24) “Chin up, princess, or the crown slips.” With Roman and Janus? Please and thank you
Janus was trying to behave. Truly; but you try standing stark still on a tiny wooden stool for an extended period of time. He itched to move, and stretch his aching muscles. Roman turned around to grab more pins, and he seized the opportunity to shift slightly. He felt his legs weep in relief as he moved ever so slightly.
“I saw that.” Roman tsked as he remained with his back to Janus.
Janus flinched, almost toppling off of the rickety stool. “How could you have possibly not seen that?” He snapped, windmilling his arms to keep upright. “You’re totally facing me right now!”
Roman chuckled, and turned to face him once again. He carefully held a small bundle of needles in between his fingers, and loosely grasped a long, yellow ribbon in his other hand. He idly strode over to Janus, placing a gentle hand on his waist to steady him. Once he maneuvered him back into position, he placed the pins between his teeth. Janus watched him, cheeks slightly flushed, not that he would ever admit it.
Roman brushed his fingers at the bottom hem of his pant leg, and carefully rolled it up. Janus swore that the fingertips brushing his ankle was deliberate as he internally berated himself for getting so flustered over something so insignificant. Roman let the ribbon lay across his lap as he hemmed the slacks.
Janus let his mind wander as he stared out towards the balcony. The sunlight was golden and made the whole world feel like a vintage photograph. He glanced back down at Roman, and admired how the light bounced across his hair. Roman glanced up, the light making his eyes look redder than they really were. He felt his breath catch in his throat, and cleared it a bit too loudly.
Roman grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He stood up, and smoothed out the fabric around Janus’ shoulders. He then leaned off to the side, and picked up Janus’ hat. With his seam ripper, he carefully removed the plain, black ribbon that had been wrapped around it previously.
“You know,” Janus drawled, grabbing Roman’s attention. “I could’ve just snapped into a new outfit. Why go through the trouble of physically making one?”
Roman huffed a laugh through his nose as he went about rewrapping the hat with the yellow ribbon. He grinned in satisfaction as he added a little bow onto the back of it.
“It doesn’t mean as much, to just have something appear.” Roman said, mildly distracted as he smoothed the ribbon out. “It means more to work for something. To earn it.”
Janus silently gazed down at him as Roman placed the hat upon his head. “Chin up, princess,” Roman breathed. “Or the crown’ll slip.”
Janus felt his face heat up, but allowed Roman to reposition his chin with his hand.
“Perfect.” Roman all but whispered. “You look so perfect, you know that?” He asked as he took a few steps back.
“I’m fairly certain I cracked a mirror this morning.”
Roman snorted at his deadpan tone, his eyes glimmering. He snapped his fingers, and the clothes were suddenly in his arms, ready to be altered. Janus blinked as he now stood in his flannel pajamas.
“Rude.” He grumbled, as he took Roman’s extended hand, and stepped off of the stool. He didn’t stay annoyed very long, not with those lovesick eyes looking at him like that. “Well, how would you like to spend the rest of the evening?”
“I forced you to play glorified dress up all day.” Roman reminded him. “Why don’t you pick?”
“Ah, ah, Roman.” Janus tutted. “You spent all day working, and now you are in need of some down time. Now tell me, my Prince…” He purred, leaning up. “What will help you… unwind…?”
“Janus!” Roman squawked, his face turning bright red.
“What?” Janus asked innocently. “I just meant like face masks and snacks…”
“You aren’t fooling anyone, you know that, right?” Roman snarked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Janus said a touch too quickly as he inspected his nails. Roman huffed, and led him over to the sofa so they could settle down for the night.
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