Ace stood for a rather long time as Penelope remained standing in front of him with her arms wrapped around his waist. She had stopped crying after a few moments ago but just enjoyed the comforting hug.
“So, did your crying out run the hunger?” He asked as he glanced down at the top of her head as she shrugged out and chuckled.
“A few more minutes.” She whispered as she tightened the hug and smiled into his chest. “You’re cute, smart and soft too.”
“Don’t make me regret offering you a hug. I’m not the hugging type.” He rolled his eyes as a small smile creeped onto his lips. “I don’t think I’ve hugged someone before. But I got to admit, it feels nice. A little.”
“I know. I give the best hugs.” She said with a muffled tone as she chuckled lowly. “Thanks, by the way. I guess you’re not too bad.”
“You know, you can trust me.” He said with a slight frown. “I trust you. It’s only fair you trust me.”
“You always trust too fast. That’s why you always get hurt, Ace. People like me learned it the hard way. Nearly took my life.” She said as she opened her eyes and stared to the side, her head still plastered against his chest. “I only trust people I know I can be safe around.”
“So why don’t you trust me?” He asked as he glanced over to the sink instead and licked his dry lips. “Is it because I’m a rogue?”
“No.” She shook her head and leaned slightly from his chest and glanced up into his eyes. “It’s because the people that got hurt the most are the ones that hurt others without knowing it.” She said before plastering her head back to his chest. “I could hurt you. I could hurt Hope or Harley. You could do the same. You don’t have to be conscious to do it. It’s like the more you get hurt the more you affect others.”
“I’ll give it a shot.” He shrugged and frowned deeply, knowing she was trying to step back a little.
“Hm.” Was all she said before a soft knock filled both their ears.
“Am I interrupting something?” Harley’s voice beamed into the kitchen, getting both Ace and People to glance towards the door. But even though being seen in an awkward position, Penelope didn’t move.
“No.” Penelope shrugged and Ace glanced down at her with furrowed brows.
“Could you let go now?” Ace asked and she shook her head. “Someone would get the wrong idea.”
“We’re not attracted to each other so there is no need to feel shy being seen like this.” She chuckled out and shut her eyes, still deeply absorbed in the hug.
“So… You two are hugging for no reason?” Harley asked as he walked towards the fridge.
“No”
“Yes. Yes, we’re hugging for no reason.” Penelope interrupted Ace who rolled his eyes.
“You know, I worked on an entire field, it’s only fair you start cooking because I’m going to pass out soon.” Ace whined and Penelope leaned back with furrowed brows and frowned at him.
“You offered to hug me and now you’re trying to push me away.” She rolled her eyes as she walked back to the counter with meat cubes she did not finish slicing.
“Well I didn’t expect you to hug me for hours.” He turned back to his carrots as Harley stood there staring in utter confusion.
“Are you not going to tell me why?” Harley asked as he stared at them both.
“No.” Penelope shook her head before walking to the stove and turning the knobs on. “Where’s Hope?”
“I don’t know.” Harley shrugged as he opened the can of soda he pulled from the fridge.
“You don’t know?” She asked as she glanced at him with a confused gaze.
“It’s not like I follow her everywhere.” Harley chuckled and Ace raised his brows at him in question.
“You literally follow her everywhere.” Ace rolled his eyes and Harley frowned at him.
“No I don’t-.”
“Yes you do.”
“Yes you do, Harley.” Penelope nodded in agreement with Ace who smirked in victory. “Like, all the time. How don’t you know where she is?”
“She said she needed alone time to try and fix some alpha issues.”
“There it is.” Ace laughed out as he pointed the knife at him. “I knew there was a reason you aren’t following hr around.”
“Ace, if you have a problem with me, just tell me.” Harley rolled his eyes and took a sip of his soda as Ace frowned and turned his gaze to his carrots.
“I’ll always have a problem with you. You took my Hope from me.”
“Dude you said you were over it.”
“Yeah, but its not like my feelings for hr can leave in a day.” Ace growled and Penelope chuckled out but didn’t say a word.
“Fine, I’m sorry I took her away. But you took her away from me first.” He shrugged and Ace rolled his eyes.
“Well be glad I finally taught you how to be a man.” Ace sneered and Harley frowned deeply as Penelope widened her eyes at them both.
“Ace, don’t worry, I’m cooking as fast as I can. You must be hungry huh?” People chuckled ad Ace glance at her with a small smile and a playful roll of his eyes.
“I’m starving and Harley is all up in my ears, it’s annoying.” He growled lowly and Harley pressed his lips together in annoyance.
“I’m sorry I was born.” Harley rolled his eyes in annoyance. “And some when did you two gt so close? It’s annoying because you’re all against me.”
“You’ll get used to it.” Penelope nodded and tossed the cubes of meat into the oil, letting it slowly fry.
“How are you too so close when you just talked this morning?” Harley asked with furrowed brows and Ace smirked at him.
“Probably because I’m the missing piece of her life.” Ace shrugged his shoulders and Penelope chuckled.
“You make I seem like I have been looking for you.” She rolled her eyes with a smile and he shrugged.
“You’ve been looking for something you didn’t know you were looking for.” He pointed out as he finished the carrots. “You’ve been looking for a hug and I’ve been looking for understanding.”
Penelope paused and glanced over her shoulder to him, taken back completely at his words.
She couldn’t deny that they are true and she didn’t realize it.