His body ached, his mind reeled, his timing was off.
Loz had the advantage. Cloud was just too slow. He would dodge a punch, swing his sword and get knocked in the stomach. Then an upper cut... or a fist to the face.
Man was he in pain. He didn't remember getting beaten this badly.
With a grin, Loz charged up his Dual Hand and shoved it directly towards Cloud's face. Cloud pulled up his sword it time to block it but was shot back acrossed the pond from the force. That could have killed him if it had hit!
Now wasn't the time to worry about that. He had heard gunshots, which meant Yazuu was attacking. His reaction time was slow for the bullets as hit. Two in one arm, two in the other and the last in his left leg.
What made it all worse was the smacking into the tree back first. He was dazed and on the brink of fainting. They'd surely be able to kill him now.
[Let it come....] His mind whispered as he thought about his death. He failed again.
He was definately not a hero.
-----------------------------------------
Sunlight hurt, oh did it hurt. Pale blue eyes fought against opening but they did anyway. God did the sunlight hurt. Why'd they listen and open?
A headache.... That was the last thing needed. Ouch.... moving hurts... God does everything hurt?
"After something like that....yeah..." Cloud whispered an answer to himself. The bullet wounds were gone, probably the effect of someone using cure or something. "Pheonix downs only work to revive unconcious people...." He poked at a bottle that rested on his bed stand. "So I didn't die after all..."
He slowly sat up with grunts of pain.
"AH! Cloud don't move!" Tifa set down her tray and ran to his side. He groaned as she tried to force him down.
"Go away...." He shoved her away.
"Cloud...."
-----------------------------------------
"Damn he really fucked himself up this time." Cid took a drag on his cigarette. "I mean gunshot wounds, burn marks, and a strange bruise on his neck almost like one of those silver haired bastards gave him-" He never finished his sentence as coffee hit his face.
"Um... sorry..." Vincent handed him a napkin.
"It looks like that hit a fucking nerve." Cid smirked as he wiped off his face. "You gave him the hickie didn't you?"
"I did no such thing."
"Heh heh. What you fuck him for good luck?"
"Your mind is in the gutter Highwind."
"You're blushing."
"I didn't do what you are thinking."
"Then what happened?"
"Nothing."
"HOLY FUCK! So was Spike great? What's his size?"
"Will you shut up?! I didn't touch him!" Vincent stood up fast, the chair falling over. "Yazuu tried to rape him! Got it?!"
"...." Cid blinked. "So...."
"So?"
"Is Spike well equiped?"
"You're fucking impossible!"
-----------------------------------------
Cloud watched Tifa set the bandages down. She began to clean around his bed.
"How are you feeling?"
"....ok...."
"You almost died, Cloud." Tifa started to arranged items on the tray she brought in.
"I...." Tifa looked up. This is the most Cloud has talked to her in a while.
"Hmm?" She made sure he knew he got her attention. Cloud lowered his head.
"I can't protect anyone..... not my family...... not my friends..... anyone..." He shook his head. "I can't protect anyone.... I never could...Mother.... Zax....."
"...Aerith?" Cloud tensed as Tifa spoke her name. Tears pressed at the corner of his eyes. He blinked to make them go away but the just rolled down his cheek. When the light hit them a tiny rainbow graced the bubble of water.
Cloud looked... in a sense.... like a lost angel. His hair glowed when the sun moved, rays lightening the blond locks. Tifa could imagine the broken wings that he would bear on his back. His eyes.... they looked lost possible even dead.
"....Tifa?" The voice cracked and was not above a whisper.
"What is it Cloud?"
"I'm...scared....." More tears fell down his cheeks. "I'm...so sick..... I can't fight anymore...."
"Cloud...."
"I'm dying Tifa...... I'm so sick....."
"No Cloud..." Tifa placed a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be ok.... I promise. I'll protect you just like you protected me...."
"....promise...?" She almost didn't hear the word he uttered.
"I promise...."
"Tifa....... I can't save Denzel.... I'm giving up...... I don't want to do this anymore..... no more fighting...." Cloud looked at her, tears stained his cheeks. "It's the end...."