No More (Roceit)

Chapter 2- An Understanding

They looked at Roman as he talked, seemingly interested in what it was he was saying. Roman had almost forgotten what that felt like.

"This isn't the first time they've done this to me. For the past year now, all I seemed to be there for was as a verbal punch bag to make them feel better. And if it wasn't that, they were ignoring me. I just have had enough. They have never looked at me as anything more than a stupid Prince. To be fair, that's all I see myself as. But then it's all 'We care!' and 'You're great!' and then they are back to the same bullshit in the next video. It almost hurts more, because they try and gain my trust only to almost instantly betray me. Have they just been lying this whole time?"

"No." Deceit finally spoke up. "They meant it but whey they don't know something they lash out. They have to blame it on something or someone to make themselves feel better, so that they have someone to fight to deflect the 'blame' off them and on to someone else. Usually, that's us," he said, indicating at himself and Remus, "but now it seems that they have put you right up there as well just for defending us. Thanks for that by the way, it means a lot." Deceit concluded, with a slight smile of gratitude near the end.

"But why you? What have you two done that is so bad?"

"Well, what did you do?"

"Nothing! All I tried to do was help Thomas!"

"And there it is. That's all we've been trying to do as well. I first showed up to get Thomas to lie. Pretty evil right? But I showed up as Patton so they would listen to what I had to say without their obvious bias clouding their judgement. I only wanted Thomas to lie so that he wouldn't upset his best friend. I was only trying to help Thomas and yet once again was the bad guy. The second time, I showed up as Logan. Again, it was to avoid bias and, again, it didn't work. And yet I continued to try and help Thomas. The whole courtroom scenario to try and get him to realise how much this chance had to offer him, and to try to get him to see how corrupt this whole world is but it didn't work. And then Remus shows up-"

"And they all hate me." Remus said, speaking for the first time in this conversation. "I guess it is some kind of family legacy because I was hated the second I rose up. Sorry for knocking you out by the way. I thought things would 'hit' home more if I scared it in to them, and I didn't want to put you through that." He laughed slightly. "Guess I failed at that too. I wanted Thomas to realise how not everything and everyone can be perfect. How these thoughts are never going away no matter what you do. I learned that the hard way. But none of that makes you a bad person! Most people have thoughts like that and it works to keep them grounded and to prevent them from doing bad things and increase their empathy towards victims of such kinds of stuff as they are already repulsed and upset by the idea. At least that's what Mum said."

Roman smiled slightly. "How is Mum by the way?"

"She's alright. She and Logan are plotting something but won't tell us what. It's really annoying."

That sparked something in Roman's memory. "Is that where he is then?"

"Yup! And I've been getting snake face to spy on them and STILL nothing!"

Deceit laughed slightly. "I have a name you know."

Roman looked at him expectantly. "Janus. My name is Janus."

"Nice to meet you. My name is Roman."

"Wooowwwww. Thank you Roman. I would never have guessed." Deceit rolled his eyes but laughed.

Remus grinned. "You get used to the sarcasm after a while. He's like this with everyone. Stupid Irish bastard."

Janus raised an eyebrow. "No u."

"I'M NOT IRISH YOU-"

"Keep your voice down!" Janus exclaimed, whacking Remus on the arm. Remus stuck his tongue out at him in response.

"Are you two always this childish?" Roman questioned.

"Yes."

"No. Of course not."

"Okay then... I'm not quite sure who to believe."

Janus laughed. "Good."

They stayed at the Inn for a bit longer, as it doubled as a Pub and so they could just sit down and chat, occasionally ordering drinks which Janus, as the only one of the three who had a job and thus money, paid for. Neither of them had anything alcoholic and as time got on Roman started to worry about where he was going to stay. He had asked a while ago if there were any more rooms left and the answer was an apologetic no.

"So Roman, are you going to book a room? That's what you are here for, right?" Remus asked, looking inquisitorially at his twin.

"Yeah... I asked and they don't have any rooms left..."

"If you want we could go back to the sub scape and try to figure out what to do when we get there?"

Janus sighed. "That is Remus' way of inviting you to spend the night with him instead."

"Really? I mean, if it isn't too much trouble..."

Remus looked surprised. "Why would it be any trouble? You are my brother and I know I don't always show it but I do care about you." He paused. "I'm not letting you go back to those arse-holes in the main scape if it really is this bad. The least you can do is spend a night away from them to think rather than be told what to think and manipulated into thinking it is your fault."

"I don't want to intrude-"

"Accept the offer right now or I will hit you with my mace again."

Roman laughed. "To the sub scape it is."