Channel the happiness :)

Link had always been incredibly self-confident. He looked good to a lot of people. His energy meant he was great at being able to jump into any situation and ooze charisma where he went. But, like anyone, he had his moments of self-doubt and anxiety.

This was one of those moments.

They were getting ready to film for the day. Link was in the dressing room, slumped in the chair and staring himself down. He’d been in a bad mood all weekend and he had hoped it would have disappeared by now.

He couldn’t quite explain it. He felt frustrated. Creatively, he felt like he was offering little to nothing of value. Things were busy and he hadn’t had much time to disconnect and recharge. He couldn’t help but beat himself up internally for not being able to break through what life was throwing at him. He felt as if he were muddling through meetings and brainstorming sessions for weeks and it was getting to him.

Rhett walked in, a smile on his face that quickly vanished when he set his sights on Link. He turned to the door, whispered something to Davin and Stevie and closed it.

He walked up behind Link, and placed his hands on Link’s shoulders.

“Hi, beautiful,” he said softly. “Don’t cry.”

Link was snapped out of his daze by Rhett’s words and looked at himself in the mirror. At some point, he had started crying. He hadn’t realized it; he was numb to the feeling.

He hastily wiped his face and went to lean forward, out of Rhett’s grasp, but Rhett held him firmly in place.

“I’m fine,” Link said, trying to get up again. Rhett kept him in place once more and leaned down to wrap his arms around Link’s shoulders in a hug. He buried his face in Link’s neck, took a deep breath and pulled back to look at Link in the mirror. Link relaxed at the act, feeling some of the tension he was carrying melt away.

“You’re not fine. You think I haven’t noticed?” Rhett said. Link took a shaky breath and placed his hands on Rhett’s arms, his head falling back on the tall man’s shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” Rhett ventured. Link took a breath. He knew Rhett would understand. He often did. He lifted his head again to look at Rhett in the mirror.

“I feel drained. Creatively. Emotionally. I don’t feel like I have anything to offer. It’s been busy here, at home, and now the holidays coming up. I’m feeling pulled apart in so many directions and I don’t have the time to just...be.”

Rhett hummed. Link felt as though the gray green eyes he’d known so well for so long were diagnosing him, looking for a solution, or at the very least, a temporary fix.

“What do you say,” Rhett started, “we get through today’s filming and cancel today’s and tomorrow’s meetings? Head to the beach for an overnight to relax and recharge?”

“We can’t do that,” Link sighed, wishing they could.

“Why not? We’re the bosses.”

“We’re also the talent. And we have to film tomorrow,” Link said.

“Stevie will understand pushing out a day. We’ll just shift Wednesday meetings to Tuesday and film double Wednesday.”

“Rhett, I—“

“Listen to me, Link. You need this. I’m not taking no for an answer. Let me take care of this,” Rhett implored. Link bit his tongue. He knew what Rhett was really saying. Let me take care of you. Link had trouble letting people take care of him, but if he couldn’t let Rhett do it, he really couldn’t let anyone. And what kind of life was that if he couldn’t let his best friend help him?

My brOTP