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The boys giggled and cackled as they followed Bee along the cobbled path. Her brand new shoes clicked against the stones and she felt a little wobbly on them, not quite used to the low heel yet but she would soon.
They were too cute not to wear. Black with floral patterns stitched into them. She couldn't help but admire the toe of them as she walked, the 'v' they created so different from the regular curved toe shoes she generally wore.
Really the whole day was an experience. She had been out shopping with Vista and noticed a vest she'd loved at first sight.
It was way too expensive, that she knew before she had even touched it. They were in a fancier place than she normally frequented, Vista browsing the store looking for something for himself. But the vest had called out to her, black velvet embroidered with cream-colored flowers, the center a creamy lace that brought the eye up to the strip of ribbon around the neck, with small wings of a collar—also embroidered. It was luxurious and as she touched it, Bee couldn't help but let out a longing sigh.
Unfortunately (fortunately?) Vista had been close enough to hear it, then came over to investigate. He'd urged her to try it on and when she protested, bodily pushed her towards the dressing room, despite her protesting the whole time.
It fit beautifully, of course it did, and when she shyly showed him, Vista cooed and awed over her so much she could still feel the blush on her cheeks after she had gotten changed and came back out to find several shipmates now lingering in the store, including Izou. When her eyes had narrowed, Vista proudly proclaimed he was buying her the vest.
No amount of protests, pleading, or threats changed his mind. When she'd finally tried for a 'I don't have anything to match!' it became an all-day adventure, going to different stores and trying to find the perfect outfit, the shipmates that tagged along helping with the costs, claiming she was more than worth it when she tried to argue.
Now she was all set and their little convoy was headed back to the ship, to home . Her fencing sword smacked into her thigh as she walked, still not quite used to the weight of it on her hip. She used to fence, back on her home island but didn't ever carry one but of course, Vista had insisted. Said it would go with her look. It was beautiful and her black puffy trousers swooshed as she walked, making her feel bigger than she was.
She felt a little more like a pirate, dressed like this—sash tied around her waist and yeah, maybe a little more frilly than other pirates with the embroidered flowers on her vest and feet but as she walked along, arms bumping into the men around her, she felt like she fit in just a little better than her normal sweater and shorts.
As they came up to the gangway, Vista put a hand on her shoulder as a few of the boys rushed up the plank and she raised an eyebrow at him.
"Something wrong?" Bee asked with confusion. Vista smiled back, boyish face still so soft, despite the height difference between the two, his thick black hair thrown in a ponytail. Still, she could see where the baby fat would soon come off, revealing a handsome gentlemen underneath—not that he wasn't already a gentlemen.
"None at all, Ma Bee!" he said happily. The boys liked to call her that, Ma , and despite never wanting kids she thought it was cute. "Just got a surprise for you." He winked at her and she shifted onto her tiptoes in a bounce.
"Oh?"
"And here it is," a smooth voice interrupted from behind them. Vista's hand fell away before a new weight was dropped on her shoulders. Bee turned with confusion to see Izou standing there, chin in his fingers as he considered her.
"It's still too long," Vista pointed out with a chuckle.
"Yes, I know that," Izou snapped back with annoyance before he sighed. "I'll fix it later. For now it'll work. Just hold still for a second." He fussed with the collar, pinning a chain between the two sides so it wouldn't fall off. Bee tried to get a look, but it seemed to her it was only an oversized white jacket.
"What's the point of this?" she asked before Izou spun her back around and pushed her towards the gangway.
"Go show Pops," he answered cryptically.
She pouted at the two men, wanting an explanation but Vista just shooed her on and she walked up slowly, feeling the weight of the jacket as it dragged on the ground behind her. She almost tripped on the way up but corrected herself at the last second, arms doing a pin-wheel thankfully saving herself from falling into the ocean below and she heard two sighs of loud relief behind her.
Sticking out a tongue over her shoulder she made it onto the deck without anymore issues before rushing off to show Eddie, excitement fluttering in her gut.
He was in his normal chair, as expected, several sons surrounding him. However, Edward had a hand over his eyes, face looking annoyed.
"Now one of you better explain what this is all about—" Bee overheard him say before she was gilded right in front of his chair.
"Okay Pops you can look now!" someone said loudly and he removed his hand, grumbling under his breath before he caught her eye and she smiled.
Edward's face, so annoyed to begin with, dropped into blankness and she shuffled her feet, suddenly nervous.
"Uh, hi?" she began timidly. When his face didn't change, eyes glued to her, Bee went on, "The boys got me this, what do you think?" She held out her arms in a 'ta da' sort of gesture.
She swallowed nervously, suddenly wondering if he hated it, as the seconds dragged on. He never took this long to respond.
Finally, in a voice so rough it seemed more appropriate for their bedroom and not out on deck surrounded by his family , Edward said, "You look stunning ." There was nothing but awe and wonder in the tone, along with just a touch of heat. It was enough for a pleased shiver to shoot down her spine and she felt a little shy as she fluttered her eyelashes back at him.
"Yeah?" she asked and he nodded, still looking dazed.
"Do a spin for me," Edward demanded, twirling a finger and she giggled before she obeyed. The jacket dragged and she huffed.
"I can take the jacket off, Izou added it at the last minute and—"
"Don't," Eddie interrupted, tone serious, his eyes roamed over her and she swore she could almost feel it like a real touch, her skin sprouting goosebumps in answer. "We match, don't we?"
Bee blinked with surprise tilting her head to look at her own jacket better. "Oh! We do!" she agreed, seeing the familiar red pattern on the lining. "I hadn't realized. Izou said he would fix it, I guess that means he could make it shorter?"
Edward grunted before he reached for her and she gladly stepped closer. He grabbed her and pulled her to his face, covering it with kisses as she shrieked with delight. "You're beautiful, little Bee."
"Haha, you have your sons to thank for that then! They bought everything, didn't let me spend a single cent."
"Good," Eddie said, in a voice so dark it seemed like molasses, thick and dripping with promise. "Glad to see they're treatin' you right. Now," he stood, taking her with him easily. "Let's go to the room, I want to inspect the outfit. Make sure it's up to snuff."
She couldn't help it, she burst into loud laughter. "Inspect it? You can't do that out here?" Bee teased, knowing exactly why he couldn't. If the heat in his voice wasn't enough of a clue, the look he shot her would have, filled with fire and she hid a pleased smile behind a hand.
"Absolutely not."
Bee hummed before rubbing her face against his chest from where he was cradling her in the crook of his arm. She reached up and dug her fingers into his jacket that was a permanent fixture on his shoulders. She couldn't wait for hers to get shortened enough that she could actually wear it. Maybe have it dangle off one shoulder, with straps to hold it up, she'd seen that before. That would be cool. Picturing the two of them, side-by-side matching like that made her positively melt with affection for the man currently holding her. She was glad he seemed to feel the same, as he gave her a gentle squeeze and her smile grew wider—feeling safe in his arms.
And loved.
