A/N -

This is a continuation of the previous oneshot.

WARNING: There are mentions of death and serious injury in this oneshot. Don't read if that bothers you! Stay safe all! Love ya!
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Mask's PoV -

     After showing his face and talking about his past I gave Skull a hug. I felt his arms wrap around me. I wanted to comfort him, I know he's probably feeling pretty self conscious right now. Still no one was talking and the tension in the air was thick. After we broke our hug, Skull got up and walked away from the group. He went upstairs to his room and I quickly followed after him.

     I found him sitting on his bed with tears in his eyes. It broke me to see our fearless leader crying and looking so scared. "Heeeeyyy, can I come in," I ask.

     "Sure."

     I sit on the bed next to Skull. "That was very bravvvve of you. Hyuk."

     "I scared them all. Did you notice their gasp when I took my bandana off or the silence afterwards? Maybe they're scared of me now. I don't blame them. I look terrifying and I just admitted to killing someone." Skull sobs.

     I hug him again. "Skull, they are noootttt scared of yoooouuu. They are scared of the gaaangggg."

     "I hope you're right."

     "Skull... Could we cuuuddlee?" I ask.

     "Sure." Skull lays down in his bed and I do the same.

     I take off my mask and snuggle in next to him. I know he can see my dark cyan blush but I don't care. "Heeeyyy," I smile at him.

     His tears stop and I can tell he's smiling at me. "Thank you, Mask." Skull wraps his arms around me and gently plays with my tentacles.

     "Mask, you're very pretty without your mask on. Well, you're pretty with it on too but..." I cut him off by lifting his bandana and kissing him.

     Once we break the kiss Skull states, "Thank you, Mask. I love you!"

     "Thank you, Skuuullll. I loooove you too," I pepper his face with more kisses.

     We snuggle for a bit longer before deciding that we should go check on the others. I replace my mask before leaving his room and together we walk downstairs. The others are now watching a movie. Skull peeks through the window blinds before sitting by me on the floor to watch the movie with the others.

     I don't really pay attention to the movie. I'm more concerned with snuggling into my new boyfriend. Eventually I manage to fall asleep on Skull's lap.

     Click. I wake to the sound of a camera's flash. I groan as I open my eyes. The bright morning light blinds me. Above where Skull and myself lay on the floor Aloha stands with his phone's camera apparently taking photos of us. I hiss at him causing him to run away. My hissing must have woken Skull as I hear him groan next to me. I'm glad he managed to get some sleep last night. A few of our other friends are already awake. I can hear Army cooking breakfast from the kitchen. Eight is sitting on the couch drinking coffee and Specs is doing maintenance on his weapon. Everyone else is still sleeping.

     Still tired I roll to my side to face Skull, "Heeey, goooood morning."

     "Good morning, Mask," Skull pulls me closer to him for cuddles, "So Aloha took our photo while we were asleep?"

     "Yeeeaaaahh, hyuk," I can make him delete it if you want.

      "It's fine."

      "Arrreeee you still woooried about the gang?" I ask.

     "Yes, I hate this waiting. I know they will try to hurt us but I just don't know when. Maybe they will wait till we're all separated. We can't stay coped up in here forever. Army is already mad at me for bringing everyone here in the first place," Skull states.

     "That is scarrryyy, hyuk."

     "Don't worry, love, I'll protect you." Skull places a quick kiss to my forehead, "Huh?!"

     Skull quickly grabs me and swings me behind him just as a charger sounds breaking the window. A black trail of ink lands just where I was laying seconds before. I quickly ready my Carbon Roller and scramble to stand next to Skull who is already standing and aiming his E-Liter at the door.

     "What's going on in here?!" Army runs into the living room still wearing his apron.

     "The Piranhas are here," Skull replies.

     Army quickly takes off the apron and readies his weapon.

     Everyone who was asleep has since woken to the sound of the broken glass. Now everyone stands at attention with their weapons readied.

     Another beep sounds and a charger's laser aims at Goggles' head. Rider quickly pulls Goggles back before the black ink stains the carpet where he once stood.

"We need a plan," Specs states worriedly.

Army speaks up, "Okay, I have one. It seems like their gang is mostly if not all chargers with slow charge speed and long range. We are going to have to bring the fight out to them unless we want to keep dodging attacks from in here. Remember we can't get hit, there is no respawn point and if we get hit well... just don't get hit. First we need those of us with weapons with bad range and quick speed, Specs, Mask, Goggles, Gloves, Prinz, and myself. We'll need to quickly ink some ground outside and doge attacks thus drawing their fire. Next, those with weapons of better range and better fire rate, Aloha, Eight, and Bobble, stay safe while getting as close as you can to the enemy and pressuring them with your weapons, force them to concentrate on you or us short range weapons. Lastly, those with long range weapons, Headphones, Rider, and Skull, you guys will need to pick the enemy's off one by one. We'll draw the fire and pressure them to make it as easy as we can for you but you guys will need to make the final shot. Everyone, remember, watch each other's backs out there and don't get hit. Stay safe all! Let's go!"

     Army gives a quick kiss to Aloha before running through the door to the outside. I do the same and place a quick kiss to Skull's forehead before following after Army, being a short range weapon main myself. The other's follow our lead.

     While inking the ground I glance around to scope out or enemies. A group of 5 inklings dressed in black stand on a nearby rooftop. I count 4 E-Liters and 1 range blaster. They're already aiming at us!

Soon we're joined by the mid range weapon mains who quickly get to work putting pressure on the chargers. The blaster is by far the hardest of all the attacks to avoid and I'm already covered in black enemy ink from the blaster's splash and blast radius attacks. Luckily I haven't taken any direct hits and I manage to quickly heal.

Finally our long range weapon using friends start attacking. I'm recovering in our ink when the blaster wonders near. Now's my chance! I quickly jump out of the ink and manage to hit my opponent though due to the nature of my weapon I don't land a splat. The blaster turns on me and starts aiming at me. I manage to doge, just barely, though I did sustain some splash damage. I hurriedly toss a seeker which manages to make its target! My opponent dissolves into my ink color. My teammates booyah to me but I can't help but feel a bit of guilt.

Regardless, I don't have time to dwell. I need to get back into the battle. I continue drawing the charger's fire while the mid range weapons push them closer and closer to the range of our long range weapon users.

After a few more agonizing seconds we have done it and the battle has fully begun. The chargers are in range. Skull quickly picks off 2 of the charger users but 2 still remain. Rider seems to be having difficulty landing strikes with his slow weapon. His range is good for a roller but nothing compared to a charger. Headphones manages a splat leaving only 1 gang member left.

The rival charger plays dirty, quickly taking aim and darting back into cover just as quickly. I can tell our friends are starting to wear down. Our speed is slowing and we all seem to be losing focus. My wheezing is getting worse, I can scarcely breathe due to all this running. I think my asthma and allergies are finally getting to me. I need to hang on just a little bit longer.

I'm still running inking turf and wheezing all the while when I suddenly feel faint. Oh, this isn't good. I collapse to the ground unable to breathe or see straight. Apparently the charger notices me. I can see the shine of its laser on me. I can't move out of the way!

Suddenly, the laser disappears and the sound of two chargers fire at the same time. The last gang member is down! But why is everyone screaming?! I black out.

I wake in a bed. How long was I out? I glance around to find Army and Aloha standing over me. "Good, you're awake," Army states.

"Whaaat happened?" I ask, still very disoriented.

"You passed out mid battle and Skull saved your life. He got the last gang member," Aloha replies.

"Hyuk! Is he oooookkkay?!" I ask worried about my boyfriend.

"Look next to you. He's hurt, he blocked the shot from hitting you but he's still alive. He was really worried about you even after being shot. Before he passed out he demanded we keep you two next to each other." Army explains.

Lying next to me in his bed is Skull. He appears to be sleeping or blacked out too. I scoot over to him to find his stomach and chest bandaged with slight purple blood seeping through. I can hear his quiet breathing though so I know he's okay. I gently place a kiss to his cheek.

     "Awww, you two are so cute," Aloha cooes.

     I shoot Aloha a look telling him to shut up.

     "Huh... Mask, you're okay..." Skull must have woken up.

     He tries to sit up in bed but the pain in his stomach causes him to lay back down. I quickly scoot over to him. "I'm fine, Skuuuulllll. You saved my lifeeee, thank you!" I roll over in bed to face him, my back to Army and Aloha.

     I gently kiss his cheek again and carefully snuggle into him making sure not to aggravate his wounds.

     "Of course, I couldn't let them hurt you, Mask. I love you..." I can tell Skull is smiling despite the pain he's in.

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     Weeks have passed and Skull has almost fully healed. Army, Aloha, and myself have looked after him. Our other friends have come to visit a few times. I can tell everyone feels a lot better now that the looming threat of The Piranhas are gone. Of course there's still the occasional nightmare or guilt that rises up for myself, Skull, and Headphones for having taken a life but we've all talked about it and we're always there to support each other. All in all, I think we've saved Inkopolis.

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A/N -

The grand fest is going on as I type this. I'm on team Future but I really want Past to win. If Past wins maybe Splatoon 4 will take place during the great turf war?! I think that would be so cool. What team were you on?

Edit: Team Past won! Let's gooo!
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