#ROMAN MENTIONED

[edupunkn00b]

Overruled, Chapter 4: Conflict of Interest

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@loceitweek Day 4: Conflict/Resolution - Logan meets someone… interesting. WC: 2128 - Rated T - CW: swearing

“Hey, you’re that guy from the party!” 

Logan’s table stuttered as a lanky undergrad flipped around the chair across from him and plopped down into it. He rested his chin on the backrest and stared up at him with big green eyes. “The one with Jack’s friend.”

Marking his page with a sticky note, Logan looked back at the man—boy?—head tilted to one side. Recognition dawned. “Yes. You were the one with Jack.” 

He waggled his eyebrows and offered a charcoal-smudged hand. “In the flesh.” He grinned when Logan grasped his hand. “Firm handshake,” he winked. “I like it.”

“Thank you.” Logan released his hand even as Remus’ grip lingered. He searched his recollections of that night and nodded. “Remus?”

Nice memory… His eyes widened and he continued to stare back at him. “Not from the book.”

“Plutarch's?” Logan asked, one eyebrow raised.

Remus threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, I like you!” He pulled out a pack of gum and a wave of artificial cinnamon hit the air. “No wonder you were able to bag that hottie.”

Logan pursed his lips and attempted to return to his book. “Janus and I are not romantically involved.”

“Oh, really?” Leaning sideways along the café table, Remus smiled up at him. “Does that mean you’re available?”

“I’m sorry,” Logan inclined his head with a small smile. “But no.”

His grin only grew. “No, you’re not available? Or no, you’re not interested?” He brushed callused fingers along the back of his hand, sending a shiver up Logan’s arm.

“Am I interrupting?” Janus stood behind him, face set in a poised expression. His eyes jumped between them, lingering on Remus’ hand on his.

“Well—” Remus began. He didn’t remove his hand and instead, wrapped his fingers around Logan’s.

“No, of course not,” he looked up at Janus before turning to Remus and giving him a small smile. He covered his hand and patted it before gently removing his hand from his grip. “Remus was at Jack’s party on Friday and was asking after you.” 

“Yeah, that dickhead ended up at Harborview ER,” Remus said after a moment. He flexed the fingers of one hand and gnawed at his lip watching him and Janus. His gum had disappeared.

“Really?” Janus purred. He started to pull over a chair between them, then stopped, staring at Remus. His hand fell away from the chair and hung limply at his side for a moment before he tucked it into his pocket. Janus nodded once, then smiled politely. “Then it appears I am indebted to you, as well.”

“You never have to thank me for breaking a creep’s nose,” Remus laughed and cocked his arm, appearing about to playfully punch Janus’ shoulder.

He never made contact.

Almost faster than Logan could interpret, Janus intercepted his fist and twisted. His other arm came up and out and suddenly Remus sprawled on the floor, his chair rattling to the floor next to him.

“Holy fuck, how’d you do that?” he laughed, looking up at Janus.

Frowning, Janus tugged at his jacket then offered a hand up to the laughing undergrad. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “Reflex. Are you alright?”

“I’m trying not to be turned on right,” he shimmied his shoulders and Logan wasn’t sure if he was serious.

“That was quite impressive,” Logan murmured. He looked almost embarrassed by the attention. He nodded without meeting their eyes. Was he ashamed? “Would you be willing to demonstrate how you did that?”

Janus’ eyes shot up, wide with surprise. A soft smile sparked at the corners of his lips.

“Fuck, me too?” Remus started to reach for him but seemed to think better of it. He sat back down, looking between the two of them. “Or at least let me watch.” He winked at Logan, clearly more than aware of his double entendre.

“Perhaps,” Janus began slowly. It was only then that Logan noticed his flushed cheeks. He nodded at Logan and pointedly eyed the exit. “Perhaps when we are not already meant to be studying?”

Logan took the hint and smiled at Remus as he stood and gathered his books. “That sounds wise.”

Undeterred, Remus grinned again. “You should call me.” Before Logan could pull out a pen and paper, Remus dug a green coptic marker out of his pocket and shoved it at Logan. He presented his palm and looked up at him. The softness in his eyes was a nice contrast to his near manic smile. Logan obliged and, holding his hand steady, printed his name and telephone number on the undergrad’s palm.

He nearly capped the marker, but looked back at him. “If I am to call you , I will need your phone number, as well. Fingers spread, he offered his left hand and watched him write. His hand was rough but warm, and his little twitches disappeared once he had a marker between his fingers, his cursive clean and artistic, almost calligraphy across his hand.

“C’mon, Necktie.”

Janus fidgeted next to him and Logan gave Remus a little wave. “We really must be going.” He began to follow Janus outside but turned and smiled over his shoulder at the intriguing interrupting to his morning. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Remus.” Logan was surprised by how much he meant it.

“Nice meeting you, Nerdy Wolverine,” he grinned as though it was a compliment and he only smiled brighter when Logan’s face warmed. “You, too, Janus,” he winked. “See ya around.”

~~~

That loud sophomore of Jack’s had actually managed to fluster Necktie. Janus watched as a soft pink spread over his cheeks when the guy cradled his hand and wrote across it with one of those smelly alcohol markers. Janus shoved his own hands deeper in his pockets, ignoring the little twitch. He certainly did not want some random guy’s name and phone number seeping into his skin for fuck-knows how long it took for that stuff to wash off, being reminded of his flirting and little smirk every time he looked down.

As they left the café, Logan kept glancing down at his hand as it dried and Janus’ hands twitched again, pushing the door open and gripping it with both hands. He wasn't bothered. Over a week had passed since he'd told Logan to direct his interest elsewhere. Far from bothered, Janus was relieved Logan was taking his advice.

He waited until they reached the path outside the Marshall Hall before asking, “Are you sure I wasn’t interrupting anything?” 

“No, of course not.” Logan shook his head. “Remus is… friendly, but were merely talking.”

“Mm-hm,” Janus murmured. Logan had stopped staring at his own palm but his face still hadn’t quite lost its blush “So… will you call him?”

“Of course,” he nodded. “When would you like to show us how you flipped him?”

“No, Necktie, I mean will you call him and ask him out?” He lowered his voice as a gaggle of freshman passed them. “I don’t think he gives a fuck about my krav maga.”

“Oh?”  

“He was interested in you.”

“Oh.” Logan smiled, eyes dancing. “I believe he was interested in you, as well.”

Janus didn’t say, given his behavior at Friday’s party, he was certain Remus would in interested in almost anything that moved if it looked at him right. But something was different about the way the sophomore had looked at Logan.

“Perhaps I should reserve the wrestling ring at the fitness center for us,” Logan murmured, glancing again at the bright green letters and numbers on his hand. “It’s intended for recreational tumbling, so the mat is thicker than the regulation four inches, but that should be more sufficient protection from falls.”

“You know how thick the mats are supposed to be?” Janus chuckled. “Necktie, you’ve been holding out on me.”

Logan smiled back, that soft, almost smirk. “Never, Janus. My regional high school wrestling championships have simply never come up in conversation.”

“Book the ring, Necktie.”

~~~

Three days later, Remus sat cross-legged on the floor of the school’s wrestling room, knees bouncing as he retraced a line in his sketchpad. He was early and the room was already warm, making the pastels soft and extra easy to blend. Logan and Janus hadn’t even gotten there yet, and he could only imagine how much warmer it might get. He was left weirdly grateful for Ro’s unsolicited advice to take along a little cooler with ice and water.

“Trust me, Re,” he’d nodded. “The angels who bring us ice water after a dance competition never go home alone.”

The door creaked open and Remus’ head snapped up. Janus glided into the room, dressed in a butter yellow shirt, grey slacks and a matching vest. He scowled at the large sign dictating only wrestling shoes or bare feet were allowed on the ring.

Remus grinned and leaned back on one hand, legs outstretched as he wiggled his toes. “Aren’t you a little overdressed for a go on the mat?”

Janus raised an eyebrow and looked down at Remus’ tank top and shorts. “Are you a little under dressed?”

“Under dressed, overdressed…” Remus laughed. “That all depends on what’s next on order, Jannie,” he winked.

“My name is—”

The door opened again and Logan strode in dressed in a dark blue wrestling singlet. The skintight spandex revealed every muscle he’d been hiding under that hot nerd necktie getup Logan had worn at both the part and when he’d had found him at the Coffee Haus. Remus swallowed dryly, words failing him as he watched Logan move.

Janus seemed unfazed. “No headgear?” he chuckled, voice low and controlled, and ripped his eyes from Logan, searching for any sign of teasing. Instead, he was blushing.

Logan had noticed, his smile growing. “I trust you will not seek permanent damage to my ears or head during this demonstration.” He took in Janus’ clothes, eyes lingering at his open collar and the way his slim cut slacks hugged his thighs. “I trust you have sufficient freedom of movement in what you are wearing.”

“I’m not the one who should be worried, Necktie,” Janus smirked, toeing off his shoes. “Let’s go.”

“I get winner!” Remus called and leaned in to watch.

~~~

The first round was over almost as soon as it began. Logan mimicked Remus’ playful punch to the shoulder and Janus just moved, gripping his fist midair and grabbing his other arm. He seemed to push and pull at the same time and Logan was on his back on the mat, looking up at him, eyes wide.

“Impressive,” he said, taking Janus’ hand when he offered him help up. “My feint to the right did nothing to dissuade you.”

“You are lucky we’re not really fighting or you would’ve gotten a kick to the groin for good measure,” Janus laughed.

He bowed his head. “I am quite grateful for that,” he peered up at him through the fringe hanging over his eyes with a smile. “Shall we go again? A little slower, if you would? So I can follow along?”

Nodding graciously, Janus waved him forward, repeating the move. He grabbing Logan’s fist, then his arm and push-pulled again, slower this time. Then, at Logan’s little nod, repeated at standard speed and, again, Logan was on his back on the mat.

“Again,” Logan grunted before he was even on his feet.

They repeated this dance several more times. It was beginning to take a little longer for Janus to get him down on the mat and finally, Logan grinned, sweat dripping down both their faces. His cheeks and chest were flushed but he leapt up to his feet with as much energy as he'd started. “One more time.”

“Let’s go,” Janus nodded. He was breathing a little heavily. His movements had looked almost effortless, but, just like for Logan, his perspiration gave away just how hard he'd been working.

This time, when Janus grabbed his arm, Logan ducked and moved into the hold. Shoulder tucked against Janus’ side, he pulled up, freeing his other hand  and grabbing Janus’ thigh. In seconds, he’d lifted him off his feet, then dropped down to a kneel on the mat. He froze, then slowly finished the move, gently lowering Janus to the mat. Logan’s upper body pinned him down, legs twisted together so Janus’ lower half was left tangled together and preventing him from getting any leverage.

“Not bad, Necktie!” Janus laughed, voice strained. Logan let him up and they sat together on the mat.

Remus grabbed the cooler and joined them. “Fuck, that was…" hot. "Incredible," he laughed, offering each of them a drippy cold water bottle.

“Thank you,” Logan panted. He took a long swig of the water before bowing his head to Janus. “You were holding back. If I’d come across you in a darkened alley, I have no doubt I would’ve not walked away from our altercation.”

“I’ve had instructors warn us not to challenge trained wrestlers,” Janus tugged at his shirt, fanning himself. “I see why.”

“Nobody’s warned me not to challenge a wrestler,” Remus winked at Janus before sliding closer to Logan’s side and brushing away the sweat-dampened hair hanging over his eyes. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

[what-even-is-thiss]

Sometimes I do wonder if men actually get sexually assaulted and abused at a similar rate that women do but a lot of them just don’t know that’s what’s happening to them

[ssslimyboy]

Janus, drunk: I don't know why people make such a big deal out of lying. You just say stuff. You still think my name's Janus.

Roman, also drunk: WHAT.

[orbch]

the glasses gays and those obnoxious twins

[sforzesco]

Gannicus & Amicus (& Lentulus lmao rest in pieces) during the gladiator jailbreak in Capua, 73 BCE :)

[milktea-grn]

the old house 🎭 bb rome & kendall

[meatiors]

Things that I keep in mind when drawing them

[sanders-sides-uncorrect-quotes]

Basically Roman and Virgil in my White Lies AU:

Roman, looking intensely in a mirror in his room: I just... Need someone to be my friend. Someone who will listen to and support me, who won't betray my trust and break down my confidence when I don't agree with them... Someone who also kinda hates Janus... Someone to binge watch Disney movies with me...

Virgil "chilling" in his own room alone in the dark side: *sits up and looks around suspiciously* I feel like something is calling me

[inchidentalmeowmeow]

lestappen parallels feat. skyfall

the predestined and the inevitable

[sage-lights]

it comes as a shock to literally no one that angela (9x) and courtney (8x) are the cast members with the most guest appearances on smosh mouth. it's seriously giving "i miss my wife, can we bring her back on the pod?"

[kald-dal-art]

Wishes for the new Hunger Games book ngl

(Also only included the Victors I think would make sense to show up based on their potential ages so that's why Finnick/Cashmere/Johanna/etc isn't here BTW:^))

[david-tennants-left-ear]

MY MUM SHIPS BILLFORD

[what-even-is-thiss]

Love answering ”why are you transgender?” with “God told me to” because it’s funny and it confuses everyone except for me. And God. Because he told me to.

[ssslimyboy]

Roman: I'm immune to mean and hurtful words because Patton says nice things to me every day and his love protects me.

Remus: I'm immune to mean and hurtful words because Janus says mean things to me every day, so I'm prepared.

[back-in-2037]

Like father, like son.

I feel like we talk a lot about how similar Wilbur is to his mom, which makes sense given that at first glance it looks as if mother nature just went "copy, paste and genderbend" and called it a day, but I love the fact that there's also a bunch of little moments in the movie that show that Wilbur is very much his father's son too.

[loverboyromanroy]

sublime