Baited~ Book 2

24

"He doesn't want to see me?" Roman's eyes narrowed as Janus shifted back, not that it would do anything. "Virgil doesn't want to... So that's it?" Janus's eyes went wide as Roman laughed. "I get it. I knew... I knew it. I told Remus."

"Roman..."

"ROMAN!" Janus froze hearing the unfamiliar voice as he met the eyes of the demon behind them both. Roman just shook his head as he clenched his fist. "RO... Shit." Janus was slammed against a transparent purple wall as Roman stood there smiling with tears cascading down his face. "Brother?"

"I told you, Remus." Roman's voice glitched a tad more noticeably as he just smiled. It was to the point now that anyone could hear it if they were paying attention. "I told you he would leave me. I told you..."

"Roman, you need to count." Roman wiped his hand through the air causing this blast to tear through the snake, who cried out still holding the lizard tightly as if afraid it would get hurt. "ROMAN... God damn it!"

"What happened?" Roman growled as he towered over the snake, who curled up protectively. "Deceit! WHY WON'T HE..."

"ROMAN!" Remus grabbed Roman by the shoulder eyes glowing a vibrant green as they struggled to reign back their demon. "Count."

"Count?" Roman's eyes narrowed as the word slowly tumbled through his mind. "I have to count?" Remus only nodded.

"Oh..." Janus frowned as he slowly uncurled to see Roman staring at the ground. "10..." Roman shook as Remus held him tightly to help ground him. "9." Roman's eyes darted back to Janus making Remus squeeze him tighter to keep his attention. "8...7." Janus pushed himself up and Roman's face fell seeing the tears in Jan's eyes. "6...5...4..." Roman shook his head as he hugged himself pulling away from Remus who just frowned. "3...2..." Roman bit his lip to hold back the guilt as he laughed sadly at himself. "1."

"Better?"

"Define better." Roman looked back over at Janus and groaned as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "It's not his fault. It's not anyone's fault. Virgil is a grown-ass man. He's older than me. I'm not his keeper. He can make his own decisions."

"Ro..."

"Don't..." Roman flinched as Remus went to touch him making the two freeze. "I'm ok. I just... need to tune them out." Roman hugged himself again as he shifted putting more distance between him and Jan before trying to offer a soft smile. "I'm sorry." Janus just sighed as he placed the lizard on his shoulder again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... How many times am I actually going to say that?"

"It's ok, Roman." Janus smiled as Roman just narrowed his eyes. The lizard seemed to shift his attention back and forth between Jan and Roman with a frown. "I understand... I think. I never actually blamed you for anything."

"But I... I hurt you." The lizard's eyes narrowed as Roman shook his head. "A lot. Virgil wasn't wrong to leave..."

"Hey!" Janus took Roman's hand shocking him as the snake just smiled. "I said he didn't want you to see him. I never said he was leaving you." Roman's eyes widened as Janus let out a deep breath. "He just needs time to come to terms with all the changes." Roman subconsciously gripped Janus's hands tightly making the snake frown as Roman shook.

"B-But nothings changed. I'm s-still me. I still love him. I still need him. I..." Roman let go realizing his grip with a look of guilt. "Shit... I'm sorry."

"Roman, it's ok. I told you I understand." Roman shook his head as he stepped back.

"No. I don't think you do, Deceit. I don't mean to be like this. I really don't."

"And that is exactly what I told Virgil." Roman's eyes shot wide as Janus smiled. "When I told him about the curse... I made sure he understood you aren't yourself Roman. I told you I understand."

"Right." Roman smiled softly as he glanced back seeing Patton still standing there by the castle doors. He had forgotten what Patton had said to them. Deceit would understand. Just like Virgil would. "Thank you Janus." Janus's eyes went wide as tears slowly slid down his face. Roman jumped afraid he had done something wrong but the snake just beamed through the tears.

"You... You called me Janus." Roman nodded as Janus wipped the tears away with a laugh. "Thank you... I don't... I don't want to be called Deceit." Roman's nodded again as he watched Janus closely. "I don't want to be Deceit anymore."

"You don't have to be." They both jump jumped forgetting there was another person as Remus wrapped their arm around their brothers neck. "You don't have to be anything you don't want. Take it from us, we know what it's like."

"Wait..." Janus frowned as he looked Remus over.

"It's nice to see you again, Janus." Roman's eyes went wide as Remus pulled away holding his hand out which Jan took with a slight smile. "We were wondering when we would see you again."

"Remus?" They nodded as Janus laughed. "Shit it's been... what 9 years?"

"Pretty much." Roman looked between the too and frowned in confusion. "We see you have a lizard now?" Janus shifted as he shook his head. 

"He's not mine. I'm just... watching him." Remus nodded as they laughed. "Don't..."

"So basically it's another stray you're protecting."

"HEY! That cat was starving!" Roman's eyes went wide as Janus shifted again. "What was I supposed to do just let those asshole kill it?"

"You're the one who..." Remus's eyes flashed as Roman just let out a breath. "I see. I really don't know a thing about you."

"Of course not..." Janus's eyes darkened as he looked away. "You only ever saw Deceit."

"Yeah..." 

"Jan?" Roman froze seeing the pure fear in Janus's eyes the snake slowly turned to see Patton right behind him. "I'm glad you're here."

"P-Patton..." Janus couldn't stop the way his hand reached out towards the cloth before looking back to see the pain in Roman. 

"I'm ok, Jan." Janus shook his head before sighing. "I mean it, Janus. I'm ok. I've missed you."

"Yeah, right." Janus laughed at himself only to freeze as Patton hugged him. "Patton?"

"I've missed you, brother."