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Shit, Deuce was cute. Ace sighed, letting his chin lean a little heavier against the palm of his hand. Deuce's eyes flicked up at him as he licked his lips after a bite, and Ace was close enough to see the faint pink tone rise in his cheeks.
It wasn't like Deuce really had much to be shy about, at least not with Ace, but maybe staring like that while he was trying to eat was a bit much. Not like Ace had a huge frame of reference for stuff like this.
"You're just stupid pretty," Ace blurted out by way of explanation, and Deuce laughed, turning to try and stifle his giggles. Ace felt himself smile in response to the sound: Deuce laughing was his favorite, right up there with Luffy's excited chattering and the sound of crashing waves.
"That was smooth," Deuce commented when he turned back to Ace, a little sarcastic and entirely amused, and Ace shrugged, not particularly bothered. Who needed smooth when it was just them catching up at the end of the day. It was loud enough in the mess hall, it wasn't like anyone else was listening.
Deuce's foot nudged against his lightly under the table, and then slid against his a little more pointedly. Ace smiled, pressing back before yawning, or at least pretending to, using it to cover hunching slightly and toeing off his boot.
He straightened again, found Deuce watching him with that soft, fond look Ace still couldn't believe was reserved just for him, cheeks a little darker when Ace met his gaze. He crossed his legs under the table, sliding his bootless foot up Deuce's leg toward the inside of his thigh, and watched delightedly as the blush darkened further.
"At dinner? Really? Surrounded by pirates?" Deuce asked, voice catching ever so slightly when Ace changed course, sliding his foot down toward his knee again in a slow drag.
He grinned brightly, leaning forward across the table so Deuce could hear him when he lowered his voice.
"I'm fine to leave whenever you are," he purred, looking at Deuce through his lashes. His partner blinked, clearly thinking about it, and Ace pressed his toe down again with just a little more pressure. Deuce swallowed and nodded, and he grinned victoriously, only to gulp when Deuce rather pointedly shifted under his foot, suddenly looking coy and amused.
Goddamn, Ace was so lucky.
Deuce grabbed his things and put his tray to the side, giving Ace just enough time to shove his foot back into his boot, and when he rose to follow Deuce to the door he tripped over the loosened laces and stumbled a step or two.
"Since you're so impatient you'd actually leave dinner early..." Deuce muttered as they reached the door, turning to smirk at Ace. "Maybe I'll just prep myself and make you sit and watch. Patience is a virtue and all that."
Ace gaped, and Deuce smiled again all innocent before continuing down the hall. There was no stopping the grin that took over Ace's face, and he rushed to catch up, barely thinking to greet Pops when they passed him in the hallway, and when they reached the bunk room he rather cheerfully tackled Deuce through the door before shutting it firmly as Deuce laughed.
Patience wasn't really his strong suit.