Reptile - Janus Angst

Chapter Four

"Ta da!"

Roman pulled the item from behind his back and held it up for Janus and Patton to see.

In Roman's hands was a caplet similar to the one Janus was currently wearing, though this one was lined on the inside with a golden yellow, silky material.

Janus stared at it for a moment.

"It's-"

"Wait wait wait!" Roman said. "You have to see the rest before you give your verdict."

He was so excited. Even though Janus' face wasn't very readable, there was a definite shine to his eyes which, based on how the others had reacted to their Christmas jumpers and other outfit changes, meant he probably liked it.

Roman turned the caplet in his hands so they could see the back. There was a pattern on the back that made it looked like little, yellow scales were dotted all over it.

"Oh, and, and," Roman said quickly.

"Anymore 'ands?'" Janus asked, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile.

Roman's grin got, somehow, bigger.

"This is the best 'and' of all, Dr. Trickle. It's why I was excited you were cold."

"Yes, I would deeply appreciate an explanation for that," Janus said only slightly bitter.

Patton nudged closer to him, his smile also growing. Janus could only guess why.

Roman scanned the inside of the caplet for a moment until he found what he was looking for: a zipper, small and barely noticeable against the silky material. He unzipped it now and took something from the gap between the front and back material.

It was a heating pad, small and yellow so it couldn't be seen through the silk. Roman reached back in and took out more from little pockets.

"Since we weren't sure if you're hot or cold blooded, I threw these in just in case. You can take them out if you want to but since you're cold..."

He gave the caplet and heat pads to Janus who stared at the bundle in wonder. Even through his gloves he could feel that the caplet was exceptionally soft, and the scales on the back looked amazing, a random but, just noticeably, consistent pattern.

And the heat pads. He wouldn't have expected any of the 'light' sides but Logan to consider if he was cold blooded, and he would probably only care for research purposes.

And they'd done this for him?

"So, er, you like it?" Roman asked. His voice sounded a little expectant.

Patton gave him a look.

Janus didn't say anything at first, but gently put the heat pads back into the caplet.

"It's amazing, Roman," he said in a just audible whisper, still not taking his eyes off of the prince's handiwork.

Roman could barely contain his happiness. He was bouncing on the souls of his feet and clapping his hands together lightly.

"Well, are you gonna try it on?" Patton asked gently.

Janus pulled his eyes from the caplet to look at Patton.

Patton's eyes were soft and full of encouragement. Seeing it felt weird after years of seeing only fear and hatred.

But he put the caplet down on Roman's bed and began to unclip his old one.

Gasp!

Janus stopped and looked at Roman.

"Yes, Roman? What epiphany have you just had?" he asked.