"We need to get you a real weapon," D1 reminded Albert during their time in the metro.

"This has worked so far," Albert replied sitting by her as they left their last test.

"Yeah but it's still dangerous to go in underprepared like that," D1 explained, "And I don't want you getting hurt."

D1 stuck her hand out, requesting the brush head, which Albert complied with. She examined it, "...you know sometimes for fun I would modify weapons. Maybe I could make you a custom brush. When we finish this next trial, we should take the weapons of any splatted enemies for parts, we can't use the guns themselves but we can gut them, you know?"

"Got it," Albert nodded.

The train rode along the rails for a bit, before Albert inquired, "So, how did you end up here?"

D1 tensed up, "I... was looking for something. I've become a big musician you see, but there's so much pressure. I can't create because it's like, thousands of eyes are on me, judging my every move, my every mistake. I have half a dozen unreleased songs on me, right now and I just... I hate the pressure. I heard there was something here to make it go away, so I came searching for it."

Albert assured her, "We'll find it, and then we'll escape together. Hey, maybe I can help with your music!"

D1 gave a pained smile, "Sure... together..."

The train stopped, D1 and Albert got up, D1 turned to Albert and explained, "Hey, promise me something."

Albert nodded.

"You'll get out of here, even if I can't, promise me you'll reach the surface." D1 demanded.

"I-" Albert protested.

"Promise me," she demanded more sternly.

"I promise," Albert nodded, confused as why she was asking, "But that doesn't matter. We are escaping together."

D1 hugged Albert, he was thrown into shock by this. Not in a bad way, it brought him a sense of peace and ease, something he had never felt before. The warmth of a hug, of genuine love and affection...

For the first time in his life, he felt safe.

He hugged her back, reciprocating this feeling, wanting her to feel safe too. In his mind it was a way of reassuring her they would reach the surface together, to make her feel as happy as she had for him.

"You're too sweet for your own good," D1 chuckled. She let him go, "Now let's go."

Albert nodded, his face red, "Oh. Right. Test. Uhhh... right. Right."

D1 chuckled, "You're cute when you're flustered. Come on."

The two got off the train...

Meanwhile in the present, two weeks after Albert and Terry's excursion to the clothing store, Pearl spoke to an unknown ally on her phone, "Come on! This Albert guy seems like a fun dude to spar with, and he's going after the Great Zapfish, so, it'll be good practice for you. Besides, I know you like to you with your prey..."

Pearl sneered, "Go play with him, Agent 4..."

It was supposed to be an easy battle, Cara and Albert were ripping apart the enemy gang with their forces.

"Squadron Puddle! Report!" Cara demanded into a radio.

"Left flank is secured, save for one Inkling on a rooftop. Looks to be a non combatant," one of their allies replied. "Wait. Wait! He's armed he- agh!"

"Puddle squad!" Cara yelled, "Cloud squad! Do you have a visual?"

"They're to fast!" A voice responded, "Re- retreat! They're a demon! Re-"

There was a hard cut to static.

"Albert something's wrong!" Cara cried, "We have to retreat now! Come on let's-"

She was splatted before he could process she was under attack.

Albert turned around, "Cara?"

"So that's the best Mr. Grizz could muster for you?" A voice chuckled from behind Albert.

Albert turned around but they were already gone. From above he heard, "I expected one of the top Rainmaker players to be quicker on the draw."

Albert looked up at the roof to see an Inkling in casual ware, with orange eyes and orange hair, weidling the Heroshot.

"Well I will admit you're better than most," The Inkling chuckled.

"And who are you supposed to be?" Albert demanded.

"I'm the one who has control over the Great Zapfish," the Inkling smiled, "You can call me Agent 4. I've been a bit bored without the games of the old days."

Agent 4 suddenly leapt behind Albert, who spun around swinging his brush, which Agent four easily avoided. They chuckled, "Indulge me for a moment, won't you?"

"If you're in the way of me ending this gang war Hell you're going down," Albert growled, "I've heard of you. Top fighter of Team Chaos back when you ruined this whole city. Fine. Show me what you got!"

Albert threw a Splatbomb at Agent 4, who sprayed the ground and swam out of the blast before blasting Albert from the side. Albert put away the Stormbringer, realizing this was a job that required more agility, and took out his Dark Tetra Dualies.

"Oh, is changing guns fair game?" Agent 4 inquired mockingly, "Alright! Mirror match!"

Agent 4 took out the very same type of gun, both fighters threw two Autobombs and dove into ink, running, strafing to avoid the others as they opened fire.

Agent 4 threw an Autobomb in front of Albert, blocking his path, forcing the Octoling to roll out of the way. Agent 4 took out his Heroshot and sprayed a path towards Albert.

He swam behind him, and put his gun to Albert's head, before he could turn around.

"Hands up," Agent 4 demanded, dropping his playful demeanor.

Albert complied, he could tell he was severely outmatched here, but he could at least learn more about his enemy.

"What's your game Albert?" Agent 4 demanded.

"I want to ensure the safety of the masses and refugees," Albert replied, "And make a world where I feel safe and can play Rainmaker again."

"You're a very simple man."

"I prefer focused."

"You grew up in the Metro I heard."

"What of it?"

"Look, I get needing stability after living somewhere like that, but this isn't better. It's been a rough transition for sure, but it's just a matter of too much of a good thing. You've taken almost half the city, if we banded together we could stabilize things. Then this chaos into freedom of expression and return to the old ways of life with new freedoms. We can balance this out. We don't have to fight."

"I don't believe you. I will instill order. The masses chose this. They don't get to choose anymore."

"You're a fool, too much order will be no better. Just because they're wrong, doesn't mean you're right."

"I refuse to ally myself with someone like you."

"...Albert, you're a good man, and you're helping people, but you're not fit to rule, and I think you know that. When the time comes, Albert, I will gun you down, but I promise you this. I do not hate you. I do not resent you, and when you're ready to talk things out, I'm happy to do so."

Agent 4 pulled the trigger, splatting Albert, who reformed at the train station, Cara rushed over to him, "Albert? What happened?"

Albert growled with a deep hatred, "Agent... Four..."

Back in the past, at that same test, D1 surveyed the battlefield and explained to Albert, "OK. Have you ever played Rainmaker?"

"Nope," Albert replied.

"OK so when we open this gate all the goons are gonna rush us," D1 explained, "Since you don't have a proper gun, you'll rush down the big shiny gun that appears and get it to the goal. OK? I'll cover you."

"Got it," Albert nodded.

The test began, the Rainmaker appearing in the center. Albert swung his brush to paint a path forward that he swam through as D1 blasted Octarians to protect him. She stayed close behind, ordering, "I've got you! Keep going!"

Albert emerged from the ink and grabbed the Rainmaker.

D1 threw a Curling Bomb to ink a path forward and ordered, "Go for it I'll cover you!"

Albert dashes forward through the ink and reached the goal with the Rainmaker, causing the Octarians to self-destruct.

"Hey great job!" D1 exclaimed as she rushed over to him.

"That was..." he explained, "Kinda fun actually."

"Oh you'll love the real thing on the surface then!" D1 added, "Come on. We should head to the next station now!"

Albert took D1's hand without thinking. He wasn't sure why he did, it just... felt right to him.

D1 didn't protest, gripping his hand, the warm firm grasp of the other comforting, to have someone by their side. They walked back to the train, D1 began to get anxious.

The two were fast approaching her goal, but after that...

"Albert," she stated, "Look, you're a great guy but... how do you feel about me? About us?"

"Love?" Albert blurted out, his face going red, "I think? Like? Romanticly? I think? Uhhh... UHHHHH... Sorry? I-"

D1 chuckled, "Still cute when you get all flustered." She took a more serious tone, "But Albert there's a couple things you need to know. 1: There's other forms of love like family love and platonic love. 2: Sometimes you have to move on and love someone else."

"OK?" Albert replied, confused, "But, right now, romantically, I love you. I think that's the term. Romantically right?"

They got back on the train where D1 sat by Albert and snuggled up next to him, "Just... I want you to be OK. With or without me."

"But I'm not gonna be without you," Albert replied, "We are finding what you need and getting out of here. Together. I'm not letting them hurt you."

D1 didn't reply, she knew he wasn't going to take her plan well, but she had only just now begun to realize the severity of his attachment to her, yet despite the melancholic sadness of the circumstances, she couldn't deny the feelings she had for him.

Even if they were just two travels on a train car in this wretched place, she found a joy in his warm embrace, in embracing him.

She smiled and kissed his cheek, "I love you too Albert..."