Greetings, fellow squids and octos! Finally, I have arrived once again! And this time, I got something to share in Soft Spot! Yep, this story is now gonna have three chapters instead of staying as a one shot! ;)
Of course, one of them is just a suggestion. However, the third chapter is one that I thought of on my own. But I ain't gonna tell you just yet! You'll find out when the chapter is released. :p
Anyways, I'll share the suggestion part with ya right now. I hope you enjoy! :D
It was another nice day in the Square. Redd was just living life as usual, especially after what happened the last times his most sensitive moment happened. His... soft spot. His soft spot for family.
Redd may be happy and positive as usual, and even back then, he was. But whenever he was thinking of his family, he just manages to get more sad, and just forces a smile to anyone who passes by him.
And what makes it worse is that Redd and Mia don't know, or have, any other family members besides their parents. But they both passed away, so the twins now only had each other.
But what is making Redd more vulnerable like this? It's enough to already know that he's admitting his deepest secret to others. Mia already knew since she also experienced the moment, but it hurt Redd most of the time when he admitted it.
Marie was the first, so Redd kinda got away with that, leading to his depression later on, though. Shortly after, it was Sonic, and they just met when Redd told his secret. Then it was Joel and David...
Redd could care less if he admits the problem to others. But he just doesn't want Mia and himself to constantly get bothered with this.
But unfortunately... Redd was feeling this way once again.
He scrolled through his phone, looking through childhood images again. Looking at the two small squid children. One red, the other cyan. Mia and Redd when they were kids.
Redd's face scrunched up as he looks at the two adults in the image. The mother, with yellow long hair, pink eyes, and glasses. And she wore the herbivore tee, black shorts, and white shoes with red laces. And then there's the father, with navy blue hair wrapped in a ponytail, and he had gray eyes, and wore a white coat, long black pants, and brown boots.
Redd sighed as he closes his eyes and shook his head. He just wished to see them again one last time. Oh, how Redd would give anything to hear their voices again. To feel his mom's gentle touch and comfort. To hear his father's hearty chuckles and life-lesson tips.
To just play with Mia like he did, as their parents watched them. All just for what Redd remembers... when most of his family was still around.
And of course, right now, Redd was in his room, when the sadness just overtakes him. And everytime something like this was brung up, he lashes it out on a dessert of all things. But it's not usually a dessert.
Redd also blames himself, for what he said to them before they died.
As Redd continued to just continue his sadness as usual, he heard someone knock on the door.
"Who is it..." Redd mumbled.
"Sonic!" Sonic's voice was heard on the other side.
"Along with the rest of the Squid Bits." Then Joel talked.
"I'm here, too!" David said cheerfully.
"Come in..." Redd said quietly. And thus, the door opened. Sonic, Joel and David walked inside, and they immediately saw Redd in his room since the door was open.
As usual, upon the second they've seen Redd, they walked over to him."
"So, you wanna hang out together, Redd?" Sonic asked.
"I... I don't really feel like it..." Redd responded as he shook his head. The boys caught onto that. But they already knew what's going on."
"You're thinking about your parents again, aren't you?" Joel assumed. Redd nodded in response. It was quite easy to tell, especially since the three boys knows Redd's big issue.
"Gee, even to this day, it still hurts you?" David questioned. Redd looks over to one side, still keeping his head down. It was obvious for the boys to tell how reluctant Redd is about this whole past situation.
Sonic walked over to the bed, and then sat down next to Redd.
"If it makes you feel any better, Redd..." Sonic said, "...Do you maybe wanna talk about some more memories you had with them? Maybe even... tell me what they're like."
"Might as well. I don't want to make you guys feel bad just for what I'm going through..." Redd replied quietly.
"Dude. It's alright. We get like this." Joel chuckled.
"If you have anything to say, just get it off your chest. We'd love to help you out." David insisted. Redd turned over a bit to face the other boys.
Well, the good thing about this is that Redd isn't deeply sad like he was the last time his parents were on his mind, and also led to Joel and David figuring out a little more about Redd's past.
"Well," Redd started, "I guess I can start off with appearances and personality. So, my mother... she has long hair like Mia does, and it's yellow, too. Pink eyes and glasses, and casual styled clothing. She was always so kind and cautious, which was why she told me she uses a Firefin Splatterscope as her weapon. Her touch was so soothing, Mia also felt the same way about it when we were kids."
"Ooh! Nice!" David complimented.
"And then, my father," Redd continued, "He has the usual man bun style, colored indigo. He had more work-styled clothing, but is into the lazy and casual attire once in a while. While he is strict at times, he is still very kind and always likes to look after the family. His weapon is the... the Tri-Slosher. I don't blame him, it's a good weapon in my own opinion. He was also kind of a weapon geek, but not as much as Sheldon, heh. That's why I knew a little bit about Turf Wars back then, you know?"
"That is quite interesting." Joel said.
"Yeah. It's a shame they had to pass away so early..." Redd frowns as he stares at the floor once again. Sonic also shows a sad look, then he places his hand on Redd's shoulder. Redd only sighed upon getting the touch.
"Redd... why don't you tell anyone else about this?" Sonic asked.
"No! I can't do that!" Redd exclaimed.
"Why not, though...?" Sonic specifies more on his question.
"The judging thing. You know how people are nowadays." Redd admitted. Joel and David looked at each other and nodded, feeling bad for Redd. Even Sonic felt a weight in his heart just from hearing all of this.
A tragedy can never be fixed. And to this day, Redd struggles to get through that.
"Is there anything else that you wanna confess to us, Redd?" Sonic asked politely.
"I don't even know if I have anything else to say..." Redd mumbled. Joel and David gathered around the bed, and tried to give their fullest support to the Squid Bits leader.
"Okay, let's let a little bit of if statements get through," Joel suggested, "So, Redd. If your parents were still around... what do you think their reaction would be if they found out about the stuff you're in right now? Like, you know... being lead singer of the Squid Bits, and also Agent 4 of the NSS?"
Redd piqued his interest as soon as that question was heard.
"That's... a good question." He said.
"But in your own honest opinion, what would it be like?" Sonic questioned, showing a smile.
"I think that they would be proud of me," Redd explained, "They always supported me and Mia to the very end, just like any other parent would with their children. My dad always did want me to try out Turf Wars when I was around the legal age. We could've done that together, and I would've brought Mia along, but... of course, that didn't happen."
"Aw..." David said sadly.
"Even though Mia and I were only fourteen, just a week after their deaths... to this day, it still bothers us. It really does..." Redd sighed. He even felt a couple tiny tears forming, but he starts frantically rubbing his eyes again to not show any.
Sonic grew a little closer to Redd in hopes of giving as much comfort as he could without Redd feeling overwhelmed. So the boys knew they had to ease up on the topic before Redd would... walk away and be alone like the last time.
"Fine. I give up."
They never would've expected Redd to suddenly walk away last time. He was a positive extrovert! But the power of getting someone overwhelmed was certainly enough.
The boys all gathered around Redd. The red Inkling only sadly looked at them.
*15 minutes later...*
"...And as much as how angry I was as I just lay down on the bed in my room, I still loved them." Redd finished part of another bit of a past part of his story. Specifically, after the whole... pie situation.
"Ah, so THAT'S why you don't like pie." Joel said.
"Gee, that's quite the tale. Especially for just knowing why you don't like a simple dessert." David added.
"Yeah. And to this day, I still hate it..." Redd sighed.
"Not everyone has the same likes. The same goes for food." Sonic assured, rubbing Redd's back. Redd just continued to stare blankly into the distance, probably thinking about the situation again after telling about it.
Just as Sonic was about to ask another question, or another memory that Redd has... a knock on the door was heard.
"Hello? Anyone there?" It was Chany.
"I'll get the door." Joel insisted. David and Sonic nod, and then Joel stands up and walks to the door. When he opens it, he saw Chany herself, with a small frown on her face.
"Hey, Chany. What's up?" Joel asked.
"I came to visit Redd. Is he here now?" Chany questions as she looks over inside the apartment, seeing if there's any trace of Redd.
"He's a bit upset at the moment. He's here, but reluctant to talk much." Joel admitted.
"Oh. Then, uh... I at least wanna know why Redd is feeling this way." Chany said. Joel just nods, and steps aside so Chany can walk in.
"Go ahead." The orange Inkling replied. Chany nods in response, and then she heads inside the apartment. Then, her next destination was Redd's room, as she saw the door was slightly opened.
When she got there, the next thing she saw was Redd being comforted by Sonic and David. Sonic on the bed next to Redd, and David across from the Squid Bits leader. And... Redd was definitely saddened.
Sonic and David stepped aside for Chany.
"Oh, hey Chany." David greeted.
"Hello." Sonic added. Chany gave a small wave, but then her look of concern came back when she saw Redd looking away from all of them.
"Hey, Redd? Are you alright?" Chany asked.
"No..." Redd mumbled.
"Joel told me that you're upset about something. Do you... wanna talk about it?"
"I really don't..."
"Why not?"
"It's just... I'm afraid you'll judge me for the thing I don't like talking about..."
"Wha- j-judge? In a negative way?"
"Yeah..."
"It's okay, Redd. You can tell me," Chany insisted, "I promise I won't judge you in a negative way. Besides, you helped me when I was going through my negative thoughts. So... if you helped me, then maybe I can help you as well."
Redd sighed deeply, rubbing his eyes to get remaining tears away.
"Okay. But just keep a promise that you'll keep any judges..." Redd said.
"I cross my hearts." Chany replied as she places her arms on her chest. Meanwhile, the boys just stayed beside the two, careful not to disturb them too much.
"I'm just thinking about my parents, Chany," Redd admitted, "They passed away a week after me and Mia's fourteenth birthday. Thanks to my hatred of pie and a loud argument that kept going on, I crushed my pie slice and declared that I didn't want to see my parents ever again. And that wish surprisingly came true, even though I didn't even mean it in the first place. I didn't even get to say goodbye or I love you..."
Chany shows a shocked look, as she was very surprised after hearing Redd's small sad story.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you..." The pink Inkling apologized.
"*sigh* I just wish it didn't happen so suddenly..." Redd sighed. Meanwhile, the boys came back over to the scene.
"You feel a little better now, Redd? After... you know, getting that off your chest?" Sonic sighed.
"Yeah, I'm alright... I guess..." Redd admitted.
"Just take it easy, bud." Joel insisted. Redd shows the four a small smile, ensuring them that he'll be okay. At least he didn't break down crying or any sad thing like that.
Redd then puts his hands on Chany's shoulder, as the two made eye contact with each other.
"Chany. So, you know my little secret now. But, please just promise me... that... you won't tell Mia that you know about this." Redd cried. Chany nods and gives Redd a gentle hug. Redd was a little shocked...
But he hugs back, giving comfort to both Chany, and himself.
"I promise. Pinky swear." The veteran Inkling said with a smile as she pulls away.
"So, uh... now that we've been through this, what do you guys wanna do now?" David asked. Everyone thought about this for a moment.
And then Sonic came up with an idea.
"Turf Wars altogether?" Sonic suggested.
"How about... you guys let me join in, too?" Redd insisted as he raises his hand. Everyone was glad now that Redd was feeling like his normal self again.
"Of course!" Sonic giggled.
"Then let's head to the tower!" David cheered. And so, everyone made their way towards Deca Tower. Redd then thought about his parents again during the walk there. And he felt like he was gonna break down or fall on his knees, or something along those lines.
But luckily, he felt alright during the trip. Since nothing can easily take down the lead singer of the Squid Bits.
A/N: Okay, this is done. Sorry if some parts seemed rushed. If so, then I promise you that I'll put a little more detail into the next chapter that is gonna come up someday. ;)
But that's all for now, Splatoon fans! Stay Fresh, have a great day, and I will see you all next time! :D