Chapter Text
“Flowers, chocolate, teddy bear, card. Flowers, chocolate, teddy bear, card…” Ace repeated these words out loud as he ran down the block. He had a paper that had a poem he wrote in his hands. He kept reading it over and over. “Who’s got good flowers? I’m about to go old school with this one. Bouquets have gotten mad expensive nowadays...” He stopped when he glanced at different lawns around him. He traced his scissors in his pocket when he saw a garden of his liking. “Why, Mrs. Smith… You’re the lucky winner!” He walked up to the garden and inspected it deeper. He smiled at the selection. “Roses, carnations, purple orchids, stargazer lilies, pink tulips, alstroemerias, and chrysanthemums. Perfect.” Never in his life did he plan on saying those flowers out loud until he found his soulmate who loved them.
“Oh, Ace! Hi there!” Mrs. Smith waved at Ace. “How have you been?”
“Mrs. Smith!” He jumped. “Oh, uh… I’m not doing so good.” He began to formulate a sob story. “You see, someone I know is really sick.”
“Oh no.” She frowned. “Is it family?”
“No, ma’am. Someone I fell in love with.” He sighed. “I was just looking at your gorgeous garden, and I came across… Those flowers over there.” He pointed sadly to the arrangement of flowers that he had his eyes on. “You see, those are their favorite flowers… All conveniently there.”
“Really?” Mrs. Smith walked up to them. “These right here?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ace sighed sadly. “Do you know if they’re selling a bouquet of those anywhere? I wanna give it to ‘em… Who knows how long I got.”
“I don’t think so, dear…” Mrs. Smith pursed her lips in thought. “You know what?” She walked into her house and came out with gardening shears. “Let me make the bouquet for you!”
“Oh, I hope it’s not any trouble!” Ace smiled hopefully. “Hook, line, and sinker.” He thought to himself.
“Not at all! These flowers will always grow back!” She snipped away at her garden to cultivate the perfect bouquet. When she was satisfied, she made her way to her house. “Wait here!” It took a moment, but when she came out, it was worth it. The bouquet was big, beautiful, and colorful. Tied up with a gorgeous ivory satin bouquet collar and a cute purple bow. “I’m sure they would love it!” She handed it to him excitedly.
Ace took it graciously. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Smith! I won’t forget this!” Ace turned and walked off. “Well, that was easy.” He mumbled to himself. He got out his phone and dialed Snake. “Please tell me you goons got the teddy bear!”
“Well, hello to you, too!” Snake chuckled. “And, no. We didn’t. We got some chocolate, though.”
“At least that. What kind did you get?” Ace raised his brow. “Is it the-”
“The best chocolate in the market? Yes!” Snake laughed on the other line. “We went over this, boss!”
“It just needs to be perfect, alright?”
“We get it! Don’t worry! Hey, we’re gonna grab a card while we’re out here.” Snake paused. “I’m thinking one of the big ones.”
“Good! The bigger, the better!” Ace smiled and hung up the phone. “Okay… teddy bear. Where can I find a-?” He felt his phone vibrate. “What now?” He groaned as he saw a text. “Next time say goodbye?” He rolled his eyes. “Since when has Snake gotten so sassy?”
At Townsville airport, Russel had a hypnotized 2D on his back, Murdoc was searching his bags for his phone, and Noodle was talking to a random stranger. “Found it!” Murdoc cheered as he dialed Ace’s number. “This is gonna be good huh, Russ?”
“Yeah… I just can’t wait to get to the hotel and set him down.” Russel readjusted 2D. “He’s starting to drool.”
“Right. Hello?” Murdoc turned around and plugged his other ear to hear Ace better. “We landed and 2D is hypnotized. What do you have so far?”
“I got the flowers, chocolate, and card. I just need a teddy bear!” Ace sounded like he was close to panicking.
“First off, relax.” Murdoc chuckled. “It’s a surprise, so what he wouldn’t know wouldn't hurt him.”
“Mudz, this is my chance to really tell him how I feel. I need it to be perfect!”
“Okay, then I’ll help you. We’ll drop off 2D and we’ll go searching for a stuffed animal.”
“Great! Meet you at the hotel?” You could practically hear Ace smiling on the other line.
“Sounds like a plan.” Murdoc shook his head laughing and hung up. “Right, let’s go!” He waved at Noodle. “Come on! We gotta drop off the load and look for a stuffed animal!”
“Okay!” Noodle frowned. “Well, how about you take my number? I’d love to talk more some time!” She winked at the person she was talking to.
“Sure thing.” The lady winked back at her, put Noodle’s number in her phone and walked off.
“Noodle!” Murdoc called.
“Coming!” Noodle rolled her eyes and walked towards her family.
“Okay, set him down gently.” Murdoc was helping Russel put 2D down on the bed. “There we go.” When they set him down, there was a knocking at the door.
“I’m gonna get a new shirt.” Russel walked to the bathroom.
“Coming.” Murdoc rushed to the door. When he opened it, he saw that it was Ace and smiled. “Ace! How have you been?” He gave him a good hug. “My brilliant protege!”
“Murdoc!” Ace patted his back. “You guys ready to hunt for a stuffed…” He took in the suit that they were in and had to laugh. “Gotta be fancy, huh?” His laughter soon stopped when he caught a glance of a drooling 2D and felt butterflies erupt in his stomach. “Even hypnotized, he’s gorgeous.”
“Oh, you’re smitten!” Noodle smirked. “You do know that when you marry him, you marry the family?”
“Marry?” Murdoc interrupted. “You’re marrying him?”
“What? No!” Ace shook his head. “I’m not sure we’re there yet… I just wanted to tell him that I loved him…” He blushed in red hot embarrassment.
“All this to tell him that you love him?” Murdoc cackled. “Then, I’m quite nervous about what you’re going to do when you decide to propose!”
“Alright. I’m ready to go bear hunting... “ Russel stopped and thought about what he said. “Never thought I had to say that in my life.”
“Come on! Let’s go!” Ace turned and ran to the elevator with the rest right behind.
When they went to the lobby, Ace pulled out his phone to call Snake. “Alright, I got Gorillaz by my side to go hunting for the bear. We’re gonna find the biggest one in the world!”
“Where are yous gonna find that?” Snake asked.
“Maybe we should try the mall!” Noodle suggested. “The last time I was here, they had this store full of all kinds of teddy bears! I think it was called… Plushy Paradise?”
“Good idea!” Ace pointed at Noodle and hung up the phone. “Alright guys, let’s move it!”
“If you want the biggest teddy bear at Plushy Paradise, you should go fast!” A stranger called out to them. “I saw Princess Morbucks headed towards the mall in her limo not too long ago!”
Ace blinked. “Morbucks… That spoiled brat!” He balled his fists. His phone vibrated again, and it was another text from Snake. He ran a hand through his hair as he read it. “Still didn’t say goodbye again? Real classy.” He rolled his eyes as he put his phone away. “Snake has become too sassy lately! Anyways, we gotta hurry! Morbucks has the power to buy a whole store out! Come on!”