Trigger warning :))))

User 1: why do people think it's okay to bully Remington about his weight when it is literally none of our business?
User 2: Because some people have no respect.
User 1: @user2 so true. No one seems to understand that he has his own life away from the band. And now he's back on Instagram so he's probably going to end up seeing some of the comments.
User 3: @user1 he's famous. what do you expect? If he looks underweight people are gonna notice. It's not rocket science.
User 1: @user3 it doesn't matter if he's famous, he's still a person with emotions and a right to privacy.
User 4: K but anyone noticed how we literally haven't seen anything from Sebastian for like three months??

Remington sighs. He knew it was a bad idea to look at his Instagram through Andy's account, and doesn't protests when his husband pries the phone from his hand. "You really have no self control sometimes," Andy says, to lighten the mood.

The younger rolls his eyes playfully. "Shut up. I'm an anxious mess. You know that. What if they find out Sebastian is in prison?"

"Then you and your brothers will explain very calmly what happened and everything will be fine. Don't worry about it, sweetheart. You seem on edge."

Remington lets Andy pull him to his feet and follows him to the front door, since they're going to meet Emerson and Lonny for lunch. "I'm fine," he says, and Andy looks at him, unconvinced. "Really, I am! You know I'd tell you if I wasn't." He grabs his jacket that's hanging by the door.

"I like to think that, but last time something was wrong you didn't say anything. It was Emerson who told me, remember?"

The boy opens the door and steps out. "Yes, I remember, and I'm sorry about that, Andy, but that was-that was different." He waits for his lover to lock the front door before walking away from the house, Andy by his side.

"How was that different?"

"It just was," Remington answers, "I promise I'm fine."

Andy takes Remington's hand as they're walking. "You say that but every time you tell me you're fine, you either end up crying at 3am or in hospital, so it's hard to believe you at this point, sweetheart."

Remington hates how Andy is always right about these things. "But you have to believe me because I really am fine!"

"Well, I don't."

"Well then fuck you!" The fact that he shouts so suddenly just confirms what Andy already thought was true; he isn't fine and something is bothering him. Remington pulls his hand from Andy's and stops walking. "I don't want to go anymore," he says flatly, "I'm going home."

Andy sighs. "Remington, hey-"

"See you later!"

The man decides it's better to just let Remington go, and walks the rest of the way to the café on his own, texting the boy once he's sat down and waiting for the others.

I know you're mad at me but if you need me call me, ok?

Fine.

Good boy. I love you.

yeah yeah I love you too. Piss off.

He smiles at the screen and greets Emerson, who sits down beside him. "I thought Rem was coming," Emerson queries.

"He was, but he's in a mood, so he went home."

"Ah, him and his moods. As long as he's okay."

Andy hums, and Lonny turns up. "He's fine, apparently. I don't know. Something's wrong but he won't admit it so I'll try and get it out of him later. Hi Lonny."

Smiling and pulling out a chair, the bassist sits down. "Hi Andy, hey Emerson. No Remington?"

"He's in a mood," Andy says, and picks up a menu.

Remington isn't sure why he got so worked up just because Andy knew something was wrong, but he is glad that Andy didn't chase after him and make him feel like he was being forced to go out when he doesn't want to. He takes a detour instead of going straight home, since the weather is nice and Abigail said that fresh air is good for him. He walks up around the back of town, on the edge of a forest where him and Andy go for a lot of walks.

There are footsteps behind him, crunching against the gravel path, and Remington looks behind him briefly, just out of habit, since he used tot always be checking or Holly whenever he was out. "Oh great," he mumbles sarcastically, looking the other way when he sees who it is, walking faster.

"What a coincidence," Alex says, running to catch up to the boy. "Who'd have thought you'd be here?"

Remington doesn't look at him. "Not now," he says, annoyed, "if you're that desperate to be my fucking friend, dm me on Instagram and there's a small chance I'll see it."

"Oh come on, Remington, I think I deserve better than that, don't you?" He has a way of talking that makes Remington want to give in and do what he wants, but he knows better. After what Holly did to him, he knows better.

"No," he replies simply, hoping that will make him go.

Alex just laughs, walking beside Remington as though they're friends. "You're rude, you know that?"

"Yep." He sees no point in arguing at this point. If being rude means that Alex will fuck off, then he'll be so fucking rude.

The older man is close to Remington, purposefully bumping their shoulder's together, and Remington doesn't like it. "If you're still hung up on what happened in hospital, just get over it. It's not a big deal."

"Well it is for me."

"Oh, of course, because you were 'abused'."

Remington finally looks at Alex when he says this, frowning. "I'm sorry?"

Alex shrugs. "It's just that-well-can men really be abused, though?"

God, Remington is so sick of people saying shit like that to him. Of course men can be abused. Of course men can be raped. Of course men can have eating disorders. "Well, I was, so-"

"So you're probably just a pussy who can't handle some rough sex." The voice he's using is strangely happy and it scares the crap out of Remington.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" He tries really hard to keep his voice steady, to not crumble to pieces in from of this man. He doesn't feel safe.

Alex is even closer now. "Maybe you're the idiot," he suggests, "for believing that rough sex counts as abuse."

"Shut up!" Remington shouts. "It wasn't 'rough sex'! I didn't give consent! I said no, okay, and she didn't listen! That's not rough fucking sex!"

"Jesus, dude, chill."

Remington stops walking. He steps away from the person who he wishes was a stranger. "You need to go," he warns, "now."

"Oh, come on!"

"Go!"

He steps towards the boy, extends a hand. "Rem-"

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!" Remington screams, pushing him away so he stumbles back. Finally, Alex leaves, and Remington sits on the ground with his head in his hands, and calls Andy. "I need you," he says as soon as Andy picks up.

"What's wrong?"

The boy breathes in slowly. "Just stuff. Please come get me. I feel like I'm gonna faint. I'm by the forest."

"On the path?"

"Mhm."

"Okay, I'm coming. Stay where you are, sweetheart."

Remington does as he's told, and waits with his head between his knees to try and steady himself. He feels sick. He really thought Alex was going to hurt him. It takes ten minutes for Andy to find him, pulling him into his chest and kissing his head.

"What's going on?" He asks, "what happened"?

"Nothing."