Chapter Text
“Ughhhh last night was a nightmare~ why the fuck am I even here again?” I groan to myself, with my head laid down on my arms trying to somewhat focus on my lecturer yapping but simultaneously trying to catch up some z’s from last night. Because of that anonymous order I got the other day, my dumbass decided to pull an all-nighter on refining that chip code before I finalise building the remaining 15 chips. Big mistake. I forgot that I had a compulsory tutorial class and a practical test today. Fucking fantastic.
“Just a few more minutes, Remi. You got this” I try to motivate myself as I sluggishly sit up straight, not realising an unknown presence next to me.
“Hey, you okay?” The stranger tries to strike a conversation with me only to end up striking a fear bolt that made me yelp a bit.
“Woah! Sorry, didn’t mean to scare ya. I’m Ace, I’m in your informatics class remember?” My tired eyes look at him, the gears in my head slowly turning trying to recognise him even though I’m like 65% still asleep.
“The other day~?” He tries to jog my memory, “when me and my brothers joined your row cuz you took our seats?”
“Ohhh it’s you, ” the spark in my brain lights up and I snap my fingers at the realisation, “oh yeah, yeah I remember. okay so your name’s Ace. Got it. I’m Remi. “ I extend my hand to him to shake it. “Sorry, couldn’t get much sleep last night. Y’know how tedious our projects can be haha”.
“Yeah I hear you, umm I wanted to ask, “ he starts hesitantly as he shifts in his seat a little, “can you please…tutor me?”
I stare at him like he just popped a bullet between my eyes.
“….huh? You want me…to tutor you? Why not that blondie you’re usually with?”
“Oh you mean my brother Sabo? As much as I would, he’s a shit ton busier than me with his part-time and he also needs to make sure my younger brother, Luffy, is not causing too much trouble” he scratches the back of his wavy hair, “sorry, I just realised I family dumped you lol” he chuckles. y’know for someone with such a “cool guy” demeanour, he’s quite the over-explainer. Kinda cute. He then waves his hands up to me in regret, “But if you can’t then I totally u-“
“Sure.”
He pauses then stares at me blankly when I gave him my answer.
“… really?!”
“Only if I get a little something back” I raise my hand making a money motion.
He smiles at me and grabs my hand to shake it. “Deal. Thank you so much Remi. In return I’ll take your notes for this class. Only today though” he winks at me and takes my notepad from my resting arms. I don’t argue back as I collapse my head back to my arms to continue sleeping.
After class, I head to one of the on-campus piazzas to get myself a snack when I see Ace and, who I assume to be, his brothers making a ruckus and eating like it’s an all-you-can-eat in the middle of the piazza. I pay no mind to it as I get a burger meal with Mountain Dew and head somewhere to recheck the notes he made for me. I find an empty table near a wall and open my notebook to see he actually kept his word. Impressive, I lowkey thought he was just playing around to try flirt with me. At the bottom of my notes I notice he put his phone number with a little doodle of a flamed skull. Cute, he doodles too. I smile then snap out of it. Wait wait WAIT, I can’t be crushing on this guy now, plus I’ll be seeing him more for tutoring fuckk. Get yourself together Remi, you’re in it for the cash that’s IT. he’s just a guy I’m tutoring. Nothing more. Don’t make it weird. I type the phone number in my phone and text it to make sure he isn’t pranking me.
Me:
Hey, is this Ace from earlier??
…typing
Unknown:
Yea, I can assume this is sleepy Remi then🙃
Me:
starting with nicknames already😭
when do u want this tutoring shit to start😋
Ace🔥:
Im usually busy at night
wb Thursday afternoons like 3-5pm👀
Me:
‘Kay, B50 per hour😜
Ace🔥:
😀…
Can’t I get a "hot guy" discount😓
Me:
dont get ahead of urself😭
i gotta get my bag up dawg 🤑these meals aren't gonna be paid by themselves
Ace🔥:
Ur cheeky…🧍🏻♂️
Fineee😓
Me:
😝
See u tmrw, my place🫡
*sends res address*
Seen
I close my phone, put it on DND and decide to open my laptop to go over my notes for the prac test later on. Better safe than sorry.
**Ace’s POV**
Once she sends her last text I save her number and continue eating while Sabo and Luffy are arguing on which dangerous fish would be the tastiest if it wasn’t so hazardous to catch. While I’m slurping some slushy, I notice Remi sitting by herself. She likes her alone-time a lot huh? Maybe I should introduce her properly to my brothers. I was about to stand up when I properly look at her table and her body language. She looks locks in, better not then, damn it. I then get a text from Thatch.
T🙉:
Ace, I got intel on Teach tryna switch our guys over to his crew around small races, better check it out..
Me:
Bet. Any new races in the area??
T🙉:
I got one tn by Galley
Me:
On it.
I set my phone down and look at my brothers then peek a glance at Remi. He’s getting outta hand, Thatch is lucky he got away with just a grazed shot on his ear but fucking hell, for him to start his own organisation and try overthrow Pops is a low blow..
Sabo sees me deep in thought and occasionally sneaking glances at Remi so he pushes my head over to snap me back to reality.
“Something bothering ya? Or rather someone?”
“None of your business dude” I wave his hand away, “just that I got a new tutor”
Sabo cheers me on as Luffy looks at us, confused on why his conversation got side-casted.
“Fucking finally! Now you can guarantee graduation in case this street life collapses” he slings his arm around my shoulder and aggressively shakes me. “So who’s the lucky bastard who has to deal with you?”
I hesitate but then I decide it’d be better them knowing now than them making stupid assumptions.
“It’s Remi.”
“…who?” Luffy asks with half a burger stuffed down his face.
“The girl you outed in class the other day” I try to explain to him. With how he’s looking at me it doesn’t look like it rings a bell.
“The one you called ‘hunchy’” Sabo pinches his nose in annoyance at his brother’s terrible memory.
“…ohhhhh! Her. Hunchy’s gonna teach you?!” He swallows his burger.
“Just until I get my grades up a bit better yeah, she seems reliable” I say tossing my slushy cup in the nearby bin.
“Oh so it’s NOT cuz you have the hots for her huh?” Sabo suggestively nudges me.
“Get a life dude ew” I push him out my face, “and no, just cuz she intrigues me doesn’t mean I wanna get in her pants bro”
“…sure Ace, sure” Sabo rolls his eyes and finishes his meal.
“Welp I gotta go to class, make sure you two make it home in one piece” he stands up and points at us two like we’re kids.
“Whatever unc” I roll my eyes and stand up, “c’mon Luf, let’s go” I say as I pull his hood to make him stand up.
“Owowowow!! Watch it Ace! Robin got me this! Don’t yank it like that!!” Luffy snaps at me as he grabs the hood out my grip. I chuckle and ruffle his hair as we head out the piazza. I give Remi one more glance before we head back. These tutoring sessions are gonna be a lot more than just getting my academics up it seems…
To be continued…