Chapter Text
Tiff flopped onto the couch inside the Lobby’s lounge? Locker room? Tiff wasn’t exactly sure what it was really called, she just called it home these days. That said they could do with replacing the couch, it was starting to get lumpy.
“Not that I can complain…” she sighed to herself. The sound of thunder booming overhead. A sudden storm rolled in and all the available matches canceled, and everyone cleared out as quick as the storm came in. Even Marigold closed the concessions early after making sure Tiff had enough to eat. Tiff appreciated that, she really did! But there’s only so many Crab Trap Sandwiches and Pescatariats an inkling can eat before wanting to hurl. Of course that left what was in her locker, with tonight’s winner being….
The sudden buzz of her phone brought Tiff out of her thoughts. Sitting up she peeled back the lid of her dinner, month old instant ramen. If only she had some veggies or even an egg to put in it, then maybe it’d look more appealing, and less depressing. She shrugged and reached for her plastic fork.
It’s healthier than stale chips at least…. right?
But before she could finish that thought, or start eating for that matter, she was interrupted again when her phone started buzzing, this time accompanied by the familiar 8-bit Tide Goes Out ringtone that told her who it was. Flipping open her new phone, cod she missed her old one, Tiff nestled it between her shoulder and ear as she sat back on the couch.
“Marie? What’s up? You uh… don’t usually call…” Tiff said as she shifted again. Why was this couch so uncomfortable? Didn’t they ever think of changing it out? She managed to find a half decent position at least. “Well… I mean outside of work….”
“What? I can’t call my favorite agent?” The sarcasm was clear, earning a nervous chuckle from Tiff.
“I’m sorta your only agent.”
“Splitting tentacles.” There was a pause before Marie spoke again. Tiff was almost certain her phone disconnected the call, but she gave a silent sigh when she heard Marie’s voice again. “So what are you up to right now? Isn’t there a big storm out there?”
Tiff nods to herself, looking back at the table and her pitiful dinner in front of her. “Yep. Matches got canceled and everything….” she could feel her stomach churned as she looked at the unappealing mass of noodles that got colder with each second. Oh well… better than stale chips right…? “B… but don’t worry! I’m all nice and dry and about to eat a warm meal!”
That was a lie, she just lied to a friend and she hoped it wasn’t obvious. Thank cod Marie wasn’t there to see her face.
“Right. I’m sure that cup of ramen is really tasty.”
“Yep! Reeeeeeally great. Can’t wa-” Tiff’s eyes shot open. She… didn’t say it was a cup of ramen.. “Uh… Marie…? How did you…”
“Look up, idiot.” And Tiff did, looked up and forward towards the glass door leading out into the lobby. And who else was there but Marie… looking straight at her, with that classic ‘I got you’ smirk of hers. Because she did. She just watched Tiff lie to her. “You need a moment to rethink your story or do you want to just try again?”
All Tiff could make her body do was a quick head shake no. Tiff could hear Marie snickering before the call ended and she watched her enter the lounge area. Tiff wasn’t really focused on her surroundings when Marie sat next to her on the lumpy old couch, instead she was panicking on the inside.
She didn’t need this.
Marie was going to be relentless!
She wasn’t going to hear the end of it for weeks!
She-
“Hey, earth to Tiff. You alright?”
Tiff blinked, finally taking note of everything outside her head. Marie was leaning closer, her hand in front of Tiff’s face, she had been trying to get her attention apparently. Tiff could only nod as she felt her face get warm.
“Okay, so do you want to tell me why you’re here instead of actually being at your apartment?”
Oh, straight to a hard question. “Maybe because…. Idon’thaveanapartmentanymore?” Tiff flinched, expecting… well she didn't know what she was expecting. Anything but the look Marie was giving her.
Marie just… looked at her. The golden eyes Tiff associated with harsh lectures and stern looks that could stop a shark were anything but that. They looked… sad… “You’re… homeless?”
Tiff could only nod, unable to look Marie in the eyes anymore. If only she could sink into the couch, maybe one good thing could come out of this.
“Tiff… WHAT THE SHELL?!?!” Marie yelled, grabbing Tiff’s shoulders to make her look her in the eyes, even if a certain inkling didn’t want to. “Tiff I’m serious! How long has this been going on?”
“Oh you know… a couple of months maybe..”
Try a year, you liar
“And you didn’t think of asking any of your friends for help?” Tiff couldn’t bring herself to answer that. Maybe if she went into squid form she could slip away… no that would just make it easier for Marie to keep her here. “Tiff, please, don’t make me ask you as your boss.”
Would that be worse than avoiding a friend’s question?
Probably not..
But ‘Boss Marie’ was scary…
“I… I didn’t want to be a burden…” Tiff admitted, finally looking at Marie, though she couldn’t make herself look her in the eyes. “It was my fault, the university didn’t want to pay for an apartment if I wasn’t making any progress. So they stopped paying and I might have gotten expelled.” She felt Marie’s grip tighten for a moment. She couldn’t imagine what she was thinking. “But I’ve been fine! Really! They don’t kick you out of here thankfully, and the couch isn’t that bad when you get used to it!”
Marie was silent. Cod she was silent for a lot longer than Tiff expected. She could feel all three of her hearts beat as she started to dread the silence. Couldn’t Marie make a snarky jab or figure out some sort of pun? “Marie… I’m..”
Tiff didn’t get a chance to finish that thought.
She was being hugged. When… When was the last time she was a part of a hug? Here she was being held onto like she was going to slip out of Marie’s arms if given the chance, and she couldn’t remember the last time she was hugged like this.
“Just… just shut up okay?” Marie begged. Begged? Marie, the most calm and collected inkfish Tiff knew, the agent who could confidently shoot a pair of sunglasses off a moving target, who was on a flying robot, while she was on her own flying stage, begged for her to shut up?
“O- okay…”
And they were back in that familiar silence. But now… now it felt comforting. Being held in this moment by Marie made everything feel better.
“Good.” Marie sounded relieved but with a hint of pain. “You really are an idiot Tiff. I mean, you were there for me when Callie was missing. Helping me through my worst and you think I wouldn’t be there for you during yours?” she pulled back, still holding Tiff’s shoulders as she continued. “You’re a more than capable agent, Four, but you can still rely on the rest of us.”
Tiff blinked, catching Marie’s slip up. She couldn’t stop the chuckles that followed. “I thought I got promoted to Agent 3? When did I get demoted?”
“Oh, now you want to make jokes?” Marie smirked, though her own laughter escaped her too. She finally lifted one of her hands, using it to cup Tiff’s cheek as she looked at her. Those golden eyes Tiff always associated with cold, stern lectures were now warm and inviting. Paired with the more intimate gesture, Tiff was speechless as Marie continued. “You’re coming home with me. There’s no negotiation, I’m not letting you spend another night sleeping on this codforsaken couch. We’ll even get some take out on the way.”
Tiff blinked, she completely forgot about that. She turned her head back to the table and her cold, soggy, month old ramen cup. “Alright… I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”
Marie snorted and shook her head before getting up. “Oh not at all.”