The flight heading for the area where they would rendezvous with their horses was not going any better than their time of the fishing boat. The group began to notice something serious was going on with Zack almost immediately after they got into the air that afternoon. The first day had been fine, he complained a little of pain behind his right ear but it wasn't something he was worried about initially because he thought he slept wrong that night. The second day the pain had spread into the back of his head and down towards the base of his neck. The teen was growing pale and had no appetite then about an hour before they landed for the night, a migraine had begun to form. Ocelot and Venom were wary of this, especially the former medic who had watched the boy the previous night and was able to rule it out as sleeping wrong. The morning of the third day, Zack was growing nauseated and swayed slightly as he sat in the seat, holding the right side of his head.

"Zack, what's going on?" Ocelot asked, gently taking the boy's face in his hands and made him look at his eyes. "Can you tell what's causing this?"

Zack couldn't speak and just shook his head before putting his arms around his lover's waist when he moved to sit beside him. Ocelot gently guided the teen to rest his head on his chest so the blonde obliged and closed his eyes as he began to feel faint. He felt Ocelot's arms around him and heard the deep rumble of Vicente's voice as the gunslinger pet his hair.

"Put this bird down, Pequod," the former medic turned soldier ordered, so the pilot acknowledged verbally and began to descend.

The helicopter landed a few minutes later in a decent sized clearing between two cliffsides where they wouldn't easily be seen. Vicente got out first, taking Zack into his arms when Ocelot handed the teen to him. The medic set the boy down next to a rock near by to comb his hair from his eyes and then began to check his vitals. His heart rate was accelerated and probably his blood pressure as well. The teen reached up to hold behind his right ear as he bowed his head, the rotors spinning sounded hollow and everything was muffled. Tretij knelt down next to him and placed his hand on top of his blonde hair, Zack immediately felt him looking into his mind to see if there was anything wrong as Ocelot embraced him. Whatever was causing this, he didn't think it had anything to do with his brain.
It almost felt...physical.

"I do not see anything wrong with his mind," the red head confirmed, lowering his hand just as Pequod walked up. "But something about him is definitely different."

"We need to go by ground from here," Venom suddenly said as he took a small flashlight out of the pouch on his belt. Ocelot moved his arm just enough for Vicente to click the light on and look at Zack's eyes who closed them tightly and groaned after he stopped. "His pupils are dilated, something is obviously causing his body distress. The sonic vibrations from the rotors are most likely making it worse."

"I'll radio Shivering Jackal and have him bring you guys a jeep instead," Pequod offered. "We're only a few hours out from the nearest camp, so it shouldn't be too hard for them to get here."

"Thank you Pequod," Zack managed to mumble as he tried to open his eyes and smile at the pilot. He didn't want to hinder the mission but he knew that he had to go into Da Ghwandai Khar with Vicente and there was no way he could like this.

The pilot nodded and returned the smile before heading back to the air craft to radio out to the near by camp to bring them a vehicle. Ocelot helped Zack stand and led him over to where there was an overhanging part of the canyon wall so that he could rest without the worry of sunburn. Tretij took his adopted brother gently by the arm and guided him to sit down with him as the gunslinger took off his coat and folded it up as a makeshift pillow. Tretij took it and placed it on his legs, guiding Zack to lay down as Vicente walked over and took his canteen off his belt, wetting a rag. He handed it to the psychokinetic who folded it and wiped Zack's face then placed it on his forehead. After making sure that the teen would be okay at least for now, the two men stepped off to the side to talk.

"What happened before that jump he made?" Vicente asked so Ocelot thought back to that night. "What he did wasn't human, you and I both know that. So something must have triggered that ability as a response."

Ocelot sighed and reached up to rub at his eye with the heel of his hand before pushing his bangs back with his fingers and looked at the man who waited patiently. He knew that it wasn't his place to tell the man what had happened, but there was no way Zack was in any condition to tell Vicente himself. Maybe if he explained, the man could figure out what was happening to the teenager.

"He fought with his father to protect me," the cowboy finally replied, lowering his hand. "Big Boss tried to force me to go with him out of Cyprus and Zack just... It was like he became a completely different person. I've never seen him act like that before."

"There was no indication of personality change before this happened?"

"No, it was like a switch flipped. He lunged at his old man with a speed I've never seen before. I trained him to be a good fighter, but he was never that quick to react or that agile before. I love Nymph, but he can be...clutzy sometimes."

Vicente rubbed the underside of his chin with the top of his organic fingers as he looked over at the boy where he was resting. Even though the eyepatch obscured half of his expression, Ocelot could see he was in deep thought. At first the gunslinger had believed it to be adrenaline that allowed Zack to move as fast and clear headed as he did. But now he had to wonder if there was something more to the boy, just as there was to Tretij. He also took a moment to appreciate the fact that even after the accident and plastic surgery, he could still see who Vicente used to be in his habits. It brought back pleasant memories from the days he spent on the old Mother Base with the man, but also drew to light the situation they were in. They hadn't been given the chance to really speak of what they could be since they basically took turns being glued to Kaz's hip.
But the glances and curious stares they had given each other on more than one occasion was an undeniable interest in the other as more than comrades in arms. Ocelot had been close to Kaz since he was in his twenties for all of the right - and probably some wrong - reasons. Then this man had come in and brought up all kinds of questions in the gunslinger's mind. The attraction had been undeniable, sure, but he wondered if maybe it had something to do with Kaz. When he first arrived on Mother Base, he didn't tell anyone except Kaz what had happened to the Sixth Star, but it was like Vicente knew. The medic had approached him about a week later after he had settled in and gave him the medications he still remained on to this day. He reminded him that suffering a loss in silence wasn't always the best way to grieve and that opening up to others for emotional support could go a long way towards speeding up the process and healing faster.
Don't be afraid to be weak, he had told him one night on the intel platform, and Ocelot had then allowed himself to cry.
He guessed that must have been when it started: When he got to see the man's calm, caring demeanor even while working for the tyrant he had. Over the months as they kept spending time with Kaz and briefly with each other, Ocelot had noticed little quirks about the man that he found pleasant. Observing had been what he was raised to do and he prided himself in getting the information he needed, when he needed it. But Vicente was the first time he had observed a person, not out of needing to, but because he wanted to. Little things that wouldn't have normally been apparent to most people were the ones he picked up on. The way he chewed on the side of his thumb when he was distressed, the nervous tick he had in his writing when he went to cross his t's or this very motion - rubbing the underside of his chin with the tops of his fingers when he was in thought. There were so many small habits that he also realized Kaz had picked up from working with him for so long, too, and it was almost endearing.
But now came the light of their situation: What part of him was genuine and what was Big Boss? It had been no secret to him that John had been lusting over him since he saw him while under cover for the GRU and for a time, it didn't bother him. He knew he was attractive, which had turned out to be his biggest nightmare back then, but once he found out it was only because he reminded the man of his mother, he wasn't interested. If anything, he was disgusted because he had just lost the one person he had actually considered having a future with during that operation and the advances were unwanted. He found Kaz shortly after that and they fell in deep and immediate which Ocelot was welcome of, because he knew for specific reasons that the man was someone he'd spend the rest of his life with. It was a welcoming feeling after the raw ache that losing his partner in the Ocelot Unit had left on him. Kaz more than one time literally fought Big Boss to keep him away. Kaz made him feel loved, made him feel safe.
And now that Vicente had John's memories, what was the genuine attraction that the medic had felt to him and what was the lust that John had harbored for the "Son of The Joy"? It made Ocelot anxious even though he didn't let it show and after the man had inquired as to if they knew each other before the incident, he wondered if he remembered him at all. He had been uncomfortable but slightly thrilled by the way the man had looked at him on the fishing boat, but after that question had come to light, he had a sinking feeling in his stomach that the interest in him the mad had was from the one who made him a phantom.
Ocelot hadn't realized he was chewing on the inside of his lip until Vicente startled him out of his thoughts by speaking on the matter actually at hand.

"I'll have Pequod ask them to bring some Metyrapone when they bring the jeep," the former medic said as he lowered his hand and the two of them glanced at each other again. "It sounds like he's suffering from too much adrenaline. He may be just now coming down from it because he's suffering all of the symptoms; the flutter in his heartbeats, sweating and weakness. His pupils being dilated are a major indicator of it."

"Will that do him damage?" Ocelot asked as the man turned to head for the helicopter.

"It'll do more damage if it goes untreated."

Now that the gunslinger thought about it, Zack had been wound tighter than a sidewinder since Kaz left, stressing about his training and always protecting Tretij when they went into town. He walked over to the boy, the spurs on his boots chiming as he did and the psychokinetic looked at the man as his adopted brother's body relaxed at the sound. For the moment, the teenager was resting and seemed to be doing so soundly despite the heat. Ocelot smiled at Tretij who returned it, judging by the slight shift of the kitsune mask that he was wearing so the gunslinger sat down next to the red head. As the boy leaned into his shoulder, the man put his arm around the boy just firmly enough that he would feel safe. The man looked over where Vicente was talking to Pequod by the helicopter and watched as the pilot saluted the brunette before getting in the aircraft. Zack woke briefly when the helicopter turned on and took to the air so that it could leave.

"The recruits will be here tomorrow morning," Vicente told the three since all of them were looking at him. He watched the helicopter take off before looking at Ocelot with a bag over his shoulder. "We should search the area for water and set up a perimeter since we won't be able to leave for the day."

"Alright, best go now then since we only have two hours of sunlight left," the Russian-American agreed, removing his arm from around Tretij and getting up to go with the man. "Keep an eye on our hero now, Mantis. Don't let him get up and wander too far; we don't need any more heroics until he's better."

"Leave before I throw a rock at you, Ocelot," the blonde mumbled with a weak smirk, Tretij chuckling behind his mask at his adopted brother's response.

The two men smiled before they headed off into the east for a fair distance, observing their surroundings to make sure that they weren't seen when the helicopter landed. As they made their way around to the south, they found a small creek full of running water what was filtered by rocks and sand. The two filled up the bottles in the bag and Ocelot walked off a bit from the man who kept a close eye on him regardless. The blonde took his gloves off, knowing that he was far enough away to keep his secret and pocketed them for the moment. He placed his palms flat on the bottom of the creek and slowed his breathing down, waiting patiently. After a few moments, the man saw two large fish swim up to his hands and just as they were about to bite his fingers, he swiftly hooked the inside of their mouths which allowed him to pull them out of the water and toss them aside into a patch of grass. He noticed the look of amazement and intrigue on Vicente's face from where he was watching and couldn't help but feel a little smug and maybe appreciated.
After catching a few more in the same manner, the gunslinger dried his hands on his scarf and winced when the fabric tugged at a rough spot on his skin. He panicked slightly at what he saw before dusting off the scarf and putting his gloves on.
He hoped Vicente hadn't seen that...
As he tied a string to the now dying fish, the former medic walked over and gently grabbed his wrist. The gunslinger was about to trigger fight or flight mode until he realized that the brunette was simply offering to take the fish, so he let him. The man tied the string to one of the metal loops on the bag and they proceeded to finish scanning the area.

"You wanna tell me how you did that?" the medic asked as they stopped to look over the area just outside of where they were making camp. The gunslinger looked at him in question. "Catching those fish like that. It's not a skill the military teaches to my knowledge."

"Oh no, it's definitely not, because people like John can't be bothered to make sure their men survive in the wild," the gunslinger groaned in confirmation. He took a breath to calm himself and not let his train of thought get away with him. "My mentor taught me how to do that. Albeit, a very extreme and maybe unnecessary way, but I'm glad he did."

Vicente made a noise of acknowledgement before the two of them progressed on back towards the camp. Ocelot was beginning to wonder what was on the man's mind when he suddenly took him by the hand and turned them together so that the cowboy's back was against the canyon wall. He probably should have panicked, been worried after where his train of thought had taken him earlier. But as the man slid the bag off his shoulder to rest it on the ground and move closer to the gunslinger, the man simply smiled fondly at him. He felt the bionic hand rest on his waist so he reached up and brushed the man's hair away from the shrapnel in his temple then straightened his eyepatch which was askew from when he wiped sweat off his brow moments before. He rested his hand on the man's arm, looking at his blue eye with a slight tilt to his head.

"Something on your mind, V?" he asked quietly since they were close enough to the camp to be heard. He didn't want to disturb Zack if he was still resting.

"You," the man replied softly and Ocelot laughed a little, making him frown. Ocelot knew immediately that he had made the man worry that he was being flippant, so he reached up and hesitantly touched his cheek with his other hand.

"Obviously. But what about me, Venom? Tell me what you've been thinking every time you looked at me today. I want to know what's on your mind every time I move."

The man shook his head a little and reached up with his organic hand to return the motion and Ocelot let himself lean into it as his eyes closed. After a moment, the man finally spoke. "Are you staying at arm's length because I look like him? Or did...I hurt you somehow before the accident?"

Ocelot opened his eyes and looked at the man with probably surprise, or maybe confusion. He couldn't really tell which of the two was reflecting on his face at the sudden question. It was most likely surprise though since he now found out that the man may have been wondering if his current state also had some unjust effect on their relationship. Ocelot felt a mild panic in his chest, but he tampered it down and just offered the man the truth.

"I am worried about where the genuity of where your desire for me from before begins and where his lust for me ends," he told the man who furrowed his brows for a moment. But when he went to speak, Ocelot shushed him. "This isn't the time or the place for this..."

"Are you scared?" the man whispered, leaning in close.

"I... Yes, a little... Vic.." The gunslinger felt his knees getting weak as the man stepped so close that their whole bodies were practically touching as he wrapped his arms around him. Ocelot wanted to give in, damn the man felt good pressed up against him like that and he got a rush in his spine but as the man leaned in, he turned his head. "I can't..."

"Ocelot.."

The man pulled away and smiled at the man, putting a gloved hand on his cheek. "When we have Kaz home safe, when we're on base and away from danger, I promise we'll sit down and talk about this okay? For now, keep your mind clean, Venom."

The man didn't press it further but took the man's hand and kissed his palm, a welcoming motion since he had seen him do that for Kaz multiple times. It was where he had picked up the habit from so at least that part of him was still genuine. He watched the man back away and pick up the bag and the fish, nodding for Ocelot to follow, so he did willingly. It was strange to think that after nine years maybe the two of them could pick up where they left off that last night.
But Ocelot had to wonder... What were Kaz and Zack going to think?