(Rhink)

Chapter One

When Rhett noticed that Link hasn't been his perky self lately, he thought it was just one of those days where his best friend wasn't feeling it. Even Rhett's had days where he was out of his hyper groove, so he figured this would pass and Link would return to bouncing off the walls in no time. Sure, the episodes they'd record for Good Mythical Morning would lose just a bit of the dynamic joy that was always expressed, but Rhett knew the low energy from his bosom friend would only be temporary. He didn't think much of it. For the most part, he would only have to wait a day for Link to grow out of his fagged mood and feel like his old quirky self again.

This time was a far cry from those short lived days, and there were signs given by Link that came to Rhett's attention that told him something was wrong. That Link's mind was fixated on something more poignant than not having a normal sleeping cycle. The thought that Link wasn't getting a good night's rest was checked off from Rhett's mental list of reasons for his strange attitude, since no evidence of bags under his sky blue eyes were presented. Rhett then began to think of other reasons for why Link wasn't being the Link he grew up with for most of his life.

Link's bizarre depression stretched on and on like an elastic band, going from what Rhett would have thought was only going to be one day turned into almost two weeks, and the level of his concern raised more and more everyday. He worried for Link's well-being, the future of Good Mythical Morning, and their public image as a label. Even the crew and fans saw that things weren't at ease like they use to be. Rhett decided he'd play Sherlock Holmes and attempt to crack the code. Everyday he'd confront Link with questions for what could be the cause of his predicament, starting with the day that marked the third week of his distressed phase.

On Tuesday, Rhett asked if there were troubles with his wife Christy or the kids. Link told him that everything is fine at home.

On Wednesday, he asked if everything was all right health-wise, like was Link sick with something serious that he wasn't telling Rhett. Link assured him that he is as healthy as can be, both being thankful for that.

On Thursday, Rhett questioned if things were in good condition financially, even though he knew that this couldn't be a weight on his shoulders since business is booming with all of the sponsorships they were receiving, and with all the fan that they were getting, the numbers multiplying by the hundreds. Link told him that the money was good, and that his family is being well taken care of before Rhett could even ask.

On Friday, Rhett even went as far as to ask if Link was feeling suicidal or felt like harming himself. Link told him that he would never do such a thing, and that Rhett should know better than to assume he'd even do something so absurd like kill himself, and that he was getting fed up with his questions. Link felt so interrogated by him that he stood up from his desk and stormed out of their shared office so fast it all happened in a second. Rather than run after him, Rhett stayed where he was at his own desk, frozen in position with shoes flat on the floor and fingers on the keyboard and eyes fixed on the empty seat Link had just evacuated.

What the hell was that, he thought to himself.

Then, there was the cumbersome attempt to demonstrate consolation...another way. Rhett would brush his knee against Link's here and there when taping episodes. He'd wait until there came an appropriate opportunity to approach with the sign of affection, hoping the other would get the gist and return the chaste action. It's felt so once upon a time since they've played footsie under that desk, or stole coquettish glances with each other, or made connections of another sort...

There was a time when something apart from the brotherhood and amity they've built together did sweep over them - something so far beyond any feeling they've come across. Something so powerful that it couldn't be shaken off easily, and they became possessed by the unexplainable emotion on the evening they were staying late at the studio finishing up work. It was the after hours, and their eyes were tired from staring at computer screens, and the heavy alcoholic fluids that they've consumed began to take effect. The abundant amount of beer did most veritably awaken their senses, and Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal were soon drunk with liquor and lustfulness.

All sense of reality was lost as they gave into an act of sin, and their naked bodies collided on the hard floor of their office. Breathless pants and moans full of blasphemy to a God that was shamefully being defied bounced off the walls of the tiny room as hot skin pressed against skin, thrust after thrust. Though it was nothing but an intimacy influenced by inebriant substances from before, and an exploit the most pious of people would label as damnable and scandalous, Rhett and Link exchanged gasped declarations of love with each other.

Afterwards, when sober, both had to have a serious talking to, confused about how to feel or what to do about the events from the night before. Yes, they were drunk out of their minds, and they can blame it on the late hours as well. However, when they questioned if it should be forgotten of, both said that they couldn't bring it upon themselves to do so. It was disgraceful, but they did enjoy the turn of events. They liked how they felt about it. Hell, it all felt so welcoming; the messy yet impassioned kisses they exchanged, the way their sweaty bodies moved together, the beautiful symphony that was orchestrated when their voices joined together in moans and such. Even when the men came down from soaring so far beyond the sky they were so enthralled. If all of this was to be let go of it would feel like they were robbed of something so valuable to them.

So, an agreement was settled. They would still keep the vows they've made to their wives and go home to them, and only the workplace is where they'd have their little maneuvers. Rhett and Link do love the beautiful women they have given their lives to, and it was now certain they would have this friends-with-benefits arrangement on the side, and best keep it a secret from their spouses for the sake of their marriages and each other.

On the other hand, Rhett often found himself thinking back on that night, remembering how he told Link he loved him over, and over, and over...and for a moment he'd wonder if it was actually true. He'd question if it was the alcohol that made those three little words slip from his lips like a bar of soap in two hands, or if they came from deep inside him. Did he have drunken sex with his best friend, or did he make love to him and the heavy liquids just masked the experience for something far different that what it really was?

Nevertheless, now that Link seemed so down and out, Rhett felt that those stolen moments were never going to be restored. Link wouldn't even make eye contact for more than two seconds with him. He wouldn't even dare to look at him, almost pretending the other didn't exist anymore. When Rhett would attempt to hold his hand or make any physical contact, Link would just say nothing and bypass his offer by stepping away as soon as he felt even the slightest touch from him. He wouldn't even talk to Rhett unless it was him who started up a conversation, and not even those would last a while, resulting for the room to take up quite an amount of quietness for the longest time. When they'd collaborate on new songs or what they should talk about the following week on Good Mythical Morning, they always went with whatever Rhett had in mind since Link didn't appear to be interested in anything at all.

The drive to and from the studio would be nothing but music playing from the radio of Rhett's car. Link didn't even want to be the one driving them to their destinations anymore, and he always insisted on being the passenger while Rhett was the driver, not saying a word to each other the whole time. The incommodious silence would feel like a bed of nails to Rhett, and the lack of communication in any way would leave him feeling pained and ignored and confused, but most definitely pained. He missed his best friend dearly, yet Link was never physically gone to begin with. He was still there with him, but not completely there.