Common Ground

Ace was rarely ever at a loss for words. Shock did often run through his veins. Shock and panic. But it only ever resided in him when people close to his heart were concerned.

Like the very first time he saw his sister with a knife in her hand and a cowering body by her side - it was her first kill ever. And as much as he shared the thrill of revenge and justice with her, it was that moment he realised that he could've been wrong.

Wrong about everything.

But what he couldn't understand why when he stared at Willow, he felt as if someone had walked over his grave as he quickly deflected her point.

"Look Willow think about this -"

"I have thought about this. What on earth do you take me for?" She said nonchalantly. This was a different side to her. She was blank but less controlled, somewhat vulnerable to the topic at hand.

Ace's mouth shut with a plop as his face screwed up into a frown, "You haven't truly explained why you want to attack and entire gang - surely it can't all be because of a...well I actually don't truly understand what happened?" he leaned in

"I needn't explain too much. Except that they killed my family."

"Okay but why, Willow?" He insisted

"Are you defending them?"

Ace blinked. This was an unlikely route for the conversation to take. He didn't quite know what to make of the conversation.

"No of course not Willow, but I can't defend anyone without a story, you've got to understand that." He let out a frustrated huff

"You promised. I knew it." Willow exclaimed as she plonked her glass down and made her way to the hallway

"What the hell?" Ace said more to himself as Willow swung around and announced

"I'm leaving."

Immediately he went after her and spun her around by the arm as he stared down into bed brown orbs

"Why are you so rigid?" He said

"What does that even mean?"

"I mean we are having a conversation and you can't sit down, put your feelings aside for a second and listen to reason!" His grip on her arm tightened as he attempted to pull away

"There is no reason!" She yells

And this catches Willow off guard. She's not used to talking about this side of her life. And what seemed to anger her was Ace's stoic expression - he seemed to understand exactly what she was saying.

"Look I understand what you mean."

Immediately they heard the door open and footsteps make their way towards them. Willow absolutely hated how much power Ace assumed over her as she retorted,

"Do you? You have no family." Willow spat

"Uh whoa, whoa - what on earth is going on here?" Willow's head jerked to the side and she saw Jared worriedly staring at them both and with Titus hanging in the back.

"We came to your aid boss, and you too...Willow." Titus drawled as he carefully approached, "Is this a disagreement or some raunchy sexual tension thing going on?"

Jared smacked the back of his head causing Titus to shoot him a deathly stare

"We aren't arguing, this dingbat just won't fulfil his end of the bargain." Willow said

"Okay and that is?" Jared intervened

"Kill Javelin." Ace scoffs as he throws her a dirty glance before dropping his grip and going towards the kitchen.

Jared's eyes go wide at this but Titus eyebrows shoot up as he glanced at the two.

"Leave if you want Doctor. You will be no loss to me. But I will not assist you in a pointless murder."

"It's not pointless!" She growls and charges at him but a tall body blocks her as it stands right in her way causing her to stumble.

"Dude!" She says as she watches Titus who dangles set of keys in her face.

"Do you like cars?" He smiles

"Huh?"

"You like fast cars?"

"Uh no, oh god move!"

"Come with me for a second - I can show you." He says as he roughly grabs her hand and takes her outside, the door immediately shutting and locking, disabling her from entering the home again as she roughly pulls at it.

"Let me in." Her voice was icy cold

"No." Titus smiles as he leans into the wall, "You two are at odds right now, I think it may help to separate you for a minute or else you'll go insane."

"At odds?" She echoes

He nods.

Defeated, Willow sits down on the pavement

"Given up already?" He teases

"I always do. I gave up on my family many times. Look now, they're dead. I give up all the time."

Titus shuffled as he walked towards her and looked at her, "What do you mean?"

"Allowing you family to die. That's just as good as murder right?"

"No. It's not the same. Whoever told you that was trying to make you mad."

"Well they succeeded."

The door opens once more and she sees Jared walk out with a coat and shoes for her.

"Cmon princess let's go for a walk."

Willow stared at them and drops her head into her hands with a sigh.

"Wanna talk about it?" Jared sympathised

"I- no- maybe I should. I don't know though."

"Ace said you must take a breather. But come back soon."

"He said that. God why is he so corny."

"He actually isn't." Titus retorted, "Only to you. You're his responsibility you know?"

And with that Willow stated back at him, "Where to now?"

"Well Titus has a surprise for you, we're gonna go see your little friend."

Jared smiled as Titus made his way towards the car and Jared handed her a pair of shoes.

"Who?" She mused

"I believe a Miss Eva has been waiting for an explanation."

Willow's heart swelled at this. Eva had been left in the dark and she did need someone to anchor her to sanity.

And after dressing up she stood up but couldn't help look through the window and immediately her eyes met Ace.

He and a hand over his wound and whiskey in another as he stared at her.

She felt frozen. She replayed everything she said to him. And get she couldn't bring herself to think anything of the matter.

She sighed and felt a hand gently tap her shoulder and she faced Jared who raised an eyebrow at her.

"What?" She said

He looked back at Ace who turned around and walked away from the window and back at her with a wide smile.

"Dude what?" Willow slightly pushed at his chest as a car honk went off from an impatient Titus.

"Nothing princess, shall we?" He asked as he walked away with a chuckle as Willow trotted behind him

"Jared I demand you explain yourself to me!" She chased after him as he picked up his speed with his mouth absolutely sealed.