Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (Male Ruby x OC!)

Chapter 1

"The Ocean is a mysterious world. One that land dwellers can only begin to imagine. Of course, you think you know what lies beneath the surface. Ah, but the sea creatures who live there, well, even the ones you have imagined, you've imagined them wrong. Take the mythical mighty giant kraken. Bloodthirsty monster, sinker of ships, drowner of sailors. That's what you people think. You see, in real life, krakens are noble protectors. The sea will always need a kraken, and a kraken will always answer the call."

A tentacle like hand suddenly slams down on a chair, trying to reach for they're phone and they finally grab it answer it. A boy groggily answers as he pushes his short blue locks out of his face.

"Reuby-doo," the voice on the other side enthusiastically says.

"Yo, Margot," Reuben answers as he starts to get ready for the day.

"I am dying of suspense. What did your mom say?" Margot asks.

"Well, I chickened out last night, but I'm going to ask her now, like, right now, this second," he says as he gets out of bed .

"Did you do the confidence-building exercise I taught you?" she asks in concern.

"I did something even better," he answers confidently.

Reuben finally gets dressed. He's wearing a pair of black trousers and a green jumper. As he looks in the mirror, he fixes his hair a bit and then notices his gills are showing a bit. He pulls up his jumper and smiles in satisfaction. He starts to put on his black converse shoes, pack his school bag and start to go downstairs.

"Oh, hey. Junior prom is the sacred rite of every human teenager. As a kraken who is just barely pulling off this whole human thing, I need to be there so that I can blend in. And, as a proud mathlete, I know that to find a potential solution, I have to evaluate the problem. Now, I know the rules. Our family is not allowed in the ocean, ever. For any reason. And I love rules. I do. But the prom boat is on the water, not in the water. "What if there's a storm?" you might ask. Well, I've analysed weather trend data, and my trusty friend, the Internet, has assured me that it will be smooth sailing on prom night. And lastly, this is the captain of said prom boat. Look into those eyes. Tell me he hasn't seen it all. I trust him with my life, and so should you. And that is why I, Reuben Gillman, should go to prom. Thank you."

"Please, please, please, please, please!" Reuben begs as he removes the video.

"Strong presentation. I like the energy, but it's still a no, honey," Agatha says as she heads towards the kitchen.

"But, Mom, evidence, science, Internet," he tries to say as he follows her to the kitchen.

"Trust me, Reuben," she says as she fixes herself a cup of coffee, "I know what's best for you. And what's best is to always stay on land. That's why we moved here. It's much safer for us."

"Sorry, Tadpole, Mom's right," Arthur says as he puts Reubens breakfast in front of him.

"Sam, breakfast!" Arthur yells.

Sam appears upside down and grabs his breakfast as he looks at his older brother in confusion.

"Hey, didn't you say that prom was a postbolognal...," he tries to say.

"Postcolonial patriarchal construct. It is. But we would go as a group. A form of protest," Reuben says confidently.

"Wow. So brave," Sam says sarcastically.

"What do you think? I had these printed for my big launch party," Agatha says as she shows her poster.

"I think I'm in love," Arthur says as he gives Agatha a small kiss.

"Blech," Sam says as he spits out his food.

"Do you still need me to be there?" Reuben asks as he looks up from his phone.

"Yes. This is a make-or-break moment. I'm selling an entire development," Agatha explains.

"But, Mom, you're...," he says as she shows her, her own ad.

"Agatha Gillman, and I slay the competition."

"She got us our dream home, and I'm not asking how."

"Well, I just want to show potential buyers what a happy Oceanside family looks like," Agatha says.

"I'll be closing my shop for the day so I can man the grill. From chill man to grill man," Arthur says.

Sam groans as he smashes his head into his food.

"Ooh, Arthur, you should think about hiring someone to help you. Business has been booming since you started Bottled Up," Agatha suggests.

"Hey there. Welcome back to Bottled Up. Now, let's hoist those sails. Magic," Arthur says as he shows a finished ship inside a bottle.

"You two are quite the power couple," Reuben comments.

"You think that's great? You're looking at the undefeated dodgeball champ," Sam brags.

"He's a legend," his gym teacher says as he is knocked out by the ball.

"Yeah, yeah. You guys are all crushing it," Reuben sarcastically says as he shoves a book into his bag and places his headphones on his neck.

"Oh, Reuben, don't sell yourself short. You're amazing at math," his mother comments.

"I am the reason Arista's passing algebra," Reuben says as he stares into space with a dreamy and confident look.

"Oh, Arista. So dreamy," Sam mocks as he makes it seem like two people are kissing.

Reuben reaches behind his mum and hits Sam on the head.

"Ow," he says as he punches Reuben in the eye.

"You're the one in love with her," Sam says as the two try to fight again, only for Agatha to stop the two.

"Hey, hey. Stop. You each landed one," Agatha says as the two huff and sit back down. 

"Marine Biologist Quarterly?" Agatha says as she picks up Reuben's book, "Oh, Reuben. You're still reading this trash? Humans don't know everything about the ocean."

"Mom, there's a whole world down there that I have never seen. Jellyfish, plankton, coral reefs...," Reuben tries to explain.

"But what else lives there?" she reminds him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Monsters," he deflates as he packs the book.

"And those monsters want to hurt krakens like us. This is where we belong. Oceanside is our home," Agatha explains.

"Then help me fit in by letting me go to prom," he attempts again.

"Reuben, the answer is no," she says as he deflates even further.

"Time to go," Agatha says as she drags Reuben to the door.

"Mom," Reuben complains.

"Gillman dishes to Gillman," Sam says as he rolls the dishes towards his dad.

"The fadeaway at the buzzer, and it's good!" Arthur says as he puts the dishes in the sink.

"Yeah. Woo-hoo!" Sam says as he is pushed away by the force of his dad.

"Limb up, everyone," Agatha says as they all stand up straight.

Reuben sees that Sam tries to be taller than him and pushes him down to his actual height.

"Let's all have a very human day," Arthur encourages.

"Does it bother you guys that we, I don't know, lie, to everyone all the time?" Reuben asks.

"Oh, we're not lying. We're just omitting," Agatha explains.

"Yeah, okay," Reuben says, not convinced.

"And remember...," Arthur says.

"If anyone asks, we're from Canada," the whole Gillman family says and starts they're day.