Spyke winced.
He was alone. Atop a roof that overlooked the square on this upbeat evening. The blues and cyans from the festivities below faded into the golden sky that lit up the sky in a seemingly endless night.
He grimaced, his tall frame dramatically leaned over the half walls that lined the rooftop, his eye squinting at the scene. A rotten taste lined his mouth.
He had never had a falling out so… petty, before. So dramatic.
But something in him broke. It made him snap like a twig- out in pure rage in anger of the person who seemed to disregard his words.
"If you look in my fucking direction again, love, I'll gouge your bloody eyes out."
A venomous threat from a venomous man.
The last words he had said in the past fifteen or so minutes. His blood was still boiling from the exchange.
As far as he was concerned, she wasn't his problem anymore. Not that he ever wanted her to be one in the first place. He walked out and that was that.
So… why did he feel a certain sting with his rage? An accent to his bitterness? He was free from her. He should be feeling liberated.
He tore his eye away from the crowd to look at his left wrist. Two bangles, and a ring.
No. He felt more pain than he did entering that relationship with her- whatever the hell it even was, that was.
They weren't dating. They never were. They weren't an item, nor were they exclusive by any means. Yet she would brag about him like he was some sort of prize she obtained. A trophy. A crown.
He had laid the ground that they were nothing more than friends with the added benefit. Flings.
A sigh.
Never did he regret an agreement to run from his true feelings more than he did with her. What a filthy excuse of a man he was, truly.
He wanted to leave the idea of a normal comradery between the two on the table. Never before did he revoke the option to do so so quickly.
"Oh…! T-There you are…! Um…"
His eye widened. His dwelling being disrupted by the timid stammering of the voice that called to him. He stood up, partially turning around so the host of the sheepish voice could come into his tunneled view.
On the outside, he remained unfazed. But on the inside, he could feel his chest lurch. What was she doing up here, after witnessing the explosive dispute he had with another woman? What was she doing, visiting a man that caused her to fidget more than she normally did?
A man that intimidated her. No doubt.
He turned back to the square below. Scoffing.
It didn't matter. He didn't need company. Not right now.
"DRAMA QUEEN!"
He rolled his eye as a second voice squeaked from beneath the crown that rested on her tentacles. A rather unamused and irritated "What do you want?" hissed through his teeth.
A distant shuffle, and a silent argument ensued before the first voice piped up once more.
"W-well… the whole team saw your break up with Flow-"
"We weren't dating."
He interrupted. A pause of silence.
"R-Right… Sorry… I forgot you said… that…" The voice cleared her throat. "We were looking for you… since you um… stormed off. Without warning."
"I'm fine mate. You can go back and muck around wif the rest of Team Chaos or wotever." He waved a hand dismissively. "I'm tappin' out of th'fest. It ain't worth me time."
He could tell that she was hesitating, fidgeting as she tried to come up with something to say. He could hear her stammer with what words she wanted to say, too. But when she tried to raise her voice, the second, squeakier voice piped up once more.
"BULLSHIT!"
"Moe-!"
Great. It appears the tiny fishy guy that follows her around had a built in lie detector.
He whipped around, leering at the symbiotic duo.
"Bullshit or not, mate, I ain't in the mood to socialize! You saw wot happened back there, yeah? I'm drained! Beat! Now beat it fore I throw ya down those stairs ya lot came up on!"
He watched as the anemone that stood there reel back ever so slightly, a twinge of guilt suddenly pulled at him.
The anemone, he knew, was shy. So it shouldn't take much to get her to scram. But there was no need for him to be rude like that.
Yet… she held her ground, stomping her foot to signify her sternness.
"No!"
It was a small outburst. One that made his gaze somewhat soften at the sight of this timid soul asserting dominance.
"You're clearly not fine…! A-And I'm not going anywhere!" Her voice lowered in volume. "I also… don't… like… parties… that much."
He stared at her, seemingly blankly as he felt his cheeks heat up.
She cared? And she hated being in the heat of a party?
He folded.
He turned back to the city square below for a third time with a nonchalant wave. "Sure. Fine. Wotever. Y'lot can stick around."
Twirling between the slim, long digits of his left hand, the thick, brass ring that normally adorned his right middle finger slipped through effortlessly. Squinting his eye as the train rattled and rumbled.
His black tank top was coated in sweat from his connecting ride from the Splatlands. His old, tweed trousers from almost seven years ago frayed at the seams. And his shoes from his stint in Inkopolis Square finally began to wear away at the soles.
Along with the goatee that irritated his chin, it was obvious that defeat weighed the hunched over sea urchin down.
He lost… everything, trying to find himself again.
Belongings. Respect. Millions upon millions of dollars.
Power.
Just the biggest, saddest excuse of an entrepreneur, he was.
Handmade jewelry clicked together as the train ran over the occasional bump. The two same bangles he wore that night, the number of them made him reminisce about the kid he had to leave behind.
He was a proper adult now, at least, that's what he claimed when he growled at him about not wanting Spyke to be around him anymore. He couldn't help but to worry about the kid, how he's doing. If he's eating right.
He was still a teenager, after all. He can't help but to worry about him at times. Especially given how much of a soft side he got for him over the years.
He loved that kid as a son. Even though he was… rather poor, when it came to raising him.
It was just… inconvenient. The timing of his short lived guardianship. He would have been more focused, more hands on with the kid if it weren't for the various distractions in his life and the increasing apathy that came with them.
Yet fate was cruel, for those few short years.
And now, without those distractions. The kid didn't need to look up to him anymore. And it hurt.
A poor excuse of an entrepreneur AND a father. Wonderful.
"Attention train passengers: The stop for Inkopolis Plaza is imminent. To all passengers who boarded for this destination, You will arrive in; Five minutes."
The intercom snapped him out of his brooding as he gripped the ring in his hand. Replacing it on its rightful finger as he turned and peered out of the window at the familiar city streets that peeled out from behind the ending tunnel.
It was dusk. Near night time. The time where the lights flickered on and warmly lit the passing scenes that unfolded before him. Young Inklings and Octolings meeting up, grabbing a bite to eat, socializing, connecting…
It was like the scenes he saw when he first rode into Inkopolis on this train. It brought him a bittersweet warmth. One that felt a tad unfamiliar to him.
It made his throat tense up.
This city was all that he knew for most of his adult life. Leaving the rural north to heed its call for a better life. Unaware of what the same city could even do to his once naive soul.
Inkopolis Plaza was especially notable to him. The sights. The colors. The people. They captivated him while his face was still fresh. While his eyesight was still sharp.
It was the calm before the hub next door ruined the city life for him.
And he was going to face it for the first time in the several years he was gone. His home…
… if he were to call it that, of course.
"Attention train passengers: we are now pulling into the Inkopolis Plaza terminal. Please prepare to leave if you intend on dismounting at this stop."
He corrected his posture, the lump in his throat growing as his eye connected to the train door in front of him. His heart was pounding as the train gradually came to a halt, and the familiar inkantation chime sounded from outside. Signaling the train's arrival.
"Thank you for riding with Ika Railways."
The doors opened.
And he stared blankly through his blurry eye.
A few notable changes from his first steps onto his old turf: the train station was more proper.
It was sleek, provided concessions and even had a tourist trap or two- evidence of a resurgence of popularity, for sure.
It was accessible. Probably due to an enforced ordinance to add ramps and braille to every incline and sign that was at the average person's eye.
Hell, he didn't need to duck as he tried to find the exit to the place- only when he took the stairs out of there.
"Can't win em' all, I guess."
He grumbled the complaint as he slid down the stairs of the establishment and out into the city. Careful as to not injure himself by knocking his head on the ceiling of the exit tunnel, or to slip on his way down.
Or worse yet, drop the kelp chips and coffee he precariously held in one hand. Especially the coffee, he was afraid his card would decline getting the damn cup in the first place.
And when the butterflies kissed him hello, stepping out into the city, he stopped.
Slowly standing up straight, his eye took in the sights. At least, to the best of its ability.
Through his blurry tunneled vision, he could tell that this was the same place he stepped into all those years ago. The sounds clearly gave it away that he was right where he was.
But through that same eye, he could tell that there was change: the defunct dojo was replaced with a relocated shoal. Billboards that once displayed Inkopolis's hottest musicians now have those same faces under a new, fresher lens.
He wondered what else had changed, as he took the first steps onto the old Plaza he knew.
"Hoy! The sparrow urchin makes his return!"
Never mind the familiar voice and the sounds of frenetic, gelatinous slapping- " sparrow urchin?"
The sparrows still hung around these parts?
He turned to the jellyfish that rushed towards him. Squinting. "... Jelonzo?"
"BLUUEH!? The sparrow urchin remembered my name after all!"
Spyke huffed at his reaction as the jellyfish halted by his feet. Seemingly beaming up at him. "Yeah, and y'seem ta forget mine, mate." He half heartedly chuckled as he watched the jellyfish rub the back of his head.
"My sorries, friend! I never thought I would see you around these parts again!"
"Yeah? Well… I didn't fink I'd come crawling back here… 'least not like this."
"BLUH? What happened?"
Spyke paused, glancing over at the tower. A bit hesitant. "S'a long one, Jel. Y'wouldnt want ta hear it all… But let's just say I forgot where I left most me clothes and I ain't got a number to me name anymore and leave it at that."
The tentacle moved to his cosmetic, nonexistent mouth. "YOU LOST YOUR BODY CLOTHS!?"
Spyke looked down at his garments, brushing off his pants. "Besides the ones I'm wearin', yeah."
He watched as Jelonzo gargled out a hum, quickly eyeing him over with a nod. "Hm, Yes! Okay! I must be trying to catch a train back home, my children are waiting for me! But before I go, I want to let you know that Jelly Fresh is open when I'm by if you need any refreshing of your fresh!"
Spyke nodded, a bit bemused by the jellyfish's wording. His Inkling was far better than it was in the past, that was certain. Though, it did make whatever wording blemish he still carried a bit more obvious.
It was amusing, almost.
"... Right."
"Okay then! I will see you when the sun rises tomorrow!" Jelonzo waved him off, heading to catch his train home. "See you!"
"Yeah…" His voice trailed off briefly, he was already expected to be here tomorrow as well, huh? "Yeah-! See ya soon, mate! I'll keep ya offer in mind when I have a few extra G to spend!"
"Will do!"
Huh. He didn't even question it.
Whatever. He rolled his eye and brushed the abrupt reunion behind him. Staring over at the outlet shopping center the eccentric jellyfish scurried from.
His mere appearance before him was enough to confirm at least one constant of the place. That was certain.
He knew that Crusty Sean was on a trip at the moment. Mainly because while he himself stayed in Splatsville for a spell, he saw his cluttered bike parked outside of Ammo Knights. Knowing full well he was visiting an old friend in that store.
So Shrimp Kicks and the… reinstated Inkopolis branch of the said weapons store, were under new, unfamiliar management.
Really? Reinstated? What ever happened to the one in the Square?
Whatever, the square wasn't important to him anymore.
But what was, was the one remaining store: Cooler Heads.
Who was running that place now? He wondered.
He knew that the previous girl who worked there got caught up with something else. And he kept that in mind as he approached the, very much closed, store. Peering inside the shop to see if he could catch a hint of who this person was.
Books littered the store shelves, from what he could see. Along with the occasional dated hobby kit or three, the proudly displayed Music Albums and Graffiti, a velcro adhesive starfish hugging the ladder- And that's from what he could make out from the cluttered mess in there.
But still, no employee in sight.
'Duh, y'old git, of course there's nobody there- The lights were off and it's the normal closin' time. It's. Closed.' Spyke shook his head, kneeling down to get a closer look at the flyers and signs that were posted on the glass door.
They were fliers for upcoming concerts being held, for the most part. The only things obscuring them being notices from the store owner themselves; revised store hours, notes of sales. A flier for the Splatnet Shop…
Wait …
"Want to net the coolest gear around? Good news! Inkopolis orders are back in business! Just send me an inquiry, and meet me across the way at dusk! (I can help with other gear arrangements too!) -Annie"
He read the note to himself, mumbling across each word his eye scanned, his squinting eye as his eye slightly perked up when it met the name of the proprietor.
"Annie?"
That Annie? The sea anemone that had quit working there years ago?
Nevermind that idea of her moving on, then.
He stood up. Peering over his shoulder to remind himself of what was across from here: his old Alleyway. His crevice.
She… was in there ?
He began to make his way over to the alleyway he abandoned all those years ago. Curious.
He was, more or less, expecting everything there to be trashed. The rug that probably became moldy after so long, the Snails that have rotted away there. The old screwdriver he used in place of his own needles so he wouldn't mess his do up- oh, how vain his old self was.
Even the old, gross stickers and Graffiti there: he thought they removed the both of them.
But what he saw wasn't that.
New snails and their respective shells decorated the corner in a way that felt familiar. Refreshed Graffiti and new, neatly placed stickers livened the corner up, and the presence of a small coffee bar made it feel more like home than before.
But what his eye focused on was the exchange before him. Something he looked at in disbelief with his squatted stance.
"H-Here you are! All your slots have been rerolled…! You've been on kind of a lucky streak lately… heheh…" The anemone he saw chuckled, holding a neatly folded shirt and three, luminescent chunks out to the inkling that beamed.
" Thank you! Your gear customizations are the best, Annie!"
Annie . So it really was her, sitting in his corner…
To be frank, she looked… different.
Like, wildly different. Almost unrecognizable.
Her hair seemed more pale, and translucent, aside from the side that was dyed from the normal pink.
And she wore… A LOT more black than she did before. With a certain "gothic punk edge" that he thought he'd never fully see on her.
A look that, he had to confess, was a look that worked really well on her.
Great. Now he was feeling more shameful of the mismatched garments he wore.
"O-Oh, you're too kind-! I'm just… doing my job! T… Take care!"
"You too!" The inkling waved Annie off, beginning to run in his direction while still somewhat making eye contact with her.
Only to stop once more when the inkling looked back and saw him.
And leered at him.
Great. This was one that remembered who he was.
"Oh. It's you. "
The mature voice sounded sharp. Degrading to him.
Spyke sheepishly shrugged. Not expecting an old client to be the second person to talk to upon his return.
"... U-Unfortunately, love." Well, what else WAS he supposed to say to that?
"'Unfortunately' is right ." The inkling squinted at him before they pouted. Marching around him with a grumble.
" I was really starting to like getting my gear from Annie, too… Damn it."
Ouch. Way to rub it in, kid.
He sighed before his attention returned to the Anemone. It was now her turn to have her eyes on him.
"It… it really is you."
Her voice sounded lighter in comparison. A bit shaky too.
"In the flesh." He stepped out from beneath the small overpass. Leaning on the first wall he saw as if he wasn't watching to see what was going on in his old squatting grounds. ".. for better or for worse… 'f course."
"IS THAT SMELLY FREAK GONE?"
He couldn't help but to chuckle at the clownfish that abruptly cut into the conversation, poking himself out from beneath her large cap- beady eyes Immediately falling on to him.
"OH GREAT! THERE'S A BIGGER, STINKIER ONE HERE NOW!"
Spyke shook his head. "Great to see ya too, mate. Truly."
"Why… are you back?" She inquired as the fish swam out to the right side of her head. "I thought you…?"
"Oh yeah- yeah. The whole 'being back' fing, yeah, yeah…" He looked up at the hand that rested upon the wall that he leaned on. " Why I'm back… hmm…"
Pat pat.
"... Well, it ain't that important. "
"LIAR!" The fish shouted. Causing Spyke to scoff.
"Watch it clownie." He retorted, sharpening his blurry gaze. "If I say it ain't important, it ain't important. "
A rather tense pause ensued. And Annie awkwardly shuffled in her spot.
"Well… I'm… glad you're back. For whatever reason it is… that is."
She stared at him. Stammering.
"Um…"
Another pause.
"YOU LOOK TERRIBLE."
"Oi- Watch it-"
"W-Well… in Moe's defense." Annie twiddled her thumbs. "You look… like… well…"
"YOU LOOK LIKE YOU JUST CRAWLED OUT OF THE JUNKYARD."
"... yeah… you look… terrible. "
"YOU SMELL TERRIBLE TOO! HORRIBLE!"
"Moe, you're pushing it." Annie hissed under her breath, leering at the fish for a moment before looking back at Spyke. "Sorry about that… Moe has a habit of being… well… Moe."
"S'fine." He bluntly responded, taking a sip of his coffee. "... He ain't wrong, either… haven't been able t'stay at a proper inn in months. Can't even find a bathroom empty fer long enough to give meself a quick scrub down, either."
"You haven't been able to stay at an inn…?" He could sense her eyes widening. "Don't tell me you're…!" She gasped. "... Wh- what happened!?"
He sighed. "S'long story. And again, it ain't important. "
"Right… I-I forgot you… didn't… want to… um…"
She shrunk in her spot. Ruminating for a brief moment before prying herself off the ground. Giving herself a self affirming nod before she turned to grab some of the shaking Super Sea Snails behind her.
"R-Right!" She held one under each arm. Slightly struggling with her grip on them. "I'm… I'm going to head home! It's getting kind of late and… um… the last train to Flounder Heights should be arriving soon. Please… come with me."
"Wot?" His eye widened as Annie approached him.
"YOU HEARD HER!"
"W-wot- whaddya mean-?"
"YA COMIN' WITH US, YA SMELLY DOLT!"
Spyke still stared at the two as they wandered by. "Wha- wait-! Whaddya mean 'comin' wif'? I ain't done anyfing worth havin' me ta 'come wif' ya lot!"
Annie stopped in her tracks. Fidgeting with the Snails she held. "Well… you um… did say that you… weren't able to stay at an inn… Spyke…"
"STREET URCHIN!"
" Enough, Moe." She grumbled through her teeth, the fish in her hair scooting back under her hat. "S-sorry…"
"S'fine. It's not me first time dealin' wif 'im. Or blokes like him, for that matter." He shook his head. "But that ain't the matter here- WHY y'want ta take me back ta your place?"
"Because… um…" She paused and turned to him. "Look at you… you look… awful."
"Pardon?"
"I-I mean-! You're covered in debris… you look all pale and sweaty… and I feel like the only thing you had to eat today was… what you're holding… n'stuff…" She sighed, furrowing her brow. "... No offense… by the way…"
The urchin slouched, unamused. "None taken, love."
His voice was deadpan. Called out.
"Look… I know I can't change your mind… but sometimes… the things that you don't want to do are the things you need to do… and um… vice versa…. Like I don't need to um… have you over. Nor do I need to make dinner for you… and stuff… But I want to…"
"Y'plan on making me dinner, mate?"
The train chimed out. Signaling the next train's arrival.
"Yeah… because I… I want to… because it looks like something you need after… whatever… happened."
A pause. His gaze softening once more.
"You don't have to come with me but… it would make me happy… And it… Well- that's all up to you… just saying."
Make her happy, huh?
He pondered.
"I can't BELIEVE we missed the train because of you two!"
It was a long walk for him. Longest one he had in a while, he mentally noted. And sure, it was almost over, and they were all almost at Annie's place. But it couldn't erase the soreness that his legs felt. Especially now that one of his hands held the shoes that he once wore haphazardly, his calloused feet being scratched up by the sidewalk below.
He swayed. Exhausted.
And as much as he didn't want to hear the clownfish complain, it was the only thing that kept his tired eye pried.
"Moe, it's alright... please calm dow-"
"I mean I'VE COULD HAVE TAKEN A NAP you know. I could have SLEPT a bit. But NO! I HAD TO STAY AWAKE! TO PROTECT YOU! "
"Moe, calm down! We have company… remember? Y-you could've rested, you know."
"And leave this ten foot tall, smelly, exhausted PRICK to fend for you? Nuh uh."
"Moe-"
"HE CAN BARELY KEEP HIS EYE OPEN, ANNIE."
" Moe. Enough." She harshly whispered at the fish. "He's our guest. "
"BUT I'M-"
Annie hushed him, scrunching her brow. "Right or not, I wouldnt fuck around and try to mug someone who is almost six feet taller than I am."
"Ssss'actually seven feet, love…" Spyke tiredly slurred, being cautious as to not drop the snail he held under his arm as he raised a finger in his absent minded objection. "'M'over… three hundred and…. Th… thirty five…. Cennameeters…tall… last I checked…"
Annie glanced back at Spyke, concern returning for the urchin. "Are you… okay?"
" ... m'fine. "
He was clearly not fine.
"R-Right…" Annie cleared her throat as she fumbled in her pocket for her keys. "We're almost back to my place just… keep yourself up straight… or something."
Can do. He wanted to say, but rather than that, he just let out a disgruntled groan, laiden with incoherent mumbling that was ultimately cut short by the entering door of the complex.
"GAH-"
He grabbed a hold of his head with a groan. Gritting his teeth as he winced. As Annie frantically whipped around, nearly dropping everything she held.
"O-oh God!" She gasped. "Oh my god- a-are you okay!?"
Spyke grunted. Taking a knee as he attempted a response, dropping practically everything he held. "M'fine. I'm fine. I'm fine-"
Again. Clearly not fine.
"Oh jeez I… you dropped your coffee and the snail and- I-I'm so sorry, I should have warned you! I… Oh… oh no…"
"You're fine, you're fine I just- ow- I… need a moment- ow… "
Eventually.
Eventually .
He dragged himself through the front door of her apartment. Being sure as to not ram his still sore head into the top of the door frame again, nor the low ceiling up above.
And from there? Straight on to her couch with another groan. Tossing the slightly cracked sea snail on the table beside him, along with the half eaten bag of kelp chips he snacked on over the past hour.
Annie sidled over to her coffee table, taking the snail into her arm.
"I… um… won't be long… Rest up, if that's what you'd like, of course…"
He waved her off. "I'm… finkin' of takin a shower… I just need a moment, yeah?"
"Oh… o-okay…" Annie nodded. "... Do you… um… remember where-"
"The bathroom is?" He squeezed his eye shit with a huff. "Yeah, yeah. I do. Just… do your fing, or wotever."
"Um… right… I'll be in the kitchen… if you need anything else."
Noted, with a groan.
A groan, and a very slow blink.
Well, there he was.
Not only back in the confines of Inkopolis due to its alluring call, but back in one of the last places he visited before he had left: Annie's apartment.
Back at home, in someone else's room.
If he could call it that, that was.
Though, it was through a completely different set of circumstances, this time: Out of a place of concern than a place of…
No… it's best to keep that night in July out of mind.
Grunting, he pushed himself up to a sitting position, attempting to take in the warm, dimly lit surroundings of her cluttered home… It was almost the same as when he last saw it. At least, to the best of his memory: the cluttered areas being a bit more dense with books and vinyls as her interests were seemingly shifted or added on to.
Though, the books that precariously dangled from her shelves seemed rather… old. At least. The ones that stuck out through his squinted gaze. It was intermixed with the more fitting Manga and comic books that were more safely tucked in on the shelves, seemingly collecting dust in comparison.
Curious, he managed to peel away from the couch, cautiously stumbling over to where the shelf was. Careful as to not bump into anything as he made his way over to examine the shelf.
Each leather bound book contained some nugget of history, it seems. Whether it be the species and dichotomy of those she knows, or, strangely enough, artillery and weaponry- turf war development through the years.
Though his eye seemed to stall at one particular book that threatened to fall to the ground at any given moment. One that was rather low to the ground- proof of flipping through it as of late.
"The Diadems And Details: A Distinctive Detailing of Diadematidae History and Anatomy."
He knelt down, taking the book into his hands before he mumbled the title out to himself, scratching his chin.
It was odd, really. Not only seeing this on her shelf, but having it be the lowest book of all the species history books she held.
Even the Horseshoe Crab, and Tiger Prawn books was pretty high up for her height-
"HEY, WADDYA DOING, URCHIE!?"
Spyke jolted over the shouting that sounded through the open archway to the kitchenette- one that he almost forgot was there.
"Noneya business, clownie!" He called back, placing the book back on the shelf in a more safe manner. "Just lookin' at the readin' material here."
"YOU BETTER NOT STEAL ANYTHING-"
" I ain't finkin bout it mate. " He waved the fish off. Standing back up as straight as he could as light arguing once again ensued behind him.
He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing as he still stared back at the book he had just replaced on one of the lower shelves. Curiosity still lingering about why a book such as that was in her possession.
They weren't necessarily friends, were they? And to his recollection, she wasn't that close to Murch.
Or at least, as close as he was.
"Spyke?"
He looked over his shoulder, his eye now fixated at the anemone who stood at the foot of her stove.
"... you alright?"
Spyke hummed, pondering her concern for a moment. "... m'fine, mate. Just got a bit distracted."
Well, for once, he wasn't totally lying about being fine.
"You're… um… You… gonna take a shower now?"
He deliberated.
"Hmm… yeah I… I fink so."
"YOU BETTER."
He could hear Annie sigh at another outburst from her companion, watching her as she grimaced, shaking her head.
"I have some… fresh towels out… um… take your time, and stuff… Dinner should be ready by the time you're done… I think."
Spyke nodded, cautiously waddling into the small bathroom that was down the shallow hallway.