Beautiful Lies

Chapter Twenty One: The Preparation

Okay, that quote is surprisingly good for one I just looked up on the internet. Anyways, the next chapters finally when the wedding happens. I know we're all looking forward to that, aren't we? Anygays, have a lovely time and as always, feel suffering from my beautiful angst.-😈

Logan exhaled, staring into the mirror, face, cool and unfeeling.

"Janus, are you prepared?" He said emptily, fixing his glasses, and adjusting his skirt. "We can't be late."

"Heaven forbid," Janus snarks, rolling his eyes as he fixes his bowtie.

"Janus, keep those comments to yourself," Logan said coldly, half glancing at him from the mirror. Janus stares at him, turning around in surprise at Logan's uncharacteristic cruelty. Logan ignores him.

"What is up with you?"

"None of your business."

"Seriously Logan, what is going on?" Logan's eyes flash with a sudden pool of guilt and sorrow.

"I'm just attending an execution later today. Nothing important," Logan says, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. Janus's gaze softens, hand fixing his pale blue bow tie subconsciously.

"Virgil?"

"It doesn't matter who it is!" Logan snapped, on the verge of tears. He shoves his pain aside. "Now come on, we have to go to the wedding."

"We could run away," Janus offers. Logan stares at him like he's crazy. "I mean it, break into the prison and get Virgil too if you wanted. We're both smart enough." Logan laughs dryly.

"My father told me a story once," Logan says, shaking his head  miserably. "He tried to run away from my father. But he barely made it past the front gate and into the woods. He lost everything, just trying to escape." Janus's hope doesn't dampen, his eyes still glittering with a plan.

"There's two of us, he won't be able to-"

"Don't you get it? You can't slither away this time! My father has us both, and he doesn't let go of things he owns very easily," Logan snaps. Janus bristles, standing up to his full height, staring Logan dead in the eye.

"Your father doesn't own me!"

"You're a fool if you believe otherwise," Logan scoffed. "How many stupid deals have you made?" Janus goes silent, staring at his hat in his hands, matching with the pathetically stupid white gloves. So like what he used to wear, yet so not. "How many times has he leveraged Mr. Prince over you? How many times have you been able to go anywhere without someone with you?"

"You were stalking me?" Janus explodes, anger rolling off of him in waves. And here he thought he and Logan were becoming friends. "Because your father told you too?!" Logan rolls his eyes, the eyes flashing in rage at the hypocrisy. 

"Janus, don't be a hypocrite. You did the same thing not two weeks ago."

"But you've been doing it this whole time!"

"Do you think I had a choice? Do you remember me ever telling you something I wanted to do?" Logan demanded. He deflates. "I'm not like you, Janus."

"No, you're not," Janus says quietly. "You're a coward," He spits. Logan straightens up, eyes tight with tears and pain. Derision and certainty drips from Logan's voice when he finally speaks.

"And you're a fool." There is a sudden knock at the door that makes the pair of men go silent. 

"Boys? It's me, Emile. Can I come in?"

"Yes papa, you may," Logan says quietly, staring back at the mirror and more importantly away from Janus. Janus doesn't falter, doing the exact same thing as him. Maybe he was lashing out because he was upset about the wedding, maybe all the anger finally exploded, but he doesn't feel wrong for screaming at Logan. Emile walks over, clucking his tongue softly.

"Argument?"

"No shit," Janus mutters. Logan just nods slowly. Emile sits next to him, smoothing out his dress, deflecting. It's clear he does not want to touch the slowly burning fire.

"It looks very nice on you sweetheart, this was my dress for our wedding," Emile smiles softly at Logan, as though the memory is one that gives him great joy. "I'm surprised it fits you, I was sixteen when I married your father, a great deal smaller." Logan nods pitifully, like this is a fact of life, but Janus almost chokes. This is fucked up if he heard what he thought he just heard.

"I'm sorry, repeat that?"

"Repeat what?"

"The age of Patton during your wedding."

"I didn't say."

"Please do," Janus says politely, face a little green.

"Oh about nineteen or so at the time. Maybe twenty?"

"That's... not legal," Janus says delicately. Emile's face briefly crosses with rage, which disappears as quickly as a passing cloud.

"Well, it turned out alright didn't it?" He asks Logan sweetly, who nods in agreement.

"Did you have parental consent?" Janus presses on. Emile's rage is becoming more difficult to contain, Janus can see it. Emile exhales slowly.

"I had the consent of Lady Medea, and that was the only adult opinion that mattered," Emile said in a clipped tone. Janus tries to appeal to him, even though Emile is clearly trying to shut it down. Janus hates that this is horribly messed up and hates even more that Logan is desensitized to his father's atrocious actions.

"This marriage can't have been approved," He says queasily.

"It was." Emile stands up, offering a pleasant smile to both boys, shutting down the conversation. Janus growls under his breath. "Now may I help either of you get ready?"

"Can you help with the bow in the back?" Logan asks as he stands up. "It's impossible to tie." He sighs, Emile tying it gracefully.

"I know sweetheart," Emile says softly. "But you look very handsome, your father's going to be very proud."

"What about you?" Janus asked, trying to get one of the Harts to crack. Both Harts stare at him. "What do you think?"

"My opinion on the affair doesn't matter," Emile says calmly, polishing his glasses. "However, if you were to ask, I'd say I'm happy if my son is happy." Janus smirks inwardly. Jackpot. 

"And are you happy Logan?" he asks snidely. Logan glares at him.

"Janus, stop it. We're getting married, stop trying to get out of it!" Logan snaps. Janus can't understand it. He doesn't understand how they can just let Patton control and manipulate them forever. It's wrong and awful, and if they can change it, they need to act now or it will never work! Emile interrupts Janus's thoughts, face nervous.

"The ceremony will be starting soon. I'll be sitting up front with your father and grandmother," Emile says, wincing on the last word. He hugs his son before turning to leave. Janus goes to speak, but Logan holds up a hand, silent.

"Please, don't make this any harder than it already is," he says softly, all fight gone. Janus can't bring himself to fight that. He is reminded once again, of just how broken Logan is after all. Janus sighs. 

"Fine." Logan offers him a hand.  Janus takes it, preparing himself for the crowd up ahead. He turns to face Logan, nodding firmly.

"Let's go."