Archive of Our Own ^beta

Even if you were not one of the contestants, Mr. Beast challenges looked exhausting. Especially if you were a part of his crew and knew damn well that at least 24 if not 72 hours of filming was just around the corner before they began.

Aware what he’d signed up for, Sapnap slipped into the passenger’s seat of one of his  - borderline offensively more than – friend’s car with an overnight bag dumped in the trunk. Said friend and supposed platonic soulmate drove them to the stadium with too much caffeine in his veins, humming along to his playlist with a few passing remarks about the soon-to-be occurring events.

“We’re not really in the focus of this one. So, if you wanna go home at any point just take my keys. Or if I’m free too we can go home to sleep. Jimmy said it was no biggie.”

“Karl,” Sapnap chuckled having heard this before. Karl would never leave a shoot like that, no matter how tired he grew during it. “we both know we’re not leaving.”

The curly haired boy only shrugged. Blinkers on he took a right exit, GPS loud about some left turn in a few miles. An unspoken worry lingered between them, both anxious about what was nearing to an end. 

However, at least a week of Sapnap’s stay remined if they played their cards right. There was no need to fuss about that. No need to grieve something that wasn’t over yet. Besides it wasn’t like they would spend these days apart anyways merely work a little out of town. Hang around and help out every now and then.

Hospitability should’ve been the least of Karl’s problems. His own overworking nature should’ve been a main concern, though.

-

“You look exhausted, come on.” Hours later, Sapnap pulled his friend aside whilst another person was tagged by Chandler, eliminated from winning half a million dollars.

In the meantime the clock somehow struck midnight - oh how time flies when you're having fun, or have so much money on the line....  It meant a three-hour search from the Texan and Karl was ended.

They worked in shifts so everyone could rest, consume sustenance, and fulfil other basic necessities in order to not overwork themselves. Same thing went for the cameramen, contestants (maybe not the sleeping part for the last – they partook in a challenge after all) and everyone in the crew, the weekend long shoot was wearing everybody down whether they competed or not.

“I’m not, I promise.” The dark blonde protested, stubborn as ever as he momentarily halted to place a kiss to Sapnap’s knuckles each.

Best friends did this. Totally.

Karl dropped his soft grip then turned to descend the stand’s stairs; strides uneven yet determined to spot more contestants in hiding as the younger trailed behind him.

Jimmy could do with a few more pairs of eyes…

“Hey –“ Sapnap fell into step beside him, mimicking an exaggerated  yawn – a test to prove Karl’s fib and get the other boy to finally rest.

Just as expected, bluish grey irises disappeared whilst long eyelashes fanned over freckled cheeks a hand covering Karl’s mouth as his sleepiness was confirmed. Sapnap had been right all along.

“We have a whole staff room to ourselves plus it’s Chris and Chandler’s turn to hunt. When else could we sleep if not now?” The brunette reasoned nudging the other boy’s shoulder with a small encouraging smile.

He could do with some sleep as well. Having Karl by his side while he did so was only an additional bonus of course.

An attempted vicious glare flashed on the slightly taller’s face, Karl didn’t object as fingers slipped between his own.

Sapnap had a point.

The Texan’s palm was warm, just because he instinctively shuffled closer to prop his chin on the stubbled boy’s shoulder in a half-hug for a split second before they entered the inside of the stadium, Karl wasn’t tired. Not at all…

 “Okay, fine –“ The latter mumbled into Sapnap’s hoodie, drained gaze scanning the horizon for the camera crew and his boss in general.  “But you’ll wake me if I’m needed and somehow don’t realize it’s go-time.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Sapnap waved him off, promise not taken seriously, clasped hand serving as guidance whilst he dragged Karl inside, a text already sent in the group chat that they would hit the hay soon.

The curly-haired boy saw right through him. “Nick, I’m serious.”

“And I’m serious about your need for a break. Come on, darling.” The nickname slipped off the younger’s tongue easily, almost second nature to him at that point, as he nudged his friend closer to their room. “Got the keys?”

Distracted and barely awake Karl patted down his front for mentioned card, his occupied hand useless like so but he was not going to let go of Sapnap for such a miniscule inconvenience.

“Right back pocket?” He suggested too lazy to also check that with his left hand as he found every other option futile. 

“I don’t know. You tell me.” Sapnap shrugged, line of sight darting around to find someone who could let them in in case they were locked outside on accident.

The slight yank of their aligned palms let the younger refocus, an expectant look awaited him from a drowsy Karl. 

Realization dawned upon the part-Greek boy, pupils the size of polished silver rims, Sapnap sputtered out his conclusion. “Oh, you want me to – okay.”

Karl’s playful nod of approval obtained, Sapnap lifted the taller’s sweater a tad and slipped his fingers into his back pocket exceptionally careful not to let himself brush more jean fabric – and what hid beneath – than required to finish the task. Bashful, he wrote the request down as a knackered impromptu friendly activity, never properly thought through, not to be overthought afterwards…

He wondered how many of Karl’s closest friends were allowed to do such things. As for one Sapnap had some privileges when it came to boundaries. For instance, hair touching had always been off limits for others but -

Oh, and there it was. Key card fished out Sapnap’s cheeks pink-tinted, the boy didn’t ponder much about questionable activities and made them file into their confined sleeping chambers instead.

Kicking down their shoes and drawing the blinds became the boys’ main priority. Their point of contact was finally broken, Karl had enough energy to brush his teeth and beckon for his friend to join him before they fell into the sheets together.

Sharing a double bed was not an issue for either party of the duo. Sapnap made no move to steal a pillow and drop to the couch like he probably would’ve done at the beginning of their first meet up. Sleep in the lounge, in his online bud’s car… Anything else but this.

How things have changed… 

He let himself be pulled down into Karl’s embrace a soft duvet draped over them both in one swift movement, bodies facing one another. Legs tangled together the shorter didn’t hesitate to pull the other boy closer, left arm secure around a slim waist as Karl pressed their foreheads close holding onto Sapnap’s jumper both front and back.

Breathings evened out a comfortable silence enveloped the duo.

If they concentrated enough, they could hear faint chatter from outside, the hustle and bustle of the video not over yet. They weren’t in the mood to eavesdrop, though, nor care about any nuisance since their limited time to rest didn’t exactly allow them to do so.

Neither could doze off immediately, nonetheless. Sapnap’s racing mind prevent his own snooze for sure.

However, he wasn’t the one to disturb the affectionate languidness.  

“Thank you, Sap.” Karl whispered into their shared space, hot breath tickled Sapnap’s cheek and nose whilst light strokes began to map out the space between his shoulder blades.

So, Karl was not asleep yet. Good to know.

The younger matched the velvety tone, voice barely above a whisper he hummed, “For what?”

“Visitin’ me- looking out for me.” With the explanation slurred a little, light ocean eyes remained tightly shut as a viridian pair peered open a tad to observe Karl’s fondness spoken into existence.

The list could’ve gone on and on if Karl had had the capacity to think properly. Howsoever he did manage to get his point across. It brought an equally tender smile to his friend’s lips, the corners of Sapnap’s mouth lifted so high his facial muscles were going to feel the strain in case he kept it up.

The shorter chose to brush over the first part and only reply to the second, words truthfully sincere. “You’d do the same for me.”

Karl’s own response happened to be a simple hum and a tightened grip on dark grey fabric. The curly-haired boy mumbled something incoherent into the other’s collar, caresses ceasing to be overtaken by a simple soft grip.

Sapnap took that as a sign – a hint, if you will –  and sighed, ready to round up the conversation with a sweet phrase.

“Goodnight, Karl. I love you.”

Karl was awake enough to echo it back. He tugged the younger even closer, with a content, peaceful expression on his face.

They could get used to this.

They really could.

~

Although Sapnap bore not a single clue how and why he drifted off to dreamland so quickly, he somehow lost consciousness seconds after the boy in his arms did. Feeling safe, warm, and loved probably helped, he supposed as he blinked his bleary eyes open. The fight against the blinding nature of golden sunrays through faulty blinds turned out to be a one-sided battle. Forest green irises overtook unfocused pupils whilst their owner woke up properly, recently painted fingertips toyed with shaggy locks of highlighted mahogany hair.

The lightest knock on the door let Sapnap come to his senses a little better, it snapped him out of his absentminded twirling. He noted that the rise and fall of his best friend’s chest remained steady – he didn’t stir, thank God.

As carefully as he could Sapnap shuffled out of Karl’s trap of limbs, mindful to bunch up the blanket so the dark blonde could hold onto something still. Socked feet hit the ground with a quiet thud, the brunette leaned down to gently brush his lips against an alabaster forehead before he tiptoed to the door, steps wary and silent.

On the other side of the door stood Jimmy with a camera over his shoulder, turned off until a shot was worthy to record. Sapnap held up a finger to his lips as he sauntered out, voice hushed as he greeted the man.

“Hey Sap, I’ll need one of you to help me a bit.”

“Okay. I can come just give me a sec. Karl is still asleep.”

~

The second Karl was contacted to retrieve the Lamborghini’s keys, Sapnap knew he was in trouble. He’d already received a few confused, practically passive aggressive texts from his friend in the meantime, but the bubbly boy was yet to make an appearance back on the field. According to Chris he got held up inside with some contenders.

Good for him. Less running, more energy reserved – perfect really.

The keys got tossed over to Jimmy, Karl’s determined trek to Sapnap was inevitable. The latter sighed with an amused chuckle, eyeing the crossed arms of his ‘attacker’. Karl skidded to a stop about half a foot from him, ready to go off on a half-hearted tangent about broken promises and idiotic nimrods who restrained his success by wasting his working hours.

The younger beat him to it, though.

Grin wide and played up for the cameras his voice dipped low, “Don’t – you deserved some rest. Plus, we did just fine without you Jacobs.”

Sapnap snaked his arms around Karl’s front as an apology. And what a lucrative plan that was… He held onto the brunette over his shoulders, arms protectively flexing around a sweater-clad form whilst they witnessed the scene unfold with Jimmy from the side-lines. Karl instinctively reached up to latch onto Sapnap’s forearm and hand, palms flat against knuckles. Tension, that was never really there to begin with, dissipating, the blue-eyed one of the pair leaned back into the embrace indifferent of the commotion around them. The cameramen were filming Jimmy and the contestant anyways.

“Fine –“ Karl gave in after a small peck was left on his cheek (which he obviously returned, aware how Sapnap did it the second no one was looking their way).

The third-to-last guy having been tagged they all began to exit the area and move on. Hand-in-hand the pair of best friends strolled after the rest of the staff. No one batted an eye at the gesture and what it might’ve entailed – everyone who had ever worked with the duo knew they were beyond touchy with each other. To see them apart was a more significantly shocking view to behold at that point.

 “Two more people to go?” Karl questioned for mere confirmation hands swinging together, steps aligned.

“Yepp.” Sapnap nodded, most of his attention trained on their surroundings rather than the boy attached to his side.

“Sweet, we can go home soon then.” Karl mused earning a playful look like he’d presumed he would.

With a single eyebrow lifted the Texan quipped, “Can’t wait, can you?”

Shaking his head, a chuckle was huffed out whilst the taller ignored the occasional beep of his walkie-talkie. “Shut up.”

This amount of distraction was not much help to the main seeker to say the least. Sapnap gathered that maybe if they actually helped with the capture of the contestants they would be done sooner. They would stop on their way back to grab food – where he would pay and insist that Karl didn’t have to split the bill with him, not this time, not ever . Go home, watch some anime, be alone together. To cuddle. Yes, no other reason.

“Go and chill with the losers, I’ll go wrap this up with Jimmy.” The brunette suggested at last, once again happy to fill in for Karl’s role on the team in order to make the beautiful boy’s job easier.

He was better at socialising with randoes anyways.

“I hate you so much.” Karl shot back; a hint of unadulterated affection hidden behind his exasperation.

Sapnap shook his head with a slight squeeze to the taller's hand, tiny laughs bubbling out of his chest.

That was a good joke. A great one, even.

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“It’s really not –“

Before the pair could bicker any further Jimmy theatrically slipped his phone into his pocket with a loud sigh and a wild gesture around the air. A knowing look adorned his kind features, the tallest of the three shook his head in faux disappointment.

“Guys, anybody wanna help me?”

Like deer caught in the headlights the cuddly duo popped their little bubble and scrambled to do what they were paid for. “Shit, sorry, Jimmy. Coming –“

Maybe the idea of flying Sapnap out monthly had less perks than benefits… Dependent on who you asked, though. It really was.