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Splatfest, a busy time of the month for Deep Cut. Changing colors of their clothes, practicing up the dance move, warming up their voices for the weekend long party that Splatlandians were use to but one of the trio had more on his plate. Big man was invited to collab with the Squid sisters by the two cousins themselves! Who would turn down the Squid Sisters? Plus, one of them were Deep Cut's boss. Couldn't say no to her!
Big man had been staying up well past sunrise to finish the Squid Sister's new song, recording his parts to make them perfect to not let the Inkopolis' idols one up him in the music. That along with prep for Splatfest, Big man wouldn't admit he bite off more then he could chew and that's saying something.
Shiver and Frye were waiting for their third to show up at their 'hideout'. Usually all three of them would come here at the same time to get started with selling off junk or cleaning off scrap for it to be sell-able but the two couldn't even do that while waiting for the manta ray. Frye was trying to call him while Shiver was making tea in the kitchenette.
"He's still not picking up! He said the trip to the Squid Sister's studio wouldn't take long and it's been more than 5 hours. Shiv, I hate to say it but I'm getting really freaking worried about him." Frye was staring at the texts she sent him from the morning while Shiver came in with two mugs of tea.
"I am too. I wished he told us about having to go all the way across the bays for this opportunity. I wouldn't have allowed him to go."
Shiver took a seat next to inkling and handed a mug over to her. Raspberry tea with extra honey. Frye put down the phone on the arm rest and took the tea, taking a quick sip before blowing on it.
"It's a 6 hour ride back and forth. Riding that just after a day of prepping for splatfest and the podcast? He's going to pass out the moment he's off the train. Even with the new train station fixed." Shiver didn't take a sip of their tea yet, they didn't like to worry too much about their partners but even Frye could tell they were getting to the point of tracking the manta ray down and making him rest for a day.
Frye sighed and leaned onto Shiver's side. "At least today this is the last night he will be gone. I'm gonna stay up and wait for him. You finish up your sleepytime tea and get ready for bed. Staying up too long will make it harder for you to sing tomorrow."
"But you need sleep too for the same reason." Shiver retorted and took a sip of their tea. "We all need to be rested for the start of Splatfest and Big man is going to come back probably dead from overworking himself. I love boss Marie and Callie but the second they make one of us exhausted from working for them, I'm going to have to bring the sword out."
Frye couldn't help but chuckle at Shiver's rant and threat. Would they even be skilled enough to beat Marie or Callie in a 2v1? Those two have been agents for years from what agent 3 had told her and even if they were skilled at banditing, Deep Cut might not live to tell the tale of fighting the oldest of the New SquidBeak Splatoon.
"Well, if you do try, let me know. I'm not letting you fight anyone alone, even the boss." Frye gave Shiver a quick peak on the cheek and that got the octoling to calm down a little.
"Thank you for having my back about this. A 2v2 sounds like it has a better chance than a 2v1 for us."
"Would be 3v2 if Big would get back soon." Frye sighed and put the tea down. "I'm gonna get some coffee made instead." She tried getting up but Shiver had their arm linked with hers.
"Frye we both need sleep. Don't have coffee so late, please." Shiver was giving Frye a sad tired look and she couldn't argue with them. Reluctantly, the inkling was back by Shiver's side on the couch.
"Fine. How about we wait for him together and if we pass out here, we pass out here. Deal?"
"It sounds like a fair deal." The two settled in for the night, watching videos on their phones, reading up on the news and finishing up their tea.
The afternoon turned into night, the desert cooling off and the two were curled up on the couch. Shiver on top of Frye sleeping while the inkling had her arms around them. The front door unlocked, the clicking making Shiver wake up and look up from their sleep. A huge shadow came in front the door and it took a moment for Shiver to realize who it was.
"Big what time is it?" They got off Frye to stand and walk over to the manta ray. He didn't say anything but put his bags down.
"Big man? Ar-AAH!" He passed out right on Shiver. They managed to keep their balance and hold him up.
"Frye wake up!" The octoling yelled to wake the inkling who jumped awake and almost fell on her face getting off the couch.
"WHA- Oh he's back!" Frye rushed over to help Shiver take their sleeping partner to the bedroom.
With Frye in the front and Shiver in the back, the manta ray was carried down the tiny hallway, knocking a few things over but no one cared really. Their minds was on their partner getting some sleep in a bed. A few more feet, a few more turns and Big man was thrown onto the bed the three shared but a little too hard. The throw managed to stir the manta ray awake.
"Ay.. (Huh..)"
'Oops. Sorry Biggie. Just getting you to bed." Shiver said while moving the cover over him.
"Ay. Ay. (Wait. I got stuff to finish)"
The manta ray tried getting up and Frye kept a hand on one of his fins to hold him down. "No can do! You almost crushed Shiver passing out. Punishment is 6 hours of sleep."
"Ay. Ay. Ay ay. (Frye. Shiver. You can't be serious?)" The manta ray tried wiggling out from under the Inkling's hand but his body was NOT having it. He was dead tired. There was that soreness in his flippers that only happens when you try moving after running 30 minutes after being chased in the desert.
"Big man listen," Shiver started to speak after sitting on the side of the bed. "You shouldn't work yourself into the ground like this. I know before we've asked you to work into the night for us but going back and forth between cities, working for two groups and getting ready for the splatfest? You're not doing this again unless we help you. Understand?"
Big man didn't say anything for a moment, the quietness of the room taking over until someone spoke up.
"Big, we're not saying you can't take opportunities like this again, we're saying if you do, let us in on it so we can make sure none of us are left with too much work. I don't want to see any of us work so hard we fall ontop of each other." Frye said before moving her hand off the manta ray.
"Ay...(Alright..)"
The two leaned down to give him a kiss on both of his cheeks.
"Sweetheart, don't sound so down." Shiver said while getting under the cover to sleep for the night. "In the morning, before splatfest, you get to pick where we eat breakfast and lunch. Deal?" Shiver ask while snuggling up to him.
"... Ay. (Hard bargain.)"
"And I'll pay for for us all." Frye said while setting up the alarm.
"Ay. (Ok I'm convinced.)"
"Good. Rest well you two because tomorrow we have to show off even more since Inkopolis wants to try outdoing splatfest. Can't believe they even tried stealing one of us. Worse than bandits in the desert." Shiver may have been a little salty still about that.
"Ay ay Ay. (They didn't steal me, Shiver but it is nice to be back with people who thing I'm worth stealing!)" Big man said tiredly as Frye got comfy next to him.
"Because you're a treasure to us, dummy. Anyone trying to steal our treasure is gonna get their butts kicked hard. Now go to sleep."
The three were back together and the 'hideout' was full of snores.