Chapter Text
As the music was blasting through the room, people were letting loose and having a good time. The lights were dim, and the mood just right for a night of fun. In the corner of the room, Luffy was chatting animatedly, a smile plastered on his face.
“Hey,” he called out over the music. “I have a question for you.”
Curiosity piqued, you turned your attention towards him, raising an eyebrow. You weren't sure what he was going to ask, but knowing your friend, it was bound to be surprising or downright ridiculous. “Yeah, what's up?” you asked, leaning closer to hear him over the music.
“Remember how you were looking for a new roommate?” Luffy asked casually. “Any luck finding one yet?”
“Oh, that…” you trailed off, a small sigh escaping you. You hadn't had much luck finding someone who fit your criteria. “No, not yet. I'm still trying to find someone, but it's been a bit of a challenge.” you admitted, glancing around the room as if inspiration would strike from the lively crowd.
“Oh, that’s too bad.” His grin widened, and your suspicion immediately spiked. That grin was never a good sign. “But hey, I think I found the perfect candidate for you!”
Your gaze immediately turned suspicious. This was Luffy, after all. You knew him well enough to know that whatever he had in mind was probably outrageous. “Who is it?” you asked cautiously.
Before you could protest or prepare for whatever wild idea he had cooked up, he cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed, “Ace!”
The name echoed through the room, momentarily cutting through the music and laughter, drawing a few curious glances your way. You felt your pulse quicken at the mention of Ace. Across the room, Ace was engaged in a deep conversation with a few partygoers, their animated gestures punctuating the air. He was leaning casually against the wall, his relaxed demeanor exuding confidence
However, at the sound of his brother's voice, his attention was drawn towards you both. With an easy charm, Ace excused himself from the group and walked over, his eyes locked on the boy, then shifting towards you.
“You called?” he asked, a casual smile spreading across his face. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to get to the point.
“I just found you a place to live!” Luffy exclaimed, his tone full of enthusiasm.
Ace's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really? That's awesome! Where?”
Luffy looked over at you, a cheeky grin still on his face. “She's looking for a roommate, and you need a place to stay, right? It's a perfect match!”
Ace's eyes widened in shock as he took in what he was implying. He looked at you, realization dawning on him. You, on the other hand, were frozen in place, your mind racing with the unexpected proposal.
“Well, what do you think?” Luffy asked, his eyes moving back and forth between you two.
“Well… um,” Ace began, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly not wanting to put you on the spot. “It’s totally up to her.”
You felt your heart beating faster. The idea of living together with Ace was both exciting and terrifying. You had been harboring a crush on him for a while now, and the thought of sharing a space with him was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. You glanced over at Ace, trying to gauge his reaction.
Ace's heart was racing as well, and his mind was working overtime. He had always found you attractive; you were kind, smart, and beautiful. The thought of seeing you every day, having casual conversations, and sharing meals. It was tempting.
Seeing as neither of you spoke up, Luffy took the opportunity to push a bit further, his energy seemingly boundless. “C'mon, guys, it'll be great! You will get along just fine. Ace is a real chill dude, I swear.” He declared, his voice filled with an almost childlike enthusiasm. “And you said it yourself that you don't really want to live with some stranger.”
You took a deep breath, your mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. On one hand, you knew that Luffy was right. It made sense in theory. You trusted Ace far more than you would a random stranger from the internet, and sharing a place with him was a safer option. But on the other hand, Ace wasn’t just anyone. He was the guy you had secretly crushed on for what felt like forever. Could you really handle living together with him without embarrassing yourself or making things awkward between you two?
The silence stretched between the three of you, filled only by the pulsing music and muffled laughter from the crowd around you. Both boys were watching you intently, their eyes silently pressuring you to make a decision. The weight of their gazes made you even more aware of your unease. You knew you couldn't explain your true reason for hesitating without revealing your secret crush, so you took a deep breath and gave in.
You forced a small smile onto your face, trying to look more confident than you felt. “Yeah, sure,” you managed to say, your voice surprisingly steady despite the anxious flutter in your stomach.
Luffy's face lit up with glee. “Really? That's great!” He clapped Ace on the shoulder with enough force to almost knock him off balance. “Dude, you're all set then!”
Ace looked relieved, but also a bit surprised. He didn't expect you to agree so easily, but he wasn't going to question it. “Thanks,” he said, his voice sincere. There was something in the way he looked at you—a soft gratitude that sent an unintentional shiver down your spine.
You smiled weakly, trying to mask the inner chaos you were feeling. “No problem,” you replied trying to keep your voice steady. “I'm just glad to help out. And it's better than trusting some stranger not to murder me in my sleep,” you joke to ease your nerves.
Luffy laughed at your comment. “See, everything worked out!”
Ace gave a small chuckle, still trying to process the situation. “Yeah, I guess it did.” he muttered, almost to himself, as if trying to convince his own mind that this wasn’t a dream.
You tried your best to keep a casual demeanor, but your heart was still racing. The reality of having Ace as a roommate began to sink in, sending your thoughts spiraling in a dozen directions at once. What had you just agreed to?
As Luffy rambled on about all the fun you were going to have, your thoughts drifted elsewhere. You were still trying to process your new reality. Living with Ace. You couldn’t help but imagine all the moments you’d inevitably share with Ace now—bumping into each other in the kitchen late at night, laughing at some shared joke, or worse, awkward silences when your feelings got the better of you. How were you supposed to keep your feelings secret now?
You risked a glance at Ace, who was only half-listening to Luffy’s overexcited plans. Would he notice the way you looked at him? Would he sense how your heart raced every time he was around? With him so close all the time, it would be impossible to keep your feelings hidden for long.
But then again, you couldn't back out now. Everyone was excited, and what reason would you give to cancel the arrangement? You had to go through with it, no matter how challenging it would be for you emotionally.
Taking a deep breath, you tried to push aside your doubts and focus on the positive side of things. You were helping a friend find a place to stay, and it would also give you a chance to get closer to him. As long as you kept your feelings under control and didn't do anything too obvious, it would be fine. Right?
As the party raged on, Ace eventually found himself alone with you. He casually leaned against the wall next to you, his usual playful demeanor replaced by an unusual seriousness that immediately caught your attention. You straightened up slightly, your pulse quickening as you turned to face him.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a second?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual, almost as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear.
You felt a small jolt of anticipation, your heart skipping a beat. “Yeah, sure,” you replied, doing your best to sound casual. “What’s up?”
Ace looked at you sincerely, his gaze unflinching. “Are you really okay with all this? I don't want you to feel pressured or anything. Luffy can be quite persuasive,” he said, a slight smile on his face.
Your defenses slowly lowered as you saw the earnestness in his eyes. “I… I'm okay with it,” you said, your voice quieter than before. “I was the one looking for a roommate in the first place, remember?”
Ace nodded, seeming a little relieved. “I know, I just wanted to make sure. It's a big decision, and I don't want to intrude on your space if you're not comfortable,” he replied gently. “You seemed a bit hesitant there for a moment”
You sighed, your guard finally dropping. “I was just surprised, that's all,” you admitted, avoiding his eyes. “I wasn't expecting Luffy to just spring it up on me like that.”
Ace snorted. “Yeah, that's Luffy for you,” he said, a fond expression on his face. “He means well, but he's not always the best at considering others' feelings in the heat of the moment.”
You couldn't help but cheer up a bit as well. “You could say that again,” you said, your heart feeling slightly lighter. “But… I am okay with it. Really. I just needed a moment to process it, that's all. I've never really lived with a guy before.”
Ace’s eyes softened with understanding. “Yeah, I get it. But I promise, I'll be the good roommate. I don't complain, and I won’t make things awkward between us,” he finished, his lips curving into a small, reassuring smile. “You can count on me to keep things chill. No drama.”
But even as he said the words, a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes, betraying the truth he was trying to bury—the part of him that knew staying "just roommates" might be the hardest promise he'd ever have to keep.
“Well, that's good,” you said, your smile widening. “I’m not really one for drama, either.”
Then his usual easygoing demeanor softened, replaced with a rare seriousness that caught you slightly off guard.
“But seriously, if there's ever any issue or if you feel uncomfortable, just let me know, okay?”
Your heart softened even more. You hadn't expected such genuine concern from him. “I will,” you assured him, your voice softer than before. “And the same goes for you. I want you to feel comfortable as well.”
Ace nodded appreciatively. “Thanks,” he said, his eyes holding your gaze for a moment longer before a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “So… when can I move in?”
“Whenever you're ready,” you replied. “The room is already empty”
Ace's face lit up in excitement. “Seriously? I'm ready as soon as possible,” he said, grinning. “I think I stayed on Luffy's couch long enough”
You chuckled at his eagerness. “Alright then, it's settled. As soon as you're packed up and ready to go, you can move in,” you said, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation. “You have my number, so just let me know, I can even help drag your stuff up”
“Awesome!” Ace exclaimed a little too loudly, earning a few glances from other partygoers. He quickly toned down his enthusiasm, lowering his voice. “Thanks. I appreciate it,” he added, genuine gratitude in his tone. “And I'll definitely take you up on the offer to help with my stuff. Moving is a pain in the ass.”
“No problem,” you said, hoping your voice sounded steady. “It's the least I can do after you saved me from living with a creepy stranger.”
“Yeah, I saved you from a horror movie scenario,” he teased lightly. “Consider it my roommate duty to keep you safe from serial killers and other shady characters”
You rolled your eyes good-naturedly. “Oh, my hero,” you replied sarcastically, unable to hide the smile tugging at your lips.
Ace gave you a mock bow, playing along. “At your service.”
Your mind still raced with questions, but one thing was certain—life was about to get a lot more interesting.