Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hazard Pay ❯ Chapter 19 ( Chapter 19 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

As far as reasons to wake up go, pain was an excellent motivator. That and the feel of strange hands restraining him. Semi-conscious, Reno struggled against the hands that held him. Every movement was accompanied by bursts of nearly incapacitating pain. Add to that the fact that he couldn't seem to draw enough air into his lungs and Reno's sharply honed survival instincts jumped straight into a berserker overdrive.

Some sadistic bastard had wrenched open his jaw and was trying to shove a tube down his throat. Reno choked and gagged and thrashed more violently. The invading tube scraped delicate throat tissues and the many hands holding him increased their grip to a punishing vise.

"Damn it, I said put restraints on the man!"

Reno didn't recognize the irate voice. He couldn't remember where he was. The last thing he remembered was Cloud about to be cut down by a deluded, demented child. Reno's whole body convulsed. Where was Cloud? Had he gotten to his lover in time? An inhuman growl rasped in his throat as Reno strained again to break free.

"Let me through to him now!"

Angry, urgent, sexy even when supremely pissed over being thwarted. That voice Reno recognized. Some of the crushing pain in his chest eased just from hearing Cloud arguing with whoever was torturing the Turk. Reno managed to open his eyes the slightest bit just as familiar hands cupped his face to still his head movements. Cloud was an indistinct blur of gold and glowing blue, but his touch was warm and alive. Reno's sigh of relief was nothing more than a harsh gasp for air.

"Reno, it's only the medics. Stop fighting and let them do their job. You're badly hurt and you're making it worse." Cloud leaned closer and Reno focused on his voice and the pinched, furious features. "Listen to me. The fight's over. It's all over. Calm your ass down before you kill yourself."

Reno's body relaxed slightly and he kept his gaze locked with mako blue as an anchor in the haze of pain and confusion. He barely felt the prick in his arm in comparison to the burning agony of the rest of his body. A terrifying paralysis moved over him and he made an incoherent sound of panic. Only the sound of Cloud's voice kept Reno from attempting to lash out again.

"It's okay," Cloud repeated. "Let them place the tube. It will help you breathe."

Placing his trust in his lover, Reno shuddered as much as the deepening paralysis would allow and slowly blinked his eyes in understanding. Cloud had to remove his hands from the Turk's face to allow the medics to work, but stayed within Reno's line of sight.

"We're going to put him out now for the flight to the medical center, Sir."

Cloud flicked his attention to the man speaking then returned his attention to Reno. "Did you understand that, Reno? You're going to sleep now, but it will still be okay. You'll be much better when you wake up again." Cloud's tone conveyed the notion that he damned well better be or someone would die.

The sedatives worked quickly, even against Reno's adrenalin fueled body, and his eyes closed against his will. He distantly felt a hand brush through his hair.

"He'll be taken straight to surgery. One of the other 'copters will follow directly behind us. You really should let one of the other medics check you over first when you get there, Sir."

"I'm fine," Reno heard Cloud say, dismissing his own injuries.

Stubborn ass, Reno thought, then he slipped into blessedly painless unconsciousness.