Chapter 37 – Mission accomplished
Sirja had planned to put her idea into action as soon as possible. Ace was walking beside her, holding her hand. Although he was already eight years old, he liked doing so. It wasn't to have something to hold on to; he held her hand because it made him feel like he could protect her better like this.
They made their way to the elder's house.
Ace had seen him several times on the street and had respectfully bowed his head every time.
But he hadn't been introduced to him properly yet.
Part of Sirja's agenda was to do just that.
Woop Slap had belonged to the marines himself so it was a good thing he didn't know of her intimate relationship with Shanks. Her plan would be down the drain if he did.
'Young Miss Sirja, and who have you brought with you today? I have seen you around for some time now. What is your name, boy?'
Ace still held her hand. 'I am Ace, sir.' Sirja had told him to be very well behaved for this or he would be in trouble. And Ace knew better than to be in her bad books. She was the one doing the cooking after all.
'I believe I have heard Garp talking about you.' Ace got scared, Sirja got nervous. Damned old man. 'I believe he said you were living in the mountains with some bandits. How good of you to be here with us now. Those bandits are not good people to be around.'
Ace bit back a comment. He liked Dadan and the others. They weren't as warm as Sirja or Shanks but still cared for him and they had been taking care of them for a long time too. He would have to tell them goodbye properly, too, he thought.
Sirja was talking now while Ace was still childishly mad about how wrong this man was.
'Ace had met Luffy during one of Garp's lessons.' The adults exchanged a look, speaking volumes. 'The two of them are getting along great as do the two of us.' She looked down and Ace smiled up at her. 'So I was thinking on adopting Ace as well.'
Shanks had been on floating lesson duty this morning but couldn't quite concentrate. Instead his thoughts kept returning to Sirja. Her idea was genius and evil at the same time. Ace would stay with them, even legally, and together they would shove it down Garp's throat. Now it was her that was in control of the situation. A situation Garp had pushed her into; and he would regret doing so. He would find out about their relationship sooner or later. If not by himself then when some other people spotted them. And the papers were always hungry for gossip although few dared to challenge a yonko. Once the news was out however, protecting Sirja would become a whole lot more difficult if he did.
His thoughts were interrupted as an excited Ace came running at them. Sirja came strolling behind him. She had no hurry.
She watched as Ace swam up to Luffy, hugging him and Shanks picking them both up, making sure they wouldn't drown each other.
Shanks looked at Sirja, her smile had gotten slightly more mischievous. Mission accomplished.