The Wicked Bargain

by Gabe Cole Novoa

“A pirate doesn’t grovel.”

“Oh.” Bas’s face splits into a grin. “Sharing clothes already? I told you we’d be great friends.”

Friends friends? This reminds me of OFMD, Discomfort In A Married State.

“Hola, Mar.” Bas’s lopsided grin makes Mar want to shove the boy into the ocean. Mar stands. “Adiós, Bas.”

“Creepy,” someone says next to them, and Mar turns, expecting it to be Bas. It is not. It’s Dami. Again.

A pang of jealousy strikes Mar between the ribs. Can Dami just…change the shape of their chest at will? It feels weird to ask about their chest, though, so Mar says, “Can you change your appearance?” Dami grins and winks at them. “Perks of being a demonio.” They tilt their head. “You have some interesting perks with your magia too. You might want to consider actually using them.” Mar scowls. They’d hardly call constant fear of persecution a perk—

They shake off the specter of the stranger’s stare as they turn back to Bas. “I don’t understand why you insist on bothering me all the time.” “Oh, that’s easy,” Bas answers without missing a beat. “I’m a sucker for cute boys.” Mar’s face bursts with warmth and Bas grins, all too pleased with himself, and gestures to the scattered wooden thatch buildings and handfuls of wandering people. “So, what do you say? Get dressed, and then empanadas for two?”

With drunken Spanish sea chanteys and rum in the air,

Tito nods. “The crew likes you, you know.” Mar blinks, startled. “Oh.” Their face warms. “That’s…good to hear.”

“A otra cosa, mariposa.

dile que tu mamá te envió a recoger su vestido

Tell her your mom sent you to pick up her dress