concoursec | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Espio the Chameleon, Portgas D. Ace, Marco
Location: Various, beginning with the library.
Rating: PG-13
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed
Summary: Espio and Ace have gone from developing a solid friendship to keeping their distance from one another, all because of an itty bit of badly-received flirting. After all, would someone who is 100% taken really be receptive to that kind of thing? Nope.

At least, not in theory.

It had been a pretty busy day, all things considered. Late in the evening, Espio found himself a corner of the library to sit on the floor and read a book in, eager to take his mind to a fantasy world far, far away from the stress of reality. He had far too much on his mind lately.

To begin with, he didn't know what to think about Garden's mobilisation, didn't want to think about the inevitable conflict with Sol Invictus, even though he knew that it was his duty as a SeeD and an Instructor to defend Balamb Garden. And yet, he knew that at any minute, Sol Invictus could catch up with them... he didn't want to think about it.

Then there were more personal issues - the lingering self-hatred and doubt, much as he tried to push it out of his mind, continued to crush him down.

And family?

Well, for the first time, Ace was the problem. Ace had never been a problem before - he liked Ace! Possibly a little too much, not that he'd admit it. And yet, ever since that party, he'd made an effort to avoid him. Their conversation, even almost two weeks later, still echoed in his mind.

He sighed. He couldn't concentrate on the page in front of him.

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"Who said I was mad?" Espio questioned, not joining him and instead leaning against the wall opposite. Now that he had looked at Ace properly, he found it easier - didn't turn away. "I'm not mad at you. If I was mad at you, you'd have my voice ringing in your ears for weeks!"

"Well, then what are you?" Ace asked. "We're adults, surely we can talk about this. Right?" His eyes moved up, locking with Espio's.

"Well..." Espio began, hesitantly, concentrating hard on maintaining the colour of his scales. He would not allow them to give away anything. Stupid chromatophores. "I suppose the best word is... 'confused'?"

"Confused? About what?" Ace asked, curious.

"A lot of things," Espio answered, with a shrug. He knew he was being vague, but it was difficult and embarassing to put into words. "Like, why are you interested in me like that all of a sudden? How come you think just 'cause Toby's not here means he doesn't still matter? Why is it that -"

Argh, chromatophores! It seemed that no amount of concentration could stop his scales from brightening as the most important question failed to be spoken.

"Well all of a sudden not so much, I've enjoyed your company." Ace ran a nervous hand through his hair and smiled at Espio kind of crookedly. "I know you still love Toby...but what if Toby never comes back? I mean...forever is a long time to be alone."

And there he went, reminding him again of just how long it could be. Espio looked to the side, feeling very uncomfortable.

"I promised him that we would meet again, no matter what," he said, "but..."

Yes, there was a but. A but that he immediately stopped in its tracks with a shake of his head. But I don't want to look for him yet. I'm still not good enough. When I'm the best I can be, that's when I'll find him.

"Anyway, my company stinks."

"Sometimes yeah...but so does everyones. I'm not asking for your hand in marriage Espio...I'm not even asking you to be my boyfriend. I'm tired of being lonely all the time....I was just hoping maybe...I don't know. That we could be maybe more than friends..."

Ace was rambling but honestly he wasn't good at this shit. He really didn't mind Espio's downtrodden disposition lately. Everyone had down times.

Unfortunately for Ace, the concept of a casual relationship was one completely unfamiliar to Espio. It also didn't help that Espio was no good with this kind of thing.

When he heard lonely? "But you see me all the time. Out of all you rabble, 'cept for Marco, you're the one I spend the most time with! What do you mean, 'lonely'? What do you want?"

"A lover." Ace said simply. All his cards were on the table now and all he could do was hold his breath and wait for the impending explosion he was sure to come. He was sure he had just destroyed their entire friendship with two small words.

He'd said it.

Espio stared at him in stunned silence for a moment, not able to think. Of all the people to show interest in him, at this point, why -?

"You..."

Espio was dimly aware that he was answering without thinking, but he was too stunned to really pay attention to what he was saying.

"Just because you're a sexy bastard doesn't mean you can get that from me so easy! Get out! And try harder next time!!"

Ace gave a startled laugh at that. He wiped at his eyes and heard nothing really past that Espio though he was hot.

"You really think I'm sexy?" He asked giving Espio a very heated lustful look. So everything hadn't gone to hell, he just had to try harder. He could totally do that.

Aw, crap, he'd gone and said that, hadn't he? Ugh. Espio was immensely glad they were on opposite sides of the room. "I said to get out!" he growled.

Ace leaned back on the bed and snickered. "Why? You find me attractive, you should take advantage of it. It is my birthday after all, shouldn't I get a birthday kiss or something?"

Now that he knew it was alright to try, Ace was gonna try his hardest!

"Don't make some big deal out of it!" Espio argued - he'd always taken his attraction to Ace to be just because Ace was hot and that everyone thought the same. It was just a fact. "And what the hell?! It's not your birthday anymore!"

"Well true..but you didn't give me one on my birthday, so you should give me one now to make up for it." Ace also wasn't gonna comment on the fact that he was still in Espio's room after the other asked him to leave.

"No way!" Espio insisted. "Not for that ridiculous excuse!"

Ace sighed and sat up. "Fine fine...I give. But this isn't over my dear scaly friend." Ace promised and stood up. "And stop ignoring me and hiding from me.

Espio, still aggravated, just waved a hand dismissively. "Fine, fine! Now clear off!"

Ace just grinned and sauntered slowly towards the door. Nope, this wasn't over by a long shot. He was already thinking of ways to woo the man in the room.

The fuming man - lizard, man, lizardman, whatever - in the room, who glared as Ace headed for the door, somehow feeling more angry than anything else. And how dare he just casually leave like that, even though he'd told him to?!

The second Ace had made his way to the doorway, Espio charged at him from behind, launching himself up to tackle the man down to the ground for no other reason than... actually, he had no idea.

Edited (icon) 2014-01-12 22:39 (UTC)

Ace landed with an oof on the ground quickly rolling so Espio was pinned beneath him. Ace smirked and raised an eyebrow down at the other before leaning over him, hovering inches from his face. "Does this mean I can kiss you?"

Ace had moved so quickly to get Espio onto his back that he just stared blankly up at him, trying to figure out how he got into this position, and adjusted one leg in preparation to kick him, to push him off.

"Nn..." he protested, weakly, feeling like a huge idiot. He wanted Ace to leave! He just let his temper get the better of him! "No..."

Too close, too close... Espio looked away, his position on the ground making everything around him look huge and disorientating.

Ace sighed and moved, letting Espio up. "You're something else baby." He mused lightly before standing. He could tell Espio was confused and disoriented and while he wanted to have fun he didn't wanna go to far. "I'll see you soon, have a good night."

Free, Espio moved to sit cross-legged on the ground, right in the doorway. He made a small noise of confirmation, and watched as Ace left before leaning against the doorframe with a sigh.

Damn.