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...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.

...I'm sorry.

[It's quiet, a bit muffled due to positioning.]

I'm...sorry, I shouldn't...

[He doesn't know how he wants to end that, so he simply doesn't.]

You don't need to apologize, Albert. It's okay.

[You already apologized once, and that's all he really needed to hear. He's okay now.

Jaeger reaches up to gently run his fingers through the back of Wesker's hair. He'll stop if he gets any indication that Wesker wants him to, but he has always been fond of Wesker playing with his hair, so...]

I love you, you know. And I certainly don't mind staying like this.

...I know. I love you too.

[He's...calming down a little, slowly; he doesn't respond much to the hair-playing, but he doesn't seem to want Jaeger to stop, either.]

I hate feeling like that. In dreams or otherwise.

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

It seems very difficult. Do you want to talk about it?

...I don't know what there is to talk about.

[It isn't a refusal, he just...isn't good at talking about these things.]

[It's okay, he understands...]

What is it about feeling like that that troubles you the most?

[...there is a pause.]

Jaeger, I was just willing to shoot you in the face.

Well, yes... Aside from that, though?

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