Demus Oneshots

Jailbird Key

Janus looked up as a key clinked in the lock. Heavy key, made of iron, rusting around the edges. Whoever was holding it was either nervous or not used to holding a key that weight, from the clumsy sounds it was making in the lock.

The curiosity faded from Janus' eyes as the door opened.

"Hello, Rem." Janus said, the nickname that had once carried love now holding only bitterness. "Forgive me if I don't run to meet you but, um," Janus shook his arm, the shackle and chain tying him to the wall clanking and scraping, "bit tied up at the moment."

He looked the strangely silent Remus up and down. "Who sent you?" He asked. "Has his famous Majesty finally found time to execute me?"

Remus shook his head. "No." He said hoarsely before wetting his lips and trying again. "No. No one sent me."

"Then I'm not to be executed, I suppose." Janus said, leaning back against the wall. He almost smiled. "You know, Rem, you are an awful bad liar."

"I'm not lying." Remus said quickly. "Really, Jan, no one sent me."

Janus flinched a little at the nickname. "Sure they didn't." He said sarcastically. He sighed. "Well, if no one sent you, what is this? A mirage? Magic? A spell, a vision? Because I know you would never stoop low enough to see me again." Janus glanced down Remus' body to his feet and then back to his face. "Now that you've gotten what you want, you have no more need."

"Jan, I'm sorry." Remus said, taking a small step forward, away from the door.

"I'd suggest you stay away." Janus said, dropping his eyes to the floor. "Cause if you come any closer, I'm not going to be responsible for whether I punch you or..." Janus seemed to lose confidence in the empty threat, "something else."

Remus looked over at the door and took a short breath. He closed the door and took the few steps it needed to cross the tiny cell. Janus looked up at him through his fringe.

"Janus, I swear I had no idea what Ro was going to do." Remus said, kneeling on one knee to see Janus better. "I just thought-"

"You just thought what, Remus?" Janus asked, lifting his head to look Remus in the eye. "That just because I was under your protection, the king wouldn't throw me in jail? Wouldn't make me wait in a cupboard cell until I craved death more than freedom? You thought that just because somewhere, deep down, I still had a heart, that would excuse me from treason?" Janus laughed bitterly and looked away. "You're lying. And you're smarter than that."

"Jan-"

"You can tell King Roman-"

"Jan, listen to me." Remus pleaded. His tone cut Janus off short. "There's a ship leaving the kingdom tonight. Taking travellers, no questions asked, they understand that questions are difficult. It leaves at 10." Remus pressed a smaller iron key into Janus' hand. "You can go free."

Janus stared at the key, dumb-founded, before seeming to make up his mind. He dropped the key on the stones by his feet, nothing changing on his face to show he'd even heard the echoed clink it made.

"You can tell King Roman," Janus said slowly, "that no matter what he tortures me with, I'm staying silent. Whether it's freedom," Janus kicked the key across the room, "or what used to be lost love. If he's going to get anything out of me, it's going to be triumph."

"Janus, Roman didn't send me." Remus said. "I swear on my life, he doesn't even know I'm here. Jan, would I lie to you?"

Janus looked away sharply. "Yes." He said, his voice like stone to hide the hurt. "You'd lie to me and you've lied to me. You've betrayed me and you'll do it again."

"Jan, I betrayed Roman for you." Remus said. "I'm still betraying him now. What you saw as betrayal was my brother catching up with me. I promise, I never-"

"Be quiet!" Janus snapped. "Stop with the promises, I know they mean nothing to you." He put his head in his hands, his chain clicking together. "You promised me your heart." He said quietly. "And look where that's gotten me. You promised me I could trust you. And look where it's gotten me. You promised me you loved me! And look at me now!" Janus glared at Remus, his eyes full of cold fire.

Remus did look at Janus. He looked at the knotted, dirty hair hanging around his face. He looked at the tattered clothes, barely mirroring what they'd once been. He looked at the red mark growing around the shackle on Janus' wrist. He looked and still knew what he saw.

"I do love you." Remus said quietly. "I love everything about you. And I'm so, so sorry. I know I should've told you but you could've killed me. You still could now."

Janus' anger melted into surprise. "Rem, I could never kill you." He said, just as quiet as Remus. "I could never even think about hurting you. Back then I couldn't, even now I can't. And I hate it. Because revenge is how I cope. But I can't ever think of a revenge that would hurt you most."

"But you've thought of a revenge?" Remus asked.

"One that would hurt his Majesty." Janus said quietly. "But it wouldn't hurt you."

"What is it?"

Janus met Remus' eyes. "A kiss. From you to me, before everything ends." His voice got quieter with every word til it was nothing but a whisper.

Remus took the opportunity and pressed his lips to Janus'. Janus' lips were chapped and broken but the kiss still felt like the soft, precious secret it always had. And that's what it was, really. A secret, not a promise like it had been before - or like it could've been.

Remus pulled away slowly, trying to memorise the feeling. "I miss you." He said quietly.

Janus looked down. "I miss me too." He said. "And I don't recognise who I've become."

"Remember, the boat leaves at 10 tonight." Remus said, getting up to retrieve the key from the opposite of the room. "You'll be gone before they even realise there's an empty cell."

"Could you-?" Janus asked before cutting himself off. Remus handed him the key gently.

"I couldn't, Jan." He said. "I wish I could but I can't. A missing prince is a lot worse than a missing prisoner."

There was a clank as Janus unlocked his shackle, letting it fall to the floor beside him. He rubbed his wrist, wincing at the burn of raw skin.

"Thank you." He said. "I have nothing to give you in return."

Remus held out a hand and helped him up. Janus leaned against the wall and sighed as if that short journey from sitting to standing had taken so much out of him.

"No need." Remus said. "This is me repaying a dept."

Remus traipsed to the door. He unlocked the door and set a copy of the key down by it.

"You still have my heart." He nearly whispered, only loud enough for Janus to hear.

Janus didn't look up as the prince left. He sighed and leaned his head against the wall, looking at the rotten rafters for a ceiling.

"And you still have mine."

Well, that's depressing-
But I want to make it into a full story, someone talk me out of this-
Bye,
Blaize