Help Me (sequel to Save Me)

Chapter 160

Trigger warning hardly this is cute:))

When Andy tells Emerson and Sebastian about how Remington was attacked and that he's got a bruised rib, the two men are quick to come and see their brother, who's sitting on the couch with a mug of milky hot chocolate when Andy lets them in. He gives them a weak smile and mutes the television. "Hi," he says.

Sebastian smiles back. "Hi bub. We heard what happened."

"And you're here to say you're sorry it happened and that you hope they find him soon? Don't bother. Obviously it happened for a reason and it's not even a big deal."

The guitarist sits next to Remington. "It is a big deal."

Remington shakes his head and shifs on the sofa, trying to find a position that doesn't make his ribs hurt. "I'm not in the mood to talk about this," he mumbles, "I'd rather die to be honest."

"Was it the same guy?"

Remington shrugs.

"Remington, come on, you need to talk about it."

"No, I don't! I don't want to. You can't make me. I've had enough of people making me do shit. Oh Remington, clean that fucking Nutella up! Oh Remington, don't cry! Oh Remington, don't shout! Oh Remington, go fucking kill yourself! Well you know what? Maybe I will!" He sighs and looks down. "Thanks for caring and everything, but I don't wanna talk about it. Tell Andy I'm a twenty six."

Despite wanting to know what happened, the brothers do what he wants so he doesn't start screaming at them, and find Andy in the kitchen. "He said he's a twenty six," Sebastian tells the man, "I think he needs a hug."

Andy spoons coffee granules into a mug. "Okay. He's refusing to talk about it, isn't he?"

"Yep."

"Yeah, he's been refusing to talk really at all today. I don't know. He seems out of it."

"He's not taking...is he?"

Andy is quick to shake his head. "No. I keep hold of his wallet now so he can't buy them."

"Oh, okay. Good. Is he okay with that?"

"He asked me to do it. I would never do something like that if he didn't want me to."

Sebastian smiles. "You're so good to him," he says sincerely, "I'm glad we've all got you in our lives. And I don't wanna sound dramatic, but I don't think Rem would still be here without you."

The rock star pours hot water into the mug. "He wouldn't be here without you, either. You've been like a father to him."

Once Emerson and Sebastian have gone, Andy takes his coffee into the living room and sits beside Remington, happy to see that the boy is at least drinking the hot chocolate. Sometimes he refuses to drink anything other than water. "Twenty six?"

Remington nods. He looks at Andy for a second before his gaze, which is more like a glassy stare, returns to the mug in his hands. After a moment he sips the drink again, looking up when Andy talks in his soft, kind voice.

"Did you find that ring?" He asks, purposefully talking about something that won't make Remington feel uncomfortable.

The boy shakes his head.

"I did."

Remington brightens up. "You did? Where?"

Andy pulls it from his pocket. "In the sink. It must've come off when you were washing your hands or something. Here." He gives the ring to his lover, who smiles and puts it on. "Pretty."

"Yes it is."

"I meant you."

"Oh," Remington whispers, turning away to hide his blush. "I'm making some more," he says, gesturing to the empty mug and standing up. At the doorway, he turns around and asks, "how do you make it?" His voice is innocent and Andy chuckles.

"Read the box. It says what to do."

The boy just whines. "'kay, well if there's a mess in the kitchen in ten minutes it's not my fault, and I will not be tidying it up." The ring Andy found clinks against the mug. "If I say it's thirty will you make it for me?"

Andy raises an eyebrow, sipping his coffee. "Well, is it thirty?'

"Well...no, it's twenty five, but...."

"Yeah, nice try. The chocolate powder is on the side."

"Please?"

"How old are you?"

Remington grins. "Six?"

"Mm, you're not gonna make it, are you?" Andy stands up and brings his mug with him, amused at Remington's expression as the singer shakes his head. "Alright, come on. I'll show you how to do it." He gently pushes Remington through the door.

Walking ahead of Andy into the kitchen, Remington sits himself on the counter by the kettle. "Can't you just do it?" He asks, kicking his legs.

"Only because I love you and you're adorable," Andy gives in, opening the fridge.

"Ooh! Gimme the strawberries!"

Andy smiles, glad Remington is cheering up. "Here you are, kitten. What the fuck is that noise?"

Strawberries in hand, Remington giggles. "Jenny. Behind you. She's gone a bit crazy."

"Must've gotten it from you," Andy jokes, and pours milk into a pan.

The younger bites into a strawberry. "Probably. This is so sweet. What the fuck are you doing?"

Andy laughs. "Making you hot chocolate, silly."

"Yeah, but why are you boiling fucking milk? What're you gonna do? Put it in a fucking bottle and feed me like a baby?"

"Because there's milk in hot chocolate, and this is the only way you like it. Gimme one." A strawberry is handed to him and he pulls the stalk off. "So, honey, I've got something for you."

Remington picks up another strawberry from the plastic box. "Everytime you say that it's something shit."

"What if it isn't shit this time?" 

"What is it, then?'

"Something not shit."

The boy rolls his eyes with a laugh. "Oh, fuck off." He watches Andy stir the milk with a wooden spoon. "I really love you, you know? Like, a lot. A lot. It's like if people are fish, you're a dolphin."

"You're a fucking angel," Andy says, "if people are people, you're an angel."

"That's just silly."

When the milk starts rising in the pan, Andy turns it off and spoons in some chocolate powder, stirring. "You're silly. Number?"

"Twenty four. I wanna make a blanket fort."

Andy carefully pours the mixture into a mug and stirs in some sugar. "I'm sure we can arrange that. Here you go."

Remington takes the mug and sips it.

"Nice?"

"Yep. Thanks!" He gets off the counter. "Is it bad to still be thinking about Holly?"

Andy follows his husband into the living room, where the boy puts the drink down and lies acorss Andy's lap. "No. Not bad. It's understandable. You should be proud of how much progress you've made from that night in the hotel."

"All the good stuff is drowned out by the bad things," Remington says. "But I know I've made progress. I can shower now, and say her name, and talk about her without being sick. And I can kiss you and feel safe. That's the most important one for me. That I can be with you and not be scared." He turns over. "You make me wanna live. Some people make me wanna survive. You make me wanna live. You're magical."

Andy smiles.