Demus Oneshots

Don't Leave Me

WARNING: Drunk Janus, throwing up, mention of past abuse

Normally, Remus would love parties. The darkness, the music so loud you could feel it in your chest, the glitter that was somehow everywhere, the close quarters. It was all right up his street. But he'd dragged his best friend Janus here and very promptly lost him.

Problem? Not necessarily. Only, the host (Remus had long forgotten who that was) had declared alcoholic drinks were around and Janus wasn't the best at not getting drunk.

Remus wasn't usually one to worry. But Janus was... reckless, especially when he was drunk. Remus had to find him.

"Excuse me?!" He yelled over the music. A half-drunk jock turned around. "Excuse me, have you seen my friend Janus?!"

"Huh?" The jock cupped his ear, spilling his drink on the floor in the process.

"My friend!" Remus yelled into his ear. "Janus! Long hair, blonde?!"

"Janice?!" The jock repeated. Remus nodded. The guy's face lit up. "Dude, there are girls here?!"

Remus shook his head. "No, not Janice, Janus! He's a-"

He'd gone, yelling something about finding a chick to hook up with. Remus sighed and found himself at the stairs. He glanced up.

It was much brighter up there. The stairs, banister and landing were littered with shirts, trousers, skirts, all sorts. Some of the couples hadn't even managed to find a room and were sat on the landing, giggling and kissing.

Gross. Remus hoped he wouldn't find his brother among them, that'd be super gross.

Remus climbed the stairs, skirting past as many clothes as he could. Janus definitely wouldn't be in a bedroom, he couldn't flirt to save his life. So that only left...

The bathroom. Oh, of course.

Gently, Remus knocked on the door.

"Who's'it?"

"Janus?" Remus asked quietly. There was a small giggle from the other side of the door.

"You can't be Janus, I'm Janus."

Well, at least he'd sorted that out.

"Janus, it's Remus. Can I come in?"

"Door's unlocked," was his only answer. There was retching noise from the other side of the door. Remus opened the door quickly.

Janus was collapsed on the floor, hunched over the toilet, his hair hanging in and around the toilet bowl. When he'd finished puking his guts out, he looked up slowly. His eyes were slightly crossed.

He grinned. "Rem," he said, like it was a surprise. "Heeeeey."

"Alright, we're getting you home." Remus crossed the small bathroom and wrapped an arm around Janus' shoulders.

"What? Nooo," Janus tried to protest. "I'm fine."

"You've just puked your guts out and you're drunk," Remus said. "Don't you have a test on Monday?"

"Oh, who cares about Monday?" Janus sat himself down with a thump, pulling Remus down too. Janus was deceptively heavy. "I'm fiine, I'm just- just having a little fun."

"Jan, I've known you my whole life," Remus said. "This is not fine for you."

Janus laughed. "Liar! I feel great, all buzzy." He leaned back against the bathtub. "I feel fine, so I must be fine, mustn't I? That's how it works, isn't't?"

"I don't know why you're asking me, you're the Chem major," Remus muttered. He stood up and shut the bathroom door. He sat down against it, stretching his legs out in front of him. "We're staying here til you're sober enough to stand and then I'm driving you home."

Janus laughed again. "You can't drive," he said.

"Neither can you, in this state," Remus argued. "I'm, surprisingly, the more sober one here. I'll... get us a cab or something."

For some reason, that made Janus laugh even more. After that, they sat in silence.

Janus leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "Do you remember when we were 10?" He asked. "I came over to yours with a black eye and a bag full of clothes. Said I'd fallen and my dad was getting my bedroom redone so could I stay with you for a while. That was the first time I got drunk, you know that?"

"Yeah, we snuck down to my kitchen and stole a bottle of dad's beer." Remus allowed himself a small laugh at the memory. "I hated it but you downed the whole bottle after I tried it."

"Mhm." Janus nodded his head slowly. "I lied," he said with a lazy smile. "My dad wasn't getting my bedroom redone. He'd gotten drunk and punched me in the face." He laughed a little, though it came out as more of a sob. "So I thought, what's so great about drinking that makes someone act like that? And I tried it." He chuckled. "Now I know. I feel like a God."

"Jan-"

"Mmph, don't use that tone of voice!" Janus whined. He put his head in his hands. "Everyone uses that tone when they find out about my dad. You didn't know, it doesn't matter, blah, blah, blah, who cares? I'm so much better now! Look at me!" He threw his arms out wide, narrowly missing hitting the toilet. "I escaped him! So- fuck you, Peter Dagger, I escaped you and your bastard ways. Even if I did deserve them."

"Jan..."

Janus shook his head and crawled over. He lay down, leaning his head in Remus' lap. He yawned.

"Well," he said, "I didn't escape him. He left me when I was 15." Janus laughed and looked up at Remus. "You won't leave me, will you, Rem? Please?"

Remus swallowed. His throat had gone dry. "Course I won't, Jan," he said, his voice cracking slightly.

Janus smiled, tears lining his eyes. "Thank you." He closed his eyes and yawned again. "I love you, Rem, you know that? I've... loved you for... years..." His words trickled into nothing as his breathing evened out and he fell asleep.

Remus wiped his eyes quickly with his thumb. He laughed under his breath and sighed. "Love you too, Jan."

And he meant it, which was probably the worst thing.

Well, that was depressing. I should not be allowed drunk!Janus
Bye,
Blaize