Chapter Text
“Alright, little guy, that should be everything you need to get to the surface! Good luck up there!”
“Thank you very much for your assistance. It was enough of an ordeal making my way across the Canyon. I am most appreciative of all you have done to help us refugees.”
“ Psh , it’s the least we could do! Now go on through the sewer grate, don’t be shy!”
The former Octotrooper jumped in shortly after, toting their belongings behind them. How many of them have they seen migrate to the surface by now…it was becoming impossible to keep count.
“Hey, Four, how many migrants did we get today?”
“Woah, woah, woah, why are you asking me? We both agreed that logging everyone was your job, Marie. You’re the one who’s better with the numbers and junk, anyway.”
Oh. Right.
“You…have been logging everyone, right?” Four’s question sounded genuine, but the teasing tone in her voice indicated that they already knew the answer. “You were the one who insisted that we needed to track ‘em in the first place, if you haven’t forgotten~”
“Yeah, yeah, shrimp, I get it already. I just, uh…” She trailed off, unable to form a witty comeback.
Admittedly, it had completely slipped her mind. Must have stopped taking inventory hours ago…maybe even days ago? She couldn’t remember. The days had started to blend together after they rescued Cal from Octavio’s clutches.
Twice.
It’s been weeks since the incidents, and yet Cal still refused to explain why she put those damned shades back on. Marie initially held on to them for Sheldon to study how they worked, but after that fiasco, she promptly crushed the hypnoshades beneath her heel. She couldn’t risk it again.
What kind of response is ‘they look good on me’, anyway? Did it look good to be a slave to the whims of the enemy? On purpose??? There’s no way Cal could be that stupid, and there’s no way she thought Marie was stupid enough to believe that answer. What the hell is she hiding-
“Yo, Marie, you alright?”
Marie, not realizing she was looking down at her feet this whole time, promptly turned her head towards Four’s voice. Her usual carefree, cheeky expression had been replaced with one of slight concern.
“Y-yeah, I’m good”, Marie responded halfheartedly. “Just got a lot weighing on my mind right now.”
She turned to the snow globe that once housed Octavio. He was imprisoned here not too long ago, but Gramps gave the order to let him go for…whatever reason. What could have happened on that subway trip of his that would have convinced him it was okay to free his mortal enemy - the same mortal enemy that kidnapped his granddaughter?
Whatever it was, Marie couldn’t figure it out. Gramps was being tight-lipped about the Metro, instead opting to act like he was never there. Every question she asked was met with either a flippant response or ignored completely. She was glad that he was OK, but it wasn’t like him to be so…evasive.
Why were her own family members keeping her in the dark?
It was hard enough maintaining her composure after she realized that Cal had gone missing and even harder figuring out a plan to rescue her via placing all her trust in the hands of a stranger. Meanwhile, her grandfather and one of her best friends were trapped in a secret subway facility deep underground? And no one had anything to say about any of it?
“Hey, are you sure you’re alright?”
Why was everyone so dead set on pretending like nothing happened? Marie wanted nothing more than things to return to normal after she got Cal back - it took her too long to realize what the ‘fest had done to their relationship, and she just wanted her cousin back. But now that her cousin was back, things between them felt more estranged than ever before! She’s dodged every question, ignored every call, left every text message on read, and for what?
Gramps at least had the decency to pick up the phone, but Marie knew he was lying about what happened on the Metro. How in the world does the sole survivor of the Squidbeak Splatoon, whose entire mission was keeping the Octarians at bay, end up befriending some Octoling girl she had never seen before? Did he think that she didn’t notice where he was going and who he was talking to after he reached the surface?
“Marie, you’re shaking…”
And yet, despite everything he spent his entire life doing, Gramps insisted that the Tentakeel Outpost be turned into an immigration hub for the fleeing Octarians. It didn’t make any sense? He wanted them to aid the people who kidnapped her cousin and help them adjust to the society he personally made sure they could never get into?! Was Marie the one who had lost her mind, or has everyone close to her gone crazy? She could know the answer if Cal and Gramps could just tell her anything, anything at all, but they won’t .
Why?
Did they not trust her with the truth? Do they not think she could handle it? She already identified the connecting dot between both incidents is that they involved Octarians - is that why they won’t speak on it? Was it too taboo to speak on the enemy to the point where it had to be the world’s worst-kept secret?
They…they had to see how this was tearing her apart, right? Every sleepless night lying wide awake trying to formulate the truth, trying so hard to find out why her family was lying to her. And yet they continue to lie, and they continue to pretend, and they continue to pull on her heartstrings until it feels like her insides will unravel-
“Marie.”
Marie’s return to reality was met with two large eyes peering directly at her, with the distance between her and Four being uncomfortably close.
“Good grief, Four, you scared the mess out of me.” Marie and Four both took a step back, and Marie now see the panicked distress on Four’s face.
“I could say the same thing…” Four placed their hand on their face and cocked their head inquisitively. “Do you have…any idea how long you’ve been muttering to yourself?”
Shit, she was speaking out loud? Marie hadn’t even realized. And to be honest, she had no idea how much time had passed, but she was now keenly aware of how dry her throat had become, and how erratic her breathing was. Every exhale came out shaky and strained, the inhales nasally and labored. Her hands were pained by how hard she was clutching her parasol, each of her palms covered in slight bruises.
“You know you don’t have to keep up a strong persona, right? It’s only you and me right now ... ” Four trailed off, a hint of uncertainty hidden in their voice. She tried their best to give Marie her best smile, but her eyes were still laden with worry. “ Do you wanna, uh, talk about it?”
Marie opened her mouth as if to speak, but no sound left her throat. She closed her mouth, shaking her head vigorously.
“Alright, that’s cool, we don’t have to. I do think it’d be best for you to sit down, though.” Four motioned toward the direction of the cabin. Marie took her hand as they both made their way inside.
—
“...aaaand that’s the gist of why I think inkskates should be allowed in turf and ranked. It’s not like it’d be a crutch - you, of all people, already know my stats - it would just make the game more fun, y’know?”
“So you really went through all that just to say ‘I want to style on my opponents even more than before’? You could have just led with that.”
“Hehe, guilty as charged~”
A couple of hours had passed while the two were in the cabin. Four brewed some tea to help calm Marie’s nerves, opting to speak on whatever nonsense they could think of to help get her mind off things. Luckily for Marie, Four could go on about anything for ridiculous periods of time, even if the conversation was one-sided. It never failed to help cheer her up.
“Soooo…” Four hit Marie with a curious eyebrow raise. “...do you want to talk about what happened out there?”
“Eugh, shoulda known you were gonna ask.” Marie’s eyes dropped to the empty cup in her hands. “I guess you of all people deserve to know, though.”
Marie’s hands fiddled with the cup as she began speaking.
“I…”
She began to anxiously tap the side of the cup, struggling to get her words together.
“I just…I think I’m overdue for a break, after everything that’s happened.”
Marie hadn’t lifted her head, but she could feel Four’s gaze. She knew they would press for more information, but she didn’t think it was possible for her to get the words out.
“I don’t think…” She paused before clearing her throat. “No, I know I’m not in the right mind to be working immigration right now. And as it stands, I don’t think I ever will be.”
Four’s gaze increased in intensity, but they still remained silent.
“It just…sucks, I guess? Knowing that your own family is lying and keeping secrets from you.” She sniffled. “It was hard enough getting Cal out of the Canyon the first time, but then she went back , and I still don’t know why. Gramps is now all friendly with his sworn enemy, and I still don’t know why. Three is still in the goddamn hospital with a mysterious green scar all over their face, and I still don’t know why .”
Her hands were now clenching the cup, the force of the grasp causing it to shake violently.
“I’ve spent so many nights worried about what could have happened to them, and yet they just continue to lie to my face and tell me nothing. It’s so, so, so tiresome, Four, and at this point, I still don’t know why I even bother.” Her voice began to grow hoarse as her breathing grew rapid and less controlled. “I mean really, why should I care? They don’t care enough to tell me, they might never care enough to tell me. I might go my entire life not knowing whatever bullshit my own family went through, and they - they won’t even give me a reason on why I shouldn’t know.”
A soft splash can be heard from inside the cup as it begins to fill with Marie’s tears.
“I just can’t deal with them right now. I tried my damndest to just do as Gramps asked because he’s still family, but I think I would rather be anywhere than here. Anywhere in the coddamned world.”
Marie dropped the cup and buried her face in her hands, sniveling and sobbing as quietly as she could manage.
It wasn’t fair that her grandfather had turned on everything he believed in and everything he taught her about the Octarians.
It wasn’t fair that she was personally responsible for making sure that all of her enemies who had harmed her cousin were allowed safe passage to the surface.
It wasn’t fair that the cousin she went through the trouble of saving twice didn’t have the common decency to even tell her what she had saved her from.
It wasn’t fair that all she wanted was for her family to be honest with her, and she couldn’t even get that .
It wasn’t fair.
None of this was fair.
It wasn’t fucking fair-
“Then you should go.”
Marie lifted her head to see Four uncomfortably shifting their weight in the seat, eyes locked on their knees. “If you can’t be here, then you should go. I can handle everything going on here .”
Marie was stunned by the bluntness of Four’s response, but quickly returned to sobbing in her hands. “But I don’t - where would I even - I don’t even know where -”
“Hey, Marie, look at me.” Four softly placed her hand on Marie’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t forget to breathe, alright? Take a deep breath.”
Marie did as she was told, focusing her nerves for a moment.
“Alright, so, you’re very clearly stressed wayyy out of your mind, and you absolutely can’t stay here.” Four gave her a soft, sad smile, still holding Marie’s shoulder as they spoke. “If you could be anywhere in the world to destress, anywhere at all, where would it be?”
Marie clasped her hands together, breaking her gaze at Four as she thought their question over thoroughly.
After a minute of silence, she quietly muttered, “I need to go back home.”
Four gave her a large grin as she got up and faced the door. “Alright then, lemme just let the cap’n know you’ll be gone for a few days and we’ll be squared away-”
“Wait.” Marie grabbed their arm as they started to walk away. “Do you-do you think you’d be able to come with me? I’m sure the rest of my family would love to meet the person who saved Cal.”
“Aw geez, I’m flattered, really, but someone still has to run everything down here-”
“Then let Gramps handle it. It’s his project to oversee, not ours.” Marie tightened her grip. “Please? I just-I don’t want to go down alone. ”
Marie dropped her head as Four let the offer marinate, carefully considering the consequences. Marie knew it was selfish of her to let the outpost be left unmanned for several days, but she didn’t think she could bear to return alone, either. Gramps made it clear that agent work should stay with the agents, so her family didn’t even know about the Octarians or anything of the sort. Imagine the shock of hearing that they were not only alive but also responsible for kidnapping her cousin - no, she refused to burden them with that.
Before, she had Cal to talk it out with. Now, Four was the only one left who knew of everything going on that wasn’t actively ghosting her, and the only one who understood how she felt. She hated to feel like she was using her friend, but she just needed someone, anyone , who could be there for her-
“Hell, what’s the worst that could happen?” Four sighed before her trademark smile returned to their face. “If he could watch the Valley for a hundred years, watching the Canyon should be no sweat!” She laughed heartily, wiping a tear from her eye. “Of course I’ll come w-”
Before they could even finish their confirmation, she was interrupted by a shrill, cacophonous noise coming from in front of her. Marie’s previously reserved and soft sniffling had been replaced with much louder and more overt sobbing. “Thank you thank you thank you so much-” Her words started to run together amidst her crying, the tears crashing down like a darkened waterfall as it ruined her mascara. “I owe you, Angie.”
“Woah, you’re not supposed to use my real name while I’m on the job!” Four teased as they poked her face. “Those icy walls of yours are finally comin’ down, huh?”
Marie wiped her face as she softly chuckled. “Shut up, shrimp.”
“No, no, I’m serious. I’m glad you’re able to put down the facade every once in a while.” Four was beaming, but tears were forming in the corners of her eyes. “Makes me feel like you can finally trust me.”
“What, was trusting you with saving my cousin’s life not enough?”
Four stuck out her tongue as she crossed her arms. “You know that’s not what I mean.”
“Then I guess it’s back to ‘shrimp’ then.” Marie gave them her signature half-smirk as she continued to wipe away her tears. “I’m just glad you were here.”
“Aw, geez, I - well, you know -” Four started to stammer, a slight blush tinting her face. “Um, this might be inappropriate of me to ask, but..” They spread out their arms slightly. “Do you think you’d want a h-”
Next thing they knew, they were pulled into a tight, bone-crushing hug from Marie, cradling her head in her shoulder. Four could’ve sworn they heard her purr as she continued to softly sob in her ear.
Four’s blush grew more apparent as they returned the embrace. “I sh-I should really let the cap’n know we’re leaving, y’know…” Her words only caused Marie to hold them tighter.
“Just a little longer?” Marie whined as she looked up at them with a wanting, needy expression.
It was a face that was hard to say no to, and admittedly, Four was in no rush to get up, either.
“Fine,” Four faked an experasted sigh as they placed their head closer on Marie’s shoulder. “As long as you need.”