Work Text:
“So what? Bacteria can catch the flu?”
An agitated sigh escapes the man before you. Did your idiocy know no bounds? “Of course not. Influenza is predominant in humans. Birds and other mammals can catch it as well. It’s nothing like a bacteriophage.”
“Bacteriophage?” You repeat, confused.
Wesker had always kept you around because you were loyal. You were always by his side, even if you didn't like what he was doing, and watched his back when no one else would. You loved him like a dog does their master. In his eyes, you were practically as stupid as one too. He had to remind himself that no, not even basic virology was common knowledge. He just spent his entire life side by side with experts in the field. Obviously, you wouldn't know this.
So he takes a deep breath, calms himself, and answers. “Bacteriophage. They’re viruses that infect and prey on bacteria.”
“How do they survive and reproduce through? Aren’t bacteria like… super small? Single-celled or something?” You take a seat beside him. He doesn't object.
At least you got that part right. For that, he’s almost proud of you. Good job, you remembered fourth-grade science. “Well, like any virus, it infects cells. While yes, bacteria are single-cellular, they tend to live in groups or colonies.”
Wesker sets down his pen, looking over at you. “Sometimes viruses can reproduce inside a bacteria cell until the point of bursting. Then hundreds of new phages are released. They proceed to infect any nearby bacteria.”
You’re leaned in, content, and entirely engaged in his little rant. He sees this, and a part of him, the same part of him that can't will himself to dispose of you, feels warm. His expression softens, and he continues.
“However, that’s only the lytic cycle. Several phages can also reproduce via the lysogenic cycle, which doesn't kill the host. Typically a phage is either strictly capable of reproduction using the lytic cycle, those are called virulent phages, or it is capable of switching between both cycles by choice, those are temperate phages.”
“Anything else, or are you done pestering me?” He asks. His voice is harsh and irked, but he doesn't mean it. Not with you. He couldn't. It’s just an act he puts up. He can't let you know he’s weak with you. That all that's left of his humanity, his love, his empathy, his hope, it all clings onto the thought of you.
You shake your head. “No, I’m good.”
“Finally.” He scoffs and picks back up his pen. His gaze leaves you and focuses back on his paper. Reports on the progress of Uroboros. It’s not going too well. Shit. He begins to underline what he finds important, adding sticky notes to the paper and writing down criticisms neatly.
It's all of five minutes before he hears your voice again.
“Hey, what the hell is Uroburos then?”
He loves you, he really does, but he swears he could strangle you. If he wanted to be bombarded with questions, he’d have become a teacher or had children. With a groan, he begins to answer you:
“It’s an RNA virus. From the progenitor family.”
“Progenitor family?”
“It’s related to the Progenitor Virus, which causes rapid mutation and reverse lysis in cells. Those who’ve been infected even have the potential to be brought back from the dead.”
You nod, “Oh? Huh. That sounds so different from Uroboros though”
“Not everything related is the same, dear.”
“Fair enough.”