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I... Yes, I know.

[...]

I'm just... I'm sorry it happened in the first place. I know it's not exactly my fault, but... It... really must have been hard on you, to deal with something like that.

[...]

Talk to me?

[You sound sort of upset, Jaeger.]

[He's quiet for a moment, just playing with his sleeves for a bit before he settles on what he wants to say.]

...I don't like seeing you hurt. And knowing I caused that in some way... it really bothers me. It bothers me much more than what actually happened. I don't blame you for that - it was a dream, after all. And it's... not really fair to blame myself for what happened either, I know that. But it's still frustrating that you were hurt because of it.

You can't protect me from everything, you know.

[It's quiet, but it's calm; there's nothing chiding behind it, it's just the way things are.]

I know that you want to, and it's frustrating when you can't. Even moreso when it's something like this, that wasn't anyone's fault in the end.

But I don't expect you to protect me from everything. Sometimes I'll be hurt by things, and I'll need some time to work through them. You're doing well enough by being here for me when I need you to be.

I know. I wish I could protect you from everything, but... it means so much to me that I can at least help you by being here. I'm not going anywhere.

[He forces his hands down for a moment before moving to reach for one of Wesker's.]

I don't mean to come off as too overprotective. It's not that I don't believe you can handle things like this. You're the strongest person I've ever met, so I have no doubt that you can handle anything that comes your way.

[He'll allow it, definitely; you can hold onto his hand all you want, Jaeger, he's fine with that.]

Just because I can handle it doesn't mean that you want me to have to, however.

[He understands the sentiment, he's fairly sure.]

[Good! He'll take Wesker's hand in both of his.]

Yes, exactly. I don't want anything to hurt you, but unfortunately there isn't any way to keep that from happening...

[Especially not with Retrospec in their lives.]

...I'll do what I can to make it through. If I start to feel overwhelmed, or like it's too much for me, I'll seek you out.

I know. It always means a lot to me that you'll come sit with me like that. I always want to do everything I can to help you, after all.

...It feels safe. Doing that with you.

[It always feels awkward, admitting that.]

[His grip tightens on Wesker's hand.]

I'm really happy it does. It's really important to me that I offer you something like that.

[He knows how difficult it is for Wesker to trust people after everything he's been through, so that means a lot to him...]

I feel the same way, you know!

I know you do.

[...]

My concern is largely with hurting you somehow. I know you say you won't let it happen, but that isn't always going to be something you can control.

I know. I don't want to be hurt either, but I'm more worried about how that'll impact you. I don't want you to have to go through that.

...I honestly don't know how I would take it. If something like that were to happen.

I don't ever want you to have to go through something like that. I really wish I could prevent that from ever happening, but...

[Unfortunately he can't. It's always going to be a possibility, isn't it?]

But that isn't possible.

[He's quiet for a moment.]

I admit that it's irrational, but I can't entirely dismiss the possibility of a change like that occurring one day and becoming permanent. It seems as though Retrospec is attempting to push us into becoming more like the people we were - whether it's possible to become them or not is a different matter entirely when our memories can be so blatantly tampered with.

I understand. I think that's what they're going for as well, and while I don't think it's possible for us to be exactly the same person... they've already proven they can alter our memories in such a way to make us think we are that person. I don't ever want that to happen, but unfortunately we can't say that it won't.

I suppose it's a question, then, of whether that's something we think we can handle.

[Jaeger's quiet for a moment while he considers that.]

...Yes, I think we can. It would be incredibly difficult, and it's possible I'm being optimistic, but I really do believe we can make it through something like that.

[...]

I don't know how much of a position I'll be in to care about you. Should that become the case.

I understand. I promise you I'll be very careful if something like that happens; again, I won't let you hurt me. But otherwise... Well, there's no telling that you won't become more similar to how you are now. I still don't think it's possible for us to be entirely the same person, regardless of what they try to do.

I really do think we can make it through anything Retrospec throws at us.

...I'm not certain.

[He wants to be. But the fact of the matter is that he isn't.]

It isn't that I don't want this, because I do. It's just not something I can set aside so easily.

No, I understand. It's difficult to think about. My perspective's different, since I haven't been through something like that personally. So it's possible I'm just being too optimistic... but I really do think we'll be okay.

We don't have to go through with this, if you don't think it's a good idea.

...It will be like it was in that dream you experienced, with a possibility that it wouldn't change or get better. You would married to that.

I'm not sure that's a prospect that should be inflicted on you.

[He considers that for a moment before nodding.]

I understand. It... would be very difficult. It doesn't mean I'd love you any less, and I wouldn't want to leave you. If I needed to, of course I would. But I... want to be with you, for however long I can be. No matter what.

I love you, and I want to marry you. I know if this happens it'll be very difficult. But it'll be very difficult whether I'm married to you or not. This isn't going to change my mind.

If you don't want to go through with this, then we won't. I won't bring it up again. I just... I don't want to live in fear of what could happen. We don't have any guarantee that it will happen again. So I... I'd like to marry you, though I am aware that it is a risk we'd be taking. I can promise you that it'll be worth it to me, even if that does end up happening.

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