Chapter Text
There, Yonji finds himself facing his father alone. "Private matters, your siblings will be informed soon anyway," was all that man said. If it was something just for him, he'd rub it in their faces.
"I've decided on something." Judge had started speaking, facing Yonji with emptiness. "You already know about our alliance with the Charlottes and their crew. I'm arranging a marriage for you." The man adds on.
But that definitely isn't anything he'd want to talk about to anybody. An arranged marriage? Seriously?
Yonji blinked. He'd definitely misheard that, but he also wouldn't have misheard it. "What? I thought only Sanji was having one." Yonji dared to say that failure's name, but it was true — and it didn't make sense. Considering this is the only time Sanji is useful for this family, what did he do to deserve a marriage if he has done everything he's expected to?
"To strengthen the alliance." Judge replies with only that and nothing more. Like that was useful information.
"Are the others going to have their own too?" Yonji asked, the question appearing into his mind as soon as his father finished speaking. It'd only make sense, right?
Judge looked at Yonji, or maybe into him. His eyes had something unsettling that Yonji couldn't explain — in fact he shouldn't be feeling it, but even with that it doesn't matter as much.
"No, they won't. You're marrying Charlotte Cracker."
Of course he's wrong, and for once Yonji shut his mouth without hesitation — only because he didn't want to ask anything else. "Okay." He replied, trying to not express anything when he said that. In fact, he had many questions, he just knew that Judge would answer them vaguely. Everytime he talked to his father his mouth felt dry with every word. He didn't hate him, but he didn't like him either — so what was it?
"Yonji."
He continued to look at Judge, masking as much as he could even though the distress inside was slowly imminent. It was a horrifying staring contest or something, but that awful silence was put down after a moment or two.
"Don't think I don't notice everything you and your brothers do." Judge's voice was firm, intimidating. As usual. But what did he mean by that? Did he know what he was hiding? Did he know his secret? Was this one of the reasons why he's being wed? There's so many questions that we're left unanswered, and he couldn't have them answered because what if he wasn't the problem?
Yonji stayed quiet as he should, as he's expected to do. He nodded, respectfully bowing — because he always does that. They always do that, but he already developed a mind of his own — one where he thinks for himself at once, one where it's suddenly flooding with suspicions and questions he never even came across before. It was... overwhelming. It drowned him. He went away from Judge as directed, his shoes feeling too loud as he walked off.
He isn't like Sanji. He's the same as his brothers, the same as Reiju, he came from his mother. What did his father know about him that he didn't even know? Has it been too obvious? Was it too loud when he snuck calls during the night? Was it because he couldn't think for himself that exposed whatever it was to his father? The thought of it made him shudder, a chill running down his spine. Is this how normal people feel like? When they're confused? Afraid?
Whatever it was, he hated how everything felt — but he didn't have time to sulk. He didn't have the privacy to express himself, his feelings, even his emotions through his face. Is that how people feel sometimes? Trapped? What is this feeling?
It isn't even about the wedding, he's somewhat relieved he's being married to Charlotte Cracker. It's what his father implied; it was the tone he spoke in, the looks he gave him while speaking to him about the matter. His father lied, it wasn't about the alliance. He doesn't know what it's for, but his relationship might be in danger, it might be used as an advantage for his father's plans — whatever it is that he's thinking.
He can't even tell Crakcer about it, because he already feels like he's being watched.
At this point, Yonji is unsettled, but what can he do right now? Nothing, because he can't feel anything. He shouldn't feel anything, especially boredom. He can only smile at the pain of other people, but does he really want to? What other purpose does he serve other than to kill others?
Everything's coming at him at once — he already wants to bury a grave for himself because he felt like he was crushed by a building. Everything feels wrong — out of place, or maybe he's adjusting to how it feels?
Most definitely. He's just misunderstanding everything.
⚡️🪢
"Consider yourself lucky; you can get a wife." Niji somewhat supported, smiling with glee at Yonji. "It saves some trouble having to find a wife." He added on, and while it was solid, it was just the fact that he wasn't marrying a woman.
Yonji sighed at Niji's perspective. Wasn't it clever to think of such? That density already outshined his.
Sometimes he wondered if his brother felt the same way he did.
"I get it's for the alliance with the Big Mom pirates and whatever, but Sanji's already having a wedding with one of them. It wouldn't make sense for me to have one as well — and plus you guys aren't having one either." Yonji defended himself with defeat in his tone.
Niji shrugged, promptly brushing it off, "It isn't that big of a deal. Just means one more wedding and more food."
Well, even so, Yonji wouldn't want to worry about it. It was probably just a coincidence. Unless Father had already figured it out.
After all, he couldn't get the question out of his mind. Aren't there so many women for him to have been married to? Oh for FUCK'S SAKE, it can't leave him alone.
Yonji snaps out of the trance when he noticed Niji about to slap him, who was going to snap him out first.
He couldn't help himself, and flinched.
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