Chapter Text
When Octavio first saw her, the yellow octoling held a bamboozler tight in her hands. Staring up at him, no fear, even as his shadow loomed over her.
One of the elites held her by the back of her outfit. A clumsy outfit that were more rags than anything. The elite told him her name, and the brat saluted. As if she wasn’t the fresh age of six, just the age when starting to even try joining the military.
The elite said something about her being behind quite a few inkling supplies ending in the domes. A cute little list of light war crimes as well on the side. The brat bragged about her accuracy with the weapon she was clutching, how if it weren’t for her self taught skills; the elites would be kissing the ground in defeat.
It had caused the massive octarian to laugh. Much to what seemed to be his elites embarrassment. Probably had a bit of history the two. A bit of shark and tuna(cat and mouse) he guessed.
She was let go, and really- what had he been thinking back then? So obsessed with each of the octarian fighting a fight that would also end a certain way.
But he had made her the youngest elite known. And the kid was proud. Grinning and bouncing and blowing raspberries to the other elite.
..
The octoling became a quick annoyance. Fondly, he would note now. In his sphere of humiliation. But back then he wasn’t too ready to admit it. The girl followed him like a lost salmonoid child, sometimes using her skill at hiding as a way for him to notice, while other times she would be almost stepping on his heels. Not that he had… any. Definitely not in his usual form.
She didn’t flinch when he talked loudly (not yelled. Octolings always noted his lack of yelling- at them, or at fellow workers. People on the opposing side? Sure. But never the ones who worked with him), nor did she seem to find his puns too terrible. Even if once she did make a cringed expression at one. He never did use it again.
And maybe it was this time around where she became more than just an annoying child that stuck close. Saluting and almost dropping her prized weapon. She gave him a drawing, once, and it was tucked safely in his hat even now.
Once he had fallen asleep, and awoke to the brat having barely managed to pull a blanket on him.
He cared about her. As reluctant as that sentiment came. He did.
Maybe that’s why he found himself hoping to see that same kid come running up to his imprisonment. A pathetic as shrimp plan on her mind to help him escape.
But she didn’t.
..
Marina was hesitant. Meeting the annoyed- angry?- look of DJ Octavio. She had promised herself to keep updating him of the happenings of the octarians, because a king deserved to know what was happening to his people.
Not that- it made it any easier when the mentioned king seemed even grumpier than usual. A sentiment from last time Pearl was with her- and she agreed wholeheartedly with her friend.
“There’s been- reports, of octarians going missing.” She informed him watching his eyes. The easiest way to get an idea of what he was feeling.
She hadn’t expected the brief worry, a few mentions of specific octarians and asking if they were amongst the missing. The child he cared for amongst the names.
“She’s one of the missing.” Marina told him. And really- never did she ever imagine the simple look of crushed hope and defeat across his face. Even if it didn’t last more than a few seconds, even if brief. It burned in her mind.
And Marina left quietly afterwards. Leaving the king to his thoughts.
..
Kindred stretched, limbs extending high into the air and happily grinning at her friend. Millie looked exasperated on her part. Almost hiding with how she clung to the nearest formations in the ground.
“XD Mills don’t be shy!!” Kindred laughed, grabbing her hand and pulling her more into the center. Semi ignoring the murderous look being sent her way.
“We shouldn’t be here on the surface.” Millie hissed. An eye twitching when all Kindred did was shrug.
“I heard that the good ol’ peepaw was around here UwU.” Kindred told her, making a peace sign over an eye.
“Our king is here!? We’ll have to find him and be quick and escape- maybe I can get promoted FINALLY if I- we- get him-“ “look!” Kindred caught her attention, swinging an arm over her shoulder and pointing to the snow globe. And- was that really the DJ Octavio? Crossed armed and angrily tapping a limb against the glass. A cuttlefish, who looked as old as time itself, shaking his head solemnly.
Millie softly inhaled. Okay. They just had to wait a bit till the other left and they could easily break DJ Octavio out of-
“Hey peepaws! Y’all done snik snacking?! We gotta a move to bust!”
Millie was one hand away from choking Kindred.
Okay so much for that plan but! Millie still had her trusty weapon, and Kindred wasn’t that stupid she’d know when to attack-
“Vivian.” The name caused Millie to pause. Confused. She could tell it had been- Octavio himself who said it. Thanks to being muffled but loud and deep.
Kindred was happily loading up her bamboozler, unaffected by the strange name the king had called.
The cuttlefish wasn’t though, and he tried to exchange a few more words until the DJ angrily slammed a tentacle on the glass. And while the old cuttlefish didn’t flinch. He did look surprised.
“Kindred uh, weird question.” Millie whispered, making the sanitized octoling pause. Tilting her head. “Mhm?” “Do you… know, any Vivian’s?”
“Uhhh,” Kindred blanked. Lips pursing as she thought. “Vivian? Might be my baby here!” She lifted the bamboozler up. Pointing out the name etched on the gun. “Thought it was super swag they had a name. Plus I’ve had this bad cod since I remember!” She poked her tongue out. “Which isn’t that impressive, but whatevs!”
Millie looked back to the snow globe. Suddenly aware of the arrival of more inklings- and she panicked. They couldn’t fight that many.
“We got to go,” the red octoling snapped, grabbing Kindred, “c’mon!”
“Oki doki!” Kindred didn’t have to be told twice. Grasping the bamboozler tightly in her hand and with a wave- following after Millie.
Who had to do a serious case of studying when they would return home.