Work Text:
He sank down. Feeling shame like he had never felt before rage on his face. Roman couldn’t believe this. The sna- “JANUS” he supposes once again having taken that name- had gotten the better of him once again. He had fooled not only Patton, but Thomas as well. Flashes of when Janus and He were on the same side covers Roman’s mind, the courtroom- it had felt so good to finally have the person he loved back; or he supposed that was just what Janus wanted him to think. A darker laugh then most probably think Roman is capable of comes from his mouth a hollow aching sound. Once upon a time Janus had been his friend, as the ego-which most forgot that Roman stood for besides just creativity- it was Janus’s “job” almost to protect him. When the great mind split happened after King Creativity split it seemed that most of the memories of that time before had been almost erased. Well except for his brother and himself, they got to keep the memories and were actually closer than most assumed they were. They were twins after all.
He rose up in his part of the Imagination, a dark almost stormy sky quickly spreading amongst his usually sunny sky. A bitter laugh coming from his chest as thunder rumbles far in the distance. A flash of what almost felt like regret filled him before he quickly rushed for his castle, trying hard to keep from crying as a pain filled ache filled his chest hoping beyond hope that at least no one would be injured. He quickly shoved that down, wiping the tears from his green eyes. Immediately heading into his room he bypassed all the trinkets that he stored in these halls. All memories of all the other sides- A Cardigan from Patton, A Tie from Logan, A Hoodie from Virgil, and his most treasured A pair of yellow gloves, taken from Janus-Each taken with great care, great love he did love his family, he loved all of them, but he knew now that they did not love him the same. He rushed into his room slamming the door leaning against it for a moment, forgetting to lock it or his castle for that matter; there, this should be far enough.
“So, Janus thinks there’s no difference between Remus and I does he? I'm no longer Thomas’s hero? That is it.” Another rumble comes from the surrounding area. As Roman closes his eyes allowing a small bit of darkness leftover from when he and Remus were one and the same summoning it up as he takes a deep breath. A pain blossoms within his chest but he fought it, he couldn’t stop now. He would show them all. A small dark aura surrounded Roman as he kept his eyes closed.
—Back to the others–
Patton rises into the mindscape. He couldn’t believe how quickly things had gone sour. The video had ended and he felt like he had made a huge mess, a rather unfixable one. While he and Janus were now on the same side, or at least he felt that way. He sighed as he slowly began walking up the stairs wanting to check on Logan first; he knew he shouldn't have skipped him but he had just felt so overwhelmed. He had needed a second to think, when that skip button had popped up he had pushed it without thinking. However on his way up the stairs suddenly a great rumble sounded as the stairs suddenly began breaking down. This felt familiar, he just wasn’t sure how. He once again took a step before the step he was on fell out from under him, he let out a cry before being grabbed by a hand, the hand was pale so he knew it couldn't be Janus, he chances a look up shocked seeing Logan.
Logan quickly sunk them down, landing them both safely on the floor of the mindscape. “Are you quite alright Patton?”
Patton nods shaken a tremble in his voice as he spoke. “Thank you Logan, what's going on?” He looks over at his oldest friend knowing that they had a lot to talk about but the collapse of the mindscape was priority right now.
Logan shakes his head, his voice still cold but with an underlying warmth to it this was Patton after all. “I am not sure, I have a hypothesis but I am unable to conclude correctly. Not without having everyone present.” Logan remembered the last time this had happened. It had been many years but he did remember the split unlike he assumes a lot of them did not remember. It was one reason that Logan could not stay mad at any of the sides for long. He remembered how close they were, how much he did love them and that they loved him, it was something that he clung to when they all ignored him.
Patton nods before he hears a swooshing sound, several of them actually as he notices that suddenly it went from just Logan and him to all of his family surrounding them, yes even Remus; Logan had gotten it through Patton’s head that Remus is indeed important. Virgil spoke first, his eyeshadow a dark black running down his face, he seemed on the verge of a panic attack.
“What is going on? Why is the mindscape trembling like that? What happened to the stairs? WHERE IS PRINCY???” Virgil’s tempest tongue flowing quickly into his voice, not that he had control of it of course, it happened when his anxiety levels were much too high.
As questions continue to pour out of Virgil's mouth they all take stock. Virgil was correct, Roman wasn't there, shouldn't he have felt the rumbles just as they all had? Why had he not come down? A nod comes from Logan as if his suspicions were now confirmed. Logan opens his mouth speaking quickly and efficiently “This is just as I hypothesized, the rumble had to come from one of the creative twins. They are the only ones with full control of the mindplace like this.” Logan was in shock, he had been allowed to finish a small flash of happiness filled him before he shook his head trying to focus on the problem at hand.
Virgil was still spilling questions, his hands taking up residency in his hair pulling hard on it as he fell to his knees rocking. Suddenly a hand smacks him in the back of the head. He snaps up looking at the person who had done that Remus was standing there with a malicious grin on his face as his hand was still raised as if to smack him again. A red glow coming from his eyes, his silver hair falling into his face still smiling way too wide. “There ya go Virgin! You were verging dangerously into MY territory there And. I can stab you next time?? OOO or maybe hit you with my morning star, everyone loves being hit by that '' if you knew Remus well enough like Virgil did you could see a small question in his blood red eyes that made him seem concerned. Virgil waved him off quickly standing.
“Okay, So we know it's Princy doing this, but why? And my question still stands: where is he?” Virgil was calmer now, the smack to the head had forced him out of his anxiety spiral but he didn't want Remus to have any reason to hit him once again so he kept that part to himself. “Also, what- if anything- can we do about it?”
Logan shot Virgil a look as if considering his words. “I believe that-” Logan gets cut off as a surprised and rather pained gasp comes from Remus as he holds his chest almost falling to the ground. That is rather surprising to everyone in the surrounding area as Remus will bludgeon his own head with his morning star and just smile as blood runs down his face. Janus runs over supporting Remus as he almost falters to the ground. Janus speaks in a soft tone as he leads Remus to sit down.
“Remus? Cephy? What is not the matter?” Janus bites his tongue some days he hated his damn double speak, but alas, it was a fun little personality quirk that he had to deal with. “Surely something could not hurt you this badly?” Remus shakes his head shaking Jan’s hands off
“Listen Snake dick, Virgin, Nerdy Wolverine, and Frog Daddy, we have to find my idiot brother before he does something beyond stupid.” All the sides- besides Janus- flinch at the dark almost pained tone that Remus was using. Most of them have ever heard him use that tone before, Janus? He has. Only as a child though, back when his stupid stunts hurt him or on the damn rare occasion that Remus got soap into his body. Remus speaks once again “I’m not kidding! We have to go! NOW!”
Virgil speaks slowly “Remus, we don’t kno-” Remus cuts him off holding a hand up.
“Virgin, really put your head on straight. Where would he go?” all of the sides eyes widen as they all connect the dots at the same exact time. The imagination, that's where Roman had to be. The very problem with this is that the imagination took the form of whatever was in the heart of the creative twin that was inside it. That is why they had to avoid it more often than not if Remus was in there, unless Roman was in there with them as the imagination would split. However, all of them know the turmoil that Roman was in when he went in. they couldn't risk going in, Remus smirked. “I see you all came to the same dumbass conclusion I did? The ONLY one my idiot brother MIGHT want to see set in his damn face might just be you Virgin. So you're gonna have to go in and stop the idiot from throwing this entire mindscape into absolute insanity.” Remus smirks a crazed look in his eyes “Unless you want that?? Oh it would be so much fun, blood everywhere, we could decorate the place with intestines! Have sex with Zombies!”
Virgil blinks before shaking his head. “I can’t. Not alone.” The others- understanding Virgil’s hesitance- begin talking about who else could do it.Virgil looks around, listening carefully Logan couldn't go into the imagination as it would very easily cause him to become distracted by continuous libraries and never ending books. Patton couldn't enter as it would easily overwhelm him emotionally. He does not fully understand why Janus couldn’t go in but he knew he never went in. Remus could but Virgil had a feeling that it would make things worse. He sighs before he notices very briefly Remus’s arms on his outfit turn a white before flashing back. Virgil’s eyes widen as he realizes what must be happening. He speaks up quickly “Okay! Okay! I’ll do it!” leaving no room for argument he immediately sank down rising up in the imagination.
What he saw scared him, the entire sky was black, a deep rumbling storm sounding from all around him. He curses and tries to hurry to the castle he knew should be close by. Hoping to arrive to Roman before he made ANY lasting Changes. He felt the wind battering against him, a cold wet rain beginning to fall. From the dark clouds. He knew he had to hurry if this storm is any indication, Roman almost never summoned storms, especially ones this bad he was always cautious. Quickly Virgil came upon the castle, he entered lucky that Roman hadn’t locked the doors.
— Back with Roman–
Even from his room, he heard his castle doors open. He wondered who was foolish enough to come here, was it his general? He groans as he leaves his room, a dark aura still surrounding him. Once out of his room Roman notices a presence, he knew this one. He speaks softly “Virgil? What are you doing here? It isn't safe for you here” even if his family hated him, he still loved them, here they would be in danger. He needed to get Virgil out of here as soon as he could. He raises a hand to send Virgil back before Virgil runs forward taking Romans hand.
Virgil speaks up quickly, still holding Romans hand trying to talk sense into him. “Roman no! Don't send me back! Look, I've been where you are, I switched sides before. You do this and it's going to be impossible to reverse.” Virgil had to talk him out of this. He needed to be sure Roman would stay with him. He couldn’t lose one of his best friends, not like this. “The power is tempting on the darker side and I can understand your anger at the others; but please listen to me.” Roman rips his hand out of Virgil’s grip turning his back on the anxious side.
“You and I are NOT the same Virgil, you got lost. I know you don't remember but I do. When you went dark you got lost, I am NOT lost.” Roman quickly turned back to Virgil as his sleeves turned to Remus’s signature black with green ruffles. “This was MY choice. I’m choosing” Roman looked around at his surroundings, all of the precious items he had collected, his eyes lingering on Janus’s Gloves before he pushed the thought away. “I’m Choosing to lose, I have already lost everything so there's nothing else for me to lose.” Roman motions around him; to all the collection trinkets. As Virgil helplessly watches as the bright red of Roman’s sash flicks to a sickly green.
“Roman you have so much for you, you have us, you have Thomas,” Virgil bites at his lip wondering if he should bring this up but knowing he might not have another opportunity. “You also have Janus Roman. I know you love him, there's still a chance, just. Come back with me, we can get this figured out!”
A growl unlike Virgil had ever heard from Roman sounded as Virgil watched the red color fade from Roman’s hair turning to a bright silver to match what used to be his brother’s. “I’m Sick of being the bigger person. Of being the one to mend bridges. I want my rightful attention. I’m the Ego Virgil, and I’m sick of being ignored or others preferred over me. There's nothing left to “Figure out”. I'M DONE!” In a blink Romans eyes switched from green to blood red. Virgil watched in horror as Roman assumed what used to be Remus’s stance. “And now? There's no chance they can ignore The Ego. Just go back to the others Virgil. You've always been good to me. So I am giving you an out. Leave.” Roman turns his back on Virgil raising his hand once again to send Virgil back before he feels a hand enter his own.
He knew this hand, he had gotten used to feeling it once upon a time, the coolness of the scales on the back of the hands, the warmth of the palms. It was Janus. Roman couldn't believe it, when did he get here?? How did he get here? Without his knowledge, he should have known, he's the only creativity in th- Remus! He must have brought them! That still, why did Janus not have his gloves on? He never did that. A flash memory flashes across his memory, of those hands cupping his face, a soft and gentle touch. Tears come to his eyes as he turns to look, having to look up at Janus to make eye contact with him tears in the corners of his eyes. An old as time nickname escapes his mouth before he can help it. “Ja-Jan?”
A gentle small smile crosses Janus’s face at the nickname, that more than anything confirmed his suspicions that he had been trying to confirm since the play. A flash of a memory flashes behind Janus’s eyes as he cups both Roman’s cheeks holding them gently, wiping the tears that Roman had let escape. “My Pretty Boi, I had assumed the Ego had disappeared, along with King since that didn't fit cleanly into dark or light. Oh Roman, I promise you don't have to do this, come back to us, I haven't been doing a good job have I? I'm meant to protect you, but you’ve been hurt; and I allowed it. Even caused some of the hurt.” Janus gently kisses Roman’s nose just as he used to when two were one.
Roman blinks back tears, his eyes flashing back to a green color as he keeps eye contact with Janus. He wanted to believe this, but he had been hurt before, he just couldn't do it again. He opens his mouth to speak before a soft finger covers it and Jan moves behind Roman. “Before you say anything, please look, we all came to get you, while Virgil charged ahead, we followed right after him.” Roman’s eyes turned towards the crowd that was there just waiting. Patton was helping to support Logan as he was carrying Remus. Remus had fallen unconscious on the way as Roman turned into him more and more. Romans eyes widened as he finally realized that everyone was there, everyone he cared for even Remus.
Tears fall down Roman’s face as he walks over to Remus. Logan had set him down finally taking a breather as he realized that Roman would not be a threat right now. Roman knelt down next to Remus gently bonking his head with his own. The other sides watched and breathed a sigh of relief as the changes that overtaken the twins receded. Roman looked up at his family surrounding him carefully, “We have a lot to talk about.” Roman spoke firmly before he wavered having used far too much energy today his eyes rolled into his head as he landed in a heap over his brother.
— A few days later —
Roman opened his eyes to the smell of chocolate chip cookies, cake, all matter of sweet smells and suddenly a smell of spaghetti-specifically Patton's recipe by the smell- with garlic bread in the air. He sat up groaning at the pain in his head before feeling a smack to his side. Looking over he noticed Remus sitting on the back of the couch having smacked his brother with his hand hanging there limply. “Ro-Bro! You're not gonna die! Unfortunately I was sent out here while the others cooked. I was just trying to add some human blood! You know it's a good substitute for eggs.” Roman shook his head, a laugh on his lips while crazy, he loved his brother very much and was glad he was still here before Remus’s stare darkened and he threw his arms around his brother. Remus whispered into Roman’s ear; “If you try that again I will run you through with your own sword, hang you by your own intestines, and have a tea party with your blood using your skull as a teacup.” Roman shook his head embracing his brother back knowing that this was the Remus equivalent of ‘I love you, your a dumbass, don't do that again, you really scared me’
“I won't do it again you funhouse mirror”. Roman smiled, nudging his brother's head as the mustache was tickling him. Contrary to popular belief the funhouse mirror statement in the green man’s introduction video was actually a nickname for his brother. A snap of a phone was heard as a soft coo came from Patton. Roman rolled his eyes as Remus pulled away quickly before chasing after Patton a frog trap in his hand. Roman rolled his eyes a bit before he tried to sit up. “Please do not endeavor to get up Roman, you have exhausted yourself and were in strong danger of extreme exhaustion, which you know, is dangerous to a side, even one such as yourself. You need to replenish your energy a bit more before you try to get up.” Roman smiled, having almost missed that tone that Logan took when worried.
Roman turned towards Logan who was standing there fiddling with his tie. “Can we watch epic rap battles of history then? I have the energy for rap battles with my favorite teacher” Logan’s eyes lit up as he nodded quickly grabbing the remote to turn on youtube. Roman was surprised that Logan actually turned on Disney epic rap battles.
Logan looks at him with a knowing look in his eye “I know that you prefer the Disney ones Roman, it’s a special treat.” After a few rounds as well as Patton and Remus returning to watch making small silly bets on the winner. Virgil and Janus came out of the kitchen having finished making dinner after Patton had come out of the kitchen. Janus and Patton while the cooks in the mindscape have been able to acknowledge that Virgil does know his way around the kitchen. He just prefers to stay out of the way more often than not sitting on top of the fridge to keep an eye on everything in the area. Both Virgil and Janus-with all his arms extended- were carrying the food out. Roman sat up a bit more turning with the help of Patton “Eating in the living room? What's the special occasion?”
Silence met his words; they hung heavy in the air along with the silence as Janus and Virgil put the plates of food down. None of them seem to know where to begin before Virgil bursts out “The “occasion” Sir-sings-a lot is that one of our family members almost died. I'm not talking switching sides- which is a dumb decision on its own. I mean actually dead. You faded for a while, Princy.” The rest of the sides surrounding him nod solemnly as if agreeing with Virgil. Roman looked down; he didn't mean to die; he just wanted to be able to be noticed again. Part of him wanted his family back, he knew the only way to do that was to reform the King; but he should have remembered, once a side is gone. They are gone for good. Romans shoulders begin shaking as tears gather in his eyes as what he had almost done sunk in fully. Not only did he almost kill himself; he almost killed Remus .
A gentle hand on his jaw pulls his face up gently to meet heterochromatic eyes. Janus; he wasn't wearing his gloves, he always wore them anymore. Was he trying to make a point? Roman gasps at the look of true recognition on Janus’s face, something he hadn't seen in many many years, along with a look of love; or at least Roman hoped that was what he was seeing. Roman almost missed when Janus began talking “..Roman, while you were unconscious we all realized that there were not gaps in our memories, well all but Remus and Logan. We could figure out why,” Janus trailed off almost as his eyebrow twitched as if annoyed as he gently let go of Roman’s face. “I do so love this stupid doublespeak. It does make it easy to get my point across. Will someone else explain please?”
Remus speaks up wanting to be able to eat sooner rather than later. “Basically Ro-bro, they-Frog daddy, Snake dick, and Virgin over here- were trying to understand why there are gaps in their memories. They spoke to Logan and I; we explained to them finally what all went down as you know we couldn't talk about shit until the motherfuckers asked” Remus rolled his eyes clearly aggravated by not being able to blurt out things that needed to be said. “So after we explained, it was like a big bang and suddenly everything made fucking sense. So Frog daddy and Snake dick have been baking/cooking for fucking days now.” Roman tilted his head before his eyes widened as he looked around.
“Y-You all remember?” Everyone nodded their heads as Roman let the tears fall freely. “This is a dream come true, I never thought you’d be able to remember anything from- from before.” Arms wrap around him as a giant hug was formed, the first arms to wrap around him being that of his brother and Patton. Before long even Virgil joined in, sitting on the back of the couch reaching out to ruffle Romans hair which was close enough for Roman to a hug from the anxious side, soon multiple arms wrapped around the group as Janus joined into the hug. Roman looks up at Logan standing off to the side looking clearly uncomfortable as he messes with his tie. Roman held out his hand to the logical side making a grabby motion as Roman wanted his entire family with him. Logan shook his head but begrudgingly accepted walking over and letting Roman drag him into the hug now turned cuddle pile. After a few moments of letting the hug go on Remus began struggling to get out.
“Look, affection is great and all. But I want food. Let's eat and watch some stupid cutesy Disney crap.” Roman opens his mouth to argue that they all should decide before Remus lets his head twist back at an unnatural angle- looking like his neck was broken as his head flops over- “And don't you say shit or my earlier threat will come back to pass.” Remus lets his head go back to normal before grabbing a bright green bowl from the table.
As the night went on the small family talked, laughed, and even debated with each other on how to fix everything. Roman couldn't believe that his stupid decision to do the most rash thing he could think of is the catalyst to everything being fixed. As time wound down everyone had gone to bed leaving Janus and Roman alone in the downstairs room as Roman still wasn't allowed to move from the couch. Everyone had tried to stay but Roman had insisted that they all go to their rooms to sleep and recharge. Janus had turned on Mulan to play in the background before Janus coughed a bit. “Roman? There is something personal that I would hate to discuss with you. As I'm sure you remember-” Roman lifted his finger to Janus’s lips cutting him off.
“Tell me one thing, Janus, it is late and everything can be spoken about another day. Do you still feel the same as you did all those years ago? Or is this coming from a sense of needing to protect “The Ego”?” Janus smiles as he presses a kiss to the finger still on his lips before he speaks softly against the finger. “I do love YOU pretty boi, always have; always will. Also no, this isn't just out of sense of duty to protect the ego.” Roman smiles a soft and sincere smile before nodding “Thank you Jan.”
Janus smiles before getting a wicked glint in his eyes. He suddenly brought his arms around Roman, one on his shoulders and another holding his legs as Janus stood up, dipping Roman a bit, bringing out one more hand to tilt Roman’s face towards his own. “May I kiss my prince then?” Roman was stunned, having never been carried like this before but also stunned by Janus’s strength. A shy nod coming from Roman before Janus leans down gently kissing Roman's forehead, trailing kisses down Roman’s face before reaching his lips taking them softly as Roman allows his eyes to close, losing himself in Jan’s scent and the feel of his lips on his own. Soon the kiss is broken as Janus falls back to the couch bringing a blanket around both of them creating a warm cocoon around them. “Sleep pretty boy, we can talk more tomorrow, there will always be a tomorrow for us.”
Roman cuddles close, laying his head on Jan’s chest allowing himself to fully believe that tomorrow will be better. He finally had his family, the love of his life, everything else can be figured out eventually; nothing was fully fixed. There would still be fights, hurt feelings but now? It felt like they were stronger. As Roman drifted off he heard Janus mumble. “I love you Roman.” Roman spoke softly as he finally fell asleep “I love you too Janus.”