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

I Can Hear You

You blinked, unsure whether to believe what you just heard. "Chopper," You quietly began. "Did you...just answer Ace?"

The little brother gasped and clamped his mouth shut with both hands, then shook his head.

"You just answered him!" You stubbornly said.

"Nuh-uh!" He replied, though his words were muffled by his hands. You stared intensely at him. This made him feel uneasy as he didn't like to be stared at for too long.

He shifted around in his seat, avoiding your gaze. It was like you were turning him to stone.

"(N-Name)," He squeaked. "C-Cut it out!"

From the rearview mirror, Franky glanced at the two of you. You've been babbling nonsense about imaginary friends for five minutes and, although he had gotten used to this from Chopper, now you were doing it too.

Was this some sort of contagious disease? Is this what they called sibling bonding? Or were you both just crazy?

Franky shrugged it off and continued driving.

"Chopper, come on," You said sternly. "I know I heard you answer him."

Ace sat quietly behind you, which was a first given how noisy he usually was, and stared at the little brother curiously. An idea popped into his head. He floated passed you and sat comfortably beside Chopper.

You looked up at him, eyebrow raised inquisitively.

He leaned down to Chopper's ear and whispered,

"Boo."

Chopper screamed.

He jumped from his seat.

Then he landed on your lap with his ears covered and his eyes widened like he had just seen a ghost.

"I CAN HEAR YOU! I CAN HEAR YOU!" He yelled out. "DON'T DO THAT, I GET SCARED!!!"

Franky suddenly scowled and glanced up at the mirror again. "Oi. Chopper, what's going on back there?"

You sweated nervously. You didn't want Franky to think Chopper had gone completely mental. So you hugged Chopper and smiled at him.

"Nothing! He and I were just telling ghost stories!" You lied, throwing a light glare at Ace.

Chopper looked at you confused, but then immediately realized the situation. He nodded rapidly. "Yeah, g-g-g-ghost stories!" He laughed nervously, palms sweating.

Franky stared at both of you, before shrugging again and resuming the drive home.

You sighed in relief.

"Wasn't expecting that reaction." Ace chuckled.

Chopper blinked and looked over to the sound of his voice. "You're... You're Ace?" He whispered.

"Afraid I am, kid." He chuckled again and scooted closer, holding out his hand near Chopper's face.

The boy felt a chill in the air and flinched back from the sudden cold near him. "Wow..." He breathed.

You watched the two. If Chopper called Ace your imaginary friend, then does that mean...?

"Hey, Chopper, is your friend with you right now?" You asked quietly.

Chopper looked at you. He looked confused at first, then his eyes suddenly brightened up. "Oh you meant the doctor? Yeah, he's always with me!"

Ace looked at you. "Why the sudden curiosity?" He smirked. "One ghost not enough for you, princess?"

You rolled your eyes at this then looked back at Chopper. "If you can hear Ace... Can I hear this Hiluluk person too?" You asked.

At the mention of the name of Chopper's friend, Ace suddenly stiffened and stared behind you.

"Only if I wanted you to." A man's voice laughed.