bakerstreet | ( nursed back to health shipping meme. )

[ There's a visible jump to Zack's posture when Cloud suddenly fills his vision, mako eyes flashing before he registers who is it. Only then does his guard seem to fall marginally- letting the other man invade his space and check him over. If not without pressing a protesting: ] Was just too close in firing range.

[ But even then, something feels off. Something feels wrong. And brushing Zack's hair away as he does, Cloud can easily see why. Past the blood from his eardrum being blown out, apparently the bullet had taken out part of the ear with. Welp.

Doesn't stop Zack from trying to shake it off, trying to stand. ]

Edited 2016-08-01 06:00 (UTC)

[That jump only fuels his worry further, Cloud frowning at the explanation the other gives, knowing it has to be more than that.

Which is why as soon as he catches sight of the injury, of that damaged ear, he's catching a hold of Zack to keep him down on the ground, forcing himself down to sit.]

Stop moving.

[His tone is firm and hopefully Zack gets that he's serious about this, the blonde shifting to kneel practically over the other man's lap so he can inspect his ear a bit better. (It was either his lap or sitting on the turk okay.)]

You're lucky it only took part of your ear.

[ If it's not the way Cloud braces him from leaving the ground, it's that tone both far away and nearby that gets him to... well, reluctantly stay. Not that he can even meet his eye when his companion's already practically climbing on him to check his injury. Zack grunts in weak protest while he waits for the verdict. Judging by the way his knee starts to bounce slightly though- ]

-Spike, we seriously gotta move. We don't know if more Turks were following them and if we don't get that mako taken care of now-

[ He's cut off by another shot being fired their way, hitting the ground only feet from them. That pushes him to start moving again, bloody mess of an ear forgotten. ]

I just want to make sure--

[He started speaking before Zack finished but the shot cuts them both off. The blonde curses under his breath and is up and off the other in a flash, keeping an eye on Zack as he gets up as well because he's really not sure the other's going to be able to move well in the state he's in.

But they don't have a lot of options, especially since the don't have an easy means of getting out of here.]

Get behind the cab! I'll deal with the mako!

[Because they couldn't just leave it there; they couldn't just let the Turks get their hands on it again.

He doesn't wait for Zack to say anything, already making a break for the tanker again as he hauls his sword off his back and deflects a few shots with it. He can't pause. He can't overthink this. He just has to get rid of it.]

Edited 2016-08-03 23:28 (UTC)

Cloud!

[ He's already moving to go after him, stubborn as hell as he is. Even as he feels his equilibrium go sideways, thrown off by the sound of one-sided footfalls, of harsh breaths that only catch in one ear while the other just throbs and throbs without pause. He's back to a kneel, cursing himself and his overconfidence. Cursing not thinking these Turks were up to snuff because apparently some are and he paid the price for underestimating them. ]

You better come back alive, you hear me!?

[ It's a shout just as much for Cloud as himself before he does what he knows he needs to do in that moment and moves. Difference being? His first intention is that handgun that Turk dropped, picking it up and checking the safety on for now before stuffing it in his belt. He hikes up a quick search of their body next, head swimming or not, finding one magazine at least- good. Better than nothing.

Another shot rings out, too close for comfort, but this time? This time, Zack doesn't hesitate to turn around and this time, he strains himself to concentrate, to return fire. Take out one of the Turks. At least one. His aim's never been the greatest- but judging by the shout, he got them somewhere. He's got your back, Spike. So, don't you go letting him down now.

Ahead, three other forms have gathering around the tanker, continuing to fire away if not opening fire once Cloud gets in range. Not far away- at least not by SOLDIER hearing standards, a chopper can be heard in the distance... Gonna have to be quick about this. ]

[Zack's words echo in the back of his mind and any other time he might have had some sort of remark to make. Now was not the time nor the place and..he wasn't about to make promises.

Not when this plan he was putting together on the fly was all sorts of bad and far too dangerous for his own liking. But, hey, at least they were in the middle of nowhere, right?

The faint sound of a chopper in the distance spurs the blonde on and once he's close enough he swings his sword around, catching one of the Turks before they can dodge. A second is grabbed by the front of their suit and thrown just as the third Turk manages to get Cloud in the shoulder with a shot, pain blossoming quickly as the weight of his sword makes it uncomfortable as hell. He doesn't stop though, finishing the throw and taking the third Turk down with the human projectile, stalling them long enough for Cloud to put his plan into action.

Turning on the tanker as the chopper draws closer, energy flares up around his sword as he grips it with both hands. It snaps like fire as he swings the sword around and up before bringing it down in a hard slash, metal screeching against metal as the sword tears through the side of the tanker. The energy around the sword crackles and ignites in a sharp burst of flames that sweeps through the mako--

And causes the tanker to explode.]

[ In all his focus to try and keep whatever Turks he can at bay, he doesn't realize the plan Cloud is initiating until it's far too late. He barely gets his mouth open to shout before-

FWOOM!

Whatever Zack was going to say ends up lost in the ear piercing explosion, light bursting and ground rocking like the epicenter of an earthquake. Zack finds himself being blown backwards from the sheer force of it, skidding and falling again to his knees as he shields himself with one arm, the other forcefully steadying himself.

Only after the initial bright light show dies does Zack find himself breaking from that brace again. Now, his other ear's ringing from the sound of the blast and he can't hear a damn thing- but it doesn't stop him from shouting the name of his companion over and over again as he rushes towards the remnants of the tanker as fast as he can, running purely on adrenaline by this point.

Everything forgotten in the face of one thing: he's not about to lose: ] Cloud! Damn it- Cloud!

[It could have been worse. There could have not been some handy Turks there for him to shield himself with.

In the split second he had before the mako exploded, Cloud had ducked out of the way, grabbing one of the Turks that had been trying to get up in all of the mess and hauling him down so them both hit the ground. The explosion is deafening, especially this close, and the sheer force of it is enough to knock Cloud out, the last thing he'll remember when he wakes up having been a rush of warmth as flames engulfed them.

He's alive, even if it doesn't seem like it when Zack finds him, his hand and arms having been mostly protected by the human shield but burns still cover a good portion of him, legs looking as though they got the worst of it. Unsteady and faint breaths escape him that won't be noticeable unless you're right on top of him, the blonde hanging onto life with everything he has in his unconscious state.

At least the mako's taken care of right?]

[ Taken care of, sure. But not at a cost Zack was anticipating.

Or wanting, for that matter.

In the dust and smoke swirling around, it's hard to see anything at all, even with SOLDIER enhancements. So bad that he doesn't see who he's looking for until he's nearly on top of him- and he's got to split to the side abruptly and messily to avoid stepping on him. But then he's crouched down and already shoving the body of that Turk off of his companion.

He's already cursing under his breath to himself as he catches sight of the damage- the way the explosion ate through his clothing and scalded his legs in ugly ways. Even if he-

No, don't think that way, Fair. Move it. Check his breathing. -There. Barely. But there. A touch of relief finds his features as he feels it on his bared hand, but it's there and gone because it's still hardly there and Zack knows if he's not fast about this, it might not be for much longer. Cursing again, he pauses only long enough to take part of a potion- just enough to let numbness wash over the worst of his injuries.

Because first priority's getting out of that blast radius in case it decides to have a second wind. Second priority? Out of sight of that chopper. And if he can''t function enough to do it, they're both screwed. ] Come on, buddy.

[ He finds himself saying that despite not hearing it at all and despite knowing Cloud, himself, will be unlikely to hear it either. Then, Zack's quickly slipping on arm under his back while the other comes under the start of his thighs. Only once he has his weight balanced does Zack make his way as swiftly as he can away from the scene. It might mean leaving their weapons behind, but he's got something- or rather someone -more important to worry about. ]

[Lucky for them there aren't too far away from a small, hole in the wall town that was probably going to be a minor pitstop for the ShinRa hauler on it's way to their proper drop location. Even with the added weight Zack would be able to make it without too much trouble, the chopper that had been approaching initially having pulled back after the explosion thanks to similar thoughts to the ones Zack had. (Another explosion would not bode well for a helicopter.)

Cloud would be unconscious the entire extent of the journey, breathing not getting any better or any worse, staying faint as his body fought hard against his injuries. It wouldn't be until they found their way into the small backwater town that Cloud would show any other signs of life, a few weak movements from his hands before he went still again. It was something though and his breathing did seem to be evening out a bit...

A doctor was going to be their best bet at this point and good thing most backwater towns have a resident doctor in their midst.]

[ Those signs, small as they are, are enough to bring some semblance of renewed hope running through his veins. Something to get Zack moving impossibly faster in the mangled state he's in, himself. He doesn't know how many times he almost loses his balance in the midst of his strides, but what matters in the end is that he catches it. He keeps moving. And he keeps an eye out.

By the time he finds the doctor in that town, his breathing's a hot mess from all his overexertion. Only force of will keeps him on his feet, the same will that keeps himself in check this time because the last time he'd yelled at someone, he'd almost gotten them thrown out. Already, he can feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing up from being there, but he pushes through the feeling, refusing to let them take Cloud out of his arms but following their instruction. Following them further in to where they need to take him to treat him.

Only once Cloud's settled does Zack finally let himself collapse into a chair nearby and only because he can't bear his own weight anymore. He watches uneasily from there, cloth given to him in the midst of things now pressed to his ear, and he waits. Waits with that same frantic, uneasy feeling in his gut. But he knows this is something out of his hands- something he needs to trust more experienced hands can deal with. He needs to focus on steeling himself from that sick feeling in his gut. ]

[The doctor and nurses may be small town but they've seen a wide enough array of injuries and the like to be able to handle whatever's thrown at them. Burns and possible concussions? Internal bleeding? Nothing they can't deal with. Zack's wariness is picked up on by several of the nurses and they make a point to keep him informed of what's going on when they can--writing it down in some cases if he's still having trouble hearing with that lovely ear of his--wanting to keep his worry to a minimal if they can.

He may not be as bad off as Cloud but the calmer he stayed, the better. Especially when their sights turned on him once the blonde was stable and resting.

One of the nurses saw to Zack and carefully cleaned and patched up his ear, making sure not to startle him if she could help it. Once it was taken care of, another potion was offered to him to help things along before he was left alone in the room with Cloud.

It would be a solid four hours before Cloud showed any signs of improvement, his body working with everything that had been done with him to slowly draw him out of his unconscious state--at least a little. His eyes would crack open early in the morning, confusion seeping in followed by a slow building panic that caused his heart rate to spike and his unsteady breathing to get a little worse.

Where...what...Zack??]

[ His unease with the nurses and the doctor doesn't entirely ease through the process- but after all they've been through, who could really blame him? Fortunately, they seem to be just as patient and careful as they are efficient. Tension slowly seeps from him with each hour- at least the tension he feels for the practice, itself. His concern for Cloud remains. He knows he's got mako and JENOVA cells running through his veins, much like himself, but burns are still burns and from what he's been informed, the range and degree of them isn't promising.

It's only when he's informed that Cloud's stable and that his own treatment's finished (if not with some uncertain protest at first) that Zack finally lets his guard fall somewhat. Enough to ask the same nurse to pull his chair closer to his companion which she swiftly obliges. Then, it's just the waiting game.

A four hour waiting game. And Zack's so tired... Tired enough that he doesn't realize he'd been drifting until he hears the heart monitor going into overdrive. That gets him jolting awake, eyes wide with thoughts of scalpels and needles and restraints- but no, no they're still in that hospital and there's nothing restraining either of them. He'd just fallen asleep and Spike is- ]

Cloud- Cloud. [ He reaches to catch his closest hand, giving it a gentle but solid squeeze. ] Hey, hey- you're okay. We're safe for now.

[For a moment that squeeze feels like a vice and it startles him even more, the blonde attempting to move--attempting to pull away--

But his legs aren't listening to him. He can feel them, even if it's just a dull throb right now, but moving them isn't something he can do easily and that probably would have added to the fear already flooding him if it weren't for the fact that the voice he was hearing finally started to register.

Zack. That was Zack.

Hazy blue eyes turn on the other man, attempting to focus on him as he fights his way out of the fog that's filled his mind, fingers gripping weakly at the other's hand.

They were safe? Were they really?]

[ Well... Safe as they could be given the circumstances. And hoping they didn't end up sold out to the Turks. It's impossible to hide their eyes.. or the difference in how their bodies were handling those injuries by comparison of any regular guy.

But that's something for Zack to pocket and worry about, himself. For now, he can still feel that tension up until his voice had finally clicked with Cloud. But even then, his eyes aren't quite focused as they draw to him, his hand barely squeezing back. Zack squeezes his own eyes shut for a moment, collecting himself.

But then he opens them again and raises Cloud's hand, brushing his lips against the back of it. ]

We're in some small off grid town, but the doc is good here. Hell, they're all pretty good. Saved our skins. [ He takes a moment to reach up now with his free hand to cup Cloud's cheek, a small smile drifting across his face. ]

All you hafta worry about is resting up and getting better.

[The foggy state of his mind starts to clear up a bit but focusing is still difficult, the blonde staring at Zack as the other talks and moves to cup his cheek. It offers a warmth that Cloud immediately wants more of right now because his whole body just feels cold and he turns his head slightly to press more into the touch.

Small town. Off the grid. Doctors. Safe.

That was one of the better combinations of things that he'd heard in awhile. He couldn't fully remember how he had ended up like this, his memory jogged thanks to the explosion but he knew they had been trying to get something. Stop something? It was one of those. Either way, his fears are tempered a bit by his trust in Zack and a shallow breath escapes him as he manages a nod.

Rest up. Right.

Those hazy blue eyes land on Zack's face again and he can just barely make out the bandages on the side of his friend's head. Worry splashes across his face and he wants to ask what happened but words just don't want to come out right now, his throat far too sore and dry that the best he can manage is an odd sort of croak that gets him frowning faintly.

Why are you hurt?]

[ Cloud might not be able to say much of anything- but gauging by his reaction, Zack's not entirely sure he would have heard him anyway. He can see where his eyes focus on though and the fear as if it's the first time he's ever seen that wound... and that's when Zack takes on a more understanding expression. Feeling Cloud press into the hand on his cheek, Zack decidedly keeps it there, fingers stroking it gently. With his other hand though, he reaches up to tap lightly at the bandages as he turns his head to the side while his expression turns thoughtful. ]

It was from that Turk, remember? They tried to shot at me close range- kicked the gun out of their hands last minute. My ear drum's a bust right now, but it'll heal. Nothing you gotta worry about, okay?

[ Even when his own voice sounds so far away. Even when he knows what the doctor really said, but mull that over later. He breaks into another reassuring smile as he drops his hand to return to Cloud's, making passes over the back of it with his thumb now. ] Hell, you should be more worried about yourself. That was a pretty damn crazy idea, you know that?

[No, he really doesn't remember, Zack, and it shows on his face. There's the slightest frown visible as he studies the blurred sight of the other's bandaged head, trying to place the event because it just wasn't..there was something missing. A large chunk of time he'd be willing to bet.

And of course he's going to worry. He's going to worry even more once he's not stuck in this bed--

The blonde stares at Zack, eyebrow lifting the slightest. Crazy idea? Well, at least he knows now that whatever he did to get injured was apparently crazy even in Zack's book. And that's saying something.]

[ Try as he might, Zack can't hide the concern written on his face for a slight second when Cloud continues to look more and more thrown off by this information. This is stuff he really ought to know... but then again, considering how recklessly split second it was making the decisions they had, well... Maybe it's really not so odd. Gaia knows the kind of stuff he'd throw himself in full tilt before.

Zack only takes a moment- just a moment to glance back. To make sure no one's coming in to check on them. It's... a little harder to tell than usual, but he sits and he listens... Then, his eyes are back on the man before him and he leans in close, voice hushed. ] You took out that tanker full of mako, remember? Cut it right open. You were caught in the blast.

[A tanker full of mako? Cut it open?

Cloud's expression melts into something hard to read for a moment as he tries to bring those memories to the surface. His efforts only bring up memories of heat and the smell of burning flesh--and pain. Lots of pain.

He sucks in a quick breath and blinks a few times, looking away from Zack and down at his legs where they're hidden from view underneath the blanket. He'd been caught in a blast--an explosion. That's why everything hurt. The mako..they had been trying to stop that transport, hadn't they?

The blonde closes his eyes for a second and takes a deep breath, trying to relax but there's just too much tension in his body from the pain for him to manage it. His eyes crack open in another attempt to focus on Zack, lips parting as Cloud tries to use his voice again.]

G...ne?

[ Zack waits on baited breath as Cloud seems to process things... Sits on it, trying to remember... and Zack can't help but feel his stomach turn to water a bit as it only just then seems to register with Cloud how badly he'd been hurt as Zack follows his line of sight down to his legs. Subconsciously, he squeezes his companion's hand again, but his eyes never leave Spike.

It's probably a good thing. When the other man tries to speak, his voice comes out so quiet... Zack barely hears it never mind understands what he even said. But from the questioning look he gets, it doesn't take much to put two and two together. Zack nods faintly. ] It isn't a problem anymore. So, all you have to worry about is you right now.

[ Granted, he still needs to find a way to go retrieve their swords... and that's if someone hasn't already picked them up. But... one thing at a time. Nothing for Cloud to worry about. Not in his condition. Which might be why Zack's expression suddenly becomes more determined as he runs his hand up to brush some bangs out of Cloud's eyes. ] You leave everything to me, okay?

[His grip isn't as strong as it should be but he manages to return the squeeze, more clinging to Zack's hand than anything. It's an anchor right now, an anchor he feels he needs because he hasn't felt this helpless since...since the last time his memories had been a mess and he started to realize it.

Relief floods his expression when he gets confirmation that the mako is taken care of, the blonde sinking back against his pillows with a nod.

Good. One less thing to worry about.

His eyes slip shut when Zack's hand goes through his bangs though his expression screws up slightly when the other makes that statement. It worries him, that statement, because it means Zack is going to do something. Something that he can't help with. Blue eyes open once more, worry seeping into them as he gives what he hopes is a pleading look.

Just stay here, please?]

[ It's only when Cloud seems to finally relax that Zack finds his own tension seeping out of him. Cloud's not very verbal... but he's aware and he knows what's going on now... He's stable and he's going to be okay. That was the most important thing here, his priority... and now knowing that priority's situated, Zack can...

...Well, maybe... Zack doesn't miss that look and he sighs quietly to himself. Sure, Spike can't stop him right then. If he really wanted to go, he could go and there would be no one there to stop him... but he also knows in Cloud's condition, if Turks were to show up and if he, himself, weren't there...

Zack... scoots his chair a little closer despite the way it groans against the floor. Just enough that he can actually rest part of his upper half on the bed close to the other, back bent a little uncomfortably but manageable as he retracts his hand messing with Spike's hair to pillow his chin with it instead. His other hand stays in Cloud's. ] You good now?

[Good boy, Zack. Thank you for listening--er...falling victim to his looks--for once.

The blonde sinks against the bed as Zack moves closer, his fingers curling just a bit tighter as he waits for the other to settle in. It's very likely that Zack will still try to slip away at some point but right now? Right now he's here and that's good because Cloud really isn't sure he'd be comfortable here on his own since he doesn't really remember much of the lead up.

He nods at the question, giving the other a faint smile before the sound of someone approaching makes him look towards the door and tense all over again. One of the nurses from before comes in, pausing when she sees Cloud awake before offering a faint smile. Her gaze shifts to Zack fairly quickly though and she moves into his line of sight to offer him a piece of paper.]

Someone dropped this off for you a few minutes ago.

[ Really, the more he thinks about it, the more likely Cloud might very well freak out if he does try to slip away. Zack, himself, isn't the only one with hospital issues... and even if the people have been all but helpful, still... So, right now, they can just rest, right? They can just relax. It helps to see that nod and that smile- though it doesn't last.

-Since when did that nurse get there? Zack mentally kicks himself for being that unfocused as he gives Spike a reassuring squeeze before his attention rests fully on the nurse from before. The smile he gives her is genuine if not brief as she hands him the paper. He's careful to unfold it outside of Cloud's line of sight, frowning thoughtfully as he reads it. ]

IT'S NATIONAL INJURY DAY. APPARENTLY.

GODDAMMIT PICASSO

GOTTA MAKE ART SOMEHOW.

NOT LIKE THIS

YOU SURE? THIS SEEMS LIKE A BLOODY GOOD TIME.

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