The Ace Has No Face

Note: This is fanfiction for the game "999"

It must be stated that I have not finished the game yet. I have only gotten the "Coffin" and "Submarine" endings, so for the love of all good video games, NO SPOILERS! XD That also tells you that this whole story is basically pure conjecture on my part. I noticed an interesting detail and pondered it, and it ended up turning into this. I could be right, I'm most likely wrong. I haven't uncovered enough of the plot to really know.

Anyway, this contains some spoilers, and as this game's greatness is heavily dependent on its story, I'd advise not reading if you don't like spoilers! Otherwise, I hope you enjoy! For more information on what this story's all about, see the description.

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"Elegant clothing, red tie... paler skin...
Silver hair... very teenage clothing...
The smallest one... bright pink hair...
Checkered shirt, sleeves rolled...
Purple dress... timid stature...
Overalls and a beanie... and the only one larger than myself...
Scarce clothing, and large... assets...

I am lucky that they have such distinctive features."

He kept repeating these details over and over in his thoughts to ensure they were engraved in his memory. Gifted with an able mind that could easily multitask, he was able to do this even while listening to the entire conversation and adding his own dialogue. When he didn't speak, his eyes mainly scanned each of the other individuals, though he had learned to refrain from lingering his sights too long on the woman that bore an 8 on her bracelet. She had thrown a glare at him when he did previously, and adjusted his behavior; older man, he was, but perverted, not, nor did he want to come off that way.

But with the others, he would take his chances. It was imperative that he be able to recognize the seven people he would be going through the upcoming difficulties with in the twisted "game" they were trapped in. He did his best to make his glances and prolonged gazes subtle, hoping they wouldn't be noticed.

Why couldn't he just tell them? Simple: it was painful. It was painful to live with, and painful to admit to. If he could just remember everything they looked like outside of their faces, and remember the characteristic timbres of their voices, it would be like his condition didn't exist. And by the time they split up and parted ways, taking his own path through Door [5], he had already succeeded in forgetting that it existed.

Of course, the fate he had in that cursed ship dictated that it wouldn't be so simple.

Everyone's spirits in general were already downhill, his included, because of the disappearance of Snake, a blind young man who wore the #2 bracelet. Nearly more upsetting than that was the state of Snake's sister, codenamed Clover. The normally outgoing child had transformed into the most quiet little thing, consumed by her worry for her elder brother's safety. This fueled him, in a sense, and it was arguably he out of all the rest of them that was most earnestly searching for the missing person.

"Hey! Snake! Where are you?! Answer me if you're there!"

Footsteps down the hall almost gave him the illusion that his efforts had been rewarded, but he was unsurprised when he didn't see the missing companion. Instead, he saw a checkered shirt and a purple dress; Junpei and June, respectively. Well, he supposed he didn't mind the break from searching.

The two now before him were both young, around the same age; they'd apparently gone to elementary school together and had now seen each other again for the first time since. Quite the context for a reunion, indeed. And though he couldn't place their faces, it was obvious to his keen old eyes that the two acted strangely around each other. It was rather cute, really, the budding of young romance, especially when the situation kept going from bad to worse for all of them. Something positive had to be going on.

They partook in some banter, entirely about Snake, of course. It helped him rest his vocal chords from shouting, and he quite honestly just appreciated the company. But it turned out ending on a sour note for him.

"By the way... do you think Clover and Snake are really siblings?"

This question Junpei asked him was perplexing to the older man, and he responded accordingly.

"Ah... why would you say that?"

"Why? Well, it's obvious, isn't it? They don't look alike at all."

...well... it would have been obvious if he could actually tell...

"Yes, you know, now that you mention it, they don't."

The puzzled look he received for this comment made him realize he should justify himself. "Still, there are a great many siblings who do not look like one another. It certainly isn't rare."

It was both true and logical, but that didn't change the fact that he was simply wiggling his way out of the discussion. But now he had inevitably and irreversibly let that subject arise unbidden to the surface of his mind, and his face embittered just subtly. Not out of spite towards anyone, except perhaps himself.

He dismissed any continuation of the subject, insisting that they go back to their posts of searching for Snake. He preferred to make himself useful to someone rather than wallow in self-pity. The younger man did take note of Ace's strange behavior on the matter, however.

The subject remained untouched until they were well into the area behind door [1]. 'They' being himself, Junpei, and Clover. He'd already discovered Junpei's deception in getting the door he wanted, and had also already figured out the reason for it – apparently he needed to talk to Clover about something. In private, judging by how Junpei reacted when he interrupted them. It didn't matter much to him, since he didn't think the trick was in any kind of ill will.

One puzzle and dead body later, he would find himself interrupting the two once more, and he was met with the same displeasure. It was with more purpose this time, however, as he needed assistance with a puzzle in the other room. He didn't want to burden the mourning child, so he asked for Junpei.

As they tinkered with the gadgets that were largely foreign to them, bar the telegraph, it dawned upon Ace that this was the first time they had gone through a door together. Clover had accompanied him previously, along with Snake and Seven, in door [5], but not Junpei. He'd gone through door [4], and then door [8].

The lad seemed to be pondering something, glancing over to the older man now and then. It was clear something was on his mind, though Ace was unsure if it was with regards to him, Clover, or someone else. It became clear momentarily, as the younger spoke.

"This question's gonna be really damn weird, but can I ask you anyway?"

His confirmation was very simple. "Mm?"

"Could you describe Clover's face?"

For a moment, his heart skipped a beat at that question, if only because he knew he couldn't answer it. "...what?"

"I know it's a weird question, but could you just answer it anyway?"

The older man fidgeted on the spot, his hand coming to his beard as he tried to deflect the question. "I... don't understand."

"What's not to understand? Just describe her face."

His face tightened, wrinkles becoming even more prominent as he grew clearly uncomfortable. "Why?"

"You can't, can you?"

His heart beat louder, and faster. Did the boy... know? It seemed like he did, and Ace could hardly wriggle his way out of the issue now. He was already visibly defeated. "...and what would that mean, then?"

"When I went with Lotus and Clover into door [8], Lotus told me about this disease called... um... prosop... ag... nosia?" Junpei struggled to pronounce the difficult word, not entirely sure if he'd managed it.

The older man's face softened, though not in a good way. It more drooped, his wrinkles smoothing out, his eyes downcast. That hit the nail on the head. He was impressed that the young man had been able to take that new information and apply it so rapidly. It was a grand leaping to conclusions, but it turned out to be right anyway.

Alas, he could not express this enthusiasm, and it wasn't in him to just outright admit it. He ran one hand through his easily distinctive gray-streaked hair, closing his eyes as he began to speak. "Do you know how most men my age like to dye their hair?"

"Huh?" Junpei blinked. This seemed a great deal off topic, but Ace's expression told him it wasn't. "Well... yeah. They don't want to look old, right?"

"Correct." He spoke, albeit rather weakly. "I have always told myself that I don't do the same because I am not so petty about my age. But honestly... I leave it this way so I may recognize myself when I look in the mirror..."

Junpei's hand reached to the back of his neck, scratching absent-mindedly; maybe it wasn't such a good idea to confront him about it... he hadn't even thought that his own face would be unrecognizable. It was a truly sad prospect. "I'm sorry."

Ace forced a smile. "It's quite alright. I'm still impressed that you made the connection so seamlessly..."

"Well, you were acting weird before, in the hallway with all the rooms..."

"I suppose."

Junpei scratched again. Clearly the old man wasn't in happy spirits now, and it was his own fault. Between Clover's mourning and the desperation of their situation, he couldn't just leave it at that. Think of something to say, dammit!

"Well... even if you can't tell people apart by their faces... you can still see lots of things a lot better than most people. I can picture how it hurts... to not be able to recognize others... and how others would be sad that you can't recognize them... but, you'd be someone they'd bear it for."

Wow, that sounded cheesy. He scratched the back of his neck more vigorously now, embarrassed, slightly flustered. If this was June, he'd be somewhat less awkward about it, but he'd never tried cheering up someone old enough to be his father.

The old man smiled, genuinely this time. He stepped over to him, before putting one hand on Junpei's shoulder that was farthest from him, while propping himself on the closer shoulder. It was somewhat of a hug. "You're a kind young man, but it shouldn't be one of your worries to cheer up an old-timer like myself. However... I sincerely thank you. Still, I think what would make me and all of us most happy is to carry on with our search, and find the 9th door, so that we may all escape together and be out of harm's way."

The contact lasted for as long he spoke, before he gave Junpei a close-up smile and let go, pacing back to the telegraph, getting back to work. Junpei was rather stunned, but he smirked after a few moments, nodding. The old man was right, as always. Out of all of them, it was he who kept the most level head, and arguably showed the most concern for everyone there, not just the specific individuals. He'd already proved that he was ready to give himself up for the good of the group.

That was Ace: the selfless, kind, and collected lion, whose interest it was to take care of the sea of masks around him.