Bite Back

Under Control

“Mama, if she’s not going to be at dinner, I’m not going. I am only doing this at your request and for appearances. There is no reason for me to be present when she is not.” Katakuri folded his arms as he stood by his mother’s side in her chambers.

Big Mom swallowed the fistful of pastries she had been chewing. “Fine, do as you wish, Katakuri. You’re a big boy; I can’t stop you from coming or going.”

“What is the reason you called me here today, Mama?”

She took another fistful of singing pastries into her mouth, hungrily chewing and swallowing before she licked the sugar from her lips. “I have an important matter to take care of, and I’m leaving you in charge.”

Katakuri rolled his eyes, “What about Peros?”

“He’s coming with me; otherwise I would have your main concern to get cozy with your little fiancé. However, I encourage you to do that anyway. I can’t have a loose cannon like that running around here. You’ll have to put her in her place.”

“I’ve already resolved to do so, don’t worry, Mama.”

Big Mom smiled, “Wonderful, dear. Just don’t show that hideous face of yours and scare her off before the wedding.”

His folded arms tightened as his brows furrowed, “Yes, Mama.”

***

“Miss Wyleen, give us a hand, won’t you?” Guido called.

“Yes, chef,” she put down the piping bag, wiping her forehead with her sleeve as she hurried across the kitchen.

“I need you to simmer the berries, add the sugar once it comes to a low boil. I need to check in with the sous chef to coordinate the serving,” he patted Wyleen’s shoulder once before hurrying off.

She was pleased with how much she was enjoying being in the kitchen. Wyleen enjoyed learning how to bake different goods, experimenting with spices, and tweaking recipes to make them less dense or more firm. It had been about five days since she made this arrangement with Beatrice, only spending four of those days in the kitchen. She took a deep breath at the thought of her nearing wedding date as she added the sugar to the mashed berries, giving everything a thorough stir. The juice from the berries and sugar made a thick syrup. After some boiling, it would have the consistency of a jam and be firm enough to fill pastries with after it has cooled enough. Glancing to see if Guido was coming back, and looking around to see if there were any other of the cooks watching, she finished the filling by adding some chili pepper to give the sweetness a bit more flavor.

“Have you finished?” Guido had come back a few minutes later, seeming to be a bit winded.

“Yes, chef. I’m about finished filling the Berliners,” she gestured to the large sheet pan with the pastries that were already filled. “I’ll just be coating them in powdered sugar when I’m done.”

Guido nodded his approval, “Very good. You’ve really taken to making pastries, doughnuts especially. Master Katakuri should be pleased with you.”

Wyleen smiled, but didn’t offer a reply as she finished her tasks. There was still a strained silence between the two as time’s arrow marched towards their wedding date. Neither quite knew what to say to the other, nor did they outwardly show affection to the other. They made small talk, sure, but hardly qualifying as conversation. She didn’t even know what his full face looked like. Why did he hide himself? She didn’t know the reason behind his scarf, and she didn’t have the nerve to ask; she felt it wasn’t her place. Truthfully, she didn’t know what Katakuri’s opinion of her was, but she was hopeful it was at least a decent one.

Before the pastries were to be brought to the dining hall, Wyleen had taken a few of each doughnut she had a hand in preparing, placing them carefully in a basket, covering them gently in a cloth before she snuck back to her room. Beatrice had told her that Katakuri wouldn’t eat in front of others, which had given Wyleen the idea of bringing him fresh doughnuts every morning that she was in the kitchen to leave at his door. She didn’t know if it was appreciated or a nuisance, but Katakuri thanked her in passing. Though she didn’t know if he was just being polite.

She looked both ways down the corridor before walking towards Katakuri’s room. Wyleen had set the basket down and was about to walk away when the door opened behind her. Looking up, her stomach fell, her face flushed, and she looked at the floor quickly, starting to apologize for the intrusion.

Katakuri knelt down to be closer to eye-level with her, “Is it an intrusion if you leave things at my door without making yourself known?”

“I—I’m sorry, I thought I was being considerate,” she was rigid, almost expecting retaliation.

“Enough,” he tilted her head up with his finger, “that’s enough.” His face was hard, but she couldn’t fully read his expression with just half of his face exposed. “Thank you.”

Wyleen swallowed hard, nodding in response. “Forgive me, I will see you at breakfast.” She bowed, trying to make her escape.

“Where do you think you’re going? I’m not finished talking.” He grabbed her arm, but learned not to grip her too tightly. She still winced at his touch; he noticed.

“Yes, sorry, sir.” Her eyes were still downcast.

“Come, let’s finish our conversation,” he said, standing up and walking back into his room. He waited to close the door behind them after Wyleen had entered fully. She looked around the dimly lit room; the curtains were drawn, the floor-length mirror was broken and covered with a piece of cloth, she noticed. Katakuri had sat down on the bed, resting his arms on his knees as he looked down to watch Wyleen look around. “How is your hand?” He had asked this almost every day to make conversation.

She looked up at him, seeing he was watching her. “It’s fine, good as new.” She smiled nervously at him.

“Why are you nervous?” He c****d his head at her. “Are you afraid I’m going to devour you?”

Wyleen raised an eyebrow at him, “No. Should I be?” She chuckled.

Katakuri gave a short chuckle, “I suppose not.” An awkward silence fell between the two, as was customary at this point. “What have you brought today?” He extended his hand to take the basket Wyleen had picked up to bring in.

“Oh, um, I—I’ve made crullers this morning,” she said, taking the cloth off the top to show Katakuri the different pastries she brought for him. “I tried my hand at making beignets this morning, but they aren’t very good, I’m afraid.”

“Then why did you bring me some if they aren’t of the highest quality for the Charlotte family?” He interrupted with his inquiry.

Her face flushed again. Why did she think he would be amused by a failed attempt at a gourmet pastry? “You’re right, I—I’m terribly sorry; how disrespectful of me,” Wyleen reached to remove the overly browned pastry from the basket that was in Katakuri’s hand.

He pulled the basket from her reach, “You must have thought there was a good reason to bring them to me if you did so.”

Looking at the floor, Wyleen offered a reply, “I thought you might be pleased that I tried something different,” she muttered.

Katakuri frowned, not at the state of the Beignets, but at how her demeanor had changed around him after she was released from the infirmary. She no longer held her head up or carried herself as she once did when he saw her for the first time. She was still poised, yes, but she no longer spoke out and continually apologized. He wanted submissiveness, but not cowardice. “Why are you afraid of me?” He asked her sharply.

She looked up at him, blinking. “Afraid?”

“Yes. It is as if you no longer have any fight left. Have you given up already? And so easily? A mere injury and your entire outlook changed?” His voice rose, though he wasn’t angry.

Wyleen frowned. He was pushing her buttons, but she didn’t know why. She took a step closer, getting close to his face. “If I wanted to give up, I would have thrown myself from my balcony weeks ago. Long before I ever agreed to marry you.”

He let out a low, amused laugh as he leaned forward on his arms, “Poor girl, your last resort being a marriage to the son of one of the Four Emperors of the Sea? Being taken care of the rest of your small, insignificant life, what a tragedy,” he spoke sarcastically.

She scoffed, her fists balling with her anger. As Katakuri continued to laugh at her, unexpectedly to both of them, Wyleen threw a punch at her fiancés face, landing on his jaw. He didn’t seem to be hurt at all, but looked at her with surprise as she stared at him with shock and horror. “Are you alright?” She asked, a hand covering her mouth as she reached for his face.

Katakuri caught her hand before it could be placed on his face, “Why the hell do you have armament Haki?” He asked her, his voice low, eyes narrowed.

“Haki? Father taught me to fight back, so I learned Armaré with hand-to-hand combat. Is that what it is called, Haki?”

He looked down at her, “The daughter of a noble family being trained in combat? Interesting.”

“Why is that such a surprise? Are you not also trained the same in your family?” She took her hand back, thankful Katakuri was learning not to hold her so tightly.

“It’s different,” he said, looking away from her.

“How?”

He frowned, “We’re a family of pirates; we were born and raised to conquer the seas. Fighting is only a natural recourse.”

Wyleen nodded in understanding, a silence fell over her, and their conversation lulled once more. “I apologize for overstaying my welcome. I will see you at breakfast, yes?”

“I didn’t dismiss you,” he said coarsely.

Turning around once more, Wyleen was slightly annoyed, “Yes?”

“What are you hoping to get out of this marriage?”

Taken aback, she didn’t have a reply right away, “Get out of it? I assumed nothing. Big Mom offered her protection to my father’s kingdom in exchange for, well…me. I’m just collateral that takes up space and breathes air, nothing more.”

Katakuri c****d an eyebrow at her, “Nothing more?”

“Nothing more,” she shook her head. “I know I’m just a placeholder of a wife, replaceable, expendable…I have no expectations so as not to be disappointed.”

“I see, a wise decision to not get attached.” He stood up, removing his jacket, his back muscles rippling with his movements. “However, as my wife,” he flicked the lights off, “you’re under my control.”