Intro:

---

(Azazel's POV)

I woke up in my new bed, a bit before dawn. And I'm enjoying all of it, thanks to Pearl and Marina finally putting up curtains by the windows. Thank. God.

I hopped out of bed, and I walked over to the double doors that lead to the bathroom, and I took my morning shower.

After I was done with my shower, I dried off, brushed my teeth, then got dressed.

I went to make myself some breakfast in our now fully stocked kitchen.

Azazel: Well... I might as well make the most of it.

I take a bunch of ingredients and start making a whole slue of food that can be described as... wow. I made a batch of Elder Race muffins [They're basically English muffins] for the agents, as I placed aluminum [or aluminium for my international readers] foal over them to stay warm. I put together a fruit salad, using paopu fruit, mejoberries, witchberries, Darklyon peaches, Octoburg mangos, and yogurt. I made some pancakes with chocolate chips, as well as some waffles, for those who want the other. Cooked up some bacon, breakfast sausages, omurice, and for the final touch, I myself a cup of coffee and some croissants, then spread some pumpkin spice butter on them. I've prepared some paopu juice for those who don't drink coffee, and place the platter of croissants and pumpkin spice butter on the table. [For my international readers, you may think it's strange for pumpkin spice butter to be spread on croissants. Maybe it's because I'm an American and we often do that. But what I can tell you is that pumpkin spice butter on say, homemade American biscuits, is to die for.]

Once I was done making all of the breakfast, I call out the other agents.

Azazel: Come on, lads!

---

Upstairs, the girls had woken up and walked out of their respected rooms.

Bordeaux sniffs the air.

Bordeaux: Ooh. What's that smell?

Juvia then sniffs the air as well.

Juvia: It smells so good.~

Dedf1sh too, sniffs the air.

Dedf1sh: Is that what I think it is?

Diana also sniffs the air.

Diana: You bet.

All of them: Breakfast!~

They soon headed downstairs, and were in shock to see what was going on in the kitchen. The table was loaded with breakfast, that their mouths started to drool.

Azazel: You like what you see, girls?

All of them nodded.

Azazel: Well, let's eat, before it gets cold.

Soon, they went to the table and got their fair share of food. Juvia and I were the only ones to have coffee for breakfast, as she has to head to Squidbucks today.

When they put the food in their mouths, their eyes were wide open.

Diana: (This is-)

Juvia: (The most-)

Dedf1sh: (Amazing breakfast-)

Bordeaux: (I've ever had!)

They soon began wolfing down on their breakfast, as they couldn't believe how tasty it was.

Azazel: Well now...

I take a sip of my coffee, and then lowered my cup.

Azazel: This got interesting.

When they finished their food, they let off a loud belch simultaneously.

Azazel: What do you think, eh?

They soon looked at me with awe in their faces.

All of them: This is the best breakfast ever!

Azazel: It's just some home cooking.

Juvia: Home cooking? This food... I can't describe why it's so good.

Dedf1sh: It's like this food rained down upon us from the heavens.

Bordeaux: Or a food fairy magically made this food appeared.

Diana: Where did you learn how to cook?

Azazel: Oh. I took cooking classes back in high school, and I blew their socks off when I learned some recipes my mother left for me. She wrote a note saying that you can't impress people unless you learned how to cook.

Diana: Your mother must've been a great cook.

Azazel: You bet she was... (Man. Just thinking about all of that... I miss my mother's cooking.)

Juvia: What's that one elder race saying, Azazel?

Azazel: Oh, you mean, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

Juvia: Yeah, that one.

Dedf1sh: Sophia, what are you planning.

Juvia: Girls, we need to talk.

They soon walked away, as they headed upstairs for Diana's room.

I was left to scratch my head.

---

(Diana's POV)

They entered Diana's room, and they sat down on Diana's bed.

Diana: Okay, you're not gonna explain as to why we are in my room, right?

Juvia then spoke up.

Juvia: Well, what if we all had the chance to cook for Azazel?

Dedf1sh and Diana were slightly blushing at that thought. Bordeaux was confused as to the strange words she is saying.

Dedf1sh: W-What makes you s-say that?

Diana: W-We could n-never cook for A-Azazel.

Juvia: I know it may seem like a big issue, but if we can impress him with our individual cooking, then we're sure to further our affection for him.

Now they were blushing quite hard now, to where even Bordeaux started to blush.

Bordeaux: C-Cook for A-A-Azazel? There's no way I can do that. I don't even know how to cook.

Juvia: We can go through all of those TV programs and cook books, and they will teach us how to be good cooks.

Diana: What kind of philosophy is going through your head to make you think like this, Sophia?

Juvia: Anyone can cook.

There, they remained silent.

Dedf1sh broke the silence.

Dedf1sh: Well, she does have a point.

Diana: Well just because anyone can, doesn't mean anyone should.

Bordeaux had muttered something, and they couldn't hear it.

Juvia: Wait. Say that again, Bordeaux.

Bordeaux: Practice makes perfect.

Diana: Where did you hear that?

Bordeaux: Back at the mansion... when Azazel let me sleep in his bed during that thunderstorm.

-Flashback-

We were still in deep sleep. The thunder was still booming outside, but it was beginning to die down.

Bordeaux had woken up with a thought on her mind.

So she nudges me to wake up.

Azazel: Huh? Wha?

Bordeaux: What does it mean when people say "Practice makes perfect"?

Azazel: W.. Where did you hear that?

Bordeaux: I overheard some people saying that. Do you know what it means?

Azazel: Well... I think I got an answer. It's an elder race saying, but it seems that we've been slowly incorporating their old sayings into our way of life. It means that, for example; if you decide to make something for say, someone you love, and they like it, but they feel like it needs more work...

Bordeaux: Uh-huh.

Azazel: Well, you basically practice more until you've perfected the art of what you are doing to impress that special someone.

Bordeaux: Oh. Now I understand. Thanks, Azazel.

Azazel: If you ever need advice on human sayings, I'm your man... or squid, or, whatever.

Bordeaux giggles.

Bordeaux: Well, goodnight.

Azazel: Goodnight.

And like that, we both returned to our slumber.

-Back to reality-

Dedf1sh and Juvia were as red as firetrucks by then, followed by steam coming off of their heads, while Diana just stared at the floor, with a noticeable blush on her face.

Dedf1sh: S-S-S-She s-s-slept w-with-

Juvia: A-A-A-A-Azazel?...

Bordeaux was a little confused as to what they were saying, but after Diana had whispered something in Bordeaux's ear, something that she shouldn't had said, she grew a huge blush on her face, as she tries to explain to them.

Bordeaux: No no no no no no! I would never do such a thing with him!

Juvia and Dedf1sh gave a sigh of relief.

Juvia then looked at her phone, as her alarm was going off.

Juvia: Oh shit. I gotta get to work.

She soon went to her and Bordeaux's room and got changed into her work uniform.

Juvia: I'll see you guys later.~

Bordeaux waved goodbye to her.

Bordeaux: Bye, Juvia!

Dedf1sh and Diana looked, as they gave a smile.

Dedf1sh: (You know, its odd. That she may act like a child...)

Diana: (But she's really an 18 year old woman, who hasn't known what surface life truly is like.)

---

Back downstairs, I was going through some pictures on my phone. Then I heard footsteps coming down from the stairwell.

I see Juvia in her uniform, getting ready to head off to work.

Juvia: Well, I'll be back soon.

Azazel: Alright, have a great day.

Juvia smiles.

Juvia: You'll never know what today might have in store for us.

She soon went up to me and pulled me in for a hug, to which I returned.

Juvia: Hey. Do you think that we can, I don't know, go out this weekend?

Azazel: Are you asking me out on a date?

Juvia then blushed.

Juvia: Uh... yeah.

Azazel: I would love to.

Juvia: Really? Thank you.

She hugs me tighter.

Azazel: Well, hope you don't have to deal with a difficult customer at Squidbucks.

Juvia: Oh, we typically don't.

Azazel: That's a first.

Juvia then lets go of me.

Juvia: Well, see you later.

Azazel: Yeah. See ya.

She then walks out the door and makes her way to the bus.

Dedf1sh, Bordeaux, and Diana had walked down the stairs.

Diana: Do you have a plan for today?

Azazel: Well... I'd figure that we can go hang out with Pearl and Marina.

Bordeaux: Ooh! I wanna come!

Dedf1sh: Count me in.

Diana: Well, why the hell not.

Azazel: Let's make our stop at the train station. It'll be easier to go to the Square by train, since non of us have a car. Well, I do have my motorcycle, but that would just be unfair.

Dedf1sh: At least you'll have us to accompany you.

Azazel: Hey, the more the merrier.

Diana: Alright then. Let's head out.

All of us: Aye.

We then headed out of our house, and it's always important to lock it up before you leave. After some time, we made our way to the train station.

We got on the train, and we rode off to the Square.

Bordeaux had fallen asleep while we were halfway to our destination, and Dedf1sh had Bordeaux on her lap, and soon she would fall asleep on my left shoulder.

Diana would try to stay awake, but her fatigue soon made her bite.

Diana: Hey, Azazel.

Azazel: Yeah?

Diana: Is it weird if I ask you if I can rest my head on your shoulder?

Azazel: Depends on who you ask. And since I can tell you're pretty tired, I'd say go for it.

Diana then smiled.

She then rested her head on my right shoulder, as she begins to fall into a deep sleep.

After we reached the final portion of the train ride to the Square, we hopped off the subway and we walked the rest of the way.

While we were on our way to the mansion, I had brought out a harmonica and started playing on it.

[This is what I'm using here]

Bordeaux: Diana, can we get McSquiddies after this?

Diana: We got plenty of food back at home, what reason could you possibly have for wanting to go to McSquiddies?

Bordeaux had puffed her cheeks and lightly pummeled Diana.

Diana: Alright, alright. I'll get you McSquiddies.

Bordeaux then smiled.

Bordeaux: Thanks, Diana.

Dedf1sh looked at what's going on and giggled.

---

The four of us would reach the front doors, and walk in. Diana immediately walked over to the couch Pearl was sitting on, where Diana fell face first into the couch and fell asleep.

Pearl: What the hell?

Pearl leaned over and just poked Diana in the head.

Diana didn't respond other than just light grunts.

Pearl looked up at me, Bordeaux, and Dedf1sh.

Pearl: Ooh! Azazel! Perfect timing!

Pearl ran up to me with her headphones and phone.

Pearl: Here's an old song that I've made, but didn't air due to the content.

I was shocked and had to immediately grab my ears due to the loud shrieking in my ears.

[This is what she was playing]

I took off the headphones. I looked down to see Pearl look up at me with anticipation, holding her hands together.

Pearl: So, what do you think?

I didn't want to say anything to hurt her feelings.

Azazel: Well... It's-eh. It sounds great. It truly sounds like a really cool metal song, Pearl.

I was worried for a second at the face she made.

Pearl wrapped her arms around me really tight, knocking the wind out of me and hurting my back.

Pearl: Thank you so much! That was exactly what I was going for, but those assholes decided not to air it.

Pearl lets go of me.

Pearl: So what're you all doing here, yo?

Azazel: Well, we figure that we might as well hang out with you guys.

Pearl: Eh, sorry. Marina has me going out and getting a few things for this "thing" she's working on.

Azazel: Oh, I'll go see to what she's up to.

I left Bordeaux and Dedf1sh there with Pearl and Diana, who is still knocked out.

So I walked down to where it leads to her laboratory.

---

(Marina's POV)

Marina was sitting at her desk, within her office.

Marina: No... I did bounce pads last time. What can I-

She was a little surprised when she heard the sliding doors to her office door has opened up. She turned around to see who it was that was entering her office.

Marina: Azazel? What're you doing here?

Azazel: Well, I figure that myself and the other agents stop by and hang out with you guys.

Marina giggles.

Marina: You never change.

Azazel: So, what're you working on?

Marina: I'm working on some experimental technologies that the chancellor that appointed me to reverse engineer.

Azazel: What kind of technology is he talking about?

Marina: You might wanna check this out for yourself.

We walked out of the office and into the testing room, to find all sorts of technological wonders.

Marina: This machine in particular would aid us the most.

She pointed at the pad-like machine that stood firm in the center of the room.

Azazel: It appears to be some kind of interdimensional teleporter.

I started tweaking a bit with the machine.

Marina: Hey!

Azazel: Now, if I just recalibrate this component... stabilize the ethereal matrix... add these adjustments...

Soon, the telepad had kicked on, and soon a portal had formed in the middle of the machine.

Marina: How... did you do that?

Azazel: We'll focus on that later, but was the machine working previously?

Marina: It was, then it just shut down all together.

I rubbed my chin.

Azazel: I see, then it seems that the portal has been less cooperative, probably due to a side effect of whatever dimension it has linked to.

Marina was left speechless.

Azazel: You could say that I'm a bit of a tech wizard.

Marina: A bit? How about full blown?!

Azazel: Easy there, Marina. They say that women are attracted to the scientific mind.

Marina: Well, not all of them.

Then she went up to me and we kissed passionately.

Marina: Perhaps only this one.~ *She said in a sly voice*

She said to me, as she began to unzip her jacket.

Azazel: Uh, Marina. Are you sure about this?

Marina: Oh I am sure about this.

She said as she had exposed her breasts to me.

Azazel: M-Maybe try rethinking all of this.

Marina then pounced onto me.

Marina: I can't. I need you for my most crucial experiment. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Marina had removed her shorts, only her panties remained of what she was wearing.

Marina: Come, cool me off with that DNA of yours.

She grabbed my hand, and had me grope her breast.

Azazel: Seriously, what is your problem? Why have you gone into perv mode?

Marina: Now calm down, as I prepare to bare your kin.~

I couldn't bare the fact that Marina had gone this far into being so perverted. It felt like we were going to do it, until...

???: What the hell is this shit?!

We looked up to see Pearl, who is blushing like crazy. Dedf1sh and Bordeaux were also here, with Dedf1sh covering Bordeaux's eyes. Dedf1sh too, had a large blush on her face.

Pearl: Marina! Care to explain what this is?!

Marina had regained her senses, and we she looked at her almost naked body, and myself pinned down to the floor by her, Marina had gotten up at the speed of Superman, immediately went to put her clothes back on, and had the biggest blush I had ever seen on her, followed by a noticeable nosebleed.

Marina: I-I-I-I-I'm so s-s-s-s-sorry, A-A-A-Azazel. I-I-I don't k-know what was w-w-wrong with m-m-me.

She didn't even dare to look at me, as it would make things between us even more awkward than it already is.

Azazel: I was totally surprised when you did that, Marina. Though it baffles me as to why that happened.

Marina was doing her best to calm down, though still avoiding to look at me.

Marina: I-I-I think I know the a-answer.

Azazel: What could it be?

As Marina starts to explain why she acted like that, she calmed down even more.

Marina: I think that when you fixed up the interdimensional telepad, I think that it might've simulated my sexual instincts.

Azazel: Wait, so when I fixed the telepad... you essentially got turned on?

Marina: No... yes, well, kind of.

Pearl: I don't understand. What could possibly make her tick, yo?

Azazel: It has to do with her Octoling biology.

Pearl: Oh yeah, I've heard that Octolings have a strong sexual desire, but I didn't think they would be this strong.

Azazel: I've learned about this from Juvia a while ago, on the day that we had a sleepover at Callie and Marie's place.

Pearl then turned to me.

Pearl: And here we thought you are sometimes weird.

Azazel: I get that a lot.

Bordeaux: Can we all go see what Pearl did to Diana?

Marina: What did she do to her?

Pearl: You'll see.

We soon walked back to the living room, to see that Pearl had drawn on Diana's face. It has these: Toothbrush, stink lines, "Shortie" you name it.

While we were snickering, I walked over to where they keep their magazines. I decided to pick a random magazine, and I was a little surprised to see who was on this magazine cover.

Azazel: Uh, Marina.

Marina: What is it, Azazel?

Azazel: Why are you covered in maple syrup?

Marina: Huh? What are you talking about?

She looked to where I was, and she turned into a mess of embarrassment.

Marina: Where did you find this?!

Azazel: I found it with the rest of these magazines.

Marina then turned to Pearl.

Marina: Pearl...

Pearl saw the fury in her eyes.

Pearl: Oh... shit.

Pearl then ran across the mansion, screaming for dear life, as Marina is chasing her.

Dedf1sh walks over to me.

Dedf1sh: Ooh. Cephalopod Weekly, I like their magazines.

Azazel: I don't understand, why is Marina on this magazine cover?

Dedf1sh: She must've gone there to promote waffles during the Pancakes vs. Waffles Splatfest.

Azazel: Now I get it.

Pearl was finally caught, as Marina held Pearl in a bearhug.

Marina: Do you promise not to keep that particular magazine, Pearl?

Pearl just nodded her head quickly.

Marina: Alright...

She lets go of Pearl.

Marina: You know I hate that shoot, Pearlie.

Pearl: I didn't think it would be that bad for you to see.

Marina: It was so embarrassing, a lot of the camera crew wanted to see my naked body for their own porn collection.

Azazel: Inkopolis is full of perverts, there's not arguing that.

Diana soon woke up from what was going on.

Diana: Uhh... What's going on?..

We all turned to see Diana, as we tried to hold our laughter in.

Diana: Huh? What's so funny?

Bordeaux: You *Snicker* might wanna look *Snicker* in a mirror.

Diana: Wha?

She then walks into the bathroom, and came out with fury in her eyes.

Diana: Who drew on me?!

We all remained silent as we all pointed directly at Pearl.

Pearl: Fuck all of ya'll.

Diana then turned her head towards Pearl

Diana: And what's "Shortie" doing on my head?! You're shorter than me, Pearl!

Pearl: Take that back, bitch!

I then walked over to Dedf1sh and Bordeaux, and whispered something to the both of them.

Azazel: Seems Pearl is the only person Diana is taller than.

They both snickered at that.

Diana and Pearl were both staring daggers at each other, with lightning bolts striking from their minds.

I stood up to try and calm the situation before a fight breaks out.

Azazel: Okay, okay, Let's just all calm down and enjoy some games.

The two grudgingly sat down and we played some board games. This eventually changed as they played these games for the rest of the day. Making snacks for the five of us.

We invited Marina to come play with us, but Marina wanted to focus on her work first.

Pearl: Yep, classic, Reena. Always focusing on work before fun.

Azazel: Maybe she deserves a break, you know. Doing all of that work and not having the necessary break to relief yourself, it can be gruesome.

Pearl: Oh I'm willing to bet.

We sat there on the couch as we continued to play games.

SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY...

This took me a little while longer to make here, but I wanted to put in some extra detail, you know, fill in the gaps that are left empty. If you guys enjoy this chapter and enjoy this story, be sure to show me some love, hit that vote button, follow me to receive news on Into the Light. Who knows, maybe we might get a lemon coming up soon. We'll just have to wait and find out. Chapter 28 is in development. As always, I'm RaveDogg, and I'll see you in the next chapter.

November 19th, 2020.