{004} - Video

[ofthefall]

[A bloody smear is the first thing shown as the video comes on, a thumb swiping across it. Harsh, almost wet breathing is next as Cloud keeps trying to dial specific number, only to fail repeatedly. He can barely see the phone in his hand, to be honest

Comments

[video] → 1/2

[blastingzones]

Cloud--?

[video] → 2/2

[blastingzones]

[At first, he wasn't sure what he was seeing, but now it's blatantly clear. And by the sounds and looks of things, Leon's already running towards his gummi ship.]

Cloud! Can you hear me? Where are you?

[Video]

[ofthefall]

[Was that... Leon? But he didn't dial anything...]

Leon....?

[Video]

[blastingzones]

Yes. [Damnit, Cloud. You should have listened to him when he told you to come home.] Just hang in there, alright? I'm coming to get you. [...Wait. Destiny Islands. That's where he said he was teaching, right? He can hear the ocean in Cloud's end of the feed.] Destiny Islands, right?

[Video]

[ofthefall]

[And this was precisely why! Now he was going to be a burden.]

Don't... I-I'll be... fine.

[Nothing a good ol' cast of Cure won't, well, cure! When he gets some magic back anyway. >>]

[Video] → [Action]

[blastingzones]

Enough. [It's stern, sharp, and Leon is leaving little room for argument. He's getting into the pilot's seat of his gummi ship now and firing her up.] If you think I'm going to let you bleed to death out there, you're wrong. [He pauses, dealing with the controls for a moment before setting the communicator down on the panel where he can keep an eye on it.] I'm on my way now.

[It's not long at all before he lands on Destiny Islands; he was booking it the whole way there. Unfortunately, the whole place is practically beach, and he's afraid that'll make this difficult. He starts walking.]

Cloud, I need you to--

[But it doesn't even take much walking to see blood on the ground and know he's in the right place. He bursts into a run and, surely enough, finds him on a nearby beach. The communicator is promptly stuffed back in a pocket. He looks worse in person and immediately, Leon wants to know who did this... But his first priority is getting Cloud somewhere safe and taken care of

[Video] → [Action]

[ofthefall]

[At the sharp tone, Cloud's head flopped back onto what little patch of sand there was. He was too tired and too much in pain to really argue anymore anyway.

He goes in and out of consciousness, phone falling out of his hand eventually. He's just sprawled out amongst the debris of what used to be a bed of rocks. At Leon's voice, his eyes crack open]

...Leon?

[Action]

[blastingzones]

Yeah. I'm here. [He produces a potion.] I know it's not much right now, but it might help ease the pain. ['And you need it more than I do.' He empties the contents, the potion shimmering into a mimicry of a Cure spell over Cloud. Afterwords, he picks up Cloud's phone and stores it in one of his pockets before beginning to help the other man up.]

Can you walk? [If not, he's going to carry you bridal style back to his ship, whether you hate him for it or not.]

[Action]

[ofthefall]

[He feels pretty lethargic even after the potion. The pain eased only slightly but it flared right back when Leon begins helping him up. Weakly, he grabs onto Leon's jacket, but his legs barely hold him up. He can't even tell is his legs are even in working order.]

Not... sure.

[Action]

[blastingzones]

Better safe than sorry, then. [Sorry Cloud, but he's gently hoisting you up into his arms and heading back to the ship. It's probably a good thing he works out and trains all the time, isn't it? And it's also probably a good thing that Leon has one of the more spacious gummi ship models. He can't imagine making Cloud sit upright would be good on his injuries, so he places him in the back of the ship and pulls his jacket off to bunch it up and tuck under Cloud's head as a support and pillow.

He's just as hasty with the flight back to Radiant Garden, albeit more careful. No need to cause Cloud further injury.]

We're going to have to stay in the hotel... [You remember how his house had a huge hole in it, right? He gingerly scoops Cloud back up into his arms, getting odd and horrified looks as he walks inside, but with the severe look he gives in return, no one questions him.] Just bring me some medical supplies, understand? [They nod quickly and hurry off while Leon heads into his room. He figures he can get clean sheets later, and so

[Action]

[ofthefall]

[At this point, he's too exhausted and in pain to care, though you do get a surly glare even as his head falls against you shoulder. B| Still, he can't complain. It's better than nothing. He barely remembers Leon saying a word, drifting out throughout most of the ride and suddenly he feels cool, clean sheets below him.

He's awake. And it sucks.

He grunts softly in answer, closing his eyes again as he swallows. He grimaces, bring up a hand lay on his chest. He taps it weakly, moving down to his stomach. Despite visible sword wounds on his body, he knows the worst is actually internal. Opening his eyes again, he finally speaks, his voice barely above a whisper.]

They look... like him but... [He swallows again, taking a couple breaths.] They're brutality... I've never seen it...

[And he used to fight in the Coliseum constantly. That was saying something.]

[Action]

[blastingzones]

[Leon doesn't need to hear the name to know exactly who Cloud is referring to. His remark is definitely something to be concerned about, too... Along with the good, the Darkness brings in the bad. Expecting otherwise would be foolish.]

Don't suppose you got their names? [It could be useful information, but primarily Leon is trying to keep him talking to try and distract him from the pain as he carefully peels open Cloud's shirt. He can tell he's in a great deal of it. The wounds are pretty nasty... About then, a couple of the employees come in with medical supplies and cool water with a soft towel. He takes them and promptly shoos them out of the room. He dips the towel into the water, squeezing the excess out before starting to clean off the blood.]

[Action]

[ofthefall]

[He shook his head, feeling rather foolish anyway because this whole time, he never got their names. All he knew about them was that they looked like Sephiroth.

He grimaces as his wounds are cleaned, staying still as best he can. The only sign he's in pain is his rapid breathing, closing of his eyes, and furrowing of his brows any time it gets worse.]

...Leon?

[Action]

[blastingzones]

[He supposes he kind of expected that. It'll be something to investigate later, but if Cloud got thrashed like this by them, he would obviously need to be careful. They both would. He was angry-- beyond angry that anyone could do this to his friend, but getting reckless about it wasn't going to help Cloud.

Once Leon gets the blood and whatever dirt and sand there is off and ensures they wounds are clean, he takes some antiseptic ointment to start lining the wounds with it. He looks up only briefly when he hears his name and hums inquisitively in response to ask what he wants.]

[Action]

[ofthefall]

[Despite their recent conversation about Cloud staying where he was and not wanting to get into people's ways... he couldn't deny that Leon was a good friend. He didn't want him to worry but he supposed that couldn't be helped when things like this, things he couldn't control, happened.

He was grateful.]

Thank you.

[Action]

[blastingzones]

[Pausing again, Leon looked over at Cloud's face, a rare genuine smile crossing his mouth.]

What are friends for?

[He set the ointment aside, his smile becoming more like a smirk.] But don't thank me yet. You have to sit up so I can dress your wounds. [And that... was probably going to hurt.]