Trigger warning - mentions of abuse, homophobic slurs.

A shrill, unpleasant voice breaks apart the conversation the three are having at the picnic table. All three of them; Andy, Remington, and Kacey, look in the direction of the voice. A woman, cigarette between her fingers, is walking, appearing bored, towards them. "Kacey!" She shouts, though would be heard by just talking. "The fuck are you doing with these strangers?" When she's close enough, she halts, just inches from the table, and looks down at the men like they're the worst people in the world.

"I'm sorry, mum," Kacey apologises, "I was just-"

"Oh, shut up. I don't care. Get inside."

Remington and Andy share unhappy expressions. Remington knows an abuser when he sees one. "You know," he begins, "you shouldn't be talking to your daughter like that."

"Oh, and what might you know about having a kid, huh?"

The boy shies away. Andy speaks up this time. "You're probably scaring her," he says, and then averts his gaze.

Kacey is pulled up by her arm. "Ow," she complains, "mum, that hurts!"

"Shut your face!"

"Why can't I sit out here?"

The woman huffs. "With these fags? I don't think so!"

Andy shakes his head. "We may be 'fags' love, but at least we're nice people."

"I wasn't talking to you! Move, Kacey, now!

"I don't care. You can't treat your daughter like this. It's wrong." '

Kacey keeps her head down. She's never had anyone stand up for her like this.

Andy talks again. "Look, I literally have no fucking clue who you are, but my boy here was abused for years and, let me tell you, it really fucks things up. Do you really want your daughter growing up believing that everything she does is wrong?"

Remington is still and quiet. He doesn't exactly like that Andy just announced his abuse like it's no big deal. It's not something Remington wants everyone to know.

"Abuse? Wow, you are stupid! Inside, Kacey!" And with that, the two of them are walking away, and then they're gone.

Remington glares at his husband until the man asks what's wrong. "I can't believe you," he says, pulling his hand from Andy's.

"Sorry?"

"You can't just go round telling strangers I was abused, Andy! How could you just say that? I don't want people to know unless I tell them!"

Andy sighs. Remington's right. "I know. God, I know. I'm really sorry. I said it before realising what I was saying."

The boy looks at him for a second. "Well you shouldn't have," he mumbles, suddenly regretting the pasta he ate. He always feels so much worse about food when he's not in a good mood.

"I know," Andy says again, and after a moment, "I really didn't mean to."

"Yeah, but...I trusted you with it, Andy! I told you all of it because you promised I'd always be safe with you! And then you go round telling strangers about it! How the hell am I meant to feel okay with that?" The breeze is making the tree above them quiver.

The man, upset with himself, looks down, too. "You are safe with me. You always will be, Remington. That hasn't changed and it never will. I'm sorry, I really really am, but arguing about it isn't going to help. If you're angry with me, that's okay, but please don't make me feel awful about it. I really didn't mean to say it, I promise."

Remington frowns. "If you didn't mean to, then why did you?"

Andy goes to answer but Remington cuts in before he has the chance.

"And how can I believe your promises after you promised I was safe with you and then told that woman? Hmm?"

"It was a mistake, Remington, a bad one. But a mistake nonetheless. I can't take it back and she's probably forgotten about it, anyway. Please don't make this into something more than it is."

The boy shakes his head. "A mistake is when you spell a word wrong or-or call someone by accident. Telling a random, mean woman that your husband was abused is not a mistake, Andy, it's a fucking way to break fucking trust!"

"Remington, please, just-"

"No."

"Re-"

"No." He crosses his arms firmly. "Just stop talking."

Andy does. He sits there, quiet, wishing he had just held his tongue, and sighs when Remington gets up and walks away from the bench with a flurry of huffs and purposefully loud eye-rolls.

The sun is high in the sky as they're walking back, no words exchanged, no hands touching, not even a smile in either of their directions. Andy wants to say something, to fix the situation which, as usual, Remington took out of proportion, but has no idea what to say. And Remington is just angry at himself for getting angry at his husband. He stops walking abruptly just as they reach a gate, and grabs Andy's arm. The man looks at him.

"I'm sorry," Remington says finally, "I shouldn't have got so mad."

Andy sighs. "I'm sorry. I should never had said that. It's my fault."

"Well...at least we both know how to say sorry," Remington says awkwardly.

"Some of us better than others," the older teases, referring to the boy's constant need to apologise, and Remington rolls his eyes. "So, let's stop being moody bitches, okay?"

Remington smiles. "Okay. But I'm not a moody bitch."

"You so are."

"Am not," Remington complains, "neither are you. What we are is sensitive bitches who take things way too personally. I know you were trying to help Kacey and you did the right thing. And you know I was just hurt and was trying to tell you how I felt because sometimes I feel like no one really understands. Just sensitive, Andy."

"I know, kitten. You're very sensitive. And that's why you're adorable."

"Ugh, shut up. You're sensitive too."

Andy smiles. "I know, sweetie, I know. I'm glad we sorted this out."

The younger hums and grabs his lover's hand. "Me too, I feel better now. Oh, I was gonna show you something at home."

"What is it? Is it fun?"

Remington shrugs, giggles. "Wait and see. Why's your hand so hot? Oh, wait, I know why!"

Andy laughs because he already knows what Remington's gonna say.

"Because you're so hot!"

"You're ridiculous."

"I know. You love it. You did marry me, after all."

"God, what was I thinking?" The man teases.

"Who knows, Andy. I wouldn't marry me."

"Honey, I couldn't not marry you. You're just too damn perfect."

Remington exhales, happy now, and for a few minutes, they walk quietly, until Remington asks Andy what he thinks of Kacey and her mum. "Kacey seemed lovely," Andy replies, "her mum, though. God, no. She's a fucking bitch. And a homophobe. Imagine being a homophobe."

"I could never. What a cow, honestly. I felt so bad for Kacey. Y'know she was gonna overdose in the bathroom?"

"That's so sad."

"I know. And why the fuck would her mum let her get a-hold of those pills? It's so stupid! I can't even..."

"You need to take a breath, hon."

Remington sighs. "I just-I don't understand how someone could even have a child if they can't look after them, y'know? It just...makes me feel kinda privileged, in an odd way. Because everyone around me is so caring. Like you, and Em, and Sebby, and Abi, and just-even your band mates. They're so nice. And then there's Kacey, stuck with that awful fucking woman and no real home and I don't like it, Andy. I hate it. Why should I get such nice people when such a young innocent girl is going through that?"

"I agree. I mean-it just doesn't make sense to have a child if you aren't prepared to make sacrifices for them. It should have been her mother stopping her from killing herself, not you."

"It's so fucked up," Remington murmers, the whole situation not sitting well with him.

"It is. Completely fucked up. It's not fair at all."

Remington shakes his head.

"You're really bothered by it, huh? I can basically hear your brain trying to make sense of it."

The boy just nods. He has no words because it isn't something he can talk about with ease. It's abuse and he knows it is. After years of being trapped with Holly, he knows what abuse looks like and he knows what abuse feels like and he knows how awful it is to be trapped and have no one to talk to about it and to feel like the only way out is to die. He knows it all and yet he left the hostel and left Kacey and now she's all alone with her mother and her suicidal thoughts and Remington hates it.

"Do you wanna call the police about it, kitten? Or social services? I'm sure they can help her."

Remington shrugs. "I'm just-it's hard to see it, Andy. I've been through it and I-it made me feel like the most worthless person and what if she-what if she feels like that too? I don't want that for her. She's so young." He looks at his feet, then up at Andy's concerned face. "I feel like it's gonna give me a panic attack."

Andy holds his face in his hands and kisses his head. "It's okay, just take some deep breaths for me, okay? You're okay. We'll sort this out for her, okay, I promise." He returns the hug Remington gives him, swaying gently and whispering that it's okay.

"Shouldn't have left her," the singer whispers, "shouldn't have left her there, Andy. I feel so bad."

"Keep breathing, it's okay. She'll be okay."

"You promise?"

Andy hums. "I promise, kitten. I'll make sure of it. For now, you just calm down, okay? You're doing so well." He strokes Remington's hair and continues swaying until the boy is feeling more stable, and they walk home without any words.