Chapter Text
Bad was nervous as he parked in front of the Airbnb he was staying at for the week.
The man easily busied himself as he took Lucy in his arms and entered the small building.
Once she was secured inside, he began grabbing his suitcases and backpacks, filled with cords, equipment and clothes.
His car was quickly emptied over the course of 15 minutes, leaving only his usual items. Everything else had already been taken inside.
Bad locked the car doors and properly entered the Airbnb.
It wasn't the best, but it also wasn't the worst. At least it allowed Rat to be inside.
Speaking of Rat, she was occupied playing with one of her favorite toys, laying on top of her bed.
Bad approached her and sat down next to her on the ground. He took a deep breath as he slid his fingers through the dog’s fur.
This was fine.
He took out his phone to see a message from Skeppy.
a frned of mnie is goign for u
see ui n my appratment
He couldn't help but smile at his best friend’s multiple typos. He replied:
alright :D
i’ll be waiting
Bad pocketed his phone and waited, giving Rat many scratches to calm down his speeding heart.
He couldn't believe he was minutes from seeing Skeppy for the first time in real life.
So much had happened between the two of them over the years. Countless videos that left them gasping for air for how much they laughed, heartfelt conversations both on-stream and off-stream, and many more interactions that left both of them yearning for more.
Hoping to see each other face-to-face. Wanting to evolve their friendship into something greater than just “online friends.”
Did Bad really want to see Skeppy in real life? Of course.
But, he was scared.
Scared of so many things.
Because, this was his Skeppy.
This man that he would do anything for, both either playing as a character in a fictional story and as a real person.
This man who he had so much respect and love for.
Yet, the idea of seeing him in real life terrified him.
He didn't want to face it. His whole body buzzed at the idea of having Skeppy in front of him.
Skeppy, the man that could never leave his thoughts. The man that had him wrapped around his finger without any complaints from him.
Bad had already accepted the fact that he was maybe, just a little obsessed with his best friend.
It wasn't in a weird way. He just… admired him a lot. Enough that seeing a simple color would make his mind wander to his favorite person in a mere second.
Goodness, he’s so muffined.
A car horn broke him out of his thoughts, startling him into standing up.
He looked out the window and saw a small car parked in front of the driveway.
His lift is here.
With a deep breath, he refilled Lucy’s water bowl and made sure everything was in place before exiting the building and walking up to the car.
The driver saw him and unlocked the car’s doors, letting Bad climb inside with ease.
“Hi, you’re Zak’s friend, right?” The driver asked as he began driving off.
Bad nodded, smiling politely, “Yup, I’m his best friend.” He ran his hands through his long hair to calm down his rising nerves.
“I’m one of his friends from here. Don't really know much about his YouTube career, but he asked for my help with bringing you to him and recording.”
Bad chuckled with a roll of his eyes, “Yeah, ‘cuz he clearly couldn't do that himself. That lazy muffin.”
The man snickered in return, “He wanted to make sure you saw him at his apartment, without getting lost or something. Also, did you just call him a muffin?”
“Oh- um,” Bad suddenly stuttered, completely forgetting that he was talking to someone that also didn't know anything about his online muffin-loving persona, “Yeah, I- I call people that sometimes.”
The man hummed, “Huh, so that's where he got it from…”
“G- What?” Bad couldn't help but sputter, looking over at the man. Skeppy uses the word “muffin” outside of his online life?
…Why does that make his stomach flip? The fact that Skeppy talks like Bad even in his personal life?
“Yeah. I mean, he sometimes says ‘What the muffin?’ when we hang out. I’m guessing he got that from you?” The man asked, eyes glued to the road in front of them.
“Um- Yeah, he definitely got that from me. I say that too sometimes…” Bad muttered, scratching his right cheek that had started to feel a little too warm for him.
A soft smile broke into the man’s face. “Makes sense,” he replied kindly.
The rest of the ride was spent in a comfortable silence. Bad took the opportunity to let Skeppy know he was on his way.
Skeppy could only reply with words of excitement.
Bad smiled fondly at his phone.
A few minutes went by before Skeppy’s friend spoke up again.
“Alright, we’re almost there.”
The driver pulled into the shared parking of the apartment’s residents and parked the car in a free space.
Bad took a deep breath as Skeppy’s friend turned off the car and grabbed something from the backseat.
It was a camera. A good-looking one at that.
“Let’s go.”
The two men got out of the car and walked silently towards the entrance. They went up the elevator that was in place and they began walking in the hallway, many doors visible to both of them.
Bad pulled up his phone to message Skeppy and let him know he was inside the building.
skeppyy im here :D
which door is it btw? o_O
A few moments passed before Skeppy answered.
lsat one to ur rgiht
Bad heard the camera clicking.
It's recording now. It’s going to happen now.
He took a deep breath.
Skeppy’s friend loomed behind him as he walked, camera in hand.
Bad felt himself running his left hand through his hair over and over again as he approached the door.
He was just a little bit nervous. He definitely didn't feel his palms sweating and his stomach flipping uncontrollably.
Now that he knew where his friend was, he placed his phone in his pocket.
“Here we go,” he muttered loudly to the camera behind him, “Okay...”
He made sure to adjust his cap and hair before reaching his fist out to the door.
Better look good for Skeppy.
“Okay, go ahead,” Skeppy’s friend stated quietly.
He knocked on the door three times.
His hands felt like they were asleep. He could feel the prickling in his skin.
A long moment passed by.
…Nothing happened.
Bad still felt his heart pounding in his chest as he readjusted his hair over and over again.
He waited some more.
Still nothing.
He turned to Skeppy’s friend when he heard the sound of a door opening.
His heart skipped a beat as his head whipped around to find Skeppy opening the door.
Real, breathing Skeppy. Right in front of him.
There was a moment of silence as Skeppy’s face lit up instantly at him. At him.
He couldn't even properly process him as Skeppy exclaimed, “OH MY GOD!”
The man quickly walked over and immediately wrapped him in the tightest hug he had ever experienced, burying his face in his hair.
Bad felt his stomach burst with butterflies as he hugged back.
Enough force was expelled against him from Skeppy that he stumbled back a little before gaining his composure.
His best friend was happily squeezing him, holding onto him for dear life.
Bad couldn't help but squeal as he hugged his Skeppy. His best friend and favorite person in the world.
Skeppy followed suit with a weird noise of his, showcasing his own excitement.
Both of them probably seemed really weird if someone else were to see them, but they didn't care.
They were finally together.
Bad did note to keep the door open as Skeppy continued hugging him tightly.
After a moment, they finally parted.
Both of their smiles were achingly big.
“Oh my God- is this real?” Skeppy asked as he stared deep into Bad’s eyes.
He held a face that begged for answers. Begged to know this wasn't some fake fantasy.
“It is real!” Bad exclaimed happily, pulling Skeppy for yet another hug.
It just… felt right. Natural. His hatred for hugs flew out the window at that moment.
When they finally pulled away for a second time, Skeppy muttered with a flushed face, “Holy shit, dude.”
Both of them heard the camera clicking, so they turned to see Skeppy’s friend pulling the camera’s lens away from them.
“It’s done,” he stated with a simple smile, causing Skeppy to reply, “Thanks, man. For doing this for me.”
“No problem,” he replied kindly, and Bad and Skeppy turned to see each other again.
“...I still can't believe you’re right in front of me,” Skeppy spoke quietly, and Bad could feel how Skeppy’s gaze traced every single one of his facial features.
Bad couldn't help but do the same.
Being able to take in every single detail of Skeppy’s face was… something he didn't know he needed until now.
“Yeah, me neither. Just- like, wow…” Bad mumbled almost incoherently as he kept staring.
He could tell he was already being awkward, and embarrassing.
Skeppy was the first to look away with a sheepish grin, “Oh my goodness- sorry for staring so much. I’m just very happy to see you.”
“Don’t apologize, you muffin,” Bad giggled in return, before admitting, “I mean, being completely honest, I was really nervous to see you. Like- my heart is still like, beating super fast…”
Upon hearing that, Skeppy chuckled and replied, “Dude- mine too...” He caught Bad’s gaze and asked gently, reaching out for his hand, “Can I?”
“Uh- sure?” Bad replied with a confused tilt of his head, allowing Skeppy to grab his hand with both of his.
Softly, Skeppy led Bad’s hand to land on top of his chest, and he instantly understood why he had done that and moved it to feel his best friend’s heartbeat.
He could feel Skeppy’s heart pounding quickly.
Bad’s eyes widened a little.
He caused this…
He’s the reason Skeppy’s heart is beating this quickly…
“Oh my gosh…” Bad mumbled, “That is fast.”
He looked up at Skeppy to find him looking at him with wide eyes as he kept holding his wrist to his chest.
“Yeah…”