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She had left her coat.
Bright red, almost as vibrant as her hair, stashed on a chair by the door.
In the midst of her tears, she had scooped up her satchel, looking him in the eyes and asking him;
“Look through my eyes right now. What do you see?”
He saw fear, rejection, a reflection of himself in the past few months up until that moment. He had pushed her, knowing that after everything, this wasn’t their path, it couldn’t be. They constantly mirrored each other, if not one step behind occasionally.
Ace knew she was simply catching up.
When he took the job at the morgue, he expected visits when Connor wasn’t around. Connor trusted him enough and to an extent he now trusted Nancy. But she never came. It was always Bess or occasionally George, toting a law book in one hand and a thick leather tome in the other. His disappointment would skyrocket, but he never had the guts to ask how she was.
Moving into the downstairs apartment had come with extended help from Ryan and Bess while Nick was away in Florida. Nancy had never called to question the return of her coat, so it sat in the same chair where she had left it a month ago, untouched and cold.
Ryan had divulged all he knew about Nancy’s wellbeing, how her new investigation company was going and he must have seen the surprise in Ace’s face.
“Investigation company?”
“Yeah, she took over Icarus Hall. Has her own sign and everything. I thought you had been.” He hadn’t, earning a pitying look from Bess, who had been shoving knick knacks in a box.
It took another month before he had the courage to call Nancy again. On his lunch break in Florence, he decided that maybe enough time had passed and they should talk about what happened in his former apartment.
“Nancy Drew Investigations.”
“Nancy?” Ace swallowed, hyper aware of his surroundings. The way Florence’s fabric seat shifted beneath him suddenly started to feel uncomfortable for the first time since he’d owned her. The air felt thick, suddenly too hot for February.
“Ace.” He closed his eyes.
“I’ve got a mystery for you.”
“A mystery?” No hint of amusement, all seriousness. It was one of his favorite parts about her, the way she could switch modes so easily, focusing on tiny details to solve cases.
“This red coat has been in my apartment for a few months and I’m wondering who it belongs to. Or if it's haunting me."
“Oh, well, that does seem like a mystery. I’ll have to come check it out.” Her tone had changed slightly and he swore he could hear the smile on her face.
“I get off work at two.”
“I’ll see you then.”
She was outside the apartment complex when he pulled up, casting him a small wave. She followed him inside, giving a preliminary glance to his new place.
“It’s there.” He pointed to a chair by the door, with the coat draped the same way it had been in his previous place.
“It doesn't look harmful. In fact, I think this is mine.” She picked it up, noticing how clean it was. Hugging it to her chest, the smell hit her.
Mint and sandalwood. It smelled like Ace.
He had washed the coat in an attempt to keep it nice for her.
“Well, thank you for returning it. This is one of my favorites.” Nancy went to turn, but was stopped when Ace grabbed her wrist.
“Nancy.”
“Ace.”
“Please don't leave yet.” She looked back at him, his eyes glassy with unwept tears. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Why didn't you call me then?” He pulled her closer, chuckling.
“You wouldn't have answered.” It was true, she wouldn't have. Avoidance had become her new way of dealing with feelings and Nancy Drew Investigations took up most of her time when she wasn't busy avoiding.
“You aren't wrong. I missed you too.” Their smiles matched each other's, eyes both wet.
Ace leaned in, resting his forehead on hers, opening his mouth to speak, when a nearby glass on his desk shattered.