Portgas D. Ace X Reader - The boy from the church

8

As long as you watched Ace's chest rising with every breath he took, you couldn't help but think about what you felt earlier. You both teased each other, knowing that you do have the same feelings for each other. Looking back, you would've never thought you'd get this close to this man, especially after you found his secret. He was laying on the bed, covering his eyes with an arm, and the other was tossed under his head. You could see he was tired from the long drive, though it only lasted for about 3 hours. 

Thinking about the reason you were here in the first place, nothing popped up in your mind at all. Being here, in Mihawk's mansion didn't make you happy whatsoever, except for the fact that you got to spend a little more time with your friends, until you came to visit them again. So it made sense to have 'the' conversation with Ace now. You were leaving tomorrow morning, and you made just for an extra mouth to feed, feeling like you didn't belong here, yet, when you stared down at Ace, it was almost as if you were already home.

Still doubting to break the ice, you bit your lip, remembering the feeling of his light kisses, causing a warm feeling inside your stomach; you blushed, questioning your decision, but then you gulped and shot your shot.

"What exactly happened to you?" you plainly asked.

Ace hummed, still not moving a muscle.

"Why did you suddenly leave your family? Is this... related to your father's death?"

He changed his position, and grabbed a pillow, putting it between his legs. He then turned his back on you, tucking himself closer to you, after making sure you were also leaning your head over a pillow. This was gonna be a long talk.

"Why should I tell you? You don't even trust me enough. What will I gain from telling you?"

"Look, I know I've been an asshole. Meeting up with Marco and Shanks, literally being friends with a cop... I see why you wouldn't trust me. But I just wish you could forgive me... I didn't want to cause you problems."

He eyed you for a moment, then turned back again, chuckling.

"I was just kidding. We were already planning on moving out, it wasn't your fault." he said.

You sighed, then came to realize that you were literally cuddling Ace in this moment. He wasn't forced, he wasn't crying or shivering, he let you stay there since he feels better with you around. You wanted to apologize for bringing everything up, but he turned around and kissed your forehead, then taking a strand of your hair, spinning it around his finger.

"I'll just never understand why you care so much about me. From the very first moment we met, you were interested to know how I felt, and I wasn't in a good place back then. It was, maybe, two weeks after Whitebeard's passing, and I was devastated, I felt like a burden on Shanks' shoulders."

He paused for a moment, leaning over the wooden bed frame. You watched his eyes shifting into another reality, visualizing the whole event that marked one of the most important things that changed his life forever. "I saw it happening right under my eyes."

~~~ Flashback:

Ace was leaning down on the backrest in the dining hall, having lunch with his brothers in the hostel. Normally, men older than 18 were legally allowed to leave the orphanage, but him and also other good friends of his, had their own jobs, and were planning on leaving when they bought a new home. It was a normal day at the cafeteria, an indoor space where they spent time together for recreation and social activities. Ace was looking for Whitebeard, when he came across his two best friends, Marco and Izo, who were already devouring their meals, and decided to join them at the table. However, the boy wasn't looking forward to eat. He didn't want to rely completely on the place's funds, because he knew there were a lot of other children that deserved to eat more than him.