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Agent 3 had no idea what happened. All she knows is that she dived into a glass container to save Cap'n Cuttlefish, and the next thing she knows is that the side of her face is completely numb, there's a short pink inkling being smothered with affection from an octoling, Cap'n us dancing, and she's being stared at by another octoling. Despite how she was now facing down what is her species' mortal enemy, she didn't feel all too threatened in all honesty. Perhaps it was because the notion of the octoling and inkling furiously nuzzling nearby completely shattered the idea that they were supposed to be enemies at the moment, but Agent 3 can't say.
"Agent 3! I see you're finally awake!" Cap'n Cuttlefish strolled over to the agent. "You missed a lot, kid!"
"I see that." Agent 3 says. Despite how someone is talking to her, she for some reason can't stop herself from making eye contact with the staring octoling.
"Ah, I see you've noticed Agent 8 over there."
"Agent? Isn't she an octoling?" Agent 3 asks. Sure, she's not threatened in the slightest by them, but it's still her enemy.
"Yes, Agent 8. Did you hear me that time? Well, I'll have you know that she, along with these two here," he gestured his hand to the two. They didn't seem to notice, "has just saved Inkopolis, and even Inkling-kind as you know it!"
"Really?" Agent 3 was now really confused. Sure, she remembers saving Cap'n Cuttlefish from a container, and she supposes she saw something else in there and that might have been 'Agent 8', but how in the world would that have eventually led up to saving the world? It all seemed a bit far fetched. "Care to tell me how?"
"I'll tell ya later." Cuttlefish assures, "but first, don't you want to marvel at the sunset? I'm sure the others could use the rest."
Everyone stood at the edge of the platform they were on, staring off at Inkopolis while the sun set. Agent 3 didn't really care for it, she was never a sightseer person, but she looked around and saw everyone else was happy, the pink inkling and the green octoling were still snuggling, Cap'n was rambling, and 'Agent 8' was just staring.
___
"So, you two. What happened while I was concussed?" Agent 3 asked. They were done staring and were being flown to Inkopolis via helicopter. Agent 3 was put on the same helicopter with 8, and the two affectionate cephalopods, whilst Cap'n Cuttlefish boarded a separate one just to not waste how there were multiple around.
"We saved the world." The pink one said dryly, before coughing. "Ugh, sorry. It hurts to talk right now."
"It's okay, Pearlie, you've done enough. Just rest, alright?" The octoling said, managing a smile out of the short girl. "Well, back there, a sentient telephone managed to hijack a statue and modified it with a solar-powered cannon. We had to cover it with ink to weaken it, and Pearlie used a Killer Wail to counter the laser it was still able to fire." They explained.
"Okay. But why can't I feel my face?"
"Well, you might have just hurt yourself from going unconscious, but you were also sort of… mind controlled by goo from the phone?"
"Really?" Agent 3 squinted her eyes.
"Yes. Ask Agent 8, or Pearlie right here, when her voice recovers." The octoling reaches her arm around 'Pearlie' and strokes her hair-tentacles. Agent 3 turns to Agent 8, and she did talk, but it was a language 3 didn't understand.
"Oh, right. I should have known she wouldn't know inklish, she never was taught." The taller octoling sighed. They paused for a good while until they looked back at 3. "Um, I know you are really confused and unsure, but while me and Pearlie could take her inside, our job as Inkopolis's idol group hosts would make it hard to care for her, and Cap'n Cuttlefish seems a bit… eccentric. Do you think that maybe you could take her in?"
"What?" Agent 3 sat up, now even more confused. "Do you think I can just take in strangers? I have things to do myself, you know."
"I'm sure you do, but it's not a good idea to leave someone who has no clue where they are to their lonesome." Marina said, pausing slightly, and then speaking quieter. "Look. Agent 8 was a major part in saving Inkopolis, and Inkling-kind. She also clearly has an interest in you. You don't need to keep her around forever, but please just let her stay for a while?"
Agent 3 thought about it, looking over at the confused looking octoling. If she actually did save Inkopolis, then she'd be a terrible person to not at least spare a space for her.
"I… Okay. She can stay with me, then."
___
Despite what they initially agreed on, Agent 8 was to spend her first day at Inkopolis with Pearl and, who Agent 3 would learn to be named, Marina. Agent 3 didn't mind, of course. She needed a bit of time to actually prepare her house to have more than just her inside of it.
Eventually, Agent 3 heard a knock on her door. She answers it, and is met by the idol group now known to her as Off The Hook.
"Yo, Three! How's it going?" Pearl asked.
"Uh, good I guess." Agent 3 shrugs, "You got 8?"
"Yep! Though we actually got her a name." Pearl turned down the hallway, "Marina! Bring 'er over!"
Marina soon brings out the octoling. She's now dressed in a dull red hoodie with an Off The Hook logo and some sweatpants. All Agent 3 thought of it was that she looked soft.
"Go on, introduce yourself." Marina patted 8's back. 8 then cleared her throat, and started speaking.
"Hello. My name is, um, 'Ta-ko-na'. What's yours?"
"My name's Ikari. Nice to meet you." Ikari holds out her fist. Takona looks at it, then back at Marina. Marina collides her fists together, and Takona quickly understands, fist bumping Ikari.
"Alright! Now that you are acquainted, you should let her see her maybe temporary home, yeah?" Pearl says, and Ikari steps aside, letting Takona step in. "Okay, so while Takona here looks around, I should tell you that she still doesn't exactly know much. We taught her basic inklish, as well as we could, but she still doesn't understand stuff like what's socially acceptable, how to eat certain foods correctly, how to read inklish, and a lot else. Point is, please have patience with her. Try to use less complex words, and-" Pearl's advice is cut off by a scream, and the sound of broken glass. They all soon rush into the kitchen room, and Takona is breathing heavily while Ikari's blender is in shambles. Marina quickly ran over to comfort her.
"Oh, right. Funny thing, she and Cap'n Cuttlefish almost died to a big blender, so, uh, she might be afraid of blender-like things." Pearl nervously chuckled, and Ikari just sighed.
___
Ikari was lazing on her couch watching a movie. Takona was completely mesmerized, while Pearl and Marina were cuddling together. They didn't know why they stuck around, but they didn't mind spending the day in Ikari's house.
Takona thought she saw something, so she turned in the direction of Pearl and Marina. Somehow, this was the first time she actually noticed their affection, so she got a little curious. If those two could be so close, why can't she do something similar? She slowly scooted next to Ikari, then drafted an arm behind her.
"Huh?" Ikari asked quietly. As soon as Takona's eyes met with hers, she immediately retracted.
"U-um, I don't know." Takona stammered out. She was really confused on why that felt so… weird? She'd have to ask Pearl and Marina about it. Ikari blinked, and looked back at the movie.
Despite how she was immersed in the film seconds ago, though, Takona was now feeling somewhat bothered. She found herself constantly glancing at Ikari, each time making that weird feeling pulse inside of her. What about her was suddenly so alluring to her eyes? Takona thought Ikari was cool, sure, and maybe a bit more pretty than the other inklings she passed by yesterday, but that shouldn't mean she wants to stare at her more. How would she word this to Pearl and Marina? Wait, now thinking about it, she felt that pulse whenever she saw Ikari before, actually. Her heroically smashing her out of the 'thangs', how innocent and cute she looked when asleep, and now how calm she was when laying around. It confuses her, all these new swirling emotions.
"Excuse me." Takona stands up and flips behind the couch, over to the porch.
___
"Um, hey, I'm gonna go see what's taking Takona so long." Marina says.
"Okay!" Pearl said, unlatching from Marina to let her get up. Ikari was ordering pizza, but Marina trusted her Pearlie to know what they wanted.
When they stepped out, they saw Takona staring out onto the city. She didn't notice Marina there, so they walked beside her and spoke in octarian.
"Enjoying the view?" Marina asked, making Takona flinch slightly.
"Oh, uh, sure, I guess." Takona answered in her more fluent octarian. "I'm just thinking."
"Of what?" Marina asked, "there's a lot that could be on your mind."
"It's… I don't know what to say."
"Can you try?" Marina offered. Takona took a deep breath.
"So, I just kinda feel this sensation around Ikari. I know I just met her, and it might just be nothing, but it's making me really confused. I don't even know if I like it or not. It kinda reminds me of how I felt when… when I first looked out at Inkopolis? But also it makes me feel nervous and… I'm just confused."
"Oh." Marina said quietly. Upon hearing her explanation, they knew exactly what she was feeling. Marina remembers feeling these feelings with Pearl, too. This type of feeling is a bit too important to determine in her first real days in Inkopolis, though, so Marina decided they wouldn't tell her what she's feeling yet. "I know what you are feeling, but… um, can you tell me if you are still feeling those emotions in… maybe a couple of weeks?"
"... Okay." Takona nodded, taking one more breath of fresh air, then walking back into the home, Marina following.
"Hey, you two! Just in time, the pizzas are here!" Pearl called, and Marina smiled when reaching Pearl to hold her hand for any type of skinship. Takona helped Ikari bring in the food, trying to not show her emotions.
___
About 4 weeks passed. Takona was starting to get used to her new life. Of course, she had experience with Turf Wars, but she didn't really like doing all of that, as she simply didn't like all the fighting. She would participate in them, of course, but she either would do it when she needed the money, or when Ikari asked if she wanted to. Salmon Run, however, was something she actually did enjoy. Perhaps it was because it reminded her of C. Q. Cumber, someone she grew to like in her time getting the thangs, harsh as they were. While she was initially hesitant with placing the eggs in the container, she grew used to it, just closing her eyes whenever doing so.
Of course, Takona didn't forget her weird mushy feelings. She was starting to lose that unpleasant part of the feeling, as she found herself growing more comfortable with Ikari. Ikari also started appearing in the times Takona daydreamed, and whenever she did appear in her thoughts she found herself getting happier. She even had a fascination of buying Yellow plushies, as yellow was the color Ikari was most often in.
One day, Takona figured she spent enough time with Ikari for her to ask what it was she was feeling. She waited for Pearl and Marina to come back, and when they did, she waited for Ikari to step out. She eventually did leave to participate in a squad battle with Agent 4, who did make a different new emotion flare in Takona upon the mention of the other agent, but that's for another day.
"Marina?" Takona asked in octarian again.
"Hm? Is something wrong?"
"I'm still feeling those feelings."
"What feelings?" Pearl spoke up. Takona looked at her in confusion, but she then didn't care. She probably just learned octarian due to being around Marina for so long.
"Oh." Marina said, thinking for a couple of seconds, before continuing. "Well, I suppose it's been a good amount of time." Marina glances over to Pearl, who's still confused. "Just to clarify, Takona, can you say what you are feeling again."
"I'm feeling really… really happy around Ikari. Not just like, satisfied, but genuine joy. I'm happier when she's happy, she's appearing in my dreams, and I can't stop thinking about her." Takona explained, feeling really embarrassed at saying this. Pearl widened her eyes in surprise, but then smiled.
"Aw, I see!" Pearl leaned an arm over Marina's shoulder. "You're in love!"
"Love?" Takona asked, confused at the word.
"Yes, that's the word for what you are feeling. It's a really special, wonderful feeling to have." Marina said, leaning onto Pearl a slight bit.
"How is it special? I still don't understand?" Takona asked, still embarrassed by her 'love'.
"Well, for example," Marina reached an arm around Pearl, "Have you noticed how me and Pearlie are so clingy?"
"Yes?"
"Well, the reason we are so clingy is because we are lovers. I felt the same thing you are feeling for Ikari, but for Pearl. It turns out, she had the same feelings for me, and that's how we got together as lovers."
"Yep! And let me tell ya, Marina is the best thing to happen in my life!" Pearl pulls her down, giving a kiss to Marina's cheek. Marina giggled lightly, and kissed the top of Pearl's head in response.
"Um, if you two were feeling the same emotion and that's how you got… together, then that's, uh, good for you two, I guess, but what if Ikari doesn't feel the same for me?"
"Well, there's not much you can do about that, but you just gotta hope that she does." Pearl shrugs. "But, now that you know your feelings, what are you gonna do about it?"
"I… I don't know…" Takona was now anxious about her feelings, but Pearl and Marina stood to be beside her.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. Tell ya what, why don't we help you out with this?"
"You can? How?"
"I'll be honest, I cringe at my past self for not asking for help with my feelings. The longer you hold on to unanswered love, the more anxious and scared you might get." Marina reasoned, "as for how we can help, we will just try to set the mood. It's something that can really help your chances. Maybe even have Ikari also think about it, without directly telling her, of course."
Takona thought about the prospect. Imagining herself and Agent 3 cuddling like Pearl and Marina do did seem a bit strange to her, but it also sounded quite nice. Eventually, she decided on her answer.
"If you two could do that… I'd like it very much."