You lay awake on your left side your finger's gently tracing over a few of the scars that decorated Zoro's bare back. No one in the house had slept much recently, though eventually you would succumb to slumber only to have dreams where your father visited you. Sometimes he even spoke, but it almost never made sense with the context of the dream.

Zoro shifted tugging your blanket up higher as he rolled to face you.

"You're tickling me," he muttered, eye still closed.
"Sorry Tiger," you whispered.
"I don't really mind," he admitted lazily draping his arm over your hip.

You continued your ministrations along the scars of his chest letting your mind go more or less blank.

"What's the matter?" he breathed, his chestnut iris slowly becoming visible.
"That's a loaded question," you smirked glumly.
"I mean aside from the given." he shifted again pulling you closer to stop your tickling digits.
"I'm just worried about Ace. He disappears for hours, sometimes coming back bruised and just hides in his room." you rested your forehead against his chest, "I thought I'd gotten through to him but I guess not."
"Everyone handles things differently. Have you talked to your brothers? Maybe they know something you don't." he suggested twirling a lock of your hair around his index finger.
"I didn't want to burden them with it." you sighed, "I hadn't thought they'd noticed as well."
"Only one way to find out," he muttered his scruff grazing your scalp.
"You know, you aren't so bad sometimes, Tiger." you chuckled.
"I have my moments." you could hear the smile in his sleepy voice.

You settled against him in silence while his warm palm ran the length of your spine.

"Hey babe?" you called quietly.

He hummed.

"I-I'm sorry," your voice had gotten very low.
"What for?" he pulled back to search your face a little alarmed.
A soft blush rose your cheeks making you thankful it was so dark, "Not ... Uhm being very physical?"
His expression softened as he pulled you back in to snuggle, "It'll happen when we're both ready."

_______________

Sabo rounded the corner into the kitchen yawning widely as Al shuffled in close behind him. You fiddled with the spoon in your coffee watching him go straight to the coffee maker. Al stood with her sleepy face planted in his back while he prepared two cups. You smiled at their adorable morning routine.

"Morning babies~" you called melodically.
"Oh, morning, F/N." Al peeked at you and yawned.
"Babies?" Sabo questioned.
"Well, Al is a baby now too," you smirked as she blushed and reburied her face in his shirt.

Sabo rolled his eyes and turned to hand his girlfriend her coffee.

"Thank you, Bumblebee," she mumbled before taking a seat next to you at the island.
"It's too early to be subjected to so much cuteness." You chuckled.

"Why are you up so early?" Sabo asked taking a seat across from Al.

"Couldn't sleep. I kept waking Zoro so I decided just to get up."

"That probably more information than needed." he averted his gaze.

"Not like that, Jesus." you scoffed, "Just too restless."

"So is he." Al piped.

You and Sabo sighed.

"It's just a weird feeling in the house." he muttered.

"Yeah, I know." you agreed, "Nami is coming by later to help go through Pops' things. If you want to claim anything let me know. I don't think I can part with anything right now but at least it'll go into storage, so we can have some closure."

"Ties."

"What?" you glanced at the blond.

"Uhm - "he cleared his throat, "I'd like his ties... if you could just put them in my room."

"Sure, honey." You breathed passed the lump in your throat.

The three of you sat in silence for a few moments before Marco entered, eyes widening a fraction to see you all awake so early.

"Morning."

"Hey Pineapple." you greeted.

"Morning." Sabo and Al chimed in unison.

Marco made himself a cup of coffee and eventually claimed the barstool across from you to pick at some muffins Thatch had left in a container for you all to share.

"Hey," you paused unsure of any other way to start this conversation, "Uhm... do you guys happen to know where Ace has been disappearing off to for the last week?"

Your brothers both bristled as Al slowly stood and excused herself sensing an unpleasant conversation was about to take place.

"What makes you ask that?" your older brother asked, "He's just dealing with the loss on his own."

Sabo refused eye contact.

"Sabo," you called sternly.

He never liked when you used that tone.

"You know something." you accused.

"Leave him alone." Marco waved his hand, "It's nothing to worry about. Ace will be fine. We'll all be fine - you said it yourself, right?"

"Ace is not fine." You protested, "I said that because I thought we'd help each other. This is not helping each other."

Sabo shrank back, "We are trying to help."

Your gaze snapped to the younger, "How? By keeping things from me? Does Thatch know?"

You were getting more heated by the second.

"Calm down, yoi." Marco looked at you unfazed by your outburst, "You'll wake the whole damn house."

"Then fucking tell me what's going on here!"

"F/N." Sabo softly called sitting upright again.

He didn't like seeing you upset, much less so angry with him. The two of you shared a special bond as you were the first person he had opened up to and trusted in the house, which is also why it cut you so much deeper that he'd taken part in withholding information from you.

"We'll tell you, just shut up for a second," Marco grumbled.

You reclaimed your stool and tried your best to settle.

"There's a gym," Marco started, "specifically for fighters, boxing, mixed martial arts, that kind of thing. They hold amateur fights a few nights a week. Winner gets a cut of the bets."

You gaped.

"He's sort of got a knack for it." Sabo added, "He hasn't lost a fight yet."

"You're fucking kidding me, right?" you asked incredulously.

"I don't think we sounded like we were kidding, yoi."

"Why would you let him do something like that? And why wouldn't you tell me?" you raised your voice again.

Marco just gestured toward you as if it were obvious.

"Because you yell," Sabo muttered.

"You can't mother the guy his entire life. This is how he wants to cope, leave him be." Marco scolded.

"But he could get seriously injured!" you felt your voice getting shrill, "You know what happens to fighters who take too many hits to the head? Even a body shot jostles the brain."

Marco rolled his eyes, "They provide him gear."

"Gear doesn't mean shit. You're just going to let our little brother go out and fight strangers?"

"He doesn't plan to do it much longer," Sabo added.

"See, it's fine," Marco muttered.

"Your nonchalance is pissing me off." you scoffed standing, "What's this gym?"

"...Red's." Sabo hesitantly answered.

Rage exploded in your chest as you stepped forward.

"Just what do you plan to do?" Marco stood snatching you back by your left wrist.

Before you could think it through properly, your open palm was meeting his cheek with a loud 'slap'.

"Oi!" Marco yelled jerking you roughly back.

Sabo had already made his way between you, "Marco, let her go."

"Sit down." Marco growled, "She can't just hit me."

"What's going on in here?" Zoro had appeared in the doorway glaring at your older brother.

Marco clicked his tongue and released you not having the energy to start a full-on brawl in the kitchen.

"I'm going," you replied rubbing your wrist and squeezing passed your boyfriend.

"Where?!" he called after you too stunned by your attitude to move.

"To murder Shanks," Sabo answered.