Work Text:
Call them a creature of habit, but Three was pretty used to waking up every couple of hours during the night. No matter what time they originally went to sleep, they’d always find themselves waking up for at least a minute or so every couple of hours. It only really became noticeable after Kamabo. Or maybe that’s when it got worse. They thought, arm resting atop their forehead as they stared holes into the ceiling. That’s… a whole issue that Three would rather not try to unpack at whatever o’ clock at in the morning. If they were awake, they might as well check and see what time their internal alarm clock woke them up again anyways.
Three swiped feebly at the wobbly nightstand next to their bed. The soft glow from their discolored eye wasn’t even all that helpful as they slapped around the surface awkwardly for about ten seconds longer than they should have. Eventually they did manage to touch their phone and dragged it towards themselves. The harsh light from the phone itself was enough to make them squint, a quiet hiss flying through their beak.
2:47am. Just as they suspected, it was indeed the middle of the night. Whatever. Three stretched to place their phone back on their nightstand, but right as they were about to set it down, the phone buzzed. The screen lit back up, Three’s eyes easily catching both the name of the perpetrator and the following message.
Eight <3
you awake?
Three frowns at the notification. Since when are they up at this hour? It’s not they’re bothered at the fact she texted at this time, but rather the reason she was up altogether. Eight wouldn’t text this late unless it was important. With those thoughts in mind, they waste no time sitting up and typing out a response.
Yeah. Are you okay?
They wait, twiddling their thumbs without looking at the screen. It doesn’t take long for the phone to vibrate again as Eight sends another message.
Eight <3
kamabo
Short and precise, but it’s enough for Three to immediately kick their covers off of them and onto the floor. Looks like they can go back to sleep later. Changing is the least of their priority as they pick up their cape off the ground nearby. The black hoodie and shorts they’re wearing are just fine, so the cape is really the only thing they needed. The cape is fastened around their neck, and they swipe their phone back up as they walk away from their bed. Eight lives with Four in an apartment on the other side of Inkopolis Square, but it’d only take them a minute or so to superjump right over there. They may have only been dating for about a month or so, but Three has always been ready to drop anything and everything just to help Eight out. Three practically flew out the window, kraken be damned if they waste an extra minute unlock and relocking their door while Eight needed them.
The landing wasn’t as smooth as they liked, but a hastily added roll was enough to keep them from stupidly spraining something. They’d never hear the end of it if they tore any cartilage in their legs over this. Just as they guessed though, their superjump had them landing right in front of the apartment complex barely a minute after they had gotten out of bed. The window on the fourth story above them had a bit of light visible from the ground. Eight probably turned on her lamp. They thought, fully preparing to superjump again to reach that height.
One decent leap put them at the right height, but the real trick was using the suckers at the end of their tentacles to actually anchor up there instead of falling right back down. It took about two tries, but surely enough the inkling was safely secured right outside. They peered through the glass, trying to see any sign of their girlfriend in the room. Where is she? Eight didn’t appear to be anywhere in sight, so Three knocked lightly on the glass.
No answer.
They tried again, a little harder this time.
Nothing. Huh.
Three dropped back to the ground, brows furrowing as they contemplated what they were going to do. They highly doubted Eight left otherwise they would have seen her go or at least gotten some sort of message about it. Maybe they just needed another way in. Sure, banging on the door and hoping that it wakes up Four is an option, but they really don’t want to deal with the agent if she decides to wake up all cranky. There was still one very prevalent idea in Three’s mind. This… was probably a terrible idea that they’d come to regret in the morning. Eight will be thankful for it now, but will definitely kick their ass for it later.
The squid takes a couple steps back, setting up a proper angle before they shift into squid form again. Three superjumps right towards the window once again, but this time with plenty of strength and speed behind it. Right before they hit the glass, Three shifts back and raises their arm over their face, cape clutched tightly in hand. The crash is obviously loud, but at least there’s no waiting involved as they quite literally slam into Eight’s carpet. Their cape has a couple new rips and holes decorated with shards of varying sizes, and it’s enough to make them cringe about their decision a little bit. Not wanting to risk any glass getting on them, Three unclips their cape and sets it on the ground. They’ll worry about the mess and expenses later.
“Eight? It’s Three.” Three called out, carefully stepping over any glass strewn about. They had kind of hoped the noise would at least alert her that they were here, but what if it had the opposite effect? They continued walking lightly, their steps leading them towards the opened door on the other side of the room. Another light was turned on somewhere in the apartment, so Three trekked right on down the hallway to reach the source.
The sight they see isn't what they expected. Eight stood at the foot of the bathroom mirror, one hand clutching the side of the sink while the other was placed firmly over her mouth. Her tentacles were tied back into a messy ponytail, each one writhing in what they assumed was anxiety. It didn’t take more than a passing glance for Three to realize that the octoling was shaking violently, eyes half-closed and unfocused. It pained them to see the overall redness and puffiness surrounding her eyes. How long had she been crying before she texted them? She still showed no sort of reaction to their presence altogether. Eight was usually hyper alert, especially to loud noises or others in general. The fact that she most likely hasn’t even moved at all was more than enough to raise concern.
“Eight...?” Three tried again, this time reaching out to gently place their fingers on their trembling hand. Apparently it wasn’t the right move. Eight reacted badly, snatching her hand away and stumbling back until her heels hit the side of the tub. A faint yet repeated string of “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” left her mouth in Octarian, and Three had to strain their ears to hear it. The reaction alone was enough to shatter their hearts into pieces.
“Okay. Okay, no touching, but I’m here on the surface and so are you. We made it.” They tried again, not daring to step closer until Eight showed any sign that she was present. “Your name is Eight, not 10,008. You beat me and you stopped Tartar. You’re in your apartment that you share with Four.” Three wasn’t exactly fond of spitting out sentences at a time, but the more they spoke, the more relaxed Eight seemed to look. “I chickened out of asking you out two separate times, so you had to be the one to ask me out on our first date at the movies. You said the movie kind of sucked, but I was too busy staring at you to notice.” It definitely was a night they wouldn’t forget, not if Eight had anything to say about it. She makes it a point to bring it up any time someone mentions them being distracted. Despite that, the retelling is still enough to bring a smile to their face.
“...Three?” Eight’s uncertain voice interrupts their thoughts before they can start on something else.
“I’m right here, Eight. You texted me, remember?” They finally step closer again now that they can see recognition flaring in the octoling’s gray eyes. It takes a couple extra seconds, but Eight meets them in the middle. As soon as they’re together, Eight takes one of Three’s hands in hers.
“I know, I’m sorry Three. Got a little… lost in it. That’s all.” She raises their interlocked hands, the warmth of her cheek warming their otherwise cold hand.
“Don’t apologize, it happens. You know I’ll always be around if you need me anyways.” Three shook their head. Like hell they’d let Eight feel at blame for anything tonight. “Do you… want to talk about it though? You were pretty out of it this time.”
“No. Maybe tomorrow, but not tonight. You’re okay and that’s all that matters to me right now.” Eight sighs, and that’s that.
Eight specifically mentioning that they’re alright caught them a little off guard. So it involved me then? They thought, their mouth almost slipping into a frown before they caught themselves. That didn’t really narrow it down, but at least it gave some kind of idea as to what went on in her sleep. “Alright. That’s okay. I’ll walk you back to bed then if you’re okay with that.” Three offers, and Eight nods almost immediately.
Their hands reluctantly dropped back down as Three led Eight out of the bathroom, flicking the light back off as they passed. The moment they set foot into her room, Eight noticeably scrunched up her nose in confusion. Her sights specifically seemed to latch right on to where they had haphazardly dropped their cape on top of the glass. “What… happened to my window?” She asked, and Three went ahead and let their head hang low. Yeah, of course she noticed.
“That was me, not you. I kind of… you know.” Three scratched the back of their head sheepishly. “I’ll clean it up and pay for it. No worries.”
“Three?” Eight whipped her head around to glare at the shorter inkfish. “Did you hurt yourself getting in here?”
“No, I'm fine. Wrecked my cape though. Honestly, your window kind of sucked and needed replacing anyways.”
“Not really the point, but okay. I’ll fix your cape back up though. Four has been trying to teach me how to sew.” She didn’t really seem mad at them for breaking the window, so that was a plus. On the other hand, yeah, they were definitely going to hear about this tomorrow. Then the day after that. Maybe longer.
Three walked Eight right over to her bed as they offered, still feeling pretty embarrassed about the window. Were they better off cleaning it up tomorrow morning? If Eight really wanted them to, they could probably pick up most of the bigger shards before leaving tonight and then be back to finish it up after she’s awake. Right as they turned to walk away, however, a hand grabbed onto their sleeve. “Uh, Eight?” Three asked after the octoling didn’t immediately say something.
“Do you… mind staying here with me tonight? I don’t want to be alone right now.” Her voice was soft in a way that made each and every one of Three’s hearts melt. A part of them wanted to skip right out before they ended up combusting into flames or something, but a majority didn’t want to leave Eight alone after that either.
“I-I can stay. That’s fine.” Three stammered. Their window might be open back at their ratty old apartment, but they doubted anyone would try to get in there. One night here wouldn’t hurt anything. Eight’s blinding smile made it worth it anyways as she scooted right over in her bed and patted the spot next to her. They climbed right in, already feeling heat rise to their cheeks despite the fact that they’ve been dating for a month already. Some things just never change after all.
Eight flicks the light of the lamp off only to giggle quietly right after, the sound like music to their ears.
“What’s so funny?”
“Sorry, I’m not really laughing at you. It’s just…” She pauses, another short chuckle inbetween. “you complain about how your eye lights up in the dark, but to me it’s like a little glow stick. It’s cute.”
Leave it to Eight to always bring up something positive about their scar no matter how many times they try to condemn it. Comparing them to a glow stick though? Really? They aren't sure if they should be impressed or offended by the notion. Despite this, they roll their eyes. “You think I’m cute?” Three teases back to avoid the flush that’s probably reaching up to the tips of their ears by now.
“We’re dating, Three. What do you think?”
Three snickers back, and the two fall into a comfortable silence. They take the opportunity to take their phone out of their pocket and place it off to the side. Apparently Eight also takes the opportunity of their movement by snuggling up closer to them, the top of her head now right below their chin. Not even two minutes later, Eight stopped shuffling around. Did she already fall asleep that fast? “Goodnight to you too then, Eight.” The words “I love you” rested at the tip of their tongue, but they can’t bring themselves to say it while Eight might potentially still be awake. Maybe they could go back to sleep themselves.
Well, they tried until the sound of approaching footsteps caused Three to open an eye and glare in the direction of the door.
“Eight?! Are you okay?” A higher-pitched feminine voice grates their ears from the hall. “I heard glass shattering and- oh.” The orange-yellow squid popped into the room, hero dualies in hand, only to raise a brow at the two on Eight’s bed. She scanned around the rest of the room, her expression dropping as she went from the broken window to meeting Three’s eye. “Three.” The other inkling finally manages to say with an incredibly strained tone.
“Yo, Four.” Three says back, throwing up a peace sign with the most unimpressed look they can manage.
“Right… okay. Well, I’m not paying for that. Maybe consider shooting me a heads up before you cause property damage next time.” Four sighs dramatically, massaging her head for what Three assumes to be an oncoming headache. “Have a good night you two!” Her voice takes on a very obviously forced chipper tone before she promptly spins on her heels and leaves as quickly as she arrived.
That could’ve gone way worse. They’ll take Four’s absolutely done with it reaction as another victory today. For now though, Three was perfectly content with Eight as the octoling nestled further into the space below their chin. She already looked so peaceful compared to how she was when Three arrived. A smile was visible at the corner of Eight’s lips, and even her tentacles were doing the thing where they curled up instead of wiggling anxiously about. It only took them seconds before the lull of sleep took over, their eyes finally drifting shut.
Unlike most nights, Three didn’t wake up again until Eight stirred the next morning.
– - -
A few days later.
It’s late in the afternoon when she receives a call while cleaning out the barrel of her E-liter. The ringtone is enough to startle her, yelping as the weapon clatters back against her desk. As she picks it up, she notices the distinct caller ID of “Three!! <3” staring back at her. Three? Wonder what they’re up to at this hour. Without wasting another second, the pink octoling picks up her phone and holds it up to her ear.
“Evening, Three! What’s up?”
“Hey Eight. Do you mind if I come over? I have something for you.”
“I don’t mind at all, Three! When do you think-” Eight starts to respond only to be cut off by a soft tapping on her window. She slowly lowers her phone as she approaches the source of the sound, a smile already forming on her face. There’s only one guess as to who it could be. The familiar orange mantle of Three takes up almost the entire window as the squid themself grins sheepishly at her. One hand was still raised to knock while the other had a white-knuckle grip on the windowsill. Is that a small plastic bag hanging from their beak? Had it not been for Three’s tentacles latching onto the wall on either side of the window, she suspected there would be a Three-sized puddle of ink on the ground below.
Oh this idiot. Eight shakes her head fondly, hanging up on the call and places the phone back on the desk right next to the now-abandoned E-liter. It was quite the sight to see considering the fact that, once again, the apartment was four stories up. Three stares at her expectantly, eyes repeatedly flicking from the window to her face. The octoling had to hold back a snicker altogether as she gently slid the bottom of her window up. Her partner almost instantly crawls in through the gap and flops unceremoniously onto the carpeted floor.
“So, uh. Hey,” Is all Three has to say apparently, the plastic bag now clutched in their right hand.
“So what was the plan if I wasn’t home or if I said no? Were you going to break my window again?” Eight places a hand on her hip with a smirk. A new window was installed a day prior, and she’d rather not have to go through that entire process again even if Three was the one who forked over the money for it. The other cephalopod was still splayed out on the floor, so the least Eight could do was outstretch a hand to them.
“Nah, I would’ve just gone home I guess.” They smile, taking her hand with theirs and is promptly pulled to their feet. “Besides, If I want to give Four another aneurysm I’ll do something less expensive.” Three shrugs, but she can see a faint blush of embarrassment spotting their cheeks.
“I totally believe you!” she nods all while rolling her eyes. No I don’t. Apparently Three also knows she doesn’t believe them as shown by a clearly evident frown on their face. “Breaking things aside, what’s in the bag that’s important enough for you to come in through my window instead of the door like anyone else?”
“It’s, uh…” Three crinkles the bag for a moment before holding the bag out for her. “It’s probably stupid, but I saw these and thought you might like them.”
Eight takes the bag from them, warmth already flooding her chest from the gesture altogether. Three wasn’t much of a gift-giver with anyone, so to her this was a big deal. They should also know by now that nothing they ever get her would ever be stupid. Three’s awkwardness aside, she reaches down into the bag and promptly pulls out whatever she grabbed a hold of. Inside the bag was a decent-sized plastic bag with the worlds “Assortment of Glowing Plastic Stars” etched across the top. She raised it to eye level, now seeing the arrays of blue, pink, yellow, and other colored stars visible through the clear plastic wrapping.
“During that night you said you like the whole eye-glowing thing. I can’t be with you all the time so… I thought you’d like these.” They muttered, discolored gaze drifting off to the side.
If the gift itself wasn’t enough, Three’s brief explanation was enough for tears to well up in her eyes. Geez, she’s so overly emotional sometimes. Before the squid could continue to shuffle around awkwardly, Eight launched forward. She wrapped her arms around them in a hug, the bag of stars still clutched tightly in her hand. Three went completely stiff the moment she made contact, but then relaxed into her touch and returned the gesture. “It’s not stupid. Don’t even think that for a second. I love them. Thank you, Three.” Eight’s cheek presses against their tentacle as she speaks softly to her partner.
The hug lasts for a couple seconds before Eight willingly steps back and wipes away at her own watery eyes. She knows Three isn’t exactly the most touchy-feely kind of cephalopod, so the last thing she wants to do is make things awkward. Three is smiling at her though, albeit it’s a small smile, but plenty enough by their standards. Both Callie and Marie complained all the time that they could never get that inkling to smile unless they brought her up. She returns their smile with her own blinding grin. Eight doesn’t know what she did to deserve Three, but she wouldn’t trade that smile of theirs for the world.
The comfortable silence between them doesn’t last long. The inkling puffs out a sigh, posture slackening a bit. “That’s all I came for though. Figured I could just swing by your place before I went back to my apartment. I got myself an early patrol tomorrow cause Callie conveniently got an interview scheduled a day before it’s her turn.” Three groans and drags a hand down their face. Classic Callie move. Eight’s pretty sure that this isn’t the first time Callie skipped out on agent duties at the last minute and it sure won’t be the last. She can empathize though because there’s no way she’d be happy about running around on Octarian lands for lost octolings at the crack of dawn either.
“I take it you’re heading out again?” She asks. “I can get the door for you!”
Three waves a hand dismissively, already walking towards her window again. “It’s okay. I can see myself out.”
“Three. You can just go out the door, you know. That’s kind of the point of a door.” Of all exit options, why did they have to go for the dangerous one? She’d get it if they were on the first or second floor, but she really didn’t see the point this high up.
“Pass. Maybe next time.”
The only thing Eight could do was shake her head at their antics. Always the difficult one. A lump of gray in the corner of her eye caught her attention, instantly reminding her of something else. Their cape was still neatly folded on her nightstand from where she had taken the time to remove all the glass shards and sewed up a couple of the larger rips. Four’s teachings hadn’t gone to waste after all. Eight quickly crossed the room, eyeing the other agent out of the corner of her eye. “Oh, and Three?”
“Yeah?” They respond, one leg already sticking out of the window.
“Catch!”
Three has about one second to react to her warning before their cape sails through the air. It’s almost comedic to watch them catch it with an indignant squawk. The movement itself set off their balance, so the inkling had to flail about to keep them from toppling over. Oops! “Eight!” They complained, cape now pressed into their chest with an arm. It’s not much, but it’s still enough to have her giggling.
“Sorry, sorry! Are we still going turfing after your patrol tomorrow?” She asks with a slight tilt of her head.
“Of course, Eight. I can also help you put up the stars afterwards if you don’t do it tonight.”
“Great! It’s a date then!” Eight cheers while pumping a fist.
Three, ever the romantic, turns a deep orange at this. “Y-yeah. Uh huh. Sure. Bye!” Their voice rises at least two octaves before they disappear from the window. They’re so easy. Eight thinks to herself with a shake of her head. She leans forward to make sure they didn’t splat themselves in their haste, but as it turns out, the agent was doing just fine. As soon as Three hits the ground, they’re back in the air with a superjump as an orange blur shoots through the sky.
Even though they just left, Eight is already counting the seconds until she sees them again tomorrow.