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[Jaeger's quiet for a moment while he considers that. If no one's taken it out yet, then...]

Of course, I wouldn't dream of staying behind.

...You're sure about this?

[He knows Wesker wouldn't even bring it up if he wasn't, but of course he's going to double check.]

Yes.

[There isn't any hesitation behind it, though he still isn't looking at Jaeger.]

It should be easier now that I know what to expect.

Okay. We'll go.

But as soon as we're done, I'd like to head back here. We can stay here and not worry about anything else for awhile.

[He reaches out after a moment to rest a hand on Wesker's arm - not to be distracting or to try to get him to stop, but just to establish the contact.

He can't say it'll be okay, because he doesn't know that. But he will always be right here, no matter what.]

[He's quiet at that, continuing to fuss with the puzzle in his hands while he tries to sort out what he wants to say; after a moment he'll lower it and set it aside, though he isn't trying to shrug off Jaeger's touch any.]

Are you going to be all right...? I know that it was difficult last time.

[Jaeger nods at that.]

It was, yes. But I know what to expect now, and I'll be careful. I'll be okay.

[He's much more worried about his husband, honestly...]

I'll be right there beside you the entire time.

I know you will.

[...]

I said things to you that I shouldn't have. It won't happen again.

It's okay, Albert. That place was doing all sorts of terrible things to our heads, and I know you didn't mean it.

[...he does firmly believe that, but he still needs the confirmation anyway.]

I...

[...]

I meant it at the time, but ultimately that isn't something I want, and it isn't something I would ever to do you.

[He nods at that. The first part is what he expected, but it's still difficult to hear.]

I know you wouldn't. I'm sorry that it was something you did feel there. It... isn't something I want you to go back to, but I understand how important this is. So I'll be with you every step of the way, and I'll watch your back. We'll get in and out of there as quickly as possible and then return home, and we can spend as much time as we'd like here.

Of course.

[He's quiet, though.]

I promise nothing will happen to me. It might be difficult, but I'll be all right.

I know you will be.

[Despite everything that happened up there, it's confident.]

I'll always do whatever I can to help, of course.

[Just...let him play with your hair a little, all right.]

You know you're doing enough for me, don't you?

[He leans into it immediately, of course.]

I do. I know just being here helps you tremendously, so I'm more than happy to do that! I always want to do everything I can for you, after all!

I know. I just don't ever want you to have reason to doubt that you're doing enough, especially because of incidents like that.

I'll admit I'm a bit concerned about things being...unfortunate again, when we go back. But hopefully there won't be any sort of incident.

We already know what to expect, so we'll just have to be careful. I hope it'll be easier the second time.

[He tightens his grip on Wesker's arm for a moment before moving to take his hand instead.]

Regardless of how bad it is, I'll watch your back. I won't let anything happen to you.

I was admittedly already worked up by the time we found that thing; the markings on the walls weren't exactly pleasant for me.

Ja, they were incredibly unnerving... At least we already know what they say!

We do.

[...]

I still don't care for it, however. I don't think I expressed it well back there, but it troubles me. The notion that this is apparently just going to keep happening no matter what life I'm in - apparently I exist solely to be experimented on and used for someone else's purposes.

I understand why it worries you so much. I'm really upset that this same sort of thing is repeating for you in this life. It isn't the sort of thing anyone should have to experience, let alone across two different lifetimes.

I'm sorry. More than anything in the world I want to put a stop to that, to keep you safe and to keep you from ever being hurt like that again. We'll eventually find and take Vanderweele out of the picture, but it looks like it's going to take longer than I'd hoped.

...I feel like I understand, often, why I wanted to destroy everything in my past life. Sometimes I still think about it - nothing concrete, no plans, just abstract things. Mostly centered on the idea that it would be better to end everything quickly than let everyone be used like this.

[It's a problem he's had in the past as well, those sorts of thoughts; at least he's willing to tell you about it now.]

I haven't experienced anything quite like that, obviously, but I can see where that idea could be appealing. The things you went through were horrible, so it's no wonder you don't want that to happen again.

[He'll reach up with his free hand to gently run it through the back of Wesker's hair.]

It'll be okay, though. We'll find Vanderweele and we'll put a stop to this. This is something we will not allow to continue. For all of us.

[But especially for Wesker.]

[That's...nice, honestly... He lets his eyes close at that, anyway.]

...Birkin and I destroyed everything back in the Arklay Mountains, you know. The training facility, the labs. The mansion. All of it. I remembered watching it burn recently.

[He isn't sure why he feels the need to say it, but it seems like something to say for the time being.]

I can imagine that was satisfying, to see it all go up in flames like that.

[Don't worry, he won't stop.]

It was.

That happened on the day that the authorities decided to use for my birthday in this life. I still don't like it, but I find it very slightly more acceptable.

Ah, I see. I think it's good to remember it, but it's better to have your birthday on a different day.

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