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[When Wesker didn't contact him a day ago he was worried, but worry has quickly turned to fear and Jaeger's never been good at dealing with fear. Repeated attempts to reach Wesker have failed, so Jaeger's taken it on himself to go looking for his boyfriend.

Thankfully Wesker cuts a distinctive figure and Jaeger's able to trace his location to the outskirts of the city. He's worried that he's going to find that something's happened to Wesker, that he'll be injured or dying, or maybe even already dead—

But that isn't the case, and when he finds Wesker the man looks perfectly fine.]

Albert!

[He'll approach immediately; the worry and concern is probably obvious just from that exclamation alone, but once he gets close he speaks up again.]

Are you okay? What are you doing out here?

[If Wesker will let him get close enough, he'll reach out to touch Wesker's arm, as he usually does.]

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[For what it's worth, he doesn't seem to know what to do with any of that now that it's out there, either; he doesn't like it, he hates feeling exposed like this, and Jaeger's words aren't particularly helping.]

It hardly matters. Do what you will.

It does matter. I don't want to make this any harder on you than it already is.

[He doesn't want to leave, but his presence here might just be making things worse. He's already hurt Wesker unintentionally, and even if it wasn't really his fault, he does feel some guilt for that.]

Then stay. Leaving won't accomplish anything, and your presence doesn't trouble me.

[He doesn't seem any calmer, though; he's incredibly tense, and doesn't seem like he'll be relaxing properly anytime soon.]

[Wesker's still very tense, but he's probably not lying, right? Jaeger wants to believe he's not, anyway.]

...As long as you're sure. I... I would like to stay here.

I'm not turning you away.

[He shifts a bit, though, like he's considering getting up.]

As I've said, I'm acutely aware that none of this is for me. You don't have to continue lying for my sake. But if you want to stay, I'm not going to force you to do otherwise.

[That earns a small frustrated sigh.]

I'm not lying. It's difficult to explain and I know I'm not managing it very well, but I do like you.

[Wesker's never going to believe him, is he?]

Stop it.

[It's sharp, harsh in a way that he usually isn't; there's genuine anger beneath the coldness.]

I don't want this from you. It isn't real, and even if it is in some capacity it's something else that I'm going to have taken from me as soon as I have all of my memories back. Don't do this.

[The anger is a bit startling, but Jaeger doesn't want to give up just yet. It isn't fair that Wesker refuses to believe him, but...

Wesker has it worse. It isn't fair that he has to go through this, that he has to lose everything again. The momentary spark of anger and frustration dies quickly enough and Jaeger's hand once again finds the blastia.]

...I'm sorry, then.

[He doesn't want to hurt Wesker, and if it means keeping some distance between them, then he'll do it. Wesker's already suffered so much, the least he can do is try to help in some way.]

I won't talk like that again.

I died alone, you know.

[It's still cold, but at least the anger seems to be subsiding somewhat.]

The last two people I gave a damn about took part in my death. One provided the weaponry, the other pulled the trigger.

It was made clear to me before that that I had no one left.

[...]

I don't want sympathy or concern or anything else from you. Just stay with me for now, if you must do something.

[He looks away somewhere during that and even once Wesker's done he can't bring himself to look back at him. Jaeger's hand is tight on the blastia, but even though it's still functioning just fine it feels like his heart has stopped.

He knew Wesker was alone when he died, and he knows why he was alone, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. There isn't anything he can say either, is there? If Wesker doesn't want him to express sympathy or concern then how is he supposed to address that?

The silence and Jaeger's expression are likely telling enough as it is, but eventually he manages to find words, even if they're quiet.]

I'll be here, then. I won't leave.

[Not again.]

[He's quiet for a moment before he reaches out to touch him; nothing intrusive or extensive, just to play with Jaeger's hair again, offering that same gentle motion from the night before if he's allowed.]

That's...good, then. It's all I'm asking you for.

[Jaeger leans into it immediately. Maybe he shouldn't encourage it, but it's so nice...]

I can do that. I can be here for you, for as long as you want me here.

[He doesn't seem inclined to stop; he settles back against the couch a bit.]

I want you here. Don't worry about that.

[He hasn't ever needed companionship, exactly; there are worse things than being alone. But he doesn't tend to turn it down if offered, either.]

[Ah, that's really nice... He really does like the hair-playing, and he relaxes easily.]

Then I won't leave. I want nothing more than to be here.

So you don't fear me anymore, then.

[You were sort of obviously terrified of him for a while.]

Well, I'll admit that what you said scared me. But I'm not afraid of you, no.

[There's still a bit of worry there, both about what Wesker said and about what he was told by his boyfriend before this happened. But no, he isn't afraid.]

...I know you don't understand. But you don't have anything to be afraid of, either.

[He doesn't think Wesker is trying to scare him, but the words send chills down his spine anyway.]

...It does still make me nervous, honestly. But I want to stay here, I'm not going to leave.

[He doesn't stop with the hair-playing; he tips his head a little at that, though.]

What are you afraid of...?

I don't want to watch people die. The thought of seeing something like that... it really frightens me.

[He's still pretty relaxed despite the words.]

It will be better once they're gone.

[His words are about as detached as they always are, but there's no anger behind it; honestly, there isn't much of anything behind it.]

It's natural, I think, for you to want to avoid that sort of outcome. I don't fault you for not understanding.

But it will be all right, in the end. I can promise you that much.

[It's still creepy, but he doesn't feel as frightened as he did before. He probably should feel more afraid considering what Wesker is saying, but for right now he's fine. The hair-playing is calming and he doesn't want to move.]

Well, as long as you know that I'm not going to understand...

I still think you will, once it's done. Once everything is over and you see the new world that's been created, it will make sense to you.

But I'm not going to subject you to judgement, personally. I don't think that's necessary.

[He really shouldn't ask, he doesn't want to talk about this any more than is absolutely necessary, but...]

...Why isn't it necessary?

Because I've already selected you on a personal level. Or at least, I have reason to believe that I have.

[Unless his present life is infinitely more mercenary than he's giving him credit for.]

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