"Don't leave me, I won't leave you."

==========

In an Octoling base...

Brooks's P. O. V

Brooks: We're uh... Stuck here for a while. *looks up*

Nikki: It-It's my fault... I'm so sorry. *puts her head down in disappointment*

So... To save time explaining everything start to finish, Me and Nikki got separated from the group. And as luck would have it, I ended up with Nikki. At least it's better than being alone.

Brooks: It's okay... At least we really didn't get separated.

Nikki: True. But if I just called out the danger faster, we could have avoided this.

Brooks: I'm kinda irritated though. I'm sorry.

Nikki: No, it's all right. I see why.

I saw multiple flashlights hit us and out of instinct, I pushed Nikki onto the wall to get us hidden. Patrols.

Nikki: W-w-what are you doing?! *blushing*

Brooks: Shhh... *puts a finger on Nikki's lips*

I know how embarrassing this position is. Nikki is in front of me and trembling a little bit. But there are at least 3 Octolings looking for us.

Nikki: *trembling while still blushing* ... (This is so embarrassing...)

Brooks: I-I think they're gone. *looks away from Nikki* *slightly embarrassed*

Nikki: W-why would you surprise me like that?

Brooks: I'm sorry we are in this position. It's embarrassing I know. *cheeks turn slightly red*

Why am I blushing? I'm not supposed to be like this. But we need to move along. Let's get out of here.

Brooks: Let's find a way out of here.

We went where the Octolings were coming from. Thinking there might be an escape that way. Because how in the hell did they got in that hole we just fell into?

1 hour of walking later...

Currently, we're kind of kinda screwed. I tried to call Cross with the walkie-talkie and it didn't work. And it's getting more darker in the base. So we need flashlights more than ever...

Brooks: *starts spraying the walls*  ...

Nikki: What are you doing?

Brooks: I'm spraying the walls. I have a slightly bad vision.

Nikki: It seems we really can't find the 3. We need to camp here for the night.

Brooks: If you say so. *sits down*

Nikki told me that she found some wood while we were walking and she said she's coming back to get them to make a campfire. Nice.

Nikki: *comes back with the wood* Here you go. *lays the wood onto the ground*

Brooks: Okay. I still have that lighter that we used for the explosives earlier.

Before the predicament...

Cross: Charges set. *moves back*

Brooks: *lights the fuse* Move back!!!

The wall exploded and we went in, but the trap was set. Which the ground exploded as me and Nikki went in and you knew what happened after that.

Back to the two...

Brooks: There we go. *makes a campfire*

Nikki: *sits next to the campfire* ...

Brooks: How are you though? Are you hurt?

Nikki: N-no. Why did you ask?

Brooks: That was a long fall. Of course, I would be worried.

Nikki: *blushes slightly* R-really?

Brooks: Of course.

Nikki's P. O. V

He removed his mask to breathe. I haven't seen Brooks's face in a long while in a mission. It feels weird.

Brooks: Something on my face? *tilts his head*

Nikki: *looks away* N-no!

Brooks: *smiles* You haven't seen my face since morning right?

Nikki: *blushes* N-no... I see your face plenty.

Brooks: W-what was that? *startled*

Nikki: A-anyway... Can I ask you about your past?

Brooks: Oh, okay. It's a perfect time to talk about that.

Nikki: Just tell me already.

Brooks: Don't be hasty. Here we go... It starts with...

A good 15 minutes later...

Nikki: You really did some heroic things back then. No wonder you're so kind to all the people you meet.

Brooks: Well, it's more of me tackling every problem with a smile. Like now.

Nikki: You cared for me so much also. Without you, I would still be in massive debt in the hospital. And living a colorless life.

Brooks: I still believe that you can push through that massive roadblock in your life.

Nikki: No way. I would be screwed without you two.

Brooks: Either way, I guess our meeting was aligned by fate. We both benefited. That's what matters right?

Nikki: Mhmm. *nods*

Brooks: How about yours? I want the other backstory. Your childhood.

Nikki: *embarrassed* It's something that I don't wanna talk about...

Brooks: I still wanna hear it.

Nikki: Fine... My parents were kind of demanding of me back then... My father was a weapon specialist and a medic and he's a former army man. And my mother...

Brooks: Uh-huh? *curious*

Nikki: She was a celebrity in Inkopolis Plaza and Square. Because she was one of the most skilled solo players in Turf War. But she loved me very much... While it lasted...

Brooks: What happened to your mother?

Nikki: She... Died on a helicopter crash. The helicopter was struck with a lightning bolt. *starts tearing up*

Why am I tearing up? I shouldn't be crying.

Brooks: *gets sad himself* ...

Nikki: She died when I was 5. B-but... *sobs*
I persevered through it... *sobs*

Brooks's P. O. V

I never heard this side of Nikki's story before. I guess she had another hardship to overcome.

Brooks: *stands up and sits next to Nikki* ...

Nikki: *looks at Brooks's golden eyes* *face heating up while tears flowing down on her face* ...

Brooks: *holds Nikki on the shoulder* It's okay Nikki. Life is unfair sometimes. It takes what we love and takes out our motivation to even live.

Brooks: *smiles* You have us. You have me. You can lean on our shoulders when you're sad. Everyone's problems become yours and mine. We are all in this together. So. With that, I won't leave you.

Nikki: *leans on Brooks's shoulder* ...

Nikki's P. O. V

Since the start... I have been denying this feeling for so many times... My heart races when he does something. Even the simplest things he does, he makes me go crazy...  He helped me when I was at my lowest. Scraping money just to pay a big bill. He rescued me from getting kidnapped. He would spend so much even sometimes he had to borrow some money. Just for the good of our group.

Nikki: I-I... *stutters*

He was so nice in so many ways. I never thought in my life that a human would care SO MUCH more than any Inkling would. He's funny, he's calm, he's a big idiot. But a loveable one.

Nikki: I... Li-like...

I can't deny this anymore. I need to stop lying to myself...

I love him.

Brooks: *looks at Nikki* ... *actually blushing once more*

Nikki: *wipes tears off her face* ... *looks back at Brooks*

Brooks: *heartbeat goes faster* ...

Nikki: *closes her eyes* ...

Brooks: *his face getting closer to Nikki's face* ...

Brooks's P. O. V

I can't stop my face!!! It won't stop! I can feel her breath... I have never felt this before... My heart is racing... I'm so close to her face. I guess this is it.

Glen: NIKKI! I FOUND YOU!

Nikki: *snaps out of her trance* AH!

Brooks: *immediately looks away in embarrassment* ...

Cross: What was that?

Andrew: What happened Cross? *looks at him*

Cross: It would be better if I left that for another day.

Andrew: *confused as hell* ...

Nikki: I'm good. *fixed her face*

Brooks: *stands up* Let's get going, Nikki. They're here. *helps Nikki up*

Nikki: Thanks. *smiles at Brooks*

Brooks: Not a problem. *looks away*

I'm so out of character today...

Andrew: Anyway. While you guys were gone, we finished the mission. The authorities are searching the base. And let's leave on the back door we used earlier to get back to the car.

Cross: Come on people. We have a long walk ahead.

Me and Nikki followed the 3 as they walk east back to the exit tunnels where we came from.

30 minutes of walking and chatting later.

Brooks: We're finally here... I wanna sleep...

Cross: I hope our payday is gonna be huge. There were more obstacles in the way than me and Brooks thought.

Glen: The mission is done. That's all it matters. It's done. And we can go home.

Brooks: What do you guys want for dinner?

Andrew: It's uh... 11:22 PM. It's way too late for that.

Brooks: I'll eat anyway. I'm hungry.

Cross: Me too. *opens the car door*

We all get in the car and Cross finally drives away. Everyone else in the car is already asleep. And not 2 minutes into the car ride, everyone except me and Cross is asleep.

Cross: Brooks.

Brooks: Yeah? *looks at him*

Cross: We need to talk about something after we get home.

Brooks: Don't tell me... *scared*

Cross: I'll tell you all about it after we get home. So shut your mouth for a bit, will you?

We talked and talked about other stuff and we pondered the situation after we get our pay. But along the way home, due to heavy traffic. And me and Cross were just too hungry and we went to a drive-thru to get something to eat as we go home. Let's just say we bought a lot. But it won't really hurt our wallets because we still have a lot in the bank.

Cross: This traffic though... *while eating shrimp*

Brooks: I'll take the wheel when you're tired. Are you good with that?

Cross: You take the wheel now. The light isn't going to be green anytime soon.

We switched sides and he immediately slept in the car. Well, I'm the only one awake. But... As I wander in my own thoughts. I remember that "moment". Vividly.

Nikki: I-I... Like... *closes her eyes*

Brooks: *shaking his head in embarrassment* No way... It can't be...

Brooks: *inching his face towards Nikki* ...

Brooks: *shaking his head more* What was I thinking?

Did she say... "I like you."? W-w-what?

Brooks: *his face heating up* ...

So I went home being embarrassed as hell by what happened. And there's no other thought than that I had going back home. I probably didn't word that right, didn't I?

At Inkopolis Plaza...

Brooks: Everybody wake up! *tugs Nikki*

Cross: *yawns loudly* How long did I sleep for?

Brooks: It's currently 12:43 AM.

Cross: I'll just park the car in the parking lot. I can't hide it with the Agent. You guys can get out of the car.

We all get out of the car and we went home as Cross caught up with us on the abandoned subway. We were all sleepy. And Nikki is on the verge of collapsing because she was so tired. But we got to the apartment and we locked the door behind us. As three gone immediately to their beds, I and Cross are on the dining table. Eating the last of the take-out food...

But in the middle of eating it all, he asked me something. Something that I was scared for since he told me in the car.

Cross: What happened earlier? I saw it.

Brooks: Uhm... Why'd you ask?

Cross: That was almost close.

Brooks: Yeah... *scratching his head*

Cross: You know what's funny though?

Brooks: Huh?

Cross: I had a similar experience yesterday...

Brooks: What?

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A-kun: That's it for Part 1! Time next for Part 2. From Cross's point of view. Anyhow, GOODBYE!

Word Count: 1929 Words...

1:29 PM
2/14/20