With different eyes

Truths and eavesdroppers

Ace looks at me and asks, "What do you want from Shanks?" "Nothing," I say, grinning innocently. Ace stands in front of me and says, "Why don't I believe you!" I lean my head against his chest and look up. "Because you know me?" I say grinning. He smiles and pokes me on the nose. I hear a giggle behind me and Ace face darkens. "Are you going to do this all day now?" I ask, running my finger over Ace's chest. Immediately Ace doesn't pay attention to the person behind me, but looks at me.

"Come on I'll show you to your rooms!" I hear Rayleigh say. "Rooms?" growls Ace, breaking away from me. I grumble, Ace is so nice and warm. I turn around to see Rayleigh rolling his eyes with a grin. "Yes rooms." says Rayleigh grinning. Ace growls and says, "We're sharing a room I'm not leaving her here alone!" Rayleigh laughs loudly and I hear Roger laughing in the background. "There are only hammocks in the rooms, no beds. You'll get your own because I don't want the little one sleeping in a room with another guy!" says Rayleigh. I think he's trying to annoy Ace, the annoying part is working. I see the eye twitch that is actually typical for Marco. Usually when Ace is around. "She's staying with me! We can sleep together in a hammock!" says Ace, clenching his fist. I don't feel like arguing so I step in and say, "I'll sleep in a hammock with Ace. I don't have any problems with that. At least that way I won't get cold!" Ace grins contentedly and wraps his arms around my waist. "Are you afraid I'll just disappear?" I ask Ace mentally. Ace buries his face in my hair and snorts. "I need someone like you for Roger. So I don't have to watch him all the time." Rayleigh says with a grin, and Roger grumbles. Ace tenses his body and hugs me tighter. "Ace he meant a person to calm Roger down and stop him. Not me personally. I guess he's talking about your mother. If there's anyone who can control Roger, it's Rouge," I say. Ace tenses up even more. I lean my head back and blow in Ace's face. Distraction is everything!

"Why don't you show us the room!" I tell Rayleigh. The latter laughs and goes below deck. I follow him, keeping Ace's hand in mine. Ace grumbles and I pull him behind me. "Now come on, I don't want to drag you behind me all the time!" I tell Ace. "Don't want to!" I hear him mumble. I turn around and continue walking backwards, I look at Ace who is pulling a face like seven days of rainy weather. "Come on! It'll be an adventure and we'll have something to tell the others!" I say smiling. He smiles at me and I stumble because I trip over something or just because I'm walking backwards. I row my arms and try to keep my balance. But before I can fall, Ace wraps his arms around me. He grins at me and lifts me up on his arms. I pout and hear Rayleigh laugh. "I can walk myself!" I say grumbling. Ace laughs and says, "Well that' s what I saw!" I snort and wrinkle my nose. Ace laughs and gives me a kiss on my wrinkled nose. "How cute you guys are." say Ray and Ace growls as he gives a nasty look at him Rayleigh.

I wrap my arms around Ace's neck and play with his necklace. He won't let me down until we get there anyway. After a few minutes we arrive at a door and Rayleigh opens it. Ace steps through the door and slams it shut before Rayleigh can say anything else. "That was rude," I state. "So what?" says Ace with a grin, setting me on my feet. I punch him in the chest, but have to grin myself. This is the Ace I know, a cheeky little lighter with no manners. I look over my shoulder at Ace and my eyes start to light up. I tear myself away from Ace and take a running jump onto the hammock. I land lying in it and it swings back and forth. I laugh out loud. Oh yes, my inner child comes out again. The hammock swings back and forth and calms down only slowly. When the hammock almost stops, I look out and see Ace laughing and looking at me with shining eyes. I lean away so that Ace also has room. He grins broadly and takes a running jump into the hammock. The mat swings back and forth again. Laughing, I lose my balance and land on Ace, laughing. He wraps his arm around me so that I don't fly off the hammock. "Marco is right somewhere, sometimes we are little kids," I say laughing. Ace laughs out loud and says, "So what? At least we have some fun that way!" I giggle and rest my head on Ace's chest. "You know you're really nice and comfy?" I say. Ace laughs and I feel his chest vibrate. I give him a slap and stand up. As I do, I fly off the hammock and land on the floor. "Ouch." I whine, and my traitor of a boyfriend laughs his head off in the hammock. "I love you too!" I say. Ace grins at me. He stands up gracefully, such an ass, and holds out his hand to me. I take it with an evil eye and let him pull me to my feet.