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Any minute now… any minute, they'd be here.
Big Man had just finished the final touches on the boards of snacks he'd put together. Wasabi crisps, cinnamon jawbreakers, and hot chips on one, and chocolate drops, sweet chews and strawberry hard candies on the other. He set them on each of their beds, where he'd left two little care packages, a blue one for Shiver, and a yellow one for Frye. Inside each was a little scented candle (Shiver likes vanilla, Frye likes spiced apple), some healthier snacks (dried apples for Frye and granola for Shiver), and a new knitted cardigan. Perfect.
…Okay, maybe the cardigans were a little over the top for a surprise gift, but it was nothing but the best for his girlfriends. He'd spent too long with Big Gran for them to be un-presented. He was quite proud of the stripes on Shiver's. Big Gran helped a lot with the X-pattern on Frye's sleeves.
Okay… everything was set. Now he had to do the hardest part: wait for them to get back.
Shiver and Frye were both taking a train from their family estates after three straight weeks of training their respective animals and seeing their respective families. Last time they had talked was this morning when the two had met up; Shiver was hardly awake and Frye sounded close to tears over the phone, mentioning a sprained ankle and having a limp. Since then, he'd recieved a text that the both of them were getting on the train, but nothing else.
Trips to their family were always rough on both of them. It always made Big Man feel better if he could lift their mood when they came home.
He made sure the lights were dim, and the TV was on that soap opera channel they liked to make fun of (even if he admittedly got invested in a couple of the plotlines). He sat himself on the couch and checked his phone, in case he missed a text… nope. He turned his attention to the TV. A tuna and a swordfish were arguing about a girl. Classic soaps.
He kicked his feet against the floor. He sprawled over the entire couch, but it still felt too big by himself- especially when he tucked his fins right back over his stomach.
Now the living room felt too quiet, even when he turned up the TV. Apparently, the swordfish was having an affair? Wow, plot twist!
Ugh. He really misses them. They were literally going to be hone within the hour, but he misses them a lot. The weight of only sparsely hearing from them for the past three weeks was starting to press on him. He was used to at least a pass-by pat on the shoulder every now and then, or hearing their voices down the hallway, or dishes clinking in the kitchen, or both of them shouting over calling dibs on whose snacks were whose. But now, there was nothing.
Big Man grumbled and hugged himself tighter. Can they come home yet? He's dying over here. Withering away, all alone on the couch. Only true love's kiss(es) could save him now… if only there was a strong and beautiful inkfish or two to save him from this misery…
Come on! Shiver would be teasing him by this point for how dramatic he's being!
"Aaaayyyyy…" Big Man lolled his head back, staring up at the ceiling. It was so boring without them. What was he supposed to do now?
He looked back to the TV. Now the tuna was the one having an affair? When did that happen? Why all the affairs?
"It's so stupid," he could hear Frye snarking. "They both like the same girl– why can't she just date both of them?"
And Shiver would agree, "Yeah! Imagine if we got this dramatic over Big Man. Super stupid."
"Aaaaaayyyyyyyyy…" Darn, he made himself miss them even more. Why can't they be home yet? They boarded the train an hour ago…
Ping!
Big Man jumped in his seat, one of his fins slapping around for his phone. Another ping! and he finally curled the tip of his fin around it and checked the text he got.
[Frye]: stupid train is delayed literally fuck today
[Frye]: theres something on the tracks or whatever. Id consider just walking but shiver's dead tired
[Big Man]: :( Where are you stopped?
[Frye]: on the edge of downtown
[Frye]: should be 30 more minutes of the ride but they haven't said how long we're delayed
Great. Just great. His frown grew on his face.
[Big Man]: I could call a taxi for you two?
[Frye]: i don't think they'll take all our luggage
[Frye]: it'll be fine big guy, we'll just get home late.
[Big Man]: ayyyyyyy :( :( :(
[Frye]: we miss you too <3
An hour passed, and Big Man turned the TV off. Another hour passed, and he decided to reheat some leftovers for dinner. By the third hour, with no update from Frye other than i hate everybody on this stupid fucking train we are STILL not moving, he shut all the curtains to their house. The sun was far past the horizon now, which meant it was his bedtime. Not that he's tired in the slightest, but he may as well stick to his routine.
Even as he trudged up the stairs, and squeezed through his doorway, and waddled into his room, he still kept an ear out for the front door that never opens. Even when he laid down, he held out hope for that all-familiar jingling of keys. The house stayed silent.
Big Man hadn’t even noticed he dozed off until he was jolted awake by a knock on his door. He startled in place, tail lashing and almost knocking his blanket out of the bed. “A-Ayay?” Are they home? Are they home?
His door creaked open, revealing Frye with a withered smile, wearing her new cardigan.
“AY! (FRYE!)” Big Man flapped his fins as his grin overtook his face.
“Big MAAAN!” Frye cried back, and paced the length of the room in a hobbled gait to throw herself on top of him. She hit his stomach with a heavy OOF that was quickly smothered as his fins enveloped her in a hug. “You little– hehehe!” She wrapped her arms around one fin, the best of a hug she could muster.
“Aay! (I missed you!)” Big Man ruffled her tentacles, totally messing up the bun she wrapped them in. “Ay, ay, AAAY!" (I missed you so, so, SOO MUCH!)
Frye let out another round of giggles, leaning in to press a couple kisses to his snout. “I missed you too! Oh my cod, I’m NEVER going back that long ever again! C’mere, you—!” She cut herself off with another kiss that Big Man returned, and then gave him another hug to giggle into his shoulder.
Big Man sighed contentedly, humming out a few silly words, “Ayayaaaayy, ayayaaaaayyy! (My girlfriends are hoome, and they’re heeere in my hooouse!)"
"Yes, they aaaaare!" Frye sang back, wriggling in excitement. "After three weeks and a shitty train ride that didn't have to take all day, they're finally back!"
Big Man sat himself up, just so Frye had a more comfortable lean into his chest. His back pressed into the wall, but he didn't mind. "Ay? (Did Shiver go to bed?)" He asked.
Frye nodded, smile fading a bit. "I think so. She really tuckered herself out crying earlier."
The thought of Shiver crying that hard made his heart hurt. "Ay…? (Do you know what made her so upset…?)"
Frye snorted. "What do you think? Her mom wouldn't let her hang up the damn phone for an hour on the train. Not to mention having to put up with her and Shimmer for three weeks straight."
Ugh. He hates how terrible her family is. Part of him wanted to be angry, but all he could feel is upset for Shiver's sake. He'll ask her about it later. Right now, it's Frye time.
“Ay… ay? (I think I know the answer, but… how was your trip?)” Big Man wiggled a little, and Frye leaned a little more into his fin.
Frye sighed heavily, cheek pressed against him. “Ugh. Double ugh. It was a family trip. Same old, nothing new. Which means… it was basically three weeks of Grampa being his old cranky self and taking it out on me. Ppbth.” She stuck her tongue out in a sneer. “And Oliy’s still acting like he hates me, for some reason. Which… kinda’ made everything worse.”
“Aayyy…” Big Man frowned. “Ay. (He’ll grow out of it soon, I hope.)” Little brothers go through rebel phases all the time.
“Hah, yeah. You and me both. Patti and Tilly are doing fine, at least. Still spoiling the fuck out of their eels.”
Big Man chuckled. “Ay? (As if you don’t?)”
Frye gently socked him in the chest. “Okay, a few treats and table scraps isn’t spoiling. I mean that Tilly is about three steps away from hiring someine to make them their own mansion. They’re obsessed with those guys.” She rolled her eyes. “Better than ignoring them, I guess. But they do too much. I think they’re trying to out-do me.”
“Ay? (Did you hear from your parents?)”
Her ear twitched. “Oh, Mom and Dad said hi!” Sarcasm dripped through her tone and soured her fake smile. “Through a postcard. Again.” Her smile dropped into an eye-roll. “Whatever. I didn’t even read it.”
Big Man’s heart tugged in his chest. How long had it been since Frye had seen them in person? He had never met them. She was done talking about it though, so he changed the subject to her bandaged ankle, brushing over it with the tip of his tail. “Ay? (What happened here?)”
“Oh– hehe.” Her laugh fell flat. “That was during a routine the other day. I slipped off the edge of the stage and sprained it when I tried to play it off. I tried giving it some ice and rest, but Grampa made me go through the entire routine again– five times.”
“Ay?! (Five?!)” Big Man’s eyes narrowed, incredulous. “Ay, ayayay–! (No wonder your ankle still hurts, whodoeshethinkhe—!)” He catches himself, mostly to breathe but he also sees the hurt shining in Frye’s eyes. That's not what she needs. “Ay… ay. (Sorry… still. I don’t think you should have gone through that.)"
Frye sighed and shrugged apathetically. “It’s whatever. I’ll just take it easy ‘til it stops hurting. No biggie.”
“Ay. Ay. (No. Big biggie.)” Big Man shifted the hold he had on her, leaning back further into the wall. “Ay! Ay, ay. Ay? (Your Grampa should have let you rest when you got hurt! It doesn’t matter how serious the training is, it’s not worth that. What if you really broke something?)” he blubbered out his own sigh and rested his cheek on her head. “Ay– ay. Ay. (I’m just worried– for you and Shiver’s sake. Your families are too tough on both of you.)”
They sat in a beat of silence, and Frye fiddled with the edges of her sleeves. “You know,” she mumbled, “you have a point. But… you know, the eels need discipline. We can’t half-ass it for a second, or else they'll spiral outta' control. I-I guess I don’t blame Grampa for going so hard.”
His tail twitched around his feet, almost lashing from side-to-side. He didn’t respond with words, but he curled his fins tighter around her. I’m here now, he hoped the gesture said. And now that I’m here, I can protect you. Even if you don’t think you need protecting. I’m here.
“I did like the care package,” Frye said to break the silence. “This sweater really rocks.”
Big Man smiled at that. “Ay! Ay. (I’m glad you like it! I wanted to give you something special.)”
“You just… made this? For me?”
“Ay! (Yep!)”
“It’s so comfy and cozy.” Her speech was starting to slur off; she was getting sleepy. “And it’s got looove in it.”
“Ay! (Yeah, it does!)” Big Man pecked the top of her head. “Ay. (Because I love you.)”
Frye smiled into him. “I love you too, big guy.”
His heart couldn’t be warmer, sinking into his chest and down into his stomach. She was a comfortable weight over him, eyes closed contentedly. “Ay? (Are you sleeping in here tonight?)”
“Yuuup.” Frye nodded. “Comfy mattress.”
“Ayay! (Hey, that’s me you’re laying on!)” He laughed.
“And?” She hugged an arm around him. “You’re a comfy mattress. All warm and boyfriend-shaped. And, I didn’t get to see you for three whole weeks. I’m gonna be clingy.”
“Ay. (Good.)” Big Man wiggled until he was fully laying down, hugging Frye as close as he could to his chest. “Ay. (Because that means I get to be clingy right back.)”
Frye let out a tipsy giggle. “Win-win.”
Both of them basked in the silence and dim light, and Big Man let his eyes close. He loved late-night talks like this, especially because the silence after was wonderful to fall asleep to. All the feelings were talked out, and now that everything was spent there was nothing to do but breathe in each other’s company.
Again, Big Man hadn’t even realized he dozed off until he was gently jostled awake. Shiver was kneeling into the mattress, draped in their new blue-and-white cardigan.
Big Man felt a smile stretching his face. “Ayyy… (Hi, Shiver…)” he mumbled.
“Hi,” they croaked, cracking the softest of smiles through tear-tracked reddened eyes. They toppled their weight into the open fin awaiting them. “Did you… really make this for me?” They asked, tracing their fingers over the ridges in their cardigan.
He nodded. “Ay. Ay? (Yeah, I did. Do you like it?)” Shiver sniffled and hid their face into his shoulder. “Ayyyyyy! (Aww, Shiver!)”
“I love it,” they whimpered, choking back a small sob. “Thank you.”
“Ay. (You’re welcome.)” He curled the tip of his fin around their face, wiping away a trail of tears. “Ay. (I love you.)”
Shiver’s crying turned into a little laugh. “L-Love you too,” they mumbled.
Still draped over his chest, Frye stirred. Just enough to reach her hand out to them in a half-asleep daze. Shiver took her hand and planted a kiss into her palm. They really were too cute. And they were his.
All three of them fell back asleep, warm and smiling in each others’ embrace.