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

Goodbye

After finding you crying hysterically in the parking lot near the campus gates the other day, Franky decided you would take Monday off. Your weekend had been filled with repeating dreams of that one memory, resulting in you waking up with pink eyes and blotchy cheeks.

You've become bedridden and too ill to even speak a word to anyone. Franky had to leave for a emergency meeting, so Robin sat beside you in your room and made sure you rested.

Once in a while, Chopper would come by and talk to you, even though your throat was in a lot of pain from the crying, you tried to make small conversation with your little brother.

During your free time you would try to reply to the worried text messages of your friends before falling asleep again.

Silently and worriedly, Ace watched over you as you slept. When you wake up from another dream, he would stay beside you and ask you what you dreamed about, but you would never tell him.

"Come on, (Name)," Ace pleaded as he poked you. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong..."

It was Sunday afternoon and there were bags under your eyes from the lack of sleep you had for the past two days. You felt like shit, really.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you..." You mutter before rolling to your side and closing your eyes again to try and get some more rest.

Ace sighed. "(Name), whether I believe you or not is up to me. And if you don't tell me what's wrong then you'll just get worse..." He said in a concerned tone.

You didn't respond, deciding to just keep silent and think about the first time the images flashed in your mind.

If Ace did know you personally before he became a spirit, then what happened to him?

"Marco..." You mumble.

Ace leaned over to look at your expressionless face. "What about him?" He asked.

"These dreams started when he patted my head, Ace," You told him. The ravenette frowned a bit, but nodded to let you continue.

"In my visions, you and Marco were there with me... We meet up at my old home and I would run over to you." You sat up as you thought about the dreams. Each one was a little different, but it was the same scene nevertheless. "I would hug you both then Marco would give me a pat on the head and mess up my hair, then..." You trail off, blushing a bit.

"Then...?" Ace inquired, holding his breath. (Well, he would if he had any.)

"Then..." You held up a hand and rested it on your right cheek, the blush turning a bright pink. "You would give me a peck on the cheek before we leave for someplace." You turned to face him and saw Ace staring back at you.

"Ace..." You whisper, reaching out to him, but he quickly leaned back away from your hand. "Who are you really? Something tells me you're not just some random spirit."

The air fell silent between the two of you as Ace stared at your face in thought. He kept opening his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but would close it seconds later like he was afraid.

"Ace?" You said again, earning the man's silent gaze. "Please tell me..."

He stayed silent for a while longer, before sighing quietly. "Will this make you feel better?" He asked seriously.

You gave him a nod and he sighed again.

"Alright... If that'll make you happy." Ace flashed you a sad smile. "But don't be mad about what I tell you, okay?"

Something about that smile made you regret your decision, but you wanted to know.

You had to know.

Who was he to you?

"(Name), for a long time, I've loved you." Ace began. You widen your eyes at his confession but remained silent. "Believe it or not, we used to be classmates back at your old school. You, me, and even Marco."

You nod again, eyes never leaving his. "Marco and I made a deal." He said, "Whoever confesses to you first, then the other will back down. That was how it was supposed to go."

"Wait, Marco likes me too?!" You yell in surprise.

"Yeah? Why do you sound so surprised?"

'Any girl would be surprised to have two guys crushing on her like that....' You silently told him.

"Anyway, I had planned to tell you on your birthday but apparently Marco had the same idea. We both arrived to your house early and kinda had a fight..." He rubbed the back of his neck and averted his gaze away from yours, looking some other place with guilt in his features.

"And? What happened?" You ask him.

There was hesitation. But, realizing he had nothing left to lose, he took a deep breath and looked back at you.

"(Name), that fire that burned down your house?" He frowned. "Marco and I were fighting and we knocked down some lit candles... That fire was actually our fault..."

You felt your heart stop for a moment. Did you hear him right?

With a light laugh, you smiled at him, "Sorry I think I misheard you. For a second there it sounded like you..." You trailed off after seeing the look on his face. He was being serious. "No way..." You gasp and back away from him.

"(Name), I'm sorry. We didn't mean to. It was an accident!" He stuttered and reached out to you.

You shook your head. Tears began to pool your eyes and you fought to hold them back. "My parents are dead because of you two..." You said between gritted teeth as you looked away to your side.

Ace waited for you to calm down before trying to speak again. He knew better than to piss you off like before. So he sat there beside you on the bed and rubbed your back comfortingly as you took deep breaths.

With a heavy sigh, he looked at his hand. He was turning into a pale shade of blue and his hand was completely see-through now.

He knew he didn't have much time left.

"(Name)...?" He spoke up quietly and tilted your head to face him. You glared in response, but the anger within you slowly melted away as you felt a pair of cold lips connect with yours.

You felt your eyelids slide shut as you kissed him back. Though you knew better not to, you couldn't stay mad at him. Not Ace.

Once the kiss ended, you didn't even know what emotion you should be feeling. Anger? Joy?

You realized that you love Ace. And you believe him when he said that the whole incident was an accident.

So when you opened your eyes, you felt your heart stop when you saw he wasn't there.

"Ace?" You call out and look around the room frantically, but he was gone.

A soft breeze gently brushed past your ear, and then you knew...he wasn't coming back.

"Goodbye, princess..."