This new chapter took a slightly strange turn. You'll see what I mean. I hope you all continue to read, nonetheless. The story will go on and will have an interesting ending when all is said and done. I hope you all stick around for it. :)

In previous warnings, there was a warning for a rape scene. However, this chapter is not the case... and there is a lemon. There is still mental and physical abuse however, and the very end of the chapter is quite bloody. Quite a bit of mindfuckery as always, as well as some mind games on Cloud's part. Read on...


Cloud had finished his bath in relative peace and was now dressed in an old shirt and the most comfortable pair of lounging pants that he could find in his meager belongings. He was grateful that Sephiroth had at least allowed him to choose his own clothing. Now, he stood in the doorway of the bathroom, taking in the sight in front of him that was playing out in the large main room. Sephiroth sat on the couch, hunched over a large stack of photographs that sat on the table. Directly beside them was a pair of scissors. A small wastebasket stood on the floor beside the table.

"Come," Sephiroth beckoned him, waving a finger. "Now I shall test your loyalty."

Cloud stepped closer to him and his heart fell when he saw the photographs in front of him: they were his. Various faded memories of his childhood captured on film danced behind his eyelids as he closed his eyes and tightened his fists into balls.

"What, are you going to cry again?" Sephiroth chided and smirked. Cloud shook his head furiously and bit the inside of his lip until he tasted blood. He would not let Sephiroth see him cry again. This monster deserved none of his tears. "Sit your fucking ass down. You have a job to do," Sephiroth commanded him.

When Cloud sat down, Sephiroth grabbed the scissors from the table and slammed his arm across Cloud's chest, crushing his back against the couch and pressing the blade tips against the soft flesh of his neck, his hand wrapped tightly around the side of it. His free hand traveled up to Cloud's mouth where he delved a finger inside, then brought his lips to the blond's. He could feel how frightened Cloud was of him, could feel his pulse racing through the thick veins in his neck.

"My little bird," he whispered, pulling away slightly from Cloud's mouth. "You belong to me now. I shall keep you locked in this cage for the rest of your life. I own you, Cloud. Your past is gone forever now. Prove to me your loyalty. Do it. Go on." He lowered the scissors from Cloud's neck and held them out to him.

Cloud reached out a trembling hand and took the scissors. In the back of his mind, the thought occurred to him that he might just be fast enough to plunge the blades into Sephiroth's throat. He swallowed hard and gripped the scissors tightly, ready to make his move. Sephiroth caught on quickly, his enhanced SOLDIER senses kicking in and sensing the potential for danger.

"Now, Cloud, we don't want you doing anything stupid. If you try to make a move on me with what you're holding, you're going to be more sorry than you already are," Sephiroth said. He grabbed Cloud roughly by the wrist and slammed his hand down to the stack of photographs. "Do it… now!"

He didn't have to ask what to do. He may not have been SOLDIER material, but he had enough sense to know what he was to do. He picked up the first photograph on the stack and held it between his trembling fingers. Mama. She was holding Cloud as an infant, looking down at him with such love and adoration in her eyes. Snip… snip. Cloud cut around the edges at first, trying to keep from doing what he would eventually have to do. His lower lip trembled and a tear trickled down his cheek as he mourned the loss of the precious photograph silently.

"Am I going to have to do this myself, Cloud?" Sephiroth said. He moved quickly, reaching over and grabbing Cloud by the back of his hair, yanking his head back. Cloud cried out and dropped the scissors, an automatic reaction.

"No!" Cloud shouted. "If you let go of me, I can continue! Please, Sir! Please, let me go!"

"Hmm."

Sephiroth let go of his hair and leaned back against the couch, watching and waiting for the performance to go on. Cloud picked the scissors back up and closed his eyes as he cut through his mother's smiling, peaceful face. It went on like this until he had finished cutting all of the photographs. When there were none left, he finally opened his eyes again and looked down at the snippets of memories in the wastebasket. They were gone, all gone, all of them.

"Good job, little bird," Sephiroth cooed sarcastically. He clapped his hands and stood up. "Bravo, Cloud. Bravo. Are you ready for your next task?"

Silence.

"Wonderful, because I'm certainly ready for it."

Sephiroth pulled Cloud up and held him closely, pressing his head against his chest near his heart. He ran his fingers through soft, spiky blond hair and caressed his scalp gently. He sighed softly and kissed Cloud on the top of head. He was going to have this man once more today, come hell or high water. Cloud's task would be to shut his fucking mouth and take it.

"I'm so sorry, my angel. I'm so, so sorry. Believe me, I am. I just…" Sephiroth trailed off and moved his hand down, cupping Cloud's chin and lifting his face so that he could look at his beautiful cherub. He lowered his face to Cloud's and placed a gentle kiss on soft, swollen lips. "Sometimes I just can't help myself," he said. "You understand this, don't you?"

Are you fucking serious? "No, I'm sorry, Sephiroth. I don't understand," Cloud said evenly, trying to keep the silver-haired man calm. He chose his words carefully and spoke them softly. He wants to play games? I can play them, too. "…Maybe you could help me understand, Sir?"

The soft tone of his voice seemed to work, and Sephiroth stroked his cheek with his thumb. Cloud watched as there was a shift in the man's cat-like eyes, the emerald-colored irises softening slightly to a pale sea-green. Sephiroth pulled away and grabbed Cloud's hand, linking their fingers together. He pulled him over to the large bed and they sat down together. He looked down at Cloud's hand in his own and stroked the pale skin that covered the man's flesh and bones.

"When I was younger, a man once told me that I could have anything I wanted if I only used the power. As I grew older, I was taught to fight and to defend myself. I have been receiving mako treatments since I was just an infant. The treatments make so unlike myself that I sometimes look in the mirror and I can't recognize the face. I get these feelings of panic, insecurity, anger. There's nowhere for the emotions to bleed out, so it all builds up into rage until it bursts. And you…"

He lifted a hand to Cloud's face and brushed the back of his hand and fingers against warm skin.

"…I couldn't have you. I never would have been able to have you if I had not captured you. I dwelled on this for quite a long time, then I finally snapped. That man… He told me I could attain anything I ever wanted, if I would just take it for myself and make it my own, regardless of what consequences would come."

"But why, Sephiroth? Why would you hurt me if you love me so much? Why hit me? Why rape me?" Cloud said, still keeping his voice as calm as he could. He waited for a reaction, afraid that his questions would make Sephiroth snap again. It didn't, though. Sephiroth looked down, seeming to hide his face. Cloud suddenly had another idea, and though it scared him and his action was possibly going to end badly, he lifted his free hand to Sephiroth's face. Gently, he ran his fingers across slightly cold skin, tracing the man's face where his hair framed it. Had he not been such a monster to him, Sephiroth would have seemed completely beautiful to Cloud. He couldn't deny that fact. If the situation had been much different, Cloud could have easily fallen in love with him.

"I would have given myself to you, if only you had just asked, Sephiroth."

He felt Sephiroth hand tense up around his own, saw his face soften even more, but he still kept his eyes lowered. Had it worked? Had he finally tamed the raging, ugly, violent beast inside of this beautiful man? Cloud silently cursed himself for thinking about Sephiroth's godlike beauty again. This is just a game, he told himself. Just a game. Keep talking. Make him believe the feeling is mutual.

"You are so beautiful," Cloud said. Damn it! He felt a shudder roll through his body as he found himself believing the words that he had spoken. Fuck.

"You think I'm beautiful?" Sephiroth finally said, the question coming out softly. He looked at Cloud as he said this, finally meeting his eyes again. Cloud hid his shock as he saw tears welling up in Sephiroth's eyes. He pulled his hand away from Sephiroth's hand and tucked his legs underneath him on the bed. Easing up on his knees, he reached his arms out and placed his hands on Sephiroth's shoulders. Slowly and cautiously, he moved closer and closer to Sephiroth. His fingers moved lightly up to Sephiroth's neck, then held his face in his hands.

Oh, gods. He felt so sick to his stomach just imagining what he was about to do. He wanted to turn away and vomit.

Cloud slowly moved his mouth over Sephiroth's and suddenly he was the claimer. Yes! Cloud screamed inside of his head. Sephiroth was accepting the kiss, which meant that Cloud had tamed the beast for the time being. He prodded Sephiroth's mouth open with his tongue and began to fully taste him. He felt and heard Sephiroth moan into his mouth, felt his strong arms wrapping around him and holding him tightly. Cloud found himself twining his fingers through Sephiroth's long silver hair as they fell onto the bed in unison.

Sephiroth moved over him gently, his hand moving slowly up and underneath Cloud's shirt. He broke their kiss softly and moved his lips down to Cloud's chin and trailed them down his neck. Lifting Cloud's shirt up slightly, he kissed the side of his stomach and licked a trail up to one of his nipples. Taking it gently between his teeth, he moaned again, his hand moving softly down and slipping beneath the elastic band of Cloud's pants. He gently gripped Cloud's cock and ran his thumb over the head. Pre-cum leaked from the slit and he swirled it around with his thumb and squeezed the hot, throbbing member gently.

Sephiroth heard it then. His hand froze and he held his breath, his mouth slightly open and his eyes wide with disbelief.

Cloud suddenly realized what had happened. Though barely audible, he had unconsciously let out a moan. He had lifted his hips, silently begging for more of Sephiroth's ministrations. His eyes had been closed… and he had been fucking enjoying it.

Both of them reeled in shock, neither one of them daring to make another move.

I'm so ashamed of myself. It's only supposed to be a mind game. Kill the beast with kindness and acceptance, earn his trust, then slit his fucking throat after he falls asleep. That's the plan, Strife, he told himself. He couldn't believe how his body was reacting. It was as if he wanted this. Oh sweet, sweet Gaia. Why? I hate this asshole. He is a monster. I hate

His thoughts were interrupted by Sephiroth moving gently over him again, his face drawing nearer and nearer to Cloud's neck.

Oh gods, please, just let him rip out my throat with his teeth and end it all right now. Shiva, please.

He braced himself for the imagined violence that he was wishing on himself, then tensed quickly as he felt Sephiroth's lips graze the thin skin of his neck. His tongue flitted out and licked Cloud, then began to suck gently on his neck. Oh gods… His pants were slid down, and strangely enough he did not feel danger as he had before. Sephiroth tossed the pants aside and eased off of the bed to remove his own. It was then that Cloud had the chance to actually pay attention to Sephiroth's body. It was lean and muscular, not an ounce of fat in sight - the body of a god, certainly.

Sephiroth knelt on the bed again, reaching for Cloud and wrapping his arms tightly around him, his hands caressing the bruised skin on his back. His head dipped down and captured Cloud's mouth, delving his tongue deeply into the hot orifice. He felt Cloud squirm beneath him. His first reaction was to move his hands up and wrap them around Cloud's neck, thinking that he was resisting, but he hesistated. Why, he didn't know. It was the right reaction, though, because Cloud moaned again, his legs automatically lifting and wrapping around Sephiroth's waist to pull him closer to home. A shudder went through Sephiroth's body, his eyes closing as he relaxed once more.

What is this…? Why? Cloud's arms suddenly flew around Sephiroth's neck, his hands clasped together to keep his hold on the man. He panted then, as he felt Sephiroth began to grind against him. The friction of Sephiroth's body moving against his at a slow, heart-stopping rate was making Cloud's head spin. His blunt nails began to dig into the back of Sephiroth's neck and he panted and moaned, held almost deliciously tight against the General. He felt a spit-slick finger ease its way gently into his tight passage. It burned. Oh Gaia, did it burn. He was bruised and torn, and it burned like Ifrit's hell, but Sephiroth was being so gentle with him that the finger was more of a welcome than an intrusion. His face twisted in both agony and pleasure.

There was a hesitation as Sephiroth tried to read the mixed signals coming from Cloud, then smooth gliding as he finally made up his mind to go for it and buried his long finger deep inside of the moaning blond over and over again to his palm. With each outward slide, he brushed his hand against Cloud's balls, earning a short moan of approval each time - and even more so as he finally found the spot inside of Cloud that made him keen high, his toes curling inwardly.

Try as he might, Cloud could not keep his head about him. Suddenly, he felt his head snap back into the pillow beneath him.

He didn't moan this time. He cried aloud.

"Seph!"

His name being cried aloud made Sephiroth go weak in the knees. He collapsed heavily against Cloud as he removed his finger and sought out his mouth for more deepened kisses, inching his cock closer and closer to Cloud's opening. He pushed up Cloud's legs high and apart. He's actually liking it. Oh my gods, he's actually liking it, Sephiroth thought to himself. He pushed himself through a tight ring of muscle and slowly sank himself to the hilt... afraid to move. He held his breath. Seconds ticked by as he looked down at his beloved, who looked up at him in silent waiting.

Sephiroth gasped when he realized that he had been holding his breath the entire time. The whoosh of his breath spread across Cloud's face like wildfire, somehow igniting the flame of lust to burn even brighter. He didn't quite understand why his body was reacting the way that it did, especially to this man who had abused him all day. All he knew was that it felt fucking great to actually be held and kissed tenderly. Why couldn't Sephiroth have just done this from the very beginning? He tightened his grip on the back of the man's neck and lifted his hips a little more, trying to make himself more comfortable.

He cried then. Fat tears of shame and pain ran their course across from the corners of his eyes and down into his hair. The salty liquid seeped into the pillow, but he didn't seem to notice. All he knew was that he was absolutely, motherfucking ashamed. His mind games had helped Sephiroth to relax and think that Cloud was enjoying himself, when it had all been just a ruse. For Cloud to even realize that he was enjoying himself, it was a very shameful situation. And he hurt. He hurt like hell from being raped repeatedly through the course of the day. His forehead had still really not stopped bleeding since Sephiroth last fucked him into the bathroom mirror. And here he was, pretending to give himself to the monster... and actually liking it.

In essence, Cloud had become just like Sephiroth. No, maybe not the abusive side - but with the mind games that he was playing on Sephiroth, making him believe he was enamored with him now, Cloud was just like him. He was taking advantage of Sephiroth, just as Sephiroth had taken advantage of him. He had grown up being taught to do what was right. It was against his beliefs to lie.

But he really did like it, didn't he? Maybe he wouldn't burn in Hades' hell after all...

Sephiroth shattered his thoughts with a gentle thrust, his eyes burning into Cloud's eyes and gripping his thighs tightly. He shifted down and lay on top of the blond, grinding incredibly slow against Cloud's cock while thrusting deep inside of him. He captured Cloud's mouth with his own and gave him such a searing, burning kiss that Cloud became breathless. He writhed beneath Sephiroth, his legs still locked firmly around a strong back. It was so, so good. Better than anything he had ever felt before. Before he knew it, his eyes squeezed shut and his fingernails dug into Sephiroth's arms. Hot, thick liquid coated their stomachs and Sephiroth drove himself home as fast as he could while Cloud's ass still rippled around him. He ground down once more and cried out, his body finally becoming still and heavy atop Cloud.

He pulled his slowly-softening cock out of Cloud and moved over to one side of the large bed. He lay there for a moment to let his heart settle down. He gazed out the wall of windows that surrounded the area of his bed, looking up at the moon. With a jerk of surprise, he felt Cloud nestle up against him, tugging on his arm to wrap it around him. Sephiroth gladly gave Cloud his arm, and minutes later, sleep took him.

It was the most peaceful sleep he had had in years.

Funny. He remembered before falling asleep that he hadn't taken his usual dose of pills and mako injections at his regularly scheduled time. He would have to take double the dose in the morning to catch up. Hojo would be pissed.


Cloud awoke suddenly. He looked around at his dark surroundings, thinking that he would see his familiar cadet room. Instead, the bright glare of a full-blown moon was blinding him through a massive wall of windows. His nightmare had not yet ended. He eased up slowly and watched as Sephiroth's chest rose and fell. His nose twitched a little, giving off the knowledge that he was probably dreaming. It's kind of cute, Cloud thought to himself, then quickly wiped the half-smile from his face. He peered beneath a thin sheet and saw that he was still naked. As quickly as he could without waking Sephiroth, he eased away from him and slipped over the side of the bed. He found his pants and threw them on. He padded quietly to the door and froze when he saw a blinking red light above the frame. A fucking alarm. Shit.

His hands shook as he went to the kitchen area. His mouth was so dry and he yearned for even just a drop of water. He wouldn't dare turn on the taps, though. He stood silently, his eyes still trying to adjust in the semi-darkness, then he went into auto-mode as he spied a collection of kitchen knives in a wooden holding block. He grasped a thick butcher's knife by the handle and brought it out slowly, quietly. He crept back to the bed and stood at Sephiroth's side. Raising his hands above his head with the knife gripped so tightly between his fingers that his knuckles were turning white, he quickly thrust it down with his eyes closed tightly. He didn't care where it stabbed the fucker - just that it stabbed him, and good.

His eyes flew open as nanoseconds passed, his wrists firmly gripped by Sephiroth himself. Powerless against the SOLDIER, Cloud cried out as Sephiroth twisted the knife from his hand and threw it across the room.

"You fucking shit!" Sephiroth yelled, his hands immediately going to Cloud's throat. He threw Cloud down onto the floor and slammed his head repeatedly against the wood. Cloud was delirious, crying and pleading incomprehensibly. "You fuck!" Sephiroth yelled again, his fingers wrapping tighter around the blond's neck. He lifted Cloud up easily by the neck with one hand. He swung as hard as he could.

Glass shattered and flew in all directions. Cloud's eyes began to roll back in his head when he finally realized what was happening to him. He could see the midnight sky clearly above him, the moon shining directly on him. He rolled his eyeballs and looked down. Fourteen floors below, he heard the faint tinkling of glass shards as they finally hit the concrete outside of the Shinra Headquarters building. He was dangling mid-air by his neck.

But Sephiroth did not let go.

He cried out and quickly pulled Cloud back inside, pulling him onto his still-nude body. Wrapping his arms around his wounded angel, he lifted and carried him to the bathroom, where he lay Cloud down beside his large tub. He ran a bath then, checking to make sure the water temperature would not scald him. He gently removed Cloud's pants, grimacing as shards of glass fell from the material, knowing that he was the cause of this. Blood had seeped through the pants, and Sephiroth threw them in the sink. He moved over Cloud quickly and worked on removing bits of glass from wherever he could find them. When he was satisfied that none remained, he picked Cloud up again and set him into the tub. He took a washcloth and soaked it in the water, taking care to gently wash the gaping wounds.

"Wait here," he whispered, then left the bathroom.

Cloud was catatonic. I am really still alive? He's... he's taking care of me, the bastard. He moaned softly. He couldn't move his arms. He waited until his predator came back.

"Cloud, can you hear me?" Sephiroth asked when he came with a flurry back into the bathroom. Cloud moaned softly again and slightly shifted his eyes to look at the silver-haired man. He was holding up a glowing green ball of materia. "This won't hurt, I promise," he said evenly. He knelt down and raised the Cure materia over Cloud's head and swept it over him without touching his body. Amazingly, Cloud began to feel much better. He could even wiggle one of his toes and three of his fingers. The materia's light dulled out and Sephiroth set it aside.

"I have to tell you this," Sephiroth said quietly. He sat down and stared off into the rippling water of the bathtub. "What just happened, Cloud, is that you tried to attack me in my sleep. You must understand that SOLDIERs have impeccable senses. My actions were reflexes, please understand. When a SOLDIER is trained, he is trained to kill on sight if threatened in any way. They train us on this while we're sleeping, to help train our senses while even in the deepest of slumber. We know that if we're out on a battlefield and the enemy infiltrates us during the nighttime while we are asleep, we will be able to awaken in time and kill without remorse. That is the truth."

Cloud whimpered.

"I apologize for what happened, but you must never ever try that again."

"You didn't let go of me. Why?" Cloud asked hoarsely. He turned his head slowly to meet Sephiroth's eyes.

"Because I'm in love with you. Because I couldn't kill you after I snapped out of my reflexes."

Damn it. He's telling the truth, Cloud thought.

"There is something else I must tell you as well," Sephiroth began. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You and I... When I made love to you earlier... I hadn't had my treatments at the usual time. I was... myself. I was myself, Cloud."

And so there it is, Cloud thought to himself. He felt a little piece of his heart break off and shatter like the glass on the window that he had gone through. He was not playing with my head. He was off of his medications. That's why he was so kind and caring. I played along and tricked him. I tried to murder him. He understood fully now, what Sephiroth had tried to explain to him earlier. Sephiroth wasn't sick in the head. It was them. It was Shinra.

"Seph... Just stop taking the treatments."

"I can't, Cloud."

"Yes you can, Sephiroth! You're the greatest General that the army has ever seen in history! You have the power, Seph. Use it," Cloud said. He almost sounded as if he were begging.

Sephiroth's head hurt. He shook it and stood up. He turned his back on Cloud and faced the bathroom doorway.

"When you're finished, please come to bed. We can talk about this in the morning," he said quietly, and walked out. Cloud had regained some of his energy by now and washed himself clean of the blood. His wounds were now healed, but the scars would remain for sure. He stepped carefully up and out of the tub, dried himself off and crept to the bed after turning the bathroom light off. There, on the foot of the bed, was a clean pair of his pants laid out for him. He took them and slipped them on in a silent thank-you to Sephiroth and climbed into bed beside him.

Sephiroth's broad back was turned toward him, his eyes focused on the broken window. After a moment's thought, Cloud pressed his small body against the General's and wrapped a free arm over his side and placed his hand over the man's heart.

"I know that you have goodness within you," Cloud whispered - and he really did mean it.

He fell asleep comfortably against Sephiroth's back with his cheek pressed against his shoulder. Sephiroth stayed awake for the rest of the night, silent tears slipping down his cheek.