Hey, it's Gman again! And… um… is anyone still here? Yeah… it has been quite some time since I've updated this story. A ridiculous amount of time. But that's going to change. I dropped this story for a bit due to lack of creativity and motivation. And of course… life. But that's seemed to change recently. I've hit a bit of a spark on where to take the story and I'm hoping to mold it into something people can enjoy!

In my time on building this chapter, I went back and completely updated Chapter 1. A few story changes but mainly just updates to make it flow much better. So I recommend reading it to refresh if you haven't. I want to at least complete the first three chapters to give an idea of the full storyline. Kind of like the 3-episode rule with anime. From there, if I can't build up decent response, I might discontinue and try something else, ending the story earlier in case those who pass by later might read. Or I might fully continue it for the hell of it. So let's see what happens… Anyway, with that out the way… now it's time for Chapter 2! Hope you guys enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Splatoon franchise; it belongs to Nintendo and its creators. The following fanfic is Rated M for language and other elements.

Chapter 2

It was morning.

I could feel the slight rays of the sun pouring from within my sole window on my face.

It was majestic how just from that, I could tell what time of the day it was. But on the other hand, I absolutely hated how it was what woke me up this early.

Damn blinding light… my eyes… I really need to get curtains...

I slowly rose up from my bed and lazily removed my cover from over my body. Feeling still a little groggily from having to be up so late last night.

Ugh… I need more sleep. I thought to myself.

I was about to lay back down, but I smelled a faint smell in the air. Breakfast.

When there was a slight burnt kind of smell in the air, that was the sign that Gramps was up and cooking breakfast for us. Usually it was also our cue to come and eat.

After, of course, we did our essential morning routine of brushing our teeth, washing our face, and all the important morning stuff.

Despite how hard I worked, I could still be quite a lazy girl at times honestly. And you bet that Gramps would get on my case about it if I didn't do every single little thing.

So I stood up to do just that, getting the morning piss out of the way first, and gradually moving onto everything else. My room had its own bathroom with a shower/bath, so outside of food and some other things, I didn't have to leave it for much. I spent a good amount of time in here.

As I finished up the morning essentials, I remembered last night.

My mind immediately wondered to if Gramps had an idea of me and Callie's outing. I assumed the worse and expected him to know about our going out for too long. But you can fucking bet that I wasn't going to bring it up, and would play as slick as possible to not deal with it.

Again, for me, I wasn't afraid of the punishment itself. I just saw it as a waste of my time to have to get scolded and get in an argument with Gramps again. Gramps especially loved to beat the message into my head the most and would treat me like I did something ungodly.

The suspense is killing me… I said to myself sarcastically.

So to just get the drama over with, I headed out of my room. After walking downstairs, I made my way to the kitchen.

The first thing I take note of as I enter is the strong burnt smell. Gramps seemed to be cooking pancakes, eggs, and some other stuff over the stove and finished not too long ago. His cooking was definitely still much to be desired as ever.

As I look towards the table, there he was. Alongside Callie, who bared a very pitiful look on her face. She had the same pajama pants from last night on but was wearing a plain white shirt.

Gramps was in his usual attire he always seemed to wear. His old light blue house bathrobe with long sleeves. His slippers that matched in color and wrapped around his small feet. He also wore his navy blue sweatpants. And it wouldn't be Gramps if he wasn't wearing his old army hat. That's our grandfather. Cap'n Cuttlefish; a high ranking ex-general in the Inkling army.

He was staring me down as I entered, and handed me my portion of the food he had cooked himself. Not a good sign. He had a neutral expression so far though, so it was hard to tell his exact emotion. But I'm sure I would know soon enough.

My focus shifted back to Callie as I took my seat. Callie was eyeballing me down as well. Not really saying anything and just poking at her food while making slight humming noises here and there. If Gramps wasn't aware of our outing, Callie sure was giving off suspicious signs.

She wouldn't last seconds if she ended up in one of those interrogation rooms I hear some of the authorities put accused criminals in. It was no simple "Good Cop, Bad Cop" either. They crack down hard on those who push the law limits. That's how strict and serious our new leaders were on "cleaning up this city" as they say.

Like they are cleaning up anyone but those who disagree with them…

I once again get those flashes to the past… but this time, it boils my blood a bit. And, I guess I got so intense in thinking at that minute, Gramps caught it easily.

"Somethin' the matter Marie?" he asks.

I snap out of it and focus on him. Not sure how I should really respond. I got the man talking, which meant now conversations were rolling. And now… the moment of truth.

"It's nothing." I just decide to say.

"Nothin'. Mmm, well… I sure got a problem." He replies.

And in that moment, my blood boiled even more and I could feel the heat in me rise.

Fuck. I immediately think to myself and almost said aloud. Yep he knew. And he was getting ready to get on our case right now. I expected this however and mentally prepared myself.

"Callie." He calls over, with her quickly turning her head.

"Where were you and your sister last night again?"

I was getting pissed off at this little acting of his. He clearly had already got onto Callie probably, hence her pitiful look when I walked in. Not sure how much she said, but I knew either way, it was scolding time. And I just wanted him to get it over with.

"We went to see the movie and… we just went to say hello to some… cute guys is all. I'm sorry Marie." She said. Acting as if she had ratted me out.

In a way, I commended her acting here this time. She acted as if she had told him some other big secret. When really, us being out late was due to something that would have made Gramps much angrier than what she said.

I simply sat there and finished up the scraps of my food.

"So what is your side of the story Marie for why you two came home so late? I had called the police almost and had to hope maybe you would be back by mornin', which of course you were. Gotta crash somewhere after ya little party." He began his lecturing already.

I simply looked up, straight into his eyes. I wanted to say something far worse than what I was already planning because I was tired of this. Getting shit for doing this job that basically helps support this family the most. Even more than Grandpa's retirement benefits from the government and Callie's job. Yes, fuck me for trying to help us get somewhere in life. Back to a status like before. As I was about to answer him, I was also trying real hard to keep my raging emotions from fluttering out all at once.

"Callie explained everything. I'm sorry grandfather, it won't happen again." I simply said.

"Oh really? Do I look like I'm just gonna believe th-" he immediately started to reply before being cut off.

My rage boiling had finally spilled out.

"Oh, I'm sorry for telling the truth! What else do you want grandfather? If you want to punish me, do it. I want to get to work already." I said aloud. My tone being beyond annoyed and with some other heavy emotions behind it.

"Who do you think you're talkin' to!? I am trying to be reasonable and talk to YOU! Giving you benefit of the doubt and you still have that nasty attitude." He said in defense.

I nearly started my next line with bullshit. But caught myself fast and restarted on my words.

"Grandpa, you know you just wanted to blame me for doing something wrong! Callie looking all frowned up before I even walked in here. You probably already talked to her about everything so why bother with me. I don't want to explain myself, because there is nothing else to explain." I begin to walk towards the sink and put my dishes down.

I nearly walked out the kitchen but grandfather called my name in a threating tone. I would've kept walking but even in my emotions, I wanted to respect grandfather to an extent and listen to him. It was a nature I had developed and I didn't want to make things worse than they seemed.

"Go to my room now." he says in his low deep tone.

I immediately knew what was going to happen from here.

"So I'm getting punished but Callie isn't now? She really must be your favorite. Don't know why you even bother with me…" I said harshly.

He approached me quickly and grabbed me by the wrists. I jerked back and nearly pushed him over but just stood there angrily. He wasn't the tallest man exactly.

"I told you to go!" he says loudly, before striking my backside with the palm of his hand for emphasis.

I groan at the hit and glare between him and a scared looking Callie. I was on the verge of really saying no to him this time. To just let my rage onto him. A demon within me I hadn't felt in a long time surged. It was so sudden that it scared me for a second. I felt like I really wanted to do something terrible… but that respect for my grandfather took its place again. So I pried his hands off my wrists and stormed to his room.

...

It has been quite a few minutes since Gramps told me to go to his room. I sat on his bed waiting for my inevitable punishment. I imagined he was going to give me at least one more scolding before anything else.

But as time passed, my thoughts shifted from the incoming punishment to what exactly had happened in the kitchen.

I'm always frustrated with grandfather in moments like these, and an argument is not unusual. But what was unusual was my specific emotional toll. I was out of control with my emotions. And I noticed that this lack of tolerance and anger had built over this last month.

This job I worked… Callie and I had been working in it for two years now. And had lived with our grandfather since our parents' passing even longer. So what was it that was making me snap lately…?

It bothered me now more than ever, because something was triggering these feelings.

It wasn't like anything much changed. The city going to shit happened long ago. Our fame and fortune dwindling, happened long ago. Everything that had led to the downfall of our lives was old news. And nothing seemed to get any worse or better.

So… what was it that was making me feel this way?

A question I'd have to ask another moment. As just as I finished another mind monologue; grandfather walked in.

He stared at me with a cup of water in one of his old beer mugs. Of course, he could no longer use those mugs for actual beer as me and Callie forbid that for him. But yet he still loves to use the mugs for any beverage, as he had grown to live by those mugs. He used to share drinks with old comrades with those exact mugs. The memories those mugs held must have been very close to him.

It was things like that, that really gave me an idea of how his army days were.

"Marie. I just want to talk." He said patiently.

I still wasn't buying this sudden less strict tone of his.

"I don't know what it is that…" he stumbles on his words a bit and takes some sips of his water.

"I feel like… I'm sorry if I…" he still couldn't conjure his sentence.

"Grandfather, I am sorry for going and staying out too late. I truly meant it when I apologized in the kitchen. I'm not always sarcastic in what I mean." I simply tell him.

Being in my slow thoughts had calm me down, and rather than lash out again, I wanted to be honest from my heart.

But in that moment… I would be met with one of the most shocking mental blows to me in a long time and for a long time to come.

"You coulda told me, you entered that… underground weapon trade." he says blankly.

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. One of the biggest secrets I had tried to keep from grandfather all this time. And he suddenly knew. My mind, my heart, and my entire body was overwhelmed with emotion. My immediate first thought to how he possibly knew was…

"D-did… Callie tell you?" I struggle to ask him though my confused state of mind.

"No." He said.

"You see Marie. I've been noticin' your little disappearances and weird patterns for a while now. For the longest, I did think you were out… having wild adventures with some boys or some junk. But your disappearance last night was your strangest yet. Being out for so long in the cold rain." He explained.

"So I called and asked a friend if they happened to spot you. I'd ask him to keep an eye out for you before. But he never saw anything out of the ordinary. Impressive, how well you hide yourself. Putting that ol' trainin' to use girl."

I shivered at that training comment. He had to go bringing up yet another piece of the past.

"But last night was different. He saw you both at Inkopolis Plaza. The description he gave was seeing you with someone I know. Sheldon."

Sheldon? No… he couldn't have…

"Sheldon is the grandson of an old friend of mine. I had met him before a few times a while back but I could never forget such an interesting… character that kid was. Anyway, I contacted my friend just moments ago and Sheldon told me everything about you two. Even last night. I played dumb and old of course so it didn't sound like interrogation. And he bought it." He finished up his story.

Sheldon. That fucking… I wanted to strangle the life out of him in that moment. He practically exposed us. I had never told him the lengths I went to keep the dealing life and my family life separate… oh wait, I had. You would think with how I purposefully tried to keep Callie out alone, it would be a hint.

"Marie." Gramps calls out towards me.

"I ain't mad y'know. I honestly blame myself than you for getting into the trade. I read all about how many kids were gettin' wrapped up in it. To support their families and all that. Especially with your knowledge in your… previous little double life. I'm not surprised it's somethin' you would lean towards than a normal job."

And to make matters worse, there he had to go bringing that up again. My mind was an emotional train wreck at that moment.

"Grandfather I… I'm not doing anything like that…" I manage to speak out.

"How can I be so sure you aren't lying to me again right now?" He questions.

"The whole point of that little job of yours is to lie right? Like you lied to me. Like you lie to the government. Do you have any idea what you've stepped into?"

"Grandfather." I snap back.

I'm going to sound like a broken record but… my mind was an emotional roller coaster. I had no idea what to say. A secret I had kept for two years, broken by the person I had worked with so closely. My grandfather was breathing down my neck with accusations. Things I couldn't exactly easily refute in my state of mind right now. And to add insult to injury, he had to bring up another part of the past. I had already struggled to keep it out my mind recently but it was hard not to think about it in relation to everything happening now.

I need to breathe.

I get up slowly and speak to Gramps without looking at him directly.

"I need to lay down for a moment grandfather."

"This talk ain't over. You, I, and your sister will be discussin' this further later." He says as I begin to slowly walk out his room.

I pause for a moment and then continue walking without looking back.

I was in my room now. The door was closed and I was sitting on my bed with one hand on my forehead and the other holding my phone. My phone was currently ringing and I was just waiting with intense silence for the user on the other end to answer. I had been calling this number for the last few hours and left two messages. My mind was still broken a little but it was focused on one thing now.

Answer the goddamn phone Sheldon. I whisper. Not even realizing I was speaking to myself.

After all the waiting, I got a response on the other end. I could hear some ruffling in the background. Rather than immediately speak, I waited for the person who picked up to answer first. This was a habit I picked up over the years for a very specific reason. One that's better explaining another day.

After almost a full minute, I heard a voice speak from the phone.

"Hello?" I heard.

That was the voice of the person I was looking for. Which meant it was getting close to letting the emotions I had been holding out. But rather than immediately do it. I spoke softly and patiently.

"Sheldon. We need to meet. Now." I spoke clearly.

"Marie? Oh hey, funny you're calling. You'll never guess who I spoke to earlier! Also um… I was doing some typing for important work right now so maybe I can get back to you unless it's an emergency and-"

"Sheldon." I interrupted.

"Now. ASAP. No questions. No arguments. Just meet me at the usual when you can. I'll be waiting there. Bye." I hang up.

If there's one thing Sheldon knew about me, it was that when I'm serious about something; I mean it. I'm not a person who likes to waste time. Back then, it was different… obviously. Being a pop star and what not, there were a lot of dumb things I had to do to keep up with the career. In the long run, it meant jack all but I guess it was fun and thrilling since I miss all of it so much…

I don't know why it's so hard for me to admit that. Even in my own mind. Most likely because once those days were over, I buried the memories in a hole and left them behind. I did everything to not think about it and get nostalgic. Because no matter how much I miss the "good ol days"… they are not coming back. End of story. I want to move forward and make a new future for myself. I don't care to change my route just to relive the past.

And then there's the… other side. Gramps had to bring THAT back up into my mind. God. Sometimes I like to look back at my pop star life and I think a few looks back at that are fine. But the other side? I swore to myself, I would never look back at that. It was a traumatizing period of my life. Something I regret and never want to do again.

Yet here we are. Whether I like it or not, all sides of my past continue to haunt me to this very day.

After thinking about all this, I get up and get ready to leave. Right now, I needed to have a very important word with a "friend".

A/N: And there we are, the end of the long-awaited Chapter 2! Once again… not the most action packed chapter of our story. But it's all in the process of development. However, this chapter raises some interesting things that will be built later. So look forward to more! Chapter 3 will start a lot differently. Alright, let me know what you thought of the chapter, would love feedback from reviews and I'll see you lovely folks later!