a/n: this could be called the chapter where katakuri does nothing but think about his wife and it would be the most accurate shit in the world. all his thinking pushed this chapter over the 2000 word limit.
seriously though, to keep it from a chapter where absolutely nothing happens but katakuri thinking on things, i had to move some things along and while i wished to have the afternoon tea in sanju's point of view, i feel like i like it ten times better in katakuri's where the darling is just trying to figure out what he married into while also trying to not get swept up in his thoughts. really he's so sweet. anyway, read on!
Katakuri frowned as he watched the clock tick down. He had told his wife that afternoon tea would be soon, leaving her wondering if he were going to show up while he struggled to figure out if he was going to.
Since marrying the Vinsmoke girl, he had been unnaturally unsure about things. He wanted to be kind to her - despite the fact she was his enemy, in a way - but he had no clue how to. The only of those he had kindness for was his family and even then, it had its limits.
Frowning behind his scarf, Katakuri tried to push those thoughts out of his head. His wife caused feelings he had no clue how to deal with. His entire life he had been scorned for his face, for his abilities, for his strength, and yet, despite their unhappy union, she tried to be nice to him. She had cooked for him, delicious homemade food that had caused him to reminisce on memories. And now she had invited him to tea with her family.
Though he was sure that she wasn't too close to her family - from what he had gathered she had learned how to be a pirate and chef elsewhere while her family began their campaign to regain their role as the North's rulers - it did seem that she cared for them in her own way. And perhaps she was trying to bring him into the fold of her dysfunctional family in some way. Maybe she was doing so to ease the tension that they both felt.
Neither of them had wanted to marry; he was too old to marry, had too much to do to get married - and he was sure that she would agree. But what Mama had wanted, she had gotten. It was how it was their entire life so he never questioned it. Not until the day Brûlée had told him that he was to be engaged to a Vinsmoke princess.
He had dozens of siblings, he had argued, why couldn't one of them marry.
"She's a strong pirate," Brûlée had said, "Mama has chosen you personally."
As if he was supposed to be happy about that. Though, when she had walked into the room, Pudding by her side, he had to admit that he was happy that she was pretty. He was far from shallow, but there was something about her long legs and deep blue eyes that had made him a little less angry about the betrothal. The hapless look on her face, the kind and caring way in which she had talked to his sister; all of those were just icing on a very pretty cake.
Her being a chef had just been a little bit of chocolate filling.
Of course, if she had been a pastry chef, he would have believed his sister's words that "that Vinsmoke princess was made for Big Mom's crew" instead of just scoffing.
Still, he had gone through with the wedding even after her crew had tried to stop it, almost succeeding in their second attempt. But the documents were signed, in the eyes of the World Government, they were officially husband and wife. He was sure they weren't too happy about that; Cracker had been saying earlier that there were rumblings of concern from people who wondered if Mama was trying stage some kind of coup. It was done though.
Standing, Katakuri made his way to the window that overlooked the town. He knew Sanju had overlook Komugi Island multiple times, the servants around told him so, and he wondered if she liked what she saw. He liked his little island, the citizens were interesting and they tried to buy his favor with treats; most of those who had impressed him had gone on to become his cooks or they were handed off to his siblings when they better suited their tastes.
Perhaps he should let her interview the chefs, get to know them better. From what he was told by BB Bat, she had spent much of her days in the kitchens, cooking large meals that satisfied everyone who tasted some. Though his island was his own comfort zone, he supposed that since they were married and he had brought her there instead of leaving her with his siblings to care for, it should become as much to her as well.
His eyes searched the town, he should give her companions as well. Would that ease the loneliness she had spoken about, he wondered. He hardly spent time with her, part of it was because his flimsy reasons and the other was because right now he was often off planning for the invasion of the North with the other commanders - while also dealing with the fact that Mama had yet to decide what to do with the crew of hers that they had trapped in the dungeons.
As the clock hit 12, he pulled himself away from the windows and his thoughts. He would go to tea with her and her family. Show her father and siblings that there was a power behind their daughter and sister now, one that was now theirs as well.
The hall was deserted when he walked towards her room, she had either not left yet or had already gone down, but still he made his way down, opening her door quietly. There in the center of the room she stood, hands smoothing out invisible wrinkles on her dress. She looked pretty, scared but pretty. He watched her for a moment. She half twirled, watching the skirt of her dress fly a little and she scrunched up her nose. He knew she liked pants more, first time he had saw her she was wearing pants, but she looked good in dresses nonetheless.
She wriggled her feet next. More like she flexed them, he thought as she shook her head, bright blonde hair flying out of the messy bun she kept it in at the base of her neck. The curls she wore at their wedding was nicer, he thought, they made her look sweeter, but she looked like she belonged in the kitchen of a large restaurant with her hair like so, serving people food that brought smiles to their faces and joy in their heart or in the galley of a ship. Truly though, she looked like she belonged anywhere but in the bright room she was in.
Clearing his throat, he watched as she turned to face him. No little gasp, no wide eyes. Just confusion before a small smile set itself across her face, "So you are joining me?" she asked.
He nodded his head, "I would be pleased to join you," he replied, watching her face.
Her smile grew as she nodded her head, moving to stand closer to him. Despite her stature, she was no frailer to him than any of the other people who stood more than half his height, in fact she seemed to stand taller than most. Maybe it was because she held an air of knowing about her, like she knew weaknesses to everything and everyone around her, or maybe it was because all his thinking on her had changed how he looked at her, but whatever it was, he liked it. She would make an excellent wife.
They walked slowly, he purposely slowed his steps down as he had done when showing her the kitchen, towards to tea room. It was a small thing, one that barely saw any use unless his siblings - mostly Pudding and Nutmeg - showed up wanting to have a tea party, but it was the perfect space to house the members of her family. They stood when they walked in, same blue eyes as his wife's narrowing as they watched them.
"Daughter," her father began, "are you well?"
Sanju's face twitched ever so slightly before she answered, "Yes, quite."
"Good," It was her sister who spoke this time, the one who looked very similar to her. Granted all her family shared many features so it was moot to point out, but to Katakuri, it was their eyes that showed their matching natures; kind eyes. "You look wonderful."
Her sister moved forward, grabbing Sanju from beside him and moving to sit her at the table where her father had already sat as Sanju herself began speaking. Katakuri followed and sat in the empty seat next to her. He saw nothing going wrong with this tea, just banal talking. Her sister questioned how she liked Komugi, how she was faring all while Sanju answered in vague positives; either because she hadn't decided how well she liked the island or because she didn't want to offend him with her true opinions, he wasn't sure.
Her father sat listening, eyes occasionally flitting towards him before going back to stare at his daughter. Did the man not like him? The Vinsmoke patriarch had chosen to allow the betrothal to go through, so the idea of the man not liking him threatened to bring a smile to his face. Katakuri stared at him, eyes narrowing as he wondered what it was the other man wanted. Was he wondering how well his daughter was being treated? Did he care?
Perhaps Katakuri had gotten his new wife's family dynamics wrong, he supposed it wouldn't be surprising. A family of royal assassins would most definitely play their hand close to their chest and though during the beginning of their betrothal, back before Sanju had been brought to the islands, Judge Vinsmoke acted as though he was loathed to part with his daughter, it very well could have been just that - an act.
"Your brothers were wondering after you," the Vinsmoke patriarch said, "They are busy training so could not make it today, but they will be happy to know that you are doing well."
His wife frowned for a quick moment - was she wishing they were there? - before nodding, "Are they well as well?" she asked after a moment, her voice even as she did so.
"Of course," her sister answered, "They miss you though."
Sanju nodded and Katakuri watched as she furrowed her brow and sipped her tea. He wondered what she was thinking about. Was she thinking of her crew? He watched as her fingers gripped her teacup tightly and respond absentmindedly towards the words her sister continued to speak. Her mind was miles away and with it came a vulnerability he had to admit interested him.
The conversation died not long after that, leaving them with little to talk about before his wife's family stood and told them that they'd be back to visit again sometime soon.
"Hopefully your brothers will be able to join us," her father said, giving her a nod before he left.
Her sister smiled, "If he's not treating you right-" she cut herself off before she could continue, eyes darting towards Katakuri himself, "I truly hope this brings us closer together."
Sanju's sister followed her father's footsteps, leaving Katakuri with his wife who's tea had gone cold and brightly colored snacks from the kitchen still stacked up on the table. He watched as she shook her head, muttering something to herself that sounded slightly like 'what is my life' before she moved to clean up.
"There are people who will do that for you," he said as he stood himself, "I would like to take you out for the day."
She paused, head snapping upwards to stare at him. Something flashed in her eyes for a quick moment before it was gone and she nodded, placing the dirty dishes down. "Where to?" she asked as she brushed her hands against the skirt of her dress.
He motioned for her to follow him out the door and towards entry room. "There is a place," he said, as they walked, "The owner of it, Bonomo, is a chef. He makes pastries."
"Are you telling me you want me to cook more sweet stuff?" she teased, lifting an eyebrow as she did so.
The people outside milled about, walking to and fro the streets as they went about their day. They greeted him - and her - with bright smiles while he thought on her in the kitchen cooking him his snacks. It would please him if her cooking turned towards confectioneries, but at the same time, he preferred her cooking whatever pleased her. His face must have done something because she added, "That was a joke," after a moment.
"Can you cook pastries?" he asked instead, letting his eyes fall to her.
She stared up at him for a quick second before nodding, "My crew mate - my old crew mate, Chopper preferred sweet stuff," she replied with a quirk of her lips. He wondered if Chopper were one of those in the dungeons. "Chopper loved cotton candy, cakes - I have a wonderful white cake recipe," she continued on, the smile growing, "Chopper loved it, I'm sure you will as well."
Where did she learn to cook, he wondered. He doubted her family would've nurtured such a talent as hers; Mama had agreed to join their families because she wanted the advancements of the Vinsmoke family, not because they were amazing cooks. Yet this one, the one he had married was everything that he could've hoped for: a woman who loved cooking, loved the seas, was a seasoned pirate with a high bounty - her abilities were just icing on the cake.
Resisting the urge to shake his head, he pushed the thoughts away. He was spending far too much time contemplating about his wife.
"Bonomo would love to treat you," he said, pushing his scarf up a little, "I believe he will be a good friend of yours."
Her face fell for a moment before she forced the smile back on her face, "You're trying to get me a friend." She was muttering more to herself than to him, but still he nodded. "Thank you."
He bent his head slightly before turning his focus back to walking.
ending note: look at all the major details i put in! the plot is back! it's not just them making moon eyes at each other without realizing that they're doing that!
anyway, next chapter is their small date-ish like thing they're going on, little bit more intrigue and will be in sanju's pov because i've got things to unload in that chapter.