Trigger warning: Brief mentions of self harm

It's just Andy who visits today, knocking on the door before coming in. "Good afternoon, sweet cheeks," he greets, lively, "it smells of lemons in here."

Remington puts the book that he's reading down. "That's 'cause a thing happened yesterday," he says, "starts with a d, I'm not talking about it."

"Oh?" Andy sits down. "Oh. Right."

The boy looks away, embarassed.

"So, wanna know what happened this morning?"

"Obvioulsy."

Andy chuckles. "I was finding the spare merch things you wanted to sign, and a fucking huge ass spider came skittering out. It was the size of my hand, I swear."

"Did you scream?"

"No, I did run away though."

Remington giggles.

"It's still there, somewhere. Anyway, I brought the merch stuff and a few sharpies."

"Good, can you get it out? I'm so bored."

Andy picks up the bag he brought, taking out the folded shirts and rolled posters.

"Have you spoken to Emerson since he declared his love for you?"

"No, I think he blocked me on Instagram. That man, I swear. Clever as fuck, childish as hell."

"Only clever when it suits him," Remington mumbles, pulling the lid off a black sharpie and unfolding a shirt. "I can't believe he told you he's in love with you. What about Shy? Does she know?"

Andy sits beside his husband and shrugs. "I have no fucking idea. He confuses the crap out of me sometimes."

"Join the club."

"Sebastian's worried he's gonna do something to get back at me for not loving him back. Can't wait to see what he does."

Remington rolls his eyes. "Some social media stunt, I bet. He'll expose a fake truth about you or something ridiculous. He's always been very theatrical with his anger."

"That does not surprise me."

"Hey, Andy," Remington whispers, and the man looks at him. He draws a line across his face with the sharpie.

"You're a bitch, you know that?"

"You look stupid now, so you're welcome."

"Yeah, love you too."

The younger grins, unfolding an old Andy Black shirt and admiring it. "I'm keeping this," he decides, and Andy laughs. "What? A shirt with your face on it? How could I not want it?"

"So...this thing that happened. Did the doctor say why?"

Remington huffs. "Not talking about it," he insists.

"You're cute when you're embarrased. I just wanna know it's nothing to worry about is all, kitty."

"No, he said it's normal."

Andy ruffles his hair. "Good, I'll stop talking about it now. You know there is something we do need to talk about, though."

"What's that?"

"This," he says, holding Remington's wrist and touching a gentle finger to the irritated skin. "You're scratching again."

"If I tell you why you'll try and understand, right?"

Andy kisses his hand and talks softly. "'course I will, angel."

Remington looks down. "I saw a post," he begins, "something about how Holly made me know I'm not perfect. And then I thought that if I-" he sighs "-if I'm not with her now then how am I-like-supposed to know everything I do wrong and everything that's wrong with me? 'cause she always told me and maybe that was just...the right thing? I don't know. It made me overwhelmed and then I kept thinking that if I do something to hurt myself, like-like scratching, then I might remind myself that I'm fucked up and she treated me how I-how I deserve to be treated." He plays with Andy's fingers, waiting for a response. "Sorry," the boy whispers, after a second more than he's comfprtable with of Andy not saying anything.

"No no no, baby, don't be sorry. I'm just trying to say something without crying."

"Why would you cry?"

Andy shakes his head. "Why would I cry? Oh, my sweet, sweet boy, I want to cry everytime you talk so lowly of yourself, and everytime you say Holly did what you deserved. You did not deserve any of it." He kisses Remington's hand again. "You don't ever need to make yourself hurt to remind yourself of your flaws, kitten, 'cause you know what your biggest flaw is? Finding flaws where there are none." His heart melts when Remington disolves into tears against him and he pulls him into his chest. "Sweetheart, you're adorable," he whispers.

"I didn't know I needed you to say that so bad," Remington murmers, "oh my god, you're the best at giving cuddles, I swear."

"Stop, my heart can't take it."

The boy whines. "Emerson's gonne fuck us up."

"Probably."

"Isn't it funny how much he's changed? I don't think he knows how to handle being related to someone who has issues." He wipes his eyes and smiles up at Andy. "His loss, though, right?"

Andy smiles back. "Damn right, it is. You're the best and if he can't see that then he's the worst." He plays with Remington's hair. "You're so beautiful. Fuck everyone else, all I need is you."

"Remember that conversation we had the other day? In the car?"

"Which one?"

"The one you started that was really disturbing."

"Oh, about cumming on the spot?"

Remington hums.

"Oh, I see," Andy purrs, reaching for a poster to sign. "Oh wow, I forgot all about this one."

The younger sits up and stretches before looking at the old photo of Andy. "Oh my god, you look like you're constipated!"

Andy rolls his eyes and smiles.