Having finally left that god awful alleyway, the evening air was refreshing in a way. Hazy light illuminated the path ahead, with the smell of the sandy desert invading their nostrils. It wasn't unpleasant, but there was a certain scent to it that made it all too real.
Less people were passing by on the streets as the day was coming to a close. Stalls and carts were closing, merchants were packing up for the night, and the occasional drunkards stumbled past them on the polished sandstone floors.
And in front of them is Menes, leading the group, if he was any good at leading groups. It was easy to tell what was on his mind because his face, betrayed, showed great discomfort about what had transpired earlier but had brushed it off anyway.
"Are we heading home?" He turned over his shoulder to see the silent nod from everyone else except the cat himself.
"Home?" The cat announced with a sigh of relief, "I hope that bed is warm, still tired from what that brute had done to me," having not forgotten about the one who nearly ended him earlier, as the memories still haunt him for how close his death is.
Chuckling lightly, Menes then tried to lighten the mood by teasing him a bit: "Your softness must have cushioned your landing. That or your fur absorbed most of the impact," he joked, earning an annoyed huff from the white cat.
The young woman laughed quietly, "Your funny man." Although it wasn't the kind of laugh that came from being amused, it was one that helped release a little tension. "Janus?" She turned, expecting at least a laugh, but what she got was instead a blank look.
His thoughts were elsewhere as he took a moment to collect his bearings. Janus then spoke with a slightly apologetic tone, "I suppose it is..." Although it appeared he wasn't in the mood to banter or do anything for that matter, he instead kept his gaze and attention solely on the cat.
After all, this is probably the first time he is beginning to open his heart to someone, "about that child." His memory tried to recollect the name the boy had mentioned, but none of the names he said stuck out to him. "Alan, was it?" Spilling the name from his voice made him realize the reality of the situation he is in.
Before any of them could speak up, Schrodinger frowned at the mention of it. "You mean that...thing?" Disgust was evident in his tone as he responded rather bitterly towards the subject, "the one who tried to open my guts?" This caused Menes to say something in defense of the poor boy.
"Calm down, cat; Alan is no—"
"Monster?"
Schrodinger hissed angrily at the man, "the very monster he is part of?" Holding strong contempt against the whole scenario and even the boy's existence, he didn't care if the person in question was only a child or a young adult, as consequences didn't care about their feelings.
A darkened shadow hangs over the cat's face. "In all my years of wandering through space and time, man has been responsible for bringing horrors to my species all across the infinite possibilities that could have been." Fully knowing of his own race being susceptible to being targeted, "and I have grown tired at the fact that we are nothing more than playthings by humans."
The hardened tone and hatred in his voice made everyone listen to it as he continued, "So many times humans have committed horrible things to my fellow cats without batting an eye." Remembering all the injustices that the universe had shown him in his travels, "it pains me to be reminded of how cruel man can be to the weak and innocent. For he is born to dominate and subjugate for their own desires."
This earned a few glances from the group as they exchanged looks with one another, concerned and confused about what he was talking about. However, Janus had a clue what the cat was trying to say and did his best to speak in private with him alone.
"May I have a word with Schrodinger alone?" He turned to the pair of humans, who in return looked perplexed by what's happening. "Please?" He politely asked, causing Menes and Saomi to nod quietly before departing from the scene altogether.
Leaving the two of them in the open, night streets of this city, he said, "Schrodinger, it seems there is something bothering you, isn't there?" Janus addressed the feline, resulting in the white cat averting his eyes somewhere else.
He sighed, understanding the other for being reluctant to talk, but what he had learned from hearing him must have come from somewhere: "Alan wasn't like those two; that human boy is different from his so-called friends." This immediately fumed his companion.
"That dirty human took part in what happened! He can't be any better!" Angrily stated as he turned away to the side, having a difficult time talking to him right now, "If he knew what he was doing was wrong, he could've just at least left without having to be part of their group!"
Janus was conflicted about how to respond to Schrodinger as he hesitated to speak, having a hard time forming the words he wanted to say: "What I'm about to tell you might make things complicated for the both of us, but humans are...complicated," stating in a firm yet quiet manner.
Taking the other's silence, he briefly continued speaking, "Humans are rudimentary, complex creatures. Though they aren't perfect, all things considered, they are still driven by primal desire and instincts, as most beasts in the universe are," starting from the beginning in describing how humans operate as individuals, "but like most civilizations, society promotes morality to the general population as well as other such concepts to influence the actions of their members."
"In cases like this, it helps man to learn and adapt to what they see as good or bad; however, sometimes some individuals ignore the message as it goes through one ear and out of the other," grimly explained in his own simplification, "and no matter how much we want to teach them otherwise, environmental factors that surround the individual play a key role in how they mature as individuals toward one another. Like a seed growing into a tree."
A dumbfounded look appeared on the cat's face. "What does any of this have to do with them barbarically hurting my people?" His narrowed eyes while his body twitched with agitation from trying to grasp the meaning behind his partner's words.
Speaking again, "all I am saying is that not every human is a terrible person, and not all their race are considered the same. There are countless numbers of good people in this world who have done and are still doing great things that are admirable and virtuous in their own ways. Although it is not uncommon for these type of individuals to possess negative traits," he calmly replied in a hushed tone, hoping that what he had said would allow his companion to understand the predicament.
Unfortunately, the cat only kept his eyes locked on him. "How does that apply to them when they still continuously maim and kill my species?" Still refusing to give a generous offer of understanding and forgiveness to the culprits while beginning to despise every human he encounters.
Janus gave out a sigh, "Just because one is bad, it doesn't mean everyone else is bad," taking a step forward as he continues, "would you like to see an example?" He gently patted the white cat, calming him from further discussion of the topic that somehow finally made him think otherwise.
As the other finally met his gaze, "fine." He let out his own defeated sigh, indicating his willingness to give up arguing against him. "If this can get me to stop talking about those monsters, then I guess it won't hurt to listen." His companion nodded before closing his eyes.
When he did so, Schrodinger was immediately flooded with images of an elderly couple adopting a stray kitten from the modern streets of an undisclosed city within the 21st century. He witnessed every kind act those old people had shown.
Attention, love, care, food, hugs, kisses, and many more things that the feline himself had never witnessed in all his years of simply focusing on the negative things about humanity altogether. And most of all, it was the smiles those elderly couples showed whenever they held that adopted kitten as if it were their baby.
This alone completely opened his eyes, allowing him to reflect on what he had thought in the past. While he was initially overwhelmed by the feeling of warmth and appreciation, the images soon vanished, revealing that Janus had ended the demonstration of the kindness that humanity is capable of showing.
He felt so stupid for realizing that he was judging humanity by the worst individuals, disregarding the rest. Even if some may still be bad, it doesn't necessarily mean they're all bad. All this time, he was wrong to believe that, and his beginning to see that while humans can still be bad, they also do some things that are good in nature.
But still, deep down, he holds that hate within his heart, and no matter how much Schrodinger wants it gone from his body, that feeling shall always remain with him, and it would be better not to fight against it but to avoid such a degrading emotion.
"I..." Briefly silenced by what he had witnessed, Schrodinger swallowed his pride and finally spoke, "Suppose you are right. Not every human is a bad person. What I witnessed still brings me trauma whenever I see one," sadness dripping from his words.
"At the same time, that still doesn't change the fact that humans still brought us harm in the past." Janus listened carefully to what his companion said, taking word for word, "Because of it, I am conflicted about whether I should forgive those monsters. I just don't know how to feel if I do it."
If Janus could smile, he would. "Then let's start with me," he responded to Schrodinger's thoughts in a tone that was almost kind. "Have you forgotten about last night?" Bringing up last night from yesterday, where he was made fun of it in a mean-spirited way.
Blushing heavily, Schrodinger has grown nervous about sacrificing his pride and ego for this, but after everything that has happened, it would be fair to be simply apologetic in a time like this, especially when he made a promise to himself to do so.
"I'm..." He doesn't want to say it but felt he had no choice in the matter. "I'm sorry," he said, forcing the words out. The apology is genuine despite how painful it was. "I didn't realize my actions had caused such harm to you or everyone else," as his tone sounded saddening in regret of all the things he had done. "What I did was inexcusable, and I'm so very sorry that I have upset you all because of my own selfishness."
A small giggle erupted from Janus. "That is the first step," his expression appearing gentle in accepting the apology. "Now you have to stop yourself from ever doing it again and improve as a person." This completely caught the cat's attention.
"Improve...myself?" Schrodinger almost sounded in disbelief at what he was hearing. "Your acting strange, Janus," he finally said, "are you ill? Did you hit your head on the rock while I wasn't looking? Is this a fever dream that we're both having?" he asked a few questions.
"No," he said, shaking his head at this amusing conversation. "I just have grown interested in humans ever since I first laid eyes on a special someone." trailing off in hesitation of how to say it, "This alone made me realize that their potential has yet to be unlocked," Janus replied with honesty, "they're smart and creative, but they could also be reckless and destructive too."
Schrodinger perked an eyebrow, looking up at the god of time up and down before stating, "This isn't your usual you," stating the obvious: "In all my time of knowing you, never have you ever expressed such positive interest in human beings, not even myself for that matter." He admits in curiosity, "What happened that made you have a change of heart?"
The cat was interested, to say the least, from having traveled with him through a couple of days; he learned how uncaring and selfish this Roman God is toward anything other than themselves. But now something has changed, perhaps better.
Pause was the initial reaction, not exactly knowing how to respond in telling him, but it was clear Schrodinger would need an answer to his question, "Saomi, she..." He almost hesitated in saying this, but the cat grew intrigued upon the mention of that name.
"She?" The feline questioned.
Raising his left hand, he looked down at his open palm with a contemplative look on his face. It was a miracle in itself that someone like him would harbor any feelings toward humans, regardless of their strange nature, as his own eyes couldn't be decisive.
Ever since that night on the roof, the introduction of showing care and love to another person other than his own has been a foreign concept to him. Being a cold and solitary person, Janus never cared or had any love for anyone. The god of time is self-sufficient and can endure any hardship without anyone else.
But now? Especially after growing bonds with the people in this surreal realm, he can't deny himself of growing some affection for the inhabitants, as if he were starting to become a genuine hero for once. "Never mind," he sighed before tightening his palm into his fist.
Bringing his left arm down to the side, he says, "We should head home and rest for the night," changing the subject entirely to, "We'll discuss the plans in the morning." Turning his heels with closed eyes, Janus walked through the streets alone as the cat watched him from the distance.
"What is with him and that human, Saomi?"
