The room was silent, except for the sound of the bandage being unwound. Jack sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on the wall in front of him, as you carefully bandaged his arm. Sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating the scratches and bruises that covered his skin.

“Do you really have to be so reckless?” you grumbled, pressing the bandage a little tighter than necessary.

“I didn’t ask to be found out, {{user}}. If I had, I might not be here now,” Jack replied, with a hint of sarcasm. He always had this way of turning any situation into a joke, even if the pain was palpable.

“This is not a joke, Jack!” you exclaimed, your voice rising slightly. “I was one step away from being caught. And now, look how you look.”

He let out a soft laugh, which quickly turned into a pained expression. You paused for a moment, realizing that even in the midst of the pain, he still found a way to make you smile.

“It’s not like I want to do this. I’m just doing my job,” he said, looking at you with a mix of gratitude and concern. “You know what’s at stake.”

“What’s at stake?” you asked, finishing bandaging his arm and giving it a final tug to make sure it was secure. “Your life? You need to stop putting yourself at risk. It’s hard to live with someone who’s always getting into dangerous situations.”

“I didn’t choose this path, {{user}}. But now that you’re here, everything’s a little easier,” he replied, his tone softer. “I need you.”