Chapter Text
At night, it felt like almost everything was asleep. But nothing could compare to the silence in the out of order DeepSea metro. And for some reason, Craig Cuttlefish was there, sitting on a bench, facing the out of service trains.
Ever since his adventure with Agent 8 down there, he noticed that the station really needed some fixing, but oh well, guess some things just take too much time. And so what if it’s a bit dirty and unused, when the cities would get too loud, he knew that was the spot.
But that silence is interrupted by the sound of steps coming his way. Without a word, the uninvited guest sits next to him and just crosses his arms.
“Ya know, sometimes I forget how big you are when ya look like that, Octavio.”
And he was in fact, at least, bigger than the average octoling you’d see in town. But not only that, his big physique made him look strong and he looked slightly younger than Cap’n. But it wasn’t something to be jealous about. He was just thinking about it.
“And just what are you doing here? Didn’t you almost die in a blender last time you were here?” He asked
“And why did you follow me? For you to be in that form, you probably didn’t want to be easily spotted by city folks, huh?” The inkling pointed out.
None of their questions were answered and, for a while, they stayed silent like that. Until-
“Ya know, I checked a map before I got here. Wanna know what I discovered?” Those words made the dj look at him for the first time since he got there.
“Before the War... before the rising seas took over land, this was the place where we were held hostage once!" Craig said in a happy tone. Meanwhile, Octavio looked at him like he had no idea what he was talking about. Why did he say it in a happy tone??
”……”
”The day we got kidnapped? The barn?”
Oh!
”Oh cod, you’re rIGHT! Hah, for once you’re actually… right…” he fell in silence again. The octoling had finally remembered. THAT day! How could he forget?
…
Oh
How COULD he forget…
Craig Cuttlefish never thought the bushes were this uncomfortable.
He had been hiding in there for 2 hours near the Octarian palace walls, waiting for his friend. He knew he had to wait, but 2 hours?!
"The sun is almost set…Just what's taking him so long? I hope he didn't forget about me." he joked. He didn't actually mind waiting, he brought his traveling journal for a reason. He could write, sketch, compose a song, he could entertain himself. What was really bothering was the spot he chose, it was uncomfortable and itchy. He regrets his life choices sometimes.
Suddenly, a sound interrupted his thoughts. He quickly turned his head to see what had fallen.
A purple pebble
"Finally."
He looked around to see if there were any guards around and then sprinted as fast as he could to the wall in front of him, throwing then one of the ends of a rope to the open window from where the rock came. And from the other side it came none other than-
"Tavi! Ya finally made it!"
"Yeah, sorry I made you wait for too long. Dunno why those council freaks were all over me lately.” He sighed pissed, while pulling the rope and hanging it over his shoulder, ready to start moving.
Octavio, the octarian prince. Craig knew how busy he’d usually be with the royal council consuming his free time, but this has been repeating for weeks. But no matter how much he wondered, he didn’t know why this was happening. Asking wouldn’t hurt right?
They finally arrive to their destination: Craig’s tree house, a little place for him to stay that eventually started filling up with their music equipment, though it never felt small due to the amazing open wall for a stunning view. For a traveler like him, who knew he’d stay in Octo Valley for 3 years? Guess he found a good reason to stay…
They got inside and got to work. For a while they practiced a few songs, experimented with the music gear, all that stuff. Their usual. They’d also sometimes just sit down and ramble about whatever they wanted, so no wonder they’d eventually distract themselves.
”-but before I could finish the drawing, I almost dropped my journal! Which… led me to almost fall of the cliff and die BUT… I didn’t, so I consider it a fresh near-death experience!”
”CRAIG!” exclaimed Octavio worriedly angry “Seriously, ya gotta be more careful, I don’t want ya dead anytime soon.”
”Hehe, sorry Tavi.”
“Heh, only you to get into that sort of trouble.”
”Oh, speaking of trouble” Craig remembered “Octavio, not that I’m mad of course but, what took you so long today?”
Octavio sighed, pissed “UGH, same thing as always: those council pricks ALL OVER ME, ALL DAY!! They suddenly decided to give me extra etiquette classes and all that royal boring stuff. DONT THEY KNOW WHAT FREE TIME IS?!?”
”I-I’m sure there’s a reason.”
”Yeah. And for some REASON they won’t tell me! No one does!! They don’t even let me ask my father about it!! Heck, they don’t even let me be NEAR HIS ROOM!!”
Craig looked at him concerned “I’ve heard the king is a busy man… do you two... usually talk…?”
“… Sometimes… the old man’s always to busy to be there for me, but at LEAST someone informs me when something important’s gonna happen…”
Octavio hugged his knees
“…but now it’s not even like that. They give me a bunch of stuff to do and don’t even tell me what for, like time is running out or something. Even the guards are looking at me weird…” he felt the need to grip the fabric of his pants tight
“If I’m gonna be king one day then I want people telling me what’s going on…”
There was a short pause before Craig laid his hand on the octoling's shoulder
"Hey, I know it's tough, and believe me, I know as little as you do... but you're right, it IS unfair." he takes a moment to think "I wouldn't want to cause you trouble, but if this is something that's bothering a lot, then I think you should take a stand."
”Like what, ask them? I appreciate it Craig, but I already tried that…”
”Then insist on it! Stand up to them! It’s just like you said, you have all the right to know!”
Craig then stood up and continued, gesturing in the air “And if that doesn’t work, I’ll just have to sneak in the palace again and find out myself. Or- OR! I could totally pretend to be an octarian guard to… blend in!!”
All the inkling’s dumb theatricals made the prince laugh. Craig could only look at him and chuckle a bit.
”Pfft- PAHAHAH! Yeah, ok sure! But next time you do that, try not to make too much noise, or break any windows with YOUR set of pebbles!” Octavio joked, calling the other out on that last one.
”Oh wait that reminds me! Octavio, come with me for a sec?” Craig asked, as the other walked with him towards a corner of the room.
Craig was approaching his bed and under it he pulled a box. He seemed to be looking for something.
”Thank cod you mentioned the pebble system because, I agree, throwing colorful pebbles in n’ out the windows isn’t the best way of communication-” he turns around to look at Octavio “- aND IM SORRY!”
Octavio snickered at the reaction. Then Craig turned back at the box and continued.
”So I talked to Ammoses and I asked him if he could make these!” He pulls out small (hand sized) devices.
Octavio takes one “Walkie-talkies?”
”Yeah, figured it would be way more efficient and that way we can even talk when apart!”
”Right… And just how much noise do you think this will make when you decide to call me?” Octavio asked, sarcastically.
”Less than your fragile windows shattering.” Craig responded with the same attitude.
”You know what, touché. Now gimme those so I can at least make them LOOK interesting.” He snatched the other device and walked towards the crafting table nearby.
”Hehe Okok. But uhm, what’s ‘touché’ mean??”
”Ever heard of ‘the French’?”
”Uuuuhm, no?? Wha??” Craig thought he was just making things up.
“Seriously?! Didn’t you learn human history at your home town school or something? Haha, you’re in for a wild ride, dude!”
And so, the rambling continued.