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Excitement beat through her as she cut easily through the ocean’s tides. A lithe figure whose blue body almost blended in completely with the water around her, if it wasn’t for her long black hair and the kimono wrapped around her hips.
Carys frowned with annoyance at how the fabric dragged on her body slightly, making her push a little harder with her tail to propel her forward but it was a minor annoyance at best. The crew’s obvious relief when she didn’t show up naked was worth it although she bore it with ill-grace.
As always, the sea chatted in her ears as she went along. It talked about things that had happened, things that might happen, and things that were happening now.
Did you see that school of fish? Lovely, isn’t it? / A shark not far behind / Remember when there wasn’t any fish roaming our waters at all? / One day there won’t be any fish left, if humans have anything to say about it / Perhaps one day our waters will consume all the land there is—
And on and on. Constantly talking. Carys tuned it out with practiced ease, only paying attention to any news relating to the Whitebeard Pirates or their ship. That’s what she was looking for, after all.
There it was, a whisper on a current, another batch of fresh voices from the sea from the opposite direction. The Moby Dick was close. Carys quickly swerved; the maneuver effortlessly graceful before she took off in the direction of the ship.
Poking her head above the waters, she could just barely see the bobbling wide smile of the ship’s mascot. The voices of the sea that followed the ship told her Marco once again wasn’t onboard. Disappointment filled her gut and she sighed gustily. Annoying but oh well. She’d come back another day.
A crack like thunder startled her before Carys could dive back down. The sea grumbled around her and she paused to see what had happened to change its mood so.
There she goes again / I dearly hope she falls this time / Who cares? They’ll just pull her out / Drown her in our waters
The last voice had a bit of a push to it, an echo of a command that Carys ignored.
“What is happening? Who?” The sea pushed her attention towards the sky and she could finally see a small figure bouncing. It looked to be a human sky walking, hardly an unusual occurrence and something the sea normally cared little for. “So?” Carys asked.
Get closer
Intrigued, Carys obeyed, ducking below the surface and she sped towards the figure. As she did, even below the waves she could hear the sound of Whitebeard’s powers. Popping back up, Carys’ green eyes watched carefully now that she could see better.
It was a lone woman, attempting to bounce through the sky, in the strange way humans ‘walked’. However, unlike most, each time she put her foot down, there was an answering crack that split the ocean below her temporarily.
Carys recognized it as Whitebeard’s devil fruit, from the sound and the way the woman’s foot had the recognizable blue orb around it before she brought it down.
Quickly, Carys stretched out her senses. Had Whitebeard died? The sea should have said something and the ship would be in mourning if that was the case but perhaps she had been gone too long…
But no, his presence pressed back against her, steady and strong. Her heart settled.
Well, it was a mystery but one she didn’t care overly much to dissect. Marco wasn’t around and Papa would appreciate her returning home sooner than planned. She dove and started to leave, content to ask during the next visit.
Bee bit her lip, forehead sweating as she focused. Using Eddie’s devil fruit powers should normally be easy, as effortless as if the man himself was doing it. That was what happened when you had the same devil fruit for years and years, a lifetime’s worth of experience—one got used to it.
Still, he rarely used it on his feet and had never used it the way Bee was attempting to do. Which meant her Bond-Bond fruit’s copy of his Quake-Quake was of little help. It copied the ability completely so she could do everything Edward himself could, but with their love bond she should be able to find new ways to use it as well.
With anyone else’s she wouldn’t be able to do this, confined to using a devil fruit power exactly the way the user did. But with their bond, it opened up new ways of creativity.
Such as attempting to ‘sky walk’ but with his devil fruit power. It was clunky and not at all graceful but she felt like she was getting the hang of it. Practicing over water seemed like the best bet in case she fell and didn’t have to worry about splattering against the ground (or leaving behind craters as she went).
They had Namur on standby in case she messed up and crashed into the sea. It hadn’t been necessary yet, despite several people’s fretting. Marco, she was coming to learn, was hiding a tendency to worry beneath that laid-back expression.
Eddie had laughed outrageously when she’d mentioned it to him.
Semi-distracted by the thought, she missed the next step and had to quickly shuffle her feet to get back in a rhythm before a sudden shock of Edward’s conqueror’s haki burst through the air. For a moment, all the air left her lungs in surprise.
Bee was able to take in a lungful of air right before the ocean waves rose up to meet her and she hit them with a loud slap .
Immediately, the strength seeped from her body as it went limp and useless. She stared up at the sunbeams that shone from the surface as the remaining air left her mouth in little air bubbles, brushing past her lips.
She wondered, for a moment, when the last time she swam was. She still had a memory of swimming, of a strangely warm ocean and how she kept diving under the waves to curl up in a ball and let them push her along until her back hit the sand and she sprang out of the surface drawing in air before doing it all over again.
How long was that now, ten, twenty years? She was so young when she ate her devil fruit…
Strong arms grabbed under her armpits and dragged her up. The tranquility of her descent was suddenly broken the moment her lungs sucked in the first breath, releasing some locked-up fear that hadn’t really touched her as she sank. Bee sucked down water and she coughed violently, struggling to breathe past the waves that broke against her face.
Her body was still weak and plaint and as she was moved, the ocean sloshed into her mouth, filling it with more saltwater and she really began to panic, feeling suddenly like there wasn’t enough air, and she flailed in the firm grip.
Something propelled them from underneath and they landed on the sun-warmed wood of the deck. Bee pushed away the hands that were still holding her and bent on all fours as she coughed and vomited.
After several minutes, her ribs aching, she finally sat back, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Immediately there was a face shoved into her own and she jumped, scooching back on her ass to put a few inches between them.
The woman simply followed. "You smell like Eddie!" she said eagerly, bright green eyes wide on her face. She was stunning and not at all who Bee was expecting to see. Who was this?? Confused, she couldn't formulate an answer before the woman went on, "Are you his mate?"
Loud, boisterous laughter shook the air and both women looked up to see Whitebeard leaning back in his chair, hand pressed to his forehead as his body shook from his laughing.
"Eddie!" The woman cried before arms suddenly were around Bee, picking her up easily in a bridal carry before trotting towards the chair in the middle of the deck. Blinking with confusion, Bee struggled but accomplished nothing, the arms like iron bars around her.
"I can walk—" she tried but was immediately talked over.
"When did you get a mate?" the woman—Bee still had no idea who she was—demanded, stopping in front of the man's chair. She tilted her head. "Did you change your hair?"
Whitebeard chuckled as he leaned closer, blonde locks falling over his shoulders. "I did. Ask me about it later. For now, Bee, meet Carys, this is Marco's girl." Bee felt the woman straighten, obviously preening under the comment. "Carys, this is Bee, my" —His eyes were filled with mirth— "mate."
Carys made a noise like a rumble, Bee could feel it from where her arm was pressed against the woman's chest, her blue tank top drawing the eye to the numerous scars that dotted her tan skin. Carys rubbed her cheek against Bee's temple, as her chest vibrated with something similar to a... purr?
"It is so good to meet you!" Carys exclaimed.
Bee nodded back mutely before she wiggled a bit. "Can I be put down now?"
Immediately, Carys set her down on her bare feet. Bee shifted, feeling the water pulling awkwardly at her clothes. The woman leaned too far into her space, and Bee felt awkward under the force of her intense attention. "I should go change."
"Oh! I'll help!" Carys said before twisting her hand in the air between them. Bee could feel the water leave her skin and clothes, dragging off her body before floating around Carys' held up hand. Her mouth dropped.
"Oiiiii, Carys!" Ace's voice interrupted them and the taller woman turned before her face broke out into a large smile.
"Ace!" Happily she skipped over as Bee watched silently before a large hand scooped her up.
Bee frowned as Edward brought her to his chest, hands holding her gently before settling back with a pleased sigh. "Good to have you back," he said with a smile, pressing a kiss to the side of her face. Her frown didn't lift, despite the warm words.
"She calls you Eddie?" Bee blurted out immediately. She hadn't known anyone else called him that, she thought it was only herself.
He shrugged. "Likes the nickname. Friends of my childhood used to call me that." He jostled her teasingly. "Looks like things got a little hairy out there, hm? Told you it was a bad idea."
Her temper—and pride—flared. "If you hadn't used haki I wouldn't have fallen! Why did you do that anyways??"
"Don't be upset," he chided gently, not at all calming her temper. "I wanted Carys to meet you. She won't come aboard if Marco isn't here unless I get her attention."
"She has her own ship?" Bee questioned, patting absentmindedly at his collar so he would drop her into his lap. Her brown eyes watched as Carys was quickly surrounded by various crewmembers, chatting loudly.
Edward handed her the shoes she had left with him and she pulled out the rolled-up ball of socks, bending to put them on.
"No," he answered. "She's part sea king, Carys swims everywhere."
Bee froze with a sock halfway on her foot. "I'm sorry she's part what ."
"Sea king," Eddie repeated with a grin. "When she gets wet she'll change into a mermaid. Pretty cool right?"
"Super," Bee said weakly.
After spending some time with Edward, Bee headed down to the galley. She was hungry from all her exercise and subsequent dunk in the ocean.
Once there she heard nothing else but stories about Carys. Picking at her food, Bee overheard or was told directly all about her. There seemed to be no end to the information and she wondered where this was coming from. In the three months she'd been on the ship, Bee had never heard her brought up.
Except for a few choice comments made to Marco about missing his girlfriend but Bee hadn't paid much attention to that. Marco had merely rolled his eyes and changed the subject so Bee had figured it was just a joke or he didn't want to talk about it.
Right as she was finishing up, Carys herself peeked into the galley, looking around quizzically, ignoring the various greetings she got. When her eyes landed on Bee, her face brightened and Bee sucked on her straw harder.
Carys came up to her side right as she was getting up from the bench. "Bee! Eat with me!"
"Ah, sorry I'm already done," Bee replied holding up her tray. Carys looked it over critically.
"You did not eat enough," she pointed out.
Bee pursed her lips. "I'm full."
Carys frowned before her expression lit up. "Perhaps we could take a bath together!"
"I was going to shower in my room."
"Then a spar!"
"I don't, uh, spar with people." Or she hadn't, not yet. Although she had a fair amount of fighting abilities she hadn't really been in a position to use them. Not since the 'accident'.
"What about a—"
"Carys," a sharp voice interrupted from behind them and Bee sighed with relief. This was getting painful. "Leave Bee alone, she's finished eating. Go get your own food."
"Aw, but—"
Lacey appeared beside them both, towering over them. She was a tall woman, the head nurse and had a no-bullshit attitude that made her well suited to the role. She had dark skin with equally dark eyes and crimson dreadlocks that she piled into a large bun during her shifts. Right now, her eyes glared down at Carys.
"I mean it, go on now."
Carys pouted but did as she said and wandered off, shoulders slumped with defeat.
For a moment, Bee was relieved until those piercing eyes landed on her and she barely withheld a flinch. "What's the matter with you? Don't like Carys?"
"I'm just a little overwhelmed," Bee said honestly.
Lacey nodded with understanding and something in Bee's chest tightened. "Yeah, she can be a lot at first. You get used to it. Better get out of here now before she comes back though."
"Thanks Lacey."
After beating a hasty retreat, Bee stared up at the ceiling of Edward's room. She hadn't been an occupant in here long and the room still felt like 'his' rather than 'theirs'.
She prodded at her feelings. Why was she acting this way? Bee wasn't normally this anti-social and while her reasoning to Lacey was true, it wasn't the whole story. Except she wasn't even sure what the whole story was .
Turning over she thought about it. It wasn't jealousy, right? There was that recognizable burning within her but it wasn't the same that she was used to... It wasn't related to Edward or being worried about his attention waning in the face of some pretty thing. While Bee might hold that fear out in town, she knew with absolute certainty that he would never go for someone one of his sons was dating.
So what was it?
"Bee!! Yo, Bee!" Furious knocking broke her train of thought and she glared at the wall as she heard the doorknob jiggle. Ace . Why he couldn't learn to knock and wait . At least she remembered to lock the door, unlike Edward half the time.
" What ," she yelled back, annoyed.
"Carys wants to hang out with you!" Ace shouted through the wood.
Bee flinched as she heard a woman's voice join Ace's. "Why are you shouting?"
"So she can hear me, duh."
"I'm going to take a shower!" Bee broke in before they could both start yelling at her.
"Awww," two voices in unison whined.
Bee rolled towards the edge of the bed.
"I can join you!" Carys offered and she winced.
"No that's okay."
"We'll come back later!" Ace cried out. "Come on Carys," he said softer, but still loud enough to be heard through the door. He wasn't quiet by any means, Bee wasn't sure why he felt the need to yell.
"But Aceee," Carys complained as her voice got further away. "I wanted to see Bee!"
Guilt hung heavy over her before she hopped off the bed to actually take a shower. She might as well at this point.
After showering, Bee found herself deep below decks, far from the usual hustle and bustle. She ran her fingers across the wood of the hallway, trying to work out her tangled thoughts. Figuring it would be safer away from the room in case Ace and Carys decided to come back, she took the time to puzzle it out.
What was bothering her? Sometimes she got like this, where she was overwhelmed by the amount of people or a situation. Still, she was normally nicer. She'd usually let Carys talk herself out before beating a retreat. Instead, she was avoiding the other woman like the plague.
Partly it was jealousy, she could admit that to herself. Bee always felt a little plain, always 'cute' rather than 'pretty'. Carys was gorgeous and in the short time she'd been onboard, Bee heard the men fawning over her enough to know that everyone felt the same.
But it was more than that too. Edward didn't allow female fighters on his crew, only as nurses or other nonfighting roles. That hadn't changed with Bee. Edward viewed her as safe enough with her devil fruit power and the fact that she always had himself or several of his sons with her whenever they went on land. Bee wasn't convinced that was enough but was hesitant to bring it up.
The moment she got caught with sea stone or haki, she was no better than a civilian in battle. Yet Bee had witnessed enough examples of Edward's overprotectiveness with females to know that it would be a fight regardless of how she brought it up. They were still early enough in their relationship that she hadn't wanted to risk a blowout over it. Their bond was still fresh and she wanted to wait until she was more on sure footing in the crew and her place in it.
Carys, on the other hand, was a fighter through and through. It wasn't just the scars that lined her body, it was there in the way she moved and how she seemed to ooze confidence. Bee had seen that same confidence in the commanders and the way they could easily back it up. All this she knew at a glance before she even heard tales of Carys' strength from others in the galley.
Was it that? Feeling like a burden next to someone who could protect themselves—and others—easily? Perhaps. It was probably a mix between the two.
Feeling silly, Bee stopped and sighed at herself. Alright. Enough wallowing, it seemed like she was only upset because of not knowing about Carys until today and suddenly feeling as though the other woman was better than her in every way but that was just her self-doubt talking. Carys had been sweet to her and Bee felt bad enough about putting her off. Time to change that.
Squaring her shoulders, Bee turned and hurried to check out the top deck.
Carys pouted from her place on the armrest of Whitebeard's chair. The man in question was drinking from a large mug, the scent of ale heavy in the air. She folded her arms and huffed, glaring at nothing.
Ace poked at her tail. "Can I get up yet Carys?"
"No," she answered back sharply. "You are my friend, are you not? Sit with me."
"We're not doing anything though," he whined.
Carys hardly heard it, just squeezed her tail harder, making him wheeze.
Lacey had cornered her and forced her into the bath, brushing and shampooing her hair, ignoring Carys' threats and arguments. She'd pulled on her kimono and tanktop (she liked to leave the sleeves hanging off her body) and then refused to shift into her human form.
She'd crawled along the deck but humans never seemed to like that much. Ace eventually grabbed her and carried her to Whitebeard's chair. Once he had deposited her, she wrapped his upper torso with the bottom of her long tail, trapping him in Whitebeard's massive lap.
Annoyance clawed through her and even being close to Ace and Whitebeard wasn't helping like it normally would.
"What's eatin' at you Carys?" Ace asked, voice sounding as annoyed as she felt. "Why do you wanna hang out with Bee so badly? Just forget it."
"It's important!" she argued. Whitebeard had already explained his newfound bond with Bee. "If Eddie has gained a lifelong mate, I have to make a good impression."
Ace leaned his head back, his black hair tickling against the scales of her tail as he looked up at her. "So? You're already gonna be mates with Marco, Pops has already given you his approval. Why's it matter if Bee does too?'
Carys growled with irritation. Humans and their lack of care for the family bond.
" Because ," she began, "Eddie is the leader of your family. What if something happens to him?"
"Marco takes over, as the first commander," Ace answered easily.
She nodded. "Yes, if Eddie dies. Then Bee will also die and the point is mute." Carys ignored how Ace flinched at her flippancy. "However, let's say Eddie is sick. Who takes over in that case? He's not dead and should get better."
"It's still Marco."
"Marco gives the commands , but who will the crew look to see if they should obey? Marco has earned the loyalty of this crew with time and they trust him. Still, Bee will have a lot of power simply as Eddie's mate. If she disagrees with a decision, who will the crew listen to? Who does the crew turn to, if Marco is dealing with commanding? Bee is the likely choice. It's important for me to make a good impression now if I want to be accepted easily into the family clan. If there's friction it will make it harder."
Carys sighed. "And with how often I am away, I already don't make a good position to challenge Bee for clan rights, if she decides to push me out."
"She wouldn't," Whitebeard interrupted with a chuckle. She frowned. They still didn't get it.
"That's not the point! The point is that a family is only as strong as its unity. If there are fractions within the clan, it causes problems until it eventually breaks under its weight. Marco wants to stay here I need to make sure I will fit in here , with this clan. Fights, especially with the top of the chain, will end badly otherwise." Carys' shoulders slumped with disappointment. "I also just want to meet Eddie's mate properly, she must be amazing to be chosen as a lifelong mate."
Her green eyes rose to meet Whitebeard's blue. "You have never had a long-term mate before, no?"
"Never," Whitebeard agreed, grinning. "Never thought I would either until I met her."
Carys squirmed with excitement at the statement and Ace oof-ed at the accidental squeeze. "You see? It matters. Perhaps I should get her a gift..."
Ace groaned. "Don't get her a sea king again, that's better suited for Thatch." Carys swatted at his head.
"That was a gift for your crew not for an individual. Does she like treasure?" She looked up at Whitebeard who shifted guiltily.
"I'm not sure," he said at last.
"What about a snail, Carys?" Ace asked. "It's more like a pet when you make them all" —he gestured vaguely with a hand— "not sleeping all the time. Awake or whatever. It could be nice, you could customize it for her and it'll be safer too, huh Pops?"
"It would be," Whitebeard agreed. Carys had the ability to talk to snails and could turn off the mechanism that made them sleep for most of their life except for phone calls and eating, while still being able to be used as a phone. They could bond to the owner and alert them when someone was listening in on a conversation, as well as pick up conversations that were happening nearby. It was incredibly useful. "It's as good a gift as any. We haven't done gifts really yet so I couldn't help you with anything else." He glared as Ace snickered.
Carys' brows furrowed. "No? How did she ask you to be her mate?"
Whitebeard smirked. "How do you know I didn't ask her?"
Oh. Hm. Carys thought about that for a minute. "Is that standard for humans? Did you?"
"No, she asked him," Ace broke in and leaned away from the pinch Whitebeard gave him, laughing.
"In my culture, Bee would be the one who asked you," Carys explained after Whitebeard was done trying to pinch Ace through her tail.
"Why's that?" he asked with interest.
Ace tried to sit up and lean away from her, possibly trying to escape and she tightened her grip until he fell back against the meat of her tail.
"She's weaker than you. Sea Kings can easily overpower a weaker mate and take , and they frequently do. However for a seasonal mate or a lifelong mate, generally there is a process to things. Bee would ask you because she is weaker and thus show her interest that she would like you to court her. You would then bring her gifts and prove your worth as a mate."
"Well he definitely didn't do that," Ace muttered.
"Now listen here you little shit," Whitebeard growled dangerously. "I went and got her didn't I?"
Ace hummed. "More like the crew did that for you." Before Whitebeard could say anything else, Ace perked up. "Oh look, Bee's coming this way. Can I go now?" he asked while pointing to where Bee was walking across the deck. Carys gasped and released Ace quickly.
The fire user shot off, likely unwilling to get caught up in more comfort squeezing. Carys fidgeted as Bee made her way closer.
"What should I say?" she asked Whitebeard in a low whisper.
"Just be yourself, it'll be fine." His voice was warm but it did nothing to calm the racing in her heart.
Bee stopped before them, looking awkward. "Uh, hi, mind if I interrupt?" Carys frantically shook her head, wanting desperately to spring over to her and hug the woman tight but she figured that wouldn't go over so well. Whitebeard leaned forward and grabbed her with two hands, quickly bringing her to his face while she struggled. When he started planting kisses one after the other in quick succession over her face and body, she shrieked, but the sound was joyful and Carys watched with hungry eyes.
Love radiated off them both as Whitebeard withdrew and Bee giggled slightly as he dropped her down onto his lap. She brushed her hair from her face, shaking out the black curls. Carys took a deep breath in.
They smelled of each other perfectly and it calmed her. Like the scent of flowers carried on a sea breeze. Her tail twitched with longing. Here were Marco's family clan's leaders, no matter that Bee had just joined, Carys knew how these things went.
If Marco ever led the family clan, many would follow him without question but many more would turn to Bee to see how she would react. Marco was Whitebeard's chosen son, the one to bring the clan forward but if Bee were around, she would be considered the heart.
And, if Carys was being very honest with herself, she had always valued the approval of parent figures. Whitebeard was older than her, but only barely and Bee was obviously much younger but tradition burned in her veins. It told her to respect and obey .
Carys was not a leader by trade, she would help support Marco but would never be in an equal role as him.
She'd like to be what she assumed Bee would become for the Whitebeard Pirates. A protector and defender, the one to hold up the ship in whatever means necessary, while their mates led them.
Because wherever their mates went, the rest would surely follow.
Carys blinked back into herself as Whitebeard rubbed her head affectionately. "Carys? You there?" She ducked out from under his hand.
"Yes, yes, my apologies."
"Actually, I wanted to apologize to you, Carys," Bee said and she stilled. "I'm sorry I've been... distant today. I was just surprised but that doesn't excuse my attitude. I'm so sor—" The woman wheezed as Carys threw herself at her, cutting off her words.
"It is okay!" Carys said loudly, rubbing her face against Bee's, combining their scents, rumbling loudly in pleasure. "I am just happy to meet you!"
Soft hands grabbed at her elbows and gently gilded her back. Carys followed the motion easily although her tail swished against Whitebeard's thigh with disappointment.
Bee smiled at her and Carys drank in her face. Dark brown eyes set in a soft round face, a beauty mark on one cheek. She looked very kind. "It's nice to meet you too, Carys. I hope we can be friends."
Carys flung her arms back around Bee's shoulders, hugging her tight. "Yes! I would love it!"
Whitebeard chuckled above them, approving and Carys pressed her face into the crook of Bee's neck, rubbing her nose against her skin, wanting to rub herself even harder on the woman.
Gentle hands began running through her hair and she sighed dreamily.
Yes, this is what she wanted. To be loved and accepted by Marco's family clan, all of his clan. Bee's support would be invaluable, Carys knew, moving forward. But more importantly was the want to be accepted . The way she never was in the world of Sea Kings.
Carys pulled away and pushed at Bee until the woman, confused, ended up in a seated position with her legs crossed. Then Carys plopped her head between them, raising her arms up to wrap around Bee's waist as her tail flopped against the edge of the chair's armrest.
"Tell me," she said, "what is that drew you to Eddie?"
Bee blinked down at her before she laughed. She exchanged a look with Whitebeard and Carys thrilled to see a look of understanding pass between them. Oh, how she hoped her and Marco looked like that to others.
"Well..." Bee began slowly with a secretive smile. "It was all a bit of a blur at first. I was mostly happy I didn't have a crush on him, to begin with."
"Hey now," Whitebeard interrupted. "That's not how I saw it. You were smitten the moment you laid your eyes on me."
Bee barked out a laugh. "In your dreams maybe!"
Carys relaxed into Bee's lap with a large smile on her face as she listened to the two banter back and forth.
Seemingly without realizing it, Bee's fingers had found her hair and were trailing through it, before they hit Carys' arm and her nails lightly scraped down the skin before following it back up to her hair and she purred with delight.
Content and happy to be surrounded by their love.