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

Chapter 14

Reuben swims through the currents, using his super swimming, super strength, laser eyes and body armour. He suddenly stops as he sees the green glowing trident in front of him in a large ball of black light. He starts to swim towards it against the strong currents, struggling a bit as he tries to get closer. As he finally manages to at least touch the sphere, the doubting and taunting voice starts to ring in his head.

"A freak from the deep shows up, and I'm supposed to learn math?"

"You're a kraken hiding as a human."

"If you stay on dry land, you'll stay small."

"That thing is a monster. A real-life monster."

Reuben screams as he is suddenly thrown back by the force of the currents. He is thrown out of them and lands on the ground harshly.

"Reuben!" Arista says as she swims in front of him, "Are you okay?"

"Yup, never better," he says a bit bitterly, getting up.

"So... can you get it?" Caspian asks.

"I was so close. I could see it," Reuben says as he throws his hands in the air in anger.

"Well, then how did your mom make it through?" Caspian asks.

"I don't know. But I guess I'll have to do something I never thought I'd do," he says.

"What's that?" Arista asks.

"Ask my mom for advice," he says.

Caspian nods and eventually swims away, leaving Arista and Reuben alone.

"So, listen," she starts as she swims closer to him, "I know it's not my place to get involved, but, you're friends miss you, Reuben."

"I know, but, I've been really busy. You know, training with my grandma, trying to get the trident, it's a lot. But I wouldn't expect you to understand," he says a bit harsher than he meant to.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asks frowning a bit.

"You just don't get it. I'm doing something important, and if I told them, they wouldn't get it," he says swimming away.

"Yeah, but, we, are doing something important Reuben. It's not just about you. It's about all the krakens and all the mermaids out there in hiding," she said, swimming in front of his face, blocking his path.

"I'm the one doing all the work. All you do is sit there and look pretty while I swim through those deadly currents," he scoffs.

"Well I would help you, but I'm not stupid enough to go into those currents," she says getting angry.

"Just like your mom?" he mumbles.

"Excuse me?!" she asks, angry at his statement.

"Oh, you heard me. And besides I'm not lying, am I?" he says swimming away.

"You son of an anglerfish!" she yells.

"Mop head!" he claps back, facing her.

"Kraken breath!" she yells as they throw more insults to each other.

"Fish legs!"

"Kelp for brains!"

"You know what you are?" Reuben asks angrily as his eyes glow a bit.

"I guess you're dying to tell me!" she yells.

"You're a vain, narcissistic, egotistic mermaid, who follows people around because you're a people pleaser. And you use you're mother dying as an excuse for people to feel sorry for you so they'll follow you around like the spoilt princess you are!" he yells as a laser blasts from his eyes and Arista barely missing it.

Arista flinches away and stares at Reuben in shock at what he had just said to her. A few tears appear and float away into the ocean as she quickly swims away from Reuben.

"Ooh, I'm so nervous to meet your mom. She's gonna know that I'm a merman right away. How's my hair? Feels like it's frizzing up, and you can't trust a person with frizz, Reuben," Caspian panics as the two walk up to the house that Agatha had previously sold.

"Caspian, you're my super sea bestie. It's gonna be fine. No fighting," Reuben reassures as he puts an arm on Caspian's shoulder and hugs him close.

"No hiding," he finishes as he smirks a bit.

Caspian pauses a bit, before he takes a deep breath.

"So, out of curiosity. Are you and Arista, cool?" he asks calmly as Reuben freezes on the steps.

"Sorry, if its a sour topic, its just, she came to me crying yesterday, and, I last saw her with you last, so...," he says calmly.

"Yeah, everything's fine," he grits out as he harshly grabs the railing.

"Let's just, get this party over with," Reuben adds as he walks towards the house.

Caspian eyes widen in shock when he sees the railing where Reuben was, now crunched up as if it was paper. He gulps a bit nervously and follows Reuben inside.