Chapter Text
His vision is hazy as he wakes from a deep, ether-induced slumber. The first thing Kaz sees in the glow of candlelight is the shadow of Ocelot spinning his pistols in his leather covered hands. He’s in full Hunter garb, meaning the Hunt must still be on. The shadows on the wall, however, make him nervous. As he closes his eyes, he remembers being in a cold room, tied down to a table, an IV hooked into what was left of his left arm, awaiting the inevitable. He takes a deep breath as he realizes he’s now sitting in a wheelchair covered in a warm blanket, not laid out on an operating table. He starts trying to regulate his breathing, hoping it will calm his frantically beating heart.
When he turns back to the companion in his room, he finds Ocelot looking back at him.
“Didn’t think you’d be up so soon.”
Ocelot’s voice is muffled by the ridiculous blood red scarf swathed around his neck. Despite not being a full fledged member of the Healing Church, his drive for the hunt is more of a personal sadistic pleasure than the call of blood. Ocelot moves close, kneeling down in front of him in order to look into his face. It’s uncomfortable to have this sort of attention on him when he’s trying to keep himself grounded. Kaz leans back a little in his chair, pulling on the blanket covering his body. He sucks in a deep breath as a blinding pain runs up his right shoulder. Too much movement for the sorry condition he is in.
“I’d rather be back asleep. Though I can do without the dreams.” Kaz says through his teeth. The pain is making him light headed, but he’s afraid to close his eyes again. He could almost see the pale-blond woman standing over him. Her kind voice tinged with a madness that’s become so normal with the citizens of Yharnam. He turns his focus back to Ocelot.
“Only in the Hunter’s Dream, may we sleep soundly.” Ocelot murmurs to both Kaz and himself while he looks over Kaz’s injuries. “You’re lucky he found you when he did. She could have done a number on you.”
Kaz doesn’t need to know how Big Boss had found him. He only feels the relief that the man did and that he is alive. He looks at his arm, bandaged up to his shoulder. She must have been taking as much blood as she could before she attempted any experimenting. He saw the creatures haunting that clinic; the misshapen heads, white glowing eyes… Kaz shudders, just thinking about it. He’s grateful for the help, but he knows that Ocelot needs to move on. That there’s really no pace in this damned land that’s a safe haven, but for now he’s out of harm’s way.
“You have a syringe?”
Ocelot pauses, but nods. He pulls one out of the packs he has attached to his belt. “You never know,” He adds as he hands it to Kaz’s outstretched left hand.
“Give me a hand,” Kaz says as he motions with his head to the left arm. Ocelot moves to roll up his sleeve, takes the syringe and on Kaz’s “Do it” he begins to draw Kaz’s blood.
His blood doesn’t have the special qualities that a pale blood might have, but he’s known for years that he has a type of blood that will invigorate those use it. He watches out of the corne of his eye as the needle is pulled away and the blood emptied into a vial. After stopping the vial, Ocelot turns back to him, pulls his scarf down and leans in to lick the blood running down Kaz’s arm. He feels his arm twitch at the feeling, but focuses Ocelot’s licking ministrations to allow him to relax and forget about his injury
Eventually, Kaz groans out an, “Enough, “ and Ocelot steps back, bringing the scarf up to cover his mouth.
“I’ll be sure to get this to him.” Ocelot says as he pockets the vial. “You’d better hold up here until I get back. This place is about as safe as can be once I lock up.” He puts on his Hunter’s hat, before turning to leave, but pauses at the door. There he turns and says, “Thanks for the little pick me up.”
Kaz feels the laugh stick in the back of his throat, but he manages, “Just make sure he gets that. I’ll be here.”
And with the locking of the door and the sound of retreating footsteps, Kaz is left alone with the nightmares both inside his mind and outside the doors.