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Ace had many scars from his childhood, Deuce knew that once they started seriously dating. He took every challenge on head on, every burden of a stranger who needed help, he leant a hand with a grin.
The other Spade Pirates thought it was brave and admirable, saw their captain as strong and seemingly invincible, but Deuce knew otherwise.
He knew Ace suffered with low self-worth. Ace had cataplexy attacks that left him jumpy and terrified, hallucinations of a monster with human skin, holding a gun to his little brother’s head, while everything blazed and turned to ash around them.
He knew the guilt that Ace carried of being alive, while the mother he never got to know died on the day of his birth, only able to hold him once and name him before passing.
Deuce knew Ace's constant fight to live was a constant war within himself, no matter how many they challenged and defeated, he was always in an internal struggle on whether or not he deserved to live.
It was a long process to learn all of this, but Deuce never claimed to not be just as stubborn, if not more so than his captain. So if Ace fought to validate himself, Deuce fought as well.
A brushed off compliment? Deuce complimented him again. Recklessly throwing himself into danger and battle? Deuce scolded, tied his bandages two times harder and rougher and kissed each cut and bruise gently afterwards.
They had their fights about this, Ace believing he didn’t deserve the kindness and love, but Deuce stood firm on his stance and just a little, Ace relaxed more.
But on Ace’s bad nights, when Deuce could do nothing but, hold Ace tightly and kiss him gently as he whispered sweet nothings and words of comfort felt so long and hard as his heart broke from the wrenching sobs.
But it was always worth it when Ace would finally sleep, his tear streaked face finally relaxing into a bliss of peacefulness.
Comforting Ace seemed like an easy job to those outside of his inner circle, but Deuce was there for those nights and knew it was far from the simple minded way people thought it was to comfort him.
It was a harsh and cold reality when he first saw his captain show his vulnerable side, but he loved Ace and wouldn’t have it any different.
Deuce logically knew that no matter how many times he kissed and bandaged Ace’s outer cuts, no kisses could heal the inner scars of being Gol D. Roger’s son. Knew that Ace would hold in all the complicated feelings and only show his anger and aggression when the darkness started to reappear and fester like an old wound and trying to pry before he was ready was like trying to pry food from his flaming hand during dinner.
Knowing all of that doesn’t change Deuce’s outlook on his position with Ace as his boyfriend.
Even knowing all of that, the only thing Deuce would always do is hold him, comfort him and love him.
Because he’s Ace and that was all that mattered.