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English
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Published:
2025-05-23
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805
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1/1
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Room of Secrets

Summary:

Janus has a room full of secrets. That's fine by itself, but Janus keeps mocking Logan for not knowing everything. One day, Logan gets fed up and throws a book at Janus in retaliation.

Work Text:

All of Thomas' knowledge is kept in a large library within the Mindscape, complete with a central seating and reading area. Logan and Janus collectively tend to this library, Logan shelving books and Janus acting as a receptionist. Nothing leaves this library without one of their say-sos. They have a good relationship, mutually beneficial.

There's just one issue: Janus has a room of secrets. A sort of employees-only room that only Janus has the key to, full of half-forgotten memories and knowledge that he deems Thomas not ready to know. Which is fine, he's doing his job. He just...

"How does it feel, for the embodiment of knowledge to not know everything?"

...doesn't have to be such a bitch about it.

Logan sighs sharply from his armchair by the fireplace as Janus strolls by, humming nonchalantly. He almost seems to be mocking Logan. He takes the key from around his neck, serpent-shaped with the tail molded into the key's teeth, and unlocks the door.

(Logan thought about picking the lock, once. The look Janus gave him seemed to pierce his soul, which he wasn't sure he had until that moment. He never considered lock picking again.)

The door always opens in a way that Logan cannot see inside, no matter what angle he's at, and he finds the illogical nature of that fact quite frustrating. He knows Janus did that intentionally, and it seems like just one more pinch of salt in the metaphorical wound that Janus himself caused.

He continues glaring at the door even after it closes. Janus steps out empty handed like always, which Logan knows is a rational decision, but it still infuriates him. Janus must notice how hard he's continuing to glare at the door, because he makes eye contact with Logan and fake yawns. Like this is some game. Like this is routine, boring. Like- like-

Logan's nails dig into the back cover of the book he's holding. Some high school memory, he remembers distantly, a book that Virgil had been checking out quite a bit recently. But all that Logan can think about right now is true hardness of the cover, of Janus' smug look on his face, what a bruise would look like against his scales-

Thwap .

When the orange clears from Logan's vision, he notices that Janus has taken a step back, and he's looking at the floor. The book Logan had been holding a moment ago is now on the floor, face-down and partially open. His left hand is outstretched, pointed at where Janus had been a moment ago, positioned as if he'd just thrown something. His chest is heaving, heartbeat seeming to come from between his ears.

After a moment of stillness, Logan realizes he just threw a book at Janus as a result of an emotional outburst. Which is absurd, he is Logic, he's not supposed to have emotional outbursts. He lowers his hand and closes his eyes, willing his breath to be controlled. Only once his heartbeat is back inside his chest where it belongs, does he open his eyes.

Janus is standing beside his armchair, book in hand and held out to Logan. He takes it, slightly embarrassed, and ensures none of the pages are damaged. And, just as they should, not a single page is even creased, the cover shows no sign of his nails having dug into it.

"You have remarkably good aim." The sincerity in Janus' voice catches Logan off guard, and he looks up. Janus is looking down at him with a smile that could almost be considered soft. "If I hadn't moved out of the way, I believe you would have hit me square in the chest."

"Thank you," Logan replies automatically, before adding, "Your spatial awareness and reaction time are also quite commendable."

Janus smiles more at that, and this one cannot be mistaken for anything other than softness. "I grew up with Remus. You learn to sharpen your reflexes very quickly around him."

Logan can't help but smile back, just a little bit. "That makes sense."

Janus nods, before motioning to the book. "Do you remember where you left off your reading?"

Logan says nothing for a moment, looking at the floor in embarrassment, before quietly saying, "It was an impulsive decision."

"That's alright." A hand is placed on Logan's shoulder, he looks up to see Janus still smiling at him. "You'll find it again, you always do. Now, you enjoy your knowledge."

Logan shakes his head fondly at the familiar well-wish. "I will, and I hope you enjoy your secrets."

"I will." Janus pats him on the shoulder one last time before walking out. Logan watches, a sense of peace and understanding washing over him. He would like to have a conversation like that again... though, maybe with less thrown books next time.