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"Hey! Great party!"
Coby turned towards the source of the voice. A familiar face, that of his former roommate, Ace. Freckles and dark, wavy hair, a gleam in brown eyes. He smiled awkwardly and nodded in silence. Imagine meeting him here, and Coby's heart skipped a beat just like it had before. Yeah. This man owned his heart. This man had to be his soulmate of sorts, no matter how he looked at it. It had been a while though. Sure, they saw each other around now and then, sometimes paused for a brief hello while passing by, but it had been a year since Ace had moved out to settle in with Sabo and Luffy once they had come to town. Didn’t make Coby miss him any less, even if there were some habits— such as going shirtless most of the time— that made Coby just a liiiittle antsy at times. No, not antsy. Awkward. He was never sure where to look or what to do.
"Y-Yeah! Credit isn’t all mine though," Coby acknowledged. "After all, Tashigi and Nami helped."
"Can’t I pay a compliment to an old friend?" Ace ruffled Coby's hair.
"Heeeey! I’ll have you know I worked hard on my appearance for tonight!" Coby insisted.
"Your hair looks no different. No need to get worked up." Ace looked him up and down. "What’s that ridiculous getup?"
Coby looked down at himself. Overalls, a red and blue checkered shirt and faded blue jeans, his usual bandana replaced by the old one to better match the colour scheme. He raised an eyebrow.
"I’m a farmer."
"Farmers aren’t scary!" Ace insisted.
"And what’re you supposed to be?" Coby challenged, looking Ace up and down, bronze armour of some sort, a sword sheath at his belt, black pants, otherwise not wearing a shirt under his armour, as told by his bare collarbone and upper chest.
Ace grinned. "I’m Ares, the Greek god of war!"
"You’re a Greek god." Coby crossed his arms.
"Yes, yes I am. And I’m a hungry Greek god. Where’s the snacks?"
____________
"Well, lost Ace to the snack table," Coby admitted.
Helmeppo sipped from his punch. "Ah, the dreaded snack table," he drawled sarcastically. "How terrifying."
"Oh shut up. I haven’t seen him in forever and he’s more interested in snacks than an old friend," Coby grumped.
"You’re really surprised? Didn’t he almost eat you out of house and home when you guys lived together?"
"I mean, sure, but I didn’t mind."
"I know. You loved him too much."
"I d- nevermind that! That doesn’t mean-"
"Yes it does. He'll be back once he and Luffy have finished off the snacks."
"Oh lord. That won’t be long."
"Sounds about right. You can just chill with me until your boyfriend gets back."
"He’s not my boyfriend, and I resent that."
"You resent me implying he is, or you resent that he’s not your boyfriend?"
Coby glared. "Why you-"
Helmeppo grinned. "Kidding, kidding. Either way, just go for it."
"What?"
"You’re over here, talking to me, but staring over at him. You used to talk about him almost as much as you did about Luffy. I swear, you have to have a crush on those two."
"Do not!"
"Maybe not Luffy. Maybe you’re just some weird Luffy stalker, but you definitely have something going on about Ace."
"Stop it! I do not!" Coby blushed brightly. I absolutely do.
"It’s not a bad thing. Just go for it. Find an excuse to kiss him, or tell him how you feel."
"I feel like I want to punch you."
"Mission accomplished. Now go!"
Helmeppo shoved Coby forward roughly when Ace started towards them. Coby stumbled, almost falling right onto Ace as the Greek god approached. Ace grabbed Coby's shoulders to steady him, earning him a thankful smile. Helmeppo melted back into the shadows to watch. Coby fidgeted anxiously, but he knew Helmeppo was right. What was the worst that could happen? Well, I could get shot down or looked down on for it, or maybe even laughed at, mocked. Or what if he doesn’t like guys? Besides, what do I even say?
"Hey Ace? Can we talk?"
"Sure."
Coby looped his arm through Ace's and led him to a corner, away from the thick of the crowd. "So just now, I was chatting with Helmeppo and he made me realize some things."
"Like what?"
Coby took a shaky breath. "Like the fact that I’m in love."
"I…you are?" Ace's shoulders slumped just the tiniest bit, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Yeah. I didn’t want to admit it."
"With who? Am I allowed to ask?"
Coby's cheeks became the same shade as his hair. He looked down at the ground. "Um…y-yeah. I…uh…look, Ikindareallylikeyoualotokay?"
Ace blinked. "Me?"
Coby bit his lip, closing his eyes so he wouldn’t have to see the disappointment or rejection on Ace's face. "Say something…"
Ace did not say something. The silence made it feel like nothing and no one else was there. It was just the two of them, and it was terrifying. Then warm, firm lips were pressed against his, and hands were clutching his sleeves, pulling him closer. Coby leaned into it, winding his arms around Ace and all but throwing himself forward. His heart leapt, then ran laps in his chest. Then it was over, but Coby's heart refused to calm itself.
"Well I kinda really like you too."
Coby brought his hand up to touch his lips. Had that just happened? Had Ace just kissed him? "I…really? You never acted like it."
"And you were pretty obvious, and yes, really."
"Well…what now?"
"Now," Ace said, "I want to tell my brothers you’re my boyfriend."
"Scariest thing that’s happened this year."
"What? Is the Ares thing too much?"
"Not what I meant. Just…new relationship." Coby reached forward to kiss Ace's cheek. "Let’s go tell your brothers, then see if we can steal some candy before Luffy finishes it all off, huh?"
"Yeah, that sounds like my brother." Ace offered his hand.
"Let’s go. I’m a bit nervous, especially given I knew Luffy before I even knew you existed, respected him as long as I’ve known him, but-"
"They’ll love that we're together, Coby. Do you want to be with me, or are you just rolling with it?"
"No! I want this, I swear, I’m just not sure how they’ll respond, so…"
"What, a Greek god falling for a mere farmer?"
Coby blushed. "Don’t bring my costume into this."
"Well, I think I have a thing for farmer boys."
"Oh shut up."
On the way to see Luffy and Sabo, Coby snagged a Snickers from Tashigi, who pouted but didn’t try to stop him, but it was nowhere as sweet as the events of the night had turned out to be.