Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Janus was in the living room, lounging in the early morning sunbeam that was hitting the couch and reading a book. Virgil was on the opposite side of the couch, scrolling through his phone. The two had fallen into this rhythm of this a month ago when Janus and Remus’ rooms had been moved over to the ‘light’ side as they had been accepted fully by Thomas. It had taken a heavy conversation between all of them and a lot of apologies but they were slowly going back to being a real family like they had been before the mindscape split.

Patton walked into the room and smiled at the two sides on the couch, he was so happy everyone has been getting along, especially Remus and Janus with the others. Sometimes he still felt a bit guilty having sent away the previous ‘dark’ sides, but he knew that it wasn’t good to hold onto that guilt when they’ve stated their forgiveness.

He continued his way to the kitchen to begin making breakfast for all the sides. That was also something that the others had taken time to get used to, proper meals made by the father-like side. When Patton had learned the state of the other’s kitchen he had been horrified, it was no wonder Janus and Remus were so thin. He was working on getting them to a healthier size, they were getting there but were still too thin.

Patton smiled as he headed back to the living room after almost an hour to let the two on the couch know that breakfast was ready. He made them all pancakes, blueberry for Logan and himself, chocolate chip for the twins and plain for Virgil and Janus, he knew what his kiddos liked after all. “Heya kiddos! Breakfast is ready!” Patton said as he reached the couch.

“Thanks Pat, “ Virgil said as he stood up off the couch and stretched. He held out his hand to Janus, “C’mon Jan let’s get some breakfast.”

Janus hums and looks up at Virgil, “Ah yes, food.” He takes Virgil’s hand and lets himself get pulled into a standing position, then quickly releases his hand.

With a shout upstairs from Patton it was a few seconds until the other three sides made their way downstairs. Roman and Remus were groggily arguing about something arbitrary, meanwhile Logan looks like he’s been awake for at least an hour.

Janus and Virgil had already taken their seats at the table when the others began sitting down, Logan on the left of Virgil on one side of the table, with Virgil in the middle, and Janus on the other side of the table in the furthest left seat, Remus seated to his right with an open spot for Roman next to him.

And then it happens. It was so innocent to them, all Patton had did was give Roman a nice snug hug. They honestly hadn’t known the snake side would react the way he did. They didn’t expect him to jump in his seat and stare wide-eyed at Patton hugging Roman and begin to tremble. And they certainly hadn’t expected his shaky voice and frantic rambling.

“W-why are you constricting him like that!? Are you fighting? Why are you fighting? He didn’t do anything wha-” Janus rambled frantically, looking like he was a second from prying Patton off Roman, eyes wide and breathing picking up.

“Constricting him- Fighting? Janus, he is merely giving Roman a hug. Why are you acting like you don’t know what that is?” Logan asked the trembling and panicking side.

“Janny, Jan hey,” Remus gently scooched the chair with Janus in it away from the table and turned it to face him fully. “Do you remember hugs? Remember how I’d hug you when you were really little?”

Janus shook his head no, blond curls bouncing. As he shook his head no Remus hummed in thought. Janus opened his mouth to speak again but Remus held a hand up to shush him.

“That’s what I thought baby blep, “ Remus sighed before he explained what a hug is. “Well ,a hug is just affection. You wrap your arms around them and give just a little squeeze. It’s not constricting and it’s not fighting.” Remus opened his arms in invitation. “It’s like how we used to cuddle but standing up or sitting, do you wanna try?”

Janus looked hesitant as he calmed down. “Will it hurt?” He watched Remus warily.

Remus gave the younger side a sad look, “No noodle it won’t hurt. It feels nice, and if you don’t like it just tell me and I’ll let go, okay?”

Janus hesitantly moved forwards and let Remus gently pull him into a hug. He tensed at the initial feeling of Remus’ arms around him, holding him, but calmed when he didn’t feel the grip tighten to constrict him. Warm, that's all Janus thought as he melted into Remus’ hold, it was like how they used to cuddle.

Remus sighed and gave the others a glare over Janus’ head. “Want to explain why you’ve never hugged him? I know why I hadn’t, I know why Virgil might not have, but why haven’t you?” He turned his glare to Patton, some ‘father-figure’ he was.

The others stood awkwardly looking guilty, even Virgil looked guilty, but Remus didn’t mind Virgil not explaining hugs to Janus. He knew he never had time as a dark side and any sign of weakness was dangerous so affection just wasn’t given in the open, hell it was rarely given behind closed doors. He had other reasons to be upset with Virgil.

“Affection is not something I generally give.” Logan said after clearing his throat and adjusted his glasses. “I never initiated a hug on the assumption he was like Virgil and did not care for them.”

Remus hummed at the answer and then turned to his twin. “Well Ro? Why haven’t you given Janus a hug? In the month our rooms have been here why have you never given him a hug?” He held a steady, unnerving stare into Roman’s green eyes. However his stare was interrupted when Janus let out a small whine after a few minutes and he averted his eyes to the smallest side.

“What is it baby blep?” Remus asked softly, honestly shocking the others with how soft he was with Janus.

“Burnsss” Janus let out a small hiss and squirmed in Remus’ arms.

“Mkay, here I'll let go now okay?” Remus reassured as he let go of the smaller side. “That was overstimulation. You’re a bit touch-starved aren’t you?” Remus internally snorted at the words ‘touched-starved’.

Janus continued to just stare for a few moments before speaking up, “What isn't that?”

Logan perked up at the chance to explain something and gave a small hint of a smile when Remus motioned for him to tell Janus. “Touch starvation refers to the desire for physical contact that people may experience after receiving little to no physical interaction with others for a period of time. Some people may compare it to the desire for food during hunger.” Logan trailed off at the end.

A look of horror came across the faces of everyone but Remus and Janus. Had they really not gave Janus any physical contact other than the occasional brushing of hands, hands that were always gloved?

“But...what doesn’t overstimulation have to do with being touch-ssstarved?” Janus hissed quietly.

“Well little snake, when you’re touch-starved too much touch at once can cause overstimulation and can feel like you’re burning. We haven’t cuddled in…. a while...so, you’re touch-starved.” Remus calmly explained. He grimaced when various intrusive thoughts about burning flesh flashed through his mind.

“... oh ” Janus whispered. He fidgeted in his seat, growing increasingly uncomfortable with everyone looking at him and paying attention to him. “....papa can I not go to my room now…” Janus whispered again to Remus, avoiding looking at the others.

Remus blinked back tears at being called Papa for the first time in years. He smiled at the small side in front of him and nodded. “Yea baby blep you can go to your room. Today has been a bit much, huh?” He said as he stood up, stepping away so Janus could leave to his room. He watched with unshed tears as Janus scrambled away.

Once Janus had left and everyone heard Janus’ door click shut they all turned to Remus with questions. “Did he call you Papa?”, “How long has he been touched-starved?”, “How can we help him?” Roman, Logan and Patton all spoke at once.

“One question at a time.” Remus stated, giving them all a cold stare when he turned back to them. “Ro, you first.” Remus gestured at Roman to talk.

“Why did he call you Papa?” Roman asked, genuinely very confused.

“ I raised him. He formed when I was 7, Virgil was 10.” Remus shrugged. He was surprised they didn’t figure that out. Virgil wasn’t exactly the most parental side but he guessed he wouldn’t be seen as one either.

“Wait what?!” All of them but Virgil shouted.

“Remus are you sure he’s that young? Deceit and denial are formed much younger than that,” Logan questioned.

Remus looked Logan directly in his eyes, making the glasses clad side fidget. “Are you stupid?”

Logan sputtered and Roman looked angry and ready to intervene when Logan spoke up, “Of course not! His primary function is Deceit and that would make him around my age! Ergo, just a year younger than you and Roman as one creativity!”

Remus raised a single brow, “Really? You genuinely believe that deception is Janus’ prime function? Have you ever listened to him? Do you remember him forming back then, before the split?”

“Of course I have! I-...oh” Logan stopped, a perplexed look crossing his face before and understanding look.

“Oh what?! His primary function is Deceit is it not?! That’s why he’s called Deceit!” Roman threw his hands up as he spoke.

“Deceit is just...part of him Princey, a big part but....his primary function is societal self-preservation. Like Patton said in Jan’s first episode. ‘Deceit is an inner couch that acts with the one intention of self-preservation’ his primary may...seem like deceit but it’s not” Virgil said reluctently.

“Well put Virgey!” Remus grinned unnaturally wide and then as soon as the grin appeared it dropped. “Janus formed when Thomas started to have the desire for things to be fair and when Thomas started forming his sense of self on his ability to perform. He formed when Thomas was ten years old.” Remus stated.

The others looked guilty. “So...he...he really does want the best for Thomas?” Patton questioned.

Remus groaned and threw his hands in the air. “Of course he fucking does! That’s all any of us want for Thomas! What? You thought that because he often speaks in lies and encourages certain lying he wants to ruin Thomas? He wants Thomas to throw everything down the drain? That he wants Thomas to lose his friends?! Are you fucking stupid!? You and Roman had a whole fucking 50 minute video on the topic WITH HIM! He literally said he’s looking out for Thomas’ mental wellbeing!! The whole wedding debacle in the courtroom was trying to get Thomas to be HONEST with himself!” Remus growled as he stomped around the table to Patton.

“You all view things in black and white, well Padre , that’s not how life WORKS! That’s not how ANYTHING works! Nothing is in black and white! It’s shades of grey daddy-o!” Remus spat at Patton, a boney finger jabbing him in the center of his chest as he stared down at the ‘father-figure’.

“Like I fucking said in my song ‘good and bad is all made up nonsense’.” Remus huffed as he pulled away and crossed his arms. “Now if you excuse me I need to help a certain snake get used to touch again and not be overstimulated when I cuddle him to death.”

Virgil went to open his mouth but quickly snapped it shut when Remus threw him a glare.

“You ,Virgil , are the last person to visit him right now.” Remus snapped as he sank out and into Janus’ room, leaving the room cold and unsettled.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Remus rose up into Janus’ room, carefully walking over to the bed and setting down the bowls on the nightstand. He sighed when he saw the lump of blankets that contained Janus on the bed still hadn’t moved. He put on a smile and sat on the edge of the bed in front of the pile.

“Oh no! Where did my little snake go? I can’t find him, thankfully there is this lovely pile of blankets for me to rest on while I await his return.” He declared dramatically before gently flopping backwards onto the lump, also known as Janus, throwing an arm over his eyes.

Remus grinned when he heard a shrieking laugh and felt Janus squirming under him. He held back laughter as he began to speak. “Oh wow these blankets sure do wiggle a lot! I wonder if there is a worm in there? Or perhaps…” He got up and turned around quickly. “ A snake!” He laughed as he pulled the blankets away from Janus, earning him a shriek and more laughter from the smaller side.

Janus’ laughing and giggles slowly died out as he calmed down. He looked at the one who raised him , the one he slowly was considering his dad again, with a grin. “Okay okay you got me!”

“Damn right I did little snake! Now c’mon, we gotta eat before the cereal gets soggy, I know you hate that.” Remus chuckled as he ruffled Janus’ hair and handed him his bowl of cereal.

The pair ate in peace, Remus had turned on the TV to give them some background noise as they ate. Janus absolutely hated the sound of eating and is part of the reason he was resistant to eat with the others in the beginning. Remus had never minded the sound, it was just another weird and disturbing thing he liked that others didn’t, but knew his so- his friend did so he did his best to accommodate him by eating as quiet as possible and having other noise in the room.

It wasn’t long before the two of them had finished their food and were just sitting together, watching The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy , a show they both loved dearly because of the grim nature of it and the childish humour that appealed to Remus and Janus both. Janus eventually leaned his head on Remus’ shoulder with a content sigh. He hadn’t gotten many moments like this with Remus much recently. He and Roman were trying to rebuild their relationship as siblings, and Janus himself was trying to rebuild his relationship with Virgil and just build a relationship with Patton and Logan. They hadn’t had much alone time in the past month.

Remus gently bonked his head on Janus’ when he leaned against him with a smile. Internally however he was sighing. He knew they needed to talk about what happened in the kitchen, he knew they needed to talk about his touch-starvation. If anything he heard was accurate to what Virgil had actually said then the so-called light sides knew way too much about his and Janus’ past now. They definitely knew more than what Janus’ would have told them, if Janus would have told them anything regarding his childhood. And he definitely knew that Janus and Virgil's progress in their relationship could be damaged if he found out how much Virgil talked about.

Maybe talking could be put off for a while yet, the unknowingly thought together. However they also both knew they couldn’t put it off forever… Remus would probably bring it up first and Janus would reject any type of conversation because despite being the ‘self-care snake’ he was also a massive hypocrite when it came to taking care of himself .

“Jan...we....we should talk about what happened.” Remus sighed. He felt Janus tense next to him.

“There isn’t nothing to talk about,” Janus huffed, pulling away from Remus’ side. He didn’t feel like leaning on him anymore...

“Janny we both know that’s a lie.” Remus said as he turned to face him, he sighed when Janus turned away from him. “Janus come on, we need to talk.”

“ Yes ” Janus said through his teeth

“So glad you agree that we need to talk!” Remus grinned as he twisted Janus’ words to mean what he wanted.

“Remus!” Janus turned to face him, an annoyed expression on his face. “That is what I meant.” 

“ I know! That’s why we’re gonna talk ! You agreed!” Remus continued to grin down at Janus next to him.

“Ugh you're not insufferable…” Janus huffed, the smallest smile tugged the corner of his lips while he tried to continue his frown.

“Oh I know, I’m the worst but we still need to talk.” Remus shrugged. “We can’t put it off forever snakey.”

Janus’ brows furrowed when he couldn’t sense a lie in Remus thinking he was the worst, which was off putting. “We couldn’t put it off...the others couldn’t just….forget perhaps?” Janus suggested.

“Janus.” Remus said, tone curt and unamused. “This isn’t just for the others, this is so I know what’s going on in that head of yours. If I’m not allowed to repress you aren’t either.”

Janus ducked his head and turned his gaze away from Remus’ “‘m not sorry…” he shifted uncomfortable in his spot. After a few moments he turned back to Remus. “Okay, fine we can’t talk. However, you’re talking first.”

“Alright, fair. What do you want to know?” Remus asked. He desperately hoped Janus wouldn’t pry too deep.

“Why didn’t you come with me to the others immediately?” Janus asked, he wanted to know why Remus hadn’t burst into the ‘light’ side immediately. He wanted to know why he was moved over first when he was the one who barely knew them. Something wasn’t right about that. Why did Remus take a few weeks to move over?

“...hitting with the tough shit first huh?” Remus let out a tired sigh and laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “I thought you didn’t want me ‘round. You seemed to be happier than you had been in a long time and I didn’t want to intrude. Plus, someone had to hold the others back while you figured out how to suppress them over here too.” Remus told Janus as he blinked tiredly at the ceiling fan.

“What? ‘Mus you’re my friend! You raised me! Of course I’d want you around?” Janus stared down at Remus with wide eyes as he spoke.

“I...I wasn’t happier just because Thomas accepted me and I was able to move over. I seemed happier because Virgil finally stopped acting like he hated me and the others let down their guards to actually know me...I wasn’t actually miserable without you..”

“ Oh ” Remus said, voice choked and eyes brimming with tears that threatened to spill down the sides of his face.

“You...you don’t believe I would leave you for them right?”

“O-of course not,”

Janus could taste the pungent heaviness of the lie in Remus’ answer. His human eye began to well up with tears, threatening to spill at moments notice. “Rem…” Janus whispered, fear lacing his voice as the tears fell and streaked down his cheek.

“You don’t believe me?”

“Jan...I do , somewhat, but I know I’m hard to be around. I’m vulgar and gross, I’m everything bad from King wrapped in a seaweed bundle and tied off with a rotting small intesti-” Remus cut himself off with a groan. “Case and point!” Remus ran his hands down his face.

“Remus you.. .you didn’t raise me! You’re not my dad! I’d pick you over any of the others in a heartbeat! I don’t care about your vulgarity! I do care about how gross you are!” Janus raised his voice, cracking occasionally.

“You’re my dad of course I wouldn’t pick you over the other, you’re the only one who's stuck around. Virgil left, the lights barely knew me and the others in the subconscious hurt me when they could the moment you weren’t around. You’re my dad..you’re my dad ” Janus began crying half-way through his words. His voice was shaky and he hiccuped at random intervals.

“Fuck Jan I didn’t mean to make you cry noodle.” Remus sat up quickly and pulled Janus into a loose hug, giving Janus the opportunity to break out of his hold if he wanted. 

Janus hiccuped as he cried, hands coming up to clutch Remus’ shirt in a white-knuckled grip. He kept muttering “you’re my dad” over and over as if trying to make up for lost time of not acknowledging Remus. 

“I’m sorry snakey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset.” Remus murmured as he pressed a soft kiss to Janus’ forehead.

The two sat there for a while just letting themselves hold the other. Remus thought about how he still needed Janus to talk but… not yet. They could just sit here together for a bit.

Chapter Text

Janus had settled down after a few more moments; the two just sat together for a short while before Remus had coaxed Janus into laying down and they fell asleep, Janus’ hand’s still fisted in Remus’ shirt as if scared to let go. Remus gently held Janus back, hands on his lower back.

Meanwhile the others finally disbanded from the kitchen and had made their ways to their own rooms. Virgil however did not go to his own room, Virgil walked down the hallway and made his way to Janus' room. He opened the door a hair to peek in and check on Remus and Janus. He had felt both their anxiety spike earlier and wanted to see if they were okay.

Virgil let out a sigh of relief when he saw Janus
asleep on the chest of a sleeping Remus or at least he thought Remus was asleep because he jumped as he heard Remus address him.

"What are you doing Virgil?" Remus asked tiredly as he looked over at the cracked open door and saw Virgil peeking in.

"I..." He sighed, "I felt both of you have severe spikes in anxiety levels and got worried." He might as well be honest as to not wake Janus with a large lie.

Remus hummed in thought as he gently rubbed circles into Janus back to soothe him when he whined and fidgeted. "Well emo, I can't say I'm upset you checked in on us. I'm not entirely happy but I'm not upset. Shows you care a little at least."

Virgil flinched at the implication he didn't care. He opened his mouth to retaliate but quickly shut it when he thought about it. He hadn't shown he cared in a while. He was dismissive and rude to Remus and Janus before they had both migrated over. He only wasn't hostile because he had realized how much he missed them. Missed his family.

Janus let out a loud whine and lifted his head, blinking blearily as he woke up. He let out a jaw cracking yawn, his jaw unhinging just the slightest amount.

“Hey noodle, you wakin’ up now? We only slept a few hours. Why don’t you go back to sleep baby blep?” Remus spoke uncharacteristically soft.

“‘M not tired anymore papa…” Janus lied, quite terribly. He lifted a balled up hand and rubbed at his human eye. He sounded exhausted.

“Hm that sounds like you’re lying, noodle. How about you move off me and I can tuck you in properly okay?” Remus asked as he scooched up the bed a bit, jolting Janus slightly earning him a grumble.

“Mkay,” Janus mumbled before letting himself be moved to lay next to Remus before lifting his head confused when Remus got off the bed. “Wh?

“I need to talk to the others Jan,” Remus held up a hand when he saw Janus give him a panicked look, he was slightly confused when Janus hadn’t questioned Virgil being in the room yet but after subtly taking a peek at the door he saw Virgil had closed it at some point.

“Janus I need to talk to them and ask Logan for some advice okay? I don’t want to mess up helping you with the touch-starved stuff, okay?” Remus had a slight pleading town, hoping Janus would believe him, hoping that because the statement was partially true Janus wouldn’t notice the slight lie. He was going to ask Logan for advice at some point but right now he needed to talk to Virgil.

Janus frowned when he tasted a small lie but couldn’t identify what it was exactly, meaning Remus was telling something untrue but it was vague enough he couldn’t pinpoint it. He dismissed it for now and set it aside for a later question because he was rather tired.

“Alright...I guess that doesn’t make sense.” Janus conceded. He settled down into the bed and let Remus pull the comforter over him and tuck him in. Normally he’d be opposed but right now it felt nice.

“Thank you Jan, I’ll be back in a bit okay? You nap and after we still have to finish talking okay?” Remus spoke softly and gave a gentle smile when he heard Janus grumble in agreement. He placed a kiss on Janus' forehead before slipping out of the room.

“Alright we need to talk.” Remus addressed Virgil as soon as he shut the door behind him.

“Yea I guess so…”

Chapter Text

     Virgil was internally panicking, and probably not hiding it well because Remus gave him an odd look. He knew that he was going to have to have a sit down with Remus eventually because yes, while they lived in the same space now and were amicable that didn’t mean the half-hearted apology he’d given to Remus a month ago was actually accepted. It also didn’t mean Virgil was any less wary of being in a room alone with Remus either, especially when it was Remus’ bedroom, he hadn’t seen the inside of it since Remus was Janus’ age, which was 8 years ago, before he even left the others.

     Remus walked into his room and held the door open for Virgil behind him. He closed the door and snapped to make a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign appear on his door. He didn’t want to have any interruptions. He probably wouldn’t get violent.  He didn’t lock the door behind him because he didn’t want to make Virgil overly anxious. He had issues with him but he wasn’t cruel.

     “Sit wherever you want Virge,” Remus sighed as he saw Virgil just standing in the middle of the room, fidgeting with the zippers on his sleeves. He watched as Virgil sat on the edge of his, surprisingly well made, bed. After a moment he sat on his desk , eyes on Virgil still.

      "So, why'd you leave?" Remus asked. He was getting straight to the point. He wanted to know.

      "What?" Virgil startled, that was not what he expected. He expected angry shouting, threats with Remus' morningstar or some sort of body horror. 

      "Why. Did. You. Leave. " Remus' eyes narrowed. "I want to know. What made life so awful you left? Was it Janus? Was it me and my worsening intrusive thoughts? What was it, Virgil?" He was borderline yelling. His voice raised and clearly upset.

      "No! No ! It wasn't you or Janus!" Virgil panicked

      "Then why'd you let Janus think that?" Remus' voice was low and cold. "Why would you let him think that your leaving was his fault?" 

      "I- I didn't mean to" Virgil stammered, he was growing more and more anxious. His own intrusive thoughts built with the effect of Remus' worsening mood.

      “ REALLY?! You didn’t mean to? So, you didn’t tell Janus that you were never his mom and that he wasn’t to call you that ever again? You didn’t tell Janus that you were sick of him and that you never wanted to see his face again? You didn’t tell Janus that you hated him!? “ Remus stood up at some point during his rant and was gesturing violently as he spoke.

      “Really Virgil!? You didn’t mean to!?” Remus seethed.

      “I-” Virgil froze. He didn’t know what to say to that. He did say that. He didn’t mean it though! He never meant it! He had hoped that Janus would get angry and tell him to never come back. He never expected what had actually happened….

Virgil crept down the hallway of the dark side to the door that led to the ‘in-between’ , a grey space that existed between the two sides of the mindscape. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw no one had noticed him. ‘Good’ Virgil thought. ‘I won’t have to explain myself to Jan or Rem, I can just leave and …and never see them again.’ 

Well, luck really was never on Virgil’s side because Janus opened his bedroom door and saw Virgil with a suitcase about to open the door to the in-between. 

“Mom?” Janus asked as he approached. What was he doing? Why was his mama leaving? “Where are you going?” 

“To the light side.” Virgil said, still facing the door. God he didn’t want to see Janus’ face, he didn’t want to see his kid’s devastated face.

“Oh...will you come back?” Janus asked but he knew the answer. Janus may only be 16 but he knew a lot more than his Papa and Mom expected. Still, he had hope.

“No Janus, I’m leaving. I’m not coming back.” 

Janus flicked his split tongue and wasn’t surprised when he didn’t taste his mom lying. He knew it. Mom was leaving them.

“Why?” Janus stared at Virgil’s back and inhaled sharply when he saw his mom’s face cold and harsh as he turned around.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m sick of you guys. I’m done with you.” Virgil snapped. Internally he was screaming with regret. God he hoped this worked and Janus would get angry and make him leave.

“But Mo-”

“And I’m not your fucking Mom, I’ve never been your mom. Why would I be the mom of someone I hate? You don’t get to call me that. I’m nothing to you. I’m not your friend and I’m not your parent. I never want to see you again.” Virgil faked the anger in his voice. He hoped this worked so much but, again, luck really never was on Virgil’s side.

“I-what?” Janus whimpered, eyes big and tears starting to stream down his cheeks. He looked up at Virgil and choked back a sob. “But- y..you said-”

“I don’t care. I never want to see you or Remus again. Goodbye.” and with that Virgil opened the door and stepped through. He shut the door behind him with a shudder. That wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.

Virgil choked back his own tears as he heard Janus begin to wail behind the door. He ran, dragging his suitcase behind him. He would never be able to go back now.

      Virgil bit back tears as he shoved down his anxiety and looked at Remus in the eyes. “I wanted him to hate me. I …I wanted him to be so angry that he wouldn’t want to see me again.” He regretted it so much.

     “Wow. Just...wow Virgil. I hope you know he was inconsolable for days . He barely ate for weeks and seldom came out of his room. He refused to call me Papa. Do you realise how much of a slap in the face it is when your kid starts to call you by your name?” Remus laughed, he was far from amused however. No, Remus was fuming.

      “Do you realise how much he changed? He went from a fun loving kid to cold and harsh. He was SIXTEEN  VIRGIL! He was a CHILD and suddenly the one he saw as his Mom leaves him after saying everything he dreaded ever being said to him. He didn’t know how to react to that! He became who he is now!”

      Virgil cringed as he felt Remus’ anger overwhelm the room. He should say something to get Remus to calm down a little bit but nothing he said would ever possibly calm him down at this point.

      “How could you ever think- “Remus breathed for a moment. This is what he wanted to avoid. He didn’t want to be yelling at Virgil the entire time. “I don’t know why you thought that would work, Virge but it didn’t.” He spoke significantly calmer now, voice still harsh.

      Virgil sighed as he felt the anger dissipate from the room. “I know. I hurt him...I hurt you both.”

      Remus sighed and nodded. “You did. You really did. But, the past is the past and now we need to move forwards. I’m not forgiving you for what you did. It’s going to take a long time for that to happen but it’s not impossible.”

      Virgil nodded, understanding.

      “Let's go , my room is getting to me even.” Remus offered Virgil his hand to help him up. The two left the room and Virgil gave a weak two-finger salute before heading to his room, leaving Remus alone in the hall.

       Now Remus needed to talk to Logan.

Chapter Text

Hey y'all, I'm really sorry but I'm putting this story on hiatus. I have lost...most motivation for this work.  It's not forever I hope, and I'll post the next chapter when it's finished but I don't know when that'll be. If you noticed I've started a couple other stories and even a full AU. I'm gonna focus on those for now. This is not goodbye to this fic forever but it is an indefinite hiatus until I have more written and a few chapters ready for posting.

I'm sorry, really fuckin sorry. I hope I get inspiration and motivation for this story again and can finish how I want it to.