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With Callie back safe and sound, and no actual major threat to Inkopolis Square, everything was peaceful. Everyone can sit back and relax, well, everyone except Deep Cut. They still needed to advertise for their upcoming Splatfest. With everything that happened, three days wasn't enough time to set up for a podcast Collab with Marie, but the boss did agree with it. It just needed some time to get prepared. Big Man came to the rescue yet again with his smooth talking to their producer, giving the group an extra day to get the word of the event out there; all three prepared for the podcast on the extra day, so now they had plenty of time for the Square or just relaxing in the hotel. Shiver takes this time to visit 4 back at the hospital. Since the poor agent wouldn't be out for the next two days, she needed some company. And as her girlfriend, it was basically her duty to give her some love and care now. She enters the hospital and sees, unsurprisingly, her Boss Marie, who was wearing a disguise of a white tank top with a dark green zip-up hoodie over it, a green skirt, and a mask to cover her face with. Marie also spots Shiver and waves at her.
"Boss. Are you here to visit Faye as well?" Knowing the answer already, she gets a nod of confirmation and a ‘mhm’ sound from the inkling. "Would you like to join me? I'm heading up to see her right now. I bet she would love to see her two favorite people at the same time," the octoling playfully smiles as she points to the direction where the agent is being roomed in, and the two walk down that way. Chatting up as they head down to see the agent. "I'd like to thank you again for letting us Collab with you on your podcast. I know it was last minute, but we thought it was a good excuse to make sure you and the others were okay. Plus, it benefits us too in Splatsville, so it's a win-win."
"No problem. I needed a spike in viewership anyway," she looks at Shiver. Marie pulls her down now that the hallway was empty. "So, how have you lovebirds been doing?" Teasing the octoling to get a reaction out of her, which it does. A light flush of blue on Shiver's cheeks now.
"Well. We just talked a lot yesterday. About maybe her moving to Splatsville, about our first real date," she giggles at the thought of it. "Today was going to be kinda the same? She said she wanted me to meet someone, though."
"Oh? And who would that be?" Marie asks as the two stop in front of 4's room together. She was about to open it, until she heard talking inside. One was Faye's and the other was a man's. Marie knew this voice as well. "Ooohhh. I think he's here now actually," she knocks on the door before opening it.
"Wait! That's rude to just-" before Shiver could finish her protests, the door was fully open. Revealing Agent 4 and some man sitting in a chair next to her bed. The man looked similar to 4 in some aspects. His tentacle hairs were in a spikey hairstyle she’s seen in the Square; must be popular around here.
"Oh, 'sup Marie. Didn't know you were coming over. And… who's this?" The man stands up to greet the two, extending his hand out to shake theirs.
"Hey Ezra. This is Shiver," introducing the octoling, who was surprised.
Ezra? Her brother? Shiver didn't think he would meet him this soon, but she's respectful to him nonetheless. "Hello. It's nice to meet you," she slightly bows in respect to him, wanting to give a good first impression. Upon a closer look, he had the same eye color as Faye, a honey-orange color. His hair color was a shade of yellow, but unlike 4’s golden-yellow, his was more like an amber color. His skin was more tan than his sisters as well. Faye did say he worked in construction if I remember correctly. Other than that, no other physical features felt familiar to her. The thing that did feel familiar was his aura and personality. Just by speaking to him for a few moments, Shiver could tell that these two were brother and sister. "Faye has told me a little bit about you. It's nice to finally meet you," on the outside she might be calm and elegant, but inside she was freaking out. Does he know that she and 4 are dating? Would he even be fine with his sister dating someone?
"So you're the 'Shiver' Faye's told me so much about. She's right, you really are pretty."
"Ez!" 4 shouts at him and punches his closest arm, blushing in embarrassment. All that does is get a laugh from both her brother and Marie. Meanwhile, Shiver was blushing and smiling at her. Even though she knew the comment was to tease, she couldn't help but feel joy at the thought that 4 found her pretty.
"Haha! I'm just teasing you," he ruffles the top of her head before turning to Marie. "Hey, can we talk outside?"
"Sure, I think I know where this is going anyway," Marie opens the door, that's Ezra's moment to get up and walk out. He leaves first, as Marie wants to get out one more tease before leaving. "Don't have too much fun now~" the door was shut, and Shiver and 4 were alone together.
Shiver decides to occupy the seat Ezra was in before. She sits down next to the bed, still smiling. "How are you doing?"
"A lot better! But the doctors say I need a little more time to recover. I guess that's usually what they recommend when getting hit with a roller," 4 makes a swinging motion with her left arm. "How 'bout you? What have you and the others been up to?"
"Well, Deep Cut and Boss are gonna do a podcast episode later. Advertise the Splatfest and all," she slouches on the edge of the hospital bed. "It was only an excuse to come and rescue you guys-"
"Like we needed rescuing."
"Says the one who got a face full of roller," and light boops the inkling's nose.
"Hey! Not my fault I was distracted by something beautiful," 4 decides to flirt to win against her girlfriend, which seems to be working. Receiving a deep blush in response.
"Ha ha. I can't help it if I'm attractive and you get distracted by it," a smirk of confidence upon her lips. She knew 4's game, and she wasn't going to lose. Unfortunately, their little flirt was paused when the two heard a conversation near the door. Marie and Ezra from what the voices sound like. "What are they arguing about?"
"Eh. Probably Ezra trying to convince Marie to let me retire or something. He's been trying for a few years," 4 explains nonchalantly about what could be the argument happening on the other side.
"What? Why? You're good at your job, and I don't see working as anything but an agent."
"Well, first time I came home with an injury after he found out about NSS, he was not having it. He's always been protective of me and I understand why, but I'm an adult. I can make my own choices," the inkling crosses her arms in annoyance. She felt like she was being treated as a kid with no say in anything. "But… It's also kinda why I've been putting off if I wanna move to Splatsville or not," the conversation turns serious, and she uncrosses her arms, laying them down at her sides. "We're the only family we have left, and if I leave, he'll be all alone out here. I can't just do that to him."
Shiver puts her hand on top of 4's and grabs it, gently caressing it. She understands what the inkling is talking about. It was rough for her too when she left her family to live in the heart of Splatsville. Although, the inkling's situation is a bit different. Shiver gets the idea. She thought of something that might help 4’s troubles, "Then. Maybe he should move to Splatsville as well," 4 gives her a look like she's crazy. "What? This way, you don't have to take a long commute to visit him, you're closer to your work and to me, and with how much the city has boomed in popularity, work is always needed so he'll find a job in no time."
4 was at a loss for words with her explanation. It made sense, sort of. She doesn't think Shiver understands how difficult it might be for her brother to just drop everything and leave for the new city. At least her heart is in the right place. "I'll… talk to him about it. But I don't think he'll be thrilled about the thought of it."
Shiver kisses her forehead before giving some words of encouragement. "Don't worry. Just be honest with him, and I'm sure everything will be fine. I don't think he'll convince the Boss to make you quit anytime soon. She's a stubborn one," She receives a smile. “By the way, does he know that we’re, y’know-”
“Dating? No, I haven’t had the chance to tell him yet,” 4 scratches her ear. “Was gonna tell him when you got here, but now that Marie showed up, he’s occupying both their times.”
Shiver nods, and stands up to make her way to the door. "I'm going to get some water. Want anything while I'm out?"
"Mmm, I'll just have water as well. Not all that hungry right now."
"Okay, love you," and blows 4 a kiss, seeing her dramatically catch it and fawn over it made the octoling giggle before leaving the room. Upon closing the door, she saw Ezra and Marie still talking; Best to leave them alone right now . Shiver had something a bit more important to do than eavesdrop on her Boss and her girlfriend's brother. Girlfriend… That word still felt foreign to her. Well, it's only been a couple of days since they started dating, but she never thought she would be in a relationship at all. It wasn't that she had no interest in love, it's just that since she came from one of the big three, highly respected clans of the Splatlands, and she always held herself in a prim and proper manner, people assumed her standards were high. Real high. However, all she wanted was someone who could make her happy and feel loved, and she would be all set. Lucky for her, 4 was that someone. Walking past a few more rooms before she finally reaches the little shop inside the hospital, with more than just snacks and drinks. It had cards and balloons with fonts that said either 'It's a boy!' or 'It's a girl!' in the respective pink and blue. Flowers at the center of the shop to give to loved ones recovering, and a display fridge with tons of drinks inside for a customer to browse. Shiver knows what she's here for, and she grabs two bottles of water for her and 4 out of the display fridge, and pays for them. She heads back to the room, but on her walk back, she sees Ezra and Marie in an embrace and quickly hides behind the corner of the hallway. Looking flustered, was she about to interrupt something? She takes a peak to see if her suspicions are correct, but now only finds them back to talking like nothing happened. Maybe Shiver’s mind was playing tricks on her? Regardless, she needed to calm herself before reentering the hallway. Once she does, she walks back down and greets the two. “Oh? You two are still talking?”
“Yeah. Shiver, do you think you can convince Marie to let my sister retire or something?”
Uh oh.
“Like I said, Ezra. It’s her choice if Faye wants to continue to be an agent or not. It’s not my call anymore,” Marie chimes in to try and ease the situation, but Ezra was being stubborn.
“Exactly. It’s because Faye doesn’t have a choice. You recruited her when she was fourteen ,” he put a lot of emphasis on her age. “She doesn’t know anything outside NSS, how is she gonna stay safe out in that line of work? One day it’s a bruise, next a roller to the nose and a concussion; what’s next? She’s not gonna walk anymore, confined to a wheelchair?”
“Ezra. You’re being overzealous right now,” Marie continues to try and calm him down, but it just makes him more upset.
“You don’t get it, Marie! You have Callie, your grandfather, family in Calamari,” Ezra is holding back tears, and you can hear it in his voice. “F-Faye’s all I got! What happens if I don’t see her again?”
This was starting to get serious. Shiver needed to do something if he wanted her help. “Uhm, Ezra,” the octoling chimes in. “I do think it’s a bit unfair to Marie to think that she doesn’t care about Faye as well," she paused to look at Marie before she continued. "Faye should also have a say in this as well, don't you think?" She looks to Ezra, giving him a look that says she understands his worries.
"I…"
"C'mon Ezra," Marie puts a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "Faye's an adult now. I know you wanna protect her. I do too, but we can't protect her forever."
Ezra looks at Marie, then to Shiver, then back to Marie again. " *Sigh* I suppose you're right. Maybe I need to loosen up a bit," the two girls smile at him because they know he means well. "Heh. I'm glad Faye has you as a friend now. Y’know, I can see you two as a couple. Haha I'm jok-" but his little tease gets him more than just a flustered reaction from Shiver. She was a deep blue at this point, and her behavior was odd now. Marie also was holding back a laugh. "Wait…"
——
4 was laying back down in her bed waiting for Shiver to return with their waters. All of a sudden the door flings open by her brother, scaring her back into a sitting position. "YOU'RE DATING SHIVER?!?!"