Forget me not
a full fleshed out jse fanfic from tae??? in our holy year 2024???? it's more likely than you think
anyways i tag (and blame /j) @the-pastel-kitsune for this. jasper your brain
janti are like. the original tragic yaoi
likes and comments appreciated!
========================
Waking up from a much too quiet nightmare, a silente scare. As if, after hours and hours of falling, finally feeling the real weight of gravity and, one second before brutally hitting the floor, feeling your body against the softness of the mattress. That was the feeling Jack felt when he woke up.
How much time had passed? One day? Two? One week? Months? Years?
Maybe, enough for a change.
He tried to open his eyes, they had been closed for a long time. The sudden flash blinded him, but not as much as his drifting memories, trying to swim back to his mind.
He got used to the flash and focused the image better in his vision; the ceiling in his room was still intact. With tense movements, he looked to one side, looked the other, concentrated to listen to something. Nothing. No “get better soon” cards, no familiar voices downstairs.
With some difficulty, he tried to get up. It took about 20 minutes to do this: first, he had to send the message to the rest of the body. Then, get his arms and legs used to movements again (it probably wasn't possible to do it this soon, but it's not like his dizzy mind could even rationalize it). He didn't even risk to remove the IV without the help of a professional, he had already lost tons of blood. He grabbed the IV and walked with shaky steps towards the door. He could already imagine the scolds that Henrik would give him, and already formulated mischievous responses, full of giggles, just like the old days. He opened the door.
And came face to face with a wide hallway, infinite on both sides. Was he still dreaming?
Apprehensive to actually leave the room, he held on to the edge of the door and tried to find some sign of life on the right side. Not long after, he heard someone calling him on the left side.
— Jack?
A familiar voice he had never heard before. He turned to look at who called him, finding a... man.
It was like as if he was looking at a broken mirror, all the similarities between them accentuated their differences: the man was a little taller, more curved, bearder and hairier. His eyes were black like an endless abyss, empty and deep. But also, full of emotion. Pure, wild emotion. Uncontrollable.
And his skin was red like blood, removing any shred of normality he might have had. Like someone Jack knew for a long time.
Some habits never change.
He smiled.
— Anti?
The being, head down, looked him up and down: his IV, his unmistakable friendly expression. The same man.
— Yeah... it's me.
His voice was now deep, firm, sure of himself and his purpose, different from the high-pitched and brittle voice he was used to.
— You’re different.
— And you remain the same.
— Where are the others? — he looked around — where are we?
Anti didn't answer. He lowered hie shoulders and looked down at the floor, as if resenting his very existence. Jack slowly opened his mouth.
— ...oh.
And the silence, the deafening silence. Jack turned back into the room, inviting his friend to enter as well.
— So — he sat on the bed — How long has it been?
— About six years. But for you, seven. You’re stuck in 2017.
— Do they still remember me?
— Henrik tries at all costs, but he’s slowly forgetting. Chase only has a vague memory. Jameson and Jackie... — he sighed — it's as if you never existed. The one that remembers most is Marvin, but I doubt it’ll be for long.
— Will I be completely forgotten, then?
— Not by everyone — he raised his face, smiling without showing his teeth — I won’t forget you. I'm your community, remember?
Jack laughed, turning his attention to the large window on the central wall of the room. The moon shone dimly.
— What happens if I climb out the window?
— Nothing much — he shrugged — that’s like cardboard.
— Anti. Will I die?
The answer took a few seconds to come out of Anti's dry mouth.
— I can't tell you. But... I hope not.
— Update me on what happened — he leaned against the wall, hugging his legs — I'm curious about the reason for this drastic change in appearance.
Anti told him about everything: from the kickoff that was the “CHASE” video to the “Void Silver” and “The somewhat incredible JackieBoy Man” comics.
— Wow... So I really missed a lot — Jack chuckled, still digesting I.R.I.S — I never thought it’d reach this level.
— And looks like there will be videogames, it's pretty crazy — he smiled — sometimes I still feel a little unqualified to be this Super Badass Villain. I mean, until a while ago, I was still...
— A boy? — he smiled fondly — Yeah, me too. I’d love to be able to follow the rest of your journey.
Anti swallowed hard, sitting down next to him.
— I'll miss you and annoying you — He looked at him, but his gaze dropped to his lips — I annoy Chase, but... it's not the same thing. It's more serious.
Jack held Anti's hand in his, stroking the back. Where he pressed, it turned green.
— I'll miss you annoying me too. Good times.
And they faced each other, for the first time in years. And they really did it, observing and studying the other's behavior. Jack admired those deep, dark eyes; entered them, there discovered a home. He found a boy behind that frightening and powerful shell, a boy with a mischievous smirk, excessive jealousy and a slit throat. His Anti. Waiting for him, with a wide smile and a decapitated teddy bear.
And in Jack's shiny blue eyes, Anti found a mature, accomplished man, satisfied with what he had achieved. They reminded him of Seán.
The creature just like the creator.
And that scared him.
— Jack. I need to tell you something. I... — he swallowed hard — I love you. I've always loved you.
— Do you love me as my community — he brushed back some dark hair from his red forehead — or as AntiSepticEye?
— As AntiSepticEye — he brought his pale hand to his mouth, leaving a kiss — as your creation, your alter ego. Your other half.
— The half that completes me — he smiled — Funny. You were here from the beginning. And it's here at the end too.
— I promise I’ll come visit you. And I'll bring gifts.
— Anti, just grant me one wish: give me a kiss.
There was no way to deny a request like that; not when it was something Anti had desired too, since he first laid eyes on Jack. From the moment he realized they were antagonistic forces, that they could never meet.
But now, for the first time, they could. For the first and last.
And he kissed him, two semi-identical faces united in a disharmonious tune. Two parallel lines intersecting. He kissed him as if his very life depended on it, exploring every corner of that mouth, so similar to his. He kissed him with a bitter and slightly salty taste.
He kissed him.
— Anti — Jack caressed his cheeks, wet with hot tears — I love you. I love you so much. I'm so very proud of what you have achieved. Who would have thought that a kid’s play would turn into the main villain of a complete story?
Anti laughed through tears, an ugly laugh.
— I promise I won't forget you. Never.
— You will end up forgetting — he kissed his forehead — and I'll be the happiest man in the world for having loved you.
