Sanders Sides Oneshots [REQUESTS OPEN]

Princes Don't Cry [Songfic]

~Vague hints of Demus and past Royality~

"Cause a prince doesn't cry, no, no. Don't waste our time on boys with pretty eyes." His mother told him, a cold and unfeeling look on her face. She put a hand on his shoulder, smiling grimly. Roman nodded, bowing his head. He felt tears sting his eyes but held them back for fear of being mocked, being sent to his room alone, once more.

"Boys, they're handsome and strong, but always the first to tell me I'm wrong. Boys try to tame me, I know, they tell me I'm weird and won't let it go, oh." Roman told himself, staring at his unrecognizable reflection in the mirror. "No, I'm fine, I'm lying on the floor again. Cracked door, I always wanna let you in. Even after all the shit, I'm resilient."

Without his permission, tears slipped from his eyes and he felt like screaming. He tugged on his hair violently, reminding himself of the times when his mother would drag him down to the dungeons by his hair when she caught him crying. He had to be strong, he couldn't let his carefully monitored facade fall, the consequences would be dire if he did so. He had to be strong, he was the kingdom's heir to the throne, and if he wasn't, there was always his brother waiting right behind him... Roman's mother constantly reminded him of the fact that if Roman didn't do as she said, there was always his brother waiting right behind him to take his place. Roman couldn't, wouldn't let his brother go through the torture he experienced daily. His mother prided herself on having twins the first try, she no longer needed his kind-hearted father, Romulus, and killed him off, leaving her alone in the castle with Roman and Remus. Remus, his brother who was by no means suitable for the throne, but had enough common sense to act decently around their mother, lest she says off with his head just like their father's. Remus, who was free to be himself in the shadows of their mother's reign, seeing as she focused all of her efforts on Roman. Hell, Roman had caught Remus making out in an alcove with his weirdly snake-like guard just the other day. The man had a brand that looked similar to scales across the right side of his face, Roman honestly could not see the attraction but it was Remus.

"Cause a prince doesn't cry, a prince doesn't cry, no... Over monsters in the night, don't waste our precious time on boys with pretty eyes, no, no..." Roman lectured himself, his mind bringing unbidden memories of a fair-skinned, freckled boy to the forefront of his mind. A boy with light, clear blue eyes, and a bright smile, a boy who loved horses and treated Roman with the kindness he had not felt in years. A stablehand, who, once his mother caught wind of Roman being interested in him, died. Patton... My beautiful, sweet Patton... Died before he turned seventeen. Roman felt more tears gather at the corners of his eyes, his heart aching with phantom pain. Patton had been publicly executed for crimes unknown to all except Roman. His crime had been being the object of his mother's son's affections. He wasn't still in love with Patton, those feelings had disappeared soon after his death, and Roman swore to himself he'd never love again. Not even after his mother was dead.

"Girls, so pretty and poised, and soft to the touch, but God made me rough... Girls, so heavy the crown, they carry it tall, but it's weighing me down..." He whispered, lifting a hand to touch the cold, see-through crown atop his head. It was made of a glass forged from obsidian fires, unbreakable. Roman would know, he'd thrown it across his room enough times. It dug into his scalp, fortunately not drawing blood but still enough to where his head ached. Roman's mother had repeatedly told him she wanted a daughter instead of the 'foul boy she'd been cursed with'. He tried so hard to live up to his mother's expectations, tried so desperately to make her proud, and yet... He couldn't.

"No, I'm fine, I'm lying on the floor again. Cracked door, you're only gonna let her in, once, and you won't come undone. Cause a prince doesn't cry, no. A prince doesn't cry." He told himself, finding an inner strength he hadn't known existed. He heard his mother knock on the door and he crossed the room and opened it with a flourish. Roman was quite the sight, his crown sitting atop his head, dressed in his typical princely outfit except... It was all black, and tear tracks had been clearly outlined on his skin in a blood-red shade. He smiled grimly in the white, shocked face of his mother, pulling his sword out of her stomach with a clean slice. She fell backward, hitting the ground with a muffled 'thump'. Tears were gathering in her eyes and some slipped out, glittering like diamonds on her snow-white skin. Roman leaned down, an evil smirk on his face, his eyes dull.

"Cause a princess doesn't cry, no. A princess doesn't cry, over monsters in the night, don't waste our precious time on boys with pretty eyes. Burning like a fire, you feel it all the time but wipe your teary eyes. Cause princesses don't cry." Roman repeated the lessons she'd taught him ever since he was three back at her, no regret flashing through him as he sank his sword back into her gut, slowly killing her. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, with a sickening twist of his sword. She cried out, choking on her blood.

"That was for Patton and anyone else I might've loved, you bitch." Roman hissed and his mother gurgled on her blood for a few long seconds, before finally, finally dying. Roman left his sword in her dead body, continuing down the hallway, in search of his brother. He came to a stop at Remus's room, not bothering to knock as he strode in. To absolutely no surprise of his, he found his brother in bed, asleep with a man. From what Roman could tell, they were both naked and he made a vague noise of disgust that caused Janus to wake up. Janus Black was his brother's assigned guard and apparently his boy toy. He popped his head up sleepily, raising an eyebrow at the prince before nudging Remus awake.

"Your Highness, your brother is here to see you," Janus said, rolling his eyes when that received no response from the younger prince. "Remus, get your ass up before I make you." He glared at Remus's still body, which eventually rolled over to face him.

"Go right ahead, babe~ I'm up for round four if you are~" Remus flirted and Roman went a slight red, looking a little uncomfortable. Janus rolled his eyes and flicked Remus on the back of his head, pointing to Roman with an air of annoyance. Remus pouted at his brother.

"Really, Ro-Ro? Just had to ruin my fun... Anyways, what does mommy dearest want now?" Remus asked sarcastically, his face darkening. Roman only reached out to him if their mother wanted something from the younger prince. Janus's hands twitched, as though he wanted to reach for his sword, that wasn't exactly there. Roman rolled his eyes and without ceremony told Remus.

"I killed her. Her body's still outside my room, I imagine a servant will happen across it soon enough." Roman said without preamble, not expecting Remus's shout of joy. Even Janus broke out into a smile, although it looked a little forced.

"Fuckin' finally! Took you long enough to come to the dark side, brother. Double D, I know you wanted to end her yourself, but let's just be happy that bitch is in hell, okayyyy?" Remus said, poking Janus's scarred cheek. Janus rolled his eyes and nodded, grumbling under his breath. Roman looked confused for a few seconds and bit his lip.

"Why would you want to kill her? She wasn't nice to me, but she was an okay Queen. Aside from killing him, she wasn't that unjust." Roman asked, genuinely confused. Remus let out a startled, cynical laugh and Janus merely stared at the now-king, long enough that Roman began to shrink away from that frightful glare.

"You really don't know? She gave your brother 'lessons' too. When I found out, I tried to put a stop to them. Your bitch of a mother gave me this damned scar when I was fuckin' nine years old." Janus bit out, glaring balefully at Roman. Roman's red eyes widened in surprise and he let out a startled gasp. Remus pulled Janus close to him, playing with his hair as he murmured comforting things.

"She said she wouldn't... She said she wouldn't!! As long as I was her faithful fucking puppet, she promised to leave him alone!" Roman said loudly, shocked, and angry at this new revelation. The temperature of the room slowly started to get hotter as Roman ran a panicky hand through his hair. The smell of burning wool reached him and startled him out of his rage-induced magic fit, a charred black circle burned into the ground around where he was standing. Remus comforted an unseeing Janus, who was lost in thought, staring at the circle.

"Ro, dude... I love you, but mommy dearest also had fire powers, it's how she gave Janus his scar... I think you should leave." Remus said regret in his eyes as he shooed his brother away. Roman gave them a curt nod, before leaving the room, his cloak swishing out behind him.