Title Snapshots
Characters All - with a heavy emphasis on Ace (because he's my favourite!)
Warning Some of these will likely deal with some mature situations, or have some strong language in them
Author Notes These will be ranging all over the time-line: some will be from character's childhood prior to the show, while others will deal with them as adults. There may also be some OC's of mine popping up here and there. A note will always be made. On that note - my Ace has always had absentee parents, at least when he gets old enough to be able to take care of himself. As a younger child his parents always expected perfection - hence he became a self-obsessed brat. ;)

"Now remember what I told you, try and keep your eyes up, don't look at the ball."

"I know!" The little cream-haired six year old struggled in his father's grip, too excited about his first actual real game to spare any time for last minute advice.

"Look where you're going to shoot before you kick."

"I know!" He looked up into his father's eyes. They weren't that much higher than his own, since the older male was kneeling on the ground in front of him.

"And most importantly…"

"Have fun?" Ace smiled broadly up at his father, his little hands squeezing his father's arms.

"Be better than everyone else." The expression on the man's face was serious, his eyes boring down into his child's. In just a moment though the expression softened and a smile tugged at his lips as he pulled his little boy closer into his arms. "And have fun." He kissed the top of Ace's head, then let him go and watched as he ran out to the field, hopping around excitedly.

Those last words had as deep an impact with Ace as his father had intended. He may have appeared too excited to listen, but he spent the whole game with his head up, paying as much attention to what he was doing as a six year old could. He indeed did end up being better than everyone else in that first game, his hunger for dominance on the field being instilled at such a young age. But he did have fun. For now at least, while he was a child, he had fun.