Press Play [LawLu]

Chapter Sixty-Five: Changing Tides

A/N: Sorry i missed last weeks update, work has been killing me and I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel so I haven't had much time to write but editing this was so so so therapeutic and relaxing so I'm hoping i can get a solid headstart on next weeks chapter so its not rushed or late, ty all so much love ya and see ya next week! <3

Luffy stumbled into the house in the dawning hours of morning. The sun had come only an hour ago, give or take. His backpack slipped from his shoulder and Luffy was about to let it drop to the ground until his reflexes kicked in when he remembered there was film equipment in the bag and not school supplies. Luffy caught the bag by the strap just before disaster struck and only became aware of the hushed voices coming from the kitchen as Luffy set the bag down gently behind the couch. Sabo and Ace usually weren't up this early so that was more than just a little odd.

Luffy could barely pick up his feet as he mosied into the kitchen. Usopp had found this abandoned ranch of some sort that he wanted to explore for a video. Luffy had suggested they do an overnight video and it had been fun but Luffy got little to no sleep thanks to Usopps panicked muttering over the beehives he saw when they snuck into the building. 

Sabo was leaning on the counter with both his forearms pressed against the marble-laminated surface. Ace was leaning against the counter next to Sabo with his back to Luffy, looking down at Sabo's phone too. What on earth could they even be looking at this early?

"So the rent for this place wouldn't be that bad, and technically, it's two bedrooms, but there's a storage room that looks big enough to be a small bedroom too," Sabo said. His voice was just above a whisper and he swiped through something on his phone. Luffy deduced that they were pictures of some sort. What on earth was he talking about rent and bedrooms for? He made it sound like he was trying to move out. 

"When will it be open?" Ace asked. Was Sabo trying to move out!? Ace didn't look or sound bothered by it at all! Sabo can't leave, who was going to cook if Sabo wasn't living with them!? The last time Ace cooked it was all so burnt that Luffy couldn't even bite through it. And Luffy didn't even know what it was supposed to be. 

"In September, I imagine if Garp's gunna sell the house, a real estate agent is going to want to start staging it way before they actually sell it, so we'll probably have to be out of here before October." 

"Sell the house? What are you guys talking about?" Luffy asked. They both jumped and Ace smacked his head against a cabinet with a loud thud made even louder by the calamity of the early morning. 

"Ow!" Ace yelped and held his forehead, doubled over and leaning on the counter in a similar way to Sabo. Sabo winced in empathy at the pain but made no acknowledgment of it. Instead, he stood up straight and looked up at Luffy. 

"You're up early," Sabo commented. He set his phone down on the counter with the screen down. "I figured you'd sleep in after being out so late." 

"Oh, I just got home, you guys didn't hear me come in?" Luffy tilted his head back and yawned. He really wanted a nap but the whole selling the house business had too much of his attention now. It'd have to wait until he got an answer. "Why are you guys talking about real estate agents or whatever?" 

Ace and Sabo exchanged a glance. A private conversation passed between them without either of them saying a word. They were good at that and on occasion, Luffy too was included in glances like that. But now he had no idea what thoughts passed between them.  

"You didn't tell him?" Ace asked after a long, stifled silence. 

Sabo shook his head, sighed, and brushed his hair back from his face. "With everything that happened with the car accident and Law, I completely forgot about it." There was no doubt that Sabo had a lot more to be worried about than telling Luffy they'd be apartment hunting in the near future.