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Tentakeel Outpost, 8:20 A.M.
“Callie, I think that’s enough cream.“ Marie called. Her cousin, who was bent over a disgruntled looking Inkling, ignored her advice and continued rubbing burn cream onto Three’s face. “No, wait, just a bit more. Three, don’t swat my hand away! You have a really nasty burn on your face, y’know? It needs more cream to heal faster.” Three glared up at her senior—the black-haired popstar. “You’re painting a zen garden on my face.”
Marie smothered a laugh as Three wiped the excessive amount of burn cream off her face, and as an infuriated Callie reapplied the lost cream. Callie giggled. “Hmm… your face kind of does look like one.” Three ducked under Callie’s fingers, then sideways. “My burn’s not even that bad,” she complained. She knew that it was only a pale green now, but Callie could be persuasive. Three closed her eyes, letting the popstar smooth out her mask impatiently, for what she hoped was the last time. …
… … …
… At some point, the Inkling regained her senses. She noted it was getting brighter out.
… Three knew because she could see the sunlight behind her eyelids, and feel the warmth on her face.
… She could smell the grass. She could hear chatter, as if from far away.
… Where was she again?
Her eyelids fluttered open to a squint. Three realized she had fallen asleep. She was not surprised, half-expecting this because of her headache. Yesterday was when she had gotten her scar. Besides that, it was also when she hit her head by falling from three floors up. Her experience was enough to say that day was not fun.
An orange-haired Inkling turned her head to look. There was a click from the stopwatch she held. Her companions, One, Two, and Captain Cuttlefish noticed. Three watched the four of them from afar.
Captain Cuttlefish led the troop over and cleared his throat. “AGENT THREE! How are you holdin’ up? Ahem. After we beat the Tar out of that creepy statue?”
“I… I’m fine. Don’t worry about it, Cap.” Three was not about to mention how every part of her body ached. No— there were too many people worried about her. She touched her ringing ears, dizzy from the captain’s sudden outburst.
Marie made a sound of disagreement. “Hmm. Says the squid who’s clutching her face.”
“Her face just turned really, really pale,” Callie interjected.
The orange-haired Inkling, in turn did not speak, but gave Three a skeptic look.
Cuttlefish inspected her face and said, as gently as he could, “I’m thinking that you need time to recover, Agent. And this is an order. You are NOT to go on any patrol or combat missions for at least a month.”
Three’s mouth opened in shock. “A month? I’m the only full-time agent here besides Marie’s new recruit.”
Orange-hair grinned at her and pointed at herself. Marie confirmed, “Right, this is Agent Four. There wasn’t time for introductions before, but you can talk to Callie for that.”
“That wasn’t all my fault! Oh, I guess I did get us distracted with Three’s burn.” Callie shrugged, then pointed her arms at Four in a ta-da pose. “But this is Agent Four!”
“I can see that. Captain, you can’t seriously be sidelining me though…” Three said, as she picked herself up to greet her new coworker. “Hi. I’m Agent Three.”
“Agent Four.” Four offered her a fist bump. Three bumped her fist, earning another smile from the orange-haired Inkling. Three was glad that she had a normal coworker for once. “Also, super sorry for this, but Marie asked me to time how long you slept. It’s weird, I know.” She discretely showed off the pink stopwatch in her hand. 00:38:57.
“Oh.” Now Three wanted to strangle Two.
Two looked to the sky and cleared her throat. “Anyways, Three, you’re on probation. Gramps’ orders. And before you argue—“ she held up a silent finger, as Three was about to speak— “We can send you to a physician. Then you’ll have to rest for what… 6 months?”
“Exactly. We’re good at following the doctor’s orders, kiddo!” Cuttlefish added.
“On the other hand, we could do our own exams every two weeks. See if you’re ready for action. It could be a lot faster than whatever the doctor gives you,” Marie said simply.
Three growled at her. Marie had a point, but Three disliked any amount of probation. She knew the New Squidbeak Splatoon needed her, yet they would also bench her and refuse to hear her out. Why wouldn’t they just listen? She was fine. After all, she could still function, somewhat. She could still hold a gun. Though, Three supposed she overused this argument. Maybe that was why.
Three sat herself down. “Fine,” she said, because she was too exhausted to argue. Of course, Three would appeal this to her mentor tomorrow. But not today.
“I’m glad you’re making sense! Ahem. Agent Three, you’re dismissed from your duties for the rest of today,” Cuttlefish declared. He then added, “We’ll see about tomorrow though, eh?”
The glum-looking Inkling perked up a little. Callie pumped her fist in the air. “Is Three finally taking a day off? Boo-yah!” Marie mumbled something into the Captain’s ear, to which the Captain laughed and agreed to be less chatty next time, and the orange-haired Inkling watched her with a raised brow and a sideways smile.
Three was looking forward to tomorrow. Her eyes turned to the sky in thought. Today was a hot summer day, and her head still hurt. For now, she was going to lay down on the bench, and take it easy.