Beautiful Lies

Chapter Seven: The Ruse

GUESS WHO HAS ZERO IMPLUSE CONTROL AND IS POSTING ANOTHER CHAPTER????!!!! Me. Its me. You were correct. I've been feeling the vibe lately, so hopefully its not bad. Enjoy!!!! -😈

"We don't have to go Roman," Remus offered as Roman adjusted his tie. "We can stay back, you won't get arrested for it." Roman turns to him, exasperated.

"Remus, I WORK there anyway. I'll have to see him again at some point. Better now than later." The underlying pain in his words was cold and painful, like the tip of a dagger. Remus sighed as Roman turned back to the cracked dusty mirror.

"Fine. But since we're going, I can break his kneecaps for breaking your heart right?" Roman turned around at lightning speed.

"No!" Remus pouted.

"Not even a little bit?"

"You can not break his kneecaps!" Roman insisted. Remus smirked.

"Ooh, break his legs, nice!"

"Remus!"

----------------------------------------------------

Janus shifted anxiously, the fancy clothing a scratchy cage. Logan wasn't here yet, probably because Patton was micro-managing his life. Janus was trying to hide in the back of the ballroom, as the servants finished the final preparations. It hurt to see this, because normally Roman would be here. Normally Roman would come home gushing about how beautiful it looked and how he wished he could go to a party here. Janus would have loved to see his dream come true once upon a time. Now, Janus wished it wasn't.

"I apologize for my lateness," Logan said, interrupting Janus from his thoughts. Janus turned to face him, seeing Logan in an equally elaborate suit. He couldn't be much more comfortable than Janus but his face didn't show it.

"It's fine." Janus sighed. "I've never been to a party before." Logan looked at him, a small smile crossing his face.

"It's alright, you'll be fine. Just say what people want to hear," Logan said, giving surprisingly good advice. "Most people are good at that." Just then, the servants cleared away. Oh god, people. Fuck.

"I'm not much of a people person," Janus whispered. Logan quirked an eyebrow.

"I couldn't notice," he responded sarcastically, under his breath. "And it's fine, you aren't the only introvert," Logan commented quietly. Janus had to have a double take, glancing at Logan's practiced smile towards the arriving guests. It wasn't visible at all, but it appeared to be a Hart family trait, hiding things in plain sight. Janus sighed.

"This is going to be fun," He murmured as people drifted closer. Logan glanced at him.

"I can deflect them for now if you want. You can avoid them for a bit." Janus looked at Logan relieved.

"Thank you," he whispered, and disappeared into the crowd.

It was a little while before all the guests had arrived. Janus, unfortunately, had been forced to socialize. He drank some wine. He was too sober to handle this. Before Janus drank the whole thing, he saw Roman, and his glass practically slipped from his grip and nearly shattered.

"If you excuse me," Janus said politely to the woman who had been obsessively discussing horse breeding to him. Janus walked away, to the window to get fresh air. This was just a hallucination right? It had to be.

"It's a lovely party don't you think?" A familiar voice says behind him. Janus's breath catches as he turns around, facing Roman who is decked out in an elegant suit and tie. God, if Janus wasn't engaged he would kiss Roman on the spot. Oh. right. He was engaged.

"Roman, I-" Janus floundered for a lie. Roman ignored him, looking upwards at the extravagant chandelier.

"Isn't it beautiful? I always loved that chandelier."

"I'm so sorry-" Roman cut him off, turning away.

"Enjoy the party." Janus wanted to reach out a hand and grab Roman, to pull him back and make him see that Janus didn't want to hurt him. But he didn't, letting him go, the fixed smile planted back on his face.

"Hey," Logan said, coming up next to him. Janus exhaled.

"I hate this party." 

"Not a person is actually happy," Logan said quietly, leaning on the wall. "But they would like us to believe it." Janus looked over at Roman, talking and laughing with Remus, seemingly uncaring.

"It's like a masquerade ball without the masks," Janus murmurs. Logan shakes his head, the practiced smile still frozen on his face. (Not one word...)

"Maybe not ones you can see." Before Janus can ask him about it, he spots a person in the crowd. Logan stands up, straightening his spine. "It's my father."

Janus sighs, following Logan's example.

"Hello Lord Hart," Janus says, keeping his tone level and even.

"Hello father," Logan says, eyes noticeably not meeting Patton's. Patton smiled, hugging Logan.

"I'm so proud of my little boy! He's all grown up," he beams. Logan doesn't move, which causes Patton to frown. "Aww, I want a hug from you. Come on, for me?" Logan obeys with a strange expression on his face. Janus watches, glad to be left alone yet almost uncomfortable. Logan catches his gaze and Janus sighs, clearing his throat.

"Lord Hart, we should make a toast soon." Patton smiles.

"Oh you're so right! I'll go take my seat soon." Patton releases Logan, who shifts away. "Just an idea," He whispers conspiratorially, "a little kiss between the pair of you might go a long way during the toast." Then Patton turns around, smiling as he walks away. Logan and Janus exchange a look of reluctant acceptance., and go to the table.

They'll do what they must.

Logan raises the glass of wine at his seat beside Janus.

"Thank you all for coming, to support our engagement." Janus doesn't know how Logan fakes that lovestruck look, it's damn near impressive. Janus mirrors him, smiling. "I wish you a good night." The people respond in kind. Then, with a quick look, Janus kisses Logan as the crowd cheers them on. Patton Hart claps with the crowd.

The pair keep the ruse going, lie on top of lie.