Roman Sanders One-shots

The Perfect Prince (Part 3)

How does it feel to jump off a roof and onto the ground? Would you go CRACK SPLAT or just suffer for a long time. I'm genuinely curious and I sound like a Remus. I wonder if a physics major or someone similar can answer that.

TW: stitches, injuries

Janus woke up slowly. His body stung all over, and he couldn't remember why at first. 

When he did, he shot up like a rocket. He hissed in pain and a bit dizzy. He noticed a figure he thought was Roman at the first approach the bed.

"Oh, you're awake!" the man, actually he looked more like a late teen, exclaimed, beaming. 

"Where am I? Who are you?"

"I'm Aldous! You're in Roman's cottage, he seems to have an obligation to take care of you. Say, are you two...romantically involved?"

Janus was saved by the door opening.

 Unfortunately, it was Roman. He carried a bucket of water and Janus was slightly taken aback by what Roman was wearing. 

A red hooded cape and plain villager clothing, along with leather boots. His hair was strangely mostly white except for a bit of brown at the front.

He sat in the stool and coldly said, "Lie down, you're just going to get more dizzy."

"What?"

"Lie down."

Janus obeyed.

 He felt quite feverish and sighed in relief as a cold cloth pressed against his forehead.

"Why is he feverish?" He heard Aldous ask.

"Manticore-chimera scratches can cause illnesses. Usually fevers. Take off your shirt." He said casually, and even Aldous seemed taken aback.

"What?"

"You have deep gashes, I need to stitch them up."

"Without painkillers?"

Roman rolled his eyes, clicked his fingers and summoned painkillers. Aldous looked shocked, and Janus wasn't sure why.

Roman glared at Janus and Janus reluctantly took off his fancy capale and his top. He swallowed the painkillers with water and he thanked whatever deity was looking over him would make sure this didn't actually hurt.

Roman disinfected the wound before stitching them closed, and it seemed he was experienced.

When he was done, he took off the cloth, drained it, dipped it back into the cold water and lay it again on Janus' forehead.

"Why'd you even come here anyways?" Roman asked coldly, his usually warm brown eyes bitter, like dark chocolate.

"We were getting worried,"

"That's a first."

"How is that Aldous kid anyways? And why does he look a lot like you in your normal costume?"

Roman glanced at Aldous, who was out of earshot as he was putting the medical equipment away.

"I planned for him to replace me, but I don't think that'll work out well now that I think about it."

"He seems a lot like his own side rather than a replacement."

"I know, it's strange." Roman winced as he heard the crashing of multiple things falling from the medicine cabinet.

"Why the name Aldous?"

"It meant noble, old friend, that sort of stuff, I guess it felt right for him."

"I'm back!" Aldous chirped, plopping himself on the floor next to Roman.

He paused, locking eye contact with both Roman and Janus.

He looked taken aback.

"WHo is this Thomas dude you all always think about? Is he a god? Is that why everybody practically lays down their lives and desires for him?"

"Uhm, I have a bit of a confession to make to you Aldous, and I'm pretty sure you'll take it alright."

"What is it?" He asked eagerly.

"You aren't real."

Silence.

"What?"

"None of us are technically real actually, we just live in the head of some Thomas guy."

"Soooo, you're traits?"

"I guess so.."

"Ah! Everything has come together! Is that why you only showed up on certain days and sometimes your cottage is empty?"

"...Yes."

"How are you taking this so well?" Janus asked.

"Oh, I'm not. I'm silently screaming, I just have the dignity to not express it"

"May I ask how you know our thoughts, my friend?" Roman asked.

"Well, it's not really reading your thoughts, more like your wishes."

Roman's face lightened up. 

"I got it! He's a side! I created a side!"

"He seems more like a figment.."

Aldous burst into a smile.

"I'll call my trait...Wish"

Roman smiled. Janus didn't exactly know how to react.

"Well, Aldous, you can stay with us in the Mind Palace if ya want to,but if you stay here, you can visit when ya want."

"Sounds like a plan"