I got this idea from a different story I read called Azure and ash. It's a very good story and you should really check that one out.
I was walking down the road of edge town as I heard 2 people arguing in front of me, I knew I wasn't supposed to be here but it felt nice to escape high town for a while.
Curious as to what they were talking so heated about I ¨walked over to see a man my own age in a uniform made of green material "Ah, so he's one of the hunters" I thought.
The young man was arguing with an older man about something I couldn't make out, but non the less I decided to intervene.
"Excuse me, is there a problem"? I asked with a raised eyebrow turning the men's attention towards me.
"Damn right there is a problem, this little runt is trying to trick me for money that's the problem"! the older man exclaimed, motioning towards the boy.
"We both know that isn't the truth, you OWE me money from the hunt, last week you said that you didn't have the money don't you DARE tell me again, I have a family to support you bastard"!
The younger man shouted with a dangerous look in his eyes and his words made anger flare inside of me.
"Is that true? That you refuse to pay him for the hunts? " I asked in a low voice which clearly gave away my anger even though I tried my best to hide it.
The hunters worked hard for their money, being a hunter was a very dangerous job and they also helped to keep citizens fed, all the way up to the royal palace.
The man now started to look uncomfortable under my hard gaze and that was all the answer I needed.
"In that case I suggest that you AT ONCE pay this man not only for this hunt, but the last one as well." I said with narrowed eyes, the man only nodded and gave the young man the right amount of money.
"Good, and I really hope that I never get to hear about something like this again". I said to the man who nodded before disappearing into the building behind him.
"Thank you" I heard the young man say and I turned to see him bowing his head to me, showing his gratitude.
"Ah, no don't bow" I shouted making people look our way, shocked to hear those words from a noble.
The young man looked at me like I was crazy and I fidghited under his confused stare, making me laugh and smile sheepily.
"I don't like when people act like they are below me, I makes me feel uncomfortable" I explained with a big grin.
"u-huh.." the young man said, looking at me like I was crazy.
"Yeah, well I'm Sabo" I said reaching out my hand.
"I'm Ace" the young man answered taking my hand, shaking it.
"You look young to be a hunter you know" I said, looking his features over. He looked to be about 16, maybe 17 bot not older than that, and the usual age for hunters was 18 or above.
"I 'm about to turn 17 and started with the hunt 3 weeks ago" he answered.
"What about you? What are a noble doing outside of High town"? Ace asked, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
"I just felt like a walk, being in high town can be pretty suffocating unless you share the same standards as the rest of the people". I said with a small smile.
"Something in your way of saying that makes me believe that you don't". Ace said.
"Well, that's probably because I don't I guess" I laughed, earning a laugh from Ace as well.
We walked in silence for a while after that, I hadn't even noticed we had started to walk before we both fell quiet.
"So.. you said you have a family"? I asked after a few minutes making him smile.
"Yeah, my little brother. He just turned 12 a few months ago, he hates when I have to leave for the hunt but he knows I have no choice, so he tries to hide it." Ace told me and the sadness in his voice didn't go unnoticed.
"You don't have any parents"?
"No, we've been on our own for as long as I can remember" Ace said with a dark laugh.
We walked in silence after this until reaching the Great gate and it was time to say goodbye. Ace would pass through and I would stay here.
"It was nice to meet you Ace, I hope we meet again soon." I said with a smile which he returned.
"It was nice to meet you too Sabo" and then he was gone.
As I walked back I couldn't suppress the smile I got from talking to Ace, there was something special about him and I indeed wanted to meet with him again, as soon as possible.
Time skip 2 months still Sabo's POV
I walked around in High town looking for a fitting present for my mother.
It was December and Christmas was closing in fast. It had started to snow yesterday night leaving the town in a cover of white, which in my opinion was very beautiful.
I saw something move to my right and turned my head to see a young boy in ragged down winter clothes with black hair walking through an alley.
I stood still for a couple of seconds, blinking a few times to make sure my eyes wasn't fooling me.
This boy was clearly not from high town, and if someone else saw him the police might take him.
I walked towards the boy quickly and quiet so he wouldn't notice me and as soon as I was close enough I took his arm and dragged him behind a few barrels in the alley making him yelp in surprise.
"Hello" I said with a friendly smile to show him that I wasn't dangerous as he stared at me with big scared eyes.
"You shouldn't be sneaking around here, someone might catch you" I said looking a bit more serious, making the boy tilt his head and look confused.
"But you just did catch me" he said making me chuckle.
"My point exactly, but I would never hurt you, others here might". I said with a smile making him make an 'oooohhh' face as he understood.
"What were you doing here anyway"? I asked, curious as to why this boy had snuck in here to begin with.
The question made the small boy 's face lit up with happiness as he explained.
"Well, my big brother is turning 17 soon and I wanted to put his name on his uniform as a present but it was hard doing it myself so I wanted someone to help me" he said showing the hunt uniform he had been hiding.
"well, most people here would probably not be the best to ask" I started making the boy look down in disappointment.
"but I would gladly help you if you want to" I said making the boy look up at me with hope in his eyes.
"Really? You would help me"?
"Sure, I can't let your trip here be for nothing right"? I laughed making him give the biggest smile I had ever seen.
I snuck the boy into my house and asked the house keepers for some fabric, tread and a needle.
"So, what's the big brother's name"? I asked as the boy made the letters.
"It's Ace" the boy exclaimed proudly, making me look at him in surprise.
Sure, Ace had told him about the smaller brother and that he was soon to be 17, but he had also said that his brother was 12, this boy didn't look older than maybe 9-10 years old.
"I see.. well he must be really happy having a brother like you" I said, earning another smile from the boy.
As the letters were done, I helped the boy sew them on the uniforms left arm.
The boy had spelled it wrong at first making an S instead of a C, but instead of taking the S of we just decided to cross it out and put the C under it.
All in all, the outcome was pretty good.
We sat in my room for a while and talked about small things, the boy, who I got to know was named Luffy, told me a few stories about Ace that made me laugh.
Soon I realized that it as starting to get dark outside and as I told Luffy I could see him panic instantly.
"AAH I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HOME HOURS AGO, ACE IS GOING TO BE MAD AT ME" He shouted making me give out a sound of panic as I jumped across the table putting my hand over his mouth to shut him up.
If my parents found out about him they would go crazy.
"SSSHHHH calm down, I'll help you get home, alright"? I whispered earning a nod.
-.-
We had just passed the great gate, the trip through High and edge town had gone surprisingly easy and fast and now we only had to walk through the big trash heap known as the grey terminal.
Beside me Luffy skipped happily knowing he would soon be home, completely forgotten was the fact that his brother hadn't even known the fact that he had snuck out in the first place.
"so".. I started, but was interrupted by a voice calling out to Luffy, who froze in his place as he heard the frenetic voice of his brother.
"LUFFY" Ace screamed as he spotted his brother and ran over to them and picked him up, lecturing him for scaring him like that.
"But Ace it's ok, I met this super nice man who helped me and he let me into his house and stuff" Luffy said, making Ace turn his attention to me.
"Sabo? Is that you"? Ace asked looking surprised and I nodded.
"It's nice to see you again Ace" I said with a big smile.
Suddenly I was pulled into a tight hug by Ace who thanked me over and over again for watching over his little brother before releasing me.
"Ah, it was nothing, a real pleasure"! I reassured him, trying to ignore the light feeling in my chest I got from being so close to Ace.
Ace smiled in return as he told Luffy to go into their shared house.
"Do you want to come in for a while"? He asked looking uncertain.
"Do I want that"? I thought, I knew I should go home right away, but I would love to be with the man for a little while longer.
"Sure, why not" I said making Ace smile again. I sure loved to see him smile.
