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Pacing back and forth in his room Remus tried to keep his cool, despite the fact his brain felt like it was going faster than the speed of sound.
It wasn't like this was even anything different, this was basically a daily routine at this point and it was stupid to be getting worked up over it.
He should be used to these arguments by now but for some reason he wasn't.
Despite the constant snide comments and hissed vitriol, Remus still couldn't stand the fighting between Janus and Virgil.
The tiniest thing could set them off and it felt like things had just been getting worse recently.
Considering who he was he knew most people would assume he'd revel in the chaos of it all, but he didn't.
Truly nothing made him more miserable than seeing two people he cared about hurling abuse at each other.
Virgil was his little horror whore, in a friendly way of course, they'd binge movies and paranormal shows together, talk creepy pasta and cryptids and other things whenever they could and Remus loved it.
Janus was his cunning confidant, someone who'd listen to and keep all Remus's secrets, someone who'd always make time for him if he needed it and who was there to soothe him with comforting words when things in his own head got too loud.
Both of them were great friends to him and having them not getting on hurt.
Each yell, each insult, each thrown object, it felt like a hand was constricting his lungs and without fail each time the thoughts in his head would morph and grow, detailing all the ways things could go.
What if one of them got so mad that they killed the other?
Would it be Janus, a broken wine glass as his weapon of choice in order to stab Virgil so he was left unmoving in a pool of his own blood?
Or would it be Virgil, not even bothering for a weapon, using his own hands to throttle Janus until he stopped struggling.
Or even worse what if they both fought and killed each other leaving Remus all alone?
Perhaps the others would even blame Remus for it?
He was used to being blamed for everything so it wouldn't be too shocking.
Spiralling like this wasn't helping and he threw himself down onto his bed and tried to force the doom and gloom away.
Instead he focused on the good moments, the times when the three of them could spend time together without any arguments and he loved those moments.
Moments that were few and far between in recent days, the last time he'd tried to organise a fun movie night for the three of them it had ended with a heated argument and Janus getting wine drunk and needing his help after.
Virgil had started it that time and so Remus had felt obligated to help Janus afterwards, it was a rule he had made up for himself.
Whoever didn't start the argument was who he'd go to after and it had worked for him so far.
He didn't want to pick between them or choose a side because he cared about them both equally and couldn't bear the thought of losing either of them.
Therefore he had to maintain a delicate balancing game of comforting each of them as best he could after the fights.
Due to how frequent they'd been recently he'd found himself alternating who's room he was in each night.
Comforting people wasn't something Remus was good at, but out of necessity he'd basically become an expert by now and knew what sort of thing was needed from him just from the smallest details.
Walk in on Virgil pacing then it was clear Virgil needed someone to vent to, walk in on Janus staring into space then it was clear he needed a distraction from his thoughts.
Remus was eager to be whatever they needed every time, but any time either of them asked him the dreaded question he'd feel nauseous.
"You're on my side right?"
"I'm not on anyone's side, I'm just here to help." Is what he'd always reply with, but he knew his evasive answer wouldn't cut it much longer.
Both his friends were stubborn in their beliefs that they were the one who was in the right and he knew it was annoying for him to not back that up.
Explaining that he didn't want to pick a side wouldn't work out well and he feared for the day where he'd be forced to choose one or the other.
That day came sooner rather than later and Remus was woefully unprepared for how bad things would get and what way he'd be forced to pick a side.
The shouting was too much for him and Remus clamped his hands over his ears, grimacing as he saw Janus and Virgil getting in each others faces.
He had no idea what had started it this time but the whole room was filled with an oppressive feeling that felt like it was going to suffocate him.
This was worse than all the other times and the tension was only rising the longer they screamed at each other.
Remus shuddered slightly as a weird feeling washed over him and then suddenly there was a loud noise of flesh on flesh and the voices cut off.
Silence filled the room as the previously arguing sides both took steps back from each other, shock clear on both their faces.
Slowly Janus's hand reached up to touch his human cheek, a look of wide eyed hurt on his face as Virgil's hand trembled as he pulled it back.
"I..." Virgil stuttered, his voice dying in his throat as he realised what he'd done, the stinging feeling in his hand horrifying him as it was further proof of him lashing out.
"Y... You want to leave so badly then I won't stop you." Janus got out, his voice a bit shaky to begin with before it smoothed out as he fixed his usual act back into place.
Virgil didn't reply, instead he took a few more steps away and then turned and fled.
Seconds passed feeling like hours and then Janus turned and ran from the room too, leaving Remus sat on the sofa all by himself.
Normally when he was unsure who'd started things Remus would attempt to comfort both of them, but in this moment he could tell Janus needed him more and so he got to his feet and headed for Janus's room.
Not bothering to knock Remus slipped into the room and wasn't surprised to see the scaled trait burrowed beneath a mountain of blankets.
Silently he crept beneath them and enveloped the man in his arms, not saying anything and after a little while Janus broke.
It wasn't often that Janus would cry but when he did it was nearly always because of Virgil and Remus hated it.
Hearing such painful sounds from the friend he'd always turn to when he himself needed help just felt wrong and this time it was worse.
This time it hadn't just been words and though he could tell from the shock and horror that had crossed Virgil's face that he'd not meant things to go that far, it wasn't something he'd ever be able to take back.
A line had been crossed and now the chance of things escalating physically would always be on the table.
Janus turned around and buried his face into Remus's chest, clinging to him so tight it was like he was worried he'd disappear and just like that soft whispered promises began to flow from Remus's lips.
"I'm here, I'm always here. I'm not going anywhere, you can let it all out. I've got you."
It took a long time before Janus eventually fell quiet and Remus waited patiently for him to speak.
"I never thought he'd do something like that."
"I don't think he did either if his expression was anything to go by. He's probably as shaken by it as you were."
"Or he's happy he finally did what he's always wanted to..."
"Jan, we both know Virgil's reaction wasn't happy." Remus cut him off and sat up.
A small frown crossed Janus's face as he too sat up. "I thought you were on my side?"
"I'm not on anyone's side. You're both my friends and I'm sick to death of this shit. Yes Virgil hit you and that's not ok at all, but the two of you wind each other up so much that every time you argue like that I always fear things will take a turn. It's exhausting."
Janus's frown deepened for a moment before fading into a more neutral expression. "I never really thought of how Virgil's inability to accept the truth would effect you."
"Don't go phrasing things like that Jan, both of you are as bad as each other and half the time I don't even know what the arguments are over."
"Most of the time it's because Virgil doesn't agree with the way I do things, it's not like he could do much better and he doesn't even know all the shit I have to deal with."
"Look we need to talk this out properly, I can't stand any more of this arguing and I refuse to allow this to keep happening, especially after the way things just went." Remus said and Janus sighed.
"I know, I'm... I'm sorry Rem for putting you in the middle of this."
"let's go find Virgil and sort this out ok?"
"Ok."
The two of them got up from the bed and left Janus's room, walking to where Virgil's door was, or at least where it used to be.
A blank stretch of wall was all that remained and Remus felt his heart jump into his own mouth as he realised what had happened.
Behind him he heard a thump and he turned to see Janus had fallen to his knees, his whole form trembling as his eyes stared at where Virgil's door should have been, tears once again falling down his cheeks.
Then a truly heart wrenching noise escaped his mouth and he crumpled forwards, loud scream sobs echoing through the halls as the realisation hit him the same time it hit Remus.
Virgil had left.
Remus felt his own eyes prickling as tears welled up at the idea of Virgil leaving, but he pushed them away.
Janus needed him right now.
With difficulty Remus turned his back on the blank wall and bent down to try and console his friend, the only friend he had left apparently.
"It's over, he's gone, he... He left." Janus spluttered, his voice muffled from where he was face down on the floor.
There was a rawness to the way Janus said it that made it hard for Remus to draw a breath for a few seconds and it took a while before he realised what exactly he was hearing.
He hadn't just broken, he'd shattered and now Remus was left to pick up the pieces and help Janus put himself back together.