Hey.

Okay. Let's be honest. This sucks. Well, the whole thing sucks, but especially this chapter. It took me 30,000 attempts to write it, and it still sounded crap, but I uploaded this version for you all.

There is more to be explained, and that'll come next chapter.

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A LIGHT IN THE DARK

CHAPTER 14

Cloud sighed, clutching the blanket in a white-knuckle grip.

"I can't tell you the exact time it started." The blonde whimpered. "But I think is was around the time I confessed."

A deep inhale, and Cloud began his tale.

"I had confessed my feelings to you." He started. "And when you left, I was heartbroken. Setzer - the boy in our Biology class - saw that I was upset, and he took me away and comforted me."

A sniffle and a hand swiping at teary eyes.

"He took me into a classroom, where he fucked me...he made it sound like he was doing it for my own comfort, that he really loved me...but he brought the rest of his friends to fuck me."

Leon glanced down, guilt filling him. Had he really caused Cloud all this grief?

"After they were all finished, I was told what a good slut I was, and how they'd like to do it again." The blonde swallowed. "...They threatened me, told me that they would tell the whole school what they done, and how much of a whore I was..."

Leon squished the urge to hug Cloud. He needed to hear this, and Cloud needed to say it, to get it off his chest.

"I agreed. I became a toy for them to use whenever they wanted. Even at lunchtimes, they'd drag me into the toilets and force me to suck them off, and every time they came, they'd tell me what a wonderful slut I was, and how great I was and how much they loved me."

The blonde frowned, wiping his eyes and holding back a sob.

"At first, I hated it, I wanted nothing more than to never see them again...but over time, I grew used to it, and I began to crave more. I started going to parties and hooking up with the people there. If they approached me, I wouldn't push them away, I merely pulled them along, letting them do what they wanted to me. When you asked about why I was doing such out of character things, I panicked at first, I was scared. Scared to tell the truth, and scared to tell you what I had done...so I lied. I told you I made friends at work or I wanted to try something different."

The bruntette looked away, a lump forming in his throat. He had swallowed Cloud's lies as though he were a child being spoon-fed by his mother. He had not questioned the blonde, just nodded along and acted like nothing had happened between them.

But Cloud's tale had not ended.

"When you accepted the first lie, I felt comfortable, safe - as if any chance of being found out had been destroyed by the lie I had told. It gave me a sense of power. It was a habit I eventually fell into with such ease I scared myself...but as long as I stayed safe."

"When we left high school, I became more involved in my lifestyle. I began to enjoy it more, and I was eventually taken to a brothel by Setzer, and I was sold to them for a hefty price."

"But Setzer realised he made a mistake in selling me, for neither he nor his friends could fuck me whenever they wanted. He soon realised him, and came up with a plan to get me and extras - a poker game. Originally, I was taken aback by this. I never thought Setzer was capable of making such a gamble, but he did. Suprisingly, he won."

Leon shifted in his chair. It was hard to hear, but it needed to be heard. He couldn't believe what had ocurred after the night he pushed Cloud away.

If only he could change it.

"The brothel, myself and the other prostitutes were all handed over to Setzer, who - with his father, a businessman, ran it. I soon became their most popular employee, and I was so for years...and then, Sephiroth came along."

Still crying softly, Cloud inhaled shakily. He was so ashamed, felt so weak. He was scared and anxious, and was unable to comprehend why Leon was still sitting with him.

"He came in one day, a new client. He fucked me, but he was so tender and gentle, it was like nothing I had ever felt before. He held me afterwards, told me how beautiful I was, and how my slutty ways made him love me more, and that it was a shame I was cooped up there. I felt so loved, and I was so happy to feel accepted despite what I was."

A heavy sigh.

"But that soon changed..."

Leon moved to sit on the edge of the bed. He didn't embrace the blonde, but remained close, should Cloud wish to lean on him.

"He bought me, offered Setzer just under quarter of a million for my release, He wanted me for himself, and so he bought me. He was a great boyfriend to begin with, everything I wanted - handsome, smart, loving - and I found myself falling madly in love with him."

Leon felt a pang of jealousy. It should've been him, not that bastard.

"But after a few months, he started to goad me, mock me. At first, it was purely verbal, and then he began to beat me, saying that it was the only thing I deserved, and I was a filthy slut who could never truly be loved. He stopped being affectionate, and he began to fuck me, saying it's the only touch I deserved. After time, I began to crave proper affection, I wanted to be held, but his treatment grew worse."

Cloud sobbed. It was becoming too much, he wanted to stop.

Leon seemed to sense this, and he brought the blonde into his arms, holding him close.

"You can stop, if you want." The brunette murmured, stroking soft locks.

Cloud shook his head. He couldn't stop now, he had no defences and continued.

"He began to punish me for anything and everything, he often made things up, just as an excuse to lock me outside overnight, or beat me into submission. He began to use me for work purposes, to. He climbed the ranks, was handed everything he wanted because he used me - whored me out to his managers and bosses so he would get a pay rise or promotion. Them pictures -" he picked one up, "- were from a gangbang he made me participate in."

Leon's hold tightened, and Cloud whimpered.

"He then began to control what I ate, limiting me to one small meal a week. He controlled what I wore, leaving me with only revealing clothes to wear. I accepted it, just because I knew he would fuck me later and give me affection I so desperately needed."

"...and when he did fuck me, I drew all the comfort I could from it. I loved how he'd call me a 'slut' and 'whore', to the point I'd crave them words to come from his mouth, for him to direct them from me."

Leon felt a tear run down his cheek, and he gently wiped away one of Cloud's. He began to rock him gently, his fingers running through soft hair.

"Then, he began to beat me for the fun of it...one night, he cast me out, and that's how I found you."

Leon pulled Cloud close to his body, burying his face in the blonde spikes as the smaller man cried into his chest. The brunette allowed his own tears to escape, and he kissed the top of the Cloud's head.

"Cloud, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

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*duck tapes over plotholes*

No flames. Please.