Requested by @kaya_sildon
(Sorry for the wait but I hope it's worth it, thank you for helping me a lot with the details when I hit a point where my stories blurred their next part in my mind.)

(I talk about a certain subject through most of the oneshot, if you don't know the terms of anything or how it works feel free to ask. And yes it's a longer one and Ace doesn't appear for a while, patience.)

The wind gently blew across the night, leaves a rustling with the slight chill that glides and slivers its way across. The streetlight, that was swormed endlessly by small flying bugs, provided your light alongside the glowing screen of texts. Your foot tapped against the slightly damp concrete, occasionally slipping to the squeaky green grass behind the paint chipped bench that lay in a park.

You sighed, realising the words on it would forever not change. The cellphone that could link conversations together, spoke every word of truth he meant.

Moments later, getting your bearings accross, you walked accross the dimly lit street, no cars in sight. The only building with its lights on in the vicinity was right ahead, open to friends at an hour as such and closed off for the public until latter morning. You knocked upon it's doors as many loud and deep clatters erupted further inside.

"Will they hear me over all the noise?" You spoke to yourself, figuring that no one was around to hear. The surroundings became more lonesome, and your knocks were heard by walls alone. This simple action was frivilous, making you decide to call someone inside instead. Hearing a loud shout inside, and recognising the voice, you called it's originator. "Could you open the front door for me?"

A minute later, you saw the man grumpily walk down the hall, carrying a marbled green bowling ball in tote above his shoulder, looking as if his direction was lost. The closer the man got, the more apparent his bright green hair appeared into sight. Connecting the person to name, his name is Roronoa Zoro. You knew him through a friend's brother.

"Thank you so much Zoro, hope I didn't interrupt anything, no one heard me knocking but I so happened to hear you shouting something... Were you maybe... losing to the cook." You started teasing him as you walked inside, finding it entertaining as of late.

"As if! I didn't get time to warm-up. He'll be pummeled to dust next game."

Right on the dot. The cook, basically his rival and semi-friend, only in certain situations and not one to admit. Sanji, the rival, was a complete ladies man.

"I'll be there in a minute, wait for me so I can win against yah!" Excitingly you ran off to the back room that stored people's bowling balls and shoes. Many bags are taken from their cubby holes, only a few still staid, one caught your attention.

"Marco's here, huh. Wonder if he'll know."

Marco's bag was easy to spot, bright blue and yellow with a small golden keychain. He usually left his bag when playing, you could only tell from it being opened and empty. The one next to it, a plain orange and black bag with a single patch, brought a small ting of worry.

Going into into the main room brought attention to a few, as their eyes shifted focus. One ran immediatly up to you, overly excited for return. A few others said welcome from afar.

"Now that you're feeling better, let's team up today! Usopp poisoned my food so I gotta get revenge." He was overly joyous, very childlike to boot. Monkey D. Luffy, you knew him quite well.

You were going to accept, until seeing a certain person staring at you from the lanes.

"Give me a minute, I need to talk to Marco."

Luffy seemed disappointed but immediatly started to argue with Usopp about the food ordeal. The poison was apparently Usopps hair touching the food, Luffy ate it regardless but had to put up a fuss.

"You know what's up with Ace, or you wondering to ask me the same?" You asked Marco, though by his expression, he was going to ask the same. "You're his roomate, Thatch too, and nothing?" You pointed at Thatch who was hitting the glitch filled bowling monitor to make it display properly.

"Nothing at all little lady, wish I could say otherwise. Even his brothers have no clue." The machine finally worked for the most part, clear enough to see the scores and names again, Thatch went to bowl his frame.

"Did he say anything to you, yoi?" Marco questioned while drying off his blue and yellow bowling ball.

"Not really, a little though. Just that he's sorry for not being able to meet with me in the park. Had to call moss for brains to open the door for me since I still don't have a key."

"He's acting strange, not sure I'm a fan of it-"

"Your turn Marco. Can you beat two pins?" Thatch tried to play cool but only two pins was pathetic to anyones eyes, likely why he added a slight sarctasic tone to his words.

Marco went up to the lane and threw the ball, successfully knocking down only one single pin. The next throw he landed a gutter. He was off his game today, no turkeys or even a single strike. In fact both he and Thatch were likely worried about Ace, not even focused on a game to take it off the mind. Most of everyone here were exceptional bowlers, Thatch and Marco were two of the best here.

"You two are really worried about Ace aren't yah...? Hey Luffy! Pineapple head scored a one on his last frame!" You hoped getting Luffy's attention focused on Marco would help, maybe even Thatch too.

Luffy quickly ran over the sitting areas like an animal, a monkey fittingly, disturbing many of his friends as they yelled at him.

"Let's go, me and you! Whoever wins gets free dinner from Sanji!"

"Oi! I never agreed to that!" Sanji shouted from the other side of the building.

Marco accepted the challenge, not over excitingly but accepting. They both seemed a little off bowling, Ace is disappearing. Ignoring meetups, only being seen for minutes at a time, no questions will he answer, no words regarding what is wrong.

"While you were sick, he didn't come to practice either, you know?" Thatch told and questioned you.

"If it helps, I'll keep an eye out as your oh so loving neighbour. But for now... I'm going to practice for the tournament... and pummel moss head to the ground!"

The next morning, when getting ready to leave for work, you noticed Ace's car parked next door. The others he lives with were all gone, making his action even more suspicious.

No time to waste, in a hurry, you ran out the door, knocking over an object or two on the way. At his house you debated on whether to knock or ring the doorbell, knocking seemed more aggressive making that your choice.

"Portgas D. bloody Ace! Get your booty butt out here!"

Some stumbling happened inside the house, stomping and running. The front door was then violently ripped open, revealing a naked water covered Ace.

"You scared me half to death!" Ace's face was one of pure terror and panic as it quickly calmed down into a very heavy and deep sigh.

"I only feel a small bit bad about it, only a little." You spoke, crossing your arms.

"Yeah, yeah. I... know what you're here for. Let me at least dry off." He offered you inside with a wave, you have been in the house multiple times so it was practically normal at this point.

"Fine, but we all would like an explanation and for you to put some pants on. I mean maybe not some, but please, it's weird."

"Okay okay, though I'm sure your enjoying the view." Ace was being a little cocky, like normal, a little bit but not too much. For a second, you thought he was his normal self. True, he may be an adventurer but dodging everything like this, was not in his nature.

The main area, lacked anything from Ace. Must have been that he has rarely touched the inside of the house for half a month. You tempted to venture the house, but staid put on the living room sofa, waiting for Ace to dry off and hopefully the clothes to go with it.

He came out no later then ten minutes, he always seemed to take a long time getting ready. As a close friend, you knew what he actually does is make faces in the mirror. His appearence is quite rushed but not messy, if that seems to make any sense.

He walked by, towel draped across his shoulders and a pair of sweats, looking as if he came back from a workout session, and no sooner grabbed some water from the fridge, not bothering to offer any making you believe something was off, the act of goofiness earlier must have been a fluke.

"I can excuse you ditching me last night you know, but ignoring the people you share a house with is a low blow. Mr. Pyromaniac likely has a good explanation though, I'm sure."

"I hope I do, you'll beat my butt if I don't." He slightly let out a chuckle. "I don't have long though, have to leave in an hour. Was hoping to get a nap but seems as if I can't with people beating my door down screaming my name."

"I want to take that last part out of context but I'll just leave it there buddy. Oh and, me and you both know you'll fall asleep whenever you desire."

Proceedingly, Ace pretended to to snore, eyes closed, and relaxing.

"Haha Ace." You spoke a little sarcastically, but also a little laugh that was genuine. "Please Ace, I'd like to know. I never pressure you for details but your worrying a lot of us. And we have a tournament soon, you're one of our main men. Luffy, Marco, and Thatch, they can't focus for anything. You should have seen them it was hilariou- I mean no it wasn't... ahh not the point..." Laughing at the worry of they held, it was really a bad message and just wrong in general.

"I have work, it's been getting in the way."

"Work? Work usually isn't twenty or so hours a day, everyday." You were finding his answer aloof, but willing to listen if he explained more.

"I have three part-time jobs, they don't give me a break. It's like sixty hours a week."

It was like a slow eerie blue wave was slowly whisked through the room. His eyes became clear with dark rings, his muscular body, now less.

"Ace..."

"When it's not work, it's even more work, being ordered around and I just want to beat their heads in."

"Why then, I though your one job was plenty enough. Pops owns the house and pays the house."

"Debt. My no-good... well Gol Roger, left a massive bill to pay."

"Paying your fathers debt, he died, I didn't think debts passed down to the child. You didn't sign anything, that was before you were born."

"Not usually, but underground debts, they dont care if you're innocent or not. And before you say anything, I didnt want your help or pops, no one."

"How much?"

"I said no, give it up." Ace was persistent, keeping ut to himself.

Your a little afraid he might eventually lash out at these 'underground' people. If they find out, or even know who he now calls father, if they insult pops by any means, Ace could easily get himself killed.

Slowly, you went up to the tired man, giving him a hug.

"Get some sleep, I'll wake you up. What time?"

"Like... thirty minutes..." Instantly he passed out.

You have him a blanket, tucked him in on the other couch he sat on, much like a child, a twenty year old child

"Hey boss." From your cell phone, you called your work. "I won't be able to come in today, I'm afraid. It's important, forgive me this once?" Your boss was quite lax, it seems you were his favorite too. You were off the hook for today. "And Ace, don't think I'm waking you up, I'll be back."

Later that day, you came back to the house, he was still sound asleep. Marco was sitting in the main room, reading some kind of book and the bathroom door was closed, likely meaning that was Thatch, seeing as for once in a long while, three cars were parked out front.

"Came over to drop this off for Ace." You held a thick envelope.

"Oh, just put it on the table, yoi."

"Don't bother him too much when he wakes up, make sure he gets the envelope, tie him down if you need to."

In the envelope, contained a lot of money, two years pay of a decent job. Coming from an old, incredibly old, passed down vase. Your friend's health meant more then that old relic. You also left a note stating that it was practically his birthday presents for the rest of his life. You wonder how you put up with him but you love him, practically part of your family at this point. An idiot but your not sure how you'd live life without him.