Chapter Five:

Coffee Time

'Parker, where are you right now?'

Saya looked at the text window on her phone, having texted Parker again after waiting for a response from him. She knew that he was likely in the midst of doing hero work, but they did have a... date planned. The golden-haired Inkling reporter in-training stood in an alleyway near Inkopolis Square, minding her own business as she waited for her boyfriend.

Just then, she heard a thwipping sound and the Inkling shuddered, her shoulders hunched. Sure, she'd heard the sound before, but it often startled her. Saya put away her phone, breathing slowly to calm her nerves, then someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hi, babe."

A calm Saya turned and her face lit up when she saw Parker dangling upside down in front of her. The squid girl giggled and gave him a peck on the cheek, which triggered some blushing under that mask of his.

"Was traffic rough, dear?" Saya asked sarcastically.

"Lets just say work was murder, honey." Parker replied in an even more sarcastic voice.

He lowered himself from the web and lifted up his mask a little, then Parker kissed Saya on the lips and embraced her gently in the alley. As their hearts became one, both Inklings could feel a sense of warmth in their bodies. Saya felt safe with Parker around and the latter felt complete with this gorgeous golden squid reporter girl in his life.

"Well, what do we have here?" A snide voice remarked, "Spider-Squid making out with a reporter? This should be front page news."

Parker stood defensively in front of Saya, who braced herself uneasily, as the two Inklings faced down a group of burly-looking Inkling-Octoling thugs who'd been in the area for who knew how long. Running into criminals in an alley was unexpected, but it was known there were criminals waiting around to strike at any time everywhere in Inkopolis.

"Yo, web kid." Another thug remarked, holding a bat, "You may have taken down hitmen and other robbers, but we got no beef with ya. All we want is the babe and her jewelry, and her camera..."

One crook made mocking smoochy faces at Saya, who stuck her tongue out in disgust.

Parker rolled his eyes and adjusted his mask. "Don't you mooks have better things to do with your life?" He asked, "Go find a job and make fair money, don't rob from people who don't deserve to be hurt. You guys are not only bored out of your minds, but you're taking advantage of being poor just to get rich for the wrong reasons."

"Yo, Web-Crawlin' Cephalopod dickhead." An Octoling sneered, "No one wants to hear your quips and opinions, we're takin' yo girl and no one tells us what to do."

"Don't you just hate it when chit-chat doesn't work?" Parker quipped, "Usually I'm a pacifist, but since we can't do things the easy way at this point, it looks like I'm gonna have to pass you a fist."

The lead gangster raised a bat, declaring the time for talking was done, and he rushed at the Spider-Squid. Parker's reflexes were in motion instantly, he ducked backwards to avoid a bat swing, then he thwipped a web and blinded the crook's vision before striking with a kick. Parker's foot made contact with the Inkling's chin, and he was out like a light.

Another crook morphed into squid form and jumped Parker, but he grabbed the rogue and slammed him into a wall before webbing him up. One Octoling tried to bonk the Inkling superhero with a crowbar, but Parker blocked with his wrist, and kneed him hard. As the madness ensued, Saya took some photos of Spider-Squid in action with her camera.

"Gimme the camera, girlie." A dark-haired Inkling snarled, trying to grab Saya's camera. Saya slapped him across the face, then she twisted his arm, making the squid yell, and slammed him into the ground. In a second, the thug fainted.

One crook managed to get the jump on the golden-haired Inkling, making a grab at her. However, he wasn't too interested in taking her camera or her jewelry. Saya gasped as the crook grabbed her with gloved hands, then she yelped when she felt the lowlife Inkling's inky hands caressing and grabbing the golden-haired Inkling's special twins.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU PERVERT?!" Saya yelled, her face flushing red, "DID YOUR MOTHER EVER TEACH YOU NOT TO TOUCH A WOMAN'S SPLAT-BOMBS?!"

"Imagine the fun we can have, baby?!" The Inkling sneered.

"Get your hands off her..."

Parker kicked the perverted squid in the head, knocking him into a trash can, and right into unconsciousness. Saya took a moment to breathe, watching the remaining crooks run away, leaving their partners behind as they lay still. Parker breathed slowly, then he took Saya's hand in a gentle manner, and looked into her sweet, sweet eyes.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked.

"N-No, but it wasn't comfortable." Saya replied as she blushed.

"I can make you feel comfort." Parker kissed Saya on the hand.

"Thank you, Spider-Squid." Saya hugged her boyfriend.

Parker hugged Saya back, then he gently rubbed her shoulders and slowly lifted up his mask to reveal his face. Thankfully, nobody else could see them together. Right now, it was time to get something refreshing.

"Coffee time." Parker said with a smile.

After he changed into some normal clothes, the red-haired Inkling boy and his girlfriend left the alley and walked through Inkopolis Square. The place was busy at this time of day, full of people shopping and chatting. Parker and Saya walked over to the coffee shop and sat down at an open table, and the Jellyfish in charge approached with a clipboard.

"Can I get you anything?" The Jellyfish asked.

"We'll have the Octarian Ink special today." Saya suggested.

"I was thinking the Fresh Calamari." Parker remarked, "But Octarian Ink is alright, I hear it isn't bad coffee."

The Jellyfish fetched Parker and Saya their order, placing two cups of Octarian Ink coffee on the table for the two Inklings. Saya helped herself to a medium serving and Parker sipped slowly, trying to be careful with his drink since it was steaming hot. The web-slinger and his girlfriend sat back contently, enjoying their refreshing drinks, and their relaxing date.

After this morning, Parker was glad to spend some time with his girlfriend. Saya pulled up her camera and looked at the pictures she'd taken, the golden-haired reporter smiled, looking forward to sharing them with Jameson when she got the chance.

"Did you hear that broadcast this morning?" Parker asked with a chuckle, "He really went to town on bashing me, and he was so angry, he screamed all sorts of profanity that got censored. I wonder if we can see an uncensored version of that, his swearing is so funny sometimes."

"Hee-hee. Parker, you're ridiculous." Saya teased.

"Oh, c'mon, don't you want to hear him rant uncensored?"

"Not when we're having coffee..." Saya looked at Parker with a sweet, alluring smile, "...and I have something special for you at my place after were done with our drinks."

'Wonder what that is?' Parker thought.

After they had their drinks and paid the Jellyfish, Parker and Saya strolled through the city, holding hands together in a sweet manner, and the wall-crawling squid let his girlfriend lead him to her apartment a few streets away from the Plaza area. He'd seen her place before, and Parker looked forward to spending more time with Saya today.

He looked at his phone, looking through the texts to see if anyone he knew had texted in the past couple minutes, and found a message from Makerboy saying that he would swing by soon. Parker texted him back, telling the green-haired squid he was at Saya's.

When Saya noticed the exchange, she said she wouldn't mind seeing Makerboy swing by, and Parker proceeded to tell his friend that Saya was fine with him coming by her place to see them.

Parker put away the phone as he neared the front door of his girlfriend's residence. Saya led him inside, then she planted a little kiss upon his noise and held his hand, eying him sweetly.

"Give me a minute in my room, Spider Squid Boy..." She said half-suggestively.

Saya walked upstairs, and the door closed. Parker waited in the hall, and looked at a picture of himself with Saya at Flounder Heights on the phone, enjoying life and doing a Turf War together. Dang, it had been a while since they partook in a Turf War or any other game with their friends, perhaps it was time to give Turf War a revisit.

Now, he couldn't wait. Parker headed to the door, and opened it, walking inside Saya's penthouse. He saw a camera set up, then the web-slinger heard a sweet giggle. Parker shifted his head, his eyes laying sight upon Saya, sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed suggestively, wearing that revealing black leotard and leggings from her wardrobe.

"C'mere, wall-crawling squid, its time for a little photoshoot." Saya said in a suggestive voice.

"If Jameson saw 'em, it would be quite the scoop..." Parker quipped as he walked towards his girlfriend.

Saya grabbed his chin, and pulled the red-haired squid into a sultry kiss. The camera flashed, producing the photo of Saya kissing Parker. Parker climbed onto the couch, and his girlfriend lay back, lifting up her leg around her boyfriend's waist, and she looped her arms around Parker's neck while he crawled atop her with his hands caressing her face.

He lowered himself, kissing Saya in a deep manner, and they rolled over, kissing with passion like they never had before. And then, Parker switched things up by thwipping a web and crawling up to the ceiling.

The wall-crawling Inkling hero flicked his wrists, shooting a layer of web above Saya, then he thwipped a strong web-line that touched his girlfriend's smooth shoulders. Saya let out an "eep" as Parker pulled her off the couch, placing her on the ceiling. Saya lay upon the web on her back, staring into Parker's eyes, as he crawled towards her smooth face.

"And what is this about?" Saya teased.

"I've been doing research on spiders..." Parker whispered, "...and I discovered how their courting rituals work. You want to give it a try?"

"Get over here, you silly spider of an Inkling." The golden-haired Inkling giggled, she playfully smooched Parker on the side of his face, then Parker crawled into the web in which his girlfriend lay. Saya lay still, eying Parker eagerly, and the kind super-squid gently touched her cheek in an assuring gesture. There was nothing to be afraid of.

And then, he removed his shirt, revealing his smooth torso, and let it drop to the couch. Parker lowered himself unto the webbed leotard-clad Saya, kissing her deeply, and the two Inklings made out on the ceiling. Outside, a warm breeze floated by the apartment, and a couple birds flew past...