Work Text:
“-hey wake up already!”
The Perfect jolts up with a shriek, heart pounding in their chest, the sudden jolt of being roused from a deep sleep leaving them disoriented and on edge. Clutching a thin sheet tightly to their chest, they scanned the darkened room, eyes frantically searching for the source of the intrusion before finding a familiar pair of scarlet eyes peering at them through the darkness of their bedroom. It didn't take long for their gaze to land on a familiar figure - the silhouette of their friend.
“A-Ace?” Anxiety gripped their heart as they stammered out their friend's name, their voice quivering with bewilderment.
Fumbling in the dark, the Prefect's hand finally found the lamp on the nightstand, and the soft glow illuminated the room, momentarily blinding them. But as soon as they regained their sight, their eyes narrowed in annoyance as they were met with the sight of Ace Trappola casually leaning against the doorway of their bedroom and grinning impishly. Seems tonight is time for another of his late-night visits.
"Jeez, took ya long enough. I called your name three times already," he quipped, his voice carrying a playful edge as if this late-night intrusion was nothing out of the ordinary. Confusion and irritation immediately washed over them - what could be so important that Ace would show up unannounced in the dead of night? "What are you doing here? It's..." they trailed off, glancing over their shoulder at the clock and feeling their eyebrows furrow in bewilderment. "It's three in the morning."
Ace simply shrugged, a mischievous grin playing on his lips as he replied with a casual "Yup." Their annoyance only grew at his flippant response, their voice laced with exasperation as they snapped back, "Well, why the hell are you here?" Unfazed by their frustration, Ace responded nonchalantly, the glint in his eyes never faltering. "I just need a bit of your...help."
Help? They were utterly perplexed - what on earth could Ace possibly need their assistance with at such an ungodly hour? They certainly didn't possess any unique skills or abilities that would be of use to the college student. Voicing their bafflement, they asked, "My help? With what?"
Ace's response was cryptic yet insistent. "Just come with me and things will make more sense, promise." With that, he pushed away from the doorway, stepping further into the room and reaching out to grasp their hand. "Come on," he urged, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency and a hint of excitement.
They hesitated, suddenly very aware of their state of undress. "W-wait, I'm not dressed-" they stammered, their mind racing to make sense of this bizarre situation. But Ace quickly cut them off, assuring them. "It's not a big deal if you're still in your PJs, come on," the intensity in his gaze made their face grow hot with embarrassment.
Gathering their courage, they glanced back at him and muttered, "I'm not dressed...like, at all." Ace's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his eyes scanning them from head to toe, lingering a moment too long on their bare shoulders and exposed skin. "You're...naked under there?" he asked, his voice carrying a mixture of amusement and...something else.
Fidgeting nervously, they felt a surge of vulnerability wash over them, their skin prickling with self-consciousness as the weight of the situation settled in. With a flustered expression, they pulled their hand free from Ace's firm grip, the warmth of his touch leaving a tingling sensation that lingered on their skin.
"Please just-" they stammered, voice wavering slightly as they pushed against his firm chest, creating some much-needed distance between them. "Just give me a second to get dressed, okay?" Their words came out in a hurried, almost pleading tone, betraying the internal turmoil they were experiencing.
Ace, sensing their discomfort, took a few steps back, crossing his arms casually across his broad chest. An amused expression played on his lips, his eyes never leaving their flustered form. "Sure thing," he responded, his nonchalant tone only serving to further fluster them.
"Uh, Ace?" they called out, voice laced with uncertainty, as they glanced around the room, hyper-aware of their state of undress. He hummed back in response, his unwavering gaze making them feel exposed and vulnerable. "I need to get dressed," they reminded him, starting to become a little annoyed at his casual indifference.
He tilted his head slightly, an infuriatingly amused expression on his face. "Go ahead," he replied, his tone nonchalant, as if he didn't have a care in the world. "Ace!" they protested, frustration evident in their voice. He couldn't help but let out a low chuckle, the sound sending a shiver down their spine. "Fine, fine," he relented, finally turning his back to them. "There, now I can't see anything, hurry up."
As he pivoted on his heels, an unseen shift came over Ace's expression. Desire flickered in his eyes, and he brought a fist to his mouth, biting down on a knuckle in a futile attempt to muffle the groan that threatened to escape.
The thought of them being naked in the same room with him, so close yet so tantalizingly out of reach, was almost too much for him to bear. They, blissfully unaware of the turmoil raging within their friend's mind, quickly hurried to put on their clothes, their fingers fumbling with the fabric as they tried to regain their composure in the charged atmosphere.