Virgil, Remus and Janus have been practically brothers since they were little when Remus's dad adopted Virgil and Janus after their fathers died in a shipwreck. All three of them where kind and quite chaotic but they were also blessed with great beauty and talents. Virgil was the youngest by a year while Janus and Remus were the same age because of this they treated Virgil like a little brother they had to protect which he secretly loved. When they were still young their father remarried to a widowed baroness with the marriage they gained two more brothers whom they also had a lot of fun with well when the baroness wasn't around that is.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end when their father took ill and none of the medicine was working. So, the five brothers went in to say one last good-bye and their father gave them some parting wisdom "You must stay together through all the hardships because family is the strongest bod of all even if it isn't by blood promise me you will stay together." They all promised and their father closed his eyes for the final time that night they slept together and held each other close as they cried.
From the moment their father died things became steadily harder with the baroness making the three brothers do all the house work while she forced her own sons to suffer through endless classes. She tried to force the brothers against each other but no matter what she did they remained close keeping true to their promise. But as they grew older the baroness started to punish Virgil for speaking to her sons so they learned to hide their bond. Things only got harder when Joan and Tayln realized they were non-binary when their mother was firmly against such things. When they finally got up the courage to tell their brothers they were relieved when they accepted their siblings fully and only said he/him when the baroness was around.
"Boys" the baroness shrieked excitedly causing Joan and Tayln to cringe but they obeyed the silent command and walked downstairs leaving the three brothers to finish cleaning the attic.
"What is it mother" Joan asked formally.
"Oh, it is perfect the princes are faggots" The baroness said spitting out the slur. She continued "And best of all the kings allow this so they're holding a ball for the princes to find suitable husbands and that's where you come in."
Joan and Tayln looked at each other with apprehension then Tayln tentatively said "How does that affect us?"
"I thought it would be obvious you will be attending the ball and wooing those faggots" The baroness said nonchalantly. Janus who was eavesdropping had to stop himself from gasping and he quietly ran back to the attic and told the others about what he had heard. About an hour later Joan and Tayln joined them looking tired and annoyed but then again that was how they always looked after talking with their mother.
"Is it true" Virgil asked excitedly not able to keep quiet.
"Yes, it is the princes are gay and mother has gotten it into her head that we will win their hearts" Tayln said while lying down on a stack of old pillows.
"She finally left to go talk to her sycophantic friends about how her sons just got up the courage to come out of the closet after the princes did like anyone with more than two brain cells would believe that bullshit" Joan said annoyed as he also sat down on the pillows.
"Well that's good for her because none of her friends have more than one" Remus joked causing everyone to laugh and forget about the baroness for a while. But that couldn't last forever because a week later all the siblings were together at a formal attire store finding suits for Joan and Tayln they were also secretly looking for suits for Janus and Remus as well as a dress for Virgil.
"Do we have to go" Tayln complained for the umpteenth time.
"Yes" The others replied for the umpteenth time.
Tayln groaned again and looked at Virgil with pleading eyes saying "You are the one that wants to go can't you dress up in a suit and flirt with those snotty princes for me."
"You don't know that they're snotty they could be nice and intelligent" Virgil said.
"But they would take one look at you and fall in love because you are the nicest and most intelligent" Janus praised as he held up another purple gown to see how it would look on Virgil. Virgil blushed deeply and stuttered out something unintelligible.
"Well as long as they don't flirt with him that is" Joan snickered out and everyone joined in even Virgil. They must have tried on a few dozen outfits each by the time they were done. "Finally done I swear if I have to do that again I'll scream" Joan said collapsing onto his bed.
"What are you wearing" the baroness shrieked at Remus, Janus and Virgil.
"Um their being mannequins but I guess now that you point it out they are to frumpy to be wearing those outfits" Joan quickly lied. The baroness thought about it for a moment which must have been a great struggle before nodding and sneering at the others before leaving them alone. "Did you see the look on her face when she had to think I thought she would implode" Joan joked once the baroness was out of earshot.
"This is ridiculous even if we have the outfits and somehow make it to the ball the moment the baroness sees us it's all over" Virgil said sadly starting to take of his dress.
The other siblings looked at Virgil and Remus said "We'll find a way little bro we always do." Virgil smiled and Remus added jokingly "And if we don't then we can always just kill her it's not like anyone would miss her." That made the rest of the siblings to burst out in laughter and it also eased the tension Remus was always good at just that.
"Hey I have an idea the invite said it was a masked ball if we wear full-face masks then we can go undetected" Janus said and the others thought about it and nodded their agreement.
"But won't a full-face mask get really hot while dancing" Virgil asked once everyone was back into their normal clothes. They all agreed that it would but it was the only solution they could think of. It was a hectic week with the baroness making Joan and Tayln practice what she called good gay pick-up lines for example 'You look good for a guy'. It was the night of the ball when things got cranked up to eleven with the baroness running around screeching at the three brothers while also ordering her children to get ready even after they were ready.
"Remember I expect this place to be spotless when I get back" The baroness said sneering shutting the door once Joan and Tayln where in the carriage. Once the carriage the brothers raced back inside and got all dressed up and ready (Pictures will be linked in my profile cause I'm shit at describing clothes.)
"Are you sure we should be doing this" Virgil asked worriedly when they were about half-way to the palace.
"Come on Vee we deserve one night of fun and maybe you'll find a smart and handsome man to sweep you off your feet" Remus said bumping into Virgil jokingly. The rest of the way they walked in silence once they reached the palace gates they handed in their invites that they had to get out of the trash after the baroness threw them in there. The guards let them in with no trouble but their eyes did linger a second to long on Virgil's backside. "Don't worry things will be fine and on the slight chance we get caught I will take the heat alright" Remus reassured as the double door entrance opened and the brothers walked through. They walked with no fanfare but the prince's eyes still felt drawn the beauties at the steps.
"Hey took y'all long enough we just got away from mother" Joan said shivering at the mere mention of their mother. That caused the other siblings to giggle as they made their way to the refreshments. It wasn't long before Virgil was spouting out random facts like he always does when he is nervous.
"Did you know that female sharks have thicker skin than the males" Virgil said spitting out what must have been his thirteenth fact.
"They need it because apparently the males like to bite females while mating" A voice said from their left they all turned to see Prince Logan standing there.
Before any of their group could bow in respect Virgil blurted out "Did you know there is a disorder that makes it hard to recognize faces?"
"It is called Prosopagnosia and yes I am aware of it though I have never met anyone with it" The prince said with a smirk then he extended his hand saying "May I have this dance." Virgil blushed but luckily the mask covered most of it he looked back at his siblings who all gave finger guns or a thumbs up.
Virgil turned back to the prince and grabbed his hand then said "I would be honored." Virgil never came back because he was having too much fun talking and dancing with Logan. About half an hour after Virgil had been figuratively swept off his feet another prince came to get a drink.
"Well hello there beautiful may I have the honor of a dance with a beauty such as yourself" Janus said not recognizing the prince kissing his hand. Remus and Tayln did and they hid their laughter behind their hands while also whispering to Joan what was going on causing him to also hide their laughter.
Prince Patton blushed a deep red and said "I would love too." And they both left Janus still not realizing who he was talking too the moment they left the three left burst out into laughter. The next to go was Joan who was already enamored by a duke by the name of Thomas while Tayln was taken with a kind waitress by the name of Valerie soon it was only Remus left and he decided to go into the action. He danced with a few different people men and women alike but none stood out for him because all they could talk about was the princes.
"Hello there handsome what is your name" A voice behind Remus asked which caused Remus to spin around and to see the most handsome man he had ever seen.
"My name is a mystery" Remus said quickly because the three brothers all agreed to stay anonymous for fear of their names getting back to the baroness.
"Well alright then can I have a dance while I try to guess your name" The man said smoothly. Remus nodded his head and soon he was dancing well into the night until Joan came up behind them and stole him away.
"Why did you do that" Remus demanded.
"Mother is planning on leaving since the princes are clearly into other people so you and the others need to leave now I will try to stall her as long as I can" Joan hurried out being careful to whisper.
Remus left and walked back to the man from before and said "I apologize for that but that was my friend telling me it was time to leave I had a wonderful time and hope to see you again" then he left before the man could get a word out. Remus quickly grabbed Janus and Virgil who were also having a fantastic time with the same men from before. It was only when all three had left did the princes realize that they didn't get a name or really a face. Luckily the brothers arrived at the house only ten minutes before the baroness.
"Well that was a waste of time those blind princes seemed in love with a couple of fully masked freaks they're probably all horribly ugly" The baroness said kicking off her ridiculously high heels. All was the same for the next week well except for the fact that Joan and Tayln regularly snuck out to see Thomas and Valerie respectively. But soon a proclamation was sent out to everyone that attended the ball that the princes were looking for the masked individuals and if you could bring them proof they would marry you.
"This is your chance all we have to do is find those damn masks or recreate them" The baroness said pacing while her children just sat tiredly on the couch.
"But we never got a good look at the masks and they might ask questions about what they talked about" Joan defended just wishing this whole business was over.
"No, we will find a way you must marry a prince well I hoped it be a princess but that has gone out the window" The baroness said and she continued to ignore all protests from Joan and Tayln for the next two hours. Eventually the baroness grew tired of pacing and just left seemingly forgetting her children were sitting by her.
"Well now that she is gone we have to tell the others the good news" Joan said excitedly racing Tayln up the stairs into the attic which was their safe space. "Guess what you swept the princes off their feet if you bring the masks and talk to the princes they will know the truth" Joan said jumping up and down.
"What are talking about Joan" Janus asked confused.
"Oh, the princes sent out a proclamation that if someone could bring proof that they were the people they spent the night with then they would marry said person" Tayln said calmly grabbing Joan and forcing them to relax.
"But what if we can't prove it" Virgil said worriedly.
"And I wasn't talking to a prince" both Janus and Remus said at the same time.
"You were though we just didn't tell y'all because it was funny" Joan explained and quickly took a step back at the combined glare of Janus and Remus. "And" they quickly added turning to Virgil "You can prove it because you have the masks and you remember the conversations you had all we have to do is sneak you out of the house." So, they made a plan and quickly left making sure to avoid all of the baroness gossiping friends. When they arrived at the palace there was already a large line outside of the palace they must have waited for a couple of hours before it was their time to speak with the princes.
"What proof do you have that you were the man I spoke to last night" Prince Logan said sounding bored.
Virgil was too nervous to say anything so Janus took over holding up Virgil's mask "My little brother is really shy as you probably deducted last night and he blurts out facts when he is nervous which he also did last night." Logan finally started to look interested as he grabbed the mask out of Janus's hands and placed it in front of Virgil's face seeing an exact match.
"If it really is you what is the name of the disorder that causes people to not be able to remember faces" Logan asked holding his breath.
"It's Prosopagnosia" Virgil answered quickly and once he had said it Logan kissed him deeply. The same went for Remus and Roman though they just danced and talked about sword tactics.
But when it came time for Janus to prove himself the baroness came bursting into the room upon seeing them she shrieked "What are you freaks doing here are you trying to win the princes away from my darling sons."
The princes were shocked and everyone was silent as the baroness stalked across the floor and moved to slap Virgil but was quickly stopped by Logan while Remus and Janus instinctively stepped in front of Virgil. "What is the meaning of this" Roman demanded gesturing to the guards to remain vigilant but not attack yet.
"Please forgive me your highness I just wished to rectify my idiotic step-sons of their mistake" The baroness said practically dripping with slime.
"Remove yourself from this palace or I will have a guard do it" Logan ordered.
"But-but why my prince is it wrong to discipline my children" The baroness cried.
"You are using physical and mental abuse and he is my fiancé so I will not let you lay a hand on him as it is clear that you will not leave on your own I will have two guards escort you out" Logan said and once he had finished speaking tow guards each grab one of her arms but she was able to break free just long enough to grab Janus's face mask and shatter it. Once she had been dragged out of the room Janus finally stepped away from Virgil and knelt down to grab a few of the larger pieces of ceramic.
While he knelt on the floor Remus joined him but Virgil looked at Patton and said with only a slightly unsteady voice "He is the boy you danced and spoke with ask him any question from that night and he will answer he is a great man and my brother."
Patton smiled and said "Of course it's him when he moved to protect you I knew that he was the man I fell in love with and I remember his eyes better than his mask." At hearing Patton's words Janus jumped up and turned to Patton in surprise Patton decided to be bold and kissed Janus who responded eagerly.
They all live happily ever after marrying their true loves and yes that cuddles Joan and Tayln who married Thomas and Valerie respectively. And the baroness well she spent the rest of her life in solitude and exile after the princes learned of her abuse but Virgil was too soft-hearted to have her killed.
The End