Time [Ace x Reader]

chapter 39 / when an elf loves

It had all begun with the comment Y/N's sister had made a few hours ago. That I was a danger to Y/N. That I should ask her what happens when an elf falls in love.

A while after anchoring at the dry inconspicuous island Y/N had sat me down to fill me in on her plan. Apparently this island was inhabited by a giant who specialzed in fire jutsu and he had agreed to teach me for a few months. It would be enough time for Y/N and her family to finish the funeral ceremonies of her parents and sort out everything in Shantital. Afterwards she would come back to pick me up and I could then decide whether I wanted to stay with her and Lou or start a new life on my own.
It was a surprise to hear this. Although I had guessed that Y/N was planning something in this direction.
However the last part of her offer somehow left me unsettled. I didn't want to leave her side. Even a few months sounded like a hellishly long time to be apart. But leaving her forever?
I had once planned to go back out to sea. Maybe I would meet up with Luffy or search for the remnants of my crew. But now I wasn't so sure whether I truly wanted that. Afterall a life without my elven mermaid was something I didn't even want to imagine.
My heart already knew that if she would give me the choice of staying or leaving I would've choosen to stay every time.
However that was before I heard the horrible truth.

Ever since this morning one thing had kept bugging me. Those words her sister had said. Could I be a danger to Y/N?
I couldn't have just ignore such a possibility. Never in my life did I want to be something that could hurt her. I had to ask Y/N, ask her what her sister was hinting at. And so I did
Her answer left me in shambles:

"By the way Y/N I was talking to your sister earlier and she told me to ask you something."

"S/N? Alright, what do you want to know?"

"She said I should ask you what happens when elves truly fall in love."

"Oh, that... She just had to bring it up, didn't she. I'm not sure if this is a good time to tell you about this. Not that it's that big of a deal really. It's just- How can I explain this... Love has a strong effect on an elf's body and soul."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"It's pretty complicated. But I'll try to explain it to you. You see since elves have very long life spans and a very small population it can be very hard for an elf to find a partner. Therefore nature added a few unique traits to them to keep them from extinction."

"And those would be?"

"I myself am not entirely sure how it works but when two elves fall in love there is a crossover between their souls, making their lifespans melt together. So for example if one had only 500 years left to live and the other 2000 years and they became partners they would both end up living for 1250 years.
Looking at it in pure biological terms this gives an elven couple the maximum time and opportunity to procreate.-"

"Wait, slow down. So if you fall in love with someone older than you they will just suck up your lifespan like some leech?"

"Yeah it kinda sucks... But listen to the end of my explanation, will you? You see this is actually the best possible outcome that only happens if the couple were to die of old age. The link between the life forces of elven lovers is permanent. Once it is created not even death can seperate the souls. However no living being can survive with a half dead soul. Therefore if one partner dies due to something other than reaching the end of their lifespan the other ends up passing away soon after aswell. Take my mother for example. She died early and so despite all efforts my father passed only a few days after her."

"What? So the moment you fall in love with someone you don't own your own life anymore? That's really unfair. What if your partner gets himself killed? What if you want to break up?"