Stranger Danger

7

Trigger warning: mentions of self harm

The door flew open while Andy was in the shower, and he exclaimed a surprised, "Fuck," alarming Remington, whose eyes were wide. Reaching for the towel on the heated rail, Andy said, "Jesus, sorry. Didn't mean to make you jump. People don't usually burst in while you're showering, that's all. What's up?" 

"Why not?" 

"Privacy." 

"What?" 

"When someone's naked, it's normal to give them their own private space." 

Remington blinked. "Oh. Sorry." 

"It's fine. Don't sweat it. Did you need something? You came in here like the world was ending." Andy wrapped the towel around his waist and turned off the shower. 

"There was a noise." 

"What sort of noise?" 

"Like, over and over, same noise." 

"Oh. It must have been the phone. Nothing to worry about." 

"The what?" 

"Phone. We use them to talk to people who are in different places. I could talk to someone all the way across the world with it." 

Remington stared at him. "It sounds evil." 

Andy chuckled. "I'd love to know your definition of evil." 

"Evil is evil. What's that?" He pressed the top of the soap dispenser that was beside the sink, jumping back when a blob came out. 

"It's soap. To wash your hands with. Speaking of washing, what about your hair? Must be pretty matted, no?" 

"Pretty...what?" 

"Dirty. I mean dirty." 

Remington felt strands that fell against his face. "Oh," he said. "Yes. Dirty. I wash it?" 

"I think that would be good." 

"But no warm rain." 

"Well, cold water won't really do a good job. You could lean over the bathtub and then you'll stay dry." 

"You do it?" 

"Sure. I'll wash your hair. Just give me a minute to get some clothes on." 

Remington put a hand on his damp torso.

Andy raised an eyebrow. 

"Is it always like that?" 

"Is what always like what?" 

"Your body. Is it always like that?" 

"Like what?" 

"That." 

Andy looked down at himself as though he didn't know what he looked like. "Uh, yes," he answered, humoured, not sure what exactly he was saying yes to. "Alright. You take your hoodie off so it doesn't get wet, I'll be right back." 

Remington pulled his hand away. "Okay." 

He was sitting on the closed toilet seat, hoodie on the bathmat, rubbing the ring on his finger, when Andy returned. "Okie dokes," the man said cheerfully. "Come kneel here, lean your head over the side." He picked up one of the the two glasses on the side and turned on both taps, waited for Remington to settle before filling up the glass, checking it was no hotter than lukewarm, before saying, "Ready?" 

"Yes." 

Andy hummed, tipped the water over Remington's head. "Not too warm?" 

"No."