Dollhouse

Tainted Innocence

Mal, Carlos, Evie, and Jay tried hard to keep Ace out of their plans for capturing the wand. They tried to act casual around Ace and never brought it up around him, even though he too was given this assignment in a more personal way and with much more dire consequences. They wanted to give him a life he deserved, wanted to keep him from worrying about keeping secrets from Haydn and Ben. They knew he was too kind for this type of job. They knew it was eating him from the inside out to plot against the one place they knew he felt safe and ultimately cared for, even if he was surrounded by people who triggered his pain and called him names. They knew it hurt him to see them plotting it, as well.

Contrary to popular belief, Ace was actually good at reading people. Years of carefully determining the moods of his mother had made him minutely aware of what people felt. He knew that his friends from the Isle of the Lost liked it here in Auradon. He knew that they were warming up to the place and to Ben. He knew that they were good kids who just wanted to get out from the oppressive shadows of their parents. He knew that Evie was smarter than people gave her credit for, that Carlos wasn't as scared of everything as he seemed and that he has feelings for someone among their small group of six-sometimes seven, that Jay didn't like stealing as much as he used to, and that Mal was much kinder than anyone knew. He knew that Auradon- Ben especially, was changing them. That was why he would help. He would help because he was given this task as well, yes, but he helped because he wanted to ease their burden. Wanted them to enjoy being here just as much as he did, if not more. So, he helped.

Even though the Lost kids tried to keep Ace out of their plans, he still helped them where it was needed. He helped them plan, helped them calm down enough to think rationally, helped them gain information. He informed them about details of the coronation after asking Haydn about it. He helped them come up with a plan about finally getting the wand. Even though they tried so hard, the Lost kids were unable to keep the fact they were planning to use a love spell on Ben a secret from Ace.

Ace knew what his friends were planning. He knew that they felt it was the only option left, and they were keeping him out of the planning from this point on because they didn't want him to get hurt or be hurt. He knew that someone was going to get hurt in this ordeal, but who, he didn't know. He knew, and that was why he walked himself into Mal and Evie's room when they were planning the love spell, plopped himself into the floor, and silently demanded he join with just his presence in the room alone.

His friends were wary. Of course they would be. Ace didn't move until they finally relented and let him join, but they adamantly demanded he not do anything more than just help like he had been.

Now, they were in the kitchen after hours, hoping no one would end up finding them down here at this semi-late hour. Ace thought it was kind of funny how the love spell was basically cookies as he helped gather and measure the normal ingredients. After doing all that he was allowed to by the others, he propped himself against the table next to Carlos, watching as Mal mixed the batter together until they ran into their final problem.

A tear of human sadness.

They all looked at each other, and soon their gazes landed on Ace. He fidgeted, slightly uncomfortable. He knew this was bound to happen the moment Mal said what the last ingredient was.

"Ace, you can cry, right? Cry into the bowl." Jay said, meaning well even though his words were harsh.

"I can't." Ace said softly, shaking his head a little as he rubbed his arm.

"Why not? Just think of sad things!" Evie said encouragingly, and Ace laughed a little bitterly.

"That's not how it works, Evie. I'm not sad right now, and I really don't want to be. I've kind of had enough of that to last me a lifetime." The bitterness in Ace's voice shocked the other four into silence, never having heard such a dry tone leave their kind friend before. He looked away from them, kicking at the ground. He was guarded, they noticed; his shoulders bunched close to his ears and he seemed to try and curl into himself.