[ON HIATUS] Bounded (Ghost!Ace x Reader) AU

Pet Names and Old Friends

It's been two days and you've never felt better. The fever had died down and the once sore muscles and aching joints were now relaxed as you stretched with a yawn.

Today was cloudy weather, just the way you like it. No bright sun blinding you and no rain showers to make you sick again.

"Princess, your brother's coming." Ace alerts you from the doorway.

You sigh, as much as you try to convince yourself that he was just a figment of your imagination created by the fever, he wouldn't go away even though you felt tons better. "Hey Chopper." You greet, not looking at the door but you knew he was there because Ace has never lied to you once about anything, so you believe him.

"H-How are you feeling?" He asks, hiding his face behind the door frame with his body sticking out. "Mom was wondering about your condition."

You smile sweetly at him, trying to get him to relax. "I'm feeling better. I think my fever is gone by now." You declare proudly and pump a fist into the air.

Chopper nods and runs off down the stairs, calling for your foster mother and telling her that you were fine.

"Your dad is really going through with the whole vacation thing." Ace smirks, eyes watching the staircase. "I heard that he was going to invite some buddies along."

"Yeah...There's no avoiding that really. I can't say no either so might as well go along with it." You shrug.

Ace laughs as he walks over to your bed, he pokes your forehead and grins. "I spent so much time taking care of you and you still don't have any energy for anything."

You blush as you remember him spending the past two days watching over you, like your own personal guardian angel. "I never did thank you, did I?" You murmur, mostly to yourself rather than at him.

He tilts his head and blinks, "Thank me for what?"

"You know, taking care of me and stuff." You blush and look down, your fingers fumbling with your (F/C) nightgown.

"No thanks needed. It was my pleasure, princess."

You sigh in annoyance, "I told you my name is (Name), not princess."

"Oh, I know." He smirks, tilting your chin up to meet his gaze. "I just enjoy calling you princess is all."

You frown at him and move your head away from his hand. The expression you gave him was suppose to be scary, but he started chuckling like he just saw an angry fluffy kitten. You huff in annoyance and cross your arms, which was only making you look more adorable in his eyes.

"Do you prefer to be called something else?" Ace inquires after seeing your annoyed expression. "Bambi? Doll Face? Oh, how about—"

"How about—" You look at him dead in the eye and smirk. "—(Name)?"

He psh-ed at you and plopped on your bed. His ghostly weight made the space underneath him sink slightly. Since it was cloudy today, his skin wasn't as transparent, making him appear more alive than an apparition.

"Well, what about Flower?" Ace asks, his head facing towards you.

"Why would you nickname me after a flower?" You ask back. Resting your cheek on your palm, you sigh, "Actually why bother nicknaming me at all? Isn't my normal name enough?"

Ace pouts and rolls to his side, his body now lying on his stomach and his cheek on his fist, he rolls his eyes at you. "I thought girls like getting pet names from guys?"

"Sure, if they're in a relationship." You shrug and he smiles at you. "We are not in a relationship." You quickly added, making Ace pout.

"Aww, come on. We could try!" He huffs.