Intro:

---

(Agent 8's POV)

CLASH!

8 sat right up in her bed. She was scared by the sudden loud noise.

She looked around in the dark, trying to find out what it was.

CLASH!

She jumped at the sound. She quickly threw the blanket over her head, as she held her eyes shut and covering her ears.

CLASH!

She could still hear it. She was scared.

She got up out of her bed and tried going to 3's room.

When she got there, she tried knocking on the door. There was no response.

She tried turning the doorknob a bit, but it must've been locked.

She tried knocking on the door again, but-

CLASH!

8 jumped in fear of the loud noise once again.

She walked away and went to my room.

She knocked on the door.

No response.

She knocked again.

When I didn't respond this time, she tried using the doorknob. Luckily, my door was unlocked.

She peeked in and saw me sleeping on the bed. Although I was feeling a little uneasy myself, as I was moving slightly under my sheets.

CLASH!

She jumped at the sound.

She shut the door, then went over to the bed. She hopped in the bed and got under the blankets.

She tried going back to sleep now, but every time-

CLASH!

-the lightning would strike, she'd get scared and start shaking.

---

(Azazel's POV)

-In my nightmare-

I was standing in the middle of a platform in Hell.

Azazel: No.

I placed my hand on my head, as I reached out my other hand to drive back what was causing this nightmare.

Azazel: No. It can't be.

Dark clouds soon swirled around me. I could hear the wails of those I care for, their wails of pain.

Azazel: I will not look!

Soon, an image of a cloaked being was shown in the clouds.

???: The darkness will be your greatest weapon.

It showed a blade being drawn in front of a group of young Inklings.

???2: Azazel, please. *The voice sounded like Marina*

An Inkling with red tentacles in the slick style had his sword drawn and slashed his foe.

???3: You were my brother, Azazel!

???: A powerful lord you will become.

A new image showed a planet being obliterated.

???4: You will all die!

The pain was too much for me, so I kneeled onto the ground and placed my hands on my head to end this torment.

Azazel: No. No!

I stretched my arms out while forming my hands into fists. My head was looking skyward, as I gave a long bellow.

Azazel: NOOOOOO!!

The final image showed a suit of dark armor, alongside a haunting, and evil laugh.

-Back to reality-

I woke up from that terrible nightmare, with sweat dripping down my face.

I was breathing quite fast, as I had never experienced nightmares like that.

I felt something weird grabbing onto me, so I lifted the blankets to see what it is. There I saw 8, latched around me, she had her eyes shut tight. She must've been shaking so much that she didn't even notice I had woken up.

Azazel: 8?

She opened her eyes and looked up into my eyes.

Azazel: What's wrong?

She opened her mouth to say something but was cut off.

She pulled her closer to me, shutting her eyes.

8: I don't like the loud noise.

Azazel: Oh, you must be talking about the thunder, right?

She quickly nodded at me.

Azazel: Well, it's natural to be scared of the sound of thunder.

8: Why were you shaking like that in your sleep?

I placed my hand behind my neck, and started rubbing it.

Azazel: I had a terrible nightmare, that I don't want to talk about.

8: That's fine.

Azazel: Would you like for me to tell you a poem?

8: Yes, please.

I placed my hands on her back and on the back of her head to comfort her, and she would still jump when the thunder booms, but she would calm down more.

Azazel:

~~~~~~~~
Darklyon, her hills of gold
In dark and mournful times of old
Did once a hopeless horror hold

When from her sacred valleys did breathe life
With storm and flash, a monstrous thing
His name Raijin, the Thunder God

His thunder boomed across the lands
And none who dared and fought could stand
Against the iron tyrant's hand

A palace grand, a walled domain
Such mighty works born of his reign
Built by slaves, their hearts in chains

But seasons change and tyrants die
His fury spend in times gone by
The thunder slept beneath Nantai

By Octarian hands he will be taken
By Octarian voice he will awaken
~~~~~~~~

8: That was a really good poem.

She said as she was quietly clapping her hands.

Azazel: It's more then just a poem. It tells a story of how my people, the Darklings, were enslaved by the Thunder God 4,000 years ago. It's said in a prophecy that's in a more straight forward fashion then being a poem, that a certain kabuto wearing octopus would awaken Raijin from his slumber and bring his fury upon our lands, once again. Another says that the reason why we have thunderstorms, is of the remints of the Thunder God's power seeping from Mt. Nantai.

8: We need to warn Marie about what Octavio is going to do.

Azazel: We will, but first, we need to go back to sleep. And since you're too scared to sleep alone in your room with the thunderstorm going on outside, I'll let you sleep on my bed.

8: You really mean it?

Azazel: Yeah. I wanna help my fellow agents out, you know.

8: Thank you, sir!

She starts hugging me.

Azazel: You do know I have a name, right?

8: Oh. Well, what is your name?

Azazel: The name is Azazel Lionheart.

8: Cool name.

Azazel: It is. Now, what about your name?

8: I... don't remember my name.

Azazel: Oh... well, how about I give you a name until you can remember your original name, does that sound like a plan?

8: Ooh, what name do you have for me?

Azazel: How about I call you... How does Bordeaux sound?

8: I like it!

Azazel: I'm glad you like it, Bordeaux.

Bordeaux: Thank you!

She would soon fall into a peaceful sleep. I soon followed after her.

---

(Agent 3's POV)

3 woke up in the morning, She sat up then got out of her bed and stretched her body.

She then left her room to go and wake up 8.

She knocked on the door.

3: 8. Come on. It's time to get up.

She knocked again.

3: Come on, 8. You can't just sleep all day.

She opened the door, but she was surprised that she didn't see 8 around there.

3: She must already be downstairs.

She went downstairs, but 8 wasn't there.

Pearl: Yo, good morning, 3.

Marina: Are you okay? What're you looking for?

3: 8. Have you seen her?

Pearl:

Marina: Can't say that I have.

3 was now confused where 8 could be at.

3: Maybe...

3 started walking away, in the direction of the guest rooms.

Pearl: Maybe, what?

Marina: Where are you going, 3?

3: Just checking something.

Pearl and Marina just shrugged, looking at each other, then continued with what they were doing.

3: (If he did something to her, I'll be sure to shoot him in the fucking head.)

---

(Azazel's POV)

I was waking up. I looked down and saw Bordeaux was still holding onto me. I was confused for a second until I remembered what had happened last night.

Azazel: *Whispering* Right...

I slowly, but carefully, unlatched her arms from around myself. Once I got her off of me, I went into the bathroom and took a shower.

Bordeaux was just waking up. She sat up in the bed, with the blanket still covering half of her body. She was rubbing her eyes when suddenly, the door opened to reveal 3.

3: 8?! What're you doing in here?

3 was looking around the room. She noticed my clothes all across the floor.

Bordeaux: Wait-

The bathroom door then opened a bit, with myself on the other side in nothing but a towel. I peeked out a bit, missing 3, and saw Bordeaux was awake.

Azazel: Hey uh, Bordeaux. Can you hand me some clothes?

3 started going towards me.

3: What. Did. You. Do to her?!

Her walk turned into a sprint of pure fury as she pounces to attack me.

I quickly shut the door, but 3 was keeping it from shutting completely. The two of us were pushing on opposite sides of the door.

Azazel: Woah! 3! Chill out!

3: Chill out?! After what you did to this pure girl here?! You're dead!

The moment she said that, she had extended her talons. Now she was bend on killing me.

Bordeaux had jumped up and was trying to stop 3.

Bordeaux: 3, calm down! It's all a misunderstanding!

3, still pushing on the door, wanting to rend my flesh, turned and faced towards Bordeaux.

3: Then start explaining.

---

3: So let me get this straight; you woke up in the middle of the night, because you were scared of the thunderstorm happening, and you just so happened to enter his room to feel more safe, after he suffered from a nightmare?

Bordeaux: Yeah, that's what happened last night.

3 then soon turned towards me, and instead of punching me in the stomach, she simply bowed down. And I did had my clothes on by then.

3: Forgive me, Azazel. I had thought that you had raped her, I wasn't thinking straight.

I placed my hand on her shoulder.

Azazel: Relax, 3. We all make simple mistakes. And besides, I'm not like those perverted thugs the Mafia has around. (She may act and think cold, but she still maintains her honor.)

She looked up in surprise, as she thought that I wouldn't forgive her for almost killing me.

3: You're really forgiving me? But I tried to-

Azazel: I know you tried to kill me. In fact, I've had a lot of people that tried to kill me and still do, so I don't think it's nothing to worry about. *I gave a slight chuckle*

She soon got up.

3: You know, spending so long fighting Octarians, having bounty hunters sent after you, always on the run, living hand to mouth, never sure what the next day would bring. Man, I miss those days.

Azazel: Sounds romantic.

3 gave a slight blush.

Azazel: You never really introduced yourself. I mean, I don't even know your name.

3: My name, right. How rude of me. I am Diana Lockhart.

Azazel: I like your name, Diana.

Diana became flustered after hearing that.

Diana: S-Shut up.

Azazel: Now, let's make our way to breakfast.

Diana: Right. Breakfast.

Bordeaux: Ooh, breakfast!

As we walked through the corridor, Diana spoke up to me.

Diana: Hey, Azazel. I wanna know something.

Azazel: What's up?

Diana: Did you give Agent 8 the name Bordeaux? Since you know, she doesn't remember her real name.

Azazel: Yeah. What about it?

Diana: I kinda like it.

She said with a slight smile on her face.

Azazel: Oh... Well, thanks. That name just randomly popped up when I was thinking of a name for her.

Diana: Did you had another name for her instead?

Azazel: I did want to call her Bridgett, but that's so overused.

Diana: Ugh. Tell me about it.

We both laughed a bit.

---

(Marina's POV)

We all came downstairs, and we saw that Pearl and Marina were just sitting on the couch.

Marina: Ah! There you three are. What was all that ruckus up there?

Bordeaux: Dia-

Diana covered Bordeaux's mouth with her hand.

Diana: It's no big deal, just a little misunderstanding.

Diana looked over at Bordeaux with a smile on her face, with Bordeaux just returned with a "really?" face.

The five of us were now sitting on the couch. We would hear voices from the bar area, as Juvia and Dedf1sh had woken up from getting hella drunk.

Azazel: Oh boy, I'll go get the buckets.

I rushed over to the kitchen to find two disposable buckets, and I brought them over to the bar.

They soon took a seat on the stools, and were in really bad shape, as this hangover they're going through? Oh, man! It's gotta be like getting hit by a truck falling on their faces.

Juvia: Somebody get me a raw egg-

Dedf1sh: Two shots of Tabasco-

Juvia: Salt-

Dedf1sh: Pepper-

Juvia & Dedf1sh: And an Elder Race gun to shoot myself!

Azazel: You know what they say, "Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, you're in the clear".

They both vomited into their buckets at the same time.

Pearl: Oh, Azazel. I got this new game I wanted to try out with you.

Azazel: I'm down for it.

Marina turned towards Bordeaux.

Marina: So, 8.

Bordeaux looked over towards Marina.

Marina: How are you liking Inkopolis so far?

Bordeaux: To be honest, I haven't been able to see much of it yet. But from what I have seen, it's been great!

Marina: That's good.

Marina said taking a sip of her milk.

Bordeaux: And the people are even better than I could've possibly imagined!

Marina: I know, right?

Marina was smiling.

Marina: When I first came here, I met Pearl. And now look at us! We've stayed together this long, and we've made something of ourselves. We'll always be there for one another.

Bordeaux looked up at Marina, excitedly.

Bordeaux: Do you think I'll find someone like that?

Marina: Of course you will. You've might've already found that person; that person might just be around the corner.

Bordeaux: I hope so! Also, Azazel was kind enough to give me the name Bordeaux, since I don't remember my birth name.

Marina: He chose that name quite well. It's a cute name for you.

Bordeaux: Thanks, Marina.

Marina looks over.

Marina: Oh my!

Marina turns her body to face towards the direction Pearl and myself went off to.

Marina: Pearl! We have to go!

Pearl: What?! Come on! We just started, yo!

Marina: We're going to be late!

Pearl: Ugh... Fine! Give me a second!

---

---

Pearl walked into the room visibly upset.

Marina: Come on, Pearl, we have to go.

Pearl: I know, I know, I just really wanted to play my new game.

Pearl and Marina were grabbing the last of their things before heading towards the door.

Marina: Don't worry, Pearl, we'll be home before you know it and then we can play the game.

Marina opened the front door to let Pearl out.

Pearl: Man, it's going to be a looooong day.

Pearl sighed as she went out the door. Marina shut the door behind them.

---

(Diana's POV)

They've been just sitting there for a while. Bordeaux keeps complaining about how she's bored and Diana is about to lose it.

Bordeaux: Diana! I'm still boooored.

Diana: Then...

She couldn't think of anything.

Diana: Go see what Azazel's doing!

Then, Diana realized.

Diana: (Huh. Where is Azazel? I haven't seen him since this morning.)

Bordeaux: Okay!

Bordeaux sounded cheerful at the thought of something to do.

She hopped up and left the room on the search for where ever I am at.

With Diana left in the room alone, she realized that she was also kind of bored. She decided to hop up and go find the two of us.

When Diana reached the gaming room, she saw Bordeaux playing on the TV, and myself playing on a computer.

Diana: So this is where you were.

Bordeaux: Uh-Huh! This game is really fun!

Diana stood behind her with her hand on her waist.

Diana: You know, Pearl would be pretty angry about you playing the new game without her, Azazel. But with Bordeaux playing the game instead, I don't know how she's going to fell.

I took off my headset, and walked towards Diana.

Azazel: Kind of a bummer, too. I mean, I would've liked to get some sort of a test run, you know, to see what it's all about.

Diana just rolled her eyes.

Azazel: But Bordeaux went for the game instead, so I decided to boot up this gaming computer, and here I am, playing World of Splatcraft.

Diana: Wait. Did you say World of Splatcraft?

Azazel: Why, you used to play the game?

Diana: Yes. Are you on the Perenolde server?

Azazel: Yeah.

Diana: That's the same server I'm on!

Azazel: Oh shit! Go ahead and resub.

She soon rushed over to the other gaming computer and booted it up.

[I know, I'm a REALLY big video game nerd. Just, don't judge me, alright? Don't judge me. No judgement. No judgement? No judgement.]

I walked towards Bordeaux and placed my hand on her shoulder.

Azazel: It's alright, Bordeaux. There are a lot of fun game here you'd like. We'll just have to wait for Pearl to get back so we can play this game.

Bordeaux was a little disappointed, but she can never turn down on other fun games, and became cheerful again.

Bordeaux: Okay! Put the game in!

Azazel: You bet.

I swapped the game discs and she continued playing, and me and Diana would have a fun time doing all sorts of shenanigans.

---

(Azazel's POV)

Azazel: And that's how we lay down the pain.

Diana: That was quite fun.

???: {I had a great time playing with my friends again, even meeting our new friend here.}

Azazel: There's always a new adventure with each new day, Zoey.

???2: {You sure found a good player, brother. I think she'll qualify for the guild.}

Azazel: I agree with you on that, Anduin. Hey, do you think you and Zoey can come over here and chill for a bit?

Anduin: {Well, I'll see about scheduling the hangout on the weekend.}

Zoey: {Same here, I don't wanna not show up at work.}

Azazel: I forgot you guys have jobs. What do you guys even do?

Anduin: {Well, now that you asked, I work at the Squidazon delivery sector.}

Zoey: {And I'm currently at the Daily Squid.}

Azazel: Well, it was nice talking to you guys again. I'll see you two later.

Anduin: {We'll see you soon, Azazel.}

Zoey: {Take care!}

They left the voice chat.

Pearl and Marina walked by the door. Marina stopped and took a double take of the room.

Marina: Have you all been playing games all day?

The three of us just started checking the time.

Pearl: What?!

Pearl came back and went into the room.

She ran at me and started shaking me by my shirt collar.

Pearl: Did you play the game without me?!

Azazel: Why. Are. You. Shaking. Me?

Pearl: Because if you played ahead without me, you're getting filleted! You got tha-

Azazel: No! I mean. Why. Don't. You. Just. Look. At. The. Screen. And. Check?

Pearl stopped shaking me.

Pearl: Oh, right.

She turned and saw the screen. Her face was filled with relief when she saw we weren't playing the game without her.

Pearl: Okay, yo! Now let's start up the game! I've been looking forward to this all day!

Marina leaned over to whisper something into my ear.

Marina: She's been a lot to deal with today.

Pearl: Now! Watch my amazing skills as I wreck this game!

---

The five of us played the game until it got late. Pearl was upset when Marina was telling her she had to get off.

Pearl: NOOOOooo! I want to keep playing!

Marina: Pearl, you've been playing all afternoon and it's late. We've got work tomorrow.

Pearl: Come on, Reena. One more level.

Marina: No, Pearl. If you don't get your sleep, you're going to be all cranky all day tomorrow.

Pearl was just grumbling her complaints.

Pearl: Fine! I'll just play some more in the morning before we go to work.

They then left the room and we all got ready for bed.

I walked into my room, and just laid down on my bed. Soon, I was in a deep sleep.

SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY...

I know what all of you may be thinking, why have I tuned down Agent 3 a bit, or as she is known in my story as Diana? Well, I kind of wanted to make her a little less like a tsundere and more a normal person. Granted, she'll be as cold as dipping dots, but at least you'll have wholesome moments with her. If you guys enjoyed this chapter and enjoyed this story, be sure to show me some love, hit that vote button, follow me to receive news on Into the Light. Chapter 25 is in development. As always, I'm RaveDogg, and I'll see you in the next chapter.

November 15th, 2020.