"You're rich, Ace. You don't need to make money anymore." It was only a week later that the first sum of money came after the lacrima gas breakthrough came and was profited immensely. Sabo stared at the big box of money on Ace's bed. Then he grinned. They could fix up the guild! Make repairs and everything!

He picked up the box, and zoomed to find the Master. "We can fix the roof now!" he announced, shoving the entire box with stacks of coins in it to the man as he was having a drink.

"Ace, did you rob someone?!" he asked, spitting his drink out.

"No! Remember about the lacrima thing? I told you about it. Now we have an allowance and we can get yummy foods and drinks all the time!" Ace cheered. "Next round is on me!" the six year old shouted, having heard people say that before. But, the drinkers in the guild would do anything to drink, and cheered regardless.

Makarov started to laugh at Ace. "Brat, it's your money, isn't it?" Ace frowned.

"But I still want to do work! I can't always be rich or that's cheating," he replied. Makarov asked if well off people still had jobs. "But… still. It's not fair, I didn't mean to find something that would make money," Ace said.

"Then keep working, and set the money aside for the future! There's no need to spend it now. But we all appreciate your offer. But we can't have just one person funding this place! We run off the tax of the jobs we complete, all putting our efforts in to keep them place above the water. You're not the only one who will keep us afloat, Ace. It's okay to be selfish sometimes."

Ace still wasn't sure about all the money. While Wakaba and Macao were talking about what they'd do with the money the moment they got it, Ace didn't really know what he wanted. Even with the jobs, he and Sabo didn't take it for the money. They were young enough to have to live there, they weren't paying rent or anything to the guild like the older members. He still wanted to make his own money and pay rent and be mature and all that.

"Okay, I'll save it!" Makarov gave a thumbs up, and offered to put his money in the guild safe, locked by a magic spell. Ace nodded, and would be putting his money in there from now on. The money he didn't earn on jobs. He went back to Sabo to play in their fort. He snagged the last piece of pie without realizing it, which he always knew was a no-no because of Erza.

It was while he and Sabo were drawing in the big notepad that night that Erza realised the last piece of cake was gone. Ace didn't realize even after she was seen distraught in the hallway before he went to bed. If he knew, he would have felt very bad.

-x-

"Two… in one week," Cana said sadly in the guild after the double funerals. They lost two members in one week. First, Ace found Sabo dead in his room, and then news came back about Lisanna's unintentional murder. Ace was sort of empty, staring att he window, still in his funeral clothes. Everyone was in shock.

Elfman was in an emotionally induced coma it seemed, unable to accept or even see what he'd done. Mira was different, too, now, but she did watch her sister die. Ace didn't feel any sort of magic power coming from her. Natsu was down too, and Ace had assumed he like Lisanna. The guild felt to be in shambles. Losing two members, but losing the third youngest. No more Sabo. Romeo and Happy were both younger than Sabo and Ace. So it still was losing one of the youngest.

Ace took a deep breath, and went to his room, changing into his travel clothes and tossing everything in his backpack. He didn't want to do anything right now. He didn't want to talk or mourn or cry or sleep or eat. He just wanted to do something that would take up all of his focus. He quietly made his way to his little stash and took out enough money for food and room on his way.

He walked past everyone to the job board, and yanked down the first paper his hand came into contact with. "Ace, wait! You can't go now!" Erza called in worry. Ace ignored her, and kept walking. "Please, you're not in the right mind," she insisted.

"Move. I'm going on a job," Ace said harshly, voice raspy from all the sobbing when he was alone. When he was in the basement, door closed and locked. He hadn't been holding his feelings back the whole time, he'd broken down multiple times. But all by himself. Makarov stood in front of him, stopping him.

Ace scowled, his face showing hate. He'd never made that expression before. He didn't hate the Master, he hated the world for taking Sabo away! And Lisanna, too! She was super sweet and nice! "Move."

"No. You need a clear head for a job. Do you want the guild to look bad?"

"Master… that wasn't the best way to put it," Wakaba said slowly. The room was silent in awkwardness. Ace continued to stare down Makarov. He was leaving, even if it wasn't on a job. He dropped the paper. Now he wouldn't make the guild look bad, and he didn't need to be super focused.

But he still wasn't allowing Ace to leave. He shoved past him, but Makarov bound Ace before he got out the door. Ace struggled, but his hands were connected behind his back. "I'm not letting my kids self destruct!" he shouted angrily. "I lost two, I'm not losing anymore!"

This broke the silence in the room. They couldn't help it, and all burst into tears about the loss of their family members. Ace broke too, sobbing violently, banging his forehead on the floor. Still bound. Erza walked over, and hugged him. Ace was released from the magic binding, and broke apart. His best friend was gone. They'd been partners for almost a year now. Ace was going to turn eight soon. All alone.

No, not alone, surrounded by others. He wanted to be all alone. He didn't want to mourn with everyone else. He just wanted alone time. Being there felt suffocating. It felt like he wasn't entitled to his feelings, that they didn't matter, because everyone else felt sad, too. He couldn't be angry, because they were all mourning together. But he wanted to be angry.

Wanted to feel hate, and despise the world, despise others. Even if it was temporary, he wanted those feelings. He never felt those things with Sabo or his family. So he wanted away. Just for a bit. He just needed some time.

-x-

"You're really leaving?" Erza asked, standing in Ace's doorway. "You'd rather live with someone else than with us?" Ace said that wasn't fair. It was too stuffy, too many attachments and emotions right now. He'd come back. "Still…"

"I'm only eight, how long do you think I can live on my own?" Ace asked bluntly. Erza flushed at this, seeming caught, and moved to the side. Ace had a large sum of his saved money in his bag, and was going to room with someone for a month. Just a month. He would just not live there. He'd still work at the guild, he didn't need to live there. Natsu and Happy didn't and they were fine.

Ace took his bags and was glad that only Master was out to see him. They didn't see this as some big betrayal, everyone but for Erza seemed to not take it personally. Ace wanted to leave because of himself, nobody else was pushing him away, he wasn't pushing them away, he just needed space to think and be by himself with no attachments.

"Be safe. Check in tomorrow," Master said. Ace nodded. He wouldn't be disappearing on them for real. Just a change of sleeping arrangements. He left, having a bottle of his magic medicine, and went to the place he had accepted to be a roommate. They probably didn't expect him to be eight. Hopefully this didn't end up in some bad way.

The place was a few minutes away from the guild. He felt everyone was making a big deal out of this. Oh well. He felt better already. Sabo… he wanted to forget about him. At least for a little while. Sometimes it still felt like a bad dream. But it wasn't. It was a nightmare, but not a dream.

He knocked on the door, and was surprised to see it open to show blonde man in his early twenties. "Can I help you?" he asked in confusion.

"Eh. I'm your new roommate. It's open for a month, right?" Ace said bluntly. The guy blinked, and asked where his parent was. "I. Don't. Got. One! Look here, I got the money! Right here! And I'm not annoying, and I can clean and make food just fine!" His face was red in embarrassment, not really anger. Of course this wouldn't work!

He glared at the man, who looked genuinely confused. "Uh."

"Fine, it was a bad idea, nevermind!" Ace said angrily, and turned around to leave. But he could tell the man was right behind him before his shoulder was grabbed. Ace jerked around, and the man looked very unsure and small.

"The only way I was gonna make this work was by having an older roommate," the guy said quietly. "Why… do you wanna live on your own?" Ace bluntly said it was only for a month so he could be by himself for awhile. "You left your family?" Ace slumped, and nodded. "Did they do something?"

Ace didn't want to talk about it. The blonde said, "O-Okay, but you can stay here. It might be easier this way, anyways." Ace furrowed his brows, and walked inside, keeping his senses on the man. "My name is Marco."

"...I'm Ace," he replied. He found his bedroom, which was pretty bare. Well, he wouldn't be here long, there wasn't much reason to personalize it. He put his things down, and had made sure to throw away every duplicate Sabo had made. All but for the friendship bracelet Ace had in his room back at the guild.

He left his things, and went into the living room. He wanted to see what Marco's bedroom looked like, but wasn't usually nosy, even after being so gave him a lot of money afterwards. The lacrimas had been a success and were now exclusively for medicinal purposes since they would make wizards - and even non magical people - dangerously overpowered. Ace was glad it was being used for something good for everyone.

"So, you work at Fairy Tail?" Marco asked, sounding awkward. Ace nodded. "Do you go on jobs and all?" Ace nodded again. "What kind of magic do you have?" Marco wondered, sounding a bit more excited now on this topic. Ace said his magic was just super senses. "So, you can hear really good?"

"Yeah. And smell." People got uncomfortable being around his super senses at first, thinking he'd be listening in on everything. "I can tune it out, so I won't be spying on you or anything. I swear," the eight year old vowed sincerely. Marco nodded, looking less uncomfortable. "So… what kind of job do you have?" Ace asked, making small talk because he didn't want things to be incredibly awkward.

"I lost my job." It sounded like a lie. Then Marco went back onto the subject of the guild, seeming really interested in it all. Ace didn't get mad, and explained about what guild life was like, but that it was different for him than others since he'd grown up at the place, he didn't have a life beforehand to compare it to at all. "That's cool."

Ace asked if he had any family. "Uh… well, not really." He didn't act his age. Seemed meek despite being a grown man, and super excitable about magic. Ace asked if they were dead. "I'm not in touch with them. A lot happened, and we were separated awhile back."

"Oh. I'm sorry," Ace said sincerely. Marco nodded sadly. He wouldn't press about his past anymore. They had dinner, Ace making food in the dinky kitchen, eating in the living room. Marco wasn't uncomfortable to be around, and he didn't seem to treat Ace like some kid, even though he was one.

When it was bed time, Ace got into his mattress, which wasn't wonderful quality, since his really nice mattress was still in his bedroom at the guild. He opened the window, seeing the nice view. It was a small place, not so special, but it did have a good view, being on a third story, so able to see some of Magnolia from there. Not the guild, though, that was in the other direction.

When morning came, Marco had made eggs, and Ace had his fill. "So, what are you gonna do all day?" Ace wondered. Marco looked bothered. "Are you okay?"

"Things just got more complicated when you showed up." Ace flinched, and his shoulders drooped. "No, I didn't mean I'm mad or anything. I just thought I wouldn't have a roommate from Fairy Tail." Ace rose his brows, and asked if Marco had wanted to join. "Is it that easy to tell?"

Ace said it was only a guess. Marco was the one to just give it away. "Don't let me stop you. New people are always welcome if they're good people," Ace said honestly. "I went on my first job when I was six, anyone can work there. Yeah, I completed it on my own!" Ace bragged. Though it wasn't much of a mission.

Marco smiled brightly, and said he wanted to join. Had wanted to for awhile. "What's your magic?" Ace asked in interest. Marco looked bothered, but Ace didn't rescind his question. He waited for the answer, wanting to know. They'd all find out regardless eventually. Marco sighed, and admitted that he was able to change his age. "Whoa, really?" Ace asked in awe.

It wasn't the flashiest magic, but still cool. "Yeah. I can age my body older or younger at will." Ace wondered how old he was, but he was hesitant to answer. Ace assumed he was actually a really old man and didn't want to admit it. But that wasn't the case. Marco said he wasn't sure how original age anymore.

"How'd that happen?" Ace wondered. Marco explained it was some family stuff that left him in limbo for a bit. And he also didn't remember his birthday. So he was unsure about how old he truly was. Sometimes he felt like the age of a kid, but others he felt so much older. That really sucked. Not even knowing that simple thing about yourself.

"Yeah. It sucks. I don't really have an age anymore."

Ace asked, "Is this your favorite age to be in? Like, 20 or something? You're young but not too young." He was very interested, and thought Marco was cool and nice, but also felt sad for him. Marco shrugged. It wasn't a very satisfactory answer, but Ace didn't press. He had to go to the guild. Surely everyone was worried.

Ace told Marco to come with him and he could join. "Really?" Marco asked. Ace nodded, promising to put in a good word for him. They put the dishes away and cleaned up before getting ready to go. Marco locked the door, and they went down the stairs and started walking to the guild. "How come I don't feel any magic power from you?"

Bristling a bit, Ace simply replied it had always been that way. "Oh, okay. Do you think someone from your guild could figure out my real age?" he asked, changing the subject, much to Ace's happiness. He didn't want to talk about him being magicless right now. He hated that topic with a passion. Ace didn't know if anyone could help him with that, but the Master could try. They could at least ask.

When they walked inside, guild members swarmed Ace and asked how he was. Then they looked at the guest, and wondered who he was, seeming a bit hostile. "He's my roommate, and wants to join the guild." They seemed disapproving of having a grown man be the roommate. Maybe they expected it to be a woman or something. But Marco seemed like a good guy. Ace could take care of himself, like everyone else here could. He wasn't weak…

Makarov walked up to Marco, and asked about himself. It wasn't much, just to see what kind of person he was. And he explained his magic to the man, completely honest. "You don't know your own age?" Macao asked in surprise. Marco nodded. "It would be great to always stay young, huh?"

"You getting senile, old man?" Wakaba teased. Macao rolled his eyes. The other kids came over, including the fourteen year old red head. She looked skeptical of Marco, and asked Ace how he was.

"I'm okay. It was fine, we had dinner and he made eggs for breakfast. He seems like a nice guy!" Ace replied honestly. She asked if she thought he'd come back soon. "When the lease is up then, yeah." He didn't have to desire to return home right now. But he wanted to go on a job, too, soon. Even if it would be alone or with someone else.

His breath caught in his throat when he remembered he'd never go on a job with Sabo again. His chest burned, and he clenched his fists, doing his best not to convey the attack of emotional hurt at the true loss of his best friend. Someone he truly considered a sibling, like Erza was his big sister.

Happy came flying over to Ace, the tiny cat asking how he was. "I'm okay. I'm good."

"Natsu and me had roasted lizard last night!" the baby exclaimed in his high pitched voice. Happy was very cute, and Ace smiled, saying it sounded yummy. "Fish is better, though!" Ace agreed. He'd rather eat fish than a lizard anyday. Laxus stormed into the guild and went upstairs to get a new job before he then left. He didn't stick around long anymore. Ace remembered when he'd stay around and eat and talk. Now he just went on job after job, not dealing with any of them for very long.

The attention was brought back to Marco when the Master said he'd try to see Marco's true age. The blonde man looked nervous, and stood there. Everyone was staring at him, and he did look uncomfortable. Makarov put two fingers up and closed his eyes before Marco shrunk to the size of a kid. "He's eleven?!" Gray asked.

"I'm a kid?" Marco said dumbly.

"A very mature kid," Makarov said. "Welcome," he said brightly. Marco didn't seem upset about his true age, just surprised and glad to know the truth. But he could still live as an adult if he wanted, even though everyone here knew he was actually a kid at heart. Well, it didn't matter. The kids took care of themselves regardless.

He got his emblem on his chest, even though nobody would be able to see it. And it was right below his collar bone, not on his pec like Gray's was. Ace felt he could be closer friends with Marco now that they knew he was much closer in age. He walked to him with a plate of goodies. "Welcome!" he said genuinely. Marco smiled and nodded.

"Wanna be my friend?" Ace asked.

"Sure!" Marco grinned. "I haven't had friends in a long time… it's been lonely." Ace was curious about his whole situation, especially now that he knew his age, and how it was weird to not remember when he was still so young. Only three years older than Ace, which wasn't much at all compared to how he first appeared. But now Ace had a roommate that he was friends with and not a lot younger than.

After eating the goodies, Marco went to the job wall. Ace asked if he knew what he wanted to do. What kind of jobs. "My magic isn't very good for strong or tough situations. Not one for fighting or anything." Ace nodded. It was very similar, but Sabo's was better than either of theirs for fighting since he could do offensive moves. Ace missed him.

"Wanna go on a job with me? I don't do fighting ones either. My magic isn't good for that stuff, too," Ace offered. Marco smiled, and agreed to go on a job together. They chose an easy one, going to investigate the robbery of a nearby establishment. Ace would be great at that. And Marco would be a help by seeming older, so it didn't look like two kids picked it up.

-x-

Ace knocked gently on Marco's door. He could hear him crying in his room. The job hadn't gone well, Marco had broken something important and the money they were to earn was taken away from them to replace it. He felt really terrible and embarrassed about it. Marco really wasn't that confident a person. Not as much as Sabo was. Ace was doing his best not to compare them, as they were very different and there was no point in doing so.

"Marco?" The door locked without a word. "Everyone messes up. Half the jobs that the others go on end up in disaster. You broke a vase… it's not that bad, you know?" Ace said through the door. "Yeah, it was your first mission, but that's a good reason, right? You'd never done it before," Ace reasoned, not wanting him to be so sad.

The blonde said he didn't want to be a burden. "It's okay, I'm not mad or upset."

"I lost you money…"

"Don't worry about that. I'm okay. I'm more worried about you." He didn't offer to cover the rent, because he felt Marco would feel he was pitying him, and Ace didn't like pity for himself, so why would he give it to someone else like this? It would be rude and tactless. Ace did feel bad for him, but not enough to be considered pity

Marco said he had some savings. Then that was enough this time. Ace also pointed out that it wasn't like they were confined to one job a month. They could go on as many as they wanted. They could go on one right now! This got the door unlocked and open. "Let's go now, then!" Marco said firmly. Ace smiled and nodded. The two got their things and hurried to the guild. Ace let him pick this time. A simple job to help work in an orchard.

"Aren't you bored with these easy ones?" Marco asked on their way to th train.

"Nope! Fun times are fun times regardless. Besides, the hard jobs are for those like Erza and Laxus!" Ace replied. "We'll have fun doing easy ones!" Marco beamed and nodded firmly in agreement.