' who are you talking to? '

' it must be nice to always be the center of attention. '

' you'll always be mine. '

' don't you feel so lucky? '

' i just can't let you go. '

' are you actually going to wear that? '

' you let him talk to you? '

' you're so lucky.'

' i can't believe you would do that without me. '

' you really have it all, don't you? '

' why weren't you answering me? '

' you're flirting with him. '

' i'm so glad you're mine. '

' were you looking at him? '

' you drive me crazy. '

' you're with me now. '

' don't give him any attention. '

' everyone's staring at you. '

' i don't like how he talks to you. '

' yeah, i'm jealous. '

' remind me that you're mine. '

' who was that? '

' get over here. '

' kiss me. now. '

' does he know we're together? '

' did you tell him we're a pair? '

' i don't care if he's jealous. '

NON-VERBAL:

[ KISS. ] SENDER grabs RECEIVER in a public space to kiss them in a heated, jealous manner.

[ DANCE. ] SENDER watches RECEIVER dance with someone else at a club/ball/gala.

[ SNAP. ] SENDER snaps fingers to call RECEIVER over.

[ PHONE. ] SENDER grabs RECEIVER's phone to check who' they've been talking to.

[ GRAB. ] SENDER grabs RECEIVER's wrist to stop them from leaving.

[ TUG. ] SENDER tugs RECEIVER closer in a public space.

[ WATCH. ] SENDER watches RECEIVER flirt with someone else (be it for a mission, or personal development).

"I'm no one."

"I'm nothing."

"Don't say that."

"Why did you leave me?"

"Will it hurt?"

"All my anger was once love."

"I stayed. They left."

"It's too late."

"Will you be okay?"

"You're not the one I love."

"Does it really get better or do we just get used to it?"

"I'm afraid. I'm always afraid."

"There's nothing wrong with being afraid."

"Why can't I be loved the way I love?"

"You can't save everyone."

"Forever is a dangerous word."

"You can't just come into my life, make me feel special, and then leave."

"If this is love, I don't want to be loved."

"I didn't know."

"You could stay."

"At least we've got each other."

"But who could love me?"

"I can't do this anymore."

"Some of us are human."

"Your love could not have saved them."

"We tried, didn't we?"

"Just shut up!"

"You're stupid enough to try and see the good in everyone."

"Don't be sorry."

"I trusted you. My mistake, not yours."

"Stop lying!"

"No, don't cry. I hate it when you cry."

"It's a long and unpleasant story."

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of you."

"I said I'm fine!"

"Well? Yell. Scream. Say something! Anything!"

"Leave me here and save yourself."

"I don't want to hear it."

"We're not gonna make it."

"Can't you see you're hurting me?"

"I'm sorry that I hurt you."

"You're like a star. Beautiful to look at, but impossible to catch."

"Always? I don't think so."

"I wish we never met."

"Sometimes you think you want to disappear but all you really want is to be found."

"You've changed."

"There is no good version of me."

"I miss you."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"How could you think this wouldn't hurt me?"

"Don't flatter yourself."

"I choose to love in silence because in silence I find no rejection."

"I wish I could hate you."

"You promised."

"It's okay. I'm used to it."

She was competent—more than competent. Skilled. It would be so easy to accept her help and keep moving forward… even as a part of him panicked, wondering if this was just another setup to an elaborate joke where the punchline was Chris losing another person he loved. But he couldn't allow himself to think like that—not when there was already so much at stake.

"You know I'm always more than happy to have you." It was the truth, despite his reservations. And it wasn't like she'd listen to him anyway—she'd made that clear enough. Gwen knew how to take care of herself… probably more than Chris knew how to take care of anyone. "But are you sure you're ready to dive into this shit?"

One last out—a Hail Mary that she might change her mind. Chris wasn't sure what outcome he craved more: the chance to work with her again, or the chance for her to get away. He felt like he knew the answer already, but he had to ask her. He had to make sure that she was ready for anything that might get thrown at them next… But she must have known that, right?

"Working with me doesn't end well for people."

As  they  stood  there  facing  each  other,  Gwen's  icy  blue  irises  would  linger  on  him  in  a  curious  manner  -  taking  into  his  facial  expression.  Chris  wasn't  exactly  an  open  book  kind  of  person,  he's  never  been.  Always  keeping  everything  to  himself,  now  even  more  so  than  before.  Loss  of  those  someone  cares  about  is  sometimes  enough  to  define  person's  entire  life  and  Gwen  was  aware  of  that.  Examining  his  expression  she  can  practically  feel  the  uncertainty  in  his  gaze,  which  seems  to  be  hardened  but  also  with  a  hint  of  concern.  The  way  he's  staring  at  her  makes  her  heart  flutter  with  something  akin  to...  guilt.  She  didn't  want  to  be  a  liability,  just  another  person  he  could  potentially  lose  and  then  grieve...  But  at  the  same  time  she  was  more  confident  than  ever,  that  she  could  handle  it.  She  was  an  ex-S.T.A.R.S  member  with  a  Frostbite  virus  surging  in  her  veins  for  god's  sake...  She  could  handle  it,  right?  ❝  Chris...  ❞  A  sharp  intake  of  breath  as  she  spoke,  her  own  voice  heavy  with  uncertainty  that  she  was  currently  feeling.  The  vulnerability,  which  was  so  rare  to  see  on  her  face  started  peaking  it's  way  through  her  usually  calm  and  collected  exterior.  Her  gaze  softens  even  further  as  she  allows  her  hand  to  gently  slide  down  his  shoulder  until  her  fingers  gently  wrap  around  his  bicep  -  shaky  sigh  following  shortly  after. ❝  I  know  you're  worried  about  me...  that  right  now  you  probably  have  dozens  of  'what  if'  scenarios  in  your  mind...  but  I  think  it's  about  the  damn  time  I've  stopped  running  and...  finally  started  doing  something  for  myself.  I  want  to  be  there  for  you  and  Jill.  Not  just  as  some  kind  of  a  ghost  who  sends  you  messages  from  time  to  time...  but  in  person,  just  like  the  old  times.  ❞ 

It's  that  kind  of  confession  she  never  thought  she  would  lay  out  just  like  that,  so  casually,  without  any  hesitation.  It  was  so  unlike  her  -  it  felt  almost  alien...  And  yet  it  was  still  her,  more  open  with  her  emotions  and  her  worries  than  ever.  ❝  I've  been  living  off  the  grid  ever  since  you  told  me,  that  Wesker  was  still  alive  somehow...  I  refused  to  join  BSAA  because  I  didn't  want  to  put  you  and  Jill  at  risk...  and  I  thought  that  I'm  doing  the  right  thing...  but  now?  Things  have  changed  ❞  The  realisation  of  her  very  own  confession  is  starting  to  get  to  her,  slowly.  Her  gaze  drops  to  the  floor  as  she  awkwardly  stares  at  her  own  boots.  ❝  Now  I've  finally  realised,  that  the  best  thing  I  can  do  is  just  stop  running  and  actually  be  there  for  you.  Both  of  you.  ❞

He gives a soft hum, his gaze shifting as he becomes deep in thought again. His memories had become fragmented since the Qliphoth incident, the nightmares that once plagued his sleep suddenly gone and his mind is quiet. The scars are still there, however, as Red Grave City continues to rebuild and many bury their dead. Dante made him promise that he would atone for his crimes when they returned from the Underworld, starting with his son.

Nero... How did I not sense it before?

"I remember...bits and pieces. I remember the terror I brought down as Urizen...but I also remember V."

V, his human half who was discarded to make way for the demon, so weak yet so desperate to reunite with Urizen in order to be made whole again. It was because of him that Vergil remembered what it felt like to be human, to enjoy reading and music and life. So many years had been stolen away with his quest for power, and he will spend whatever remains atoning and rebuilding the relationships he had once forsaken.

Aera  can  practically  feel  the  burden  he  had  been  carrying  ever  since.  Showing  vulnerability  and  expressing  emotions  seems  to  be  a  foreign  territory  to  him  just  as  it  is  for  her,  not  something  either  of  them  can  be  blamed  for.  But  in  this  moment  she  can  feel  the  tension  that  practically  radiates  from  him,  the  heavy  weight,  that  his  words  carry  as  he  speaks  to  her,  reflecting  on  the  past.  'The  terror  he  brought  down  as  Urizen'.  A  sentence,  that  appears  so  simple  and  yet  seems  to  carry  such  a  profound  guilt.  In  that  very  moment,  her  expression  -  previously  guarded  and  serious  seems  to  soften  a  bit  and  there  is  something  that  reflects  on  her  soft  features  -  empathy. Her  own  memories  from  that  time  and  even  before  that  are  what  haunts  her  to  this  day.  The  way  she  betrayed  Dante  by  simply  using  him  back  in  Fortuna  and  then,  few  years  later  the  ultimate  betrayal  towards  him  by  siding  with  Urizen  -  the  demon  king,  the  demon  half  of  Vergil,  which  represented  his  ego  and  thirst  for  power.  There  was  not  much  of  a  conversation  between  them  back  then  -  sometimes  they  would  exchange  a  word  or  two  but...  words  were  unnecessary.  How  ironic  of  them  to  be  talking  now. Then  his  next  words  suddenly  reach  her  ears  and  she  can  feel  a  heavy  guilt  settling  in.  Aera  allows  her  shoulder  to  slump  a  bit  in  resignation,  gaze  turning  almost  apologetic  at  the  memory  of  her  own  transgressions,  of  all  the  suffering  she  had  caused  while  by  his  side.  She  can  feel  the  guilt  practically  eat  her  up  from  the  inside,  her  heart  giving  a  small  painful  flutter.  ❝  Yes...  ❞  A  soft  nod  of  her  head  followed  by  a  small  sigh  escaping  her  lips.  She  presses  her  lips  together,  recalling  their  time  together  and  their  first  meeting  on  Qliphoth. 

❝  I  did  come  to  you  to  reclaim  what  originally  belonged  to  me.  However,  when  I  first  arrived  on  the  very  top  of  the  Qliphoth,  I  did  not  know  who  you  truly  were  ❞  Aera  speaks  up  softly,  her  slender  fingers  threading  through  her  hair,  which  seems  to  stem  from  her  current  nervousness.  ❝  I  had  no  idea  that  ultimately,  you  were  still  the  same  person  whom  I  happened  to  encounter  for  the  very  first  time  at  Temen-ni  gru.  It's  ironic,  is  it  not?  ❞  She  asked  in  slight  disbelief  but  there  was  no  hostility  in  her  tone.  She  still  remember  seeing  him  for  the  first  time  in  that  accursed  tower,  when  she  and  Dante  reached  the  very  top  and  where  the  battle  between  the  twin  brothers  took  place.  Back  then,  she  was  utterly  powerless  and  he...  reminded  her  too  much  of  Sparda  and  Aera  was  certain  that  with  just  one  glance  at  her,  he  was  able  to  see  her  fear  and  the  distress  she  was  feeling.  But  did  he  still  remember  that? 

What a marvelous reaction. The room is now freezing; quite literally. Ice on the walls, even the camera lens was forming a thin layer of ice. Wesker cannot help the shiver that travels up his spine in response, but he isn't bothered by it, he's fascinated. He knows of her virus, he's read the files and he was excited that finally, after all these years, their paths would cross again.

"Of course not." He watches her from cameras, like he used to do. Her body language screamed anger - Albert couldn't blame her for that. After his betrayal at the Spencer Estate, who wouldn't be angry? Chris, Jill, Barry; his entire team was forced to experience horrors beyond their imaginations, the last of which was created by his own hands. A prototype, but just the thing he needed to set himself free to realize his full potential. Now he was on the hunt for a different prototype; something else to help him make himself the ultimate weapon - the ultimate god.

With Uroboros, he's certain he can find a way to make that power of hers, his.

"It's been a while, Miss Monroe. You look well." His voice echoes in the chamber; much of this brought him a certain nostalgia. The only thing missing was the zombies. "I see you've taken to the virus spectacularly. You weren't easy to track down, you know." Despite the trail left behind in Umbrella, Gwen was better at hiding than he originally anticipated, but it was like a game to him. A dangerous game of Cat and Mouse.

It  was  all  a  damn  game  to  him.  The  betrayal?  The  horrors  S.T.A.R.S  experienced  in  that  accursed  mansion  that  would  still  linger  in  every  each  members'  mind  even  to  this  day?  The  casualties  and  most  importantly  the  outbreak  in  Raccoon  City?  It  sounded  like  none  of  that  mattered  to  him,  it  felt  like  to  him  all  of  that  was  simply...  insignificant.  Something  he  had  nearly  forgotten  about.  As  Gwen  listened  to  his  words,  she  could  practically  hear  something  that  bordered  on...  amusement  in  his  tone.  What  an  absolute  asshole  -  she  thought. For  a  long  moment,  Gwen  refused  to  speak,  her  gaze  hardening  and  turning  colder  than  before.  Though  she  didn't  speak  for  the  time  being,  if  he  took  a  closer  look  at  her,  he  would  be  able  to  see  the  absolute  contempt  for  him  across  her  features.  The  way  her  eyes  would  squint,  the  way  she  tried  her  best  not  to  practically  go  beserk  right  here,  right  now  just  because  the  mere  thought  of  being  observed  by  him  (  again  )  after  all  those  years  made  her  sick  to  the  stomach.  Then  suddenly...  she  started  moving  around  the  bunker,  eyes  flicking  from  one  corner  to  another  -  from  floor  to  the  very  ceiling  as  if  scouting  the  entire  place  even  more  thoroughly  for  anything,  that  could  possibly  give  her  a  hint  as  to  where  exactly  Wesker  was.  But  there  was  nothing. Then  she  heard  his  next  words  that  confirm  her  suspicions,  which  have  been  plaguing  her  mind  ever  since  the  Mansion.  Was  she  paranoidal  since  then?  Indeed.  But  at  least  her  paranoia  had  a  foundation...  it  wasn't  completely  baseless.

❝  I  will  take  that  as  a  compliment.  I  did  my  best  to  ensure  you  won't  be  able  to  track  me  down  easily  ❞  Maybe  because  deep  down,  his  'death'  just  simply  didn't  sit  right  with  her.  Though  she  had  no  confirmation  of  his  survival  back  then,  until  now  -  there  had  always  been  some  feeling  in  her  gut,  that  would  tell  her  it  wasn't  the  end  but  just  a  beginning.  She  didn't  join  BSAA  like  Chris  and  Jill  who  were  it's  founding  members.  No.  She  didn't  want  to  put  them  at  that  risk. ❝  You  took  all  your  precious  time  and  resources  to  eventually  track  me  down.  I  suppose  I  should  say  I'm  impressed.  What  are  you  planning  to  do  about  that  now?  ❞  Her  tone  laced  with  a  hint  of  amusement  as  she  spoke,  arms  moving  to  cross  over  her  chest  as  she  finally  finds  herself  right  in  front  of  the  camera  and  decides  to  stop  there  -  her  icy  blue  irises  turning  white  for  a  mere  second  in  a  manner,  that  appears  to  be  almost  threatening.