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The monitor emits a blue shine that creates a sheen across Jake's skin—a dusty pink now, or at least for the past hour. He's been giggling hard for the duration of the recording, cheesing at every little movement of both of their characters, especially each time they fall flat.
"We just gotta– ow," Albert yips as his avatar ragdolls from hitting his head on the wooden platform. Jake giggles in response until he does the same thing, verbalizing an 'ow' just like Albert had done. This time, the younger giggles. Without realizing it, they've copied each other whether through actions or words. This exact moment would be an example, however, there are a multitude of ways they have.
Rage-baiting, which Jake does nowadays, was one of the habits he especially learned from Albert. Sure, it's annoying, and it definitely gets Albert going, but who else would he have learnt it from? Jake recounts their 99 Nights in the Forest video when he continuously prevented their progress—until, Albert killed them all and Jake lost it.
Video ideas are often shared between the two when it comes to Roblox. With the slop that covers the page, Jake will always find a gem or two he's eager to play, either with himself or with his friends. Jake plays them first, having fun figuring out the mechanics and giggling through with the random players. How could he not share them with his friends? He loves playing with the others, but having just Albert relaxes him.
Usually, whether on purpose for content or accidentally, Jake tends to be quiet and reclusive around his larger group of friends.
Of course, he can talk to them himself as a duo, but when it comes to Albert, he feels different. Maybe it's because of how long he's known him or the old content of them flooding his head; yet whatever it is, Jake's tense nerves subside into comfortable clouds.
"Dude– Jake?" Albert's voice cuts through Jake's thoughts like a sweet butter knife.
Jake blinks a couple of times before responding, "Sorry... Sorry, I just..." He's unsure of what excuse to give Albert since he was comparing themselves like a sap.
"No, it's okay," Albert giggles over the line, "we can end the recording if you're tired."
"Yeah... Yeah, that's okay," his voice is more exasperated than chipper as it just was.
Albert furrows his eyebrows, his ears perking up at the differences in his tone. He doesn't mean to, but with how quickly Jake leaves the game, he can't ignore it.
"You that sleepy? It's only, like, eleven," it's a playful attempt to try to wring out whatever Jake's not fully telling him.
Jake shrugs as if Albert could see him, "It's weird, yeah, I guess. We would stay up until, like, five a few years back." Albert could hear the smile at the end of his sentence.
Albert smiles along, "Yeah..."
He remembers about eight years ago when he went by a different name, almost a different person. Staying up until sunrise wasn't abnormal to them, despite Jake's mom pleading with him to sleep earlier. Droopy eyes would never matter to them since you could just rub them away; and feel the warmth of that other person on the line. It was more than enough, just like now. Jake was always there to record some stupid video for their channel at whatever time.
Albert wishes they could—Jake wishes they could—turn back time and do it all over again. To be young adults again, twenty-two and twenty again, to be teens again, sixteen and fourteen. But they know they can't. Time will tick on and they'll age, but the memories they will make will never change.
Even at that rough patch of time when they stopped talking, Albert never forgot about him. He never wanted to in the first place. Jake had such an impact on him that there was zero chance Albert could bury him deep inside his brain to forget.
"You've gone quiet now too!" Jake laughs which regains Albert's focus.
Albert scoffs, "Shut up, idiot. God..." Jake snickers in response.
The call falls silent once again. It's comforting in the dimness of each other's rooms, thousands of miles away.
"I love you," Jake interrupts the crackling silence between them. His heart beats hard as if he's confessing to a crush. They've said it before, countless times, so why is Jake so restless about it? Albert is quiet for way too long for Jake's liking, so he attempts to stutter out an apology: "Sorry... I don't know why... Why I..."
Albert cuts him off, "I love you too, stop overthinking it." He can't tell if the message was for himself or for Jake, either way, he feels all giddy inside.
"Sorry."
"I love you, Jake," Albert decides to restart, almost cooing his sentence.
"I love you too, Albert," Jake's face is flushed even more than before, one hand covering his face in embarrassment.
Truth be told, they've played this game over and over again. In a way, it's a form of Gay Chicken they've been playing for years. Yet, time and time again they've dispelled any true rumors of them. For them or for the fans? They wouldn't know themselves. It's not for the fans to know anyways.
Jake isn't a bad looking guy, he has a sharp jawline, he works out, and he's tall. Albert doesn't blame himself for finding those features attractive since it's natural to be. It's not like he considers himself solely attracted to women. But when it gets down to specific things, Albert blames it on the lack of sleep. The way Jake laughs whenever he's being a bitch sticks to him like a parasite. Maybe it's why he's so quick to forgive, but he blames it on the goodness of his heart Albert swears he has.
Albert isn't a bad looking guy either, which is the thing that Jake worries about. He doesn't usually find himself attracted to boys like that, yet Albert is quick to shut that down. Being gay isn't a bad thing, just deep down it simmers as if it's bad for only himself. It's okay for other people to be gay, just not him. He'll beat himself up over it, but for now, covering it with thin walls will have to do. Thin walls that crack every time Albert is around. Maybe it's just humor or maybe it's just jokes to cover up what he really is.
"Are you about to sleep?" his voice warm to Jake's ears. His eyes prickle at the bubbling thoughts.
Again, he nods as if Albert could see him. He respond with a curt hum that slipped out.
"Jeez, did I interrupt you?" Albert's giggling again and all Jake can do is bite his nails. "Jake, hello..?"
"Sorry," Jake mumbles through his bitten nails. It's all that comes out without him being irrationally upset.
Albert picks up on his tone once again. "Dude, seriously what's upsetting you?" He doesn't mean to be harsh, but it's in his nature.
"Nothing!" Jake snaps, eliciting a shuffle that illuminates Albert's Discord profile. "Nothing. Nothing, sorry, I'm just tired. I had fun recording, though, seriously," he diverts the conversation, praying to god Albert picks up the unwanted topic.
"... Okay," he does, but begrudgingly. Albert knows better than to pester Jake. "I'm going to sleep now, okay? Love you."
Jake bites his tongue before responding, "Love you too." He leaves before Albert can get another word in.
Running his hands down his face, he thumbs at his beard to distract himself from the cracking wall within. He'll go to sleep and all will be fine.