Agere Neo3 + Cg Captain

Far Away From Splatsville- Meet Your Family!

1760 words
Cw: Incontinence, diapers, internalized ableism.

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Something about knowing that she'd meet someone new was terrifying. It was strangely unfamiliar, another thing that was brought upon by the sudden major injuries. In the back seat of the suburban car, Neo sat. For what felt like hours she stared out the same window, blinking away the crackling dryness that'd plague her within moments.

She made little effort to join the conversation between her Captain and the inkling on the other end of the line. However, she still listened.
Agent 4 seemed strange to her. They were nearly as talkative as the Captain, though their voice didn't have the same monotone rumble to it. Even through the muffle of the wheels rolling along the road, she could hear a prominent accent. It was more country than anything. They weren't from Inkopolis like Captain. She thinks they're from the County or somewhere else she's never been to in Inkadia.

"So I got this new game recen'ly- Eight really likes it. She won't stop beggin' me to play so she can watch," the voice chided with a warm chuckle. It had a hidden energy to it, as though they were waiting for it to break out.

"Really? She didn' want to play 'erself?" Captain glanced in the rear-view mirror before continuing. "Hold on, gon' talk to Neo."

"Aight."

Neo could hear a click and she turned away from the glass. She felt a bit dizzy, in a way. Like a cloud had formed around her head and muddled her thoughts.

"Hey, kid. D'ya need us to stop or are ye good with changes fur a while longer?" Captain's voice held that same twinge of sympathy or worry she'd gotten used to since moving in with them. It had become second nature to depict what they hid in their words.

"Uh," Neo paused. She knew she should be more observant of her own needs, but it always felt wrong. Quickly, she checked herself before shaking her head and adding "No, I don't."

"Alright. Do you want ta say anythin' before I get off mute?" Their hand hovered over the button, almost like a threat to the device inches away from their hand. Damn you, mute button.
"No. I'm good. Thanks."

"Yer welcome," Captain's voice sounded through a smile before unmuting their end of the call. "Aight, Clover. We're back."

"Pullin' tha Clover card on me, eh? What'd'ya want now? New disk for your DJ set?"

Neo didn't understand the joke. She turned back to the window and stared out, ignoring the nagging in the back of her mind.

It hadn't taken long for the car to shudder to a stop. The outside had returned to a more modern setting, with concrete and trees that were planted in a perfect line. As expected, the ground was occasionally smattered with paint or slowly disappearing ink. There were tokens and toys scattered across the lot in a vague array that only an inkling with a watchful eye like Neo could see. In a sense, it was familiar, despite it being a more rural and simpler town in Inkopolis. Even still, the place wasn't anything like her former chaotic home.

Neo got out of the car when instructed and grabbed her bag, pulling it to her side and holstering it to her shoulder. A splitting pain shot up her thigh and seeped down her leg. Despite the alarming nature of the pain, she didn't limp. All she did was take in a sharp inhale and shut the door.

"Hey, Kid," Captain paused before adding, "I think that's Four's car over 'ere. D'ya need to head inside and change before we talk to 'em?"
She couldn't help but stiffen at the reminder. It was oddly worse when they were looking right at her or they were outside. In a way, it was like the entire world was secretly listening.

"No, No- I'm okay," she mumbled. "You don't have to keep double-checking. I'll tell you if I need to go to the bathroom."

The older inkling ruffled her tentacles and she turned to face them. Their brown eye had a warmer tint in this light. Or maybe they just cared a whole lot more than she realized.