Chapter Text
*Age 5*
A classroom of young Inklings, Octolings, and Inktolings filled the small room. It being even more crowded as each person had a parent with them.
Today was "Bring your parent to school!" day. Many kids having brought a Mom, Dad, or whatever guardian they had.
Algae was sitting near the back with her brother Clam sitting right beside her. Her head bouncing with excitement. It would soon be their turn. Her color being a olive green with dark brown at the ends of her tentacles. (Basically the middle image of Inkling Development, but darker green.)
"Do you think Daddy will make it?..." Clam twiddled with his 'fingers'. His body was mostly deep pink, but white dots with a ring of dark brown surrounding them peppered his head and three on each cheek, acting as freckles.
"I am sure he will. He promised." Algae tried to reassure her bother, she gave him a pat on the back, but then lightly smacked the back of his head. "No use worrying about it. If he doesn't make it, he said he would take us for ice-cream."
"Ow..." Clam rubbed the back of his head for a second. "Y-yeah... I forgot..."
From a distance, these two would look like and average young Inkling/Octoling, but getting a closer look, you start to notice some things. Their arms don't end in tentacles like a normal young's would. They split into five sections near the end, acting as pseudo hands. The discoloration on the Inkman is still the same though, so if they had them at rest, they would look normal. Their legs are similar in that way. They also had short fur covering their entire bodies. It was the same color as their bodies were, so it blended well, but if it is pretty noticeable up close. Their beaks were also segmented, but that is the least noticeable, as they are so close together, that you can't see it unless they hold their mouths open.
You might be wondering why they look like this... Well,
A tall creature ran down the halls of the school, ducking his head to keep himself from hitting his head on doorways. Many kids who spotted him screamed out as they thought it was a monster, but other were too late at turning to catch a peak. He toted a satchel on his shoulder.
Josh panted at the doorway of the classroom he was told to go to. "Hello!" He waved at the class.
Everyone, including the teacher yelled out, well, except for the two in the back.
The only known human started to walk towards his kids, who he spotted, but was soon whacked with a ruler. "Ow!"
The teacher was surprised by the tall thing yelling out in pain, but gave it another smack. "Get out, creature!" She hit him again.
Josh was getting annoyed, so he grabbed the ruler and pulled it away. The teacher was in shock, but he calmly put the ruler down on the desk. "Algae, Clam, come here!" He crouched down and opened his arms.
"Daddy!/Dad!" The hybrids both yelled out and ran towards him. They hugged him, but Algae let go soon after, Clam held on for much longer though.
Josh nuzzled Clint's head a few times. "I hope you have both behaved yourselves."
Clam nodded. "We were good! Promise!" He pulled back and turned to the class.
Algae was the one who spoke up though. "Everyone, this is our dad Josh, but nobody but us can say that, so everyone calls him-" She pointed up to her father.
Josh smirked and did a pose. "Big Guy!" He added jazz hands.
The teacher was trying to find her words. "I-But-The paperwork..."
Big Guy pulled out his sea cucumber phone and started typing. "Sorry." He spoke in their language and showed his phone screen. "I was busy on orientation day, so you probably didn't expect me to be like this. It is a pleasure to meet you. I can barely speak your language, but I do understand a bit from hearing, and i can read/write it even better. Please, don't hit me with the ruler again."
The teacher read the words and looked up at the human. "Ugh... Okay. Sorry." She went to her seat. "You may begin, your kids were last on the list."
"Show time, dad!" Algae gave a thumbs up, and her father gave one right back.
Big Guy pulled out a few papers from his bag.
"Our dad makes drawing that get turned into Splat Tee's!" Algae beamed.
Big Guy went around the room and handed some of his old drawings.
Clam gulped at being at the front of the class. "H-he does more than d-drawing... Since Momma and Mommy work at jobs that have them away at home during the day... Daddy takes care of the house..." He shuffled on his heels as his dad got back to the front.
Algae looked smugly at her classmates in awe. "Daddy is a human. The only one in forever! He is like BigFin, but real!" She and her brother were picked up in his arms. "He is very strong, but he isn't good at jumping." She patted his shoulder.
Clam knew it was his turn as both of them looked at him expectantly. "H-he doesn't have ink... He has... Blood. I have only seen it once. It is like red ink that turns purple after a while..."
"See, our dad is super cool!" Algae cheered. "He isn't very good at talking, but he can understand any questions you have. Ask away!"
Soon, many hands raised. Many asking simple things like what he ate, why he was so tall, and if he can do tricks.
It was nearly half an hour after the kids should have left, but they were so excited, and most had their parents with them, so they stayed a bit longer.
The teacher didn't like the looks of this 'human', but she wasn't going to say anything. 'It is just one day out of the year. Surely, he shouldn't come here too often.' She was a firm believer of the males always working to provide. the leader of the shoal should be the one to care for the young.
She would later find the human being the one to always go to the school when something was involving Algae or Clint, which was quite often.
Hybrids were still relatively new. Sure, there were at least 1/3rd of classes being filled with them, but the two were even more of an odd case. Each being the only one of their kind. Surely, bully would accrue.
Clam was a very passive boy, he didn't like to be an instigator. He was often the target.
Algae might tease her brother often, but she refuses to let anyone actually make him upset.
The two were sitting in the front of the class after everyone else left. They were ordered to by the teacher.
She waited patently for one of their parents to show up. She specified that she wanted to meet with their mothers, since one of them has to be the actual leader.
...
Kelp would walk in with both of her mates close behind. She had a tired look on her face, and her suit was a bit of a mess. "Sorry if it took so long. I had a lot of test to grade." Working at the institute was great, but some days just wore the short 4 foot inkling out.
"It is fine. Here, take a seat." The teacher pointed to some seats that were open near the front.
"Thanks, Teach." Coral, in a fast food uniform, did a peace sign and slouched into the chair. In contrary to her Inkling mate, who sat straight up in the chair, trying to set an example for the kids. The ex-trooper, however, continued to stay relaxed. Her shift was over, time to relax.
Big Guy just sat normally in the chair as he could, he did lean forward a but so he was more at eye level with everyone. He has noticed that some find his size quite intimidating, so he tried to mitigate it the best he can, without constantly slouching. He held his phone in his hands, ready to start typing.
"*Ahem*" The teacher started. "Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mrs. Humboldt."
Kelp nodded. "You may call me, Kelp. Since there are technically two Mrs. Humboldts."
"Same with me. Call me, Coral." Said Octoling stated.
"As you wish." The teacher nodded. "I have called you here because your children have been picking fights with their classmates."
"That's not true!" Algae bolted up from her seat.
"Let her explain first, Algae." Kelp held up a finger, making her daughter huff and cross her arms.
"Like I said, they have been causing fights. Especially during recess. I caught Algae on top of a student, punching her, while Clam was pulling the poor dear's hair." The teacher shook her head solemnly.
"Okay." Kelp nodded and turned to Algae. "Now, let's here your side of the story."
"I don't think that will be necessary. She will most likely lie, as most kids in trouble do. I have a short video to prove it, if you wish to see it." The teacher pulled out her phone and played a short video of Algae on top of a large Octoling girl, whaling on her with her fist, as Clam was seen pulling on the girl's hair, but soon stopping and looking more upset as he already had tears on his cheeks.
Clam started to cry again, after seeing the video. He wiped his cheek as he sniffled.
Kelp watched the video, but still turned to Algae. "I still want to hear what you have to say."
Algae was a bit surprised by her mom not just having her be in trouble, but she was going to take this opportunity. "I-I was playing in the swings when I heard the big girl making fun of Clam. She was calling him ugly, and he started to get upset. I told her to stop, but she soon pushed me to the ground. Clam tried to help me up, but she pushed him and he fell on a rock. He started to cry, and I got mad at her, so I started to fight her. She fell back and I jumped on her to keep her from hurting Clam again. He started to pull on me, and then he started to pull the meanie's hair for a bit, but then he stopped after she cried out. The teacher then pulled me off, and dragged both of us here..." She crossed her arms and huffed.
Kelp looked at Clam. "Why did you pull the girl's hair, Clam?" Kelp knows that Algae has lied to her before, but clam never did. So, if he says something different, she knows who is right.
Clam shuffled in his seat. "... After I was pushed, a rock scrapped my knee... The next thing I see through my tears... Was Algae hitting the girl who pushed me..." He wiped his cheek again. "I-I didn't want anyone getting in trouble... I was trying to get Algae to stop, but she is stronger... I... I tried to pull the girl away, but the only part I thought i could get a hold of was her hair... I didn't mean to hurt her... i just wanted the fighting to stop!..." His eyes started to leak clear pink tears.
Coral quickly left her chair and pulled her son into her arms, rubbing the back of his head. "There... There... It's okay..." She let out a calming gurgle, which almost drowned out Clam's distressed one.
Big Guy gently rubbed his son's back to help.
The Inkling Teacher knew that Octolings were a lot more affectionate, but comforting bad behavior is not a good thing. "Doing that is just enabling him."
Coral turned her head so fast that the teacher flinched. The glare could melt metal. "Do NOT. Tell me. How to treat my son." She turned back to him and started to shush him again. "It's okay... Momma isn't mad at you. I promise..."
Kelp looked at the teacher with a slight glare, but then she got an idea. "Clam, can we see your knee?"
"What would that d-" The teacher was silenced by another glare by Coral.
"Can you show us, sweetie?" Coral whispered.
Clam nodded and pulled his shorts up a bit. His left knee was fine, but the right one still had some scratches, but was mostly healed.
The teacher looked in confusion. "That has to be self inflicted. No way would a scratch from that long ago would still be-" This time all three glared at her.
"Kelp got up from her chair. "I think we have heard enough. We will have a talk with our kids, but I feel that that girl had what was coming to her."
The teacher was flabbergasted. "I-I still need you to sigh this detention form." She tried to hand the paper, but Coral snatched it and ripped it. "They attacked a student."
Big Guy showed his phone at her. "They didn't attack a student. Algae was protecting her brother, and Clam was trying to protect everyone. If anyone needs to be punished, it is that Octoling girl."
"This doesn't concern you. It concerns your mates."
Big guy quickly typed. "It does concern me. They are as much my kids as-" The phone was slapped out of his hand, slamming against the wall.
"Get your disgusting hands out of my face!" The teacher glared up at him.
Big guy quickly turned around and caught his mates, who bolted towards the teacher. "No."
"This bitch dares to say such a thing about MY mate!" Coral fought against Big Guy's grip.
"Language, Coral. But, you do not touch him!" Kelp's voice held a strong possessiveness, but only the teacher noticed.
After the first shock, the teacher catching a bit of herself. "Well, I can see where your kids get their troublemaker attitude from."
Big Guy took his turn to get mad. He grit his teeth, but did not let go of his mates. "Shut up!" He yelled out, but soon turned to his kids. "Algae, Clam, home." He picked up his mates, who were still trying to get out of his grasp... Well, Coral was. Kelp noticed that she was in his arms and her face started to turn pink, at which he put her down.
"Okay, daddy!" Algae hopped out of the chair and went to follow her father.
"O-okay..." Clam started to follow, but stopped before getting to the door. He turned around and gave a small bow. "S-sorry for causing trouble..." He quickly ran after his family, but not before picking up his dad's phone.
The teacher was left speechless.
Kelp would run back, and calmly state. "Don't expect to be teaching them again." She did a 'I'm watching you.' motion with her hands before running back.
*One week later...*
"Okay kids. I am going to be teaching you for the foreseeable future." Judd had a professor cap on as the kids sat at their kitchen table, a white bord sitting on said table as he started to write on it. "Today, we will be starting with basic addition. Any questions?"
Algae raised her hand.
"Yes, Algae?"
"Is it recess yet?"
"We just started, so, no." Judd deadpanned.
Clam's hand flinched up for a second, but was quickly put down.
"Yes, Clam?"
Clam flinched himself. "Ugh..." He mumbled out something.
"What was that?"
Clam mumbled again.
Algae heard him though. "He needs to go to the bathroom." She poke for him.
Clam blushed, but nodded.
Judd sighed. "Make it quick, and be sure to wash your hands." He pointed to the bathroom.
Clam quickly ran off.
"We will need to work on his confidences at some point." Judd rubbed his face. 'I am too old for this...'
Algae raised her hand.
"Yes, Algae?" Judd asked a bit annoyed at this point.
"Can I go to the bathroom after him?"
Judd held back another sigh. 'Do it for the fish...' "Fine, but again, be sure to wash your hands after." 'This is going to be a long day...'
Big Guy got Judd to homeschool the kids till the next year started.
Unfortunately for the cat, he would be called back at least after one month of every new school year. The record was five.