Crazy In Love | Buggy

t h i r t y - o n e

The next three weeks went by in a flash. Not much of importance really happened. Each morning, I'd awake in Buggy's strong arms. There had been a couple of times where I'd wanted to kiss him, but I had remained strong. We hadn't done anything other than cuddling and talking.

He had been taking good care of me. It was him who would wash my wound, redress it, too. He would make sure that I ate enough, slept enough and that I wasn't straining myself too much. Still, I helped with the navigation since they needed me for that.

I'd go to the navigation room, help out Arlene with the route. Then, I'd hang out with Dilly and sometimes other clowns. I was trying to do everything in my power to make them like me.

The more they liked me, the less likely they were to usurp Buggy, I thought. Buggy had done what I had told him he should do. In front of his crew, he treated me like dirt.

It hurt, at times. But it was necessary. One night, as we were laying in bed, cuddling, he had brought up an idea.

"You know, maybe I should get you some of your own stuff."

I raised my head, which was laying against his chest, so that I met his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're going to be with us for at least a couple of more months. You've been wearing my clothes. Wouldn't you like some of your own?"

Truth was, I liked wearing Buggy's clothes. They smelled so strongly of him. His smell was indescribable. Sometimes, when I was alone, I would raise whatever shirt he had lent me to my nose and snif it.

That made me feel shame. I shouldn't do things like that - it was pathetic. It was also fanning the flames of my feelings for him.

"Where would you get clothes for me?"

I was hoping he wouldn't suggest trying to take clothes from other clowns. I doubted they'd like that suggestion.

"When we were in the maps room today, I noticed we're quite near a town. We could stop off, get you some clothes and other things."

My heart dropped at that. If we stopped at a town, that meant pillaging and carnage. As much as I liked the idea of shopping, I knew in reality it would be theft.

I furrowed my eyebrows together. "That's really sweet of you to suggest, but..."

Now his eyebrows were tightly together. "What? Spit it out, Boop."

That nickname made my heart do a somersault.

"I don't want anyone getting hurt."

His arms tightened their grip around me. "Says who anybody would get hurt?"

"Your clowns would definitely kill at least one person. I don't think I can live with that on my conscience."

Buggy sighed and went silent for a while. I felt pretty guilty. What he had suggested had been a nice idea. He had meant well. But I couldn't let someone get hurt because of me.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke again. "How about if it was just us two?"

I looked into his eyes again. "Just...us?"

"We could just take one of the rowing boats. The town is close enough. We could row there in three hours tops."

I smiled at that. "And you wouldn't hurt anyone?"

"Believe it or not, I am capable of that." He was stroking my hair now, so gently. Motions like that made me feel weak. His lips were curling up into a small smile. "So what do you? Will you let me take you on a shopping spree."

"How can I say no to such an amazing offer?" I said and, forgetting my promise to myself, almost kissed him.

It would have happened, the kiss, if Buggy hadn't turned his head to the side. For a moment, I was hurt. Then I felt like an idiot. This is what I wanted.

"Betty, you don't want that, remember?"

I awkwardly cleared my throat. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean... I was caught up in the moment."

My face was probably a brighter red than it had ever been before. Buggy gave me an awkward smile and just told me to not worry about it.

The next morning, after we'd gotten dressed and he had packed a bag, he had broken the news to his crew. A part of me worried they'd take it bad, but they seemed alright. Buggy had just said that we needed supplies. We would grab them.

The fewer people who went, the easier grabbing the couple of things would be. Some people didn't seem to believe him, but nobody said anything. That was a win in my mind.

We got into the rowing boat, were dropped into the water and off we rowed.

The sky was a murky grey, filled with storm clouds. It was foggy, too. It was hard to see ahead of us.

"Are you sure we'll get there okay?" I asked, feeling a little unsure.

Buggy gave me a condescending smile. "I've been a pirate since I was a kid. I can row to an island alright. Have faith, Betty."

"I'll try, but if we end up lost then -"

"Then what?" He asked in a mocking voice. "What could you possibly do to me? I'm the greatest pirate in the East Blue."

"Yes, and you can't swim. If you haven't noticed, we're surrounded by ocean. It'd be pretty easy to push you in."

He scowled at me. "I'd take you with me."

"Is that so?"

Buggy tilted his head to the side. "That is so. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm not going to get us lost."

I smiled to myself like an idiot. What me and Buggy had going on right now was great. He was nice and friendly to me, but it wasn't crossing any lines. It was perfect.

For a while, we rowed in silence, until Buggy spoke up suddenly. "Are you cold?"

I was. I hadn't even noticed that. Somehow he could always notice things like that about me. I knew what he was going to do if I said yes, so I lied.

"I'm fine -"

"You're not. Here," He said as he peeled his jacket off himself, holding it out for me. "Take it."

"But then you'll be cold. You already gave me it in the jungle, you deserve it this time."

Suddenly, he sprung up to his feet. This motion caused the boat to sway from side to side, which almost gave me a heart attack.

"Woah!"

"Be careful, Buggy, you can't swim -"

"I thought you said you'd be happy pushing me over. Why so worried about me now?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm not jumping in after you if you do fall."

He leaned forward, so his face was about an inch or two away from me. Grinning he said, "You'd dive in straight after me. I know it."

"Would not."

I knew he was right. I wouldn't even hesitate to jump in after him. I was a good swimmer, anyway. I'd jump in, grab him and pull him to the surface. The only part I'd have a problem with would be getting him back on the boat.

"Anyway, the reason I stood up is to make my point," He stated, stretching his hand that was holding the jacket out, until the jacket hung over the water. "Take the jacket or it's getting dropped into the ocean."

I grinned at that. "That's so stupid."

"Maybe. But what would be even more stupid would be letting both of us go cold instead of just me."

"You're so dramatic."

"I'm a clown, baby. We're a dramatic bunch. So, what do you say?"

I gave in, held my hand out for the jacket. He handed it over, smiling proudly that he'd won.

"The first thing I'm getting on this shopping spree is a jacket. That way, you can keep yours."

Buggy considered for a moment. "That makes me a bit sad. You look so cute in my jacket."