Inkblot [A Splatoon2 Fanfic]

Chapter Four

Tres didn't know a lot about illnesses, it wasn't something anyone had common knowledge in; there wasn't even a course that taught about it in school. But that didn't stop him from pulling every medical book from the shelves in his study to find out what was wrong with his lover.

While Hachi laid in bed, Tres sat at the bedside, going through page after page of a book for what was troubling the Octoling. When nothing came up he resorted to looking online but still found nothing.

"I see the coughs, the hot flashes, and the fatigue, but I can't find anything about black ink... you said your stomach was hurting, right?" Tres looked at him.

"Yeah... it feels like I'm being stabbed... and it really really hurts...!" Hachi started crying as he spoke.

"Traci, Miss Hama told us not to touch black ink...! Wh-What if I touched it last night?! What if it's really bad, Traci?!"

Tres put the book aside and went to hold Hachi as he stared to panic. He rubbed his back while quietly shushing him, until he somewhat calmed down.

"Sweetie, don't talk like that... I'm sure it isn't that bad, I promise I'll figure this out!" He said desperately.

The last time Tres had seen Hachi so distraught was when they were in that awful subway. He couldn't stand to see Hachi cry like this... Tres put on a smile and tried to lighten the mood.

"I could always ask Cap'n for help. You know the ol' guy has thousands of old stories, maybe he knows something about this!"

Hachi held onto the Inkling, still with quick paced breaths leaving his mouth. He slowly looked up at Tres, trembling in his arms.

"Traci...?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Am I... going to die...?"

Tres had been holding in the tears. But the moment those words left Hachi's mouth they began to fall. He hugged Hachi tightly to his chest, not wanting to think of something so awful; not wanting to say something so awful.

    "I'm... gonna call Átta to come watch you... and I'll go see Cap'n, ok...?"

"...Ok,"

Tres didn't want to leave Hachi; he regretting calling Átta and leaving once she arrived. But he knew he was doing this to help his lover, even if he didn't like his own decisions. Halfway to the square, Tres had to pull over as his emotions overwhelmed him and he broke down in tears. He could never let himself cry in front of Hachi. It was too painful for him...

    "You won't die..." He sobbed. "I won't let you die...!"

————

    The black had come over a little more of his fingers by now. Hachi stared at his hands with a blank expression while Átta was in the other room yelling about something to someone over the phone. He couldn't tell what she was upset about, he was too dizzy and hot.

When Átta came back in the room, she threw her phone down and sat at the bedside with her head in her hands.

    "Átta...?" Hachi spoke softly.

"I knew I couldn't trust him with you..." She said, pained. "He just doesn't get how delicate you are, I knew I should've kept you with Marina!"

"Sis, I'm fine..." Hachi sat up, despite the pain he felt in his side when he moved. "Maybe... I'll be better by the morning..."

"You've been vomiting black ink, Hachi! Look at your hands, you're not fine! What if this is really bad?!"

"Sis, I'm scared too... but maybe Tres will—"