A/N:: I see people fav or follow and I am just like 'fufufu, yeeeesss, enjoy it all~!' XD Glad to know you all lingering in the shadows enjoy this enough! And whaaaa? another day with another chappie?! Woot!

Enjoy~!

Our Loving Angel

~.~.~

"What's wrong?" Ace asks while green eyes find him and he can't help but worry of his friend being so quiet while hanging over at his house.

"Nothing?" Sabo questions as Thatch and Izo are talking about some pizza options from a paper menu, Shanks teasing them about their decisions like usual. It was hardly a new sight as they had been friends since the beginning of the year and with the weather getting colder, they hung out indoors more often to stay out of the cold.

"Come on for a second," the reply comes as Ace did not believe for a bit nothing was wrong. "Shanks, I can bring my system down, right?"

"Sure thing!" The guardian chirps up from his spot as he stands next to the couch that the guests rest on.

"Need help?" Thatch offers with a wide grin and Ace returns a similar smile while waving a hand out.

"Nah, Sabo is going to help me!" The response have them accept it and soon the two leave to go up the stairs. When reaching Ace's room, he turns to see Sabo tugging at his blond hair to be in place on the left side—a clear indication to being filled with anxiety. A frown lingers on Ace as he waits to grab the other's hand and pull him closer with himself practically against Sabo, who stares in surprise as they were the same height now. "What's bothering you? You know you can tell me…" Worried dark eyes stare into the more visible green eye, causing hands to move immediately. Ace moves fingers through blond hair to pull bangs back to have his friend frowning to him, a light cringe at being exposed.

"I just thought I was your best friend…" A mutter leaves Sabo as he flickers eyes away and tries to hide the fact that he has been boiling over what happened.

"What?" Confusion is obvious on Ace's face before thinking back to what could have brought this up.

"You are my best friend, Thatch!"

The words echo in his head in realization and can see how it bothered Sabo, rubbing him the wrong way. It takes Ace a moment to gather himself to make sure he clarifies how much the blond means to him. Releasing blond hairs, his fingers find the t-shirt on the other and stares down for a moment. The silence is tense, both noticing it before Ace shifts to have his eyes up again with teeth chewing on his bottom lip.

"That's because you are so much more than that Sabo… I have no way to place you," Ace admits as those confused eyes look to him and receives a tilt of the head. It's clear that Sabo is interested on what exactly about the situation has his heart racing like no other. "I don't know… It's kind of just like, you are there by my side no matter what? You are more than a friend, more than a best friend…" The words come out as Ace tries to place his mindset in one place, but is having a hard time. "I… I don't… know what it is…"

Sabo moves to grip hands with his own and views over the nervous way Ace bites to his lower lip again. The racing heart Sabo feels is accompanied by his chest aching, and there is so much running through his head. Many things ranging to how Ace would always be with him, being placed higher than just best friend, and how that spot seems to be reserved just for him. Watching as cheeks flush lightly, lips shifting to try and explain more, but no words come out. Sabo swallows as he feels a thrill in him, loving the bursting of dark eyes as he inches closer with his face tilted a bit more. The simple brush of lips causes a hitch of breath before there is the sound of thundering of the stairs.

"What do you guys want for pizza?!" Shanks asks as the two had parted with Ace showing to be flustered, moving to get his game system and Sabo schools his emotions easily, though he hides his hands behind him as they tremble. "Izo wants Hawaiian and Thatch lotsa meat!" The guardian comes around the railing finally as he notices Sabo first as he is in view before coming into the room more, Ace calming himself just enough.

"Lotsa meat is good for me!" Ace chirps up with a grin to his guardian to show nothing was wrong and was immediately believed.

"I like Hawaiian…" Sabo joins in clarification and Shanks laughs while leaving with a wide grin.

"Gotcha!" Feet begin thundering back down the steps, unluckily for Benn as he probably could hear the noise a bit in their home.

Green eyes flicker to his friend, feeling himself one step away from how much his attraction could grow. Ace stands with his game system, looking to Sabo with a flush on his face and sheepishly smiles. "Help me?" It was a simple question and Sabo is wondering if he is avoiding what just happened or wants to go down stairs because of everyone else.

A feeling swells in Sabo as he calculates everything that just happened, thinking on how his flirting—he finally admits—was being returned these past months ever since the end of school last year. Sabo knew something lingered between them, something more than what wants to blossom. The fact that they almost kissed should be proof enough and Sabo felt himself being actually angry that Shanks interrupted that. Seeing the way that Ace may want to forget what just happened felt unacceptable to Sabo as he wanted nothing more than to claim Ace, his mind chanting 'mine' in a possessive tone.

Moving the few steps, he grabs the system, placing it to the entertainment center quickly, Ace complaining on how it was somewhat hanging on the edge before hushed. "Mmh?" A hum of questioning is there as Sabo has lips to his and is shocked, but soon squinting dark eyes.

Pure bliss blossoms through Ace's chest as he soon moves hands to grab at the other's face. They press harshly together, Ace feeling like he hasn't been up from beneath waves this past year and enjoys the hand running through his hair and the other moving to be around his waist. Lips shift, Ace groaning lightly as he tilts and let's his body quiver in absolute delight. They pause as they hear of Thatch complaining that if they needed an extra hand they can just ask. Pulling mouths away, Ace searches green eyes that gleam to him in so much passion that has him breath out in a shudder.

"I will always happily keep myself in the top spot for you…" It's a breathless whisper as Sabo wants to make sure the other understands, holding back his tongue from claiming how Ace was his, the word 'mine' replaying in his head still as it wants to slip out.

"Good, I don't want you anywhere else…" The words come out as they soon have to move when hearing another holler. "Sorry! Tried to find the other controller!" Ace yells back as he is enough away to not be in Sabo's ear and the two are gathering the system—no matter how much neither wanted to pull hands away.

Sabo feels himself thrumming with pure delight that he could share such an intimate moment with Ace.

~.~.~

"It's too bad we can't lay outside…" A whine leaves Ace as he lay on the floor with Sabo right next to him, the room belonging to the latter.

"It's too cold. It would be bad if either of us freezes to death." Sabo mentions as they had heads tilted back to somewhat view the stars, but it wasn't the same. They still didn't move though as Ace begins to laugh lightly and the sound of crinkling is there as he is in the chip bag between them.

"I guess that's true, but I would gladly warm you up, Sabo." The comment lingers, causing a thick swallow from the blond as he enjoys the thought of cuddling with the other.

"A shower would be faster, especially if we are both out in the cold." Sabo mentions and hears the back of chips being moved from its spot and then a hand finds his that has been resting to the floor. A silence lingers as they are merely looking to the white ceiling that contrasts with the dark blue on the walls and they could hear the chatter of Benn and Shanks down stairs in the living room, Luffy gone to a friend's house for the weekend.

"Nah… Sabo?" The soft tone is there, laced in curiosity and slight confusion, receiving a hum in return to continue. A grip is to Sabo's hand as he notices his friend let out a small shaky breath. "Is… Is it bad that I want to touch you?" The question is sincere and almost asking as he didn't want to make the blond uncomfortable.

"No…" Sabo whispers as he tries to control the thrumming hormones that spike alive at being aware of the situation. "I want to touch you, too, Ace…" A sharp inhale is there with a grip to his hand and he knows it is of surprise.

"R-Really?" It is a question of befuddlement as Ace knew how much his friend didn't care for touching. He always assumed Sabo grew used to his hand holding and hugs, but after the kiss had his mind swarming on if the blond would be okay with more.

"Only from you…" Sabo whispers and is somewhat surprised as a body shifts on top of him, straddling one leg as dark eyes are looking to him in shock. A giddy sense is about Ace, showing a gleeful smile of being allowed such a thing and doesn't hesitate to drop his body. Sabo's breaths out, controlling his thrumming veins as he was over the moon about how close Ace is with those hands grasping to his sides to relax more. The way Sabo moved his hands along the others back gained soft sighs and a more relaxed body and he couldn't help, but to bring them more along the other with a comforting hold.

Neither were sure where this placed them, but they didn't care as long as they had one another there.