Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership over any characters that appear in this story. Nor ownership or rights to the song lyrics that appear. They belong to their respective owners.

AN: Ok, so... this is but isn't a songfic? Honestly I don't even know how to describe what it is. I heard this song and almost immediately "heard" Cloud screaming in my head to tell this story. (Mind you... I'm not a big fan of Cloud's *cowers in the corner*) Depending on how this is received, I may do the second verse as well.

"Love The Way You Lie Part II"
By Rihanna

On the first page of our story
the future seemed so bright
then this thing turned out so evil
I don't know why I'm still surprised
even angels have their wicked schemes
and you take that to new extremes
but you'll always be my hero
even though you've lost your mind

It was well past 2 am when Cloud walked into the back entrance to 7th Heaven. He knew that Tifa would still be in the front closing up the bar for the night and that was fine with him. He didn't want to have to deal with seeing anyone right now. He headed up the stairs to his office as silently as possible.

Today had been a rough day; it was the anniversary of the burning of Nibelheim. He knew he was an ass for blatantly ignoring Tifa on this day. She lost family and nearly her life there, but as each year passed it got harder for him to deal with, for an entirely different reason.

Cloud unlocked his office door and entered. He didn't bother turning on the overhead lights as the moonlight spilled over his desk was enough illumination for him. Quietly closing and locking himself in the room he shuffled over to his desk. Cloud started to peel away the layers of his clothing; removing his sword, the straps and harness that held the pieces. His shoulder guard was next, followed by his sweater. All laid in a trail from the door to his desk. Once he was only in his pants and socks did he sit down at the in rickety old chair in front of his desk.

With shaking hands, Cloud took out his keys from one of the pockets of his pants and unlocked the draws on the left side of his desk. Slowly he opened the bottom draw and moved around some papers and supplies that were haphazardly thrown in there and reached for a dull gray lockbox. Carefully he extracted the box from its resting place. It had been there, hidden for almost a year.

Pushing books and documents away to make a space on the desk, Cloud gingerly laid the box on his desk. Flipping through his keys, he grasped the one that would open the metal container. After he unlocked it, he pulled the key out and laid the key ring on his left side.

Cloud looked to his left and his right, almost as if he was expecting someone to sneak up on him. He knew that wouldn't happen. He made sure to lock his office door when he walked in, but still, he didn't want to lay himself bare for anyone to see.

Exhaling a breath he didn't know he was holding, Cloud lifted the lid and sat back. He scanned his eyes over the contents, cataloging that everything was still there. Leaning forward he pulled out a pink ribbon and a slight smile curved up on his lips. Aerith. That was a bittersweet memory but not the one he was looking to revisit tonight. He placed the ribbon back into the box and reached for the photos and letters that were wrapped in a black and silver cord. This is what he needed tonight. He avoided this for too long but needed to almost, purge his soul.

Cloud moved the box further away from him to make some more space on his desk. He carefully untied the cord from the stack of papers and began looking back into his past.

The very first picture was of him when he was only 10 years old. He was standing with his parents behind him. The genuine smiles that lit up their faces were infectious. Cloud remembered that day very well. Shinra and some of its top executives came to his town to talk about the reactor and what Shinra was going to do for them. It was the first time he ever saw him. His hero.

Sephiroth.

Cloud proceeded to look through the pictures, each one bring him back to the past and have the memories crash over him like a tidal wave. In between an a few snapshots of him and Zack small laminated cards slipped out, his SilverElite membership card. A wistful smile graced his face as his held the tiny rectangle in his hand.

Cloud put the snapshots aside. He shuffled through the letters and envelopes until he got to the one that he needed to examine. It was a matte black envelope that was large enough to hold paper unfolded. His name was written in fine silver ink on the front. He knew the handwriting as if it was his own.

Taking a deep breath, Cloud knew he had to open it this year. He had attempted to each year prior but always at the last minute something held him back. He didn't know exactly what it was that stopped him. Not sure if it was fear or anger, but he knew it was something bottled deep inside that he needed to release.

Sliding his index finger along the length, Cloud broke the envelope's seal and reached in to pull out the contents. Cloud pulled out a letter and some photographs. Putting the letter to the side he looked at the pictures remembering the private times they had together. Images Cloud thought were lost long ago looked back at him.

They were pictures of the private moments between him and his first love. Photos taken during the stolen moments the two shared. Photos Sephiroth had taken of the two together, in the field and in their rumpled bed. Cloud paused at the photo of them in bed. He remembered immediately the feel of those arms wrapped around him. The scent that enveloped him, how he felt safe and warm but mostly, loved. Cloud reverently stroked a finger down the image of his lover. How he missed those days.

Sighing, he put the pictures to the side for now and reached for the letter. He took great care unfolding it and smoothing the delicate paper. The handwriting was remarkable. Fluid and compact, strong yet had a certain flourish to it that even a school teacher would envy.

The letter was dated a week before Nibelheim.

"My Darling Cloud,"