Chapter Text
Three months.
That’s how long it took Ace to realize what was happening to Nancy. And even then, it took a curse/spell revealing waterfall in front of the old Woman in White’s hideout for him to figure it out.
As Nancy explained it all to the crew, her blue eyes dulled and the bags that were already under them grew even heavier. Ace wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms, but Nancy was avoiding his gaze as though it burned her.
He understood now why Nancy was avoiding him all this time, or snapping at him whenever he spoke too softly to her. He felt responsible. He knew something was off about her lately, but she seemed to really need her space. She was just protecting him this whole time. He should have known, he should have seen.
“Ace, stop it.” Nancy finally looked at him.
“What?” Ace’s eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights.
“This isn’t your fault.” Nancy said pointedly.
Ace sighed. Nancy always read him so well. It should terrify him, but it only made his heart beat louder for her. But he couldn’t help but blame himself. She was exhausted, and clearly miserable, and it was because he loves her, and she loves him.
She loves him.
It hit him all of a sudden. Temperance wouldn’t have cursed Nancy in this way if she didn’t love him back. She loves him. A grin slowly spread across his face.
“Ace, what are you smiling about?” George hit him in the shoulder. “You and Nancy are cursed! Aren’t you upset?”
Ace blushed and cleared his throat. “Of-of course.”
Nancy gave him a little smile out of the corner of her lips and looked away blushing, as if knowing exactly what he had figured out. It was the first smile he’d seen on her face in weeks. His chest filled with warmth.
Glass exploded in the corner of the room.
“That’s it, you two are on a time out.” Bess grasped Ace’s arm and shoved him into a corner. George grabbed Nancy and put her across the room in another corner on a small bench. “From now on, if you two are in the same vicinity as each other, you are to have a chaperone at all times.”
“ What?!” Nancy frowned. “I’ve done just fine avoiding Ace on my own.”
“Yes, but your tactics won’t work anymore now that Ace knows the truth.” Nick added. “It’s safer this way, Nancy. Ace is safer this way”
Nancy pouted and crossed her arms in frustration. Ace couldn’t help but smile. She was so cute when she did that.
George, Bess and Nick turned their backs and discussed in hush tones, clearly not wanting Ace or Nancy to be involved. While they were turned, Ace snuck over to Nancy’s corner and sat down next to her on the bench.
“Our chaperones might not be too happy with you when they turn back around.” Nancy teased him, but avoided his gaze again.
“You know,” Ace nudged her shoulder. “I may have- you know what, for you. But you were my best friend first. You’ll always be my best friend. No curse can change that.”
Nancy turned her head and gave him an even bigger smile than before. His heart may have skipped a beat.
“You're my best friend too,” Nancy bumped his shoulder with hers. “I know Bess is your platanchor though.”
“True,” Ace chuckled. “But it’s different. Bess anchors me, and she’s my sister, but you know me.”
“Ace,” Nancy looked away with a frown. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I’d never- I can’t.” Nancy covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling.
“Nancy, it’s not hard for me to be around you.” Ace nudged her again. “It’s the easiest thing in the world to me. I want to just be around you, be friends again, it doesn’t have to mean anything more right now.”
Nancy wiped her eyes. “I really want to be around you too. These past few months…” she sighed. “I can’t do this anymore, Ace.”
“What, avoid me?” Ace smirked.
“ Hurt you.” Nancy croaked. “You don’t understand how much it’s killing me.”
“I do understand.” Ace remembered back when he had to watch Nancy go through finding out who her real parents were, or when the wraith had been sucking the life out of her. Or even right now, how miserable she looked. Seeing her in pain was the worst feeling he’s ever felt.
“I missed this.” Nancy sighed. “I missed my friend.”
Usually at this point in their conversation, Ace would offer his shoulder, his listening ear, or a hug. She really looked like she needed a hug.
“Hey, Nance?” Ace stood and held out his arms. “Can I give you a totally platonic friend hug?”
The widest grin yet stretched across Nancy’s face and she leaped to her feet. She flung herself into Ace’s arms, her fingers clinging desperately to his jacket, and burying her face into his chest. Ace wrapped his arms around her and sighed happily. He patted her back lightly, so as not to entice the curse too much. But Nancy clung to him as if he were anchoring her soul to the earth.
“Nancy, friend hug, remember?” Ace gently reminded her.
“I know,” she mumbled. But Nancy just squeezed him tighter, like they’d never hug again. The glass never cracked, but Bess certainly did.
“ Hey !” Bess squealed. She ran over to them and pried Nancy from Ace’s embrace.
A small whine of protest escaped Nancy’s throat, but she quickly hid it from the others with a cough. Warmth spread through Ace’s chest. When this curse was broken, he’d cuddle her all she wanted.