Crown Prince Janus Deceit Black, otherwise known as Deceit or Dee by those close to him, was not an unkind man by any means. In fact, his boyfriend of nearly two years now would probably fight and kill anybody who said otherwise. But that's just the kind of boyfriend he had. Janus himself though was not unkind. He was smart, resourceful, a tad bit manipulative, and as it had been mentioned before he may have an attitude problem. Though some may just call that sass and charisma.

But the Crown Prince of the Dark Realm kingdom was not an unkind man. In fact, even as a small child Janus had proved that one day he would make a wonderful king. He was a good leader and a fair judge. He had a sharp and quick tongue, much like his brother, and was proficient in many academic subjects.

Nobody in the Dark realm had been concerned about the safety the kingdom would be left in once the mantel of king was passed from father to son. They knew that even if the king were to pass before it had been passed along that the kingdom would be left in capable hands that would lead the kingdom into prosperity and safety.

But nobody was expecting the events that happened a few days ago to transpire. Nobody was expecting for King Harper to be slain, or for the Crown Prince to be taken with many of his subjects. And with Prince Virgil's disappearance, the next in line to the thrown would technically be King Harper's younger brother, Prince Hollis, but yet five days after the event he had yet to take the role as acting king. This was something that the invaders of the Dark realm had reminded the kidnapped prince and his lover several times these past few days.

Currently, the prince was kneeling in front of a small cot that had recently placed in a few of the other cells in the large prison. Remus was laying down in it, waking from an uneasy sleep. Remus's brow was covered in sweat and dried blood and dirt had stuck to his skin. He was a pale sickly color and didn't look healthy. During the invasion, Remus had been badly injured and the wound had become infected, triggering a fever. He wasn't doing well and Janus was terribly worried.

"Dee-Dee?" Remus called out as he attempted to sit up.

Instantly Janus jumped closer to the bed, his eyes wide with fear and worry, "Hey Ree," Janus said as he held Remus's hand, "Don't sit up okay? You're not doing well, Love"

Remus squirmed uncomfortably under the thin blanket and Janus's cape, "It's too hot" he mumbled, "you gotta stop being so pretty, it's making me sick" Remus smiled at Janus as the other tried his best to return it. Remus closed his eyes again before attempting to push the layers off of him but was stopped by Janus.

"No Love, you have to stay covered love. It's cold in here, and you need to get better"

"Too hot," Remus repeated as he continued to shift uncomfortably. After a moment though he stopped again, "hugs?"

Janus smiled at him gently, "I thought you were hot,"

"I am hot," Remus whispered, "I'm fuckin smoking, second-most attractive man in this whole damn building."

"Second?"

"Gotta have more faith Dee, nobody's more smoking than you... hugs" Remus turned on his side and moved to the back of the cot as he held his arms out to Janus. Janus smiled lightly before crawling next to him in the narrow cot. Remus sighed with content as he curled up into Janus's body, despite the ex-prince being bigger than Janus was he had always liked being the small spoon. And while at first, it had felt uncomfortable and odd Janus had quickly learned to love how his boyfriend enjoyed being held.

Both Janus and his brother had never been very fond of touch. Virgil had a fear of it that was hard for him to hide. Janus's discomfort with touching was just that, it made him uncomfortable, it had for a few years now, the scales that he had been given were sensitive and he was very insecure about them.

But Remus wasn't like that. Remus was comforted by touch and became touch starved very easily, he liked hugs and being held and since Virgil was afraid of touch and asking your boyfriends' father for a hug was weird even for him Janus was the receiver of many of them. Not that he wanted it any other way, Janus tended to become easily jealous, and seeing his boyfriend cuddling with another person would most certainly agitate him.

Remus knew though, that Janus's scales were sensitive and how he felt about them. He was always gentle and kind and Remus would always compliment him and assure him that scales or no scales he was loved. That was probably the main reason Janus didn't mind it as much when Remus touched him compared to when others did.

"Dee-dee," Remus mumbled into Janus's shoulder, Janus hummed to show he had heard him, "What are we gonna do?"

Janus said nothing for a moment and then felt Remus cuddle closer to him, "It's gonna be fine Remus"

"Liar," Remus whispered. He was silent for a long time, both of them were. After a few minutes, Janus had figured Remus had fallen asleep again but then Remus spoke again "They're gonna go after the light realm next, aren't they?"

"That's what he said, yes,"

Remus shifted again, trying to find a comfortable and cool spot amongst the blankets and Janus's body heat, "My parents," He whispered, "And Roman..."

"I know Love" Janus whispered when he felt Remus's body start to shake as he tried to hold back tears, "It's gonna be alright Love"

"Dee? Don't let them hurt Roman alright? Ple-please Dee, don't let them hurt him"

Janus rubbed an ungloved hand up and down Remus's back, "Are you still mad at them?" Janus asked softly, "You don't talk about it a lot,"

Remus sighed, "Not at Ro"

"And your parents?"

"I don't know... but they're gonna be gone soon anyway... They killed Mr. Harper" Remus had been calling Janus's father Mr. Harper for a while now. He used to say 'your majesty' but as Remus had become closer to Janus and Virgil, King Harper had insisted Remus call him by his first name. Instead, Remus had started calling him Mr. Harper. The King had had a good laugh over that. "I'm sorry... they're gonna kill mine too, aren't they?"

Janus sighed as he wiped away the tears poking at his face, "Remus, it's gonna be alright. I promise." Janus told him sternly, "You saved Virgil, he's safe and he and my uncle are gonna stop them. It'll be fine. We're gonna be fine"

Remus shook his head, "Liar"

*****

The smell of fresh pancakes, hot coffee, and other breakfast foods had drifted under the cracks of the bedroom doors and gently called the members of the house to the dining room. River and his siblings were already seated. Ronnie and Randi sat at the island digging into their pancakes with chocolate milk. Ryder and River were both eating at a much calmer pace. In the center of the table sat a small stack of pancakes, a mountain of eggs, bacon, and sausage, and a basket of strawberries. Syrup, sugar, jellies, and many more breakfast condiments had been set out as well. A jug of fresh milk and a steaming pot of coffee had been set at the edge, the table was fully prepared to seat the rest of the members in the house. And standing behind the stove, cooking the last bit of food was Patton, a bright smile on his face as he hummed a song to himself and an apron tied around his waist.

Roman and Logan were the first of the older residents in the house to arrive at the table. They looked at the setup with faces that confirmed they were impressed but neither were surprised. The next was Prince Hollis, who definitely was surprised. "I don't think I've had a breakfast like this since I left the castle, thank you," He admitted as he took a seat.

Lastly, Virgil appeared. He was wearing a black robe with purple patches and dark-colored clothes beneath it. He was just finishing closing the button on the robe when he stopped and stared at the full table, 'I didn't know my uncle had this much food' Virgil signed.

"Neither did I," Prince Hollis mumbled as he chewed on a strip of bacon, "How did you even make all this?"

Patton smiled at them "Ann and Logan aren't the only ones with magic your highness" Patton said as he dumped the last of the bacon onto the plate.

"Patton's always had a talent for cooking," Roman explained, "He's won a bunch of competitions and has been training with one of the best cooks in the Light Kingdom"

Patton blushed at the mention of his many winnings, he wasn't someone who enjoyed bragging. "I just figured that whatever we didn't eat we could send to the hospital, I know it won't feed everyone there but I do hope it helps a little bit,"

"I'm sure everyone will be thankful for this Patton," Virgil's uncle said, giving the young man a thankful look as Patton took a seat in between River and Virgil.

The table was quiet as they all began to eat, the only ones talking were Ronnie and Randie who was giggling and talking excitedly as they decorated their pancakes with syrups and jams of different colors. River kept taking glances back at them, it was very noticeable since he had been seated with his back to them but nobody really commented on it. Ryder still looked exhausted and slightly sick as she slowly chewed on her food. Virgil and his uncle had started up a quiet and whispered conversation, Virgil using signs he hadn't yet taught to the others to communicate. Logan and Patton were both looking over at Roman every once in a while, who was staring out the window and into Prince Hollis's backyard as he ate.

Eventually, Logan looked up and attempted to start a conversation of his own with Ryder about how she was feeling and how well the spell worked. She gave mumbled answers at first but slowly grew more comfortable and started critiquing the work a little more. There were three of the Somnum children actually could do magic like Logan and Virgil could, including Ryder. She had asked him why he had used a spell so complicated when there were easier and more efficient spells that could do the same job. That's how Logan had learned that traditions weren't the only thing the Dark Realm tried to keep secret, spells were too. Virgil ended up promising Logan he could have some of the spellbooks Janus had already studied just to get him to stop asking hundreds of questions about it and making Ryder nervous.

"Virgil please-!" Prince Hollis said loudly near the end of breakfast. The Light Realm guests looked towards the two while the group of siblings immediately busied themselves with conversations and looking in other directions. Prince Hollis glanced at the other members of the table before lowering his voice again. After a few more moments of the hushed conversation, the two ended up excusing themselves from the table to finish the conversation elsewhere.

Normal conversation slowly returned to the table, River talking to Patton, Logan to Ryder, and Roman to Ronnie and Randi who had started begging him to let them see the horses that Prince Hollis had allowed them to move into the stables. Ronnie had apparently started bragging to Randi about getting to ride one of the horses and Randi, being three, was not only severely jealous but thought that getting to ride a horse was the best thing that could ever happen to a person. Roman smiled at the two little kids, realizing now that the two (and definitely baby Mike who was still sleeping in the bedroom) probably didn't quite realize the gravity of the situation they were in.

He had always wanted a sibling with a larger age gap than the one he and Remus had. Once Remus had left though, he had only wanted his brother back. Sure, they may have fought and disagreed on many things but Roman had- did- love his brother. They were siblings, twins, Remus was the first friend he had ever had. They would always take care of each other when the other was upset.

Except the day he left.

Roman wasn't there for him then, he couldn't help.

Something had happened.

Remus got upset over something. Roman didn't know until it was too late, and he understood his brothers anger. But Remus had gotten mad. A few other things must have happened because suddenly Remus was running out in the middle of lunch with their parents. He hadn't come home that night, the next morning his father sent out the guard. Two days later they returned with a bag of his things and five men, three of which had blood-stained clothing, and one of them was walking with a fresh limp. The guard said they found the men looking through Remus's things, his body not too far away but it had been set on fire and they had decided against bringing the body back with them.

The way his whole world seemed to crumble all around him was something he would always remember. The sound that his mother made when they said the words was a sound he would never forget. The way his father's face turned from hopeful worry to absolute horror and pain would forever be engraved in his memory.

Seven days later, as was customary in their kingdom, Roman was named Crown Prince of the Light Realm.

Neither Roman nor Remus had been given the title at birth. In their kingdom, it was tradition to wait for the twins to grow up and announce the crown heir on their eighteenth birthday. The brothers had never really thought much about the title either. It wasn't a competition for them and for the most part both had thought the other was sure to get it. Remus knew Roman had a much better relationship with the villagers and knew that Roman was much better at socializing and wooing the politicians and other people their parents had them meet. But Roman knew Remus was much stronger when it came to military strategy, fighting and defending himself. Remus was better under stressful situations and while both were strong leaders Roman had thought, that seeing as they were in the middle of a war their parents were bound to choose the brother who had a better chance at protecting their kingdom as a potential king.

Neither brother had much cared for the title either. They knew that no matter what they'd still be welcome in the castle. That they'd always be their brother's, righthand man. That they'd always have a place in the king's council.

So neither had fought for the title very much. And the title of crown prince wasn't supposed to have been given to either of them at the title.

But with his death.

Or what they had thought had been his death.

There was no other heir besides him left.

There was no reason to not name him crown heir.

And besides, it was tradition.

It was the law.

It's how it was supposed to be.