Revealed

Chapter 3: To Leave Home

     Janus tapped his fingers anxiously against his cane, stressing about where the boys had been for so long. Yes, they were adults, and had the right to come and go as they pleased, but Janus was afraid that one day they'd discover the truth. They knew most of it, their mothers gave them up to him. One in return for a love spell, the other in return for a cure to her other son's illness. That's all they knew, however. They didn't know they both had the right to a Kingdom one day, that they had fathers searching for them, they didn't even know much about the two nearby kingdoms. If they did discover that, Janus feared they'd return home and he'd never see them again, or worse, want to see him again but be kept away by force.

When he first brought Remus home, the plan was to either use them as leverage against the royal families, or raise them to carry out his plans for how society should work. However he realized he had no place to keep Remus, so he made a nursery. He had no clothes for Remus, so he made them. He had no food that Remus could eat and had to make it. Eventually he found that raising Remus became a full time job, every time he went to work on a bargain with the King and Queen, crying distracted him to the point of having to sooth the infant. When Remus discovered the ability to travel around the tower, he had to be watched constantly. Eventually all plans for takeover and world domination faded, and keeping Remus alive became the top priority.

By the time Virgil was born, Janus had decided to allow the Queen to keep her child. He had already become far too attached to Remus, spoiling the boy rotten, and knew a second child would be twice the stress. However Remus around that time had begun seeming quite upset about something, and eventually Janus came to realize that Remus was feeling lonely. Deciding that it would help to have someone around to help comfort Remus, Janus went off to collect the other Prince. Little did he know he'd grow to love that child as well, and that both children would help each other grow into the... unique individuals they were today.

Janus's tapping ceased upon looking out the window and seeing the boys approached, and he bolted out the window dramatically to greet them. "Back so soon?" Janus asked crossly, crossing his arms as he stared down at them. "Sorry, I would've left a note, but Remus lifted me over his shoulder and brought me to town against my will." Virgil explained. "We brought books!" Remus announced, hoping to bring attention off of that.

Janus sighed, placing a hand on his forehead before growing two more sets of arms and taking both piles from them. "Come in, dinner is not about to be served." Janus muttered. Virgil shrugged, used to Janus's puzzling words as he followed him inside. "I already ate dinner, I'm fine." Remus told them, but Virgil grabbed his arm and had him follow.

"Speaking of telling you before we go places," Virgil began as they entered the tower. Janus paused in front of the door to his study, opening the door before turning to Virgil with a raised eyebrow. "We think we found a way to remove our curse." Remus announced proudly. "Oh?" Janus began, entering the study and placing down the book stacks before returning to the main room and closing the door behind him. Remus pulled out the poster of Roman, holding it out for Janus to see. "Prince Roman is missing, so since he's out of the castle we figured we could find him and ask for him to heal our curse. Or, at least try. We don't know for sure it will work." Virgil explained.

"Plus there's a pretty big reward for returning him! We won't have to worry about food for a while! Heck, Virgie and I could have our own towers!" Remus cheered excitedly. "Don't call me Virgie." Virgil muttered as Janus began to pace around the room. "Interesting..." He muttered, one hand tapping fingers on his cane as the others served dinner. "So, can we go?" Remus prompted, returning the poster to his pocket as he and Virgil sat at the table.

"Technically, you are both not adults, and don't have the right to come and go as you please." Janus stated, pausing. "I mean..." He began. "Yeah, we know. Sounds like there's a but that follows?" Virgil grunted as Janus placed his plate in front of him.