Chapter Text
It was one of those days that really deceives the eyes. The sun was shining as brightly as ever, well illuminating the yellow-green grass and the evergreens that were standing as tall as ever. Despite the deciduous trees standing bare, it looked like it might be summertime. The air was clear as crystal. The sun was shining, unhindered by any sort of fog or cloud. Upon stepping outside, though, it was quickly revealed to be very different. The air was bitterly cold, enough to burn any exposed skin as the wind blew unforgivingly. The grass was green, though it was far from standing tall, as the long winter months had weakened it, causing it to weaken and discolor. Despite the cold, the ground was wet with the melted remains of the morning's frost which had managed to melt as the winter sun shined on it. All that remained of any snow were in the shadows of patches of trees, barely kept there by the chilling gusts of wind that could slip easily between the thin, bare branches. It looked like spring, but it felt like the dead of winter.
This weather didn't come often, even in the winter in North Carolina. So, no one living in this complex was exactly expecting the cold when they stepped out of their apartments. Shouts were heard everywhere, but they were mainly the surprised shouts of inhabitants when they were hit by the blasts of cold air as they stepped outside. Link Neal was one of the many that stepped out of his apartment building to be shocked by the intense cold. "Gosh, Rhett!" He looked at his much taller friend as he spoke. "You said it was gonna be warm out here!" With a loud huff, Link wrapped his arms tightly around himself.
Rhett smiled at Link, and he pulled the sides of his open jacket around himself, trying to brace himself against the cold. Of course, it didn't work, because the harsh winds easily penetrated the jacket that was hardly covering his entire arms. With how tall he was, it was nearly impossible for Rhett to find a jacket that would fit properly, especially in Buies Creek North Carolina, where it can be difficult to find a winter coat anyway. "I thought it would be warm, man! It looked like it was!" He had, of course, looked out the window in their small living room to check the weather, which had subsequently lead him to believe that the weather would be at least sixty degrees warmer than it was. Looking back, Rhett knew that wasn’t a very good indication because it was it was still mid-January; never a warm time, even in North Carolina. It was literally below freezing, definitely not what either of them was expecting at this point.
“You should have checked, Rhett!” Link rolled his eyes at the taller man, wrapping his arms tightly around himself, trying to preserve some of his body heat. He hadn’t put on a coat, because of what Rhett had said the weather was like. ‘Nice,’ he’d said, ‘the sun’s out and everything,’ At the moment, all he was wearing was a gray cardigan and a purple t-shirt on under that. The frown on the shorter man’s face only seemed to deepen as the wind whipped through his messy hair and chilled his skin even through his shirt and cardigan.
Rhett’s response was to laugh. “I did check! I looked out the window. Besides, Link, we’re going snowboarding in a few days, anyway! It’ll be cold then, too! Even colder than this.” Link shook his head. They had been on their winter break for some time now, although they were just heading off to go snowboarding, something they hadn’t done since December the year before. They both liked to get out, and since one of their friends had invited them, they had no reason to decline.
Link scoffed. “So? I didn’t want to freeze right now! I can’t even get my jacket since you went and put it in your bag!” He was shivering now, enough that Rhett could see the shorter man’s hands shaking.
Rhett laughed again, and he continued to hold his own jacket tightly against himself with one hand, and with the other, he reached out to take Link’s. Reluctantly, Link held out one of his hands, and he took Rhett’s though his grip was far from forgiving. He clung so tightly to the taller man that his knuckles went white. The two had been dating for some time, so this was nothing new. Almost everyone had known since their freshman year of college, actually. Often Rhett looked back on the day they’d begun dating, always a sort of fond smile on his face.
*****
“Rhett!” Link shouted even though he was just on the other side of their minuscule dorm. He was holding an empty cereal box in his hand, and he looked like he was absolutely fuming. His eyebrows were knitted together, and his mouth was pressed into a tight line. It was the epitome of pissed off Charles Neal. Rhett immediately reacted by lifting the nearest throw pillow off the couch and holding it up in front of his face.
“Rhett isn’t here right now.” His voice was muffled by the pillow. Although, even with as hard as he was trying to be amusing, Link just wasn’t having it.
“Rhett!” He repeated himself, this time sounding angrier than he had before. “Seriously!”
“Yeah?” The taller man asked softly, sounding as innocent as he could, even though he knew that Link knew he was guilty. “Is something the matter?” He peeked up over the edge of the pillow.
Rolling his eyes, Link threw the cardboard box at Rhett as hard as he could, and Rhett easily lifted the pillow, blocking the path of the box so that it didn’t hit him in the face. “Whoa, brother!”
“That was my cereal, man!” Link threw his arms in the air as he shouted, and then he slammed them down, hitting himself in the legs. Rhett had to suppress a laugh because Link’s anger at the cereal was something that always had amused him. Link’s absolute favorite food was that cereal, and so in the manner of best friends and roommates, Rhett obviously had to eat it. Again. Just so he could see Link react to it.
“Calm down, Link! I’ll get you some more, alright?” Rhett sat up. Link just rolled his eyes and crossed his arms stubbornly over his chest. Rhett just smiled, because even if the thought was just in his subconscious, he thought Link looked irresistible like that; angry, with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, just about ready to yell about cereal yet again.
“Please, Rhett! We have class in half an hour! We don’t have any time to go out and get more cereal!” Suddenly, as if a switch had been flicked, Link looked stressed. The man had a particular routine, and he had to stick to it. If he didn’t, his entire day could be thrown off. It just so happens that Link’s cereal is a part of his routine. Rhett sat up, chuckling a little as he looked at Link.
“Link, really, it’s not a big deal! I’ll make you something else.” Rhett sat up, bending to pick up the now empty cereal box before he stood and walked towards Link. Link just watched him, his arms still tightly crossed over his face, and a disbelieving, stressed look on his face.
“Rhett.” Link was impatient. Rhett didn’t respond. Instead, he continued to walk towards their small cupboard. “Rhett.” Link just spoke more loudly, and Rhett continued not to respond. He didn’t have a particular reason for that, he just wasn’t sure he wanted to hear Link complain about the cereal. He just wanted to make him some breakfast, so that maybe he would calm down a little. He loved frustrated Link, he didn’t love stressed Link. Suddenly, though, he was stopped by a hand being pressed on his chest. He froze, looking down at Link’s hand, that was splayed out across the center of his chest. His eyes followed the man’s thin arm, up to his broad shoulder, and then up to the stubble on his chin. His skin wasn't as tan as it usually was in the summer months, but it was still a shade or two darker than his own. His adam’s apple was as prominent as ever, barely touched by the stubble that was left on his chin from a few lazy days with no shaving. Rhett appreciated everything about the man in front of him, and even though he understood what that meant, at that moment, he refused to acknowledge it.
Rhett could feel his heart skip a beat the moment he realized just how close he was standing to Link and he knew the man could feel his heartbeat increase. When he finally met Link’s crystalline eyes, Link moved his hand and took a short step back, as if he was just realizing how close the two were to each other as well.
Rhett raised his eyebrow at the smaller man, and he turned a little so that he was facing him, instead of standing at the awkward angle he had been standing at. He didn’t say anything. He watched Link silently as if he was waiting for him to say something. Link just stared right back at him, though. He had been about to say something, but for some reason, Rhett’s proximity had made him forget. He just looked at him, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly as he tried to find words. Nothing came to him, though. There was no sudden realization, nothing like that. It really proved that this wasn't a fairytale. He just looked up at Rhett silently.
Rhett just watched Link struggle for a moment before a smile spread across his face. Link’s face flashed with something between annoyance and confusion. “Why are you smiling?”
Rhett shook his head, his smile was not fading. “You’re ridiculous, Link.”
Link frowned instantly, crossing his arms tightly over his broad, albeit, thin chest. “What do you mean?” He spoke almost defensively, trying to look like he could even be intimidating. This, of course, only make Rhett want to laugh harder.
“It was just cereal, Link! It’s not really a big deal!” Rhett took a step back as Link took a half playful swing at him. Despite Rhett’s poor attempt to dodge it, Link’s fist hit him square in the chest, but of course, it hardly hurt because Link hadn’t really been trying to hurt him. Rhett just laughed, which frustrated Link further.
“It was MY cereal, Rhett!” Link nearly shouted, and he crossed his arms tightly over his chest again. “I’ve told you this before.”
“I know that, Link. I was hungry, though, and we were all out of noodles-”
Link quickly interjected, “you could have gotten more, and you didn’t have to leave the empty box in the cupboard!” Rhett raised a brow again, looking his friend over once more. His hair, which was bleached at the time, was disheveled, and his face was really trying to look annoyed. The taller man thought it was absolutely adorable.
“I love you.” Rhett mumbled. The moment the words left his lips, though, he looked surprised at himself for saying it. He often said a lot of things before he got the chance to really think it through, or imagine what the consequences could be of possibly saying it. Unfortunately - or so he thought - this was one of those times.
“What?” Link almost looked as surprised as Rhett, but there was a hint of something else. A light, playful look in his eyes that overpowered the initial shock of what Rhett had said. Of course, Rhett hadn’t noticed that at the time, but looking back, it was pretty obvious that Link was amused by the comment from the start, and not at all actually bothered by it.
“I, uh..” Rhett’s mind was racing, his thoughts moving through his mind at a million miles an hour. “I just meant that- You just- Uh..” His mouth was moving with words that weren’t fully formed or voice, a clear representation of the panic running through his mind. Had he really just said that? Did he mean it? Of course, he meant it. He loved Link. He always had, really. They had been best friends since first grade. It was clear to Rhett that he loved Link, but there wasn't an indication that Link loved him. Would he hate him for saying it? Would he be annoyed by him? Would he move out? Maybe never talk to him again? For some reason, Rhett was assuming all of this of the same man that he’d known since first grade. He knew that Link was such a good person- He wouldn’t hate him. He’d just think he was weird. Maybe he might assume there’s something wrong with him. Rhett didn’t even notice the dark blush that had spread across Link’s face the moment the words had left his mouth.
“Rhett!” Link reached up, and he lightly smacked the side of Rhett’s face. That finally snapped Rhett out of his trance, and he blinked a few times and looked at Link.
“Sorry.” His voice was barely a breath because suddenly he was very afraid. In such a short amount of time, he’d managed to convince himself that Link would hate him for this.
“Rhett.. Take a breath.” Link let his hand drop, and he gave Rhett a small smile. That’s when Rhett finally realized that Link didn’t look upset at all. He looked amused, the same expression on his face that Rhett was sure he’d had on his own when Link had been upset over the cereal. “It’s fine, really. And, if it’s any consolation,” Link’s hand found its way to Rhett’s chest again, and this time, it stayed there, “I love you, too.” Rhett felt a blush spread across his cheeks. Link had always been the bold one of the two, talking to strangers and whatnot. Even despite that, though, he was shocked by what Link had said.
“What?” Rhett asked quietly, staring down at the smaller man. He got a short nod in response.
“Your heart’s beating really fast, Rhett..” Link noted, and he smiled a little, looking at his hand across Rhett’s chest, and then looking up at Rhett’s face again. Rhett swallowed thickly, nodding a little at Link. They were very close to each other. As foreign as this situation was, Rhett couldn’t help but look down at Link’s sharp, pink lips, licking his own as he looked at them. This had been coming for some time. One of them would make an off-handed comment, maybe one would get flustered when their knees touched while they were studying or sitting on their small couch. The signs had been there for all this time, and in this moment, looking back, none of them were even really subtle.
Neither of them was really sure what it was about this morning that finally did it for both of them. Maybe it was, in fact, Rhett’s lame prank. Maybe it was that they had fallen asleep the night before, entwined in each other on the couch, Link laying on Rhett’s chest, Rhett's arm protectively wrapped around his shoulders. Whatever it was, it was about time they both realized it. Link smiled, and carrying on his bold spirit, he leaned up, and he planted a chaste kiss on Rhett’s lips.
****
“Rhett! Are you going to unlock the car?” Link’s voice and a sharp tug on his hand pulled Rhett out of his little flashback. Somehow, he’d gotten so wrapped up in the sweet memory, he’d missed half of the walk from the building to the car. He silently hoped that Link hadn’t said anything important, or anything at all, really because he’d really feel horrible if he’d missed something. Listening to Link was one of his favorite things to do. He could listen to the man talk and laugh for hours about anything and he would never tire of it.
Rhett snapped himself out of his thoughts quickly, before he could let himself get carried away again. “Oh! Yeah, sorry ‘bout that.” He gave Link a sheepish looking smile, and he shoved his hand into his pocket and he pulled his keys out.
“Just hurry up! It’s freezing!” Link pouted, even sticking his lower lip out, pouting as he kept his now shaking arm wrapped tightly around himself. Link had neve been great with the cold. He always shook like a leaf. Rhett liked to blame it on how skinny the shorter man was, but he always seemed to disagree. ‘I just wasn’t built for the cold’ is what he would always insist. Rhett would always just smile and shake his head.
Rhett quickly unlocked the passenger door of the old red pickup, the same one Link had gotten so many years ago. It had its flaws, like the malfunctioning right speaker, and the loud engine, and the torn up upholstery, but it was what he had, and neither were about to complain. He pulled the door open so that Link could climb in as he went around to his own side. Link climbed in quickly, slamming the door shut before Rhett even got the chance to unlock his own. He smiled and shook his head, and he imagined Link was sitting in the seat, curled up on himself, doing anything and everything he could to keep himself from freezing as he waited for Rhett. He didn't exactly take his time slinging the heavy bags, which were filled to the brim with clothes, into the back of the truck. That wasn't what his priority was, at the moment. He was focused on getting into the truck, so he could turn the heat on for Link.
Just as he was heading to his door, he froze, and he quickly turned back to grab his bag. He opened it swiftly, licking his lips as he dug through it to find Link’s jacket. When he finally found it, he zipped the bag again, and then he ran to his door and unlocked it as quickly as his freezing fingers would allow.
When Rhett finally got in, Link was doing exactly what Rhett had predicted he’d be doing, although he was also bouncing his legs, and he had both of his arms wrapped tightly around himself. “Rhett,” he whined, “the heat!” He reached over, and with a grateful smile, he took his jacket from Rhett’s hand, and he put it on quickly, before he curled up on himself again.
Rhett laughed softly at him, and he shoved the key into the ignition, put his foot on the brake pedal, and started the old truck. Link immediately reached over and cranked the heat up all the way. It would take more than a couple minutes for it to really warm up, and Link knew that, so he wanted to make sure that when it finally got there, it would be really warm. “Alright,” Rhett spoke as he carefully pulled out of his parking spot, “we’ve just got to stop at home to grab our supplies, then we can head out.”
Link grinned, since he’d been looking forward to this trip all month, and it really had been mostly what he’d been talking about. Rhett didn’t mind that, of course. He always had loved the way Link’s eyes would light up whenever he would talk about something he was really excited about. It was one of the best times, Rhett found, to look into those bright blue eyes and love the beauty he found in them. “Great. The sooner the better, baby.”
Rhett laughed at the smaller man’s enthusiasm, and he kept his eyes on the road as he reached over and started the music. Merle Haggard blasted from the working speaker as Rhett reached over and took his boyfriend’s hand. He was sure of it; this would be an amazing trip.