Splatoon: Number's Game
Chapter 10
8 waited in Inkopolis Square for Alex to swing by. 3 dropped her off there because she was about to start working at Grizzco. According to her, there was something very strange going on there, and it was important to her that she figured out what it was.
In the meantime, she was playing the dancing arcade game that Evan had shown her one of the last times she was in the square. She picked out a few songs made by her friends, Off The Hook, and was dancing to them when Alex came and joined her.
"Hey there, dancing queen. Having a good time up on the stage?" Alex asked with a slight tease, leaning against the machine with a chuckle.
8 smiled at him and nodded before doing a spin and finishing the song with a wide pose and jazz hands. Alex chuckled again and clapped for her.
"Very nice. How'd things go with 3 last night?" Alex asked.
8 held a thumbs up and smiled again.
"Very good. Come on, let's walk for a bit." Alex gestured for her to follow. 8 hopped off the dance pad and began to walk with him.
8 curiously pointed towards the Turf War lobby. Alex shook his head.
"Huh? Oh no, we're not gonna do any Turf Wars. Not yet, anyways." He replied.
8 nodded her head. She then looked at Alex and put a hand on his shoulder, giving him a look of genuine concern that appeared very deep. It caught Alex off guard.
"Everything okay, 8?" He asked.
8 pointed at herself and nodded to answer his question. She then pointed at Alex and leaned towards him again with the same expression.
"Me? No, I'm fine. Just had some business to take care of last night. But I'm good, 8, I actually just wanted to talk to you. Ask you some questions." Alex explained.
8 turned her head a bit and gave Alex a strange look, pointing to herself again inquisitively.
"I was speaking with a mutual friend of myself and 3. She told me that you, uh, went through some things before you came to Inkopolis…?" Alex began.
8, now realizing what Alex was starting to get at, pressed her lips together. Alex noticed her countenance change; her shoulders scrunched up, her vision went downwards, and her hands joined together in front of her.
"I…uh, can't really even begin to understand what it is you went through down there. I just want to start out by letting you know that I-I am aware of it, I know about it, and I'm here for you. You know?" Alex said, stuttering a bit through his words but making his message clear.
8 nodded her head while still looking down. She gave him an appreciative look, tears starting to well up in her eyes. Alex was surprised, but he quickly proceeded to step closer and give her a hug. 8 flinched a bit, not expecting this, but allowed herself to be held by him.
"Hey! Something going on over here?" A strangely familiar yet unfamiliar voice called to them. Alex let go of 8 and looked towards whoever was calling.
"Hey! Pearl!" Alex exclaimed in surprise, stepping away from 8 and towards the shorter inkling girl coming their way dressed in shorts and a long pink sweater. Upon seeing him, Pearl began to scan him.
"Wait… I know you! You're that guy who kept splatting me at the Splatocalypse!" Pearl realized, pointing at him, "And 8! It's you too! You know this guy?!" Pearl continued to point.
"8? You know Off The Hook Pearl?" Alex asked in surprise.
8 nodded her head and turned towards Pearl too. She managed a smile and waved at her, going to her and giving her a hug as well. Pearl returned the hug and gave Alex a look as he joined them.
"Why you making my girl cry, bro?" Pearl asked.
"Sorry, uh, heheh, we were just having a bit of a moment just now. Uh, so how do you know 8?" Alex asked, fidgeting with his hair awkwardly.
"You kidding? 8, you didn't tell him about me? We helped get this girl out of the lab she was stuck in, dude." Pearl said. Alex's jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
"No way. We were just talking about that. You helped her escape?" Alex asked.
"Don't look so surprised, buddy. Marina and I both were a pretty important part of what went down over there off the shore. I'm sure you heard all about it." Pearl smiled proudly and folded her arms.
"Not really, but are you aware of the octolings that have been crawling over the ruins of that statue?" Alex asked. Pearl made a face.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Ah. Uh, 8, Pearl, perhaps we should continue this conversation somewhere more private? I think we got on the wrong foot here." Alex suggested.
"This guy bothering you, 8?" Pearl asked, looking to 8. She shook her head, gesturing for Alex to come closer.
"What was your name again, dude? You said it but I forgot." Pearl asked.
"Alex."
"Right. And how do you know, 8?"
"I've been taking care of her, me and my friend. She's been staying with me like the past week." Alex answered.
Pearl looked to 8 for confirmation, raising her eyebrow at her. 8 nodded and confirmed this, inching closer to Alex. Pearl nodded.
"Alright. Come on then, we'll go and talk this over in Marina's presence. She'll want to hear all this too." Pearl said, gesturing for them to follow. Alex looked towards 8.
"Well, you heard the girl. Let's go." Alex said, putting a hand on 8's back and urging for her to walk with him. She nodded and followed along with them…