Maybe it was prior lack of sleep, maybe he was just stressed, but the sleep that Toda was having right then was the best he could have asked for. Though, that wasn't to be confused with the best sleep he'd ever had. In his current lucid state, he vaguely worried about Bato and Simon, though he couldn't quite remember why. He felt so... disconnected from it all.
"... oda... Toda... time... go."
A voice cut through his drowsy mind as someone shook his shoulder.
"Toda. up now." The voice continued, more abruptly this time.
"... Five more minutes, Mom..." He mumbled, rolling onto his stomach to shut out the light.
All of a sudden, he felt two hands tickle his sides, and he squeaked, squidding on the spot. He turned over and glared at Bato, who was chuckling over him. It began to flood back, he wasn't in his own room, they'd stopped to eat at INKEA. He changed back, still glaring, but this time accompanied by a small grin. "Boy, how long has it been since you've done that?" He asked as he began to stretch.
"A few months at least." Bato chuckled. "We've got to get moving, though; the staff's sort of unhappy that you guys fell asleep on the display beds."
"Wouldn't that be a compliment?" Toda asked, slowly swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
"Pretty sure they want you to pay first." He replied, shaking his head a little.
Toda laughed, then glanced at his leg and frowned at the thought of standing on it again... to buy himself a short breather, he glanced over at Simon, who was now waking up Jill.
"Jill. Come on. Get up." They said, then yanked the blankets off of her. After receiving no reaction, they cleared their throat. "You want cake?"
She sat up abruptly. "Cake!?"
"Cake." Simon nodded in agreement.
Toda snickered, then sighed and began to stand up. He winced as a jolt of pain ran up his leg, but he resisted the urge to sit back down.
"You need any help?" Bato asked.
"I think I've got it." He replied.
"Do you think they'd let us eat here, or would they be too frustrated with us?" Simon asked as they scooped up their slosher.
"Oh they better after what you just did." Jill said, then yawned.
"I don't think they're that irked." Bato said with a small shrug. "They only just asked..." He paused. pulling out his phone quick. "Actually, I'm surprised no one came and asked sooner; it's just past 4."
"Wait, really?" Toda leaned forward to look, eyes widening at the time. Those nightmares were really catching up to him...
"Wow, we got lucky." Jill said, standing and stretching. "But I'm glad they're not that mad, I'm starving!"
"I'm not surprised, you said you were hungry /before/ we slept." Simon replied.
Bato chuckled and began to lead the way to a shortcut. "Let's get going, then."
Toda nodded in agreement and began to follow, trying as hard as he could to lessen his limp.
"Hey Jill..." Simon said. "We were talking after you fell asleep. After splatfest, me and Bato are going to try to find the domes."
Jill glanced at them. "Just you and Bato? That sounds dangerous..."
They slowly nodded. "I'm well aware."
Bato looked over his shoulder. "We think it might look too suspicious if we were all to go looking. And we'll need someone to make sure the parents don't get too worried or curious."
YOU ARE READING
Better Eight Than Never
FanfictionWhen Octolings, a species previously thought extinct, begin causing trouble on the surface, only Splattershot Sundae and mysterious people called agents 1, 2, and 3 can stop them. Can they force them back before they ruin splatfest? Direct sequel to...