Chapter Text
When Mapicc and Zam finally start dating - it's a bit of anticlimactic affair.
In their defense, it finally happened after months of off and on pining, several miscommunications and unspoken words. Mapicc was glad to have the 'tying of the knot' be something calm and relaxed as opposed to the actual conjuring of the relationship.
Mapicc would, unfortunately, rather die before he told any normal person how or why they started dating and would genuinely never admit to the fact that it was mainly because of Minecraft roleplay - in his community, it makes sense.
To any normal human being? He'd rather not sound like a freak, thanks.
Despite all of that, their relationship is fine. It helped that there were months of already built friendship and pre-existing chemistry that blew away most of the common relationship awkwardness.
They were already pretty comfortable with each other and the conversations you'd rather not have with a partner are also things they've discussed prior.
They aren't too lovey-dovey - well, publicly at least. Mapicc would say that the more affectionate one is Zam, while Zam would most likely argue that it's him - the difference being he happens to be 'more freaky about it', which were Zams words.
Regardless, they've always been compatible with each other so the dating shit comes easy. Daily VCs or facetimes, texts throughout the day - normal long distance coup shenanigans.
Which, unfortunately is the one aspect of their relationship that's a problem. Well, it's the second aspect of their relationship.
The first being not a single person knowing they're dating. Besides Jepex, which is it's own problem in of itself.
It's not like it was intentionally kept as a secret, they aren't ashamed or anything - it just kind of naturally became one. Mapicc didn't tell anyone and neither did Zam, they both simultaneously decided it was something that was better as a private thing.
Not like the entirety of Lifesteal don't tease them or make jokes anyways - the only differences is they don't know it's real.
The second problem that arises, is the fact that they're long distance. Now, Mapicc doesn't necessarily mind being long distance, he's fine with a little bit of space and driving.
The problem is that Zam is several day drives away, thirty fucking hours to be specific. Now while Mapicc doesn't mind a drive - he would drive off a cliff before he drove for more than twelve hours.
It makes meeting up a little bit more difficult in their case, of course a plane ticket or even a train ticket is always an option, but then there's always some kind of scheduling conflict, or in Mapiccs case at the time, school.
And for awhile, it bothered them both, having to wait so long before even seeing each other in person.
It was damn near torture having to fall asleep in vc while not being able to fall asleep right next to each other, and even though deep down Mapicc was making fun of himself for turning into one of those discord simps that falls asleep on call for their stupid discord kittens or some shit.
He genuinely enjoys doing it with Zam, and it became something he looked forward to.
Although it slowly became not enough for the both of them, daily texts and late night calls weren't cutting it anymore. They needed to meet up, and they were going to.
Now that he's finally graduated done with school and free, him and Zam are gonna meet up and he's finally gonna see his fucking girlfriend.
mapey
can you answer ur goddamn discod
baby<3
why would u not just ft me
baby<3
we're literally already here
mapey
maybe i lik discosrd is that anprobem
baby<3
no ofc not but your godawful spelling is
mapey
i hate you, joi n the goddamn vc
baby<3
love yuo!
mapey
yuo
baby<3
FUCK YOU
mapey
love u, now vc please please please
baby<3
im joiningggguhhhh
“Yo, hello,” Zams voice crackles through her mic. It's dark in the background of her camera but she's close enough to the camera that the light from her phone illuminates her face.
Mapicc kind of hates how pretty she is even in the dark, “Yooo, hello bro,” He finally greets back, slouched fully in his chair, then sound of Zams finally registers, “Are you on your phone?”
Zam makes a high pitched, 'hpmh!' noise as he listens to her shuffle around her covers and watches as her camera shakes violently with her squirming, “A girl can't voice call on her phone? Is that not allowed?”
“I didn't even say all of that,” Mapicc whines, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
Zam finally comes fully into view, having apparently turned her beside lamp on in all her shuffling, her curls are sticking out in all directions and a bright smile on her face.
Mapicc can't fight the smile twitching on his face and steadfastly ignores his rapidly warming cheeks, “It was implied in your hating, actually, I was already on my phone.”
“And you couldn't get to your pc?”
Zams face screws up like Mapicc had personally offended her and he can't fight the laugh it pulls out of him, “Why on earth would I do that while im comfy in my wonderful bed?”
Raising a brow, Mapicc crosses his arms, “Uh, to talk to me? Hello?”
Zam blinks slowly into the camera before her eyes drift to the side, “Anyways..”
“Fuck you bro-”
“I'm joking! I'm joking!” Zam giggles, waving her hands in the camera.
Mapicc shakes his head in faux disappointment, keeping his head tilted downward to hide his smile, “No, I get it, you hate me bro, it's okay-”
“Stopppuhhh,” Zam whines into her hands, shoulders still shaking with laughter. Mapicc will deny the fact that he giggled along with her to the day he dies, but he'll admit to watching her laugh at her own stupid joke because seeing her happy makes his heart feel weak.
Zam finally stops giggling and smiles shyly into the camera, coiling a curl around her finger, finally noticing that Mapicc had just been watching her laugh, “What are you staring at, freak?”
Mapicc scoffs, uncrossing his arms and throwing his hands up in surrender, “God forbid I stare my girlfriend, fucking sue me, jesus.”
“Awww,” Zam coos blinking her eyes rapidly, “You called me your girlfriend!”
Mapicc deadpans at the camera and ignores that his entire face is probably red and definitely burning, “You literally are my girlfriend.”
Zam shrugs, finally letting her curl uncoil from around her finger, “It's still cute to hear!” She defends with a small pout before waving him off, “Anyways, not that I don't love to see your beautiful face-”
“You're so annoying, I hate you-”
“Why'd you call me so late?”
As much as Mapicc is fighting to say something stupid and dumb, the genuine concern in her voice stops him, “I can't just wanna call?”
Zam raises an eyebrow disbelievingly, “You are genuinely so anal about going to bed at a certain time, you wouldn't just call me at,” She pauses to squint at her phone, “2:39 am,” She says after pulling back.
Mapicc purses his lips and curses her for knowing him so well. He did call at basically 3 am for a specific reason.
The reason being he stayed up all night researching Airbnb's in New Mexico and the cheapest plane tickets or train tickets to go to Canada, pick Zam up, travel back together and end up at the Airbnb in New Mexico and spend two weeks together.
It's a long winded plan - parts of it will absolutely fall through, and with Zam taking care of her siblings, there is always a chance she can't stay for the full two weeks but Mapicc is feeling strangely optimistic about the whole operation, which is why he couldn't wait till morning to tell her about it.
He sighs loudly and Zam leans closer to her camera in what looks like concern mixed with anticipation, “Okay,” He admits reluctantly, “I do wanna talk to you about something - oh my god don't look like that, it's nothing bad,” Mapicc quickly reassures when he sees Zams face slowly losing color.
She huffs, exhaling out of relief, “Should've started with that, my gosh.”
Mapiccs grin curls into amusement, “I would've if I'd known you'd immediately have a heart attack, anyways!” He swiftly moves on, not giving Zam the chance to defend herself, ignoring the glare she directs at him for it.
He also tries to ignore the growing anxiety in him at finally having the opportunity to tell Zam about his plan.
Zams face softens clearly noticing the anxiety in his face, “Hey, it's okay, you don't have to tell me now, it's fine,” she soothes softly.
His heart rate slows at the tenderness in her tone and momentarily kicks himself for being so nervous about telling Zam something - the Zam who's never judged him or gotten upset at him for a single thing.
“I'm fine, just being dumb,” He waves off her concern and takes a deep breath, suddenly very interested at the hang nail on his thumb, “So uh, how's your travel schedule look?”
Zam blinks at the camera, “Uh,” She says with a tilt of her head, “My travel schedule? It's...fine? I guess, I mean I have no trips planned, if that's what you're asking.”
“Would yuo?” He blurts out before he can stop himself.
“Would I?” Zam repeats, tone now slightly amused, “Would I what?”
“Take a trip, duh,” Mapicc clarifies despite knowing that wasn't obvious whatsoever, and Zams deadpan expression backs up that idea.
She hums for a second in thought, head still slightly tilted, “I guess it would depend,” She finally answers, “I'm free for like, a solid month. So maybe? I've got no where to go though, so.”
Mapicc is fighting the urge to jump out of his chair like an excited child, “What if I gave you a location?”
“Gave me a-”
“Like for example an Airbnb in New Mexico for two weeks with me?” Mapicc blurts out before Zam can finish speaking, “I mean, I can pay for it, or like most of it. Probably all of it though, if I upload my video first but if you can. Make it, I mean. Not pay for it,” He rambles through the explanation of trip.
It's quiet from Zams end, and Mapicc can't bring himself to look up at his camera, but the sound of a sniffle makes his head snap up.
He looks at screen to see Zam covering her mouth with both hands, tears welling in her eyes. Mapicc fights a huge grin because Zam is so fucking emotional, it's stupid.
Her voice warbles and shakes as she talks, “Mape are you serious?” Her voice quivers slightly.
He nods his head rapidly, feeling the excitement bubble in his stomach, “I've been searching for plane and train tickets genuinely all day,” He admits with a sheepish shrug, “I kind of planned to travel to Canada on a train to pick you up and then we come back to New Mexico together, or like I don't know, meet in the middle.”
More tears spill down Zams cheeks as she stares at her screen with stupid pout on her face, her curls somehow look more disheveled than before. He wants to kiss her so fucking bad -
“You're so dumb,” She warbles out in the midst of her tears, “Yeah, yeah Mape you can pick me up in Canada.”
Mapicc grins so wide he's pretty sure he rips the skin on his lips, Zam matches his smile and giggles wetly, still crying but now actively attempting to wipe the onslaught of tears away, “You ready to finally meet up? As a couple, this time.”
Zam nods rapidly, a smile creeping onto her lips, “I'm so ready.”
A Day Later
Mapicc thinks hosting Jepex is sometimes the worst and best thing. It's the best thing because he doesn't have to worry about stupid trivial things like making sure his room is clean, or his parents - Jepex has seen it all already.
The worst thing is that Jepex has already seen it all, which means the guy gets too fucking comfortable.
Which Mapicc doesn't entirely mind, cause it's not like he's got anything to hide, at least nothing from Jepex specifically but god forbid if he had any secrets - Jepex would know just about fucking all of them from how nosy he gets.
Mapicc lies back on his bed, tossing a red foam ball that he found tucked under his bed, distractedly watching Jepex play fucking Bedwars on his PC.
It's kind of annoying how Jepex just knows his passwords, but it also doesn't bother him enough to change genuinely any of them.
“I'm in awe your PC works with shitty amount of storage you have - shit I'm gonna die,” Jepex swears, quickly jerking around the mouse.
Mapicc glares at the back his head, “I'm gracefully allowing you to play on my setup and you're shit talking me?”
Jepex shrugs, not even bothering to turn around, completely locked in on the game, “It's like, an objective fact. What the fuck do you even have on here?”
“None-ya,” Mapicc snarks, lobbing the red ball at the back of Jepexs head, letting out a loud cackle when it causes Jepex to jump and fall to his death.
Jepex whips around to glare at him before shaking his head, realizing that Mapicc is just gonna keep laughing. He crumbles as clicks around in Mapiccs PC.
They settle back into a calm silence, and this is one of the other things that Mapicc enjoys about having Jepex over.
He doesn't have to worry about being overly entertaining because He knows Jepex will find a way to entertain himself and them sitting in silence is something that's never been uncomfortable or awkward for them.
immediately the calmness of the silence is ruined by Jepexs loud gasp and abrupt silence, Mapicc peels himself off of his bed to sit up fully, staring at Jepexs suspiciously straight back, “Jepex..what is it?”
“Nothing!” He squeaks quickly clicking out of whatever he clicked on.
Mapicc stares flatly at Jepexs back, “Nothing?” He repeats, tone dull. Jepex spins around in the chair, nervously smile on his face.
“Nothing!” He repeats, just as squeaky, he hastily pulls himself up from the chair and dusts off the imaginary dust off his sweats, “Anyways, we had plans right? We should probably get to those, right? Right!”
Mapicc blinks rapidly as Jepex basically sprints from his room and down the stairs, he listens to keys jingling as he assumes Jepex had grabbed Mapiccs keys and ran to his car.
He stares at the now blank computer screen and shakes his head before pulling himself off his bed, following Jepex downstairs.
2 Days Later
WE ARE LIFESTEAL (but smaller)
12:51 am
Derpachu: okay so fuck me ig, nb wants to do garctic phone
Who's Jumper?: you literally asked about it so last minute, nobodies fault but ur own
The Pang: also we did that already, new game dude
Derpachu: what fucking game is there besides like
Hannie: Among Us
Derpachu: Among Us
Hannie: ...
Derpachu: ooooh...
The Pang: erm! :nerd_emoji:
Derpachu: dont ever type some shit like that again
The Pang: dalright
Batman: daalllrighttt
Derpachu: ohhhh the monthly minutetech msg in the gc
Batman: monthly is crazy that just isnt true
Who's Jumper?: eehhhh
Batman: alr bro ill justnever type again
The Pang: NOOOO
The Win Condition: yo does anyone know if you need like, id to rent an airbnb if youre a guest
Batman: ... what bro
Hannie: jepex what are u going on ab
The Win Condition: DO I OR DO I NOT
The Pang: probably not? id imagine as long as the person paying is old enough
Derpachu: unless you're pooling
The Pang: yea that too
Batman: are we breezing past him just casually buying an airbnb?
Hannie: no yea, hello what is that about
The Win Condition: im not buying one
Hannie: ??? then who is
The Win Condition: mapicc
The Win Condition: i mean fuck
The Win Condition: shit uh
[The Win Condition has deleted 1 message]
Hannie: [screenshot.png] so.
The Win Condition: Fuck
Derpachu: @mape @mape
The Pang: @mape
Mape: FUCKING WHAT
Mape: i am literally not in my room what could you possibly want
Batman: scroll up
Mape: what
Mape: bruh
Mape: are you forreal
[The Win Condition was kicked from the group]
[Mape has left the group]
The Pang: ?!??!
Batman: So....
Who's Jumper?: oh okay!
bacon: wtf did i miss
spoke: upvote!
Mape
1:22 am
DONT CHECK GC
Mape
PLEASE DONT CHECK GC IM BEGGING
zam the critter
???
zam the critter
okay well now i have to check
Mape
zam bruh
Mape
bab y i am begging yuo
Mape
do not
zam the critter
.... ft me
Mape
fawk
Mapicc takes the stairs by two, ignoring how his parents call for him confusedly as he just completely bypassed his aunt to answer Zams call.
He quickly shuts the door and locks it behind him, as soon as the lock clicks, his phone rings with Zams call.
His hands shake both from irritation and nerves, part of him wants to stare at the call until it hangs up and tell Zam he can't call right now, but also knows that Zam would kill cause she would absolutely see through the lie without question.
He takes a deep breath and hits accept, it's silent for a couple of seconds before Zam sighs quietly and Mapiccs heart sinks, “I didn't check it,” She speaks softly, “But you need to tell me what happened cause you kind of freaked me out.”
Mapicc swears and throws himself onto his bed with a loud sigh, scrubbing his hand across his face, “Sorry, I didn't - I wasn't trying to, I just. I wanted to tell you rather you just see it.”
Zam hums quietly and for a second they're both just basking in each other silence. Mapicc uses the opportunity to self-soothe himself in Zams presence, letting her calmness wash over him, he takes another deep breathe and sits up a little.
“You know how Jepex was here a few days ago?” Zam hums an affirmation and Mapicc continues, “Well, he saw something on my computer, I don't know what but like, got weirdly freaked out.”
Zam is quiet for a couple of seconds before sighing tiredly, “Well what did he find?”
“At the time I didn't know,” He takes in one last deep breathe before the words spill out of him, “But I think he found the plans for the trip and leaked it to the group chat thinking it was a group plan and not just us.”
Zam goes silent again on the other line and the anxiety that was slowly disappearing comes back with the vengeance and Mapicc feels more shaky than ever at Zams silence.
“I didn't know it was what he found or I would've hid it better,” He rushes to defend, or explain, he doesn't entirely know at this point, “I just didn't think he'd leak it so quickly and - are, are you laughing?”
And that's all it takes for Zam to let out a loud cackle, muffled by her speaker being covered. Mapicc huffs out shocked laughter, listening to Zam uncontrollably giggle. “I'm sorry,” She gasps out between giggles, “But holy shit that's so funny and so unfortunate.”
Mapicc shakes head in awe of Zams ability to get any humor out of the situation compared to him almost having a panic attack at the thought of their plans being ruined.
“You aren't mad?” And Mapicc hates asking because he feels like a stupid little kid asking if she's still upset, but its the only way to quell some of the still lingering panic.
Zams face is finally visible in the camera, her face is puffy from the crying she did while laughing and her eyelashes are still, she smiles sweetly and Mapicc ignores the feeling of his heart melting out of his body, “It sucks,” She hums, honest and blunt.
“Like geuinely worst case scenario I think. But also,” She shrugs, sheepish, tilting her head down to look up purely through her lashes, “I'm happy to see you either way.”
Mapiccs face ignites immediately and if Mapicc can tell anything by Zams giggle, he's also obnoxiously red in the face right at this exact second, “You're so dumb.”
Zam giggles and shrugs again, she shuffles in bed and they call goes back to silence. Mapicc feels his body slowly untensing, finally rewinding after almost an hour of being on the verge of freaking out.
He's reminded of how grateful he is for Zams levelheadedness in his moments of panic, he doesn't know what kind of decision he'd make without her.
He stares at his screen as he watches Zam clos and open her eyes, shifting between half asleep and awake. He smiles amused, “You can sleep, Zam.”
Zam hums and doesn't open her eyes, just wiggles further under her covers, “You'll stay?” She mumbles drowsily.
Mapicc feels his heart burst into stupid fucking confetti, “Of course I'll stay.”
The Following Morning
WE ARE LIFESTEAL (but smaller)
9:43 am
bacon: sooo.. we gonna discuss last night or
Batman: no honestly cause I have questions
Batman: wtf could mapicc possibly be planning
Hannie: did he ever join back?
The Pang: nah i scrolled, he never got added back
Hannie: @zam the critter can you add him back please
zam the critter: ?? you also have the power to add him back
Derpachu: yea but if he didnt wanna get added back, he wont get mad at u
bacon: also can someone bring jepex back
Who's Jumper?: omg i forgot mapicc kicked him before he left LOL
Batman: lowk me too
The Pang: @zam the critter did yuo add him
zam the critter: holy shit you guys can add him yourselves?!?! what are we asking me for
Derpachu: gurl please
zam the critter: ew?
Hannie: yea lets never run that back ever
Who's Jumper?: seconded
Derpachu: okay ill kms
Batman: bettttt
Derpachu: FUCK YOU
The Pang: LMAO
spoke: okay so? status update? @zam the critter
zam the critter: HOLY SHIT FINE
[Mape was invited to We Are Lifesteal (but smaller)]
[Welcome, Mape!]
[The Win Condition was invited to We Are Lifesteal (but smaller)]
[Welcome The Win Condition!]
Mape: jepex is dead to me
Mape: kick him again now
The Win Condition: double yew tee eff??
Mape: fuck you
bacon: okay thats great and all
bacon: whats this ab an airbnb
Mape: fuck the airbnb its cancelled cause of jepex
Hannie: BRUHH
Batman: alright bro
Who's Jumper?: you cant be serious
The Win Condition: I DIDNT MEAN TO LEAK IM SORRY
Mape: genuinely fuck you
zam the critter: well lets be nice please
Mape: jepex, kindly, go fuck yourself
zam the critter: well
SOMETHING SUS (possibly the imposter)
10:22 am
Hannie: okay so
Who's Jumper?: no that was definitely yk
Batman: i think this one is a stretch
Hannie: zam : noo mapicc dont cancel the plans
mapicc: oh of course zam! anything for you
Hannie: literal play by play
Who's Jumper?: upvote
Batman: okay 1. no? that didnt happen
Batman: 2. stop hanging out with spoke so much cause that was crazy coming from you
Who's Jumper?: ugh men
Hannie: upvote bro, upvote
Batman: dalright
WE ARE LIFESTEAL (but smaller)
10:36
bacon: okay but seriously, was there gonna be an bnb
Mape: there was definitely an idea
Hannie: Was? so ur not doing it anymore
Batman: sucks, new mexico sounds sick
Mape: its boring as shit
spoke: can confirm, boring as shit
Mape: okay well thanks for the support spoke, always helpful
spoke: upvote!
Who's Jumper?: upvote!
Mape: kill me now
The Win Condition: okay i hope u didnt already cancel cause i did just tell mym om
Mape: dude
The Pang: LMAO
Derpachu: mf was DESPERATE for this hang out :crying_emoji:
zam the critter: mape dont cancel it, its good
Mape: okay but like
Mape
10:54
are you sure
zam the critter
yeah baby its fine, we'll figure it out
Mape
if ur sure
zam the critter
its fineeee, dont cancel, we're all good
Mape
okay.. love u
zam the critter
love u !!!!!
WE ARE LIFESTEAL (but smaller)
10:58
Mape: fuck yea fine
bacon: bro took several minutes to answer
Mape: you dont have to be invited dickhead
bacon: relax!
Hannie: omg ls meet up im so excited
Who's Jumper?: upvote!
spoke: upvote!
Hannie: ... perhaps minute had a point
spoke: ??
Who's Jumper?: bro
SOMETHING SUS (possibly the imposter)
11:15
Hannie: minute dude
Hannie: you cant deny that one
Batman: ...
Batman: fuck fine
Hannie: HA!
The Win Condition
hey
The Win Condition
you arent gen mad at me for leaking right, cause im atually really sorry
Mape
its fine man, dw ab it
The Win Condition
oh. well like no? you ignored me for several hours
Mape
dude its like
Mape
that wasnt like
Mape
a group thing
The Win Condition
what? so it was like a solo thing
Mape
no dumbass
Mape
it was a me and zam thing, like first meet up since we started dating
The Win Condition
oh
The Win Condition
OH OMG IM SORRY HOLY SHIT
The Win Condition
IM SO FUCKING SORRY MAPE OMG
The Win Condition
WHY DIDNT U TELL ME
Mape
I DIDNT EVEN KNOW U FUCKING KNEW AB IT YOU DICK
Mape
Seriously its fine, me and zam will figure it out
The Win Condition
you sure?
Mape
im sure.