WinterRose61 - It is the cutest, he tries his best! He did hahaha. And yes, it will be a mix of past/present event, it's not in a chronological order. Mostly because I haven't really planned this story out like I did with Fiery Scales and Please, Purr for me. I am using this story more to like, post single chapter events in the life if a blind Ace, but decided to put it in one story since they do kind of belong together. I've also put it in my note in this chapter, I didn't even really think of it that I'm posting randomly. Unless you, or someone specifically says they would rather have it in a chronological order, I will just be posting at random in their timeframe.

And ooh, thank you for the feedback!

Okami06 - Your English is perfectly fine! Thank you so much for reading and commenting, I'm glad to hear you love this! Marco can be so adorable and yes hahah Ace can laugh and joke about his own blindness haha, he's amazing.

Someone commented if this story will have a chronological order. Well... My original say is, no, no it won't be. I haven't planned out a whole storyline, and most will be single events. Chapters like the previous one will of course get a part two that directly continues from it, but most probably won't.

But, QUESTION! Would you all like it more if it was in a chronological order? That it really follows their life in the order they live it in? Right now, I'll post chapters like this when I get an idea. But if chronological order is more preferred, I'll still make these chapter of course, but they won't be posted until I've finished everything that could come in between this one and the previous one.

This chapter is not a continuation of their first meeting.

Marco paid the last invoice and signed the last papers and was now officially the owner... Or no, well, second owner? Ace would be the main owner... who cares, he was now also the owner over the new charge at his feet.

As he led it to the car and drove home, he was really questioning if he did the right thing or not... he hadn't really talked to Ace about if he actually wanted one... But it was too late now. Weeks of training had gone by, a lot of trips with the caregivers in his house and in their neighbourhood when Ace was working to keep it a secret. It was fully ready for Ace

Flashback

After they umpteenth date, they were now chilling on Ace's couch, just enjoying each other's presence. Marco had been thinking for a bit though, the date they had was simple, just a walk in the park, and there he had seen a woman with a service dog, the dog seemed to have been given a bit of free time to play though since it was running around but did stay close to the woman, and it had given him a question.

Ace had said he shouldn't be afraid to ask questions so... "Ace?"

"Hmm?"

"Why-… Why don't you have a dog?"

"A dog?" The other sat up a bit straighter, looking at Marco with a raised eyebrow.

"Not just a dog but a service dog, or like a guide dog." he said before mumbling "are they the same? Is a guid dog a service dog, but a service dog not always a guide dog? A guide dog is doing a service...?"

Ace gave a light hit to Marco's... bicep? He hit something at least, and laughed. "Just a guide dog, Marco, if you mean for me. A service dog helps people with disabilities like hearing impairments, epilepsy, low blood sugar and such, while a guide dog, like the name says, guides people who are visually impaired."

"Ah, thanks-yoi."

"No problem" he smiled "and for your question, I had actually wanted one before, in the beginning when I became blind."

"Then why?"

Sighing Ace looked down towards his hands, "there's two big reasons. The first one is simple, this place doesn't allow for animals. And two, which also is a reason why I didn't just move somewhere else, … they're expensive." He flopped back against the back rest, "Like, really, really expensive. And that would only be just buying one. Then you still have the added charge each month of food and vet bills and things. I … I just can't afford it."

Ow... he didn't think of that... He didn't know how much they cost but... they shouldn't cost a lot! It- it wasn't a luxury to have a guide dog right? It … it seemed like a basic thing to help you get around in daily life, why... why would they make it so expensive the once who need them can't get them...

"I'm sorry, Ace..." He didn't know what else to say, but Ace just smiled at him and reached until he touched him before snuggling against his said, breathing out. "It's okay. I've gotten used to getting around with my cane now, it's alright."

Humming he embraced the other, stroking across his back as they went back to silence.

End of flashback

So, here he was, standing in the house they now shared... already shared for about 10 months. He had already started his search for this thing when they had recently moved in, but even when he found one after two long months of searching, the training took almost 8 full months to complete.

And it had been expensive, Ace hadn't lied at all. The initial cost only was $50.000 and they could only work for around 8 years he had been told... which meant that even without food and the vet bills, if it were somehow possible to pay yearly (which it wasn't!), each year of service costs you close to 6.5k... That's insane. He still can't believe it, that's not something people can just afford!
The only reason he could afford one is because he was lucky that his old man was rich and that he himself had been saving since he started working. So while he didn't touch a lot of the money he had gotten from his old man, he had it. If something where to happen, he had back up, he wasn't just on the streets...

A sigh left him as he petted the one sitting next to him, "boy... I really hope Ace likes you.", not only for the amount this had cost, while a lot, he would give it again happily in 8 years if Ace wanted to, but he just hoped the other liked it and... that it may help him in daily life, maybe make it all more enjoyable. He didn't hear Ace complain but... but still! He just wanted the other to be less... confined to spaces he knew. Now he would be able to venture into more unknown area's too, even if it was just exploring a new part of the park on his own and not needing to be afraid...

Okay, okay, okay, he had to stop thinking bad thoughts. He still had a few things to prep before Ace came home.

He looked at the one below and said one word. "Free."

He was so nervous right now, Ace was almost coming home. He had given his charge the 'Bed' and 'Wait' command, not wanting the surprise to be ruined. Even if it was still within his sight, it wouldn't be for Ace... for obvious reasons.

"I'm home!"

Instantly straightening up, Marco took a few steps towards the entrance, making sure to step harder on the ground so Ace could hear him and he wouldn't be startled. "Welcome home, l-oof."

"Found you!" Ace giggled after he had straight up walked into the other, on purpose, and hugged him. The action made the blond laugh as he held him, giving a kiss to his head, "I noticed, welcome home, love."

Snuggling for a bit Ace pulled back with a confused look, "Are you okay? Your hearts beating fast."

"Ah-ehm yes-yoi... I'm fine, don't worry, ehm" he glanced behind him and back, "I actually have a surprise for you."

"A surprise, really? What is it? Where is it?"

"Well, it's behind m-"

Ace instantly grabbed behind his back, only to feel air, he looked at the other with a pout "there's nothing there Marcoo~"

Laughing Marco took Ace's hand and led the other to the couch, making him sit down, "it doesn't fit in my hands... I need you to say a word for me, Ace, loud and clear."

"Okay?"

Leaning down he whispered the word in Ace's ear before stepping back.

"Just say it, love, please. For me?"

The freckled one looked unsure but did speak up as asked, "Heel."

When the words left his mouth, noise a bit off to the side of him instantly started up. "What is that?" it sounded like someone was ruffling fabric and there were ... pitter pats? Walking?

"Marco? What I-" he froze up and sat up straight when he felt something touching his left leg. Something Warm... and obviously living.

"It's okay, Ace, I swear. You can... you can touch it, if you want-yoi."

Swallowing Ace nodded and lifted his arm, reaching over and brining it closer to the warmth on his leg, pulling it back every few centimetres since he could scared of what it was. But when he finally touched it, he gasped and his eyes turned wide, showing clearly his unseeing eyes as he started in Marco's direction. "It-it's a dog?" He moved his hand around, stroking over soft, medium long fur, the shape gave away it was a head and then there were also two fairly obvious ears on top, very soft and floppy ears.

"He's an Australian Shepherd, a light brown one with some white spots, blue eyes. He's almost 1 year old and his name is Brownie."

Ace was silent for the next minutes, spiking Marco's nerves but... he kept petting the dog. That was good right? It wasn't a rej-

"Free."

Woof!

The dog gave a happy bark instantly and stood up, wagging his tail happily as he started nosing Ace, finally able to greet the new stranger that had been petting him.

When Ace patted his legs, the dog jumped up with his front paws on him and he giggled when the dog licked his face.

"Ac-"

"Sit."

Instantly the dog was down and now sitting where he had previously been standing. Marco tried to cut in, but Ace continued, simply looking out in front of him.

"Down ... Stand." He had heard the dog move with the first command, but not the second, he thought for a moment, "Up." and there it was, he felt the dog stand up and put its snout on his leg.

"Ace..."

Ignoring the blond he stretched out a hand again, petting over the head and letting his hand trail further down, over his neck and onto his ba- a vest. The dog was wearing a vest.

Marco saw it and swallowed, Ace hadn't looked mad but... he also hadn't said anything to h-

"Is he mine?"

"Huh?"

"Is he mine? Brownie." Ace asked again and put a hand on the dog's head.

After his confusion he nodded frantically, "Y-yea!" he looked down at his fingers and counted, "He already knows the house and the local routes such as the park, the shop, the blocks we usually walk, t-"

He stopped as he suddenly saw Ace standing up, this was it, will he leave, be mad that he got him a guide dog without asking. But instead of him being mad, he saw Ace step next to the dog and take a careful step forward, probably to not step on the tail or something, and reached hands out. Marco grabbed them by instincts so Ace knew his exact location.

The other quickly pulled himself in and hugged the other around his neck. "Thank you, Marco, thank you." He started trembling from emotion. Marco, his boyfriend, had gotten him a guide dog, even the breed that he had said he liked at some point, the man remembered. "Y-you didn't have to. They- They're so expensive and- my cane works, I-"

Marco shushed the other by kissing his lips and placing a hand on his cheek, "I wanted to, love. Just like that simple little hook for you cane, you deserve this. You deserve the freedom and ease of mind to be able to walk around, with hopefully, less worry on what's to come and … have a guard... guide dog with you that can call for help if needed, if anything happens. And..." he gave the 'Free' command again, making the dog start playing around them, "I also thought he would be nice company, for both of us."

Ace was on his way to thank the other again but started laughing as the dog was pushing against his legs, bending down to pet it and it instantly licked his face when it got in reach, making him laugh even more. He embraced the dog and petted the dog all around as he buried his nose in the fur, he was so soft!

Pulling out of the fur, Ace smiled bright, so very bright that it made all of Marco's worries disappear, a smile that told him that he had made the right choice, no matter the price it had cost. The smile held so much love, so much gratefulness, no words would be able to express them.
Kneeling down next to the other, he gently leaned against Ace and petted the dog, receiving nuzzles in return too.

"He can play fetch too. If you throw the toy and hold out your hand, he'll get it and bring it back, drop it in your hand, you don't need to search for the toy."

"Really! I want to try, do we have a toy?"

"Of course we do, love. One moment." He got up and made for the basket not far away, picking up a pineapple squeaker and handing it to Ace who had settled on the couch again, dog still nestled against him.

The squeaker flew through the air instantly with a yell of 'Fetch!' from Ace, Marco was happy Ace knew where the decorations stood or else the blind throws wouldn't have been so fun, but nothing to worry about. Smiling he watched fondly as the dog went after it and Ace sat eagerly waiting on the end of the couch, hand held out and open in front of him. Much like the toy could squeak, Ace squeaked and laughed in delight when he felt the toy be dropped into his hand, accompanied by a small 'woof' and happy pitter pats that took a step back, waiting for another throw.

Obviously, Ace didn't let the dog wait too long and played fetch for far longer than Marco thought one could play fetch, but Ace, as well as the dog, kept going happily, only taking small breaks every now and then. Well, he guessed they could test his actual ability to guide Ace later in the evening, or maybe tomorrow. But no matter of how it went, nothing could change his mind that this had been the right thing to do.

Just so everyone knows, I am making this story without ever having really talked to a blind person, so I do not know any real life experiences, but even then, everyone of course goes through things differently.
I know the blind can of course walk in new areas alone with just a cane or other things to help, but I do think, for some, it would be a big step and scary since they have no idea what is in front of them, literally. This is why I put such an attention in this chapter that Ace can now explore new areas more freely. The dog, who can see, will be able to guide Ace far better and away from danger than his cane ever could, even if the animal doesn't know the specific route they're walking.