Cute first date with Ace :D
Ace Trappola had been nervous all day, and that wasn't something he could easily admit. Ace was a confident guy—no, scratch that, he was a cool guy, or at least that's what he told himself whenever he caught his reflection. He usually didn't sweat over anything. But today? Today was different. Today, he was going on his first official date with Y/N.
After spending too much time picking out the perfect outfit (he didn't need Deuce to know he'd actually put in effort for once), he finally ended up in front of Ramshackle Dorm, hands shoved deep in his pockets. He was rocking on his heels, glancing at his watch every few seconds, and fidgeting as he waited for Y/N to come outside.
When Y/N finally stepped out, Ace felt his heart practically stop. They looked amazing—so much so that he could barely keep his thoughts straight.
"Uh... wow," he managed to blurt, forgetting his usual snark. "You look... incredible."
Y/N smiled, a small blush on their cheeks. "Thanks, Ace. You look pretty good yourself."
Ace beamed, his usual confident grin slipping back into place as he scratched the back of his neck. "Well, you know... I don't usually go all out like this, but I thought I'd make an exception. Just this once."
"Oh? Just for me?" Y/N teased.
"Yeah, yeah, don't let it go to your head," Ace shot back with a smirk. But there was something softer in his gaze—a glimmer of genuine excitement and a hint of nerves.
They walked together through campus, the evening air crisp and tinged with the scent of roses from Heartslabyul's gardens. Ace was leading them toward a quiet spot he'd secretly set up earlier, wanting to make sure this date felt a little... well, special.
When they arrived, Y/N looked around, surprised. Under one of the largest trees, there was a checkered blanket spread out with lanterns hung from branches, casting a soft glow over the area. A small basket with snacks and treats from the Mostro Lounge sat neatly on the blanket.
Ace shuffled his feet, clearing his throat. "So, I thought maybe we could, you know, have a picnic. Or whatever."
Y/N's eyes sparkled as they took in the setup, clearly touched. "Ace, this is so thoughtful. You did all this?"
He tried to play it cool, shrugging. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it. I'm not always this nice. Gotta keep you guessing, right?"
They sat down on the blanket, munching on the snacks Ace had "totally not swiped from the Mostro Lounge with a little help from Floyd," as he put it. Ace fell into his usual routine, cracking jokes and telling outlandish stories, each one more exaggerated than the last, just to see Y/N laugh.
And every time they laughed, Ace felt his heart leap a little. He'd been on the receiving end of that smile a hundred times, but tonight... tonight it felt like that smile was meant for him.
As they ate, the sun dipped lower, casting a warm glow over the garden, and Ace couldn't resist scooting a little closer to Y/N. Just as he worked up the nerve to try and take their hand, a cool breeze swept through, and Y/N shivered slightly.
Without even thinking, Ace shrugged off his jacket and handed it over. "Here, take this. Can't have you getting cold on me."
Y/N took the jacket, looking at him with a small, appreciative smile. "You're sweeter than you let on, you know?"
Ace's face heated up as he looked away, trying to act unfazed. "Pfft, me? Sweet? You're probably confusing me with Deuce or something."
They both laughed, and after a moment, Y/N nudged his shoulder, a playful look in their eyes. "I think I know you better than that, Ace. You might be an asshole, but there's a good side in there somewhere."
Ace grins and laughs, his usual bravado softened. "Guess you're just good at seeing through me."
They continued talking, the conversation getting a little quieter as the evening grew darker, the stars starting to blink in the sky above. Somewhere between sharing stories, their hands found each other, fingers intertwined on the blanket between them.
It was only when Y/N glanced down at their hands, smiling softly, that Ace felt his heart skip again. This was the moment he'd been waiting for all night, the one he'd run through his mind a hundred times, though he never really believed he'd actually get this far.
Taking a deep breath, he leaned a little closer, his cheeks flushed but his gaze steady. "So, uh... is it okay if I..."
He didn't even need to finish his sentence. Y/N leaned in, meeting him halfway, and the world seemed to fade away as their lips met in a gentle, soft kiss.
It was nothing like the bold, overconfident smooch he'd tried to imagine in his head. Instead, it was sweet, warm, and tender, like something out of a dream. When they finally pulled back, Ace was speechless, his mind a happy blur.
Y/N smiled, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Thanks for tonight, Ace. I had a great time."
Ace blinked, snapping out of his daze just enough to grin. "Yeah... me too. So, uh... let's do it again sometime?"
They both laughed, and as they walked back under the stars, hand in hand, Ace couldn't help but feel like he was on top of the world.
