Work Text:
The Inkopolis Airport was bustling with people. Families going on holiday, businessmen rushing to get to a business trip, groups of internet celebrities hanging about waiting for their internet friends to go to a convention, etc. All walks of life, from Jellyfish, Horseshoe Crabs, Sea Slugs and your typical Inklings and Octolings were easily findable here, all in a rush to get to their planes. The New Squidbeak Splatoon were no different. Huddled before a gate, the group consisting of the Squid Sisters, Off the Hook, Agents 3, 4 & 8 and Cap'n Cuttlefish were just chatting while leaning on walls or hefty bags full of stuff. But only 4 members had said bags. The other 4 were just waiting with them.
Three was sitting on a suitcase, looking a little different. She looked like she was getting good sleep now, as evidenced by her eyes no longer having bags under them. She sat in a tanktop and shorts, both black in colour. Wrapped around her neck was a tattered old shawl with different fabrics stitched together. It looked very old timey, something an old person would wear. It did cover her body nicely however. On her head rested a tattered blue cap reminiscent of something a commander would wear in the army. A golden emblem rested above the brim, displaying a symbol some would call history, but Three would call family. She seemed very pleased with herself, twiddling with the ends of the shawl and adjusting the cap while her tentacles glowed a bright reddish-orange out of excitement. In her hands was a letter hand-written to her that she was reading over and over and over. A brochure sat on her lap too, detailing a desert city haven claiming to be the next ink sport hot spot for the youth known as Bankara, but nicknamed Splatsville by the residents.
A taller-yet-thin Octoling sat beside her on the floor, wearing a long and baggy shirt that went down to her thighs and short shorts underneath. The two were talking to each other, both blushing and making love heart symbols. I think it’s obvious that these bitches very gay, good for them!
Soon, an employee jellyfish would approach the group, looking as professional as they could in uniform to tell them their private jet was ready to be boarded.
"Well, this is it. The jet's ready for us." Marie said in a slightly solemn voice.
"Guess that means it's time for final goodbyes, right?" Pearl asked in response
Marie nodded. And so, the group exchanged goodbyes. Pearl and Marina gave everyone departing hugs, while the other three agents came up to Three.
"Guess it's not possible for any last minute passengers, eh? I would've killed to go to Bankara! It seems like such a cool place!" Four was very excited about the prospect of going to Bankara, which made them all the more disappointed that they weren't going.
"Bankara's not cool, literally that is. It’s a city in a desert, it’s anything but cold. I'm sure you'll go one day, Four." Eight ruffled Four's head playfully, their friendship obvious with how comfortable and playful they were with each other.
Three just smiled at the two. "...Yeah. I'm sure you will Four. But you guys gotta hold down the fort in Inkopolis while we establish a new base for the investigation. Although, I hear it's gonna be the next hot spot for ink sports now that the Square's starting to become a little too popular. Maybe we’ll cross paths again sooner rather than later."
The two nodded. Eight approached Three, smiling warmly yet nervously. She paused for a moment, thinking of what to say…
...before saying nothing at all. She got on her knees and hugged Three tightly, crying into her chest silently.
"...i-i'm gonna miss you so much…! I-I promise I'll do daily Splatcord c-calls with you, i-I promise I'll play ink sports in your honour, i-i-"
Three just shushed her gently, hugging her and stroking the Octoling's head to calm her down.
"...you don't gotta promise me anything… I'll miss you too Eight."
The two smiled as the sniffling Eight pulled back out of the hug to look Three dead in the eye with warm, loving eyes. Three exchanged the look with her own attempt, making Eight giggle. Some seconds after this, the two leaned in and kissed each other on the lips; neither of them wanted to let go. They wanted to enjoy each other's embrace until the end of time, but alas the very presence of the group at the airport said otherwise. Neither wanted to see eachother go but the circumstances suggested otherwise. No longer would they be a walking distance apart; the relationship was forced to become long distance. But despite that, their relationship was still as strong as ever and it would surely survive the distance. At least, that's what they hoped.
In the middle of the kiss, a part of Three's face transitioned from the pale-yet-rosy tone it usually had to a sinister and manufactured looking turquoise. It began to bulge out and form a sort of tentacle shape, curling around Eight tightly. Neither party noticed until the eventual parting when they realised they couldn't go farther back due to Eight being coiled around Three's growth.
"...Tartar, you gotta let go bud…"
A second, larger growth appeared above the tentacle, forming a feminine looking face that looked distraught.
“Why can’t she come with us!? She can be useful with the investigation! The best philosophy is always strength in numbers, right?!”
Three just smiled at Tarter, patting her head sympathetically.
“Unfortunately not this time. Plus, it was already decided some time ago. You were asleep at the time after a night of crime fighting. It’s gotta happen. Besides, she didn’t even bring her passport.”
“Can’t she be a stowaway or something?!”
“Tartar…”
The ink monster just sighed, uncoiling her tentacle around Eight in a defeated manner. Before the tentacle could be retracted back into Three however, Eight grabbed the end and held it tightly.
“Don’t think I won’t miss you either, you lovable monstrosity. You’ve come a long way since your past body died, I'm so proud that you’ve made the effort to be better.”
Eight smiled warmly at Tartar. She was pretty much the team’s motivational speaker and moral support with how she managed to stay cheery and supportive even through the bad. Tarar smiled with a blush, forming another tentacle just to do the “oh you~” motion.
“Keep her safe, Tartar. And don’t try to pull any… ...uhh… bed…? nono wait wrong word… uhh…-”
“Bad?”
“That’s it! Bad! Don’t pull any bad stuff with her, ok?”
“Hehe, no promises dear~”
Three, Tartar and Eight all knew that she wouldn’t however.
Once the final goodbyes had been exchanged, the group that wasn’t departing all stood back and directed their attention to Three. In unison, the four of them all stood up straight and saluted the inkling proudly, making Three all embarrassed and blushy. She’d have to get used to that, considering the fact that only a few days ago, she had been promoted to the same position her mentor, Cap’n Cuttlefish used to be in. That’s right, Three had gone from Agent to Captain of the Squidbeak Splatoon, and she couldn’t be any less proud. She saluted the four back excitedly.
“I’m gonna miss all of you. I can’t thank you all enough for making me feel accepted and loved… We’re gonna make Bankara a cool and safe place, just like we did with Inkopolis way back then. Never stop protecting Inkopolis, you four. Keep it one of the best places for Inklings and Octolings to live out their lives as one. No divisions. That’s my first order for y’all as your newest Captain.”
The quadruple nodded, smiling back and accepting the order.
“Keep the funky rappin’ up, that goes for both you and Craigy Pod Pro over there! Here’s hopin’ we’ll see you climb those charts and join us in the ranks! “You know the Princess of Rap always likes to be challenged, so fight the best battle or you’ll end up being scavenged!” She posed right at the end, seemingly forgetting the whole purpose of why the other group were moving to Bankara. Ah well, she was having fun rapping while Marina provided a beat.
“...oh and make Bankara safe, which is the real reason you’re goin’, totally didn’t forget that, eheh…” Pearl scratched the back of her head in embarrassment, before giving Three the thumbs up.
“Like what Pearl said! I’ll miss you four a lot. I’ll promise to be the best second-in-command that I can be for the Inkopolis division. I wish you all the best of luck with the thing going on in Bankara with the fuzzy ooze. If you ever need something built, just hit me up and I'll get on it promptly! Your Hyperfresh DJ wishes you the best of luck! Even to the slimy little...
thing
inside you, Three”
Marina smiled at the other group, smiling a smile that would make even the coldest cephalopod feel warm and fuzzy inside. She was still a little distrustful of Tartar, as evidenced by not calling her by name and just calling her a slimy thing. Call it her protective maternal instincts over Eight. Tartar did try and kill her adopted child after all.
Four and Eight didn’t say much, considering they already said what they needed to earlier. So they just gave everyone fist bumps and hugs respectively. And with that, the two groups all hugged for one final time in a massive group hug (with Tartar joining in using a super long tentacle) and went the opposite ways, the departing group all looking forward, both figuratively for their new lives in Bankara and literally.
Three looked back behind her to see the other group getting further and further away, waving them off. And for one, true final time, she waved back before they were obscured by the walls of the airport that would take them to their plane - the final location they’d be in on Inkopolis grounds before Bankara welcomes them.