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He threw the bottle of saké back, chugging several gulps before releasing it with a pop and wiping his face. Blue eyes watched the tall grass before him swaying in the summer breeze. It was late, the only light coming from a half-moon and the little strobing lights that flickered in and out throughout the blades.
Distantly, Whitebeard could hear a pleased giggle and he stretched out his observation haki just to feel her.
Bee wound her way further and further from him on a meandering path. He couldn't even see her head through the grass, it was taller than her by a lot. Still, as Whitebeard cushioned his cheek in a palm, he wondered if she would say anything.
Idly feeling her out, he felt the moment she stopped. It was so quiet, aside from the crickets that sang their song, Edward clearly heard her noise of distress as she began to circle.
Still, he knew better by now. He waited a bit longer, taking another drink. She hopped a few times, likely trying to see—in vain—over the grass.
Taking a few steps in different directions, he heard her call out a searching, "Eddie?"
"Over here, little Bee," he called back. Immediately he felt her reorient herself, before rushing towards the sound of his voice.
She broke through the grass the entirely wrong way, several feet away and facing the other direction. Confused, she turned until she spotted his large frame and brightened.
Edward chuckled under his breath as she hurried over. Bee always got hopelessly lost, it was almost magical how she managed it. Absolutely no directional awareness, she could get mixed up on her left and right. The only thing she could maybe follow was landmarks. But the way they traveled, they were never in one place long enough for her to learn any.
As it was, she did fine on the ship. And, privately, it amused him. Sometimes he liked to ask her which direction they were facing, out there in the open sea just to see how badly her guess was off.
Once, she'd peered up at him as he'd roared with laughter at another wrong answer. "Why's it matter?" Bee had asked. "The only thing I need to get to is you."
Well, maybe don't say it to his face but he'd always been a bit of a sap.
"Eddie!" she said eagerly in the here and now, "look at how many I have!!"
Fireflies winked out from her body, crawling up her arms. Her hair was the most impressive, frizzy and twinkling with buried insects.
He smiled at her warmly. Bee had never seen fireflies before, though she knew what they were ( read about them , she'd commented when he'd asked). So he'd taken it upon himself to show her.
Really, he just wanted to see her face exactly like this, excitement and wonder shining in her eyes as she peered at the flashing bugs without all the distraction of his sons. Although most of the time he didn't mind, even preferred having them all together, sometimes it was nice to see her like this.
Just for him alone.
"You look good, like a princess of bugs," Edward said fondly and she wrinkled her nose at him.
"Bugs are cool though!"
"Until they bite you."
Bee froze, arms still outstretched before she looked down with worry. "They don't bite do they??"
"Gura ra ra ra!! Little late to ask that now, ain't it?"
She sniffed and threw up her nose. "They don't bite!! You would have told me beforehand if they did!"
"Would I?" he asked with a grin. Bee didn't back down.
"Of course you would!"
He hummed and didn't disagree. She was right, after all. Reaching out, he prepared his little sleight of hand trick. Edward had one of his sons teach him, it was easy enough and he wanted to see the joy light across her face.
"Got something to complete your outfit, princess of bugs."
"Oh?" Bee asked, intrigued as he showed her his empty palm. Quickly he twisted his wrist and a flower appeared behind his fingers. She gasped and fondness fizzled over him. She was so easy to please.
He wouldn't have it any other way.
Tucking the slightly-wilting flower behind an ear he said, "Saw this earlier and it made me think of you."
"You're so sweet," Bee gushed with happiness.
Edward shrugged. "A bit wilted." He'd picked it a while ago, on the walk over here. Still, he knew she didn't care and true to form, she didn't look bothered at all.
"S'kay, it's the thought that counts right?" He hummed before he leaned closer.
Sensing what he wanted immediately, Bee tilted her face up and meet him, lips brushing together softly.
"Thank you," she muttered out against his lips. "Sorry I've been boring tonight."
He chuckled pulling back to run a finger against her cheek. "We came here for you, it's fine. I'm just drinking and listening to you have a blast."
Bee laughed, and the wind carried it away, like wind chimes on the breeze.