Ace walked past a big painting, surely authentic as he walked into another room, Sharon's voice sounding "I have a job for you." Ace walked past the invaluable art pieces, coming to Sharon, who said "Oh please, if it weren't for me, you'd still be rotting in an Algerian Prison."
Ace stood behind her, waving off the guards as they robotically turned around, staring at the walls. Sharon snorted "Finished?" before looking around at the guards, adding "I can give you double this time. I promise you won't regret saying yes. So what's it gonna be?"
After a moment, Sharon said "I want you to get close to Karli Morgenthau and spy on her. I'll give you all the weapons you need." after confirming the job with Batroc, she hung up and said "Back? To give me the cold shoulder again?"
Before turning around.
Ace removed his mask and looked at her silently, before touching her cheek with his palm, stroking it gently with his thumb as he pulled her to him and kissed her. Sharon froze and teared up as she closed her eyes, gently touching his chest.
They separated and Ace looked into her eyes, smiling gently "I'm sorry for making you cry." as he wiped her tears away, adding "I don't want to see your tears anymore." Sharon's lips quivered and she sniffled, smiling "I missed you… so much!"
Ace rested his forehead on hers, saying gently "I was confused before, but I'm here now, love…" Sharon cried and hugged him tightly, kissing him before resting her head on his shoulder, tightening her grip as she said "I love you, Ace. So much. I was so scared…"
Ace hugged her tight and whispered "I didn't want you to become like the filth in Madripoor. I only ever wanted you to live comfortably, I guess I forgot that you were never happy with a comfortable life." she lifted her head , looking into his eyes as he smiled lovingly, caressing her cheek "You're an idiot and quite frankly a bad mother, but you're my wife and the woman I love."
He held her hand and kissed it gently, continuing "You accepted me when I lived in a shitty apartment, a full time thief, but I judged you for your life and I'm sorry." Sharon chuckled and shook her head.
Ace kissed her forehead, murmuring "It must've been hard these 5 years… Are you okay?" Sharon's eyes watered and she laughed while crying "No…" Ace sighed and closed his eyes, saying "I want to hear everything, my love." as they disappeared.
A while later
Sharon was laying on Ace's chest, stroking his muscles as she smiled gently. Ace held her waist and stroked her hair, saying "Feels better." Sharon giggled and kissed his neck, "Much better. Just like before."
Ace smiled and kissed her before twirling his hands and hovering 11 Serums above his hand, she turned her head, moving it to his shoulder as she hummed, "You've been busy. Soul searching?"
Ace chuckled in amusement, "You can say that. Karli Morgenthau used 7, John Walker took one, and I gave one to Lemar Hoskins." Sharon looked at him and Ace hummed "I still don't want her dead." Sharon rolled her eyes and Ace added "I'm not a Saint… But life is precious. Not something to be taken away at will… However, people die, I can't save everyone."
He floated the Serums to a night stand, putting 10 into a box that appeared, the other one, he kept to himself, continuing "Revenge isn't a virtue, but stopping the bad guys is what heroes do."
Sharon looked at him for a moment before smiling "I love your stupid kindness…" Ace smiled and kissed her "I think I like your bad girl streak." Sharon giggled and intertwined her fingers with his, kissing him as she rolled on top of him.
A while later
Ace was sitting in a bath, twirling the Serum in his fingers as Sharon showered next to him. He looked at it and said "So, you made three in the first place, tested one on yourself, then gave them to the kids?" Sharon rubbed her body, replying "Mhm. They need to be safe and I wasn't going to test that on them, so I took it first."
Ace leaned his head back and looked at her figure, smiling "Maybe you're not such a bad mother after all~" Sharon rolled her eyes and pursed her lips in amusement "Ass…" Ace chuckled and turned back to the Serum before drinking it.
He felt extreme pain, like millions of flaming ants biting every muscle in his body. He didn't even frown, asking "The kids went through this?" Sharon sighed and said "They're tougher than they look. That pain will keep them alive in the future… Sometimes you have to suffer a bit."
She paused and frowned, "I didn't want it either, it took me a while to actually convince myself it was worth it." Ace looked at her and sighed gently, "I'm sorry I wasn't there…" Sharon smiled slightly, looking at him gently, "You died saving the universe, my love. What more could I ask of you? I was so proud of you even when you were dead, you were, and still are, the greatest hero in my eyes."
Ace looked at her and was touched to the extreme, smiling lovingly. She smiled at him and asked "No pain?" Ace turned back and chuckled "I've felt much worse when I was dead, this is nothing in comparison. Plus… I'm sure you've felt worse when I wasn't here."
Sharon choked on her words, looking at him before smiling warmly in silence.
Not even a minute later
The pain went away and Ace clenched his fist, saying "Oh. Not bad. 10-15 times stronger." Sharon giggled "It was 10 for me." Ace rolled his eyes and teased "Should I call you Captain Carter now?"
Sharon laughed and replied "Oh god. I can feel my skin crawling~!" Ace laughed and got up from the bath, looking at himself in the mirror, saying "I don't look different." Sharon licked her lips and looked him up and down, saying "It's not supposed to change your body but… I can see a difference…"
Ace glanced at her sarcastically and she reached out from the shower, poking his big muscles, saying "Mmm… Much firmer." she almost drooled on herself and Ace laughed, wiping her lips, saying "Relax! We just went at it for a few hours."
Sharon pouted "It's been 5 years, leave me alone!" Ace rolled his eyes and a teasing look across his face as he flexed. Sharon giggled strangely and rubbed his muscles, swallowing.
He laughed and hugged her, saying "How about… one more time?" Sharon cleared her throat, frowning "A few more times…" Ace laughed and they disappeared again…