Ace

Luffy was mad at him. He had been refusing to talk to Ace for the past few days, every time Ace tried to talk to his younger brother the boy just stared hard at him and would repeat the same words, "Fix it," before walking away. He knew exactly what Luffy wanted and he wished he could do just that but he doesn't know how. Slumping against the breakfast bar he groans to himself, not only had he upset you, but he had upset one of the few people who didn't give a shit about who his parents were. Luffy had been calling Ace his brother since the day Garp left them together, and as much as Ace couldn't stand it at first. He had come to see just how loyal, and stubborn the energetic boy was. If it wasn't for Luffy and Sabo, Ace probably would be a hell of a lot worse now.

"You're an idiot," said blondes voice penetrates his thoughts as he walks to the fridge to get a soda, looking up to the blonde he pouts,

"I think that's been established since you tell me every day," Ace grumbles, Thatch glances over from where he's sat at the dining table with Marco going through some plans. They were looking for a place to potentially open up a bar,

"You're not exactly helping your case though," the eldest Newgate sibling comments,

"It's not that simple," Ace puffs out his cheeks, "you don't understand,"

"Maybe if you explained, we could actually help," Sabo scowls, Koala slips onto the stool beside Ace's

"Can I ask you a question Ace?" she asks,

"You just did," he responds, she smiles and narrows her eyes, with a small gulp he nods, "Ask away,"

"Is this all because (Y/N) might move back home?" all eyes snap to her, a crashing sound from the hallway announces that Luffy also heard that, he slams into the kitchen,

"(Y/N)'s moving away?!" he demands to know,

"Her mom asked if she wants to," Ace grumbles, "how do you know?" he looks pointedly at Koala,

"Vivi told me, Sabo stop him," she points out where Luffy has dashed off, clearly off to see (Y/N). He gets dragged back by Sabo. "She told Vivi during lunch, and Vivi came to me, we both agreed that it is probably the cause of whatever is going on between you both," she raises her brow and he just huffs, "Why didn't you tell her you don't want her to go back?"

"It's not that simple," Ace scowls,

"Why isn't it?" Sabo shoves Luffy into a chair by Marco, "what's stopping you from..." he then glares hard at Ace, "Please do not tell me it's because of your father,"

"What if it is..." Ace jumps off his stool, all intents of going to his room when everyone in the room groans,

"You really are an idiot," Thatch shakes his head, "How many times have we told you, it doesn't matter who your father is, we are your family, we love you for who you are,"

"And I bet," Marco leans back, "(Y/N) will be of the same mind yoi,"

"You don't know that," Ace looks away from them, "let's just drop it, if she wants to go back to Sabaody, then she can, I don't have the right to ask..." he's suddenly shoved by Sabo,

"You haven't even asked her, you don't even know if she wants to go,"

"I did ask if she wanted to, she didn't respond," he scowls and pushes him back,

"And you just assumed, because you're an idiot, and because you got it into your head this bullshit about who your father was," Sabo shoves him again, Ace starts to get annoyed and sparks fly off him, but before anything further can happen, Koala steps between the pair,

"Ace, you have to talk to (Y/N), you need to tell her how you feel. She has insecurities too, right?" Ace looks down into Koala's face and nods slowly, "Then talk to her, she's probably very confused and I'm sure if you tell her exactly why you've been acting like an ass, she will understand,"

"How..." all the fight leaves him, "how am I supposed to talk to her... she hates me right now,"

"She doesn't hate you silly," she chuckles, "talk to her after your match, I'll get her there don't you worry,"

"Koala..." Sabo isn't sure about this,

"You agreed with me that they need to talk,"

"Yeah but..."

"No but's, he'll have one chance," she looks back to Ace, "Right," Ace nods, "Good boy. Don't let us down now." That is easier said than done though.

The night before the match he tossed and turned all night. Nervous not for the game, but about talking to (Y/N). He fell asleep in the early hours of the morning, so naturally he overslept. Thatch woke him yelling at him to move his ass. Tripping and stumbling he changed into what he hoped were clean clothes, grabbed his kit and ran out the house, "I swear you sleep like the dead," Thatch sighs, Ace ignores it though, too tired to snap back. His gaze travels over to (Y/N)'s window where he could swear, he sees her curtains move, shaking his head thinking he's probably still half asleep he gets into the car. Koala had promised (Y/N) was going to come to the game, but he couldn't help but think that maybe she wouldn't. He wouldn't blame her either, considering her past and especially with who they were up against today, The Sabaody Fishmen, her old schools' team. He decides though, if she doesn't come, he'll just go to hers after and beg her to listen to him. "Relax," Thatch glances at him, "it'll all work out,"

"I hope so," Ace slumps in the seat,

"You really like her huh?" his brother chuckles,

"Yeah, I do..."

"Then focus on that, focus on those feelings and not the bad ones," Thatch suggests as he pulls up at the school, "now get out and go get ready, I have to go back for the others,"

"Thanks Thatch,"

"Anytime."

Ace hurries out. He got in a bit of trouble for being late and Kid gave him hell for it, but he was going to stay positive. He quickly got ready and headed out onto the field to warmup. Once warmups were done the coach called them over to huddle, so they could discuss the first play. As he walked over, he glanced up at the stands, gaze darting over the usual place his friends would sit. He stumbles a little when he spots (Y/N), she seems to have just arrived with Vivi, Zoro and Usopp, she's paused as she makes her way to a seat, eyes meeting his for a moment. She gives him a very small acknowledging smile before hurrying to follow the others.

"Move it Ace, we don't have all day!" the coach yells over at him. Ace runs the rest of the way, heart thudding hard in his chest. She was wearing his jacket. That was a good sign, right? He hoped it was. It gave him a small boost of confidence and he was able to completely focus on the game.

The game was going well, they were winning with a hefty lead by half time and Ace was starting to get jittery, he wanted the game to be over already. He wanted to talk to (Y/N). It took everything he had to listen to the coach's next game plan for the second half, and he jumped up quickly to head out onto the field. As They filed onto the field with the other team, a conversation tugged at his ears,

"I'm telling you she goes to this school and Damien is up to something, my girl just messaged me saying him and his friends were lurking in the hallways,"

"He's under a warning, especially after being involved with that incident last year, I doubt he'd try something,"

"But what if he's going after her again?" Ace froze in place, Killer bumping into his back,

"I doubt this is the school she came to,"

"Let's ask then," the player looks around and meets Ace and Killer's gaze, "hey, quick question, does a (Y/N) (L/N) go to this school?" Ace feels cold, his throat closes up, Killer glances at him then back to the other player and nods,

"Yeah, she's a friend of ours,"

"See I told you," he slaps his team mates arm, the other guys cringes,

"That doesn't mean Damien will..."

"Damien's a sick fuck of course he would," Ace had heard enough, he dashes out onto the field and scans the stands, eyes landing on the area his friends sit, finding it mostly empty, the only ones there now are Usopp, Chopper and Nami, Nami holding Luffy's signature straw hat, their expressions send him running back inside, ignoring the coach's yell to get back on the field. He throws his helmet to the side, pulls his jersey off followed by the pads. He meets a worried looking Vivi and Robin at the exit, Robin has Grant pinned down with her devil fruit ability and Vivi quickly informs Ace that (Y/N) had been chased out of school. He wasted no time, he didn't know if he was going the right way, but he was going to follow his gut and hope it led him to her before he was too late. He wasn't going to break another promise.