Notes Before The Story:
Full Summary: After Meteor fails, Sephiroth attempts to eliminate ShinRa, AVALANCHE, and all others that stand in his way, enlisting an "old friend" to aid him in his battle. With Cloud having altered memories and disfigured intentions, will Sephiroth's plans to corrupt Cloud succeed, or will his friends be able to save him?
Setting: One year (roughly) post-game, excluding events from Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, Crisis Core, Before Crisis, etc.
Rating Warnings For Story: Language (namely Cid and Barret), Brief Nudity and Implied Yaoi, Pain/Torture, Eventual Character Death. Please note that the first chapter (not the prologue) is where the nudity and yaoi are present. If you aren't happy with that type of thing, please be aware that it is brief and does serve a purpose. This will not become a yaoi-style fic, and I do not forsee any other nudity/sexual content.
Disclaimer: Like so many others, I only wish I owned Final Fantasy. However, I sadly do not. Final Fantasy and anything affiliated with the content is property of SquarEnix. I make no profit from exploring possibilities.
Prologue
Blue eyes opened to more darkness than they had seen when closed. They gazed around, searching for any light in the chamber. Cloud tried to turn, to see the other side of the room behind him. Suddenly he realized it; cold metal shackles bound his wrist together behind him. He tried to move them, chain-links' rattling and cutting through the silent air. He could only turn about an inch or so – his ankles were cuffed upward to a chain meeting his wrists. Wide-set cuffs held his knees in place against the floor. Panting with frustration, he struggled against the binds, his tongue fighting against the tightly tied rag across his face. His eyes closed against the darkness, trying to remember what had happened.
"So, you're awake," a voice, colder than the frigid air, said. Cloud froze; he waited to hear the voice again. It didn't speak and eyes couldn't locate anything in the pitch black. Had he imagined the voice…? A soft chuckle echoed in the corner of the room. "This isn't a dream, Cloud," it cooed as footsteps echoed closer. "You aren't imagining this." A cold leather hand slid down his cheek and across Cloud's bare chest.
"You aren't crazy." This time the warm words hissed across his ear, brushing blond strands ever so slightly. Fear suddenly overwhelmed him; Cloud's breath quickened as he fought against his binds, desperately praying to pry himself from the wall.
"It's futile, Cloud," Sephiroth said over the clanking metal. "Those binds are strong enough to hold a full-fledged SOLDIER – there's no hope that you could break free." Cloud refused to believe it. He yanked against the binds, moving only a few inches from his initial position. Suddenly, the same gloved hand yanked against blond locks, straining his body as he was pulled upward. His body halted with fear. Trembling, Cloud spoke, the words muffled from the rag.
"What do I want with you?" Sephiroth repeated his question, chuckling as he released Cloud. "Cloud, you are going to be mine." Finally, Cloud saw them; bright green eyes dancing in the dark room – irises infused with Mako so that they shown even in the dimmest of lights. They were inches from his face, gazing into his own eyes. A cold glove pressed his cheek and Cloud flinched at the sudden touch. "After tonight, Cloud, no one will remember the hero who stopped Meteor – who saved the planet. They will only speak of his betrayal – the murders he committed, the destruction he caused. After tonight, your friends will only see hate fill your eyes. They will try to stop you, fight you, free you from my grasp…but they will fall by your blade and yours alone."
