Ace's Sacrifices of Love (Hiatus)

Chapter 2: Happiness

"Welcome home Luffy." ace said as he opened the door to his apartment that he just got. Most of the space had boxes that were still unpacked or just empty.

 "Wow it's a real mess." Luffy laughed at his older brother. Ace just smiled back enjoying his brother's company. Since ace really wasn't the cleanest person in the world, even when there was nothing that could be made into a mess. It was a talent as Luffy called it.

 "So this is the kitchen." said Ace as he opened a door leading them to the kitchen. He continued to show Luffy the small two bedroom apartment.

 Luffy thought it was the greatest thing in the world. Seeing as how Luffy was accustomed to having a tiny room, which he was sharing with ace not too long ago. Along with a bathroom he had to share with four other kids.

 "Wow I get my very own room!" ace walked into the room to stand next to where Luffy could see his new room. It wasn't much bigger than the one he had but it was his and only his. Luffy was mostly happy he could jump on the bed without hitting another bed on top of his. He had his own small desk and a slightly bigger closet.

 "Yep this is all yours I told you as soon as I turned 18 I'm going to work hard to give us both a better life. Away from the constant jumping families and the back and forth separation." ace was standing in the door feelings of happiness and pride in him as he watched the younger boy gaze over the room in joy.

 "But remember Luffy since I still need a real job I might be gone some nights I trust you will be fine alone and not cause trouble?" Luffy turned back with a happy smile. Ace knew that Luffy was a decent kid that wasn't always a trouble maker that didn't know his right from left. However not many people let the boy tie his own shoes in some of their past homes let alone be left home alone.

 "Of course, ace!" Luffy ran and hugged ace with a big smile knowing he was now in a family that knew him and trusted him. Luffy after all the hard years at the orphanage now had a perfect family. In his mind all he ever needed in life was ace.

 "Hey, hey I can't breathe." joked ace as Luffy let go of him.

 "I'm so happy thank you, ace." Luffy would never admit it to anyone but ace knew behind that goofy face Luffy was hurt from his past and he knew if Luffy was in front of anyone else he wouldn't have started to cry.

 "Hey now tears of happiness I hope come on let's get what little you have unpacked" ace then wiped away the tears on the smiling boy.

 "Ya!" Luffy quickly got his things out and ace helped him lay them out on Luffy's bed as he went to get hangers to hang them up.

 'Ding dong' Luffy gave a quick confused look to ace. Ace just smile and headed to the door telling Luffy to just continue hanging up his clothes.

 "Ace! Good to see ya! How have you been? Did you finally get custody of that brother of yours?" it was shanks the person that gave ace some under the counter jobs such as cleaning his house or yard work simple jobs like that. Most of the time even though ace didn't question it he felt shanks paid him too much for simple stuff. But he figured he was a good person that just wanted to help out however he can.

 "oh Mr. shanks, uhh yes as a matter of fact he is here right now." seeing as how shanks was his boss he wanted ace to always call him Mr. ace was in a bit of a shock to see him in this run down neighborhood. Not that it was the worst house but compared to shanks house, which was practically a mansion, Ace's was a bit of a crummy house.

 "Oh hello you must be aces younger brother! I'm shanks what's your name?" Luffy turned to look at the smiling red haired man in his door way. Luffy looked at his nice white shirt and black dress pants and knew he was well off. Not that Luffy care really.

 "Oh yes! I'm his younger brother, my name is Luffy." Luffy smiled at shanks in his normal goofy smile. Ace then came up behind shanks to see them talking.

 "Well I see you two have become friends already." Luffy didn't know why but ace wasn't smiling but didn't look sad he looked neutral.

 "Well nice to meet you Luffy. Oh I almost forgot the real reason I came. Ace I was wondering; if you're not busy, to do some gardening at my house this weekend. Also your brother can come if he wants too I don't mind." Luffy looked at ace kind of wanting to see what the red haired man’s house looked like.

 "Really you wouldn't mind?" Luffy went up to the red hair man with the same smile he always had.

 "Of course." shanks then ruffled the younger's boy hair gaining a bigger grin from Luffy.

 "Well other than that I should leave you two alone. See you later ace." shanks walked past ace showing himself out to the door.

 "Have a good day Mr. shanks."

 "Ya by Mr.!" Luffy and ace both smile from the door way and Luffy waved as shanks smiled and waved back before they heard the door shut.

 "Hey ace was that your boss?" Luffy asked while they continued to unpack, Luffy's mind spinning with more questions about this new character shanks.

 "Ya he gives me some simple house chores seeing as how his last maid stole from him. Well that's what he told me so he said if I did some work whenever he asked that he would pay me in generous amounts. So I do gardening and some cleaning nothing I didn't already do normally but now I get paid. So I'm really indebted to him. "Ace smiled at Luffy seeing the wonder in his eyes about his almost fairy tale like story.

 "Ace what does generously mean?" Luffy asked smiling.

 Ace laughed at this then just patted his head as he smiled at the younger brother.

 "It means to pay more than enough. If it wasn't for shanks I couldn't afford this house and then we couldn't be together anymore."

 "Really! But if you have shanks then why do you still need to find a different job?" Luffy asked hanging up the last of his clothes.

 "because I still need a real job one with benefits and health care I can't stay in debt to shanks forever and besides you don't need to worry about any of that just enjoy your new life with me." ace then hugged Luffy and gave him a kiss on his forehead. Luffy smiled to finally have his brother with him again and forever. Just this thought made Luffy the happiest man in the world.

 "Anyway don't worry about it; you need to focus on your school work since your living with me now you have to go to the school in this district. Don't worry it's much better than your other one." Luffy didn't care he got into fights all the time at his old school and didn't have very many friends on top of that.

 "It's ok I don't care. As long as I'm with ace I'm happy." Luffy then hugged his brother tighter and ace hugged back.