Looking After Their Own
By: Asellas
Notes/Disclaimers: I don't own anything FF7 related. I only wish I did. I do, however, own Rucien and Talla. They are characters spawned from my mind in the wee early hours of the morning when I should be sleeping...
Rated for rough language and violence.
As his luck would have it, he tripped down the staircase in his rush to leave. In his haste he had forgotten that his lame right leg wouldn't put up to moving as fast as he'd want it to, and it had buckled under him not even three stairs down. He tumbled his way down the whole flight of stairs, banging every part on his body on the ways down, to land unceremoniously in the doorway. The whole bar stared at him, his pristine navy suit covered in dust, grime, and all around nastiness that covered the stairs. But he took no time in picking himself up, pulling out his cane from under him and limping for the door, not even worrying to wait for the other two to ask if he was ok, was he hurt, or to slow the fuck down. All eyes were upon him, all movement stopped besides him and his two companions rushing for the door out. Blood dripped from his nose and from his now-split bottom lip, from multiple cuts on his head and hands, many of which had long nasty splinters stabbing into his flesh. But he didn't care. Rucien kept up his pace till they were way out of the Wall Market. In a gloomy, debris-ridden ally he stopped to catch his breath and wipe the blood from his face.
"Dude, you should really calm down. You're in no condition to be running around like that. Hell, I can't take falls like you did and keep running afterwards, yo," Reno told him. Rucien glared at him, but the effect was spoiled when he starting coughing, the effort bending him double. He brought his hand from him mouth, it was speckled with blood.
"I think I broke something," he said. Reno rolled his eyes. Rucien straightened up and turned to continue his rush back to HQ, but he was now looking straight into the mouth of a cannon. A cannon, out here like this…What the hell is going on? he wondered.
Luckily, Reno and Rude were being more attentive than he was. Rude pulled Rucien back by his right shoulder, while Reno was already bounding past and laying a deathblow on the odd looking house with the cannon that he had been facing. He noticed it had feet.
The thing was down and out in one swift hit from Reno, who had scrounged up a measly 250 gil and a potion from the dead thing. Rucien just stared at it, unable to say a thing.
"A hell house," Reno informed him as he pocketed his earnings. Rucien just blinked, then decided it wasn't worth saying anything. He brushed his hair back and began limping his way back to HQ again.
Tseng was used to seeing at least one Turk come back to HQ caked in grime, blood, and requiring an overnight stay in the hospital. He never though it would be Rucien to come back looking as if he has lost a fistfight with Rude. If he was surprised, he didn't show it in the least.
"We aren't sure yet why it happened, or who really did it. It'll be another day at least till we've got some hints from our investigation," Tseng told the older Turk. "In the meantime, why don't you go let the medical staff take a look at you and go home and rest," he suggested. You're dripping blood on my expensive carpet. But he didn't dare say that last thought.
Rucien was just shaking his head in disbelief. Tseng knew that Rucien had had feelings for Talla. Her dying was one blow to him, and now the disappearance of her body was another. He felt sorry for the man, he truly did.
"Elena, please take him by the medics," he asked her. He wasn't sure Rucien had heard him. "And make sure he gets home alright. I don't know what he'll do if left alone. He's no Reno so it shouldn't be too hard."
"Yes sir," Elena nodded. She understood why Tseng would ask this of her. They'd both seen Turks members half dead or near mad with grief over one thing or other. Some were self-destructive, other destructive of everything around them. Someone had to keep watch over them, make sure they didn't do too much damage to themselves. Now, that someone was Elena. She was gentle and patient, unlike Rude and Reno. She'd see him home safely.
But of course, things never went smoothly.
They arrived at the hospital in short order. Elena admired how Rucien could keep going in his condition. She had learned that even if they looked fine on the outside, then usually something on the inside was broken. She didn't want to even think about what all Rucien had managed to break.
The receptionist at the desk sent them straight to the emergency room, and the minute they got there a doctor came over to see Rucien immediately. If any of the other patients who had been waiting for awhile for a doctor were angered at being ignored like this, they didn't voice it. Turks had priority over anyone else, save President ShinRa and the other bosses. They were led to a small examination room, and the doctor took some x-rays and looked over Rucien's battered body. Rucien had started coughing again, worse now. The doctor looked a bit concerned over his coughing up blood, and a few seconds later Rucien was out, eyes rolled into the back of his head. Elena grabbed his cane before it could fall to the floor and clutched it to her chest as if for dear life and did her best to not squeal in panic. Moments later Rucien was being wheeled to surgery.
"Three broken ribs, a punctured lung, damage to your right hip, twisted left ankle, seven stitches to close a gash on your head, a split lip, and multiple bruises and cuts riddled with splinters," the doctor told them. Rucien was lying on a medical bed in the ER, despite his many protests that he did not have to lie down, and Elena was sitting in a chair beside him.
"You've beaten Reno's record, congratulations. I don't think I've ever seen anyone here with as many injuries and so determined that they were perfectly fine and wanted to leave as you, with the exception of Reno."
"I'm not going to stay overnight, I'm perfectly capable of getting up and walking out on my own. I don't need to be babysat in a hospital bed," Rucien growled, his patience having given out quite awhile ago. Elena had given up protesting, he wouldn't listen at all anymore.
"We need to monitor you to make sure your lung doesn't collapse. You need to stay stationary so your body can heal itself properly. You'll have to stay for at least two days, even if we have to chain you to that bed. We're pretty good at it now, Reno certainly does hate hospital stays," the doctor told him.
"For fuck's sake," Rucien cursed, sighing and falling back into the pillows. "Fine, I'm staying. Happy now?" The doctor nodded and left, promising a nurse will be in to check on him again soon. Rucien rolled his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
"If you want I'll say here with you to keep you company," Elena offered.
"No, no. It's fine, I don't want to keep you from work any longer than I have to," he told her, sifting a hand through his tangled hair. He sighed again. It was going to be a long, boring two days, he just knew it.
Once again, it was Reno and Rude they were waiting on. Reno had bolted from the office the minute Elena had returned, with orders for them to assemble immediately in Tseng's office. Rude was now chasing him. It was a normal day in the Turks department.
Tseng and Elena had been waiting for about ten minutes when the office door finally opened, admitting Rude who was dragging a screeching, flailing Reno by the hair behind him. Once the door closed Elena stood in front of it, barring Reno's only escape route.
"OW OW OW OW OW! MY HAIR! MY FUCKING HAIR! LET GO MY HAIR YOU FUCKING BASTARD! OWWWwwwww," screeched Reno, clawing blindly at Rude's back. Rude finally let go, letting Reno fall unceremoniously to the ground. He gave Rude his best death glare, but the bigger man showed no notice of it. He just rolled his eyes behind his shades.
Tseng cleared his throat, getting the attention of the three Turks. Reno, finally noticing just how serious Tseng looked, got up from the floor and sulked next to Rude. Elena decided that Reno wouldn't bolt anymore and moved to stand at attention on the other side of Reno. At least this way, with Reno between her and Rude, they could grab him before he could go for the door again.
"The information that I am going to tell you is not to be told to anyone outside this office, it is still classified," he told them.
"But sir, if the information is still classified won't you get in trouble for telling us about it," Elena asked, concerned.
"That's only if you go tell everyone and Heidegger finds out," Reno told her. Elena blushed and kept her mouth shut.
"Anyways," Tseng went on, "I think it'd be better if you knew this. It has to do with Rucien, and the disappearance of a body from the morgue. Listen carefully, I don't want to repeat myself…"
She haunted his dreams, his morphine-induced euphoria that was wakefulness. Each time, the same thing. Each time, the same outcome. Each time, he felt a part of himself wither and die. She beckoned him with her tantalizing smiles, her bright green eyes, skin smooth and colorful, untouched by the years. He ran after her, racing after the mane of golden blonde hair that flew after her. Each time, the minute he caught up she crumpled in his grasp, blood blossoming from her chest. Each time, he looked into her eyes, now colorless and dead.
He could never stay conscious long enough to dispel that feeling of dread, of helplessness and hopelessness. He was lost in fever dreams, unable to come back to reality. Maybe he was dying. He hoped he was dying. Life without her was dull and lifeless. It wasn't worth living. In his dreams he begged whatever gods that were out there to let him go, let him be with Talla forever. Let him finally, truly die. But the dreams continued, the images of her haunting his every thought.
Sometimes he thought he could hear voices, people trying to talk to him. He couldn't ever make sense of the words. Sometimes he could just barely make out the presence of someone there, sitting by him, watching over him. He wanted to say something, scream for them to help him, to pull him from this miserable excuse of living. But he was trapped, unable to move, unable to call for help, in his own mind. No way out, no escape.
"Behave yourself, Reno!" Elena chided him as the three Turks walked down the pristine white halls of the hospital. "If you don't calm down and behave we'll lock you up somewhere in here for the night. I'm sure the doctors can find some shots to give you."
"Geez, you didn't have to go that far, yo," Reno told her, flinching at the mere though of shots. He couldn't remember why he was even tagging along to go visit Rucien in the hospital. Maybe it was because Rude was going. Where Rude went, half the time Reno followed. Simple logic.
Elena chatted with a nurse who had left Rucien's room. Apparently, his condition had worsened. He'd gone unconscious and had been running a high fever for the past few days, and had yet to wake up. The nurse explained it was probably from shock, but otherwise he was healing fine. Inside the hospital room Elena arranged some fresh flowers in a vase that she had brought with her, bought from a flower-girl down in the slums. The color helped dull the brightness of the unending sea of white that was the hospital. They didn't stay long, just looked in on him before going out. Friday night was bar night, or rather 'let's get as drunk as we can before Monday' night. Elena felt a little bad for going out with Reno and Rude while Rucien was still like this, for leaving him alone. But Reno owed her and Rude free drinks, and she was not about to give up free alcohol. Buying the flowers made her conscience feel a little better.
They passed Tseng leaving the offices at HQ, carrying a folder of reports that needed reviewing and commenting.
"Yo Boss, wanna go get smashed with us tonight? Beats doin paperwork, yo," Reno called to him, but Tseng shook his head.
"I've got too much work to do as is, I can't afford to waste time getting drunk right now," he replied coolly. Reno rolled his eyes and dragged Rude and Elena after him.
Tseng watched the hyperactive Turk drag away his partners, wishing he was still young and able to forget the paperwork and just party all evening. Though, back in the days they weren't as irresponsible. Back in the days they were the elites.
He sighed, running a hand through his long hair. No time for nostalgia tonight. He had work to do. He walked out to the parking garage and found his car; he was the last person to leave for the weekend. As he began to drive back to his apartment he had a sudden thought. He turned his car around and headed back toward HQ.
At first it was a dull thumping in the base of his skull. Now it was a full blown headache that pounded in his temples so hard he thought his head had been cracked open. Maybe it had, he had no way of telling what had happened to him since everything went black.
As quick and sudden as the headache had come on, it was gone. It felt as if weights had been lifted from him. Breathing seemed somewhat easier, though he still couldn't take a deep breath without the pain from his damaged ribs and lung making him horribly dizzy. His eyes fluttered open, everything hazy and white. He blinked, squinting his eyes for everything to come into focus.
It was all white. Boring, dull, excruciatingly bright white.
He pushed himself up, wincing at the protests from his ribs, and looked around. A vase with a colorful arrangement of flowers sat on a table next to his folded up uniform. His cane rested against the wall. He looked around for a minute, and after determining that no one was nearby, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and decided now was his only chance to get away.
Tseng didn't know what gave him the idea to come see Rucien. Some kind of spur-of-the-moment thing that he must've caught from Reno most likely. Before he even realized it, he was walking down the bright halls to Rucien's room. What he saw when he got there somehow didn't surprise him. Maybe it was because he'd caught Reno doing the same thing quite a few times before.
Rucien had managed his way out of bed, leaning heavily on one of the railings while he jerked out IV lines and other cords and sensors attached to his body. Once that was accomplished he limped, or rather hopped, to the table and pulled his pants from the folded pile of cloths.
"We had them mended while you were unconscious," Tseng informed him, voice calm and collected. Rucien made no notice of his presence, just gave him a grunt and began pulling on his pants. It must have taken more effort than Rucien was willing to admit, but he only rested for a moment before pulling off the hospital gown and tossing it onto the bed. He pulled on his white button up shirt but didn't button it up. Stuffing his tie into a coat pocket and grabbing his shoes under one arm, cane in his other hand, he limped for the door.
"You look like a mess," Tseng told him, looking Rucien over.
"I feel fine, I'm leaving," Rucien said, shuffling past Tseng. Tseng sighed, yet he didn't do anything to stop him. There was no point to it; he's only protest and hurt himself further. He might as well just go along with it.
"I'll give you a ride back to your apartment," Tseng offered, and Rucien nodded his acceptance.
This one took longer to write than the others. My mind halfway died on me. More to come, I'm back in school so I won't have as much time to work on it as I'd like…
As always, reviews are greatly appreciated!