Video games (Ace Merrill ff)

Chapter 18

Warning - Mentions of violence, sex and self harm

Rose was walking to her afternoon shift. The whole day felt like a blur. She couldn't focus on her job, her friends or herself. She looked at her left arm that was covered in cuts. Why did she do this to herself? No one knows, she doesn't even know why she did it herself. If anyone found out, she'd probably be in a mental institution

She wrapped her leather jacket around her tighter, trying to stay warm. She looked at the tobacco shop in front of her 'Yeah...A smoke will do me good she thought'

She opened the door to go into the tobacco shop, but stopped and turned to her left as she heard yelling from a familiar voice.

Rose closed the door and sped walked down the street, the voices getting louder and louder. She turned a corner, revealing a man from another gang who had a black eye and was pinned against the wall. The other guy who had the man pinned with a bloody nose wasn't just a guy. It was Ace

''Ace!'' Rose yelled as he punched the man hard in the gut, making him collapse to the floor groaning in agony

Ace ignored her as he pulled the man up, ready to punch him again but ended up getting roughly shoved, then getting punched onto his already bloody nose

Ace wiped the blood from his nose ''You are a fuckin' faggot'' Ace yelled, giving the man an uppercut punch, making the man fall to the ground

''Ace stop it! What are you doing'' Rose yelled, pulling Ace away from the man who was on the floor

Ace stepped forward, trying to get to the already beat up man but was pushed away from Rose ''Ace stop! You'll kill him if you go any more'' Rose yelled

''I'm not touching him. Get up faggot'' Ace yelled at the man who was groaning on the ground

At this time, some people crowded around to see what was going on ''What's going on'' Billy yelled

An elder ran in his house to call an ambulance, while Ace grabbed the man and pulled him up, shoving him against the wall

''Ace! Leave him alone'' Rose yelled, trying to pull him back

The man had his face covered in his hands, blood dripping off him. Billy and Eyeball pulled Ace off the guy ''You'll get banged up again'' Billy yelled

''Like I give a fuck'' Ace yelled

The man removed his hands from his face. His face was covered in blood, from his head to his nose, to his cheeks and lips. Rose gasped

''I'll have you for this! Even if it includes your ex-girlfriend you apparently love so much'' the man yelled

Rose scoffed, why did they have to involve her?

They were interrupted by the Police and ambulance sirens. Ace shrugged Eyeball and Billy off of him and got in his car to get away from the cops. Rose shook her head. 'What a coward' she thought

She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders. It was Billy ''You okay?'' he asked

''Yeah I'm fine I just need space'' she shrugged him off and walked away for her shift

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Rose leaned her elbow on the counter, resting her chin on her hand daydreaming. Liz waved a fand over her face ''Rose, earth to Rose''

Rose flinched and stood upright ''Y-yeah''

''You've been standing here for ten minutes and your shifts over'' Liz said

''I thought you wanted extra-'' Rose started

''It's fine. I can handle this on my own for an hour'' Fiz smiled ''Go home, get some rest''

Rose nodded and thanked her before sneakily stealing half a bottle of vodka and walking out the door

It was very dark for an evening. Rose looked up, looking at the stars before nearly walking into a pole. She pulled herself together and went into the convenience store

She greeted the owner, before buying a medkit. Although she hated Ace for nearly killing that man, he was roughed up too. And since he never cleaned his wounds, there was always a chance of infection. She couldn't help but overthink

She walked out of the shop and headed to Ace's place. The light in his bedroom was on, which was a good sign.

She went up to the door and hesitated for a second. Should she be doing this? What if he kicks her out? What if another girl was there? 'Fuck it' she thought and knocked on the door lightly, party hoping he didn't hear it

After a few moments of waiting, the door opened slightly, revealing Ace. His face was still bloody and began to bruise. He didn't say anything to her, he just looked into her eyes

''Can I come in'' she asked quietly

Ace opened the door wider and stepped aside, letting her in before shutting the door behind her and went to the living room, Rose following him.

She sat next to him on the couch, pulling out the vodka and medkit ''Here'' she handed him the vodka then opening the medkit

She gently held his chin to look at her, then dabbing the alcohol wipes on his cuts. He didn't wince, he looked into her eyes. Missing how things used to be.

After she patched up his face, she gently put his hand on her knee and began to clean his knuckles, still watching her with a cigarette in his mouth. Ace finally spoke

''Do you love me'' he asked quietly

Rose stopped dabbing his knuckles with the alcohol wipe and looked into his eyes. She shook her head slightly, looking at the ground then back at him ''Look...'' she started, worried about how he would take the answer

''I know I can be a pain. And I do stupid things'' she touched his cheek ''But I love you more than anything in the world. I'd never cheat or do anything to hurt you. I couldn't live with myself if I did''

Ace looked down, taking a drag from his cigarette ''Do you love me?'' Rose asked quietly, her voice barely audible

''I wouldn't let you in if I didn't'' he looked at her, squeezing her knee

''Say it then'' Rose said quietly

Ace took a drag of his cigarette ''You need to promise me something''

''Okay'' Rose nodded

''You promise me, no matter what fucking happens, you'll never leave me'' he said in a serious tone, playing with her hair

Rose nodded ''I won't if you won't''

''I could never leave you'' he said, placing his cigarette in his ashtray, then placing his forehead on hers '' I love you so fucking much. I could never leave you. I know you wouldn't cheat, but the thought of you being with someone else made me believe-''

He was cut off by Rose smashing her lips on his, he kissed her back with his tongue in her mouth. They eventually separated, Ace, lifted her off the couch. Rose giggled as her legs automatically wrapped around his waist as he took her to the bedroom