J+C: DRABBLES

☆Masking☆

[ cw: masking behavior, overstimulated, anxiety ]

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Jake has been more shutting off recently around his boyfriend Carrington. He has even been avoiding him.

Carrington has definitely noticed the avoidance. He was the clingy type, he didn't like to be away from his boyfriend for long.

He placed a hand on Jake's hip, gently tugging him closer as he is filming a tiktok, wanting him close even when he's being distant.

Jake forced a smile on his face for the tiktok as he lip synced with Carrington for a moment and then the tiktok video was finished recorded.

Carrington hummed in content when the video ended, turning the phone off and dropping it on the bed.He placed both hands on Jake's hips, gently pulling him onto his lap.

Jake just had this neutral expression on his face and he has been quieter recently. Especially at the modeling shoot he went too with Carrington earlier. That's when his masking began.

However when they got home, Jake just felt the urge to continue masking, even in front of his boyfriend. Hiding his true self. He faked a smile.

Carrington held Jake close on his lap, his head nuzzled into his shoulder as he took a deep breath.

He missed his smile, he missed the way he would laugh and the way his eyes would shine when he was happy.

He hated the fake smile he had been giving him."...stop masking around me."

Jake forced a laugh, "What? No, I'm not, babe" he replied as he looked away and got off Carrington's lap.

Carrington frowned as he watched Jake move away from him, standing up as well. He hated how Jake's fake laugh sounded. It wasn't genuine.

"What?" Jake said as he noticed Carrington get up. He looked over at his boyfriend.

"Don't 'what' me."
Carrington replied in a stern tone, walking up to Jake and grabbing his wrists, forcing him to face him. He had a serious expression on his face, staring down at him.

Jake felt bad now. He felt bad for masking in front of Carrington now. Even a bit anxious. He looked up at Carrington.

Carrington looked concerned, and a bit annoyed. He held Jake's wrists and stared at him.

"Are you mad at me?" Jake hesitantly asked the question, his heart aching. He didn't mean to mask, but he was so overstimulated earlier from the sensory input at Carrington's modeling session that his mask never slipped off.

But Carrington doesn't know that. He just sees the mask.

Carrington's expression softened a bit when Jake asked that, letting out a small sigh.

"Of course I'm not mad."
He replied in a much softer tone, loosening his grip on his wrists slightly.

Carrington looked him over, searching his face for any sign of the real him. He knew Jake had been putting up a facade for a while now, but he had no idea why.

He wanted to find out.

Jake was mimicking Carrington's facial expression, even forcing a smile once in awhile.

Carrington huffed, clearly getting frustrated.
"Stop mimicking me."
He said firmly, grabbing Jake's chin and forcing him to look directly at him.

"Sorry," Jake whispered as he just kept a masked neutral expression now.

"Why are you even masking in the first place? What's going on with you?"
Carrington continued to hold Jake's chin, his expression showing a mix of frustration and worry.