[ with another breath, jaejin tries to go back to cooking their meal, suddenly unconcerned with whether or not it burns and he has to throw it out. but he still wants to make sure it's edible because vie has to eat and he isn't sure if he has yet. how surreal that worry feels in the scope of what they're discussing isn't lost on him. turning off the burner, he looks at vie again, once more taking in his body language.

when he can't help it anymore, he grazes a soft touch to his elbow, fleeting. the last time he kissed him feels like too long ago, but that's a luxury now, isn't it? ]

I promised I'd protect you. I'll do whatever I need to. [ it's that simple. he promised him and he loves him more than he thought he could ever be capable of loving another person. even if he loses him at the end of this, at least he'll have kept his promise. it isn't conditional sort of love. ] Would it make it easier or harder if I was alone with him? It doesn't matter if it's a clean kill as long as it does the job.