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Written for Amber, for the gift tag prompts - AlbusGellert, "I don't want to love you anymore."
Word Count - 751
In Another Life
The battle between the two of you will go down in history. You know that, even as you watch Gellert be led away. You've been congratulated heartily, gratitude is being rained on you and you take it with a modest smile that covers the way your heart is breaking.
You never wanted to face him, even though you knew all along that eventually, you would have little choice in the matter. It was always going to end this way, though it could have easily been your body laid in the ground instead of him being led to prison.
You were aiming to capture, but there was no mistaking the malicious way he smirked at you. Gellert was aiming to kill.
You wonder if he hates you so much that he wants you dead, but you know it's nothing quite so personal. You were in his way, and he needed you gone.
It was personal for you though. You always had a weak heart. It falls too easily, too quickly, but when it falls, it holds firm in it's conviction.
You still love him. You think you'll always love him.
…
The cell was tiny and you feel a little bit sick when you sit on the ground outside of it and look in at him.
He's been there for a few weeks, and already, he is looking worse for wear. His hair is knotted and tangled, and his eyes are duller than you've ever seen them.
"Here to gloat?" he asks, and you shake your head mutely. You think he knows that you're not, because he always knows what you're thinking, what you're feeling. He always knows how to use it against you.
"I… wanted to see how you are," you admit quietly, and even as the words leave your lips you know it's foolish. He's in prison, and he'll spend the rest of his life there.
He rolls his eyes at you, and it's so familiar that you almost smile. It takes you back to when you were both younger, more innocent.
Gellert certainly isn't innocent now, but then, neither are you.
"I don't want to love you anymore," you admit, because this is why you're really here. You love him, even though you know you shouldn't.
"But you do," he replies, and he is so sure of himself. "You always will, Albus. You can lock me up, but you'll never be rid of me."
The words bite at you, and he smirks. It hurts, because that smirk belongs to another Gellert, not yours. This Gellert isn't your Gellert, and yet, you love him because you don't know how to stop.
"I won't come back here," you tell him, and you mean it.
He stares at you for a long time and then turns away without a word. When you leave, it is with his back to you and no goodbye.
…
Fawkes flashes you there and you sigh when you look into the cell. It's like you built it up in your mind, made it bigger, more humane.
He is old like you, but you can still see hints of the boy you fell in love with so many years ago.
"I knew you'd come back," Gellert murmurs. "You've kept me waiting longer than I expected though."
"They want to lock me up too, now," you say and it makes him smile. "Perhaps I'll be your cellmate, if they catch me."
"They won't catch you," he says and he's as sure as he ever is. You envy that about him, that certainty.
You nod though, because in this, he is right. They won't catch you because you don't want to be caught.
"Why are you here, Albus?"
You sigh, and stroke the top of Fawkes head. "Because I asked Fawkes to take me to safety. Despite… everything…"
"I always was your security blanket," Gellert says and it's a taunt but there is a softness beneath it.
"My time is coming, Gellert. I can feel it. I suppose… I suppose I wanted to see you, one last time."
Gellert stares at you for a moment, and then he puts his hand against the bars, and you echo him. Your fingers touch, and for a moment, you are the schoolboys that you once were, full of energy and passion and visions of a beautiful future.
"I never did stop loving you," you admit, a whisper, a promise.
You watch Gellerts lips tilt up. "Perhaps, Albus, in another life, that'll be enough."
Also Written for;
Auction - Exes
365. 124. Malicious
1000. 288. AlbusGellert