Beautiful Lies

Chapter One: The Deal

Why hello there. Yes it is me. Yes I am starting a new fanfiction while I need to update another one. Don't destroy me. And have a lovely day.-😈

"Why am I here?" Janus demanded. The guards squeezed his arms tight, pulling them behind his back. He winced, before fixing his tone to begrudging politeness. "Lord Hart, why am I here?" Janus silently cursed his stupidity. He shouldn't have left the apartment. Now he was stuck here unless he could worm his way out. And unluckily for him, this was the first time he doubted his abilities.

Lord Patton Hart picked his finger nails, sitting down in his desk, bored.

"Oh let him go, it's not like he's not going anywhere." The guards reluctantly dropped Janus, who dusted off his coat and adjusted his hat. He immediately started to analyze his surroundings. This was the Hart Manor. It was virtually inescapable, one of his contacts told him. You aren't leaving unless he wants you to. He of course, was Patton. "You are dismissed."  Patton's bright smile dropped when they left. "Now. Let's talk, shall we Mr. Lyra?"

Janus glared at him.

"What about? I barely know you," He lied. It was a lie. Of course he knew him. Patton was the ruler of the small hamlet Janus lived in, a corrupt piece of shit if he's ever seen one.

Patton laughed lightly, seemingly uncaring.

"Oh I'm sure you do. However you do know my servant. Roman, isn't it?" Janus stiffened. He didn't know. He didn't know. It was fine. Roman would be safe.

"What does he have to do with this? He has done nothing to you," Janus hissed, leaping to defend his boyfriend. If Patton touched a single hair on his head, he would regret it.

"No he hasn't," Patton agreed. "But you have."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Janus demanded, heart skipping a beat in terror. His identity was a carefully kept secret. Surely Patton didn't know. He couldn't.

"Oh Janus. May I call you that? Well Janus, your pesky little alter ego has been giving us a headache. So perhaps you would prefer I use the name Deceit?" Janus froze, as Patton quietly laughed. "Yes I know all about you. The leader of the little uprising within the town."

"What do you want from me?" Patton smiled serenely. 

"Ah a man of business I see. Well I was thinking, I had two problems. And with you here, I can solve both of them easily." Janus stood to his full height, looking Patton dead in the eye.

"What. Do. You. Want?" Patton laughed.

"Such impatience. But all right. I'll be honest with you." Janus snorted. "My son is of age. So he needs to marry someone. As you are both here and available, you will marry him."

"What? No way in hell!" Janus snapped, horrified by what Patton suggested. "Arrest me instead." Patton sighed lowly.

"So the hard way it is." Janus swallowed. He knew he would be arrested and tried for treason, but it would be worth it. He never wanted to be beside a man who didn't don himself and red and quote musicals day to day. And he would never let him be abandoned.

Janus swore he would never hurt Roman like that."Guards, I need you to arrest the man by the name of Roman Prince." Janus's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. No. No no no no no. Gods please no.

Patton merely smiled as the guards entered, ignoring Janus's panic. "I have reason to believe he may be the traitor known as Deceit. I prefer you bring him alive, but if he resists arrest, I have no qualms about you killing him." Janus hitched a breath. This couldn't be happening. This had to be a dream. There's no way Roman could get hurt? Right?

Janus shook his head, panicking. Stupid. Of course he would be hurt.

When the guards came and they would, brave, stupid Roman would try to fight and they would certainly kill him. He wouldn't survive. Janus could imagine it, their small dusty apartment being covered in blood. Roman's blood. He had to stop this, he had to-

"Stop!" Patton stopped giving orders, signaling for the guards to pause. "I wish to review the terms of our deal," Janus said quietly, stumbling over his words, his calm and cool demeanor gone.  Patton clapped his hands in excitement, dismissing the guards.

"Wonderful. So," Patton sat at his desk, looking Janus in the eye, no longer smiling. He was deathly serious. "My son's hand in marriage for his protection?" Janus swallowed, trying to convince himself it was fine. It was to protect Roman.

"Deal." Patton smiled again, leaning back in his desk chair.

"Lovely. Now, as you will be engaged to my son soon, there is no need to return to that hovel of an apartment with that servant." Janus clenched his fists and swallowed his words. He started to drown out Patton's words.

Janus didn't know how he, master of lies and deceptions, had gotten caught and played, by the enemy no less.

Janus silently held a hand up to the burns and scar on the side of his face. Roman always put his hand up there, to comfort him in times of stress. To remind him he was strong and could do what ever he wished. What a joke.

And oh, what a beautiful lie.