"Yo?" your freckled brother called back.
"I'm coming in." you pushed the door open and stepped into the dimly lit room, "How can you spend all day in here with no light?"
"It's not so bad," he answered in monotone from his computer facing away from you.

You were glad to see the floor had been cleared and there were no new holes in the wall.

"Did you need something?" he asked eyes not leaving the game he was playing.
"Just wanted to have a chat." you shrugged innocently taking a seat on the bean bag chair in the corner.

He sighed pausing his game and slowly spun the office chair to face you. You gasped as his face came into view under the warm dim light of the desk lamp. His left eye was bruised and all of the blood vessels around his iris had popped staining the white of his eye a darker shade of red. It was shocking to basically only see his dilated pupil staring back at you. A small gash interrupted his left brow and his lips were scabbed. It took everything in you to not shoot to your feet and cross the room.

Ace blinked slowly, wincing, and turned his gaze away, "I don't want to chat."
"Ace," you managed to whisper.
"Look," his voice was unusually stern, "this isn't up for discussion, F/N. I'm not a kid anymore and I don't need permission."

That was true. All of it. This was a harsh reminder that the boys, in fact, didn't need you like they used to. They were their own men now and could make their own life choices regardless of your feelings.

"I- I know." you squeaked passed the lump in your throat.

Ace glanced at you from the corner of his eye. He knew deep down that you just worried for him.

Why did Pops have to get sick? He'd done nothing but take in and love kids that others deemed unlovable. How did the universe repay him? A slow painful death. He didn't deserve that.

Of course, you were unaware of your little brother's inner struggles. You knew he was angry, sure, but just how much you couldn't fathom. For some reason seeing tears slip down your cheeks made him clench his fits and jaw. Tension rolled in like a fog blanketing everything in its path while you did your best to gather yourself.

This was his fault. What a worthless waste of a brother he was. Your father just died and all he was doing was putting you through more stress. Why couldn't he deal with things properly? Why did beating the shit out of something, anything feel so...

For some reason letting his rage take over made him numb to all of the pain he felt. Now he wished he could hit something. So lost in his self-loathing he hadn't noticed you leave your seat and drift across the room. He jumped in surprise when you suddenly dropped to your knees in front of him.

"Wha-" he gasped as you wrapped your arms around his neck pulling him into a tight hug.
"Please... Please just be safe." you sobbed into his shoulder.
"I am. I'm safe." he hugged you back, "It won't be much longer."
"Promise?" you muttered gently cupping his freckled cheeks.

He was already working hard to choke back tears he'd been refusing to shed, seeing the desperate look in your big tear-filled eyes certainly didn't help. Why couldn't he just be strong for you for once? You'd always been the anchor for the youngest siblings and even now as a grown man, he couldn't repay you.

Finally, he snapped trying to furiously blink the wetness in his eyes away he let out a strangled sigh abandoning his chair for your embrace. You weren't sure your heart could shatter anymore but seeing the least sensitive of your babies break down certainly sent some shock waves through your chest.

"I'm sorry," he muttered a few times against your collar as you swayed from side to side rubbing warm circles against his back.

You had calmed down and switched into comforting mode so seamlessly, shushing him until his sobs faded. Though you were only a little more than eight years apart Ace always found you to be quite motherly when it came to himself, Sabo and especially Luffy. Seeing you so upset over something he had done to himself broke his heart.

"I don't know what else to do." his voice was raspy from his emotional outburst.
"It's fine." you replied brushing your fingers through his waves, "As long as you're safe, and you feel better I'll support you."

He was quiet for a few seconds longer, appreciating your comfort and feeling a little guilty for keeping this from you when he knew you were capable of understanding his views even when angry.

"You need a haircut." you murmured still tugging at his hair.

Finally, a chuckle rumbled through his chest as he sat back with a small smile.

"Thanks, F/N."

________________

"So it went well?" Zoro asked absentmindedly fumbling with your fingers as you faced each other in his bed.
" 'Well' probably isn't the word I'd use," you watched him with an amused smile, "but we took steps forward and he's working it out in his own way. Whether I agree with his means or not is my problem, I guess."
"Do you at least feel better about it?" he asked moving your hand to place a kiss upon your knuckles.
"Yes." you murmured a little mesmerized by his affection.

Damn, was he always this attractive?

"That's what counts," he affirmed pulling you closer and kissing your lips.

A few smooches turned into long deep kisses as you pressed yourself against him feeling the need to be closer. Immediately his hands greedily began to roam over your curves stopping to squeeze his favorite parts, encouraging you to tangle yourselves further. You pulled away first to allow him to catch his breath, planting kisses down his jaw and neck. He hummed appreciating your forward attention before bringing his hands up to cup your cheeks and stop you.

"You sure?"