Chapter Text
Rhett took Link’s hand smiling as they walked towards the shore of the beach. Surfboards were at their sides, while sand kicked up behind their feet as they went.
“The waves look pretty rough today,” Rhett pointed out as he watched the waves crash as they met the land.
“It’s been a long time since we were out here and got any good waves,” Link answered, his hand squeezing Rhett’s. “Are you scared?” Link joked, looking into Rhett’s eyes. Rhett shrugged a shoulder but smiled.
“Not when you’re with me.” Link blushed and laughed, his canines showing behind his crooked smile.
“Don’t be such a sap,” the shorter one said, his hand leaving Rhett’s to grab his surfboard with both hands as they neared the water.
“You make it so easy.” They both laughed as they entered the water. The low waves pushing back against their bodies.
There were parties of people off on the shore. Many were sunbathing in the warm California heat, others were in the water holding hands so they wouldn't be pulled away from each other by the strong tide. Rhett noticed two other surfers off in the water a distance from them. He breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't planned on the waves being this rocky when he asked Link to join him at the beach today.
They had both been cooped up in their shared home for a week, working on a tedious deadline. They were the owners of an online company called MythicalMerch in which they designed products a consumer might like, made prototypes, created them, and sold them. The company had grown exponentially since its beginning two years ago. They had been working on a new project, and the company they sent blueprints to had closed without warning, causing a headache and a considerable amount of work on Rhett and Link’s end. Having to find a new company to partner with and get the money back from the business that had closed had not been an easy task. Working all week had eventually paid off and they were well on their way to getting their business back in line.
They had started the company together when Christy had broken up with Link. She was the first real girlfriend he had had and they were together for nearly three years. She broke up with him because she knew she was only a placeholder for his heart. He didn’t understand at the time and lived as a broken man until Rhett came in to comfort and help him through his heartache. They became closer than ever and Rhett pitched the company idea and they both ran with it.
A year into the partnership, Rhett had first kissed Link. Six months ago, he had proposed.
Rhett played with the small band around his finger. It was a promise. A promise to always love the man next to him who sat on his surfboard smiling as the salty sea wind tousled his brunette, side swept hair. He looked at the matching band on Link’s finger, a smile playing on his lips.
“C’mon man! Let’s get out there!” Link smiled, starting to paddle his way farther into the deep blue ocean. Waves lifted his board as they flowed back to meet the shore. Rhett smiled. He followed Link’s lead, his body on his board and his hands paddling the water, pushing him forward against the force.
It was getting calmer as they made their way through the push and pull, until they were a distance out.
“Here comes one!” Rhett yelled to Link, who laughed in excitement. They got into position, propelling themselves into the wave a safe distance from each other. Both turned their boards into the current of water, paddling forward fast and hard, the wave growing in size, and both simultaneously got to their feet as the wave crested.
Both men were focused, holding balance as they let the water flow over them. Link was in front, catching the opening as Rhett caught the tail. Once the wave broke, both men dove into the water laughing and wiping their hair and the water back from their faces.
“That was a good one baby!” Link shouted his laughter filling the air as he pumped his fist up then down splashing water around him. Rhett swam over, his board still under his body. He was smiling as he watched Link’s blue eyes look back out. “Let’s go again.”
The two caught a few good waves, the water slowly becoming choppy as the day went on. Each took turns, watching the other catch waves. Link would shout encouraging words from a distance as Rhett moved his board easily through the current.
"Good job Linkster!" Rhett clapped his hands telling Link how amazing he was once his wave broke and he was in the water. They enjoyed the day and as the sun began to get closer to the horizon, Rhett insisted they should go.
Link was having too much fun and convinced Rhett to ride one more wave. Rhett looked out, feeling uncertain, but he smiled, taking Link’s hand in his and bringing it up to place a kiss there with his chapped lips. Link giggled in triumph.
They both paddled out once more, waiting for that last perfect wave.
“Here comes one!” Link called out from his position and started paddling with it. Rhett could feel the power of this wave and shouted out to Link to wait for another.
Whether Link couldn’t hear him over the rush of water or he didn’t listen, the dark haired man kept going. Rhett told himself to calm down as he began to follow after, only on the edge of the wave. It picked up and he stood, trying to watch Link closely and keep himself steady.
Something caught Rhett’s attention just in front of Link. The wave was being cut off short and Link was looking down focusing on the footing of his board.
Rhett yelled out, losing his grip, the wave crashing on top of him pulling him and his board under. He swam with all his might, pushing himself back to the surface. He coughed as water got into his lungs, and he called out for Link. Waves crashed on him again, pushing him back under. He grabbed the board attached to his foot by a bungee line and was finally able to search for Link. A panic arose as he swam.
“Link! Link where are you?!” He shouted over the noise of the water. He caught sight of Link’s board being pushed into the rip current that had formed. New panic overcame him and adrenaline took over his movements.
Lifeguards could be heard in the distance shouting to each other. Rhett whipped his head around and could see two swimming to shore with another body in tow.
“Link!” Rhett yelled as he followed them.
Once he was far enough and his feet could reach sand, he disconnected his board from his ankle, leaving it to float in the ocean as he kicked up water to get to where the lifeguards had brought Link.
“Link! Link are you ok?!” He shouted as he came up on them. One of the lifeguards, a short man with graying hair, held Rhett back.
“Please sir, I need you to stand back.” He tried to calm him, but Rhett was taller by a foot and easily pushed past. His brain was on autopilot as he kneeled down next to the unconscious brunette. At that moment a taller, and much stronger man came and pulled Rhett away, holding him back easily.
“Sir you need to calm down. Are you friends with this man?” The lifeguard asked as the shorter one held a pen to note paper. Rhett watched the third lifeguard begin CPR and that’s when he saw the blood pooling around Link’s head. Rhett’s body jutted forward as tears formed in his eyes. The stronger lifeguard had to plant his feet in the sand to gain footing over Rhett. “Please calm down! We have beach patrol on the way. I need to ask you questions. What is this man's name and what is your relation to him?”
The man started to pull Rhett away from Link. He let out a cry as he saw Link cough, the lifeguard with him rolling him to his side to help get the water from his lungs. Link’s eyes never opened as the beach patrol pulled up to assess the situation.
One man pulled a stretcher out of the vehicle, as another grabbed an oxygen mask, placing it over Link's face. Rhett could see Link's chest rise and fall and it helped him gain some composure.
“Sir? Sir!” The lifeguard pulled him from his own thoughts and Rhett finally focused on him. “I need his name and yours, and your relation to him.” The man said calmly now.
“Link...” he began, stopping himself. “It’s Charles. Charles Neal. He’s my fiancé. My name is Rhett McLaughlin.”
“How old is he?”
“He’s 29.” Rhett answered all the questions the man asked as he watched the beach patrol lift Link up onto the stretcher carefully, and place him in the back of the van. “Where are you taking him? I need to be with him!” Rhett said loudly as he switched back and forth on his feet.
“I’m sorry Mr. McLaughlin, due to the circumstances and the state he’s in no one but paramedics are permitted to ride with him. He will be taken to the nearest hospital where they will care for him there,” the man said with a hand held tight to Rhett’s shoulder. “I think it’s best for you to stay here for a moment to calm down.”
Tears formed in his eyes again as he watched the van leave, its siren blaring in warning to other beach goers. Rhett covered his mouth as he let out a cry, his eyes closing as tears forced their way down his cheeks.
He cursed himself. He was stupid for letting this happen.