The progression between Law and Luffy is finally, kind of happening? This chapter is short (as per usual), sorry. And, and, and, I would love a beta reader—or, well, someone who'd be up to discussing ideas for this story with me. My grammar is usually pretty good, so no worries about that. I just have a vague idea of where I am going with this story, but I still struggle with some parts, and I don't have any friends who follow One Piece, so I don't have anyone to bounce ideas off of. If you're interested, you can talk to me here, or on my tumblr—the link is in my about.
"So, where to first?" Luffy isn't even fully seated in Law's passenger seat yet—only having just hopped in, one leg in and the other out the door. He's never been inside Law's car—a 2012 Ford Mustang—before; just next to it, and he can't seem to stop his hands from roaming over the (p)leather seats. The teenager is a tad nervous, and by extension, antsy, but Luffy has always had trouble staying still, so he doesn't think Law will notice.
Law looks at him from the corner of his eyes, hand ready to shift into drive as soon as Luffy closes the door. His hair is trapped underneath a knit beanie, embroidered with skulls, and the Luffy can't help but to chuckle—it seems that Law still has some Halloween spirit left; but then again, the man is always morose. There are tones of gray, different shades of black surrounding Law, but they're offset by Luffy's eye-wateringly bright red sweater. His pants are colored with a hint of sea foam green and Luffy is most definitely a Christmas person, if the coloring isn't a good enough clue. "Just the bank," he answers, "and the grocery store. We'll have to stop by my apartment to put them up." All of Luffy's limbs are inside the car now, door shut, and he's blowing warm air onto his knuckles to warm them. There's a hum of the engine as it jumps forward—Law is humming too, noncommittally, but Luffy has the feeling that he's slightly amused by something. "You'll get to meet my dog."
"Bepo?" Luffy's face has already lit up with excitement, affection for a dog he has yet to meet seeping from his pores. Law has sent him a plethora of pictures, of a big Samoyed who looks more like a bear than a dog. Luffy said that he looked like a cloud too, and said that he just wants to hug him and bury his face in his fur. Law cracked a smile and held his dog closer when he heard that through his phone receiver, but he's not going to let Luffy know that. Luffy leans forward in his seat, no seatbelt on. "What about your roommates?"
"Shachi is at work. Penguin might be home," Law says, wrinkling his nose as Luffy chimes in with a laugh. Law doesn't remember when or how him and Shachi started dubbing their friend 'Penguin', but Luffy thinks it's hilarious.
Luffy's mouth is still up-turned. His fingers clench around the edge of his seat and Law cranks up the heat. "Are you going to get bacon? I've been craving it." Never mind that he had some this morning.
His driver snorts. "You know, you sure eat a lot of meat for a tree-hugger." There's a lilt to his tone that tells Luffy that Law's just teasing.
He retorts, "Well, I have to have some flaws, right? Can't be too perfect."
Grocery shopping with Law is everything Luffy could have ever hoped for and more. Law carries around a list and pushes the cart while Luffy scolds him, because ramen is not dinner. Law knows this, of course, but it's not for him; it's for Shachi. They banter over what to get, what to cross off the list, and Luffy pleads for Law to buy him a bag of marked-down Halloween candy. Maybe he even flits a hand over the man's forearm, and makes his eyes all big and wide, brimming with the crocodile tears he has perfected.
Law easily gives in and Luffy grins triumphantly. Everyone is putty to that look of his. He's all childish smiles and shining eyes, and he thinks he'd like to do this again. Thinks he'd like to go grocery shopping with Law every week and argue over what they'll be having for dinner. And then they'll go home, but they'll be too lazy, too tired, to unload anything but the perishables; so they'll do just that before sitting on the couch and kissing and cuddling with each other and Bepo. A perfect, stupid, domestic fairytale.
Is it too early for Luffy to be imagining this? He doesn't know; he's too new to this whole 'crush' thing.
There's about three-fourths of one of his Twizzlers left. Instead of eating it, Luffy holds it up to Law's lips—it won't distract the man from driving. They're at a red light. He's only a little surprised when Law actually eats it, lips brushing along his fingertips—but he's gotten used to Law's odd, silent and subdued affection that is masked with smirks and sharp quips. He's used to it, and Luffy is afraid because he wants more of it.
"My dad owns a grocery store," he says conversationally. "Well, co-owns it with my Uncle Benn. And it's somewhere in-between small and big, with a lot of organic stuff 'cause my mom and I like it. I work there sometimes during the summers—it's called Hallend Market. Ever been there?"
Law swallows his broken-down Twizzler. "The one near the library?" Luffy grins and gives a bouncy nod, even though Law is looking at the road. "Yeah, I've been in there once or twice to pick up cigarettes."
"One of my older brothers—the one who got the tattoo—works there fulltime. And then he plays music at clubs and stuff during the night." The light turns to green from red, the car accelerating with a comforting growl. "You could come with me to watch him play, one day, if you want."
The man is turning into an apartment complex, with Green Day's 'Brain Stew' mutely flowing through the stereo. Ace and Law's music taste differ, acoustic and ragged, but Luffy still thinks that Law would have a good time. "I'll go with you," he concedes, pulling into a parking spot and turning off his car—and then he turns to the younger, subtly smiling, "but only if you help me carry the groceries in."
Luffy's head lulls onto the headrest, eyes fluttering and lips twitching with a soft, sort-of, beam. "I was going to help you anyways."