Sanders Sides Oneshots

Home Pt.1 ~ Demus

TW: Swearing, the army, social bullying

"Anyone you're waiting to see?" Ryan asked his friend, Milo, as the plane landed at the airport.

Milo smiled softly. "My girlfriend. She's such an angel, I miss her."

Ryan nodded, turning to look out of the small, oval window. "I can't wait to see my mom. She hated the idea of me joinin' the army. Said I'd be killed for sure."

Milo looked around the chatty cabin and leaned closer to his friend. "I can bet who's got no one waiting for him..."

The two friends looked pointedly to the one member of their squadron who no one liked, and it looked like they weren't the only ones thinking it. Janus Repiv didn't need anyone, it seemed. They all knew that his father had given him up for adoption at thirteen once his mother left and that not a single foster parent had wanted him because of his 'ugly' birthmark and green-yellow eyes.

Janus Repiv wasn't nice to anyone and, even on this crowded plane, he sat alone, in his uniform. No one was next to him and he seemed completely fine with that, staring blandly at the concrete.

"Come on, Milo, even he has to have someone," Ryan tried, but it was obvious he was faking politeness. Janus Repiv didn't seem like the man to love someone. Like the man to have a family, whether he married into the family, was adopted into the family or produced the family. He was rude, harsh and snappy on his best days. He had quickly established a hostile attitude by lying to most people on the squadron, spreading slander easily. Somehow, though, the man 'in charge', Thomas Sanders, seemed to think he was great.

Thomas had saved Janus's' life multiple times and had kept him in the army for so long. At least Janus had the graciousness to repay the man with some form of kindness.

Milo rolled his eyes as the squadron was instructed to stand up. "Be honest, Ryan, Thomas is gonna ask him, 'Oh, are you gonna meet anyone?' And Janus is gonna say some dark, angsty, 'No one wants me,' kind of line."

"Yeah, you're right," They got their luggage from the shelves above them.

Thomas quickly stood up to gain order. "Men!" He called out and the soldiers stood to attention. Thomas glared at them all until a smile burst onto his face. "We're home."

The squadron took the time to smile about what home meant to them while Ryan and Milo stole a glance to Janus. The snake of a man actually had a smile on his face. That was new. Janus didn't smile. Janus didn't smile about anything.

Everyone started walking down the small walkways, all eagerly chatting about their wives and children, their mothers and fathers, their brothers and sisters, their friends and pets. Janus only pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it. A single, plaid band of silver sat on it, shining and sparkling, as if he had taken care of it.

Ryan and Milo glanced at each other suspiciously. They quietly approached the man from behind and then Ryan quickly engaged him in conversation.

"So, Janus!" He said loudly, catching everyone's' attention as the pace in the tunnel slowed down. Janus shut the box hurriedly and hid it in his fist. "You hopin' to see someone special? Got your heart set on anyone turning up?"

Janus shot him a sharp glare. "What do you think?"

Ryan shrugged. "I don't know, that's why I'm asking."

"I bet he doesn't," A man named Alex said from upfront. "Repiv doesn't need anyone, that's what he's made pretty clear!"

Janus balled his fists.

Harry, the second youngest of the troops, burst out laughing. "Oh, my god, can you imagine? Janus running over to some little lady in the crowd!"

Milo quickly pressed down on the other side of Janus. "So, what was in that box you had out earlier?"

"Ooh," Chorused the rest of the men, like they were children.

"None of your business..." Growled Janus lowly in reply.

"Yeah, but what was in it?" Ethan asked loudly. "A picture or something?"

Alex snorted. "I bet it was a pretty picture of his family that dumped him at that orphanage-"

"Shut up, Alex, you don't know who the hell I'm waiting for!" Janus yelled, making the entire squadron stop. "You don't even fucking know me, so shut up! I don't give a shit about that family, I have another family, and you can bloody well fuck off!" Everyone was silent but Janus kept shouting. He always got the worst of it from Alex. Alex would taunt and tease him constantly. "I just want to see my son, see my husband, and never see any of you fuckers again! Can you blame me for wanting to look at my wedding ring? No, you can't! So leave me the fuck alone!"

The soldiers were silent at Janus's' outburst. In the four years they had all been serving away from America, he hadn't raised his voice once. And he seemed like he wasn't done yet.

"Can't you just let me fucking have this memory without your stupid ass tainting it? It's been four years! My son has grown up four years since I was last home, and I just want to see him again and you decide that today's a great day to make fun of the freaky one!" He waited, as if almost goading them into speaking. Then, he harshly asked, "So, do you get it now? That I am not gonna take your bullshit today? Good. Because I am gonna walk out on your asses, bye, bitches, I'm gonna see my family and friends again, don't know about you whores."

And he confidently stalked past everyone, popping open the tiny box and pulling out the ring. Engraved in the band were the letters, 'R + J', bottled in a perfect heart. Janus slipped it on his finger and they all heard him leave.

Thomas left the plane finally and observed his squadron, frozen in place. He tilted his head. "You guys seriously had no idea he was gay?" Was all he said.