I opened the box for the umpteenth time just to remind myself of what I was about to do.

I was in the middle of a submarine, and it was on auto-drive, taking me to Atlantis. I wanted to ask Marina to marry me, and I had to ask for her father's permission before asking her. It was Atlantean tradition, apparently. If the father said no, then it meant you weren't allowed to do it.

I was nervous, because I was worried he might say no. Marina did say her dad was kind of overprotective. Even Mom told me that too. I was also worried that Marina would find out somehow. If she did, would she still date me as though nothing had happened or would she decide she didn't want to date me anymore?

But if there was one thing that made me especially nervous, it was the fact that I hadn't seen Aquaman ever since he was injured in that fight with Brainiac. Or Arthur, as most people call him. Ok fine, yes, I practiced in front of a mirror to make it a little bit easier, but still! I heard how bullheaded the guy was, and that he could be harsh at times. What would he do to me if he said no?

I closed the box and put it back in my pocket.


Aquaman's guards took me to his quarters. We walked up this ridiculously huge staircase, which looked like it was made out of jade, emerald, gold, and a watery sort of marble. It was so huge, it felt humiliating to walk up it, because I hadn't grown up with such huge staircases.

"We're here, sir." One of the guards opened the door and led me in.

Inside, Arthur's wife was standing next to his bed, and he was wrapped in a white blanket, which reminded me of the hospitals back on the surface, only they didn't have walls and ceilings made of gold with Doric and Ionic columns.

"Who are you?" Aquaman asked weakly, his voice raspy. I swallowed, then gulped.

"Marina's lover," I blurted out, hoping he'd understand. I pursed my lips for a couple of seconds, then said, "I have something I want to ask you."

"Make it quick," he said, staring at me impatiently.

I took a deep breath in.

"I want to ask for permission to marry your daughter." I bit my lip as soon as I said it. There was a long silence that made me feel very awkward, standing in a royal's room asking to marry said royal's daughter.

"Before I give you permission," Arthur said. I flinched the moment he said it. "Will you promise to take care of my daughter?"

"Yes."

"Do you promise to treat her with respect and love her?"

"Yes."

"Will you make sure nothing bad happens to her?"

"Yes."

Arthur sat up in his bed, the blanket slipping off of him. "Then I give you my daughter's hand."

I sighed in relief. I pictured a much worse scenario than the one here.

"Thank you, sir," I said as I backed out of the room, not turning my back to him out of respect.


"Mareena."

"What, Rex? It's three in the morning. Why are you calling me?"

"Do you want to go out on a date near the seaside tomorrow?"

I could hear Mareena shuffling in her bed. "How about Sunday?"

"Sure. Love you, babe."

"Love you. Goodnight."

I could hear her hang up on the other end. For the fifth time this morning, I opened the box. Inside, there was a gold ring with a ten karat diamond in the middle. It cost about $13500, and I'd only gotten it last week.

Sunday. I could already imagine myself, one on knee and holding the ring in front of Mareena, and popping the question. I could hear her say yes now.

I closed the box, smiling.