Fear Will Be Your Enemy

Paranoia Strikes Deep

Lust had been moved to Logan's room, where he would be well out of the way. Word had gotten around to the others that Lust had attempted suicide, and though it was Christmas morning, everyone was solemn. Apathy had opened presents, but nobody else was particularly interested. That was, until, Janus showed up, his face red from crying, and half curled up in his husband's arms. Patton quietly sat down on the floor. 

Emile and Logan had stayed with Lust, and there was still no Virgil. Everyone could tell there had been a big blow out between Janus and Virgil- but they made no comment. Remus simply wrapped an arm around Janus, kissing his temple and massaging his back as the side stared blankly out the window.

Remus cleared his throat, dragging the attention from Janus onto himself. "Well guys, let's not make Thomas feel too bad on Christmas! Why don't we open some presents? I'll start," he selected the gift that had his name on it, tearing it open dramatically.

"That was from me," Roman said, grinning as Remus stared at the book in his lap. It was full of recipes that seemed to be Halloween themed- edible 'eyeballs', pickled 'brains', etc. "So that you can make that sort of stuff without actually poisoning anybody!" He laughed but clearly winced when Nero whimpered at the word 'poison'. Roman murmured an apology.

"Thanks a ton, Ro-bro," Remus said loudly, struggling to keep the mood up. "Roman, why don't you open yours now,"

"I don't think that in secret Santa you're supposed to tell everyone who gave the present-" began Greed, but he was quickly shushed. The air got a little lighter, as laughter filled the air, only darkening when Nero was given his present. 

When nobody claimed the new pair of boots were from them, he cringed, holding them with his knuckles white. These were from Lust, he thought. Lust, who had poisoned himself. Lust, who he may never get to thank. Lust... Nero muttered something inaudible and scurried off to his room, unable to stand the presence of everyone any longer. This was all far too full of triggers.

Everyone opened the rest of their presents until there were just four under the tree. The one for Logan and the one for Emile, who hadn't come down yet, the one for Lust, and the one for Virgil. Remus squeezed his husband's hand, leading him to his feet. "Patton?" Remus asked, turning to the moral side. "Could you watch Apathy for a bit? Jay needs some time." Patton looked at Janus, a sad frown on his face, and nodded.

Remus lead Janus from the room and back to the old dark side commons- which had fallen relatively out of use after they had been accepted- where they sat on the beat-up, leather couch. "What's wrong, JJ? Did something happen when you went to see Honesty?"

Janus just sat there in a state of shell-shocked sadness, his lips squirming as he tried to form words. "V-Virgil..." he mumbled, before shattering. Janus broke down, sobbing into Remus's arms. Remus held him tightly, caught off guard by the sudden emotion, but he hugged and comforted him.

"What happened with Virgil, snakey?" Remus asked quietly, taking Janus's hat from his head and combing his finger's through his husband's hair.

"W-we lost him. God, I thought I was better, Remus! ...It just feels like a cycle I can't break. He was my best friend- the youngest of the dark sides. It... it hurt so bad the first time he left. For such a long, long time. But... but... I thought..." his voice cracked, a shudder rippling through his body as he managed a broken whisper. "I thought we had made up- talked it over. I didn't think... that he could still hate me like that."

Remus couldn't believe his ears. After Virgil had promised that he had 'never hated the others' even after he left! He had promised, all those months ago, on their walk through the imagination when Remus still had Hanahaki. How could he have made Janus feel this way? There must be some mistake... "Virgil doesn't hate you, love, I'm sure that-"