Inkblot [A Splatoon2 Fanfic]

Chapter Seven

Átta didn't remember the weather report saying anything about a heatwave; it wasn't even the season for warm weather. Yet she felt like it was the middle of July with how much she was sweating... Átta decided it was just because of the rage she was feeling toward Tres...

"Who does he think he is..." She complained to Neli while restocking pastries in the glass case. "Hachi is my baby brother! I know what's best for him!"

    Neli didn't pay much attention, she was too busy bagging some baguettes for a customer.

    "Well—thank you have a nice day!" Neli smiled to her customer as they left before looking at Átta. "Well, you gotta remember Hachi is sixteen now. He isn't as fragile as he used to be, I mean have you seen how he kicks ass in Turf Wars? I'm amazed he didn't want to keep being an agent with his skill."

    "This is different, Neli. Tres is so irresponsible! I just don't think he's capable of taking care of Hachi..."

"We're both talking about the guy that saved the Great Zapfish and protected you while getting out of the Metro, right?"

Átta groaned and balled up in her place when Neli made that smug look.

"And come to think of it, Tres was only sixteen when he helped you out. And he was fourteen when he saved the Zapfish! Y'a know the big guy that gives power to the whole city? That we all depend on for electricity?"

"Ok ok, I get it!" Átta complained. "I'm just... scared for Hachi, is all..."

"Well stop worrying, honey. Hachi is in good hands. Now go get the chocolate bread out the oven, it's starting to stink of smoke in here,"

"Oh shit!" Átta rocketed to her feet and ran to the small kitchen.

Neli chuckled as she watched the younger girl trip over her own feet. Átta did tend to burn things a lot, but work always seemed more fun with her around. Despite being only a year older, Neli felt like a mom having to deal with a stubborn little girl all on her own. It felt nice to know what mothering would be like, since Neli knew she'd never be able to have her own children...

"Neliii... I accidentally burned it..." Átta came in with a tray of burnt bread and a red face.

"That's ok, honey! We all make mistakes! I'm amazed you haven't burned the place down yet! Haha! I'm sorry, that was mean."

Neli took the tray and set it aside before putting her hands on Átta's shoulders.

"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own tomorrow? I can always ask my brother to help you out,"

"I'll be fine... but, I'll call Cleat in case something goes wrong." Átta said.

"Good girl," Neli kissed Átta's forehead, realizing then how warm she was.

"Uh-oh, did someone catch her brother's cold?" She felt the younger girl's forehead with her hand.

"Neli, I'm fine it's just a little hot..."

"Alright, I think you should go on back to the apartment and rest. You've had a stressful week, honey."

Átta wanted to argue, but agreed. She had been working a lot during the week, it was about time she got some rest. She got her things together, said a quick goodbye to Neli, then went down the road to the apartments they stayed in. Another wave of heat hit her as she walked, this time accompanied with dizziness.

    "Whoa..." Átta stopped for a moment went it felt like the world was spinning.

    She didn't even notice when two little Octoling boys came running toward her, both kicking a ball between each other. One of them, all red and in a baseball cap, accidentally bumped into Átta and nearly fell over; she reacted and caught the boy before he fell.

    "Whoa! Are you ok? I'm sorry!" She said.

    "I'm ok!" The little boy beamed at her before running off with his friend. What cute kids...

    When Átta finally got to the apartment, she fell on the couch with a grunt and put her hands over her face. By now she felt so dizzy she didn't even want to think about standing.

    "What the hell is wrong with me...! Fucking, Tres, I blame him for this—!"

    Átta hunched over when she broke into a coughing fit. Annoyed, she urged herself to stand and go to the kitchen for a glass of water. While filling a cup, her mind went elsewhere, like a temporary trance. Átta felt as if something in her head was melting from heat, and it was exhausting; it made her want to lie somewhere and just sleep forever...

    "Huh...? Oh, oops..."

    She had been pouring the water for too long and some spilled on the counter and on her fingers. Too tired, Átta didn't even bother to dry anything off and chugged the whole glass down before going to her room to sleep the rest of the evening. Lying in bed, Átta stared at the brown and blue dreamcatcher that hung above her bed; Neli had gotten it for her when she first came to the surface. Watching the bright blue feathers sway around, she grew drowsy.

    'It's just stress...' She told herself. 'Just... stress...'