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Deuce had spent his entire life in the dark. It was a creation of his own mind, but that didn't make it anymore real. He was tossed into that darkness at a young age, and remained there, alone in the abyss for years to come. He thought he had finally escaped that day, but a tiny boat just wasn't enough to evade the all-consuming shadow that was his mind.
Except, he did escape, just not in the way he originally anticipated.
At his lowest moment, a light had broken through his suffocating abyss, cracking his shell for the better, and enveloping him in a warmth he had never felt before. All it took, was for one man’s hand to reach out and pull him into a world he never expected he could be a part of.
“It wasn't a total loss, I met you after all.” That was all that had to be said as Deuce’s heart became filled with love, and throbbed pleasantly as pure kindness consumed him. That was all it took, hook line and sinker. He was in love with the burning pirate captain, Portgas D. Ace!
Though he supposed, at the end of the day, that love was the fault for his own demise.
All it took was one seemingly normal day for the wave of darkness to crash into him once more. Rays of sunshine shining down onto the new couple like a spotlight, and showering The Moby with a lovey dovey air that seemed to infect every single person on the ship; all except for Deuce.
A loving embrace, a sugary sweet kiss, and soft little touches were all that filled Deuce’s gaze. The Whitebeard’s all watching with a trance like stare, taking in the sight as though it was a platter of candy laid out for their liking. For Deuce it was all just so wrong, nauseating even, and with each little touch Marco’s hand made on Ace’s skin, that feeling grew. It felt as though there was a knife buried within his chest, and the new couple was the one who put it there. The pain was enough to send him snapping back to the dark hole he used to inhabit, but ten times worse now that he was left alone with the one thing that brought him happiness fully out of his reach.
He wanted to scream when he saw Marco embrace Ace again, pushing back the temptation to just storm up there to rip his captain out of the older man’s arms. Instead he just stood there, completely numb as he allowed the pen clutched within his hand to dig into his skin.
He knew Marco and Ace had become close over the past few months, but never did he think something as insane as love blossomed between them! Deuce was able to hear his heart completely shatter, the pieces scattering, and breaking inside him. The explosion was ground zero within his mind, but those around him would never have a clue.
“Deuce! Hey, what's wrong?” He was taken from his thoughts when he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder. Ace’s touch was gentle as it always was. Green eyes slowly pulled away from the ground, and rigidly turned to face the man he once called his closest friend.
Ace was shining like the sun again, burning vividly as he stared at him with his familiar brown eyes. When the man smiled Deuce was left to endure more knives being dug into his back, causing him even more pain than when he was watching the couple interact.
As time went on Deuce could feel anger begin to boil within him, and before he could stop himself he had become a boiling kettle ready to burst.
“You’re fucking stupid.” The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop himself, throwing them at Ace as though they were made of venom. There was a twinge of regret the moment he said it, but when he saw the pain on Ace’s features he felt weirdly satisfied by it. He wanted Ace to feel his pain, to pull him down to his dark hole, and make him suffer.
“Deuce, what are you talking about?” The pain in Ace’s eyes was quickly replaced with confusion, staring at him with his usual lost expression as he tried to piece together what in the world was happening with his first mate. Of course, Deuce did not care at this point, and no matter how loud the little voice in his head told him to stop he couldn't.
“What am I talking about!? You're dating some guy twice your age, and one from the crew you saw as enemies just months ago! He’s fucking using you, and you're so stupid that you're just letting it happen!” Something inside of him snapped, and as more harsh words began to fly he began to feel more and more sickly satisfied.
“The hell did he do anyway to win you over!? Oh, I know! Since you're an insecure dumbass with daddy issues he probably just had to say a few nice things and you were all over him like some needy whore! Do you even get it!? He’s gonna fuck you and leave! That's it! When that happens I'll look at you, and I'll proudly say I told you so!” Ace was standing there with his jaw dropped in disbelief as Deuce’s wounded heart poured all his emotions out. He didn't even care that the entire Whitebeard crew was staring at him at this point. He didn't care. The only thing Deuce could see in that moment was the ever familiar face of Portgas D. Ace.
The man was just standing there, absolute shock written all over his features as he struggled to find the words he wanted to say. Ace normally wasn't so quiet, but he supposed he had never seen the man in this situation as well.
“Why are you doing this to me? I thought you would be happy for me?” He didn't sound sad, or even angry, and instead Deuce found himself lost when he saw the hurt in Ace’s eyes. It was an emotion he had never seen before from Ace, and that look was one of pure betrayal.
“All I ever wanted was for you to see me. Is that so bad?” His voice had returned to a whimper, and the crowd that had formed around them began to dissipate. Marco had even come to take Ace away, holding him close in an attempt to comfort him as Deuce was left all alone. That should have been him, he should be with Ace, yet here he was.
He was empty. Like a husk of what he used to be, and as time passed his body began to move as though it was on autopilot. He was just a zombie, only moving with one goal within his mind. Running away.
No one paid him any mind as he slowly gathered his things, and prepared a small boat. He wouldn't be shocked if they did notice, but were so happy to see him leaving that they just bided their time until he finally set sail. It was the middle of the night, but Deuce barely noticed as the entire day was spent numb to the world. He hated himself, and the only thing he could think about all day were the terrible words he had said to the love of his life.
He had dug his own grave, and he accepted that.
Deuce was about to board his tiny boat, ready to sail away to who knew where. He wasn't sure where he would go next, but anywhere was better than The Moby. He just needed to get away. He was about to step in, only to stop when his eyes trailed off to a certain object sitting patiently on his bag.
His book, the thing he had slaved over for years in the name of his love for writing, but now it was just a reminder of the pain coursing through his veins. He picked it up, and then promptly tossed it into a random corner of the ship. He didn't need it now, not when it was filled with heartbreak.
With a heavy heart, he left. Sailing away as a different man, who once again had no name. He was no one, and no one is who he will always be. That way the world will be happier, and the universe could finally forget about him for good.
Masked Deuce will forever be just a ghost.