“Hey, Rhett?”
That was it. A question, two words, a conversation starter.
The domino that started it all.

Rhett looked up from his laptop and looked at Link from across the room. “Yeah buddy?” he asked, his eyebrows raised as he awaited what Link was to say. He took a deep breath “Okay… Alright, okay-” he was stalling, he knew, but he was suddenly anxious for what he was about to say. His hands were unsteady and his breath shook and he mentally cursed himself, he wasn’t sure what brought upon the sudden terror but it felt important and he was really starting to doubt what he was about to say. He spent a few seconds longer looking at Rhett, who had softened his look and placed his laptop on the floor to give Link his full attention.

“Don’t freak out.” Link started, as if that wasn’t a prompt to indeed freak out, he wasn’t sure why he felt Rhett would freak out but it was a feeling that seemed deep-rooted in his very being.
“Link- what do you mean?”
“I’ve been thinking for a few days, I’ve noticed something, something I didn’t think much on but then it grew and I felt I shouldn’t tell you” Link spoke quickly and nervously, he found it hard to keep eye contact “But I trust you, that’s what best friends are for right?”
Rhett adjusted his position and got ready to speak, but before anything left his mouth Link interrupted “What am I talking about? What I’m talking about is I’ve been able to see your thoughts, I’ve been knowing exactly what you’re gunna say!”

The second domino had fallen.

The room was quiet. Tense. Link looked hopefully at Rhett, but Rhett felt his chest tighten and his once soft look that prompted Link to carry on talking had turned intense- frightening, almost, and Link felt his hope quickly diminish. He felt scared.
Rhett looked down and rubbed his palms on his jeans before standing “Would you like to talk about this over a cup of coffee?” he asked, but before he had even finished his question Link was nodding and answered “Yes, please.” barely a second after Rhett had finished speaking. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

As soon as there was only one person left in the room the panic began to set in.
He’s been here before- in a dream, a daydream, this was some wild form of deja-vu, it was something and whatever it was Link didn’t like. In fact he loathed that he felt this way. “Rhett would never hurt me, not on purpose.” he told himself “He’d never put me in danger.” he insisted.
Yet when he was sure Rhett was in the kitchen and occupied with the task he’d set himself, he still found himself bolting out the room as quickly as he could. He felt frantic, like it was a life or death situation, but he tried to be careful. Rhett couldn’t know what he was doing nor what he was feeling, and God forbid he knew what he was thinking.

The coffee machine came to life and filled the kitchen with noise that Rhett hoped would disguise why he really left the room. He held his breath and listened for Link. When he heard nothing he took his mobile from his pocket and held it in his hand, trying to work himself up, trying to make the call.
Gosh dangit why was this so hard? It didn’t need to be hard, he should be used to it by now, he should be used to it by now.
Oh gosh, ‘he should be used to it by now’, the mere thought of that made Rhetts chest feel heavy.
How could he ever be used to this, how could he ever wish to be used to this?
He unlocked his phone and dialled a number he regretted ever knowing.

The third domino followed suit.

Not safe, not safe not safe, not safe. Gotta find somewhere to hide, somewhere to hide, somewhere to hide. Quickly, quickly, quickly.
The words flew through Links mind over and over, going round and round, quicker and quicker. He found it harder to think clearly. The only doors out were the front door and the door in the kitchen and both would get Rhetts attention. Maybe he could leave through a window? If he was careful enough maybe it wouldn’t make too much noise, he could close it after himself, it’d be like nothing ever happened.

But time was up.

The front door swung open with a loud thud. Before Link could see anyone come through the door he frantically ran into the nearest room, he needed somewhere to hide, maybe he wouldn’t be found. How could he possibly feel so unsafe in his own home, feel so unsafe with his best friend?

The fourth domino fell with ease.

Hearing the front door open Rhett took a breath. It was time to strong, time to be calm and collected. He met the soldiers by the front door to tell them briefly what the story was.
They stormed into the living room with Rhett following calmly after, not showing a hint of emotion on his face.
Not showing any emotion until he saw something he’d never seen before.
Link was gone.
He wasn’t in the room he’d been left in, and concern bubbled in the tall mans stomach.

Quickly the soldiers gestured to each other to search the house before splitting up, leaving Rhett in the living room. He rubbed his face and groaned. It’s not like he enjoyed doing this, it’s not like he wanted to do this, and now that Link had disappeared he sure hoped he wasn’t putting up a fight. It would be so much easier if he didn’t put up a fight, if he did Rhett’s sure he couldn’t take it.
He left the room, he had to look for Link.

D-dum, d-dum, d-dum.
The sound of Links heart pounding against his ribs filled his head, his breath quickened and shook. He found himself laying on the floor on his stomach, the duvet on the bed above him hung over and stopped him from seeing anything in the room, all he could do was listen. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat, maybe they won’t find him, maybe he’ll be safe, maybe he could get away.
This could be different, different from the many images and scenes that were running through his mind. This hadn’t happened before he was so sure of it, but they felt so real, they felt like real memories. He remembered being dragged away. He remembered Rhett standing there watching. Unmoving. Cold. He didn’t care.
But Rhett cares, Rhett has to care. They’ve spent their whole life together, how could he possibly not care? How could he let this happen?

The sound of the bedroom door opening stopped Links thoughts, and he held his breath. Who ever had entered the room was walking around slowly and carefully. They opened what sounded like the wardrobe and seemed to dig into that, but very quickly closed it again and continued to walk around.
Link tried to stay as quiet and as still as possible. Especially when he heard the foot steps approach the bed. They got closer and closer. Step by step by step. It felt like an eternity, yet time was moving the fastest it’s ever gone. Link heard the person shuffle, they were just on the other side of the duvet. He was terrified, shaking, he found himself shaking his head. He saw what looked like a hand grasping the other side of the duvet.
Please no.

The fifth domino wobbled.

In what seemed like a flash the duvet was pulled up, revealing Link to the stranger and vice-versa. Link stared wide-eyed, terrified of who he might see. A tall figure on his knees leaned down to see under the bed, one hand supported his weight on the floor while the other one held the duvet up. His dirty blonde hair stood on end and his lighter coloured beard was neatly styled.

Green eyes stared into wide and terrified blue eyes.

Rhett had never seen Link look so afraid, especially not of him. It made his gut twist. Rhett tried to keep his stare cold and intense but he couldn’t help the guilt he felt, his instinct to protect his life long friend, to help take the fear away. He felt his lip tremble a little and quickly cleared his throat, trying to correct his expression.
It was hard to see Link visibly shaking, to see him staring up at him with pleading eyes.

The domino teetered-

“I’m sorry, Link.”

-It threatened to fall.

“Please don’t do this.”

“I’m sorry.”