Chapter 21– Comfortable

The tune was familiar but distant; she could just barely make out the words being sung along with the gentle acoustics of the guitar. She could feel herself humming along with each strum trying to remember and hear the lyrics. The words echoed to her but seamed to become clearer for her to hear.

"What big eyes you have...The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad.."

Buttercup turned her head slightly, there was something pressed to her head, and what ever it was just followed. It was a mild irritant that made her brows knit together for a moment, but was forgotten quickly enough in favor of the sound. She mumbled the lyrics at first before softly joining the singer, " Little Red Riding Hood. I'd like to hold you if I could. But you might think I'm a big bad wolf so I won't."

As her voice became a little clearer the other voice dropped off, but the sounds of the guitar continued and mixed with her, "The better to love you with. Little Red Riding Hood. Even bad wolves can be good."

Buttercup sighed before taking a deep breath, her body instinctively stretching, and opened one eye then the next to the blurry imagines of the first waking world. She sat up with a slight grunt. Reflex made her catch the small damp washcloth that fell from her forehead.

"Looks like yer fever finally broke." Ace said casually over his shoulder. He was sitting on the living room table, a guitar sitting and posed in his lap with his left hand still poised on the instruments neck. He was currently twisted slightly to look at her, leaning back on his free hand.

Buttercup, still blinking away sleep, looked from the cloth in her hand to him to the guitar back to the cloth, "Was I just-?"

She stopped in the middle of her question looking back at him. She squinted thinking for a second: Had she started singing in her half awake state or was she just dreaming? She knew the song, it was listed in one of her favorite play list on both her phone and computer, so her brain could of just dreamed it up. She caught Aces eyes. He looked strange to her for a moment before it clicked that she was looking directly at his eyes and not threw or over his sunglasses. It was one of those rare moments he went without, and currently his pale green eyes looked at her with a dash of curiosity, and what was probably concern, at her lack of finishing the question.

She felt her face heat a little, she couldn't of been singing, not in-front of him. He would of reacted or teased if she had been, right? A split second thought passed through her brain, but having nearly blurting her little secret out to her sister only to be interrupted by the man in front of her she wasn't sure if she more or less comfortable letting anyone know.

Changing her question, Buttercup asked, "Where you just singing?"

Ace let out a soft snort and Buttercup was sure she saw a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth as he turned away refocusing on the guitar. Ace found the change in question amusing. Cleverly avoiding the obvious. Yes: she had been singing, yes: Ace had heard, No: it hadn't been an accident that it was a song Buttercup knew and enjoyed. Though Ace would admit, he hadn't expected to elicit such an immediate reaction, and mostly chalked it up to a combo of her still ill state and sleep. Part one of his plan was simple, start playing songs she knew and liked under the ruse of needing/wanting to practice till she became comfortable with his playing and slipped up by singing along. Now had seemed like as good a time as any to put it in motion.

He'd completely been surprised when her voice had begun to duet with his. Then, what was more amazing, was the clarity her voice was capable of even in a mostly unconscious state. Luckily he had been able to rain in his reaction before she was able to open her eyes. Part of him knew that he had an opening right here, a golden moment, to tell her that she had indeed been singing, and if she had actually asked her initial question he would of told her the truth, but as is? He dropped it. If anything the past year or so taught him was that Buttercup was a lot more complicated then the little kid he used to know.

"What dose it look like I'ms doin?" He tuned the guitar just a bit before strumming a few cords and improvised tunes. He looked at her with a half grin. She smiled back as she sat up better from her spot on the couch turned bed and tossed the washcloth onto the table.

Leaning her head against the back of the couch, pillowing her cheek against the cushion in away Ace would never dare tell her looked cute, she said, "Well go on then, rock star, sing something."

Ace rolled his eyes, but obliged. The improved melody giving way to something more structured and familiar, "The world is spinning too fast, I'm buying lead nike shoes To keep myself tethered To the days I've tried to lose. My mama said to slow down, You must make your own shoes. Stop dancing to the music Of some happy sunshine mood...Hmmm"

Ace trailed off a bit, still strumming, but feeling like the lyrics where off. Buttercup lifted her head, "That sounds really familiar? Who's it by?"

"I can't rememba just now, but I think I should know." Ace stopped playing and rested his chin in his hand. He taped his finger against his chin as he did so, "Dis is gonna bug me all day now. I think I messed up a lyric too."

Buttercup chuckled, "Oh the great rock star, Ace Copular, proving his worth by forgetting names and fucking up lyrics."

Ace turned around on the table so he could face her proper. He gave her a mock glare, knowing she was more teasing then anything, "Yer just jealous of my talent, who knows. I'll remember who sings that song and maybe I'll just hunt them down. Make my way to being their singer."

"Oh, that's what you call singing?" Buttercup crossed her arms, a smirk on her face, "And here I thought someone locked a cat in a dryer."

Ace snorted, "Fine, I'll be their base guitar player. No denying that's something I can do in Aces."

He strummed a couple of cords. Buttercup rolled her eyes before reaching over and running a finger down the guitars strings, "Nice pun, wanna be."

"Yeah what ever." He pushed her back slightly by putting his hand on her forehead. She giggled a bit and let out a 'hey' and halfheartedly pushed him away. Ace simply re-positioned his palm where it was stationed on her head, "Huh, you're fever really is gone. Looks like your on the mend."

He took his hand away and Buttercup sniffled a bit, "Still sick tho."

Ace shrugged, "Eh, that will pass, as they say. Honestly after the fever you spiked yesterday I thought you'd be incapacitated for a few days." He set his guitar down, leaning it against the table, and put his sunglasses on that had apparently been hooked in his shirts neck, "Looks like even when you puffs get really sick you still bounce back quickly enough."

"What can I say, we're a tough breed." Buttercup sneezed, "Even like this I could kick anyone's ass."

Ace hummed and nodded, "And it sounds like the sass returns as well." Ace stood grabbing a box of tissue and plopping into her lap, "Nose is leaking Sass pants."

With a look of disinterest, Buttercup wiped her nose and watched him move to the kitchen, "And what you up to?"

"Makein lunch."

"Lunch? What time is it?"

He walked back over and with a grin pulled at the blinds that had been covering the window. "Noon."

The room instantly went from a nice dimmed light to a bright sunshine. Buttercup covered her eyes and face planted back into her pillow, "Bloody Hell and HIM! That's bright! Ace, you ass, you did that on purpose!"

"Sun light is good for the sick." Ace replied not hiding even an ounce of the amusement in his voice.

Buttercup peeked from her shelter of pillows and clasped hand to shoot the man a glare as he made his way to the kitchen. She sighed as her eyes adjusted to the change in light before sitting back up. She detangled her legs from the blanket so she could sit on her knees and lean against the back of the couch. She folded her arms and watched as Ace messed about the kitchen.

"Sun light yes, blinding light no. You know I can still laser beam you into next week."

Ace grinned, a devilish grin that was both teasing and reminiscent of his bully days, "Ah, now you know why I'd blind yah."

She bunched her mouth to one side, "Hmm, well played...So whats for breakfast?"

"I'm making sandwiches for lunch."

"No bacon and eggs then?" She asked more as a joke but chuckled a little when he leaned back from the fridge with a raised eyebrow. She rested her chin on her arms, "I really slept that long?"

"Mmmhm, once your sister left I barely had time to get some food in yah before yous where just out. Den again, that's when your fever cranked up the heat." He came back over with a couple of simple sandwiches cut into triangles and set them on the table next to where he retook his place. He also set down two cans: a soda for her and a beer for him, "I wonder if what ever you twos where all weepy over had anything to do with it?"

Buttercup sat back proper to lean over and grab her meal. As a response to Aces curiosity she gave a small shrug, her cheeks heating lightly, but otherwise said nothing. Though she was sure arguing with Butch and Blossom had indeed done her no favors in the sick and feverish department.

Ace took a bite and pushed it to one side so he could ask, "Don't suppose you'll tell me what went down in my apartment yesterday?"

"Nope!" Buttercup then emphasizes her silence by taking a big bite. Ace gave her a look that said he figured as much as he made a humming sound. Ace did not need to know that she got into a tiff with both her boyfriend and sister over the subject of Ace. Something that seemed to be happening a lot ever since she got assigned to the green skinned man. She was glad to have gotten so much out in the open and hopefully it would mean the fighting would stop, or at least slow down. At this point she'd take what she could get.

There was a moment of silence as the two ate before she looked at the guitar still leaning against the table. There where a few in stands around the room, Ace had set them up quite a while ago after he had gotten his stuff back from incarceration. The apartment looked much better then the sterile, default, she had seen so many months ago. Though she had been in his apartment since, this was the first time she actually decided to take in the tokens and nick knacks that must of meant something to the ex gangster.

There where photos on the walls; Mostly of the gang. A few where of what she assumed where the people he had made connections with when in Empire City: Managers, other performers, and the likes. Some news clipping where among the frames such as the official announcement of when the gang had been accepted under the Bellum accord. Buttercup had a bit of curiosity peek when she looked at two frames sitting next to the tv: One of Ace and DeeDee at what looked to be the bar Ace worked at, the other being a photo from the 4th of July party. It was a rather silly photo when Robin and Buttercup had been messing around with the camera. They had both decided to grab the person standing closest by them and take a snap of the resulting reaction. Robin and Buttercup smiled in the photo, Ace however looked annoyed from where Buttercup had grabbed him by the neck of his shirt while Ken looked confused when robin had picked him up. Ace had originally rolled his eyes and had said something snarky that Buttercup could no longer remember when she gave him the copy of the photo. She had assumed all this time that he threw it away. Buttercups gaze lingered on it a moment, but chose not to say anything.

She eyed the man from the corner of her eye. He'd never come off as the kinda man who would keep such photos. Photos that would be considered soft or silly, yet there they where in nice frames by something he probably used or looked at daily. He was surprisingly sentimental. She smiled and without thinking said, "You're secretly just an angry little cinnamon roll."

Ace, who had just been taking a drink, spittled a little before looking at her like she'd just deeply insulted him with the tips of his ears turning red, "What did yous just call me?!"

Buttercup felt her face heat up, it had been a passing thought and she had definitely not meant to say it out loud. "I-I uh," She looked at the beer in his hand and decided on a diversion tactic, "Is that any good?"

"That's not-" He looked at the beer and raised an eye brow at her. He glared at her taking in all said before letting out a long breath of air, "Why would you wanna know?"

She shrugged, "Curiosity? Professor and Saundra only ever have wine in the house, some times rum for cooking, and the girls and I have only ever been aloud a little bit on holidays."

"Are you sayin you've never had real alcohol before?" Ace gave her a look of disbelief when she nodded, "You're Seventeen, Cuppa, how the hell is it that wine is the only thing you've ever had? Don't yous go to parties?"

Buttercup shrugged and rubbed her neck, "I've been to parties where there was drinking, I just chose not to." She pulled a face, "Plus when Butch drinks someone needs to stay sober enough to keep him in check."

"Sounds like fun." Ace muttered. He then looked at the bottle before smiling and offering it to her, "Well here little miss responsible. Try it for yourself and tell me if it taste good."

She looked at the container in his outstretched hand with a mix of curiosity, unsure, and surprise. Aces grin widened as he chuckled and when she hesitated for another moment he said, "It'll only be one drink, Cuppa. It aint gonna hurt you, hell I doubt it'll affect you at all."

She shrugged a little, "I'm underage."

"I wont tell if you don't." But he shrugged and pulled away, "Eh, I don't think yous'll like it anyways."

"Wait!" She quickly moved and grabbed it from him before leaning back. She looked at him defiantly "You don't know what I'll like."

Ace raised his brow, matching her look, and gestured for her to go right on. She looked between him and the bottle, "Besides it's just one drink. It won't hurt me."

"Yeah, but Buttercup- Don't! Cuppa, I wouldn't-!" Ace tried to get the warning out, but was a little too late when Buttercup took a big chug. Her response was about what he expected.

She immediately made a motion to gag while practically throwing the bottle back at him, "Oh Gawd! That taste horrible! I -bleh-!"

Ace began to laugh even as she covered her mouth like the beverage was going to come right back up the way it came, "Hey now, yous are not throwing up on me again! Once was enough." He chuckled, "If you upchuck do it that way!"

She stuck her tongue out, "How can most people like that stuff?! It taste terrible."

Ace leaned back on one hand and took another drink. A smug and amused grin playing at his features, "It's more of a taste you get used too, and besides most don't drink it for the flavor, theys drink it for it's effects. One or two a day. Can help taking the edge off of a daily grind. A few more and you find you don't care so much about your worries." He finished what remained in the bottle and set it aside, "And I told you wouldn't like it. Try a hard lemonade next time or something else fruity."

Buttercup huffed and pulled her legs to her chest. Ace was sure she was trying to be defiant or act like it hadn't bothered her, but to him it looked more like a pout as she went back to finishing eating. Taking a large gulp of the more age appropriate soda, presumable to rid herself of the taste of the foul brew. Ace felt his smug grin turn into a relaxed, contented, smile as he followed her lead. A comfortable hush fell between them once more. However once the food was gone Buttercup tired of the quiet that filled the room quickly and she reached for his guitar. Without missing a beat, Ace lifted the instrument up and out of her reach. "And what do yous think you're doing?"

She crossed her arms,"I was gonna play."

"Despite the fact that, yes, its to be played, a toy my guitar is not."

Buttercup rolled her eyes, almost finding the implication offensive. "I'll have you know, I know what I'm doing. I used to play all the time."

Ace made another humming sound considering her words before handing it over, "Fine."

She smiled and placed it in position. She strummed it to get a feel for it before playing a generic tune.

And to Aces surprise it sounded... bad. Well bad wasn't the right the word, but he was expecting better from the puff. He did recall a time or two in their youth where the girls had played music and, especially for kids, it had been pretty good. But in the here and now, Buttercup hit a couple of sour notes. Something he'd expect from some average first year highschooler; Not someone who he knew for a fact had musical talent.

This must of showed a little on his face for when she looked up at him she made a dry chuckle and had a matching look, "I did say I used to play, right?"

"Its been established. And you where making fun of me earlier?"

"Yeah, guess I'm rusty", She lifted her left had from the neck of the guitar and flexed her fingers. Looking around she eyed one of the other guitars in the corner. It was a black guitar with green and blue accents sitting in a stand. She pointed "Hey, let me try that one instead."

Ace glanced back at it then gave her a look like he was deciphering if she was joking or crazy, "Cuppa, I only keep that as decoration. It's a left handed guitar."

She shot him a mellow look with one brow raised, "Ace, I am left handed." She shrugged, "Mostly."

"No you're not, you're-" He stopped mid sentence to think. Was she? Now that he thought about it there where a few instances he could recall her using her left in favor of her right. "Mostly?"

She nodded, "Professor says I have a variation of ambidextra. So I'm pretty good at most thing using either, while still favoring the left ."

"Huh, learning new things everyday." Ace stood and retrieved the other guitar, switching with her, "Lets see if your left is as rusty as your right."

She got re-situated and began to tune it: Her skill immediately sounding better. Once tuned she repeated the process of strumming to get used to it and flowing into improvised melody. Indeed she was a much better guitarist using the lefties guitar. She still had signs of having not played in a long time, but a little practice and she could easily perform.

He nodded approvingly, "Not bad, Buddacup. Not bad at all. You have a lot of potential there."

She let out a satisfied huff, "Maybe you could give me lessons when we have supervised time?"

Ace rubbed his chin, "Not a bad idea. I need to start practicing more myself. Especially if I'm getting a partner."

"Partner?"

"Yeah, don't know who yet though. Work dose this band, singing, contest thing every year. I'm gonna join in next time it comes around, and I've gotten a bit lazy with how much I've been practicing. Then to top it off it's a two person a group minimum. They have thing to help partner people up, sooss" He shrugged a little.

Buttercup looked down at the guitar in her hands then back, "Isn't playing at a bar kinda small pickings for you now?"

"Qs is a restaurant that has a bar. Get it right PowerPuff. And as flattering as that comment is, I don't got a lot of options here in Townsvill. What reputation I have is obviously for what I was. Need to start small and rebuild if I'm gonna wanna create any stepping stones music wise while I'ms still stuck here."

"I guess that makes sense." Buttercup nodded then replayed some of his words in her head. She played a few notes, not looking at him, "Soooo, 'while you're still stuck here'. Dose that mean after you're done with the accord you're gonna leave again?"

Ace shrugged again. "Don't really know. Unless things take a drastic change for me, I gots nothing to keep me here. The fellas are making roots else where, and if we do become a band I figured we'd be traveling..." He looked down at his hands, a dark shadow crossing over him. "And who knows what 'll happen when I find the people who hurt us."

Buttercup set the guitar in her lap down. She made a motion to reach for his hand, but pulled back and asked tentatively, "How's that been going by the way? You haven't really said anything about it in a while."

"That's because it hasn't been going." The joking, more light hearted mood, he had been sharing with her was quickly dissolving away. Being replaced with something more introverted and a look that made her think more of the Ace she knew as a kid, "I can't remember shit about any of it, which is kinda fucked. I spent years there, heard names, seen figures and logos, and of course my dip shit brain blocks it all out."

"What kind of stuff happened to you guys there?" Buttercup asked before even thinking if she should.

He gave a bit of a snarl, "You've read the report I gave the Council."

Knowing she hit a tender spot, she did reach over this time. Placing her hand on his wrist that sat lazily on top of his guitar, "I have, but there's more. Isn't there? Shots and strange foods and medicine. It all had to be for something."

He pulled away and stood, "Today is not the day I tell you about that place. Some memories are better off buried and for your own sake, I hope you never know."

He began to walk away when Buttercup worded one more thought, "You should try hypnotherapy."

He turned and looked at her, "What?"

"To remember. You need a name or something right? Talk to Dr. Ramon about hypnotherapy."

He grunted, "It's been mentioned."

"And?"

He rubbed his eyes, "And nothing! It's been mentioned, but not really been discussed. We've been talking about-" he glanced at her before finishing, "other things."

Buttercups shoulders drooped slightly. The rooms mood was becoming sour and stifled. She'd been enjoyed the moment before. After everything the last couple of days it was nice to have a soft light moment. She wished to return to it, but the wrong subject had obviously been brought up. Maybe another change in subject would help.

The looked up at him and with a tilt of her head asked, "Haave you heard back about your test? The GED?"

He looked at her a bit blankly before walking away into his room. She let out a breath and plopped back into the couch. She should of figured as much. Even if he had heard back why would he wanna talk about it now? However Ace returned to the room much quicker then she expected, only having left for maybe a minuet. He sat down on the table in-front of her once more; She simply tilted her head to the side; both curious and confused at the stoic, blank, expression. He lifted a paper up in front of his face to where she couldn't see him.

She sat forward squinting and reading the first bit, "Dear Mr. Copular, we are pleased..."

She took the paper from him to read more of it before looking up at him with a grin. He simply returned it with his coy devilish grin. She let out a snicker before reaching over to put her arms around his neck.

"Ace this is great!" She pulled away, but kept one arm looped around him. Ace putting an arm around her as well as she looked over the paper again, "Now you're gonna take college classes now, right?"

He gave her a very pointed look. She only returned one to show that she had been joking more then anything. She did then give him a more thoughtful raise of an eyebrow, "It's actually not a bad idea, y' know. A couple of business or management classes could probably be helpful."

He rolled his eyes and stood up; depositing her back into the couch. "I'll think about it maybe after those silly little life classes y'all gots me doin." He walked over to the door and picked something up before dropping it in her lap. Also taking the moment to take back the slip of paper, "Speakin of learnin."

She looked at the bag he'd dropped in her lap and recognized it as her own. She opened it to see some of her school books and some of the looser fitting clothes she liked wearing to bed. She took note that she was still wearing his old clothes with 'fuck your anger management' scrawled on the front.

"you'r sisters dropped that off this mornin' while yous where still zonked out. I think they said it was your homework and a change of clothes." Ace said before walking to his room and back out. A pack of cigarettes in his hand, "Im gonna go out front for a smoke. Why don't yous take a shower. Might help with that sniffle you still got."

The shower did help. Less congested, She still stayed with him for two more days before being declared well enough to finish her recovery in the comfort of her own home. Those two days being filled with sleep, minor guitar lessons/practice, and visits from family and friend. Ace was surprised, however, by the lack of anymore boyfriends visits, but he wouldn't of been able to say he minded. With the return of Buttercup to her family things of course where to return to normal. Aces BCA requirements had been given a grace while the puff remained sick in his care.

She went home on a Sunday so Monday he was back to the grind. Work at five. Community Service at two. The puffs house by three thirty. However, it seemed like things where not going to return to the old standard of normal as the family began to sit down for the evening meal.

There was light chatter as everyone began to take their seats and food was placed on plates. Ace settled himself at the counter, as was common on the days he was made to stay. He would be given dinner but sat away from the family group. It hadn't surprised, nor offended him, at first and now it was just normal. He was about to scoop up a fork of spaghetti and sauce when he heard Saundra speak, "Ace, dear, what are you doing so far away?"

He looked over at her, confused, "Huh?"

"Come on dude, you know there's plenty of space over here at the table." Buttercup added casually, pointing her thumb at the free space between where she and Ken sat at the large round family table.

Ace felt even more confused as he tried to think of a proper reply, "Yeah, but I thought, I usually."

"Ace, don't be rude." The Professor said in his sturdy, but gentle tone. A authoritative, but fatherly melody, "This family dose not start eating until everyone's at the table."

Ace's brain went blank and before it could start again Bubbles smiled over and said, "Come on, we want you over here."

He looked at each face at the table. They looked expectantly, even Blossom giving him a small look of encouragement. Slowly he moved, as if waiting for a trap to spring even though such a idea was silly. He sat and they all began to go about again with minor chat. He felt...really out of place; Sitting stiff and awkward at his newly found place between Buttercup and Ken.

Until Buttercup sneezed on him that is. A clinging symptom that would probably linger for a few more days yet. He looked on his arm where she had gotten him, "Do I have a target on me I don't know about for all your sneezes and other gross stuff?"

"Other Gross stuff?" Ken asked.

"Yeah, this one threw up on me." Ace remarked.

"You did not!" Blossom half laughed at Buttercup.

Buttercup blushed as she half grinned, "It's not like a meant too!"

"All over the front of my shirt too." Ace quipped and shook his head in mock disappointment. This earned a few more low chuckles and lifted the tension in the air.

"That some what reminds me of the time you girls where eleven." The Professor started. The conversation over the meal moving organically threw different stories, sharing days, and other bits of idle chatter. Ace joining in and out as his opinion and view was requested or encouraged.

He left that day with strange but good feeling. It was distantly familiar. Like something he'd seen many times, but had only had in either distant memory or small bits. What ever it was, he liked it.

Little Red Riding Hood by Amanda Seyfried

19-2000 by the Gorillaz