p. ace 》𝙈𝘼𝙆𝙀 𝙄𝙏 𝘼𝙒𝙆𝙒𝘼𝙍𝘿... ! ☆

                                    

                                          
prompt ; ace acts different around you, and you're not sure why. marco takes it on himself to help ace out.
character ; ace
warnings ; wingman marco, ace getting flustered repeatedly 💀
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It was obvious to everyone but you. As a new addition to Whitebeard's crew and the 2nd division, you hadn't known of Ace's previous extroverted behavior with people - especially females. You assumed he was just normally socially awkward. How could you not when he didn't act any other way when you were around?
It was painful for Marco to watch. The way Aces eyes would move to you whenever you're in a room but quickly dart back when you look his way. The way Ace would nervously tug at his collar when you two talked. As the older one, it was only right for him to help Ace, right?
So that's how it started. Marco telling Ace what to do around you and what to say.
"I don't need your help! I can do it myself," Ace chided. Ace himself knew that he was lying straight through his teeth, but he refused to damage his pride and admit it. After all, he had a reputation around the ship with the ladies.
"Fine. Then go talk to her yourself. Just a normal conversation," Marco demanded with a smug smirk, crossing his arms. He knew how the conversation was gonna go and was terribly bored. Why not see Ace embarrass himself?
Ace gulped, running his hand through his black hair. He sighed and made his way over to you, not wanting to admit to Marco that he simply couldn't have a normal conversation with you.
"Uhm..hey," Ace muttered, barely holding eye contact with you. Normally, he wouldn't at all - instead opting to stare everywhere but at you. The only difference now is that he had something to prove. 
"Oh, hey. What's up?" You asked with a smile, one that glowed so bright that Ace had no choice to look away again.
"W-Well, uhh.." his mind completely blanked. A normal conversation? What's considered a normal conversation? His cheeks couldn't help but get redder as you watched him with a confused expression.
Marco, on the other hand, was watching the scene unfold with the same smirk he had a minute ago.
"Ah, y-you know what, nevermind," Ace stammered and quickly excused himself, walking off to find Marco with an annoyed expression and red cheeks.
There was a minute of silence between Ace and Marco.
"You need help," Marco said, finally breaking the silence. Ace's gaze was lowered and staring at the ground from embarrassment. He decided it was finally time to suck up his pride.
"...What do I do? I can't even talk to her! It's like..when I try, the words get stuck in my throat and they won't come out!" Ace continued to ramble on about things that happened when he tried to talk to you, and it seemed like his frustration increased by the second. Marco listened intently but was slightly shocked by Ace suddenly dumping his feelings like that. 
When Ace had finished, there was another moment of silence as Marco thought about everything Ace just admitted. There wasn't much helpful advice he could give him. Ace watched Marco with a nervous look, waiting to see what he would tell him.
"The words will come out by themselves when it becomes too unbearable to keep them in," Marco said, and Ace's eyebrow raised in confusion. Marco was being way too vague.
"What is that even supposed to mean?!" Ace's frustration continued to rise, but it wasn't because of Marco. He was frustrated at himself because he wanted to talk to you so bad, if even just a little bit - but he messed it up every time.
Marco didn't give a response to Ace's question. He simply shrugged and walked away, leaving Ace by himself to think about it. The words will come out by themselves when it becomes too unbearable to keep them in.
...The words will come out by themselves when it becomes too unbearable to keep them in.
Ace had understood the gist of what Marco said, but he doesn't understand how the words will just come out. 
Whether he likes it or not, the minute Ace even just looks you in your eye, a flame inside him seems to start, and not from his fruit.
It's not a flame that burns you, enveloping your body in burning heat. It's warm and comforting. It spreads around his body and leaves a nice feeling in his veins. The flames rise to his cheeks, nose and ears and leaves them hot. Hot, with exactly what? Well, Ace knows exactly what - and it's terrifying, because he's never felt such things before. Since joining the Whitebeard pirates, Ace hit it off with practically everyone. The words flew out of his tongue easily and naturally with people, especially girls. 
Whether he likes it or not, Ace likes you.
A touch on his shoulder broke him out of his trance, and he turned to see you beside him with a slight frown. The same flame that he always experienced ignited in his chest once more.
"Hey, are you okay?" You asked, both hands on your hips. That had been the hundredth time Ace had tried to start a conversation with you but failed. To be honest, you didn't know if he was just messing around with you or hated you, because according to every other girl, he acts more than friendly with them. Is it because he feels like he needs to talk to you but can't because he just dislikes you that much?
"Huh? O-Oh yeah, I'm good. Great," Ace spluttered, waving his hand in front of him. You raised an eyebrow at his words, clearly not believing any of it. 
"Look, if you hate me or something, then say it. You don't have to force conversations with me if you don't want to have them in the first place," You huffed, crossing your arms and furrowing your eyebrows. 
Now it was Ace's turn to be confused, and he was left speechless for a good few seconds. Did it really look like he disliked you?
"..Hate you? I don't hate you," Ace said. He was a lot calmer than he usually was and the words were flowing out of him naturally. His cheeks weren't as pink as they normally were (though they were still pink), and his heart wasn't beating wildly. 
"Really? Then why can you never talk to me properly but you can with everyone else?" You asked. "Well, other than now."
At your words, Ace thought for a second. It was true. He was having a normal conversation with you right now. What was different from now then all of the other times? The mechanics in his brain turned, and he realized it was because he didn't want you to believe that he hated you. 
Also because the words were too unbearable to keep in anymore. After all, he was just getting frustrated with himself a minute ago.
Ace stayed silent for another few seconds, and was only broken out of his trance when you tapped him on his shoulder again.
"O-Oh. It's not important. I'm pretty sure Thatch is done with lunch by now. Want to go have some?"