My Lost Treasure

"You're Not My Dad!"

WC: 717

~💚🌱💙~

Katie faced the ocean with the widest grin she could possibly possess. Lance has kissed her hand. Did he....? No, they were just friends.

But still, the memory of that afternoon was engrained in her head permanently.

Katie didn't think anything could make wash away the elated mood in her chest as she turned back to the ship.

That is, until she came face to face with a man with a stern look, tight lips, and crossed arms.

"Katie." Shiro said briskly, his arms folded tight to his chest and his boots tapping on the wooden deck.

Katie didn't even have to meet his eyes to know a good talking to was inevitable. So instead, she made her signature attempt to weasel her way out of it.

"Shiro," she echoed back, mimicking his pose.

"Katie, you lied to me."

"I did nothing of the sort."

Shiro sighed and pinched the large, pink scar that adorned his nose. "You told me you'd been researching the 'usual creatures,' and instead go off to have lunch with – with a merman!" Shiro grabbed at her shoulders with a firm grip. His steel grey eyes suddenly softened as he whispered. "Do you know how concerned I am with what you've gotten yourself into?"

Katie gasped and twisted out of his grasp. "He's not a bad person....Or mer-person! He's kind, and – he's not like the rumors!"

"Katie, listen to me. Mer-people are dangerous. You cannot go paddling around with this fish you just met!"

"He's not a fish!" Katie yelled, drawing the attention of other crew members. She shot them an angry glare until they went back to work. "You're not my dad, Shiro, you don't have to keep me locked up on this ship!"

"I may consider that now." Shiro huffed. "Katie, just — with your father away, you are my responsibility. If something happened to you on my watch, your father would be furious. Think of what he'd do to me. Think of what it'd do to him."

Katie paused a moment, considering. Her mother's death coupled with her brother's disappearance had left her dad in this angry state. So what if something happened to her?

But nothing would happen to her. Lance would never hurt her. In fact, she could tell he would do everything in his power to protect her. Shiro was entirely overreacting, and that was all there was to it.

"No." Katie said firmly and stepped back from Shiro.

"What do you mean, 'no?'" Shiro asked, an angry, yet puzzled look settling on his face.

"'No,' as in Lance is my friend. He would never hurt me. And I'm not going to ignore the only real friend I have." Katie said, glaring up at the taller man.

"They are monsters, Katie! They hurt people; they kill people. By talking to that merman, you're pushing the thin barriers that are keeping us humans out of their hands. The balance would break and war would ensue. Is that what you want?"

"I'm sorry, but war, murder? Shiro, he is a friend. He's kind, he's curious; what makes you think that me talking to him will start a war? If nothing else, I should be afraid you'll kill him." Katie spat.

"I'm just looking out for you, and for everyone else. There are dangers in these waters, and I'd rather us not face them until we have to."

"And we won't face them," Katie said, assuredly. "As long as you let me do what I want, they won't be a problem for you."

"You do realize that just contradicted everything I just told you, right? If you keep doing what you're doing, they'll be a problem for all of us."

"It didn't, and they won't, Shiro. Look, I know you've never actually met Lance, so how can you assume he's just like everyone else?"

Shiro sighed and pressed his fingers to his temples. "Some things you just have to believe. There are people that can't be trusted, and people that can. Mermaids are not one of them!"

Katie scoffed and backed away. "And some people believe what they want to believe. Apparently you're one of those people."

With a disapproving look from both girl and first-mate, Katie stomped towards her room and slammed the door behind her.

~💚🌱💙~

A/N: THIS BOOK IS FINALLY UP TO DATE YEET

(I'll stop now lol)

Anywho, happy Mother's Day, you guys! I'll be updating with a new chapter soon, and hopefully a one-shot on my other book, so stay tuned!

Bai!! 👋