Why am I being rushed into this marriage?
CW: Mention of rape and acts of rape in conversation. No one is getting raped here, but people will casually mention rape in their talks.
"Shave that ugly beard and moustache before you step out tomorrow. It's a big day for you!" My eldest quadruplet instructed me. His words were spoken to announce that he and the other two of the birth-set now stood at the door of the empty study.
I wanted to roll my eyes or offer something snarky, but I didn't. I wanted to ask where they were heading in their colourful raid suits in the middle of the night and what big day he was talking about. If I waited enough, they would answer on their own. "Shave it all, I heard the D deviants don't like body hair on their bedmate! Especially someone like you who carries two kinds of hair traits, you should be clean and proper, we don't want to give them the impression that we don't care for our little blonde Omega! What if it hurts our deal, right Third?"
Offering the hand of the Germa's young in marriage to a weaker kingdom or a business empire family was standard practice for my family. And drag the engagement for a year or two while our spies collected every piece of information and dirt on the party involved, and then later our officers took control of their bureaucracy and resources— in the blink of a year, you became a puppet dancing to my father's whims. If you fight back you get a civil war, if you agree, you get to live.
If it was a political union with Germa, that only meant that it benefited us.
Every perfect plan had flaws or an invariant that would ruin it, the current marriage arrangement that my brothers were yapping about had put my family and the entire empire into a frenzy. It seems to be bothering all of them. When you are the only predator in the jungle, the arrival of another stronger predator will keep you on edge.
"Cat got your tongue, Third?" The youngest of the birth-set stepped inside the study and peeped into what I was reading, seeing that it was another book about food, he wrinkled his nose as if the book in my hand was dog shit.
"You didn't think we would sell you for a price, did you?"
Yes, he was correct, I never thought I would be seen as useful enough in our father's eyes to be a sacrificial lamb for this empire's ambition.
"Even a defective piece like you has its purpose. It's a good thing father raised you pretty enough to snag an Alpha!" With his dirty green gloved hand, he touched my hair. "Father has grown lax, he let you grow hair like a girl. I guess if you were a girl, he would've got a husband sooner! At least the Vinsmoke name got you something, right?" Should I be thankful? I don't think so.
He coiled my ponytail around his filthy fingers and acted like he was sniffing my scent because we shared a womb, they could smell past the tobacco and cooking oil I doused myself with, without even trying, "Even your hair reeks of your trait, be happy that father wouldn't marry you off to anything less than an Alpha! Why do you have such long golden hair?" Because it's easier to work with tied-up hair than have shorter hair brushing against my neck and irritating my skin. "People would think you are a woman."
"Isn't that why he grows that moustache and beard?" First added, "To be a man."
"But our father is not selling him for a price! He is giving him away for free!" Now the three of them will bicker. Just punch me and go to sleep, saves me time and mental exhaustion.
"His exact words were, we should give him away before the world finds out he is a failure of Germa's technology."
"Still he is bringing us a bride-price, he is not being given as free as you say, the D family has offered us three months of unlimited trading privileges in East Blue!"
The fourth arsehole bent down to look me in the eye and pulled my hair, sending a sharp pain in my skull, I flinched but didn't punch him. "Tell us, Third, what magic resides in your pussy? Did you secretly escape to the crypts and perform a mating call to our ancestors?"
"I heard your lord-husband is defective too like we didn't know Ds were deviant already, but a degenerate among degenerates is rare! Hence, they are trying to rush this marriage!" Now the middle of the birth-set added his commentary. "Should we bet, how fast he will spread his legs and breed?"
Did they not get bored? Of course, they didn't, they barely felt any emotions, they were only simulated by the promise of violence; my three siblings were humanity's best soldiers— without an ounce of humanity. I was pretty sure they enjoyed coming after me because they couldn't understand why, despite sharing the same womb, same blood, and similar face, I didn't act like them.
"Do you think you will come out alive from the bed-chamber after your wedding night?" Was he hoping for my death by rape? Even if my future husband raped me, and stabbed me with knives or shot me in the head, the blood I carried in me, wouldn't let me die, would it? I never hoped for a marriage, let alone a happy marriage, but in my fantasies, I wanted to be married to a woman, and raise children with her. Alas, being an anomaly meant, even my manhood was not worth a regular woman's affection.
"Don't scare poor Third! You might be lucky, and your husband might let you walk outside the castle after having his way with you!" The mockery from my second quadruplet was oozing like honey from an overstocked hive. I wish I were in the kitchen, alone— drinking tea and eating a crisp toast layered with fresh honey. "Oh my look in his eyes, he is actually dreaming of a happy marriage!" I was not. All I could hope for was that this man who had asked for my hand in marriage understood what he was doing.
The offer of marriage alliance had not been proposed by our father, it was a rare occasion where the most powerful empire of East Blue had approached us first. Everyone had assumed this time it was our eldest sister's job to play her part. My father's simple plan was thwarted when the second letter arrived two weeks later after we agreed to the alliance, firmly explaining they didn't want my sister's hand in marriage, but the only Omega in the main family— me. And there was no question of long engagement. Marriage needed to happen as soon as they set foot on Germa's soil, I was to leave with my groom immediately after the wedding.
The choice to agree or deny was never an option in my life, but some things were still in my control. I could try to break this alliance even before it could be formed.
Hence, I didn't want to pick a fight with my siblings tonight. A few punches from them couldn't hurt me, so I would prefer they beat their daily frustrations or joy out of me so that I could form my plan. Before we proceeded with the wedding in three weeks, I had to prepare a plan. I would like to end this journey to doom. I would be severely punished for doing so, but it was better to be bleeding in my bed than to hear the cries of people as their cities were razed to the ground by my family.
"What happened, did the news of your future master being an Alpha put your panties in a twist, can't wait to spread your legs, can you?" The youngest, truly, had the foulest mouth. "Too bad, they don't know they are buying a defective piece. Then again, the rumours about your Alpha are not so great."
How would I know? How bad could this man be? Beat me, hit me, tie me up, and force himself on me night after night until I could breathe no more? Except for my so-called virginity, I have nothing to lose or get hurt about. I have been subjected to all sorts of tortures Alphas can conjure. And I have never met any other Alphas besides my family, what are the odd chances that this possible future husband is less abusive?
Everyone stopped letting me go outside once the blood-work revealed I was an Omega. I was too pathetic for my family to look at me, but I was too precious to be left alone among the commoners.
The study was the only other place, after the kitchen and my tower, where I found peace, but they wouldn't let me be, "Leave."
"Oh, now he talks!"
"You have wasted my time enough."
"Your time? What value does your time have?" Why can't they leave me alone, wasn't fighting in the womb not enough? "All you do is cut vegetables and salt meat and cook tasteless gruels. Put those useless skills to good use tomorrow."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, little Third doesn't know. Oi Yonji, didn't you tell him?"
"I forgot."
"Forget what?"
"Tomorrow's lunch, our kind father, promised your future owners that you will cook it!"
"What lunch?"
"Oooooh! Your in-laws are coming tomorrow. The lunch to formalize the marriage arrangement, and the day after is the wedding."
"What the fuck?"
"Look at his colour disappearing! Does the idea of serving bad food terrify you?" Food be damned, it's too fast. I thought I had time.
"Don't insult my cooking!"
"Then prove to us, you are half a decent cook that you claim to be." My fourth sibling grinned. "Or you can just offer your buttocks on a platter to the Alpha."
"LEAVE!"
"Oh my my my!"
"Yonji, stop it! All of you leave." My sister walked in yelling. "Scram! NOW!"
"Reiju don't be a spoil sport!"
"Father has asked the three of you to visit him immediately."
"What? Now?"
"Can you deal with the Monkey D Family if we upset them tomorrow? Can you? Are any of you confident enough to go after the grandsons of Garp and his wife? And if the grandsons are not scary enough, I need to remind you what their wives are capable of. You want to offend a princess and respected War Heroine?" My sister folded her hands and waited, Vinsmokes were strong, but the Monkey Ds were born with natural power, rivalled by none, and with my limited knowledge of the outside world, I heard their political marriage strategy was unsurpassed. "You can't right? Exactly, I thought so. Go to father now!"
"Fine! Fine!" Three of them decided to end tonight's entertainment and leave. They had to plan better. After my sister was assured we were alone, she pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.
"I am sorry, I couldn't protect you."
"What are you apologizing for?"
"I really thought they wanted to do engagement with me. Monkey Ds have no unmarried daughters, so I took it for granted that it was my hand they wanted."
"You forgot people still want Omegas and Alphas to mate, irrespective of cocks or vaginas. Alpha mating Alphas leads to lunacy and abnormal bloodline! They are smart, they wouldn't want you. Alpha man and Alpha woman mating leads to disaster. The example is right in your arms!"
"Shut up, you are not abnormal!"
I know she means it, our mother was a dominant Alpha who married our father, a dominant strong Alpha. My father wanted to make sure Vinsmoke blood only produced Alphas! If he had let nature take its course everything would've been fine, I would've been a Beta. But he wanted to make sure Alpha was the only gene that continued. His experiments backfired and the repressed Omega gene in Vinsmoke bloodline manifested in me.
My father wished to hide the truth, but our mother wouldn't let him. After a while his advisors hatched a plan, to tell the world, that I was a rare Omega who was created just like my brothers, hence I was kept hidden for my protection. A Vinsmoke Omega had more value than an ordinary Omega! But look what the lie has done, it got us the attention of one family we tried hard not to cross paths with.
"You are not an anomaly!" She was dreading this more than I am. "You are my precious baby brother."
"Hey, hey, I will be alright. I was taught well by our teachers in the art of lovemaking, and how to please Alphas— man or woman! I think I won't be hurt on my first night. Though it would've been nicer to have an Alpha wife I think. Anyway, I don't have a say, if I get forced, I get forced. I should be a happy father who is getting a deal out of his most defective child. And am I going to be the main spouse or concubine?"
"SANJI" She crushed me harder now. "Should I kill them?"
"Can you kill a Monkey Ds?"
"Probably not!"
"Thought so."
"I can poison their meal."
"I will not let you use my craft for pointless murder."
"Tch. Kind boy!"
"Even if you do kill them, our father will kill you afterwards for wasting good genes that he would love to clone and experiment upon. If you die, who will protect me from father and those rascals?"
"Probably."
"So why did you come here?"
"To inform you of how many people are coming to lunch tomorrow."
My body was craving tobacco, "How many?"
My sister hesitated for a while, "The entire family." Okay, I have cooked for a roomful of brutes many times. So why was my sister worried?
"How many?"
"The emperor and empress, their two sons and their wives, their six children and spouses and grandchildren, and your groom."
"That's not a lot, is it?"
"Umm."
"Cough it up. The more information I have, the better."
"The Ds are known for feasting."
"Isn't that part of royal life? We hold feasts too."
"They emptied the King of Alabasta's kitchen in one evening five years back when the oldest grandson married. They emptied the royal Kitchen of Alabasta in six hours." Hearing this made my heart go crazy, not in fear, but in excitement.
"Finally!"
"What?"
"At last, I get to empty our royal kitchen and use everything! And not worry about people not eating." I broke free from my sister, who was looking at me worried. "Don't worry, I will cook your favourite fried rice too!" Offering her my best smile, I kissed her cheeks. The idea of cooking everything I wanted to make made my fingers itch with joy.
"Oh, Sanji, they have a request."
"What?"
"Food has to be delicious!"
"When has my food been bad?"
"And rumours say your groom is a hardcore carnivore!"
"So if I feed him a vegetarian meal, the marriage gets called off?"
My sister cupped my face and shook her head, "I don't think so." She patted my head and combed my hair with her fingers and fixed my ponytail. These little gestures from her are the reason I don't break apart. I could see a piece of our mother in her, and so did she in me. We were the only two people in this world who remembered her or missed her. Our brothers were stripped of any affection, and our father held a grudge against our dead mother for ruining his perfect experiments.
"I can try!"
"He won't. The groom sent the letter explaining why he wanted to marry you."
"He asked for me? ME? What the fuck."
"Yes. He specifically mentioned your name. Actually, from what I heard from the advisors— it was a threat. If we didn't agree, he would destroy Germa or something."
Who would go so far as to threaten Germa for me, I should try to break off the alliance, "He is deranged!"
"Sanji, I am sorry."
"It's okay if I can't break it off. I can try to make my peace. Who would've thought that I would get a marriage offer at such an old age of 29? By my age, Omegas are parents to so many children!"
"You are not old!"
"Okay, okay leave! I have a feast to prepare!"
"I love you." My sister kissed my forehead. "Oh, I sent the royal robes. Wear them tomorrow. We have to impress the groom."
By the time I wanted to sleep, it was past midnight. I had prepared everything for lunch, and most probably dinner, if Reiju's intel was correct about meat being their favourite, I had to be prepared. The meat was marinated, the vegetables cut and cooked, and the gravy left simmering on low heat so that it gained the thickness I was hoping for by morning. And the ingredients for desserts were arranged! Cooking though was an act of love for me, at the end of the day was the oldest form of science, it needed planning and preparing if I wanted accurate results.
After locking the kitchen, and instructing the guards that, in case my drunk brothers came to ruin the kitchen – they were to remind them that, our father had asked them to stay away from the kitchen for the next 48 hours. I had no trust in them. And even if they didn't listen, they had to raise the alarm. These guards were not loyal to me, but they were loyal to my food. Being a Germa Soldier meant you had to be on a restricted diet. But for years I had been secretly feeding them balanced meals, which helped them surpass their physical prowess and helped them retain their current position— as my kitchen guards, and kept them away from war and death. Now they were indebted to my skills.
"Do you think we can follow you, young master?" One of them asked as I locked the kitchen.
"Where?"
"To East Blue?"
"Can you?" I was not sure. "I'm afraid I haven't been told anything. Though I told my sister to take you in her troop after I leave. I am not ungrateful to you for being my food testers." I patted the younger of the two. Furthermore, I was not even allowed to talk to them, let alone touch them.
"We will miss your cooking."
"I will write down the recipe for you."
Both nodded and continued escorting me up to my bedchamber. There was nothing more to say to them, and walls had ears. This is the closest I could say I had come to saying farewell. The least I could do was make sure after I left, they were cared for by my sister. My room was on the highest floor of the tallest tower. So that no one could ever dare to climb it to assassinate or molest me— being Omega meant I was vulnerable, after all.
"Ummm" Before closing the door, I looked at my two guards.
"Yes, young master?"
"Can you make sure, no one is guarding this floor tonight." They looked at me blankly. "I meant, stay in the tower, but not on this floor, and make some lie that I have a headache or something, or I am crying and wouldn't like any patrolling noise on my floor. It is an Omega thingy."
"But you are unwell?"
"Perfectly fine."
"We will do it, but if you are—"
"I will shout for you!"
"Goodnight young master!"
"Goodnight."
During the night, I had the luxury of privacy, alone with my rolls of tobacco and the moon, and sometimes wine. As soon as I heard all the other guards leave my floor, pulled out my dresser drawer and took out the tobacco that Rejiu smuggled for me! Opening the window, I took a deep breath, our empire was expansive, and the capital was vast, but I had barely even stepped out of the fort after I manifested as an Omega.
That was 14 years ago.
The memories of the outside world were now fuzzy and disintegrated like the smoke from my tobacco.
"Hi"
I immediately turned and kicked, only to find my room empty and dark and my leg raised high for no reason. And my box of tobacco squeezed.
"Down here."
What the fuck, I dropped my leg and looked down from my windowsill, someone was hanging below my window and grinning.
"What the fuck?" I should have yelled louder, but somehow I didn't!
"Hi!"
"Gua—" I was about to scream. But the person below jumped inside by defying gravity. And placed his very warm and large hand on my mouth.
"I swear I am not here to hurt you!"
It was a he, an Alpha he, a dominant Alpha and very young. And he was grinning. I kicked him, but his free hand deflected it and hooked my leg on his shoulder and pressed forward, our chests slammed together, and his free hand dropped from my ankle, then calve, and thigh and finally wrapped my waist. I was stuck! What the fuck was happening? My body was betraying me.
"You have beautiful legs." I tried to push him in hopes of calling my guards. He looked at me and realized, I was definitely not liking this manhandling. Who was he, and how did he climb here? He let go of my raised leg and softly uttered the following words, "Don't shout! It's me. I just wanted to meet you." The hand left my mouth and decided to hug me hard. "It's me." The hug was worse than Reiju's, I couldn't move. "Oh, you smell of spices and honey." I tried to push him, but fuck these horny hormones, it was the first time I had ever been this close and held by an Alpha that was not my sister or my siblings or my father. I was paralysed by his smell— he smelled like bloody petrichor!
Likewise, I needed my tobacco. I needed it now.
"Who are you?"
"Your husband."
"Excuse me?"
"I am Monkey D Luffy."
"What the fuck?"
"You didn't see my photograph?"
"Your what?"
"The marriage letter? I sent my photograph to you. I wrote letters to your father, asking him to give my details to you so that you don't get off guard. My sisters-in-law made me pose for hours to take the picture!" Finding no response from me, he broke the hug and looked at me. His face was too young, with dark eyes, dark hair, a scar under the left eye and strong arms— it was clear he was a D, they were known for being raven heads, and very rarely did they have a blonde or brunette Ds. Though it was rumoured the Alabastian Royalty had D blood in them, "So it is true, your father is locking you up. Want me to kill him?"
"Th—
wha—
who are—
whaaaat?"
A face so innocent. "Want me to kill him?" Words are so vile. He was asking my permission to kill my father.
"Do you kill people for no reason?"
"I have a reason."
"What?"
"He has kept you locked up here. Someone like you deserves to live in a sunny place, by the beach. Not in a damp, cold stone tower with a shitty window! You don't even have curtains! I can imagine your long blonde hair shining under the sun, and your eyes, so pretty, I wonder what they will look like in the daytime when the sunlight hits them. Will they sparkle like sapphires?"
"Who are you?"
"Monkey D Luffy."
"Can you prove it?"
"No!"
"Get out."
"I got you flowers! I stole from my elder sister's garden! We have a garden on our ship! You will love it." Where was he hiding the flowers?
"Look, I can't believe you. Whatever or whoever you are, leave before my family finds out."
"Sanji!"
"How dare you?" I was trying to be brave. If he wanted, he could pin me in my bed and rape me, and I couldn't lift a finger. Even if my mind was not ready, my body would yield.
"I will not rape you! What do you think I am? An animal in heat?"
"Can you hear my thoughts?"
"A bit. It's my speciality to smell emotions and see into a person's mind." Now I was terrified.
"No! No! I didn't do it on purpose. Your mental guard was down. I peeped unintentionally. Once we get married, I will teach you how to guard your brain's thoughts, not me, I am bad, my sister will teach you. Generally, it is not so easy, but we are meant to be together, hence our brainwaves are connected." His free hand struggled a bit, and then he pulled out the flowers he had hidden under his red jumper.
"Why are you here?"
"To meet you, of course." Finally, he pushed the flowers into my palms and scuttled away. They were roses. Slightly bruised, and dehydrated. "You look lovely with flowers. You are so pretty!" I finally looked at him, he was shorter than me, dressed too casually– shorts and a jumper! And the choice of footwear was terrible too— slippers! How on earth did he climb this high wearing these?
"Does second sight make you blind too?"
"But you are pretty!"
"I am a man, Omega maybe. But man definitely."
"So? Men can be pretty! My brother Sabo is pretty, too. He is Alpha!"
"Are you always this straightforward?"
"Yes. My papa taught me, that honesty is the best policy."
"You really are a Monkey D?"
"Yep."
"Do you hate vegetarian food?"
"No. I love to eat food! Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, sweets! Food is the best!"
"Meat or pumpkin."
"Doesn'ttttt matter." He was a terrible liar, and I stared at him. I waited for him to confess. "I love both, but meat is tastier!" I couldn't help but laugh, such a childish understanding of taste. I can't blame him. An entire world economic system thrived on the idea that meat was tastier than vegetables. Can't blame him.
"Bullshit. Anything can be tasty with the right amounts of marination and love."
"You love me?" He blinked his eyes like a puppy hoping for treats and charged at me to hug me. I stopped him with my foot that rested on his chest.
"Too soon!"
We were still in the same position, not many knew, and my footwork was better than everyone in Germa. I could stand on one leg for days if I needed to. The only issue was this young man's scent, it was thick and soothing. I wanted to offer my neck, come here, bite me, my heart was crying.
"I will not bite you before marriage! That's your pheromones talking inside your brain, Sanji!" Why was he still reading my mind?
"Not intentionally, you and I are like a radio-snail and a transmitter-snail!**"
I decided to change the topic, "I was planning to serve you an all-vegetarian meal tomorrow, in hopes of you calling off the marriage." Hearing this, he made a face that showed how wrong my thought process was. "Now, looking at you. I think I know you will not back out even if I feed you coals, right?" I was finding it hard, that he was the guy I was going to marry. His face showed no malice, how could he threaten my father?
"I will make you the happiest man. I swear."
"How?"
"First you have to marry me!"
"Cheeky."
"What will you serve us?"
"Come tomorrow and find out!"
"You will feed me nothing tonight?" His voice turned puppier and his expression was no better.
"You want to eat now?"
"Yes."
"Like a midnight snack?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"I am always hungry."
"..."
"I asked for your hand in marriage because I know you are a wonderful cook!"
"You could've hired a cook, you know! A trained professional!"
"But I want to kiss also, I can't kiss anyone. I want to kiss you!"
Kiss, I wonder how kissing feels. I looked at him, did I want to kiss him because he was going to be my husband or was it my fucking genes. Anyway, I didn't want to dwell, "Who told you about my cooking?"
"I just know. What will you feed me?"
"Follow me."
The tower allotted to me belonged to my mother. Before she passed away, she had built a small kitchen when she saw a four-year-old me try to cook food for her. No one knew about this place, not even Reiju. It was what Mother could do with her limited powers back then. The passage to that hidden kitchen was behind her painting, which hung beside the fireplace. And this was the first time, I had let someone enter my safe zone.
"People have hidden treasure rooms, and you have the kitchen. My husband is amazing."
"Quiet! I have guards outside."
"Oh they are not, they are not on this floor and don't worry, they won't wake up."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing!" He was terrible at avoiding questions and lying. I didn't pressure him because it felt like I was the bully here. I must have gone crazy because of his earthy scent. Not only that, but I was taking an unknown man claiming to be my betrothed into my secret place. What was wrong with me?
"Whatever. Sit there!" I pointed at the little wooden table on which I had been placing my experimental ideas to cool after cooking them. He didn't complain, instead, he excitedly sat on one of the chairs and grinned at me. And began singing in an atrocious tune.
"Food! Food! Food! Sanji's tasty tasty tasty food!"
"You are this excited to eat my food?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, let's see what I can cook, I don't have many ingredients with me, okay?!" Internally, I was laughing! I was going to serve him vegetarian food, not out of spite, rather my little kitchen only had space for dried and pickle stuffed. I had an assortment of grains, fermented fruit and vegetables, some dried meat if I looked hard, maybe, and pickles.
"As long as Sanji cooks for me, I will be happiest."
"Thank you for the encouragement." I began rummaging through my collection. There were dried mushrooms, I picked last monsoon. Flour was a staple, and I had fresh onions and garlic with me, thankfully. I could pull a sauce for this hungry guest.
"You are so meticulous! Your jars are all labelled with dates!" He again was behind me. His lips almost touched my ears. Why didn't I smell him now? Did he control his scent?
"My smell made you twitchy, so I stopped them."
My foot landed on his cheek! I wasn't aiming for his face. "Too close!" I pushed him with my foot nonetheless. If he wanted to get married to me and claim me, he might as well get used to my horrible side first. Instead of being offended by the kick, he grinned. Did he have a thing for getting kicked?
"I want to help!"
"Do you know how to hold a knife?"
"Yes, I held them while in battle and rammed them inside my enemies!"
I took a deep breath, "Go back to your seat."
He was back in his seat, but I could feel his restlessness. He was not used to not doing things. Then I found a jar of preserved red beans! I think I knew what I had in mind.
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"What is your favourite colour?"
"What?"
"Colour, what do you like?"
"Blue. What are these twenty questions before marriage?"
"Something like that."
"What's yours?" I asked. I began to wash the beans and could feel his eyes on my back. Furthermore, I didn't want to look at him.
"Sanji in blue."
I almost turned around, "I will kick you again, you little shit! How old are you anyway?"
"19"
Okay, I failed. I turned around and almost dropped the jar of beans. "What?"
"19."
"I heard you, the first time."
"Oooh."
"Do you know how old I am?"
"29."
"Don't you want to be with someone younger?"
He stopped smiling, his eyes turned darker than they already were, as if he wanted to hypnotize me into rethinking my words, "I want Sanji. Only Sanji." I knew he was in control because his scent was nowhere near me. But my heart couldn't calm down because of the way he was throwing daggers at me. I turned around to avoid his gaze. Something was telling me if I served myself on a broken plate in tattered rags right now, he would feast on me. There was hunger in those black eyes.
"Okay. Okay. Okay."
"You are beautiful."
An involuntary blush crept up my neck and settled on my cheeks, "Do you know no filter?"
"I came all the way from East Blue, you think a little compliment is too much? Sanji is really innocent." How dare this man younger than by years call me an innocent one! "I can't wait to see you in our traditional royal wedding attire."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, back home, the country is preparing to welcome you, we will have a very public wedding. The entire nation of Goa wants to see you. You are the second male Omega to enter our family." The blush in my cheeks froze, I had to tell him.
"Listen." I dropped my things on the kitchen counter and sat opposite him.
"I am listening…" his voice purred like a cat.
"You need to know something."
"I don't want to know if it makes your face sad."
"Know you must." So far he has been honest, I should be honest with him. "I am barren."
There was no reaction, "Okay." Maybe he didn't understand, so I decided to explain it.
"I cannot have children."
"Okay."
"Then?"
"Who cares if one couple can't have biological children?"
"But I am an Omega and you are Alpha, the whole point of this marriage is off-spring, superior off-springs!"
"Sanji," he casually took my hands, which I didn't realize were trembling. "I don't care if you can have children or not. If you want them, I will spare no effort to get you the care to help you conceive, if you don't want them I don't want them, if you want to adopt we will adopt. It might not look like it, but my family is very much into adoption."
"You know about my issues."
"My elder sister is good at collecting information. We knew for a long time. And no one in my family cares. They will love you just the way they are." This was the first time, I heard someone say that it was okay to not fulfil my biological destiny. "Why are you crying? Oh, no, I upset you! My sister will beat me for hurting you! What do I do?" His grip on my hands tightened.
"You are worried about my feelings? You are unreal!" I pulled away since he didn't care about my barrenness, I wouldn't drag the topic, no good ever came from over-stirring a curry, and I stood up. I better cook him his food, and he stood up. "Sit there."
"But you are crying!"
"Pretend that you didn't see."
"Can't!"
"Seriously?"
"I will watch you!" He was behind me, I ignored him and washed the beans while he peeped from behind. "Your hands are beautiful and strong." It seems marrying him would entail getting such compliments, which would twist my soul.
"Do you like stew?"
"I do"
"Anything you don't like?"
"Cherry pie."
"May I ask why?"
"Don't know!"
"I guess, not all dislikes need a reason."
"Sanji…" His voice suddenly turned buttery, and then I felt his hands on my hips. "I think I should steal you tonight." Why did these words light fire in my body?
"If it is true, that you are Monkey D Luffy, and are my future husband, you can wait a day. I may be older, but I am a traditional man. I am, you know—" It was so embarrassing to say it out loud. Furthermore, I put the beans to a boil and began dicing my onions and garlic. I hoped the heat of onions would send him away. "You, I mean, I am—"
"—A virgin?"
"Can you stop reading my mind!"
"I didn't. I am a virgin tooooo! Even if you weren't, that wouldn't bother me! Sex is sex, love is love. Sometimes certain things happen before the other."
I elbowed him, "Why are you so modern about these things?" I waved my knife at him.
"But it is common practice, Sanji."
"What?"
"Not every Alpha or Omega is saving themselves for their fated mate. Everyone experiments. All my brothers and sisters were having sex like it was an all-you-can-eat buffet the moment they became adults, sex is sex. East Blue is very open about love and sex." Unable to answer him back, I went back to chopping. "Damn, your knife skills will send Pan Fry to hospital."
"Who?"
"Our Royal Cook, he works for my grandpa."
"Okay, you want to help?"
"Yes!" He nodded with confidence. "How can I help?"
"Here, help me ground the species." I pulled out the pepper kernels, chillies, and cumin and placed them on the counter, "Use these. Don't break them, they belonged to my mom!" I handed him my marble mortar and pestle. "Carefully, can you do it? Remember gentle pounding, not hammering."
He nodded, "Gentle pounding, not hammering…" He repeated the words. "I can be gentle." Why did my belly rumble when he repeated my words, my gut instincts were warning me, that this barely an adult didn't know delicate handling!
I began cooking his mushroom bean stew, and he decided to do his best to help me. He ground the spices and washed the dishes in the little sink. It was comfortable silence all of a sudden, only the sound of simmering stew and clumsy footsteps behind me filled my little kitchen. From the corner of my eye, I could see, that patience was not his virtue. He was doing his best to impress me.
I wanted to ruffle his scruffy jet-black hair and pull his cheeks. I still couldn't digest, that this boy was going to be my husband. How did he even learn of my existence, yes my birth was not hidden, but I was not exactly spoken about either. So how? I had many questions, but I had patience, I could wait.
When the stew was almost done, I dropped in the spices the young Alpha ground for me and some dried basils and put a lid on it. Now we needed to wait for a few minutes. So I decided to sit opposite him, only to find him grinning at me from the table. Just like a child, he was holding a fork and knife and banging them on the table in excitement.
I had to ask him what his grand plan was with the cutlery, "You will eat your stew with fork and knife? What will you cut little mashed pieces of beans?" I took them away from him.
"Oh! Shishishishi!"
I handed him a shallow bowl, and spoon, "Are you always this clueless?"
I could see a cheeky smile form on his face, he was thinking of a comeback, "Sanji's beauty made me dumb."
"Who taught you such cheesy lines?"
"No one." He pouted and averted his eyes.
"You are a terrible liar, ain't you?"
He raised his hands and pretended to be caught, "Fine! Fine! My sister Robin's husband Franky!"
"Well, come up with your own flirting words next time."
"I will."
The stew was finally done, the smell of cooked beans and mushrooms filled the kitchen, and my future husband was drooling. Was he really that excited about my food? It was a simple bean stew, simmered with fried onions, garlic, dried mushrooms and a handful of spices. It was not my best recipe either. But the way he raised his bowl, it felt like I was the goddess of fertility feeding a starving devotee.
"THANK YOU FOR THE MEAL!"
He didn't wait for long and gobbled the hot stew, even his tongue was built differently, it seemed. "Don't rush!"
"Shjkfo fjgkfkan kfkfkfg"
"Don't talk with your mouth full!" I bonked his head and realized the hair was softer than it looked, and my fingers stayed there. As he ate, I ruffled his hair and he grinned. Was I allowed happiness? Could marriage with an alpha bring me peace? Was I worthy of affection?
Suddenly I felt a tug, I was pulled towards him and placed on his lap. "What are you doing?" He squeezed my waist with his unoccupied hand and raised a spoonful of stew. "No, you eat, I am not hungry." He didn't reply but stayed in the same position. "I don't eat in front of people."
"You either eat from this spoon or I will feed you with my mouth."
"Eww! Disgusting!" I tried to break free from his embrace. But he knew what he was doing. Right now, he was being an alpha to my omega and exerting his willpower. "I will beat you if you do this nonsense!" Who knew in the future, I would let him get away with much worse, all because I would fall in love with him! Unable to run, I gobbled the contents of the spoon. The stew was good, but not my best, I needed to simmer it more and add a little sugar to make the flavours stand out. He didn't stop at the first scoop, there was another scoop, and another until he was assured we had shared the entire pot in half. He only let me go when he was sure I was full too! I got toyed by a nineteen-year-old!
After cleaning the pots and plates, and hiding my kitchen behind the painting, we were back to my bedroom. Now it was awkward. I was fully aware of his gaze upon me. My omega blood was yearning for him, but my rational brain knew not to rush.
"So…" I didn't know what to say any more.
He took a step towards me and raised himself on his tippy-toes, from my angle, he looked adorable, "We will meet tomorrow officially." He put his arms around my shoulders and pouted.
"Yes."
"Say Sanji, if you could take things from here with you, what would that be?"
"My mom's painting and this hidden kitchen, maybe."
"Anything else?"
"All my cookbooks."
"No pots and pans?"
"I would rather have new utensils and tools. I don't like the ones I have." I didn't want to elaborate, even getting a new set of knives needed to go through budget scrutiny. It was humiliating to ask for pots and pans. Most of the time, I would ask Reiju for things that needed immediate replacement. "I don't wish to carry them with me."
He inched closer to my face to look for tears, maybe. His steady breath hit my lips, and I ached for more of his presence, though he had suppressed his pheromones, there was the smell of petrichor lingering between us. This short guy was making me question many things about me. I had always thought I found women more attractive than men, and my ideal partner would be a woman. I had never hoped for an alpha spouse, but a beta wife, was someone I could desire and hope for in my heart. Now, looking at this person, I had to relearn the laws of attraction.
Was it my pheromones or was it my heart, who was deciding my actions? I knew if Monkey D Luffy decided to kiss me, my lips would part for him just like my legs.
Instead of aiming for my lips, the guy kissed my cheeks. His lips were fuller and softer against my unshaven cheek. It was over before I could register. This was my life's first kiss, from someone who wanted me romantically— and it was over! He pulled back and grinned, I couldn't help but notice, that he grinned a lot, was he always this happy? "Shishishishishi! I can't wait to hold your hands tomorrow, Sanji!"
I had no words to offer him, "..."
"OOOOOOOOO! You are blushing, Sanji." He tightened his grip around my neck. "Does the idea of me touching you make you feel embarrassed? Aww, Sanji!"
"Get lost!" I kicked him on the sheen and untangled his skinny arms from my neck! "You are too cocky for your age!" Instead of flinching in pain, he grinned again, returned to hug me and kissed my other cheek. There went my second kiss, "GOOOOOO!"
"I don't wanna!" He rubbed his face on my shoulder. "I want to be with you forever!"
"If you don't leave me, I can't sleep. I have to cook a feast for you and your family."
"Can't we elope right now?!"
"NO!" I finally pushed him away. "I may be an Omega, but I am still a Vinsmoke, I cannot bring shame to the family name." He looked at me with disbelief, okay I didn't care about family name or honour, but my sister was still here. If I did something drastic, my father would take it out on her— blaming it on her for spoiling an omega like me. "No elopement."
"Okay, okay!" He let go of me reluctantly and again flashed his shit-eating grin, "Wear something blue tomorrow, okay? Just like a fairytale prince." After saying this, he jumped out the window.
"WHAT THE FUCK, LUFFY!" I ran to the window. Everything was silent. "WHERE ARE YOU!" I frantically searched for him by looking into the darkness. My eyesight was exceptionally great, so not finding him bothered me. "LUFFFFY!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
"Shishishishi" He peeped from under the windowsill. He was hanging casually, "So if my life is in danger, only then will you address me by my name?" I half-pulled him to see his face clearly. He was unhurt and unbothered.
"Are you insane?"
"Nooooooo….."
"Stop scaring me!" I flicked his forehead. "If you want me to be happy, don't you ever do this again?" I flicked his forehead again. "Promise me, you little shit!"
"I will only promise if you kiss me."
"No."
"Not on my lips. But anywhere on my face will do! I kissed you twice no?"
"Where did you learn all this rubbish from? Since when is kissing a competition?"
"I learned from the theatre. My friend Usopp is a playwright and he and his girlfriend always kiss each other."
"Your friends are more liberal. I am a conservative man." I couldn't believe I was having this conversation with someone who was hanging by his fingers from a windowsill of the last floor of the tallest tower. "Idiot."
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" He began to sing in an atrocious tone. "Kiss me Sanji, kiss me Sanji, Kiss me Sanji!" He was going to wake up the entire empire with his awful singing skills. Kisssss me! Kissssss me! Kissssss me!"
I shut his mouth with my palm and quickly kissed his forehead where I had flicked him. The forehead kiss made him very happy, and he tried to climb back inside. But I kept him away, "Now, go!"
"GOODNIGHT HUSBAND!"
"We are not married yet!"
"We are married in my heart!"
By the time I was done preparing the elaborate meal, it was very late in the morning. I had no time to spare a look at the decorations done to the castle or the seating arrangements of the banquet hall. For the last fourteen years, parties, feasts and celebrations were under my domain— as the resident Omega, it was my duty to the family. I had organized countless engagements for my siblings and weddings of our extended family. But for my own celebration, I didn't try. I had made a list and written down the instructions for Reiju to follow. Though I had created the guest list, I didn't know who had arrived at the lunch party.
My two loyal guards whisked me away from my kitchen, and Reiju sent her waiting staff to help me get ready. That's how I found myself in a baby-blue shirt, dark trousers, and a red-cape with the Germa golden brooch tying its both ends. Despite my protests, the waiting staff combed my hair arranged in such a way that it looked like I let my waves flow naturally– according to my three stylists, my wavy golden locks had their own charm and would win Monkey D Luffy's heart. If only they knew Monkey D Luffy's heart was very much charmed by me without needing to beautify me. He saw me in my messiest self in my room and decided to declare his very bold intentions of marrying me. I was not worried about him. I was worried about the timeline of the events. Why was everything being rushed— what made my father cave in? What convienced him into giving me away so eagerly? My brothers were right, I was defective, and so why was I going into the most sought-after family in the world?
I was so lost in my thoughts that I never noticed the passing of time. Hence, when I arrived at the banquet hall, I was surprised. I found the entire Monkey D Family** waiting eagerly for me; the infamous grandparents, their sons, their children and spouses and great-grandchildren and extended family. The moment I stepped inside, they all stood up cheering for me! My instant thought was why? They all waved at me like I was somekind of celebrity. Soon the banquet hall was full of raven-heads moving around to have a better look at me. The party had already started!
Meanwhile, in-comparison to the Monkey D Family, my Germa family, despite the extended family's participation, looked minuscule. As the cheering and hollering continued, I took a quick glance at my blood family. They were observing me from the other end— without any positive interest in me. Reiju was the only one who smiled at me and then pointed at the person who was going to be my fiancé soon.
And among all the raven-heads moving in the banquet hall, my raven-head was the shortest! He looked so tiny, that I had an intense desire to put him in a pocket. Though he was very much an Alpha, I still wanted to pamper him like he was a kitten.
Then I heard my name. "Sanji!" Luffy was the first to call out.
Suddenly, I didn't know what to do! Which side was I to walk towards and how to respond, I didn't know anything. It was all too overwhelming, the lights, the flowers, the music the noise and the stares. I didn't like being the centre of attraction. Luffy was moving towards me, "Sanji, I am here. Look at me." I decided to concentrate on him and his voice. He was dressed in black and red. Every part of his attire was screaming REGAL! The three-piece suit, the black cape, the matching boots and his unruly hair were combed back. He was cheerfully walking towards me.
Maybe it was his instincts or my face, he had already made his way towards me and held my hand. "You look ethereal!" He kissed my hand and pulled me to sit near him. I glanced at Reiju, who reciprocated with a nod, and consequently, I occupied my seat. Immediately, his large hand sat on my thigh. "I want to kiss you so bad!" My intended Alpha whispered into my ears. "But Robin will beat me for not respecting your choice!"
"Luffy, don't keep him to yourself, introduce Sanji to us!" One of my future in-laws spoke. I was still trying to understand what was happening. My instincts were telling me something was going to happen. Nothing in my life went smoothly, nothing from birth till this day, even a tiny inch of happiness had alluded me. Fear was crawling up my bones and clouding my senses. I offered a weak smile to the person asking for an introduction. A young man with freckles smiled at me.
"Ah Sanji, meet my eldest brother, Ace." Luffy's brother raised his glass of wine to me, "The blue-haired girl beside him is Vivi, his wife." She, too, followed the same gesture. Luffy's hand never left my thigh, as he continued telling me the names of his family. And I couldn't concentrate on a single person he introduced to me. They were all beautiful and confident and in their element— I was feeling out of place in my own engagement party. I think Luffy realized fast enough that I was not okay, he offered me a glass of water and asked softly, "Are you nervous?" I nodded. "Then let's cut it short, no?"
Monkey D Luffy stood up, "Papa!" he called to a big, buff man with a scar running across his face who was happily sipping on his wine. The man, my future father-in-law, took one glance at me, then looked back at his son and nodded. Then he whispered something into another big, buff man's ear. This man had tattoos on his face. It seemed the Monkey D Family was into displaying facial body art and scars. Luffy sat down and this time his hand took my hand in his.
"Is something the matter, Sir Crocodile?" My father asked Luffy's Papa and then focused his gaze on me. "Sanji, why haven't you introduced yourself to your fathers-in-law? The Monkey D family will think we didn't train our precious Omega about his duties." Every word he uttered sliced my heart.
I opened my mouth to introduce myself, but Luffy's Papa shook his head and Luffy squeezed my palms. "Actually, our youngest pup is in a rush." Sir Crocodile spoke. "Impatience is the trait of youth."
My father's forehead formed a frown, he was not liking this, "Rush? I am afraid, I don't understand."
Sir Crocodile offered a polite smile, "We want to conduct the marriage ceremony today. As in, right now." Luffy nodded his head. "My son wants to get married."
What the fuck? I looked at Luffy, who was smiling innocently at me. And the rest of the Monkey D Family broke into a series of laughter. "Seriously Luffy?" Ace, the eldest brother of Luffy was choking on his wine. "Sabo look at this fool!"
"Lu, why? Can we do it tomorrow? You want to cut short the celebrations! Come on, Koala tell your brother-in-law, we deserve week long party!" I finally spotted the person called Sabo, he was one of the rare non-raven-head Monkey D and I deducted the brunette woman beside him was his wife. Sabo didn't stop, "What's the rush? Dad, you agree to this?" The man with the tattoo on his face shrugged like it didn't matter to him whether we married today or tomorrow.
"It's my marriage! I want to marry Sanji right now! Mr Vinsmoke Judge?" Luffy stood up and walked towards my father and dragged me with him.
My father was used to only my brothers' brattiness. The rest of the quadruplet set was too quiet for my liking. They wanted to see me suffer, so like hawks, they sat in their corners and watched the drama unfold. "What do you want, Monkey D Luffy? Have I not agreed to this marriage? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Lu, come back. I am discussing this."
"It's okay Papa." Luffy winked at Sir Crocodile and then looked at me squarely, "I know what I am doing." A month back, I was not even aware of who I was getting married to, but right now, I wanted to trust this nineteen-year-old. Being in Luffy's presence felt like I had tasted freedom. I wanted to be free. I mentally said yes, as loud as my soul could say, so that Luffy could hear me. He heard me fine because the colour of his eyes changed to ridiculous pink. "Mr Judge, I would like to marry your most kind and generous child right now. The people who matter are here, the food is here, the wine is here, let's have a wedding right now."
My father was totally blindsided, I was so cut off from any decision made by family, I never had any say in any matter, and I had no idea what happened in the world outside my tower that all of a sudden I was feeling like I had jumped to the end of an epic novel, "We don't have our priest. He is supposed to come later in the evening." My father said with great restraint.
"We have our priest!" A tall woman with jet-black hair and blue eyes clapped her hands, "Franky! It is time to use your priest degree!" This must be Luffy's elder sister, Robin. The man Franky had blue hair, I couldn't stop looking for patterns where none existed, Ace had married a person with blue hair, and so had Robin. It was my panic response, Reiju had taught me to look for familiarity when I felt out of place, first the facial features now the hair colour, I was desperately looking for patterns.
"Sir Crocodile, Mr Dragon, ain't you rushing this marriage too fast?" My eldest brother finally opened his mouth. "Why are you so eager to marry your son with our Omega?"
"Our Omega? Is that how you refer to your own sibling?" Sir Crocodile snapped.
"Well, he is an Omega, and we wouldn't have this engagement if Sanji here wasn't an Omega? Did I offend you, little brother?" Ichiji asked so sweetly that I could replace sugar in my tea.
"Luffy gets what Luffy wants, isn't that how you had been engaged to princess of Balto two years back? If I am not wrong you said: Ichiji gets what he wants ?" Monkey D Sabo smiled. "Our brother wants to marry your brother, and it seems Sanji is not opposed to the idea. We have a priest, we have the feast, and we have the grooms, so why is your toe itching?"
"You will insult my brother!" Yonji hissed, he was like a puberty-stricken pup. Craving a fight. Who would tell him, Monkey Ds would chew and spit him out for breakfast?
"But I didn't insult Sanji! How dare I earn Luffy's wrath?" Sabo walked over to Luffy and my side and took my hand, "Welcome to the family, Luffy's heart."
Reiju stepped up, and cut the thick air with her not-so-sweet smile, "I think let's continue with the wedding if that's what you want! I don't want my baby brother to leave. But I think good things shouldn't be delayed." Thanks to hierarchy, Ichiji, Nijii and Yonji couldn't talk over my sister. "If you boys have a problem, talk to Father, don't create a ruckus here like a pack of untrained pups and ruin our family name. The marriage was due tomorrow anyway. We can have the ceremony now! And have the gala party tomorrow!"
"It is always good to talk with a smart woman!" Sabo offered his hand to my sister, "We will look after your brother like he is our own."
"I will burn every house in East Blue if Sanji gets hurt." My sister offered her best smile. "I am entrusting you my most precious person."
In the blink of an eye, I found myself at the centre of the banquet hall, with a flower bouquet thrust into my hand. My father stood beside me, in all his Alpha glory; golden helmet, white robes and a spear in his hand. My sister held my elbow gently and patted my back.
And Monkey D Luffy was standing opposite me, his two fathers were standing beside him like two ancient pillars with soft smiles on their lips, while his two brothers were giggling behind him.
Franky our priest, was already weeping, and his wife stood beside him to read the words from the scripture to help him.
"We have gathered here, to honour the union of two children of the Sun God, Nika. Vinsmoke Sanji, the third son of the House Vinsmoke, will join Monkey D Luffy, the third son of House Monkey D, in the holy matrimony." Robin declared. "Monkey D Luffy, fall on thy knees and take Vinsmoke Sanji's hands in yours and speak the vows." Luffy didn't need to be told twice. He fell on his knees and looked at me with such gentleness that I felt weak in my toes.
"I Monkey D Luffy, swear to love you, cherish you, and protect you until my last breath. My sword is yours, my soul is yours, my heart is yours." Luffy kissed my palms. "Would you, Vinsmoke Sanji, become my life-partner and do the honours of becoming the new Lord of Joyboy castle?"
I took a deep breath, this was not one of my father's long games of taking over a country. This was my marriage, once I said yes, I became part of the Monkey D family. The moment I stepped out of the Germa Empire, there was no coming back. Monkey D Luffy released his pheromones to calm me. His odour calmed me, I took one last glance at Reiju who looked equally nervous but patted my back. I thought I was strong, but tears had started falling down my face, I most probably ruined the make-up the girls had done to me. Luffy looked at me, I knew he was impatient, but he rubbed soft circles on my palms with his thumbs to reassure me, that he was going to be here.
This was my one chance at attaining freedom and maybe, just maybe, respect that I had been denied for the last fourteen years. I sank to my knees and touched my forehead against Luffy's. I took another deep breath and inhaled his smell— petrichor. This was going to be my happy marriage with Luffy.
"YES!"
TBC
Notes: I don't own One Piece.
radio-snail and a transmitter-snail!**: I will be using den-den mushis here.
Who are the members of Monkey D Family?: You will get your answers, eventually.
Arranged Marriage Fics are my guilty pleasure. Ever since I saw the Whole-Cake-Island arc, I have become a low-key LuSan shipper. Then a few days back I watched My Happy Marriage, and thought, how would it be if Sanji was in Mio's place? Obviously, Luffy is not like Kudo, my boy won't drag on the engagement until the tragedy hits him. Luffy is impatient that way, he would end the engagement in one day and jump into marriage if it meant maximum protection for his loved one. That's how this fic was born.
This is my first LuSan fic! So forgive me, if Sanji feels a bit OOC!
And yes, Sanji is a cinnamon roll here. We must protect my baby!
And yes, Sanji is a cinnamon roll here. We must protect my baby!P.S: Comments, kudos and shares make me very very very happy! But I am a very fragile person, so don't be mean to me! I will cry. And I don't know when the next chapter will come.