Archive of Our Own ^beta

But something had changed since the last time they went. It, as Link lamented so many things did, had become a bit.

The joke was that they go on camping trips and make out.

Link could say, through twisted guts, that that was a thing that has never happened.

And now that it was a joke. It likely never would.

Rhett would never give into the pressure of doing something just to satisfy the audience. It caused him too much cognitive dissonance. He was contrary by nature, always playing devil’s advocate. But he was also a people pleaser. And there were so many people across the globe at this point looking to be pleased by him that it was impossible to give everyone what they wanted; impossible to ensure that every joke could be for every person; that good intent could always be assumed; that Rhett could ever overshade enough of his psyche that people wouldn’t assume things and read into things that went completely against character.

It was part of Rhett’s self-healing to exercise caution before giving into something that people wanted, simply because they wanted it.

And even if Rhett did decide to throw all those mental gymnastics out the window, Link had his own hangups. Link’s self-consciousness over this issue being the primary one. Would he make out with Rhett on a camping trip, after making out with Rhett on a camping trip had become such a freakin joke to everybody?

What if Rhett did do it just to bring the bit home.

Link could never let something that he wanted deep in the most sincere corners of his heart be used to cash in on a bit.

His heart was not a joke.

And he didn’t want to be analyzed by people who were in one of two metaphorical camps. The ‘I told you so’s’ and the ‘It was scripteds’.

Again. It came down to manipulation of their personal character. They could express allyship publicly; and do heartbreaking honest introspection and exploration privately. And there were still folks that would suggest that anything queer that they touched was ‘for the clicks’, as if everything else they’d shared suggested that they were the types of people that would willfully and strategically capitalize in a malicious way on the LGBTQ+ community.

It made him sick.

It made him scared.

It made him sad.

He felt painted into a corner in terms of what he was allowed to do with the person he trusted more than anyone on this earth.

Link couldn’t stop himself from being in his own head about it; but he wasn’t going to let that stop him from enjoying camping with Rhett, as he had essentially his entire life.

The atmospheric pressure had been steadily dropping all day. Link was feeling a little achy. He wondered if mid-forties was old enough to say things along the lines of “There’s a storm comin!” or “I can feel it in my bones.”

But even without his phone - as they’d decided to be off the grid for this trip - Link would have bet big money that there was indeed a storm comin.

He could feel it in his bones.

Rhett, master of denial, had gone ahead and got a fire going anyway.

It was nice.

Pretending they weren’t about to get slammed by Mother Nature. Pretending that they’d be able to cuddle up close to the fire. Look at stars. Roast snacks over the flame. Maybe Rhett would get his guitar out and play for him.

That was how Link had pictured it.

But the clouds were obscuring the stars and the moon, leaving them in a darkness that seemed to go beyond nighttime.

The fire was their only light.

They had heavy duty flashlights to use as lanterns if the fire went out. And early October in California wasn’t cold enough to worry over.

We’re still good, Link thought to himself.

Rhett thought it was a fun idea to try to tell scary stories in the firelight.

Link didn’t care much for scary stories.

He had trouble suspending his disbelief enough to take them seriously. And then what if he did take them seriously? He wound up legitimately scared? Talk about a lose-lose prospect.

But he listened to Rhett spin his yarn. And tried not to laugh at the silliness. Or let any spookiness ruin his mood, and take the fun out of it.

Rhett did seem to be having fun. And he was a good storyteller. Link did have some ideas for how to improve the delivery of the tales, but Link didn’t think Rhett would appreciate Link bringing his editor brain into this endeavor.

So Link made mental notes or things they might be able to use for future skits and bits.

Really can’t turn it off, can ya, Neal? he silently scolded himself.

He tried to focus on the story. Go on the ride Rhett intended to take him on. Maybe just lose himself a little in the whimsy. If nothing else, lose himself in the sound of Rhett’s voice. Warm and safe in the otherwise eerie quiet of the night.

Sometimes Link would hear the rumble of thunder off in the near distance. It was so low and powerful it made the hairs on Link’s arms stand up.

Every once in a while a particularly loud pop or crack of the fire would make Link jump.

Rhett’s face twisted into a smile when that happened.

“Scared?”

Link rolled his eyes.

“You can bring your chair closer if you’re getting scared,” Rhett teased.

Link’s breath caught in his chest. Was Rhett trying to get him to come closer? Or was he just.. making fun of him?

“Think I’ll be all right.”

“Suit yerself, man.”

Link watched the fire light up Rhett’s features. It was hypnotizing watching the flames dance over his skin. Illuminating his hair in glowing golden threads.

Suddenly he was snapped out of it as thunder seemed to crack open the sky. A loud crash made Link shoot straight up out of his camping chair, and then buckets of rain began pelting down on them.

They grabbed what they could before seeking shelter in their tent.

“Holy shit!” Link panted once they were inside.

They were both drenched, and Link’s teeth were chattering.

“We better change into something dry,” Rhett suggested.

Link nodded. Feeling a little warmer already. Usually they would take turns changing in the tent. It wasn’t a big deal, just.. usually it wasn’t impractical to give each other a little space and privacy.

It would be impractical now with the elements storming down against their shelter.

Link quickly peeled his wet clothes off and paused before putting dry clothes on his still wet skin.

“Yeah..” Rhett huffed, coming to the same conclusion.

“Towel?”

“Out in the car.”

“Shit.”

“Yup.. We’ll dry quickly,” Rhett assured him. “Got some extra blankets here.” He tossed one to Link, who was still shaking. “You still that cold?”

“Not really..” Link was wondering if he should have lied. He could have worked his way into one of those huddle together for warmth scenarios. “That sudden onset shook me up a bit.” Link wrapped the blanket around his naked body.

“C’mere,” Rhett offered. Himself wrapped in a spare blanket.

Link didn’t question it. He scooched over to Rhett’s side of the tent and sat next to him.

To his surprise Rhett wrapped blanket-covered arms around Link’s blanket-covered body and pulled him close. Link’s shaking almost immediately subsided.

Link was too rattled to overthink any of it. He relaxed into Rhett’s tight hold and took a deep breath. Deep enough that his chest pressed against Rhett’s hold as it expanded.

When he exhaled he sank deeper against Rhett and felt Rhett’s arms tighten.

“You’re like.. a thundershirt for dogs. Or a weighted blanket for.. I dunno. Whoever.”

“Not ‘for whoever’,” Rhett corrected him. “For you.”

“You’ve been low-key trying to scare me all night. Now you care that I’m actually scared? Or.. I was. I’m okay now.”

Idiot, Link thought to himself. If you’re okay, he’ll let go.

“Do you want me to let you get dressed?” Rhett asked.

Link thought about that. If Rhett was uncomfortable, he wouldn’t have asked.

“I’m comfortable,” Link tried.

“Good. Let’s relax for once.”

Rhett gently reclined, not letting Link - burritoed in his blanket - out of his grip.

They lie on top of Rhett’s sleeping bag. Individually-wrapped, then bundled, portions of calm in the center of a storm whipping around them.

The noise. The chaos. None of it mattered.

All that mattered were Rhett’s arms around him.

It was calming something deep inside Link. More than just his fear of the storm. And Link was beginning to suspect that Rhett knew that.

Link’s back was to Rhett’s chest.

Even through the blankets, Link felt the heat between them.

Rhett began to hum against Link’s ear and Link smiled.