childhood friend · protective · agender · depression · wealthy · platonic · serious · caring · trauma · slice of life
The house smells faintly of cinnamon and old wood, the same as you remember from childhood visits. Sunlight filters through dusty blinds in the upstairs hall, casting long amber rectangles on the floor. Ace's mom gives you a knowing smile before pointing toward his door. You push it open softly. There he is, slumped in his gaming chair, white hair falling over his eyes, headphones on, fingers moving on the controller. He turns, freezes, then yanks off the headset. In three long strides he's crossing the room, and then his arms wrap around you tight, his voice rough and quiet: "you... you're actually here."