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I want to get used to them. I don't want you to always have to worry about that sort of thing; I want you to feel at ease around me. And besides, it feels sort of strange to talk to you when you're looking away!

[He's always been the sort of person to make entirely too much eye contact. He doesn't stare or anything, but there's always a lot of eye contact. It feels kind of weird not to have that? Even if Wesker's eyes are creepy, he's going to get used to them. He's got his mind set on it now.]

[Wesker's never liked eye contact in general; it's part of the reason for the dark glasses all the time - so it's more difficult to tell when he's avoiding it. But he'll attempt for now, at least, though he'll occasionally glance away just because of who he is as a person.]

...We do have a fair amount to talk about, don't we.

[It's not precisely a question.]

[...Ah. That gets him to glance away for a moment before he corrects it and nods.]

Yes, I suppose we do. I'm... still not really sure where to start...

[He wants to reassure Wesker that he's okay, but is he? Honestly, he's not sure.]

That dream was... a bit much. To put it lightly.

I assume it was similar to how things worked in October, where we were experiencing the same thing. With Barry, this time...?

Yes. I think it must be something similar.

[He's quiet for a moment, absently reaching up with his free hand to play with his bangs.]

...You didn't remember me at all, right?

...It's difficult to explain.

[This, from the sound of it, is something he doesn't really want to get into; he doesn't like it and it's obvious from his tone, but he'll force himself to continue after a moment.]

I couldn't let anyone stop me. It was the one opportunity I had, and I couldn't give it up regardless of who was standing in my way.

I...recognized you, but I wasn't in much position to care about that fact.

[He can see why Wesker wouldn't want to get into it...]

I...

[understand is how he wants to finish that, but does he? Jaeger takes a breath and tries to settle before attempting again.]

You thought it was your one shot at leaving Umbrella, ja? That was the most important thing to you in the dream. I imagine your memories were a little jumbled if you recognized me. But that... I think I can understand why that was so important to you.

[He's doing his best to look at it rationally, to not let emotion blind him because that's not fair. It's not like Wesker would ever do something like that now, after all.]

[He's calm when he speaks, his voice a bit too even. A bit too straightforward.]

I gave up a lot of my close relationships back then. What they meant to me varied; Barry hardly mattered, outside of being a good man that I had no argument with. Chris and Jill were obviously different. You know my thoughts on Birkin.

I was willing to give up more or less everything if it meant that I could have what I wanted. This was another thing that I was required to let go of.

[He's quiet for a moment.]

I never regret anything, in dreams or memories like that. I obviously hate it now, but back then it was simply something that had to be done. Removing anything or anyone that might stand in my way.

It's never personal. But there are no regrets.

...It felt like I was talking to a different person.

[A stranger, and a very dangerous one at that. He's never been uncomfortable like that around Wesker, he's never thought Wesker would hurt him...]

I'm glad it wasn't personal. Not that I thought it was, of course, but...

[He's honestly not sure what to say. His grip has gone really tight on Wesker's hand and eye contact isn't happening anymore, but he's doing his best not to just... shut down and stop talking. He'd like nothing more than to pretend this never happened, but what good will that do? Ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away, as much as he wishes it would.]

...Sorry, I... I'll be okay. It was just... sort of a shock, I suppose.

[He'll let his own grip tighten on Jaeger's hand, and after a moment he'll reach out to run his free hand through Jaeger's hair a little; he'll stop if he gets any indication that Jaeger is uncomfortable - honestly, he wouldn't blame him - but for now, he'll keep it gentle and steady.]

I'm sorry.

[It's quiet, but it's still even.]

Even if it wasn't...real, I'm sorry for hurting you, for being willing to do something like that to you.

[It gets the opposite response, actually; he leans into it immediately, letting his eyes slide closed and just enjoying it for a moment.

That's what he needed to hear, honestly.]

It's... It was a dream, and dreams have a way of being strange and surreal, ja? Besides, it must be difficult for you as well. I... It was... Well, it was terrible, but I'm not angry or upset with you. I'm a little upset that it happened, yes, but... I think I can understand, at least a little bit.

[Is it difficult for him as well? It's not really something he seems to be letting himself process; he knows it wasn't real, and that it's fine now, and every time he tries to consider it beyond that it's like there's something stopping him from working through it too far.

Again, he doesn't like it, but...mnngh.]

Even if you understand, it shouldn't have happened. It's all right to be upset over it.

I know. It's... sort of a lot to process, ja? I think I'm okay right now, though.

[Admittedly that might be because of all the physical contact, but hey, if it works...]

The same goes for you, of course. I really do appreciate that you're always here to comfort me, but I'm here for you as well.

[Wesker doesn't seem like he's having any problems, but it's worth offering anyway.]

I know you are. I...don't know how I feel right now.

[At least he's honest about it.]

I understand. As I said, it's a lot to process.

[His grip tightens on Wesker's hand again before he forces himself to relax a bit.]

It's okay, we're here now and everything's fine. It was... rough, but we're okay.

[Mm.]

That was relatively new, as dreams go. I didn't remember the situation with Barry until recently.

Well, that certainly wasn't the way that dream would normally go, I'd imagine...

[It's light, though.]

No one usually interrupts.

Sorry about that. I suppose it was rather rude of me.

Well, I've no idea why you're apologizing to me; it isn't as though you imagined it would go like that.

Oh, not at all. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn't that!

[...]

You know that isn't a decision I would make now, don't you...?

[He's fairly sure he knows the answer to that, but he needs to hear it.]

Regardless of what I'm after, or what's being offered to me - you know I wouldn't...

[Oh...]

Of course I know that. I would never question that, Albert. I know it was just a dream and things were very different in the dream. You would never do something like that to me now.

[He moves closer after a moment, nuzzling a bit as he does so.]

I promise, I wasn't worried about that.

[It takes him a moment to respond to that, but when he does it's sudden; he shifts his grip to pull Jaeger against him, holding him closely and just kind of...vibrating a bit.

He doesn't know what causes it; just...give him a moment to try to calm down.]

[Oh no...

Jaeger leans into it easily, moving to return that grip, pulling himself as close as possible. He's not going to stop with the nuzzling, and he'll give Wesker a moment before speaking up again.]

I know it was a lot. It's difficult, but it's over now. We're both okay, ja? Take as long as you need; I'm not going anywhere.

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