Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hazard Pay ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Reno burst through the back door of the 7th Heaven with enough force to warp the door on its hinges. Vincent, carrying Cloud's unconscious body, exchanged a quietly amused look with Rude. The helicopter ride back had been harrowing to say the least, Reno's piloting skill hampered by his obvious worry. If Rude hadn't been driving the car back to the bar, Vincent had doubts they would have made it without incident. Vincent maneuvered Cloud through the sadly sagging door and followed Reno's charge up the stairs.

Cloud didn't make a sound until they had him on his bed and tried to remove the blood caked coat. The dried blood had the garment stuck firmly to his skin. Every time Cloud twitched in pain Reno twitched right along with him. Despite his growing annoyance with Reno's erratic and overprotective behavior, Vincent managed to get the coat off and cut away the shirt sleeve to examine the wound. Immediately his sense of smell was assaulted by something dark and fetid. Blood and something black and viscous oozed slowly from the wound. It was obviously not a normal gun shot wound.

Vincent removed his right glove and dipped a finger in the black ooze and hissed, slinging the mess off himself quickly. Both Reno and Rude gasped as angry red blisters raised immediately on the pale fingers to match the discoloration on Cloud's skin.

"What the hell *is* that?" Reno yelled.

Vincent leveled a reprimanding look at Reno until the Turk regained his composure. Reno shut his mouth but continued to twitch.

"The slug was evidently laced with materia, but it's...tainted somehow," Vincent said quietly. "It's not allowing Cloud's body to heal like it would normally. He's fighting it, but it's putting a tremendous strain on his body."

"Shoulda known those bastards would know of a way to get past his defenses," Reno hissed and started pacing. He brandished his baton and swished it from side to side, wanting badly to have a target. "What now? Can you do anything for him, Vincent?"

"The slug is still in his shoulder and must come out immediately. I'll get it out then we can try washing the wound and pouring a potion directly into it. Reno, go boil some water for cleaning and find any antiseptic that Tifa might have."

Reno didn't move right away, his attention snared by the blackness encroaching further down Cloud's arm. It was horribly reminiscent of the markings of Geostigma. He remembered seeing the marks on Cloud's left arm back when he and Rude had hauled him and Tifa from the ruined church. But Cloud had been fighting against that, Reno reminded himself, and this just couldn't be the same.

"Reno!"

Reno jerked his head up at Vincent's impatient hiss.

"Water. Antiseptic. Right." He started to leave and stopped at the door. "Just *do* something, Vincent."

With Reno out of the room, Rude approached the bed and placed a hand on Vincent's cloaked shoulder. After a reassuring squeeze that needed no words, he backed off to let Vincent work. Vincent pulled out two potions from inside his mantle. The first one he poured over the tips of his claws and handed the second to Rude.

"Quickly," Vincent said. "Before Reno gets back, hold him down and don't let him move while I work."

Rude rounded the bed and used his considerable strength to immobilize Cloud. Even unconscious, Cloud's body attempted to react to the perceived threat and he struggled briefly. It was a short lived effort. The tainted materia left him too weak for much and he slipped deeper into oblivion. Once Cloud was still Vincent grasped his arm firmly in his human hand and delicately manipulated the claws of his artificial gauntlet into the wound. Choked sounds came from Cloud's throat the deeper Vincent had to go. Vincent found the slug resting against the bone and pinched the flattened metal between two claws.

Once he had it outside of Cloud's body the metal disintegrated. Vincent's lips thinned in displeasure. Now they had no evidence to examine. Reno came running back up the stairs with a pan of steaming water and several bottles in his arms. He nearly let loose a battle cry upon seeing his partner holding down Cloud. Another stern and piercing look from Vincent arrested his pending attack. More intimidated by Vincent than he wanted to admit, Reno approached cautiously with his supplies.

"Wash the wound out with the water and antiseptic," Vincent ordered.

Reno was no novice when it came to wounds and battlefield medicine, but this was the first time he had ever had to patch up a lover. He was ashamed to note that his hands were shaking the slightest bit. Reno worked hurriedly but efficiently, cleaning out the wound and disinfecting it. Afterwards he placed the pan of dirtied water and the bottles on Cloud's bedside table. The wound was clean but still looked an unhealthy color and black streaks still marred the pale flesh. At a nod from Vincent, Rude upended the bottle of potion and poured the entire contents into the gaping hole.

Cloud lurched back to consciousness with a pained shriek. He lashed out with his left arm and sent Rude nearly crashing to the floor. Vincent held down the injured arm and Reno jumped in to capture the left arm. Rude regained his feet and rushed to help, his sunglasses askew on his face. After a minute of struggle Cloud subsided with a soft moan and lapsed back into unconsciousness. Reno looked up at Vincent his already fair skin ashen with shock. Anything he might have said, however, stayed caught in his throat as he watched Vincent reach out and resettle Rude's shades on his face straight.

Reno blinked and flicked his glance to Cloud. When he looked back he decided he must have imagined what he had seen as Vincent and his partner were dispassionately cleaning up the scene of the minor surgery. Reno quickly forgot about it anyway as he sat next to Cloud and pulled a hand through the spiky blond hair. He was pleased when Cloud seemed to tilt his head into the caress.

"Cloud's as stable as I can make him for now, unless we try to take him to the hospital," Vincent said.

Reno snorted. "Yeah, and who's going to save all our asses when he wakes up and finds out where he is? Shinra owns and operates all the hospitals. Cloud would destroy the building on his way out."

Vincent cleaned off his claws and watched for a moment while Reno continued to run his hand over Cloud's hair and face.

"When he wakes up try to get him to drink as much as possible. Water, soup, anything. I'm not sure how much blood he lost or how long it's going to take him to recover from the tainted wound."

"Where are you going?" Reno asked. He wanted to be alone with Cloud, but he wasn't sure he wanted all that much to be alone if Cloud woke up seriously pissed.

The brief flash of teeth in Vincent's pale face was disturbingly feral. "I'm going hunting for some answers. Cloud is your main concern."

Vincent left the room in a swirl of crimson, Rude following behind. Rude flashed his phone at Reno on the way out.

"I'll keep you informed," Rude said. "Tseng has got more Turks stationed around here. He's taken the President to Healin himself for protection."

Reno nodded in acknowledgement and waved them out. Cloud was stirring in his sleep and mumbling. Once they were alone again he continued to smooth Cloud's sweat damp hair since it seemed to bring them both some much needed comfort.

"See, you stupid bastard?" Reno whispered. "See what happens when you try to do everything by yourself? You're not invincible, you dumb fuck."

Angry enough over circumstances to do some damage to the injured and unconscious man on the bed, Reno jumped to pull a chair close to the bed. He dropped his head into his hands and took deep breaths to compose himself.

"What the hells have you done to me, Cloud, huh? I'm not supposed to be worrying for you. It was just one good fuck," Reno mumbled and winced at his own lie. "Now I can't even beat the hell outta you for mattering to me."

Cloud shifted restlessly, a groan of pain rumbling from his throat and his left hand seeking blindly. Reno relented and took the sword calloused hand between his own. Cloud quieted and that seemed to relax Reno as well.

"Your super powers better kick in soon, pal, and heal you, 'cause you and me are going to have a talk or one hell of a fight."