Disclaimer: I do not own Splatoon or it's characters. Also note that I will be using him/her pronouns even if some characters are non-binary, because using they/them/their can become confusing and repetitive.
Summery: Shiver was cold and distant for a long time, but when a traumatic event causes them grief can Frye help them through it? Will Shiver open up to their friends? Or maybe even express hidden feelings? Rated T for Profanity and mental pain.
Shiver/Frye
Chapter 1: A cold Shiver
"Ay!" (Great show today guys!) Big Man smiled, sitting down in their normal seat. "Hell ya!" Frye jumped for joy as she entered the room. "Thank you." Shiver mumbled, hiding behind her beloved fan. "Ay-Ay?" (Shiver is everything alright?) the ray asked, dropping the smile in concern. Frye turned to face the blue Octoling with concern as well. "I'm... fine." Shiver hesitated. "Come on Shiv! Why don't you smile for a change! Even sense we took you in you seem a bit...?"
"Ay!" (Distant!) Big Man finished Frye's sentence happily.
"I don't mean to. I just..." Shiver sighed, turning away with a flutter of the fan. Frye crossed her arms, "How come we sing and dance so in sync and happily, but when we're alone you turn away? Please Shiv. We're here for you." Frye reached out and placed her hand on the Octoling, who turned with a small but visible smirk. "I... thank you. I appreciate both of you..."
The three sat together with the radio blasting their song through the room. BigMan swayed in the chair, but Frye couldn't help but dance. The yellow inkling sang and danced so perfectly in tune that Shiver had to smile. "You're just full of energy, aren't you?" Shiver asked sarcastically. Frye didn't brake the routine but winked playfully in response.
"Ay. Ay." (I'm getting tired. Good night you two.)
"Goodnight!" The other two called back as the ray slipped away. "Dance with me?" Frye asked playfully, reaching out to the lounging Octoling. "Not right now Frye. I don't have as much energy as you." She leaned back with a sigh. "You never wanna dance outside practice! Come on loosen up! You're too up tight."
"And you're not tight enough!" Shiver snapped. Frye plopped down on the couch with a pout, "Fine. I'm sorry that I annoy you." The feeling of guilt creeped up Shiver's body. "Frye, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."
The yellow eyes widened as she wiped her head, "Did you just apologize?! You do care!" She flung herself onto the blue Octoling who recoiled quickly. "I!? Need some time alone!" Shiver picked herself up and ran out the door. Frye was left speechless as she hung off the lonely couch.
Hearts raced as Shiver leaned up against an ally wall. "I need to be more careful. I'm starting to... no I can't. Not again, I can't take it!" She looked up at the stars. Breath slowing down as she hummed softly to herself. Red fingers brushed over her medallion with a smile. "Frye you silly goofball. I wish I could just forget myself and get lost in you." She sang off pitch as tears started to roll down her hot cheeks. A noise starting the Octoling. "Hello? Who's there?" Shiver slowly moved forward. She wiped away the tears and opened her fan. "Hello?" She called again, but nothing came of it. A green glow got her attention, but it was too late. The green ooze stuck to Shiver's heels. "Ink?! Who..." she looked around but no one was around. The mystery ink was slowly crawling up her legs and when it hit her skin it burned. Shiver let out a piercing scream as the pain shot down her leg and up to her torso. "Frye!! Help!" She yelled as darkness filled her senses.
"Morning Big Man." Frye yawned as she sat up from the couch. She stayed there ever sense Shiver ran out on her. "Ay!" (Morning.) he called back happily, shuffling his way around the kitchen. "Do you know if Shiver came back last night? I fell asleep." Frye sluggishly stood up and headed to the table. "Ay?!" (She left?!) Big Man looked over with worry as their eyes met.
"Shiver?" Frye called as she opened the room the two shared. But the blue Octoling wasn't to be found. "I'm going out to look for her! Call me if she shows up!" The inkling pulled out her phone and started to call Shiver. No answer. "Ah! Shiv please be alright." Frye ran out the door without a second thought.
The yellow inkling held her stomach as she stumbled around the market place. Hunger was starting to take over her worry. It couldn't be helped, she bought herself a few snacks and even some of Shiver's favorites. It didn't take long for her to scarf down a random bar from her bag. "Shiver!" She called with a full mouth. Even asking around was getting her nowhere. "How could I loose a famous blue Octoling!" Frye ranted as she stomped around the park. She plopped down on a bench taking hold of her pendant. "Shiver I'm sorry... please come back to me." The yellow inkling huffed before standing back up. "Wait until I get my hands on you! Hu?!" Frye looked across the street and found a fan knocked up against an ally gate. "Shiver!" Frye spring over to the gate and climb it with no hesitation. She picked up the fan and opened it to see Shiver's symbol marked on the front. "Shiver!" She looked away from the fan, calling for her friend in desperation. With a sudden burst of courage Frye ran down the ally frantically. "Shiver! Are you here!? I'm sorry! Please, please, please answer me!" She begged.
Frye stopped in her tracks when she saw green ink splattered along a wall. Curiously, the yellow inkling followed the droplets and smears along the wall. "Shiver?" Her voice shook as she slowly walked up to a puddle of the stuff. Frye reached out trying to whip it away, but a sharp pain ran through her arm. "Fuck! That hurts." She recoiled, tentacles curled closer to her face in fear. Frye swallowed hard and took in a deep breath. She quickly picked up the glob and screamed when the pain reached her senses. She could feel the shape of someone inside and quickly took hold. She wrapped her arms around the figure and quickly spun around. The green ink dispersed in different directions and as soon as the pain subsided Frye took a long look at the figure and gasped. "Shiver! Oh my Cod are you alright?" The Octoling's tentacles were a mix of her normal blue and green, and her eyes looked sunken in. Frye couldn't tell if her friend was breathing and began to panic. "Shiver! Wake up! You're scaring me!" Frye shook the other to no avail, hoisting the Octoling over her shoulder she began to run. Shiver being held in one arm and the other gripping onto the fan in hope.
It had been days, and Shiver hadn't moved a muscle. The hospital was in a panic when she first arrived but when a normal heart rate was constant they all relaxed. Frye however wasn't satisfied. She refused to leave Shiver alone for one second. She even refused to eat the snacks she purposely bought for Shiver. Thankfully Big Man would come by to check on them both. He didn't say much, but tried to comfort his yellow companion to the best of his ability. Making sure she would eat and sleep.
As soon as BigMan left for the day Frye laid her weary head down on the bed. Small hums of their song came from the inkling. Her eyes watered as she tried to hum Shiver's part. It didn't sound right, she wanted Shiver to sing with her so bad. Suddenly she felt a twitch of movement. "Shiver?" Frye lifted her head slowly and watched as the Octoling's tentacles brightened into its normal blue hue. Frye wiped her eyes and happily stood over the sleeping figure. Red eyes met bright yellow and as soon as Frye jumped up for joy the Octoling made a peeping noise hiding behind the covers. "Shiver! I'm so glad you're alright! Never scare me again!" Frye was so loud it got the attention of a nurse. When she noticed Shiver was awake she quickly walked in. "Frye would you mind calming down. You're scaring her." The nurse slowly sat down and began to talk to Shiver in their native language. Shiver slowly opened up to the nurse and relaxed as she eyed the curious yellow inkling nearby. "Frye I'm sorry I have to tell you this, but she's lost most of her memory." The nurse checked Shivers pulse and ears before turning to the dumbstruck inkling. "What?! She forgot me?!" She whined. "Not only that, but she seems to have forgotten who she is. She might be able to communicate over time but we should probably keep a close eye on her until we are certain she's physically alright." The nurse gave Shiver a soft smile but began to scolded Frye, "Now don't stress her out, or you won't be allowed in here. Take it slow, she may regain some memories if you're patient."
The nurse did a few more tests and as soon as she was done she again reassured them both. "Hey Shiver. I'm happy to see you finally awake." Frye started, slowly and gently placing a hand over Shiver's. Shiver felt a sweet warm feeling of comfort sweep over her as the contact continued. "You scared me you know." Frye sighed but quickly turned it to a smile. The blue Octoling looked the Inkling up and down before noticing the metal pendant hanging off the poofy white pants. Shiver used her free hand to touch the one hanging from her shawl. "Oh, do you remember? We got these for each other when you joined our group. See mine matches." Frye fiddled with her own as the two looked at one another. Shiver couldn't help but feel warm and fuzzy as she squeezed Frye's hand. She jumped when Frye squeezed back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startled you. Oh! Here, you might remember this!" Frye let go and quickly rummaged in her pocket. She pulled out the white fan with the purple emblem. Shiver slowly touched the rim and took it into her hands. She opened it and gently fluttered in near her face. "That's my Shiver." Frye cooed as she leaned back in her chair, watching the curious Octoling play with her forgotten prized possession.
A small click snapped in Shiver's head as she took the fan from her friend. The image of her family appeared in her mind as she fluttered the fan around her. "That's my Shiver." She heard the other say. "Shiver?" She looked back at her smiling companion. "Yes! Shiver that's your name! Do you remember mine?" The yellow one wasn't disappointed when Shiver shook her head. "That's alright. My name is Frye, can you say Frye?"
"Frye?" Another memory quickly rushed to her head. The pain of the green ooze still haunted her senses and quickly took over. "Frye!" She yelled in pain as the other nearly died from shock. "Shiver?! What's wrong?" The Octoling literally jumped into the inkling's lap, hugging her closely. Nose nuzzled closely to Frye's collar bone as Shiver let out a terrible whine. Frye's ears twitched as her hearts sank. "Shiver, I'm here. I won't let you go ever again!"
Hours had passed, but Frye was content with her sleeping companion on her chest. She rocked the chair, humming softly. Purple finger tips glided over Shiver's back until they rested on her hip. "You're just as scared as I am." She whimpered softly, biting her lip shut as tears began to stream down her cheek. She nearly fell over when Shiver lifted her head. "Sorry, did I wake you?" Frye asked quietly, trying to mask her worry. "No." Shiver said plainly as she wiped Fry's face with her shawl. "Thank you." Frye gave a small smile as Shiver rested back to her chest. "Why don't we move to the bed? My legs are dying over here." Frye shuffled and Shiver realized what she said. "Bed? Together?" Shiver's face lit up as did Frye's. "T-That is not what I meant! Just... just no more sitting. I can dance for you if you'd like." Frye offered, earning herself a chuckle from the other. "Dance?" Shiver smiled as she stood. She was a bit shaky but with a little help, was able to climb back into bed. "What? You don't remember what dancing is?" Frye chuckled. Shiver shot a 'really' look before speaking, "I know what dancing is."
With a deep breath the Inkling slid her feet on the floor. She began to hum but it easily turned to song as her body began to catch the rhythm. Shiver watched closely, taking in every lyric and movement the yellow one had to offer. The song was slow, but the dance was big with expression and emotion. Frye's feet never seemed to stop moving, even when she relied on arm movements her feet never stayed in one place. The lyrics where soft and sweet, making Shiver feel at home as she swayed happily to the inkling's performance.