"What are you staring at?"

Remus just continued to look fixedly at his boyfriend, who was driving him home.

Remus Prince-Hart, troublemaker extraordinaire. He was the second half of his twin brother, Roman Prince-Hart. The two of them had been adopted by Patton Hart when they were six, and had lived with him ever since. The twins were coming up on their eighteenth birthday now.

"Hello? Earth to Remus?" His boyfriend chuckled, raising a brow at him. "Are you there?"

"I'm just thinking." Remus mumbled. "You're kinda hot."

"Wow, what a charmer."

"No, listen." Remus held a hand up. "I was thinking that maybe the rose-tinted glasses of love were making me think you're more attractive than you actually are. But you're, like, really attractive."

"Thanks, I guess?" His boyfriend snorted. "I think you're really attractive as well."

Remus grinned at that. "I would hope so." He hummed.

"Your house is the first one on the right, yeah?"

Remus' grin dampened. "Oh--Uh, yeah." He murmured awkwardly.

His boyfriend frowned. "Your dad is still a dick, huh?"

Remus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry." He frowned. "Maybe he'll come around today? I took my dad's car instead of my bike for him."

"Janus, you shouldn't have to do anything." Remus spat bitterly. "My dad should just learn to accept you as you are."

"He'll like me one day, I'm sure of it." His boyfriend, Janus, gave him a small smile, pulling up to the house. "It's my personal mission." He shook his head. "Maybe he just doesn't like my face."

Janus had a beautiful birthmark that took up half of his face. Remus loved it, it made him so special.

Remus glanced at him. "I really want him to like you." He mumbled, crossing his arms. "You make me happy."

"Remus Prince-Hart." Janus turned to him. "Don't tell me you're getting soft."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Shut up." He chuckled. "I'm already past curfew. I gotta go."

"I love you." Janus told him, tilting his head as he smiled.

Remus blushed lightly, sighing. "I will never get used to that. I love you too." He shook his head, before pecking Janus on the cheek and unbuckling his seatbelt.

He climbed out of the car, giving a final wave to Janus before he began walking towards the house.

Remus swallowed anxiously, trying to calm his nerves. It should be fine, right? Curfew ended only thirty minutes ago, surely his dad could be a bit forgiving?

Remus opened the door as quietly as he could, glancing around nervously.

Please don't be home. Please don't be home. Please don't be--

"Remus."

Fuck.

Remus spun towards the couch, where his father was sitting. "Oh! Dad! Didn't see you there!"

Patton did not look amused, arms crossed as he stared Remus down.

Patton wasn't a bad dad, not by any means. He fed them, raised them, gave them everything they wanted. However, he was a bit controlling.

"Let me guess," Patton frowned, "you were out with that no-good boyfriend of yours?"

Remus scowled. "His name is Janus."

"And what were you two doing, hm?" Patton rose a brow. "Drugs, maybe? Drinking?"

"We just went to a drive-in theater, dad." Remus rolled his eyes.

"Right," Patton nodded, clearly not believing him, "so if you were to take a breathalyzer test right now, would you pass?"

Remus bristled. "What the fuck?"

"I don't like that boy, Rem." Patton stood up, walking over to him. "He's a bad influence on you. Why can't you find someone dependable, like Roman did?"

"Roman's boyfriend is a stuck-up prude!" Remus sneered. "Janus isn't a bad influence, dad! He loves me!"

"You will not speak about other people that way!" Patton snapped, before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Listen, Rem. I've gone through the same thing, thinking some no-good boy was the perfect one for me. It'll pass, and you'll realize I'm right."

"Janus isn't some kind of criminal! You've never even talked to him, dad! You're just judging him based on the fact that he rides a motorcycle and has piercings!" Remus spat. "Can you at least give him a chance?!"

"We are not having this discussion right now." Patton narrowed his eyes at him. "You're grounded."

"What?!" Remus exclaimed incredulously. "Why?! I didn't even do anything!"

"Curfew?" Patton deadpanned.

"Curfew was thirty minutes ago!" Remus snapped. "I tried to get home on time, but the venue is far away! You know this!"

"Enough, Remus. Go to your room." Patton ordered.

Remus stared in disbelief, before growling and stomping up the stairs.

What the fuck was wrong with his dad? Why was he like this? Why couldn't he accept the boy Remus had been dating since freshman year?

Only a few weeks until he turned eighteen and could leave with Janus like they'd been planning. They were gonna explore the world together, whether his father liked it or not.

He yanked open the bedroom door and slammed it behind him.

Roman, who shared a room with him, jumped. He had been in the middle of doing his homework, it looked like. He was sitting at his desk, papers strewn about in front of him.

Remus ignored him, flopping face down onto his bed and groaning loudly.

Roman frowned, tilting his head. "You okay?" He asked Remus.

"Dad is being a dick again." Remus grumbled, glancing over at his brother.

"Yeah?" Roman sighed sympathetically, getting up and sitting on Remus' bed. "What happened this time?"

Remus' frustration caused his eyes to water, and he grit his teeth. "All we did was see a movie." He hissed. "Why does he always assume the worst of me? What did I do?"

"I'm sorry, Rem." Roman frowned, rubbing a reassuring hand on his back. "Maybe he'll come around one day?"

"Doubt it." Remus grumbled. "I think he hates me."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?" Remus sat up. "He--He never listens to a word I say, he makes my curfew earlier than yours, and he never approves of anything I do! Not how I dress, not how I talk, not who I'm friends with--"

"Remus--"

"I'm so tired of him!" Remus shouted, causing Roman to frantically shush him.

"He'll hear you!" Roman whispered.

"Let him!" Remus snapped. "Let dad know that I think he's a--!"

Roman quickly slapped a hand over Remus' mouth, listening for any sign that their father had heard. After a few moments, he sighed and pulled his hand away.

Remus stared at him, frowning. "I wish you wouldn't humor his bullshit."

"We just need to make it through the rest of senior year, Rem." Roman told him softly. "Then we can do whatever we want."

"I'm not gonna be some perfect, obedient, gentlemen. That's not who I am. I'm not you." Remus shook his head. "I wanna be me."

Roman didn't know what to say to that, it seemed. He looked away, a strange expression on his face.

Remus just sighed, laying back down.

---

A few days later, Remus met up with Janus behind Patton's back.

They were just relaxing in the park together, sitting at the base of a tree and relishing in the shade it provided. Remus had his head in Janus' lap, the latter running his fingers through Remus' hair.

"I love you." Janus murmured, smiling softly.

Remus turned pink. "That was sudden." He chuckled.

"I do, though." Janus admitted, pressing a kiss to Remus' forehead. "I'd do anything for you."

"Anything?" Remus rose a brow. "Anything at all?"

"Anything at all." Janus nodded.

"Even murder someone?"

Janus frowned. "Well, maybe not that."

"Oh, okay. So you're a liar."

"I was trying to be romantic, and you ruined it." Janus sighed, shaking his head.

Remus laughed. "I love you too, stupid."

"I'm getting mixed messages." Janus told him solemnly.

"Shut up." Remus snorted.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying the other's presence.

Remus felt himself drifting off to sleep, Janus' fingers in his hair relaxing him beyond belief. He closed his eyes, not quite awake but not quite asleep. In the middle, as it were.

"Janus? Jan?" Someone asked from a bit away, and Janus' fingers froze in his hair.

Remus released a faint noise in complaint, and Janus quickly resumed.

He was too tired to really comprehend what was happening, just listening silently.

"Virgil?" Janus questioned, his tone surprised. "You're--what are you doing here?"

"Who's this?" The person, Virgil, asked him. They were most likely referring to Remus.

"My boyfriend." Janus replied confidently.

"Your boyfriend?" Virgil said loudly, causing Janus to shush him.

"You're gonna wake him."

"No way." Virgil snorted. "My little brother has a boyfriend? How long has this been going on? Why didn't you tell me?"

"How would I? You changed your number, remember?" Janus sounded unimpressed.

"...I meant to give you the new one."

"Whatever."

There was a tense silence, and Remus almost fully drifted off. He didn't really understand what was happening, he probably would when he woke up, if he even remembered this.

He grumbled quietly, snuggling a bit more into Janus.

"...He's cute. He could do better."

"Shut up." Janus huffed. "Don't say shit like that."

"I'm kidding." Virgil chuckled. "...Really, Jan. I'm sorry. After all that shit with dad, I just...I didn't wanna get in contact with the family again."

"I get it." Janus sighed. "I just wish you would've taken me with you."

"He hasn't gotten better, I take it?"

"Not at all."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." Janus hummed. "Besides, I wouldn't have met Remus if I went with you. That's one good thing, I guess."

"Remus?" Virgil asked. "That's his name? What kind of medieval ass--?"

"It's unique, prick. Like you can talk, Virgil."

Virgil snickered. "You must really like him, huh? Defending him, and he isn't even awake to hear it."

"Shut the fuck up, you're so annoying."

"I gotta get back to the station." Virgil sighed. "But I'll try and keep in touch, okay? Hand over your phone, I'll put my number in it. Just...save it under a different name, yeah?"

"REMUS PRINCE-HART!"

Remus jolted awake, heart rate immediately speeding up.

Virgil (who looked nothing like Remus had thought. With purple hair and eye bags large enough to fit a chihuahua inside) turned towards the source.

Patton was stomping his way over to them, a scowl set into his face.

"Shit." Remus hissed, frantically standing up.

Patton grabbed Remus' arm. "You are dead meat." He growled.

"It's my fault." Janus quickly stood up as well. "I insisted we meet up today, and--"

"I know it's your fault." Patton snarled. "You've been a bad influence on him since the beginning."

Janus recoiled, as if Patton had spat on him.

"Dad!" Remus exclaimed.

"Shut up, Remus." Patton glowered at him. "I'll get to you in a minute." He looked at Virgil. "And who's this? Another one of your drug dealer friends?"

Virgil glanced at Janus. "Drugs?"

"I don't do drugs." Janus quickly defended. "I think there's been a misunderstanding."

"I've seen your type before." Patton spat. "You prey on boys like Remus, you corrupt their minds, and--"

"Corrupt my mind?" Remus shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

"Shut up, Remus!" Patton's grip tightened around Remus' arm, and he winced. Patton got right in Janus' face, venomously glaring at him. "Stay away from my son."

With that, he dragged Remus away.

---

"Oh my god." Remus murmured in shock.

He had just gotten back from the park, and was immediately sent to his room. Patton was pissed at him, angrier than he had ever seen.

He had silently walked up the stairs, his face stinging from the slap he had received from his father.

"Roman and Logan are studying in the room, so be quiet." Patton had said.

Studying his ass.

Logan was on top of Roman, straddling him, the two of them making out. They were on first base, it seemed, about to go to second.

They jumped away from each other so fast, Remus would have laughed if he wasn't in shock.

"Jesus Christ, Remus!" Roman exclaimed, completely red in the face. "Close the fucking door!"

Remus quickly shut it, staring wide-eyed at the two of them. "Oh my god, I just cock-blocked you." Remus murmured in disbelief.

"Hello, Remus." Logan nodded, fixing his clothes and hair. He was completely calm, unlike Roman, who was still trying to collect himself. "How are you?"

"...are you being serious?" Remus furrowed his brow, staring at him incredulously.

"You have the worst timing, you know that?" Roman groaned.

"Sorry, I'll let you get your dick wet." Remus snorted.

"Forget it. You killed the mood." Roman huffed.

"You can't kill a mood, Roman. That's physically impossible." Logan frowned. Roman glanced at him, smiling.

"You are so cute." He booped his nose, and Logan's brow furrowed in confusion.

"What was the plan here?" Remus questioned, crossing his arms. "Keep boning until dad hears you and decides to investigate?"

Roman turned red. "Well--"

"We've done this plenty of times." Logan shrugged. "I can be quiet."

"Oh my god, ew." Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. "Is that why it smells weird in here sometimes?"

"Remus!" Roman squawked.

"Most likely, yes." Logan nodded.

There was a small bit of silence.

"What happened to your face?" Roman asked suddenly, frowning in concern.

Remus glanced over at the mirror, seeing that there was a red handprint where Patton had hit him. "Dad happened."

"What?" Roman stood up, quickly rushing over to him. "Why?"

"I pissed him off, that's why." Remus grumbled, flopping onto his bed.

"So he hit you?" Logan frowned.

"Yeah."

He refused to answer any questions after that.

---

"How many times do we have to do this?!" Patton yelled.

Remus had just been caught sneaking back home after accidentally spending the night at Janus' place. He had meant to get home in the middle of the night, but fell asleep after watching a movie.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, okay?" Remus frowned. "I meant to be back before you even noticed I was gone."

"That's the worst part!" Patton exclaimed. "You meant to go behind my back and see this boy! Can't you see what he's doing to you?! He's ruining you, Rem! I can't even recognize you anymore!"

"I don't understand what your issue is!" Remus told him. "Janus hasn't done anything to you, has he? Why are you discriminating against him?!"

"I raised you to be a respectable young man. Being with that boy will only lead to you being sad and lonely for the rest of your life! I only want what's best for you!"

"Janus makes me happy!" Remus insisted. "And I make him happy! We love each other, dad!"

"Love?" Patton barked out a laugh. "Remus, you're too young to understand the concept of love!"

"I'm seventeen! I'm turning eighteen in a few days!" Remus exclaimed.

"Exactly! Too young to really understand love. Too naive to be put in the real world." Patton sneered. "I just want to protect you, Rem. Can't you understand that?"

"Have you ever considered the fact that I don't want or need your protection?" Remus crossed his arms. "I can't be protected by my dad for my entire life! Let me make my own mistakes!"

Patton narrowed his eyes at him. "When you end up living on the side of the road after being used by men like Janus, don't come crawling back to me."

"You're unbelievable." Remus spat, shoving past him.

---

"Remus." His dad came up to him a couple of days later. "Can you help me move some boxes into the basement?" He gestured with his head to a couple of boxes on the ground.

Remus glanced up from his spot on the couch. "What boxes?"

There was still some tension around the house after the two of them fought. It was felt by Roman too, no doubt. Remus' phone had been taken from him, making any form of communication with Janus practically impossible.

"Old clothes." Patton told him, holding up the box he held in his arms.

"Fine." Remus shrugged, standing up.

The twins' birthday was tomorrow. When he turned eighteen, he could leave and never have to do shit for his dad ever again.

Remus picked up a box. Something clanked inside. He frowned, shaking it again. The same clanking noise rang out. "Clothes?" He raised a brow, glancing at his father.

"Remember that phase Roman had where he wore those clunky bracelets?" Patton chuckled, picking up his own box.

Remus didn't. "I guess." He lied.

Patton led him to the basement, and Remus idly wondered why Roman couldn't do it instead. He wasn't doing anything either, as far as he was aware.

Maybe this was one of Patton's 'punishments' for speaking out against him.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Remus saw Patton walk straight past the light switch. He furrowed his brow. What the hell? It was dark in the basement, why not turn the light on?

Remus dismissed this as wanting to lower the electricity bill, shrugging idly.

"Remus," Patton turned to him, "I'm gonna show you something, okay?"

Before Remus could question what that meant, Patton began to push one of the old bookcases that came with the house to the side. Remus frowned, watching him blankly.

Then, before he could question what his father was doing, a huge door was revealed to be on the other side.

"What the fuck?" Remus blurted out.

The door was huge and metal, with a huge bolt on the outside keeping it shut. It had a small window, where someone could look inside.

Patton put his box on top of Remus', then he unlatched the bolt, opening the door.

Inside was a room with cement walls and a cement floor. The only thing in it was a blanket and a bucket. A single light hung from the ceiling.

"Put the boxes in there, please?" Patton smiled sweetly at him.

Remus, a bit irked, walked into the room to place the boxes on the ground. "What is this?" The second the boxes were on the ground, he looked around.

Something about the room made his skin crawl. What was this room for, he wondered. Did someone sleep here? Was this used as a hiding place? How long has this been here? Why didn't the twins know about it?

"Dad--" He spoke up to voice one of his many questions.

The door slammed shut behind him.

Remus went pale, turning back towards the entrance of the room. "Dad?" He questioned, quickly rushing back to the door.

He heard the bolt be put back in place.

Remus looked through the little window of the door, seeing an oddly blank expression on Patton's face. "Dad?!" He exclaimed.

Patton glanced at him, before giving an empty smile. "You can come out once you've learned your lesson."

"What?!" Remus shouted. "Lesson?! Let me out!" He banged on the door, staring at his father in shock. "Is this a fucking joke?!"

Patton grabbed the bookcase, glancing at him one more time. "I'll come back in a few days to check on you." He said.

Then the bookcase was moved over the door.

"What the fuck?!" Remus banged harder, more desperately. "Dad! This isn't funny! Let me out!"

No response. Could Patton even hear him anymore?

"What the hell?!" He felt tears spring to his eyes, his breathing speeding up.

He kicked the door one final time, before trying to calm himself down.

"Oh god." He whispered, wrapping his arms around himself. "Oh dear god."

Was this for real? Was Patton really going to keep him in there like a caged animal?

No way. This was a test, surely! His dad wouldn't do that to him. Yeah, that must be it! He was testing Remus!

He just had to figure out how to escape.

Remus looked over at the boxes on the ground. Maybe there was something in there he could use?

He ripped the tape off of one of them, hands shaking erratically.

Inside definitely wasn't clothes.

There were cans of food in the box. Peaches, beef, corn, peas. Enough to feed him for five days at most. Next to the cans was a can-opener. A new one, it seemed. It didn't look like it had been used before. They were resting on a few pieces of fabric that only served to make the box heavier.

Remus paled, before quickly moving to the other box.

The second box only contained a pillow and another blanket.

"No." Remus gasped, feeling like the air had been stolen from his lungs. "No, no, no." He shook his head.

This was real. Patton was serious.

Remus rose to his feet, going back over to the door. "I've learned my lesson, dad! Y-You can let me out!" He stammered, banging on the door again. "Let me out!"

Silence.

"Please?" Remus begged quietly, his banging slowing down.

Nothing.

Remus was alone.

Hours passed.

Patton didn't come back.

It was the middle of the night now, if Remus used his mental clock. He had spent the past few hours counting the minutes. He was sure that Patton would come back once it hit midnight. It was the twins' birthday, after all? Would he really keep him there for his birthday?

11:59.

"Any minute now." Remus mumbled, staring blankly at the wall. "He'll come back any minute now."

Thirty seconds.

"Come on."

Fifteen seconds.

"Please."

Midnight.

Happy birthday, Remus.

---

Janus knocked on the door, grinning brightly.

Today was the day! Remus' birthday! The two of them would finally leave this shitty town. He had bought a van and everything!

His birthday present for Remus was sat in the back of the van. A scrapbook of pictures of Remus' family. He had worked with Roman on it.

Roman thought it was just a kind gesture, but Janus knew it was actually so that Remus could have a part of his family with him when they left. He could also put new pictures in there, new memories.

All they had to do was leave.

Patton opened the door.

Janus' grin fell.

"Mr. Hart." He greeted him politely. "Is Remus home?"

Patton didn't say anything for a moment, staring at him blankly. He had a strange look in his eyes, a mixture of pity and hatred. "So no one told you, huh?"

Janus glanced inside the house.

Roman was sitting on the couch, staring into space. His eyes were red and puffy. Logan was sitting by his side, rubbing his back soothingly.

Remus was nowhere to be seen.

"Tell me...what?" Janus asked hesitantly, looking back at Patton.

"He's gone." Patton looked away. "It must've been in the middle of the night. I haven't seen him since yesterday. We've looked for him everywhere."

"...who?" Janus asked quietly, though he already knew the answer.

"Remus." Patton sighed, his voice thick with emotion. "We...we don't know where he is."

And Janus' whole world fell apart.

A/N:

YUH AYE SEVEN BOOKS LETS GO