Yô minna -0-)/
The idea for this fic appeared bc I've downloaded a song where Ace was singing and I just... GAAAH *^* I fell in love, such a perfect voice QwQ ❤ (even though the song is sad pwp) and, after raping the re~play button so many times, I thought "why not writing something like this?" and, well, here it is :3
Just saying... this was supposed to be a damn one~shot, but it was getting too long thus I'm dividing it ^u^ I think it'll have 3 chaps and an extra bc while writing this I just had a sudden idea and I'm gonna do it :3

Oh; Oh ~o~ a little warning, this is full of some of my headcanons xD so sorry if I spoiled the characters a bit hahaha
Then please, go enjoy the first chap :3 *mistakes ahead :v be careful with your eyes* ~

Side A: Ace

~ 1 ~

Ace was, like always, sitting on one of the many steps of the staircase placed near Luffy's classroom. The younger boy was, like always, leaning over one of the many windows on the corridor of school, socializing with his friends. The group of his friends today was bigger. Luffy had many friends, Ace had noticed that by now. But then again, the boy was like the sun; always brightening everybody's day with his cheerfulness. Ace felt in that way, especially, when Luffy smiled. His smile was the most perfect thing on earth's face. It was innocent, true and so lively; it easily dragged people into his carefree world like a major force. Like a magnet. Luffy's smile always made his heart race like crazy. But that was just normal; after all, Ace had fallen so quickly, so stupidly, so utterly in love with Luffy because of that smile of his.

"Your stupidity tires my brain."

"Huh?" Ace looked at the source of that calm statement. His best friend, Marco, just stared at him with that usual blank expression of his, so Ace didn't really know from where that sudden insult had come.

"Why don't you just tell him you like him?" Marco asked simply, not really too interested in the subject. However he was starting to get tired of seeing his friend loving the younger boy from afar and not doing anything about it.

"How can I possibly tell him that?"

"With your mouth?" Marco deadpanned which made Ace stare at him dryly.

"Marco, please, shut up."

"Yes, yes. But you know…" The blond started, looking in Luffy's direction. "…if you don't do it, someone else might do it in your place."

After those restless words, Ace looked at the object of all his affection and saw how a dark haired guy whispered, boldly, in Luffy's ear. Whatever it had been that he had whispered, made Luffy laugh aloud, to then lean over him and smile very tenderly.

Ace's heart stopped beating for a split second. What he had just seen made his heart hurt incredibly, yet, not too long after that pain was transformed into jealousy and annoyance. Truth to be told, Ace felt like standing up, walking towards that fucking bastard and beat the crap out of him, so he would know that he wasn't allowed to touch on his Luffy. Though Luffy was not his. Luffy wasn't even aware of Ace's feelings for him, nor the urge he had to monopolize him. Luffy wasn't aware of anything, even though Ace was one of his many friends as well.

"If he likes them, who am I to interfere?" He ended up uttering the painful truth. Because he knew that if Luffy liked someone, then he had to accept it and let him go. Even though he had never had him in the first place.

"You're so stupid!" Marco growled standing up. He seriously didn't know what else to say to make Ace do the right thing. Anything he suggested would just be rejected. Therefore he wouldn't insist anymore. "Well it's up to you dude, seriously. I just said that because watching you craving someone's attention is tiresome."

"Yes, Marco-sama is such a good friend."

"I am. And just to prove it to you," Marco leaned ever so slightly to Ace, grabbing and lifting his chin lightly up with a mischievous smirk on his lips. "…if you ever need some comfort, just say so, I'll be more than willing to give it to you. I think it would be pretty interesting seeing you writhing in pleasure beneath me."

Ace smirked back, copying every single gesture of his friend; his hand grabbed Marco's chin bringing the male closer to him. Not too long after, he said, "My, I think that the contrary would be way more interesting. Why not having you writhing in pleasure beneath me? I think you would be such a cute bottom."

"Is that a possible challenge?" Marco asked.

"Maybe." Ace replied.

And, all of a sudden, a third voice sounded interrupting their teasing moment very cheerfully.

"Ace!"

Said male looked in the owner of that voice's way with surprised wide eyes. "Lu-Luffy?" He shoved Marco away and felt how his heartbeat increased suddenly. Had Luffy heard their conversation? He really hoped not. He didn't want the boy to misinterpret anything. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just passing by." Luffy said with a grin and then took the opportunity to stare at Marco with great seriousness, his grin no longer adorning his features. His orbs stared at him for long enough to leave the older teen confused and surprised. "Né Ace," His eyes looked back at the other male, utterly ignoring Marco's presence. "...won't you sing today?"

"Eh? I-I forgot my guitar at home. I was kinda late." Ace replied, though he was a little taken aback with Luffy's question.

"Pretty late dude. How many times have I told you not to stay up 'till late at night?" Marco teased and Ace stared at him amused.

"Maybe you should start calling me to tell me to go to bed." Ace teased back.

"Maybe I should."

Marco and Ace smirked at each other. Luffy, nonetheless, stared once again at the blond. Marco noticed and looked at the younger boy taken aback, yet again. Had he said or done something wrong? So far, he didn't recall anything like that. But the younger boy seemed quite irritated. Or was he just seeing things?

"Ace!" Luffy said louder than he had intended and even him seemed surprised at his own reaction. The older male looked at him surprised as well. Luffy cleared his throat and added, "It's a shame that you forgot your guitar at home. I was looking forward to listen to you singing today too." The boy confessed smiling brightly, making Ace's heart thump painfully fast against his chest. The surprise, however, could be easily seen in his face. From all the things he was hoping Luffy to perhaps say, something as breath taking as that wasn't for sure one of them.

Ace's cheeks gained a pale pink color as he suddenly felt embarrassed. He moved one of his hands to the back of his neck, scratching it nervously; sheepishly. His lips were curved in a small shy smile as he did so. Thump Thump... Thump Thump... His heart kept beating unstoppably, in a strange feeling of bliss. Just that simple sentence had made him so incredibly happy, that he felt that he could live forever because of it. Gosh, he was an hopeless idiot, but he couldn't help it.

"Y-You were?" He asked hopeful to listen to those words all over again, although he knew it was something improbable of happening.

"Hum, I was." The other boy confirmed cheerfully, smiling from ear to ear while looking at him. Sudden butterflies fluttered their wings all over his stomach, weakening him against that perfect sight. Ace just loved that smile so much... The day he had met Luffy for the first time; the day he also fell in love at the first sight, the boy had smiled at him like that too. It had been an unforgettable sight, so whenever his eyes saw it, his heart would flutter.

"I like your voice a lot, Ace." Luffy added, unexpectedly, bringing him back from that world of memories of his. Ace's heart stopped beating, however thoughts like, this day had to be his luckiest day ever, crossed his mind and he just felt that he would have an heart attack at any moment. Luffy's next words, nevertheless, crushed all the happy feelings that had grown within him so far. "And my friends too. Especially Nami and Vivi. They asked me if you would sing today too, that's why I came here to know because they know that we are friends."

Ace opened his mouth, but thankfully the bell rang and he felt relieved. He just didn't really know what to say as he wasn't expecting those words. Although, he should have known that all the happiness he had felt had just been too good to be true. The teen got up, with a heavy sensation in his heart that was becoming too painful to bear by the second. He looked at Luffy with a small smile, and caressed the younger boy's head softly. Luffy gasped in surprise, but before he had the time to say anything, Ace spoke.

"I see. Well, please apologize to them in my place." The older male turned around and slowly began to walk towards his next class, Marco following right behind him. Truth to be told, Ace felt more like he was going to a funeral. What a way of killing his happiness. But then again, it had all been his own fault for getting so hopeful over nothing. The sad teen sighed frustrated and exasperated. He was a real idiot.

Marco looked at Ace's back, feeling all the sadness that irradiated from him. Honestly, not even him was expecting to hear those last words from the younger boy's mouth. But then again, Luffy was totally oblivious of Ace's feelings for him, so it was only normal for him to hurt Ace without even being aware of it. Still, there was something about Luffy that bothered him; he just couldn't really figure out what it was exactly.

Marco pulled Ace closer to him friendly, with an arm wrapped around his neck. "So Ace, why don't you sing him your feelings?" Even though the other male was hurt, Marco believed that he should still tell Luffy how he truly felt. Even if things didn't go well for his best friend, at least their kouhai wouldn't hurt him that much anymore.

"Huh? Didn't you just see what happened over there? He sees me as nothing else but a friend. Why should I just dig my own cave? It was pretty painful hearing that just now, and I don't really feel like hearing it again, thank you very much."

Marco sighed and added, "Dude, he just said that he likes your voice a lot. Did you also hear that?"

"So do his friends." Now it was Ace's turn to sigh. He knew that Marco only wanted the best for him and was just trying to help, still he couldn't agree with his friend. Ace felt a pang in his heart. Suffering from a one-sided love was really awful. "Seriously, there's no point for me to tell him-"

All of a sudden Ace felt how something pulled at his shirt. He looked over his shoulder and his eyes were instantly widened at the sight of Luffy's hand grasping his shirt tightly in order to prevent him from walking.

"Luffy…?" He uttered slowly.

The younger boy took some time to actually talk, but when he did so he did it pleadingly, making Ace's heart beat hopefully one more time.

"Tomorrow, don't forget your guitar." For brief moments they remained quiet, immobile in the middle of the corridor of school and the crowd of people gathering in it. Their eyes stared intensely at each other's, completely unable of looking away. Ace didn't really know what was happening, but somehow his heartbeat increased. There was something about Luffy that gave him more hope. Should he consider Marco's words after all? But, what if this was just another illusion created by his hope? What if Luffy was saying this in the name of all of his friends who liked to hear him singing in break times too? Damn, he was thinking way too much. Either way he would bring his guitar tomorrow because he wanted, since it helped him to relax.

"Sure." Ace smiled at the younger boy not too sure of his own decision. However, as soon as he saw Luffy's happy features spoiling the serious and strange expression from before, his doubts were all washed away in an instant.

"Great. Then, I've got to go now. Bye Ace."

Ace could only stare, dumbfounded; dazed at Luffy's cheerfulness, at the younger boy's back as he ran fast, perhaps to not get late at his next class.

"Ace, we're gonna be late." Marco's voice brought him back to reality. However he didn't really get alarmed in the slightest. His eyes, were still glued at the place where Luffy had disappeared in the middle of the crowd of students. He couldn't really react differently. Gosh, how did Luffy had such control over him? Anything the boy said just took him either to hell or to heaven. Argh, Ace was way too weak! When had he gotten so weak? God!

"Dude, stop spacing out!" Marco smacked him on the head. Ace glared at him. "Also..."

"Hum?" The dark haired teen frowned, expecting the blond's words.

"You should totally follow my advice." He winked knowingly, somehow adding more hope to the already existing one inside Ace.

Should he really do it?

"Now, let's hurry up. Thatch's gonna get mad if we get late!" Marco stated and Ace smirked knowingly at him.

"Thatch-sensei would punish you in private then, right? We can't let that happen."

"Shut up." Marco was suddenly flustered. Ace, on the other hand, felt much more relieved. He would surely think about his best friend's advice.

For the next two weeks Ace didn't do anything but making covers of songs, so he could use them to confess his feelings for Luffy. Subtly, because he didn't really want an answer, since he already knew what Luffy thought of him. Besides, Marco was right and now that he had thought about things, Ace would be more than satisfied if the boy knew how he felt towards him; even if his feelings weren't reciprocated. He only hoped he could convey his feelings well. Would Luffy even get the message?

"Stop it Ace, you're thinking too much."

Even if he didn't get it at first, Ace would do his best until his feelings reached Luffy.

Aah, the song Ace sings is perfect (chap 2 is written already :v but I'm not gonna post it just yet bc I'm a sadistic woman who likes to make readers suffer +w+ fufufu ~ lmao) *dat aside* no, I am not a MarcoAce shipper, not at all! Tbh, I'm very loyal to my OTPs, so AceLu 4ever OnO)/! (I just can't imagine them with anyone else but each other x'3 ❤) But, I can totally picture Ace's and Marco's friendship like that.. both "flirting" with each other just bc lmao. also, Marco and Thatch are a thing in this just bc I wanted Marco to b in a relationship with someone xD thus Thatch it is hahahaha (surprisingly I don't dislike the idea, wow OvO xD)

QwQ I wanted to write something more 'pink' but this is more like 'light red' yet ~v~ well, I'm still gonna write the 'pink' AceLu fic in da future xD
Anyways, see u in chap 2 ~ bye~bye, ❤⌒ヽ(*'､^*)chuu*