Alternate Title: It's Getting Late

Prompt: A request from -KingDonnie- and a sequel to Scientific Discoveries

AU: Human AU

TW: None

WC: 1092

Date: 12/26/2020

There had been a few unspoken rules to their little game, something that Logan noticed as time wore on. He wasn't sure he would even call them official rules, but they were there and Logan felt their presence. Deceit didn't like giving straightforward answers, and he seemed to especially enjoy messing with Logan, so that was the first rule. Logan had to learn Deceit's tells. Without knowing the tells he would never be sure what information was real and what wasn't. He wasn't sure if he was meant to figure out the second rule but he had always been a fan of patterns.

Deceit would only answer 5 questions related to their game, after the fifth question he would say the same thing he had said to Logan that first night, 'It's getting late. You should probably head home.' It was like his own way of ending their time for the day, a way of telling Logan that his time with Deceit was up.

With these new rules, Logan found himself asking more and more off-topic questions. This helped him learn Deceit's tells, but it also helped him stretch their time together. Logan was curious about the man whose eyes changed with his outfits. He found reasons to stay later with the gardener who answered questions like a metaphorical snake. It was Logan's own game, to see how long he could spend with a man who had stolen his attention.

"Are you the only person who lives here? It seems rather difficult to care for a place so big all by yourself."

"Yes."

He should have known better than to make a statement afterward. It always muddled Deceit's one-word answers. Logan wasn't sure if he meant yes, it was difficult, or yes, he was the only one. Either way, he pushed on.

"I personally don't think I would enjoy being alone all of the time. Though it might help my productivity, I have found that it can also make things a bit more challenging for my mental health."

"It can be a challenge." That was another thing about their game, or at least, their meetings. Logan had managed to learn a lot about Deceit, his love for the language of flowers and how many of the most beautiful blooms were poisonous. His adoration for language in general. It was hard to get Deceit talking but when he did it was always interesting. Logan had also learned that Deceit had worked for a law firm, something that seemed to contradict Deceit's heavy-handed nature when it came to self-care. Logan was building a picture, piece by piece, and honestly, he thought he had most of it figured out.

Logan had put together that Deceit was a man named Janus Aldalwa, a lawyer who had had an impressive track record and a strong future in his career. Then, suddenly, he left and moved here. The house, it seemed, was an old family home, passed down through generations. That had originally made Logan believe that someone in Janus' family had died recently, but all records he could find stated Janus had been in possession of the family home for years and had only moved in recently. The move spoke to other motives; motives that Logan had an inkling about.

He didn't want the game to end, but he had to ask. "Is that why you left? The loneliness?"

From what Logan had read, Janus had made a lot of enemies in the name of his profession. More so than normal for a lawyer. That information had been harder to find, Logan even went so far as to call the law firm posing as a prospective employer. Janus had traded tact for strength and many people thought him the villain for it.

"No."

That was a lie. Janus was pulling on his gloves, a small tick he did when the conversation got too close and personal. The normal satisfaction that Logan got from figuring out a puzzle wasn't there as he instead moved the conversation along to ease Janus' stress.

"My best friend Roman is loud, obnoxious, and sometimes I wonder why I am friends with him. However, he is loyal, and he is always there when I need him to be. He is caring and I can't imagine how lonely I would be without him as a friend."

"He sounds like a character." There was a bit of sarcasm in his voice.

Logan ignored it. "He is, but much like most extroverts, he forced his way into my life."

"The way you have forced your way into mine."

Logan frowned, "You could put it that way, do you mind?"

"Oh absolutely, this last week and a half of companionship has been dreadful."

Logan, thankfully, could tell that Janus was teasing. "We are nearing the end of our game. What happens after that?"

"Yes," Janus replied with a cheeky smile.

Logan rolled his eyes but smiled. He had a thought, and there was no harm in asking. "Even when our game ends, would you prefer if I kept coming to keep you company?" He took a step closer toward Janus, watching the hesitance. Janus had always had the upper hand in their games, but Logan had knowledge, and maybe just a little bit of bravado.

"Yes,"

"Can I start calling you Janus?"

There was a look of surprise but a fond smirk fell on Janus' lip. "Yes," For the moment, Logan had the upper hand. It didn't seem like Janus wanted him to have it though. His eyes shifted over Logan, looking for an opportunity. Logan had no desire to give it to him, not yet.

"Are your feelings for me more than platonic?"

That had been Janus' opportunity apparently. He surged forward, kissing Logan. It was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Logan was completely taken off guard as Janus held him in place. That had not been a yes or no answer, but Logan happily accepted the kiss, returning it with shy passion.

"It's getting late." Janus pulled away slowly, his lips twitching to form the last words, but Logan wasn't going to let him. Not this time.

"Can I come in?"

There was a brief moment of being startled before Janus blinked, a smirk sliding onto his face. He acted like he was debating it before letting go of Logan, "Yes."

He turned, making his way toward the entrance to the house, and Logan followed. The house might not have been haunted, but Logan discovered something much more interesting. 

AN: Woo! I managed to get both out today, remember that I'm trying to post for the next week or so, so keep tuned in! If you want to hang out my discord is listed below.

https://discord.gg/9nmhGMTyRs