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Three and eight had been out for most of the day. They had been helping the octoling try so many different types of food and more over the last week! but their goal for today was shopping. They were in Arowana mall. Casually chatting with each other as they got her some clothing. Afterall eight borrowing Three's clothes was... Pretty much out of the question. Mostly because eight was a good head taller than the inkling, so nothing they had *would* of fit.
Bags in one hand and a coffee in the other Three hummed. Sipping on the warm beverage with a satisfying sigh. Today had been a very successful day. But an absolutely exhausting one.
Walking beside them was the ever so tall eight, her own coffee in hand, but cold instead of Three's warm beverage. She also had a few bags tucked under her own arm, but was already wearing a fluffy light pink hoodie, tag still dangling from its arm. The octoling also looked visibly exhausted, probably ready to crash for the next 24 hours. However suddenly eight perked, freezing as she looked upwards. Three instantly paused. Confused. "Do you hear that?"
Luckily there weren't many people at the mall today. So Three could easily listen to whatever eight heard... A soft pitter patter was ringing out through the building. Three sucked in a breath. "Shit-" Three cursed. Please- please- *please* let it not be raining. That's just what they needed! Eight seemed concerned at Three's reaction, quickly following them as Three pretty much sprung out the automatic doors to leave the mall.
Yep, their worst fears came to. It wasn't storming, but it was raining alright. The pitter patter of rain drops echoing louder now the two were outside. They were going to get drenched heading back home. "Fuccckkkk- Why didn't I check the fucking weather this morning." Three grilled themself before noticing eight wasn't by their side. Turning they saw the octolings grey eyes were wide, frozen with one foot out of the mall and one foot in. Looking at what normal inklings called weather.
"what..." luckily eights voice seemed fascinated instead of scared. Carefully walking over to where Three stood, both still dry under an overhang. Eight hesitantly went to reach out to feel the current of rain but flinched back in fear when she got a bit too close. Right... eight had never experienced rain.
"It's rain." Three said gently, reaching out they felt raindrops instantly patter against their hand, the rain cold and sharp. "You can touch it, it won't hurt." Three said, Pulling their hand back and shaking the cursive drops of water off of them. Hesitantly the octoling shifted the coffee to their other hand that held their shopping before reaching out. Eight flinched again when they got close to the light downpour, but sucking in a breath they held their hand out. The octoling shivered as the cool droplets hit her warm hand. Instead of pulling away like three expected, she stretched it farther out, the sleeve of her new jacket starting to grow damp as the felt the patter of rain.
Three smiled at the absolute amazement shining in eight’s eyes, but that's when the octoling startled Three. With one fluid movement the octoling stepped out into the soft downpour. "eight-" Three spoke startled, but their voice didn't reach the octoling’s ears. She looked up to the sky before closing her eyes and relaxing. The droplets hitting her face and body felt so relaxing.... "rain..." her voice mumbled softly to no one in particular.
Three hesitated, watching the octoling from the safety of the overhang. Look- they may have the *smallest* crush on the octoling, but the inkling wasn't insane. They didn't like getting wet, period…
After a little eight looked over to Three, eyes bright and shining but focused, Clearly trying to find the inkling words to speak her thoughts. "I... Like that word..." she said before looking back at the sky. Three pause, an orange blush covering their face. ughhhh- nervously they stepped out into the downpour, a shiver running through the inkling as their foot stepped into a puddle. The splash startled the octoling, she looking down at the ground. Three hummed softly, carefully splashing their foot in the puddle again. Ugghhh wet socks… "don't worry, this was all you heard." They said. A sentence that was starting to get rehearsed. The octoling startled at a lot at sharp sudden sounds. So Three had learned demonstrating what had made the noise helped ease eight's mind.
Eight paused before looking down at the ground. Shifting her boots she carefully splashed a puddle near her. Not nearly as loud or fierce as three, but it was clear the octoling was fascinated. That's when Three startled this time. Jumping back as eight jumped, crashing into the same puddle with all her weight. Instinctively Three scrambled away with a yelp, almost getting their lower half drenched. "Eight-!!" However, Three couldn't be angry for long. Sudden soft excited laughter rang through the air, Three watching the octoling run to a much larger puddle, jumping before crashing into it, watching the wave she had caused. "Three-! You must try this! It is fun!!!"
Three smiled slightly with an orange blush. Watching the octoling play in the rain. Eight reminded them of a kid. Jumping puddle to puddle to see which one would make the largest splash... The inkling hesitated as their eyes met eights, she absolutely getting soaked by now. Three looked back at the underhang. They could still save their own skin from shivering like crazy when they got back to their apartment... But....
Sucking air through her teeth they turned and bolted. Jumping as their short body crashed into the same puddle the octoling was standing in. eight yelped in alarm as the wave of water three caused soaked her boots even more, but she started laughing, Three soon joining in. They could deal with being soaking wet if it brought a smile to eights face...
......
Later, when both inkling and octoling had gotten home and changed, they curled up together, eight sitting on a window ledge in Three's apartment. Looking out the window as the inkling shivered like crazy in her lap, curled tightly in a blanket. Desperately the short inkling tried to warm up, rubbing their shaking hands together. It was quiet… but it was nice. With a hum eight finally spoke. “Rain... Could..." The octoling hesitantly looked down at Three, that looked up at eight curiously. "**Could you call me this?... Like... eight.**" The octoling was clearly struggling with words. But Three knew what eight was asking. It reminded them of their old octoling friend, one that they had labeled rain since they didn't really have a name…
"Y-yeah! I can!" Three chimed, eyes lighting up. "Rain." The octoling blushed at the name, but it felt *right*. Like she was supposed to be called that… three felt the same, even if a wave of sadness coursed through them at the memories of their old ‘rain’.
The two continued to watch the downpour outside the window, Three falling asleep in eights lap, leaning against her chest once they had fully warmed from their adventure.... eight stayed up though. Leaning against the window as a smile spread across her face…
Rain the octoling… free on the surface