Baited~ Book 2

33

Janus sat there staring off at nothing really while his mind went for a bit of a tumble. He didn't know how to take this... new information. His original was a demon. A... basilisk as Patton called it. His fingers brushed his scales and he sighed in confusion. It made sense but... Patton said Eve was the kindest soul he's seen. That didn't really feel like Jan. At least not to the man himself. Everything Janus went through in life... The only good thing besides now would have been...

"Hey, Jan!" Remus. Janus frowned as he looked over to see the hyperactive demon sitting beside him. Their eyes met and just like all those times before there was this spark just below Janus's skin. 

"H-Hey, Ray." The Demon beamed as they kicked their feet up with a laugh. "What are you doing?"

"Hanging out with a friend. What else would we be doing?" Janus's eyes narrowed as Remus just kept smiling. "It's been a while. Can't we just be... We never really got much chill time together."

"What are you talking about? We hung out all the time." Remus's eyes flashed as Janus looked away. "You saved my life more times than I'd like to admit."

"Jan..." Remus groaned as they shifted their weight until they were literally laying on Janus. However, the other just ran his hand through the demon's hair as if this was nothing new. It really wasn't to them but still, Remus couldn't help but watch in growing concern as Janus got lost in thought. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Ray. Nothing wrong." Remus sighed as they pulled Janus's other hand in holding it close to their chest while snuggling into him and making the snake laugh. "You're still a cuddler, I see."

"Only with you." Janus was taken back at the soft smile Remus had as their eyes slipped shut. "Are you sure you're ok? You remember our promise right?"

"Your promise?" Janus's eyes shined as he felt Remus slowly start to drift off in his lap. Tears pricked his eyes as he let out a soft laugh trying to mask how that one question made him feel. "Of course I remember your promise."

"Whatcha doing, Janus?" Several years ago when the snake was merely 12, he and Remus were the closest of friends. Best friends... maybe even more to the outside eye. At the time Janus was packing up his things to move again when Remus had popped up. "Why are you always moving?"

"If I stay in one place to long it makes it easier for people to find me." Remus frowned as Janus through the bag over his shoulder and winced.

"Jan, what happened?"

"Nothin..." Remus poked Janus's shoulder roughly earning a suppressed whimper and Remus literally growled. "Ray, stop. It's ok. I just... ran into a little trouble."

"Is that why you're running again?" Janus's eyes darkened only serving to upset the young demon more. "Janus, who?"

"Just some older punks you thought I was fair game. It's just the typical stuff." Janus smiled happily as he started to walk off making Remus have to follow along. "It's nothing new. I'll survive like I always do."

"What they take?" Janus froze up and frowned, looking away as Remus took his hand. "Janus, what did they take?" Remus watched as the other slowly reached up towards his neck and his whole body burst with angry energy. "THEY TOOK YOUR NECKLACE?!"

"Ray, it's fine." Janus just kept smiling as if nothing was wrong. "It was just some old trinket anyway. Who cares? They'll get a dollar or two from it and they'll be happy."

"Janus, it was your mother's." Jan simply shrugged as he continued on. They made their way through back ally's and hidden paths that the both of them knew by heart at this point. However, just before Janus could try to get over a fence Remus stopped him with tears in their eyes. "Janus, you shouldn't live like this. You deserve more... Come back home with us."