#dad janus

   The world didn’t end with a bang. It didn’t end in war. It didn’t end in nukes. It didn’t end with the sun going supernova. It didn’t end with pollution or melting ice caps. No, it ended with a cup of coffee. Two scientists for the company Lily of the Valley, the flower of death, destroyed the world. The two never got along, they were working on a new project. Unfortunately together, unfortunately at unsustainably long hours. Unfortunately, with their brains impaired by lack of proper food, sleep, or hydration, tensions boiled. They weren’t as careful as they should have been. They fought over the last bit of coffee and beakers broke. They became the first two infected with the zombie virus. All over a cup of coffee.

   Death watched in disappointment as he held the two souls as their body spread the virus, ripping flesh from the people near them. Making his job harder than it ever should have been. They would never even see the damage they had done. They would never live through the fear they had brought over the world. Life appeared next to him, her normally warm features stony. She took the two souls from him.

     “I’m tired, Death. They have doomed my creations.” Life said quietly.

     “I am tired as well. But there is work to be done.” Death sighed.

     “Not for us. They made this mess. They can deal with it.” Life said, looking scornfully down at the two souls.

   The smell of coffee filled Roman’s senses when he woke up. He rose from bed and was going to wake up Remus only to have his brother’s hand clasp over his mouth. He held a finger to his lips and pointed towards their bedroom door. Roman saw the blood seeping from beneath the door. He smelled the blood. He heard the screams outside. He saw the word zombies written in blood on the door. He looked at his brother, there was blood on his face and hands, his pajamas were ripped. With shaky hands he moved his twin’s hand from his mouth.

     “Mom? Dad? Are they-?” Roman couldn’t finish the whispered question.

   Remus only nodded. He didn’t look sad. Was this a prank? No. Remus looked too serious. The blood, he could smell it. They were orphans in the zombie apocalypse. This was a shitty way to start their eleventh birthday. He heard a thud against their bedroom door and nearly yelped, but his cry was muffled by Remus pulling him into a hug. He was shaking. Remus was shaking. This was real. What were they going to do?

   They couldn’t stay here. Roman gently pulled out of the hug and took his brother’s hand. He led him to the closet and gave him a bag. Remus seemed to know exactly what he wanted to say. They started packing what they could, trying to keep it to things they needed, but Roman couldn’t help but include the scrapbook he had been working on with his dad and grandma. It had too many memories to leave behind. Were his grandparents still alive? He felt a hand on his shoulder and saw the look of worry his brother had. At least he still had him.

   Roman gave him a reassuring smile. Silently, they got back to packing and getting ready. He didn’t know where they were going to go or how they were going to get out of the apartment alive. But they’d figure it out. They had too. Remus’s constant planning for alien invasions and zombie apocalypses seemed a lot less stupid now. Maybe his brother’s love of gore would save them? He gave a silent sight. They were eleven now. He woke up to coffee and zombies. Great.

“Take that you foul Dukey!”

“You’ll never defeat me, Princey!”

Janus chuckles and watches his twins fondly. They’re only 8 but they’ve been through...a lot. It’s hard to see one without the other. Then again, Janus could never bring himself to separate them. Not even for a few moments. One would get upset and the other would cry. It’s quite heartbreaking to see one so broken without the other. Janus had fought hard to get them both away from their old home. And away from the monster that lived in it. He couldn’t bear to leave one. Not with...him. It’s been two years now since Janus left Patton. Since he took custody of the kids. It didn’t mean they were finally free though. Let’s just say Patton really misses his kiddos.

“Papa...Papa!”

Janus blinks out of his thoughts to see Roman staring up at him with wide curious eyes, his twin standing behind him and mirroring him. 

“Sorry, little prince. I was just thinking about something. Did you need something?” he asks, patting their heads.

“Yeah! Can you be the princess again? We need a damsel in distress!” Roman replies, holding up his plastic sword.

Janus sighs and smiles softly.

“I would love to, Roman, but Papa has to clean up around the house.” he says, ruffling their hair now.

The twins pouted.

“Aww, but we want you to play with us!” Remus whines.

“Yeah, Papa! You’ve been cleaning all day!” Roman chimes in.

Janus chuckles softly. Oh he just can’t resist his twins’ playfulness. 

“Alright but you have to pick up your toys first and bring them upstairs. All of them.” he says, gesturing to the living room where all the toys were scattered.

The twins lit up at that and nodded.

“Okay, Papa!” 

With that, the two ran off to go get started on grabbing their toys.

Meanwhile Janus smiles softly again and turns to continue cleaning, grabbing the broom he had set aside. While the twins put their toys away, Janus finished sweeping the living area and moved onto the kitchen. He dumped the dirt and dust into the kitchen trash can then he set aside the broom again. He grabbed the trash bag out of the trash can and headed for the front door. 

He stepped out of the little house he and the twins call home, making his way down the pathway. He dumped the trash in the big trash bin. Just as he shuts the lid, Janus hears the faint sound of a car coming from somewhere. He glances up and sees a familiar sky blue beetle car coming into view in the distance. 

Oh no.

Janus quickly returns to the house, shutting the door behind him. He heads to the living room and sees that it’s spotless. Huh. That was fast. Shaking his head, he looks over to see the twins running down the stairs with an eager look in their eyes. Janus hates to ruin this but...it was for their own safety. He comes over as the two reach the foot of the stairs.

“I’m glad you put your toys away, boys. I know you wanted me to play with you but we’re gonna have to do that later.” he says.

Roman tilts head and Remus pouts.

“But why, Papa?” Roman asks.

Janus looks over to the door then back to the twins.

“We’re gonna play the Quiet Game. You remember how to play?” he says.

The twins nod, a look in their eyes that hurts Janus to see. It just looks so wrong to see them so afraid like this. Like they would lose each other. The twins immediately cling to each other. They don’t like this game but Papa says it’s to keep the monster away so they play it. Anything to make the monster go away.

“We hide upstairs and we stay very quiet so the monster doesn’t find us. And then you come rescue us, Papa.” Roman recites.

Like Roman had said, whenever Patton or the ‘monster’ comes over, they have to hide upstairs in their bedroom and stay quiet until the ‘monster’ leaves or Janus says it safe.

Janus nods, giving them a small smile. 

“That’s right, little prince. And you also keep each other safe.” he says, getting two nods in return.

Janus glances at the door again before turning back to his twins.

“Okay, the monster is here. Go hide!” 

The twins nod and run upstairs hand in hand as Janus sighs. He hates this game as much as they do but it was for their own good. He hears their bedroom door click shut and he takes a deep breath. Then he heads over to the door. He nearly flinches as he suddenly hears a knock. Janus composes himself then opens the door.

“Oh, Janus! It’s so good to see you again!” 

There stands Patton. Patton and Janus had been husbands. Had. Ever since the twins came around from the adoption center, Patton had changed. It started at the Adoption Center itself when Patton only wanted Roman and not Remus. The worker there had told him they refused to be separate and had to be adopted together or not all. Patton tried to talk the worker into letting him take only Roman but the worker said no. That’s when Janus stepped in and convinced Patton to take them both.

When the twins were brought home, Patton mostly gave his attention to Roman. Janus was left to take care of Remus. The twins were only four then and life was already hell for them. As the months passed, Patton pulled Roman further and further away from Remus. He tried to raise Roman as the perfect kid while neglecting Remus more and more. Janus did his best to take care of Remus, sneaking him over to Roman when Patton was away. As even more time went on, Janus saw more and more of Patton’s true colors. It wasn’t long before their first fight which led to more and more fights. The twins could only watch on. Then one day, when Janus left for work and had Patton watch the twins, he came home to find Roman sitting alone on the couch.

It was late when Janus came home. He shuts the door behind him and blinks when he looks up and sees Roman alone on the couch, the poor boy’s face stained with tears.

“Roman?” Janus calls.

Roman flinches and it concerns Janus.

“O-Oh, welcome home, Papa.” he greets, a faint sad smile on his face.

Janus gets his shoes and coat off before joining Roman. Oh dear. He’s trembling.

“Where’s your dad?” he asks.

Roman shifts and hesitates before answering.

“At the neighbor’s...They told dad they heard screaming and wanted to check but dad said they should talk outside…” he mumbles.

Janus frowns at that. Has Patton always lied to the neighbors? Patton hates lying. 

“And where is your brother?” he asks next.

Roman freezes at that and more tears slip out, his shoulders trembling.

“I-I don’t know...I-I...d-don’t know...I don’t know!” he chokes, hands balling into fists.

Janus frowns even more. What the hell did Patton do this time?

“Shh, it’s alright, Roman. We’ll find him. Do you know what your dad did with Remus?”

Roman hesitates again, looking around as if Patton were watching.

Janus notices and gently takes his hands, squeezing them both gently.

“Go on, little prince. You can tell Papa.” he soothes.

Roman sniffles, looking around again before answering again.

“D-Dad dragged him away...S-Said he was a bad twin and deserved nothing...I-I don’t know where dad put him but he said Remus deserves to be locked up…” he admits. 

Janus nods, anger boiling inside him. His sweet husband had become a monster. That was the final straw. He takes a deep breath and pulls Roman close.

“Don’t worry, my little hero. We’ll find your brother.”

After searching around and finding scratch marks in the hall, Janus found Remus in the basement and the twins were reunited. Roman and Remus broke down by then and told them how mean and awful Patton was. Patton had locked Remus away and left him there so he ‘wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore’ and focused on Roman. The screaming was Remus trying and failing to fight back. It angered Janus, seeing how Patton only cared for having the perfect child. 

When Patton returned, Janus confronted him and said he was filing for divorce. He was also taking the twins. After a month of arguing and appearing in court, Janus won custody which of course upset Patton. Janus then moved out with the twins and into a new home. Of course, it didn’t stop Patton from coming over now and then to see them. So Janus did what he could to protect the twins while he started looking for a place further away to move to. And possibly a restraining order on Patton as well. They haven’t had much luck on either of those goals but Janus hasn’t given up.

And now here he was again, dealing with Patton once more.

“Patton. It’s...nice to see you.” Janus says, a small but fake smile on his lips.

Patton grins.

“Aww, I missed you too, Janus! May I come in? Your home looks lovely!” he says, trying to act like he was still all sunshine and rainbows.

Janus rolls his eyes but lets Patton in, leading him to the living room. They sit in the living room.

“So, what brings you here again?” Janus asks.

Patton giggles.

“Can’t this dear old dad visit his old family?” he grins.

Janus holds back a growl and the urge to roll his eyes. Part of him wishes he broke out the wine before answering the door. 

“No. I thought I made it clear the last several times that you leave me and the twins alone.” he hisses.

Patton shifts, smiling awkwardly now like he still thinks he’s sweet.

“Oh come on, Jan. Let me see them! I miss my kiddos!”

“They’re not your kids anymore. You signed the papers.” Janus replies.

Patton glances up the stairs.

“I know but...can’t I at least visit? Or even say hi? I miss them!” he frowns, taking a step forward.

Janus quickly blocks Patton. They’re far from the stairs but Patton could try to bolt past him out of sheer ‘worry’ and get to them. Janus was not letting that happen. 

“Miss them or miss Roman?” Janus raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms.

“I miss them both!” Patton says, eyes wide and like he thinks he’s a cute puppy. 

Janus snaps.

“Lies!”

And the fighting starts up again, Patton arguing back about what he said followed by Janus hissing about his neglectful abuse. 

Meanwhile…

The twins had sat on their shared bed, holding each other close as they listened to their Papa arguing downstairs with da- with the monster. Remus whimpers, clinging to his older brother, tiny hands clutching onto the faded red disney tee. Roman hugs Remus and tries his best to comfort him.

“It’s okay, Ree. Papa’s gonna make the monster go away. I know it.” he assures his twin, trying to stay calm and brave for his twin.

Remus nods, eyes glassy and threatening to tear up.

“I hope so....I don’t like the monster. He’s gonna lock me up again.” he whispers. 

“No. He won’t. I’m not letting him take you away again.” Roman says determinedly now, holding his brother tighter. 

Remus only nods again in return as the yelling continues. He never did like getting yelled at. It was loud and scary. Like thunder. He hopes the yelling stops soon. Despite him and his brother being in the safety of their bedroom, it was still loud. Almost too loud. The monster was very loud, roaring over and over and over. It made Remus whimper again and tremble, hiding his face. 

“You okay, Ree?” Roman asks, hearing his twin whimper.

“T-Too loud.” Remus replies.

Roman hums and looks around before seeing their closet, left open and big enough to hide in. Funnily enough, the twins aren’t afraid of the closet monsters. They fear the one downstairs even more. Especially since he’s real. To them, the closet is a land they call the Imagination. And they were going there now to escape until the monster is gone and they can stop playing the Quiet Game. Roman takes Remus’ hand, grabbing his twin’s favorite stuffed octopus too for extra comfort before leading Remus towards the closet. He lets Remus in first then follows and shuts the door, leaving a tiny crack open just in case.

“Better?” Roman asks, giving Remus his octopus.

Remus relaxes a bit and nods.

“Yeah. Thank’s RoRo.” he replies, clutching onto his octopus friend.

The two cling to each other again, Roman watching through the crack in the door for Papa or the monster. So far he can hear the yelling which is more faint now with them both being in the closet. He hopes Papa is okay. Roman recalls him being upset whenever the monster fought with him. Poor Papa. 

Then, as Roman continues to watch, he hears Papa and the monster’s voices getting louder followed by footsteps. Roman feels his heart pound. The monster is coming. Unsure of what else to do, he shuts the closet door and pulls Remus close. His twin squeaks and clings to him. The yelling picks up.

“I told you to leave, Patton!”

“Not until I see my kiddos!”

“They’re not your kiddos! Leave them alone!”

“I’m taking them! They’re mine!”

“No, they aren’t!”

“Get out of my way, Janus!”

“You’re not taking MY kids!”

“I am! You can’t stop me!”

“No, but a restraining order will! Get out of my house!”

“But-”

“Out!”

Then it goes dead silent before more talking is heard. It’s quiet and muffled now. Footsteps are heard but they’re slower now.

Meanwhile…

Janus sighs and watches as Patton finally leaves the house. He sighs in relief, shutting the door and locking it. The monster is gone. At least for now. After giving himself a moment to calm down, Janus turns and heads upstairs to check on the twins. He opens their bedroom door to find it...empty? He looks around, worried for a moment when he hears a muffled voice from the closet. Sighing in relief, Janus makes his way towards the closet and knocks gently.

“Boys? It’s Papa.”

It’s silent for a moment then the closet door creaks open a bit, a wary green eye peeking through. Janus gives a soft gentle smile, assuring Roman it’s him. 

“Papa!”

The door then slides open fully and the twins scramble out and into Janus’ arms, sending them all to the floor. He’s glad his twins are safe and okay. The monster failed to lay its hands on them again.

“It’s alright. I’m here now. What were you doing in the closet, my little royals?” Janus asks, holding them both.

“Ree said it was too loud so we hid in the closet. When we heard footsteps and louder yelling, I shut the door. Just in case. I’m sorry if we broke any rules, Papa.” Roman explains.

Janus shakes his head and smiles softly, squeezing both his twins comfortingly.

“You didn’t break any rules. I’m glad you protected your little brother. Hopefully we never have to play the quiet game ever again but for today, you and Remus were brave.” he says.

Sure, they’re only eight and have been through four years of hell but he knows his boys are getting stronger and stronger each day. He knows they’ll make it to a much safer place than here. Someday. For now, he’ll have to keep them safe for as long as he can.

“You were brave too, Papa! You fought the monster away!” Remus adds, smiling now. 

Janus huffs a laugh, ruffling the twins’ hair.

“Of course. I have to protect my prince.” he boops Roman’s nose and then Remus’ “And my duke. I love you very much.”

The twins giggle, beaming again. A sight Janus will fight to keep on their faces for as long as they all live.

“Janus was my Dad first. That means you're the adopted one!” Virgil hissed back, moving to tug on one of Janus's arms, eyes pleading for his side to be taken.

That was clearly the worst thing Janus could do. Taking either side would be bad, but letting Remus feel rejected so soon after losing his brother and the complete rejection of Thomas knowing him could quite possibly destroy what control he'd maintained.

“When did you two decide that you aren't brothers? So far as I was aware I have 2 children to look after and oh, look at this, there are 2 children living with me.” Janus played surprised, counting his fingers and then the other sides in the room. “We all know that no matter what my role is, mathematics doesn't lie.”

Today he would work soft words to calm the boys down, and try to figure out just why they no longer believed themselves to be brothers. Hopefully tomorrow he would know how to resolve the argument properly.

/jrv\

It had been a long time since Janus had seen that specific glare on Remus's face and despite the urgent summons from Patton that had brought him there, he was very tempted to just fetch something from the kitchen before going to hide.

“Janus is my Dad. You can't Have Him!” Remus growled out, and yep, the glare was for exactly the same reason it always had been. That sounded like Virgil had mentioned liking having him as a Dad once more so their old feud was beginning all over again.

“Dude, it was Roman who said Janus acts like my Dad and he's always been that to me anyway. You can't dictate who my Parent is.” Virgil had almost hit Roman in the gesture towards him while glaring at Remus.

Patton was already hurrying over, ever ready to try calming down any argument. “Come on kiddo's. Being a Dad to one person doesn't mean you can't be to someone else. I thought you liked each other now so why not try-”

“WE AREN'T BROTHERS!” Janus had yanked his hat down to cover his ears just in time to muffle the combined scream of Remus and Virgil. He'd still never got a good explanation over why that decision was made but had learnt a million times over not to question it.

“Yes, that's been blatantly obvious as long as I've know you both. You're as different as Roman and Remus, I'm sure.” Janus drawled, mostly just to get the attention away from Patton before he tried again to suggest they could be.

It was almost too predictable that both sides he'd raised immediately gestured to the other angrily. “Tell him I'm your son and he isn't!”

“Hang on, Remus is my brother. Should I be included in this argument or not?” Roman's question only caused more arguing between Virgil and Remus, things Janus had heard them say a million times.

Only after Logan had emerged wondering what all the noise was about did Janus realise the vehemence wasn't in the argument any more. It was almost like the pair were just arguing over who he was a parent to as a way to reconnect with each other. Perhaps he wouldn't ask Patton what to tell them about who he was a parent to; not just yet anyway.

/VJR\

Remus and Virgil starting to date should have settled the issue.

Seriously, Janus could not believe that they still wanted to know who he was a true parent to after all this time and was honestly convinced that no side was actually a parent to any other. It wouldn't make sense for there to be parental relationships among the sides, given they were all just parts of what made up Thomas Sanders.

One thing was clear though and that between Roman, Remus and Virgil there had been an agreement struck that they were the children of the family and all children must have parents. Perhaps it was something to do with how they used the imagination to create and resolve situations or something, but the trio were resolute. If only they could be equally resolute on who was their assigned parents.

“JANUS IS MY DAD! PRODIGAL SON IF YOUR GOING TO QUOTE THE FUCKING BIBLE AT ME!!” Virgil's scream broke through what had been a quiet afternoon as he stormed out of his room and down into the living room.

Remus was already giving chase though. “MINE! At least I stuck with him and listen to the rules he makes!”

“That doesn't make you his son, it makes you a fucking suck-up!”Virgil hissed back. “Besides families have arguments sometimes. Don't try to claim otherwise cause I've seen how you react to your dearest brother.”

As ever when Roman was mentioned in a vaguely complimentary way he spoke up, “Well how about that, I already have a Dad, so maybe Janus actually is Virgil's dad after all.”

Only a beat of silenced passed before Remus was screaming, wailing almost over being the rejected son, abandoned at birth, with Virgil wrapped around him and glaring for anybody to agree with Roman.

“No no no, Octospider, you weren't. You were always loved and I can't imagine anybody doing something like that. Janus must be your Dad, cause nobody could bare to lose a wonderful gremlin like you.” The crooning words made all the other sides, now all present after hearing the screams, freeze.

Patton had been moving forwards at Roman's reasoning to agree and make some dad jokes to try and finally settle the ongoing dispute, never thinking about what that would mean given the divide split the sides for most of Thomas's life. Now he could only hope Roman had some other idea that would calm them both down whenever the brother comment was actually questioned and glanced to Janus to check how he'd taken Virgil's change of heart.

Janus had already moved to join Virgil in holding Remus, “There we go Darling. I'm your Dad, and have always kept you with me. Nobody has been rejecting you here, just hoarding your madness all for myself. It was far to precious to even dream of sharing when you were younger.”

“B-b-b-But Patton Hates me and he's Roman's Dad, how – how can I be yours when my brother is his?” Remus managed to ask, burying himself in Virgil's hoodie after asking the question. It looked like there could be tentacles as well as arms tying Remus to his boyfriend as he continued to wail.

“Must have been a really messy break up, I guess. We're like Parent Swap twins. Janus and Patton had such a big falling out they each took one of us and vowed to never see each other again.” Roman mused, nodding encouragingly at the questioning glances he got from the 3 other sides still standing.

Virgil's arms tightened then, his eyeshadow lengthening on his face, even as he kept up soothing strokes over Remus's back. “So I was the abandoned child then?”

“We are all the same age, Virgil. I don't think any of us even have parents, let alone understand all this drama for seeking them out.” Logan began, only to be cut of by a small cheer Roman made.

“Adopted out, I believe. After all our teacher was far too focused on making Thomas learn all the things and discover even more for much of our youth, but as soon as you started becoming known to Thomas was more than ready to help you through your worries.” Roman had moved over to Logan's side while speaking, listing out his reasoning excitedly. “Therefore we must believe that Logan is your Dad, Dearest Nightmare, but found himself unable to care for you and help Thomas with learning everything a young mind can so asked if Janus might raise you instead.”

Remus peeked out of the hoodie now, glancing suspiciously from Logan to Virgil's face. “I copied my eyeshadow from you. You just started getting it some mornings. Was that cause you couldn't try to steal Logan's glasses? I can make you some now if you like?” He offered.

“No need. Though I guess we need to find some other random thing to argue over now. Who's the better kisser perhaps?” Virgil offered, snickering at the confused glances they were now being shot.

Remus just pulled him down into a kiss before darting away. “I already won that one. What other suggestions do you have?”

Virgil watched him leave getting to his feet after a moment. “Thanks for the solution Roman, but seriously, if you ever upset Remus by making him feel abandoned again all the spiders in the house will find their way to your room, possibly including the ones from the imagination too.” With those parting words he hurried to follow Remus.

“Young love?” Patton asked, somewhere between thinking the scene was adorable and wondering what on earth just happened. Janus could only nod, feeling exactly the same over the two sides he had raised.