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Shiver was assigned to work with Agent 8 for the day. Though 8 wasn't officially a member of the new Squidbeak Splatoon, Captain simply couldn't keep her away from being around them, so she was just treated as a member. Even with how much 8 likes to be around Captain, though, she also did want to look around Alterna, and Captain was rather stationary. Captain compromised by accepting to send her on some low priority missions, with this expedition with Shiver being such an example.
"So, 8, you got a name other than that?" Shiver asked, taking some random treasure container and ripping it open.
"Uh, no. My name 8 until I fully comfortable." 8 tried to speak in inklish.
"You can speak octarian to me, y’know. I'm an octoling myself." Shiver smiled to 8, before focusing on the treasure they opened. Inside was a type of wooden… eel? But it was really slim and had no ink clusters or fins on it. It was also a bit long for an eel.
"Oh." 8 muttered, before switching to speaking Octarian. " Right, sorry. Your tentacles were just so different, it didn't click with me for a moment."
"It's alright." Shiver shrugged, putting the long animal toy thing in her bag. It didn't have much monetary value, but maybe Frye would like it? "Well, I hear you were introduced to inkling society recently? Well, relatively recently, but still. How are you enjoying your time up here?"
"It's been amazing!" 8 claps her hands together, a mannerism she picked up from Marina. "So many ways to express yourself in so many small details! It's a beautiful thing that I've not seen anywhere else! And the people I've met! Pearl and Marina are amazing people, both teaching me so many aspects of life, and Agent 3- or, uh, Captain- is just… I can't say how much I care for them. They mean so much to me."
"Glad to see you have someone like that in your life." Shiver commented, before hesitating a bit. "Um… hey, 8, you are… dating Captain, right?"
"A-ah… well… yes and no, I think. We do the things those people do sometimes, but I don't think we've ever actually said it." 8 tapped her fingers together. "It's nice to think we are, though."
"I see. Uh, well nevermind, then."
"What do you mean nevermind? Were you going to ask something?"
"Well, it's just…" Shiver looked to the ground, sighing. "Can you keep a secret, 8? Just between us?"
"Okay? What is it?"
"So, you know Frye, right? The yellow energetic one with the eels? I've been staying in close proximity with her for a long while now, talking with her, learning her mannerisms, and… developing a bit of a crush on her. I've been trying to think of a way to get these feelings out to her, but at the same time, I don't think she's shown any sort of interest, and admittedly, I'm too scared to actually just tell her. I was going to ask for some advice, but if you aren't experienced there, then I don't think you can help."
"Oh, I see." 8 said, but didn't say any more.
Shiver continued to scavenge in silence, 8 following. They found a couple of random things in metal containers, but eventually 8 spoke up.
"Are you still open to suggestions?"
"Hm?"
"Um, well, while Captain hasn't ever said they love me, I have actually told them many times. In octarian. You see, when I say it, Captain doesn't at all understand. They think it's just me rambling things I'm used to saying. Um, well, maybe that wouldn't work for you since you are more acquainted with non-Octo Valley life, but perhaps you could find a way to utilize it?"
"My own language…?" Shiver thought for a moment. "Hm. You might be onto something there."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Um, hey, since your here, I'm gonna run some other ideas, alright?"
___
Shiver and 8 continued their discussion until they finished scouting the area. Ultimately, Shiver decided to simply and suddenly just speech out how they really felt to Frye (in octarian, of course) and just be done with it. If afterwards Shiver gets the nerve to confess, then they will have a ready confession to say, but in inklish. After concluding their expedition with little reward, they returned to the station everyone was at.
"There you two are!" Callie called out. "You've been out for a while."
"Yeah, in fact, Captain was about to send us out to save you." Marie commented, receiving a glare from Captain. "But yeah, what took so long?"
"8 here dropped her phone half way through." Shiver fake-scoffed. 8 knew this was coming, though, so she played along.
"Ah. Yes, I uh… You know how I be with phones… Well, Captain do.” 8 points to Captain, who nods.
“That’s okay, 8! I drop my stuff a lot, too!” Frye walked over and pat 8 on the back. “Well, did you two find any good treasure?”
“I got one thing.” Shiver reached into their bag and pulled out the wood toy. “It ain’t worth much I assume, but I thought you might like it.”
“Ohhh!” Frye cooed a bit, picking up the toy. “This is cool! What is it, an eel?”
“I think it’s a snake.” 8 answered in octarian, resulting in a blank stare from Frye. “Ah, I’m sorry, still very octarian speaker. I think that is ancient creature, with human.”
“Oh, I see. Cute!” Frye rolled the snake around in their hands, walking away.
“Hey, she doesn’t know octarian. Good thing I tried that, right?” 8 whispered to Shiver.
“... Good catch.” Shiver chuckles lightly. If they actually did go through with their plan when Frye really knew octarian. They’d die of embarrassment. Maybe even more than if they just said it plainly. Heh.
___
It took a week of preparation for Shiver. Just trying to organize everything they wanted to say was a monumental task in its own right, not even considering the whole “actually saying the speech to Frye” part. Even so, though, Shiver had to try literally anything to make their feelings calm down a slight bit, so on a potentially fateful day, Shiver and Frye were hanging out in their living room, Big Man in the room adjacent, sorting his Tableturf Card collection.
“Well, it’s now or never.” Shiver says.
“Hm? You say something, Shiv?” Frye tilts her head, and Shiver closes their eyes.
“Frye… There’s a lot I want to say. Ever since we’ve met, I’ve always… just found you so adorable. The way you are always excited, how you have a sort of pep in your step everywhere you go, even how you are always just so happy. Not only that, you are so nice to everyone. You always try to make sure everyone’s as happy as possible Even our whole bandit group is primarily lead by you.You are definitely the nicest person I’ve ever met, maybe even the nicest inkling ever! I am so blessed to be in your presence every day, and I feel ike it would actually be insulting if I didn’t fall in love with you. I know you’ll not understand what I’m saying, but Frye, I love you with every ink particle of my being.” Shiver lets out, somehow not taking a single breath through the whole ‘confession’. Even so, they keep their eyes closed for a bit longer, not ready to see if Frye had a reaction. Even so, though, it did feel nice to speak their truest and most secret thoughts to Frye. The plan went smoothly!... Right?
“Um… Shiv…?” Frye starts, but is quickly cut off from a door opening.
“Ay! Ay?” (Hey you two! I’m gonna go out and get some food, what would you like?) Big Man asks the two.
“Anything works for me. Preferably not something greasy.” Shiver says, not even noticing they spoke in octarian.
“...Ay?” (... Im sorry?)
“Ah, I-”
“They said they would like anything that isn’t greasy.” Frye spoke for Shiver.
“Ay Ay!” (Alright!) Big Man called, before quickly making his way to the door. “Ay!” (See you!)
“Bye!” Frye waves to Big Man as he closes the door. She then looks over to Shiver, whos eyes are now wide open, staring at Frye. “Ah, um, I kinda took the time to learn octarian about last year.” She scratches her neck.
“...B-but… I… You…” Shiver sputters out. She did know! Shiver was foiled by their own plan! Why did she not understand 8, though? Why?!
Everything seemed to crumble around Shiver at that moment. This was something that was supposed to not be known, just be seen as some silly foreign ramble, not apparently perfectly understood! Chances are, Frye’s now going to reject her! In fact, she’s probably standing up to walk out of the room, walking over to Shiver because theres something that’s hers right next to her, and probably leaning down to-
Frye presses her lips onto Shiver’s cheek, a bit of warmth spreads along Shiver’s now pale face.
“Um, while I didn’t expect to talk about it so suddenly, I actually was planning on telling you how I felt too!”
Shiver raises their head to look at Frye, seeing the sincerity and happiness that was always present on the yellow Inkling. Once everything finally clicked with their mind, Shiver shut down in sheer shock, confusion, and almost every other possible emotion at once.