80's Oneshots Galore

4 - Ace imagine - S/O helping Ace with his grief

A/N - This one was fun to write! 😊 I also have an analysis/headcannons on how I think Ace reacts to other emotions that I'll be posting soon in addition to this. This is based on some of them and how I think this would go down.

No warnings just fluff at the end!

Request for blackviperstrike Hope you enjoy! ❤❤❤

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Ace prided himself on being the toughest and the most fearless of castle rock, it meant people were less likely to try and fuck him over and that he was prepared for anything.

The phone call had even more unbearable than he had thought. Ace firmly hung up as soon as it was all over and placed the phone back on the hook. His no good for nothing father died a few towns over. The irony, right? His pops always told him that it would be the reckless blond that would keel over sooner than he did. Ace instinctively reached for his smokes.

'I guess the old geezer ate his words.' Ace mused and walked on over to the couch.

His pops ducked out on him as soon as Ace acted up even just a little, it was more fitting that Ace pretend not to care either. Pretend? No, Ace was more indifferent to his dad and that’s how he felt, yet some part of him itched to just go into town, wrangle up the gang and just do something. His fingers twitched at the prospect of causing havoc. Nothing worse than sitting around in the same four rundown walls. He wouldn't dare say the death caused this but he never normally had the urge to go out of his way and do things so normal to him.

-----

As they were messing around with Chris once again, Ace spotted his S/O of two months walk around the corner and directly into view of them. Ace had promised that he wouldn’t harass the smaller boys as much, to him that was an empty promise but only because the little shit got smart. He could see the shake of your head at him. Ace let go of Chris and handed him over into the waiting arms of Eyeball and sauntered on over just for you to take off.

It was bad enough he was bullying the smaller kids again but to break the promise he made? To say it annoyed you and simultaneously upset you was an understatement. Ace had eased up around you but you’ve had just about enough. Ace was the one to promise not to touch the boys again because you hated when he did it and because at the moment you were so close to breaking things off.

Storming past the green grocers on the corner by the row of houses, a hand made a grab for your wrist and effectively halted you. You sucked your teeth and tried to pull your wrist from his.

“Doll, where you going?” Ace spun you around to face him, an act he often did when he wanted to hear you giggle. There was no smile on your tight lips and your eyes screamed 'let go.'

“Let go of me Ace.”

“Just when I was beginning to trust you, you do this?”

“What did I do?” The way he said it pissed you off more. He couldn't be stupid, he knew bullying upset you and he promised you not so long ago.

“Do you not remember? You promised me that you would lay off those boys, they’re young and did nothing to you.”

“Oh that, we weren’t hurting him, just teasing him a little.” Ace tried to play it off, his expression lacking anything but the small smug smirk on his lips.

“With your hands?” You arched your brow at him, daring him to call it anything else. You both knew teasing and physical bullying were two different things altogether. Seemingly not to Ace.

“You know what? forget it Ace, I can’t deal with you right now.” You paid no mind to him calling you to come back. Honestly you just needed space and time to cool off. It wasn't the first time he managed to screw up but

-----

It was 7pm when you received a phone call, it hadn't had the chance to ring much before you scrambled for the phone.

“Hello?”

“Y/N? Can we talk?”

“I don't know Ace, break anymore promises?” Snide? yes, but uncalled for? Nope. You curled the cord around your finger and spoke softly into the phone trying not to wake your parents.

You heard a small sigh on the other end of the line.

“No, listen I just wanted to apologize for earlier.” Ace sounded reluctant to apologize, his voice was gruff and he practically rushed through it.

“Really? What has gotten into you, Ace? It’s not like you to throw out apologies.” You didn't mean for it to come out like that but it was true. Apologizing to ace was like an animal knowingly putting it's foot into a bear trap. It just didn't happen. 

“I’d rather not discuss this over the phone Doll, I’ll come pick you up.”

“Ace—what the.” The phone hung up on his end before you could even ask and protest. Something must have happened. As much as you were rightfully ticked off, part of you cared deeply for him and wanted to hear him out.

-----

True to his word, the fixed up cobalt blue car pulled up to the pavement outside your house.

The ride had been awkward to say the least. Once you had snuck out and gotten in the passenger side, Ace had spat out his toothpick and drove off with you. Every mention of what was going on was met with a “Not here.”

The sooner he pulled up outside, the more tense you were. You hated quiet and especially with the man you thought you loved. Well you didn’t really mean the last part, despite his shortcomings, Ace genuinely did try for you and it was what made you sure he was serious about you.

“C'mon, it’s cold out.” Your door was opened and Ace was helping you out.

-----

“Are you going to tell me what's going on now? I don't like games Ace.” You rubbed your arms and sat on the couch he led you to. You noticed your fleece was still there from last time he snuck you out.

“Come on, anything happen lately? Talk to me? Jake railley talking shit again?” You went on until he stopped you with a hand.

“Not much happened but If you wanna know about today, I got a call earlier.” A puff of thick smoke left his mouth and he smirked when he went on.

“Apparently daddy dearest died of a heart attack.”

Hands flew up to cup your mouth. That kind of explained his attitude earlier. Nancy from irby's had called you up after her shift to gossip but ended up telling you about how much he had been drinking. Drinking was something he had been doing a little less of after you had talked to him about it. Shit, losing a loved one? You didn't know.

“Oh no, Ace I’m so sorry.” You stood up and hugged him around his waist, mindful of the cigarette hanging from his mouth.

“Don’t be, we weren’t close and he was a no-good bastard that thought everything was beneath him, including me.” Ace drawled in a nonchalant tone, eyes looking anywhere but you.

“I know you see it that way but if you ever need a distraction, I’m here.” You tried to sway with him and the sight was almost comical to him. Almost. You were a lot shorter than him, reaching to his chest and the act never failed to bring a slight smile to his face.

“And as your distraction, no more bullying those boys, okay? For me.”

Ace never realized until now but he needed you more than he ever knew, so he let you sway with him and tried to forget the negativity. His hands snuffed the burnt-out cigarette onto the windowsill and his hands soon wrapped around you.

This wasn’t the end of your distraction he found because after that night you made sure to always give him something to do. Entangling limbs in the bedsheets, the wild stuff but the “softer” stuff was what he found himself enjoying just as much not that he would admit. Ace liked the warmth you gave off whenever you ‘forced’ him to cuddle in the bed and living room. The soft squeeze you would give his arm, leg or thigh in public when he felt irritable. The cold drinks you would leave for him by the porch when he wanted to work on his car. It all made him feel loved and as if he actually meant something to somebody. So, what if his deadbeat dad didn’t want him? Besides the fact that he didn’t feel too bad for the geezer’s passing, he had you and you were more than enough for him.