The Circus isn't a Love Story (COMPLETED)

Chapter 4

"Hiya Janus."

Janus sighed, not looking up from where the snakes were kept. "Hello Remus." He muttered.

"Say Janus? D'you know what would be fun?"

Janus refrained from rolling his eyes. "What Remus?"

"If we set all your poisonous snakes free and then let them run wild around the circus, killing everyone in their sight and then-" Remus kept gabbling on about his chosen topic but Janus zoned out. He was used to Remus running up to him and telling him all about his dark fantasies every day. Janus thought it was... cute. Not what Remus was talking about but more how he explained it. Remus' eyes were a dark, lifeless green most of the time but when he started to elaborate on his fantasies, his eyes started sparkling and he spun around Janus, a smile quirking on his face.

"Janus? Helloo? Are you listening?!" Remus suddenly yelled in his ear.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, completely. Very... interesting." Janus muttered, returning his attention to his snakes.

"Are you suuure you were listening?" Janus nodded. "Well you didn't seem to be. You were just staring at me with this far-away look in your eyes and a tiny smile. That doesn't sound like listening."

"Well I was listening, okay Remus?" Janus snapped. Remus looked taken aback by Janus' actions and Janus pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Sorry Remus. It's just so close to another show in a new town and I would very much like to return my attention to my pets. So please, if you would be so kind, leave me alone." Janus didn't look at Remus' face, he knew that he had hurt him.

"Oh. Okay." Remus said a little sadly. "Well, see you Janus!" He said too cheerfully before bouncing off.

Janus sighed again. He knew he had crossed a line. Remus was a little troubled, it wasn't his fault he kept having all these dark fantasies. Janus felt a twist in his chest as he imagined what Remus' face looked like now, all the sparkle gone from his eyes. He would apologise later, properly.

Emile popped his head through the tent flap and grinned. Remy and Roman were talking in the middle of the ring. Emile's smile disappeared when he saw Remy reach for Roman's neck with the intent to strangle him.

"Remy! What the Hell do you think you're doing?!" Emile asked, tripping his way into the ring.

"Emile! He, um, Roman-and, uh, Virge and, uh, er." Remy kept stuttering. Emile cut him off.

"You know what, I don't want to hear it. Roman, are you alright?"

"Heh, yeah." Roman smiled weakly, rubbing his neck. Emile knitted his eyebrows together, worried.

"I'll go and get Patton. He'll know what to do."

Emile hurried out of the ring and Remy turned to Roman with a face like thunder.

"So you're stealing my brother away and now you're going to take Emile from me as well?" He asked, his voice dangerously low.

"Remy, I'm not trying to take anyone away from you!" Roman protested. "Maybe if you didn't try and strangle me-"

"Well maybe if you took my advice-"

"Well maybe if you told me why the fuck I needed to take your advice-"

"Both of you, shut it!" A voice from the mouth of the tent called, silencing the two quarrelling boys.

"Virge? No, you can't be here. We've got a show tomorrow and-"

"You don't need to baby me, Remy. I know my schedule, I know I'm breaking and, honestly, I don't much care. Also, I'm the older sibling." Virgil said firmly, walking towards the two boys in the ring. "So, you want to know why Remy feels the need to drive off any and all boys who feel attracted to me?"

"I, um, i-if you're okay with telling me." Roman said, trying not to blush as he was faced with a bed-head Virgil and frankly, it was adorable.

Virgil rolled his eyes. "Once you've gotten over your gay panic, Princey, I'll start the story."

Roman swallowed and nodded, sitting on the ground like a child. Virgil laughed slightly, sitting on a low platform and swinging his legs.

"It was... a few years ago. I was incredibly different from what I am now. I was shy, panicky and introverted. I was an idiot as well. Then, he came. He was... charming, kind. He really made me think he cared about me. I was head-over-heels and I changed myself to please him. It wasn't fun but I couldn't see what was right in front of my face." Virgil hung his head and laughed humourlessly, hiding the tears that had formed in his eyes. "He ridiculed me, called me a freak. He and a couple of friends from a nearby pub. They started beating me for being who I am. If Patton and Remy hadn't been quick enough... I doubt you'd be hearing this story from me, Princey. Anyway, Patton fired the guy but it was a little late for that. The damage had been done both mentally and physically. I felt like a monster and soon, I got ill. I was almost dead and, if I'm honest, I didn't want to live. But I did." Virgil looked up at Roman, two faint tear tracks appearing in his make-up. "There you go Princey. That's my story."

"Virgil, I- I'm so sorry."

Virgil laughed slightly and stood up. "It's fine Princey. You didn't know."

"Is that the reason you've got such a strict schedule?"

"Yep. Remy still believes I'm fragile and he's made me this schedule that I have to follow to the letter."

"I am right here you know!" Remy said, rocking back and forth on his heels.

Suddenly, someone burst through the tent doors.

"Have any of you seen Remus?"

"No. Why?"

"He's gone and so are two of my snakes." Janus ran a panicked hand through his hair. "I suggest you get off of the ground. If these snakes bite you, they'll kill you."