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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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[How is he supposed to answer that? Wesker's already said he doesn't consider this his, and in a way he's right. He's probably not trying to make Jaeger feel guilty, but it's working anyway.]

...I'm sorry. I wish I knew what to say.

[But he doesn't. He can't do anything to help.]

It's hardly your fault.

[Which doesn't necessarily seem like much, but Wesker tend to like having someone to blame for things; this, though...

Well, it really is just unfortunate, isn't it.]

...I'm sure I would be happy, if you had any say. If you could fix things for me, that would be what you want. Isn't it?

[It's not a concession that Jaeger cares, but it is an acknowledgement that he at least doesn't want to see him suffer any more than he already has.

Again, it's not much. But it's something.]

Yes, of course. If there was something I could do to help, I would.

[He doesn't think that Wesker genuinely believes that he cares, but it is something. It's good, he thinks.]

...I understand.

[Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. It's difficult to say.

He'll get up once that's out there, though; he doesn't seem upset, just...deciding to remove himself from the conversation at this point.]

I have work tomorrow, and things to look over before that. I assume I'll see you in the morning, however.

[Ah, that's...]

Of course. I'll see you then.

[He won't get up right away, though.]

[He'll take his leave, then, without saying anything further; he disappears upstairs easily, and he seems content to remain behind closed doors for the rest of the evening.

Which why it's likely odd when there's a knock at Jaeger's door sometime late in the night.

Even though they've been talking more easily lately, Wesker usually tries to avoid seeking Jaeger out first; he prefers letting Jaeger come to him. But he certainly is approaching him now, albeit in an odd sort of way - the sound at the door seems awkward at best, and in actuality it's bordering on hesitant, the sort of thing that's loud enough to be heard but not enough to really be considered confident in what it's trying to accomplish.

...Yeah.]

[That's definitely odd. Jaeger wasn't asleep (because he's been having difficulties sleeping again, unfortunately), but he's dressed for bed when he gets the door. He's sure Wesker already knows about the blastia, but as usual, he's got his shirt buttoned all the way up so it can't be seen.]

...Is something wrong?

[He can't think of any other reason for Wesker to come to him at this time of night. He sincerely hopes nothing's wrong, but that's the only thing that makes sense. The hesitance behind the knock - if that's what it was - doesn't really line up with that, but Jaeger's not sure how else to interpret this.]

[It takes him a brief moment to answer; he usually doesn't have difficulty with words anymore - not half as much since the virus, especially not since his memories vanished on him - but he's certainly having difficulty now.

He breathes, though. Forces himself through it.]

No. Everything is fine, I...

[He shakes his head a bit; he seems a bit disoriented, really.]

...Everything came back to me tonight.

[Jaeger draws back a bit, not to put distance between them but more like he's preparing to invite Wesker inside. He's not sure what to make of this, but if Wesker's having difficulties speaking, then...

Well, he doesn't get a chance to get his hopes up, because Wesker manages to get it out first.]

You... You remember? Everything?

[He feels like he can't catch his breath, but what if he's mistaken? What if that's not what Wesker meant? He shouldn't get his hopes up like this, he'll just be disappointed, right?]

As far as I can tell, yes.

[His voice is tight but it does seem to be controlled - not in the cold, distant sort of way that it has been for so long now, but like he's doing what he can to remain calm for the time being. It's likely familiar, at the very least.]

[It is, it's so familiar it physically hurts. After spending so much time around a Wesker who wasn't familiar, it's such a huge relief to recognize something in the man's voice.]

Albert...

[And for a moment, he's really not sure what to do. He wants to reach out to touch, he wants to tell him just how much he loves him and he's missed him, but mostly Jaeger's just overwhelmed. It takes him a bit longer than it probably should for him to shake his head a bit as if to snap himself out of it. He steps back and holds the door open.]

Come in, let's... let's sit for a moment, ja? This is... it's a bit much to process, isn't it?

[The relief is already seeping into his tone, anyway. Despite the hesitations, he doesn't sound awkward. Overwhelmed, but not awkward.]

It is, yes.

[He still seems a little disoriented, personally, but "overwhelmed" is a good description for it as well; he'll come into the room easily enough and without complaint, though, and he'll move to sit on the bed and look at Jaeger, expecting to be joined there.

...Disoriented or not, he still had the presence of mind to cover his eyes; those dark glasses are still on.]

[Honestly, it's good that they are. He's not used to them (yet) and it'd make looking at Wesker a bit more difficult than he'd really like right now.

Jaeger joins Wesker immediately; his first thought is to sit a bit further away, putting the usual amount of space between them. He reconsiders after a moment though, and then scoots closer. He doesn't reach out to touch immediately, though. Wesker seems a bit overwhelmed too, and Jaeger doesn't want to make it any worse.]

Did it just... all come back to you all at once?

It was a process, but it was a rather fast one.

[So not exactly, but it might as well have been. It wasn't exactly a good time?

He shifts a bit on the bed, though, once Jaeger joins him properly; he doesn't try to initiate much contact, but he will try to take one of Jaeger's hands if possible.]

[Of course you can take his hand. Jaeger's quick to return the grip, and after a moment he brings his other hand up so he's gripping Wesker's hand in both of his. He's sort of vibrating - it's not properly shaking but it's something. He tries to manage words, but for the first time he's entirely too overwhelmed. He ends up with nothing and his grip tightens as a result. After a moment he'll nod though, to at least let Wesker know he heard him.

Just... give him a moment. He'll be okay soon.]

[His free hand will come up easily enough to play with Jaeger's hair, then; the touch is still awkward, but there's more affection there than there has been in quite some time.]

It's all right, Jaeger.

[The words are quiet, though; more intended to be calming than a proper assertion.]

[This is what he's been waiting for, what he's been desperately wanting since Wesker went missing - and while the physical action was there, there wasn't anything behind it in the same way and he can feel the difference now. Jaeger leans into it immediately and his grip tightens again on Wesker's hand.

It is all right. Everything's fine now. Well, perhaps it's too soon to say that for certain, but he's positive everything will be okay at the very least.

Wesker's memories have returned to him, after all.]

I... I know. I'm just... I'm so...

[The words die out before he can finish the thought and his grip tightens. It probably isn't painful for Wesker, but he's certainly not stopping. There's a sense of desperation there, like if he lets go he'll lose Wesker all over again.]

[He lets his grip tighten a bit in response - just enough to make it plain that he isn't letting go, he isn't going anywhere; he doesn't stop with the gentle stroking motions against Jaeger's hair.]

I told you that I would always come back to you.

[That gets a short, sharp laugh out of him that sounds more relieved than amused.]

I know... I know and I waited, just like I promised I would.

[His breath catches, but he's able to continue after a moment.]

I love you, I love you so much and I've missed you... But you remember now, you're back...

Of course I am. I love you, I wouldn't leave you forever.

[He isn't able to make eye contact very well, but it's more through being overwhelmed than anything.]

It's good to see that you're all right. I...remember most of what happened over the past while, I know it must have been hard on you.

It... Yes, it was difficult. I didn't know what to do, or how to help.

[He's quiet for a moment, then suddenly he glances away. His grip is still tight, though.]

...I'm sorry I left.

[Oh...]

Don't apologize for that - you don't ever have to apologize for that. I'm not angry or upset with you for it.

I'm glad you don't, but I... I still feel terrible about it. You didn't remember anything about the life you led here and I don't think you were trying to frighten me with it. I just... I didn't know how to handle it. So I ran away.

Jaeger...

[His voice is even when he responds, though it takes him a moment to find the words he wants.]

I asked you to take care of yourself. To not let me hurt you, and to stay safe if you felt threatened.

I'm not going to be upset with you for doing exactly as I asked.

...I'm so glad you've remembered everything. I was doing my best, but I didn't know how to handle it.

[To be honest, he's not sure how long he could have tried. He certainly didn't want to leave again and he would have resisted for as long as he could, but...

The thought bothers him immensely.]

I love you so much... I'm so happy you remember.

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