His breath catches as Tseng presses his fingers to his throat but he doesn't flinch or look away from Tseng. He is vulnerable, the last two years had taught him that he had limits that even he couldn't overcome through sheer willpower alone.

"I understand." His voice is quiet as he carefully lets Tseng help him finish the drink. He wants to sleep but sleeping in bloody sheets was not appealing. "You're not going to lose me, Tseng. Not in the future, not now." Though he remembered the days when they all thought that they would lose him, when the pain and the symptoms were severe he could tell the others were preparing to say good-bye.

"I promise you, Tseng."