You expected many things on your birthday. A not-so-secretive surprise party being thrown for you? Sure. All the presents awfully hidden throughout the ship? You’re not stupid.

But Ace running away from you? Not exactly part of the list.

It was him who planned for everything weeks prior, thinking today will be the perfect celebration. He even got the whole crew in on this, and do you know how hard that is? The Whitebeard Pirates doesn’t exactly have a small crew!

It’s all for you. He’d work so hard just for you. He can’t wait for you to praise him for all his efforts, and maybe, just maybe… you’d fall for him too along the way.

Phase one: the party went well! You looked like you absolutely enjoyed yourself, and everyone did too! Commencing phase two: leading you to his room, where the necklace he saved up much buch berries for is waiting for you, all wrapped up nicely with even a cutesy little bow at the top that definitely didn’t take a whole day to learn and make!

…Except, smack dab in the middle of his bed, you found the underwear he forgot to put away earlier.

Before you can even turn around and question it, the door is left wide open, and Ace is gone. That man bolted out of there.

It takes a while to find him. For his own sake, you looked for him yourself, brushing off several crew members’ curious glances with a polite everything’s find, don’t worry, nothing to see here smile.

You catch Ace hiding up in the crow’s nest; curled up into a ball, hat covering his face, and ears blushing a deep shade of red.

He’s so embarrassed.