[Ace grins, happily eating the bite of meat Smoker fed him. This feels so good and right, it's a reminder to Ace that he's important to his lover, that he's loved and trusted and let close.]
I'm trying to learn. But I'm just kinda impatient. I want the food to be ready as soon as I want it. [Ace cuts off another large bite of chicken for Smoker, and offers it to him. This is so sweet, so romantic, he didn't think he'd be so easily caught up in something like this, but he's close to a state of bliss.] I'm trying to learn a lot of things right now... So maybe I'm just doing too much at once.
[Noms! And kisses Ace's cheek, feeding him some more.]
Sounds like you.
Just take it one step at a time, Portgas. And rely on your friends. Even if you don't want to bother anyone, it'll give us the chance to do something for you, so we'll like it.
[All of those little kisses are making him squirm, he's just so full of happy and feelings, and there's food and conversation and everything is alright. And he chews quickly and swallows up his bite, so he can talk again.
He's actually trying for manners, with Smoker present at least.] I know. I'm trying to not do it all on my own. I tend to fuck stuff up when I don't let people help me out a little. [It's not bitter or self-loathing, just honest, and he looks up at Smoker like he's trying to decide if he should talk more or not. He's got something on his mind, and he wants approval and input but it's so embarrassing.] Did my texts today sound okay? I'm not the best reader and I'm a worse writer, so I've been taking some lessons, trying to do better. Usually just use the voice thing and spell check to get it done, but I wanna do better than that.
[So it turns out the thing that makes Smoker love Ace most is when he's vulnerable with him, and it lets Smoker feel all big and strong and protective. And it kills him seven ways to Sunday.]
[He kisses Ace HARD.]
[And nods.] You're getting better. [A small laugh.] Granted, I can usually puzzle out Namur's texts, so compared to that...
[Snorts and kisses Ace's cheek.]
[He wants to tell him Ace would have done better in the marines than even Smoker, if things had been different, but he's not sure there's a way to say that where it won't hurt.]
[Think think think.] You and Adela can practice together. Books and... I'll read to you sometimes. Or make you read to me while I work. You'd have gone far in that kind of thing, believe it or not. If you'd wanted.
[Ace's world spins when Smoker says that he's proud of him. Fuck, little really does it for him like praise, he wants to be loved and accepted and told that he's doing things right, and from Smoker this means so much. So he twines his arms around the older man, snuggling shamelessly, feeling so mushy and loved.] You think she'd help me out? She can read, right? I didn't think I was smart enough to learn more, didn't pick up anything until I was older really. But I really wanted to try.
[Ace is too happy and content to even tease him about it, he just wants Smoker's attention and company. So he cuts another piece for him, this time getting a spoon of the potatoes to go with it.] I'll talk to her about it. Maybe we can help each other, since we're still figuring all of this out.
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[And noms!]
[Mentally tail waggy.]
[And pops some in Ace's mouth without warning too.]
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So good. It's way better than what I can make.
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Sounds like you.
Just take it one step at a time, Portgas. And rely on your friends. Even if you don't want to bother anyone, it'll give us the chance to do something for you, so we'll like it.
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He's actually trying for manners, with Smoker present at least.] I know. I'm trying to not do it all on my own. I tend to fuck stuff up when I don't let people help me out a little. [It's not bitter or self-loathing, just honest, and he looks up at Smoker like he's trying to decide if he should talk more or not. He's got something on his mind, and he wants approval and input but it's so embarrassing.] Did my texts today sound okay? I'm not the best reader and I'm a worse writer, so I've been taking some lessons, trying to do better. Usually just use the voice thing and spell check to get it done, but I wanna do better than that.
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[So it turns out the thing that makes Smoker love Ace most is when he's vulnerable with him, and it lets Smoker feel all big and strong and protective. And it kills him seven ways to Sunday.]
[He kisses Ace HARD.]
[And nods.] You're getting better. [A small laugh.] Granted, I can usually puzzle out Namur's texts, so compared to that...
[Snorts and kisses Ace's cheek.]
[He wants to tell him Ace would have done better in the marines than even Smoker, if things had been different, but he's not sure there's a way to say that where it won't hurt.]
[Think think think.] You and Adela can practice together. Books and... I'll read to you sometimes. Or make you read to me while I work. You'd have gone far in that kind of thing, believe it or not. If you'd wanted.
'M proud of you, idiot.
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Yeah. She was more into forging, but I think it'd help her get used to a new world and having so much unfamiliar here.
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