bakerstreet | ( nursed back to health shipping meme. )

[ Fifteen minutes feels like forever when anything could happen on that ship. So, least to say, Zack lets out a breath of relief when Cloud returns with the sailor. The sailor, themselves, seem none-too-pleased... at least until they see the- 'Captain!'. Then, they're wasting no time barreling to take over if not cursing out the two of them as they do so, angrily demanding that Cloud keep a watch on him or else. As much of a joke as the threat might be, there's a certain touch of dedication that Zack can appreciate with a thin smile as he watches the sailor.

Then, his eyes are back on Cloud, relieved, as he murmurs out: ] You gonna bug him for the ETA..?

[Having listened to the sailor ranting at him and making threats the whole way back, Cloud just takes it all in stride. He just gives the sailor a passive look at the demand and waits until the other is busy with actually controlling the ship before he's moving over to Zack.

His demeanor changes, the passive look slipping away into something softer as he kneels at his companion's side again.]

I will once he's got us moving. [If only to spare himself anymore threats for the moment.] You feeling alright?

I'll be okay... Been through worse, you know? [ Understatement, really.

Doesn't really change the fact that he's currently not trying to get up either. He knows he hit his head- badly. He knows he's in for one hell of a time once he tries to get his feet under him again.

...though he also knows staying out there might turn sour if another Turk is around. Doesn't change the way he reaches over to touch a hand to Cloud's cheek. ] Not going anywhere.. okay?

[That's..both comforting and not comforting in the least at the same time.

The blonde huffs softly, shaking his head at the comment before the motion stills as a hand touches his cheek. That touch is all it takes for his worries to ease just a tiny bit and one of his hands comes up to cover Zack's.]

Okay. I'm holding you to that. [You aren't allowed to go where he can't follow, Zack.] Do you need anything? [Before he goes to loom over the sailor to make sure he gets them to the right place.]

[ It's in the way Cloud's expression softens just a little that Zack finds his own doing likewise. Even as he knows how serious his companion is about holding him to those words. Doesn't change that there's some measure of relief between them. Though at that question? That garners something else out of him...

That gets him raising his free hand, beckoning to him to come closer as if he's sporting a secret for his ears only. ]

[An eyebrow lifts when Zack beckons him closer like that and the blonde allows one of his knees to sink to the ground so he can brace himself better. It sends a dull ache up his leg and into his hip and back but Cloud ignores it in favor of leaning forward with a bit of a questioning look.

Yes, puppy?]

[ In retrospect, that was probably none-too-kind to that injury of Cloud's, but his mind's still kinda fogged up at this point. Go figure, he's not thinking at all. At least not about that.

No, instead as Cloud leans forward, Zack.. rudely pokes him on the nose.

Look, he knows there are serious things to be had, but keeping nerves in tact is also just as important. Which includes not getting too strung up and tense.

Or so his muddled logic speaks, even as he attempts to get Cloud to stay even after that dumb move. ]

[What--

Zack. Zack.

Cloud jerks back slightly when his nose is poked, expression screwed up as he gives the other a look that screams "What was that for??". He doesn't make any move to get up though because..well, the action did have the desired effect. The entire thing was so unexpected and a bit ridiculous that Cloud can't help but look slightly amused even as he tries to look angry.

If he has a comment to make he doesn't opt to vocalize it, instead lifting a hand to tug at Zack's bangs.

Jerk.]

[ Cloud.

Cloud.

Don't you know this idiot by now?

Sure, he's a former First Class SOLDIER. But he'll always be Zack. So, he's smiling widely just a beat, just a moment to let that stupid gesture of his sink in and to watch that mixed look cross Cloud's face. The tug admittedly gets a twitch out of him because ow, Spike. Head got rocked here, okay?

Apparently, it's not enough to dissuade him in the end from reaching out to grip Cloud by the shoulder. He uses that as a means of leverage to pull himself forward evenly. Just enough to slant his own lips against his companion's, a brief but pointed brush.

Better? ]

[Hey, you deserve a little bit of pain for being a jerk, Zack. Plus he could have pulled harder. He showed some care, at least! It's good to see that smile, though, and it has Cloud's lips turning up faintly in response. How can he resist?

The grip on his shoulder does come as a surprise, as does the way Zack pulls himself forward and the blonde's knee-jerk reaction is to start to reach for his arms to steady him--to stop him and urge him back to rest against the wall--

But then there are lips brushing against his and all thought process ceases for Cloud. There's a slight tinge of red to his cheeks as he looks at his companion, hands resting against Zack's upper arms as he just tries to...did that...

Snapping out of his daze, Cloud let's out a huff of laughter and Zack would see the wider smile for a second before the blonde was ducking his head in a bit of a bashful manner.

...Yeah. Yeah that was better.]

[ Good.

Good.

That was the point. Brief as it is to see that smile, the very fact that he knows it's still there despite the way Cloud hides his face... That's enough for him. Enough for him to lean back against the wall, letting out a slow exhale and closing his own eyes with a soft chuckle of his own.

Still, despite that little reprieve, he admits: ] Okay, so... I might need a hand up, too. [ You know. Speaking of needing anything. ]

[The blonde's head lifts at that and he gives the other a searching look.]

You don't have to get up yet. [He'd feel better if the other didn't, to be honest. The potion may have helped things but Cloud didn't want Zack to get any worse and getting up and moving around? That could make it worse.

Still, he knows how stubborn the other can be so he's already climbing to his feet and offering Zack his hands.]

If anyone else comes right now.. they're just gonna use me and you know it. [ Because Turks play dirty and he knows it. Taking advantage of a fallen comrade, trying to use them to get the other person to surrender before offing them both.. Yeah, he's not going to risk that. If he's out of sight and out of mind at least... at least that ought to help. Maybe anyway. It's hard to say.

Doesn't change the way he takes those offered hands though. He knows at this point trying to get up by himself's a terrible idea. He knows as soon as he tries to plant a foot underneath hims-

Yep. That's him swaying already as soon as he tries. Good thing Spike's got him as he grunts and tries to still that sickly way everything in his head seems to slide and tilt. ]

[Cloud hadn't considered that. He had let himself get comfortable for a moment and had forgotten that there could be more Turks on board. Tension seeps into his posture as he gives the other a slight nod, focusing on helping Zack to his feet rather than talking at the moment.

And it's a good thing too, considering the way the other sways. He immediately lets go of one of his hands to catch him around the waist as gently as possible, taking on as much of the other's weight as he can.]

..Alright? [He'll wait until he's got confirmation from the other that it's okay to move before making his way onto the bridge with Zack. He doesn't want to jar him too much too fast.]

[ Considering how hectic things just got, it's no surprise it hadn't been a quick consideration. ..It probably doesn't help that in his clouded stupor, it had took him a while to realize it, too.

But they're back on the right track now, even if it's not an easy one to take. His head's already pounding to the point that even while he finds his feet, even with that counterbalance compliments of Cloud, himself, Zack finds himself putting most of his weight on his companion, forehead rested against shoulder with weak knees, even as he mutters out an: ] I will be.. We- need to go.

[ Don't wait. That's said as much in his words as they are in the way he's already trying to move. ]

[His arm tightens around Zack as he takes on most of the other's weight, a soft frown working it's way onto Cloud's face. Getting to his feet was the ultimate test in terms of how things were going to play out and this? This wasn't a passing score, Zack.

When the other tries to move forward Cloud's right there with him, attempting to take a hold of Zack's arm--the one pressed against the blonde--so he can wind it around his shoulders.

Just a little extra support, yeah?]

One step at a time. We've got time.

[ Hey, look, does he get bonus points for at least trying his best here? Gotta count for something! ...Maybe? Possibly? No?

Either way, he's up, okay. He's up... and he's letting his arm get taken and wrapped around his companion like that without issue. At this point, he knows he's in a bad way and he's not gonna be stubborn about the help. Not if it's going to get them from point a to point b as soon as possible. Not if that'll keep their heads above water in this situation.

What he is stubborn is about keeping that momentum- and he does it as best as he can. One step at a time, he said, and that's what he's doing. Keep going. Keep moving forward. Even as he grunts out- ]

Don't get- cocky. [ They might not have as much time as Cloud thinks, especially if Turks are involved. ] You- hole me up- and then you get back there- you hear?

[He'll give you a gold "You Tried" star. Is that good?

A large part of Cloud wants to make the other slow down, wants to be a little more careful because he knows Zack is trying to do way too much way too fast but he refrains. Protesting the pace won't do anything but irritate his companion and right now fighting about something like that won't do them any good.

You can bet your ass he's going to be mother henning you to death later, though.]

I'm not being cocky. [He guides the other down the hallway, not..pleased with the idea of leaving Zack alone but their options are limited.] I will. Jam the door shut after I'm out? [As a precaution. He'll be able to get in if there's an emergency; he's not worried about that.]

[ NO. NOT AT ALL.

There's a quiet part of him that's grateful that Cloud just lets him roll as he is. That Cloud just accepts that he's gonna be a shit about this and deals accordingly. He knows he's being a pain, but he also knows sometimes this is necessary.

He also knows he'll likely regret it, but he'll save that for when Cloud's gone and left him there- wherever that there ends up being. Looks like it'll be the next... yeah, there. That room looks as good as any. Despite being the one helped along, he's the one stubbornly guiding them into the new storage room. Belatedly, he nods in answer as he finds the nearby wall with one hand first- and then the other. Then he's... slowly sliding down there.

He finds himself murmuring: ] Can you- find something? I'll- jam it in as soon as you leave.

[ He's just.. a little.. yeah. ]

[WOW. OKAY SO HE WASTED A STICKER ON YOU. JERK.

Cloud has every intention of making Zack pay for it later by forcing the other to stay in bed until he's healed up. Once they have a safe place for something like that to be possible of course. And he will tie you to the bed if he has to Zack, so help him...

He changes course when prompted to do so, a faint frown marring his expression before he forces it away. He'd go get their things before he returned to the bridge; there was no reason to let what they had go to waste and he'd be able to make the trip quick enough. For now he settles for helping the other settle down, a hint of worry in his eyes as he looks Zack over.

Leaving didn't sound like a good idea right now.

A nod is his response to the request and a quick sweep of the room produces a damaged harpoon--but it would work. Cloud brings it over to Zack and kneels down as he holds it out to him.]

Jam it against the door handle as best you can and then sit against the door. I'll knock four times--real quick--when I come back to get you. [And hopefully it would be sooner rather than later.

Knowing better than to waste anymore time, Cloud leans in to press a quick kiss to the other man's forehead before he's leaving the room and tugging the door shut behind him.]

[ IT WAS A LAME STICKER ANYWAY.

Zack will gladly pay for everything later all the same- yes, even if that means getting tied up for it. For right then though? Right then, he'll take that broken harpoon in hand, tucking his head in a slow nod at those instructions. His head still feels like it's pounding itself into mush, but still he... takes a moment first to appreciate the brush of lips against his forehead, to memorize it even as Cloud's already leaving.

But as soon as he's closed the door behind him, Zack sets to work, shoving it through the handle well and good as he possibly can. That effort alone makes that headache all the worse making the way he scoots across to block the door itself next? Well, an adventure. But he... manages if not carefully. Manages... and then ducks his head in between his knees, cradling it in his hands to try and stave off the awful feelings. Cloud will be back soon enough, he reasons. He'll be back and they'll be at port and out of there sooner than they think.

...Hell, he hopes that sooner comes fast. Feeling useless like this is the worst. ]

[Lucky for all injured parties, they hadn't been that far off from port. It still took an hour to reach shore but the hour passed quick enough in Cloud's opinion--though that honestly could have been because of how much he had gone back and forth between the bridge and the room Zack was in. During the course of his coming and going he'd put together a means of getting off the ship without drawing too much attention, factoring in the presence of more Turks because there would undoubtedly be others. And more people in general.

As soon as they were in sight of land Cloud would get Zack out of the store room and prepared to make their exit. Some rather heated words had been exchanged with the man at the helm prior to that but he and Cloud had reached an agreement--they wouldn't help nor hinder one another and just go about their business. Whatever got Zack to a safe place was good enough for Cloud so he'd just nodded and left the man to it.

Slipping off the ship had been tricky but with the flurry of activity that came with getting the injured captain on shore Cloud had been able to get Zack off and away from the docks with relative ease, the pair narrowly avoiding a run in with a pair of Turks that had been set to receive the ship. At least he hoped they'd avoided them. They hadn't come after them so that was a good sign..right?

After securing a place for them to stay in a small hotel on the outer edge of town, Cloud had done his best to get Zack settled for the night before he attempted to get some information on the ship and it's cargo--mostly where it was headed. He had every intention of giving his companion time to recover, which meant a day because Zack was stubborn, but they would have to go after the mako tank. They couldn't ignore it.

When Zack woke the next morning he'd be alone though a note left by the blonde would reassure him that he would be back soon. They needed transport of some sort and Cloud wasn't keen on the idea of hitching a ride so they'd need a vehicle. Sure it took a good chunk of the gil he had left and the truck was..pretty terrible looking but it ran. So it would work.

He knocked a couple times quick like before re-entering the room just to give Zack a heads up that he was coming back in, the blonde slipping inside and tugging the door shut again behind him.]

Zack?

[ At least this time when he came in, Zack was there. Not like- you know. Last time he'd come back after being gone a while. Of course, it also helped that this time? Well- Turks weren't quite as expected. Sure, they were likely around, but... not in the numbers they were back in Midgar. And definitely not right on their tail like they had been. As long as they kept their heads down... hopefully.. hopefully, they'd be fine.

A least it's not like the ship where they were so much limited as far as where they could go, where it was so much easier to be cornered, too.

It's also a lot more comfortable having a bed again. A nice warm bed. A nice warm bed which he'd been almost reluctant to crawl out from. But he had and Cloud finds him even sitting on the edge of it now... wrapping himself stubbornly with a new set of bandages. At the sound of the door, his attention had sparked towards it, body curled and tense as he'd reached for his sword with one hand while the other held the roll of gauze to his chest to keep the wrap tight...

Now, he's smiling sheepishly at the sight of him. ] Uh.. Hey, Spike.

...I see you're feeling better.

[It comes out in a drawl but there's an underlying layer of concern there as well. Just because Zack was sitting up and doing his usual stubborn routine didn't mean he was actually well enough to be doing it. Which is why Cloud's gaze sweeps over him like it does, lingering on the gauze the other was attempting to wrap around his chest as he approaches.]

I found us transportation out of here.

[Setting the bag he'd been carrying with him on the bed beside Zack, he motions for the other to move his hand so he can take the gauze from him.]

We can get going once you're ready.

[ He hears that drawl. He knows that drawl. It spells out all kinds of 'Just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar'. But... well. What's done is done and at least it's not a Turk. He relaxes as Cloud steps into the room, returning to sitting up with his hand far from the grip of his blade. Now that he's no longer leaning down, it's easy to see that the wrapping job isn't quite as clean as it could be, but hey. He's trying.

At the mention of transportation, he nods again- this time between acknowledgement and approval. Then, he's offering out the gauze to his companion if not also offering a kiss to his cheek in the process of. Look, you've been away a while, Spike. Let him indulge a bit. ] I'll be good as soon as this is done. Already grabbed a bite to eat. You eat anything yet, yourself?

[ He figures Cloud probably got up early. He also figures he was probably so narrowed in on what he had to do that he forgot to take care of himself again. ]

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