Fire And Ice

Chapter 8: Jealousy

Thatch waltzed into the room and Taiga stifled a laugh, placing her hand over her mouth. The rest of the crew glared at her, while Marco smirked.

Trying to steal Ace's girl, Thatch?

That wasn't too unusual. Not stealing other people's girls, no. It wasn't unusual for Thatch to try and make friends with new crew mates or just anyone on board that a newcomer.

Ace walked in as Thatch joked around and Taiga giggled softly.

Was that really her? She's never genuinely laughed around Ace like she's doing now. Ace growled softly in the doorway and clenched his hand into a fist.

Why does Taiga laugh so carelessly around Thatch? Why couldn't she do that around Ace?

He decided he wasn't hungry and left the room, not bothering to say good morning to anyone. He just wasn't in the mood.

Unfortunately for him, Taiga noticed, and excused herself from the mess hall. She trailed behind Ace quietly, seeing him leaning over the edge of the ship.

"Hey. Good morning." She greeted softly. Despite her initial cold demeanor, she was trying to listen to Marco.

"Go easy on him, ok?"

Ace didn't respond. He ignored her and kept his mouth shut. As much he wanted to say good morning back with a smile, he couldn't. There was just this feeling of disappointment and sadness when he saw Taiga with Thatch like that.

He didn't even know what he was feeling. And he doesn't know how his silence is making Taiga feel.

She feels really awkward. She's so used to him nagging her with questions, the way he was acting did not sit well with her. She sighed and leaned on the railing of the ship next to him, humming a soft tune.

"Oi. Why won't you talk to me? Are you mad at what I said before last night?"

Ace still didn't respond, not even bothering to look at her. He ignored her as if she was nonexistent.

"Ace...I don't know what's up with you, but I'm trying, ok? I'm trying to let my guard down. But you have to understand, it's not easy for me. I've been isolated from any kind of human interaction since I was seven. I-"

She was cut off when Ace started to walk away. "Seems like it was easy for you to let your guard down around Thatch. And you were right. I can't understand." he spat, making Taiga's eyes widen.

"Ace! Wait!" She reached out her hand to grab Ace's wrist, but he slapped it away.

He looked at her with an unidentifiable look in his normally bright onyx orbs, that were now dull and blank. Taiga felt a throb in her chest, and it hurt. Not physically, but mentally. She couldn't wrap her head around it. And when Ace turned his head and walked away from her, she bit the insides of her cheeks.

I don't get it. How do other people work? It's been 10 years. Perhaps I've forgotten the basics of how humans act.

****

The rest of the day was no better. Ace continued to ignore her and she hid herself in the Crow's Nest. She loved heights. It made her feel so far from reality, so far from all the struggles in her life. It made her feel free. Free from the restraints that held her back.