Demus Oneshots

Protection

WARNING: Fighting, blood

Janus hit the ground and the thought of giving up flashed through his mind briefly. What did he gain from winning this, anyway? More reputation as someone who can't keep his temper.

"Giving up so soon, Freak?" Freddie sneered. Janus sat up and pulled his hair out of his face. The ends of his hair came away bloody.

"You fricking wish." Janus said, standing up unsteadily. He dragged a hand through his hair and got ready to punch the ignoramus in front of him again.

"Hey, woah, woah." Someone butted in, running up to the two boys. Remus. Great, exactly who Janus needed to see right now. "Leave off."

Freddie took a second from glaring at Janus to glare at Remus instead. "Thought you would've loved the violence, Re. You're such a violent type."

Remus put his hand on Janus' elbow. Janus shook his arm out of Remus' grip. "Get off me." He snapped.

"Yeah, the freak doesn't need your protection, Re." Freddie goaded. Janus growled and tried to throw a running punch at Freddie, only to run right into Remus' outstretched arm and stumble back.

"I'm not protecting him, I'm protecting you." Remus said. "You really think this fight is gonna end well for you? C'mon Freddie." He tilted his head to the side. "You can't get another 1 on your report card. You'll be suspended."

This seemed to resonate with Freddie. He took a step back and looked at Janus.

"Don't worry, I'll finish him off." Remus said. "And I can take the blame, long as you owe me one."

Freddie looked at Remus and nodded before running off to the other side of the playground. Remus let out a breath and turned to Janus.

"What the Hell was that?" He asked. Janus pulled his arm out of Remus grip.

"Get off me, Rem." He muttered. Remus lifted Janus' chin up carefully, tilting his head up so he could see the damage. Janus swatted at Remus' hand. "They're gonna see." He said.

"We need to get you to Medical, Jan." Remus said, ignoring Janus' words.

"I can walk there myself." Janus snapped. Remus raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" He asked. "Because right now you look like you can barely stand. Just let my at least accompany you."

"I don't need your protection." Janus said and started walking away. Remus looked around quickly and jogged after him. "Rem, leave me alone. People'll get suspicious."

"So what?" Remus asked.

"So what?!" Janus repeated. "People get suspicious, people talk. People talk, my dad finds out. My dad finds out, I'm out of the house." He thought about giving Remus a little shove but settled for wiping his bloody nose. "So leave me alone."

"I know how hard Freddie can punch." Remus said. "I just want to check that you're okay."

"Rem, nothing about my life is okay." Janus snapped. "So leave me be!" Janus winced and put a hand to his head, stumbling to the side.

"Woah, hey, Jan." Remus said, putting an arm around Janus to steady him. "Are you-?"

"I'm fine, Rem." Janus snapped. "Get off me." He muttered and stormed off to Medical.

"Boyfriends are so difficult." Remus thought as he trailed after Janus.

"Rem, you don't need to stay here." Janus said, holding an ice pack to his head. He seemed to have lost a bit of his temper after nearly fainting three times.

"I know." Remus said, swinging his legs. Janus sighed and wiped his nose again. "If you keep doing that, you're just gonna open up more blood." Remus said.

Janus looked at his blood-specked tie lying on a table. "Why do you put up with me?" He asked.

Remus shrugged. "I would tell you if I knew." He said, laughing a little. "Why d'you put up with me?"

Janus looked down. "Cause you care about me." He said. "And you don't let me forget it. But I'm always so mean to you." He looked up at Remus. "I'm so horrid to you and I never say sorry."

"I don't think you physically can say sorry." Remus said. "But, I mean, you're mean to everyone. It's just kinda normal. How you show love."

Janus looked down, ashamed of himself. "Why do you keep trying to protect me? You're risking your rep if you're seen protecting the freak of the school."

"Who cares?" Remus asked. "As far as I'm concerned, the only rep I want at this school is being your boyfriend."

Janus laughed, shaking his head. "Rem, that doesn't make any sense." Remus shrugged.

"Okay. Then the only rep I want at this school is being your knight in shining armour." He said.

Janus looked down, smiling. "You're really sweet, Rem. Too sweet for me, probably."

"Impossible." Remus said. "You deserve all the love and sweetness-"

"I don't." Janus said. "Rem, think about it. What have you done for me that I've reciprocated? What have I ever done to deserve you? All I've ever done is get into a load of fights with your friends and cause you strife."

"Jan, you-"

"Rem, I don't want to have another fight about this." Janus said. "I'm not good for you." He leaned back against the wall. "And I can't change. I've tried, I really have. But I can't seem to stay changed."

"Well, good." Remus said. "Because I don't want you to change. I love you just the way you are."

Janus laughed bitterly and airlessly, looking down. "I love you too, Rem. But I can't prove that I do."

"Yeah, you can." Remus said. "You just did. Right then." Janus cocked his head to one side. "You just said you loved me. That's enough for me to know you love me."

"But-" Janus tried to protest.

"Jan, do you love me?" Remus asked.

"What? Yeah, of course I do." Janus spluttered.

"And you've just said it then." Remus said. "As long as you know that, I know that you love me too." He got up and pressed a gentle kiss to Janus' forehead. "And as long as I know you love me, I'm going to protect you."

This was cute. This was sweet. I liked this.
Bye,
Blaize