Millions (#2)

The Bet

"So then, he-"

"Dear sweet Marina, stop talking.", Frank snapped, rolling his eyes. Charles shrank back.

All of the teams were out at sea today, cleaning up debris and salvaging for supplies. It was a peaceful day, which kept Charles in a good mood. As long as he didn't have to be a siren, he was happy.

"I think your stories are great, Charles.", Zoey smiled, picking the lock to a treasure chest.

"You don't have to cover him, Zo.", Frank interrupted, untying a giant sail, It's Okay if you don't want to hear him gush about his boyfriend~".

"I'm pretty sure he's straight, Frank. He said Kurt had a girlfriend.", Leo said.

Charles picked up an axe and prepared to swing at the wooden wall inside the ship, "Yeah..". He hacked into the wall.

Frank put the rope in a crate. "Need any help over there?", he asked Charles.

"Yeah, Thanks."

Frank took an axe and chopped into the side of the ship wall. The wood practically broke in two in the first hit. Everyone stared at him in shock.

"What?", he asked blankly, swooping his hair out of his face. Everyone took this as a sign to get back to work.

The two finally got the boards down. "Yeah, teamwork!", Charles beamed, raising his hand for a high five. Frank stared him in confusion.

"It's a high five. Humans do it.", he explained.

"I'm not a human, though.", Frank spoke.

Charles lowered his hand awkwardly, "Right."

"Anyways, since we're back on the topic of humans, I was thinking that we could make a bet.", Frank announced.

Zoey raised an eyebrow. "I don't make bets.", Leo said.

"Well Fine, then. You won't be involved.", Frank spat.

"What's the bet on?", Zoey asked.

"Since Charles has a crush on this human, we've gotta know if he has a chance."

"I do not have a crush.", Charles huffed.

"Shush.", Frank snapped before redirecting his attention to the rest of the group, "So, I bet that he's Bi. Whenever he talks about Sandy-"

"Cindy.", Charles corrected.

"Yeah. It's always negative. I get that he's probably not one to swoon, but still, all you have to say about your girlfriend is trash? There's something fishy about that."

Leo nodded, "I'd have to agree."

"But like, it's not possible to be Bi. You have to pick.", Zoey said.

"Zander's no scallawag, lass.", Frank growled.

"I didn't say he was. All I'm saying is that sometimes he can be a little... off, sometimes."

"Zander's the most sane, trustworthy merman that I know."

"He's a witch, Frank."

"You know what! Double bet! Bet number one is that Charles has a chance with Kurt, and that Zander is no liar!", Frank snapped.

"You know what?", Zoey sighed, "Fine. What are you betting?"

"All my piercings."

Zoey seemed taken aback, "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Aye."

"Alright, I bet half of my treasure.", Zoey replied.

The two shook hands, and the bet was on.

~

Kurt huffed, pushing the boat out to sea, "I'm going to learn how to swim, or something. This is tiring."

"Yeah.", Charles said with a light chuckle.

"I got you stuff. This'll be like a sleepover. I'll just be out here out on the boat for the night."

"Cool. Wait, what about your parents? Wouldn't they be worried?"

"I told them I was hanging over at Cindy's house.", Kurt replied.

"Oh, smart.", Charles said.

The boat was soon out at sea, and Kurt got out a blanket and a pillow and spread it on the small boat. He took a small bottle out of a duffle bag, "This is nail polish. It's supposed to glow in the dark."

Charles raised an eyebrow.

"It was cheap.", Kurt shrugged, unscrewing the cap, "Give me your hand."

"Which one?"

"Whichever one you prefer."

Charles decided to give his left hand. Kurt held it still as he started painting, "So, how was work?"

"It was alright. Nothing really exciting happened, we just salvaged.", Charles replied.

"Oh, so you like wrecking boats?", Kurt asked.

"Yeah, it's just the fact that people are on it. That's the part that scares me.", the mermaid replied.

"Yeah, I guess that'd scare me too."

Some of the nail polish got on Charles' hand. "You have to hold your hand still.", Kurt said.

"Sorry.."

"It's okay."

"How's life on the surface?", Charles asked.

"Fuckin' sad."

"Oh.", the mermaid said quietly.

"I was thinking about dying my hair, getting a piercing, or something rebellious."

"What color would you dye it?", Charles asked.

"Red, Purple, or something.."

"I think black suits you better."

"But that's what everyone's expecting. The whole point of this whole thing's gonna be that I'm... I'm not just a box. Being categorized is the most inhuman thing that someone can do to you.", Kurt explained.

Charles was quiet for a while.

"I'm gonna dye it blue."