Chapter Text
Janus laid in the reclining section on the couch, her feet in slippers and her nightgown showing black leggings underneath.
Virgil collapsed face first into cushions beside her, followed by a single muffled sob that wracked his whole body.
“Oh, come here, muffin. Tell Mama J what’s wrong,” Janus said, reaching with all her arms, natural and prosthetic, to pull her adopted stepson off the couch cushion into her lap.
Virgil succumbed to his fate, feel like a kitten being picked up by the scruff of her neck, helpless to stop it and too small to try.
Janus pull the boy into her arms and cradled him, letting his head fall against her chest and his tears stain her boobs.
“They don’t want me, Mama.”
“Who, baby?”
“Remy. They don’t want me anymore. They said I’m not a real man.”
“Well that’s bullshit. Of course Remy thinks you’re not a real man, you’re barely grown. They’ve just got to stick it out with you and wait if they want a real man. My boy’s as much of a man as they’ll ever get.”
“I thought they loved me, Ma Jae!”
“Oh, it’s all right, dear. It’s okay to feel upset.”
“But I want them, Ma, I want them.”
“Badly?”
Virgil lifted his hands and they shook.
“So badly.”
“Hm. Well, let's start with crying. Do you wanna keep cryin’, baby?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, well, you just cry on your mama’s chest. I’ll hold you. God, I wish somebody held me the first time your Mama Logan left me. Woo-wee, was I unbearable to be around. But I was inconsolable too. So you just cry your little heart out, Virge. I’ll be waiting here for ya.”
Virgil sniffed.
“You will?” he asked sheepishly.
“‘Course. That’s what family is for.”