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Violet-colored eyes slowly blinked open to rays of sunlight filtering through the window above the bed. While it was a little blurry, Three could tell this wasn’t their room. Nor their house. (Nor did they live anywhere in particular but that wasn’t the point.) They lay on their side. The weighted blanket on top of them was ruffled, tangled in their limbs. A pillow lay halfway across their face, and another was captured in their arms. They must have been quite active during the night, which was unusual for them. Usually, they were considered a “Dead sleeper.” Which just meant they hardly moved when they slept. Didn’t mean they were a heavy sleeper, though. They were sure they must have woken up multiple times throughout the night to some strange sound or feeling.
Speaking of which, their throat felt like it was on fire. Swallowing felt like a difficult task, it felt like they were swallowing rocks. Their limbs felt heavy and they weren’t sure they could move. Maybe this is what they got for all those nights staying up late and sleeping in that uncomfortable area in Octo Valley.
And also cowering in the rain, apparently, as they suddenly remembered where they were and what happened. The unfamiliar room suddenly made much more sense now.
They were in the Squid Sisters’ house.
As if to confirm this realization, a knock sounded at the bedroom door. When Three didn’t answer, the doorknob turned and a familiar Cuttlefish poked her head into the room.
“Three? Oh! You’re awake!” Callie said excitedly as she fully stepped into the room. She’d tied her tentacles up differently since the night before. Instead of the usual bow made with them, she’d tied them back, creating a ponytail. Smart, she wouldn’t be bothered by them while she slept. Three found themself wishing their tentacles were long enough to do that. They’d been forced to get them cut before getting kicked out to be independent in Inkopolis. Well, at least they had control over it now, so they’d be able to grow them out without any comment from their parents or siblings. They had control over pretty much everything in their life now. Though at the cost of just about everything, they supposed.
“Are you feeling okay, Three?” Callie’s voice was laced with concern as she made her way over to the bed that the younger inkling lay on. “You look more shit than usual. I mean, like, your tentacles are dull.” A bit of humor was found in her statement. Three snorted at this. She probably wasn't wrong, though. They felt like shit, so they were sure they looked like shit.
A cool hand placed itself on their head, which they didn't realize was so warm; Uncomfortably so. The coolness of the touch felt… surprisingly nice. Maybe it was because their brain was still fogged with sleep, maybe they just didn't mind in the moment, but they let the hand stay there and wished it wouldn't move. They didn't like being touched, not often anyways. Were they not feeling like they just crawled out of Hell, they probably would have bitten the hand. Okay, not bitten and maybe just swatted away, but still. And much to their surprise once more, their eyes slipped closed at the nice feeling. But all too soon, the hand retreated from its place.
“You're sick, aren’t you?” the older inkling spoke with a deadpan, yet slightly worried face. All Three could give in response was a snort. “Feels like your head is on fire. I was honestly expecting this, Gods know how long you were out there in the rain.”
It had been thirty minutes, at least. They weren't sure how they’d gotten sick within that period of time, but then considered their self-care habits and decided it made enough sense. All they’d wanted to do was check and see if Callie had been right about the storm, but they ended up getting caught in it themself. The first little bit of thunder had them cowering, hands over their ears. It shouldn't have felt as loud as it was, it shouldn't have made them think of the explosion that splat bomb had made that gave them the nasty scar on their side. But alas, they had found themself sitting in the rain close to getting splatted.
Three groaned as a wave of pain passed through their head. God, they really felt like shit. Their grip on the pillow in their arms grew tighter and they closed their eyes. Maybe if they forced themself to sleep, the pain would go away. The sound of the bedroom door being closed caused them to open their eyes in confusion. Callie had left the room.
Great, she was probably going to tell Marie that they were sick and to stay away from the room. They never liked being sick; no one did, really. When they were sick, they were left alone in their room until they were better. Everyone in their family did it when someone was sick. Quarantine the sick one so no one else gets sick. The only time they could come out of their room was late in the night, when everyone else was asleep in their respective rooms. They’d grab anything leftover from dinner and a water bottle and sneak back to their room. They never questioned this. It made sense, to them at least. Plus, fighting off the sickness by yourself toughened you.
But while it was safer, it was also lonely. Sitting alone in a room with just your thoughts. Especially those that intruded into Three's personal brain space from time to time. They liked to think that they were fine alone, that they’d always been able to get through being sick, even if it meant being curled up in their room for a good few days. Which is why they found themself confused at being sad that Callie had left the room. They shouldn't care that much, they barely knew the idol. But… she’d been so nice to them since she'd met them. It confused them, even more, when they started thinking about that. Why was she being so nice to them? She didn't need to, she had other things to worry about. Three should be the least of her concerns. Yet, there she was not even five minutes ago checking the young agent’s temperature. And there she was the night before, looking for Three in the storm. And when they first visited the Cuttlefishs’ house, when they’d been wounded enough to have to be dragged back there, Callie didn't even know their name. They didn't really know their own name if they were being honest, but that's beside the point. Callie, and Marie, had taken care of them to the best of their ability. The two didn't have to, but they did anyway. Three didn't know how to feel about this. It was strange.
The door opening once more dragged them from their thoughts.
“Okay, I got some water and some food for you. I made extra for breakfast because I thought you might be hungry when you woke up. My turn to cook this week so here's some rice and eggs! Sorry if you don't like either, don't know your food preferences yet.” Callie explained as she placed a glass of water and a tray with a plate of food on the nightstand next to the bed.
For the first time since Three had awoken, they sat up from their uncomfortable position in the bed. Unfortunately, the sudden movement only seemed to make their migraine worse. With a wince, they gripped their head with one hand and reached for the glass of water with the other. A reassuring hand rubbed their back as they took a sip. That felt nice. Weird, but nice. They hadn't realized how thirsty they were until they’d taken the first sip and the water was gone within seconds. Ah, that certainly helped their throat somewhat. Callie laughed from her spot next to them. When had she sat on the bed with Three?
“Pretty thirsty I take it?” All she got in response was a side-eye from the tired agent, but she got the message quite clearly.
The water seemed to help with their headache a bit as well, which didn’t surprise them. They had a habit of forgetting to drink water often, which lead to quite a bit of headaches. Nothing they couldn’t handle. Although, this felt like someone had placed a splat bomb in their head and modified it to blow up every few seconds. They couldn’t remember the last time they felt this sick. That’s what they got for being a dumbass, they supposed.
As they grabbed the tray from the nightstand to taste the food Callie had made them, they went over their plans for the day in their head. They couldn’t stay here all day. Callie had done more than enough for them the past day, they didn’t need to bother her or Marie anymore than they already were. They’d eat the food, rest a little more, then head back to the valley. They had kettles to patrol, an important duty they bestowed upon themself that took priority over recovering from sickness. Were there not as many Octarians in those areas since they’d defeated their ruler? Yes, but that didn’t mean they should slack off on keeping the city safe. The Zapfish could be stolen again for all they knew. They had to be prepared for that. Not only did patrolling help keep the city safe, but also helped with their skills. Perhaps they should visit Ammo Knights later to try a new weapon. All they’d been using this whole time was their Hero Shot. Maybe a roller?
Three’s thoughts were cut short as took a bite of the eggs and rice. Oh, that was good. They couldn’t remember the last time they’d had rice with eggs on top; most certainly before they’d started living on their own. Perhaps that was why they found it so good, enough so that they choked on a bite from how fast they’d been eating it. Coughing wracked Three’s body as they attempted to get the piece of food dislodged from their throat. That same hand from a few minutes ago hit their back in an attempt to help. Oh, shit, Callie was still here? Well, that’s embarrassing.
“Geez, slow down! I know I’m pretty good at cooking, but I’m not that good.” The older inkling joked as Three finally stopped choking on the rice. No, this squid was wrong. The food was fucking delicious, she should not be undermining herself like this.
Then again, Three couldn’t remember the last time they’d eaten.
With the coughing fit over and the food mostly consumed, Callie took the glass and tray and exited the room with a quick “I’ll be right back!”, leaving Three once more alone with their thoughts and sickness.
What were they planning before they started choking? Oh, right, new weapons. Did they have enough money for a new weapon? They’re sure they have some saved up from Turf Wars. Maybe not a lot, but enough to get something nice. Plus, they could probably get Sheldon to get them a discount since they were an agent and all. They’d learned not too long ago that he was the guy who supplied the weapons for the Splatoon. He seemed nice enough, albeit quite chatty.
A familiar object in the room caught Three’s eyes. Was that one of those mini zapfish plushies next to the dresser? They squinted their eyes to try and see better. Yeah, that was the zapfish plush alright. They remembered the first time they grabbed it after repeating a mission. They assumed the Octarians had placed them there in place of the real one so they could have some form of zapfish. But seeing the one in this room now made them think otherwise. Were Callie and Marie the ones putting the fake zapfish there? Or perhaps the captain? Urgh, their brain was too fogged to think about it. All they seemed to focus on now was how soft the zapfish looked. The fabric carefully hand-sewn together. A little captain’s hat sat on top. They always thought that little detail was nice. Maybe they could?
With a groan, Three stood from the rather comfortable bed to make their way to the plush. Unfortunately, they lost their balance hardly halfway there and fell to the ground with an audible thud. Thankfully, the agent’s head didn’t come into contact with the nightstand or the dresser. At least they wouldn’t have a worse migraine. However, they were now stuck on the carpeted floor, the energy sapped out of them. The zapfish plush lay just a few feet away from Three, within arm’s reach. Yes! They could grab it!
Shaking hands wrapped around the fish’s plush body and brought it close to the inkling’s chest. It was as soft as they had thought, maybe even softer. A content sigh left their lips. Screw the bed, they’d rather lay on the floor with this fish instead. They will name it… Sparky. Was that basic? Yes. But you can’t blame them, they were sick and terrible at naming things.
“Hey, I got you more water and some medicine for your sick. It tastes terrible, but it’ll help- Oh my gods, Agent 3, what the hell happened?!” Callie exclaimed at the sight of the younger inkling curled up on the floor. “I left for, like, two minutes!”
Three raised the zapfish up slightly, showing off their prize.
“Oh, you were trying to get the zapfish. You could have just waited for me to come back so I could grab it for you, you know.” Didn’t matter now. They had the plush and that was that. Also, they didn’t need to get someone to do something for them when they were perfectly capable themself. Even if capable meant laying curled up on the floor with a plush in their arms. A sigh sounded from above.
“Alright, come on, up you go.” A surprisingly strong pair of arms wrapped underneath Three’s and picked them up, very similar to how Callie would hold Judd sometimes. Then, the young agent was, gently, tossed back onto the bed with terrifying ease. They knew they didn’t weigh much, but they couldn’t weigh that little. Could they?
Callie raised an eyebrow at their startled expression. Three pointed to her arms, which now that they focused, looked like they had quite a bit of muscle on them.
“What, do you think I’m strong?” she laughed as she looked at her arms. Three didn’t respond. “Well, you're technically not wrong. I do main the roller, which puts a bit of muscle on you if you use it enough.” Oh, that explained it. Maybe they should try out a roller. Gods know they could use some muscle.
As if reading their mind, Callie spoke again. “I could show you the basics of wielding a roller sometime if you'd like. I’d say I’m pretty good at it.” Well, Three would have to see about that.
“Anyways, as I was saying before. I got you some more water and some medicine. Marie said it’ll help with your throat, too.” The liquid, which appeared to be the medicine, did not look very appetizing. Then again, medicine wasn't supposed to be appealing, so there wasn't any reason to complain about that. Either way, there was no way in Hell they were drinking that. Would it make them better? Yes, maybe. But also the idea of drinking it made them want to throw up. And the sisters shouldn't be wasting their medicine on them when they would probably get better in a couple of days anyway.
In defiance to both the medicine and the water, Three turned their back to Callie on the bed, holding Sparky tighter. Maybe they should think of a better name for the fish…
Internally, Three scolded themself for being so childish about the situation. It didn't particularly help that they were holding onto a stuffed zapfish like their life depended on it. But despite their thoughts, they couldn't find the energy to really care. The fever was really getting to them. Maybe the medicine was a good idea. Oh well, too late. They already turned their back to it and made up their mind that they didn't need it.
Callie sighed behind them. “C’mon, Three. I don't want to send you back to your parents half-dead.” she joked. “... Speaking of which, do they know where you are?” They flinched… shit.
What were they supposed to tell her? That they'd been kicked out of the house because they’d been deemed independent enough to live on their own? That their parents probably had no idea where they were and didn't care? That they'd been living in Octo Valley for the past few months because they weren't old enough to own an apartment? (Though, Three had heard that the laws were planning to be changed so that the minimum was 14. They didn't think it was a very good idea, but it would certainly benefit them if it happened.)
They supposed they could lie like they had been since they’d given her their phone number. Alright Three, come on, think of something!
Oh, wait. How were they supposed to tell her? They couldn't really speak when they were like this. Then they slapped themself mentally as they remembered the phone in their pocket. They'd forgotten to take it out before passing out the night before.
After a bit of shuffling, Three managed to pull the device out their pocket. They squinted their eyes as the screen turned on, brightness almost all the way up. Why the hell had they turned it up that high? Whatever, they checked the time.
1:36 PM…
That was much later than they had originally thought. That also threw off their original plans of getting out of bed before noon to patrol the Valley and train. They decided then and there that the universe despised them. Also, weren’t the Sisters supposed to be at work right now? They didn’t know their whole schedule, but they were sure that they started work at a much earlier time…
With an internal sigh, Three opened up their messaging app and tapped on Callie’s contact. A couple of minutes later, a notification sound was heard and Callie fished her own phone out of her pocket and read the message sent by Three.
(Three) 1:40 PM
as far as they know, im staying at a friends house for the weekend. i texted them in the valley
(Three) 1:41 PM
what am i supposed to tell them
(Three) 1:41 PM
“oh yeah im staying at a famous idols house because im sick again lol love ya xoxo”
(Three) 1:42 PM
theyd probably call the cops thinking im doing drugs
Three thanked the gods that it was Saturday so it would seem more believable. They felt impressed with themself for thinking of such a great lie while their mind felt so fogged with fever. But turning around now to look at Callie, their confidence faltered. The look on the idol’s face was a mix between concern and suspicion. But it softened a few moments later and the older inkling spoke again.
“Do you get sick often? You said “again” in this. Sounds like it happens a bit.” The notification sound rang out again.
(Three) 1:44 PM
immune system is shit
“Well, that explains why you’re so sick now.”
(Three) 1:45 PM
im not that sick
“Three, you can barely get out of bed. You’re pretty sick.” You know what? They were going to prove her wrong! They will laugh in her face when they get up and can walk completely fine.
“What the hell are you-”
Not even two minutes later, the (Not-so) famous Agent 3 was laying face down on the floor. They swore at their body for giving up so easily, but then finally gave in and accepted the fact that they were sick and wouldn’t be getting anywhere for a day or two. Being stubborn about this wouldn’t get them anywhere and would most likely make them worse. Taking in a breath, Three turned their body over so that they were laying on their back. Callie’s head popped up from over the bed, an unimpressed look plastered on her face.
“You are one stubborn squid, you know that?” Yeah, they knew well enough.
A hand was offered to them and a few minutes later they were back on the bed, zapfish in their hands. They briefly considered taking it back to their spot in the Valley, but the thought was pushed out. The fish didn’t belong to them and they damn well wouldn’t steal from the Squid Sisters. The ones literally taking care of them, for what reason they still couldn’t fathom.
But then Callie spoke again as if reading their thoughts.
“If you like the zapfish so much, you can keep it. We have a ton, anyways.” What.
They could keep it…
Their grip on Sparky grew tighter in response to this. These squids were too nice to them, honestly.
“So, are you gonna take this medicine or am I gonna have to shove it down your throat?” Nevermind.
“Three.” Fuck you.
“I swear, Three, this is all I need you to do and then you’re free to rest unbothered. Just a cup of this and then you’re done.” Three stared for what felt like forever, then slowly nodded their head. Just to get this shit over with.
A few seconds later, a small cup with a purple-reddish liquid was placed into their hands. It smelled terrible and it looked terrible, but Three took a deep breath and drank it all in one swig… And then immediately gagged because that tasted like shit. Laughter erupted in front of them and the small cup in their hands was replaced with a glass of water. God, hell, they need to get this taste out of their mouth. The water seemed to absorb the taste and spread it out slightly in their mouth, but after a few sips the flavor seemed to die down and they didn’t feel like throwing up from it.
The glass was placed on the nightstand and the inkling turned their back to the idol. As they did so, they laid their head back on the pillow and a wave of exhaustion hit them at almost full force. Shit, the sick was getting them. A hand rubbed their back.
“See? Not that bad. The Great Agent 3, the agent who defeated DJ Octavio himself, was able to take medicine! Hopefully, it should help you a bit.”
The bed shifted as Callie stood up and grabbed the bottle of medicine from the nightstand. The air felt peaceful, calm, as Three began drifting in and out of sleep. They seemed to merge with the bed, their body growing heavier with each passing second. Then, as the clock from the bedroom door being closed was heard, sleep finally pulled them in.
“I’m worried about Three…”
“Well, they’re sick, I’m not entirely surprised by that statement.”
Callie paced about in the shared living room. She had just come back from convincing Three to take some medicine and had been moving about the room ever since. It was a habit she had, whenever she was worried or nervous. It was the former in this case. Marie closed the book she was reading and turned her head to look at her sister.
“There’s more to it, isn’t there?” The green squid eyed Callie’s pacing, which was becoming much more vigorous.
“Their parents… It doesn’t make sense!” she threw her hands up but never stopped her pacing. “Three said they told them that they were staying at a friend’s house for the weekend but it- it didn’t sound right… Why would they let their kid stay out that late at night anyways? Especially in the rain! And another thing! Have you noticed that they’ve been spending pretty much all their time in the Valley?” Callie stopped pacing to look at Marie.
“Well, when you mention it, yeah. What about it?”
“Shouldn’t they be going to school? The districts around here are super on top of making sure a kid is there. The parents are almost immediately notified if someone doesn’t show up. You’d think their parents would do something about that, but they seem unbothered. Enough so that they’re just okay with Three spending a weekend at a friend’s house! Either they’ve been skipping this whole time and their parents don’t care, or there’s something else here. With how often they’re getting beat up in the Valley, I’m going with the latter.”
Everything was silent as Callie finished her rant. The book Marie had been holding prior dropped to her side and she covered her mouth with her hand in thought.
“That… is quite alarming.” She finally spoke after a few minutes.
“Right?! And Three gets all nervous when I ask! They literally flinched when I brought it up!”
The two stared at each other as a plan formulated in their heads. They’d always been able to think of the same things when the times called.
Terrifyingly, at the same time, they both spoke.
“We need to talk to Three about this.”