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Janus wasn’t the kind of person who liked to be told what to do. That was one of the reasons he became an agent; to tell other people what to do. Life was easier that way and he benefited from it mentally. He was beholden to no one, never had to apologize to anyone, and stared the whole world in the eye. Further, with his exposure by the media, he also had nothing about his outward appearance to hide anymore. He could shed his skin and the world would look no further for authenticity. No one cared about the skeletons that he hid away in the closet. No one knew about them. His skeletons still had flesh and blood on them, they haunted him in real time, finding him through whatever means suited them. He was just lucky that they only ever came looking for him when they needed to feel good about themselves and that wasn’t often since they lived their lives believing they were the end all be all.
Then something had happened. Something he hadn’t been expecting. Someone had seen him and not poked to see past the surface. That school in Paris where he’d met the eager sunshine boy with a dream to become a designer, actor, playwright, director, and so, so much more. The boy who’d talked to fill the silence between them, giving Janus the space to breath that he needed. The one who’d swooped in and stood by him, recognizing that the long-haired teen with too many piercings didn’t need saving, just support. That someone had vanished from his life for a while when Janus had transferred out of Paris, pressured by his living skeletons. He’d assumed that was to be the last he’d ever heard of Roman Prince.
Then the opportunity had come and Roman had sought him out, employing him to the astonishment of the rest of the world. They had a rhythm, though, that no one could explain well enough to understand. Roman didn’t just want him, he needed him. His whole career was like acting as the fashionista’s personal guardian. At first, he’d pushed to find something else, but fate seemed to keep him destined to fall back onto Roman’s support. It hadn’t ended there, either. The little brother of the successful actor was an addition that Janus wasn’t sure anyone could expect. To anyone else, Remus belonged locked up in an asylum. Not to Janus. Somehow, he saw himself in this man or, rather, the man he wanted to be. Someone who never bothered to fight society and let himself be himself openly, unconcerned with acceptance or rejection, authentic to themselves before anyone else. Somehow, Janus began to take care of him too.
When Roman brought up that he was bringing children into his life, Janus nearly lost his mind. The man was not equipped to be a parent in any way, shape, or form. Roman’s eyes, though, told him that he was going to follow through with this. It was that same light of ambition that pushed him to follow his dreams. Janus, to say the least, had a bad feeling about the whole ordeal. Meeting Virgil had been…unforgettable. It’s not everyday that you catch a fainting child in your arms in front of an entire courtroom. No one had seen it coming. No one had seen him until it was almost too late. Janus knew what it was like to be unseen for what you really felt like, he wished that there had been someone there to catch him when he fell. Logan…that was the person who broke the glass. His carefully crafted portrait was shattered by this child. He’d tugged at his heartstrings, giving cautious love and hesitant trust. It was in the early days of knowing Logan that Janus knew who Logan reminded him of. The scared child was an image of himself from long ago. Only, Logan would be saved, Janus would make sure of that.
Patton was the oddball that Janus didn’t know what to do with. Not that Patton was a hindrance or a nuisance, rather, he was the opposite. It was the fact that Patton wanted to take care of him that Janus didn’t know what to do with. He’d never let himself fall to the role of needing and it was strange to finally meet someone who didn’t need him. But…Patton wanted him. His smile that welcomed Janus in, his arms that offered so many reassuring pats and hugs, his feet that seemed to lead him towards something bigger and brighter, and his soul. His tainted soul that was scarred and broken but stronger than anything life could throw at him. Patton who wore the scars of someone who fights even when their very instincts to stay alive have abandoned them. Patton was that strength that could shelter him from any storm.
How he’d ended up in such a company was beyond him. He couldn’t place a time or date on it. It wasn’t something that he could scrapbook or give an anniversary to, but it was the realest thing in the world to him. It was terrifying to realize how much he’d fallen in love with this makeshift group. He’d do anything for them…even die.
So, when he threw himself over Logan and Virgil’s bodies when the truck slammed into the side of the cab, he’d done it without a second thought.
The jolt of the vehicles colliding was the first sensation that he felt. The sound of shattering glass was the next, along with the sharp tug of the seatbelt. Logan’s scream filled his ears at the same time that the pain happened. It swarmed up his left side, sprouting all along his leg. His back was warmed by the blaze that flared in the hood of the other vehicle. Head spinning, hands shaking, Janus had pulled himself away from the terrified children, looking them over quickly before he tugged at his seatbelt. It wouldn’t budge, the end of it smashed against the door. He hissed frantically before looking back at the boys. He reached out and unclasped Virgil’s seatbelt, sending him a cold, hard look,
“Get out, quickly!” He freed Logan next, shoving them towards the door, “Run! Go! Get out!” He screamed, watching as Virgil realized the situation. The emo teen surged forwards and began to claw at the belt that was keeping the agent trapped. Janus shoved him back, “No!” He barked, “Get out, run, call the police, but get safe first. I’ll…” he coughed, “I’ll be fine. Take care of Logan first, Virgil.”
The poor teen. Janus could see the conflict he created in the boy’s face. He was depending on the lad’s prime instinct to care for and protect his little brother. It worked. With a screwed-up face that told Janus Virgil was trying his hardest not to cry, he pulled Logan out harshly behind him. Virgil’s sneakers smacked against the asphalt, small pebbles and rocks crunched under his feet. He looked back to see if the driver was anywhere in sight as he pulled out his phone and called the emergency services. People began to swarm around them, despite the late hour. The fire blazed up, a terrifying torch in the winter air, attracting those passing like moths to a light. Some hurried forward to see the extent of the damage while many flitted about the two boys. Virgil habitually shoved Logan behind him, eyes never leaving the crash site. Logan was openly crying, silent and steady. Virgil didn’t remember the call he made, he wasn’t sure he said anything remotely helpful to the operator or if he merely yelled and begged for someone to come and save his uncle. Never before had he felt so completely insignificant.
When the flashing lights finally arrived, it felt like an eternity had passed. Watching the trained professionals run in without a moment of hesitation made Virgil’s breath speed up. Suddenly, he couldn’t think. His ears began to ring and his whole body began to shake. His lungs wouldn’t take in the air they needed and spots began to dance around the edge of his vision. Vaguely, he heard Logan cry out when he collapsed to his knees. The younger Storm reached out and clutched his brother’s shoulder. He didn’t know what to do. His whole body was shaking as he looked around wildly, he wanted Patton or Remus or Roman. He didn’t know any of the people here! It was then that he dove for the phone Virgil had been holding. With trembling fingers and hiccupping sobs escaping him, he typed in Roman’s number.
Roman knew that he never wanted to ever have Logan call him crying ever again. He almost broke down crying himself over the boy’s desperate pleas. He drove quickly, trying to breath. Patton was in the passenger seat, speaking to the paramedic that was attending his kids. Remus was crawling around the back until Roman snapped at him to buckle up before he ended up in the hospital. The silence that reigned after that statement was loud enough to wake the dead. The hospital always looks scarier at night. It’s huge looming walls with the lights looking cold and dead to the anxious trio. As they hurried in, Patton took the lead, clutching two hoodies to his chest,
“Virgil and Logan Storm!” He told the lady at the desk. She gave them a sweeping glance before quickly typing something on her computer. Roman pushed forward,
“They were brought in from a car accident. Minors. I’m their guardian.” Recognition dawned on the woman’s face as she stood and led them out.
Virgil was staring at the wall, looking empty and closed off. Logan was glued to his side, not even looking up anymore. His feet were tucked up and a nervous looking nurse was hovering over them. Patton froze in the doorway, feeling a wave of dejavu from a time when he’d rushed to the police station frantically looking for his kids. Now, when he came through the door, neither child reacted at first. Roman pushed past him and was kneeling before the children in a matter of seconds. Remus shoved Patton forwards until the man stumbled. The nurse looked concerned at the sudden intrusion until Remus shoved all three of their ID’s into her face and whispered to her that they were the legal guardians. This didn’t seem to settle the nurse’s concerns but it shut her up at least.
Virgil’s reaction to Roman was one that neither uncle nor nephew had ever experienced before. Roman was used to Virgil seeing him, at best, as a distant protector. If Virgil were the prince of a castle, Roman was the guard at the gate. A definite necessity but not someone who the child would share secrets with. But that was fine. Roman respected the boy’s past and the fact that there were some things that Virgil would rather forget than discuss with him. Besides, that’s what therapy was for. So, when Virgil launched himself forward, disrupting Logan’s grip on him, and latched onto Roman, the guardian returned the hold without hesitation. The broken sobs that Virgil wailed were hidden in Roman’s neck as the boy’s fingers dug into his shirt. Logan, finally able to gather himself, also gripped his uncle. Patton watched as they held tightly to the fashionista and felt something in his heart warm at the same time that something else broke. They were improving…they wouldn’t need him for much longer.
Time for overthinking the happenstances of the future was not now, though, and Patton soon found himself looked to for soothing words, soft hugs, and gentle kisses. The fatherly figure was able to guide the boys through exercises that helped them to settle their shaking limbs. It took almost an hour before the boys began to grow restless, asking to know about the state of the agent, the main victim of the crash. (The driver had survived, they later learned, and had run as soon as he got out of the cab, not willing to risk his life for the strangers in the back of his vehicle.)
Going off to find Janus’ room was something that was easier than they thought. The door was wide open, and the hallway was relatively clear. It wasn’t until they got to the doorway that Remus bristled and the rest of them stopped in confusion.
Janus’ room was full of people. People who were meandering around the space like they were in a grocery store. Some were chatting on the phone, some were texting, one child was playing games on an oversized tablet. Logan’s eyes widened as they landed on a tall, busty woman with bright red lips. He crept back behind Roman, holding tight to the actor’s shirt. Luckily, Grace seemed to be too obsessed with looking through her unconscious grandson’s wallet to notice them. Patton’s gaze, however, pierced through the cluster of people and landed on the only person who was not occupied by something else. A man sat next to the bed with his old wrinkled hands gripping Janus’. He had a baseball cap on his head, and he looked tall and lean, just hunched over and tired. His eyes were bright and seemed to have a laser focus as they looked at the agent. They were the same eyes that Janus had, Patton realized. This was the father of the patient.
The patient, at the moment, wasn’t aware of anything going on around him. His eyes were closed and one of them was surrounded by a bright purple bruise. Cuts littered his body from when he’d shielded the boys from the shower of glass. His entire leg was bound in a cast and several of his fingers were bound tightly. Another bandage looped around his head and parts of his body were bright pink from the burns he’d received from the fire. Patton pushed into the room, eyes never leaving the man at his friend’s bedside.
“Excuse me!” A shrill voice chimed. It belonged to a short woman with brown hair. She looked appalled at the fact that Patton had dared to enter the space, “Don’t you know this is family only?” She asked angrily. Behind her, several teenage boys took pictures of Janus and snickered over them. She turned on them sharply, “James, Jonah! Are you taking pictures of your cousin again?!” The boys pouted at her,
“Come on, Aunt Jude!” The taller one whined, “No one at school believes the snake man is our cousin!” The woman seemed to consider this,
“Well, alright then, but no more!” Patton took a second to consider what he’d just heard,
“The fuck did you just say?!” The question didn’t come from Patton but it attracted the attention of everyone in the room. Virgil looked anything but remorseful for his question, “The hell do you guys think you are?!” He growled. Patton frowned at him, shaking his head slightly but Grace pushed her way forwards,
“We are his family, you disrespectful little brat.” She snapped before turning on Patton, “Control your child, please.” Virgil bristled,
“I’m not his kid, Karen.” He seethed. The woman shot him a look and the teenage boys giggled at the reference. This just turned Virgil’s heated gaze onto them, “Don’t think you’re any better, you low lives.” Roman reached forwards and put a hand on Virgil’s shoulder,
“Alright, Verge, that’s enough.” He muttered next to the boy’s ear, “I know you’re angry but don’t stoop to their level. Virgil turned an almost pleading gaze on his uncle,
“Can’t you do something?” He whispered but, before he got an answer, the same short woman completely changed her demeanor,
“Oh!” She gasped, “You’re Roman Prince!” She tossed her hair back and smoothed her shirt down a little too much, “I’ve heard so much about you.” Roman’s nose wrinkled as he forced a smile onto his face,
“How…delightful.” He muttered.
“Jannie here is your…driver, right?” She asked, “He’s my nephew, you know.” She smiled again, twisting her hair around her fingers and biting her lip slightly. Roman furrowed his brows,
“Janus is my agent.” He said finally but it didn’t seem that Judith was listening. She crept towards him and reached out an arm to set her hand against Roman’s chest. Instead, she got her hand licked suddenly and she shrieked. Remus looked equally displeased with the situation as he scratched at his tongue, trying to get the taste out of his mouth.
“Monster!” Grace screamed, “Get him thrown out! He’s assaulted my daughter!” A man who Roman could only assume was Grace’s husband looked up from where he was huddled on an uncomfortable hospital chair in the corner,
“Grace, please, there are patients trying to sleep.” He said, sounding like he knew he was going to be ignored. Sure enough, Grace continued to stammer and squeal and wail until Roman was certain that he was going to tear of his own ears. Judith continued to lament and whimper about being assaulted while Remus just stared at her, unblinking.
It was in all this mayhem that Logan finally came out of hiding. Everyone instantly became dead quiet. Grace looked like she’d been struck by lightning before anger clouded her features. She turned on Roman and pointed an accusing finger at him,
“What are you doing with that boy?!” She snapped. Roman looked increasingly more alarmed and confused,
“I beg your pardon?” He stammered. Grace marched two steps closer before glancing at Remus and seeming to think better of it.
“What are you doing with him?! He should be here, not with the likes of you!” Roman placed a protective hand in front of the child,
“Again…what?!” He asked, “This is exactly where Logan should be, and I’ll thank you if you stop attacking me and my child.” He strained the ‘my’, but this seemed only to fuel Grace’s wrath,
“He should be here with his family!” She gestured to Janus, “His father is injured, and you have the audacity to take him away.”
“The fuck?” This time, Patton didn’t correct Virgil’s language, “Logan is my brother, we’re not Janus’ sons.” He said before pointing at Patton, “He takes care of us and these two,” he pointed to Remus and Roman, “Are our uncles. Uncle Roman has guardianship over us.” Grace shook her head,
“No, I know your kind.” She hissed at Virgil, “You would lie for any kind of attention.”
“I’m sorry?” Patton said. His voice was cold and held a note to it that could only be described as threatening, “What did you say to my son?” Grace turned on him,
“Don’t think you should be defending him!” She snorted, “He’s been nothing but vulgar and rude.” Patton considered this,
“Yes, he has,” he shot a scolding look at Virgil, “but he hasn’t lied once. I’m Patton. I’m their dad, if you have a problem with that, you can take it up with me.” He stared her down, challenging her to take up his offer. When she didn’t, he continued, “We’re here to see Janus. He’s very important to us and he risked his life to save my boys.” Here, he turned to the man holding Janus’ hand, “You must be very proud of your son, sir.” He said quietly. Grace scoffed behind him,
“He can’t hear you.” She supplied, “He’s deaf.” Patton’s smile faltered only a little before he crossed to the other side of Janus’ bed and crouched. The man saw him for the first time and reached up to fiddle with the switch on the hearing aid.
“Sorry,” he muttered, “turned it off…too much noise.” He looked Patton up and down once before turning to see the rest of the little group. He rose suddenly, recognition breaking out across his face. He pointed to each of them as he named them slowly, “Virgil, Roman, Remus, Logan, and Patton, right? Janus wrote me so many letters about you all.” He said with a soft smile, “I’m so glad you boys are alright. My son is…” he took a deep breath and cleared his throat, “My son is lucky to have found you.” Grace huffed,
“Henry!” She shouted at him, “These people have been nothing but horrible! If I were you, I would throw them out immediately!” The man turned a tired gaze on the woman,
“Mother, I think it’s time for you to go.” He stated, pointing to the door, “It’s late and you all need sleep.”
The standoff between mother and son seemed to last hours. Finally, though, the people that were family to Janus only in name slowly trickled out. Henry sat back down with a heavy grunt. He beckoned Logan and Virgil over to him, watching as they approached cautiously. He smiled at them sadly, looking them up and down.
“I’m sorry, my eyes aren’t working as good as they used to. I just wanted to see what you boys looked like. Janus thinks the world of you two, you know that? He’s so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. He tells me all about you a lot. I never thought I’d meet you and I wish it was under better circumstances.” Virgil shifted uncomfortably before blurting,
“You’re his dad?” Henry chuckled,
“Yeah…that’s me.” He sighed, “Wish I’d been a better one but…I tried my best.”
Logan studied him before deciding that he liked the man, maybe not for who he was but for who he had always tried to become. Quietly, the young lad moved forward to be closer to Janus, leaning close to press a soft kiss to the unconscious man’s forehead. Henry smiled at him. Together they all sat in silence, waiting for the man to finally awaken.
“For heaven’s sake, get off me!!” The shout that rang through the Prince mansion was one that was fairly normal at this point. Patton entered the living room to find that Remus had, once more, decided to try and coddle Janus,
“Remus! Down!” He snapped, brandishing a spray bottle and squirting it at the man. Remus hissed in dislike and sulked away. Janus huffed and tried to straighten himself out.
With his leg in a cast, it was hard for him to chase Remus off on his own. It was hard for him to do pretty much anything, hence why he was staying in the Prince mansion for the time being. He’d practically begged Roman to get him out of there as soon as he could. His family would come to check on him endlessly, sometimes even bringing reporters along with them. Janus had resorted to throwing things at one point, driving his unwanted visitors away. These tantrums were exhausting in his condition, though, and Roman was all too happy to help him out. Virgil and Logan had snuck around him at first, treating the agent like he was made of cracked glass. Janus had finally pulled them down onto the sofa with him and demanded that they start treating him like normal or else he was going to lose his mind. This seemed to do the trick and, just hours after that discussion, the household felt more like normal. They still had to be careful and Janus was never allowed to forget that he was recovering but at least he was doing it around people he loved and, when he was finally back on his own two feet, he resumed all his normal duties almost immediately.
Janus didn’t like to be told what to do, nor was he ever beholden to anyone before. Yet, here, in this moment, he was forced to face the reality that there were certain people he was no longer sure he could live without. Oddly enough, he found he was okay with that and, perhaps, maybe, just a little, he loved it too.