Turn to Me by Mythical Rhink. (PG-13)

Turn to Me: Chapter 15

Rhett stood silently for a few minutes, trying to think of what he could say to make them both feel better without making it sound like he accepted all the blame. Eventually he gave up and carried the blanket back to the couch. He built up the fire good and hot, then crawled under the blanket and closed his eyes.

Of course he couldn’t sleep; it was early yet and his mind was racing. He replayed their conversation and fumed about Link’s insulting claims, thinking about what he should have said and points he should have made. His brain also began rolling down a negative spiral of speculation. What if they didn’t get past this? What if this conflict had been building for years under the surface and now they were at odds and would never be comfortable together again?

Rhett shook his head, scoffing at his paranoia. They’d certainly been through worse fights over the duration of their friendship and had come out the other side just fine. And in the past year they’d seemed to grow closer than ever. Rhett told himself they just needed some time to cool down and everything would be fine. He refused to let himself think any further about the possibility of the alternative.

He curled up on his side with his back wedged against the pillows, facing the fire. The warmth was soothing on his closed eyelids as he took deep, calming breaths. He thought about Link, cold and alone in the bedroom. He was going to be sore and tired in the morning, no doubt… and probably in a worse mood than he was now as a result. But Rhett refused to make it his responsibility if Link was going to run off and sulk.He must have drifted off eventually, because he was woken from a sound sleep by Link saying his name. He opened his eyes and saw Link standing between him and the fire, wrapped in a blanket. Link was facing him, but Rhett only saw his silhouette. “Hey…” Rhett said, fighting to think clearly.