Warning: Lots of foul language and reptile carnage ahead. You have been warned. ^_^
Also-There is story art for this fic. Go to
A Continuation of "Snakes Don't Taste Like Chicken"
By Moira
Cloud paused as he thought he caught a faint squelching sound. It became steadier as he listened more intently.
*splash* *slosh slosh*
But it could have just been the rain falling in great heavy drops. Or even Sylth backtracking like he had.
Yeah right.
He frowned and yanked the wet bangs that were hanging over his eyes. Blast it! He could see nothing, sense little and had water collecting in places he didn't care to think about. Where the hell was that Turk?!
As if in answer to his mental query he suddenly heard what must have been bellowed as loud as possible by the person emitting it, but it came to him like a broken whisper.
"STRIFE! MOVE YOUR AS-!!!"
He didn't pause for thought as his instincts took over. Releasing the reins he threw himself from Pheros and rolled as he hit the ground, ending in a crouch with sword drawn.
A huge shadow surged towards the now riderless chocobo and Pheros warked in increasing alarm as his rider had already dismounted in a most unorthodox fashion. It sidestepped the path of the shadow, which hissed in agitation. Wanting no part of this the chocobo took off at top speed back towards Midgar. The shadow stopped and it was now close enough for Cloud to read the intent in its slitted eyes.
Death.
He made a move to stand but his feet shot out from under him as the tail of the serpent he hadn't seen coming robbed him of purchase. There was no time to curse as he fell backwards and his head made contact with the ground. His vision went black for a moment, but he blinked furiously and the chaotic sky returned. The Ultima sword was still gripped firmly in his right hand and he slashed blindly above him. There was another spitting hiss, but he didn't make contact.
Suddenly
the entire night sky seemed to light up as thousands of volts of electricity
danced across the Zolom's length. The effect was magnified by the rain and
general wetness around them, but it seemed to have little effect on the
serpent, while Cloud thought his teeth would rattle loose from the jolt. It was
mad to use that kind of a weapon in a downpour! He quickly regained his feet
and saw Reno striking at the serpent with a crazed look in his eyes and a manic
grin. Again the earth exploded all around them in a spray of hot mud as the
Turk turned on the juice. But as before it had little effect. Gathering himself
for a leap Cloud bunched the muscles in his legs and drove upward, sword held high
overhead.
Some of it dotted his cheeks and he drew back to avoid being crushed as the Zolom began to writhe in agony.
It must have some kind of resistance to electricity, Reno thought as his second blast again had achieved only slight damage to the creature. With his other hand he drew the gun out and began shooting at the head, scoring hits around the mouth and one very close to an eye. To his left, and recovered from the fall, he watched Cloud leap at the snake with the sword. When he saw the bright red splash in widening patches around the thrashing snake he wanted to cheer. Dropping the spent cartridge he quickly loaded another and took aim again.
Cloud was having a merry time avoiding the tail, which whipped overhead and dropped randomly with enough force to crush a tank. He danced back out of reach again when the jaws snapped in his face, and did a complicated summersault to evade the next arc of the tail. As far as he could tell the Turk was still on his feet and doing moderate amounts of damage with his gun. It was amazing actually. To get a good shot off at a constantly striking snake was impressive, but he would choose a sword any day. Shifting his grip a bit, he readied himself and charged forward using the cross-cut technique. It would have worked splendidly, but at the moment the Zolom chose to use it's own brand of magic.
A sound like a roaring train filled the area and Reno had to resist the urge to clap his hands over his ears. Instead he continued shooting and chanted quickly under his breath. A shimmering pyramid rose from the ground to enclose him within its protective walls. He chanted again, hoping it wasn't too late for it, and a much larger pyramid swelled into shape around the Zolom. The roaring sound didn't cease though. Instead it grew even more deafening and the pyramid began to change color. Reno swore and tried one last spell to enforce the weakened barrier. Too late this time the prison burst, spewing forth flame and green light. It razed the land around them, engulfing the entire area. Reno squinted his eyes and held an arm defensively in front of his face, but his own shield held firm. When the magical attack died out he dropped it immediately and lashed out with gun, this time taking out an eye in the process.
Surrounded by green haze Cloud had to squint to see his target. The wave of energy hurt, but not like actual fire. Oh, the heat was there all right. It scorched and razed the nerves, but without much visible effect. Instead, the green flame licked at his exposed flesh searing the arm with scar, and calling forth more than physical pain. Memories roiled up inside of him, threatening to shut down conscious thought. He fought off the wave of disorientation with a snarl. No one! Never again would he be subject to those kinds of games! Unconsciously he had already called for a cure level two, to erase the residuals of the green flame, and brought his sword to bear. Advancing forward he narrowed his eyes and ignored it.
The snake was occupied with Reno, who faced it unflinchingly as it struck at him again and again. The Turk moved faster than the serpent, though it didn't seem possible, and darted back and forth to positively hail it with bullets. Once or twice it came close and the thrust of its movement forced Reno to retreat and then regroup. Cloud could feel his knuckles go white on the sword handle. This wasn't right. It shouldn't be this hard to take down. Not with the weapons and training they had both had, and that spell it had cast… That was new too. No choice though. Something was definitely going to give and he didn't intend it to be him. Catching Reno's eye Cloud waved him back and pulled a small red orb from his pouch. It glowed dully in his gloved hand and he fitted it into an empty slot on the sword. Bowing his head he chanted softly and performed an intricate movement with the weapon. Sweeping it back, and then up, he raised a hand and pointed at the snake. Bright glossy crystals, thousands of them like polished glass, burst forth and collected above the ground. The air suddenly seemed dryer and much, much colder. A blue haze formed into a roiling ball of energy, and when it too split into jagged chunks, a woman appeared. Her eyes, like the rest of her were blue. They swept chillingly over the battleground and fastened on the chosen target. She tossed her head and breathed ice crystals that joined the mass off frozen water around her. The serpent recoiled from the chill that now invaded its once humid area, and the one eye fixed on her as she hovered above. It hissed in low hateful tones. She gazed down on it dispassionately and with a flick of her delicate wrist sent the collected ball of ice hurtling towards the creature. The sound of the impact was immense and the ball fractured into jagged spears, pinning the monster beneath its weight and shredding flesh. A horrid smell like burnt tires filled the air and both men gagged noisily. Shiva never blinked and simply returned back to her summon materia with the same chilly indifference of an icicle shattering the frozen surface of a lake.
Cloud murmured a short word of relief and he and Reno moved closer to survey the damage. The Zolom still twitched and hissed in its death throes. Reno nudged an exposed portion with his foot, and it lay still. Cloud frowned at it, and turned to Reno with exasperation darkening his features.
"What the hell were y-"
"F%$#!"
Reno leapt back and grabbed for his nightstick. The Zolom was spasming violently again and it dislodged a chuck that showered them with needles of ice. A larger portion broke free as it thrashed again, and Cloud disappeared in curtain of white, his blue eyes wide and startled.
Shit! Reno wiped furiously at his face when blood began dripping into his eyes and running down his cheeks. He could see Cloud, or at least the portion of him that wasn't buried. The other man was still conscious, and he strained at the crushing weight of the ice. He seemed pinned beneath the load that had dropped on him, and struggling made no difference. At that instant the snake, sensing at least a partial victory, managed one last strike at the prey that now finally acted like one. Trapped and unable to save himself, Cloud could only bare his teeth and watch as the head came down.
C/R/A/C/K/L/E!!!
The Zolom jerked spastically as electricity coursed through its very core. Reno had charged the nightstick and drove it into one of the many wounds decorating the ravaged hide. He urged it deeper with all his strength and the hissing was overcome with the sizzling of charred tissue. With a sickening pop the length of the snake exploded, and yet again they were subject to a downpour, but this time it was smoking chunks of flesh. Reno choked on the acrid stench and released the nightstick to put a hand to his mouth. When he finally looked up he realized that it was no longer raining. Anything. The sky was a deepening blue now and the sun shone high overhead. Scrubbing the worst of the blood off his face from the dozen miniscule cuts, he trudged to where Cloud still lay half buried.
The other man sat stiffly, blinking the smoke from his watering eyes. He tried to move but found it difficult and not just a bit painful, so he stopped. As Reno approached he gazed at the Turk solemnly, and as seriously as one could buried in ice and wearing what he thought might be a piece of the Zolom for a hat.
"You look like shit," the Turk commented, crouching on his heels.
"Don't look so hot yourself," Cloud noted as he took in the other mans charred clothing and bloodied face.
Reno shrugged. "I ain't worried. It's nothing serious." "You on the other hand look to be in a spot of trouble. I wouldn't want ya to think I don't care or anything, but-"
"Reno?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut the hell up and dig me out."
The Turk shrugged. "Just trying t' make nice seeing as I saved your ass an all."
Cloud sighed deeply, but Reno made no move to help. Instead he rocked back on his heels, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"What?!" Cloud practically shouted.
"I was just thinking," Reno said.
"Must be hard."
A red eyebrow rose, and if anything the grin spread wider. "I was just thinking, that even buried under half a ton of ice you're still an asshole of epic proportions."
"Gee, I guess that makes you a genius."
"You know what your problem is Strife?"
"I don't suppose you'll let me go without hearing it?"
"Fuck no. Someone shoulda told you this ages ago. I'm sure at least one of your AVALANCHE buddies musta been sick of it. What your problem is, is that you seem to think everyone's playin' on your team."
"What?"
"It's a deferment thing. You should know that being in ShinRa once. Maybe not SOLDIER, but you were military."
Cloud flinched at his words, but it was only apparent in the set of his jaw.
"You're not everyone's leader Strife," Reno continued. "We don't play nice, never have, but you seem to expect everyone to fall in line. You're not a team player unless you're in charge. You're trying to control something you never even had a chance to understand. There's something else wrong with you too. Maybe it ain't visible, but you reek of doubt. There's no peace for you after the war is there? Some of us just like to fight. Am I right?"
Cloud still said nothing, just stared at him balefully.
The smile disappeared from sight, but not because of the look Cloud was giving him. Reno narrowed his eyes and tapped the nightstick on his knee.
"You're going to have more problems if you don't accept that," Reno said.
He ran a long finger over one of the scars that adorned his cheeks.
"I did."
"You know what Reno?"
"Mm?"
"Fuck you. You have no idea what my life has been like. You don't know me, and you certainly have no right to judge whatever reasons govern the decisions I make. At least I'm facing them with more than a bottle of alcohol."
The Turk's smile returned, but it was nasty.
"Maybe I should just leave you here. You know, we never did finish our business in Midgar that day."
Cloud felt like yelling, he really did, but at that time he was also feeling battered, bleeding, and just plain tired. Wearily he leaned his head against the ice that held him fast, letting the cool seep through his cheek and into the turmoil that was his brain.
Reno watched him carefully for a moment, the green eyes intent on the other man's face. With a snort that sounded half laugh, half exhaustion, he stood and stretched, and tucking the nightstick back in its holster he began to shift the rubble around.
He
was lucky, Reno thought, eyeing the damage. At least the ice has served as a
compress to help reduce the swelling and stop the bleeding.
"Full Cure!" The Turk called out. Light diffused the area and when it cleared Cloud could stand on his own.
The blond haired man pressed a hand to his forehead and licked his lips. He then sighed something, which sounded suspiciously like "thanks".
Reno held a hand up to his ear. "What was that?" He asked sweetly.
Cloud opened his mouth, shut it, and nodded at the other man.
"Thank you."
The first genuine smile he had ever seen Reno give, split the Turk's face.
"You're welcome. Now gimp your ass over here so we can get outta this S&#@ hole."
"And how do you plan to do that? Pheros will head for either the chocobo farm or Midgar, and yours took off too."
Reno smiled again and brought two fingers to his lips. A shrill whistle, loud and piercing, filled the air.
"Any minute now," he announced.
And so they waited. And waited some more. Sprawled on a tree stump Reno puffed angrily on a cigarette. Cloud sat on a moss-encrusted log with his injured leg stretched out to rest on a rock. It would take a bit more than Restore materia to patch that up. Probably a couple of days even. He stared fixedly at the ground, ignoring the occasional twinges in his limbs, and thought briefly of a time almost a year ago when the lines between enemy and friend were a little clearer cut. Frowning at the white line on his arm, he almost jumped when a loud gurgle worked its way free of his stomach. He grimaced. It had been along time since breakfast.
Reno glanced up and echoed his inner thoughts.
Wrinkling his nose he said, "Man. Even though this place smells worse than a chocobo stall, I am starving!"
"I could eat a certain black one right about now…" He added with an evil smile.
Cloud paused and an indefinable expression flitted across his face.
Reno looked back at him. "What? You got something in that pouch of yours?" He said hopefully.
Cloud shook his head, but he stood up and limped over to the decaying corpse of the Zolom. With a deft cut of his sword he sliced off a small portion of white meat. It was still hot to the touch.
Reno looked at him with something akin to incredulity.
"You're not thinking…"
Giving him a toothy smile Cloud brought the piece to his mouth and ripped off a bite. Chewing it thoughtfully he added, "Tastes like chicken."
The Turk wasn't convinced, but hungry nonetheless.
"Yeah? I dunno. Looks pretty iffy to me…"
Cloud shrugged and returned to his moldy seat. He took another bite and chewed it blissfully.
Reno looked from him to the Zolom, and then back again at the piece Cloud was currently devouring with what looked like extreme satisfaction. His mouth began watering of its own accord and he swallowed a bit roughly.
"I…ah… Like chicken you said?"
Cloud spared the time to nod between fist-sized bites.
Taking in a deep breath the Turk strolled over to the remains of the snake, hands shoved into deep pockets. He snuck a quick glance back at Cloud to make sure he wasn't being put on, and knelt down to unsheathe one of his knives. Spinning nervously over his knuckles, the weapon flashed in the daylight. He bit his bottom lip in indecision.
This was a snake. A rotten, skuzzy, scaly thing that had just tried to eat him. Its exposed flank steamed in the sun, giving off waves of heat.
"ugh…" Was all he could think of to illustrate his feelings for the idea of putting that in his mouth. But, regardless of the many revolting images that sprang to mind, his stomach growled noisily.
"I can't believe I'm doing this…" He muttered, and bent down to cut a piece free of the outer skin. Holding it delicately between the thumb and index finger he made a face.
Cloud was now watching him with a bemused expression.
He glared at the blond and, averting his eyes, nipped a small portion off the chunk.
He worked at it with his molars, grinding the soft meat into manageable parts. Swallowing with difficulty he shuddered and gripped the handle of the knife until his knuckles turned white.
"THAT," he declared with a scowl, "Did NOT taste like chicken!!!"
Cloud's wide grin said everything.
He stalked back to his tree stump and turned away from the laughter that rose merrily at his expense. Even as Cloud began hiccupping when it got to be too much for him, Reno was still holding possessively onto the meat. Studiously ignoring the sound of someone falling off their log he took another bite and muttered to himself about village idiots and several unpleasant ways to die in the wild.
And so they waited some more.
* * * * * *
Author's Note: Er…maybe a bit long, and not to mention the fact that it's chapter 2 and a half and they haven't even hauled their arses to Junon yet. ^_^ Still, I do so love a good fight, and this was a necessary addition. (and not just for the title clarification) Expect them to finally get their journey underway and snake free in the next chapter. Junon awaits and it's the part Reno has been waiting for. The bars. R & R comments, suggestions, and wilderness cooking recipes. All appreciated. bane_sidhe@hotmail.com
Oh, and if you like Turk stuff, I also co-host a site that's exclusively them. It has more than the lion's share of fics, art, commentary and links. Stop by and browse around if it pleases you. http://turks.implicate.net