(NEW COVER POG!! Done by the lovely @xYouly once again, go give her some love <3 If you like SMPLive or PewDiePie she has some great fics about them)

March 8th, 2021

As the day of the competition drew near, more tasks got distributed among the higher-ups. They got an island they could use for MCI. In a notebook, he labeled for Minecraft Island related things, Jimmy had begun listing out everything that needed to be done.

-Get an island that can fit a wide scope of challenges √
-Begin challenge constructions
-Take Chris and have a meeting on the island with Felix, Mark, the internet company, and the building company
-Have Mark Rober get in touch with Twitch executives √
-Finish up request for MrBeast G-Fuel √
-Work on securing sponsorships with Honey, Quid, and Apex Legends
-Buy out a venue for the pre-party

"Jimmy are you packed? You're leaving in 10!" 

"Mhm! Oh speaking of which while you're here, Chandler."

"Ya, what's up?"

"Get Alex and maybe Karl to help you get reservations from the hotel. We're gonna need about 40 rooms. 10 standard two queen beds and rooms for the staff. I'll text you the details on the plane. Also if you can call as many of the sponsors and secure us a deal. I know that's usually Reed's job but they're busy making sure Twitch stays on board."

"I guess we can do that."

"Pog!"

"Did you just-"

"Yep ok bye love you, Chan!" Running out, he passed by Alex on his way to the Beast Complex exit.

"Aw, we're you gonna leave without saying goodbye to me?"

"No of course not. Get over here, you tiny duck man!" Sweeping him off of his feet, he laughed but gladly accepted. "I'll be back in a few days, don't have too much fun without me."

"When you get back, promise you'll do a stream with me?"

"...Ya I'll make some room."

"YAY! OK GO HAVE FUN BYE!!" His last word trailed off as Alex pushed him to the door and closed it behind him, seeming to want to do get to that live stream as fast as possible.

"Geez, ready?"

"Mhm, go get the car started Chris." Tropical dreams in his head and excitement to see what has come of his competition, Jimmy dragged suitcases behind him, silent promises of making whatever the hell he had come up with the best thing he's done yet...

***

Felix Kjellberg hadn't seen Jimmy since before the kidnapping. Of course, he's talked with him. The two video called a lot, they had much to catch each other up on. But any in-person interactions were yet to happen. Until today at least. Still slightly jet-lagged from the plane flight just several hours before, he and Marzia got off the boat, escorted by island security to where Jimmy, Chris, and some affiliates were awaiting him. He carried good news on his shoulders. G-Fuel secured them just over 700 thousand dollars to put towards competition funds plus anything they earn in both his and MrBeast's G-Fuel flavors this month. 

"They are just across this door." It was swung open revealing a few of the Beast crew talking to Mark Rober who appeared to be preparing some sort of demonstration. But seeing Jimmy in person made his heart swell. The scar under his eye was more gruesome in person, jagged edges as proof he never was given the chance to let it heal properly. The clothes that once fit comfortably seemed all too big against his now frail frame.

"Felix!" Jimmy had run in for a hug to which he gladly accepted. Brushing his hair out with his fingers, Felix felt relief wash over him. Jimmy was actually alive. Well of course he was alive he's texted with him and whatnot. It was just... reassuring to hold him close despite the bones poking against him. With reluctance, Felix let go. They were here for professional matters after all. However everyone in the room seemed to understand, many of those closer to Jimmy knowing how he saw the older as a sort of scuffed father figure.

"So everyone is here now?" Mark asked, ready to show off the tech he made. The room hummed in agreement. As he presented the wireless head pieces for streaming and the blue prints for a monster internet booster, the tenseness that gripped at his shoulders only grew. He knew he'd be talking to him tonight so he allowed that thought to console his worries. Once Mark was finished, the builders took them all around the island, showing off where the beginning works of each challenge was and where a small sectioned off area filled with trailers was. Finally the group split off, Chris and Jimmy leaving to speak with a different sponsor. Felix ended up taking a walk down the beach, catching up with Mark about how things have been. Their conversation ended up leading them to Jimmy's mental state which Mark discussed in a much more calmly manner than Felix ever could.

"I'm not surprised he's acting like this. It's just barely March. And while sure some people can heal quickly after traumatic experiences, most don't. People get better in their own way and their own time. The best you can do is offer the utmost love and support. Right now he could be more jumpy and closed off. But he'll be back to normal. Jimmy would never want to stay down in the dumps like this unless someones keeping him there."

"I suppose you're right... maybe I'll talk to him a bit tonight."

"Good idea." And that time came during the evening when outside of his trailer he could hear Jimmy and Chris giggling. Moving near silently as to avoid waking up Marzia, he noticed the pair going out to the ocean. When they realized he was outside, Chris waved to him.

"Yo we're going swimming, wanna join us?"

"Sure." Returning inside just for a moment to switch to trunks, he ran after them, cool air beating against his skin. "Want me to get a lantern-"

"NO! ...I mean we don't need one." Raising an eyebrow, Felix agreed. But with the faint phone light he turned on so he wouldn't trip on rocks, he could see another plethora of scars ranging from the light remaining tint of a hard bruise and the red coating of a severe burn to even more jagged cuts and the remenets of bullet wounds.

How could one man get so beat up?

The light flickered off as they approached the shoreline and Felix's anxiety only rose. Should he even bring it up? Going deeper out into the waves, he watched as Chris and Jimmy laughed about some memes he vaguly understood.

"Ugh if we had a 4th person we could do that game where we like stack up and fight."

"Mhm..." Jimmy floated atop the water, letting waves sweep him back and forth. He always felt peace in movement after all. About an hour passed until they got bored so they swam back to the unstable sand the entire island was built on. Noticing the chattering of the younger's teeth, he offered to hold him close, careful to weave around the plastered wounds.

"...Why didn't you tell me about... all of this?"

"...It's uh... it's more painful to think about them then it did to get them initially. The doctors say everything is healing quite nicely."

"Good to hear... promise me you're taking care of yourself?"

"Ya... I'm doing my best you know?"

"That's all I can ask for." Planting a gentle kiss on the top of his head, Jimmy's light grin grew a bit wider.

"Wow so Jimmy gets a kiss and not me. These tears are real Felix..."

"Oh ok fine Chris." Doing the same for him, the trio reverted to their original state of happiness. They escorted Felix back to his trailer, saying good night and returning to their own. Collapsing on his bed, now curled up in a Beast brand hoodie, relief washed over Jimmy with a cruel tang.

The cicatrix that only grew on his wrists remain hidden for another day.

~~~