Sanders Sides Oneshots/Short Stories

Warmth (Platonic Moceit)

(from Tumblr) Prompt: Cold blooded Janus using the other sides for heat

(Note: Cassius is Orange's name, who's trait is Apathy)

TW: Hypothermia, slight ooc?, unsympathetic Remus

It had been five hours. Five hours since Remus and Cassius had kicked him out of the Dark Mindpalace, in the middle of a snowstorm in the Imagination. Why Roman had decided to make it snow in the Light side of the Imagination in late spring, no one could even guess, but now the thing that the snake-like trait had to worry about was finding a place to stay until Roman decided to make it warm and sunny again.

Janus trudged through the snow, pulling his small cape closer to him in a futile attempt to preserve warmth. He was chilled to the bone, the below-freezing temperature making him sluggish and slow. He'd had to stop himself from taking a break several times; he might not get up if he stopped even briefly.

The deceitful side had no doubt that the other Sides had chosen this time to kick him out on purpose. In all likelihood, they had chosen to ignore him until an opportunity like this presented itself, and then they would boot him out into the numbing cold when he least expected it. Of course, this behavior was to be expected from Cass, but Remus? He and Remus had stuck together since Romulus split and the twins were separated fifteen years ago. Janus had always been there for Dark Creativity. He would have at least liked a "thanks for sticking by me for the last fifteen years when no one else would" from his former friend. The deceitful side had betrayed the others, he admitted that. But why did Cassius and Remus react so strongly? Cassius didn't act this way when Remus revealed himself to Thomas.

Pushing the thought out of his mind, he trudged on. He kept moving, trying to ignore the freezing chill in his bones, the frost that was beginning to form on his eyebrows as the snow blew onto his face, how it was getting harder and harder to move his legs as the cold seeped through his cape and outfit. He kept moving, because he didn't know what else to do.

After- how long had it been? Hours? A day? Two?- Janus collapsed onto a snow-covered tree stump. He managed to prop himself upright with his wobbly arms, taking shaky breaths and wincing whenever the sharp cold air entered his lungs. A few minutes passed, and the deceitful trait moved to get up again; only to find himself falling again, knees buckling beneath him. He fell into the snow, the freezing cold enveloping his body, and his sluggish reflexes forced him to curl up into a ball and preserve what little heat he had left. Squeezing his eyes shut to shut out the bitter cold was all it took for the snake-like one to lose the inevitable battle to unconsciousness, his mind too muddled by cold to even be scared that he might not wake again.

-

Warm. There was warm enveloping his body, he noticed as he stirred. Or rather, tried to. A weight on him was preventing the deceitful side from moving. He made a small noise of discontent before slipping back into his former unconscious state.

The warmth was still there when Janus woke again. The snake-like side's mind was still rather foggy, but he had enough awareness to realize he wasn't dead. Why.. what...?

"Oh my- Janus! You're awake!" a muted voice from next to him shouted. Fighting to crack an eye open, he noticed a familiar blue shirt pressing against his face as warm arms wrapped around him. Oh... Janus tried to soak in as much heat as he could, curling up in Morality's arms and pressing to his chest, the loss of his dignity worth it for even an ounce of warmth. They stayed like that for a while, Patton with his arms around Janus and Janus curled up in Patton's lap. It was warm, really warm, and the snake-like trait didn't want to move.

When the moral side started to stir, Janus grabbed at his shirt and whimpered. "I'm just getting another blanket," a soft voice whispered, then there was something being wrapped around him, something soft, and he realized Patton had put another blanket around him to make up for the one he had accidentally pushed off. Janus pulled the blanket tighter around him and leaned into Patton's hug, and felt himself melt when the moral side started rubbing his back. The gentle yet firm touch that circled his back repeatedly made the usually deceptive side want to purr, had he been capable of such a thing.

-

His dignity and reputation had been thoroughly destroyed, Janus realized when he heard Patton making 'aww' noises at the former's peaceful expression about an hour later. He was in a half-sleep haze, too tired to get up but not quite asleep. Cracking an eye open, he realized that his surroundings weren't as blurry, and that Patton had snapped him into dry clothing, a black shirt with his logo on it and fuzzy yellow sweats. He was also a little warmer, though the chill in his bones was still present, if distant. He let a small smile work its way onto his face as Patton continued to rub circles into his back.

Just then, the door burst open. Both men jumped at the sight of Logan, the usually calm and collected one frantic. "Patton," he yelled, "For lack of a better word, what the hell! You just texted me that you found Janus in the snow and brought him inside, then didn't respond to any of my thirty-one messages?!" Thirty one.. Logan seemed to gain his composure. "Also, rubbing Janus's back after his most likely hypothermia would not be the best idea, seeing as it could cause cardiac arrest." Patron quickly jerked his hands away, causing the snake-like one to whimper. Logan sighed, then sat on the bed. "Here, I will show you how to properly warm up someone with hypothermia." Patton shifted away, then Janus felt himself being moved. The blanket fell off and Janus felt the chill of the air hit him like a harsh breeze, before something even warmer wrapped around him. He nuzzled into the warmth, curling up in Logan lap and earning a rare smile from the logical trait. He felt the vibration in Logan's chest from him talking, but sleep (hi Remy) was already taking him and he didn't hear what the other was saying.

-

Ugh... there was a sweltering heat around Janus. He opened his eyes to see that all the Light Sides, even Roman, had piled around him, and all seemed to be asleep. Prying himself out of the pile and trying not to wake any of them, the deceitful side crept away from the bed, then heard a voice. "No, stay a little longer..." Patton mumbled, making grabby hands at him. Janus chuckled to himself and made his way back to the bed. What was the harm of indulging himself with a few more minutes of comfort?

So I've kinda got a craving for cold Janus right now, so whether it be cold-blooded or hypothermia or something else, be prepared! Take it easy guys gals and non-binary pals, see you next time! :D