Chapter Text
Deep Cut was the sensation of the past year. The idol group quickly rose the ranks in just a few months, gaining gold record after gold record. They became world renowned and even recently had gained their own radio show, Anarchy Splatcast. It was as if anything they did skyrocketed them more and more into stardom.
In the few months it took Deep Cut to rise the ranks, two particular members grew to appreciate each other more and more, in many more ways than just friends would. For example, Shiver would begin to notice the cute little movements that Frye would make on a secondly basis, which she’d later learned was because of the inkling's ADHD. Frye would happen to spot how adorable Shiver looked when she burst out laughing, sneaking peeks every time she would crack a joke.
But the biggest detail they both picked up was how fast their hearts would beat when they would so much as glance at each other. They’d begin to observe how bright their cheeks would glow when they suddenly looked away from one another, swearing that the other also seemed a bit cherry. And they surely noticed when the other wouldn’t talk to them for days on end, the pair oblivious that their pining for each other was the cause of their radio silence.
Big Man took notice of these little… ah… ‘hiccups’ when their embarrassment around each other had caused their show to be unorganized and messy. While having scripted little banters, the two would sometimes realize who they were talking to and fumble a line or entirely clam up in self-consciousness. More than once they had to pause the show to go cool down in their dressing rooms. The first time was an unexpected slip-up, Big Man presumed. This notion quickly changed after the 4th mishap that same week. He was determined to figure out what the cause of this discord was. Sure, their performances were a bit chaotic, but this was a tad out of the ordinary.
After finally getting a usable take for the broadcast, Shiver and Frye practically ran back to their fitting rooms, slamming the doors quickly and loudly. Sighing, Big Man decided to go interview Shiver first. She always seemed like the more collected one of the pair, maintaining a calm and cool demeanor all the time.
After knocking a couple times, Big Man heard some muffled rapid footsteps and a clothing rack falling to the floor. He also could’ve sworn he heard some Octoling cursing, but that was neither here nor there. Shiver seemed to fumble the door handle before opening it quick and wide.
Big Man noted how disheveled she looked, despite the show having only wrapped a little under 10 minutes ago. Her hair was more in her face than usual and her shimenawa was thrown onto the bench to her left. She seemed to have changed into a more casual look of blue jeans and a Off The Hook t-shirt that dropped down to her knees, as if it were the first thing she grabbed before opening the door seconds later. The fit was completed with red and black sneakers, tiny octopi scattered over the top. Though, Big Man did mentally note that they were on the wrong feet.
Her tense face contorted into many expressions. First it seemed like excitement, as if Shiver had been waiting for the knock since slamming her door. When she recognized the figure at the door as Big Man there was a twinge of sadness in her face, though she quickly corrected it into a more content look. Even with this front, Big Man still did see the unease hidden.
“Oh, hey Big Man. What brings you to this side of the studio?” Shiver motioned him to step inside. He turned his body to fit the door frame and slid in, sitting down on the bench that her performance clothes were scattered across. He had to move her shoes to make a spot for himself.
The floor had a few different outfits strewn about. Many clothes racks were barren and stripped, a couple even splayed against the ground. Shoes haphazardly placed all over the place, as if Shiver had been trying on every pair and just leaving them there until she found a right fit.
“Ay, ay? (Well, I just wanted to ask a couple questions. Like, for example, what happened today during the show)?”
Shiver choked and perked up. Forcing a smile on, she said “W-what ever do you mean, my main man… ta”
Big Man sighed. He wasn’t stupid, and he knew Shiver knew he wasn’t either. He pushed a teeny bit further.
“Ay ayay. Ay (Maybe I’ve just been taking too much of the spotlight, but it seems that you have been lackluster with your segments. You have been pausing randomly. It’s also very strange how it seems to usually be whenever there is a dialogue between you and Frye…)”
At the sound of Frye’s name, Shiver slammed her door hard again and made numerous loud shushing noises, accentuating the point by lifting her finger across her lips. A beat later and she was glancing around as if Big Man had summoned a ghost. Once she concluded the coast was clear, she let out a heavy sigh and slumped down onto Big Man’s shoulder.
“Can you keep a secret, Big Man? Promise not to tell anyone?” She glanced up at him to which he nodded, swearing on his entire fat stack of cash. Relaxing a bit, Shiver breathed in and continued.
“Honestly, I… I’m scared of Frye. But not in a frightened way, like I have nightmares about her, though I do tend to have dreams of her leaving me.” She whispered that last part. “But I mean scared in a way that, like, I get nervous when she walks into the studio. My stomach feels all funny like I’m gonna hurl, yet my body won’t let me move until she goes to her changing room. I catch myself not breathing and shaking uncontrollably until we wrap. My legs turn all wobbly when she smiles at me during her reading. I constantly find myself hanging onto every word she says, even if I know what she’s gonna say. It’s just the way that she says it that makes it so pretty and elegant. Even answering her texts and calls feel like a challenge, trying not to embarrass myself or say something that I can’t take back. I just feel so intimidated by her, yet I get the feeling that I want her by my side, forever. Just me and her.”
Shiver’s little rant ended with a small “Is that weird?”.
Big Man was a little too stunned to answer automatically. How had he failed to notice his friend's feelings? Was he that oblivious? Though, it did click. No wonder Shiver couldn’t focus on the show. It seemed like…
“Ay (I believe you are in love with Frye).”
The Octoling just stared at the ground, eyes darting around frantically. It took her a minute, but she composed herself. A sigh.
“I figured that.” Her head fell down into her lap and she groaned out “And I was terrified of that.”
Big Man wanted to reassure his friend. He desperately wanted to make her feel better, but he knew this wasn’t an easy fix at all. Nothing he could say would be a quick fix. She’d just have to sort it out on her own.
He patted Shiver on the back and stood up. “Ay (I gotta go, Shiver. I promise you will be okay. I will check on you soon).”
And with that, he headed out the door and closed it behind him. He knew where he had to go now.
----------------------
Big Man did a lot of thinking on the short walk to Frye’s room. What could he say to her that wouldn’t expose Shiver? How could he approach the conversation now that he knew that Shiver was in love with Frye?
He decided that he’d just stick to the same line of questioning that he followed with Shiver, however brief it was. It wasn’t just Shiver who was fumbling up her lines, Frye fell victim, too. Now he just had to figure out why.
Even before turning the left corner, Big Man heard Frye in her room bouncing around. The clacks and thuds were a telltale sign that Frye was agitated about something. Perhaps it was what was causing her slip ups? He could only hope.
There was no need to knock on the door. It was opened a quarter way, just enough for the lights to seep out of the door and to hear Frye’s noise clear as day. Big Man still did courtesy knock as he opened the door fully.
Shiver’s mess was a tiny stain compared to the damage in Frye’s room. It was as if an Inkstrike had slammed its way right into the room. All of the various lockers lining the walls were opened with their compartments spilled out. Halves of many pants were absolutely everywhere, with separate sleeves of shirts following the example. In the middle of the mess was Frye, wearing only her yellow turtleneck and the leggings that were hidden underneath her baggy pants. She had discarded one of her socks as well. She was crouching around a white dress shirt and a pair of slacks. They seemed to not fit her quota, as she promptly ripped them apart and howled in anger.
When she turned around, she was greeted with the sight of Big Man. Frye’s eyes widened up and she quickly scrambled to her feet to greet her friend.
“Hiya, Big Man! Sorry for the… mess!” She gestured all around her. “You can sit on the chair in the back while I clean this up.” Frye said, pointing to a foldable camping chair stationed in the far back of the room. There was still a pile of clothes residing on the seat.
“Oh, yeah you can just dump that onto the ground.” Frye went to pick up all the articles of clothes, however many pieces there were.
Big Man did as told and got comfortable. He watched Frye uneasily, as if she were going to burst at any moment and splat him. He knew she meant no harm, but her constant twitching and howls were alarming to say the least.
“Ay (So, uh, what’s with all these clothes? They seem to be in tatters).” Big Man said, picking up a pant leg. Frye chuckled in response.
“Oh, y'know. Just… organizing. Yeah, organizing!” She seemed a bit proud of her response. Big Man didn’t want to push any further lest he hurt her feelings. “What brings you here, anyway? Your dressing room is so far from here!”
“Ayy (I came to talk to you about something, actually).”
The inkling perked up and ran to Big Man, scaring him enough to make him jump. “Ooo, tell me! Whatcha bringing to the table tonight, Big Man? Family News? Drama with your friends. Oh, is it a new restaurant opening up???”
Her excitement was palpable to Big Man. A side effect of ADHD he had gotten used to.
“Ay (Actually it’s about your stage acts. You, uh, seem to be lagging a bit, which isn’t like you).”
Frye’s grin dropped suddenly as her eyes began to lose focus. Her eyes looked anywhere but at Big Man, grasping for something to say. For once in his life, Big Man saw Frye at a loss for words. But as suddenly as she slumped, she rose and focused back onto the manta ray. Her eyes looked uncertain.
“What are you even talking about, Big Man? I’ve been killing it on that show! The people love me! Have you even seen Splatstagram?” Yes, the fans on social media were raving about Frye’s performances and energy, but that was only because the production team had cut out the bad bits.
“Ay (Are you sure you’re not occupied at all during the Splatcast)?”
“Psht, you’re talking crazy, Big Man. Are you sure you’re okay?” The anxiety in her eyes was painfully obvious.
“Ayyy (Frye, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You rush through your lines sometimes and completely zone out other times. You’re more distracted than usual).”
Frye’s grin fell again and this time it didn’t seem to want to return. She knew Big Man was right and she knew she was cornered. She had to confess now.
“Okay, maybe something is on my mind.”
Finally, a breakthrough.
“Ay (Well, I’m all ears.)” A deep breath in from Frye.
“Okay, so like is it just me or does Shiver seem cuter than usual? Er, maybe more beautiful? No, no, definitely gorgeous! Drop dead gorgeous! Maybe it’s her shampoo, or has she changed her outfit? No, surely that would’ve been obvious, even to me. Guh, I swear she has changed somehow! There’s just something about her. It’s not even just those bomb looks, either. The way she giggles at my jokes makes me want to scream and cry at how utterly adorable it is. Have you noticed that, too? Her laugh fills me with so much warmth it feels like I was put in an oven. Or, or the way that the light reflects off of her glare, threatening yet so alluring. Gosh, it is so amazing staring into those eyes, I can get lost for hours navigating around in that stare. And don’t even get me started about those hands, so soft and cushy. Last week, Shiver held onto my hand for a moment after I told her a joke about my last Turf War. Ahh, the way I nearly squealed my head off as she squeezed my hand ever so slightly. Ooo, ooo, and her hair is just so perfect across her hair, I swear she’s been customizing…”
And Big Man listened to Frye ramble about every single bit of Shiver, from the way her sarashi accented her hips to how her shoes made her walking look so graceful. Each minute Frye spent complimenting Shiver, Big Man soaked in the conclusion he came to. The reason that both of his groupmates had recently been stalling and freezing up on air. It seemed so painfully obvious to him now.
“...and she just says it's so cool, too! I mean, the line is pretty dope, but the way she says it? I get shivers every time, get it?” Only then did Frye notice Big Man’s concentrated look downwards. At first, she thought that something had slivered its way under the pair, but there was nothing there when she looked. “Hey, what’s on your mind?”
“Ay… (You are in love with Shiver…)”
Frye’s expression was a mixture of shock and fear, with a twinge of defeat.
“...okay, so maybe I am. Maybe I came to this conclusion a week ago. What about it?”
Big Man slowly composed himself, enough to tell Frye “Ay (There's nothing wrong with that. Not at all).”
Frye frowned and looked down with a pout.
“Isn’t it weird? To have a crush on your best friend? Wouldn’t it just mess up the group? Plus, she probably doesn’t even like me. She’s too cool to ever consider someone like me as a potential partner. I’d be kidding myself if I said I had any chance.” The inkling brought her knees up to her chest and hugged herself, rocking back and forth.
Big Man didn’t know what to say. He wanted to tell Frye to go ask her out since he knew Shiver liked her back. But she couldn’t exactly just spill the beans like that, he’d promised Shiver not to tell a soul. What could he say? Big Man struggled to find anything else to say that wouldn’t just straight up reveal Shiver’s feelings, so he elected to just stand up and leave. Before he left, however, he said one last parting statement.
“Ay (Well, I know that you do have a chance. I don’t think it’s wise to give up that easily).”
A scowl was still displayed across Frye’s face, but she at least looked up as Big Man spoke to her. She cleared her throat.
“Please… don’t tell anyone about this. Especially n-not Shiver. Please.”
And that was the last thing he heard before closing the door behind him.