(Kinda based on Monster)

(Also ik this is kinda a lil soft for Creepypasta– wasn't entirely the intent, I didn't mean to write Jeff as emotional as I did. But I'm just rolling with it cuz Ben and him are super close, so I just ended up going with the fact he'd let himself be emotional around him.)

          "You alright, man?"
          "FUCK–" Jeff jumped harshly, nearly slipping off of the edge of his bed. He put a hand on his chest, glossy eyes looking into his friend's pitch-black eyes. Red pupils stared back at him. "How long have you been there?" Jeff asked, wiping the tears from his cheek.
          "Like, a minute," Ben replied as he sat criss-crossed on Jeff's bed, resting his chin in his palm. "Why're you cryin'?" He then asked, Jeff huffing as he rubbed his eyes. "I'm not crying," he said, more harsh than intended. Ben narrowed his eyes slightly. "Okay, lemme try again... why is there liquid coming out of your eyes?" Jeff began to grow annoyed, mostly because he was caught being vulnerable when he didn't want to be. While the only person he would cry around was Ben, it's happened only once or twice since the two reunited.  "It's nothing, I'm fine," Jeff replied, standing from his bed and making his way over to his vanity.
          "Bullshit," Ben scoffed, watching as Jeff looked himself in the mirror and tried to fix his appearance a bit. "Ever since Liu came around, you've been more of an ass. Now you're locked in your room crying." Ben floated over to Jeff, landing next to him. "C'mon dude, you can't act like I wouldn't notice you acting weird." Jeff huffed. Ben had a point. The two were close friends even before Ben died. It would be hard to fool him. He stayed silent, looking himself in his mirror. "I'm not leaving until you tell me, so either start talkin' or I'm gonna be up your ass all day." Jeff heavily sighed.
           "Liu and I just got into an argument. It's nothing," Jeff said, searching the top of his vanity for his eyeliner. He grabbed it once he found it, pulling the cap off. "Slender having him around just... brought up a lot of bad feelings and memories, I guess." Ben frowned slightly as he crossed his arms, leaning his back against the vanity's edge. He knew of Jeff and Liu's situation only after the two rekindled, for Ben had died three years before Liu had abandoned Jeff, and Jeff had never really talked about the obvious favoritism when they were younger. It seemed so unlike Liu, but he clearly didn't know him as well as he thought he did.
          "It's not like I'm being a douche just to be a douche," Jeff continued, capping his eyeliner. "It's because Liu keeps getting on my damn nerves. Everything I see him, he always just says shit that pisses me off." Ben rolled his eyes. "Liu ain't shit," he said. "He's only acting tough because he knows Slender can't afford to have you hurting him."
          "Thank you!" Jeff said, finally finding relief in the fact that someone finally understood how he felt. "I don't even know why Slender even chose him. He's done NOTHING to gain a title like we have." Ben shrugged. "Slender's a tall dude with tentacles and no face. There's a lot you can't explain about him."
          "Quit getting philosophical," Jeff joked, snickering when Ben replied with "Fuck you." Jeff then sighed softly, looking in his reflection. He shook his head slightly. "I wish he died in that car crash before the police got to him," he muttered. "He acts like I'm the crazy one, but I did what I had to within reason. He didn't spend nearly his whole life living in someone's shadow and being told he could've done better constantly." He then looked at Ben, his eyes now glossy. "You know he blamed me one time for you dying?" Ben's mouth fell agape.
          "What?" Ben asked, Jeff nodding. "He said if I went with you to go camping, I could've protected you and made sure you didn't die."
          "We were eight!" Ben said, standing straight. "Besides, your mom wouldn't let you go with."
          "Yeah, well, he's blaming me for everything that happened up until now," Jeff said. His expression seemed more angry than anything, but Ben could see the pain in his eyes. He knew Jeff wouldn't admit it, but he was clearly pained by the situation. Ben sighed softly. "Just...ignore him," he said, Jeff glancing at him. "Nothing that happened was in your control, man. We were both kids. Even if we weren't, it's not like anybody expected it." Jeff bit his lip slightly, huffing. "The one time that I finally do– I finally enjoy my life, he comes along and has to fuck with it." Jeff's eyes grew a little more glossy as he spoke. Ben noticed how his lip quivered slightly. "Am I just supposed to not be happy or something?" He asked, looking at Ben. Ben's heart dropped at the sight of tears in Jeff's eyes. He hadn't seen him cry in a long time. "No no no no," Ben said, reaching out and grabbing Jeff's shoulders. "Dude, don't day shit like that."
          "Then why has every good thing I've had been taken away?" Jeff's voice cracked slightly as he asked the question, struggling to hold in his tears. "First, my parents start picking him over me. Then you died, and Liu said sayanara without so much as a goodbye, and now my life was FINALLY getting somewhere and Liu comes back to fuck it up."
          "Dude, stop talking and breathe for a sec," Ben said, giving Jeff a slight shake. "I get it– life's trying to fuck you in every way. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve to be happy, Jeff." Jeff shakily breathed, shutting his eyes as he did so. Ben watched closely as he did, fearing Jeff would burst into tears at any moment. He didn't, thankfully. He seemed much calmer after a few minutes passed, his eyes opening. "I wish he died," he said softly. "I hate him. I hate him so much."
          "I know you do," Ben replied, watching as Jeff raised a hand and wiped away the remnants of his tears. Ben was about to continue, but there was a harsh knock on the door. Jeff and Ben exchanged glances. "Come in." The door opened, Ben and Jeff's faces falling. It was Liu.
          "You gonna get off your ass and help or what?–" Liu cut himself off, not realizing that Ben was there. He scoffed, looking him up and down. "You're not kids anymore, damn it. Stop running away from responsibilities and hiding."
          "As far as we know," Ben started, standing straight and taking a few steps closer. "Slender hasn't given us any orders for the day." Liu glared at the slightly shorter male. Ben grinned. "What? Is someone incapable of getting theirs done? You need to boss someone around so they do it for you, big guy?" Ben taunted, his grin widening as Liu scowled. Before he could respond, Ben continued. "Last I checked, you're five ranks lower than us," he said in a low tone, his body giving a slight glitch as a faint, echoey laugh came from seemingly nowhere. "You have no room to give orders to anybody here, that includes me and Jeff." Liu was visibly pissed, glancing back at Jeff. Jeff crossed his arms, glaring at Liu. Ben then patted Liu on the head. "Be a good boy and get your tasks done before sunset. If you do, I'm sure Slender will give you a cookie." With that, he shoved Liu back and closed the door.

(Lmfao cheesy ending but oh well)