He froze at that touch and it was all he could do not to grab Ace's wrist and slam him up against the wall. Chills race through him, but he passed off his tensing as a sneeze and forced himself to relax again. It was just a touch. Out of any--out of any of his nakama-- besides Marco and Pops, Ace was--Ace was the least likely to...to have ever... but he wouldn't think about that. He had been drunk and as far as Ace knew, that was what he was going to be.

"You're too good to me Sparks," he said, his voice slurred as he put a hand on Ace's shoulder to get in the tub. The water was blessedly hot and he slid in up to his neck.

"Whadid an old man like me ever do to deserve a cutie like you, mm?"