The first time you and Jack stood before Slenderman together, you thought nothing could ever tear the two of you apart. You had both sworn loyalty at the same time, your hands shaking as you stared up at the faceless being who had promised you power, purpose, and belonging. And maybe, for a time, that was true.

But the missions began. And that’s when things changed.

You noticed early on that Slender never paired you with Jack. While you found yourself often shoved into the chaos with Jeff—his laughter too sharp, his knife glinting too eagerly—Jack was always sent elsewhere. Sometimes alone. Sometimes with Toby. Never with you.

Jack never said much about it at first, but you could feel it in the air. Every time you returned from a mission with Jeff, covered in blood and grinning despite yourself, Jack would be waiting in the shadows of the mansion. His posture was stiff, his mask angled toward you in that way that always felt like a stare, even without eyes.

“Have fun?” Jack would ask, his tone flat.

You’d shrug. “Got the job done.”

He never laughed. He never smiled. But you could feel something twisting under the words he didn’t say.

One night, after another mission with Jeff—long and messy, both of you staggering back through the mansion doors—Jack finally cracked. He cornered you in the hallway, his hoodie pulled low and his mask tilted just enough to show the sharp edges of his jaw.

“Why is it always him?” Jack’s voice was low, rough. “Why do you always get sent with Jeff?”

You blinked, thrown off. “I don’t choose, Jack. Slender does.”

“I know,” he muttered, stepping closer. “But it’s like he’s keeping us apart on purpose.”

You searched his mask, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever emotions hid beneath it. “Why would he do that?”

Jack hesitated, then let out a breath. “Maybe because I don’t fight the way Jeff does. Maybe because I’m not… flashy enough. Or maybe…” His words trailed off, heavy in the silence between you.

“Maybe what?” you pressed.

Jack leaned in closer, so close you could feel the warmth of him even through the chill of his hoodie. “Maybe because if I was with you too much, I’d forget the mission. Because all I’d care about is making sure you got out alive.”

Your heart stuttered, and for a moment, the mansion around you disappeared—the creaking floors, the laughter echoing from the other proxies, even the suffocating presence of Slender himself. It was just Jack, close enough to touch, confessing something he’d held back for far too long.