Gun’s car was silent except for the faint hum of the engine and the distant sounds of the world outside. Remmington sat in the passenger seat, his fingers nervously tapping against his knee. Gun kept his eyes on the road but occasionally gnced at him, his expression unreadable.

  Remmington finally broke the silence, his voice low. “You ever feel like you’re not really part of your own family?” He let out a bitter ugh. “Because that’s what it’s like for me every damn day. I’m the runt in a pack of wolves, Gun. Always have been.”

  Gun frowned but didn’t interrupt, letting Remmington continue.

  “They don’t know I’m gay. If they found out...” Remmington shook his head, trailing off. “They’d probably disown me on the spot, not that it’d be much of a change from how they already treat me.” His voice cracked slightly, but he cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. “And now they’re talking about marrying me off. To some woman who doesn’t want the title of ‘bastard’s wife’ any more than I want to live that lie.”

  Gun’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his jaw clenching. “Why don’t you just tell them to shove it? You don’t need to take their shit, Remy.”

  Remmington smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s not that simple. I’ve been pying the perfect son for so long, I don’t even know how to stop. And honestly? I’m scared. Scared of what happens if I stand up to them. Scared of what happens if I don’t.”

  Gun pulled the car over to the side of the road, parking it before turning to face Remmington fully. “Then let me kidnap you,” he said, his tone half-teasing but his eyes serious. “You said it yourself—you don’t want to live with their bullshit. So let me save you from it.”

  Remmington chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Kidnap me, huh? You make it sound so easy.”

  “Because it is,” Gun replied firmly. “If you don’t want to be part of their world, then don’t. Let me take you away from all of it. Screw the rules they’re trying to box you into. You don’t belong in their world anyway.”

  Before Remmington could respond, his phone buzzed. He gnced at the screen, his face paling slightly. “It’s my grandfather,” he muttered, his voice filled with dread.

  Gun raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything as Remmington hesitated before answering the call.

  “Remmington,” his grandfather’s deep, stern voice barked through the phone. “Where the hell are you? The reception is underway, and you’re nowhere to be seen. Do you have any idea how humiliating this is for our family?”

  “I—” Remmington began, but his grandfather cut him off.

  “Save your excuses,” the older man snapped. “You can’t even do this one thing for your brother? He just had the most important day of his life, and you can’t show your face? You’ve already dragged this family’s name through enough mud with your existence. The least you could do is pretend to have some dignity.”

  Gun could hear every word through the phone, the harshness of the older man’s tone making his blood boil. He gnced at Remmington, whose knuckles had gone white from gripping the phone so tightly.

  “I’ll... I’ll make it up to him,” Remmington said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.

  “Make it up to him?” his grandfather scoffed. “You’re nothing but a stain on this family. You’ve been nothing but a disappointment since the day you were born. If it weren’t for your father’s soft heart, you wouldn’t even be here to sully our name further.”

  The call ended abruptly, leaving a heavy silence in the car. Remmington stared at the phone in his hand, his shoulders slumping as the weight of his grandfather’s words settled over him.

  Gun reached over, pcing a hand on his knee. “You don’t have to take that, Remy,” he said softly, his voice filled with conviction. “You’re worth so much more than what they make you feel.”

  Remmington looked up at him, his eyes gssy but grateful. “It’s just... hard,” he admitted. “Hearing it over and over again—it starts to feel like they’re right.”

  “They’re not,” Gun said firmly. “And if I have to kidnap you to prove it, then I will. You don’t have to face them alone, Remy. You’ve got me now.”

  *

  The midday sun cast a warm glow as Gun and Remmington sat across from each other at a cosy outdoor café. The wedding and its drama were a distant memory now, repced by the gentle clinking of cutlery. Gun sipped his coffee, smirking as Remmington polished off his second pte of food with ease.

  “So, how does it feel being a runaway bastard?” Gun teased, resting his chin on his hand.

  Remmington chuckled, leaning back in his chair, his eyes sparkling. “Liberating. Though I’ve got to say, I didn’t expect my kidnapper to feed me so well.”

  Gun’s smirk widened. “Well, I figured I might as well keep you alive if I’m going to lock you up somewhere.”

  Remmington leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, pyful murmur. “As long as you’re the one holding the keys, I won’t compin.”

  They ughed, the tension of the earlier events melting away.

  *

  Remmington’s apartment.

  The city skyline glittered through the windows as the sun dipped lower, painting the room in hues of gold and amber. Gun y nestled in Remmington’s arms on a plush sofa, the world outside fading into nothing.

  Remmington’s fingers traced zy patterns on Gun’s shoulder, his touch light and tender. Gun tilted his head up to look at him, his expression soft but thoughtful.

  “I’m so happy that I’m here,” Gun said, his voice barely above a whisper, but filled with sincerity.

  Remmington’s arms tightened around him, his lips brushing against Gun’s forehead. “Me too,” he murmured. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you, but I’m not letting you go.”

  Gun smiled, his fingers gently caressing Remmington’s jawline. “Good, because you’re stuck with me now.”

  They kissed, slow and lingering, as the sun finally set.