Trauma Flashbacks Ahead
Proceed at your own risk
Ali is lying in her bed, staring at nothing. Her nose is red and her eyes are glassed over. It's 2:00 am and Ali's phone is on the floor with her clothes. It'd stopped buzzing hours ago. Marina had been trying to call her, when Ali hadn't reached out saying how her encounter with Keaton had gone. Agent 8 replays Keaton's words in her head over and over again, wondering how she'd messed up so badly. They'd never said they were in a relationship... But she'd been his first. Ali groans and buries her face back into her pillow. Remembering her first time, it's hard to see where Keaton is coming from. She knows that, traditionally, your first time is supposed to be special. Hers, however had been wroth forgetting. She'd been fifteen, just reaching maturity when she'd applied for a job at a nightclub. Behind the scenes there were "more intense" jobs that paid more than just dancing. Ali had been scraping by for money so she'd gone for it, not knowing how grueling the job would be.
Her first time had been with a standard octarian. Ali hadn't had any concerns about their appearance before then, but in that moment she'd seen just how ugly they were. With their bulging green eyes, giving off a lifeless stare. Their slimy, puffy, pink lips, and shriveled, tiny legs. She'd waited on the worn, frayed bed. She could hear another octoling moaning from the other side of the wall. She wasn't the only one doing this, she'd be fine. The door had creaked open and in walked the octarian she'd be giving herself to, for the night at least. It walks up to the bed and looks up at her, eyes pointed in two different directions, drool leaking from a corner of its mouth. Ali had picked up her phone to a ding, saying payment had been transferred. No going back now. Ali reached down and picked up the tentacle mutation. Setting it on the bed in front of her, she'd watched as a tiny, pink member had protruded from between its legs. She'd been disgusted, repulsed even.
She had done it, though. Again and again, each time 5,000 in cash for just ten minutes. Ali lays in her soft bed, and feels one tiny tear escape her eyes. Since then, her sex had been a tool. A tool to make money, a tool to make herself feel better, a tool to get what she needed... And now she knew that was wrong. The look on Keaton's face when she'd told him she'd used him had awakened her. Remembering what it was like to have sex with someone she was genuinely attracted to had shown her there was more to love than she'd thought before. It was a bit too late now. She'd lost a friend, and ruined his first time. She suddenly wonders what Kai would think if he knew? Would he be just as disgusted, or would he expect that from an octoling girl? Neither of those options made Ali feel any better.
Her phone rings, and Ali is surprised to hear the chirpy tone. It's three in the morning. She slides out of bed and reads the name, and then reads it again. Kai was calling her. She picked up and croaks out a weak "Hello?" Kai's voice comes out of the speaker, "Ali, I'm sorry to call you this late, did I wake you?" Ali smiles and sniffs "No, not at all. Is something wrong?" She walks over to her window and looks out at the small cafe they'd gone to the day before and smiles weakly. "Nothing is wrong. I was just worried about you, I wouldn't have left earlier if I hadn't had something I needed to do." Ali holds herself and quietly asks "What did you need to do?" Kai replies "I work. I had a client." Ali's interest is piqued. She's about to ask but Kai interrupts "Are you threatened by the squid we saw earlier? You looked afraid." The octoling girl closes her eyes and whispers "I'll tell you about it later. He's out of the picture, now." Kai is silent for a moment "Okay." They both stay silent, and Ali wishes he wouldn't hang up. Kai breaks their moment, "Since we're both up, do you want to go for a walk?"
Ali is dressed in her new outfit, and is walking towards Kai's apartment. She has a sinking feeling that he's hiding something from her, but buries it, happy to spend time with him. It's not like she wasn't, technically, hiding something as well. Across the street she sees him and stops. He's in Annaki flannel hoodie, black leggings and punk blacks. On his head is a beanie, his face mask is down and around his neck. Seeing him, Ali feels a surge of relief. Impulsively, she runs forward and hugs him. Taken aback, Kai hugs her. "Are you okay?" Ali lets him go and steps back, "I messed up. It's been a long night." Kai reaches out and takes her hand "I want you to tell me about it." They walk together for a few blocks before she has the strength to tell him, "My first night in Inkopolis, I slept with the first squid I met. It was his first time, but I didn't know that. I thought I liked him at first, but the feelings faded quickly, and now he's hurt because I ignored him and slept with someone else-" "Me." "Yes, you. Now he's blocked me and won't talk to me." Ali inhales deeply, knowing she had rambled. "Have your feelings for me faded?" Kai asks. Ali looks at him sheepishly, "No, not at all." He looks down, his big eyes processing everything she'd told him, "Okay."
They keep walking and Ali can't help but keep looking at him, gauging his expressions... He doesn't use many. They keep walking until Ali can't control herself. She feels a surge of confidence and pushes him against the building. He raises his eyebrows, but keeps a neutral expression. Ali has one hand on the wall and the other on his chest. Kai leans his head back and gives her a seductively desirable look. "Kai, do you want me?" She leans in and stares at his features. "What do you mean, 'want you'?" He uses a hand to put it under her chin and she feels goosebumps raise on her arms. "I want to see you, and spend time with you. I want you to talk to me, and tell me about your past. Do you want me the same way?" She looks at him, laying it all out. Kai says nothing so she continues, "What we did the other night, I've never felt anything like it. I want to feel like that again. You make me feel different-" "You like how I make you feel?" He interrupts and looks at her with that same unaffected expression. "No, yes, I like you. I like that we have things in common. We both came from the same place. You understand-" "Okay." He gently takes her hand from his chest and moves around her so that they're standing facing each other.
"You worked back in Octo Valley?" He asks simply. She feels shame wash over her and she nods. He nods and goes on "So did I. Octoling boys are more popular than octoling girls, did you know that?" Ali looks up, feeling as though she'd been stabbed. "You worked... You sold yourself too?" He nods again, "But I didn't stop. Squids here love the way octoling males look." Ali feels heat rush over her. Shame, anger and realization take over. "That's where you went last night." She states. "Yes. However, I did feel a connection with you. You're different. I really hope this doesn't change anything." Ali feels errant tears slip out and she wipes them away quickly. "I'm sorry, Ali, I should have told you before-" "Before you had sex with another damaged girl." She finishes weakly. "No..." He protests, but can't come up with any words. "I need to go. I'm sorry." Ali turns away to leave. She feels a hand take hers but she yanks it away and walks faster.
Thank you for reading! And thank you for reviewing! Have a great day! - shipalltheotps