Trigger Warning: Brief mention of suicide/self-harm

Andy had six missed calls and a voicemail when he checked his phone during the lunch break in the studio. He put the device to his ear to listen to the message; "This is Officer Clarke from the North-West Police department, I'm trying to reach Mr Andrew Biersack. Please get in contact through the following number as soon as you can." Then she recited a phone number and repeated who she was hoping to talk to before the message ended. 

Gathering his things, Andy left the studio and sat in his car to call her back. "Uh, hey," he said when she answered, unsure of what he was supposed to say. "I'm Andy, uh, Andrew Biersack, you called me?" 

"Ah, Mr Biersack, thank you for getting in contact. I'm sorry to have interrupted your day, I'm sure you have things to do. My name's Sarah Clarke. I've got a young man in the station who claims to know you. It's important we get to the bottom of what's going on, so we would appreciate if you could come into the station as soon as you can." 

"Oh, fuck," Andy muttered. "Is he, like, wearing rags and claiming everything is evil?" 

"That's him." 

"Fuck. Okay. I'll be right there." 

* * * 

Sarah greeted Andy at the station and led him into a small room where they could discuss the issue in private. "Take a seat," she said, and sat across from him with a clipboard before continuing. "Andrew, thank you for coming in on short notice. On the phone, it sounded as though you're familiar with him." 

"Yeah. He was staying with me for a few weeks before he went back to his, uh, his house." 

"And is that the house that has just been knocked down in the forest?" 

"Uh...yes." He frowned. "It was knocked down? When?" 

"Earlier today." 

"Fuck. Is he okay?" 

"He's largely unharmed apart from some cuts on his arms, yes. Do you know why he's been in that house? Is he homeless?" 

"He's lived there his whole life, as far as I'm aware. Look, sorry to be rude or whatever, but can I see him? It's just, he's terrified of most things and he trusts me." 

"How long have you known him?" 

"Only a few weeks." 

"And you were aware when you first met him that he was illegally living in that house?" 

"Are you gonna arrest him? It's not his fault, his family left him there. He's just trying to survive. He didn't know he was doing anything wrong." 

"Were you aware?" 

Andy sighed. "Yes. But I was trying to help him. He's not a criminal, he's just scared. Please, don't arrest him. He hasn't hurt anyone." 

"You say his family left him there. Do you know his family?" 

"He has two brothers, I saw them for, like, ten seconds and never spoke to them. Couldn't tell you their names or anything. Please, can I just see him?" Andy shifted in his seat. "I swear, he's not trying to do anything wrong. That house was all he knew. It was his home. And now it's gone, and he's terrified of people. If the owner of the land the house was on wants money for trespassing or whatever, I'm happy to pay. But please, please don't punish him." 

"I appreciate that you care for him, Andrew, but I can't finalise anything until we get to the bottom of exactly what's been going on. For now, I need as much information as you can give me about him, starting with his name and age." 

"I don't know." 

"You don't know his name?" 

"I asked him when I first met him. He couldn't remember. I gave him one, you know, so he could feel a little less like he didn't exist, but I don't know his birth name. I call him Remington."

"I see. Okay. I'm assuming you don't know his age." 

"No." 

"Alright. This makes things quite difficult. Is there anything else you know at all?" 

"No." He shifted again. "Please can I see him now?" 

"Of course, follow me." She stood with the clipboard and opened the door, let Andy through first. He walked closely behind her, anxious to know Remington was okay. Taking keys from her belt, she found the one for the cell as they made their way down the corridor. 

Remington shot up from the ground when the two rounded the corner and stopped on the other side of the bars. "Andy!" He exclaimed, reaching for the man. 

"Just take a step back so I can unlock this and you can see Andy," Sarah said kindly to him, pushing the key into the lock and turning it until there was a loud clunk. "Alright. Andrew, please step in." 

The man did, and she closed it behind him, locking it again before leaving them alone. Andy sat on the wooden bench at the back of the cell. "I heard they knocked your house down. I'm sorry. That must have been awful." 

"I lose chain," Remington admitted, close to tears. "And I tell them I look for it, but they put hands on me and make me go in a car that's not a car, and I try to get away but they not let me. And evil people use all big words so I not know what's happening. And I saw my house all broken and they not care." He was sitting on the floor by Andy's feet. "Chain gone forever." 

Lifting his trench coat, Andy unclasped the belt chain he was currently wearing and held it towards the younger, who stared up at him. "It's yours." 

"Mine gone. I try to find it but they all grab me and take me here. I thought they going to hurt me. I want chain to hold but they not let me. They make me leave it. And I try to tell them, but evil people never listen. Chain all gone in forest." 

"You can have this one to replace it, if you want. It has little stars on it, see?" 

Remington took it, held it tight, seemed to ease up a slight amount. "I not like it here." 

"I know. Me neither. I'm sure we can go soon." 

"Why they take me here?" 

"Well, your house was on somebody's land, and they're a little angry that you've been living there without them knowing." 

"Oh. I not know." 

"It's not your fault. We'll sort it all out." 

"You come to help me?" 

"Of course." 

"I say thank you?" 

"You're welcome." 

"Will the evil people take me?" 

"No. You're gonna be just fine." 

Remington twisted the chain around his fingers. "I live in your house now? I be safe there?" 

"That's a great idea. As soon as all of this is sorted out, we'll go home and get you all clean again." 

Remington nodded. "My house all gone forever." 

"I know. I'm sorry. It's a good thing we got your things last week. They're all safe in my house for you." 

"I not know if I stay anymore." 

"Because your house is gone?" 

He yawned and rubbed his eyes. 

"Let's just see how you feel once all of this is over. Would you like a hug?" 

Continuing to rub his eyes, Remington nodded, got up onto his knees. 

"Here, come sit," Andy offered, patting the bench beside him. Remington yawned again as he got off the floor, and once he was sitting, Andy put his arm around his shoulder, pulled him against his side. 

Remington rested his head on Andy. "I sleep soon?" 

"Hopefully. I don't know what they need to do before we can go. How're your cuts? Are they hurting" 

"Yes, I want you to make them not hurt." 

"As soon as we're home, we'll make it all better, okay?"

"Thank you." 

Andy hummed. "Anything for you." 

"I not know anyone can be so nice like you. People always evil." 

"People suck." 

"Suck what?" 

Andy chuckled. "It means they're not good." 

"Oh." 

"I've been known to suck a thing or two, though." 

"What thing?" 

He chuckled again. "Maybe I'll show you one day. I think someone's coming." 

"I stay here to be safe." 

"You stay here?" 

"I stay in hug." 

"Oh, gotcha." 

"What?" 

"It means I know what you mean." 

Remington yawned and shook his head. "Too tired for life today." 

Sarah appeared behind the bars. "Alright," she begun. "We've been in contact with the land owner and the company who were responsible for demolishing the house, and they're agreeing not to press charges providing you never step foot on the land again. We understand it's a difficult situation and that Remington isn't to blame, so providing you stay away from the land, things should be okay. We will need to meet at a later to date to discuss Remington's details so that we can get him all the necessary documents. Does that all make sense?" 

Andy knew Remington wasn't listening, and if he was, that he wouldn't understand. "Yeah," he said. "Thank you so much." 

She unlocked the door and held it open. "I suggest you have a bath and take care of those cuts, a hospital check up would be a good idea, too. Andrew, I'm going to list Remington as a resident at your house for the time being, if you're okay with that. Just so that we know who to contact and where he is if we need any further information." 

"Sure. He'll be staying with me, anyway." 

"Great. If you'd both like to follow me, you can sign the paperwork for his release."