Chapter Eleven: Restless Eternities
As Marie stretched in front of the metro entrance, finally out. Agent Four inhales Inkopolis' fresh air, as Agent Three dusts herself off. Marie turns around to see Agent Four, stretching his arms.
"So, Four, Agent Three told me you like pineapple on pizza," Marie starts.
Agent Four looks back, "What do ya mean?"
Marie looked at Agent Three before turning back to Agent Four, "Agent Three told me while we were walking back that when I said I wanted pineapple-free pizza, you made a disgusted face."
"Is there anything wrong with that," Agent Four asks, "I like pineapple on pizza, not my favorite, but not the worst."
Marie placed her hands on her hips, prepared to decimate Agent Four, "You like fruit on pizza?"
Agent Four, ahead of the game, responds, "Yeah, anything wrong with that? I like pineapple on pizza, and so too I like tomato sauce on pizza. Tomatoes are fruit right?"
Marie giggles, dropping a sweat at the unexpected response. Agent Three keeps silent, as she keeps her opinion close to her. The three walk to the studio where Pearl and Marina are currently creating jokes and liners for the next hour. Marie walks by her vehicle, which to her relief, appears to be untouched. The back door to the studio was opened and Marina and Pearl come out of the publicly open area.
"Holy Carp what happened to you two!" Pearl reacted to the jagged clothes, and half ripped gear.
Marina sees Agent Four's leaking radio and sighs, "So that's why huh, radios are busted"
"We had to fight like twelve octolings in a train car," Marie complained, sitting down on the nearest chair, which turned out to be Marina's.
"I've seen Agent Four take down like six elite octolings all on his own trying to find the zapfishes," Pearl spoke her thought out loud, "and you Marie! You've been in the business longer than Agent Four!"
"Let me say what I said again," Marie coughed, "We, had to fight, twelve, octolings, in a train car."
Agent Three walked into the conversation, "Tight spaces will inevitably get you inked, no matter how good you are."
Agent Four nodded before exhaling, "Not much space to dodge ink."
Marina took her laptop and typed into it while Pearl continued the conversation with the three. She begins telling Captain Cuttlefish of Marie and Agent Four's return. Captain Cuttlefish was not disappointed of the failed search for Commander Tartar, he was just happy that his grandchild and her boyfriend was safe.
"I've told Cap'n," Marina interrupted, "you two should clean up and have a rest. Agent Three, I need to talk to you for a moment."
Pearl turned around to follow Marina and Agent Three, but remembered the keys she was told to keep safe and secure.
"Agent Four," Pearl called, causing Agent Four to look at her, "catch!"
Agent Four caught the vehicle keys and clasped it in his hands. Marie turned her head to see Agent Four's face down. She took his free hand and held it, taking good care preparing for what he might say.
"Four," Marie whispered, "is something wrong..."
Agent Four whispered back bluntly, "What about your ex, did he visit while we were gone?"
Marie turned her head, "Don't worry, we'll talk about it when we get home. For now, let's actually get home..."
Minutes passed, and evidence of exhaustion were on full display. Agent Four nor Marie talked, an odd occurrence for a new couple. It felt like forever, till forever ended. Agent Four drove into the driveway before exiting the vehicle. Marie slugged her way to exit the vehicle and pick up her gear. Agent Four waited no time to pick up his gear before entering the house.
"Marie," Callie called, "Agent Four?"
"The second one," Agent Four joked.
"That's unfortunate," Callie fired back, while she walks from her room to the front door.
Marie pokes herself out, "Hey what's goin' on."
Agent Four took Marie's gear before walking up to her room. Marie hugged Callie, which caused Callie to pull back slightly.
"Geez, and you think Agent Three smells bad," Callie joked, returning them to the old days of Callie being brainwashed.
"Callie, I was stuck in a tunnel for more than a minute with her again, don't think I am pulling out of my statement," Marie fought back, "also, Agent Four's smell kept me alive so..."
"You're mean, I thought you were the nice one," Callie laughed.
"Callie," Agent Four called from his and Marie's room, "did someone knock on the door last night?"
"No," Callie answered, "why?"
"Nothing," Agent Four lied, being left in a place worried of intrusion.
"I'll talk to you later Callie," Marie ends the conversation, "don't put on the wrong shades."
Marie walks up the stairs to enter her room. She entered to see Agent Four organizing all of their half broken gear. Agent Four turned around to see the confused face of Marie, as she continued to stare into him.
"What's wrong," Marie asked, remembering Agent Four's concerned voice.
Agent Four exhaled, taking his time, before releasing his weight on her, "I thought when we would get home, that I wouldn't worry anymore. Marie, I'm tired. I don't need him to come tonight."
Marie approached Agent Four before placing one of her hand on his chest, and the other on his back. She faced Agent Four's washed and pale face. Agent Four continued looking at Marie's careful and caring face. He placed a hand on her hand, and on her back. The pair grew closer, as both started coating each other in their breath.
"Don't worry," Marie whispered before pecking Agent Four's lips, "I'm here."
Agent Four continued fighting his mind. The thought of the tall, obsessive, inkling coming to the front door made him shake. He will not be able to fight back, he's tired, he's weak, and he is not ready. Moreover, nor is Marie. Marie cannot defend herself. No matter what way he looks at his situation, he continues to worry to about breaking his promise.
The day was spent on logging what occurred in the tunnels, and cleaning and repairing the broken gear. Agent Four and Marie poured every ounce of their strength and endurance to finish every personal objective. However, by the last objective, readying for the next task, Agent Four and Marie clung for the bed. Before dinner, the pair fell asleep, breaking their sleep schedule. The aura of sleep surrounded Marie and Agent Four, till they became solid underneath the blanket.
However, Agent Four's nightmare slipped into reality. A loud set of knocks on the door kicked him out of sleep. Marie stayed asleep and solid. Agent Four carefully reached for his dualies before silently sliding towards the door. As he grew close, the knocking stopped. Agent Four quietly sighed in relief. Then suddenly, the door was knocked down. A familiar inkling decimated the door with a blaster.
"It's your turn to get out of the way you slimy puddle of liquid," the nightmare screamed as he aimed for Agent Four.
Agent Four quickly rolled away, being careful not to waste ink as he did not carry a tank with him. He ran for cover behind the couch before the large inkling fired another shot.
"Come out you squirmy squid," the obsessive inkling commanded, "with you gone, there wont be competition."
Agent Four smartly turned into an ink and hid underneath the couch. Marie finally woke up to the shaking of the house and began panicking. She picked up her charger and began charging the only line she can make without a tank. Marie peaked outside of her room to see the situation. She saw his ex walking towards the couch, giving her tons of information. Agent Four is behind or underneath the couch, and that her ex-boyfriend had a blaster. A splashdown is a scary possibility as she confirms the presence of the ink tank.
"Don't hurt him," Marie called, catching the ex's attention.
"Why hello Marie, you look nice in your sleepwear," the intimidating announced, in an attempt to anger Agent Four into coming out.
Marie exhaled, "You have no business here, go away, you sad excuse for a life."
"As much as your tongue grew harsher, I still remember how it felt and taste," the volume grew, and so did Agent Four's anger, "and I still remember every curve Marie."
Agent Four, in a mix of anger and desperation, released a splat bomb from underneath the couch. The triangular case drew the attention of the target.
"So that's where you are," the annoyed inkling whispered before taking aim at the gap between the floor and the couch.
Marie released her charger's ink, which only mustered to a low-tide shot. The large inkling fell to the ground in confusion and pain. Agent Four was given enough time to recover some drops of ink, which he used to cover the stunned opponent. Marie's agent senses told her to move over to the side. She followed her mind, which resulted in her dodging the ink that Callie flung with her roller. Callie surprised in her own swiftness and quietness waved at Marie, before flinging another large blob of ink.
Agent Four quickly ran to the stairs where Marie was stationed and held her tightly. Callie turned around to see the cute pair merge into one, before turning back to see the weak inkling, unable to turn into a squid.
"Move, and get out," Callie warned in her most angered voice, which still leaked of her normal adorable voice.
The threat became no more and waddled outside, stumbling into anything the ground may have. Callie turned around to see Marie tearing on Agent Four. She had not seen her cousin cry like this before, the closest was the memories of tears of fear before performing for the first time as the Squid Sisters. Agent Four ran his hands down her back as he dropped his dualies on the floor, which tumbled down the stairs onto Callie's feet. Marie dehydrated herself, which did not help her soreness and slow movements from last night. Callie sighed as she called Marina and Pearl to come visit for comfort and help replacing the door. Agent Three was called too to watch over the house while the three prepared plans to fix the door.
Agent Four slowly stepped his way into his and Marie's room, guiding every movement that Marie has to make, being careful not to release her. Marie cried in her and Agent Four's bed, darkening the blankets, the pillows, and the sheets. Agent Four held her in his arms for a record time, time itself did not realize how fast forever passed. Marie's tears grew into exhaustion and exhaustion grew into sleep. As Marie sleeps soundly in the bed, Agent Four reaches for his phone on the bed-side table. He calls Captain Cuttlefish, hoping that he would answer.
"Hello Agent Four, how are you," Captain Cuttlefish happily answered.
Agent Four looked and caressed the sleeping Marie, "Cap'n, Marie and I will not be available for assignments for a while..."