Warnings/Notes: At last, a new chapter! I've been busy with school, explaining the lack of updates... And also my computer broke recently so I've been restricted to my phone :'(. Naturally that means that I started another series like this one... (Together, a fem!luffy x ace series you guys should totally check out ;).)
Possessive Ace and fluff. Hinted LawLu, KidLaw, and Luffy x Hancock.
Ages: Ace - 20 / Luffy - 17
CHAPTER 8: Something Good Can Work
Ace forces himself to take a deep, deep breath through his nose. It doesn't have much of a effect in calming a completely, but it helps him not go over to the man talking to Luffy and punch him in the face.
His best friend lets out a loud peal of laughter, throwing his head back against the park bench he's sitting on in joy. Ace can feel the familiar warmth that pools in his stomach at the happy sound and expression, but he also feels jealousy.
What was the other man saying that was making Luffy laugh so hard.
Ace narrows his eyes and gets a better look at the man. He seems to be a little older than Ace. The dark circles under his eyes are visible from Ace's position behind a bench. His skin is pale and Ace thinks that he can see tattoos; it nothing like the warm tan on Luffy's skin. He has black hair and wears a black and white spotted hat.
He watches the two for another few minutes before a tall, red haired, and even paler man greets the two, much to Luffy's enthusiasm.
The one with dark circles around his eyes stands up and raises a hand, presumably saying goodbye to Luffy, who waves goodbye in that endearing enthusiastic way.
When the dark haired man grabs the red heads hand and gets a kiss, Ace can't help but be relived.
The two walk away, or at least they start to when the dark haired one turns around and says something to Luffy with a smirk.
Luffy turns his head right in Ace's direction and smiles wide. Ace curses lowly and ducks deeper into the bush.
As he got closer, Ace could the genuine smile on Luffy's face. He looks a little bit satisfied, but Ace isn't completly sure.
Luffy kneels in front of the bush and Ace knows he can see him, but he doesn't say anything.
"Na, Ace? I'm hungry, can we get food?"
Ace blinks and sighs, starting to climb out of the bush. Luffy giggles when Ace stands up and leans on his tiptoes, chest pressed against Ace's, pulling out leaves and twigs.
Ace's cheeks flush when he feels Luffy pressed against him and looks down, his eyes unable to look away from the little patch of skin that shows where Luffy's shirt rides up.
The twenty year old gulps and lets Luffy drag him away so they can get something to eat.
Ace frowns and freezes in place, not completely believing what he had seen from the corner of his eye.
He turns around, only to unfortunately be proven correct.
Luffy is sitting in a booth, shoveling food in his mouth, nothing unusual.
What is unusual, however, is the unfamiliar woman sitting very close to Luffy; from this angle it looks as if she's almost on his lap. Her face is covered by a pair of large sunglasses and a red scarf is wrapped around her head. There is a blush on her face.
Luffy looks completely unbothered by her, focusing on his food.
Once he's finished with his food he turns to the woman, their faces close. A little too close for Ace's liking.
The twenty year old feels rage and jealousy form in the pit of his stomach.
He can't really hear what he's saying until he gets a little closer.
"I told you Hammock, I'm not gonna marry you!"
Something inside of Ace snaps and he walks even closer.
"But Luffy, we're perfect for each other!" The woman - Hammock - who is clearly older than the seventeen year old she's trying to court.
"He said he didn't want to marry you, so lay off."
Both Hammock and Luffy turn towards him. Luffy's face lights up automatically.
"Ace!"
"Hey Lu, is this weird lady bothering you?"
"Weird lady?! Excuse you! I have every right to talk to my future husband!"
"Future husband?! He clearly doesn't want to marry you!"
The woman scoffs. "Of course he wants to marry me! We're dating!"
Ace's eyes widen in shock, but he doesn't believe it. If Luffy had started dating this woman he would have told Ace, not being able to keep secrets.
"Eh? I'm not dating you? Shishishi, you're really silly Hancock!"
The woman's face turns beat red and she burries her face in her hands, leaning heavily on the table, and nearly yelling, "He called me my name!"
Ace raises an eyebrow at the odd woman but quickly turns to Luffy and puts a finger to his lips and gestures Luffy to get out of the booth.
Luffy follows his instructions quietly and the two sneak almost completly out of the diner before Luffy calls out: "See you later Hammock! Thanks for the food!"
"What?" A gasp quickly follows. "YOU! Bring back my Luffy this instant!"
"HE'S NOT YOURS!" Ace yells at her, his cheeks turning a bit red in anger. He reaches for Luffy's hand and starts running, so the woman won't catch up.
Usually, he wouldn't run away, but this time was a special occasion. Plus, if he saw that woman fawning over his Luffy one more time, he could not guarantee that she wouldn't have been punched and Ace really didn't want to hit a woman.
Ace freezes mid-step, causing Luffy to crash into his back with a little 'oof!'
They've run a pretty far way from the diner, now in the park. Luckily, the woman was no where in sight.
Had he really just addressed Luffy as his?
Well, there was no doubt in Ace's mind that Luffy was his best friend or his sometimes rival... And also his crush.
Ace's cheeks flush involuntarily, but Luffy doesn't seem to notice.
"Ne, Ace? Why did we run away?"
"Eh? Oh, um... Well I kind of just thought that you... wanted to get away from her?...Also I didn't really like... seeing her fawn over you... like that."
"You didn't? Oh, okay! Don't worry though, Hammock's only my friend!" Luffy swings their still connected hands back and forth.
"Well, she clearly has feelings for you, Lu."
He looks thoughtful for a moment.
"I don't like Hammock that way. I only like Ace that way!"
Ace's eyes widen and his heart stops beating.
"Wh-what are you saying?!"
Luffy smiles at him softly. "I like you a lot Ace! I have for a looooong time!"
Before Ace knows it, Luffy is leaning in and pressing his lips against Ace's.
Ace's eyes are wide with shock until he closes them and kisses Luffy back.
Ever since Luffy had last kissed him a year ago, Ace had had the lips kissing his on his mind nearly everyday. After the kiss, neither male had mentioned it. Ace had almost believed it was a dream, until now.
This was too real for it to be a mere dream.
Ace places a gentle hand on Luffy's cheek as their lips move together.
It perfect and Ace never wants it to stop, but it has to.
Luffy pulls away for breath and Ace leans their foreheads against wash other, shyly looking into Luffy's eyes. His cheeks are without a doubt red, while Luffy's have an adorable pink tint to them.
"I like you a whole lot, too."
Luffy's hand tightens around his as he smiles in joy.
"So..." Ace starts, removing his forehead from Luffy's. "You wanna go out sometime... As y'know, boyfriends?"
The expression on Luffy's face is enough of an answer, but the seventeen year old clinging onto Ace like a koala bear and saying "Yes, yes, yes!" confirms it.