Chapter Text
Ace felt surreal when he saw (name)'s scars on her forearm. He didn't know what to say to make things right. All he could think about was the name calling, the insults, and the once-playful but now extremely questionable behaviour he caused towards (name).
He felt even more defeated as she pulled her arm out of his grasp, and even smaller when Sabo interfered because Ace had only realised he was too late. He watched (name) mutter something to Sabo to ensure him that she was okay, Sabo still looked at her unsure and but accepted it and went to stand outside the classroom to give (name) and Ace some privacy.
She sat down calmly, pulling up her sleeve again, covering her scars, covering from everyone. He glared her sleeve, knowing it looked like any other sleeve, hiding something sinister.
She looked down, taking some breaths. He was mad that she was so docile and quiet, he remembered she used to be a lot more brash, loud and boyish, until… Then Ace realised why, getting angry at himself.
"Ace, I'm not going to say forget about it, because you won't, and it shouldn't be forgotten." She stared at him.
"You don't need to say sorry anymore, because from your reaction I can see that you're distressed about it. So I can tell from your previous behaviour towards me was not truly spiteful or mean spirited. I already began to let it go, and you should as well." He just starred at her with disbelief. Was she really telling him to not be sorry even though what he said and did to her was the source of her grief and hurt?
"I know it sounds crazy Ace, but when you get past it all, it puts things in perspective. I don't see a point in hating you, or the people who have misbehaved towards me, because it's a lot of unnecessary effort, and honestly with my track record I've done enough hating." She smirked a little, to try and keep things friendly. Ace on the other hand was not smiling whatsoever.
"I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about my scars, I think it would be best if this was kept between the three of us."
"How long has Sabo known?"
"During the end of our last year in middle school." You recount accurately. Ace grimaced at that fact. He turned away not having the decency to face her. He looked through away, hearing the chair scratch against the floor.
"Don't think about it too much." She reassured him quietly, he heard the door slide open and closed, two sets of footsteps disappeared in the hallway. Ace stared at the wall, his hand covering his mouth.
He remembered how he would call her names whenever he saw her. He exhaled loudly, he felt humiliated and so petty. He recalled the hurtful things he said, he even saw how the girls would pick on her after he called her those…Names. And he just laughed, and ignored, he didn't even think much of it.
"Fuck." He kicked a chair in frustration, his chest heaving as the memories of bullying her, calling her out on her weight flooded his mind. He finally looked where she had just sat, and saw that she left a pastry for him. He sighed, even though she did nothing wrong, and he terrorised her she was still kind to him.
Ace didn't interact with Sabo or Luffy when he came back home, flopping on his bed.
"How do I make this right?" He felt like there was a heavy weight on him, he deserved it and he wanted to repent for his wrongs against her. He sighed, pushing his hair back, looking up at his ceiling, thinking back to when they were back in middle school.
Ace had a slight anger issue problem, ever since he had known that his father was the infamous mafia boss Gol. D Rodger. When he and his brothers went on adventures, he had heard the adults talk about the mafia boss, the derogatory terms, the insults and the hatred, Ace felt the hatred. However he grew resentful that he was the offspring of such a hated and despised man. He didn't want anyone to relate him to his father, so he decided that he should direct attention from himself to someone else, someone else who didn't have much to lose.
Ace groaned as he walked into school, he had slept terribly since the occurring events. His body was taken over by a myriad of aches and pains that weighed heavily on his body and conscious. He was desperate, shame and guilt was coating his entire being. It made everything he touched, looked at and thought about seem worthless and meaningless. Unfortunately Ace's usual crew had surrounded him as he came into the entrance of the school. Right now Ace didn't want to talk to or see anyone but Sabo or (M/C).
"Yoo Ace why are you looking so rough?!?!" a random joker he didn't recognise laughed mechanically.
Ace grumbled in response, ignoring the question, still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Upon closer inspection he saw (M/C) quietly putting her shoes away and walking off. Without much thought
"HEY (M/C) I got free-" He trailed off, startled the (M/C) ran off without looking back. This cycle of Ace finding the (M/C), randomly shouting her name, and watching her run off terrified carried on far too long than (M/C) liked. Which resulted in (M/C) shyly but determined to ask Ace to not say her name in school and bring any attention to her at school. Despite his good intentions she clearly stressed that his actions were unnecessary and were causing more trouble than helpful.
He groaned as he was remembering his poor choice, his arm covering his eyes. He realised early on that she had stopped smiling, in fact he couldn't remember the last time he saw her smile, or even remember when she did. Ace put his hands behind the back of his head, frustrated that he couldn't do anything right.
"Before you come up with another ridiculous idea in "helping" (name) or try and feel better about yourself, don't assume that (name) is like any other girl you have met." Sabo took a breath and gave Ace a look to stop Ace from arguing.
"Do not presume that (name) the sort of girl that wants popularity or lots of people around her. A lot of her school life she's been bullied, insulted, harassed by these types of people, so try and think about what you would want if you were in her position, before you think of your next move." Before Ace could even ask, Sabo walked off.
Ace had decided to leave (name) alone in peace for a good couple of weeks because he understood she didn't want any attention drawn to her, however he couldn't just leave things the way they were. He felt too guilty about everything, in fact it was eating at him so much he was losing sleep over it.
(Name) was happy that Ace had stopped calling her in school, luckily no one had noticed her and she had melted into the background, being ignored, happily. She had been waiting for Sabo, they were supposed to have a lesson, however he said he was running late. (Name) didn't mind much since the lessons were free form, and could last from one hour to three hours, also it was a nice chill session mixed in with learning and revision. (Name) had been lying flat on her stomach on her bed, leaning on her elbows and forearms for a long time, blasting her music on ridiculous volumes that could almost deafen normal people. She lazily rolled off her bed, stretching her arms and legs as she began to get dressed into more appropriate clothing.
Ace was sighing and huffing knocking on (name) door, he figured he could have another conversation with (name), so he could figure out what he could do to try and be a better person. However he was growing impatient with each second passing, he heard faint sounds of music coming from the house, so he knew someone was in the house. He looked side to side to see if there was anyone around him, or walking, then walked around the side to see if he could get any attention. As he walked around he heard the music grow louder till he came into view with a room with (name).
(name) dancing to her loud music, getting undressed at the same time. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't, he was entranced for some strange reason. His eyes widened into saucers as he saw something incredibly unexpected.
Her nipple piercings, he saw the metal glinting slyly by the light. His mouth agape at the surprise and strange erotic image in front of him. Until he had a shoe thrown flat to his face and some angry shouting. He sat up with a groan, rubbing his face. He looked up to see (name) now covered in a plain white semi sheer t-shirt, but apparently braless because he could still slightly see her piercings. He tried to stop staring at them, whilst apologising profusely, however his eyes were still drawn back to her piercings.
"When I said think about what you're going to do next did you suddenly get amnesia?" Ace heard Sabo comment, who was strangely non-chanlant about this predicament. Ace couldn't form full sentences, stuttering and blushing simultaneously. Sabo pulled Ace up to his feet, then walked over to (name) to ensure she was okay, and just calming her down.
"(Name) I'm really sorry about all of this. I never meant for you to think I would come and harm you in any way possible. It's just. It's just I want to make things right, I feel so awful about everything I've done to you and I can't just let it go, because it's not fair on you. I'm sorry that I made you feel that way, and I'm just willing to do anything to make things right." He suddenly confessed passionately. He stared at the both of them, Sabo grinning mischievously, leaning on (name) window's sill. (Name) didn't seem mad, but more pensive. She had folded her arms underneath her bust, not knowing that she was pushing up her voluptuous breasts, and making her piercings even more visible, making Ace dry swallow, as he couldn't keep his eyes from wandering down. Sabo was smirking watching his brother.
"Ace" she called softly.
"Y-yes!" He called a little squeakily, trying to hide the fact he was staring at her breasts, however he could feel his face turning extremely red. Sabo was still smirking at Ace, who didn't appreciate his lack of help.
"Don't try and force yourself into helping me to try and make things right. To see that you're trying this hard to try and recertify your mistakes is enough. Honestly I just want you to be happy and live your life, treating people, or everyone well. Okay?" She summarised, her arms folded under her bust still.
"S-sure." He accepted her little speech, still a little embarrassed that his trip to (name) house to try and help (name) had turned into (name) comforting and reassuring Ace, and he got a free peepshow. He felt a little ashamed of himself yet a little enlightened, to see something so erotic and gorgeous.
"I think I'll go." He weakly announced, walking off, he swore his face couldn't get any redder. He was sure that it was from a mixture of embarrassment and strange arousal.
"I'm glad you like the t-shirt I bought you (name)." Sabo commented, making Ace's brows furrow.
After that little event, Ace noticed just how close Sabo and (name) was, although Sabo wasn't blatantly acting like a boyfriend, he was a lot more protective of (name). It wasn't anything too suspicious, since Ace had considered the fact that (name) used to be incredibly vulnerable and could still be, and only trusted Sabo.
Simultaneously Ace had also noticed the girls he hung out with on a daily basis, were not as attractive as he used to believe. Sure he thought the girls had perfect, long slim legs, fashionable. Small cute faces, immaculate make-up, and fluttery eyelashes that look so delicate like a doll. They were like perfect porcelain dolls, fashionable, anyone would think they were perfect, however Ace was beginning to not believe that. He was rapidly realising that the girls, although were gorgeous, slim, a guy's a dream, were similar in terms of personality. They all had that sort of cute, high pitched voice combined with a timid, flirty nature that appeared feminine and sweet but they had nothing of substance. Their thoughts, ideas was unoriginal and uncreative, as in their fashion sense, make up style was copying the latest trend, nothing that made them stand out of reflect anything in their personality. Their principles and moral codes were decent but limited compared to (name's). He often listened to their problems and what they would do to fix the problem, and only recently he had realised that they had questionable moral codes and ethics. In addition he noticed that they didn't talk about anything else but boys, clothes, make-up, the latest gossip. Not that it was wrong to talk about it, but Ace suddenly realised that they were so boring.
They were gorgeous to look at, any boy in school would probably give up a good amount of money to be in the company of these girls, but Ace soon realised that perhaps they were not what he was attracted to anymore.
Furthermore Ace had realised that Sabo only socialised with the group when (name) wasn't there or when his club activities (which were on three times a week) had been cancelled. Other than that Sabo had disappeared and something caught him off guard.
"I'm glad you like the t-shirt I bought you." He remembered Sabo had said to (name), did that mean Sabo knew that she would wear it without a bra, on purpose? Ace then remembered (name)'s bust pushed up, and the piercings clearly visible.
"Oi you perv!" He got lightly hit by one of his friends. He got caught in a trance, staring the direction of the girls.
"You looking at Mei? You finally interested in her?" His friend teased. Whilst the girls saw Ace's stare and giggled. Ace looked at the named girl and pfted, knowing full well that her chest was just as flat as his chest. He stared out of the window to see Sabo and (name) eating lunch on the grass, watching Sabo genuinely laugh, whilst (name) was laughing uncontrollably, as if they had been friends for years on end.
Ace frowned once again, he couldn't do something as simple as making her laugh, but he could make her cry without even trying.