Chapter Text
Ace hadn’t ended his call yet that he heard Deuce’s mom scream downstairs, and he ran for it, not even apologizing to his bro. The fucker could wait later to tease him about being “a lovestruck little birdie”.
He found her on the porch, drenched and yelling at the horizon, clearly distressed. He had to calm her down, forcing her to go to the kitchen and breathe deeply for a few minutes, to ask her what was happening.
- It’s Deuce….I don’t understand…
- Deuce? Wait, where is he?
- I don’t know...he just ran outside the house...I’m so worried.
Ace was the one who didn’t understand. Why would Deuce run away like that? At this hour? He was thinking of it, not finding any answer until the voice of Deuce’s mom made everything clear
- He was searching you for the movie night...did something happen between you two? No, if something happened, you’d know...sorry sweetie…
He froze upon hearing that. The phone call. Deuce must have heard it. Oh shit. What did he hear exactly? Oh, fuck. Surely the worst part, and this idiot must have misunderstood everything, of course!
But where did he go? His secret place? No, not without his magical wheel…
Her phone rung and she answered it immediately, teary eyed
- Deuce baby where are you? ...You...you went back to school? You forgot some homework there and need to do it? Are you sure about that baby? …yes, I believe you...you should have told me first, you got us worried...understood...please call me from time to time...I love you too baby chick.
She looked at Ace, totally puzzled and clearly not buying Deuce’s excuse. She sighed and let her head fall on the table.
- Ace. Please, take care of Deuce for me. I don’t know what happened, but I beg you, help him…
- I’ll do, I’ll go immediately.
- But the storm is still-
- Oh, no probs about that, I can handle a little bit of water for the sake of the person I love~
Ace then took his bag as well as Deuce’s one and ran under the rain like crazy, cursing unheard when accompanied by the thunder rumbling, and got lucky enough to arrive at Night Raven College in one, very wet, piece.
His feet naturally conducted him in front of the Ramshackle dorm. He knocked a few times at the door, for once not barging into the living room like it was his house.
Yuu came to open the door, glaring at him quite hard and, rude!?
- Yo, Yuu...uh, is Deuce here? I need to talk to him, it’s important
- I guess, but I can’t let you see him right now.
- Why?
- Ace. He came here drenched and bawling his eyes out. You really outdone yourself. “Don’t fuck up” I said, but what do you do? You fuck up so much I have to take care of the mess you’ve done. He’s currently sleeping because he tired himself out by crying so much, and Grim is with him. I need to get back, I let Riddle take care of the cookies and I’d rather stop him before the oyster sauce incident happen again, it’s to comfort Deuce not kill him.
- Wait, what do I do then? I really need to-
- Jack. I called him and he came back early so your stupid ass can explain everything to him. Can’t guarantee you won’t receive a punch or two in the process tho.
Ace gulped down nervously. Yeah, he was surely gonna get punched before having the occasion to explain himself. Yuu pat his shoulder and looked really sorry, as he whispered out
- I wish I could help you more but I really need to take care of Deuce right now. I hope you’ll be able to fix the shitstorm you created. You’re both my best friends and I don’t like seeing you hurt like that. Now go before you catch a cold, it’s warmer in Savanaclaw.
Ace listened to Yuu, and went to Savanaclaw after giving out Deuce’s bags to the sleepy Ramshackle dorm leader, and oh dear Crowley, Jack was waiting for him, face cold as stone.
- Ok Jack please don’t hurt me let me expla-
- Hurry up, don’t want you to get sick. You’ll explain when we reach my room. I’ll decide later if you deserve a punch or not.
- Very kind of you…
He let Jack guide him through the dorm of Savanaclaw, way warmer than what he thought, but clearly welcomed now that he was shivering from the rain that made his clothes clung to him. He took a warm shower and took a thankfully dry pajama from his wet bag.
They both sat on his bed and Jack waited patiently. Ace explained everything to him, well at least his side of the story, until the phone call.
Jack just sighed deeply and resumed, voice monotone
- So to be clear. You discovered along the way that you had feelings for him but decided that taking advantage of his denseness was the best thing to do. You had a phone call with your big brother, and admitted to him you didn’t like him, but rather loved him, but Deuce surely only heard the don’t like part and that’s why we’re here.
- Yes. Totally that.
- I will definitely punch you for manipulating him like that.
- I...well I don’t like violence, but I guess I deserve that one.
He shut his eyes and prepared himself for the punch, but all he felt was the bro fist, soft against his cold shoulder. He peeked shyly to see what the heck happened to Jack, but yeah, that was really all he did. Just a little tiny punch that couldn’t hurt a fly. Damn, that was something to remember as unique.
- You already suffer the consequences. I’ll really punch you if you don’t take care of this mess though.
- Yeah please don’t, I do plan of clearing things up with him.
- Good. Now good night. I had to stay up one hour later than my usual schedule because of you. If you snore I’ll kick you out of the bed.
Ace didn’t have the time to answer that Jack just, fell asleep like that, snoring softly as soon as he closed his eyes. He wished he could fall asleep as easily and as fast. He let himself fall beside the wolf, and soon after, he slept soundly, away from all the problems he would need to confront soon.
For a few days, he couldn’t get in touch with Deuce at all, and Yuu had told him via messages that it was better like that. Deuce needed a little bit of time, but they would be able to talk it out sooner than he thought. He didn’t even come to the lessons, under the excuse that he apparently caught a cold. It was possible, given that he ran under the rain for long. Ace wanted to see him, so much, but he knew that he needed to listen to his friend for once: he couldn’t fuck up again.
So like that, days passed, and he felt more and more hollow. He couldn’t count the number of times he got hit by a basket ball in practice because of his intense zoning out. But then, finally, it was Riddle who asked to talk to him. For someone so short, he sure had some intense energy coming out of his body. The kind of energy that could kill, if you didn’t know that he was just a crybaby in high heels.
- Trappola. You can contact Spades now, but choose your words carefully if you want for the two of you to meet without me cutting your head off.
- Hahaha, very reassuring….thank you leader.
Riddle went away with a huff, and rarely in his life Ace got his phone out so fast. He clicked on Deuce’s icon and panicked. What was he gonna write now? Aaaaaaaah! He hated that. How come now that he could use his words he couldn’t think of anything? Stupid brain! He breathed in and out and decided for a simple approach. He typed out quickly “We need to talk, please meet me in two hours in the botanical garden. Ill wait for you” and sent it, sweating nervously as he waited for an answer.
He got nothing, but he decided he would wait nonetheless.
Here he was, waiting like an idiot at the botanical garden, an hour past the time he fixed. It was okay. He deserved it. If only he had been honest with Deuce from the start, maybe instead of sitting there he would be making out with Deuce in one of their rooms.
Ten more minutes passed before Deuce finally appeared. He looked like shit. He had dark circles under his red and puffy eyes, his bedhair was chaotic, and he tripped on his feet. Also still had his pajamas on. So he surely just woke up from a nap.
- Just tell me quickly. I don’t want to be here more than necessary.
- It’s about what you heard. I need to make things cle-
- I don’t want your excuses. I’ll just go I think-
- Wait no! Let me explain myself dammit!
Deuce didn’t seem decided to talk about it, so he had to stop him, gripping his arm and blurting out the first, totally stupid thing that passed in his brain
- You said you’d do anything for the deal, and I need you to stay here to listen to what I want
- Are you serious? That’s fucking low, I should beat you up
- But you won’t, because you’re honest and you’ll listen to my request. As you promised.
Deuce was pissed but it worked, it really worked, and Ace was trembling from it, nervousness on max. He still didn’t let go of him, knowing deep down that Deuce could still go away before the end of the story.
- Deuce, what you heard that day, it was just a huge misunderstanding. I did say that I don’t like yo-
- Okay I heard enough let me g-
- BUT it wasn’t the end, dammit! I don’t JUST like you Deuce. I’m in love with you. Like, truly whipped. And believe me I still ask myself why I had to fall in love with the densest brick of all Twisted Wonderland.
- You... what?
- I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU. So now if you want to punch me or something please do, but I still have my request to use.
Deuce seemed close to tears, and that really was strange for Ace. Deuce mumbled out words that were hard to understand, but if he focused hard enough, it wasn’t impossible
- Lo...you too…
That was all he needed, and he took Deuce in his arms, hands rubbing soothing circles on his back as he singsonged
- Hey Deuce, I’ll make my request now. Go out with me. Be my boyfriend for real this time, and not just for a week. What do you think about that?
Deuce said nothing, just hugged him tighter, and sobbed on his shoulder for a solid minute. When he calmed down, he just lifted his head toward Ace, eyes adverted a little.
- Could you let me think of it for a few days…? You...really hurt me, and I want to really have more time to digest everything.
- Yeah, no probs, take all the time you need man, I’ll wait for you. Can we just stay like that a little more though?
Deuce accepted with a nod, and Ace sighed, contented with at least the hug for now.
It was after two stressful as hell days that Deuce came rushing to him, kissing the living daylights out of him, and Ace thought “oh, well, guess that means yes.” as he kissed him back with as much fervor as he could. Truly, if he wasn’t already whipped as he was, he would say that this one kiss was the last nail on his coffin. Damn, that was good to have Deuce in his arms again, and as a boyfriend now.
Later that day, after announcing to everyone that they were finally together, they saw, utterly betrayed, money exchanged between Cater and Yuu. Did these fuckers really bet on their love life????
Actually you know what, that didn’t matter. They were going to live their best life together now, as a couple, ready to disgust everyone with their pda. Everything would truly go well~
- Trappola, Spades, I do hope that you are both ready for the mid term exams that begin in a week?
- Oh shit!