.
Gabby looks at the rearview mirror and smiles at the two silent men sitting behind her. They were both texting on their phones but somehow still on the same wavelength.
Link snickers at something and absentmindedly reaches up to scratch the tape covered central port on his chest and Rhett, without taking his eye off his phone, reaches over and grabs Link's wrist before he gets to scratch it. He gently puts the smaller man's hand down and returns to his phone like nothing happened.
Gabby expected Link to object over the strict rules she set to their travels. After he finally agreed to go to work, Gabby laid out the terms of his house release: They must travel in an unmarked car and he has to be in her sight at all times while outside the house.
Link laughed it off with a joke: "Even in the bathroom?"
Her lack of response was more than enough to send the picture.
After spending over a few months with him, Gabby came to a conclusion: Link Neal was indeed a good man. He was in deep waters with his emotional issues but he never failed to try his best to make her and her agents comfortable. He made sure they ate on time, had a comfortable place to rest and even went as far as asking about each of them by name every morning. She truly believed that, unlike most of the people she's assigned to, he was the only one she would protect willingly.
Link lets out another laugh and Rhett puts his phone down to stare at him: "What's so funny?"
Link shows Rhett his phone: "Lincoln and Locke are fighting over who's funnier. I think they're just trying to cheer me up but it's hilarious."
Link was a ball of nerves this morning. He tried to hide it but the kids are more in tune with him than anyone expected them to be. The younger boys clung to him more than usual, offering their support the same way he comforts them. Lily made her dad cupcakes to take with him as a conversation starter while Locke and Lincoln have been texting him non stop even though they should be in school and paying attention in class.
Rhett snorted after reading a few of the jokes they sent: "My son is definitely funnier than yours."
Link smacks Rhett's arm: "HEY! They're both funny!"
Rhett looks out the window to see how far they have reached and turns to talk to Link: "Before we reach the office, I want you to listen to me."
Link blink innocently at him so he continues: "Stevie and I already spoke with the crew and we reached an agreement that should help everyone get over this funk since you refused to let me fire them and they don't want to quit."
Link frowns at him: "Ok.."
Rhett smirks at him: "Don't worry. You will like it."
Link sighs loudly: "Ok.."
Link felt like he was the president of the United States and not like (the slightly more awkward than the average man) Youtuber. Agents flanked him left and right as they entered the Mythical building and made their way to their office. He was somewhat thankful because the intimidating look on the agent's faces deterred anyone from approaching them and making small talk.
He entered the office and found Stevie waiting for them.
She rushed to him and engulfed him in a tight hug.
She hasn't spoken to him or seen him since the Eponym report and her worry only intensified as time went by without hearing his voice.
She whispers to him: "Are you alright?"
Link hugs her back: "No. But I feel better because of your amazing hug."
She laughs at him and lets go to take a good look at her sick boss.
He did not look better.
He somehow looks paler and more shaky than the last time she saw him.
Rhett passes them by and whines: "I'm fine too. Thanks for asking."
Stevie glares at him: "I see you everyday!"
Rhett shrugs: "Yet.. You never ask about me.."
Stevie rolls her eyes and grabs Link's hand and guides him to the couch, making him sit.
She and Rhett bring in stacks of paper and folders and place them in front of Link.
Stevie points to one of the mountains of papers and says: "This is the edited list of potential sponsors for episodes of GMM, Ear Biscuits, Mythical Kitchen and Smosh."
Rhett lands a huge stack next to it: "This is the list of people who want to be on our show.."
Then points at the stack one of the PAs helped bring in: ".. and that's the requests of interviews for both of us."
Link's mouth hangs open as he stares as more people come in and bring more papers. Stevie points out the door: "We have a full storage of mail coming in for you that Agent Gabby's agents already vetted and another room of fan mail.."
Link whispers: "What's the difference?"
Rhett: "One of them Stevie calls the 'ass-kissing' mail and the other is the 'cutsie-fanmail'."
Link scratches his chin: "Ass kissing?"
Stevie: "Yeah.. Other celebrities and rich people sending stuff for you and Rhett.. Which is basically ass-kissing."
Link covers his face, clearly overwhelmed: "Why are they sending us stuff?"
Stevie sighs: "I just said: ass-kissing."
Link glares at her in frustration: "Ass-kissing for what?"
Stevie throws her hands in the air: "How should I know? They want to be friends with you guys or something!"
Link stares at the tall stacks of papers before him and sighs.
This is going to be a long day.
Three hours later, Link was sitting between Stevie and Rhett as they went through each potential investor, show guest, interview request and much more. Link felt like his brain stopped working two hours in and now he's just nodding and shaking his head.
He was so tired and it's only been three hours.
He found himself staring at the amount of papers left and wondering why the sudden shift.
Link whispers: "I don't understand.."
Stevie, who was in the middle of an argument with Rhett over a potential guest, turns to look at Link: "What?"
Link looks sadly at her: "Why is this happening? We used to spend hours calling potential investors and sponsors, pulling strings to get people on the show and now they are fighting over it. I don't understand."
Rhett gently puts his hand on his friend's knee: "Um.. We're kinda of a big deal now."
Link turns to stare at him: "Kinda?"
Stevie: "Well.. After the Eponym report, people got curious I guess.."
She opens the tablet she had with her to show Link their YouTube Channel.
They had over 4.7B subscribers.
Link felt his heart leap in his chest: "Is this for real?"
Stevie nods: "Yeah.. We are officially the most followed channel in YouTube history."
She gestures at the overflowing table before them: "Hence the ridiculous amount of requests."
Link's eye was stuck at the number of subscribers and he scrolls down to look at a few view numbers: "This doesn't feel right.."
Rhett: "What doesn't feel right?"
Link throws the tablet at the table and covers his face: "I don't like this. It feels fake. We worked so hard to build something beautiful and now it's tainted with what Eponym did to me!"
Rhett shares a look with Stevie.
They both predicted that Link would have an issue with the spike of followers and had prepared for it. Rhett pulls Link's hand away from his face and looks him in the eye: "It doesn't matter how it happens. It matters what we do with it. We can have 5 mythical beasts or billions, we will still do our best to be part of their lives by entertaining them and having fun, right?"
Link looks sadly at him: "These people are not our Mythical Beasts.."
Stevie: "But some of them are.. Let's focus on the ones that matter because when this blows over, they are the ones who will stay, right?"
Link stares between the two people sitting next to him: "Ok.. We will do it for the Mythical Beasts.."
Rhett winks at Stevie as she smiles at him.
.