*a pause. then he extricates his hand from hers, wrapping his arms around himself*
Not everyone is willing to join under Zaibach's ideal. Some people need convincing. Van...wouldn't be convinced, at any cost.
I may not remember much, but I know that everything I've done has been for him. When I first met him again after ten years--I had to show him my wings before he recognized me. He'd thought I'd been killed and said it would have been better if I had been. He might be right.