Title: Revival
Author: monitorscreen
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Characters: Vincent, Cloud
Rating: PG
Word count: 349
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII is the creation of Square Enix, not mine.
Summary: The first thing Vincent noticed when he came around was the pain.
Author's notes: Because my friend ai-ling mentioned the five senses question, and it got me thinking.

Revival

by monitor screen

-o-

The first thing Vincent noticed when he came around was the pain. It was everywhere, overwhelming, and he could not feel his body. His vision was blacked over, his hearing blocked by the rolling in his ears, and he had trouble breathing - all the air he inhaled seemed to have turned into liquid. It coated and filled his nose, mouth, his straining gasps doing nothing to help bring him the much-needed oxygen.

Someone touched his cheek. It brought up a flare of fresh sting, but the contact was reassuring. The someone then shifted his body, and it hurt. Vincent thought he might have made some noises, because there was a pat to his shoulder, which felt like a searing burn, and was not soothing at all. His jaw was grabbed, the motion almost breaking his neck, and a vial was shoved to his lips, pouring thick, slick potion down his throat.

The relief was instant. The slicing agony dulled into a lingering ache, and he could draw breath again at long last. The salty tang of blood flooded his senses, until Vincent became aware of the thumping heartbeat that was not his own, and started to take in his surrounding.

He was leaning on somebody. Rough knit scraped his cheek as Vincent turned his head, and the first thing that greeted his sight was the weave of navy. Blinking, Vincent pulled back, and sat up gingerly under watchful mako eyes. Their leader looked battered, with splashes of blood on him; Vincent was not sure who did the blood belong to.

The stillness was eerie after all the screams of battle. Dazedly, Vincent looked around, to find that indeed, the fight was over. Their companions were scattered among the carcasses, treating injuries or resting.

A flutter of movement snatched Vincent's attention back; Cloud had risen. Giving the gunman one last appraisal, he turned to retrieve his buster sword. "Now that you're alright, let's get out of here," he said while sheathing it.

Vincent nodded, accepting the proffered hand up, and followed Cloud as he called out to the others.

-o-