#link was looking so lovingly and tenderly at rhett

[asherlockstudy]

A moment for the ages x

[rhettjmc]

Almost two months ago, I lost my partner. He helped me through the roughest part of my life, but unfortunately love alone wasn't enough to make him better. He was brave, loving, crazy intelligent, witty and everything I hope I could be one day.

Even in his final days, he still had his grin and left us, surrounded by his family, with that same smile I fell in love with 3 years ago.

I wrote this as a way to immortalise everything he did for me, and the things I loved most about him. But, without these two boys, I don't know how I would've made it through these past weeks, so of course, I had to try and pour everything I'm feeling into them.

This isn't supposed to be sad - it's soft, comforting and everything he was, and how he pulled me through. ❤️

Please be warned, the ficlet contains a depiction of depression - please read with caution if that is something you are sensitive to.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

Link swallows thickly, the stagnant taste of unused breath curls hotly in his mouth. He winces, attempting to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth.

Rhett should be home soon, shouldn’t he?

How long had he been gone?

He hums flatly just to fill the silence, his eyelids heavy as he stares at the ceiling, even the simple mechanic of blinking seems hard these days.

Why isn’t Rhett here yet?

He misses him. That’s the only thing he can be sure of recently, ever since his brain packed up and took any chance of happiness with it.

Rhett said he was depressed, clinically.

But what does he know? He always has to know everything, doesn't he?

He could be right though, Link thinks to himself, bitterly.

He chastises himself, furious that he ridiculed Rhett. He’s already burdening him.

Instead, he thinks of cuddling close, with his love’s thumb tenderly stroking over the back of his hand, he thinks of the nights spent under blankets with cheesy pasta and ruddy cheeks, he thinks of their first real date - both of them too scared to reach for the others hand in the dim light of the movie theatre.

He smiles, just about. His lips almost crack under the pressure of the movement, his eyes flick to the glass from the coffee table, knowing full well that it’s empty.

Of course, it’s empty. Rhett’s not here to refill it.

He almost feels anger bubbling in his chest, why isn’t Rhett here to refill it?

Because he had to go, Link’s rational brain reminds himself.

It’s okay, he still loves me.

His eyes shut again, falling heavy under the pressure of staying awake for too long. Thinking tires him out, his existence is vapid without Rhett here.

He listens to the tick of the clock, counting down the seconds until Rhett comes home.

Time passes, the fog settling over his brain congests and sets up camp for the night. It’s not leaving anytime soon.

He hears the door click open, shoes toed off in the hallway, the rustle of bags and the familiar clearing of a throat.

Rhett’s home, a torrent of relief washes over him.

His exterior doesn’t change, his heavy limbs stay folded tightly over his body, his eyes stay hooded and soupy.

He makes a small noise as footsteps approach, almost a tiptoe.

Link knows he’s trying to be quiet - for a tall man, he’s delicate.

His love bends into Link’s space, pressing a careful kiss into his hair, accompanied by a sweeping finger over his brow.

Warmth spreads through Link’s torso, a poor attempt of a smile appears on his lips.

To others, it would seem like nothing. But Rhett knows him, better than anyone. Rhett knows that Link is trying to say - You’re home. I can finally breathe again.

Then, Rhett is scooping up the glass on the table, filling it with cold water and holding it to Link’s lips.

Link grunts, but Rhett perseveres. Rhett only wants what’s best for him. Link owes it to him to have a drink.

The water sits heavy in his stomach, twisting and swishing in a way that makes Link want to tear the hair from his scalp.

Rhett knows.

Rhett kneels by the couch, a warm palm snakes under Link’s shirt and rests carefully on the soft skin of his tummy. Rhett’s thumb sweeps over the skin carefully. Lovingly.

Link doesn’t know how, but the touch dissolves the sickly feeling in his stomach. He feels… fine.

Soon, Rhett is padding off to the kitchen. Link hears the pots and pans clinking together, he hears the flipping of pages from their recipe book - a housewarming gift from Mama Di.

The lump returns to Link’s throat as he thinks of her.

He knows she’s worried about him, he thinks of the hushed phone calls he overhears when she calls Rhett to check in on them.

He’s thankful. He’s lucky to have another Mama in his life that cares so fiercely. She delivers home-cooked meals some days - dishes filled with custard desserts, trays of chocolate-chip loaf cake and flasks filled with soup.

It’s the sort of food you’d deliver if someone had the flu.

But Link wasn’t sick. Not physically, at least. But the gesture isn’t lost on him.

He knows one day, when he can bear it, he’ll thank her. Thank her for the food, for the love and the concern. Thank her for treating him like he’s her own.

Thank her for bringing Rhett into this world. For bringing caring, beautiful Rhett into the world.

He hears Rhett singing softly as a pot bubbles away, he’s singing their song.

Sometimes, all I think about is you

Late nights in the middle of June.

His chest blooms, he wants to sing along. He wants to join in, burst into the kitchen and sing at the top of his lungs. He wants to snake his arms around Rhett’s waist and dance with him, kiss him stupid and take back the ludicrous baggage he’s bestowed on Rhett’s shoulders.

But he can’t. Not yet at least.

He’s anchored to the couch. Chained and he can’t break free.

He hates himself for it, he knows he’s wasting precious time.

Cruel time that’s ticking away.

They won’t be young forever. Rhett won’t be here forever.

But they have years, decades, left.

Don’t they?

The universe wouldn’t be so cruel to rip Rhett from him. Not when he’s the only thing keeping Link afloat.

Caring, beautiful Rhett.

Link shakes his head abruptly, not allowing his mind to tumble down that morbid pathway.

All too soon, the sun is setting through their patio doors, casting a golden glow over the living room.

It's peaceful.

It’s the universe reminding him, that life is beautiful. It’s precious.

He sits up, bones creaking and protesting under the sudden movement. His head swims, colours dance in front of his eyes and it makes him want to lay back down.

But he doesn’t.

He wobbles to his feet, discarding the blanket around his shoulders to the floor.

Earlier, he’d complained to the empty room that it was too scratchy, too warm. He didn’t need a blanket, he wasn’t a child, he wasn’t sick.

But now, he’s smiling. He thinks about how every morning Rhett replaces the blanket with a new one - fresh and laundered.

This one has tiger stripes, fluffy on the edges. Rhett had tucked it under Link’s chin before he left for the grocery store, he had playfully growled like a tiger in a silly attempt to make Link laugh.

He shuffles into the kitchen, ignoring the relentless scream in his mind to shut down again.

Rhett turns in surprise, his grand smile filling out his appled cheeks.

Link knows that look, it’s pride.

“There you are,” Rhett says softly, abandoning the wooden spoon in his hand.

Link curls into him, “I love you,” he says.

“I love you too,” Rhett’s response is instant, it’s easy and flows out of him unapologetically.

Link sighs, feeling a tiny piece of him slot back into place.

It’s the start of healing.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

[apparentlynotreallyfinnish]

so, a lot of rhink fic out there is just really kinky but i feel like after so many years they wouldn't be like that everytime yknow? maybe they go home, both really tired because they've been shooting all day and as link says something cute rhett kisses him because!!! he loves this dork so much!! one thing leads to the other, but they're still soft, probably joking around, making each other laugh and just. making love lovingly as rhett would say. (pls drabble on this if you can or want!)

I’m sorry this took so long! And it’s a bit whatever. Tried something a bit different for me. Hope you like it. ^^

—

It had been a long day. Actually, it had been a long week and Rhett couldn’t wait to get home, eat and relax and hopefully soon press his head onto a pillow. He felt like he could sleep for a solid twenty four hours. Link was tired and wired too. When he was like that he talked. Rhett was used to it. The drone of his ceaseless chatting was comforting to Rhett. An old song he knew the words to by heart. He drove the truck and Link talked the talk. That’s how it had been for years.

They'd picked up takeaway and didn’t bother to get any plates. Link jumped on the bed. He was still talking, not waiting for Rhett to contribute. His words were just built up energy that needed to be released. Rhett climbed next to him. Television was clicked on and the bluish glare jumped around the walls of the room. Rhett’s eyes focused on the way it made the grey in Link’s hair look almost electrified. It seemed fitting for him and Rhett smiled. His very own electric bunny. They watched ‘Late night’ and pried open cartons of Chinese food. They switched boxes without prompting, knowing what the other one wanted and when.

Soon Rhett’s stomach was full and his eyes periodically drooped closed.  He was propped up on his pillows Link lying next to him on his own side of their California King bed. Link was laughing at the show. His body shook the mattress making Rhett feel even drowsier. His eyes closed and he just listened. He knew he might fall asleep fully clothed but he just couldn’t be bothered.

The mattress shifted. There was a pressure on top of him. Warmth of a body. Tickling breath on his face. Then a head thumped on his chest.

“I’m dead.”

Rhett’s chuckle jostled the head slightly.

“That’s my line,” he said quietly.

“Well, if you’re asleep, I can be dead.”

“Please, don’t be dead,” Rhett muttered suddenly feeling a twinge of sadness. They weren't spring chickens anymore. One day it would be a reality. He wondered which of them would go first. Then he wondered which would be worse. Link seemed to sense his mood shift because he rose to straddle him and asked: “What’s wrong?”

Rhett finally opened his eyes and looked at his husband. He was backlit by the light of the television. He looked almost alien in his beauty illuminated by the garish, blue, flickering light.

“Gimme a kiss,” Rhett ordered gently. Link obeyed ducking down to press his lips lightly on Rhett’s. Rhett rolled them so that he was on top of Link now. He kissed him deeply, tasting the food and tasting Link. Emotion welled inside of him.

“Never leave me,” Rhett murmured against Link’s lips. Link made a throat sound that was something between a laugh and a question.

“Where is this coming from, babe?” he asked.

“Nowhere. Just… Promise?”

“I thought I promised when we exchanged these rings?” Link said finding Rhett’s fingers and stroked his ring.

“Promise me again?” Rhett pleaded. He felt small and pitiful. Link hugged him tight against him and whispered into his ear: “I’ll never leave you. I promise.”

Rhett hummed appreciatively and buried his face in the crook of Link’s neck. Rhett’s mind was still tired but his body was alert. The peaks and valleys of Link’s form were so familiar against Rhett’s body that he couldn’t quell its natural reaction. Rhett’s hips ground against Link’s and he whined low and needy. Link kissed the top of his head.

“Let me take care of that,” he murmured with a hint of smile in his voice and pushed Rhett gently off of him. Rhett fell back on the bed limbs sprawled limply across it. He felt half asleep but his skin was buzzing for more touches. He closed his eyes and let himself be handled by his lover. His clothes were removed efficiently and tenderly. The mattress sprung back up as Link got up to remove his own clothes and get the lube. Rhett blindly reached for Link to get back to him and soon Link’s fingers threaded into his.

The bedroom filled with quiet whispers and low moans. There was a comfortable predictability in their movements. Loving kisses and sweeping hands. Light touches that turned to more purposeful caresses over time. Hot skin pressed against a cooler one and familiar words of encouragement muttered but not really heard. Link’s delicate fingers knew their way in, found the right pressure points, made Rhett’s body sing. Link was the conductor of this orchestra and Rhett was ready to play a masterpiece. They joined slowly and moved resolutely towards the crescendo waiting them at the end. Rhett felt pliable and sweet. He moved lazily instructed by Link’s hips and arms. His heartstrings were plucked gently by Link’s loving words. Rhett was so full. Belly filled with food and heart filled with love and head filled with dreams and his body filled to the brim with Link. Something had to spill over soon. The heat pooled deliciously. Rhett’s body tightened and a groan pushed its way out of his throat. Their ragged breaths mingled and their mouths sought each other desperately as their composition reached its coda.

Silence fell. Rhett felt Link slip out of him. He heard the patter of his feet. Then felt the soft cloth wipe him gently clean. Rhett sighed. He curled into the covers. Link climbed next to him. The blue light vanished with a snap.

A quiet ‘love you’. A whispered ‘always and forever’. Then sweet, sweet sleep.

[cheekyrhett]

sometimes I'm just struck by how soft and gentle rhett is??? how he's so careful about speaking softly and making himself seem smaller than he is because he KNOWS he's huge and he KNOWS he can be scary but really just a big sweetheart and i am always and forever desperate for more soft!dom rhett because of it. rhett just tenderly and lovingly taking care of link and just being 100% focused on link's pleasure and taking him apart agonizingly slow and worshipping every inch of him as he does.

absolutely ohhh my gosh... and when his eyes go all soft and dreamy??? he looks at his lovers like that. those big hands sweeping every inch of soft bare skin and that perfect soft beardy mouth and slooooooow lovemaking...

[jules-myhairgoesup]

06.03 LDN 14022019

This is far too early and has been written because I can't sleep. This also means it's only been seen by me, so I'm sure is full of mistakes - I will rectify as I see/find them!

It's rhink, it's pretty pointless and as usual I am going to post it anyway. Sorry.

For all who have been putting up with me recently ( @fanbabble and @rhinkyfan in particular) much love to all.

It's early.

London.

14th February, 2019.

It's still not quite light; the skies a cold, steely grey, the breath of the early morning commuters puffing white and ethereal as they hurry to Tube stations and catch buses to begin another day.

He has a bad case of jet lag. He stares out of the hotel window, watching the sky and the scurrying below and presses his forehead against the glass and then he jumps slightly at the icy coldness, pulling at the too short and too small hotel robe to try and close it higher round his neck.

Hotel rooms sometimes made him feel even more of a giant than he was, like some lumbering oaf with feet hanging over the end of the bed and robes with sleeves to his elbows and the length hitting him somewhere above the knee. So flattering, he snorts in a disgustedly amused manner. 'You're so funny, Rhett' he thinks and then rolls his eyes at himself. So funny and so damned jet lagged.

He looks out of the window again and watches the city still waking, traffic and people increasing steadily. A couple outside the Tube station catch his eye - the are obviously going to work, but it seems they were saying goodbye for the day and about to part. He wonders what their story is - Married? Lovers? Even maybe aone night stand morning after goodbye deal? He watches as they embrace and then kiss; tenderly, sweetly. Lovingly comfortable, breaking the kiss and parting, but holding hands until the very last second when they have to part. One of them takes the steps down into the Tube and the other waits until they are out of sight and then turns away to carry on the day, smiling fondly it seems 'Lovers and/or married' he thinks. He watches and smiles too, then impulsively breathes on the window, his warm breath fogging the glass and draws a heart over the place where they'd stood. Love is good.

He is about to wipe it away with his stunted robe sleeve when he hears a soft, sleep gravelled voice from the direction of the bed.

'Hey you... did you sleep at all? You look ridiculous in that robe man, like you grew all suddenly, like you should be green and angry '

He turns to face the voice, to see two bright blue eyes looking at him, dark silversparked hair every which way and all the while seemingly burrowing deeper into a huge bedding cocoon.  The fond smile he wears blossoms further at the sight.

'You wouldn't like me when I'm angry...'

A giggle drifts up from the nest.

'You want to come and rage on me, Hulk boy?'

He walks slowly and stands next to the bed, looking down at the gorgeous, tanned and warm man wrapped in crisp white cotton grinning up at him and still giggling.

'Link. I've got jet lag from hell, I've not slept for nearly 24 hrs and we have a pretty full day ahead of us....'

The gorgeous creature of the bed holds out his hand.

'Shhhh, Rhett. It's ok.... You should have woke me earlier... c'mon. It's still pretty early, bro.' The bedding parts and the offered hand guides him to come down and join the bed creature in his lair. 'Let's just lay and talk maybe. Just be us. And if you sleep, that's all good. Whatever you want.'

A strong arm hugs his waist, he feels his robe open and fingers stroke and soothe the soft warmth of the skin underneath.

He exhales through his nose and, kissing his lover on the forehead, he closes his eyes and relaxes.

'Hey. Happy valentines, Rhett. I love you, you know?'

'Hey. Happy valentines, Link. Thank you for loving me. And I love you, too. So much. I'll show you later just how much.'

He hums contentedly as the amazing, adored Link wraps closer around him.

And as London continues to wake up on this grey cold morning he looks forward to later and drifts finally into a sweet, deep sleep.

[jules-myhairgoesup]

As it's getting near.... Thought I'd repost this from a few weeks ago.

06.30 LDN 14022019

It's early.

London.

14th February 2019.

It's still not quite light; the skies a cold, steely grey, the breath of the early morning commuters puffing white and ethereal as they hurry to Tube stations and catch buses to begin another day

He has a bad case of jet lag. He stares out of the hotel window, watching the sky and the scurrying below and presses his forehead against the glass and then he jumps slightly at the icy coldness, pulling at the too short and too small hotel robe to try and close it higher round his neck.

Hotel rooms sometimes make him feel even more of a giant than he is, like some lumbering oaf with feet hanging over the end of the bed and robes with sleeves to his elbows and the length hitting him somewhere above the knee. So flattering, he snorts in a disgustedly amused manner. 'You're so funny, Rhett' he thinks and then rolls his eyes at himself. So funny and so damned jet lagged.

He looks out of the window again and watches the city still waking, traffic and people increasing steadily. A couple outside the Tube station catch his eye - they are obviously going to work, but it seems they were saying goodbye for the day and about to part. He wonders what their story is - Married? Lovers? Even maybe a one-night stand morning after goodbye kind of deal? He watches as they embrace and then kiss; tenderly, sweetly. Lovingly comfortable, breaking the kiss and parting, but holding hands until the very last second when they have to part. One of them takes the steps down into the Tube and the other waits until they are out of sight and then turns away to carry on the day, smiling fondly it seems to themselves 'Lovers and/or married' he thinks. He watches and smiles too, then impulsively breathes on the window, his warm breath fogging the glass and draws a heart over the place where they'd stood. Love is good.

He is about to wipe it away with his stunted robe sleeve when he hears a soft, sleep gravelled voice from the direction of the bed.

'Hey you... did you sleep at all? You look ridiculous in that robe man, like you grew all suddenly, like you should be green and angry '

He turns to face the voice, to see two bright blue eyes looking at him, dark silversparked hair every which way and all the while seemingly burrowing deeper into a huge bedding cocoon.  The fond smile he wears blossoms further at the sight.

'You wouldn't like me when I'm angry...'

A giggle drifts up from the nest.

'You want to come and rage on me, Hulk boy?'

He walks slowly and stands next to the bed, looking down at the gorgeous, tanned and warm man wrapped in crisp white cotton grinning up at him and still giggling.

'Link. I've got jet lag from hell, I've not slept for nearly 24 hrs and we have a pretty full day ahead of us....'

The gorgeous creature of the bed holds out his hand.

'Shhhh, Rhett. Shhhh, It's ok.... You should have woke me earlier... c'mon. It's still pretty early, bro.' The bedding parts and the offered hand guides him to come down and join the lovely bed creature in his lair. 'Let's just lay and talk maybe. Just be us. And if you sleep, that's all good. We have a few hours. Whatever you want.'

A strong arm hugs his waist, he feels his robe open and fingers stroke and soothe the soft warmth of the skin underneath.

He exhales through his nose and, kissing his lover on the forehead, he closes his eyes and relaxes.

'Hey. Happy valentines, Rhett. I love you, you know?'

'Hey. Happy valentines, Link. Thank you for loving me. And I love you, too. So much. I'll show you later just how much.'

He hums contentedly as the amazing, adored Link wraps closer around him.

And as London continues to wake up on this grey cold morning he looks forward to later and drifts finally into a sweet, deep sleep.