concoursec | (no subject)

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(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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Ace knew Espio was avoiding him. He had waited a few days before seeking out the chameleon mostly because he missed his company only to find the others door locked. Espio rarely locked his door.

Sighing Ace just went about the rest of his time. He hoped to catch the other outside of his room, but two weeks after their talk he still hadn't seen him. It was by pure chance that he stumbled upon him in the library. Ace had needed a book and had happened upon him accidentally. He hesitated a moment but decided he didn't wanna pass up the chance to speak to him.

"Espio?" He asked with a whisper, trying to avoid bringing the wrath of the librarian on them.

Ah! Ace!

Espio, despite himself, found himself suddenly alert, and immediately tried to make it look as though he never heard him, desperately trying to pay attention to the page in front of him.

I was at that stage of drunk where you lie on your bed in the dark and the room goes whirling aroung you, and you’re wondering about the nature of the universe and whether you can get to the sink before you throw up.

But, that was about all he could focus on, and he glanced up at Ace without intending to.

Ace snickered lightly as the other jumped. Clearly he had been lost in thought and Ace had startled him. Then he tried to make it as though he hadn't heard him, was still ignoring him. Until...golden eyes met brown and Ace knew he had his attention even if reluctantly.

"You've been avoiding me." He said simply.

"Maybe."

Yes.

Espio turned his attention back to the book, rereading the very same paragraph he'd just read.

"Why?" Ace asked kneeling down in front of him and lowering the book, making Espio look at him. Ace looked hurt, upset. He could understand Espio being withdrawn for a few days...not several weeks. It was really starting to get to him.

Espio frowned, trying to put the book back up so he wouldn't have to look at his face - that hurt expression. When that didn't work, he looked to the side instead - anything, if it kept him from remembering what he guiltily wanted.

"Not any one specific reason, I guess," he said. "It's been a crazy couple of weeks, that's all."

"Don't lie Espio. We're friends, it's rude." Ace said, eyebrows crinkling. "I'm not going to pressure you or anything, I just wanna be able to spend time with you again. I thought you were ready to move on....I was wrong."

"I wasn't lying!"

At the very least, that got Espio to actually look at him.

"It's too complicated to just be one thing, and it has been a crazy couple of weeks," he emphasised, closing his book and placing it to the side of him. "You - you're - I - ugh. Can we not do this here?"

There was a chorus of Shh's all around them and Ace just smiled. "My room or yours?" Granted he would rather be doing something other than talking...but they really needed to work some of this out before any of that had a chance of happening.

Frankly, Espio didn't see why it had to be one of their rooms, but... he supposed it was the most private place available. "Mine," he said, getting to his feet and starting to head that way, without another word.

Ace followed, quiet until they entered Espio's room. He walked over to the bed and sat down resting his arms on his legs and hunching over with a sigh. Yes he could have sat at the table..but well. This was more comfortable.

Ace was silent for a few moments before he spoke. "This entire place seems to be going to hell....and all I really care about is the fact that you're mad at me."

"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!

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