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As the sun began its daily ritual of cresting over the horizon, Katakuri sat on the edge of your shared bed and rubbed his neck as he rolled it, stretching out his tired joints. He felt an extra layer of exhaustion weighing him down this morning but figured he’d work it off as he got his day going.
Letting loose a deep breath, Katakuri had been mentally preparing himself to get up when he felt your small hand on his back. Your soft fingers lightly traced along one of the pink lines that went up his impressively large and muscular back. His body immediately relaxed under your touch.
Katakuri looked over his shoulder to find you half awake and now over on his side of the massive bed.
“Get some more rest, my love,” he whispered, his normally deep voice even deeper from sleep still. Your hand continued its movement along his back, making small shapes along his skin now.
“Stay in bed with me,” you murmured, your eyes still only half open as you looked up at him.
It was Valentine’s Day and while there was nowhere else Katakuri wanted to be but at home with you, the work never stopped here on Komugi Island. Sure, he probably could take the day off and leave the work to his subordinates, but that just wasn’t how a man like Katakuri operated.
“I have some work to get done today, but I’ll be home before you know it,” he told you, tone gentle as he twisted himself more in your direction. Even though you nodded your head to his words, he saw the way your eyes looked away for a moment.
It was taking everything he had to not just roll back into bed with you and have your small body curled up with his for the next few hours – just the two of you in your private marital bliss.
Instead, he settled for leaning down to nuzzle his face into your upper body, nose brushing against your collarbone.
“Then, you’ll be all mine.”
Katakuri reveled in the small squeak you emitted, and the crimson flush that now spread across your face and chest.
After a few more nuzzles and teasing words, Katakuri finally got himself to begrudgingly leave your side and get ready for the day.
As he made his way out of the front door, Katakuri thought over his workload for the day. From what he could recall, it wouldn’t be too hectic of a day today.
Surely, he could get through it all with relative ease and be back by your side before the sun was even high in the sky.
---
Katakuri stood on the main dock of Komugi Island, thumb and index finger pinching the bridge of his nose.
What was supposed to have been a routine maintenance check on his ship had turned into utter chaos. Before he had even stepped foot onto the dock, Katakuri had seen with his observation haki the panic and scrambling of his crew as his ship bobbed away on the ocean waves.
Apparently, something had gone awry with the anchor, and the ship began to float away before anyone could do something about it.
Using his devil fruit powers, Katakuri had easily caught hold of his ship and pulled it back to the dock, much to the celebration and praise of those around him.
After giving himself his small moment to quickly express his stress while no one looked, Katakuri dropped his hand and schooled his features once more. Now that things were settled here, he could move on to the next item on his to-do list. He turned away from the ship and made his way back up the dock.
“What’s left to be done?” Katakuri asked the assistant accompanying him today, the smaller man having to practically jog to keep up with Katakuri’s longer strides. His assistant looked over the clipboard in his hands and started to list off the various tasks to still be done before the day was over.
As he prattled on, Katakuri kept his face impassive as always but underneath his scarf his mouth twisted in displeasure. Somehow the list had grown twice as long overnight.
“And, finally, my lord, there are the beginning preparations for the Spring Festival.” The assistant looked over his clipboard once more as Katakuri hummed in response. While he took all duties around the island seriously, the ones for the Spring Festival stood out to Katakuri especially since it was an event you were quite excited for. This year was going to be your first time experiencing the festival and after all that you had heard about it, you had expressed numerous times how much you couldn’t wait for it.
So, it was of utmost importance to Katakuri that this year’s was the best it ever was and it all went off without a hitch.
“Let’s get going with the next task then,” Katakuri said pointedly.
As his assistant began to explain the next assignment though, Katakuri felt his nose itch before letting out an unexpected sneeze.
It took both him and his assistant aback for it didn’t seem like a simple sneeze and Katakuri never got sick.
“M-My lord?” The small man stared up at Katakuri. Taking out a handkerchief, Katakuri brushed off the assistant and turned away. Not feeling the need to linger on it, Katakuri simply gestured for them to keep moving.
“Continue on.”
---
In between doing a quick patrol around the island and an inspection of the flour mills, Katakuri ended up passing by the florist who flagged him down.
She inquired about your whereabouts, looking around Katakuri to see if you’d pop up beside him.
“She’s at home today,” he told the florist, thoughts already drifting back to you. “Is the delivery all set for later?”
The florist beamed as she placed her hands on her hips, “Oh, yes! We have the finest bouquet of red roses all set to be delivered this afternoon, my lord!”
Katakuri was grateful to hear it and gave her a simple nod.
While he had hoped to be there when you received your gift from him, Katakuri was starting to think that wasn’t going to happen with the trajectory of his day thus far. Still, all that mattered to him was that you got the lovely arrangement of roses – his presence unnecessary.
As he turned to leave, yet again, a sneeze escaped Katakuri and now both the florist and Katakuri’s assistant looked at him with raised brows.
“My lord, are you sure you’re feeling alright?” His assistant asked him, now having witnessed his master’s slow decline throughout the morning. Katakuri looked down at him with those sharp eyes of his, making him let out a small yelp.
“I am fine. We’re moving on to the next task now.”
“Y-Yes, my lord...”
---
The longer the day went on, the more it felt like no matter how many he checked off, his list of today’s duties never grew shorter. Just as one task was finished, another popped up – sometimes even multiple, like an unrelenting hydra. And it made it so that Katakuri wasn’t anywhere close to getting back home to you any time soon.
All day long he had been putting out little fires – once even literally.
Katakuri wanted nothing more than to be back in bed with you as the day continued its slow crawl of endless check ins and signatures and problem solving.
---
At last, Katakuri reached his final task of the day.
A simple taste test at the bakery for the desserts they’d serve at the Spring Festival.
It’d be the same as any year - he’d be presented with a handful of treats in a private room, and Katakuri would write down his opinions and decide on which ones to put forward that year.
By now his head was starting to feel like it was underwater, but all he had to do was get through this, and he’d be on his way home to you. With this being the last task, he had dismissed his assistant but not before being prodded one more time about his health. Katakuri had only given him another lethal glare, and it had been enough to send the smaller man running.
The bakers, as always, were ecstatic to see Katakuri upon his arrival and began to lead him to his usual private tasting room. Not only did they love having him try their sweets, but they also loved the thorough feedback he wrote out for each and every one.
“We heard that this year is your wife’s first festival, my lord,” the baker on his right said excitedly and the other on his left nodded along enthusiastically.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Katakuri’s tone was even and cool but inside his chest his heart beat faster at the mention of you once again. He was so close to seeing you, he couldn’t wait.
“Well, with that in mind, we wanted to make sure that we really hit the mark this year...”
Katakuri just nodded his head and soon arrived at the door to the tasting room. One of the bakers opened the door for him, and Katakuri felt the small semblance of hope he had left dissipate as he took in the sweets.
There were dozens.
“And so, we had to make sure there were plenty of options for you to choose from for her!” One of the bakers said cheerfully.
“...Right.”
Katakuri stared blankly at the sea of desserts laid out in front of him and swore to himself right then and there that he was taking Valentine’s Day off next year.
And then sneezed yet again for what felt like the nth time today.
---
The sky was a stunning blend of oranges and pinks as Katakuri finally made his way through the front door. He could feel a dull ache radiating throughout what felt like his whole skull, but it went ignored as soon as he heard you puttering about.
Finally, his day led him home to you.
He called your name and you quickly came around the corner, an apron tied around your waist. A soft smile spread across your face as you gazed up at him and from behind his scarf, Katakuri returned it.
“Welcome home,” you told him and he felt all the tension in his body melt away just by hearing those two words leave your lovely lips.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it home sooner,” Katakuri sighed but your smile only grew as you shook your head.
“You? Get home early? Yeah, right, Kata.” You started to laugh and Katakuri soon joined in with his own small chuckle. It was moments like this with you that made it all worth it for him. To see your beautiful smiling face, it was all Katakuri needed to face any day of pure chaos like today’s.
Your hands fiddled with your apron as your cheeks stained a light shade of pink, “Thank you for the flowers, by the way. I love them.”
“I’ll send you a bouquet every day if you’d like.”
At his words, your blush deepened, “You spoil me too much.”
Not nearly enough. It was all Katakuri could think to himself as he stared lovingly down at you.
“I have a gift for you, as well,” you said, and he perked up at that, his heart skipping a beat. Already he knew whatever it was, he’d love it. You had him follow you further in towards the kitchen, and you stood next to a table of your size.
On the table was a tray of heart shaped donuts, frosted in varying shades of pinks and reds.
“I made those up today,” you told him, eyeing them unsurely. “I know they won’t taste as good as you’re used to but-”
Katakuri crouched down in front of you and tugged his scarf down, exposing a sight only you got to see. His other hand rested against your back, taking up the expanse of it, and Katakuri pulled you closer to him.
“They’re perfect and so are you, my love.”
Now, he could finally do what he’d been waiting for all day.
As Katakuri leaned in, you went to wrap your arms around his neck but stopped short once your skin came in contact with his. With your brow furrowed, your hands instead reached up to gently pat the sides of his face.
“Kata, you’re hot,” you told him as you continued your inspection of his face. Katakuri raised an eyebrow at you and smirked, “How forward of you, wife.”
“That’s not-” you choked on your words, flustered by the big man. “Well, yes, but that’s not what I meant in this moment!”
The way your face flushed, and your lips twisted into a pout made Katakuri want to kiss you even more, but as he went to lean in once again, a bout of dizziness made him stop.
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply as that underwater feeling came back at full force, and his body felt incredibly heavy. It was like everything he had been trying to shove away all day was hitting him all at once now.
“Katakuri...” you started softly, “if you’re not feeling well, we need to get you in bed and resting.”
His eyes slowly slid open and his brows knitted together, “But today’s Valen-”
“Yes, and you’re going to spend the rest of it letting me take care of my huge husband,” you cut him off, stepping back from him and crossing your arms. “Now get into bed while I find you medicine and brew up some tea.”
Katakuri slowly stood up to his full height, his scarf still loose around his neck. Even with his sickness now at full tilt, he felt his love and appreciation for you grow even more.
None of today was what either of you had expected for Valentine’s Day, and he was definitely going to make it up to you tenfold.
Before he walked away though, Katakuri’s eyes drifted over to the untouched tray of donuts, and you looked over your shoulder to follow his gaze. A half sigh, half laugh escaped from your lips, and Katakuri couldn’t help the sheepish grin now on his face. You pushed him towards the bedroom, with your own small smile.
“I will bring the donuts too – just get in bed!”