Yeah, I got it between the first two sentences, too. Ace is the only character I can think of who's had a "He owes his captain the truth" moment.

But that doesn't make the fic any less lovely! ♥ I really love your description of emotions and how scared he is, and yet he can't make himself back out... Poor boy, and then Shirohige is awesome and doesn't care about stuff like that! :D