Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Spyke winced.

He was alone. Atop a roof that overlooked the square on this upbeat evening. The blues and cyans from the festivities below faded into the golden sky that lit up the sky in a seemingly endless night.

He grimaced, his tall frame dramatically leaned over the half walls that lined the rooftop, his eye squinting at the scene. A rotten taste lined his mouth.

He had never had a falling out so… petty, before. So dramatic.

But something in him broke. It made him snap like a twig-- out in pure rage in anger of the person who seemed to disregard his words.

"If you look in my fucking direction again, love, I'll gouge your bloody eyes out."

A venomous threat from a venomous man. 

The last words he had said in the past fifteen or so minutes. His blood was still boiling from the exchange.

As far as he was concerned, she wasn't his problem anymore. Not that he ever wanted her to be one in the first place. He walked out and that was that.

So… why did he feel a certain sting with his rage? An accent to his bitterness? He was free from her. He should be feeling liberated.

He tore his eye away from the crowd to look at his left wrist. Two bangles, and a ring.

No. He felt more pain than he did entering that relationship with her-- whatever the hell it even was, that was.

They weren't dating. They never were. They weren't an item, nor were they exclusive by any means. Yet she would brag about him like he was some sort of prize she obtained. A trophy. A crown.

He had laid the ground that they were nothing more than friends with the added benefit. Flings.

A sigh. 

Never did he regret an agreement to run from his true feelings more than he did with her. What a filthy excuse of a man he was, truly.

He wanted to leave the idea of a normal comradery between the two on the table. Never before did he revoke the option to do so so quickly.

"Oh…! T-There you are…! Um…"

His eye widened. His dwelling being disrupted by the timid stammering of the voice that called to him. He stood up, partially turning around so the host of the sheepish voice could come into his tunneled view.

On the outside, he remained unfazed. But on the inside, he could feel his chest lurch. What was she doing up here, after witnessing the explosive dispute he had with another woman? What was she doing, visiting a man that caused her to fidget more than she normally did?

A man that intimidated her. No doubt.

He turned back to the square below. Scoffing.

It didn't matter. He didn't need company. Not right now.

"DRAMA QUEEN!"

He rolled his eye as a second voice squeaked from beneath the crown that rested on her tentacles. A rather unamused and irritated "What do you want?" hissed through his teeth.

A distant shuffle, and a silent argument ensued before the first voice piped up once more.

"W-well… the whole team saw your break up with Flow--"

"We weren't dating."

He interrupted. A pause of silence.

"R-Right… Sorry… I forgot you said… that…" The voice cleared her throat. "We were looking for you… since you um… stormed off. Without warning."

"I'm fine mate. You can go back and muck around wif the rest of Team Chaos or wotever." He waved a hand dismissively. "I'm tappin' out of th'fest. It ain't worth me time."

He could tell that she was hesitating, fidgeting as she tried to come up with something to say. He could hear her stammer with what words she wanted to say, too. But when she tried to raise her voice, the second, squeakier voice piped up once more.

"BULLSHIT!"

"Moe--!"

Great. It appears the tiny fishy guy that follows her around had a built in lie detector. 

He whipped around, leering at the symbiotic duo. 

"Bullshit or not, mate, I ain't in the mood to socialize! You saw wot happened back there, yeah? I'm drained! Beat! Now beat it fore I throw ya down those stairs ya lot came up on!"

He watched as the anemone that stood there reel back ever so slightly, a twinge of guilt suddenly pulled at him.

The anemone, he knew, was shy. So it shouldn't take much to get her to scram. But there was no need for him to be rude like that. 

Yet… she held her ground, stomping her foot to signify her sternness.

"No!"

It was a small outburst. One that made his gaze somewhat soften at the sight of this timid soul asserting dominance.

"You're clearly not fine…! A-And I'm not going anywhere!" Her voice lowered in volume. "I also… don't… like… parties… that much."

He stared at her, seemingly blankly as he felt his cheeks heat up. 

She cared? And she hated being in the heat of a party?

He folded.

He turned back to the city square below for a third time with a nonchalant wave. "Sure. Fine. Wotever. Y'lot can stick around."

Twirling between the slim, long digits of his left hand, the thick, brass ring that normally adorned his right middle finger slipped through effortlessly. Squinting his eye as the train rattled and rumbled.

His black tank top was coated in sweat from his connecting ride from the Splatlands. His old, tweed trousers from almost seven years ago frayed at the seams. And his shoes from his stint in Inkopolis Square finally began to wear away at the soles.

Along with the goatee that irritated his chin, it was obvious that defeat weighed the hunched over sea urchin down.

He lost… everything, trying to find himself again.

Belongings. Respect. Millions upon millions of dollars.

Power.

Just the biggest, saddest excuse of an entrepreneur, he was.

Handmade jewelry clicked together as the train ran over the occasional bump. The two same bangles he wore that night, the number of them made him reminisce about the kid he had to leave behind.

He was a proper adult now, at least, that's what he claimed when he growled at him about not wanting Spyke to be around him anymore. He couldn't help but to worry about the kid, how he's doing. If he's eating right.

He was still a teenager, after all. He can't help but to worry about him at times. Especially given how much of a soft side he got for him over the years.

He loved that kid as a son. Even though he was… rather poor, when it came to raising him.

It was just… inconvenient. The timing of his short lived guardianship. He would have been more focused, more hands on with the kid if it weren't for the various distractions in his life and the increasing apathy that came with them.

Yet fate was cruel, for those few short years.

And now, without those distractions. The kid didn't need to look up to him anymore. And it hurt.

A poor excuse of an entrepreneur AND a father. Wonderful.

"Attention train passengers: The stop for Inkopolis Plaza is imminent. To all passengers who boarded for this destination, You will arrive in; Five minutes."

The intercom snapped him out of his brooding as he gripped the ring in his hand. Replacing it on its rightful finger as he turned and peered out of the window at the familiar city streets that peeled out from behind the ending tunnel.

It was dusk. Near night time. The time where the lights flickered on and warmly lit the passing scenes that unfolded before him. Young Inklings and Octolings meeting up, grabbing a bite to eat, socializing, connecting…

It was like the scenes he saw when he first rode into Inkopolis on this train. It brought him a bittersweet warmth. One that felt a tad unfamiliar to him.

It made his throat tense up.

This city was all that he knew for most of his adult life. Leaving the rural north to heed its call for a better life. Unaware of what the same city could even do to his once naive soul.

Inkopolis Plaza was especially notable to him. The sights. The colors. The people. They captivated him while his face was still fresh. While his eyesight was still sharp.

It was the calm before the hub next door ruined the city life for him.

And he was going to face it for the first time in the several years he was gone. His home…

… if he were to call it that, of course.

"Attention train passengers: we are now pulling into the Inkopolis Plaza terminal. Please prepare to leave if you intend on dismounting at this stop."

He corrected his posture, the lump in his throat growing as his eye connected to the train door in front of him. His heart was pounding as the train gradually came to a halt, and the familiar inkantation chime sounded from outside. Signaling the train's arrival.

"Thank you for riding with Ika Railways."

The doors opened.

And he stared blankly through his blurry eye.

A few notable changes from his first steps onto his old turf: the train station was more proper.

It was sleek, provided concessions and even had a tourist trap or two-- evidence of a resurgence of popularity, for sure.

It was accessible. Probably due to an enforced ordinance to add ramps and braille to every incline and sign that was at the average person's eye.

Hell, he didn't need to duck as he tried to find the exit to the place-- only when he took the stairs out of there.

"Can't win em' all, I guess." 

He grumbled the complaint as he slid down the stairs of the establishment and out into the city. Careful as to not injure himself by knocking his head on the ceiling of the exit tunnel, or to slip on his way down.

Or worse yet, drop the kelp chips and coffee he precariously held in one hand. Especially the coffee, he was afraid his card would decline getting the damn cup in the first place.

And when the butterflies kissed him hello, stepping out into the city, he stopped.

Slowly standing up straight, his eye took in the sights. At least, to the best of its ability.

Through his blurry tunneled vision, he could tell that this was the same place he stepped into all those years ago. The sounds clearly gave it away that he was right where he was.

But through that same eye, he could tell that there was change: the defunct dojo was replaced with a relocated shoal. Billboards that once displayed Inkopolis's hottest musicians now have those same faces under a new, fresher lens.

He wondered what else had changed, as he took the first steps onto the old Plaza he knew.

"Hoy! The sparrow urchin makes his return!"

Never mind the familiar voice and the sounds of frenetic, gelatinous slapping-- " sparrow urchin?"  

The sparrows still hung around these parts?

He turned to the jellyfish that rushed towards him. Squinting. "... Jelonzo?"

"BLUUEH!? The sparrow urchin remembered my name after all!"

Spyke huffed at his reaction as the jellyfish halted by his feet. Seemingly beaming up at him. "Yeah, and y'seem ta forget mine, mate." He half heartedly chuckled as he watched the jellyfish rub the back of his head.

"My sorries, friend! I never thought I would see you around these parts again!"

"Yeah? Well… I didn't fink I'd come crawling back here… 'least not like this."

"BLUH? What happened?"

Spyke paused, glancing over at the tower. A bit hesitant. "S'a long one, Jel. Y'wouldnt want ta hear it all… But let's just say I forgot where I left most me clothes and I ain't got a number to me name anymore and leave it at that."

The tentacle moved to his cosmetic, nonexistent mouth. "YOU LOST YOUR BODY CLOTHS!?"

Spyke looked down at his garments, brushing off his pants. "Besides the ones I'm wearin', yeah."

He watched as Jelonzo gargled out a hum, quickly eyeing him over with a nod. "Hm, Yes! Okay! I must be trying to catch a train back home, my children are waiting for me! But before I go, I want to let you know that Jelly Fresh is open when I'm by if you need any refreshing of your fresh!"

Spyke nodded, a bit bemused by the jellyfish's wording. His Inkling was far better than it was in the past, that was certain. Though, it did make whatever wording blemish he still carried a bit more obvious. 

It was amusing, almost. 

"... Right."

"Okay then! I will see you when the sun rises tomorrow!" Jelonzo waved him off, heading to catch his train home. "See you!"

"Yeah…" His voice trailed off briefly, he was already expected to be here tomorrow as well, huh? "Yeah--! See ya soon, mate! I'll keep ya offer in mind when I have a few extra G to spend!"

"Will do!"

Huh. He didn't even question it.

Whatever. He rolled his eye and brushed the abrupt reunion behind him. Staring over at the outlet shopping center the eccentric jellyfish scurried from.

His mere appearance before him was enough to confirm at least one constant of the place. That was certain.

He knew that Crusty Sean was on a trip at the moment. Mainly because while he himself stayed in Splatsville for a spell, he saw his cluttered bike parked outside of Ammo Knights. Knowing full well he was visiting an old friend in that store.

So Shrimp Kicks and the… reinstated Inkopolis branch of the said weapons store, were under new, unfamiliar management.

Really? Reinstated? What ever happened to the one in the Square?

Whatever, the square wasn't important to him anymore.

But what was, was the one remaining store: Cooler Heads.

Who was running that place now? He wondered.

He knew that the previous girl who worked there got caught up with something else. And he kept that in mind as he approached the, very much closed, store. Peering inside the shop to see if he could catch a hint of who this person was.

Books littered the store shelves, from what he could see. Along with the occasional dated hobby kit or three, the proudly displayed Music Albums and Graffiti, a velcro adhesive starfish hugging the ladder-- And that's from what he could make out from the cluttered mess in there.

But still, no employee in sight.

'Duh, y'old git, of course there's nobody there--  The lights were off and it's the normal closin' time. It's. Closed.' Spyke shook his head, kneeling down to get a closer look at the flyers and signs that were posted on the glass door.

They were fliers for upcoming concerts being held, for the most part. The only things obscuring them being notices from the store owner themselves; revised store hours, notes of sales. A flier for the Splatnet Shop…

Wait …

"Want to net the coolest gear around? Good news! Inkopolis orders are back in business! Just send me an inquiry, and meet me across the way at dusk! (I can help with other gear arrangements too!) -Annie" 

He read the note to himself, mumbling across each word his eye scanned, his squinting eye as his eye slightly perked up when it met the name of the proprietor.

"Annie?"

That Annie? The sea anemone that had quit working there years ago?

Nevermind that idea of her moving on, then.

He stood up. Peering over his shoulder to remind himself of what was across from here: his old Alleyway. His crevice.

She… was in there ?

He began to make his way over to the alleyway he abandoned all those years ago. Curious.

He was, more or less, expecting everything there to be trashed. The rug that probably became moldy after so long, the Snails that have rotted away there. The old screwdriver he used in place of his own needles so he wouldn't mess his do up-- oh, how vain his old self was. 

Even the old, gross stickers and Graffiti there: he thought they removed the both of them.

But what he saw wasn't that.

New snails and their respective shells decorated the corner in a way that felt familiar. Refreshed Graffiti and new, neatly placed stickers livened the corner up, and the presence of a small coffee bar made it feel more like home than before.

But what his eye focused on was the exchange before him. Something he looked at in disbelief with his squatted stance.

"H-Here you are! All your slots have been rerolled…! You've been on kind of a lucky streak lately… heheh…" The anemone he saw chuckled, holding a neatly folded shirt and three, luminescent chunks out to the inkling that beamed.

" Thank you! Your gear customizations are the best, Annie!"

Annie . So it really was her, sitting in his corner…

To be frank, she looked… different.

Like, wildly different. Almost unrecognizable.

Her hair seemed more pale, and translucent, aside from the side that was dyed from the normal pink.

And she wore… A LOT more black than she did before. With a certain "gothic punk edge" that he thought he'd never fully see on her. 

A look that, he had to confess, was a look that worked really well on her. 

Great. Now he was feeling more shameful of the mismatched garments he wore.

"O-Oh, you're too kind--! I'm just… doing my job! T… Take care!"

"You too!" The inkling waved Annie off, beginning to run in his direction  while still somewhat making eye contact with her.

Only to stop once more when the inkling looked back and saw him.

And leered at him.

Great. This was one that remembered who he was.

"Oh. It's you. "

The mature voice sounded sharp. Degrading to him.

Spyke sheepishly shrugged. Not expecting an old client to be the second person to talk to upon his return.

"... U-Unfortunately, love." Well, what else WAS he supposed to say to that?

"'Unfortunately' is right ." The inkling squinted at him before they pouted. Marching around him with a grumble.

" I was really starting to like getting my gear from Annie, too… Damn it."

Ouch. Way to rub it in, kid.

He sighed before his attention returned to the Anemone. It was now her turn to have her eyes on him.

"It… it really is you."

Her voice sounded lighter in comparison. A bit shaky too.

"In the flesh." He stepped out from beneath the small overpass. Leaning on the first wall he saw as if he wasn't watching to see what was going on in his old squatting grounds. ".. for better or for worse… 'f course."

"IS THAT SMELLY FREAK GONE?"

He couldn't help but to chuckle at the clownfish that abruptly cut into the conversation, poking himself out from beneath her large cap-- beady eyes Immediately falling on to him.

"OH GREAT! THERE'S A BIGGER, STINKIER ONE HERE NOW!"

Spyke shook his head. "Great to see ya too, mate. Truly."

"Why… are you back?" She inquired as the fish swam out to the right side of her head. "I thought you…?"

"Oh yeah-- yeah. The whole 'being back' fing, yeah, yeah…" He looked up at the hand that rested upon the wall that he leaned on. " Why I'm back… hmm…"

Pat pat.

"... Well, it ain't that important. "

"LIAR!" The fish shouted. Causing Spyke to scoff.

"Watch it clownie." He retorted, sharpening his blurry gaze. "If I say it ain't important, it ain't important. "

A rather tense pause ensued. And Annie awkwardly shuffled in her spot. 

"Well… I'm… glad you're back. For whatever reason it is… that is." 

She stared at him. Stammering.

"Um…"

Another pause.

"YOU LOOK TERRIBLE."

"Oi-- Watch it--"

"W-Well… in Moe's defense." Annie twiddled her thumbs. "You look… like… well…"

"YOU LOOK LIKE YOU JUST CRAWLED OUT OF THE JUNKYARD."

"... yeah… you look… terrible. "

"YOU SMELL TERRIBLE TOO! HORRIBLE!"

"Moe, you're pushing it." Annie hissed under her breath, leering at the fish for a moment before looking back at Spyke. "Sorry about that… Moe has a habit of being… well… Moe."

"S'fine." He bluntly responded, taking a sip of his coffee. "... He ain't wrong, either… haven't been able t'stay at a proper inn in months. Can't even find a bathroom empty fer long enough to give meself a quick scrub down, either."

"You haven't been able to stay at an inn…?" He could sense her eyes widening. "Don't tell me you're…!" She gasped. "... Wh-- what happened!?"

He sighed. "S'long story. And again, it ain't important. "

"Right… I-I forgot you… didn't… want to… um…"

She shrunk in her spot. Ruminating for a brief moment before prying herself off the ground. Giving herself a self affirming nod before she turned to grab some of the shaking Super Sea Snails behind her.

"R-Right!" She held one under each arm. Slightly struggling with her grip on them. "I'm… I'm going to head home! It's getting kind of late and… um… the last train to Flounder Heights should be arriving soon. Please… come with me."

"Wot?" His eye widened as Annie approached him.

"YOU HEARD HER!"

"W-wot-- whaddya mean--?"

"YA COMIN' WITH US, YA SMELLY DOLT!"

Spyke still stared at the two as they wandered by. "Wha-- wait--! Whaddya mean 'comin' wif'? I ain't done anyfing worth havin' me ta 'come wif' ya lot!"

Annie stopped in her tracks. Fidgeting with the Snails she held. "Well… you um… did say that you… weren't able to stay at an inn… Spyke…"

"STREET URCHIN!"

" Enough, Moe." She grumbled through her teeth, the fish in her hair scooting back under her hat. "S-sorry…"

"S'fine. It's not me first time dealin' wif  'im. Or blokes like him, for that matter." He shook his head. "But that ain't the matter here-- WHY y'want ta take me back ta your place?"

"Because… um…" She paused and turned to him. "Look at you… you look… awful."

"Pardon?"

"I-I mean--! You're covered in debris… you look all pale and sweaty… and I feel like the only thing you had to eat today was… what you're holding… n'stuff…" She sighed, furrowing her brow. "... No offense… by the way…"

The urchin slouched, unamused. "None taken, love."

His voice was deadpan. Called out.

"Look… I know I can't change your mind… but sometimes… the things that you don't want to do are the things you need to do… and um… vice versa…. Like I don't need to um… have you over. Nor do I need to make dinner for you… and stuff… But I want to…"

"Y'plan on making me dinner, mate?"

The train chimed out. Signaling the next train's arrival.

"Yeah… because I… I want to… because it looks like something you need after… whatever… happened."

A pause. His gaze softening once more. 

"You don't have to come with me but… it would make me happy… And it… Well-- that's all up to you… just saying."

Make her happy, huh?

He pondered.

"I can't BELIEVE we missed the train because of you two!"

It was a long walk for him. Longest one he had in a while, he mentally noted. And sure, it was almost over, and they were all almost at Annie's place. But it couldn't erase the soreness that his legs felt. Especially now that one of his hands held the shoes that he once wore haphazardly, his calloused feet being scratched up by the sidewalk below.

He swayed. Exhausted.

And as much as he didn't want to hear the clownfish complain, it was the only thing that kept his tired eye pried.

"Moe, it's alright... please calm dow--"

"I mean I'VE COULD HAVE TAKEN A NAP you know. I could have SLEPT a bit. But NO! I HAD TO STAY AWAKE! TO PROTECT YOU! "

"Moe, calm down! We have company… remember? Y-you could've rested, you know."

"And leave this ten foot tall, smelly, exhausted PRICK to fend for you? Nuh uh."

"Moe--"

"HE CAN BARELY KEEP HIS EYE OPEN, ANNIE."

" Moe. Enough." She harshly whispered at the fish. "He's our guest. "

"BUT I'M--"

Annie hushed him, scrunching her brow. "Right or not, I wouldnt fuck around and try to mug someone who is almost six feet taller than I am."

"Ssss'actually seven feet, love…" Spyke tiredly slurred, being cautious as to not drop the snail he held under his arm as he raised a finger in his absent minded objection. "'M'over… three hundred and…. Th… thirty five…. Cennameeters…tall… last I checked…"

Annie glanced back at Spyke, concern returning for the urchin. "Are you… okay?"

" ... m'fine. "

He was clearly not fine.

"R-Right…" Annie cleared her throat as she fumbled in her pocket for her keys. "We're almost back to my place just… keep yourself up straight… or something."

Can do. He wanted to say, but rather than that, he just let out a disgruntled groan, laiden with incoherent mumbling that was ultimately cut short by the entering door of the complex.

"GAH--"

He grabbed a hold of his head with a groan. Gritting his teeth as he winced. As Annie frantically whipped around, nearly dropping everything she held.

"O-oh God!" She gasped. "Oh my god-- a-are you okay!?"

Spyke grunted. Taking a knee as he attempted a response, dropping practically everything he held. "M'fine. I'm fine. I'm fine--"

Again. Clearly not fine.

"Oh jeez I… you dropped your coffee and the snail and-- I-I'm so sorry, I should have warned you! I… Oh… oh no…"

"You're fine, you're fine I just-- ow-- I… need a moment-- ow… "

Eventually. 

Eventually . 

He dragged himself through the front door of her apartment. Being sure as to not ram his still sore head into the top of the door frame again, nor the low ceiling up above.

And from there? Straight on to her couch with another groan. Tossing the slightly cracked sea snail on the table beside him, along with the half eaten bag of kelp chips he snacked on over the past hour.

Annie sidled over to her coffee table, taking the snail into her arm. 

"I… um… won't be long… Rest up, if that's what you'd like, of course…"

He waved her off. "I'm… finkin' of takin a shower… I just need a moment, yeah?"

"Oh… o-okay…" Annie nodded. "... Do you… um… remember where--"

"The bathroom is?" He squeezed his eye shit with a huff. "Yeah, yeah. I do. Just… do your fing, or wotever."

"Um… right… I'll be in the kitchen… if you need anything else."

Noted, with a groan.

A groan, and a very slow blink.

Well, there he was.

Not only back in the confines of Inkopolis due to its alluring call, but back in one of the last places he visited before he had left: Annie's apartment.

Back at home, in someone else's room.

If he could call it that, that was.

Though, it was through a completely different set of circumstances, this time: Out of a place of concern than a place of…

No… it's best to keep that night in July out of mind.

Grunting, he pushed himself up to a sitting position, attempting to take in the warm, dimly lit surroundings of her cluttered home… It was almost the same as when he last saw it. At least, to the best of his memory: the cluttered areas being a bit more dense with books and vinyls as her interests were seemingly shifted or added on to.

Though, the books that precariously dangled from her shelves seemed rather… old. At least. The ones that stuck out through his squinted gaze. It was intermixed with the more fitting Manga and comic books that were more safely tucked in on the shelves, seemingly collecting dust in comparison.

Curious, he managed to peel away from the couch, cautiously stumbling over to where the shelf was. Careful as to not bump into anything as he made his way over to examine the shelf.

Each leather bound book contained some nugget of history, it seems. Whether it be the species and dichotomy of those she knows, or, strangely enough, artillery and weaponry-- turf war development through the years.

Though his eye seemed to stall at one particular book that threatened to fall to the ground at any given moment. One that was rather low to the ground-- proof of flipping through it as of late.

"The Diadems And Details: A Distinctive Detailing of Diadematidae History and Anatomy."

He knelt down, taking the book into his hands before he mumbled the title out to himself, scratching his chin.

It was odd, really. Not only seeing this on her shelf, but having it be the lowest book of all the species history books she held.

Even the Horseshoe Crab, and Tiger Prawn books was pretty high up for her height--

"HEY, WADDYA DOING, URCHIE!?"

Spyke jolted over the shouting that sounded through the open archway to the kitchenette-- one that he almost forgot was there.

"Noneya business, clownie!" He called back, placing the book back on the shelf in a more safe manner. "Just lookin' at the readin' material here."

"YOU BETTER NOT STEAL ANYTHING--"

" I ain't finkin bout it mate. " He waved the fish off. Standing back up as straight as he could as light arguing once again ensued behind him.

He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing as he still stared back at the book he had just replaced on one of the lower shelves. Curiosity still lingering about why a book such as that was in her possession.

They weren't necessarily friends, were they? And to his recollection, she wasn't that close to Murch.

Or at least, as close as he was.

"Spyke?"

He looked over his shoulder, his eye now fixated at the anemone who stood at the foot of her stove.

"... you alright?"

Spyke hummed, pondering her concern for a moment. "... m'fine, mate. Just got a bit distracted."

Well, for once, he wasn't totally lying about being fine.

"You're… um… You… gonna take a shower now?"

He deliberated.

"Hmm… yeah I… I fink so."

"YOU BETTER."

He could hear Annie sigh at another outburst from her companion, watching her as she grimaced, shaking her head.

"I have some… fresh towels out… um… take your time, and stuff… Dinner should be ready by the time you're done… I think."

Spyke nodded, cautiously waddling into the small bathroom that was down the shallow hallway.

Chapter Text

Run, jump, slide.

She had been trying to get up to his eye level for a good chunk of minutes now. Trying and failing to climb up the half wall with her height and stature.

Run, jump, slide.

If he was in any other kind of mood, he'd find a bit of amusement with his pity. It truly was comical watching her try again and again, her tenacity not seeming to waver with each failed attempt.

It was charming, almost admirable to a degree.

Run, jump, slide.

Should he interject? Try to help in any way? Was he even in the mood to do so?

Run, jump, slide.

He sighed, might as well. 

He adjusted his posture, making it as comfortable as possible to raise his foot up to his side for leverage.

He whistled. "Oi. Try now."

She nodded, brushing herself off before starting her running start up once more.

This time, using his foot as a foot stool to climb up the wall the rest of the way, throwing her legs over the other end as she now sat atop of.

She let out a triumphant huff of air, her head turning to the urchin. "... Thanks."

"It's nofing… uh--"

"... Annie."

Spyke blinked. 

That name seemed familiar to him. 

"... yes… Annie. It's nofing."

The silence seemed to come quick after that. As the air settled around them, as the music filled the silence, as Annie collected her breath…

He found the time to scan the crowd, searching for a particular child he also had to leave behind in a huff.

And when his eye landed on the boy, unbothered by the world around him, he couldn't help but to breathe out a sigh of relief.

Thank god he didn't see that altercation. Or hear it, for that matter.

"... What's up?"

His eye didn't break contact from him as he grunted out an answer. "It ain't much..." He rested a hand on his chin. "... M'just glad the kid didn't see wot happened earlier."

"The kid…?"

"That kid. Right there." He pointed him out to her, the action causing her to lightly gasp.

"OH--! That kid!"

"Y'know him?"

Annie shuffled in her spot. "Um… kinda… He fulfills deliveries for me… and sometimes I come around to check on his quota… n'stuff…"

Deliveries? So, he wasn't the only one giving Murch orders…?

…

Now that he thought about it, he remembered getting unidentifiable gear to his location as efficiently as he could. Gear that wasn't sourced from him, and by his own means. Nor did it contain the same abilities the average bit of gear would have.

This gear was off the rack, of an unknown, dubious origin.

It was hard to believe that she was the woman pulling the strings behind that operation… 

Not to say that he didn't respect the hustle at all, of course! This was something he didn't even dare to approach, nor even think of as a concept.

Silently watching the gear turn up at that kid's feet, wondering where such a selection of gear could even come from-- let alone how it could exist in the first place… and of course  being the man responsible for getting that gear to him… it was all enough to garner respect for whoever ran this business the kid also worked for.

He just couldn't picture this ill fit, introverted woman who looked like she lived from morning coffee to morning coffee to be the mastermind behind something so… 

… Engenius.

"Quota? For wot?"

But he was open to being proven wrong about that assumption.

Annie shuffled in her spot once more. "Um… it… isn't much… just a gear shop. That's all."

"A gear shop?" He turned his gaze away from Murch. Looking back at Annie with feigned ignorance and genuine curiosity. "Tell me more."

"M-More…?" That clearly surprised her. A reaction that almost made him forget he was in a bad mood for a moment. "Right… um… more… more more more more…"

Looks like she wasn't anticipating someone to ask for more details. Judging by her musing.

"Well… I realized a while ago that, um… the best part about gear, in my opinion, is the abilities… So I got into working with them more. Seeked out rejected or modified gear to um… repurpose. Changing up the main ability to order…. And stuff…"

"So those kids wif the different main abilities, those were from you, yeah?"

"Yeah… from me."

Spyke leaned back a bit, his lidded eye lighting up for the first time in what felt like ages.

So he was wrong about her. 

Probably one of the first times he was glad that he was wrong about anything, really.

And for the second time that night, his true feelings poked out from beneath the surface.

"That's… impressive. Y'got me respect."

"O-oh!" She stuttered, fidgeting with the yellow headset that settled around her shoulders. A blush strongly stood out on her fair skin. "I-It's an honor… to have someone like you say that… Especially when Murch sings all these praises about you, and all…"

"An honor, eh?" He placed a hand to his chest. "I'm flattered."

Extremely flattered, judging by the fact that he could feel his heart race beneath his hand.

That anger he felt from the argument was starting to feel more distant now. His conversation with Annie began to occupy his mind more and more.

She was quite the distraction. 

And he couldn't help but to drift just a bit closer to her as the conversation lingered.

It was strange how the new owner of Cooler Heads herself couldn't bother to get a nicer washer, he noted as he loaded the clothes that he once wore into a flimsy, pop-up washer as steam from the shower began to fill up the small bathroom.

Well, he partially knew why. Flounder Heights had a laundromat, but given how frequently crowded it was, he naturally assumed that she got this thing for her convenience.

And convenient, it was.

At least, as convenient as something like this could be, of course. He was just relieved that his clothing didn't overfill the little thing as he poured the bucket of water mixed with detergent in.

And with the shutting of the lid and the activating of the machine, the little washer whirled to life, sloshing its contents around as he stood up from his kneeling position.

The shower should be hot enough by now.

If the clouds of steam around him didn't already make it obvious that the shower was ready, of course.

He made his way to the small frosted glass shower, squeezing into it to the best of his ability without hurting his head again or worse-- snapping his spines. Eventually winding up in a pseudo sitting position, with his eye still being able to peek over the shower door.

Thank god she had a detachable shower head, even if it didn't fully fit the size of his hands. It would be a nightmare to try to clean himself in this thing otherwise.

Not that he was intending on doing that now. Right now, he just took a deep breath relaxing his shoulders.

And with an exhaled sigh, he shut his eye.

It had been a long day.

Painfully long.

Taking connecting train ride after connecting train ride, having said connections either be missed over some minor inconvenience or scheduling mishap due to an unreliable body clock.

Man he needed a new phone.

Having the one from Splatsville being delayed due to a sandstorm.

The typical inconvenience for the locals.

Having one of his cards decline at a Cafe, even. Due to an unknown reason that hadn't come back up since.

He's banned from that pop-up cafe now.

It just… wasn't his day.

Frankly, it hadn't been his day for the past five years, but today was just a reminder of how far he'd fallen from the embrace of his fleeting wealth.

So far, in fact, that he was willing to accept a night in Annie's home with little to no complaint; just confusion.

Why did she just let him in after not seeing him for so long? Just, without missing a beat, stating that he was coming home with her?

Was It because they clicked that one night? The only other time he openly talked to her?

Did she genuinely feel bad for him?

Nevermind that-- why was she in his corner in the first place? 

The place he first was, hidden away from her line of sight.

For a long time, she didn't know he even existed. And he used to see her as one of the several jellyfish in the crowd due to how her tentacles reacted during the night.

It was almost a miracle that they were able to connect in the first place. That he came in contact with one of the kindest, genuine hearts the city has ever seen.

Well, that he's ever seen, anyways.

He sighed, opening his eye.

She'd already stated her reason for bringing him back here. To her home. He should be satisfied with that and that alone.

But no. For some reason, he wasn't.

It was almost like he hadn't earned this privilege: the privilege of a warm, home-cooked meal, or a nice comforting shower. Hell, not even access to a washing machine, or a place to rest his head.

Almost? No. He didn't deserve this at all. Not after clumsily falling from what he once had.

Basic necessities and pleasures just felt above him at the moment.

Felt? No.

They were above him.

He slid down to the ground, hugging his knees to his chest with another, more shaky, sigh.

He didn't deserve to be in this shower, not right now. And maybe, not even ever.

Hell, he didn't even deserve the showers of the finest hotels he's been in.

He just… didn't deserve anything.

…

Knock Knock.

He flinched at the gentle knock, cursing at himself under his breath as the voice from the other side called for him.

"Spyke…? Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it is, love." No, it wasn't. "Wot's up? Why ya knockin'?

He sounded a bit choked up. Something he hoped Annie didn't notice.

He heard a soft hum. "Well… I just remembered that the towels I had out were pretty small… so um… I found some beach towels, with better coverage for someone… you sized."

She hesitated.

"Can I… come in…? N'leave them by the shower?"

"I dunno, I'm kinda… y'know…" He rolled his wrist around. "Already in th'shower. Naked. "

"It wouldn't be able to see much, with the shower door… and all… and um… it wouldn't be the first time seeing you like that… if I did see… um…"

Right. It wouldn't.

"... Alright, fair enough. Make it quick, n'all. Fer the steam and wotnot."

"Okay…! Coming in!"

He tried to wipe away the tingle in his eye as the cool draft from the creaking door flushed into the room. Turning his slightly flushed face away from her as she approached the shower, placing the towels she held to the side of the stall.

"Okay! They're right next to the shower… you shouldn't miss…" 

He could feel her gaze on him.

"... them…"

He could really feel her gaze on him.

"Spyke…?" Her voice grew softer as she heard her shuffle closer to the glass door. Softer than it normally was. "Spyke… are you sure you're okay?"

"I…"

He looked back, her blurry silhouette staring him down.

 "... I… don't… know…"

His speech suddenly became slow. Spaced out.

"... I don't know… at all…"

"Spyke…"

The pity in her voice was heavy. He could hear her eyebrows furrow up in concern.

"You're not fine… are you, Spyke…?"

He deliberated, blankly staring at his knees. "... yeah… I'm… not. "

"... Is it… um… related to what you didn't want to talk about earlier?"

"... yes. "

"Ah…"

There was a pause of silence. A concerned sigh came from the anemone as she watched Spyke place his head on his knees.

"Listen… I… still don't know what happened to you. Why you're back, and all… But… I…" She placed a hand on the door. "... I-I wanna help, in any way I can… to make you feel better… you know?"

" ... you hardly know me, love. "

"And…? We have… well… all the time in the world to change that now… right?"

Right?

"You… want to know me?"

"Of course, I do! I mean… I used to think you were all big… and… and scary… and you are…. K-Kinda… but, um…"

Her thumb grazed the glass as she paused.

"... E-Even big and scary people need someone to care for them, y'know?"

Does he, though?

…

He reluctantly removed an arm from the embrace he held on his knees, shifting his glance back to her blurry form to place his hand on the glass in return.

Right on top of where she placed her own, much smaller, one.

"I fink…" He mumbled. "... I fink we do... if ya have the time, fer me, of course ."

He could sense her light up on the other side of the door. 

"I'll… see if I can squeeze you in… haha…"

He could hear the smile in her voice.

And he couldn't help but to smile back, at least, on the inside.

He truly didn't deserve to be graced by her kindness. But at this point, it's a bit too late to turn that sort of thing down, even if he wanted to.

She really did have a knack for distracting him from the bad thoughts in his head.

…

"ANNIE! GET BACK HERE GIRL, THE SOUP IS BURNING!"

Annie flinched, turning to the open doorway "I-It's not soup! They're just really--!" She let out a slightly irritated sigh, quickly turning back to Spyke. "I'm sorry-- I have to get back to the kitchen… do take your time getting yourself cleaned up and… um… use anything you'd like! I can just get more… tomorrow."

" ANNIE. THE SOUP."

"IT'S NOT--" She shook her head,  leaving her spot by the shower door to answer the ails of her fish, her steps being rather heavy as she rushed out to the kitchen. "WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING OUT THERE!?"

"WHAT YOU TOLD ME TO DO!"

"YOU COULD'VE FLIPPED THEM!"

"WITH THESE FINS!? I'D END UP FRYING MYSELF . "

"Oh-- yeah…"

She… forgot to close the door.

Not that he minded, no amount of steam in the world could compare to the mundane bickering these two had. 

They were like siblings, in a way. Family.

And that tugged at the corners of his mouth a bit, with a chuckle.

He pried himself from the shower floor. 

Although she said to take his time, it was best not to keep them waiting.

Moe'll probably complain if he didn't get his ration before it got cold, or something.

He had grown accustomed to the prying eyes of others. Staring him down with judgment and all.

Especially now, when he ducked under the bathroom door frame and gave Annie a wave. Her reaction being a flinch and fumble with their plated food before her face went red.

"S-Spyke! You're out already--!"

"Yeah…" Spyke blinked at her flustered state. Nodding rather slowly. "... You alright there, love? "

"I-I'm fine--!" She took a deep breath, collecting herself before she turned to him. "It's just that… you're still-- you know …" 

"Naked?"

"Yeah… Yeah… " She nodded. "I just… wasn't expecting you to still be…"

"Sorry love… I just hung me threads to dry before coming out here. I won't have a single fing ta wear till the mornin'..."

"It's fine, really… just-- give me a warning, next time… so I can hide Moe."

"TOO LATE." 

Moe barked from the top of her head, already attempting to crawl under her hat.

"MY PURE EYES HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAINTED BY THE SIGHT OF THIS MAN."

" Moe-- "

"WAKE ME UP WHEN HE PUTS IT ALL AWAY." The fish huffed as he managed to squeeze himself under the hat he struggled with. "IT'S ALREADY BAD ENOUGH THAT HE'S STAYING OVER FOR THE NIGHT."

… Well, there he goes for the night.

"G'night, mate--"

"SHUT UP."

It wasn't the first time the sight of his body unnerved a symbiote. But it certainly was the most… dramatic reaction he's received.

And Moe said he was the dramatic one. All those years ago.

"S-sorry…" Annie readjusted her hat, fumbling with her tentacles a bit.

"M'used to it. It's nofing." He pointed at the set table. "Now, wot's all this then?"

"It's dinner..." She raised her hands up." "A-although, it's probably best if you didn't sit at the table… In your state, and all… "

Right, given how small the chairs were at her table, it would make for quite the awkward dinner.

"Y'want me ta sit on the couch then?"

"Yeah… the couch is fine… I'll bring your food to you just… try your best to sit appropriately."

Spyke obliged, moving to the couch with a nod, placing a hand on where his towel was to ensure that it wouldn't slip off as he took a spot towards the front of the couch seat. His knees hit the rug that was beneath him.

It was an awkward, uncomfortable position, but it positioned him at the coffee table fairly well, keeping his decency in tact as he brushed aside the clutter that rested atop of the table, making way for the anemone who carefully brought his plate of food from table to table.

"H-Here you are…" She placed the plate down in front of him, careful as to not have the oversized contents of it not slip off. "... Sorry if it's a bit burnt, and all."

What was placed in front of him was… a rather cute way to plate one of these gooey morsels: having it sit upright on his plate, strands of kelp accenting each side of its gelatinous head. Like those octolings he'd see crawl out from the sewers at night back in the day. 

And around the base were little sea grapes, probably to help hold the massive snail on the "barely large enough to fit it to begin with" plate.

He gave it a small jiggle. How endearing.

"Y'always plate your meals like this?" He examined the snail as its jiggle rippled throughout, petering out at the swirled tip on top.

"Not all the time…" She shook her head. "Just… um… when I feel like I need a-pick-me up… or something."

For a pick-me-up…?

"A-anyways--! I'll go and get your fork!"

She scampered back to the table, retrieving the cutlery she had out for him. Grabbing whatever napkin she could grab out of the napkin holder as well before jogging back to him, holding out the wad she held to him.

"... Here… "

She was still making the effort to make him feel better, wasn't she?

"... Thanks."

He took the wad from her hands into his palm, giving her a nod before sorting through the mass of napkins she grabbed for him, all while she scampered off to grab her own plate and cutlery to join him with.

And when he found the fork, he daintily held it in his hand, trying to find a way to firmly grasp such a small utensil before scooping a bite off from the top.

The texture and taste were somewhat familiar to him, after all, super sea snails were among some of his favorite foods. 

But for some reason… it tasted a bit… different.

It could have been because of his refined pallet, one that had only tasted the succulent fruits of luxury for so long that it became the norm. Or it could be because he had eaten out on so many occasions he had forgotten the normalcy of a home-cooked meal.

But, either way, it tasted… bland.

Bland, with a gentle charred taste that would come with an uneven pan.

Not that he was complaining, or anything. He wasn't expecting a five star meal out of her. In fact, something so mundane was… welcoming , in a way.

Like a gentle hug. A fruit of labor, love and care.

Something that a gourmet dish could never convey to him back then.

He rested his head on his free hand, taking another bite as Annie took her spot in front of him. Taking her time with setting down her respective platter and cutlery as she knelt.

And as she clapped her hands together, she bowed her head, mumbling a silent phrase of gratitude.

A sight he huffed in amusement at as he chewed what was in his mouth.

How proper. 

She looked up, sensing his huff. And her hands fell into her lap. 

"S-Sorry…"

He hummed, inquisitively at her apology. Swallowing as her face turned red out of embarrassment.

"S'nuffin, love. I ain't makin fun of ya." He attempted to reassure her. "I've just… haven't seen a proper display of table manners 'n a while. The blokes I got mixed up wif just threw 'em aside like it wos nofing . Issa nice change of pace, y'know?"

"Oh…"

She sheepishly chuckled, brushing her hair aside.

"... Sorry."

Spyke huffed out a breath of air, stuffing another bite into his mouth as the meal droned on in silence. Watching as Annie cautiously picked up her own fork, daintily taking small scoops out of her own snail before eating them.

She was looking down as she did so. Occasionally darting her eyes up at him before they shy themselves away once more. 

"So… um… you really only have one set of clothes?"

He hummed at her question, swallowing what he had in his mouth.

"Yeah? S'wot I came back in, innit?"

"Well… it's just…" She fumbled with her fork, her voice lowering to an almost whisper as she looked up, leaning forward. " Really…? Only one outfit? "

He rolled his eye. "Issit really that big of a deal?"

"Well y-- maybe? " She nodded her head in the direction of where he left his shoes: a thoroughly frayed pair of slip-ons that finally decided to give way. "Your shoes kind of… um, exploded … on the way here. And your pants are ill fitting and… very well beyond their years."

"Well, those ol' trousers were ones I had when I wos a still growin' lad."

Not helping.

"And you chose them over what you had before?"

"Well, wot I had before… got torn bad once they caught onto somefing." 

"They did?"

"Yeah. Those poor sluggers I wore, they got a proper rip in 'em. They were binned the moment I got me some privacy."

"And… the rest?"

The rest. 

He deliberated for a moment, looking down at his half eaten morsel.

"... lost 'em."

Same story he told Jelonzo. And again, it wasn't too far from the truth, either.

"You… you LOST them--!?"

And she started to sound like him too.

She stared at him, wide eyed, almost like there was absolute shock and a twinge of horror behind her gaze. "... how? "

Spyke shrugged. "... Nomad's habit, I guess."

"You… guess? "

"Well…" He deliberated briefly. "... Maybe I got just the teinsiest of cases of those 'butter fingers'. It ain't that big of a deal."

Another bite was shoveled into his mouth, his eye watching as Annie's face creased into one of her hands with a sigh.

" Spyke… "

Her voice was mixed with concern and the tiniest bit of frustration.

"What?" His response was muffled as he chewed.

"You're… you're coming to the booyah base with me tomorrow. "

He coughed at her statement, nearly choking on what was in his mouth. " WOT-- "

"Well I-I can't have you walking around in… in that! "

He swallowed what was in his mouth with a heavy gulp. "Love, I don't fink you need ta go that far in helpin' me arse out. Isn't putting a roof over me head for the night enough?"

"Spyke…"

"I mean-- I know I can't afford   ta get new threads right now. But I can get by. Find a way ta make the extra G, n'all--"

" Spyke. "

He felt a tiny hand rest upon the non dominant hand he had rested on the table not too long ago. The skin on skin contact almost making him flinch as his eye darted to it. Tracing the spot from where it rested up to its host with his widened eye.

He felt his throat tense up as she stared at him. Her browline furrowed at him.

"I told you… I'm willing to help you in any way I can."

"T'make me feel better, yeah, I know."

"Then…" She held the finger her hand rested on. "Let me get you new clothes."

He grunted, looking away.

He could feel his cheek getting warm from her insisting on upgrading his wardrobe a tad. From the gentle touch she gave him, and the concern from her aquamarine eyes.

" Please…? "

… God damnit. Why was there always something about this woman that made him fold.

"One. Y'can get me one set of clothing, alright?"

He glanced back over, swiping his hand away from her touch.

Annie, realizing that her hand was upon his just a moment ago, also blushed a bit. Nodding. "Y-yeah… of course. Just the one…"

There was a pause of silence.

And Spyke, knowing what this expected silence told him, sighed.

"Okay-- fine. You win. Two sets, but that's all. "

She lit up at that statement, letting out a little "yes!" in triumph.

What did he just agree to…?

Chapter Text

He tried not to get too close in his absent minded drifting, with his subtle shuffles that grew closer to her side as their conversation carried on.

The subjects they awkwardly worked their way through was something that Spyke hardly paid attention to. But he remembered that it was, at first, talking more about the Splatnet Shop and Murch. 

Then it devolved into small talk. Or rather, pointing out the partygoers below. 

Seeing as the dramatic affair he stared in  had pulled away from the festival at that point, of course.

It was between bouts of silence where one of them would point out a character of interest. Sharing a huff of amusement as they disregarded whatever comment Moe blurted out afterwards.

A pattern of exchanges that eventually grew brighter with their reactions, their huffs being replaced with an endeared chuckle or giggle.

"Oi, look at that bloke--" A smile tugged at his lips when he pointed at a particularly outlandish looking jellyfish. "Dancin' around like they're hot stuff!"

"The…" Annie's voice trailed off, her eyes trying to follow where he had pointed. "The one with the glowsticks? In their head?" 

"Yeah love, that one!"

She giggled. "They look so--"

"THEY LOOK STUPID!" Moe barked out from her head of hair, leaning over her bangs.

"Nah, Nah, mate. If they looked stupid, they'd act it too." Spyke's pointed finger fanned out into an upwards facing palm. "That bloke knows wot they're doin, yeah? Wish I could be that bold wif me style."

She glanced over at Spyke as he addressed the jellyfish. His body leaning over the roof's short walls as he addressed the vibrant jellyfish flailing about. And couldn't help but to smile a bit at this more enthusiastic side of him. 

His lifted voice. His laughter.

It was bizarre to think that just a while ago he wanted nothing to do with the splatfest-- that he was miserable and had a clenched fist. That his eye was lidded and hollow as opposed to the dim light that flickered in it now.

It was an unusual sight. One she didn’t mind seeing.

To see that, beneath the surface, there was a coin with two sides-- one depicted a seething face, burning with a passionate fury, and the other, a bright, jovial, and talkative face. And she had seen them both within the amount of time spent with him.

About an hour, to be exact.

He eventually leaned back into his original position, and her eyes followed him as he propped himself back up on his elbows.

"Y'fink I can pull somefing like that off, Annie?"

He posed a question at her, turning his head to meet her line of sight.

"Bein' the resident fashionista, v'course."

An action that made her realize that she had been staring at him that whole time.

"O-oh--! U-Um…" Her eyes Immediately tore away from him, her face going beet red from the eye contact. "I… I-I wasn't listening… sorry…" She rubbed the back of her neck. "I was spacing out… n'stuff."

"Don't sweat it. I ain't losing sleep over it or anyfing." He shrugged. "Just wondering if I should invest in some bioluminescent algae for the spines. T'dye me tips, n'wotnot."

"Oh, well… Maybe? I mean, you'd look…" 

She paused, hesitating as her eyes darted back to him for a brief moment.

"... pretty cool regardless. Like, whether you use that kind of algae or… not."

"Noted." He gave her a subtle smile. "Don't fink I can be as cool as that jellyfish-- or as cool as you, for wot it's worth."

Annie flinched. "M-Me?"

"Well, I mean…" He gestured to the mass of tentacles on her head. "Look at ya, love! I could look at your tentacles for hours wif how they are!"

Her blushing grew more intense. "... Th… Thanks…"

Silence fell between them once more, and now it was Spyke's turn to stare.

Stare at the hot pink glow that accented her hair; the azure eyes that glimmered no matter what time of day it was. Take in the swoop of her profile and the bags under her eyes. Note every small fidget she made as she tried to calm herself down, to rid herself of her rosy cheeks.

Only to start herself up once more with each glance at him she took.

And it didn't help her one bit as his left elbow was practically grazing her hip now. 

So much for subtlety on his end.

"And, um… for 'what it's worth', as you put it… you…" She shuffled nervously in her spot. "... You look pretty cool tonight too… black suits you."

He glanced down at his sleeves, moving his arms off the wall so he could get a better look at them.

"A-And your eye… the way it glows is… pretty cool, as well."

He returned his arms into their folding position as he looked back at her. "Got anyfing else but 'pretty cool' t'say there, love?"

He huffed with a grin as Annie's hands fell to her lap. Patiently waiting for her answer as her tiny fingers twiddled with one another.

"Well… I…" She folded her hands together. "... not… without coming off as… weird. Uh…"

"Weird?"

"W-well--!" She tensed up. "I-- uhm… I think… uhm--"

"SHE THINKS YOU'RE HOT!"

His eye widened at Moe's interruption. Granted, not as wide as Annie's grew. Her pupils constricting at the interjection, her blush reaching every corner of her pale skin at that point.

"… Hot?" He blinked.

"Wha-- N-No I--" She glared up at the clownfish who had already quickly retreated under the tiara she borrowed for the event. "M-MOE!"

"WHAT? YOU WANTED TO SAY IT!"

"NOT LIKE--" She abruptly fell silent. Feeling the urchin's astonished gaze. Letting out a shaky sigh, she slowly turned to face him. 

"... S-sorry."

“It’s--”

“It’s just… you look so fresh… and mysterious. It's mesmerizing.”

Spyke could feel his own cheek heat up a bit. She… found him attractive?

Well, a lot of people did-- it was normal to have people be drawn to him ever since he first updated his wardrobe. Having them stare but be too afraid to approach him, and those who did didn't leave much of an impact when they complimented him, even using a line or two if they were brave.

But, to hear that from Annie? It felt…

“A-again… sorry…”

Different.

"Y-You're…"

Did he just stutter?

"... Fine. You're fine, love."

"I… am?"

He took a finger to his chin, giving it a gentle rub to try and calm his own nerves. "... yeah."

A sigh of relief on her end. "Thank god…"

"And… well… iffit makes ya feel any better…" 

He hesitated. 

"I… fink you're rather cute, meself." He reluctantly placed the hand that was on his chin onto the smaller digits that had, once again, rested in her lap after she had floundered about trying to scold Moe. 

"R-really?" She glanced over at him. Her gaze met with his warmer one.

He hummed, his hand wrapped itself around hers. Loosely gripping them.

"... Yeah, love. You're pretty. Like a flower."

She shrugged, clicking her shoes together as her eyes briefly shied away. "You're… too kind."

And when their eyes met once more, he couldn't help but to fall into a trance. 

The world faded around him and the only thing he could manage to focus on was her. Namely, her eyes.

They twitched nervously, but managed to hold their contact with him. Those blue, enchanting irises bespeckled with a bokeh of three, it was something that gave off the most subtle of twinkles on a night like this.

Accentuated with her pink pupils, and the lavender lidding of her eyes, they were truly a calming sight for him, easing his nerves and slowly killing his inhibitions the longer he stared.

They were addicting to look at. Soothing. Like a drug.

And as a drug would, he felt rather intoxicated by her gaze.

"S-Spyke…?"

It has been a while since he stirred awake like this, feeling the dried drool on his skin and the overall grogginess of a deep, satisfying slumber.

The overnight stay in a bed had also been foreign to him for a while. 

For a handful of months, actually.

He had forgotten what it was even like to crash on one of these things. How comfortable and cathartic it was to have his body supported by something so soft in comparison to his usual method of curling up into a ball as he slept.

The thing felt like a cloud to him. And it showed by how he grimaced at the idea of being awake now.

And the feeble knocking didn't help him one bit, either.

"Spyke…?" 

He groaned. Her voice was almost impossible to hear from the other side of that door.

"Spyke…? Are you awake?"

He blinked, wiping whatever drool he could from the corners of his mouth. 

"Mmmngh…" He slurred. "Five more… Five moreminutes, love …"

The knocking ceased.

" But it's… already… noon… "

Already noon…?

Was he out for that long?

It didn't seem to phase him that much, if he was, judging by the way he groggily rolled over, his eye shutting once more as he muttered out another plea for five extra minutes of rest.

And within a few more seconds, he exhaled, relaxing back into the mattress once more.

…

"WAKE UP, SLEEPYHEAD!"

An abrupt, large thump resounded from the door, sending the urchin up into a sitting position in almost an instant, lanky limbs almost flailing about as he yelped.

"Right then mate-- I'm up-- I'm up! "

He clambered out of bed, fumbling around with the blanket around him as he attempted to secure it around his waist.

"Me arse is outta bed now, alright?"

He marched over to the door, rubbing his eye with his free hand before using it to fumble with the doorknob.

"Wot's--"

He lost his train of thought the moment the door swung open. His eye immediately met with the anemone who was knocking at it, and soon after, the clownfish who didn't hesitate with throwing himself at it.

"... happenin'..."

Dramatically sprawled out as far as his pudgy body could allow it to be, motionless outside of his breathing, was Moe, laying at the foot of the door.

And all Spyke could do was watch the fish in a rather confused silence, not noticing that Annie was holding a pile of clothing out to him until she spoke.

“Um…”

Her voice was soft, almost too quiet for the urchin to notice. But it was enough to catch his attention, making him glance back up at the anemone.

Her head ducked down the moment he looked up at her, a mass of tentacles gently swayed as she attempted to further stretch out her arms.

“... Y-your clothes. Take them…”

Spyke’s eye slightly widened, an instinctive “oh” fell from his lips as he took his free hand and lifted the small pile from her hands.

“Thanks, love.”

His eye blankly stared down at the pile he now held in his once free hand. Slowly blinking at it as Annie bent down, scooping Moe up into her hands with a light sigh.

“It's nothing… just get dressed quick… if you can... We have a train to catch…”

“Right then, love.” He took a step back, hooking his foot behind the open door. “I'll take these duds and be out in a jiffy.”

“A-alright…” Annie nodded as she began to make her way to the kitchen. “I'm gonna make some coffee in the meantime… feel free to have some… if you want.”

Spyke hummed in acknowledgement, nudging the door shut before turning to his bed, tossing the pile of clothing on to it before slumping down next to them.

In slipping his briefs up past his ankles, he couldn't help but to shudder at the awkward silence that hung in the room now that Annie had left.

Her partner just had to make a scene of himself to pry him from his cloud of comfort, huh?

Typical Moe.

“Right love, wot’s the plan?”

It was the first thing he uttered when he snuck out beneath the doorframe, pulling down the hem of his tank top as he turned to the Anemone scrolling through her phone.

A scoff and a drag from her chair eventually led to the pair taking a small detour from their original plan of visiting the booyah base first thing; finding themselves on the outskirts of town and at the doorstep of Sheldon's newer apartment.

See, the crab was already late to his shift, and the traffic on Hammerhead Bridge only made matters worse. He had no time to take something to the booyah base himself.

That “something”, being his own children… Apparently.

Spyke never knew about this side of Annie’s friend until they arrived at the place, watching her fumble the door open with the spare key she was given before swinging it open, calling out their names.

“... Shelly! Donny!” She leaned her head through the doorway. “I-It’s time for work, you two!”

… Work?

He’d be a hypocrite to say that it was, at least, a bit strange that the young children had a job. After all, he had only met Murch when he was on the cusp of being held within the chokehold of puberty. Roughly 12 or 13 when the man decided to take the kid in and essentially raise him.

But when Annie talked about the children Sheldon’s raising, they sounded younger than how old Murch was.

Much younger.

And when they came to the doorway, he couldn't help but to stare at the two. With their adorably large backpacks that would drag across the ground with each of their steps, coupled with their big eyes and rosy cheeks?

Oh yeah, they were definitely younger than Murch was. Much younger.

And those much younger kids immediately noticed the second, taller person Annie had with her; their bright curious eyes staring right at him without hesitation. 

Leaving the air a bit tense with an impending ice breaker, Annie awkwardly chuckled, gesturing to the urchin.

“Ah, sorry… this is Spyke. He’s… uh… a friend of mine…”

“Spuh-eye-ke?” The twins tilted their heads to the side.

“Oh, yeah--” Spyke squatted down in an attempt to meet them at eye level. “I figured I'd visit the ol’ splattin’ grounds, as it were, for old times sake. Pleasure’s all mine t’meet you lot!”

He held his hand out to the two, slightly forcing a smile as he watched them stare rather blankly at the extended digit.

“Mister?” One of them spoke up, causing Spyke to hum.

“Yes?”

“Why are you so big?”

Spyke slightly retracted his hand, scrunching his brow line.

“W… wot?”

The other of the two giggled. “You're so tawl!”

Oh God, they can't even fully enunciate words. “Oh, yeah… I guess I am.” He huffed, finding himself beginning to humor the tykes. “Guess it's the ol’ genetics.”

They both lunged forward, grabbing a hold of his hand.

“I'm Shelly!”

“And I'm Donny!”

“Ish so nice to meet you!”

Spyke blinked at their wide eyed enthusiasm, tilting his head to the side inquisitively. “you lot… ain't scared?”

“Scawed?”

“Any fwend of Annie's is a fwend of ours!”

Oh, okay then.  

He stood back up, being careful as to maintain his balance on the small stairway.

“Well, as your ‘fwend’, as you two put it, I uh… noticed that those bags are a bit too big for you two. Fink I can help wif that?”

The identical twins lit up at the proposal. “You’wd do that for us, miwster Spyke!?”

He smiled. “It's the least I can do for me new chums, yeah?”

The children squealed, giggling as they slipped their arms out from behind their bag straps before stepping aside to allow the sea urchin to lift the two bags up with ease. A sight that made Annie smile a little.

“Thank you.” She muttered out, causing Spyke to hum.

“Wot’s that?”

“Thank you... For… uhm… taking care of their bags for me…” Annie fidgeted. “... I usually take care of their bags and… well… it's not that easy so uhm--”

“Oh, ptch.” He swatted the air. “Bags like these ain't nuffing for a bloke like me. Now c’mon, we all got a train to the plaza to catch, yeah?”

“Y-Yeah…” She waved at the twins, gesturing to them to follow her. “C’mon you two… the train won't wait for us, y’know.”

The twins stuck to him like glue since they left Sheldon’s home behind them, leaning on him and playing with the handmade jewelry that adorned his hands and wrists; asking him question after question.

“Mr. Spyke, how old are you?”

29. He was pushing 30 at this point of this age though.

“Mr. Spyke, where did you get these?”

They were referring to his jewelry, of course, as one of them continuously flicked the two brass bangles he wore together. He just simply said he made them with a shrug, throwing in a side comment about their meaning in hopes of quelling their curiosity about them.

“Who do they repwesent?”

Who? Well, Murch and him, of course. He could go on and on about how important Murch was to him, frankly. 

And he was important to himself because of, well, existing , quite frankly. He needed his self assurance to get through his life no matter how tough things got, showing confidence at even his worst of states.

His throat tensed up. Like now .

“Are there othwer people who mean someting to you?”

Well…

“That's enough…” Annie nudged the twin next to her. “Spyke’s still a bit tired this afternoon… Moe… woke him up earlier and uh… well, you know how he is…”

“Sowwy auntie Annie…” The twin she nudged, Shelly, pouted. “We just wanted to get to know our new fwiend…”

“Y-You’ll get more time to know him…” she glanced up at the urchin, who seemed rather unphased by the twins’ poking and prodding. “... R-right Spyke?”

Spyke glanced back at Annie, huffing out a sigh. “I ain't plannin’ on leavin’ this town again, if that's any reassurance.”

“What made you weave?” Donny piped up, causing Spyke to hitch his breath.

Why… did he originally leave Inkopolis? Not just the plaza but the entire city altogether-- he didn't really have a good reason to actually leave outside of taking care of Murch.

Was it to follow trends? No, he usually hated doing that, if he did it would be just to fit in with social norms. And the only person who genuinely liked him at the time was, well, Murch.

Was it out of impulse? No… but he came to the city out of it, though…

Then what…

“That’s… none of your business, kid.” He breathed out, patting the tyke on their head. “It's nuffin’ important, anyways. Don't worry about it.”

“Otay!~”

He stole another glance from Annie as the child nudged their head into his hand. Ah, right.

He couldn't believe he forgot why he left this city, for a moment. But, it was probably for the best that he didn't say it either.

After all, she called him her friend earlier. Something that he considered an honor, despite feeling like he didn't deserve it.

“Attention passengers: we will be arriving at Inkopolis Plaza in: five minutes.”