Chapter Twenty-one: So Close, So Far
The sunlight glistened on the borders of the window sill, hitting the squinted eyes of an agent. Agent Four scratches his eye lids to clear his eyes, removing the blurriness of his eye sight. He bends his neck forward to search his environment, which reminded him of the pleasing night before. Clothes were scattered across the floor, hinting at the obvious activity the pair had partaken in. He felt movement on his outstretched left arm, as Marie scratched her face on Agent Four's arm. Underneath the blanket laid both of their cool and tight bodies. Marie's left arm was on Agent Four's chest, as her right arm held the blanket to her. Her chest stuck to Agent Four's side, which he found oddly satisfying.
"That was more than fun, wasn't it," Marie whispered, smiling seductively, "I loved it."
"I loved it too," Agent Four whispered, closing his eyes in rest.
Marie whispers back, not wanting to let go, "Best firsts, for the both of us...right?"
Agent Four smiled brightly and answered without a skip of a beat, "Yes, best first time for anything to me..."
Marie giggled before making a joke, "You better keep that promise now..."
As the sun showed itself behind the window, Agent Four and Marie decided to finally step out of their blissful position. Agent Four was called by Captain Cuttlefish, being told to come to the outpost, while Marie and Agent Four were throwing their clothes together. The pair would have a lot more inside jokes than they had before.
The two inklings exited their room, and Callie was seen in the living room. Her eyes widen as she was seen with a box and a box cutter in her hand. The two squinted their eyes as Callie kicked the box underneath the tree.
"Uhhhh hi guys..." Callie smiled, with her shoulders popped out and her hands clasped behind her back, "what's up?"
"Watcha doing," Marie asked, crossing her arms.
"Nothin," Callie nervously answered, as the box cutter was seen rolling away from her.
"Good luck," Agent Four whispered before he tightened his backpack on his back and started to approach the door.
Marie was too worried for Agent Four, so she ended the conversation, not carrying about Callie peaking into her gifts. Agent Four opened the door and Marie exited the house with him. Callie was left alone, so she began to cut into her biggest box again. Agent Four threw his backpack and dualies in the back, while Marie entered the passenger's seat. As Agent Four started his vehicle, Marie fiddled with her fingers as she tried cleaning her flat and messy tentacles. For a quarter of an hour, Agent Four and Marie drove to the Off the Hook studio. The two, once reaching the studio, walked over to the grating and arrived at the outpost. They were greeted with Captain Cuttlefish and Agent Three, both waiting for the pair.
Captain Cuttlefish started, "Agent Four, you've done this before, I think you can do this."
Agent Three, who was wearing casual clothes to Agent Three and Marie' s surprise, held out an extra large ink tank, and extra large pair of tanks for Agent Three's dualies, "Sheldon made these for you, it should make your job easier."
"Tell him thanks," Agent Three told before grabbing the tanks and attaching them to himself and his Hero Dualies.
With the tanks finally attached and pressurized, all his equipment was tested against the air targets. Agent Four realized that these tanks were not from the Ammo Knights Enchacifier station. Marie, was impressed, she wished she had these tanks for her charger, as her problem with forgetting to refill her tank during Turf War. As the radios were tested, Captain Cuttlefish and Agent Three left. It has seemed like Agent Three have begun seeing Captain Cuttlefish as a mentor, as she has always been beside Captain Cuttlefish. Agent Four sees the first few ports to the Octarian dimension. He begins to feel a sense of nostalgia, but also fear, as he is not fond of repeating his misadventures with the Octarians. The radio worked, which Marie was happy for, as the radio is the only form of communication across dimensions. Phones for some odd reason do not work, which creates debate as the waves that are used by radios and phones are quite similar.
Agent Four stepped in front of the first port he found and opened. Knowing that Sheldon will not ask for him to try and use a weapon he does not want to use, mended his worries of the long days that are looming overhead. Marie stood beside him as he took a moment to soak in all the nostalgia that was available in the atmosphere.
"Four," Marie started, "Once you're done, you'll know where I am. Otherwise, maybe listen to Off the Hook's podcast or whatever they have. I think I'll be a guest, guessing from their request for me to be there and all tha-just, you'll know where I am."
"Yes," Agent Four answered to Marie's reddening face, "I'll know where you are."
"Make me proud, Agent Four," Marie wished him luck.
"I love you," Agent Four kissed.
Marie pulled back to respond, "I love you too."
Then, Agent Four morphed into a squid and jumped through a portal into the Octarian dimension.
"Carp, I need food," Marie whispered to herself as she swam towards the grating.
After Marie quickly grabbed a bite from Crusty Sean, she quickly swam back in time for Agent Four's return.
As Marie stuffed her face with food, Agent Four began telling a story, "So I guess the Octarians are intensifying their forces or something. There were more octolings than I remembered."
Marie cleared her throat after swallowing, "Well, it's nothing you cannot take care of, right?"
"No," Agent Four answered before bragging, "Rank S+ guy here!"
Marie giggled before Agent Four swam into the second portal. She sat at her usual place, finishing her large meal before Agent Four emerged slightly inked. Marie began walking towards Agent Four, who shook the excess ink off.
"Wow, Rank S+ guy got inked," Marie teased.
Agent Four smiled and laughed, gasping for air in between each few words, "Nah, I'm not X Rank yet, practice makes perfect."
Marie's light bulb lit up, "Same density?"
"Yup," Agent Four answered approaching the third and final portal before the largest portal, "I guess Captain Cuttlefish and Agent Three were right. Which makes sense, since these things are the closest ports to our dimension."
Marie nodded before Agent Four pecked her lips and disappeared into the third portal.
She stared at the grating before turning around and heading back into her usual spot, "These portals are weird."
Agent Four emerged only a few minutes later, and like last time, Marie walked towards him while he was shaking excess ink. He began to walk over the larger portal as Marie approached him.
"Did you even eat Four," Marie asked with a worried tone.
Agent Four smiled, "Nope!"
He then proceeded to turn into a squid and swam through the grating. Marie shook her head at Agent Four's self negligence as she turned around to buy him some food. His emergence took longer, but by the time he was done, Marie was standing outside the grating with a box of food.
"You should eat, come on, let's go," Marie requested as Agent Four followed her.
Marie sat with the food on her lap as she scooted over to the right to give Agent Four more room, "Eat, I have to make sure you actually feed yourself."
There was no conversation, Agent Four inhaled the food and gave an approving burp after. Marie smiled, but conflicted, wondering if the burp was a complement or just rudeness.
"Thank you Marie," Agent Four thanked as he placed the empty box beside him.
"No problem," Marie whispered as she started to caress Agent Four's face, "you really need to take care of yourself Four. You need to stay safe. Yes, you need to be fast so you can come home sooner than later, but I also want you alive. You know, so I can have someone to hold at night."
Agent Four smiled at Marie's adorableness. Marie's face was one to stare at, her mouth mostly making an 'O' shape, her eyes looking above his eyes with her eye brows showing concern, and her cheeks puffed and red. He loves this look, he loves her concerned face, especially close, and he loves this inkling.
"Marie, you look adorable," Agent Four complimented.
Marie immediately tightened up, not reducing her amount of cuteness. She crossed her arms, tilted her head down, and looked up with her eyes. Her cheeks were still red, but were squeezed.
"I was just trying to take care of you, that's all," Marie apologized, not realizing it was a compliment.
Agent Four laughed while shaking his head, "It's not a bad thing. Keep doing it Marie."
Marie smiled, before returning to her first position, "I love you."
"I love you too," Agent Four responded before kissing her passionately.
As the kissed ended slowly, Marie stared into Agent Four's eyes.
"I should go back and jump to the next area," Agent Four says as he tightened his gear.
Marie walked beside him as they marched towards launchpad. Agent Four looked at the pad before turning his head towards Marie.
"I'll see you when I come back," Agent Four winked.
They kissed once more time, before Agent Four morphed into a squid and jumped towards Suction-Cup Lookout. Then tragedy struck, the launchpad suddenly broke, with ink spraying all over the area. Marie's eyes widened as she both saw Agent Four's silhouette and the broken launchpad. If anything ensues, she cannot launch to him. She is stuck, she will not be able to reach Agent Four.
One small announcement: "Blue and Orange" will come out really soon. It will most likely be published along side the next chapter. Just keep that in mind, because if you want more, there will be more! Please read it...thank you!