Putz12 Plus One

ONE | A VOICE FROM BELOW

Laughter erupted from the terminal and doors opened and ink rushed. Out came the most disappointed he'd ever been. He, being Putz. The most infamous squid kiddie in Inkopolis.

"What was that about?" Dmitri asked, taking off his helmet. Finals were coming up, and he had to find a permanent team. "You're rushing, you're not focused, all I saw was exactly what you hate: bad gameplay."

"Bad gamepl-" A pause, a drawn out breath. Down went his dapples, his chest puffed in a gasp for air. Could there be a chance to stop him from strangling this piece of squit herectic?

He smiled sarcastically and then, "I'm sorry, Dmitri. That I couldn't play like you. Three kills, Jesus Christ."

The team's chatter halted. Normally, the team leader would discuss his failed plays. He'd insist he'd done nothing wrong. The two other members would just agree with whatever he said, and after about two weeks, they'd probably drop him as most teams did.

A hand raised to comfort him, met with a snarl from Putz. Looking up, he charged over to Dmitri and clenched his fist.

"Oh, boy..." A teammate said. Inklings began to slowly crowd up against the vicious squid. They were warned before choosing him as a team member, but all other X-rankers had been placed on a team. Except for...

"I knew we should've gone with Brody." Remarked another team mate, looking at the nerd in the corner who could never get matched. He shuddered. "Nevermind."

"Relax, guys. We're all friends here. We all want each other to succeed, right, Putz?"

He froze, eyes locked as he backed him in a corner. A trickle of fear ran down Dmitri's back. "You weren't that bad, bro. Really. I'd just appreciate it if... you..." Clenched teeth and a frozen face mocked the young inkling with his back now pressed against the wall and no room to unwind.

"Heh." He smiled, giving Dmitri a temporary feeling of ease. That is, until... "You. Didn't. Move. The. Fuck. Up!" Lifting his fist in the air, ready to strike, his wrist was met with warm, sweaty hands from behind him. "Hey! What are you doing? Let me go! Let me fucking go you prick!" The two other teammates fought back the force. Wimpy, scrawny. This one was easy. Giggles heard from all angles, it would seem like the entire city was watching. Putz couldn't see any of them, restrained and facing the window where the girls would do the news. Oh, no. Marina and Pearl were looking, too. His cheesy smile met Pearl, and, did his eyes deceive him? She smiled back, giving two thumbs up. Cheers heard from all directions. Yes! They were on his side! But why were her eyes not directly on him?

"Hey, I'm over here!" He alerted, squeezing out a breath against the two inklings restraining him. But the doors opened again and out came DUDE and his team.

"DUDE! Sign my shirt!" Cheered an inkling.

"DUDE! Sign my shirt AND my girlfriend's!" Called out what seemed to be her boyfriend.

So that's who she was smiling at. DUDE, that smug, good-for-nothing, show-offy aimbotting piece of squit. Of course, Cod forbid anyone cheer for the hero. Cod forbid anyone cheer for Putz.

He thrashed but it was no use. Their grip was too strong, and he was too exhausted from carrying his team last match. He heard even more footsteps and now there were at least two hundred others, all huddling up to get DUDE's autograph. Stupid squid kids, he thought. They don't know what they're missing.

"Hey! I'm the REAL superstar!" He squeaked, only getting a few glances from the crowd. "You guys should all be MY fans and come help me! I'll even give you a shoutout before my next match!"

Nobody budged. They barely acknowledged him, except for a young inkling boy in the corner.

"Shutup, Putzy!" Yelled a squid kid. The crowd laughed and he felt his face go cold.