Author's Note: Hello! This is my first splatoon fanfiction! This story is female agent 8 with female agent 3. I hope you enjoy it!

In hindsight, Eight probably should have asked what a party was. She assumed that she would learn on the way, but if she knew what a party really was, she might not have gone. It all started a few weeks after defeating Tartar and saving the world. She was still settling in her new room at Pearl's house, which Marina calls a "mansion", when Marina knocked on her door.

"Hey Eight, Pearl and I are going to a small party tonight with the captain and his granddaughters, and a few friends. Do you want to come?"

"Sure!" Eight answered. She had no idea what a party was, but if Pearl and Marina were going, she felt that she should too.

"Great! It's nothing formal, just wear whatever's comfy." Marina said as she closed Eight's door.

Eight was glad that she could wear what she wanted, because she wasn't sure what counted as formal wear. After all, Marina said it would be small, so that meant that there wouldn't be a lot of people, right?

*BREAK*

This was small? Eight wondered what was considered a normal sized party…

"Captain, I thought you said there wouldn't be a lot of people?"

"Well, that's what I thought too, but my granddaughters told their friends, and you know how quickly word gets around these days."

Even though Marina was trying to talk to Captain Cuttlefish quietly, Eight couldn't help but overhear, since they were practically yelling to be heard.

Parties seemed to be loud gatherings where lots of inklings danced and screamed. The purpose was still unknown to Eight, but she was sure it wasn't for enjoyment. Who on earth could enjoy this? It was a large outdoor gathering, with maybe a couple hundred inklings. At the front of the room was a large stage, with two squids on top singing. Pearl said that they were the Captain's granddaughters, and Marina said that they were famous singers. Eight didn't really understand why they were famous, since no one was even listening to them. She couldn't even hear them over the loud roar of the crowd.

Eight found herself getting overwhelmed by everything around her. There were too many squids around her. The noise was so loud, she couldn't even hear herself think, and yet she could still hear her heartbeat thumping in her head. The lights were flashing all sorts of colours, and it was really hot. How no one else was bothered truly confused Eight, but all that really mattered to her was that she got out of there. She really wished she had asked what a party was, because then she could have declined the invitation. Eight walked with no particular goal. All she knew was that she had to keep walking, and eventually, she had to reach the end of the crowd, right?

Finally, she got her first breath of fresh air in what felt like ages. There was an alley just a little further up, and she quickly made her way to it without looking back. She kept walking down the alley until the loud music and yelling became a background noise. Slumping against the wall, Eight trembled, trying to bring her breathing back to normal. She didn't even understand why she was scared! She had survived being mind controlled, and she had survived the metro. She survived Tartar! A little bit of noise should not be making her feel this way.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Eight looked up to see the one person that could make this night worse. She tried to answer, but her voice got caught in her throat.

"You look familiar. Have I met you before?"

Of course she wouldn't remember her. Why would she remember her? Eight was only one of thousands. All Eight could do was nod. The girl eyed her for a little longer.

"You're an octo…" She said slowly, waiting for confirmation. Once again, all Eight could do was nod. Her eyes started to light up in recognition.

"I know you! You're the one that beat Tartar!"

Finally, Eight found her voice.

"That's me." She muttered. The agent gave her a small smile, before frowning.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember your name."

"I don't know my name." Eight admitted. "But you can call me Eight." She added quickly.

"Well, you can call me Three."

Eight didn't respond, and looked away. Finally, Eight could put a name to the face. Obviously 'Three' wasn't her real name, but it was better than nothing. The two sat there quietly, but Eight just couldn't relax. Her memories were fuzzy, but Eight remembered fighting Three once. She remembered a song playing in the background, and her devotion to DJ Octavius. Back then. Eight was just a mindless soldier for Octavius, and Three was just an agent trying to stop her. But Eight couldn't wipe the feeling from her mind. The ruthlessness that Three showed. There was no mercy, no compassion in those eyes as she shot and killed everyone Eight knew. Looking into Three's eyes now, all Eight could see was the coldness, and she couldn't help but look away.

"I feel like I should apologize." Three said suddenly. Eight tensed, but didn't look at her.

"You seem like you're afraid of me. Did I fight you once?" She asked. Eight nodded slowly. Three didn't say anything else, but Eight could feel her eyes on her.

"Wait, I remember you! Very vaguely, but you were one of the few octolings that actually gave me a good fight."

Eight nodded, trying desperately to hide her trembling. She cursed herself when she felt her eyes pool with tears. Dammit! Why was she crying? It wasn't like Three did it on purpose. But that was just it, wasn't it. Three did do it on purpose. She had a mission, and Eight was in the way. Why did it have to be this way? She wasn't even allowed to tell people that she was an octo. What did the inklings have against them? Why did Three kill so many of them? Eight couldn't understand. Why did so many Octoling's die trying to reach the surface, only to be killed? Why did they have to hide who they were? Oh how Eight wished she had never come to this party.

"I- I'm sorry." Three stuttered. Three had no idea how to react, but she knew that she should feel guilt.

"I never meant to hurt you, at least, not consciously. I- I was told that you were all bad, that I should kill without hesitation. It never registered that you were actual living people."

That shook Eight out of her silence.

"What?" She whimpered. Three's eyes widened when Eight looked at her.

"What do you mean? How could it never occur to you that we were people?"

"I- I don't- we never-"

Eight couldn't hold in her tears. Embarrassed, she hid her face in her knees, trying to hold back the painful sobs.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Was all Three kept repeating. Minutes passed as Eight sobbed silently. Finally, she lifted her head up, and wiped her face, still avoiding eye contact. The sobs had reduced to hiccups now. After a few more moments of silence, Three spoke.

"They don't teach us about Octolings in school. All I ever learned was that there was a society of Octarians underground, and that they were all evil people. When I became an agent, I was told that none of you had any thoughts of your own, and that I had to stop you from reaching the surface at any cost. I really am sorry" Three repeated, sadness laced in her voice. Eight sniffed a few times.

"10,008."

"What?"

"I was the 10,008th test subject in the metro. As far as I know, I'm the only one to reach the surface."

Three swallowed audibly.

"That- That's horrible."

"Do you know what the ironic part of it all is?" Eight laughed dryly. Three shook her head.

"I only made it because an Inkling helped me." Three inhaled sharply.

"So I guess for that, I have to thank you."

"Please, don't." Three's voice cracked. Eight breathed deeply a few times. In the distance, she could hear cheering and clapping, and Eight suddenly remembered where she was. She looked over at the agent who had caused her so much trauma, so many nightmares, and yet, the agent who had also saved her life. Even if she had tried to kill her twice.

"I think we should start over." Eight declared suddenly. Three looked at her in shock.

"What?" Eight continued talking as if she didn't hear.

"I know that the first two times didn't go so well, but maybe we can just erase those from our memories. I mean, I barely remember the first time we met." Eight joked.

"And I don't fully remember the second time." Three smiled softly.

"Then it's settled." Eight said. She shook herself a few times, and took a few deep breaths before holding her hand out and smiling.

"Hi, my name is Eight."

Three's smile grew bigger as she clasped her hand in Eight's.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Three."

*BREAK*

If someone asked Eight what a party was now, she would tell them that they were loud and terrifying places where lots of people screamed and you couldn't see anything. However, Eight no longer thought that parties were all bad. After all, if she hadn't run away during her first party, she might have never really met Three. Still, Eight made it a habit to avoid parties at all cost. One was enough for a lifetime.

"EIGHT! THE DOORBELL!" Came Pearl's loud voice from downstairs.

"Coming!" Eight yelled back. She grabbed her bag and rushed down the stairs as quickly as she could.

"Do I look okay?" She asked Marina while looking in the mirror.

"You look beautiful. Going on another date?" Marina gave a knowing smile. Eight blushed and looked away.

"Maybe."

"NO KISSING!" Was all Pearl said and Marina rolled her eyes.

"Ignore her, have a good time." Marina whispered, leading Eight to the door.

"I mean it! And make sure you're back by 10pm at the latest!"

"Okay mom." Eight snorted. Pearl simply huffed in response.

"Bye!" Eight said as she opened the door, where Three stood holding a bundle of flowers.

"Hey, I got you these." Three said, her face red. "I hope you like them."

Eight took the flowers and sniffed them deeply.

"They're perfect. I love them! Thank you." Eight said, giving Three a peck on the mouth, making Three blush harder.

"Bye guys!" Eight waved to Pearl and Marina, looping her arms with Three's.

"So, what are we doing today?" Eight asked.

"I thought that we could try some turf war, if you're up for it." Three suggested.

"I'm up for it! The only question is if you're ready to lose to me."

Three chuckled, and wrapped her arm around Eight.

"Challenge accepted."