Bite Back

Family Dinner

“Where’s the girl?” Big Mom said through a mouthful of sweets to satiate her appetite until dinner.

“She’s on her way, ma’am,” a servant nervously reassured her.

Katakuri was sitting rigid in a chair, one leg crossed over the other as his suspended foot shook impatiently. He didn’t want to be in the dining hall, knowing full well that he wouldn’t be eating, lest he be met with harsh remarks from his own mother about his face. Servants would whisper about him and avoid eye contact. His bride would surely laugh at his appearance or shriek in terror at the sight of him. The grip on his crossed arms tightened at the thought. “Mama?”

“Hm?” Big Mom looked down at her son.

“Won’t this marriage just get in the way of my duties? I don’t need someone clinging to me for protection; she will surely just be in my way. I don’t have time to cater to someone like that.” He glared up at his mother.

“Now, now, Katakuri,” Big Mom said after a chuckle, “give the poor girl a chance. You don’t have to bring her back to Wheat Island if you’re so worried about her giving you trouble,” she shrugged casually. He rolled his eyes, but said nothing more about it.

A few more moments passed before Katakuri flicked his gaze to the door of the dining hall, which opened seconds later as Wyleen was escorted in, her upper arms gripped by the guards as they walked her to the chair to the left of Katakuri. “Thank you, gentlemen,” she said flatly as one of the guards chained her ankle to the chair she was sitting on. Her posture didn’t change, sitting up straight, hands clasped in her lap. Wyleen didn’t know why they insisted on chaining her down whenever she was allowed outside of her room. Surely she was no threat to anyone but herself.

“So good of you to finally join us, girl,“ Big Mom said, annoyed, down to Wyleen, who only offered a nod in response.

“Mama, why is the girl chained?” Katakuri asked his mother instead of the woman next to him.

“Just a precaution,” Perospero answered for her.

Katakuri frowned, “For what, exactly?”

“She has a bit of a nijuujinkaku…a kind licketty-little thing, but she can be a bit quick-tempered and hot-headed.”

“I see. I should have known there was a catch with this one.” He turned to speak in the direction of Wyleen, to get a reaction from her, “No wonder Mama was eager to pawn you off on one of us.”

Her head turned slowly towards Katakuri, meeting his piercing gaze with one of her own. Wyleen’s knuckles cracked as she gripped the arm of the chair, but she said nothing in response. Only giving a short snort before turning her attention away from him. Don’t be a problem. Keep quiet and stay out of the way.

Dinner went off without much of a hitch, the servers bringing the courses out to everyone, Katakuri turning each one down, not willing to lower his scarf. However, his mouth was watering at the savory smells of the finest cuisine in Totto Land. The hum of conversation between the family and the staff was occasionally overlapped by Big Mom’s boisterous laughter throughout the meal. Wyleen was quiet, politely eating her fill next to Katakuri. Neither of them engaged in conversation with the other; Wyleen was not brave enough to glance up at her fiancé, though Katakuri was watching her closely. Watching her eat her food, taking dainty bites, how she held the flatware, how she held her wineglass when she took the smallest of sips to savor the flavor.

“Katakuri?”

“Hm?” he looked over at his older sister, Compote.

“Did you really agree to marry that little tart?” She asked loudly from across the table, causing other siblings and servants to look his way.

He glanced down at Wyleen; aside from tilting her head further down to not meet anyone’s gaze, she was going about her meal as she was before. “Yes,” he replied.

Compote laughed, a chortle with the sharpest of edges at his response, “I’m sure Mama will let you marry someone else in time, not to worry, brother, all hope isn’t lost.”

Narrowing his eyes, he replied to his sister, “Explain what you mean, sister.”

“Someone of your status shouldn’t be shackled to someone like that. She’s hardly human, after all. Chained to the table like an animal,” she snorted arrogantly.

Unbeknownst to anyone else, Wyleen’s blue eyes were turning stormy. Keep quiet, don’t be a problem, her grip tightened on her utensils.

“I don’t fear whatever she is capable of,” his brow furrowed slightly.

His sister gave a short laugh, “‘Capable?’ Look at her, brother. Does she look like she is capable of anything?”

“Compote,” Katakuri tried to cut her off.

“Ghastly little thing, honestly,” she snorted, bringing her glass to her lips to take a sip.

Katakuri caught a glimpse of what would happen next, suddenly standing up to stop Wyleen, but he was a moment too late. The shattering of glass caused the dining hall to go silent. Wyleen was standing, glowering at Compote from across the table. Beverage dripped from Compote’s face and hand, but she was unharmed. Wyleen’s knife had shattered the glass, and the blade of the knife stuck into the wall behind her. Katakuri grabbed Wyleen’s wrist, causing her to wince at the strength of his grip. “What the hell do you think you are doing? Don’t you dare harm my sister,” he growled.

Seeing that no one was hurt, and finding Wyleen’s little tantrum amusing, Big Mom didn’t interfere with the situation, but smiled sinisterly, knowing her second-oldest son would not take this indiscretion lightly. Already seeing him put her in her place, expecting nothing less from one of her generals. “Compote, dear, don’t talk about your sister-in-law like that,” was all she added to the interaction.

“Unlock her at once.”

“But, Master Katakuri…” one of the guards protested.

“No! I will be the one to take care of her myself.” He glared down at Wyleen. She frowned back at him, not kicking, not screaming, not uttering a word as Katakuri held her up by the arm to carry her out of the dining hall. Setting her down, dropping her, rather, he was about to open his mouth to speak sharply to his fiancé, but Wyleen had cut him off before he had the chance.

“I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, you know,” she huffed, rubbing her sore arm.

Katakuri’s eyes narrowed. “How was throwing a blade towards my sister’s head taking care of yourself?” He folded his arms, glaring down at her.

“I’m not a damn animal; I’m not here to be treated like a porcelain doll, either,” she wasn’t backing down from Katakuri, and wasn’t afraid to talk back to him.

“As my wife, you will have an obligation, dear,” he spoke condescendingly to her.

“I have no obligation to you!” She poked his stomach, his chest out of her reach.

“You are being bratty, pet. You are going to learn to talk with respect and know your place with my family and especially with me,” he growled, grabbing her by the shoulder.

Her nose scrunched up, trying to shake her shoulder free from his tight grasp. Yanking with force due to her pent-up frustrations, she didn’t care that the strap of her dress was left in Katakuri’s hand as she ripped her shoulder from his hold. Wyleen was not done giving her bridegroom a piece of her mind as she kept the bodice of her dress from falling in front of him. “I don’t see you holding a gun to my head.”

He leaned down close to her face, “Maybe I should, would you behave, then?”

“Not likely,” she hissed, “try me.”

“You’ll eat those words.”

“I’m not eating s**t,” she started to walk away down the hall towards her room.

Katakuri’s large stride caught back up with her in just a few steps, “Just where do you think you’re going? I’m not down with you yet.”

“Punish me later,” Wyleen waved him off. “I’ve got an early morning tomorrow; I’m turning in,” she muttered, no longer having any desire to please this man, but would hold true to her word to Beatrice. She had gone through all the trouble to help her; it was at least an opportunity to get out of her room for a time.

“Fine,” he growled, stopping his pursuit. “We aren’t done with this conversation, Missy.”

“Good night.” Wyleen was done with the conversation, but knew there would be hell to pay later.