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Finally home.
After three entire days of performances, cheering on Team Present, and what felt like countless hours on the group’s tour bus, Pearl and Marina were finally back at their home. The ride from Splatsville back to Inkopolis was a huge sigh of relief, the familiar city welcoming the pair back with open arms.
The pair talked about the event more as they traveled home. The Grandfest event was still at the forefront of their attention. They spoke about their time all the way home, even as they prepared to get off of the bus and settle down in their house.
“I really liked Shiver’s outfit,” Marina brought up the style of all of the idols during the splatfest.
“Oh, you mean the outfit with bell bottoms ? The thing you trashed my Gamgam for during that Splatfest?”
“You’re still hung up on Retro vs Modern? It’s not my fault that you lost,” Marina chuckled playfully.
Pearl waved her off, picking up their luggage and exiting the bus. “Yeah yeah, whatever. You just proved that retro fashion will always be liked no matter what. Frye had some pretty ‘modern’ clothes. I liked her style.”
“Oh, and Callie and Marie! Their matching outfits were so cute…”
They both secretly knew that their own outfit was the other’s favorite. Pearl sometimes found it hard to focus because she was admiring Marina’s form. Marina thought that Pearl looked both cool and adorable in her outfit. They never got tired of admiring one another, no matter what they were wearing or what they were performing.
The pair carried their bags into their home, Pearl opting to toss hers haphazardly into the living room floor. Marina set hers neatly by the door.
“S’good to be home!” Pearl stretched dramatically, tossing herself onto her couch. Her throat was sore, unusually so, but she chalked it up to straining her voice during performances.
“I always love getting back from performing. It’s so quiet…” Marina sighed, carrying her laptop bag to sit alongside Pearl on the couch. She reached into her bag, revealing a small Pearl plushie. She held it by its small torso while admiring the merchandise.
“Now I have a Pocket Pearl,” she giggled.
“Eh? You were able to snag one? How’d you manage that?”
“Before we left, I saw that some of the vendors were lingering around. There were only a few left, but I’m glad I bought one.”
“They made’ja buy it?”
“Well…I figured since Grandfest was over and they were getting ready to leave, I offered to pay them extra for the trouble.”
Marina handed Pearl the plush. Pearl had to admit, at the very least, the toy captured her essence. She thought that the crown could’ve been bigger, though.
“I don’t understand why you bother with stuff like that sometimes, Rina. You got the real deal right here.”
“I know nothing compares to you, Pearl!” Marina giggled. “But I can carry you around and put you on my desk this way,” Marina demonstrated by placing the plush back into her bag with its head peeking out.
“I’m small enough for you to do that normally.”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Pearlie,” Marina laughed. “I can’t carry you around all the time.”
“You can hold me now, though.” Pearl yawned, repositioning herself so her head lay on Marina’s lap. “I don’t want anything to bother us for the next few days.”
“Oh Pearl,” Marina sighed. She brushed her hands against Pearl’s tentacles. She’d realized how much she missed casually touching Pearl over the last few days. Her hands glided from Pearl’s tentacles to her face. She stroked Pearl’s cheek and something was off… She pressed the back of her hand to Pearl’s forehead. Marina’s thoughts halted when she realized how hot Pearl’s forehead felt to the touch. She looked down at Pearl with a slightly concerned expression.
“What’s the matter, Rina?”
“Oh, nothing…it’s just that your face feels warm…Warmer than usual. Are you feeling okay?” 0
“Nah, I feel okay, Rina. It was pretty warm out before we came in.”
“Pearlie…”
“Trust me Rina, I’m fine!” Pearl smiled. “It’ll take a lot more to take me down!”
Marina gave a weary smile and sighed. “Okay, as long as you’ll be alright, Pearl.”
“S’all good!” Pearl sat up. “Anyway, I’m starvin’. Haven’t had anything homemade in a good minute.”
“What do you want to make?”
“Anythin’ that isn’t restaurant food.’
“We should make omelets…or something with eggs…”
“Sounds good to me, Rina!”
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Oh Cod. Marina was right.
Pearl could feel an uncomfortable amount of sweat dampening her outline in her bed. Her entire body ached and her head pounded. She squeezed her eyes shut, the migraine making her eyes especially sensitive to light. She could hear Marina next to her, typing away on her laptop and humming to herself. The sound of her voice calmed Pearl, who smiled tiredly. It even hurt to smile. Pearl rolled into her side with a loud groan.
Seeing that Pearl had turned over, Marina stopped what she was doing and looked over at Pearl.
“Pearlie? Are you awake?” She whispered quietly enough as to not wake up Pearl if she was still sleeping.
“Mornin’ Rina…” Pearl tried to sound as not-sick as possible. It physically hurt to speak.
“You are sick, Pearl,” Marina frowned.
Okay, she didn’t do a great job not sounding sick.
Pearl hated admitting it. Seeing the worried look on Marina’a face made her regret not taking care of herself when the signs showed the night before. Pearl hated worrying Marina, especially over trivial things, things that shouldn't be of great worry to Marina.
“Being out and about for so long…you probably caught something,” she pressed her hand onto Pearl’s cheek, both comforting her and checking her temperature. Pearl immediately felt a bit better when Marina’s warm hand pressed against her skin
“We were all crammed on that bus,” Pearl sniffed. She tried to give a reassuring smile. Marina smiled back, her expression still worried and concerned. “My throat was botherin’ me, but I assumed it was after-show soreness, y’know?”
“You’re burning up, sweetie.”
“Yeah? I’m freezin’,” Pearl wrapped the covers over herself. The blanket didn’t seem to help at all.
Marina placed her computer to the side and slipped out of bed. She walked over and kneeled down next to Pearl’s side of the bed. Pearl turned over again to look at Marina.
“Do you feel bad enough to go to the doctor? We can go if you want to.”
“Nah,” Pearl sniffed. “I jus’ have a cold or somethin’, I’ve been sick like this before. Don’t worry, girl.” Pearl winked playfully. She still felt terrible and Marina could tell.
Marina sighed. “I am a bit worried. But I’ll help you get better!” She had that familiar look of determination that Pearl absolutely adored. To think that something as mundane as a cold would set Marina off this way.
“What do you need? Tea? Soup? Do you want me to get you medicine?”
“I hate medicine…” Pearl moaned, “...but I guess I have’ta, right?”
“Okay, I’ll get everything you need and–”
“Wait, Rina…?” Pearl reached out and grasped Marina’s arm.
“What’s the matter?”
“Could you stay a bit longer?” Pearl asked weakly.
“I won’t be going far, Pearlie,” Marina knelt back down next to Pearl.
“For a little bit…”
Marina smiled. “Of course, Pearl.” She kissed the top of Pearl’s head and held her hand. After a few minutes, Marina asked, “Do you know what you want to eat?”
“...I guess soup would be best…”
“Mm-hm.”
“...can you put mayo in it?” Pearl closed her eyes once she was assured that Marina wasn’t leaving so soon.
Marina laughed. She wasn’t at all surprised at the request, but found it charming nonetheless.
“Of course, Pearlie.”
Marina sat my Pearl for a few extra moments, stroking the inkling’s head and humming softly. Pearl’s eyes were already closed and she didn’t speak for a long while. She had fallen back to sleep within a few minutes, but Marina lingered behind and took in the sight of her sick partner. Pearl’s face was flushed and slightly damp. Her expression softened as she slipped back into sleep, but there were still hints of discomfort. Her eyebrows were drawn closer together than usual, creating a small crease between her eyes. Marina kissed Pearl’s forehead before slowly withdrawing from the bed.
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Pearl awoke again when she heard Marina enter the room. She wasn’t sure how long she had been asleep. It couldn’t have been that long, the sun was in the same position as when she initially woke up. From her past she knew that, when you're sick, time seems to blend together in one hazy mess.
“Pearlie,” Marina sang. She placed some items on the nightstand next to Pearl
Pearl rubbed her eyes. “How long was I out?”
“I only left for about fifteen minutes.”
“Ugh…”
Marina rested back onto the floor next to the inkling. “I bought you some medicine and some soup and a rag to help with your temperature,” Marina smiled.
Pearl was glad to see how adamant Marina was about taking her. A small twinge of guilt made her frown. Marina really shouldn’t be worrying herself about something like this. Pearl would of course do the same if Marina was sick. Pearl just couldn’t help thinking that she was undeserving of Marina’s attentiveness.
“Can you sit up? Do you need help?” Marina’s words snapped Pearl out of her thoughts.
“Nah, I’m good.”
If Pearl was being honest, it took all of her strength to sit herself up against the bed’s headboard. Marina waited patiently, allowing Pearl to take her time.
“My poor Pearlie…” Marina pouted as she realized the amount of effort it took for Pearl to do something so simple.
Marina gently dabbed the warm rag against Pearl’s face. The warmth was more than welcome.
“Is just your throat bothering you?”
“Mostly…My head is killin’ me too. And it hurts to move.”
“I see…” Marina retracted the warm rag, folding it and setting it aside. “This medicine should help you. Then you can eat, ‘kay?”
Pearl held back the urge to make a snarky comment about hating medicine. The bitter neon-syrup was always Pearl’s least favorite part about falling ill, aside from the general pain that came from her body fighting off the illness. Pearl only nodded.
Marina poured a small amount into the cap of the bottle. Pearl took the cap and swallowed the medicine as quickly as she could. The sour taste made her wince. There was an uncomfortable tingling sensation in the back of her throat.
Pearl scowled and coughed. “Why the shell does that stuff have to taste horrible?”
“It’ll help you!” Marina reassured her. “See? Now you don’t have to worry about it anymore.” Marina held the bowl that she came back with.
“Ah…” Marina carefully lifted a spoonful of soup towards Pearl’s mouth.
“You wanna feed me, Rina?” Pearl said sarcastically.
“Do you not want me to?” Marina matched Pearl’s sarcasm.
“Nah, I’m not complainin’,” Pearl complied, happily swallowing the spoonful of warm soup.
It was some sort of noodle soup. Pearl couldn’t really tell, her sense of taste was dulled by her sinuses being clogged. She couldn’t even taste the mayonnaise. Still, the warm and creamy texture soothed her throat enough to subside the discomfort just a little.
They stayed that way for a while, Marina fed Pearl while humming to herself occasionally. Pearl stared down at the blanket instead of looking at Marina. She didn’t know why now of all times she felt bad about Marina taking care of her. She was more than halfway done eating when Marina tilted her head.
“Is something else bothering you, Pearl?”
“It’s jus’...Sometimes I feel like you’re too good for me, like I’m bothering ya,” Pearl smiled at how silly she sounded saying it outloud.
“Pearl…” Marina set the bowl to her side. “I love you, Pearl. I wouldn’t ever feel like you’re bothering me.”
“Yeah…I love you too…I dunno why I think that,” Pearl sniffed.
“It’s okay, Pearlie,” Marina embraced Pearl, pressing a kiss into the inkling’s forehead. “I feel that way sometimes…but I know that you love me.”
“I guess I’m just tired, Rina…” Pearl hugged her back, fighting back the urge to cry.
“I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
Marina climbed back into bed next to Pearl. She held the inkling in a light embrace, resting her head on top of Pearl’s. She stroked Pearl’s tentacles and pressed soft kisses against her head.
“I don’t wanna get you sick, Rina…” Pearl grumbled, but she still leaned into Marina’s body, shifting to make herself more comfortable.
“I’ll be okay, Pearl.”
“That sounds familiar,” Pearl chuckled. She closed her eyes. The warmth of her partner was enough to lull her to sleep. Her only hope was that Marina didn’t wake up with a cough as well.