LET ME PROTECT YOU [Ace x fem reader]

Chapter 5 // The Pink Coat

You wake up the next morning to birds chirping and a cold breeze tickling your feet. You usually sleep with your head facing the window, but had to turn around this night as the cold wind surging from the closed curtains kept biting your ears.  That solved one problem, but sadly made your toes the next victim.  Your white oversized blouse and baggy pants weren't enough to keep you warm. Tucking your feet into the warm sheets you close your eyes and let your thoughts wander to last night.

You told Ace he could sleep at the burgundy sofa parallel to the bunk bed, at the condition that he had to pluck the tiny pieces of glass scattered everywhere first. You remember seeing him crouched on the floor, still looking for glass when you fell asleep on the sofa. You feel kinda bad thinking back at it, but not bad enough let it go. Hmm, wonder how he's doing now. Hope he atleast got some sleep.

You stretch your arms decide to barely open your eyes to take a peek at the burgundy sofa, expecting to see Ace laying there fast asleep. Your eyes widen as the only sight you are met with is an empty spot at the place Ace should've slept. You shoot up from bed a bit too fast crashing your forehead into the top bunk.

"Ow!" you rub the spot that got hit and curse the short bedframe while your head aches. 

"Morning sleepyhead."

You turn to the direction of the sound and see Ace seated by the dining table looking out the window, or everthing that's left of the window. He turns his head to look at you and raises an eyebrow before smirking at your clumsiness in a mix of amusement and mild curiosity, like he is waiting for an explanation.

You feel a rush of embarrassment as you meet his gaze. You awkwardly try to compose yourself and even manage to sneak out a sigh of relief. For a second you thought Ace had just left you already...

without paying for the damages. 

You found yourself feeling surprisingly sad about it. Not all just about losing the money (of course it's sad), but also losing his presence. You shake the feeling away as you look back at him your head still aching.

"Um... good morning," you give him a crooked smile as you scratch the back of your head.

"What was that?" he asks teasingly as he nods towards you, clearly comfortably leans back in his chair resting his hands behind his head.

"Hm? Nothing," you brush off his question with your cheeks slightly red.

You try avoiding his eyes by sitting at the side of your bed and attempt to detangle the hair tie from your messy bun, which is now located on the side of your head. Sighing, as you realise it's going to be stuck there for a while, you stretch your legs and get out of bed. Ace's eyes follow your movement as you stroll towards the table with a nice view and pull out a chair to sit beside him. 

Ace tilts his head studying you for a second before he in one swift movement leans forward and gently reaches for your hair, stroking his hand at your cheek as it passes by. His face is only a breath away from yours and his dark eyes are focused, looking straight past you, when you feel him slipping the tie on to your lap before he proudly leans back into his chair again.

You look down at the crumpled tie you reach from your previously tangled hair, who now feels a tad less messy.

"Thank you," you smile looking up at him.

"No problem miss tanglehair," he nods his head and start gazing out the window again.

Your smile turned into a frown the second you heard the new nickname but you decided to not comment on it for now.

Hearing the muffled muttering outside you decide to take a look out the remains of the window as well. A warm breeze hits you in the face when you peek out and you have to shield your eyes from the piercing sun located right above you. The birds were chirping and the streets were as lively as ever. The sound of merchants hanging around and tradersscamming tourists is like music to your ears. It all reminds you of this familiar and comfortable place you call home.