squid/octo kids need therapy too

They were in space.

Actually they had been in space for the past 20 minutes.

But fighting for their life against a giant bear who was threatening the world felt like it stretched for an eternity.

But it was over now, so why were their three hearts banging against their chest so hard? Why was there still roaring in their ears? Is it Mr. Grizz? No, he’s gone. So why does everything still feel like they’re in the heat of the most stressful event of their life?

They softly gripped Little Buddy as he shrunk into their outstretched hands, despite the relief that flooded their system at him being okay after risking his life even more than they had, his features were blurry. Before they could even attempt to try and focus on the little Salmonid, he had scrambled to take refuge in their backpack.

They focused on where their hands had been moments prior, not registering they had fallen back to their sides. They felt dizzy. Their vision was blurring more. If their helmet wasn’t transparent, they would’ve chalked it up to their sharp yet shaky breaths fogging it up.

But it wasn’t that. When the droplets quickly devolved into a hot waterfall down their face, they realized they were crying. In the same moment, a sob escaped, wracking their body as if the noise itself took effort. They slowly sunk onto the roof of the ship they were riding atop, more cries shaking their form.

“Hey! What’s going on up there?” A gruff voice cut through the storm brewing in their head, sounding from below where they had fallen to their knees.

They tried their hardest to respond. The voice belonged to DJ Octavio after all, former ruler of their mother’s people. But all they could muster up in the presence of their leader was hyperventilation.

“Ayo! Kid, relax!” He sounded very confused, clearly thrown out of his comfort zone by their current predicament. But again, they failed to respond.

A beat of silence passed before the ship slowly came to a halt from its descent back down to the big, blurry blue circle that Agent 3 couldn’t make out.

Something snaked up along the side of the ship, stopping just short of where the Inktoling was bawling. They did their best to focus on it, but they ended up just bowing their head and sucking in another quivering breath.

It slowly inched close until it accidentally bumped against their knee, recoiling at the contact before changing its mind and advancing further. Before they could comprehend it, it was around their waist and dragging them down the ship, into the control room.

They were met with the blurry face of DJ Octavio. For a moment, they were thrown from their anxieties by sheer shock at how *huge* the Octarian king was.

“Relax.” He repeated, regarding the enemy Agent with a narrowed green stare before placing the Octoling at his side and kicking the ship back into gear.

Being away from the scary abyss of space, decorated only by dead suns. Agent 3 was able to get a grip and drag themself out of the swirling anxiety they had fallen into. Their heavy sobs dissolved into weak sniffles, and from the safety of the ship, they were finally able to remove their helmet and wipe away the tears.

—

The ship made it safely to Alterna, and as soon as Agent 3 was let back onto solid ground, they were swarmed by the New Squidbeak Splatoon and Deep Cut alike.

They were bombarded with a mix of relief, worry, excitement and many, *many* questions. Only the Captain seemed to notice their glazed over eyes, and they put out an arm as a barrier between the distressed Agent and the rest of the Splatoon, fixing them all with a hard stare until Alterna was silent once more.

‘*Meeting tomorrow*’ The Captain signed, their turquoise and brown eyes flickering from their companions over to Agent 3 ‘*Agent 3 needs rest*’

Agent 2, Marie, gave a nod of agreement. She repeated what the Captain had signed to those who didn’t understand, adding a small “You did well, Agent 3.”

Agent 1, Callie’s, nod was much more eager, and she gave the exhausted Agent a bright grin “Yeah! Good job Agent 3!”

Deep Cut, the idols Agent 3 adored so much, all gave their own form of thanks to the Agent for saving the world. A cool smile barely obscured by a fan, a fiery fist pump, and an enthusiastic ‘Ay!’.

As the group dispersed, the Captain lingered. Their usually calm and mysterious demeanor was almost awkward as they hovered around the Agent who was simply staring down at their Hero Boots.

Finally, they clicked their fingers, grabbing the Inktoling’s attention enough that they can sign ‘*You did a good job. Thank you Agent 3.*’ Their gaze softened and they continued ‘*I will take you home. Can you show me where to go?*’

Agent 3 sniffled, wiping their nose with their sleeve. “I- I don’t really want to go home right now.” They murmured, internally cursing how raspy their voice was “I don’t feel like being around a bunch of people…”

The Captain tilted their head ever so slightly ‘*Roommates?*’

Agent 3 cleared their throat “Y-yeah. One of the group homes, it’s.. uh.. kinda near Grizzco”

The green-tentacled inkling stared at Agent 3 for long enough that they looked away uncomfortably. They couldn’t tell if their mentor was judging them, concerned about them, or just thinking. They got their answer as another click drew their attention back.

‘*Come to my house, it’s just me and Eight. I have a spare room.*’ They offered. Agent 3 was taken aback by the offer.

“A-Are you sure? I… don’t want to intrude.” Despite trying to be polite, they desperately wanted Captain to confirm their offer wasn’t something Agent 3’s anxious mind made up to cope. They had never felt more tired in their life, and a bed away from many other rowdy teenagers sounded like heaven.

The Captain nodded, and Agent 3 nodded back, barely containing their relief. The two left Alterna together, bidding the other Agents, and Deep Cut, farewell.

—

“Welcome home Thre-! Who is this?” Agent 3 was so tempted to hide behind The Captain in the presence of a stranger, tempted enough that they actually did take a step back.

The Captain, despite having their mouth obscured by their hoodie, was smiling with their eyes in the presence of the tall, lavender-tentacled Octoling standing in the doorway of an apartment the two had taken the train to. ‘*This is Agent 3.*’ They introduced, ending their sign by gesturing to the Agent.

The Octoling immediately brightened up at the introduction, somehow getting even happier when Agent 3 gave a small, nervous wave. “I have heard much about you! It is nice to meet you! Please, come inside!” She opened the door wide so the two could enter, fixing the two with a cheerful smile before turning into the apartment.

Agent 3 tried to exchange a look with The Captain, but their eyes were only on the Octoling who they quickly followed after. If Agent 3 was in a better mood, they would’ve wrinkled their nose at how lovestruck their usually calm and collected Captain was acting.

They followed the couple into the room, finding it to be a modest apartment, barely decorated yet somehow still comfortable and homely.

“I am Violette! You can call me Eight, or Agent 8 too.” Eight introduced herself, taking the agent’s attention away from their surroundings. She turned her gray gaze over to her inkling partner, “Is mission a reason for their visiting?”

‘*They just need a rest.*’ Captain signs, before turning to Agent 3 and pointing down a short carpeted hallway to a door. Agent 3 is able to put the rest of the pieces together.

“Thank you so much. It was really nice to meet you.” They give a polite yet stiff bow, and hurry down the hall. They barely catch Agent 3 signing ‘*I will tell you more in a second.*’ to Eight from the corner of their eye before closing the door behind them.

The room is as simple as the main living space, but they don’t care. They are just happy to finally be away from everything. They shrug off their uniform and backpack, placing both down on the ground so Little Buddy can escape. He makes a wobbly bee-line to the bed, hopping onto the quilt and circling it a few times before settling down.

They barely toe off their Hero Boots before collapsing into the bed, burrowing their face into the material. Their heavy breaths begin to slow, finding themself comforted by the scent of fresh linen. It doesn’t take long for them to drift into a dreamless slumber.