Chapter Text
Roman stumbled through his front door, exhausted. He couldn't stop worrying about what happened. Any day now, he was expecting someone to burst into his office, fire him, and probably arrest him on the spot. So far, nothing had happened.
Inside, he saw Janus on the couch, watching the small T.V. Roman smiled faintly and turned on the radio, an upbeat song playing this time. Janus swung around, frowning, but quickly stood up and smiled. It… wasn't genuine. It was good enough for Roman.
Janus held Roman in a dancing position, a trace of a strange anger flickering through his eyes, and kissed Roman's forehead. Roman couldn't keep the confusion and worry from his face as he cupped Janus's tattooed cheek in his hand.
"What's wrong, Mi Amoré?"
"Nothing, just a stressful day."
While Roman didn't really believe him, he put it aside for now and just danced, then made some food. He and Janus went to sit on the couch and watch T.V. together while they ate. Something felt off.
Roman spoke up, "So what happened today?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit."
"Leave it alone."
"Why should I?"
"Because."
"Because why?" Roman teased, mostly joking.
"Because it's your fault," Janus muttered angrily, causing Roman to stop.
What? What was his fault? He didn't even have any calls over on this side of town today. What was he talking about?
"I didn't mean that…" Janus said regretfully. "But if you want to hear it so bad, fine. “ A sense of dread was in the air. He refused to look at Roman, staring dead ahead at the T.V. “I killed Jonathon today."
Roman's blood ran ice cold. "What…?” he whispered, too shocked to react yet.
“He knew too much, we couldn’t trust him.”
“So you killed him???” Roman shouted, standing up in anger.
"This is why I didn't tell you. I knew you wouldn't understand."
"Understand? This isn't a matter of understanding! You killed a man!"
"It's not the first time," he muttered,
“That doesn’t mean you should ever do it again! That isn’t right, Janus! That is a person! Why would you ever think that’s okay?”
“I never said it was okay!” Janus said, standing up as well, “I just told you I had to! You said it yourself, our lives, everything we have ever worked for could have easily been destroyed by him and I was not going to let that happen. I never said it was okay."
Roman shook his head, tears in his eyes. "I…" He turned and ran upstairs, Janus immediately following him.
"Roman!"
"No!" He closed himself in a room and sat against the door.
"Roman, what else was I supposed to do? Between both of our lives and his, I had to choose one. I chose us." Janus paused, kneeled down at the door, trying to figure out what to say to him. "He wasn't a good person, if that helps. I mean, I'm sure it doesn't but I don't know what else to tell you. It's my job? I didn't make him suffer?" Silence. Janus sighed. "Ro, I was scared. I did the only thing I could think to do."
He heard the door click unlocked and looked up a bit hopefully. Roman stared down, glaring harshly, and then stepped past him. "You don't just kill people to save yourself."
Janus stood, biting his tongue and already regretting his reply. "That's what you and the force do too though, isn't it? Kill criminals for your 'greater good?'"
"Don't. You know that's not up to me. All I do is catch the criminals, I don't kill them."
"... I know. Can we just forge-"
"No. I'm not forgetting this one. I'll ignore it, but I'm not forgetting."
"Fine, then I'm not forgetting either. Things aren't as good and just as you want them to be! I can't just take back what I did to make it better. It's… too late."
"That's why you don't do it in the first place!"
"I know! Now! But you could've been arrested and I could have died. The stakes were too high. He could have offered your precious cops the information and gotten away with what he had done. He was in the position to make a deal. What else was I supposed to do?"
Roman stopped in his tracks. He sighed. "Like I know…" He sat on the top step of the stairs. "Clearly I'm not exactly the best moral compass either."
Janus walked over and sat down next to him, Roman's head finding a place on his shoulder. "You haven't done anything wrong, Ro. You're trying. That's… good."
"You suck at pep talks. And apologies."
Janus chuckled. "I know. But you deal with it."
"Yeah…" Roman paused. "I didn't know anything about the real world when I first set out to be the 'good guy.' I… don't think there is one. Whatever 'side' you're on doesn't matter. The cops are pretty much as messed up as anyone else in this stupid city. And all I'm doing is helping what I think might be the lesser of two evils."
Janus yawned. "You're wrong. There is a good guy." He kissed Roman's forehead. "You."
"That's cheesy as hell."
"Too bad. Come on, let's go to bed. We need some sleep."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Ro, wake up. You're gonna be late for work."
Roman rubbed his eyes and stretched. "Hmm? Okay, I'll go make breakfast."
He heard Janus laugh exasperatedly. "You don't get it, Ro. You're supposed to be there in half an hour. You're late. I made breakfast instead."
Roman shook his head, still not quite awake. "What? I'm… oh!" He snapped up. "Oh shit!"
"... There you go."
"I gotta go!" Roman ran to his drawer, grabbed some clothes, and ran into the bathroom to get ready.
Janus sighed. Roman would remember yesterday eventually. And then he'd be upset again.
Roman rushed out of the bathroom and hugged Janus.
"I've got some negotiations today, but they should go well. You shouldn't have any problems with me today."
"Okay. Thanks." Roman quickly kissed Janus before he left.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on, come on!" Roman held back his panic. He had never called for backup over here before, but he had no choice this time. This wasn't a little scuffle like usual. People were really going to get hurt, if they weren't already.
Within a couple of minutes, the sirens of his help were here and he ran after the fugitives. Soon he heard several footsteps behind him and he had the target in sight. Shit. Of course it was Janus. He pulled out his gun, not sure what he was going to do with it and kept running. He couldn't back off now, he had at least two officers behind him, and several civilians not too far away. But he couldn't catch him either.
Janus glanced behind him and Roman saw his cool look melt away to panic. He realized the scenario too. There was a fence quickly approaching, and Roman had to make a decision quick.
Janus scrambled over the fence, his lead shrinking quickly. Just as he was about to drop down the other side, Roman clenched his teeth, aimed, and fired.
He screamed out, his lower leg seared with pain. Somehow, he limped over to the car that was waiting for him and shouted at the driver to go. Police, including Roman, were close behind, though slowed by the fence. Janus rolled into the car just as it began driving away, hissing in agony as the adrenaline wore off.
~~~~~~~~~~
Janus got home late, having stayed away for a few hours to patch himself up and be angry at Roman. He didn't particularly want to start another fight. At least he had his cane to help him walk. This would be much more of a problem without it.
So, he stumbled through the door at some ungodly hour in the morning, calling, "Roman? You awake?"
"Janus?"
He followed Roman's voice to see him just woken up on the kitchen floor beneath the radio. Goddamnit. "You… fell asleep waiting for me?"
"I guess." He sleepily asked, "How was work?"
"Fine. Would've been better if you hadn't shot me."
"Oh, god, Jan! I-Shit I'm sorry."
"It's fine… I meant it as more of a joke anyways."
"Asshole."
Janus laughed. "Sure. Now, come on. Get up."
"Why…" Roman whined stubbornly.
"Because this 'asshole' is gonna dance with you," he replied, turning on the radio. Some classical song, probably intended to put people to sleep. It'd do.
Roman clapped sleepily and stood up, draping his arms around Janus' shoulders and then pausing. "Wait no! Your leg…"
"Yeah? Well…" Janus dragged a nearby chair over and sat down. "That make you feel better?"
"Well yes. But how are you going to dance if you can't stand?"
"Get down here and you'll see." Roman kneeled down next to him with a puzzled expression. "No." Janus sighed. "Stand up and come here." Once he did, Janus tugged him down so he was sitting on his lap. "Like that," he said with a smirk, all of this causing Roman to turn red.
"Janus!"
"What? Now we're on the same level."
Roman humphed stubbornly and Janus took his hands and started swaying with him to the music. As they went on, Roman relaxed and danced along. He slowly sunk, eventually resting his head on his shoulder. Janus kissed the top of Roman's head, feeling tired himself.
"Okay, time to go to bed, Ro."
"Time for you to get more nicknames for me."
"Sure. Now come on, you need to wake up as on time as possible in the morning."
"Okay, my knight."
"I'm no knight. Come on, off to bed."
Roman got up, but seemed insistent on continuing the conversation. "Well I don't care, I'll call you a knight if I want. My handsome, handsome knight."
Janus was thankful Roman was mostly turned away from him because he was tomato red after that. He didn't handle compliments well. Faking calmness, he said, "Well then if I'm your knight, you're my sleepy little prince."
"I like that," Roman said, reaching the bedroom and climbing into bed, not bothering to change. Janus followed suit.
"Of course you do, Princey."