moonlightshadowajnik
During a Beta Squad challenge, a single moment goes wrong on camera and AJ refuses a dare that crosses a line. The punishment is supposed to be harmless: a week long "boyfriend" act with Niko, filmed for content and played off as a bit the fans will eat up.
AJ agrees because rules feel safer than honesty.
Niko agrees because he thinks he can control the narrative. But off camera, the performance doesn't stay pretend for long. The closer they get, the harder it becomes to tell what's for views and what's real.
And when fandom speculation, leaked footage, and the pressure of being watched bleed into their private lives, AJ is forced to face the part of himself he's spent years burying, while Niko begins to realise that what they share has always been more than just friendship.
What would happen if two memeber of the famous youtube group, Beta Squad become romantically involved. This is a slow burn about emotional safety, fame, and what happens when the audience stops being the focus.