Demus Oneshots

True King

This literally evolved from the lyric 'meet me behind the mall' in a Taylor Swift song.
Wow, I have a weird mind
WARNING: Mention of blood, mention of death

Janus pulled the thin material of his cape closer around his shoulders as he walked through the town square. Keeping to the shadows was pointless when there were no shadows so they pushed their shoulders back and tried to look like they belonged there.

Fitting in was a lot harder than it looked. Janus tried not to be too obvious as his eyes shifted from side to side.

Seven guards. Two on one roof, three patrolling up and down and two more causing a scene arresting someone. For stealing, it looked like.

Janus turned away in time to hear a thud and a strangled cry from the thief. They didn't bother to look back, they already knew there'd be blood. His hand tightened on a part of his cape as he heard another - slightly wetter - thud.

There was no cry this time.

Janus forced air in and out of their lungs. If he panicked here, he'd be dead. They were already a wanted man anywhere but the palace.

"Breathe." He told himself firmly. "There's nothing you can do for that poor soul now. You can't save everyone, Janus."

They took a deep breath and pulled their hair away from their face, using it as an excuse to look around. None of the guards were looking at him. Perfect. They tightened their ponytail and ducked down an alley, simply vanishing from anyone's view if anyone had cared to look.

"Rem?" He asked, his voice barely even a whisper.

"You're here." Remus said quietly before spinning Janus around and kissing them fiercely. Janus jumped and cupped Remus' face, his eyes slipping closed. They felt Remus pulled them closer, one hand on their shoulder and one in their hair. Janus probably shouldn't be letting his guard down in this area but he couldn't care less. All thoughts seemed to fall out of their mind at the feel of Remus' lips on theirs.

Remus pulled back, a little out of breath, and leaned his forehead against Janus'. "You're alright." It said breathlessly. "You're alright."

"I'm fine." Janus promised. He tilted Remus' chin up to get a good look at its face. "Are you?"

Remus turned his head to the side. "I'm alright." It muttered.

"Rem..." Janus said gently, cupping Remus' cheek. Remus leaned into the touch and turned his head towards Janus. "Does it still hurt?" Janus asked, trying to keep his voice from hitching.

Remus raised its hand to brush the eyepatch over its right eye. "Not anymore." He muttered. "It stopped hurting maybe Tuesday? It's gonna be fine, right?" It asked, the small attempt at hope in Remus' voice heart-breaking.

Janus hugged Remus tightly. "It's never gonna be the same." They said. "But it's going to be okay. You're going to be fine." White lies never hurt anyone except the one who was telling them. "I promise."

Janus kept his eyes on his and Remus' interlocked hands, which was probably the only thing keeping his conscious from floating away. They swallowed and looked up fleetingly as they both stopped.

Remus met Janus' eyes and tried for a reassuring smile, squeezing his hand. It looked up at the apparent wall.

"For the true king." He said confidently. A brick in the wall slid out of sight.

"May his reign be just as true." Came the reply. The wall opened inwards and Remus pulled Janus inside before they could change their mind.

Janus hunched his shoulders as he walked down the dimly lit corridors. There were a few people lurking here and there and they glared at Janus, their eyes glittering in the darkness.