Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hazard Pay ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: LilyMoonsAlias 
Non Anime: Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Shounen / Supernatural / Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 02.21.2008 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.1K | Visits: 378 | Status: Work In Progress
Non Anime: Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Shounen / Supernatural / Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 02.21.2008 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.1K | Visits: 378 | Status: Work In Progress
Cloud was nearly hyperventilating with fury as he raced through the outlands, the cold wind and fine grit stinging his eyes. He had to keep his eyes squinted and blink repeatedly just to see where he was going. Just another irritation he could blame on Reno. Cloud had been in such a hurry to put some needed distance between himself and the Turk that he had neglected to take his sunglasses. At least he had the presence of mind to grab his black, leather coat or he would be freezing, too.
Cloud knew he had overreacted badly to Reno's revelation. He was just so damned tired of people treating him as if he couldn't take care of himself or doing the complete opposite and expecting him to save the world and everyone on it. One or the other, never any middle ground and never any peace. Cloud wished fervently that he could have back the anonymity that he had once had as a boy.
People, total strangers, were constantly seeking him out, wanting to meet the defender of the world or the hero, whatever they were currently calling him that week. It made Cloud desperately uncomfortable. All he had done was try to right some of the mistakes that he had made that had contributed to Sephiroth's rise and fall. It seemed that he had found the forgiveness he wanted, but he could never regain the past he had lost.
Cloud had figured that Reno had been tailing him because Rufus wanted something from him again. Just to save himself the hassle he had let Reno follow him and made no protest after the first few days. Cloud had actually become rather accustomed to seeing the redhead lounging lazily in his office or on a bar stool or from a short distance in his rear view mirror.
For the first time in years Cloud had found himself relaxing enough around another person to let down his guard a little. Reno had never made any demands of Cloud or attempted to interfere in anything he did or didn't do. Reno had even been able to coax him into short conversations. Part of that was strictly self defense. The Turk just wouldn't shut the hell up, as if the sound of his own voice was needed twice as much to counter Cloud's silence. The only time Reno had been quiet for any length of time around Cloud had been just recently when he had been either asleep or had his mouth engaged in better activities.
Remembering that just made Cloud angrier. Mixed in with the anger was a bit of hurt that he wouldn't admit feeling. Truth be told, Cloud had made the first move. Perhaps he shouldn't have, but it had been so long and he had needed so much, and he had thought that just maybe... Cloud shook his head furiously, not even noticing that he was flinging angry tears from his eyes. It was just his eyes watering from the wind, that was all.
Because he was distracted, the sound registered in Cloud's awareness a half second too late to react. Right after the sharp report came the feel of something exploding into his right shoulder. Burning pain raced up his right arm into his chest and the arm dangled uselessly at his side. Struggling to keep above the pain, Cloud managed to swerve the bike past an outcropping that would provide a minimum of shelter and pull to a stop. He hit the release for the compartments that contained his swords and picked one that he could wield with his left hand only. It was the best he could do. Whoever had shot him had made sure to get his dominant sword arm.
After several minutes Cloud still couldn't hear anyone approaching his meager shelter. What the hell? Why didn't they try to finish him off while he was alone and badly injured? Cloud propped his sword against the bike and quickly searched through all the compartments. He usually kept a healing potion of some kind available for emergencies, but it looked like his luck had given out. All Cloud found was a broken glass vial.
"Don't bother, Strife!" An amused voice shouted from somewhere off to his right. "We won't be coming for you today, but I wanted you to see that we can pick you off at any time."
"Who are you?" Cloud yelled in return. Even that much effort made his head spin alarmingly. His sword was good for nothing except keeping him on his feet.
"We are all that is left and we will have what we want. Enjoy the time you have left while you can."
Cloud flipped open his phone and hit speed dial for 7th Heaven. Of course, there was no answer. There wasn't anyone there to answer, but at least it also meant that there wasn't anyone there to be in danger, either. Cloud strained all of his senses to the limit. He couldn't hear anyone around anymore. Playing with him, Cloud thought muzzily. They were playing with him.
He spared a glance for his right shoulder. It had stopped bleeding as his enhanced body attempted to heal the injury, but Cloud still couldn't move it. His last thought was that it seemed hugely coincidental that his little fan club had waited until he was alone to strike. Perhaps they weren't as confident as they thought and were testing his limits. Cloud's vision grew dark. Damn. Physical limits were topped out for the day and he hit the ground hard. Cloud thought he heard mocking laughter then nothing.
Vincent arrived like a whirlwind of tattered crimson cloth and found him, unconscious and breathing shallowly, his sword still gripped in his left hand. He used Cloud's phone to call for help. There was no way he could get both Cloud and his behemoth of a bike by himself back to safety. Vincent hesitated over whom to call. Well, Cloud wasn't going to be happy at all, but Vincent called Reno anyway. If nothing else, Reno had access to a chopper that was a far better transport for an injured man. Vincent decided that once Cloud was back in Reno's hands he was going hunting. Cloud wasn't going to appreciate Vincent's interference either, but it was obvious that his friend was more than a little distracted and in a mood to shove everyone away.
Vincent last called Rude to let him know of the situation. As Rude's deep, mellow voice flowed over the speaker, Vincent once again started to reconsider buying one of his own. They seemed to have 'some' uses.
Cloud knew he had overreacted badly to Reno's revelation. He was just so damned tired of people treating him as if he couldn't take care of himself or doing the complete opposite and expecting him to save the world and everyone on it. One or the other, never any middle ground and never any peace. Cloud wished fervently that he could have back the anonymity that he had once had as a boy.
People, total strangers, were constantly seeking him out, wanting to meet the defender of the world or the hero, whatever they were currently calling him that week. It made Cloud desperately uncomfortable. All he had done was try to right some of the mistakes that he had made that had contributed to Sephiroth's rise and fall. It seemed that he had found the forgiveness he wanted, but he could never regain the past he had lost.
Cloud had figured that Reno had been tailing him because Rufus wanted something from him again. Just to save himself the hassle he had let Reno follow him and made no protest after the first few days. Cloud had actually become rather accustomed to seeing the redhead lounging lazily in his office or on a bar stool or from a short distance in his rear view mirror.
For the first time in years Cloud had found himself relaxing enough around another person to let down his guard a little. Reno had never made any demands of Cloud or attempted to interfere in anything he did or didn't do. Reno had even been able to coax him into short conversations. Part of that was strictly self defense. The Turk just wouldn't shut the hell up, as if the sound of his own voice was needed twice as much to counter Cloud's silence. The only time Reno had been quiet for any length of time around Cloud had been just recently when he had been either asleep or had his mouth engaged in better activities.
Remembering that just made Cloud angrier. Mixed in with the anger was a bit of hurt that he wouldn't admit feeling. Truth be told, Cloud had made the first move. Perhaps he shouldn't have, but it had been so long and he had needed so much, and he had thought that just maybe... Cloud shook his head furiously, not even noticing that he was flinging angry tears from his eyes. It was just his eyes watering from the wind, that was all.
Because he was distracted, the sound registered in Cloud's awareness a half second too late to react. Right after the sharp report came the feel of something exploding into his right shoulder. Burning pain raced up his right arm into his chest and the arm dangled uselessly at his side. Struggling to keep above the pain, Cloud managed to swerve the bike past an outcropping that would provide a minimum of shelter and pull to a stop. He hit the release for the compartments that contained his swords and picked one that he could wield with his left hand only. It was the best he could do. Whoever had shot him had made sure to get his dominant sword arm.
After several minutes Cloud still couldn't hear anyone approaching his meager shelter. What the hell? Why didn't they try to finish him off while he was alone and badly injured? Cloud propped his sword against the bike and quickly searched through all the compartments. He usually kept a healing potion of some kind available for emergencies, but it looked like his luck had given out. All Cloud found was a broken glass vial.
"Don't bother, Strife!" An amused voice shouted from somewhere off to his right. "We won't be coming for you today, but I wanted you to see that we can pick you off at any time."
"Who are you?" Cloud yelled in return. Even that much effort made his head spin alarmingly. His sword was good for nothing except keeping him on his feet.
"We are all that is left and we will have what we want. Enjoy the time you have left while you can."
Cloud flipped open his phone and hit speed dial for 7th Heaven. Of course, there was no answer. There wasn't anyone there to answer, but at least it also meant that there wasn't anyone there to be in danger, either. Cloud strained all of his senses to the limit. He couldn't hear anyone around anymore. Playing with him, Cloud thought muzzily. They were playing with him.
He spared a glance for his right shoulder. It had stopped bleeding as his enhanced body attempted to heal the injury, but Cloud still couldn't move it. His last thought was that it seemed hugely coincidental that his little fan club had waited until he was alone to strike. Perhaps they weren't as confident as they thought and were testing his limits. Cloud's vision grew dark. Damn. Physical limits were topped out for the day and he hit the ground hard. Cloud thought he heard mocking laughter then nothing.
Vincent arrived like a whirlwind of tattered crimson cloth and found him, unconscious and breathing shallowly, his sword still gripped in his left hand. He used Cloud's phone to call for help. There was no way he could get both Cloud and his behemoth of a bike by himself back to safety. Vincent hesitated over whom to call. Well, Cloud wasn't going to be happy at all, but Vincent called Reno anyway. If nothing else, Reno had access to a chopper that was a far better transport for an injured man. Vincent decided that once Cloud was back in Reno's hands he was going hunting. Cloud wasn't going to appreciate Vincent's interference either, but it was obvious that his friend was more than a little distracted and in a mood to shove everyone away.
Vincent last called Rude to let him know of the situation. As Rude's deep, mellow voice flowed over the speaker, Vincent once again started to reconsider buying one of his own. They seemed to have 'some' uses.