Sweet Dreams - Ace Merrill

It was a promise.

Vivian returned to her silent state, she didn't know what to say. Ace had clearly refused to say her name to the cops. She lay back down on the cot and stared up at the ceiling.

It's dark, damp covering stared right back at her as she felt herself slowly getting lost in the darkness. It enveloped itself around her as she slowly shut her eyes before it could take her.

"Thank you." The words fell out of her mouth in a softer whisper than the female officer could do.

Ace snapped his head at her, had he actually heard that right? He finished off his food as he kept his gaze on her. He saw her laying there, facing up with her eyes shut.

"You're welcome." He whispered back.

Ace saw her nod slowly as she turned over onto her side and face away from him. He sighed slightly as he looked down at her untouched food. Shuffling about slightly he got himself comfy, leaning against the wall, one knee up as his arm draped over it.

No matter what he did he couldn't pull his eyes from her body. Judging by her breathing he could tell she had fallen asleep. His eyes fell on the ripped shirt, he saw the faintest sign of blood between the rips as he winced slightly.

He'd been beaten before, he'd been in more fights than he could count. Yet something about this bothered him. The girl had a tongue of fire, capable of burning and breaking everything in it's path. However now she was asleep he saw her completely different, she was an innocent girl trapped in something.

Did she actually have an abusive set of parents or parent? Was she stuck married or in a relationship with a dickhead? Did she get attacked by another gang or bunch of muggers? What was her story?

His many unanswered questioned flew through his head as he made the unconscious decision to stay awake and watch over her. He tried to shake the possessive thoughts from his head but they stuck, maybe it was just the unknowing that made him want to stay.

"Sweet dreams." He mumbled as he saw her shuffle slightly before remaining still.

Vivian slept the whole way until the door was opened again and dinner was brought in for them. Ace watched as she slowly began to stir, sitting up and sighing to herself as she remembered where she was.

"Still not eating aye?" A different officer from before asked her as he slid her tray under her door.

Vivian kept her glare on him as he turned to Ace and slid his tray under. Ace felt himself glare at the officer as he judged by the bruises on his face, this was another that had a run in with Vivian.

"Come one sweetheart you need to at least eat." He spoke as he turned to Vivian again.

Vivian continued to glare at him as she shuffled further back slightly. Ace noticed as his head attempted to piece it together.

"We just wanna help you sweetheart." He spoke as he stepped closer to her cell and placed a hand on her cell.

Ace watched as Vivian once again shuffled further back, wincing at the nickname. It clicked. Sweetheart.

"Come on-" the officer started but Ace cut him off.

"If she don't want help then stop fucking offering." He snapped at the officer.

The officer sighed and turned to Ace.

"Leave it alone Merrill, we're trying to help the girl." He snapped at the cobra.

"She don't need help." Ace snapped back as he stood up and walked over to his cell door.

"Have you seen her?" The officer asked him as he gestured down at her.

Ace looked down at the girl, who was still keeping her distance. Their eyes locked as he felt that possessive protective feeling from before tug at him.

"I've seen her, have you?" He snapped back, turning his attention to the officer.

The officer scoffed. "I have! Which is why we're trying to help her."

Ace shook his head. "She already said she don't want your help so stop trying and let her do it in her own fucking time!"

The officer stared at Ace in shock. Ace leant his hands through the bars as he stared the officer down.

"Or do I have to make myself clearer?" He threatened.

The officer shook his head slowly but stepped back slightly. "You shouldn't be threatening me Merrill, remember where you are." He tried to speak with as much confidence as possible. Yes Ace was currently locked up but soon he wouldn't be, they knew the others would be coming for him.

"Oh it wasn't a threat." Ace said with a small smile. "It was a promise."

The officer was silent as he glanced back down at the girl before at Ace.

"Leave her alone." Ace snarled out once more.

The officer sighed as he looked back down at the girl.

"Try and eat something sweetheart."

It was now confirmed for Ace. Vivian once again winced slightly at the mention of being called sweetheart. The officer gave him one more glance as Ace continued to fire his own daggers. Though the officer looked as though he was going to say something, he didn't. Instead he left silently and Ace and Vivian were once again left alone.

Ace's attention once more turned to Vivian as she was now staring right back at him.

"You okay?" He asked quietly.

Vivian was silent but turned away from him once more.

"I ain't blind you know?" He spoke quietly. "I can tell it was the nickname."

Vivian didn't respond, she continued to face away from Ace and lay in silence.

"You know I can make it so no-one calls you that again?" He offered her.

Silence once more.

"Come on Vivian." He spoke, refusing to give up.

Silence once more as Vivian lay still, facing away.

"Vivvy baby?" He spoke with a small laugh.

"What?!" She finally snapped at him as she sat up and spun to face him.

Ace saw her reddened cheeks and watery eyes as he was stunned into silence for a second before nodding down at the dinner tray in her cell.

"Eat something and I'll make sure no-one ever calls you that again."

"You don't fucking know it was the nickname." She snarled out as she leant back against the wall.

Ace shrugged. "Sure it wasn't, but judging by the fact he was clearly one of your arresting officers I can tell you weren't afraid to fight back against him." He spoke slowly. "Unlike someone else."

"I fought back you know!" Vivian snapped without realising what she was saying. "It's not my fault he had something of mine to make me stop!"

Ace was silent, this was the most he had learnt. It was a him.

"So eat that, tell me who he is and I'll make it go away." Ace offered her once more.

Vivian stared at him as she realised what she'd said. "You can't."

Ace laughed slightly as he continued to stare at her. "Watch me."

Vivian heard the determination in his voice, she'd heard it before and with a voice like that, when they said they'd do something, it got done. Slowly Ace watched as Vivian leant down and picked up the tray, placing it on the cot next to her.

"I don't need anything from no-one." She spat out at him as she slowly began to eat in silence.

Ace nodded slowly. "Sure you don't." He mumbled as he, too, sat down and began quietly eating.