Well, you did have time to react; you were able to throw your hands over your face to brace yourself. You weren’t sure why considering these were bullets and your arms would do nothing against them.

Either way; the bullets never came.

You heard the gun go off, but were never hit. Two thuds could be heard on the ground and suddenly your chair was moving. Removing your arms from your face, you noticed Banshee was wheeling you inside. You tried to look back, not seeing much except two crumpled bodies on the ground and Yamato kneeling beside them. Did he kill them? He had to. How the hell did he do that so fast? And so well? What kind of fucking bodyguard work did he do?

Suddenly, you were glad he was guarding you now.

“Are you alright?” Banshee asked once she wheeled you into the safety of your home and away from the front windows just in case. 

You were silent, still stunned by the turn of events. Your parents actually sent someone to kill you. They were so concerned about their image and their money that you have never had an interest in that they tried to have you killed for it. Being gobsmacked was putting it lightly. Hell, you couldn’t think of a term to explain the way you felt. Stupified? Flabbergasted? Aghast? Any and all of them felt like they applied.

“Y/n?” 

You opened and closed your mouth a couple of times, trying to find the words. It felt impossible. How the hell were you supposed to respond? What the hell was there even to say?

Nothing to be said, but you could laugh. You started laughing. It startled Banshee and she looked at you cautiously. She was probably thinking that you officially lost it. She was also probably right, you more than likely did lose it. 

“You gonna explain what’s so funny or…?” She took a seat on the couch, still watching you like a hawk. She was likely evaluating if you needed to have something more than your legs checked out the next time you were in the hospital. 

Once your laughter died down, you shook your head. “The absurdity of it all. The audacity.” You snorted.

Your best friend just looked at you blankly, waiting for you to explain further.

You let out a long sigh. “I’m just…at my wits end, I guess.” With a shrug, you settled more into your chair. “All I do is try to live my own separate life and time and time again - they won’t let me. Ban, they literally just sent actual real life hitmen to kill me to secure their image!” 

Banshee nodded slowly, her eyes slightly narrowed as she was trying to figure out everything, piecing it all together.

“It’s just absurd. I mean, I’ve never shown I was interested in anything that had to do with them. They cut me off; I’ve been living away from them, completely out of their lives and out of the headlines. I begged for years and years to just…get away from them. They finally grant it, I’m happy with it, then they do this?” You shook your head, another breathless laugh escaping. At this point, if you didn’t laugh, you would cry and you were sick of crying.

“At the end of the day, they think I’m some materialistic viper like them and I’m waiting for the right moment to strike but I don’t care.” You huffed out, folding your arms. “And now I’m going to have to live in constant fear that they’re going to kill me because they have green goggles of greed on!”

Banshee looked at your exasperated expression for a long moment. Then, she was just like you. She was laughing. It finally processed for her too. The entire situation was absolutely ludicrous. You joined in, laughing once more.

After the two of you settled down, a solemn tone came over the two of you.

“Yamato killed those people, didn’t he?” Your voice was quiet, tense.

Banshee was silent, just nodding. There was also that part. The whole two-people-now-dead-in-your-yard situation. Did Yamato really kill them? Just what kind of bodyguard was he?

“I mean…I’m grateful but…what the fuck?” Again, the craziness of the situation had the two of you laughing in clear disbelief. This was stuff from old noble times, not present. There were so many other ways people took care of things. Or maybe you really just have been naive this entire time. Maybe this is the way it was. Dumb as it was.

Then a realization hit you. You immediately stopped laughing, your eyes widening. The sudden change in your mood was enough to make Banshee stop laughing as well. “What?”

“Ace. You. Both of you aren’t safe. I have Yamato, but what about the two of you? And Gran?” If your family were gunning for you and failed, they would try your closest links. You’ve always been concerned about Granny and Banshee. Now, you’ve got Ace to worry about as well.

Your friend could see you were beginning to spiral and she knelt down in front of you, taking your hands in her own. “Hey.” Her voice was soft but firm.

You turned your gaze to her, stunned for a moment. “We’ll be fine. We always have - we always will.”

“But-”

“But nothing. You can’t protect us forever, y/n. Besides, even if they do off you - what’s to say they don’t off us next to keep their secrets? We all knew what we were getting into when we associated ourselves with you. We know how tricky it can be to be close to a noble, especially if you’re a commoner.” She smiled widely, filling you with relief. “We’ll be just fine. As we always have.”

“You’re right. There’s nothing I can do except hope they leave y’all alone.” Except, you’ll still worry. You always do. It was something you couldn’t really help.

Before the two of you could say anything else, Yamato walked in. “I heard laughing, you two good?” He raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest. 

“Are you alright?” You asked, ignoring his question. Part of you had been a little worried the shots didn’t get them and he would end up in a scuffle.

Puzzlement crossed his features. “Yes…?”

You smiled. “Good.”

Yamato blinked looking at you for a moment before looking at Banshee who just shook her head with a smile. “You two are in a really good mood for people who were just shot at.”

“Correction, wasn’t shot at. You were quick with it. Impressive.” You grinned.

A lopsided grin spread across his face and he laughed. “Not best in the biz for nothin’!” He puffed out his chest slightly, clearly enjoying the praise.

Again, the solemn tone took over.

“So…are they…?” You couldn’t find yourself to say any of the words.

Yamato’s face softened and he nodded. “You needn’t worry about them. They’re all taken care of and they won’t be coming around clearly.” 

You nodded slowly, your brain finally catching up.

“I guess it was a good idea that Ace hired you, huh?” You grinned again, causing both Banshee and Yamato to laugh. You didn’t want to dwell on the negatives for too long. You’ve already been beating yourself up enough and you didn’t want the two of them to worry about you anymore than they have and will.

The door burst open, causing all of you to jump and fear to seep into your bones. What now?

However, a rush of relief washed over you as Ace rounded the corner into the living room followed by Deuce. He was on his knees in front of you in a second, looking you over. Worry was written all over his face and in his movements.

You took his face in your hands, trying to stop him from freaking out. “Ace.” The gentleness that came from you was a surprise to yourself. Fortunately enough, it worked. He stopped his motions, seemingly melting into your hands with a small sigh. “I’m fine.”

He let out a long sigh, nodding. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop pestering." He took a deep breath. “I just…when I got that call…” He trailed off, clearly not wanting to speak it into existence.

He stood back up and you let your hands fall into your lap. “Good thing I was already on my way back for a quick visit,” he said with a sigh, running his hand through his hair.

“Nice to know that Yamato hasn’t lost his edge,” he teased the other with a wink, earning him an eye roll and a punch from the other man.

Ace turned his attention back to you. “I’m surprised the two of you are doing as well as you are?” He had probably been expecting you to be a little more shaken up. It seems you were doing a good job hiding it all.

“What? Expecting me to be shrivelling and crying? Well, lucky for me, I only thought about doing that for a moment.” You stuck your tongue out and Ace rolled his eyes. You couldn’t tell if he was relieved to see you in this state or if he was more worried.

After all, you felt like you could crack at any moment. You just had to keep pushing. You’d probably just cry later tonight. Once you were alone with your thoughts and the realization of how close to dying you really were hits you.

“You know, you just went through something really terrifying. I wouldn’t blame you if you cried,” he said, his voice surprisingly soft. 

There was a moment of silence before Deuce spoke up. “Well, I have food on the way so shall we get ready for dinner?”

There was a mumble of agreements. It was best not to dwell too long. Could you even eat right now? You weren’t sure. You did know the stress was getting to you. You tried to distract yourself by focusing on the others in front of you for now.

--

As you expected, you didn’t eat too much for dinner. You had been much too stressed and shocked from the entire ordeal that your appetite went down the drain. Sounds like you would be eating leftovers the next time you were hungry. It would more than likely hit you come morning.

Exhaustion hit you like a ton of bricks after dinner. Sleep was the only thing you wanted. Even if you were scared out of your mind that people would kill you while you were unconscious, your body didn’t care. The stress and anxiety was wiping you clean out. 

You excused yourself from everyone else, making your way to your room. Once settled, a knock came at your door and Ace came in when you granted permission.

You were curled up under your covers. When you saw him walk in, you sat up, leaning against the wall in bed. “What’s up?”

Ace sat at the edge of your bed. “I just wanted to check in on you.” His voice was quiet and tense.

Concern was etched deeply into Ace’s face. You knew he was worried about you and he had every right to. You were almost killed today, after all. “Sorry to make you so-”

“Don’t apologize.” His voice was gentle but firm. It was clear he didn’t want you to even think about saying anything close to an apology, so you stayed quiet. You almost ended up apologizing for apologizing but then realized it would just end the same. Not to mention redundant.

The two of you fell into a comfortable silence. You looked down at your hands, just revelling in the quiet, playing with the sleeves of your nightshirt. He reached over, taking your hand and holding it in his. He interlaced his fingers with yours, causing your face to heat up. 

Honestly, you were starting to think that this wasn’t just a fake thing anymore - Ace had to have had actual feelings for you. Why else would he stay with you like this? Despite being disowned from your family and sending hitmen after you. The fact that he hired Yamato to keep you safe. The soft way he looked at you and the gentle way he spoke to you. You definitely know you were catching feelings.

You watched Ace as he looked at the both of your hands intertwined together. He looked like he wanted to say something, but you weren’t sure what it could be. Something was weighing heavily on his mind. Or maybe it was the weight of today’s events. 

If you were going to be truthful with yourself, you hated seeing him so worried. You wanted him to be able to focus on work and not have to think about your wellbeing too much. Sure, it came with being partners, but you didn’t want him to have to do it all the time. You wanted to be someone who could defend themselves to a certain degree and maybe he would worry a little less. 

“Do you think Yamato would teach me how to shoot?” The question came from you suddenly; popping out of your mouth the moment it appeared in your head.

Ace’s whole body tensed and he looked at you. “What?” His voice was soft. He didn’t seem upset, just more caught off guard.

“Well, I want to be able to defend myself. Just in case Yamato is preoccupied. Or maybe a whole gang of them show up! Or maybe-”

“Okay, okay.” A gentle chuckle came from your fiance, stopping you from listing what other crazy scenarios pop in your head. He nodded, looking back down at your hands. “If that’s what you want.”

You nodded with a smile. “Yes!”

“However, you can’t learn just yet.”

A deep frown settled into your features. You even pouted a little. “Why not?”

“Well, you need to finish healing up for one. For two, you need to learn basic defense first. Once you are strong in your own abilities of defense, then we’ll teach you offense.”

You blinked, looking at him. It made sense. Focus on healing up, strengthening yourself, then learning how to use something like that. You’ve heard about kickback and how it can be no joke. It was on the wiser side if you strengthened up a little before using a deadly weapon. The thought of using a gun terrified you, but you didn’t want to be helpless if you were going to be hunted. You couldn’t rely on Yamato to keep an eye on you every single second of every single day for the rest of forever.

“Does that sound good?” Ace spoke again, making you realize you never said anything. Looks like you let your thinking take over.

“Ah, yes. Sounds great.” You smiled widely and nodded. 

He returned the smile before squeezing your hand softly. “Then I’ll let you get some rest.” He stood up to leave.

Panic settled into your chest causing you to pull him back to the bed. “Will you actually…” You trailed off mumbling and looking anywhere but him. Embarrassment heated your face. Part of you felt like a child even though your fear of being alone right now was warranted.

Ace chuckled lightly and nodded. “Yes. I’ll stay in here with you tonight,” he said, moving to the other side of the bed and settling under the covers with you. You slowly slid back down so you were laying down, your fiance pulling you to him. He pulled you close, effectively spooning you. Him being the larger one. His warmth radiated off of him, covering you with another blanket of safety and it wasn’t long before you were out cold.

--

Unfortunately, Ace had to go back to work the next day. He really didn’t want to leave, but you also didn’t want him getting in trouble so you sent him on his way despite his protests. He only ended up going because you agreed to text him regularly about what you were doing even if he didn’t answer. He just wanted to make sure you were still alive. Deuce left with him.

Banshee didn’t want to leave you either. She had ended up staying overnight just in case. She and Deuce apparently stayed out in the back yard all night just talking until the wee hours of the morning while simultaneously keeping an eye out for anything weird or suspicious. The only reason she ended up leaving was that she had a store to run and Gran to check on. 

Soon, it was just you and Yamato again. Despite him quite literally killing people the day before, you didn’t feel any fear around him. Perhaps it was because he had only done so because he was protecting you therefore, you were perfectly safe. You also just knew Yamato wouldn’t hurt you - that was something you felt deep in your bones.

The following weeks, Yamato stuck right by your side - even more than before. He really didn’t want to take any chances. Not that you minded. You were on edge as well from the entire ordeal. No other attacks came though. Did your parents give up that easily? You did the math, but it just didn’t add up. 

Perhaps if killing you didn’t work, they were hoping you were frightened enough to come back. They wanted to break you and wash away your colors - but you were stronger than that.

Along with just staying by your side in general and helping you around the house, Yamato also helped you slowly walk again. A physical therapist came by after you had your bandages taken off, teaching you to walk again. Your muscles had atrophied quite a bit; you felt like you’d been on a boat for weeks and you were trying to develop your landlegs again. Yamato helped you practice in between visits from the at home PT appointments.

It didn’t take too long to get used to walking again. You graduated from your wheelchair to a cane and now only really needed it if you were walking long periods of time. It was nice to be able to move around again, able to kneel down into your garden without an incredible pain shooting up your legs. 

You were currently working on a large garden on the side of the house. Your bodyguard helped you place the large rocks that acted as some kind of fence to outline what you wanted the garden to be shaped like. 

“Yamato? Will you grab me some soil from the shed?” You had just finished cultivating all the dirt and deweeding it. All you needed now was to add some soil and all that would be left is to plant and water! You were genuinely excited. The house was coming together nicely. It went from an empty shack to a lovely little home for the two of you. 

Yamato looked a bit weary, leaving you alone for longer than a second. You smiled at him. “I’ll be fine, okay?” As Ace promised, you had also been learning self defense from Yamato. Nothing too insane considering you were still pretty restricted. But some good moves with your cane should you need it. “There hasn’t been any attacks in weeks and nothing suspicious around either. I think I’ll be just fine if you leave me for a whole two minutes.”

The man watched you for a long moment, debating. You could tell he was about to ask for you to go with him, just to be safe. You huffed at him. “Yamato. Go.” Your voice was firm and he sighed, nodding. “Okay, okay.” He held his hands up as he turned, heading towards the backyard where the shed was located.

You turned back towards pruning one of the bushes that you had planted in your garden a few weeks ago. You appreciated that Yamato was worried, but you also knew that he couldn’t be nervous forever. He had to eventually loosen the reins. 

Footsteps came from behind you. “Well, that was quick,” you said, sitting back up only for a bag to be shoved on your head before you had a chance to look up. There was a blunt hit at the back of your head, promptly knocking you out cold. Looks like Yamato wouldn’t be loosening those reins ever again.

“What the hell are you?” The princess’ shriek was swallowed by the thunderstorm that wasn’t so outside anymore. Knights were scattering to close the windows to no avail as most of the glass was cracked and broken anyway. They were only making it worse.

Ace slowly lowered his hands, blinking a few times for his vision to come back. What was that light? Were you okay? He looked to where you had been standing and you weren't there. A small panic settled into his chest before he realized something. 

The princess was looking up.

He followed her gaze, his eyes immediately widening as his mouth fell open. 

Before him was you; floating midair with glowing eyes. Your hair and saggier parts of your clothing seemed to also float around you as if you were in water or if they had their own sentience. Even the talisman he had given you was floating and glowing the same color that your eyes were. It seemed to be some kind of white-green. 

Instinctually, he took a step towards you but a hand clasped his shoulder. He rounded, assuming it was one of the guards but it was none other than the last man he thought it would be. 

His father, King Roger. 

“Dad?” His eyes bulged out of his head. What was his father doing here? 

“Never thought you'd find them, but here you are.” 

Everything was so confusing. The King didn't look mad at him for literally blowing up his engagement right now. He looked in awe as he looked up at you. Like he'd been waiting for this moment. Did his father know you? He followed his father's gaze back to you. 

“Find who?” he asked over his shoulder. 

“I'll explain everything later. For now-”

As if on cue, you lifted your hand over your head. 

Behind the three of you, two portals opened up. They were a cool, mute green color with white swirling on the inside. It looked like something straight out of a movie. Hell, all of this looked like something out of a movie. You were fucking floating! The storm raging outside as well? Movie type shit.

Ace was internally freaking out because what the fuck was happening? Why were you in the air? Why was his father here? Why did he look so…serene? Did he know this would happen? Again, just what was happening? His head was spinning and he felt like he needed to sit down. However, he would do just the opposite of that.

Gunshots began to ring and Ace panicked. Again, he was about to go towards you but Roger stopped him by the scruff of his collar. “L-Let me go! I have to!”

“Do what? You can’t reach them up there. Besides, you’ll end up more holey than swiss cheese.”

“So will-”

Roger jerked on his collar, stopping his speech midsentence and he pointed up at you. Ace stopped moving and looked up at you. It was true. He wouldn’t be even able to reach you if he jumped. He just wanted you safe.

“Sit and quiet. Pay attention.”

He looked at his father like he had grown another head. How could he be so calm right now?! He did what he asked anyway, knowing resistance and questions were futile. 

The first thing he noticed was that none of the hundreds of bullets being shot at you hit you. At first he thought these knights were just really bad at shooting when he realized; none of them were ricocheting either. They were disintegrating once they even flew close to you.

Slowly, one by one, the knights realized their bullets weren’t working. Each one that realized dropped their gun and hightailed it out of there, leaving their royal family deserted. Some loyalty they had.

“J-Just who the hell- No. What the hell are you?” The neighboring King shouted at you once the shooting stopped. The king and princess were now cowering behind their thrones.

You didn’t answer them. Slowly, you brought your hand down. With the same speed of your movements, two large dragons slithered their way out of the portals, moving as if they were waves themselves. The portals closed behind them. They looked as if they were made of pure jade, but they moved like snakes. Fluid and smooth were their movements. They floated around you as if awaiting your command.

“P-Please!” The king fell to his knees. The princess watched her father with large eyes. “Father!”

“Spare us! We have seen the errors of our ways! If you spare us we shall-”

“You cannot throw gasoline on a fire and say you tried to put it out.” Your voice boomed around the room. Your voice was there, but there was another, more ethereal and louder voice layered on top. The remaining windows shattered, the relentless wind making the room its new home, bringing the rain with it.

“That glass has long gone broken.” Your voice boomed again, knocking out what small amount of light was remaining. 

“Your highness,” King Roger’s voice called over the howling wind and chaos around. Ace immediately looked at him. Your highness? But that was his father. What was he doing saying that?

Slowly, you turned to look at him. The angry look you had while looking at the enemies softened to that of a neutral one. As if you had recognized him as a subject, waiting for his request.

“It would prove much easier to clean up the aftermath if you did not kill the both of them.”

Without any acknowledgement, you turned your head back to the two below you. Your angry expression returned, but there was still a regality to it. You really looked like royalty to him. Were you royalty? Apparently so since his father, the king, called you ‘your highness.’

The princess screamed, covering her head as you brought your hand back up and bringing it down in one quick motion.

The two dragons spiraled up and twisted around each other before coming down in a corkscrew-like motion, straight for the dais where the two were cowering down, screaming and yelling as the dragons drove right through them and into the floor.

The two of them looked confused for a moment, looking at each other then down at their bodies, confused. Then the king slowly began to turn to ash, blowing away right before the princess’ eyes. She screamed, crying tears of devastation.

“Please! Bring him back! Surely you-” She looked up at your unforgiving expression, her cries cutting short. She knew she was pleading on deaf ears. She had kept you trapped for weeks, starving you and beating you. She was going to kill you. Kill Ace. This was mercy.

A mercy that his own father had pleaded for and you listened. 

The princess turned her attention back to the crumpled clothes that once covered her father, crying and sobbing. “Leave! Just leave my kingdom! I will never bother you again! Everything is null and void. Just please!” Her voice grew more and more unstable with every scream, slowly breaking down.

The dragons slowly came out of the floor once more. They flew in loose waves and spirals towards you, disappearing as they reached you. As if they were disappearing inside of you. As Ace looked a little closer, they seemed to be going back inside the pendant. Just what the hell was that thing and why did his mother have it? Could she do that?

The glowing from your eyes and the pendant began to die down. As if on a string, you were lowered down. Steady and gently, you descended. Ace ran towards you, Roger letting him go this time.

He stood under you, ready to catch you if you dropped but also afraid to touch you while you descended. He didn’t want to mess anything up. Was that how it worked? He wasn’t sure, so he would just-

You landed on your feet only for them to immediately give out and Ace caught you easily. Considering how close he was, it would’ve been embarrassing if he hadn’t. 

Ace studied you, noticing all your previous injuries were gone. You no longer looked malnourished. It seemed that whatever happened to you restored you. Even the scars on your feet and legs were gone. You were back at full capacity…maybe. He wasn’t sure.

“Let’s get them home. I have much to explain,” Roger said, looking at the two of you. Still, there was that expression on his face. As if recalling a softer memory. Ace had never seen that softness in his father’s face. Not ever since his mother died. 

“O-Okay.”

With that, the three of you headed back for the kingdom.

--

“You have been chosen. Use your newfound power wisely.”

You had a dream once.

All by yourself, no one else.

You thought you’d died then went to heaven.

Then you woke up.

You had a dream once.

You didn’t know in that moment;

The world was perfect in that moment.

Then you woke up.

Bright white lights. This again? Is this death? Is this rebirth? You didn’t know. Perhaps the hands of time turned back. It sure would suck if this was rebirth and you remembered everything. Plagued by the memories of your past. Or maybe your memories of your old life would fade with time. Like how some kids seemed to recall being on the Titanic while it was sinking when they clearly were not drowning out at sea.

As the seconds ticked by, your senses slowly came back to you. Not death. Well, maybe that was good. Your vision was blotchy at first, hearing mumbles around you. It took several blinks for everything to come into focus. You’re surrounded, eyes like frozen planets. It was almost enough to make you jump.

You still couldn’t quite make out what they were saying for a moment then a familiar voice cut through.

“Enough. Let them breathe. I know we’re all excited for them to wake up.” 

By the sounds of that, you were probably out for quite a while. Was that Marco? It sounded like him but you couldn’t really move to look. Every molecule in your body felt like it was being weighed down by lead. You felt like you were underwater. 

You closed your eyes for a long moment, taking a deep breath. Nothing hurt too much, you just felt the most tired you’d felt in your entire life. Moreso than when you ran across those coals. Man, that felt like a lifetime ago. 

“I didn’t think you would ever wake up.” A voice came from next to you, soft and strained. It was full of emotion. Was that Ace? You opened your eyes and looked over, tears were falling down his cheeks. You immediately wanted to panic, but Ace settled you down. “I’m okay, I’m just happy.”

You went to speak, but nothing came out. Your mouth was so incredibly dry and it felt like sandpaper was shoved down your throat. It felt like it was shriveled up and torn to shreds. 

“Alright, let me do my job,” Marco said, walking over and taking a look at you. As he checked your vitals, Ace went to grab a glass of water. When he was handing it to you, your doctor spoke. “Slowly. Don’t want to drown yourself.” You nodded, drinking just enough to wet your whistle. It kind of hurt to get it down anyway, so you couldn't imagine downing anymore than the small sip. 

Once the cup was handed back, Marco had finished up taking a look over you. “Looks like you’re perfectly fine,” he said with a large smile. “Figured you would be, but you were out for a month so…yeah…” He shrugged, heading over to the computer in the corner of the room.

A month?! Your mouth dropped open. How the hell were you out a month? The last thing you remembered was being in that throne room and passing out. Though, you did have a strange dream. You opened your mouth again and Marco made a noise. “I need you to not speak for a while,” he said, looking at you with a stern look on his face. You clamped your mouth shut and nodded. 

Ace sighed. “So, I’ll explain everything that happened once we get you…back…home…my home…” It seemed he wasn’t sure how much you remembered. 

You just stared at him and he fidgeted. “Let’s just say we have to go back to the palace and also your throat is kind of torn to shreds thanks to the disappeared Jade Dragon Ruler.” 

Again, your mouth dropped open. What the hell was happening? 

“Yes, yes. I’ll get you all checked out and you can leave by this afternoon. Give your throat a couple more days as it’s still at the end of the mend. Just to be safe. Once you regularly have water and are eating again, then it should all be fine.” Marco nodded, dipping out to go do whatever it was doctors did. You had no idea.

Your gaze turned back to Ace. “Banshee is already on the way to the palace. I had Deuce go and fetch her the second you began to stir. I was going to send a car but then I realized she probably would’ve hated all that attention.”

You nodded, he was correct. If he sent some kind of fancy ass chauffeur, she would’ve kicked his ass more than likely.

“Yamato is-”

“Y/N!!!!!!!” His voice rang through the, now you were noticing, large room. He ran over, throwing his arms around you. 

“I am s-so sorry,” he cried, tears falling down his face. “I-”

You just patted his head, smiling to yourself. You didn’t blame him for what happened. You had done this to yourself. He was the one who had been adamant on sticking with you and you had insisted on him not having to do that.

Then look what happened.

“Alright, big lug,” Ace said with a small smile. “Don’t hang on them, they’re recovering.”

Yamato pulled away, sniffling and wiping his tears away on his sleeve.

You looked up at him and patted his hand, hoping that it would be enough.

He cried harder. “You’re too n-niiiiice.” He sobbed again before blubbering on about things. You sighed, squeezing his hand with all the strength you could muster and he paused, looking at you.

You stared at him intently and he nodded. “O-Okay,” he mumbled. “If you say so…”

Maybe this whole not being able to talk thing wasn’t going to be too bad. “I-I’m going to grab some food for everyone,” he said, quickly leaving the room. Poor guy. 

Ace sighed heavily. “Sorry,” he mumbled. 

Now, it was just the two of you. He stared at you for a long time, enough to make you start fidgeting. “I didn’t think you were ever going to wake up.” Tears once again formed in his eyes and you reached up, wiping them away. He turned into your hand, kissing your palm.

Your face felt white hot, unsure of what to do. He had never acted this…intimately with you before. You had a feeling the two of you harbored feelings for each other, but now that it was confirmed, you couldn’t process it.

He sat there for a beat more before he looked at you. “What was the last thing you remember?”

You stared at him for a moment, trying to think of how to explain.

“Was it up until you passed out?” 

You nodded.

“Okay, well. So, I’m sure you were able to make the conclusion that I am the prince.”

You nodded again.

“My late mother’s wish was to keep me out of the limelight so that I may have a chance to have somewhat of a normal childhood should I please. That was something I obviously didn’t take for granted.” He let out a long sigh. “Royalty was never something I wanted. I wasn’t interested in all the finest things. I hated how fake everyone was. It’s like when money became involved or they figured out who I am, they completely changed. They wanted to use my title, my wealth. I just…I hated all of it. Deuce, Yamato, and Marco are the only ones that never did, which is why they’re my friends…obviously.”

You just stared at him, letting him vent it all out. Honestly, you thought he'd start with what happened after you blacked out but you let him continue. You took his hand gently in yours, squeezing it in reassurance.

“I was actually set on running away from it all. There was nothing that I could gain from being royal except for a lifetime of living under a microscope. Without a moment of peace. Once I became king, everyone in the kingdom would know who I was and I hated that thought. I wouldn’t be able to just go out and be myself anymore. Whatever friends I do have as just Ace and not the prince would just be gone. I know the moment they figure out who I am, they’ll switch their tunes. Kiss ass so they can get whatever they want.”

He frowned, thinking about all the friends he would lose. He enjoyed sneaking out and such, but now there was more important things in his life.

“My dad hit me with an arranged marriage and I was kind of…whatever about it. I didn’t plan on sticking around, so why care? I didn’t want anything to do with royal life. I didn’t have a reason for it. Nothing worth staying for.”

He paused, looking to you in earnest.

“Then, I saw you at a ball.” 

You blinked, racking your brain. You didn’t recall ever meeting Ace before. Well, other than your dream, but that was it. You never met him in the physical world. Surely, you would’ve remembered.

“You didn’t see me though.” He could tell that you were trying to remember. “It was a ball at Deuce’s family’s estate. We were upstairs. I saw you from up there and knew I needed to meet you but the time I reached you, you were gone. That’s when Deuce told me about you.”

Deuce knew you? Again, you tried to remember meeting him but didn’t recall.

“Deuce was with me most of the time, so he didn’t go to events often. However, he’s very informed on the noble houses unlike me. He told me you were one not very well known either. That you hated everything to do with nobility so it made me want to meet you even more. Another noble that was like me? Of course I had to meet you.”

Ah, that made sense. If Deuce was kind of like Ace’s advisor, it would check out that he was knowledgeable on the families. And you weren’t one for the parties anyway. Once you were there, all the faces blurred into the same featureless face. If you ever saw Deuce, he probably would’ve faded in with the others. 

“You plagued my mind after that. You were all I thought about. I told my father about you but my engagement had already been solidified, so I was stuck. I overheard the plan about my assassination. Tried to tell my dad, but with the timing of everything, he thought I was making it up. ‘Trying to weasel out of my responsibilities’ he said or whatever.” 

Ace frowned deeply as he recalled the memory. 

“So, I decided, I would prove that I was right. Then I would pursue you.” He shrugged as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. Your cheeks heated up. “Then I saw that damned ad in the paper. The one announcing the toss.”

You flinched at the mention of the toss. You hated every aspect of that event - except that it brought you and Ace together.

“I decided to go. I wanted to watch and see who you ended up with. I was devastated. It was supposed to be me. Then…then it was.”

There was a fond smile on his face and you squeezed his hand gently. He chuckled, shaking his head.

“Honestly, I thought your parents would make you toss it again. Or that you would end up being the worst person in the world because of how I had put you on a pedestal in my mind. But then you were perfect and you sister, in an attempt to sabotage you, ended up doing us a favor.” He winked.

Your shoulders shook as you silently laughed. It was funny to think about now. Your entire family was so against you that they ended up helping you. 

“It did somewhat put a wrench into things. I hadn’t planned on associating with you until after this was over, but the universe had different plans.” He chuckled, bringing your hand up and idly kissing your knuckles then he frowned.

“Then I lied. It hurt. It hurt so much to lie to you. There were many times I wanted to tell you everything but…I just…I couldn’t. I felt like you would’ve been even more in danger if I did. Or that you would hate me. That you wouldn’t trust me.” His voice had grown softer.

That explained a lot. There were many times where you could tell that he wanted to tell you something, but always bit his tongue. Honestly, you understood it. You understood why he never told you. As long as he didn’t lie anymore, you were willing to move on from everything. He was willing to throw his life and his kingdom away for you, after all. You could forgive him a little.

Besides, you never told him about your dream. That you had seen him. Even though it wasn’t exactly the same, it was enough. You tapped on him, signalling for a pen and paper.

He blinked, staring at your motions. Then it finally hit him what you were asking and he looked around, going over to the cabinets and such. Eventually, he found a pad and pen, handing it to you. 

Then you spilled your secret. The dream you had. The one where you saw him and what happened in it. That you knew the fates gave you the dream for a reason and that the universe brought you together for the same reason.

Ace was quiet as you wrote down your own story, explaining it. He read the whole thing, blinking. “Oh wow…” He looked at you. “So, you only said yes because of the dream?”

Your cheeks warmed and you wrote, ‘Initially, yes.’

He nodded, thinking for a moment before chuckling. “Well, I’m glad you had the dream then. What about now?”

You blinked, tilting your head to the side. What did he mean? 

He cleared his throat. “I mean, it’s all over. What about now?” He shifted uncomfortably and you were trying to-

Oh. 

Again, your shoulders shook as you silently laughed. He was asking if you were actually into him. Not just saying yes for a dream. Did he really think you would’ve went through all of that just to tell him no? If you weren’t about it, you wouldn’t have talked to him the moment you opened your eyes. You would’ve freaked out and got him away from you.

You didn’t know how to put your feelings into written words, however. Instead, you grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him in for a kiss.

“You sure this isn't just cause you feel bad for what happened in your dream? A pity kiss?” he mumbled against you with a slight smirk. 

Every day with you felt like a dream. He wanted nothing more than to just orbit around you all day, but he had a lot of work to do if he was ever going to be able to fully be yours. He made sure to keep all the bills paid up, even though you were desperate to help. He thought it was too cute. You were determined to help someone with your hard earned money even though you had been raised to come by it easily. You seemed to understand the actual value of money and hard work, something many nobles were ignorant to. He even gave you his spare bank card. You were smart with money and knew you wouldn’t go on a spending spree. Hell, he doubted you would use it at all.

He was right.

The day he came home to you cooking was something out of a dream. It was the domestic dream he always had. Coming back to a humble home to someone who loved you, cooking and waiting for your return…though…you weren’t in love with him. This was just an arrangement. He had to remind himself but…he would win over your heart when he was finally able to tell you the truth. He planned on officially courting you the moment this was all over.

It made him absolutely overjoyed when you made it a habit to have dinner done by the time he made it home. He enjoyed being able to taste the progression of your skill in the dishes you created.

He also enjoyed watching the hollow home slowly turn into a warm one. Now it had personality and evidence people lived here. No longer just an empty shell that did nothing but hold parties. It had purpose.

Then came that day. The day he almost threw everything down the drain just to make sure you were safe again.

It was homecoming. He knew you had been a nervous wreck about it. He had offered to pay for a good, expensive gift for your parents, but you kept insisting to save money - that it would be okay. He accepted after a few failed attempts. He trusted your judgement.

Right before leaving though, his guards just had to show up to bring him to the castle. He had specifically told them not to do that. To send word through Deuce, but even he seemed thrown off guard about it all. It took everything in him to keep his cool. Livid didn’t even begin to describe the rage he felt. They almost ruined everything.

Even though it looked weird and Deuce made a piss poor attempt to cover it up, you went with it. You seemed to be the no questions type. Or maybe you were just going along with it for the love of the game - he didn’t understand, but he was grateful for it either way. You had a trust in him despite him being a stranger.

Though, he was nervous leaving you alone with your family. The entire air from the two times he met them was absolutely god awful and the thought of leaving you alone with them made him sick to his stomach. He almost wanted to talk you into staying but he knew you were determined. This was your closure, so he let you go.

When Deuce called him to fill him in on what happened, he immediately left the palace with little to no explanation. In the middle of his meetings and work, he just left. He was the prince, so he could do whatever for the most part. His father would ream him later but that was the least of his worries. He had you to take care of right now.

When he arrived to the mass chaos and seeing you in the state you were in, he had completely forgotten he was playing a role. All he saw was red, ready to absolutely decimate the entirety of your family. Both physically and financially. He wanted to strip away their titles and leave them out on the streets. 

You were on the verge of passing out and he made a beeline towards you. He took you in his arms, opening his mouth to bark orders when you spoke.

Your voice was like a wave of calm washing over him. He didn’t want to upset you in any way. He had to be smart about this. When you went limp in his arms, he did his best to keep his composure. He made a mental note to send a royal threat to them later. One that would take them out of their lives forever.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed his talisman in your sister’s hands. Rage flared in his chest again. What the hell was she doing with that? He knew you would never give that away. Is this why you were in the state you were in? “Deuce.” 

The man nodded, needing nothing more to be said as he walked over to your sister. Guards came in from all angles to stop them but he put them down so quickly and efficiently, no one had any idea what happened. Ace was glad Deuce took all those classes. He was an excellent fighter. One of the best in the kingdom.

She guffawed. “Just who-”

He held up a hand, shaking his head. “Doesn’t belong to you. We will be taking your sibling now. You will be hearing from the crown.”

At the mention of the crown, everyone stopped in their movements. Your family, the servants, the guards - everyone was stone still. “How do you know-”

“Come along, Deuce. We have things to do.” Ace then made his way out of the estate with you, not looking back once. He knew if he did, he wouldn’t be able to hold anything back. Anger would fully consume him.

“You know! Without us, you will fall and fade away!” your mother shouted after them. Boy howdy, they really had no idea.

--

The entire time you were in the hospital, he was stressed out and pacing. He called in a favor from his friend, Marco. He knew the doctor would keep his secret. Of course, he was going to be in for a world of teasing, but that was a small price to pay for the best care in the kingdom and you kept safe.

“Dude, I told you that they’re going to be fine. Just chill out. You’re annoying me.” Marco groaned and rolled his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He honestly didn’t know why he was sitting in here with Ace. It’s been the same for a while.

Ace stopped his pacing to glare at him. “Asking me to ‘chill out’ is crazy of you.”

His friend sat back in the chair. “I know. I know. ‘But mother, I love them.’ Or whatever. I’m the doctor. Listen to me. It’s fine. They’re just exhausted. Sleeping is good. They’ll heal faster.”

“The fact that they haven’t even stirred is alarming.”

“Who is the doctor? You or me?”

Ace glared at him again, making Marco laugh. He was gladMarco was having a grand old time because he certainly was not. He was worried you’d never wake up. Even though Marco said otherwise, he couldn’t help but be worried. Until you opened your eyes, he was going to be stressed out every moment.

He stayed by your side the entire time, not caring that he was ignoring his other duties. All that mattered right now was you. And being there when you woke up. To hell with the plot right now. To hell with figuring that out. To hell with all of his other princely duties. If you didn’t pull through this, then there wasn’t a point in trying to fight the entire assassination plan. He would accept death faster than anyone could blink.

Though, he knew you would find him in the afterlife and kick his ass if he did that.

The amount of relief he felt when you woke up was intense. He felt like he could pass out with the way every single molecule in his body finally relaxed the second you stirred. Everything hit him all at once and the overwhelming emotion caused tears to prick the corners of his eyes, but he didn’t even care.

You were still so kind to him, making sure he was okay when you were the one in the hospital bed. Then you started apologizing. He was honestly baffled. What was there for you, of all people, to be sorry for? For existing? It wasn’t your fault that your family happened to be absolutely insane. He could only imagine everything they had put you through for you to apologize in a situation like this.

Then you started stressing about bills and he was quick to put your worries to rest. Currently, Marco was working for free. He couldn’t spend any money on medical expenses right now because that would definitely raise eyebrows. He told his friend that he would pay him back as soon as everything was over.

As much shit as Marco gives him, he did trust him to stick to his word. He wasn’t worried about Ace paying him back in the slightest. They were childhood friends. Besides, he knew the prince’s secret now.

--

Ace wanted so much to do nothing but stay by your side until you were up and walking around again. He would’ve too, but you insisted that he work and do what he needed to do. You were worried about bills and such. Every time you brought up money, he ached to tell you that he had more money than he knew what to do with. That you would never have to worry again, but he also didn’t want to get your hopes up just in case this all didn’t work out. 

He couldn’t wait to be able to tell you that you would never have to stress about anything ever again.

At this point, Ace had been away from the castle for far too long. Too neglectful of his duties, so his father wanted to keep a more keen eye on him, which is why he was ‘taking a work trip’. At least he would still be in town. He could come if really needed to. That’s also why he had phoned a friend. Called in another favor. From his friend Yamato.

Then came the attack. Yamato had filled him in on what happened and he left the castle immediately. Apparently his own threat wasn’t enough to make your parents back off. He’d have to send another one. 

Unless…it wasn’t your parents. 

He sent people to keep an eye on your family to confirm whether or not this was the case. Unfortunately, evidence came back pointing away from your family. It wasn’t them who sent the assassins. Fear started to encroach in his mind. Who would have known about you? Did someone see him?

For both of your safeties, he’d have to stay away even longer and that crushed him.

Not as crushing as your disappearance. Ace felt like his entire world was falling apart. Yamato was a blubbering mess - he had grown quite fond of you. He was trying to explain that you had insisted and he believed him. He knew how you were, determined to be independent. You didn’t like people fretting over you. You’d looked out for yourself for so long that help from an outside source was foreign to you.

He left no stone unturned trying to find you. He was ready to completely tear apart the kingdom. To hell with his plan. New plan: Find you.

Only he wouldn’t get very far. Not when he received a letter that revealed exactly where you were. The neighboring kingdom had you. That fuckass princess and her fuckass dad. What the hell did they want with you? How the hell did they find you? They must have been the ones who sent the assassins. Everything was making sense now.

He dropped everything he was doing, going straight to you. King Roger tried to demand to know where he was going, threatened to lock up and freeze his accounts. Ace didn’t care. It was clear that money and status or no, the one person he wanted wouldn’t even care about all that. He didn’t need any of it to have what he truly wanted.

--

Ace had no plan. He marched straight in the throne room with only one thought on his mind: to save you. The rest would work itself out, right?. He had to believe it. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but he was sure it would all be fine. He was immediately detained.

Then he saw the state of you, the gun pointed at your head. His heart shattered into a million pieces. You had clearly lost weight, your face hollowed out for lack of nutrition. There were bruises all over your body and he could see bloodstains on your clothes. It didn’t take a genius to realize what they had been doing to you.

Everything suddenly shot into perspective. This was all his fault. You could’ve been married to a nice noble right now. Away from this kind of drama and harm. You wouldn’t be beaten and starved. You would be full and as happy as you could be.

How could he be so selfish? So…so foolish. 

Maybe he should’ve let Deuce catch the marriage ball. Then at least you could’ve been safe while he was trying to figure out everything at the castle. You would’ve been closer and it wouldn’t be weird for him to be at Deuce’s estate. There were a million better ways he could’ve done this.

No. He couldn’t think like that. What’s done is done. He needed to keep you safe. He needed to make it all up to you somehow. 

When you noticed him, he watched as you connected all the dots. He had expected hatred and betrayal to fill your eyes, but there was none of that. There was only relief and understanding; somehow that hurt even worse. Hell, he even saw worry and concern in your eyes - for him! You really were too good for him. He should’ve let you go a long time ago. 

Then at least you wouldn’t be like this.

The guards let you go and you ran to him. He was surprised you could in this state, but adrenaline worked insane wonders. His emotions were high; the look of desperation and helplessness in your eyes didn’t help. He had to get you out of this, no matter the cost.

He was ready to throw away the entire kingdom - his life - just to see you were safe and taken care of. You’d lived such a rough life that you deserved a break. You deserved to live however you wanted - free of worry. Deuce would be able to make sure of that after he was long gone. He trusted that his best friend would keep an eye on you once he was six feet under. Not to mention Marco and Yamato as well. They would all make sure you would be just fine.

He honestly didn’t know how you did it. To be torn down again and again only to lift yourself back up again, still finding it in you to be kind to others. Fuck, he loved you so much that it hurt. He looked into your eyes, knowing this would be the last time he would be able to do so. He saw something in them.

That calmness was gone. You usually had this unreadable look to you, a calm one. A look where he could never guess what you were thinking. Now, it looked like there was a raging storm behind it. What were you thinking? Surely, you didn’t think you’d somehow pull something to get everyone out of thi-

The two of you were ripped apart and you screamed. Screamed. It bounced off the walls, sounding strangled and reverbed. The raging thunderstorm outside grew worse. The large windows crashed open, letting in the wind and rain. The lights were flickering. He noticed something glowing on your chest. The pendant? All this time, you still had it? He thought they would’ve taken it from you.

Just what the fuck was happening?

He didn’t think about it long because the grip from the guards laxed on him a bit and he was able to wiggle out of their grip. He started to sprint to you, noticing you beginning to fall to the ground. No doubt from all the stress and commotion. Not to mention the state you were in. Maybe the chaos was a blessing. He’d be able to reach you and run out of here with you.

However, before he could reach you, he was blinded by a white light.

The world stopped. He…he agreed? He agreed to that kind of offer? That’s…that’s insane! Though, you supposed they were betrothed before you were in the picture, so it’s just business as usual. Except for the whole, he knows she’s going to poison him thing.

“Ace, that is an entire kingdom; your kingdom; your life. Don’t.” What he was agreeing to was basically suicide. Your voice is quiet, broken.  Exhaustion coated it in a thick and sticky layer, fried with strain. Days of hardly eating and no sunlight were really getting to you. It was really a marvel that you were standing and coherent at all.

“If it means you live, then it is all worth it.” A small, pained smile appeared on his face. He was really willing to throw an entire kingdom and his life away just so you could live. Tears were really falling down your face now. Yes, it was such a selfless gesture but at the same time…

“I don’t want to live if that means you are not with me.” What was the point in living when the man who had saved you from a life of misery was being taken away? It would be just as miserable as if you had stayed with your family and did as they said. You wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if he died just for you. You didn’t think you were worth all that. Unlike Ace, you weren’t anyone of importance. Hell, your family disowned you and tried to kill you.

“I am not the only one you have,” he said, a calm tone to him. He had stopped struggling, looking at you with a serene expression. He’s already accepted his fate. This is what he was choosing. That doesn’t mean you missed the water welled in his eyes that were on the brink of falling. He was holding on by a thread.

Suddenly, you’re let go and immediately you run to him. Damn the pain in your legs. The adrenaline numbed it enough to make it to him, thankfully. You fell to your knees before him and he’s allowed to drop to his so the two of you are at level. The guards deem the both of you harmless enough to allow you to say your goodbyes.

“You have Banshee and Gran,” he continued. He was right. Banshee and Gran both meant the world to you. They provided you so much in your life - showed you so much. But, so did he. “Not to mention, I’ll leave Deuce with you as well as Yamato. You won’t be alone and you’ll be safe.” The look he gave you was so warm and full of so much love that you felt like you would explode from the storm of emotions coming from you.

Thundercracked overhead.

Again, he was right. You had Banshee and Gran, yes. You would also have the other two should Ace say so, but you wanted him as well. You didn’t want him to kill himself just for you - that was insane! You wouldn’t be able to sit with yourself and watch him on the news slowly wither away and die when it would be your fault! Even if he was agreeing to it, it just didn’t sit right with you.

You gently take his face in your hands, studying every inch of his face, engraving it into your mind. You knew there was nothing you could do. This was a fight that was clearly out of your hands. You had no money, no wealth, no power, no say. Nothing you could do could prevent this from happening. You weren’t even married to him so you didn’t even legally have anything to say. This war was lost. You weren’t enough.

You rested your forehead against his, just enjoying his presence one last time. Tears fell down your face at a rapid pace.

This fucking sucked. For once, you had something you truly wanted. For once, you actually thought of the future. For once, you were fucking happy with how your life was working out and now it was all going to be torn away. For greed. It was always fucking greed.

An overwhelming storm of emotions and…so much anger. Words couldn’t even describe the amount of rage you were feeling. Why weren’t you fucking allowed to have anything? Your entire life you hadn’t been able to just…live for yourself. Always listening to the instructions of others, always having to follow societal rules, always having to do things a certain way. You weren’t allowed to have shit and it just wasn’t fucking fair. You were over it. 

You felt like a raging storm brewing on the horizon of a calm ocean. Just…what the fuck? What even was happening? The one good thing you had, you couldn’t even have. You tried to escape the noble life only to end up even further in it. Ended up entangled with the prince of all people! Now there was a political war happening and you were smack dab in the middle of it.

But why, when you finally have happiness, could you not just fucking live!

Lights flickered overhead.

All you knew was being scolded, pushed around, and punished. Anything you showed interest in growing up was never good enough for your parents. If it didn’t directly benefit them, it was pointless. Then they wouldn’t even let you go. If they just would’ve let you leave, none of this would’ve happened. You could be living with Banshee right now - no heartache included.

But you didn’t regret meeting Ace. You didn’t regret any of this. You just fucking hated how this was playing out. You just wanted everyone to leave you alone. You wanted to go home with Ace without any other worries. However, even if by some miracle the two of you were out of this situation, you could never go back to your cozy life. It never would’ve lasted either. 

Eventually, the truth would’ve come out of Ace whether this whole kidnapping happened or not. Then what? Would he have left you when he grew bored? Would he have just disappeared one day back to his duties and you only finding out through a broadcast? Would he have asked you to be a consort? Would he have made you a queen? You had no fucking idea.

What did the universe have against you anyway? Why did it keep hurtling such bullshit at you? You were tired of not being able to help your friends. Tired of feeling helpless. Tired of needing saving. Could people not just leave you alone and let you spend your days tending to your garden in your little house? It wasn’t a big fucking ask!

“Y/n…” Rain started coming down in sheets outside.

You just wanted to be able to protect the ones you loved. To be able to somehow save the day, take Ace home, and just…be able to live. Have a humble little home and a lovely garden with the help of Yamato. To run Banshee’s little store with her. To enjoy Friday nights at Gran’s. But you couldn’t. You weren’t enough and you were fucking sick of never being enough.

Is that really what you want? Power?

Arms wrapped around you. The warmth told you it was Ace, but you were so far removed from your body right now that you couldn't process much. Panic started to seep into your bones as your world came crashing down more and more. You were going to lose everything again and you weren’t sure you were going to survive it this time.

Ace’s voice came through your foggy thoughts. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you.”

You blinked as you glanced at him. Tears were falling down his face now. He looked sorrowful and full of regret. Did he think you were mad at him? You could never be mad at him. Because honestly?

You understood. To a degree. 

While everyone processed everything differently; for the most part, you somewhat understood. The pressure of being in nobility. You couldn’t stand your own and you couldn’t imagine the amount of pressure he was experiencing being the prince. You thought you didn’t have the ability to say no or to have a choice, but he really didn’t. Everything you experienced, he probably felt it tenfold and your heart ached for him.

You sure as shit didn’t blame him for running away. He probably saw an out the day at the bridal toss. He probably saw it as a sign - a way out. Just as you saw the sign when you realized he’s the man from your dream. You still aren’t sure what the universe was trying to tell you now. Bringing the man from your dream only for this to be the outcome. You found your role in a tragedy.

“Oh, I could never be mad at you.” Your voice was soft, strained. There was a weird sense of calm despite the fact you felt like you could explode at any moment. A bottle that has been shaken and ready to burst. A powder keg about to explode. The eye of a hurricane.

Grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, you pulled him in and kissed him hard, full of passion and fire. At least you would kiss him once, tell him your feelings before it all went to shit.

Ace was surprised but also quick to return the passion and fire. You knew he felt the same way. Every moment you spent together was full of love and intimacy that you had only ever dreamed of. You just wished you could’ve seen it sooner instead of trying to convince yourself it wasn’t real. 

You pulled away after a moment. “I love you, Ace. And I always will. There has to be a way out of this.” Your voice cracked as you felt yourself tipping over once more. “There has to be.” Quieter this time, as if a small affirmation being whispered into the universe. There is.

The look on Ace’s face destroyed you. It was full of love but also sadness and helplessness. It was clear he was also thinking about the life the two of you could’ve had, had everything worked out. He had no hope. Pandora’s box was opened and Ace couldn’t see the hope at the bottom, but you could. If he didn’t have hope, you would have enough for the both of you. There was no fucking way that the universe would bring the two of you together in such a manner just for this to be the outcome.

There had to be a fucking way. You would find a fucking way. You would rather fucking die than to just sit idle and let him wither away.

The two of you were ripped apart and you yelled; you protested, you fought back. Nothing worked. Nothing would work. Not with you in this state. It was like a toddler trying to fight an adult. You weren’t doing any damage, but you weren’t going down without a fight.

“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH HIM!” The lights went out, the window bursting open from the wind once more, the rain blowing in.

Ace was trying to fight against the guards that had him. He reached for you and you reached for him. This was all you wanted. You didn’t care that he was the prince. You didn’t care he lied to you. You didn’t care. You just wanted to be with him, whatever it took. He was your home now.

You strained against your guards with a little more strength than you thought you had, breaking from them while they were distracted by the rain and wind. “Ace!”

“Y/n!”

Are you ready?

Then you felt a crack in the back of your skull and everything went white.

At a million miles an hour, your head races. Everything you had done in your life up until this point was quickly turned over and dumped out because how the fuck were you in a situation like this? Your entire life, all you did was try to avoid nobility at any cost and now you were sitting in a throne room of a kingdom you weren’t even a part of. How the hell did anything you had done in your life lead up to this point? 

The adrenaline that was now pumping your veins was making you feel more awake than you have felt in days. You were more alert and less in pain than you were half an hour ago.

The king looked down his nose at you. It made your skin crawl. He clearly thought you were scum - less than even. You were nowhere near his status and you were insulting him by being in his presence. Which, why the hell were you anyway?

“State your name.” 

This again? Did no communication happen in this kingdom? Annoyance rose up your spine but you kept it down. You were at a point where you didn’t care what happened to you. You just wanted it to stop. Like when your prison guard first asked; you answered, providing Ace’s last name instead of your own. It was interesting how natural it felt.

They seemed to perk up at your answer. “Portgas?” The princess spoke with renewed interest. She had looked completely bored before but now she looked like she was looking at an animal that was about to do a trick. One that she has seen many times, but provided a little entertainment.

You scrunched your brows together but nodded. What was special about that? 

You watched as the princess looked to her father, speaking to him in a low voice. He kept his eye on you but leaned in to listen. He nodded to whatever question she asked before the two of them straightened back out.

“Tell me. Who are you?” 

You blinked. You just told them who you were?

“I am just a commoner. Just as my husband is.” Maybe you and Ace weren’t quite married yet, but it would be easier to just claim you were. They would probably kill you before they found out anyway - if they bothered looking - and you were already claiming his name.

“Are you aware that the last name ‘Portgas’ was also the maiden name of the late queen of the kingdom from which you hail?” There was an amused look in the king’s eye. As if he was playing a game of chess and this was the winning move.

“Uh…maybe?” Suddenly, you wished you had paid attention in your studies because then maybe you would’ve noticed it sooner, but still. Surely it didn’t mean what he was implying. “Are you saying my husband is the crown prince, your highness?” You blinked.

The king just chuckled, sitting back in his chair. “I suppose it was a long time ago that she had passed and an even longer time since she had the name.” He shook his head, ignoring your question at first. “I’m not implying anything, just pointing out a fact.”

“And what is your maiden name?” The princess spoke up, hurriedly. It seemed she didn’t want to play whatever games her father was initiating. She was growing impatient.

“Uh…” You really didn’t want to say. “I’m just a commoner, I don’t see why-”

“Are you denying royalty?” She glared at you so sharply, it would cut you if they were daggers. “Don’t test my words.”

“No, your highness.” You swallowed hard. You provided them with your last name. However, recognition didn’t seem to spark their eyes. So, this really wasn’t about your family. Just what crock of shit were you in?

“What is your husband’s name?” 

You were quiet for a moment before you answered. “Ace.” Your voice was quiet, but it was enough to make the princess stand up.

“So, it is you!” Anger radiated from her so intensely, you could feel it from where you were. The glare she had been giving you somehow intensified. “You really are a nobody. That means this next part shall be easy.” A wicked grin spread across her face and she lifted a delicate hand.

“Guards, on my count get rid of them.”

The sound of the guards drawing their guns and pointing them at you. They held their fire, waiting for her command, but you weren’t even in your body right now. Your brain was finally connecting all the pieces without a doubt.

Ace was the prince. You were the person who had run away with him. Now, so many other questions were rising and you were never going to be able to answer them. You were going to die without knowing. Why had Ace been at your marriage toss? Why did he agree to marrying you? Why did he do literally anything and everything with you? Was he doing his princely duties when he said he was going off for work? Were you really just a fun toy for him to amuse himself with when he was bored with his life? 

You felt a storm of emotions that you couldn’t put a name to. All of them conflicting.

“Any last words, commoner?”

Her words didn’t even process. You felt like you were going to explode at any moment. At least you wouldn’t have to be lied to or tugged around by royalty and nobility anymore. You would finally be able to rest in peace - no longer a pawn.

Before anything could happen, the doors flung wide open.

“Y/N!” 

Another surge of adrenaline takes over every fiber of your being as you whipped around, immediately recognizing the voice. All the conflicting emotions washed away, leaving only relief behind. “Ace!”

He went to run for you only to quickly be detained by the countless guards in the room. You managed to stand, trying to make your way to him but you didn’t make it very far either. Both of you just stared at each other, trying to fight your way to each other. To no avail.

“Y/n!” He cried out again only to be yanked away once more. He looked at you, looking over your malnourished body. Sadness filled his eyes as he took in the weight loss, the bruises, all of it.

The emotions started to overwhelm you. They bubbled up inside, occupying every molecule of your being. Your chest and throat tightened. Tears began streaming down your face. You couldn’t say anything - the only thing coming out being choked sobs.

The princess cackled, her voice reverberating off the walls around the two of you. Neither of you looked at her, just looking at each other with desperation in your eyes. As if you could create a stare strong enough to attract the two of you like magnets.

After the cackling died down, Ace looked up at the woman across the room. His glare held the force of a prince. Now that you were looking at him properly, he was wearing the attire of a prince. Maybe not as put together as he would be on a television screen, but now he was donning his house colors. He was in a button up and slacks that were clearly made out of the best material money could buy but they were dishevelled as if he hadn’t changed them in days.

“They are not a part of this…please. You have to let them go.” The desperation was so strong in Ace’s voice that it cracked, along with your heart. It pained you to see him like this.

“I don’t have to do anything.” She thought for a moment, a shit eating grin spread across her face and an evil glint in her eye. “Oh, I suppose I could let your beloved go.” She giggled. “On one little condition.” She winked.

“Anything.”

You looked at him with wide eyes. Anything? A man that could lose everything was offering anything? Before you could even start protesting, the princess laughed again.

“I’m assuming you started to draw away from me and sent spies after me because you’ve figured out my plan.”

Plan? Spies? This was obviously something that was way bigger than you. Something that had nothing to do with you. You were just an unfortunate pawn with no say or clue in the matter. 

Ace was silent, anger radiating off of him just as it had the princess earlier. He took a deep breath before speaking. “Yes.”

You looked between the do of them, desperately trying to figure out what the hell they were talking about. The princess seemed amused by it all. “Oh, poor peasant. I know this is probably above your brain power.” Why the hell was she talking like this was the medieval times? Commoners had education too. Well, that and, you didn’t grow up a commoner but still. Everyone could go to school these days.

“Ace and I are betrothed.” Your heart sank. That made sense. He was the crown prince. Of course he’d be betrothed to a princess. It also made sense on why the two of you hadn’t married yet. You assumed it was funds when it was actually this. Now, the lies were collapsing. 

You were always the optimist when it came to Ace, but you never thought of this. You think of how this came to be. The only reason you had agreed to entertain this idea was because of a dream. A dream that you had long forgotten until this moment, but a dream nonetheless. Maybe that’s why he was in your dream. It wasn’t the universe saying you were meant to be together, you probably just saw him at some point in passing and your brain just stuffed him in your really weird dream.

But it felt so real. That still doesn’t explain how he would end up at your marriage toss. Being a prince and all that. Ugh, your head was pounding.

“My plan was to marry Ace. He was fine with it in the beginning. He hated the life of royalty so he just went through the motions. Accepting anything daddy told him. Then he started pulling away. I assumed it was because of some consort. But it would seem that he ran off to get married so that he couldn’t marry me.” Her face fell into one of anger.

“I would have been fine if he had a consort or a lover. I don’t care. I wanted the marriage. And he took that from me! You took that from me!” Her voice raised to a shrill shriek. Kings and queens could have many consorts, but they could only have one marriage. And typically divorce couldn’t happen in royalty. You were stuck with them forever. Or until one or the other died.

Wait, but the two of you weren’t married. You looked at Ace, but he was glaring at the princess. He trusted you to go along with the story. He knew if he looked at you now, it could give the two of you away.

“You were going to poison me!”

Poison? You looked at her. It made sense. Marry the prince, slowly kill him, obtain the kingdom. It was evil, but it checked out. This is why you wanted away from royalty. Greed knew no bounds and you wanted nothing to do with it…now you were in with the highest ranks. Just your luck.

The princess took a deep breath, composing herself. She straightened out, clearing her throat. “My condition.” She looked at you for a moment. There wasn’t even disgust in her eyes. There was nothing. They were dead.

“You let me go through with my plan. You sit beside me. Act like a good and faithful husband. Then I will let them go.”

What she wasn’t saying was louder than what she was saying. “You’re asking him to basically kill himself!” Finally, you had found your voice. “That’s insane! Disgusting! What the fuck is wrong with you!” You pulled at your guards but they didn’t budge.

“This is why I fucking wanted out of the nobility life!” Your own voice echoed around the room this time. The windows rattled a little bit, a gust of wind pushed one of them open. A crisp, cool breeze filled the room. You could practically smell a storm coming. It did help you clear your head a little.

“Wanted out?” The princess cocked an eyebrow. “I thought you were a commoner.” She narrowed her eyes at you. She repeated your last name again, clearly thinking hard. “Right. Your family is a noble one. Not nearly as noble as you once were but still a high house.” She frowned deeply, shaking her head. “You lied to me.”

Fear started settling into you. “N-No. My family disowned me. Tried to kill me. I-I-”

“They aren’t noble anymore. They’re just a commoner. Which is why you should let them go.” Ace spoke up again, only he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at you. There were so many emotions swirling on his face. However, one took precedence. It made your heart stop.

“Ace. Don’t.” Your voice was barely above a whisper, getting caught in your throat. 

His eyes left you. There was a serene look on his face. He made a decision and there was no changing his mind. He looked up at the princess and you began to thrash against your guards as he stopped pulling against his. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening.

“I’ll do it. Let them go. I’ll marry you, Princess Tate.”

When you come to, there isn’t much lighting. Your eyes quickly adjust to the low lights as you move to sit up. The back of your head is throbbing where they knocked you out. You reach to gently press on it only to find it very tender. Fuck, they hit you hard.

You looked around the room. The room looked to be a dungeon of some kind - void of any comfort. However, there weren’t cuffs on the walls or jail bars. You don’t recall your parents ever having a dungeon. Besides, kidnapping feels like a step backwards from murder. Usually you go with kidnapping before you go with murder, but what did you know?

Of course you thought this was your parents. Who else would it be? You weren’t exactly known in the world of nobility that well. The only time you really interacted with the public - aside from when you were a child with no choice -  was the whole televised marriage toss. But, Ace won that. The people knew you were taken. Unless there had been someone who was secretly obsessed with you the entire time? 

A million scenarios ran through your mind, all a little more reaching and crazy than the last. 

Then, you started laughing. Everything was just ridiculous. No matter how many times you told your parents that you wanted nothing to do with them, they kept pulling insane stunts. You didn’t understand it. Where did they even take you? What was the point? Another assassination attempt would’ve made more sense. 

The only reason you were laughing was because you knew the moment you stopped, you’d start crying and you didn’t want to shed another tear because of them. They’ve made you cry plenty of times, you were over it.

After a bit, your laughing died down and now you were just sitting there. Your mind started to wander again. Has Ace found out yet? What was Yamato’s reaction when he came back and you were gone? Had they told Banshee already? 

Honestly, you felt bad for Yamato. He had been adamant in sticking to your side and you convinced him to leave only for this to happen. You could only imagine how he felt. He’d probably never let you out of his sight again.

If you were able to go back home, that is.

--

After what felt like a lifetime, the door to your little dungeon room opened up. Light poured in, filling the room. It was such a stark contrast that you had to lift your hands in front of your face and shield your eyes. 

“State your name,” a gruff voice said. 

Why was he asking your name? If he kidnapped you for your parents, shouldn’t he know? Also, why the fuck would you kidnap someone and not be sure of their identity? Everything felt backwards and wrong.

Slowly, you lowered your hands from your face as your eyes adjusted to the sudden light. 

Before you was a brick of a man and you didn’t recognize him. You knew all of your family’s staff and he wasn’t one of them. He had blond hair that was shaved into a buzzcut and angled features. He wore a military uniform, but the colors were wrong. They weren’t the colors of your house or even colors from any of the other noble houses or even the royal ones. You racked your brain trying to figure it out.

Then you noticed the crest on his lapel. It hit you. He was from the neighboring kingdom. What the hell were you doing here? Your parents didn’t have that kind of reach. There had to be some serious misunderstanding.

“Uh…” You weren’t about to give them your family’s name. They were too well known and honestly you didn’t want to be tied to them anymore. “Portgas D. y/n.” Ace was just a commoner, so using his name would be best. They wouldn’t know who he was. And you’d have his name soon enough…if you were able to get home.

The man clicked his tongue as if processing the information. If they grabbed the wrong person, they weren’t showing it. You still didn’t know why you would be kidnapped by neighboring royalty.

“Where is the crown prince?” 

All thoughts stopped. The prince was missing? You knew he didn’t like to show his face and he was often off working or something or another, but you didn’t know he was missing. “Uh…I don’t…” You also just didn’t keep up to date with royalty or nobility like the rest of your kind. You didn’t care enough.

“Do not play games with me!” His voice suddenly boomed, making you flinch at the sudden noise.

“The crown prince ran off the play house with some harlot.” There was venom dripping in his voice. Why was he so upset with what a neighboring prince was doing?

Ran off? Why would he run off? Well, you did hear that he wasn’t one to really care for the throne and stayed out of the limelight. Much like yourself. You couldn’t stand being a regular noble, you couldn’t imagine having to be part of the royal family. All that pressure and loss of freedom? You couldn’t do anything you wanted to! You would’ve been on even more lockdown than you had been.

Just further pushed your own belief of even if you have the world, if you’re not surrounded by the right people, shit fucking sucks.

“Well, I don’t even know who the crown prince is. He was never one to go in the limelight and I was never one to keep up with royalty.”

The man looked at you for a long moment. You stared right back at him. You had nothing to hide. You just wanted to be left alone. To be with your husband in your house. To hang out with Banshee when you worked at the store. To work on projects around the house with Yamato. To have dinner on Friday’s at the nursing home with your best friend and Gran. 

He let out a long, frustrated sigh. “I am not going to ask you again, y/n. Where is the crown prince?”

You rolled your eyes, letting out a sigh of your own. “I told you I don-” 

SMACK. 

Your head whipped to the side and pain blossomed across your face, your cheek stinging and head throbbing all over again. This fucker really just slapped you. 

“And I told you not to play games with me,” he spat, the hatred filling his eyes.

You blinked a few times, rubbing your cheek. “What the fuck, dude.”

“Your husband is the crown prince. You are the harlot he ran off with. Do not play dumb with me.” 

What? Ace was the prince? That didn’t make any sense. Surely, he would’ve told you? You were noble too, after all. It would’ve been something the two of you could’ve bonded over. There were all those times he looked like he wanted to tell you something but didn’t…no, your brain was making things up.

“I would know if my husband was the crown prince and he is not. He would’ve told-”

Another smack across the face, causing your ears to begin ringing. Your head began reeling. Was Ace the crown prince? Hell, you didn’t even know what he did for a living. You assumed construction, but he was always away for work. Maybe he was going back to the castle to play role of the perfect prince.

“I hope you do not lie to me this time.” The man was in your face now and you glared at him.

“I…” You closed your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. “I do not know. As far as I know, he is not but-” Another smack. Fuck, dude. When would it stop? 

“How does someone not know their own royal family? Surely, no one is that dense.” 

“Hate to disappoint,” you groaned, rolling your eyes.

The interrogation continued like that. They kept asking where Ace was, you kept telling them that you didn’t know. You were telling the truth, you didn’t know where he was. And as far as you were aware, your fiance wasn’t the prince.

The hits kept coming, the questions didn’t stop. It was an endless cycle. You couldn’t think straight or hardly at all. Your face was numb, making it harder to talk. Blood was gushing from your nose and dribbling from your mouth. All you tasted was the metallicness of the liquid. Were you going to die here? How the hell did you even get wrapped up in this?

You were sure you’d be able to sort things out in your head if they stopped fucking hitting you, but people are dumb like that.

Eventually, once again, you lost consciousness. The world faded to black.

--

When you came to, you were alone again. It was dark - which you were grateful for. The world seemed to calm down again. Sure, you were in a dungeon in a neighboring kingdom and your fiance might be the missing prince, but you were alive, right?

Once more, your head was throbbing and now your cheek was dully stinging, you weren’t sure how long you were out. Your stomach growled and you were really in need of a shower, blood crusted on your face and down your neck. You knew you weren’t going to get any of those things. Sleeping on the floor also had your entire body aching. Your feet, without their proper care and stretching out, were in so much pain.

All you could do was think.

Ace being the crowned prince. You tried to recall ever seeing the prince, but you couldn’t. You knew the former queen was adamant about keeping him out of the spotlight when he was younger and then after she passed, the prince still didn’t bother. He was always working behind the scenes as far as you were aware.

Let’s say Ace was the prince. Why was he there the day of that? Why wasn’t he at the castle doing important princely things? Surely, there were much better things to do than attend your marriage toss. Besides, certainly there’s way better options for marriage than little ol’ you. There was also the fact that Ace lived in a tiny shack when you met him. He worked around the clock pretty much. 

If he was the prince, he would’ve had an incredibly extravagant house with unlimited funds and he wouldn’t be working all day every day. Wouldn’t he?

But then, he did give you his card and said to use it for whatever, whenever. Not that you ever really used it, but it was there. You had no idea what he did for a job. Just that he was gone for days or even weeks at a time. There was Deuce, who was always by his side like some kind of secretary or advisor. They played it off as best friends, but it was clear Ace was in charge. Then there’s also Yamato. A friend he had who was a bodyguard for some really important people. Was he a royal guard then? That would explain his expertise and his ability to one shot so quickly and easily without much thought or feeling. 

Ugh, thinking about this was making your head hurt even more. Why wouldn’t he tell you all of that if that was the case? What was the point of playing pretend? Why bother with your family? How come your parents didn’t notice him either? They knew everything about everyone when it came to royalty? Maybe Ace was that elusive? 

A small memory popped up of the maids whispering when they saw Ace for the first time. They had thought he was someone they knew. Maybe they recognized him? Then begs the question once more, how did your parents not notice? Maybe they didn’t even try to notice, thinking he was a civilian through and through. He had dressed pretty casual all the times you had seen him. Nothing about him or his demeanor screamed royalty.

Before you could think much more, the door opened again. You shied away from the light once more, hearing something be placed on the floor and then they were gone again. You opened your eyes to see a plate of food a few feet away from you. It was only bread and a small cup of water.

You tried to stand up, only to feel knives in your feet and the feeling shooting up your legs as you fell down once more. The rough concrete of the ground, the beating, the cold…everything was working against you. You could basically feel your lifeforce withering away with every second. Hunger ate at you but you almost couldn’t muster the strength to go over there and eat. 

After much debate, you finally made your way over there. Not by walking, but you made it. More than likely, you would die here in this dungeon basement. If Ace was the prince, then maybe he would sweep in and rescue you. If he wasn’t, there was no way he could break you out of here and even have an idea that you were here.

You blinked. Wait, why was the neighboring kingdom looking for the prince anyway? What business did they have with him? 

So many more questions began to pop up, but you were growing weary from everything, so you decided to lay down and try to sleep instead. Due to your weakened state, it didn’t take long for sleep to embrace you in her arms.

--

Days went by, same each time. You were questioned, smacked around, given barely enough food to live, and left alone with your thoughts. Sleep kept you in her arms most of the time - the cold making you shiver and burning whatever small amount of energy you had. You were losing touch with what you were - who you were. Nothing felt real.

Luckily, the violence stopped. They were probably coming to the conclusion you were telling the truth.They even questioned you less and less, which you were more than happy with. Just let you wither away in peace.

At this point, the pain was just as normal as breathing. You stayed in one place, moving causing too much ache and hurt. You spent your time just laying on the floor, only moving to eat, then sleeping. That’s all you could do. Even thinking spent too much energy.

The door opened. You weren’t sure how long it had been since the last time it opened. Could’ve been hours, could’ve been days. You were faced away from the door.

“Get up.”

Slowly, painfully, you turned around. You just glared at the man you had come to know...sort of. You still didn’t know his name, not that you wanted to. He definitely wasn’t as harsh as when you first met each other. Maybe this bonding over beating you made him soft. Maybe treating you the way he did and realizing you were innocent in all of this was getting to him. This whole situation was ridiculous. 

He looked at you for a long moment before he shook his head with a sigh. He walked over, grabbing you by the arm and yanking you up. The sudden movement was enough to wake your entire body, filling it with fire. You closed your eyes and bit the insides of your cheeks to keep from crying and shouting. You wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

Another knight you had seen in the background a couple times came to grab your other arm, both of them easily lifting you off the floor. You had dropped down to an extremely concerning weight, unable to have proper nutrition and hydration. The fact you were still alive was surprising to even you.

They dragged you up some stairs, down long corridors. Were they taking you to your execution? You were innocent though. Maybe they had to rid themselves of the evidence of torturing an innocent person. Though, you weren’t sure how this kingdom was. Maybe their ruler was known for being cruel. 

You let yourself be dragged around like a ragdoll, your head bobbing to and fro, unable to even muster up enough strength to hold it up.

The three of you went through a set of large, ornate double doors. You were dragged down the long room before tossed on the ground. You laid there for a moment before slowly rising up to at least a sitting position and looking forward. You blinked a few times, trying to clear your vision.

Before you sat the king of the neighboring kingdom and his daughter, their princess.

After much back and forth, Ace decides to go anyway. It had to have been some form of torture because the thought of someone else marrying you was destroying him from the inside out. It didn’t help that the pulling sensation was stronger than ever. It felt like the entire universe was screaming at him to go. So, who was he to ignore the entirety of the universe? Maybe there would be some closure.

Deuce didn’t go with him this time. He was more noticeable than Ace, so someone would probably think he was there to catch the marriage ball. A very deep part of Ace almost wanted him to do that. At least if Deuce married you, he could trust that you would be taken care of and happy. And you would be in his life to some extent, but that wouldn’t be fair to Deuce. He would be putting him in the exact same situation he was in.

Surely the universe had something in mind. Why else would it reveal you to him? Have the newspaper of your marriage toss end up at his house when he happened to be there? There were too many things happening for it to be coincidence.

It was particularly warm and it sucked even more having so many people around him. He was impressed with the set up, however. The house you resided in was large. He couldn’t help but wonder why. Why were you doing this? You didn’t seem one to be part of the nobility life, so why pull a big stunt like this? Televised and everything.

Unless it wasn’t your choice, which pissed him off even more. You were only a noble, not even a royal. Why were you having to marry someone you didn’t know? Or marry someone you didn’t want to? He didn’t understand it. Well, he did. It was greed. It was almost always greed.

Once more, he was able to lay his eyes on you. His breath was taken away and he was head over heels all over again. It just fueled his fire to end up in your life somehow all over again. Only, he didn’t know how he was going to do that if you were engaged to someone else. 

Everything about this event was…odd. Everything felt like it was straight out of an old textbook. No one did things like this anymore. A marriage toss was an ancient tradition that died out centuries ago. Not to mention, the marriage ball itself even looked old. The clothes you and your family were wearing were also that of old times. He wondered why this entire spectacle was happening. 

By the look on your face, it wasn’t your decision. He grew angry all over again.

The next moments were a blur. One moment, he was absolutely captivated by your presence, the next, you were standing in front of him, the ball in his hands. He blinked, unable to even fathom that any of this happened.

It was as if you found him drifting out at sea. It was automatic, it was telepathic. You looked at him as if you had always known him.

He scrambled in his own brain. What was he going to do? Then he remembered his cover. He was playing as a man in the poverty line. Someone with nothing to his name. Surely, you wouldn’t want to marry him. You would at least want someone of your status. Besides, even if he went with it, at the end of the day, he didn’t know you. You could be awful. Never meet your dreams or whatever. He couldn’t think right now. Not when you were standing so close to him. Not when you smelled so good.

Then you stepped even closer. In all your elegance and radiance. You had the command of someone who ruled an entire kingdom. The air about you; you absolutely were more fit for a throne than he.

Everything else fell away. Suddenly, you were the only two people around. He couldn’t hear nor see anyone else. There was only you. You with a warm air about you that felt like home. A soft, analyzing expression on your face.

Then the reality of the situation hit him. He quickly bowed to you, remembering his character to play. “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to catch it, i-it just ended up in my hands. I didn’t want it to end up on the dirty ground…”

He straightened back up, meeting your intense stare. It was hard to tell what you were thinking. The look on your family’s faces said enough. They were disgusted that a ‘commoner’ caught this marriage toss. Hah, if they only knew…

Though, your expression wasn’t like that. Your expression seemed thoughtful and taken aback. Perhaps just surprised that you threw it so terribly?

Then your sister piped up, speaking something about having to honor tradition. Was she really saying that you should marry him? That didn’t make any sense. He had done a bit of reading up on your family. They seemed like the typical greed type. They would want you to marry someone of a higher house. A house with a lot of money. Like the Bastille’s. 

That’s when he saw it. The hatred in your family’s eyes when they looked at you. They despised you. Why was that? You seemed so -

“I’m going to give him the choice.”

He tensed as you spoke, stopping his train of thought. A voice that seemed so kind to him, so genuine. Despite the situation you were in, you weren’t taking it out on him. You weren’t going to use him as a lifeline to get out of the entire situation. You were giving him a choice. Something he had never exactly been given before. It threw him off.

You and your sister went back and forth for a moment before Ace finally spoke up.

“Sure.”

Seeing you defend him so adamantly was honorable. Especially considering he was a commoner right now. You knew your situation and weren’t going to drag others into it that didn’t need to be dragged into. So, he figured ‘why not?’

The shock on your face when you turned around made him want to laugh out loud, but he held it in. He relaxed his posture, trying to keep himself calm. He was a prince, after all. Hiding his emotions is what he did best. He started prattling on his knowledge of the subject. How it used to be open for everyone, not just nobles. That way no one house became too powerful or whatever. Maybe…maybe he did pay attention in his lessons more than he thought he did.

He did remind them that there was nothing to his name. He needed to keep up his facade. He knew him having nothing would bother your parents. He would be bringing nothing in for the family. No prestige or anything. At least not for now. 

Once he figured out his own shit, however…

Then you laughed; a beautiful and musical noise to him. Color seemed to burst into his world. It was small, somewhat like a chuckle, but it made his heart race. Every time you looked at him. Every time you spoke. Everything you did made his heart thump so hard he thought it would burst out of his chest. 

The universe was really going to let this happen? It was actually going to give him something he wanted? He wanted nothing more than to take you away from here. Away from the family that looked at you like you were nothing more than the scum on their shoe.

He made a promise right there that when this was all over, he was going to confess everything. Then he was going to give you the royal wedding that you deserve. He was going to rub it in your family’s faces and they weren’t going to be invited.

When you spoke, it was as if angels were singing down upon him. You said that you were going to honor the tradition. You spoke so smoothly, so kindly - to him, it was clear that status didn’t matter to you. Money didn’t matter. You didn’t seem bothered in the slightest that you would have to marry a commoner. In fact, you looked relieved. What had they put you through that you were willing to give everything up like this? You would throw everything you were given away just to spite them. It was admirable.

He tried to give you one more out, telling you that he had nothing once more. That he cannot give you the life you deserve. It would be a struggle to be with him.

“I’m sure if we work hard and save our money, we will make a decent living." Then a small, little smile that spoke so safely. He was pretty sure his heart was going to explode. You really didn’t mind living with him. With the idea of possibly struggling.

He couldn’t find his voice. He just stared at you, completely taken aback by your words. He couldn’t believe it was working out like this. Not only did he happen to find you, but you were so…kind. You were so sweet.  Part of him was worried the universe would torture him more and make you an insufferable spoiled brat but that was so far from the truth.

“Pick me up in three days time if you agree to this. I will have everything ready by then.”

You were giving him three days to decide? Hell, he would take you now. Before he could even protest, you turned and walked away. You really commanded the space you were around. Regal in every sense of the word. More than the rest of your family, and you had no idea.

--

Deuce was in shock when Ace filled him in on what happened. This just made everything a million times more complicated and he was stressed beyond comparison. Irritation creeped up his spine. “What happened to having a low profile!” 

“I know, I know. It’s not my fault!”

“You should’ve said no!” 

“I can’t just say no to a noble!”

“ACE YOU ARE THE FUCKING PRINCE!” He pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a harsh sigh. Ace could see the migraine popping into his head.

Okay, he was right. Technically, he wouldn’t have faced any repercussions for saying no, but he couldn’t just hand you over to someone else. Not when you were so close. Plus, it would blow his cover…kind of.

The two simmered for a moment before Ace finally sighed. “I couldn’t just hand them off to someone else. Besides, to keep up my looks as a commoner, it makes more sense to say yes.”

Deuce stared at Ace for a long moment, running calculations. “Okay, okay. This could still work out. If we are careful. The princess will leave for her kingdom soon enough and I’m sure we can say you’re away on work or something for when you have to go back to the castle.” He glared at Ace. 

The prince put his hands up in surrender. “I know, I know.” He looked around, thinking. “We’re probably going to need to actually put some furniture in this house, huh?”

Right now, it was just a run down house with a couple folding chairs and a folding table. Bare minimum as he usually held the parties in the small backyard and the kitchen so the house wasn’t used anyway. There were also plenty of holes in the floor. There was so much work to do in these three days before he brought you home.

At least there was a lot of natural lighting. Even a well lit place could hide salvation. He could see the tiredness in your eyes. The eyes of losing a battle. You had no idea just how much you had won the war and the thought made him smile.

--

Those three days sucked. From sun up to sun down and even well into the night, Ace and his crew were working on getting the house in livable condition. Its dilapidated state was worse than he had originally thought. Sure, he could’ve just hired a crew to do all the work because he was the prince, but he had to be careful. He couldn’t trust just anyone. Luckily, they had made plenty of friends on their excursions into town and one of them actually worked with a small business construction crew and so they helped out.

Limited people, limited time, limited funds. He had to be careful with his spending as to not raise too much awareness. 

The day he was set to pick you up, he was called to the palace. The entire time he was antsy, watching the clock. He was quick to finish up his work, eager to get to you. He didn’t want you to think he had abandoned you. He couldn’t risk blowing this, not when he was working so hard to make it happen.

Alas, the universe was in his favor once more. He was able to finish on time and make it to you. Even had an idea to mess with your parents a bit. You seemed amused and looked radiant as usual. He still couldn’t believe he was taking you home with him.

Though, he was nervous about you seeing the house. Maybe he should’ve just gotten a different house. One that was a little bigger. Maybe a little nicer. Nothing too extravagant. But, you deserved more than just a run down shack of a house. Even if they did work hard on making it liveable in three days.

“Sorry, I know you deserve more.” The look on your face was stoic. You were an expert at making your emotions.

And again, you provided that lovely musical laugh that he couldn’t get enough of. Warm and real. He had heard so many fake laughs in his time that yours was a breath of fresh air. You seemed unbothered by the house, in fact…you looked excited about it, claiming now you have a project.

He honestly couldn’t believe you were real. 

However, when you mentioned picking up a job, he was quick to protest. He didn’t want you doing anything. He would provide you with everything. Deuce gave him a look that was telling him to remember his role. A commoner with barely any money, but he didn’t want you to worry about anything. He could tell you’ve been through the ringer and he just wanted you to be able to take a breather for once. When it came to you, all his rules and reasoning and planning went out the window.

Only, just as quick as he was to cut you off, you were quick to cut him off. You put him in his place, telling him that you would likely go mad just sitting around doing nothing. Again, you had this demanding air about you. Truly fit for royalty. You mentioned having previous work experience and he was surprised. You were just full of them. You hated the noble life, you didn’t mind working. 

Everything you did and said made him fall more head over heels in love with you. More and more he wanted to whisk you away to the palace where he could keep you safe. Damn his father. Damn the arrangement. He just wanted you, but he had a plan and he needed to stick to it.

He knew that he wouldn’t be able to marry you anytime soon, but he knew he wanted to be with you forever. There was a ceremony that was ancient in tradition and close to his heart. It was only one that was done with the one you love. Promise that you will be together. Even if not in this one, in the next. 

He was surprised you were so willing to do it. He couldn’t understand why you were so willing. You could’ve just accepted the engagement and married whenever. But here you were, willing to go an extra mile just for some commoner.

He would need to get the backyard ready. With you going to your friend's house, it made things easier. He didn’t want the surprise to be ruined. 

While you were gone, he worked on redoing the backyard. Well, he worked on planning for the backyard. He wasn’t able to really get started on it until the next day and by then you were already home. 

--

The ceremony couldn’t have gone more perfectly. You seemed to know exactly what to say and when to say it. You didn’t sound like a robot rehearsing lines either, there was meaning behind your words. Promise. It made his heart race.

That’s why he made the decision to give you his mother’s talisman. Something she had given him right before she passed. Her family had been the keepers of it for a very long time. A protector of sorts. It was the jade dragon necklace from the once powerful ruler. Only it was dormant now. It never chose another successor. His mother told him to give it to someone. Only she never specified who. She only said that he would know when the time came. 

And he knew that time was now. You were that person he needed to give it to.

You were flustered, denying it at first. The fact that the reason you denied it was because you knew it held sentimental value and not just material value said so much about you. Some people would’ve only seen the material value of it and pretended to deny it to make them seem like they were good people but you, you saw the actual value. You were just concerned about him giving you his most precious, sentimental valuables. But what you didn’t know was that he was keeping his two most precious valuables together.