Beautiful Lies

Chapter Twenty Seven: The Plan

Hey guys!!! Here's another chapter! Not sure if it's my best but here you go! Please enjoy guys!!!!-😈

"We can't give them back over to him," Roman insists, pleading with Remus in the empty hotel lobby, as decrepit as it always was. Janus had left to "process things" and frankly, Remus had half the mind to also do the same. "Remy isn't worth it!"

"What about Virgil? Is Virgil worth it?" Remus demands, daring him to say no. Roman has an internal war with his emotions, before settling resolutely on a painful decision. He stares his brother dead in the eyes, daring him to argue.

"No one is worth losing Janus. I lost him once, I'm not losing him again."

"What about the others? Hart's son and husband?" Remus asks, completely ignoring his brother's pain. "Are they worth being kept around?" Roman groans.

"Remus, the deal clearly states Virgil and Remy for my boyfriend, Hart's son, and Hart's husband," Roman lectures. "There's no way we can convince him to-"

"There's a way to get them all without losing anyone," Janus says, striding into the room, arms crossed, hat casting his face in shadow. "If you'll listen to my plan." Roman grabs Janus's hands, looking him in the eyes with a loving heartbreak.

"Jan, please. I don't want you in any more danger, I couldn't bear it if I lost you again-" Roman pleads him, trying to appeal to him.

"Tell me the plan," Remus orders slowly, ready to listen. Janus looks less calm and collected now that Roman has brought his emotions into the mix, but he straightens up, exhaling and speaking, trying to ignore his internal conflict. Roman holds him close, refusing to let go.

"We need to be strategic. He doesn't expect you to refuse this plan, he expects you to be selfish and go forward with the trade, regardless of personal connection, like he is."

"So...?"

"So he won't be expecting backup," Janus says, eyes lighting up with a cold malice, slowly stepping away from Roman and closer to Remus. Remus grins as well.

"So if Roman happened to tag along..."

"And I happened to have a weapon.."

"We could get something out of the deal."

"That could work," Remus whispered, turning the idea over in his head. Janus nods, acknowledging the completely dangerous idea.

"Janus no!" Roman snapped, emotions aching to explode. His face is red and tears are begging to pour down his face. Janus turned to face him, flinching, as Remus sighs and massages an ache.

"Roman, please-"

"No," Roman said tearfully, clinging to rage to maintain any semblance of properties. "You can't just leave me like this, you can't just choose to leave me again!"

"It's his decision, Roman," Remus says sharply. "Not yours." Roman hissed in fury, eyes whipping around to face his brother.

"I wasn't talking to you."

"Roman, my darling," Janus soothes, approaching him gently. "Please understand."

"Understand what? That you're abandoning me again?" He snapped, wiping away tears furiously. Janus takes his hands gently, making soft eye contact. Roman looks away, pained. "That you're choosing to put yourself in danger?"

"Roman, this is my first time in months I am trusted to make my own decisions," Janus says. "You don't know how exhilarating it is to have that back."

"Then why are you doing something so stupid?" Roman hissed, leaning nose to nose with Janus. "Why can't you care about me for once!" His voice broke, trying to reign in horrible tears. Janus held him close soothingly.

"It's okay Roman, I do. My darling, we'll be together forever." Roman buries his face in his chest, hiding from the world, just letting his lover protect him from his emotions as he cries and cries. Janus soothes him, petting his back slowly.

"You're lying," Roman choked through tears, sniffling. "No one could be together that long." Janus kissed his forehead.

"We can certainly try," Janus said, smiling softly. "I promise, no one, not Patton Hart, war, illness, bad weather, or even death themselves can take you from me. I will never leave you again, I swear it. Death will have to pry me away from life in a duel," he swore, holding Roman close. Roman relaxed a little, cheeks rosy as he looked up at his lover with admiration. Nothing could ruin this moment.

A sudden, loud sound of a raspberry being blown echoed and the two lovers turned to face a half smirking, half frowning Remus with his hands on his hips.

"So sorry to interrupt this lovely couple bonding moment but I would like to talk about that plan you wanted to put in place?" Remus said idly. "Given that it is the whole reason we will win or lose this," he says, tone sharper.

"I was having a moment," Roman grumbled under his breath, pouting, slumping back into Janus's arms. Janus cleared his throat and nodded.

"Of course," he says, kissing Roman's forehead once more. "I have one more piece of the plan, but we have to get them on our side." Remus frowns.

"You can't mean-"

"We need the Hart family on our side," Janus said firmly. Roman and Remus groan in unison.

"Gods fucking damn it!"