"You just have to feel it inside, and then 'boom'! You're off." Vanessa reassured me. "It's the best way to make a zippy entrance. I smiled and closed my eyes, hoping for the best.
One by one, we all squid jumped to the mischievous Inkling's respawn pad. After he regenerated, I walked up to him, grabbing his shirt roughly.
"I don't know who you are, but you're about to pay. Did you see what do you did to the Plaza?!" I shouted, my grip on his shirt becoming tighter. It was silent for a moment before his eyes started to fill with sorrow and remorse, and eventually tears. He slowly started to cry softly.
"I'm... I'm sorry... You're right... It's just that no one took my inventions seriously! I wanted to show the world that I could do something for once!" He said, fixing his circular glasses. I gritted my teeth, watching him closely as he spoke.
"I was so mad when Sheldon rejected my idea for selling ink-filled jetpacks... so, I stole one of his Aerosprays from him, right under his nose. Or... whatever he has," I let go of his shirt, staring at one of his hands that carried the Aerospray. Taking a deep breath, I swung my leg and kicked the gun out of it, the silver weapon going over the wall and into the ocean below. A small 'plop' sound echoed throughout the Depot.
"Stealing is bad, dude. Especially for our age," Ethan chimed in. Tuesday sighed behind him, putting a hand to her head.
"All of this was dumb. You're probably going to jail for this." Vanessa nodded in agreement. I turned away from him and towards our respawn pad.
"I'm not a bad guy, I swear! I just got a little carried away..."
"I'll see you back at the Tower, kid." I said, jumping down to the second level.
-~-
"WE DID IT GUYS! WE WORKED AS A TEAM TO WIN A TURF WAR BATTLE!" Vanessa exclaimed as she pulled us all in for a hug.
"Well, it technically wasn't a real Turf War––but I'll take what I can get," Tuesday giggled, smiling. After minutes of rejoicing, we all looked over to the boy who we had just defeated, who ultimately looked like he was sick to his stomach.
"So, kid, what's your name?" I questioned him bluntly.
"Charles. I prefer Charlie though, if you don't might." I replied with a simple 'hmph' and looked away.
"Are you part Octo––" Vanessa started to say before she retracted her statement. All she did was stare at him.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing police cars and official authorities. The boy's eyes widened as he shrieked and hid behind me. We all walked out and were approached by another adult Inkling.
"Which one of you created this masterpiece of a mess out in the Plaza?" he asked. Us four pointed at Charlie, who was now hiding behind the service counter.
"And you four apprehended him appropriately. Nice job." The adult walked up to Charlie and grabbed him by the arm.
"Alright, young man. You're coming with me. It seems like you've had enough fun for today." Charlie looked back at us in fear, him honestly looking like he was scared out of his mind. I huffed and trotted up next to them.
"So... what are you doing to do with him? We already gave him a harsh talking to..." I said, looking up at the adult.
"Well, for breaking Plaza rules, he's probably going to get about a month or two of dissolving."
I covered my mouth in shock.
Dissolution.
My mother always talked about being dissolved. It was a nasty process, where they squeeze all of the ink out of you and put it into a tank... and it just sits... and sits... and sits without being used. And you, yourself become pale and lifeless... it was torture, my mother would say. Utter torture.
"Listen, sir. I know he deserves a punishment. We already gave him one! Please, he won't do it again. He's learned his lesson." The man stopped, his left shoe not touching the ground for a couple of moments. I could tell he was thinking his decision over carefully.
"Please, sir," The man released the clamp he had his arm, turning to me.
"You make sure this boy learns his lesson. You're getting off easy, young man. Don't let me see you cause a ruckus this big again, do you understand?" Charlie nodded ferociously and hid behind me again. I gave the man a nervous wave as he walked away, his hands behind his back. Charlie ran in front of me and gave me a great big hug.
"Oh my goodness, thank you so much... do you know how my father would have reacted if he was told I went to jail... it... it would have been horrible. Thank you." He released me from his grasp as I smirked and flicked him in the head.
"You better have learned your lesson," I closed my eyes, then opened them again.
"But, you're welcome."
-~-
We all watched Charlie board a train back home, waving goodbye as the train slowly chugged away. The group and I slothed our way back into the Tower, them sitting down while I grabbed a hot chocolate and did the same.
"So, anyone up for more Turf War?" Ethan said, yawning.
"I think we did enough for today. Maybe tomorrow, superheroes," Tuesday smiled, ruffling his hair. She got up and stretched, treading back to her room.
"I'm going to sleep. I think you should to, boys. C'mon, Vanessa." Vanessa looked over at me with a heart-warming smile. I rose up as well and waved goodbye, walking out of the Tower.
Another interesting day... I wonder how many more of these I'll have?
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