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Aaaaaah, I'm getting thyroid surgery tomorrow ;w;
They're gonna remove the right and middle parts of my thyroid and probably some of my lymph nodes, and I'm freaking out about it but, welp, it's gotta be done I guess.
Since I'm getting surgery, I probably won't update this weekend. Usually I would since this story is fully written (just needs editing) but, like, I don't think I'm gonna be up for it.
Anyway, onto the story, and once again, please heed the triggers warnings (nothing really happens this chapter, but things are discussed a bit).
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The two of them were laying down together on Janus's bed, cuddled under the pile of blankets. They hadn't spoken for a while, so Janus knew that Remus was in 'serious mode'. Otherwise, he would have been chattering about something. But instead, he was just lying with him burying his face in Janus's hair.
"Hey, Dee...," Remus spoke eventually. "I know you're not okay right now."
Janus let out a shaky sigh. He knew Remus would bring it up.
He shook his head.
"Is it something that happened, or just the usual?"
Janus turned around so he was facing the other man, though he hid his face in Remus's chest.
"... Just the usual, I think," Janus answered. "I am worried about the others, though. They're going to pry."
Remus nodded.
"Yeah, I know. They already came to talk to me about it," he revealed. "Accused me of murder and shit."
Janus tensed. He knew that was a touchy subject for Remus, considering the things Remus had been forced to do when Janus made some... poor choices.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Dee," Remus reassured him. "I was pretty pissed, though. Still kinda pissed, actually. Kinda makes me want to knock some shit into Roman's skull, but whatever. I'm more worried about you right now."
"... I'm sorry. They must have misunderstood me."
"Yeah. But they're assholes, so. Screw 'em, ya know."
Janus smiled softly and looked up at him. Remus leaned down to kiss him.
"But, seriously, do I need to keep an eye on you right now?" Remus asked once they parted.
Janus's smile fell.
"No," he sighed. "I'm not that bad right now."
"Will you tell me if you are?"
"... I'll try."
"Okay. Just remember that I'll be there for you, Dee."
"I know."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
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Virgil and Roman had gone to explain what they thought to Thomas almost right after they decided to do so. Thomas was, of course, incredibly concerned about what they told him.
"Do you… do you guys really think that's what's going on…?" Thomas asked. "I mean, I guess it's good that you guys can't die, then, but… that's not… good."
"Yeah, it's not…," Virgil replied, biting his thumbnail. "I mean, I really hope I'm wrong, but…"
Thomas rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah, I get it… If you have a reason to suspect that's what's going on, we should at least try to talk to him about it. If we're wrong, then that's great, but if he really is… Well, we need to do something, right?"
"Yeah…"
"I think we should tell Logan and Patton, though," Thomas added. "If Janus is really hurting himself, I think they'll need to know. And I think we'll need Logic and Emotions for this discussion."
Virgil shifted uncomfortably.
"I don't know… if Patton will react… well... to something like this…," Virgil spoke cautiously.
Thomas put a hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes.
"I know you're worried about Patton getting upset, Virge," Thomas told him. "But he'll probably find out eventually, so it's probably better if we don't try to hide it from him. That will only make things worse."
He mentally deliberated for a while before nodding.
"Okay. I'll summon them to explain what's going on, and then we'll get Janus, alright?"
Roman, meanwhile, had been spending most of the conversation standing in his spot by the TV, uncharacteristically silent. He'd crossed his arms, almost hugging himself, with an upset expression on his face, though it was a bit hard to tell just what kind of upset he was.
It was at this point that he let his arms fall back to his sides and he stepped forward.
"I… think we should also include my brother in this…," he said.
Thomas looked surprised, but he allowed Roman to continue.
"It's just… he and Janus are close, and besides that…," he explained. "Remus has died a bunch of times before, too… He should… probably be here for this discussion."
Thomas looked to Virgil, who's eyes had widened in a sad realization about what Roman was insinuating. His eyes darted toward Thomas for a moment before he nodded slightly and looked back toward Roman.
"That's probably a good idea. We'll do that," he agreed. "Don't worry, guys. Whatever's going on, we'll figure it out and do what we can, right?"
"...Right."
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The confrontation is the next chapter (and the chapter after that is a sort-of-epilogue).
Sorry that I'll probably be leaving ya'll here for a bit.
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