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It happens in a bar, somewhere across town and too crowded, surrounded by the mass that is his family and friends, further enveloped by crowds of strangers he’ll never interact with or see again.
Marco’s scolding somewhere behind his shoulder, and Ace knows it isn’t directed at him because he hasn’t done anything all night, tired from work and the week and simply waiting for his brothers, because Luffy’s been chattering about everyone converging in one place and Sabo and Ace haven’t been able to deny him shit since he squirmed his way into their hearts over ten years ago. Thatch and Haruta burst into identical whines, and Ace briefly wonders just what they did to set Marco off this time, but Izou distracts him with another drink slid his way as the bar doors burst open, the sound of them crashing against the walls audible even over the deafening dance music.
Luffy’s laughter rings out even over that, and Ace just sighs and laughs, helplessly, apologetically.
Luffy fills the room, with his presence and the literal crowd that flows in with him, Sabo and Koala and a few others trailing in their wake. Ace turns to greet them, a hair ruffle for Luffy and a laugh in return, an elbow nudge from Sabo before his brother bullies his way into two bar stools for himself and Koala at Ace’s side, batting his lashes and sending a dangerous grin to the duo who’d previously been there that sends the two larger men packing.
Ace would have laughed or griped about it, but his eyes meet amber just a few seats further down from his brother, and everything slows and seems to go quieter for a moment.
It’s like nostalgia, he thinks. It’s like déjà vu, and maybe a touch of vertigo, like having his legs swept out from under him and falling, falling, breathless and weightless.
Those amber eyes widen for just a second, flit away and then glance back, watching Ace the way Ace was watching him. A shy sort of smile pulled at the man’s lips, a hand rising to push a strand of pale blue hair away from his face, fingers brushing against the leg of dark blue glasses glancingly. Ace found himself smiling back, more easily than nearly anything else he’d done since getting here.
He grabs his new drink, takes a sip for nerve, and pushes himself up from his stool, dodging Sabo’s swipe easily and winning a laugh from Koala.
“We just got here,” Sabo complains, but Koala waves like she’s wishing him luck and Izou winks like he saw this coming.
That weightless feeling lingers, as Ace steps around Marco and Thatch and Haruta, catching sight of Luffy and his friends dancing and flailing in the crowds, drawing the more reluctant members back in when they try to escape. Amber-brown eyes watch his approach, the man smiling a little more, like he’s pleased Ace is actually coming over, and Ace settles at his side like he’s done so a thousand times before, familiar and easy, their shoulders brushing together as Ace tips his head to greet him, introduce himself, offer to buy a drink or to dance. It wins him another smile, rosy cheeks and a laugh and a nod, a cool hand in his own, fingers holding on as Ace pulls him up and close and into the press of the crowds, their own little bubble tucked against one another.
Later, Deuce would ask why Ace came to him, noticed him at all. Ace wouldn’t say love at first sight, no matter how he personally thought it might be true. He’d talk about the nostalgia and vertigo instead, like he’d known Deuce before and that it was simply time to meet him again, that it felt like knowing Deuce, loving Deuce was something he’d been waiting for. It would win him a blush, a grin and some sassy quip, and he’d reward himself with pressing a kiss to Deuce’s lips, just in case Deuce might believe that more than Ace’s words.
Later, Deuce would say he felt it too, the swooping sensation of falling, of familiarity and nostalgia and all the rest, that Ace’s approach had felt like a reunion and a meeting long in the making at once.
For now, Ace tucks his face close to Deuce’s so they can hear each other over the music, laughing and twisting and holding onto each other all the while, shivers when Deuce’s lips brush against his cheek, and watches Deuce for a long, long moment before pressing a quick peck to his lips and asking if he wants to leave the bar early to get a late dinner instead.
He grins when Deuce agrees, hand tightening on Ace’s to pull him toward the door and some nearby diner he swears Ace will love.