[ It's not like Cloud's being subtle with this line of questioning, and while Zack can't really blame him for what he's feeling, he also finds that he's exhausted by it. He'd rather that Cloud be here, rather than trying to track down the people responsible and then landing himself in his own mess of trouble.
Cloud's touch at his jaw does provide some further relief, but when Zack makes to let out a breath, he just starts coughing again. He's forced to pull back and turn onto his side, searching for a position that doesn't further irritate his lungs.
Once he's caught his breath, he speaks up, though his voice is strained. ]
I have some idea. Rude would know better. He's the one who came and got me. Aerith set it all up...
[ His memories of the escape are hazy, given how he'd been in such awful shape by then. Reno had been there, too, his mind scrambled. It's all blurring together now. ]
The guy behind it all, I think he got away. I'm sure there's gonna be lots of people aiming to track him down.
[He should have been on patrol with him. Hell, even looking for him with the others. Of course, he doesn't make any excuses for himself. He doesn't tell Zack what happened to him and Sephiroth, about the tree, about anything like that- because in his mind, it's another failing. No matter how it happened, it's his fuckup.
...One that got him hurt. Severely so. When his words deteriorate into coughs, he shrinks back, just slightly, affording him enough space to move himself on the bed, and recloses the space once he's settled, his gaze lifting to view his back and his shoulders.]
Right. I'll talk to him.
[He's... honestly, gone out of his way to avoid the turks. Ever since they arrived. But... this is more important. Shit, thanking them for what they did is more important. His hand rises again to lightly move against his spine as he lies there.]
...You're... infected, right? But you're still you.
[ Zack shakes his head, managing to make it fervent even with the way that the constant coughing has sucked almost every bit of energy from his body. No matter what, he'll always be able to dredge up enough to protest Cloud's self-deprecating words. ]
You were way out of the city. No way you could've known. I shouldn't have gotten caught in the first place.
[ To some degree, he's still kicking himself over that, though with all said and done, there's not much point in doing so anymore. Better to try and find ways to recover and move on, like he has before.
It's hard to imagine Cloud and Rude having any sort of conversation, but Zack sets that aside for now. As much as he'd like to toss in some lighthearted comment about them exchanging no more than five words between them, it isn't exactly the right time for it.
Not with that question that follows. He turns his hand to try and look at Cloud over his shoulder. The soothing hand on his back is appreciated, and it does allow him to get through what he says next without coughing yet again. ]
Right. It never got bad enough that I wanted to pass it on to anyone else, and it sounds like they're gonna fix me up here. I was lucky.
[ His infection was hardly mild, but he's aware it could have been worse. ]
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no subject
Cloud's touch at his jaw does provide some further relief, but when Zack makes to let out a breath, he just starts coughing again. He's forced to pull back and turn onto his side, searching for a position that doesn't further irritate his lungs.
Once he's caught his breath, he speaks up, though his voice is strained. ]
I have some idea. Rude would know better. He's the one who came and got me. Aerith set it all up...
[ His memories of the escape are hazy, given how he'd been in such awful shape by then. Reno had been there, too, his mind scrambled. It's all blurring together now. ]
The guy behind it all, I think he got away. I'm sure there's gonna be lots of people aiming to track him down.
no subject
[He should have been on patrol with him. Hell, even looking for him with the others. Of course, he doesn't make any excuses for himself. He doesn't tell Zack what happened to him and Sephiroth, about the tree, about anything like that- because in his mind, it's another failing. No matter how it happened, it's his fuckup.
...One that got him hurt. Severely so. When his words deteriorate into coughs, he shrinks back, just slightly, affording him enough space to move himself on the bed, and recloses the space once he's settled, his gaze lifting to view his back and his shoulders.]
Right. I'll talk to him.
[He's... honestly, gone out of his way to avoid the turks. Ever since they arrived. But... this is more important. Shit, thanking them for what they did is more important. His hand rises again to lightly move against his spine as he lies there.]
...You're... infected, right? But you're still you.
no subject
You were way out of the city. No way you could've known. I shouldn't have gotten caught in the first place.
[ To some degree, he's still kicking himself over that, though with all said and done, there's not much point in doing so anymore. Better to try and find ways to recover and move on, like he has before.
It's hard to imagine Cloud and Rude having any sort of conversation, but Zack sets that aside for now. As much as he'd like to toss in some lighthearted comment about them exchanging no more than five words between them, it isn't exactly the right time for it.
Not with that question that follows. He turns his hand to try and look at Cloud over his shoulder. The soothing hand on his back is appreciated, and it does allow him to get through what he says next without coughing yet again. ]
Right. It never got bad enough that I wanted to pass it on to anyone else, and it sounds like they're gonna fix me up here. I was lucky.
[ His infection was hardly mild, but he's aware it could have been worse. ]