True Deceit

Chapter 64: Logan

Logan traipsed slowly around his bedroom, observing his subject with curious eyes. "So Janus, I plan to ask you a series of questions to help me better understand how you respond to certain prompts. Are you ready to begin the inquisition?" Janus nodded uncertainly, fixing his elbows atop the sturdy wooden desk. "Let's begin. What are your biggest fears?"

"Loosing Virgil," Janus whispered faintly. "And Remus. I'm also afraid of people touching my hat, you, Roman and Vengeance."

Logan swallowed, smiling softly. "I understand that loosing the people you care about most is frightening, and the Shadow of Evil is scary by default. As for your hat, can you elaborate further?" 

Janus let out an amused chortle, pinching his gloved fingers. "It's not dissimilar to your item of comfort, that black and blue tie around your neck. You wouldn't let me handle your precious item, would you?"

Logan lowered his gaze, rubbing the soothing fabric in his fingers. Slowly, he unknotted the tie, extending the hand held accessory with a heavy breath. "This tie is one of my prized possessions, and it does indeed bring me comfort. However, I'm prepared to sacrifice in a momentary act of trust."

Janus's eyes widened as he hesitantly grasped the limp textile, observing the frayed edges with trembling fingers. "Y-you never seize to amaze me."

Logan clasped his hands behind his back. "Trust is an amazing thing, in a way it's quite liberating. I hope you would consider having similar faith in me, if I could hold your hat?" 

Janus's heart pounded in his chest as grappled for his bowler, squeezing it to his chest. "No way, I don't know what you'll do with it!" 

"I won't harm it in anyway, you have my word." 

Janus was frozen, blinking rapidly for almost a minute before slowly outstretching the item. Logan calmly retrieved the hat, holding it delicately in his hands. "Everything's alright, it's safe, are you okay?" 

With panicked breaths, Janus hissed. "No, give it back!" He grabbed the object and thrusted it into his arms, throwing the tie into Logic's direction and jolting into a retreating stand. "I'm never fucking doing that again! You, you could've, how did I, why did I..."

"I understand," Logan spoke civilly, raising his palms. "We won't do it again."

The pair were silent until Logan requested. "Would you like to sit down again? We'll just talk." Janus lowered himself into the chair, his eyes wide and vigilant. The logical side cleared his throat, continuing as though nothing much had happened. "You told me Roman was one of your fears. What about him frightens you?"

Janus hissed sharply, his teeth barred. "You wouldn't get it!"

"Give me a chance." 

The snake clawed at his hat, tensing his muscles. "He's a lot stronger than me, he's a lot stronger than all of us physically."

"His superior size triggers you?"

"I-, yes! You're not going to like this, but I have always relied on violence and predatory domination to care for my prey- I mean sons! Fuck!" He slammed his head down on the table, muffling a hard scream. "I need to be in control, it's an instinct, I can't handle captivity!"

"Do you feel drawn to Patton's passive nature?" Logan voiced quietly. 

"That's right."

"So, Roman is like a hawk, and Patton is a field mouse. You don't want to eat Patton, obviously, but you want to constrict him non-lethally, to satisfy your primitive dominance and help you feel safe." 

Janus scanned Logan's composed expression, a sudden wave of relief washing over him. "Yes, you're exactly right."

Logan's lips lifted a fraction, his eyes shimmering behind his lenses. "I think the first step would be getting help taming your instincts through therapy. Would you consider that?"

"Perhaps." Janus muttered. 

"Great. The second part would require addressing the specifics of your fears. What are you afraid Roman will do to you?"

"Get lost!" Janus yelped, jolting from his chair. 

"Vipers rear their heads when they feel threatened, this is simply another instinct." Logan stated casually. "You may strike me, but you didn't hurt Patton, it was simply a mock attack. You won't hurt me either I predict." 

"Who knows, I hurt Remus and Virgil!" Janus snarled, before smothering his hands over his mouth. His pupils dilated, tears forming in his eyes. 

"That was different, it was not a defence mechanism. The way you abused Virgil and Remus was more of a long term culmination of being a snake. Luckily, I think I may have a solution." 

Janus furrowed his brows, his fists clenched by his sides. "Which is?" 

"A pet. Think about it. If you could be in control of an animal to feed and care for, it might take some off the pressure off wanting to be a master. How does that sound?"

Janus narrowed his mismatched eyes. "Once again, you never seize to amaze me."

Logan smirked, returning his tie to his collar bones. "I have one last fear I wish to debrief with you. Why are you afraid of me?"

Janus's ears burned. " Your intelligence gives me anxiety. You're like the cool kid at the back of the classroom, you freak me out because you're better than me! I constantly try and match you and lose, and then you ask me to sit next you on a bean bag, and I'm like 'fuck is he gonna bring up the whole injecting thing coz I'm a stupid snake,' then you're all smart and then your eyeing me with your stupid mug off coffee, and you do that fucking thing with your glasses! Fuck you!" 

Logan was still for a moment before ceaseless laughter overcame him. Janus could only stare with exasperation as the logical side beamed. "Do you really think I'm cool?" 

"Cool? You're one of the most flamboyant people I know." Janus muttered. 

Janus gasped. Logan's arms were enveloping him. "Thank you."