An Octoling's Tale

Chapter 8

By the time Desti returned to the surface, the sun was starting to peak over the horizon. She carefully made her way to the place she now called home and removed her mask before entering the house.

"Desti?" Meggy started to question the octoling. "Where were you last night?"

Desti held her suitcase up in a defensive position. "I'm sorry. Just don't hurt me."

Meggy rested her hands on Desti's arms and lowered them. "Desti, I'm not going to hurt you, okay, I'm not your sister. I'm just worried about you. So will you please tell me where you were last night."

"I-I just went back to get some stuff," Desti replied.

"You could've told us. We would've gone with you," Meggy responded.

"I know, but the two of you would've been killed if you were spotted. Plus, I'm now a wanted fugitive down there."

"So I'm guessing this means you can never go back."

Desti nodded. "If I go back, I'm as good as dead."

"Oh." Meggy looked at the suitcase. "What's in the suitcase?"

"Huh? Oh." Desti sat the suitcase down and opened it. "I had managed to get some items back that I think you'll want." She pulled out the items that she had gotten from the night before and handed them to Meggy. "These belonged to your sister."

"Thank you. It looks like everything is here," Meggy said. "Well, almost everything." She picked up the phone and tried to turn it on. "Looks like the battery is dead. I wonder if I still have the charger for this thing." She went to her room and came out moments later with a cord that was beaten up. She went over to a nearby wall socket and plugged the phone in. "It's a good thing this cord still works."

Sam walks out of his room. "Morning ladies." He noticed the suitcase sitting on the couch. "Uh...who's moving out?"

"No one," Meggy replied. "Desti just went back to her old home to grab some stuff."

"Oh. That's nice." Sam sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. He flipped it over to the HDMI output and grabbed a game controller.

Desti walked over to the back of the couch and looked at the screen. "What are you doing?"

"I'm playing New Super Splat Bros Deluxe," Sam answered as he looked at Desti. "You've played video games before, have you?"

"No, mainly because once someone gets something as cool as this, it usually winds up stolen or destroyed," Desti replied. "Plus, video games are actually banned in the entirety of Octo-valley."

"Okay I have to ask. Why are video games banned there?"

"It's mainly because it's believed that video games will provide a bad influence for everyone and cause them to rebel against the 'supreme leader'."

"Who is the 'supreme leader'?" Meggy asked.

"Donno. Never met her."

"What makes you so sure that this 'supreme leader' is a female?" Sam asked.

"It's probably because the majority of my race is female."

"Oh. I did not know that," Sam replied as he went back to his game.

"You know you could be making us breakfast instead of playing that game bro," Meggy said as she tried to grab the controller.

"I made breakfast yesterday," Sam replied, "so it's your turn to make it."

"Fine, I'll go make breakfast," Meggy said as she walked to the kitchen.

"And try not to burn it like last time."

"I'll try not to."

Desti grabbed her suitcase and it opened, causing her stuff to fall out. She quickly put her weapon and clothes away before Sam could notice but couldn't find the picture. She looked all around the floor area and found no sign of it. She looked up and saw Sam holding it.

"Is this of you and your family?"

"Yes, now will you please give it back."

"You look so cute in this picture. When was this taken?"

"I don't know. Now give it back."

"Hmmm. I think not."

"I said give it back!" Desti started wrestling the picture away from Sam.

Desti and Sam both pulled on opposite ends of the picture. A few moments later Desti found herself laying flat on her back. She opened her eyes and saw that Sam was laying right on top of her. They were both heavily breathing.

"Well...uh…this is awkward," Desti said in between breaths.

Sam let out a small chuckle and stared into Desti's eyes. He closed his eyes and slowly lowered his head, planting a kiss on Desti's mouth. He pulled his head back and opened his eyes. Desti wore a surprised look on her face. "I-I'm-" Before he could finish his statement, Meggy cleared her throat.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Sam got off of Desti and helped her to her feet. "N-No. N-Nothing's going on."

"Uh huh. Well breakfast is ready. Hope you like burnt toast and sausage."

The trio walked into the dining room where they ate. After they finished, Sam went back to his game and Desti took care of the suitcase. When Desti came out of her room, she found Meggy standing outside her door.

"Hey Desti, I was wondering if you would want to join me for some training?" Meggy asked.

"Training?"

"Yeah, for the upcoming Splatfest. I saw that you had an ink tank and it got me wondering if you would like to join me for some training."

"I'd like to, but I don't have a splattershot."

"Don't worry, I'll let you borrow one of mine."