Chapter Text
“Don’t get cooked, stay off the hook!”
The audience erupted into loud cheers, Marina giggling, full of excitement. Off the Hook was back, and better than ever. After their short hiatus, the two were thrilled to be performing again. It was what they loved doing, and had always loved doing. After a quick wave to the noisy crowd, the octoling headed offstage, Pearl following behind her.
“Rina! Holy cod, you were awesome!” Pearl fangirled. Marina blushed, mumbling incoherent nonsense.
“You were too, you know. Couldn’t have done it without you.” She grinned. Pearl excitedly threw herself onto Marina, wrapping herself around her.
“You’re the coolest, ‘Rina.”
“Yeah, yeah, Pearlie. Save the compliments for later.” Pearl jumped off of her, brushing herself off. She sure loved performing. The thrill, the noise, the excitement. Although it did get a bit overwhelming at times, it was absolutely worth it. Especially due to the fact that she got to perform with Marina.
“What do you say we head back to myy place?” Marina suggested. Pearl nodded, scurrying to catch up with the taller woman. Something about Marina was so enticing. She had dark brown skin, which was always, always glistening. She had beautiful long tentacles, tinted with turquoise. She had an incredible figure, seeming to be sculpted by God Hisself. She was so bewitching that sometimes Pearl just wanted to kiss her all over. She didn’t, though.
(Although she got real close to doing so in the Octo Expansion.)
“Pearlie, is something on that mind of yours?” Marina questioned the inkling.
“You.” Pearl joked, receiving an elbow from Marina. Marina could only pray that Pearl really did mean it. Marina had also found herself constantly daydreaming about the smaller squid. Her flashy charm, blunt but soft attitude, and her corny smile. It was all too much. The two ventured down the brightly decorated plaza, admiring the sights around them, and one another. “Must be a splatfest going on, huh, ‘Rina?”
“I guess so! Remember when we used to host them, Pearlie?” Marina whined. “I miss that.” Pearl grabbed onto Marina’s hand, agreeing.
“I really miss them too. But it’s real nice being able to see you all the time, especially because it’s not just for work.” She chuckled.
“Pffft. Quit flattering me.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever quit expressing my giaant amount of love for you, ‘Rina.” She snorted. Marina swore her heart skipped a beat. She glanced at pearl, adjusting her shirt. Before the two knew it, they had arrived at Marina’s quaint apartment. The plaza was bustling, but her complex wasn’t. Pearl hopped up the metal stairs, making a loud clanging noise with each step. “Quiet, silly! It’s not just me who lives here.” Marina sighed, skipping behind. Pearl stood in front of her door, which was absolutely covered in stickers. Harmony must’ve been making bank from all of those purchases. A few of the stickers were, in fact, gifts from Pearl. How sweet of Marina to plaster them right on her door.
Inserting her key, Marina flung her door wide open. Pearl had been to her house countless amounts of times, but each time was just as exciting as the first. Everything screamed Marina, which Pearl loved. Marina flopped onto her plush couch, sinking into the soft cushions. Pearl carefully laid on Marina’s legs, tired as ever. Confused, Marina reached her hand down to Pearl, tousling her tentacles.
“Argh, that tickles, ‘Rina.” Pearl tittered, fondling Marina’s face. The two lay there in an oddly intimate position, minutes passing. The inkling inched herself up Marina, making direct eye contact with her.
“Yeah, Pearlie?” Marina mumbled.
“You look awfully fresh today, you know.”
“For eel? More compliments? I can’t complain.” Marina felt her face grow darker and darker. She loved it when Pearl said all of those wonderful things about her. They gave her a sense of closeness. Pearl collapsed onto Marina’s chest, burying her head by her neck. Marina was terribly confused by this, but she didn’t fight it. Although her bosom was completely smushed and she was quite oddly laid, she didn’t dare move. She wrapped her arms around Pearl, running her fingers up and down her neck.
Pearl could have cried. She hadn’t ever experienced this sort of intimacy in her life. She adored Marina so much, it was overwhelming. She ever so softly planted a kiss on Marina’s lower neck, hoping the octoling wouldn’t notice.
She did.
“Pearlie, heyy. What was the meaning of that?” Pearl’s face flushed, her excitement leaving her nauseated.
“What was what?” Pearl snickered.
“You know what I’m talking about, Pearl.” Marina grew a increasingly frustrated.
“Oh. Just a peck.” Pearl puckered her lips jokingly, placing another kiss further up her neck.
“Cod, Pearl. Calm yourself down..” Marina muttered, the inkling continuing. Pearl stopped, gazing at Marina. They must’ve stared at each other for a solid minute, each of their faces growing darker by the second. Marina’s hands trailed down Pearl’s face, pulling her face closer to her own. Their lips pressed, and something snapped in the two. They both really loved one another, didn’t they? Pearl fell back onto Marina’s chest, shocked.
“I’m sorry.” Marina nervously mumbled.
“Don’t be. That was really something, ‘Rina.” She snorted, leaving a trail of kisses along Marina’s upper bosom. Marina held in her laughter, extremely surprised about what the hell was even happening. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“You’re such a sap, Pearlie.” Pearl made her way up to Marina’s face, covering each inch of it in pigmented lipstick. Marina grinned, slightly clasping her hand with the inkling’s. The two continued to smother one another with their fondness. Pearl grew tired quickly, laying her head onto Marina’s.
“Cod. I guess you do really love me, eh?”
Pearl recoiled.
“You know I love you, ‘Rina. It’s not much of a secret, you realize.” The octoling giggled, pulling herself closer to Pearl. She longingly gazed at her face, causing the inkling to nervously tremble. Pearl looked away from Marina, mumbling incoherent nonsense. Marina’s mind wandered wherever it did please, and she found herself repeatedly thinking of Pearl and her. With a sigh, Marina slid her body up the couch, lifting Pearl with her. She carried her into the compact kitchen, placing her on the countertop.
“Hungry?” Pearl slightly nodded, bringing her legs closer to her chest. She wrapped her short arms around her lanky knees, sighing. Marina took note of this, throwing something into her busted microwave.
“Something bothering you?” Pearl looked down.
“Just worried about us, ‘Rina,” Pearl muttered.
“Why is that?” Marina inquired.
“I just hope that this won’t change anything between us,” She sniffled.
“Awe, come on, Pearlie,” Marina cooed. “This is even better.”
She supposed so. After all, the two could be even closer now.
It was just a matter of if that would work out or not.