Chapter 1

Ace Percival , a baleful young man in his best years, stood alone on the beach, gazing over thesapphire water with his dark aquamarine pools. His flaxen hair danced lightly in the oceanbreeze, tickling against one cheek as he tried to deny the stirrings in his heart, resting his cheek against one hand as he hummed "My Immortal" to himself. He wore a bloom-colored shirt that left his blush-colored-flushed fair arms bare andemerald shorts that looked comfortable and easy to wear.

His lemon-colored locks brushed against his shoulders, complementing hisdespairing platinum, tinted with sorrel, visage. A prominent scar stood out on his fuchsia-flushed light-colored skin.
 

His thoughts wandered to his days in Charles Alexander's company. On that day, the shadows of his past had become unbearable. Meeting Charles Alexander brought some light into his life for the first time in a long while. He was his salvation.

From then on, Ace Percival was sometimes needy and close, but then suddenly cold and fearful. Charles Alexander tried his best to hide his pain, but it was plain in his windows to his soul. That was how it was to this very day.
 

"Ace Percival," Charles Alexander said simply with an admiring look-over and a smile on his face. His jade spheres complimented hisobsidian coiffure, kept masculinely short, belying his spotless heart.

He was dressed in that exotic fashion in which he was most comfortable. He had a toned but slender body covered with light brown skin. An elaborate tattoo s its way around his visible skin. As Ace Percival drew nearer, he caught a note of Charles Alexander's familiar scent, a mixture of earthiness and sourness that was uniquely his. His depths softened. It always reminded him of the time they shared.
 

"Charles. I feared you might not come," Ace whispered.
 

"Of course I came," he said nonchalantly.
 

Ace shook his head. "Everyone else abandoned me."
 

"I won't leave you," Charles said firmly. Charles held his hand out to him, and hesitantly took it. With that, they began to walk along the beach.
 

Ace Percival 's mind was flooded by painful thoughts. He clung tightly to Charles Alexander's firm hand as if it could save him. He was always reliving that day, never good enough, and unable to forget that someone. Charles Alexander, strong as he was, wouldn't possibly stoop down to help someone like Ace Percival .
 

"What is it, Ace?" Charles Alexander suddenly asked.
 

"N-nothing," Ace Percival whispered. "Why do you ask...?"
 

"You've got my hand in a death grip." Ace Percival let his head droop and let go. He was always causing Charles trouble.... "I don't mean it like that. I mean if something's bothering you, you should tell me."
 

"No... Charles, I couldn't..."
 

Charles Alexander looked at Ace Percival long and hard. Charles was struggling to understand what it was that plagued Ace, but to Ace, it seemed like he was glaring at him.
 

"I-I'm sorry, I'm always so..."
 

"Always so... what?"
 

"..."
 

Charles Alexander scratched his head and looked out over the sea. "You'll tell me when you're ready, won't you?"
 

Ace gave the faintest of nods. But of course he could not imagine ever feeling ready to tell him his secrets. In truth, Ace hardly even deserved him. Ace was ...Abandoned goods. Always falling short. Damaged beyond repair.
 

Ace was unworthy of his time. The very thought of that brought tears to his eyes, and he looked away from Charles to hide them. But he couldn't hide the sobs that shook him.
 

"Ace." Ace Percival rubbed the tears from his eyes. "Ace, look, you need to tell me. You're a mess!"
 

"I've already been alone once, and I don't think I could stand it again!"
 

"But you won't be! You have me, don't you?"
 

"There's a reason... I am the way I am. A dark secret hidden deep in my past that I wanted to keep from you. I just... I don't want to burden you with that. It's all worthless..."
 

"It's not worthless. If it's about you, it's important to me. Tell me."
 

"I can barely put it into words. You've treated me so well, and I never want this to change."
 

"It won't change. Never."
 

"It's... I'm..." Ace Percival 's shoulders shook, and he buried his face in his hands. "Forget it! Let's just..."
 

Charles Alexander put an assuring arm around Ace Percival 's shoulders and brought him toward himself. "Hey... hey. It's all right... I'm here. I'm here."