Chapter Text
ACE POV
Ace Trappola had always been good, pretending not to care.
It was a talent, really. He could shrug off getting collared by Riddle (after complaining about how stupid it was for 30 minutes), he could sit through lectures without hearing a single word, hell, he did whatever he wanted with no worry of the consequences! But when it came to Deuce Spade…? All of his ‘uncaring’ facade fell down. Damn him and his pretty face and blue hair—
And it didn’t help that Deuce was practically everywhere he was! Errands to Sam’s store? Deuce was there. Running through the halls? Deuce was there. When Crewel was pairing up partners for an assignment? Him and Deuce were always put together. They were even in the same dorm! The ginger didn’t even notice how much time they spent together— that is until Epel started teasing them about it.
“You know,” Epel said casually, biting into an apple leaning against the Heartslabyul hallway wall, “you two are basically together 24/7”
Ace scoffed instantly. “Don't be stupid!”
Deuce looked up from his phone as he shoved it back into his pocket. “Huh?”
Epel’s eyes flicked between them, raising an eyebrow, “I see ya together more than I see Sebek yellin’ about Malleus. That alone says something”
“Thats different!” Deuce said quickly, waving his hands. “We both are in the same dorm, of course we’ll be together a lot!” Ace nodded to Deuce’s retort.
Epel hummed before taking another bite out of his half-eaten apple, “Sure.”
Epel was just being Epel. At least that's what Ace was trying to tell himself, he didn’t really spend THAT much time with the blue-haired boy. Did he? He took note of the time as Epel said his quick goodbyes before scurrying back to Pomefiore. At least Vil could deal with Epel properly.
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Ace stared at the time which was set at 8:20PM. It's been the whole day, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Deuce. He told himself it was annoying. That's all.
Annoying that people noticed. Annoying that he flushed around Deuce so easily. Annoying that his heart did that stupid little jump whenever Deuce laughed– really laughed, the kind of laugh like he's actually happy to be around the ginger.
They were friends. Best friends, is what Ace told himself. That's all it was.
So why did it feel weird when Deuce hung out with Jack instead of him? Why did he feel so irritated when Sebek for once actually complimented Deuce on his work? And why in the sevens did he remember the exact shade of blue Deuce’s eyes turned in the sun? When it hit him just right… he looked ethereal.
He would’ve tried to make moves on the guy, but the worst part getting in the way of it, was his own self doubt. Deuce actually tries following the rules, he studies to get good grades, he’s a dependable person. A good person. He was someone people could turn to when problems come up. Everything Ace was not. Every time the blue-haired boy smiled at him, like Ace was someone worth trusting, something in his chest twisted uncomfortably.
Because Deuce deserved better than a guy who doesn’t know what he's doing.
He continued staring at the roof replaying every moment, every look, every touch.
“This is stupid,” he muttered to himself.
If he admitted that he really did like Deuce.. then things between them could change.
And Ace Trapolla didn't do change.