True Deceit

Chapter 15: 18 Years Earlier Pt.2

Janus laid stomach down on his bed, his eyes glued to the desktop screen perched atop his bedside table. He'd been scanning through numerous web pages about guardianship, discipline, and parenthood, and soon discovered a variety of methods which he was keen to instil within Remus and Virgil.

He'd read about reward systems, leading by example, and perhaps the one that intrigued him most, corporal punishment. Of course, he had a natural repel for hurting anyone, but he couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline at the concept of control in his hands.

Janus laid down to sleep, switching of his computer and enveloping himself in his lime coloured sheets. He slowly began to drift into the unconscious, but was woken at the last moment by the wailing screens of a baby.

"Ugh, Virgil," he moaned to himself, standing up and quietly tiptoeing into Virgil's room. "Why couldn't you have just appeared at birth into Thomas's mind, like me?" Janus did not know the answer to this, only that it was complicated Side genetics. "I know exactly who I am, and what my talents are. You can't even change your own nappy."

He picked Virgil up once again, cradling him in his arms and singing softly in his ear before gently tucking him back in bed with a kiss on his forehead. "I love you. I can't wait until your all grown up like me."

However, at that moment, a thought struck him. Roman is making it impossible for me to play attention to you. I need to find a way to get him out of here, so I can raise you.

Janus returned to his bed, his mind cooking up schemes as he melted into slumber.

*

The following morning, Janus woke up bright and early, heading to the kitchen to fetch Virgil's bottle before returning to his room to feed him. Virgil gargled and moved as he sucked the sweet milk from his bottle, his brown eyes wide with amusement.

"You're so cute!" Janus laughed, tickling Virgil's tummy. He soon undressed him, washed him briefly in a warm tub of water and clothed him in an alternate purple one-suit. He then carried the baby into the kitchen, placing him into his high chair and spoon feeding him spring onion and rice made by himself in the rice cooker. It was lucky Janus had been paying attention to Thomas in the first grade, or he himself may have been unable to read.

"Morning, Fa-ther," Remus sung as he entered the room, sitting at the dining table with a grin.

Janus felt his heart warm as he placed a bowl of rice before him, smiling return. "Good boy, Son."

*

At one o'clock that day Janus found himself seated beside Patton in the living room, watching as Roman and Remus once again run amuck for what Janus had hoped would be the last time.

Patton turned to six-year-old Logan who was seated on the stool beside him, pouting and crossing his arms over his chest. "Doesn't it bother you that these two are behaving like hares in this snake's living area?" He worded studiously.

Patton embraced him, cuddling him closely. "Aren't you a considerate, lovable little bookworm?"

Logan groaned, pushing Patton's arms away. Janus groaned internally also, not just at the nickname but at the reference of him as a 'snake.' It was true of course, but it didn't make him feel any better about himself.

"Why don't you go play with the twins? You know, like a normal kid?" Janus spoke with a hint of snide in his voice.

"I will not, I am not some 'regular run of the mill child.' I have an IQ of over 140 and do not intend to get involved in such ruckus."