Roman watched Freddie round the corner before turning to check on Janus. He expected the other boy to be on his feet, a sharp insult or retort on his tongue about how he didn't need Roman's help. Really, Roman would deserve it.

That wasn't the case. Janus was still sat on the floor, his eyes fixed on his shoes. Roman dropped down beside him.

"Janus, I'm so sorry." He said. Janus hunched himself up smaller, turning his head away from Roman. "Yeah, I wouldn't take my apology either." Roman said. "But I really am sorry. I didn't mean to say it, which really doesn't make it right. I promised you I would never talk about him and I broke that promise so, if you want to punch me or kick me or whatever, I completely get it."

Janus looked up at him, his eyes wide and his brows drawn together. Roman couldn't tell if he was anxious, angry or both. Roman closed his eyes, expectant of his well-deserved slap or punch.

"Please don't hit my nose." He thought, scrunching his face up a little. When nothing happened, he opened one eye slightly. Janus was turned away from him, his back hunched and his scraped hands set on the floor.

"This isn't Janus." Roman thought. "This isn't now Janus. This is... this is awful."

Roman stood up slowly, so as to not startle the other boy. "I'm gonna go grab the nerd's First Aid Kit that he has for... some reason." He said. "D'you want me to grab Re too? He's worried about you."

Janus shrugged. Roman took a breath. Really, not Janus.

"I'm gonna go grab Re." He said. "I promise I'll be right back." He promised. He didn't make any moves to leave, though. He was... worried about Janus. That was new.

"Don't disappear." Roman pleaded in his head. "Please don't disappear if I turn my back."

Slowly, Roman turned on his heel. He tried not to run as he headed for the detention hall.

"Nerd, where did you keep the First Aid Kit?" He asked as he pushed open the door to the detention hall.

Remus jumped up off his desk. "Where's Jan?" He asked. "Did you apologise? Is he okay?" Roman paid him no heed as he grabbed Logan's bag.

"Nerd, where's the kit?" Roman asked, a slightly scared snarl slipping into his voice. Remus' eyes widened.

"Holy shit, what happened to him?" He asked quietly.

"Freddie happened." Roman said grimly. He managed to extract a green kit with 'First Aid' printed across it in white lettering. "Re, outside, now."

"You're just going to steal my First Aid Kit?" Logan asked.

"It's not gonna do a lot of good sitting in your bag, is it?" Roman snarled. Logan shrugged, putting his hands up.

"I wasn't saying that!" Logan said. "Just keep everything in order."

Roman nodded, though he was barely listening. He tilted his head to the door and Remus followed him as he left the detention hall.

"Crap, Jan!" Remus ran over to Janus. Janus looked up and shuffled away. Remus stopped short, hurt in his eyes. "What happened to him?" He asked quietly.

Roman sat down on the floor and opened the kit. It was meticulously organised. Roman took a quick picture to make sure he got all of it in the right place.

"I think Freddie did something a lot more damaging than physically hurting him." He said, getting out cotton buds, gauze and a bottle of who-knows-what-but-it-looks-medicinal.

"Is he going to be alright?" Remus asked, sitting down in between Roman and Janus. Roman looked up at Remus. Remus was fixated on Janus, his eyes never leaving Janus' face. Roman looked down, afraid of interrupting what seemed a delicate moment.

Remus really liked Janus... He really cared about him...

He'd be better for Janus than Roman ever could've been or was.

Roman shrugged, forcing himself back to the present. "Don't worry." He said. "He'll be back to his snarky, asshole self in no time."

No, Roman is not in love with Janus.
NO, BRAIN, THEY'RE NOT IN LOVE!
Bye,
Blaize