Chapter Thirteen: Number Three
"No gramps, it wasn't us," Marie was heard murmuring, "it was the octolings, if they were smart enough to rig a train, we're smart enough not to be found out to be a secret organization... -Everyone can speculate all they want."
Agent Four begins to listen in while inspecting the completed doorway. He stood straight up satisfied with the work, till he turned around to see Agent Three fiddling with her Hero Shot. Agent Three noticed and looked up to Agent Four with a confused look.
"Can I ask politely," Agent Four started, "why are you still here? Aren't you tired."
Agent Three stopped fiddling and placed her Hero Shot on the floor, "Well, I honestly do not know."
She leaned on the wall before crossing her arms and asking, "So how long have you and Marie been a thing?'
"More than a week," Agent Four guessed, not knowing as he lost track.
Agent Three looked down, closing her eyes, "Can I admit something, Agent Four...?"
"Go ahead," Agent Four accepted, nervous of the any potential fact that he may learn.
Agent Three teared up, but hid it with her sleeve, which darkened with tears, "You know, I used to like you..."
He sighed while crossing his arms and looking down, Agent Three continued, "When we first played together in Ranked, after we got Agent Eight out, before she visited the outpost, I loved it. I only wanted to rank up with you."
Agent Three continued, pouring tears onto the floor, "I only wanted to be with you. But you found love with Marie. I was there when she dragged you across the square, to Crusty Sean. I saw you, happy, you were so red, she was so happy."
Agent Four felt a piercing feeling through his chest, hearing Agent Three release her emotional pain on him, "So I gave up. When I rescued you, I thought maybe I would have an ounce of acknowledgement of my existence. You did acknowledge me...and I felt so happy. My face was probably brighter than your face when you saw me. But all I know it was only because you wanted to get out of the tunnel, you weren't happy to see me."
Agent Three started flooding the floor with tears before she made her way towards the door with her Hero Shot, not giving a single glance to Agent Four. She quickly dashed her way out the door, slamming the door behind her, leaving Agent Four alone. Agent Four stayed silent, as his mind created hurricanes of feelings and thoughts. After that, all he heard was Marie talking to Captain Cuttlefish, for now, he leans and waits.
Marie fell quiet before exiting her room, "Is something wrong Four?"
"Nothing," Agent Four answered, faking that nothing happened.
Marie smiled before walking up to Agent Four and pecking her lips with his. Agent Four was filled with happiness instead of guilt, and not before long, started smiling like his usual self. His thoughts of Agent Three began pealing off, as began only focusing on Marie.
Agent Three cried all the way to the Battle Lobby to ink the problem away. She lost every single battle, knocking her position down a rank. No hope is to be found, as her emotional weight began to take a toll on her physical performance. She became jealous of both Agent Four and Marie. Marie is popular, loved, and most importantly, had Agent Four loving her. Agent Four had the talent, the skill, and the motivation to keep pushing through every day. She began to envy any tiny detail she finds as better than her own counterpart. Even down to the gear they were given, as Agent Four had more weapons to use during his missions. She wanted to love Agent Four, but she could not, nor did he. Agent Three knew that Marie would be keeping Agent Four for a long while. She knows she can wait, however, waiting may be in vain, as from her observations proved the relationship to be solid on ground. Agent Three cannot take her dignity away, she had to be a squid of integrity. Her mind tempted her to break apart the pair, but alas, her mind fought itself. Honour is more valuable to her, than Agent Four. After the race of thoughts subsided, she knew nights of tears and sadness, will reign for a long time.
Agent Four sits down in front of his and Marie's closet to come face-to-face with his vest. The vest he was given was actually a hoodie, however, he had got the sleeves and some of the constraining pieces removed. He was reminded of the first time he met Agent Three. After rescuing Callie, he met with Agent Three, which he was told could modify the hoodie after Callie overheard his complaints. Marie, oddly enough, did not talk much, if at all, of Agent Three's existence. Before then, Agent Four could only assume the existence of a third agent, as he was the fourth. He first visited Agent Three, friendship grew into a sincere love for each other. Though not romantically, the two would each demonstrate love to each other. With Agent Three modifying Agent Four's hoodie, to Agent Four teaching Agent Three how to use Splat Dualies. However, they would only meet and talk outside of missions and tasks, as they were both afraid of repercussions. Only then, did Captain Cuttlefish denied of rules of romantic bonds between agents within the Splatoon. He announced it after Marie began coming to Agent Four for help. Agent Three was sent on more missions with Captain Cuttlefish, as he grew fond of her after the recruitment and rescue of Agent Eight. Marie and Agent Four grew closer and tighter. Finally, Agent Four and Agent Three were pulled apart, only seeing each other once every week. As the two began communicating through their phones and radios, so did Marie began relying on Agent Four. Agent Three, held on, to the possibility of entering a relationship with Agent Four. Moreover, Agent Three became jealous of Agent Eight's skill and want to meet new people, which was suppressed by the delayed introduction to the outpost. When Agent Three finally visited the outpost to let Agent Eight familiarize to the splatoon, she saw that Agent Four and Marie's connection grew into a permanent reliance to each other.
Marie startled Agent Four with a sincere question, "Did you and Agent Three talk."
"Yes," Agent Four answered truthfully.
"About what," Marie grew worrisome.
Agent Four exhaled, completely pulling him out of his own memories, "She admitted to liking me."
Marie knocked her head down, crossing her arms for comfort, "So that is what has you down."
Agent Four nodded, "I felt guilty, I have never made another inkling cry. I try and be nice, I try to care, I try to notice, but, seeing a close friend leave you because of something you did not notice-"
"I know what you mean," Marie interrupted, she sighed, "what are you going to do."
"Try not to think about it," Agent Four answered, "hope she'll be okay. Take care of the things I have to. And maybe move on."
Marie sighed in relief, noticing his answers not releasing a hint of him having a desire to leave her, "No matter what happens, I'll be here for you, like how you're here for me. It's time for me to pay you back."
Marie sat beside Agent Four and both wrapped each other's back, leaning heads together.
She sighed, looking at the hoodie "You know, I knew you didn't like the hoodie. Well, you liked it, but not with your missions. It looked fresh, just didn't feel fresh. I knew Agent Three could fix it for you, but I chose not to tell you. I didn't like you back then, yes, but I wanted you to focus on me. I need you that badly. However, I hope you could forgive me..."
"I already did," Agent Four whispered back, "it's going to be a while before I finally have a day of no stress, no worries, no sadness. I feel like everyday we have a new problem."
"Oh dear I hope that day comes sooner," Marie whispered, "but for not, let's just face the days together."
Agent Four and Marie slipped into their beds as the moon rose from its slumber. Warmth surrounded the pair, as their blankets wrapped them together. However, Agent Three did not have the same luxury. She entered her apartment, passing by Agent Four's old apartment room before entering hers. She threw her gear on the floor and head-wear on the bed. Agent Three slowly approached her bed, sobbing, being covered by her own tears. She cried aimlessly in her own room, hoping by some miracle, a knock would blast the door, a knock similar to how Agent Four first knocked on her door. However, she knew that would not happen. Without even changing, she begins to wrap herself in her blanket, looking at the empty side of the bed. She cries more, darkening her pillows, wishing, that another inkling was beside her, to love her...