Chapter Text
"So-" Four heads turned to face the old man, his voice the first thing to break their blissful silence- "what do we do now?" Feeling their eyes on him, he shifted where he sat.
Agent 8 was the first to direct her attention elsewhere as a more awkward silence resumed. Back to the sky, now she finally noticed the sun had risen above the clouds. Though she doesn't remember much from before, she knew how Octavio had wanted so desperately to replicate it. She stood on that suspended platform over the blue waves wondering how many octarians and octolings down there had ever seen it in their life. Those massive LEDs underground were impressive and a feat of engineering in their own right, but they couldn't compare to the real deal. It was warmth, something both the underground and deep-sea metro had very much lacked. The warmth spread to every fiber of her being, like a nice big hug, and she fell in love.
"It's not like I had any plans after this…." Agent 3 piped in with an exhausted chuckle, Pearl laughed too.
"Us neither kid!" She looked back at Marina and tilted her head. "Right 'Rina?" The octoling just shrugged with a shake of her head. "I'll check in a minute, but we shouldn't, and if we do, no we don't." Pearl sighed and laid back, arms splayed out. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling pancakes."
"A fan of pancakes is a friend of mine!"
"Cap'n, you can just say 'me too', you know that right?" 3 leaned back on the palms of their hands.
"Heh, I know!" He tapped his temple with two fingers, leaning closer to Agent 3 as he went into a whisper. "I'm the hype-man, remember?" The agent shook their head in response. The motion betraying the smile on their face.
"Yep, I got ya Cap'n." The Captain winked as with as much subtly as he could manage. Which was admittedly none at all. Agent 3 began to laugh, big and hearty as the Cuttlefish watched with content confusion.
It was clear to her now that projections of the sun on those screens were never bright enough. Never truly emulating its blinding intensity, the way the buildings and water glistened with the reflection of its light, how rays shone through the clouds and formed beams where they broke. 8 could feel tears form in her eyes, but she didn't dare look away. Maybe if she asked Pearl, she could let her just stay on the platform for as long as she had wanted. Or at least take another trip out when the sun was to set. She didn't want to miss a single bit of it.
Once the laughter subsided. "I for one am more of a waffle's person myself." 3 continued, "they don't get all soggy like pancakes do." Pearl groaned.
"Not again-"
"RIGHT?!" Once calm and quieter than her counterpart, Marina now erupted. "See? I'm not the only one who thinks so Pearlie!"
"Still not gonna convince me!" She stuck her tongue out at Marina.
"Only a Splatfest could settle this one…" Cuttlefish spoke all dramatic, not one could tell what vibe he was really going for with that.
"We all know waffle would win; we wouldn't be living on the right side of history if it lost." Marina gave a nod of approval in 3's direction and Pearl jumped up to stand.
"Ha! Maybe in your dreams! I'd bet my fleet of helicopters, pancake dominates waffle, three to nada!"
"You're on, princess." Confidence oozed out of their words. "Heck I'll even throw in my hero gear, make it a real bet-”
"Hey!" Cuttlefish, a little too loud, "since we're at a tie here." He scratched his beard before shooting a hand into the air. "8! Why don't you settle this for now?"
8 stood still, gazing upwards. When her silence lasted longer than a moment, it was her turn to be the center of attention as they all turned to her. She looked to simply be in a different world than the rest of them. Cuttlefish raised an arm as if he were to give a tug on her shirt to get her attention, but 3 reached over and pulled his arm back down.
"8?" 3 called softly, to which the octoling blinked and began rubbing her eyes.
"Huh?" Was all she managed, followed by more blinking and rubbing as she started to lightly sway.
"You good kid?" Pearl, though significantly shorter, held out an arm which 8 took to settle herself.
"Is there something in my eye?" Her gray eyes started to dart around, squinting then growing wide without much pause. "There's these dark spots…"
"Oh, carp! Sorry I didn't warn you, the sun is bright, like really bright." Agent 8 looked confused, "bright enough to burn right through your retinas...'' Pearl shot Marina a wide-eyed glance as the young octoling paled in horror. In an attempt to calm her, Marina raised her hands in front of her, "It should go away, don't worry!" 8 exhaled deep, Marina smiled. "Just don't look at it for too long. It's tempting, trust me, I know. But you'll get used to it."
"Oh, okay…" She rubbed her eyes again. "Thanks, Marina." The older octoling smiled her way.
"I was in your shoes not too long ago, if you need help adjusting up here, just let me know, 8. I'd love to help you get adjusted up here." She smiled back.
"I'd appreciate that, a lot." 8 let go of Pearl and looked just about ready to cry again. The inkling went back to Marina's side, interlocking their hands together this time as the smaller woman leaned against Marina.
"I wouldn't mind showing you 'round Inkopolis either," Agent 3 piped in making 8 look them right in the eyes. "If you plan on sticking around, I think I wouldn't mind facing you down again in turf war or hang out..." Her gaze was intense and with that smile, 3 could feel their ears getting warmer. "...Or something, like that...?"
"8?" To which she then turned the attention to Cuttlefish. 3 thanked whatever powers of the universe that the old man spoke before she could.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Pancakes or waffles?" The young inkling pressed a palm to their forehead with a light slap as they then cursed those same powers. Meanwhile 8-
"Uh…?"
"Real smooth Cap'n…" 3 muttered.
Agent 8 looked small and embarrassed, and Marina immediately understood why.
"I don't think… I've ever had… either? I'm sorry…?"
Cuttlefish slowly dropped his hand and started swinging his legs under the platform. The whir of the helicopter blades was all that filled the now awkward air. The first to really do anything was Pearl. With her free hand, she pulled out her squidphone and began rapidly typing and tapping away on several different applications. Marina caught a glimpse of what she was doing and then whispered something to her, leaving a kiss on her cheek before standing tall once again with a soft smile. The now intensely blushing inkling grinned wide and nearly began bouncing in place.
“I hope you’re all ready for some fine dining because we’re getting breakfast at the best diner in all of Inkopolis!”