[ACE] Devil's duty

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace looked up as he walked back downstairs, his eyes wandering over his chest. He'd never actually seen a guy he thought was attractive, mostly because all guys he was around was either teasing him or hurting him.

"Ow ow OW!" He screeched, glaring up at Chantel. "Stop pulling my hair!"

"No." She said, walking over to the fridge.

[derek chandler ralston]

"Chantel!" Derek snapped somewhat protectively, teeth and eyes flashing. "Be nice." He sighed, feeling bad for getting upset, knowing she had never had to share him before. He glanced down at Ace in worry as he passed to put toast in the toaster, sitting back down next to him to sip at his drink again.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace rubbed his head, looking over at Chantel who was fixing her juice. He hated knowing he was in the way here, that he was taking Derek from Chantel, in a way. "I'm gonna go for a walk.." He mumbled, sliding off his chair.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek looked at him, worry and sorrow in his eyes. "Be careful.." He murmured softly, touching his shoulder as the toast popped and he got up to grab it. "We can go get you a phone, if you want later today," He called before he left.
Derek put the bread on plates, putting peanut butter on them and glancing at Chantel in disappointment.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace decided to go looking for the running water he'd heard instead of walk down the road. He knew the boy down the road would have seen him if he had, so he started through the back yard, wandering aimlessly through the trees. But after awhile, he couldn't find where it was coming from, and started back to the house.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek had sat down with Chantel to eat, trying to explain that he wasn't trying to replace her, but that Ace just needed some special attention right now so he wouldn't be alone or so scared.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace made his way back inside, his arms wrapped around himself as he walked upstairs. He just climbed back into bed, pushing the blankets to the far end. He didn't want to be around anyone if he was just going to be a bother. He turned over on his side, looking over the design on the wallpaper.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek watched him go, face dropping as he picked halfheartedly at his toast. He always ate breakfast, but suddenly he had no appetite. He tossed it in the trash and poured the other half of his beer, staring out the window. "I'm going for a run," He mumbled. "You apologize to Ace, Chantel." And not bothering with a shirt, he left, ducking into the woods behind the house.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace eventually fell asleep again despite not being tired. But he was only asleep ten minutes before he had to go to the bathroom, and got up out of bed, running his hand through his hair. He passed Chantel on the way to the bathroom, ignoring her protective growl as he closed the door.

[derek chandler ralston]

Running had always helped Derek clear his head, and eventually he was climbing easily into a tree and to the highest branch that would hold him, looking out across the trees before a breeze blew through and he closed his eyes. "I don't know where I went wrong.." He sighed, and began to climb down, hoping Chantel had apologized and wasn't torturing Ace in some corner or something. He began to jog back.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace had wandered downstairs, looking at Parish reading a book before he sat down. She patted the seat beside her, and he moved over hesitantly. "Why haven't you learned how to read?"

"No one ever taught me.." He mumbled.

"Don't mumble. You're a handsome boy and you speak with confidence. Now, why haven't you learned how to read?"

"I wasn't taught." He said, wringing his hands together.

"Go grab a book and you're going to learn." She told him, and he got up, walking over to the shelf. He picked out a random book, one that had a nice spine on it before he walked back. He sat down with it in his lap, flipping it open to the title page. Parish handed him a bookmark to guide his spot, and he put it under the first line. "Alice."

"Alice in w.." He bit his lip, looking over at her.

"Wonderland." She said, then turned the page for him.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek wandered in, sweat rolling down his chest, and was glad to see Parish helping Ace. He managed a faint smile, that helplessness from earlier returning before he headed upstairs to shower quickly, pulling his bottoms back on and scrubbing his hair dry, searching out Chantel.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

Ace started to get the hang of it, able to read simple sentences before he had to ask for help on the longer words. "I've got to go to work. But if you want, you can stay in here and read. There's simpler books at the library if you want to walk. Or ask Derek about the words you don't know." Parish told him before she started upstairs. He read quietly until he got to another word he couldn't figure out.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek tried to settle things with Chantel again before wandering back out and dropping down beside Ace. "What're you reading?" He breathed, draping his arm over the couch and peering at the book.

[aerin 'ace' colt endsley]

"Alice in Wonderland." He said quietly, managing to figure out the word he was stuck on. "Wouldn't it be silly if people really went around painting flowers? I would be the one to be painting them the wrong colors." He said, sitting the book down beside him. "This book has funny words.."