you.

Ace got along with your crew as if he had been there for ages, but you weren’t surprised. You were able to see it when he visited Foosha Village that time, how he had grown into a more patient, friendly man. It wasn’t that he was terrible as a kid or anything, it was just there was a lot of baggage that came along that he couldn’t seem to let go. He was lighter now, a little more easygoing, and while you were sure some less than savory feelings lurked underneath the surface, Ace had done a good job at overcoming them. You were proud of him for that, and on the third day of your reunion you let him know that.

It was on the way back to your ship, the sun starting to set which camouflaged the blush you were sure Ace was wearing at the compliment. It was cute, his sideways smile and sudden bashful demeanor, but you didn’t let it linger in fear of making Ace uncomfortable. You said your piece and continued on, and by the time you reached your empty ship the sun was just about to dip past the horizon. You took Ace’s hand then, walked fast up the ramp and across the deck all while lugging Ace along behind you. You didn’t want to miss it, it was a beautiful day, and so you climbed up to the bow to watch. It happened quickly, the sunset always did, and soon things were turning gray as you and Ace sat in silence, in peace. It was soon broken by a comment Ace made, though, and it immediately knocked you out of your own thoughts.

“You know, you never really did show me around.”

From where you were sitting on the stern, your legs dangling over the side, you looked to your left to where Ace was standing, leaning against the part of the railing you were sitting on. He was staring out at the water, the moon now making its appearance, and it had been quite quiet until Ace spoke. You didn’t mind, his voice was music to your ears, and it brought a smile to your face to know he was talking to you.

“I guess I didn’t,” you agreed, kicking your legs a bit before you were leaning back. Whether it was concern or instinct you didn’t know, but despite having your balance Ace still rushed when you attempted to get down to help. With a hand grasping yours, and an arm around your middle, you were pulled over until you were safely on your feet, and spun until you were facing the pirate. You smiled bright, offered your gratitude, and then you turned to look over the deck. “I could show you around, but I’m pretty sure it’s nothing as spectacular as Whitebeard’s ship. Which, by the way, thanks for making me figure it out on my own? I don’t know jolly rogers’, okay? I didn’t know what your tattoo was! I thought The Spade Pirates were still a thing!”

“Pay attention to the news sometimes, will you?”

With a frown you grumbled, and you marched on ahead with Ace laughing behind you before he caught up. It wasn’t real irritation, you perhaps just a little sore at the jab, but it disappeared quickly when Ace placed himself at your side. The two of you strolled along slowly, you quiet as you wandered across the deck and you paused in the middle of it before looking around. It wasn’t long until you met Ace’s gaze again, and the look in it made you blush because it was nothing but adoring.

“I really don’t know what to show you,” you said after a moment of gathering yourself. “It’s just a plain ship.”

“But it’s your ship, that doesn’t make it plain,” Ace replied, but soon a cheeky smirk worked its way across his face. “There’s one spot I really want to see, though.”

“What’s that?” you asked in confusion.

“The captain’s quarters.”

You could see it, the playfulness, it was just there underneath all of Ace’s charm and it was waiting for your response. What was it going to get? Were you going to be bashful about it or were you going to feed off of the teasing he was offering? You had two options at that point, a true fifty-fifty, but slowly did the scale tip. Suddenly your own smirk was growing, you were standing a little taller, and with a bit of a head tilt you were raising a brow.

“That’s a pretty private area, I don’t know if I can show you just yet.”

“No?”

“Nope.”

“Hm.”

One step back. Two and three. The fourth one was your downfall for you hadn’t been paying attention, and suddenly you were backed into the mast with Ace looming over you. His hand was on the wooden pole as well, just above your head so that he could loom over you, and his smirk was widening. It was quiet, there were no words to say for both of your expressions said plenty, yet Ace toyed with you further. This time when Ace looked you over, it was slow and deliberate, making sure to catch every curve and contour as his gaze wandered. In such close proximity you could see it, how hungry his stare suddenly was, and when he met your eyes they were blazing in return.

“Unless there was something in it for me, of course,” you continued, tilting your head back a bit so that you could see him better, “otherwise I’m going to have to say no.”

“Oh, trust me, there’s something in it for you,” Ace whispered after dropping his head down, mouth next to your ear and pressing a kiss to it. He felt you shiver, heard your breath catch in your throat, and Ace couldn't help but smirk when he did. His other arm raised, fingers brushing up your own arm and curving over your shoulder until he was holding the back of your head.

“Oh, yeah?” you responded, though it was slightly shaky with anticipation when Ace lifted away from your ear again and stared down at you.

“If you’ll let me.”

How could you say no to that?

With a confidence that was slowly coming to you, you brought your own hands up and placed them on Ace’s chest, running them up to his shoulders and then back down to feel the hard muscle underneath your touch. It delighted you, a potential fire smoldering in the pit of your stomach, and you were wearing your own coy smile when Ace raised a suggestive eyebrow. The arm above your head dropped, wrapped around your waist instead, and you were tugged closer with a gasp when you were held tightly to Ace. The hand in your hair tightened a bit, fingers gripping the locks slightly but just enough that you were left a puddle at Ace’s feet.

“No one better interrupt us this time, I’ve been trying to get my hands on you for days,” he said, but it was rather dramatic for he had happily spent the night wrapped around you for the past few. It just wasn’t enough, not for someone like him when he wanted someone like you in the way he did, and today he woke up wanting you. The wandering around the city, the lunch, the sunset, they were all just bumps in his paved road to you, and he finally reached his destination.

“Then maybe you should kiss me already so we don’t get caught.”

Hm. Bold.

Ace didn’t need to be told twice, and with that hand still holding your head still he chose to tilt it before his mouth descended onto yours. He was starving, needy, desperate even for a taste he hadn’t had for quite some time. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t think about it a lot, about the time you shared in your little spot in the woods, and now that he had you in his grasp it all came raging forward violently. His whole body needed you, needed your affection and touch, and with your crew having made a point to tell the two of you they wouldn’t be coming back until way late in the night, he had to take his opportunity.

The thing that Ace didn’t know was that, that statement your girls made was done so on purpose. It had been your request, asked them to let you and Ace have a night to yourselves to which, with disappointment from Sita who wanted to poke fun at your visitor, they easily allowed it. It wasn’t a big deal, it’s not like you were kicking them right off, but with the way you had started to get a little desperate yourself you just needed time alone with your … your … you really didn’t know what to call him, but you wanted some time with just Ace. As much as you loved your crew and loved that they liked hanging out with Ace, he wasn’t there for them and all of you knew it; he was there for you, and it was you he had right in his grasp.

The kiss melted you but you weren’t surprised, it was your first taste after so long that you just let yourself lean into Ace so that he could take over. He did, and perhaps he was a little rough when he moved your head this way and that, but all it did was fuel your lust even more. You were excited by this version of Ace, the one who was just as starved as you were and taking what he wanted. It excited the submissive side of you, and as much as you wanted to fight back when he plunged his tongue into your mouth, you were weak. All you could do was let Ace take you over, and he did so even though he was breaking away.

You were breathless, already panting to try and get some air, but you were failing miserably when Ace ducked down and placed a kiss to the shell of your ear again. This time he didn’t say anything right away, simply let both of you catch your footing again, but soon he was pulling you in even more. You thought it was a hug, in fact your arms were just about to slip down to wrap around Ace’s middle, but soon your feet were off the ground and you were easily thrown over Ace’s shoulder.

“Hey! Wha -”

“Which way am I going?”

All you could do was laugh then, nothing but impatience and urgency in Ace’s voice, and even though you couldn’t see him you knew his eyes were darting around. You tried to look to see where you were now, what you had to explain, and with impressive balance you pushed yourself up and glanced in each direction.

“That door,” you said after a moment, pointing to one that was on the second level of the deck, and even before your arm was fully raised Ace was turning and heading in that direction. There was no struggle as Ace climbed up the steps with your added weight, his strength rather impressive, and that’s all you could think for you were a rag doll over his shoulder.

The entrance to your quarters swung open, banging against the wall and then slamming shut after Ace carried you in, and you were in a fit of laughter at his eagerness when he tossed you down onto your bed. It stalled you for a moment, you unable to stop your giggles as you bounced higher up, but once you felt the mattress dip with an added weight you were reigning yourself in. You relaxed against your pillows as Ace joined you, as he fit himself in between your splayed legs and then dropped to hover over you. His hands sunk into the pillow on either side of your head, and for a moment he just looked at you. You became nervous underneath his stare, bashful even, and your cheeks were heating up until you were blushing, having to avert your gaze to which Ace chuckled.

“You okay?” he asked, and he watched as you flicked your eyes back up to meet his and your face seemed to darken into crimson.

“Yeah, it’s just …”

“Just what?”

“Just …” you paused, and despite the hurry in which the two of you found yourselves in, you were taking a minute to reach up and trace a few of the features on Ace’s face. “I just missed you a lot, that’s all.”

Ace could feel himself soften, and with that being something that only you could do he let it happen. It wasn’t the first time, there were many moments in which he melted for you, but after so long without seeing you it happened so much more than usual. He watched you in return, let you trace over his freckles before a hand was coming up to take your own and he turned it, pressing a kiss to your palm before it was in his grasp and pushed into the pillow above your head. Your fingers twitched though soon they curled in between his, and his grip was tightening when you did so.

“I thought about you all the time,” Ace confessed, his smile tender while aimed at you.

“Really?”

“Yeah, of course,” was his reassurance, and he was lowering himself even more until his weight was gently settled on you. The smile that grew on your face, though small and a little embarrassed, made his heart swell, and he was leaning in to press a kiss to your nose before he laid another one on your lips. Then another one, and there was one more before he succumbed to the need and deepened it almost immediately.

There was a moan that spilled from you that was shocking, a needy, whiny one when your mouth was urged open again. It wasn’t as aggressive this time, rather Ace’s tongue twisted around yours before exploring while you let him. Once more were you free to roam Ace’s chest, this time really taking your time to explore the muscle there and at his shoulder, and slowly did they come down the arm that was next to your head until your fingers curled around his wrist. Your grip must’ve not bothered Ace in the slightest for he didn’t let up, only kissed you deeper until neither of you had the breath you needed to survive. It was then that he pulled back, a wet sound popping between your lips when he did so, and before you knew it your grin was mirroring Ace’s.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you either, all I wanted was to get out and find you,” you explained, relaxing even more into your bed.

“I wish you would have.”

“I felt crazy, I didn’t want to go chasing you down and ruin your pirate-ism.”

“My pirate-ism, huh?” Ace chuckled, dropping his head down until your foreheads were touching. “You would’ve just made it all that much better.”

You scoffed, but it wasn’t out of disbelief or anything like that, rather you did so out of a bit of embarrassment. You liked compliments, who didn’t? You were just easily made sheepish with Ace around and so it left you speechless. Play it cool, that’s what you wanted to do, but you were sure it didn’t come off that way when all you could do was react with a sound and avoid the stare. It wasn’t for long though, your broken away gaze, for Ace was letting go of your hand so that his could come down and turn your head back to him.

“Why so shy?”

“Stop,” you whined, seeming to blush even more furiously. “I haven’t seen you in a while, okay?”

Ace chuckled, and for a moment he stared down at you with a fond expression. Despite that shyness you didn’t look away again, instead choosing to stare back adoringly yourself. It was a look that made Ace suddenly understand your bashfulness, his heart beginning to race more and more as something pleasant rushed through him. You were pretty good at making him feel the way he did, and as far as he was concerned no one else would ever be able to. You were the kind of special person that was irreplaceable in his life, someone who grew up at his side and someone he shared a lot of things with. He wasn’t interested in having someone the way he had you, nor would he ever want that in a great display of commitment. No, you were made for him, and he couldn’t help but feel, but hope, that he was made for you, too.

“Well let’s catch up, then,” Ace whispered, the fingers that lingered on your face tracing over the seam of your lips before he was leaning down once again and pressed a quick kiss to them. It was fast in favor of brushing his own down your jaw, following the curve of it until he left a trail of sloppy kisses down your neck. Ace heard you giggle and he couldn’t stop himself from smiling, eventually lifting his head to glance up at you, but it was short-lived for he soon continued on and kissed the skin above the collar of your shirt. That? That was in the way, and so with a push up onto his knees he was immediately going for the bottom of your shirt and pushing it up.

Ace’s hands, though rough, were warm as they followed the curve of your waist, your shirt rising with them until it was pushed up to your chest. Part of you wanted to almost hide just then, the other part of you knew it was pointless because it wasn’t like Ace hadn’t already seen you at your most vulnerable, but you were older now. It had only been a year, but a year was a lot when you really thought about, a lot of new experiences and changes, so what if it was all different now?

Those were the things you were worrying about, fretting over when you were suddenly pulled from your spiral by a kiss to your stomach. It burned though it didn’t hurt, and it certainly caught your attention for you lifted yourself up onto your elbows and stared down at Ace who was watching you closely as he slipped down even lower. The look in his eye eased you, the way it was eating you up, and in that moment all of your concern turned into an excitement that rushed through your body. It was impressive how Ace both relaxed and worked you up at the same time, but wherever you were in limbo was such a pleasant place that you didn’t want to leave. Well, you thought you didn’t want to leave, but with Ace’s fingers curling into the waist of your pants and giving a bit of a tug you quickly moved on to impatience.

With a lift of your hips and Ace’s strength, your bottoms stood no chance, and the layers were all but ripped down your legs and tossed to the side. You didn’t care where they landed, in fact you didn’t even hear the thump because you were being twisted and turned on the mattress until both of you were settled. Ace on his stomach, you laying back against your pillows, and before long your legs were draped over his shoulders and you were drawn close to his face. That nervousness struck you again, just briefly because of how exposed you were, but it was quickly wiped away when you felt a pair of lips press against the inside of your thigh. You found yourself lying back again after that, a deep breath swelling in your chest, and it was released when a kiss was laid to the other thigh. Soon enough it caught, however, stuck right in your throat when those gentle lips brushed along the slit of your pussy. Your hips jerked at the contact but they were grabbed, pinned down, and all you could do was lie restlessly and wait for more.

Ace wasn’t interested in giving that to you, not right away anyway. No, for now all he wanted was to enjoy himself, to enjoy you and take his time doing so. Still, regardless of how much he told himself he wanted that his body said otherwise, and while his mind was set on toying with you the slightest taste had him suddenly starving even more. Giving into his desires Ace brought a hand up, dipped a finger past your folds and took a second to stroke before he was spreading you open to make room for his tongue. Patience was never one of Ace’s greatest virtues, and as much as he wanted to make you wiggle and writhe he just wanted more of you.

“Ace, please,” you whispered, almost making him successful in his torture, and if he had waited one moment longer he would’ve won but he seemed to be a little desperate himself. That point was proven when all you dropped was the weakest of requests and in response Ace’s tongue dove inside of you. The sudden burst of pleasure made you gasp but it quickly escaped you when you moaned, your fingers curling into the blankets as you fought the urge to press down against Ace’s face. You wanted to, god did you ever want to because after so long you wanted so much, but in the back of your mind you knew this wasn’t just about you.

Hands now gripping your thighs tightly, fingers digging in, Ace let out his own pleased sound when he felt you clench around his tongue. He heard you panting lightly, could see your chest rising and falling though it skewed the view of your cute, surely flushed face, and yet as much as he wanted to see that he was more interested in listening to you say his name again and again. You did, called it out when he withdrew his tongue and flicked it over your clit that was puffy with excitement, and he did it again and again just to hear you fall apart.

Your arms shot down the moment Ace let up a little and offered some salvation, your fingers curling into his hair when he trapped the swollen nub between his lips and gave a sharp suck. He did so repeatedly, right up until your legs were trembling slightly over his shoulders, and a strong twitch surged through both of them when he listened to your pleas for more and brought his fingers back to your wet cunt. Luckily he didn’t tease you, instead immediately slid one in and began to thrust slowly which made you groan when the friction hit you just right. Faster, another finger, and you could only grasp Ace’s wavy locks tighter when the pleasure built and built.

Unfortunately it wasn’t very long before Ace slowed down, making you whine in slight despair, but your lungs found relief when you finally had the opportunity to breathe. Ace’s head had moved away, releasing you, and it popped up to watch as you still enjoyed the light waves of satisfaction from the attention he was still giving you. Only a moment longer and then his fingers were retracting, too, your grip loosening until it was leaving his hair and your hands flopped to your side. You felt needy, hungry, Ace giving you so much and then taking it all away as if he hadn’t just started to blow your mind, and you actually found yourself frowning when he pulled back further.

“Really?” you pouted, sinking even more into the bed as you sagged in disappointment.

“What? You can’t expect me to be able to hang on for that long,” Ace responded with a cheeky, crooked grin that only grew wider when he pushed himself up onto his knees, staring you down as his hands raised towards his belt. “I haven’t seen you for just as long as you haven’t seen me, so how about you take that off and let me take care of it?”

What Ace nodded his head towards was your top that was barely on, pushed up and useless over your chest, and without so much as a second’s hesitation you were scrambling to sit up yourself and obey. You barely heard Ace’s deep chuckle over the tugging of your shirt, but what you did catch washed you with goosebumps as the clothing was pulled over your head and thrown away from you. Your bra went next, flung out of sight, and it was just as you were falling back again that Ace followed. You were caged in immediately, a little surprised by how up close Ace was all gonna sudden, but you instantly melted when his head dropped so that his forehead touched yours. You smiled, ran your hands up Ace’s arms and to his shoulders, and from there they ran even higher and into his hair.

“I -” you tried, but your words died.

“Hm?” Ace hummed a few seconds after your failure.

… love you.

“Kiss me.”

Ace did, and he did so deep enough that you were made dizzy. Your eyes slipped shut again, your breath stolen, but you found yourself moaning softly into the kiss shortly after. Your touch ran on until an arm slipped around Ace’s neck, but your other drew back so that your hand could cup his face and hold it still as you pushed up into the affection. Though intense it was short in favor of continuing, in favor of feeling Ace all around you, and Ace stayed close for a moment just to study you. At some point you were sure it would’ve been too much, that the way the pirate was looking at you would’ve made you blush, but what was the point now? You watched him instead, did as he was doing and let your gaze wander all over his face as if you were trying to read his thoughts, but you didn’t have to because you were confident in saying that he was feeling the same way you were.

Well, maybe.

“Ready?” Ace asked, whispering.

You nodded, and even though Ace asked, you made the move. Your hand fell from his face, traveled in between the two of you until you found Ace’s stiff cock, and your fingers gently wrapped around it. He hissed and you glanced away from what you were doing to see if you had done something wrong, but the relief on Ace’s face after you finally gave him a touch spurred you on. You took a moment to stroke him, almost tortuously slow and doing so until he was letting out a grunt and thrusting into your hand. You bit your lip to try and stop your smile, amused by the eagerness you were witnessing, though soon you found yourself in the same boat so you guided him. You ran the tip through your folds a few times, wet his dick before leading him further, and with help from Ace’s hips he was sinking into you inch by inch. The slight ache that came with the stretch made you gasp, the fit tight, but you had been loyal for a year so you weren’t all that surprised. Still, despite that, after having waited for so long you were pushing that down and finding the pleasure instead.

“Ace …”

“You okay?” Ace asked, pausing to which your previously shut eyes flew open.

“Yeah, just keep going,” you replied while you lifted your hips, hoping to reassure him. You did so successfully for Ace started swinging his own hips back and forth, and you saw stars behind your eyes that closed again. You seemed to melt even deeper into the bed, head sinking into your pillow as a rush ran through you, and you brought your hand back up to lay it on Ace’s back where your fingers dug in slightly. The arm around your company’s neck loosened, eventually falling slack and landing beside you before reaching up and taking a bit of that pillow into your other hand.

Neither of you were in it for fast and dirty, that wasn’t all that interesting in the moment where the two of you reconnected. This was slowed down time for both of you, a moment in the chaotic world of piracy and adventure where the two of you found a small bubble in your cabin to be in. It was closed off from the real world, a shield for concerns and worries of what was to come tomorrow when Ace had to leave; those were the kinds of things blocked from your mind the moment Ace found his rhythm.

“Like this?” he inquired when he pressed close, burying himself before drawing back and surging forward again.

“Mmhm, yeah,” you answered with breathy words, drawing your knees up until they were hugging Ace’s sides. “Faster, actually.”

Ace listened to your request and responded immediately, instantly picking up his pace and making a moan spill past your lips. It was right in his ear after he had ducked down and pressed a kiss to your speeding pulse, letting his lips linger before his face buried into your neck. He groaned himself just then, reassured that you were alright and letting his concern fade so that he could enjoy the pleasure coursing through his veins. You were so tight around him, slick and hot, and with every thrust he felt as though he was going deeper and deeper which made him all that more desperate. He moved even a little faster then, harder, and when you didn’t complain but whimpered his name instead he kept up.

The way Ace started to move then, the way he was striking you just right, made your back arch off the bed and it pressed you even closer than you already were. You wanted him all around you, wanted him to envelop you, and your wish was granted when he dropped onto his forearms and laid gently against you. Everything ran deeper then, Ace’s cock pounding into you as the desperation grew, and you called his name out loudly without any restraint. The hand that had been holding the corner of your pillow suddenly gripped it tightly, the fingers in Ace’s back digging even harder, and your own hips bucked up in response to the curse that was muffled by your skin when Ace dropped it. You met his slams, your body wanting more, and as if Ace heard your thoughts he was sharply thrusting and making you feel every inch of his cock.

Ace was throbbing, his whole body drawn in by the ecstasy he was experiencing with you. He stood no chance against your sweet sounds, against the way you felt underneath him as you took him so perfectly. You drove him crazy all the time, sure, but now? With you moaning his name and urging him on, he thought he was going to go insane. He couldn’t help the way he started to go even faster, lost himself a little with a groan when you clenched down tightly, his head tossing back for a moment before it came back down so that he could touch his forehead against yours again. He could feel your pants puff against his cheeks, billow over them just as he was sure you could feel his, but it was only for a moment before he became restless again. He was pushing up and away then, pausing for just a moment and making you look at him in slight distress. It was a good look, a nice look that he wanted to eat up, and he did so for only a few seconds before he went back to work.

Now on his knees, leaving you a little cold, Ace took a hold of your legs and pulled them apart, even wider for him to fit closer before he started thrusting again. For the briefest of moments you felt on display, but he picked up right where he left off and that thought was long gone in favor of accepting the pleasure you were receiving. You felt it climb, claw up your throat, and you knew you weren’t going to stand a chance with the way you had already been warmed up.

“Ace, I’m -” you attempted, but you were cut off when a particularly accurate strike sent a buzz through you. It made you shiver, made you release a shaky moan, and with both of your hands now practically tearing your pillow you couldn’t help it.

“Me, too,” Ace muttered, not even sure if you heard him over the way you were writhing and whining. It was fine, you didn’t need to when it meant he was able to keep seeing you lose yourself because that was what had his own pleasure bubbling. Just the look of you, your red, flushed face and swollen lips parted to whisper his name, the way your chest bounced with every thrust, and trailing his gaze even further down he watched himself disappear into you over and over again. You were soaked, leaving him just the same every time he pressed up against you, and with rather hungry curiosity he released one of your legs and brought a hand down so that his finger could tease your swollen clit.

That was it, you were done for with the slightest touch of an ecstasy that coursed through you that made you blind. A loud wail accompanied the surge of over-sensitivity, something as simple as Ace rubbing circles over a series of flared up nerves sending you right over the edge. Your hands clawed up, took more of your pillow into them and held on as if it was your lifeline, and with an explosion of fireworks inside of you, you finally came.

It was a beautiful sight, the way you twisted below Ace’s gaze as you experienced a euphoria he brought to you. In a way he was smug, proud of the fact that he was able to do this to you, but that was lost the second all of his pleasure came back to him. You clamped down on him, tightened around his throbbing cock, and with his head clouded and searching for only one thing he was slamming his hips forward again. Grunts and groans accompanied them, curses and curt mutters of your name, and when Ace glanced down at you once more to find you looking at him with a heated gaze he was undone. His hips stuttered a few times, tried to keep its rhythm but failed miserably with how quickly his orgasm was creeping up, his hands on your hips and holding you still as he fucked into you. You were whimpering quietly, shaky, ragged breaths leaving you as he continued, but one final thrust that buried Ace deep made you cry out again when he exploded inside of you.

Chest heaving, flushed, freckles cheeks, and a blissful look were all something Ace provided in that moment, and though you were still sensitive you were enjoying watching the pirate hit his high. It was gorgeous, the way Ace fell into his pleasure, and you were watching so incredibly closely to absorb every little detail you could. You wanted the image burned into your mind forever, had to commit it to memory because you weren’t sure how long it was going to be before you saw Ace next, but you didn’t dwell on that thought for too long and instead enjoyed what was in front of you.

It wasn’t for long, however, because soon you couldn’t resist your urges and reached up, brushing your fingers over Ace’s lips and earning his attention when his eyes fluttered open. He peered back at you with lidded eyes, heavy and unfocused, but soon a smile was spreading over his face and it made one grow on yours as well. You watched as he brought a hand up, took your own, and he turned it carefully to press a gentle kiss to your palm all while staring at you with the most fond look you had ever seen.

God, you really did love him, didn’t you?

“So when are we gonna see you next?”

Looking over his shoulder, your head tilting so that you could look as well, you and Ace found Sita standing a number of feet away, her arms crossed. She had a smile on her face, eyebrow raised and hip cocked, and she closed the space a little a few seconds later as she approached.

“Why?” Ace countered, his own silly grin stretching over his face. “Gonna miss me?”

“Ugh, as much as I hate to say it I kind of am.”

What?

Both you and Ace must’ve looked crazy, eyes wide and jaws a little slack at the admittance. That came from Sita? Sita? Hell, not a lot of nice things ever came from her and here she was openly admitti -

“Y/N is insufferable about you when you’re not here, and I’m sure it’s about to get worse.”

Ah.

“Seriously?” you complained, face dropping when she laughed, and it seemed to fall even further when Ace joined in.

“Have a good time, dork! See you next time,” your helmswoman exclaimed, turning and throwing her hand up as she stalked back towards the ship where supplies were being loaded.

“You know,” Ace said, turning back to where you were left pouting and pointing his thumb in the direction Sita went, “I’m actually going to miss her.”

Your displeasure was broken by amusement, you snorting in hopes of it keeping up your facade but you failed when Ace chuckled, the sound making you smile rather uncontrollably. He did that to you, made you giddy, made you grin like an absolute idiot, yet you didn’t mind at all when he stood in front of you and looked the way he did - sweet, kind, genuine. How could you resist that?

“That was her way of saying she’ll actually miss you, too, I promise,” you said, taking a few steps towards Ace until you were right in front of him, looking up.

“Well hopefully someone will miss me more than her,” Ace replied, an arm slowly sneaking around your waist to tug you closer. “I might be hurt if not.”

“Please, you know I will.”

“Hm? I meant Moshi, he’s kind of really cool.”

“Ace!”

“What?!” he defended with a laugh, swatting the hand that went to slap his chest away and wrapping his other arm around you, tugging you in and resting his chin on the top of your head. “I’m gonna miss you, too.”

Gently did you lay your head on Ace’s chest, slid your arms around his middle and leaned into him. You gave him a squeeze but then didn’t let up, instead seemed to hang on even tighter as if he was going to slip right through your fingers. You knew you were going to see Ace again, knew that he wasn’t just going to disappear from your life, but for now the both of you had to go your separate ways and continue on with your journeys. It wasn’t the end but it was a roadblock, and so you wanted to hang on as much as you could.

It was this particular moment that it hit you, that the words came roaring from the back of your mind and almost spilled past your lips. Luckily you caught them and swallowed them down, your heart jumping in your chest in slight panic but it relaxed a second later when you managed to control it. It wasn’t that you didn’t feel it enough, it wasn’t that you didn’t want to say it, it was just … you were so unsure. You weren’t a mind reader and Ace had his issues with emotions, and the last thing you wanted to do was sca -

“I love you.”

It was Ace that blurted it out, and you froze. Both of you did actually, and you could feel the tension starting to rise quickly the longer it lingered. You couldn’t help it, and it was simply because you had to wonder if your mind was playing tricks on you. You so desperately wanted it to be true that maybe you were hearing things, that maybe you wished so hard that it came to you on its own but in your head, and while you wanted that to be false you couldn’t help but think it was true.

“I mean it, I love you.”

Or not.

Your head lifted off of Ace’s chest, you carefully bringing it up so that you didn’t knock him in the face in surprise, but even though you were shocked you were still calm. You had your moment of doubt, your second of fear, but all it took was a bit of reassurance and you were soaring. It was, however, as you went to catch Ace’s gaze that you realized he wasn’t looking at you, instead his eyes were shooting to the side and his face was a deep crimson. The redness spilled down his neck, made splotches on his chest, and even though you were caught off guard by Ace’s confession you still thought it rather cute.

“It’s okay if you don’t love me back, I just wanted you t -”

“I do,” you found yourself interrupting, everything melting away until it was just your heart beating for one Portgas D. Ace. The more you thought about it the more you realized it only ever did, that the one person you could always count on was the same person standing in front of you. You knew that he was special, knew that he meant a lot to you, but you just didn’t realize how much until just then. You thought you did, you figured you couldn’t realize any more, but then it really dawned on you - he was made for you.

“I love you, too.”