A/N: Woo! So, yes, I've started a collection for James and Regulus. The title (thanks Liza - NeonDomino- for allowing me to use it!) is self-explanatory as this will be filled with AU one-shots. Also, since I suck at thinking up AU's, you can recommend some! Please review/or follow! And, if anyone has any idea for B - be sure to leave a suggestion! :D
Summary: When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a procedure to have each other erased from their memories. But it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with. (Inspired by Movie - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
N: So, this is a slight Amnesia! AU as the memories are where they don't remember each other. Also, sorry for the formatting, it made be wonky.
Warning(s): T for language, Mild Sexual Content - it's about two or three sentences where it's implied they are having coitus.
Pick Your Poison: James/Regulus - Write about your pairing making up after an argument. Bonus: "You know I'm right. I'm always right."/ "He's a jackass!"/ "Yeah, but he's my jackass."
The Rom-Com Comp.: Movie - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
W.C: 1,205
Memories are italicized.
The Present is in regular letters.
Disclaimer: Nope. Never Have, Never Will.
Puzzle Pieces
James Potter closed his eyes, clearing his mind, and tried to calm his breathing and erratic heartbeat. The forgetful procedure was for the best, wasn't it? There were some relationships that just didn't work, no matter how much each person tried to keep it alive; fate was against it. As James lay there in the surgical bed with wires stuck onto his head, he remembered all about his doomed relationship. He remembered the beginning all the way to the point where he was laying down, right now. They were good moments, great moments, bad moments, and outright awful instants all jumbled up in his chaotic mind for him to make sense of. But they wouldn't be there anymore, and that was for the best, wasn't it?
He had already erased James from his mind. It was only natural James did as well.
.oOo.
"Oh, should we kiss now?" Even to James it sounded odd once he spoke his thought aloud. The other man quirked any eyebrow before grabbing James by the front of his shirt and clashing their lips together. It wasn't like in the movies or books where their lips touched and fireworks and cheesy, romantic songs played in the background proclaiming the true love. No, it wasn't like in the movies, at all. Their foreheads bumped, their noses smacked together, and their lips pressed against each others. "T-That was something."
The man laughed, it sounded like chiming bells. "That didn't go as planned!" The corner of his lips pulled up into a smirk. "Do over?"
James readily agreed.
.oOo.
"We will commence now, Mr. Potter. Let yourself succumb to your subconscious." Doctor Pomfrey smiled kindly, turning the dials and switches on the machine which promised to erase him out of his life. "Don't worry, it doesn't hurt."
.oOo.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a face that triggered some reaction in him causing him to drop the cup of mocha.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm not usually this clumsy. I consider myself more of a charmer. I have no idea what came over me," James babbled as he began wiping the counter with such a force that the other man thought he might break it. James glanced up and takes his first proper look at the man before him. Those grey, piercing eyes, high cheekbones, and pale complexion shoot a sharp pain through his heart, and he's unsure why the man feels so familiar. He inhales sharply. "Oh."
"It's fine," the handsome man responded, smiling, his hands folded under his chin. There was a twinkle in his eye. "Do I get a free dessert, now, or maybe your number?"
James gulped. When was the last time he felt like he was being charmed instead of him doing the charming? He grinned, motioning over to the dessert section. "Knock yourself out, it's my fault anyway." It didn't matter that it was surely going to come out of his paycheck, but James placed one extra dessert in the to-go bag. He scrawled his number on the bag with a winky face next to it. Very suggestive and forward, that was more his style. " 'Till next time."
The man gave James an appreciative look and it seemed like his eyes softened a bit (but really, maybe James was just imagining that) before grabbing his order and leaving. James watched as the man walked outside the shop and noticed his number. He turned around suddenly, laughing a bit. James mouthed 'call me' and made a phone gesture with his dominant hand.
His smile dropped as he saw the figure of the man leaving. Why did that man seem so familiar?
.oOo.
How many times have they met each other now?
.oOo.
"Stop! Just stop it, god, I can't handle this anymore," James shouted, his face red and his hands placed on the table.
The other man stayed quiet, glaring furiously at the cracked floor tile. He ran a hand through his hair while James breathed heavily on the other side of the room.
The clock ticked, reminding the pair that life still moved on.
"Then don't," he whispered, lifting his face to stare right at James. "Don't, James. Don't bother anymore."
He felt those sharp grey eyes pierce his heart.
(He was always weak to his eyes.)
"Goodbye."
James slammed his fist onto the table as he watched his retreating figure. The image burned itself into his eyes.
.oOo.
He never wanted this to happen to them. They had been two puzzle pieces which just didn't fit as much as they tried to.
.oOo.
"You know I'm right. I'm always right," his boyfriend teased as he put on the new movie in the disc player. "The movies you choose are always shit. That's why I'm here."
James laughed, ruffling his lover's black hair. "Hey, my movie choices are amazing."
"Nobody thinks that. Now, what would you do without me?" His lover teased, smirking at James.
"Stick to my Disney movies, that's what."
.oOo.
Still, Jams couldn't imagine living without him. All of his memories of them would be erased. Could he stand that?
.oOo.
"Oh, god, James!"
James groaned with pleasure as his lover's moans filled the room. He focused solely on bringing pleasure to his boyfriend. He tried in vain to control his breathing, but it came out short and breathy. He lost it when his boyfriend nipped his nape.
"Oh, god, it feels good! I can't hold it in anymore!"
"Regulus!"
.oOo.
No, James wanted to remember. He wanted all the shitty and all the beautiful memories he spent with Regulus Black, the best fucking thing that ever happened to him. He struggled to fight against the sleepiness drug they injected in him. He forced his eyes to open. He wanted to remember. It didn't matter if there relationship was doomed to fail by the fates, as long as he could enjoy it together with Regulus until the very end.
"The machines stopped!" Dr. Pomfrey looked at the charts, frowning, this wasn't supposed to occur. "Oh, let's see tr- Potter!"
James yanked the wires out and stumbled out the door. He heard the frantic shrieks from his doctor as he shut the door behind him. He walked on shaky feet, checking the door tags, until he found Black, Regulus on the end of the hallway. He opened the door and was pleased, ecstatic even, that Regulus was still conscious. Regulus' eyes widened and he stood up quickly, dislodging the wires from his head.
"James, what are you doing here?" Regulus asked quickly, not quite believing his eyes.
"Reg," James panted, leaning against the door frame, "I want to remember you. I don't care that we fight half the time. I just want to be with you." He took in Regulus' stunned face. "I don't want to forget you, again," he whispered.
Regulus smiled, walking forward to embrace James. He pressed a kiss to James' forehead. "We're a mess, James."
"He's a jackass!" Dr. Crouch Jr, shouted, trying to get Regulus to see the error in what he was doing.
Regulus smirked, resting his head on James' shoulder as if it always belonged there. Yes, they were a mess, but they were together, and that's all that mattered.
"Yeah, but he's my jackass."