It was already Tuesday and Ace went to work earlier than usual. Still, it was already evening and he was still working. After 06.00 PM he finishes his work day and bid goodbye to his colleague. Marco watched after Ace thoughtfully. Strangely enough Ace was very quiet today and this wasn't like the ravenette at all. Normally he talked like a waterfall without stopping.

Yeah, Ace could also have bad day, but he wouldn't behave like he did today and this worried the blond. Marco wanted to ask him if something was wrong. Unfortunately, Ace wouldn't talk when he was cornered and questioned, only when he wanted to. So Marco had to wait till then, but if his strange behavior wouldn't disappear he would use hard methods to bring him to talk.

Meanwhile Ace was making his way to his station to get home as quickly as possible. While he was walking he was observing the people around him, watching his surrounding to see if someone was following him. Nothing or no one unusual was around and nothing strange could be seen gladly. He didn't have to wait long when his train came, which he quickly entered to avoid having a fight with the other people, who tried to shove anyone inside.

Ace found a seat and quickly sat on it before someone else could take it. The whole ride to his station he watched again at all the people standing and sitting in the train.

However, once again his mind trickled elsewhere and began thinking about the letter from yesterday evening. It wasn't the first letter he got. He didn't know anymore when it had started that someone sent him those letters. In the beginning it wasn't strange, the letters were even sweet and romantic and hadn't any threats written in it. One thing that hadn't changed was that all of them weren't handwritten but created automatically.

Who could this be? Who has the time coming after me, watching me? Or is it someone I know?

With a tired sigh he held his head in his hands and tried not to think further about this. It was difficult though.

"Next station: Goa." Was announced and Ace stood up to walk to the next door leading him on the platform of the station. The sky was already a midnight blue, the platform was sparsely lit and very few people were walking around, going home, waiting for the train or just waiting for someone. With his bag pressed against his chest and vigilant eyes Ace took the stairway to leave the station behind. Quickly he made his way to his house; however he needs minutes to get home. And that's when a cold shudder ran down his spine. Without any further thoughts Ace turned his head around, but there was no one. No human soul.

His breath quickened, cold sweat ran down his temple and neck and his eyes looked around in panic. A quiet noise echoes in his surrounding and that was the sign for him to run. Only a few streets to his house. But before he can enter his front garden, a large figure moves out of the shadows and called his name.

"Ace!"

Ace stopped right in front of the path through his front garden. He would recognize this voice everywhere; this deep voice, sounding a little bit harsh and rough around the edge because of too much smoking. Hopefully, Ace turned around immediately and there he is standing tall, proud and handsome as he was, his blue police uniform hugging his body on the right places. The light of the streetlamps shining at him sporadically, making him look a bit mysterious.

"S-Smoker…," was the only thing Ace whispered as a greeting, sounding so desperate and small. This was what grey haired officer recognized too and a worried gaze overtook his face, which was always stoned with an angry furrow, while he walked to Ace with big steps and stopping right in front of him.

"Ace, is everything alright?" This tone in his voice, laced with worry and another feeling he has experienced in the past made Ace weak and with nothing to say he threw himself in the arms of the officer and a surprised grunt left the grey-haired male with this act.

Smoker took a step back and held Ace's face in his hand, making him look straight at his eyes. Ace looked a bit pale, his freckles standing out, he was sweating a little bit and when you looked closely you could lightly catch the eye bags at his tired face.

"I see, it seems not everything's alright." Ace only shook his head 'no' with barely any energy left in his body. Whispering Smoker's name is the only thing Ace did at this moment and for Smoker it sounded more like screaming for help from the officer. Taking a deep breath Smoker turned Ace around to his house and helped him get inside of this building, shutting the door behind them and leading Ace to the living room, then seating him at one of the sofas before making his way to the kitchen to get Ace some water to drink and seating himself at the other side of the sofa.

After some minutes it seemed that Ace calmed down and Smoker watched at him expectantly. Some time passed and the raven played around with the glass in his hand, before he sighed, put the glass at his couch-table and told the officer what was on his mind.

"There… There is someone…" Ace started.

"Who is this 'someone'"? Is the question asked by Smoker. Then Ace looked at Smoker's face and continued. "There is someone. This someone writes me letters…"

Smoker started frowning. This doesn't sound so dangerous.

"In those letters is written, how much this someone loves me, how much this someone admires me and how much he wants me…"

Now this didn't sound normal anymore in Smoker's mind, though he didn't stop Ace to tell him more. "This someone also mentions how handsome or beautiful I look, in my work attire… A-At home when I'm doing my chores, when I meet up with my family or friends or-or when I'm sh-showering…" That was when the alarm rings belled in Smoker's head. Also the way Ace stuttered rubbed Smoker the wrong way. Ace wasn't like that.

"You are telling me, that someone is writing you 'love-letters'. In those 'love-letters' he is telling you that he is- how should I say?- watching you?" Ace only nodded at this question, having no idea what to say.

Disbelievingly Smoker looks at the freckled young man sitting right next to him. "Ace. You are telling me that you literally have a fucking stalker! When did you intend going to someone to tell about those letter?!" To the end Smoker started to shout and startled Ace by this action. Smoker is breathing heavily, trying to turn down his rage. He didn't want to make Ace's obvious anxiety worse by shouting.

"I'm sorry. Show them to me." Smoker said to Ace who has started trembling a bit. Hurriedly he went to his room to retrieve his letters to show them to the officer.

Smoker examined them closely and was careful to not destroy any evidence. However, he didn't find anything and to boot the letters aren't handwritten so there wasn't a possibility to make a font comparison. Still, Smoker would do anything to find out who was writing those letters and even threatening Ace through them, but he had to be honest.

"I'm so sorry, Ace. I can't do anything right now to help you. Still, I will take some pictures of them and take them to my office to look at them closer. And may I take one of them with me?" Ace only nodded at this and after Smoker took the pictures he put the letters away, except of the one Smoker didn't touch till he put it in the envelope and in another bigger envelope to which the other instructed him to.

One last question was on Smoker's mind. "How long are you getting those letters?"

"Already three months passed since the first one," Ace replied and Smoker looked at him his brown irises widened in shock, not understanding why Ace didn't come earlier to him. To that the younger male looked away, ashamed.

Without any other word both of them walked to the front door, Ace standing at the door threshold and Smoker already outside but still in front of Ace. "You know you can call me anytime, when something strange is happening or when you need help. Even when I'm not working. You still have my private number, right?" Concern crept into his voice when talking to Ace. Ace only nodded as a reply, just tired from the long day.

"You can always rely on me, Ace."

"Thank you, Smoker."

Smoker's right hand caressed Ace's face and then placed a kiss on his temple. "I still love you, Ace."

"I'm sorry, Smoker…" Was the last thing Ace said in a breathy voice when suddenly another voice interfered.

"Smoker! " This voice didn't sound happy to see the officer standing close to Ace. It was Sabo, who made his way towards the pair, when he caught them from the window of his own home.

"Don't worry, I just wanted to say good bye." Smoker responded with a little annoyance in his voice and looked back at Ace, pulled him closer and kissed him on the forehead- to which Ace closed his eyes in content -before retreating to his car standing on the other side of the street. Ace was still looking after him when Sabo walked to him and laid his hand on Ace's shoulder, asking him with his eyes, 'what is going on?'

"Not now, Sabo… I'm so tired, I just want to sleep and forget."

"You know you can talk to me, Ace." Sabo reminded him and Ace only nodded at him. "I will tell you, don't worry…"

The shadow was looking at his love. He looked tired and sad and he was looking around with panic when he was on his way home, trembling all the way from the station to his house. He was so worried; he never knew Ace could even behave like that. Normally he was the happy and loud guy, trying to cheer the other people around him up. His temper appearing when someone attacked his loved ones, may it be verbally and physically. His eyes blazing in this beautiful way when he got angry and he hoped that someday this lively fiery gaze could be directed at him.

However, his worry changed fast to anger, when he saw the officer making his way to his Ace. It got worse when he entered the house right after him and didn't come out for a long time. And he didn't want to risk being seen so he stayed a bit further away.

He took a breath with relief, when the officer stepped out, though his anger and jealousy came back when he saw the officer kissing his love on the forehead.

How dare he touch what is mine! HOW DARE HE?

He promised to make himself sure that this person doesn't come too close to Ace. An officer or not, not even the mightiest person could take away Ace. He needed to step up his game…