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Katakuri never thought he could be so selfish, but he knew he would kill for this feeling. He would die ten times over, he would chain himself down to be tortured, he’d betray his family if they tried to keep him from this, from you. You, who were melting your husband into a puddle of mochi, simply by running your fingers through his scruffy, magenta hair, using their delicate pads to trace the grooves of his big bulky skull. He’d do it for your heavenly lips pressing love all over his face, trailing his scars and lengthy lip line until you reached the center where you loved on him the best. You who had never made him feel anything but perfect and loved despite his insecurities. He would do it all for you.
Katakuri counted himself incredibly lucky when it came to Big Mama’s arranged marriages. He agreed to it of course, he was a loyal son who did his mother’s bidding, and began preparing himself to the idea of having a wife. Though when the union between you and him was announced, he had been puzzled to learn that you had requested him specifically. He did not recall having met you. But as a younger man he had indeed, when he kindly saved you from another pirate crew. He did not have to; in fact the pirates were the ones he had been sent to make deals with on his mother’s behalf. But when he sensed an intense feeling of distress and found them accosting you, he chose to crush them without a thought to any future consequences, though fortunately there were minimal. He helped you to your feet, not knowing who you were, a daughter of that island’s powerful family. But you knew of him, and when your father announced that you were to marry one of the Charlotte sons years later, you requested it be Katakuri if possible. Thankfully, Big Mama gave her blessing, not that she really cared.
When you meet again, you sweetly professed your gratitude again for that day, and your hopes to provide him with a happy marriage. Katakuri is surprised, but content with who you turned out to be. Contentment quickly grew to fondness, which grew to attraction over the weeks you spent in the family chateau during wedding preparation, as you proved over and over to be as kind as you were adorable. He truly became elated envisioning his future as your husband, and resolved to protect and devote himself to you to the best of his ability.
Unfortunately, the preparation process came to be more troubling than exciting. Just being fitted for a wedding dress turned out to be an unpleasant affair, as several of the more immature Charlotte sisters who were present were sneering at some insecurities you had about your body. You instinctively stiffened, trying to contain your anger and sadness inside to avoid problems with your new family. You did appreciate some of the elder sisters chastising them, but the feelings still remained.
“No worries darling, I’ve done so many custom gowns for the family! And our makeup team is incredible! We’ll get you all sorted,” the designer proudly declared as he began unfurling his tape measure across your body and pressing fabric swatches to your skin. You nodded, but you were barely listening at that point.
Meanwhile, Katakuri was having a similar issue. He was center of attention of a discussion between his brothers and his tailor, over how he would cover his mouth for the wedding.
“Surely you do not intend to wear this ratty thing for your wedding!” the tailor said exasperatedly, poking at his usual scarf and jumping off his ladder to rummage through bolts of fabric.
“Still, we don’t wanna be scaring the guests. What do you suggest then, old man?“
The man quickly drew up some gaudy designs he claimed would be so fashion forward, but Katakuri and the brothers all cringed. They eventually agreed on a simple embellished face mask, but the question still remained.
“Katakuri, you can cover up for the most part but you’re still gonna have to pull it down and kiss the bride, you know? You should probably let her know privately beforehand. She’s gonna find out anyway.”
And Katakuri, who was so used to his daily routine of covering himself and eating extremely quickly or out of sight, didn’t even think about his mouth until the fitting began. He did agree with his brother, he certainly did not want the first time you saw his face to be at the wedding ceremony, where your shock and likely repulsion would be viewed by all in attendance. But his mind ran anxiously, afraid that your adorable excitement to be his wife would evaporate once you saw the truth.
After the fitting, he began rehearsing all the possible ways to gently tell you in his head as he headed to your room. But when he arrived outside, all thought went out the window when he heard sniffling behind your door.
He knocked softly, “Y/n? It’s me.”
You hesitated, quickly attempting to compose yourself before opening the door to your fiancé, but you knew you looked a mess.
“Katakuri,” you smiled sheepishly.
He frowned at the confirmation of your emotional state, but remained composed.
“What is the matter? Who has hurt you?” he gently prodded.
You looked away ashamed. “It’s truly nothing. Please do not worry. Did you need me for something?”
“… May I come in?”
You nodded and permitted him entry. Katakuri closed the door behind him and you gestured to a seat as you took the edge of your bed. But he chose instead to kneel before you, causing you to blush as he took one of your hands in his.
“I would know what is distressing you. No matter how small the issue,” Katakuri implored. “We will be married, and I would hope to make you happy.”
“I… well… ” you stiffened, attempting to hide yourself again, but his sweetness and your emotions cause you to spill the truth.
“My dress fitting… was not pleasant,” you finally confessed. “Some of your younger sisters made points about my body which upset me, but they are not wrong to think so.” You briefly explained and poked at the aforementioned areas. “They… they said their favorite big brother deserved the best. And I worry I am taking the place of a more suitable woman. The designer and makeup will help me… but still, I am troubled. I do not want to embarrass you.”
“These accusations are nonsense,” Katakuri answered without hesitation to your confusion. “You are far more beautiful than someone like me deserves.“
“What… what are you talking about? You… You are so perfect, it’s true, I know I am hardly enough for you-“ you tried to ramble. But your words were cut short when Katakuri pulled down his scarf, revealing his large, scarred mouth filled with abnormally sharp, beast-like teeth.
This was certainly not the gentle way he intended to reveal himself, he thought, as he and you sat in silence. He studied your face, waiting for any sign of disgust, but you were still stuck in your stunned reaction, processing what you saw before you.
Finally, you frowned and spoke. “See, now you’re even more handsome than I imagined. You’re only proving my point! Is that why you’ve been hiding yourself? Because I can’t-“
And Katakuri couldn’t help but interrupt you again, when his heart began beating wildly and commanding his body to lean forward and grasp your cheeks. He gazed ardently into your bewildered eyes and pressed his lips to yours, gingerly so not to hurt you with any of his pointed teeth. Your eyes tear up again, but this time in joy, as you reached up and reciprocated the caress.
“You are perfect,” Katakuri declared with conviction when he pulled away. “Inside and out. I will not tolerate any other opinion, from you or anyone else. Okay, my bride?”
You pressed together a wobbly smile and nodded, admitting defeat. He stroked your hair and pressed another kiss to your cheek and you giggle.
And though one trouble was thankfully dismissed, another one was just right over the horizon, when Katakuri’s eldest brother, Perospero, came home in time for the wedding.
“That’s her???” he asked one of his brothers, who confirmed that you were the bride. Just one look at you had him obsessed. He found you so ravishing that his eyes popped out of their sockets and his ever dangling tongue drooled profusely, causing whatever sucker he had been enjoying to be forgotten. He did not even bother to speak to you or the groom, he simply ran straight to Mama to ask about taking your hand for himself instead. After all, he was the elder, he should get seniority on all things, right?
“Sure, what do I care? As long as someone marries her,” Mama had said, waving him off. And so Perospero gleefully ran around spreading the news, off to make the necessary adjustments.
When word reached your ears, you couldn’t believe it initially, frozen in denial. Katakuri began furiously questioning the messenger, who fearfully couldn’t add much more info. After he let the poor man flee, he turned to see your eyes clinging onto fat tears, failing to hold yourself together.
“K-Katakuri…” you whimpered as reality hit you. You surely hadn’t intended to come off as such a crier before the wedding, but this was truly too much. You knew it was never a certainty you could end up with Katakuri, but with all your heart, you did not want to give him up.
Katakuri knelt down to your level without haste and took your hands in his. He too, could not imagine any other as his, and there was no chance he was going to let you go.
“Sweetheart, look at me. I will not allow this to happen. I swear it. Do not worry yourself, I will go settle this.”
You timidly nodded, as he pulled down his scarf enough to press a gentle kiss to your forehead. And though you trusted him, you savored the feeling of his lips on your skin, distraught over the possibility that it could be your last.
But Katakuri of course would ensure it would not be. Perospero’s joy in running around selfishly revising the wedding for himself came to an abrupt halt the moment Katakuri found him. An immense, raging aura of haki overwhelmed the surrounding area, collapsing nearly everyone around them. Perospero’s body was weighed down heavily, and he grimaced as he strained to turn around and face the source.
”You dare attempt to take her from me?” Katakuri’s voice boomed, his eyes a menacing red.
“K-K-K-Katakuri!“ Perospero stuttered. “W-What’s the matter? Mama, Mama gave me her blessing!”
“You will renounce all you have done immediately. I have tolerated all our family does but this. I will not hesitate to fight for her if you refuse.”
“You-You’d fight your own brother?” Perospero said in shock. He had never seen him in such anger and selfishness before in his entire life, he had always been the cool-headed, supportive brother. But clearly he took that for granted; Katakuri had a line, and he unknowingly crossed it.
“What is the meaning of this?” Big Mama stomped into the scene, having sensed the burst of haki and the commotion.
Katakuri faced his mother, and knelt before her respectfully despite his rage.
“Mama, I wish to keep my bride. She was promised to me, she is mine,” he appealed to her. “To have her taken from me is to disrespect me.”
“Wha- all this over the girl? As I’ve told your brother, I do not care which of you takes her! Settle this quarrel immediately, I will not tolerate the party going amok! I have tea and cake to look forward to!” she spat, and turned heel.
“Yes, mother,” the two men obeyed.
Perospero turned to his brother meekly.
“I am sorry, my brother. I should have asked, I shouldn’t have taken from you. Truly, I didn’t think you would mind. We do not need to fight,” Perospero tactfully crafted his apology. Despite being the elder, he knew the battle was not worth the reward, not when Katakuri had the reputation of being undefeated, and when clearly it would instigate such bad blood.
“You will do what I asked. And you will apologize to her. You have caused her much grief.”
“Of course...” he begrudgingly agreed.
And though the journey was a rocky path, you finally found yourself walking down the aisle, in a gown Katakuri made sure you yourself were happy with. He pulled down his mask to place his kiss upon you, and the appalled guests and much of his family were astonished to see you smile in pure bliss despite the reveal of his intimidating face. You met your lips with his happily, and claimed each other as husband and wife.
-
“What are you smiling about, love?” you muse, your head laying in his lap after your daily merienda.
He looks down at you with the smile in question while stroking your hair. “Just thinking about how lucky I am that you are mine.”
“Yeah? You’re sure it’s not the donuts?” you tease.
“Perhaps it could be both,” he chuckles, and pinches your cheeks playfully.
You wrinkle your nose in faux annoyance and gripe, “Hey!”
You crawl up to reciprocate the gesture. “I’m not the mochi, you are!” you pinch and pull at his face. He laughs and rolls on his back, wrapping his arms around you and taking you with him.
“Are you sure, dear? I am the expert, and you’re just as soft and sweet,” he cuddles you like a teddy bear. “I could eat you up.”
“Nooo don’t!” you whine. “How will I get my kisses in your tummy?”
He bursts into more laughter and you grin; it was your favorite sight in the world to watch his face twist into such joyfulness and you couldn’t get enough.
“My apologies sweetheart, I kid,” he finally replies after recovering from his fit. “I would never deprive you of your kisses.”
“You better give me some right now as payment,” you giggle. “Wife’s orders.”
And how could Katakuri deny his angel of a wife? You were his everything, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for you, he professes to himself, as he presses his loving lips to yours once more.