Agent 4 didn't know much. But what she DID know, was that ranked matches could either be the most fun experiences you can have, or the worst. There is no middle ground. She had been playing ranked since the arena opened in the morning. Today's mode was tower control. She'd done a handful of battles before this one so it was nearing 1pm. She'd been working hard and just managed to get her rank meter over the OK line. This match however, her teammates were letting her down.

"For fucks sake, we're in S rank! Fucking try!" Four swore as she raised her NZAP to turf some ground to make it to the tower. Her team was not doing well, they only got the tower to 80 meanwhile the opposing team had pushed back to 20. Four kept making her way to the tower, watching for enemies that may try to sneak up on her. She remembers to be turfing the ground as she goes, which results in the most glorious sound, the familiar dinging of her special being charged. Four smirks as she clips her NZAP onto her belt and pulls out the Tenta-Missile launcher. Just as she had suspected, the entire enemy team camping the tower.

"Eat this." She pulls the triggers and the missiles fly off. The enemy team leaps off the tower, stopping just before they could make any additional progress. Four uses this moment to corner the enemy. The missiles keeping them pushed back as she dispatches them with her NZAP and a couple of autobombs.

Four smirks, a team wipe, exactly what she needs to turn this around. She quickly inks the side of the tower and swims up it, claiming it for her team as it begins making its way towards the enemy base. She sees her own team coming up to the tower quickly, figures they'd come running as soon as there was no danger left. Four looks over her teammates and quickly devises a plan.

"You, with the Kensa charger! Go up ahead, try and cut them off!" Four barked. Normally people would object to being given orders, especially when being referred to by their weapon choice, but given Four had just splatted the entire enemy team, they were willing to let it slide.

"You with the Carbon Roller, swap spots with me, you'll have an easier time dealing with tower climbers than I will." The inkling with the roller nods and swims up the side of the tower as Four jumps off. The inkling on the tower disappears into the ink, shrouding them from view.

"And you, Kensa Splattershot, you're with me, stay close to the tower to reclaim it should Roller get splatted, and try and keep the enemy away from it." The Splattershot wielder nods as they all charge forwards, holding the line between them and the tower.

The inkling with the roller proved to be more than capable of holding their own, any time someone even got close to the top of the tower, a quick swing would send them right back to spawn. Four and the inkling with the Kensa Splattershot were doing a good job keeping the enemy's focus off the tower. Suction bombs and Auto bombs kept them from getting too close. The Charger had found a spot to camp that allowed an easy escape, as well as decent coverage of the tower.

The overtime horn blared, this was it. The score is now 20-37. Just a little further and Four's team will have won. With the overtime Horn having been blown, Four turns to the Splattershot wielder.

"Okay, we NEED to hold the tower, I'm heading up there to support the roller, join me if you wish, but you'd be just as useful down here."

Splattershot nods, Four swims off to the tower and climbs the side, landing on top with Roller.

"Hey, just a little further." Four offers a smile before returning to guarding the tower.

Four chances a glance at the score board

20-25

It's going to be close.

Four spots someone swimming towards the tower and raises her NZAP to aim at them. They leap out of the ink and fling a splat bomb at the tower. Four quickly kicks it off the tower before it can explode, but the thrower used the opportunity to leap on to the tower, and had a brush pointed right at Four. Before they could even get one swipe out though, a roller came crashing down onto them, sending them back to spawn.

"Nice job there, keep their attention off me and I can take care of 'em even easier." Roller smirks, proud of themselves for their accomplishment.

"Don't celebrate just yet." Four replies as she hears more enemies swimming towards them. They leap out of the ink all at once, Dualie Squelchers, NZAP 85, and an Octo Brush. Four fires at the Dualies first, knocking them back to their spawn expertly. She narrowly dodges a few shots from the enemy NZAP before returning fire with her own NZAP 89. Four doesn't dodge every shot but she manages to connect just enough to splat her opponent, and just as Four had expected, the Octo Brush got slammed by the Roller and sent back to spawn.

20-23

20-22

20-21

20-20

20-19 GAME!

"YES!" Four cheered. "We did it!"

The roller breathes a heavy sigh of relief. Four turns to them and offers a high five. They graciously accept and smack their palm against Four's. Their entire team cheered and pats Four on the back for a job well done.

Four decides that after that mess, that it's time for a break. It was also lunch time anyways, so she heads out of the Turf Lobby and returns to Inkopolis Square. She glances over to Crusty Sean's food truck, she could really go for a schwaffle. She starts walking towards it and notices that only a handful of people getting food, nice.

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her stash of tickets and sees if she has the one for the meal she wants. She scrolls through a handful of drink tickets before finally coming to the one she wants, she smiles and puts the rest of her tickets back in her bag as she finishes making her way over to the food truck. After waiting in line behind the few people ahead of her, finally it's her turn to order. She hands the ticket to Sean and smiles.

"One Double-Fried Super Shwaffle please!" Four smiles excitedly, she's put off eating too long and she's going to ENJOY this schwaffle.

"Coming right up! It'll be ready in a moment." Crusty Sean smiles in response as he turns to cook her desired meal.

Four walks to the side and waits for her order. She pulls out her phone and idly scrolls through the news, not a lot has happened recently that's noteworthy so it's a short scroll. She sighs and turns to scrolling through SplatNet to see if there's any cool gear for sale. Before she can look for too long however, she hears a ding and turns to see her Double-Fried Super Shwaffle waiting for her.

"Here ya go kid, enjoy!" Sean smiles and waves to her as he turns back to the till to manage the other customers he's going to have since the lunch rush from the battles are coming.

Four smiles and snags her food before trying to find a place to sit. Lets see, there's a Jelly asleep on that table, so that's out of the question. Sat at another table is an Octoling just staring at her phone, typical. Oh there's a free table! The one next to it seems to be shared by an Inkling and an Octoling who seem far too interested in eacho- wait.

Four walks over to the pair, squinting as she looks at the Inkling. She's got an incredibly toned body, scars all over the place, but the thing she was looking for she spots when the Octoling says something causing her to laugh. Her head lifts up slightly and Four is able to spot the familiar mark on the underside of her chin. A mark that, in the right light, looks like an inkling in squid form.

Four walks over and taps the Inkling on the shoulder. The Inkling in question turns quickly, murder in her eyes and her fist raised ready to make someone who's awake be not awake, until she sees just who it is that took her attention.

"Alex?" Four asks, hope shining in her eyes.

"Jay?!" Her fist drops and she smiles widely.

The two stare at each other with stunned silence between them, before the girl now named "Alex" leaps out of her chair and tackles Four, or, 'Jay' to the ground with a hug.

"Oh my gods! I haven't seen you since before… well it's been a while!" Alex chuckles, the Octoling she was with partially puzzled but also partially amused at the scene.

"ALEX! MY PELVIS!" Jay cries, Alex was always strong but a tackle hug was not something she was prepared for.

"Oh fuck sorry!" She climbs off and gets back to her feet, Jay does the same, both blushing awkwardly.

"I didn't know you were back in Inkopolis, last I heard you went off on some soul searching adventure or something to the mountains." Jay tries to get herself under control, still just ecstatic to see Alex again.

"Hah, classic Jay. Right to the point." Alex smirks and lightly jabs Jay in the shoulder.

"Har har, but seriously, why didn't you tell me you were back in town? I missed you!" Jay says, a little grumpy with Alex still. "Granted I hadn't moved here until after you left on that adventure, but still!"

Alex blushes and rubs the back of her neck.

"I uh, well my head's been a little all over the place lately." she pauses. "But hey, I'm back!"

"I otta splat you for not telling me! I am the best cousin you could ever have how could you just leave me in the dark!" Jay poses dramatically, her hand over her chest and her nose to the sky. Alex just rolls her eyes.

"Oh woe is you, I've only been back for like, a couple months. I'm still getting settled." Alex retorts, taking her seat again across from her date.

The Octoling at the table speaks up, having previously just been watching the events unfold.

"Wait, you have a cousin?" She looks to Alex quizzically.

Alex sighs.

"Yes Eight, I have a cousin, and no, her and I are NOT going to challenge the Squid Sisters for 'pop icon cousins' my ink curdles at the very thought." Alex smirks, earning a chuckle from her Octoling girlfriend.

"Oh my GODS Alex, you are impossible." Jay chuckles, causing Alex to again roll her eyes.

"So what if I am?" Alex squints at Jay, but then looks to the ground. "You uh, might wanna pick up that Shwaffle before a Jelly eats it."

Jay looks at the Shwaffle she was going to eat, then back to Alex, then back to the Shwaffle. Sighing, defeated, she snags some napkins off the table.

"You owe me a Shwaffle." Jay picks up the mess on the ground and tosses it in the can. "You made me waste an entire ticket."

"It's your fault for not setting it down before talking to me." Alex shrugs as she sits back down. "Last time you tapped me on the shoulder like that you got knocked across the house."

Jay glares at Alex. Then her gaze shifts to the Octoling sitting with her.

"Oh my gods, where are my goddamn manners. I'm Jay, it's nice to meet you. How do you know my cousin here?" Jay extends her arm and outstretches her hand towards the Octoling sitting with Alex.

Eight glances to the Inkling she's with, who gives her a nod, and she reaches out and shakes Jay's hand.

"I'm Eight! Well, that's what I go by. My memory's a bit flakey and my real name was one of the flakes." She shrugs. "And as to how I know your cousin? Well, she kinda saved my life. She also tried to kill me, but I was brainwashed at the time so I think it's only fair. Well and she tried to kill me a second time but SHE was brainwashed that time."

Alex chuckles. Eight was always so brutally honest it was adorable.

"Wait wait, what?" Jay was clearly confused, not being able to piece together the story, which to be fair, was a very complicated story in and of itself.

Alex just sighed, and chuckled to herself.

As if being cued, Eight, Alex, and Jay's phones all go off at once, prompting all of them to glance awkwardly at the others before pulling out their phones and seeing what the mess is about.


Marie: Yo finally, this group chat setting is way more difficult than it needs to be.

Callie: Oh chill Marie, you just missed a button, nothing to get worked up over :D

Agent 3: Oh my GODS Eight and I are on a date, and y'all just drop this on me? Also my cousin is now standing next to me.

TheGr8Agent8: 3 almost drop kicked her, I could see the look in her eyes.

Agent 3: And I would've looked beautiful doing it

TheGr8Agent8: You always look beautiful ;)

Marie: COULD YOU TWO STOP FLIRTING FOR FIVE SECONDS!

Agent 3: No

TheGr8Agent8: No

4gent A: Wait hold on a second, ALEX?

Agent 3: No fucking way, JAY?

Marie: What? Do you know each other already?

Agent 3: Oh my fucking gods I can't believe this. AGENT 4 IS MY GODDAMN COUSIN.


"Wait, you're an Agent too?!" Jay says, looking Alex dead in the eyes.

"Uh yeah? I could ask YOU the same thing!" Alext retorts, pointing her phone at her.

Jay grabbed a chair and placed it next to the table Alex and Eight were at, and sat down.

"I need information." She looks Alex dead in the eyes, her face showing no signs of wavering. "Spill it. What happened. You fucking dissappeared! For like four years!"

Alex sighs heavily.

"Sorry about this Eight, I hoped today would be normal but I guess you get my whole backstory now." She turns to face Jay. "You wanna know what happened? Here it is"

Three then goes on to explain how she met the old Cap'n, how she found herself in the middle of an uprising Octarian army, and how while she had some help, it was largely just HER against the great OctoWeapons, the Octarians, and the large number of Octolings in their rising army.

"After that things died down a bit, a stray Zapfish would go missing every now and again, but those were always fairly easy to reclaim. A year after that was when Callie and Marie had their big split, I didn't talk to either of them much after that, but I kept in contact with Cap'n Cuttlefish." Alex explains, putting emphasis on the fact that she kept in contact with their grandfather.

"It was a result of staying in contact with him that I found out about an organization called Kamabo. He and I went in to investigate, however before we crossed the threshold between Octarian and Kamabo territory, Eight here ambushed us. She was still under Octavio's control so I don't hold it against her." Alex gives Eight a playful nudge and Eight just blushes.

"Alright that sort of makes sense so far, but there's still two whole years unaccounted for in your story" Jay presses, wanting more.

"The next two years were… Hell. I was separated from the Cap'n, though apparently he'd been with Eight. I was on my own. Kamabo is the worst hellscape imaginable, and I didn't even see the worst of it. Octarians and Octolings were put through some kind of chamber and when they came out the other side, they had no more life signs… but they were still standing." Alex shudders, Eight puts her hand on her shoulder to emotionally support her.

"The octarians generally just had some kind of distraught look on their face, like they didn't like where they were but they also didn't care either way. I suppose that's just what the lower level Octarians are like. But the Octolings? Man their scared expressions and desperate attempts to get free before being… sanitized… still haunt my dreams."

Eight leans in closer and rests her head on Alex's shoulder, hugging her arm tightly. Alex immediately feels her hearts relax and slow, she realizes she'd riled herself up and gives herself a moment to relax. Finally after a few moments, she's breathing normally again.

"Thanks Eight." She smiles and glances down at her girlfriend. "I needed that."

"I know." Eight kisses her on the cheek. "I needed it too."

Alex takes in a deep breath, holds it for a second, then lets it out.

"Okay, to cap of Kamabo from my perspective. They have a very large army of basically undead. They patrol their own grounds constantly. I got so little sleep that days merged more than I thought. Honestly I thought it had maybe been a few months, not two whole years."

"That's why you reacted so bad when you found out!" Eight chimes in.

"Yeah I felt all that guilt from losing the Cap'n all over again, it's like my emotions decided since I only thought it was a few months that I needed to make up for the time I DIDN'T feel guilty or some shit like that. That's what my therapist said anyways."

"Wait, you see a therapist?" Jay inquires "you seemed so… against that when we were young."

"Yeah well, when we were young I hadn't prevented a war, and then had my mind taken over by a psychotic telephone."

"You what now?"

"Oh right, we didn't get to that part. Yeah so I eventually found the Cap'n and Eight, inside a huge ass blender of all things. It was going to melt their essence into the 'ink' that Kamabo uses. I crashed through the ceiling just in time to prevent it, but in doing so I got some of that Kamabo shit on my face and it took over my mind. Eight could tell you this part better since I was effectively unconsious for it, but to make a long story short, she saved the world while I was incapacitated."

"Well, I helped. Pearl did the finishing move that actually saved the world." Eight interjects.

"Don't sell yourself short. You were equally important if not more important. Pearl may have toasted her vocal chords, but you're the only reason her finishing move was even effective. Plus, you did all that in HEELS!"

"Alright alright, I guess I can take SOME of the credit." Eight laughed awkwardly.

"Good" Three smiled.

Jay nods from across the table.

"Mhmm good yes. So how did you two start dating? Since I'm just getting y'all's life story now."

"Y'all's?" Eight bleps her tongue a few times, like the word doesn't taste good in her mouth.

"It's slang from back home, I've almost stopped using it but apparently she hasn't" Alex laughs pointing at Jay.

Jay sticks out her tongue and rolls her eyes.

"You've had three whole years to adjust, I've been here what, five months?"

"Wait a second, JAY YOU'RE 18 NOW!" Alex cheers. "I can't believe I missed it!"

Jay just laughs and waves her hand to dismiss the thought.

"It's okay Alex, really. I mean given where you were during the time I turned 18 I don't exactly blame you for not being there." Jay chuckles. "I'm just so happy to see you again!"

"It's been too long Jay, far too long." Alex smiles warmly. "And Eight, this is the cousin I mentioned a while back. Jay and I were super close, people thought we were siblings all the time."

Eight looks between the two inklings next to her, she can certainly see the familial resemblance, though Three certainly did look a number of years older. Jay seemed to be on the shorter side of the two, though it wasn't by much, maybe a couple inches at most. Three, er, Alex, also seemed to be very… protective of Jay. Not that one could pick up on it through her words, but her body language and actions certainly showed this.

"But… I am currently on a date with Eight, so we can catch up later alright?" Alex says trying to get back to the date she was graciously enjoying with Eight before her cousin whom she hadn't seen in years and missed very dearly came up and got tackled by her.

"It's for the best, I think I have to take my E soon anyways." Jay's phone beeps shortly after she finishes her thought, confirming her suspicions. "Yep just like I thought. Catch ya later Alex! You too Eight!"

With a wave Jay leaves, Three would have to make a mental note to replace the schwaffle she debacled. She was happy she got to see her cousin again. But right now she has more pressing matters, like how adorable Eight is.

"So yeah that was my cousin, she's great even if we don't see eye to eye all the time." Three says, chuckling to herself at the memory of a few of their disagreements in the past.

"She seems nice." Eight smiles, but then quickly turns the attention of the conversation to something that's been bugging her. "Also… Alex?"

Three sighs, she knew this was coming and so it might as well be over with now.

"Alex is my real name yes… but since I moved to Inkopolis and became an agent, I've just gone by Three. I told Cap'n my name, same with Callie and Marie, but since it's usually all business when I'm with them they insisted on using agent numbers… and since that's the only social interaction I really had since moving here, I just kinda got used to being called 'Three' - It wasn't until Jay showed up that I had even considered that I hadn't told you my name yet." Three laughs awkwardly while rubbing the back of her head.

"Does it bother you?" Eight asks, looking her in the eyes with a worried expression.

"What?" Three looks back, unsure why Eight seems so worried all of a sudden.

"Not being called by your name, does it bother you?" Eight takes hold of Three's hand, squeezing it lightly, hoping she's not treading on uncomfortable territory.

"Uh, I guess I never really thought about it. I mean if I'm being honest I think I kinda prefer Three now, I've been going by it for so long." Three blushes and rubs her neck awkwardly.

"Alright, if you're sure." Eight smiles, squeezing her hand again.

"Positive" Three smiles back and leans in, pressing her lips against Eight's.

Three and Eight spent the rest of their date talking about Three's past, Eight was curious and Three felt it was only fair. Three revealed how growing up that her and Jay were incredibly close, they were cousins but due to circumstances they were raised in the same house. Three was very proud of Jay for making it to Inkopolis, just like Jay was excited for Three when she left. Three hated saying goodbye to Jay all those years ago, but she had no choice, she had to leave to get on with her life.

Three also recounted the events that lead to her and Jay living under the same household. Jay's mother was less than enthusiastic about the fact that she was a girl, and kept being remarkably disrespectful. Without going into detail, one day things got out of hand and Jay was taken from her as a result. Jay found it refreshing how accepting Three and her family were of her, and anyone who dared to be mean to Jay got a face full of Three's fists. Three spent a lot of time in detention protecting her cousin. Three didn't care, she'd rather get in trouble than let her cousin get hurt.

Three was very proud of her for becoming an agent as well, she heard about what "Agent 4" had been able to accomplish and knew it was no small feat. Three would have to congratulate her for a job well done later on, and also just to catch up with her properly rather than awkwardly after spilling her schwaffle.

But alas, all things must end and Three and Eight's time together comes to a close. The sun is starting to set and Inkopolis square is shutting down for the night. Three and Eight sigh as they realize that they're going to have to go home soon.

"Well, aside from that whole fiasco with Jay I'd say today went pretty well!" Three smiles at Eight, who blushes and smiles back to her.

"I agree, I always love spending time with you, Three." Eight leans in and pecks Three on the lips, causing both of them to blush profusely.

"Hey, I'll see you tomorrow right? We've been put on guard duty together so Cap'n can get some rest." Three asks, gathering her things together so she can head home.

"Yeah, I'm just afraid of what Octavio might say… he gave me the stink eye when I first arrived in Octo Canyon but with Callie and Marie there he kept his mouth shut." Eight comments as she, too, gathers her things into her bag.

"Alright well… I'll see you tomorrow then!" Three smiles, excited to have another chance to be with Eight. "Oh by the way, did Callie ever end up designing you your own Hero outfit? I'd hate if they were going to make you wear the same outfit you had in the metro. Not that it doesn't look good on you though."

Three blushes thinking about how Eight's outfit in the metro seemed to compliment her figure. Eight just rolls her eyes and gives Three another peck on the lips.

"She did, you'll see it tomorrow. I was able to give her some input on it so I hope you like it." Eight smiles and blushes. "Anyways, I should get going. I can hear Marina's lecture from here if I take too much longer to get home."

Three chuckles and nods, saying her goodbyes to Eight. Three hikes her bag up onto her back and begins the trek home. Things are starting to look up finally, she can't wait to see where things go from here.