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just-a-neoclassical-painting · 4 years ago

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Basically the events leading up to last chapter.

Logan's never held a cat before and it is a t r a v e s t y.

Warnings: Referenced minor character death, angst, Roman gets drunk, mainly fluff though, minor character deaths (hanging).

The palace was filled with the rich aroma of roses, and when the light summer breeze stirred amidst the trees the heavy scent of pink dahlias, or the more delicate fragrance of the purple and yellow hyacinths came through the doors as well. Roman thought they were beautiful - just as beautiful as the man who'd had them planted. Janus.

The sun was high, beating down on everyone who had gone outside for fresh air that day. The chatter and laughter was infectious, and it rippled through the grounds. Roman's cousin, Logan could be seen attempting to shoo Patton and another taller man Roman didn't recognise a little further away, keeping an eye on Roman so the plan went successfully.

The aviary was always the place the king and Janus chose to spend their days. Roman was well aware that he tanned spectacularly anywhere, but he insisted that laying in Janus's lap, listening the birds singing from their homes in the trees and to Janus's voice as he muttered sweet nothings to Roman improved the ultimate result.

Janus lavished the long hot months, and spent as much time as he could outside. Sure, sitting in the dark, shadows dancing across him did wonders for his aesthetic, but it did not do wonders for his snake-like scars. Roman knew how much Janus hated them - they held memories of the disease that had infected his home country. Janus had survived by pure spite, and was on the first boat out when his people abandoned the land.

But somehow, the heat soothed the constant aching he felt on the left side of his face. Roman adored the sound Janus made when Roman pressed his hand up against the scars, warming them with his touch.

"You look absolutely ravishing in that suit, my prince ." Janus purred, twirling Roman's curly hair around his finger and smiling fondly down at the man in his lap.

"Please, you act like that dress doesn't do you wonders~" Roman grinned, hooking a hand around the back of the taller man's neck to help pull himself up so they were facing each other. Janus's hand was still in Roman's hair and he ran it through the auburn waves, his gaze fixed on Roman's small plump lips.

Roman barely registered this, his own eyes tracing the shadows that played across Janus's lips - before letting out a laugh and pressing their lips together.

Janus's lips brushed his, gingerly, tenderly, like butterfly wings, just long enough that Roman could inhale his soft breathe, feel that familiar warmth of his skin, and the taste of his signature golden lipstick lingered long after Janus had pulled away, smiling.

Roman tucked a loose bit of hair behind Janus's ear, laughing in glee as he pressed another small kiss to the snake-like side of the man's face and was rewarded with a small blep.

"I love you so much, you know?"

"No." Janus laughed, his eyes softening, "Of course I do, Princey. You can't seem to go three seconds without telling me. You know I love you."

Roman got up off the bench, his heart swelling up. Him and Janus had this thing, ever since they'd got together. Janus said the opposite of how he really felt. It confused Roman at first, but, as one of Logan's professor friends said, "Thank god for friends who learn to speak to you in your own language, instead of forcing you to learn theirs."

So Roman had learnt Janus's language, because he knew how Janus struggled to be understood by so many when he was studying as a mage in the kingdom - it was the least Roman could do for the person he loved.

Roman adjusted his sash before reaching a hand out to help lift Janus up from the bench, twirling him around before sinking into a dip position and kissing Janus.

Janus smiled as they rose up again, cupping Roman's cheek with his hand before saying, "I'll head inside - It'll be fun watching the court try to survive in the heat."

"Thank you- I'll only be a second-"

Janus was already slinking back inside, weaving through the flower patches and letting Kaa, his familiar - a long and beautiful python - slither off a branch of one of the trees Roman's grandmother had planted and onto Janus's shoulders.

Roman turned back to the bench they'd been sitting on. It was painted white, and had a small message engraved into it. Roman recognised the swirly handwriting as his own,

King Thomas

A loving father and servant to all.

Roman was only 18 when it had happened. His father had succumbed to the disease that had infected Janus when he visited the island with Logan, hoping to use their skills in the sciences to help the people work on a cure. Being a historically magical land, they had desperately needed people like Thomas and Logan who were trained in the science after all their attempts to magically cure the disease failed. Roman hadn't travelled with them, Thomas believing Roman would be better equipped to keep the country in order if need be.

Roman had just finished a show, taking his final bows with a bouquet of fresh red roses in his arms when 3 women from the court ran onstage to tell him. King Thomas had died, using the last of his energy to help Logan engineer a cure. Roman was king. Roman had lost the only parent who'd ever cared about him.

Roman was crushed. He entered one of the darkest parts of his life, realising he wasn't a hero. Logan and the King were the people who'd saved the island from the disease, not him. And his dad was gone. Roman hadn't saved him. He was a useless excuse for an heir, not just a heroic knight.

Roman wasn't of royal blood, not truly. He was adopted, but when King Thomas had gone through the land looking for an heir, apparently Roman - an abandoned 4 year old who ran around 'saving' people in the market using a stick as a sword - was the one he believed could take the helm of the country.

But Roman had never expected to become king so soon. Even so, Roman had done his best - to be something the kingdom could be proud of, someone Roman himself could be proud of. Someone his father could be proud of. And maybe he failed at that a lot, but he was trying. If he couldn't save his father, Roman could save the kingdom his father had always been so proud of.

Roman went down on his knees, taking the crown off his head. It was covered with lots of miniscule, intricate designs, each representing one of the many stories Roman had begged his father to tell him each night again and again, imagining himself as the dashing hero until he just had to go to bed. Those were the kingdom's stories, and sat on the head of the monarch as a fierce memento of the kingdom's heritage. The gold was forged thousands of years ago by the first mages to ever settle on their land. Hundreds of diamonds were set into this gold, each one formed of the ashes of a monarch the crown had once been worn by. Even though he wasn't truly a part of the family, Thomas had promised when Roman was very young that when Roman died, he would become one of these diamonds. Roman would be immortalised in a beautiful diamond, among the family that had loved and accepted him, guiding his own child through their reign.

Roman smiled fondly as he set the crown down onto the bench. Roman often spent whole nights talking at the crown, desperately trying to keep his voice down so Janus wouldn't wake up and think Roman was a lunatic, but he'd never been this ceremonious during his one-sided rants to the piece of headwear.

"Greetings everyone." Roman started, awkwardly. He really hoped no one, especially Logan, could see him, "I, uh, just want to talk to Papá today. I've got some big news - I really think you're going to be proud."

Pause.

"Dad!" Roman directed his vision towards an orange stone near the front. which he instantly recognised as his father, " I know you can't really hear me but- It's just- I'm really excited! I have this whole dinner planned out for later. We're gonna dance for ages, Me and Janus, that is. And then I'm going to do it, for real. I'm actually going to ask him to marry me! I truly think we're ready - we've been discussing it for a while and I just- I just love him so much. I want to spend the rest of my life with Janus."

Roman jumped back as King Thomas's diamond and lots of the others that surrounded it blared red. Had he imagined it? Was that a normal crown thing to do? No one else in the Mind Union had crowns anything like Roman's crown, so it wasn't like he could stumble into the next meeting and ask if anyone just happened to know why exactly the dead relatives he kept in his crown were changing colours and if they were available could they possibly sit down and explain it to him.

Roman just shook it off, there was nothing he could do - and he had a boyfriend to propose to.

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"Darling? I assumed we were meeting in the great hall for dinner-" Janus questioned Roman, who was currently trying to sneak up to their rooms

"Oh! Well, I was just wondering...do we have to? It's just- I'm not feeling it today. Being around other people, that is. Couldn't we just spend the night alone - if you want, of course."

Janus raised an eyebrow, moving up the stairs so he could inspect Roman. They'd been together for 3 years, and whilst Janus was glad to be spending time alone with Roman, this wasn't exactly like his extroverted prince, who he knew so well.

"Of course, dearest. It's good you'll be getting some rest - we can't have you getting overworked. I'll go alert Logan and Patton, shall I? Send all staff home early for the night?" Janus worried, squeezing Roman's hand, "Go up, I'll be back soon."

Roman could barely speak, before he was pushed up the stairs. Well, at least now he'd have more time to prepare the dinner.

Over the next 30 minutes, Roman had rushed around the majority of the castle before landing himself in the gardens surrounding the castle - a picnic set out around him, full of both his and Janus's favourites. Now, he just had to hope it would all be enough. And that Janus had followed the very extensive list of clues. That was important.

A few minutes later, Janus turned round the corner of a bush of blooming red dahlias, struggling to hide the goofy smirk that was playing on his lips. Janus had changed into a black velvet evening suit with golden buttons and a short black cloak that finished around his elbows.

"You're grossly cute, you know that? What's all this even for?" Janus said laughing, nestling himself in the grass next to Roman. Pushing a plate and some wine towards Janus, Roman shuffled awkwardly - attempting to think of an excuse.

"Ah- I don't really know? You deserve it. You've been working so hard recently." Janus smirked coldly, swinging back his glass to let the wine wash down his throat.

"Seems you're the only person who thinks that round here. Thank you."

"Pat had his reasons for picking that Angore kid over you. They're not for us to question - just know that I would much prefer working with you. Conversation would be far more interesting. I haven't seen the guy Patton chose talk once."

"He never was one for talking, even in school. And you meant what you said - you'd prefer me?" Janus's smile softened as he turned around to the man who was attempting - and failing miserably - to eat grapes in the manner of an actual Roman. Dork.

The grapes were suddenly dropped to the side as Roman jumped up and cupped Janus's face, "Of course I would." Roman kissed his nose, "Idiot."

"Sap. You've gone soft since we got together, you know?" Janus laughed, plucking a grape from the discarded bunch.

"Haven't I? Oh, and do tell me, where'd you get that suit? You look beautiful, really." Roman asked before snatching something else from the blanket, "It's nothing on par with some of my outfits."

"Thank you, Darling." The sincerity of the compliment made Janus's ears go pink, making him think himself lucky that sun had long gone down, the only light source coming from the insects that flew in and around the pool of water at the centre of the gardens and the taverns that stayed open all night, "I think it was some dressmaker in the outer kingdoms. He reminded me of you. A more disgusting version of you, that is. With a moustache. Don't ever do that. That would not be a look."

"Oh god no. I'm imagining it - I look like a rat." Roman cringed, picking up his own glass to take a swig. The conversation continued, kisses and flirtatious remarks being exchanged at regular intervals, all the while Roman was slowly working his confidence up.

He had to do this. They'd been dating for so long and Janus had to know how much he meant to Roman. Roman wanted to marry Janus and spend the rest of his life with the person who he loved more than any other - the person who'd made him fuller and happier than he'd ever been before they had met. Roman wanted to feel that exhilarating rush of pure love and joy that he got every time he woke up to find Janus next to him, safe and warm, every single day. Roman wanted hear that distinct laugh, see that easily recognisable smile, touch those beautiful scars every day for the rest of his life. He wanted a family - and he wanted it with Janus.

"I love you Janus. So much." Roman said, having fully built up the courage he needed, "More than you'll ever be able to understand. You make me so happy and all of your differences and things that make you unique just fill me with so much joy. Like when you scrunch your nose when your enjoying something? That's so beautiful and-"

"Roman-"

Roman pulled a ring out of his pocket and slipped it onto Janus's hand. Janus gulped. The ring was beautiful, it looked absolutely perfect on him. It was shaped like a teardrop and looked like these two colours of red and gold were swimming around and in each other - but never ruining or affecting the respective colour.

"I want to spend every sunset and sunrise with you. So...Will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?"

This wasn't supposed to have happened. Roman was supposed to have died before he could develop these kinds of feelings for Janus. It was Janus's fault. He should've ended the game a long time ago - but he'd enjoyed it too much. Being cared about. Caring for someone else. This would have had been prevented if Janus had just pushed Roman down that flight of stairs months ago. Petty, but effective.

But he hadn't. Janus had been weak, thinking it wouldn't hurt if he just continued it for a little while longer. And now Roman had gone and ruined everything by proposing. Now Janus had no choice but to put his plan into action. He would not be a prince next to a king by saying yes. No, he would say no - no matter what the little voice in his head was saying, common sense would beat it. Janus would be king. Janus would never be seen as weak again. People like Patton and Roman and his stupid nosy advisor were the weak ones. Janus would make a change. For the greater good.

And so he answered Roman, pulling his hand away with the ring still on it,

"No."

"I'm so sorry I-"

"Get out. Please. Before you ruin this even more."

Roman hesitated for a second, before turning away and heading back through the bushes. Janus cast a simple location spell to check where Roman was headed. He was slightly taken aback to find the king was heading out of his own castle? Not that it wasn't a pleasant surprise, he just hadn't thought this would all be so easy. At least, for now, the death of King Roman could be avoided.

Janus easily recollected the form of the young king and slowly felt the familiar scars on his face disappear. There were slight imperfections, whatever form he took. It was impossible to completely master such a difficult spell - he was the first mage ever documented to even be able to control the spell to this level.

Janus flicked his wrist sharply, making the rest of the food suddenly disappear before stepping through the grass and bushes towards the castle - a mantra repeating in his head,

"For the greater good."

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Logan had found Roman roughly an hour beforehand - flirting passionately with the scarecrow Logan had placed in his garden a few months ago, and threatening to duel the crows for the scarecrow's hand.

And that was whilst Roman was still sober.

Logan was currently dealing with an egotistically and emotionally unstable Roman on alcohol and Patton, who was clearly very much enjoying and egging Roman on whilst sitting in the corner - giggling every time Roman did something either lacking shame and/or dignity - or more often than not.

Considering everything that had happened, the night was going relatively well (even if they'd all just had to endure a good 20 minutes of Roman crying in Patton's lap before jumping up and singing Brave New Girl) until they all heard the familiar sounds announcement bells. No one could ring that bell except the reigning monarch, who in this case was Roman - it required his fingerprints. If anyone else did, they were immediately magically transported out of the castle and wouldn't be allowed back in by the magical boundaries that protected the castle.

But Roman was right here.

Silence dawned upon everyone in the small two roomed house, leaving only the sounds of shuffling people from other houses, all trying to gather round their windows like Roman, Logan and Patton were. All was quiet until...

Roman came out of one highest castle doors, out onto the announcement balcony. Roman, the real one - since whoever was up there had to be an imposter, had only ever used this balcony once. It was to announce Thomas's death to the people. He hated that balcony. It made everything real.

The fake Roman began speaking and Roman suddenly felt as though he was looking into a mirror. This imposter sounded exactly like him, parroting Roman's signature...everything.

"No-" Patton gasped, almost walking back into Logan, "It can't be-"

"Padre? What do you mean?" Logan looked down, confused. Did Patton know what was going on?

Patton shook his head quickly, laughing nervously, "I got confused, kiddo. Don't worry-"

Patton could barely continue as the fake Roman began speaking, louder than before,

"People of the land, I am your king. We are a great country, one that can become greater. But changes are required. Sacrifices are necessities. Weeds must be cut, pruned, so that the flowers may bloom to their fullest. The first weeds to be cut shall be the secret criminals that hide among us."

The three men gasped quietly. All of them had heard those words before. During private lunches, arguments, meetings, And they'd heard them from Janus.

"Patton? That's- That's Janus right?" Logan said, his usual monotone and formal voice stumbling over his words. "How has he taken the guise of Roman?"

Patton nodded but didn't answer, his mouth agape at the balcony as Janus continued,

"First to the stand, Lilibet Nicos. Her crimes against the crown can not go unpunished for any longer."

Roman snapped out of the almost trance he'd been in for the last minute when he heard the women's name. Lilibet Nicos...He'd heard it before. She was a young woman who had visited Roman, asking him to work on making a law that would defend the rights of their non-human neighbours of the mountains throughout the Union. Roman and Logan had been working on it and were nearly ready to present the law to the court so that they could vote it in. What was Janus going to do to her?

A group of knights surrounded a women in the crowd that gathered around the palace who struggled violently to get out of their grasp, but they held tightly to her arms as she cried to out and was hauled onto the stand. Roman squinted to take a closer look at what they were doing and nearly cried out when he saw them take a piece of rope and wrap it around her neck, but Logan's gloved palm covered his mouth. He could hear a little boy scream somewhere in the crowd and Roman recognized him as Lilibet's youngest son, Julio, being held in the arms of his older sister. Roman had carried them both on his shoulders and played with them in the palace gardens during Nicos's visits. He wanted to run out into the crowd and take them both onto his shoulders, tell them that he would keep them safe from everything, before saving their mother.

But he couldn't. Patton was holding him back by the arms. Why was Patton holding him back? Roman could save her if he could just get out of Patton's grasp.

"Padre- Pat- Please let me go! I can save her! I promise-"

"Roman, no. It is far more probable that you would fail and die along with her." Logan interrupted, resting his hand on Roman's shoulder and tightening his grip just in case Roman broke out of Patton's hold.

Janus remained unfazed, even as Lilibet fell limp. An uproar suddenly infiltrated the previously silent crowd as Lilibet was dragged off the stand like nothing had happened. With a flick of his wrist, Janus conjured the crowd silent again so he could continue. Janus called upon more and more people, each of whom Roman could recognize - even if he'd only met them once or twice. Roman couldn't help but turn around and sob into Patton's shoulder as each person met the same fate as Nicos. It was Roman who was sentencing them all - in every way.

A little while later, Janus had left the balcony and the crying and angry crowd had dissipated. Roman's tears stopped falling abruptly Virgil's letter came through the window, tied to the leg of a sleek black cat. It wasn't a long, eloquent letter. Virgil's handwriting was sharp, small and scruffy and there were only four words scribbled at the top of the parchment.

The people are revolting.

Roman couldn't help but feel a blossoming of pride in his chest. His people wouldn't live on in silence after their families had been killed. They would fight back. And he would be among them, every step of the way. You couldn't do that to Roman's people and expect to get away with it. He wouldn't let it happen.

And then he realised, they were revolting against him. Janus had looked exactly like Roman whilst he shouted out the sentences. This would make everything a lot more difficult.

Patton turned round to Logan and Roman, smiling sadly.

"I've got to go - me and Virgil are going to do everything we can to help, then meet you two up in the castle."

"The castle? You do remember that the entire kingdom is revolting against me?" Roman almost shouted in his panic. What was Patton thinking?

"Ah- Well, Janus has been spotted by some of my animal friends heading through Mendax Street. Me and Virgil are going to try and cut him off. And the castle should be empty - you sent everyone home."

The panic and stress built up and Roman shouted, throwing his arms up in exasperation, "Of course! Because that's totally going to work! God - Can you not think of anything useful Padre?"

Watching as Patton's face fell, Roman's eyes widened and he moved forward, taking Patton's hand into his own, "I-I'm sorry Pat I-"

"No, no- It's fine, please don't worry, kiddo!"

"No- No it's not. I shouldn't taken it out on you... I should've stopped doing that years ago. Neither of you deserve it, not after everything. Everything's just...a lot right now."

There were a few moments of silence until Logan, who had been leaning against a chair at the back of the room and stoking the fire at regular intervals, cleared his throat and walked forward, "He does have a point though. The castle is indeed empty, but the entire kingdom is currently revolting against Roman - a face the entire kingdom knows better than their own."

Patton looked down, biting on his lip for a few seconds before looking suddenly back up again, an idea lighting up his freckled face, "Roman, kiddo, come stand in front of me."

Roman instinctively did as he was told, and with a wave of Patton's hands he felt a wave of cool air flow over him. Roman looked down to see a pair of far more feminine hands instead of his own and grabbed his mirror from his pocket to take a look at himself.

He was a lot shorter now, and very distinctively a woman. Roman's hair was longer, reaching just below his shoulders and a slightly darker brown - like his eyes. He looked great.

"Wait- I've read the statute of mages. What Janus, and now you, are doing- isn't it illegal?" Logan questioned. He was fine with breaking laws, just as long as he knew how, and which.

"Well, yes. But no. Janus took the form of an actual human being. That's not allowed. Roman is only taking the form of a fictional women. She doesn't exist. That, Logie, is allowed - as long as you register with an Elder Mage. We couldn't have fictional people running around constantly, could we?"

Logan cringed at the nickname. He hadn't heard that one in years. "And we have actually registered then?"

"I am an Elder Mage so...yes. Yes we have. I've got to go now - Virgil will be waiting. We'll recalibrate and plan at the castle." Patton rushed out the door, picking up his discarded staff from behind the seats.

"She's cute, isn't she?" Roman smiled to the right of Logan's head.

"Are you- I'll never understand your immense self esteem, Roman. Never."

"I mean, I do look dashing, but I was talking about the kitty." Logan looked at his shoulder, where Roman was pointing. Virgil's cat was sleeping, wrapped around Logan's neck. Logan hadn't noticed her before, but now he distinctly could hear the small mews and feel her cold nose rubbing against his skin.

Logan caught Roman smirking and shot him a glare before picking the cat up off his shoulders and making sure she stayed asleep as he held her in his arms.

"How do you do this- is it like a baby?" Logan asked. He had never held a cat before, but he had held a baby. Lots. Lots of babies. It had to be similar, hadn't it?

"I'll wait outside...Logie." Logan could hear Roman laughing even as the door shut behind him, but his attention remained on the small ball of fluff in his arms. She was so cute and peaceful...

Until she bit down on his bare arm, hard, and then continued to act as though nothing had happened, curling further into him. It stung a little, but Logan couldn't blame the little thing - she was too precious. He left her sleeping in his bed with a little bit of catnip, since apparently cats liked that, and he had lots of it stocked up in his cupboards.

Outside, Roman was resting against the scarecrow he vaguely remembered flirting with earlier. The sun was setting, and the sky was a myriad of purples and oranges. It was a beautiful sight, watching the sun slip down beneath the horizon, ready to arise again tomorrow. The sun would always keep setting and rising, and that soothed Roman. Everything would keep going, even when it seemed like it wouldn't.

Logan came running up behind him soon after, and they looked up at the castle, before making their way to it in silence.

#sanders sides #ts roceit #ts logan #ts logic #ts deceit #ts janice #ts morality #ts patton #ts roman #ts creativity #roman sanders #logan sanders #patton sanders #thomas sanders #fanfic

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just-a-neoclassical-painting · 5 years ago

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Oh, who would ever want to be king? - Sanders Sides Fic

Chapter 1

Based (loosely lmao) off the song ‘Viva La Vida’ by Coldplay.

Roman is the king of a great kingdom, but when his lover, Janus, betrays him and takes his throne, can he win back his crown and the love of his people?

Content Warnings: Minor character death? Roman is a little insecure. I’m not sure what else but please tell me if there’s anything else!!

Word Count: 4235

Shouts and roars filled the dark night sky outside Roman's palace. The people were smashing down the gates, thirsty for their king's blood. Some were even attempting to climb up the ivy that creeped up the smooth stone walls in a vengeful haze of anger. The young king's eyes welled up with tears as he looked down into his kingdom. He had only wanted to be his peoples' hero- their own knight in shining armour, but now he was the very thing they wanted him to hunt down and plunge a sword through the heart of.

Their enemy.

The word made him feel sick to his stomach, but the cries that reached his window told him it was the truth, they truly believed him their enemy.

That man- that snake had done this to him. He'd given Janus everything and Janus? Janus had done this. He'd taken everything from Roman. Not that Janus could be entirely blamed, no. His plan wouldn't have worked if Roman himself hadn't been so 'emotionally compromised'.

Once Roman had run from the palace after- after the proposal, Janus jumped at the chance to put his plan into motion. He'd used his magicks to take the form of Roman, to change his dark brown hair to Roman's golden brown, to change his green eyes that Roman regretted having so easily fallen for to Roman's baby blue.

And then Janus performed a speech to the kingdom, signing laws that gave him full reign to come back as his normal self and take the throne for his own. He had any of the people in the court - or even the public - who'd opposed him whilst he was courting Roman arrested right there and promptly hung in front of everyone, as a warning to anyone else who'd try to defy "his Cielito." Janus had even sounded like Roman. He had his mannerisms down to a T - it was almost a mockery.

"I believe, Sire, that this is what would be deemed by the court as an uprising." One of his senior advisors and a distant cousin, Logan Crofters, announced from the corner, "After Janus's speech under the guise of your appearance, they now no longer want you as king."

"I had presumed so," Roman strained to put a smile upon his face as he turned to look at Logan, he could at least try to maintain the loving golden boy look; even if his entire world was crashing down around him as if built up on nothing but sand.

He had no idea how easy it would be for them to turn on him. Of course it was easy- what was he thinking? He was a failure of a 'king'. He'd caused this, directly or not. What did he expect? How was he supposed to fight monsters like Janus or any of the other beasts that threatened his people when he couldn't even fight the ones in his own head? He turned away from Logan, dropping the sparkling poster boy smile as tears welled in his eyes. He cursed himself. He wasn't supposed to be like this around people - even people like Logan.

"What do you wish to do with this information?" Logan continued, as though nothing was wrong, but still hurriedly walking across the thick vermilion carpet to get closer to his childhood friend as he heard Roman let out a sharp breath - It had been a gift from a neighbouring kingdom, Roman recognised with fondness. It had been sent to him as a thank you for rescuing the Crown Princess from an evil mage to her pregnant wife, the Princess Regent Adeliede.

Roman and his father, the late King Thomas were the only people who accepted immediately that he didn't want to be a mage. He didn't believe in that - respected it, yes - but he couldn't force himself to believe in it when there was science. After that, when Roman ascended as king, of course Logan had jumped at the offer to become Romans life-long advisor - someone had to be there to ensure he didn't accidentally mess everything up. But there had been no way to prepare for this, Janus had figuratively - despite his studies in magic - placed them under a spell. He'd lied his way out of everything.

Standing next to each other now, the young men both looked out into the pitch black night, lit up only by the flaming torches of the threatening people, the usual silence interrupted by the resentful howls of the rebellion. Logan took Roman's left wrist and rubbed circles into it like he used to do when they were younger and Roman was panicking. He didn't think it would be exactly appropriate to quote musicals at this moment, so this would to have to do. Roman loosened his grip on the the cold cobble of the window, his face contorting as he tried to find an answer to Logan's question,

"I- I don't know? I'm just so confused, I gave Janus grand gestures - flowers every day, big romantic dinners, I tried to show him all the love I felt and tried to make him happy - and he seemed to love it. He told me he loved it. He'd smile and even with those scars he hated, he was so, so incredibly beautiful. They only made him look more so - whatever he said. Logan, why would he do this?"

Logan rubbed his own neck, but held onto Roman with his other hand scratching at the stubble that grew there. He was used to these romantic spews from Roman. He had never properly understood them until recently, but he always tried to help,

"Sire-"

"Please, don't call me that. I don't deserve it. The people don't deserve it. A king is supposed to protect his people and-" Roman gulped, "-and innocent men and women have been hanged because I've been blinded by adoration. I am no King."

Logan took a breath before restarting. He was worried. Roman had already felt these things before, this unworthiness, this guilt, when his father died and he was crowned king - but now the feelings were being echoed ignorantly by his people. The people Logan had watched Roman adore and try his best to protect.

He had expanded on the hard work his father had employed whilst he reigned and accomplished so much during his 5 years so far on the throne. Roman had restored a balanced economy, eradicating thieves from the Kingdom. He fought for the equal rights of all men and women in the Mind Union, as well as fighting for the legalisation of gay marriage in his own kingdom - something his father had always fought for. He had been trying to spread this bill in the other kingdoms that formed the Mind Union - he was so tantalisingly close to convincing everyone. He'd also been trying to go over all the laws kingdom abided by, editing them if they were unjust or outdated. Roman wasn't one for work - Logan knew this, he had been forced to be his study partner for 18 years - but he tried. For this kingdom, he'd actually tried to be a better man.

"Roman. I can't know why Janus did any of this, but power is a poisonous thing. However, I know one thing, you are being ridiculous. Janus tricked many of the court, being tricked is the main reason many of them are alive. You can not blame yourself for not being like the ones who saw through him. If you were like them, who would be here to avenge them? A king should avenge the wrongs committed against his people."

Two men, one their age - the other far older (not that it looked that way, he'd somehow retained his youthful freckles and smile despite the many years he was rumoured to have aged since he first came to the kingdom), came crashing through the mahogany doors, sending a jolt of fear through Romans body as he spun round, before he recognised them to be Patton Maiales, closely followed by Patton's apprentice, Virgil. Using his oak staff to balance whilst panting heavily, he waved a hand at the apprentice encouragingly. Lovingly, he smiled at the young man.

Roman knew he was very proud of this Virgil who, according to the tabloids Logan had made him read, had placed joint top - the prodigy of the age. Joint top with Janus. Patton had told him he'd considered taking on Janus, but something about Virgil had made him see more suitable. Roman thanked Hamilton that Patton would never be the sort of person to rub it in his face. If any of the elder mages were to take on a apprentice to take their place upon their deaths, Roman felt it would've been his childhood tutor.

Patton was a good and kind man, fatherly to everyone. Roman knew him to only spread only love and joy. Roman was proud that this was the man who had practically raised him, even if he'd never been able to tell him so. This Virgil stepped forward, looking down and holding his arms across his stomach. Roman pitied him slightly, he'd only been Patton's apprentice for a short amount of time - this all had to be as stressful for him as it was for the rest of them, probably more.

His father had once said that Patton had been like this when he was an apprentice, and he'd never had to deal with an uprising. His father would never have had an uprising like this. He was beloved by everyone - and he made it seem so easy. Why couldn't Roman just follow his lead and not have this whole situation in the first place?

"Janus has run away from the kingdom. We can't find him anywhere, but we're still looking. Which is pointless, knowing Janus: he has the power in this situation."

Oh God.

He's a cheery one.

This couldn't actually be the sweet mini-Patton he'd read about from Patton's letters?

Roman turned back to Logan, hoping to hear some words of reason but only saw a red flush creeping up his advisors neck. Roman quipped his eyebrow up, suppressing the first smile he'd shown all day.

Patton stood up, having regained his breath.

"Thanks kiddo- but he's right. We can't find Janus anywhere, it's like he's run from the kingdom. Of course, he might be close, seeing as we know now he can transform into other people, like he did to you Ro."

"Is that common? Among mages? Being able to transform into others?" Roman questioned worriedly.

Patton sighed, nodding, "We all can do it- but it takes a lot of time, and is a forbidden practice among the mages. You take away so much trust. So many families have been ruined because of the damage done."

Roman ran his hands through his hair and walked across the room to the table and seats near his bed.

He nestled himself down into the largest chair, filled with pillows with a red hem sewn in. He waved the others over, who smiled at the familiarity of the seating. They'd always been better at working around this table, in these seats. Of course that was when they were far younger, but the nostalgia was there, and that had always inspired Patton.

Logan and Patton followed suite, smiling. Roman felt a blossom of pride - he'd done that. He'd made them smile. If he could at least make his closest confidants smile, he was doing something right.

Logan sat down, his back upright and palms rubbing the cool metal details, which had an indigo glaze to them. The older man practically jumped into his chair, it had the most pillows of any of them and had light blue details running up the side. making Virgil smile. Logan looked at the pair with poorly disguised amusement. Maybe Virgil wasn't all doom and gloom after all. But then Patton could get anyone to smile.

Patton pulled his feet into his arms, making Roman flinch slightly - he could just tell that the mud wouldn't come out for days.

The final seat was still empty. The chair hadn't been used for years. They'd usually just ignored it. It hurt less, to ignore the past. But they couldn't now, now that an outsider was around. Roman probably shouldn't think of him like that - but this Virgil didn't know what that chair meant. And Roman much preferred it stayed that way.

"Virge- would you like to sit with us? I- we wouldn't want you standing up like that. It would be most helpful whilst we work out a plan, you being with us. If Romans okay with that, of course?"

Logans voice said from his chair, having sunk further into it to the promise of pillows.

"Uh- I mean, I don't see any reason against it- take a seat Hot Topic!"

"Oh yes! Come sit next to me kiddo!" Patton giggled, sliding his shoes off, finally understanding what Romans stern glare meant.

Virgil made a move from the door where he'd been hunched over into the light. He was tall- much taller than Patton and Roman, but shorter than Logan - but it was the sort of height that had clearly been given to someone who didn't know how to work it, making him gangly. Not that it didn't have a certain charm to it, of course. His long, purple velvet cloak covered most of his body, and he held the ends of it tied to his wrists - like kitten paws. His dark hair fell across his forehead, dyed purple towards the end. He turned to the others as Virgil walked past him to take his seat. Patton was smiley, as usual, but Logan- something was different. Roman couldn't put his finger on it , yet - emotions weren't exactly something he saw often in his cousin.

Virgil sat down in the chair, which was laced in green. It wasn't exactly comfortable. Even when it was used, the owner had pulled springs out and torn at the thread. Virgil tucked his feet up in a mermaid position, so the inside of his knees wouldn't be impaled by a piece of wood that was sticking out the frame work.

"So Everyone-"

"Oh Ro, I get that this is important but- could we please do it the old way?"

"Patt- Sir, we haven't do that in years. Do you really think games will benefit Roman working out what he needs to do next?"

Roman smiled, nostalgia and memories flowing back to him. He *really* wanted to play the game.

"Oh come on Lo, it could be good. We always were able to get things done before," He continued in a sing song voice, hoping he hadn't overshot his assumptions about Logans feelings, "anddd, Virgil here wants to do it."

"He does? When has he actually said he wants to. Virgil? Do you want to do this?"

"Do I? Uh, yeah, sure. Might be fun."

"Fine! Fine, we'll do it. But don't blame me when this doesn't bare any fruits."

Roman rolled his eyes, winking at his tutor, who giggled again. He nodded at Logan, an affirmation for him to begin,

"I, Logan Crofters, am happy to take this moment to begin the first Light Side society meeting in 10 years. Welcome to our newest honorary member, Virgil?"

"Virgil Angore."

"Virgil Angore. Now, shall we begin? The first call to business will be what Roman should do about this situation. Any suggestions?"

"Honorary member?" Roman questioned incredulously, "Are we even sure we can actually trust Count Woelaf over here?"

"Roman. Virgil has done nothing but help you so far- Are you questioning Pattons judgement on who will likely tutor your own child, should you have one?"

"Of course not- it's just. It's different. I'm sorry, Virgil. Recent events have just made me question who I should trust, as Specs over here well knows."

"I understand, Sir-"

"Roman is fine, don't worry."

"Uh- yes- Roman, I knew this Janus. He, he was known for lying people so that they would do what he wanted them to do. Obviously no one expected him to do something like this.”

"Yes. He did that a lot then, did he?"

"Ro, let him be an honorary member! It'll be fun! I know him best, and he's a good man just like you two. Don't be silly."

"Ughhhhhh. Fine. He can play."

"Now back to the actual matter at hand, we need to do something. I suggest that Roman runs."

"What?!" Patton jumped in his seat, "He can't do that. He needs to face his people. He needs to explain the situation. This is a peaceful kingdom, we haven't gone to war with anyone do 800 years. The people will respect Roman if he's honest."

"Are you entirely sure that would exactly work Master Maiales? These people are angry, they'll probably be at Romans throats before anything else."

"I agree Virgil. The people must be incredibly emotional at the moment... They likely would not be in the correct mindset to understand, meaning it's best if Roman runs. We should hide him away somewhere, recalibrate, wait till the kingdom has calmed down. Then explain what has been done to them."

"Logan Crofters. Are you genuinely suggesting lying to the people for any longer than we have to? I thought I raised you better!" Patton turned away from Logan, giving him his 'Signature Pout'™️

"Padre," Logan begged, rolling his eyes, "I don't want to lie to the people, but I also want them to keep one of the best king they've had in 1000 years! I want Roman to survive this! And to survive he needs to run, so we can plan. Be strategic. Win back the crown."

Roman smirked at the apprentice, mouthing teasing insults to Virgil about the arguing pair, who had to cover his mouth his hand to suppress a laugh before Virgil regained his composure and joined the argument,

"I- I have to side with Logan. Running away...away from the problem seems the best option for r-right now, whether we like it or not."

"Thank you Verge." Logan smiled softly at the new addition, that red flush creeping up the usually pale advisor again.

Verge?

They'd barely met the guy and Logan was already shortening his name? This was the second time as well. Roman smiled for a second, pieces coming together in his head, before clapping his hands and jumping up,

"Now, my fine fellow men, I believe I should think this all over. Not that you all haven't made fine points, this is just a big decision. My life is on the line."

Logan lifted his eyebrow up questioningly, but the rest of his face remained unchanged emotionally. The three men stood up and joined Roman on his side of the room.

"Oh! And! I'd like to talk to Padre alone- I'm sorry Specs, but it must be done." Roman said, pushing Virgil and Logan out into the corridor, "Keep watch!"

Patton walked across the room to where Roman was near the door.

"What did you want to talk about? And what's put a spring in your step?"

"Matchmaking, Pops, "Matchmaking!" Roman laughed joyously, taking the shorter mans hands in his own.

"What? You- you aren't saying? Those two!" Patton giggled, glancing at the door, as if the pair they were gossiping about could hear them.

Roman nodded happily gripping Pattons hands tighter, "Oh if he finally gets a boyfriend because of me- I'll die. The family reunions will be amazing...That emo you recruited seems nice. He won't be an awful cousin-in-law-"

"Now, Roman, as your father-"

Roman dropped Pattons hands, rolling his eyes,

"-Fine, tutor, man who helped raise you and was one of your main caregivers, I'm telling you now you will not tease your cousin, or try to help him get with Virgil. Let him understand his feelings on his own, if he even has them in the first place."

"But he's absolutely dense. He'll never work it outtttt!"

"Fine. But you can not blame this on me if it goes back on your face. Let him experience that warm fluffy feeling all on his own, but you may gently nudge him in the correct direction."

"Oh god! What about this Virgil? Is he usually this sombre?"

"Oh he's not the sort of boy to tell anyone if he likes them, but he falls hard, and quick. He has that aura. He’s like you but with self-preservation. He's going to take time. But he certainly enjoys Logan's company."

Patton finished as they heard laughter from outside the door. "And anyway, you need to work out what you're going to do about this. You need to make a choice, Hijo."

Roman ran his hands though his hair again, biting his lip in concentration. He didn't know what to do. He should know. Patton held Romans arm tight, and fixed the gold tassels on Romans outfit whilst the King succumbed to thought.

A few minutes earlier in the hallway

Virgil tensed as the notoriously dramatic prince pushed him and Logan through the door, but loosened up when he heard the door shut quietly. It was just him and Logan in the hall, as well as a guard standing upright by the wall. Virgil was feeling uneasy- really uneasy, like, more than usual - just seeing the guard. But palace guards were quiet most of the time, so at least he wouldn't have to talk to the man.

The tall guard stared forward for a good few minutes, so Virgil shook himself from his funk, to turn back to the Kings advisor, who was rambling. Virgil let him continue, but paid more attention this time. Not just because Logan was talking about the similarities between Science and Magicks (which had always fascinated him) but because- because- he didn't really know, actually. Something about Logan interested him. Which was why he was staying quiet. Just drinking it all in. Just the interesting conversation, of course. But still. All of it.

"...which is why I want to spread the works of Tao Aí Haung, they're undiscovered masterpieces. They go into a lot more detail about what I've been saying- I could find them for you in my old family library if I looked?" Logan smiled down through his glasses at Virgil, really hoping he'd say yes. He was usually really stingy with his books, but he for some reason he desperately wanted to share his books with Virgil.

"Of course! I mean- You make it sound pretty interesting, I guess. Mr Maiales and you's library?"

"Oh no, me and Patton aren't really relations. He raised Roman and I whilst our fathers were away, campaigning or doing media. We used to run through the halls whilst he chased us. One of us used to make him wear a blindfold, can't remember which, and he'd be stumbling around for ages until Roman climbed on his back and 'saved him from the dragon witch' by tearing the blindfold off. Taught us both Spanish, with Roman's father's help."

Virgil felt like an idiot, why hadn't he realised Logan wasn't actually related to Patton? He felt like he was standing there with a massive dunce hat on - and in front of Logan,who was clearly really smart and clever and-

Virgil took a deep breath. He could still save the conversation,

"You genuinely make it seem like you had fun growing up," Virgil grinned, leaning back into the wall, bunch his cloak sleeves up, revealing his forearms which were covered in inky splotches of lots of different colours (the tell-tale signs of having spent nights up practising alchemy), so that he could play with his hair. Make himself look slightly cool.

"Do you wish you could still run around with them?"

Logan scoffed and his ears went pink, "No, I do not. That's childish. We're grown adults now."

"Sure." Virgil laughed. He could just imagine young Logan running around with a young Roman. They seemed like they'd been close. Much closer than he was with *any* of his relatives,

"I bet you were a cute toddler."

What?! Why had he said that!

"Awh. I appreciate the compliment. But I really wasn't the cute one, Roman got the cheek pinches and other things classed as "adoration". It left with me respect and dignity, at least."

Virgil let his cloak drape down again to his wrists as he began to answer,

"There's no way- lucky for me you got cuter then?"

Virgil. What. The hell did you just do.

Logan smirked before continuing, "Sure. If my appearance makes you feel 'lucky', that's 'chill' with me."

Thank god Logan was actually clueless. Virgil had to get back inside. Whether he'd felt genuinely happy and relaxed around Logan or not, he needed to be around actual human beings who wouldn't let him be even more of a dunce.

"Want to go in now? I can't hear any sounds in there."

"Of course. May I?" Logan asked, hooking his arm around Virgils after Virgil nodded in approval, unable to force any words out, as he pushed open the door to go back in. He was so screwed.

"I assume you've made the decision Ro?" Logan asked, scratching at the stubble on his chin again, not aware of the gaze that it attracted this time.

Lifting his head up to look out the window, Roman saw the people clamouring to get in. They were in pain. Of course they were - you couldn't blame them when someone who looked just like Roman had just condemned so many of their friends and families to death.

"I need to run."

The guard smiled as the door shut, it was the grin of someone who had gotten what they wanted, rather than the one of someone who'd just witnessed the blossoming of new love. He turned around the corner and began walking away, the light dancing in his slit yellow eye.

#sanders sides #ts logan #ts deceit #ts creativity #ts roman #ts roceit #roceit #my fic #analogical #human au #platonic #one sided love #fluffy #roman angst #sanders sides angst #ts remus #ts remy sanders

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