And Then He Smiled (Logicality)

Chapter 62 - Finally Sorting This Out

Trigger warning: mention of injury, mention of previous abuse.

"Please I just want to make us right," Remus' arms tighted around the bag as he rested his face on the rough fabric, the dried blood on his finger tips digging into the wounds.

Eyes widening, Janus' shoulders fell back as his breath hitched. Was there an eyelash in his eye? Reaching out with his arm shaking upon it's own weight, he leaned forward as he felt the soft fabric of a familar green hoodie. His knees dug into the ground the beating of his soulmate's heart rang clear againest his own as his fingers held him tighter in his arms.

Time stopped. Suddenly everything seemed clearer than before. The birds cawing. The rustling of the trees. The crackling of the incinerator. The sounds of idle chatter. The soft breathing that lay in sync with his own.

Before, everything felt so wrong, but right then, everything felt right.

Letting go a breath he knew he was holding, he swallowed a gulp, burrying his face into the dip of Remus' shoulders. Through sobs, Janus replied, "You didn't do anything wrong!" He cried, his voice cracking through the cloth. "You were perfect..!" He sniffled, a trail of snot gliding out of his nose.

Reluctantly, Remus' hand fell down onto the other boy's back as he pulled closer into the embrace. Warmth spread through his body as a sniffle came from Remus.

As they collasped off of their knees, the two seperated. Rubbing his eyes, Janus looked away with a soft, blotchy blush spread across most of his face. "...sorry," Janus mumbled, bringing his legs close to his chest.

Mimicking the other, Remus did the same, though his post-crying face wasn't hidden, not even for a moment. A small chuckled rose up from Remus' chest as a gentle smile grew across his face. Like a small child he giggled obnoxiously as Janus just stared in shock.

"Are you like...okay?" Janus shuffled into a sitting down with his legs stretched out wide as Remus still sat the same way, slightly rocking backwards as if he was an uneven stall.

Nodding repeatedly for a meer 2 seconds, he threw himself to his feet, his face calming down until only a homely smile remained. Holding out a hand for Janus, he asked: "We still have time before the bell right? I can't afford to be late again, Roman would be pissed," his hand quivered for a moment before being taken by Janus' slightly sweaty palms.

"Yeah, but why do you need to kno-" before Janus could finish his sentence, from the other side of his hand, he was dragged by Remus, running quickly with Janus dragging behind.

The air felt warm as the brisk wind blew againest his face like a refreshing drink on a hot day. His legs ached below him yet he kept running as Janus began matching his speed. He didn't know where Remus was taking him, but he trusted him.

The two ran through half of the field until they reached a large tree in the corner of the vibrant, empty fields. Branches twisted and meandered into each other, wandering wide and far, some were even just brushing againet the ground, leaves were popping out of every end like a thin blanket in summer. Small weeds grew from around the roots, highlighting in the sun.

Slipping away from Janus' hand, Remus ran towards the tree. Climbing up onto the first branch, the air felt fresher, ignoring the pain in his palm, he called out to his friend, "Come on! Or are you a pussy?" He yelled.

Looking back towards where the school was, Janus wobbled unvomfortably, "We still have time!" Remus called again, climbing up the tree even more, slightly scrapping away the scabs on his finger tips.

Sighing, Janus awkwardly ran over to the tree, making sure he doesn't bang his head on a branch or two. Reaching up, Janus pulled himself up onto the tree before sighing in defeat due to his weak noodle arms.

Leaning down, Remus reached out one hand whilst keeping himself up with another. "Come on, I wanna show you something," Remus told him, his arm lingering in the air.

Huffing out the air in his lungs, Janus grabbed onto Remus' hand before thrusting himself up onto the next branch with the help of the tree. Clambering a head, Remus made sure Janus was able to get up by getting ahead.

Slowly, but surely the two soon got to the top of the mystical tree.

Holding himself up by Remus' hand, he lent back on a thick branch behind him. "Look," Remus pointed across the plains of fields that were covered in white and yellow as if painted in gold with the sunlight reflecting into their eyes. The wind blew through the grass as it brushed it's fingers through the Earth's green hair.

"It's....beautiful..." Janus gasped in awe as he sat down on the branch he was previously leaning on, carefully making sure he doesn't fall from such a height. Gazing back at Remus as his hair got messed up in the cold breeze, he couldn't help but stare, "How'd you even figure out that there was a view like...like this?" He asked as a piece of his own hair got caught in his mouth.

Spitting it out, Remus watched until he spoke, "Well, I was alone at lunch one day, I clipped the fence and left school for around 45 minutes," He started to explain, "Of course I found this tree, and I wanted to climb it," Remus looked back at the view as the wind blew his hair out of his face, the bright light beaming againest his face. "Then I saw a view that I'd never seen before," He smiled, "The first thing I thought was: Wow, Janus fucking needs to see this,"

"Really?"

"Yeah,"

The two sat in silence for around 2 minutes until they decided to crawl down the tree, slightly slipping down at each branch.

Helping Remus down, Janus held out his hand this time, "Come on, we'll be late," Janus said as Remus' caught onto the small cuts on Janus' hands that he had on his own. A smile peaked upon his cheeks as he gladly took the other's hand.

"Fuck school," He said, feeling the warmth of Janus' hand in his own as the two began walking through the field hand in hand.

Looking back at Janus, Remus decided to ask the question that haf been plaguing his mind for quite a while. Sighing quietly, Remus spoke, "Anyways, what happened with...your ear?" He asked, hoping to not overstep a boundary.

Nodding, Janus swung their hands between their bodies, "You deserve to know," Janus stated, watching as a bee flew past their legs, gazing back at Remus, Janus told him, "You know how I don't wear my piercings at home?" Janus said.

Humming in response, Remus allowed him to continue, "Well, I forgot to one day and....and my dad was home...so...he just kind of... you know.... tore it out," Touching the scar that was on his face, Remus new there was more to the story, "He...he also was holding a...a glass bottle," he stated, staring at the grass beneath their feet, "And...he smashed it across my face,"

Walking in complete silence, Remus' eyes did not look up from the ground, his only thought was: 'maybe I shouldn't have asked'. After all, he knew Demitri was a dick, he didn't know that he would hurt him. Then again the signs appeared on him as well. How could he not have noticed?

"Don't feel bad, you couldn't do anything about it..." He reassured Remus, his voice sounding like it was wandering off to another thought as he watched the other.

Their brief walk soon came to a end as they reached the clipped fence. Holding it open, Remus let Janus through first, wincing slightly at the pain in his fingers.

"Thank you," Janus smiled before the sound of the bell interrupted the moment, making Janus leave for his first class.

End Of Chapter. 1364 Words.