Wow it's been a while since I updated this one. Sorry about that! Hope you haven't forgotten about it! 

Trigger Warning: Brief mention of self harm 

It was early, before seven, and Andy was in the kitchen making coffee and toast before leaving for the studio when Remington walked into the room and sat, head down, in a chair.

Andy hadn't expected to see him - he usually slept until at least ten unless he had to be somewhere like a hospital appointment. "Good morning," he said, spreading butter on his toast. "You're up early." 

There was a long pause, and then Remington said, "Yes." 

"You want some tea? I'll make you a cup." 

Remington gave no answer but Andy made him a drink anyway, putting it before him on the table and sitting down to eat. 

"Everything okay?" He asked. 

"Everything?" 

"I mean, are you okay? Is something wrong?" 

"Oh." Remington looked at the tea. "No." 

"No, something's not wrong? Or no, you're not okay?" 

Shrugging, the younger dropped his eyes to the table. The slamming of a car door outside caused him to look towards the window, and he stared at the street for a few seconds before returning his gaze to the table. "I hear Juliet before sleep." 

Andy sliced the toast down the middle and offered a piece to Remington, who took it between his fingers and observed it as though checking for dangers. "What did you hear?" 

The toast in his hand, Remington shrugged again. "She say things." 

"What things? I'm sure she was just talking to someone on the phone. Her sister, probably."

Remington bit into the toast and found Andy with his eyes, held his gaze. "She say all about you. And I not like her no more." 

Brows furrowing, Andy asked, "Oh. Why's that? I thought you two were getting on well."

"Yes. But now I not like her. Because she say all about you. She say you very-uh-uh 'suffocating'. I think is that word she use. Is a bad thing? She says it like is a bad thing." 

"Well, it's not a compliment, to call someone suffocating. But that doesn't mean she's being rude about me. She's known me a very long time and now we're divorced, she'll have a different perspective. And she's right. I can be suffocating at times." 

"I not think anything bad about you like that." 

"That's very nice of you, but nobody is without fault. You're allowed to have negative thoughts about someone, as is Juliet. It doesn't make you a bad person." 

Remington shook his head. "I not like her no more." 

"I'm sorry to hear that." 

"So I not be here when is just her." 

"Wouldn't you rather stay here than sit in the same room all day at the studio?" 

"Yes, but I not be here when is just her." 

Andy sighed. "Then you'll have to come with me. Is that why you're up so early?" He sipped his coffee. 

"I not sleep." 

"At all?" 

"Yes, because I hear Juliet and then I not like her no more." 

"Okay. She's staying here until next week, though, so can you try and see past this?" 

Remington shook his head. 

"Do you need me to talk to her?" 

"Yes." 

"Okay. I'll do that later."

Remington stared at Andy for a few seconds, then said, "I made myself hurt again."

"This morning?"

"I think."

"Okay. It's okay. Can I see?"

"You make it better?"

"I'll do my best."

Nodding, Remington offered the man his arm, watching him lift the edge of his hoodie sleeve to observe the few shallow cuts.

Andy released him and picked up his toast, took a bite. "We'll take care if it before leaving, okay?"

"I try the ear thing like you said, but is not good no more."

"Okay. We'll talk about it later."

"Okay. I say thank you?"

"That's okay. You're welcome. But how about next time you can't sleep, you come get in bed with me? I'm good at cuddles."

"When you not awake?"

Andy smiled. "Sure."

"Okay. I do that." He finished his slice of toast and frowned. "I not think anything bad about you."

"I know. But I'm sure Juliet didn't mean it in a bad way. Alright, come on, let's take care of those cuts."

* * *

Andy left Remington in the same room as the previous times in the studio, buying him a hot chocolate from the vending machine and a packet of dried mango that Remington had discovered he liked.

At lunch, Andy took him a container of rice salad and sat with him to eat, asking how he was and what he'd been thinking about.

Instead of answering, Remington said, "You give me a hug please?"

Smiling, Andy happily obliged, took the box of food from Remington and put it beside his on the table, wrapped his arms around him.

Remington yawned, leant into the elder, his hands against Andy's shoulder blades.

"Tired?"

"Mm."

Andy hummed. "You can sleep in here, if you like. No one's gonna come in. You can use my jacket as a blanket."

"No."

"Okay, that's okay, too."

"You be so nice all the time."

"Mm, thank you. I try."

"I not like Juliet no more."

"I know, sweetheart. I'll talk to her." Andy separated the hug and picked up his food.

Remington yawned again and leant back on the couch, then leant forwards to retrieve the container of rice. 

"Do you wanna go out for dinner tonight?" Andy asked daringly. "I know you don't like people, but I know a really good restaurant and I think you'll like their food." 

"Why?" 

"Because you deserve to do nice things." 

Forking rice into his mouth, Remington pondered on the idea, swallowed, and said, "How many people?" 

Andy was surprised he hadn't downright refused the offer. "I don't know. It's a small place. If we go a little later, it'll be less busy." 

"How little later?" 

"Well, it's-" he checked his watch -"nearly hour fourteen now. So if we aim for hour twenty, how's that?" 

Remington thought again, ate another forkful of his food. "Okay," he agreed in a quiet voice. "You make me safe from any evil people." 

Andy smiled. "Absolutely. I look forward to it. How's your rice?" He nodded towards the container. 

"Is nice. I say thank you?" 

"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it. I'll show you how to cook sometime. I'm sure you'll be good at it." 

"Okay." 

"I'll see you later. I should get back to work." 

Nodding, Remington took Andy's wrist in his hand, making the man look at him with a raised eyebrow. 

"Still real," Andy confirmed. 

"Yes. Sorry." 

"That's okay. Enjoy your lunch." At the door, Andy stopped and blew a kiss, chuckling when Remington gave him a questioning look. "See you, cutie." 

"You so confusing." 

Andy hummed, blew another kiss, and left the room. He wondered how on earth he was going to tell Juliet that her private phone call with her sister had caused Remington to decide he no longer liked her or wanted to be in the house with her.