Warnings: Slightly emo-ness and, well, look at the title.

Pairing: Sephiroth/Cloud

Sassy's Note: I didn't mean to make Cloud a slut. It just kinda… came out that way. I purposely didn't name one of the characters. You guys get to use your imaginations:D I'd like to hear your thoughts, though.

Consent

It really was his fault and his fault alone. He had never really wanted this, never really provoked this, but he always consented to it. Always. He never had been able to say no – from the first time, when he had barely mad Soldier, to now. There was always something about him that never let him refuse.

And, really, Cloud had no doubt that if he did say no, he would stop. Sephiroth was many things, but not a rapist. There was always consent beforehand. He had made sure that there would always be consent.

It was different with him than it was with others. With Leon, it was soft and gentle. With Reno, it was hard and intense. But with Sephiroth… Yes, it was rough, but it was passionate, like nothing Cloud had ever felt before.

He enjoyed it. He hated to admit it, but he loved what Sephiroth did to him. It made him feel alive.

It made him feel alive, but it also destroyed him just a little bit more each time. Sephiroth was Cloud's darkness, and Cloud had become something from the dark as well. There was no light in him anymore.

And he always, always consented to it.

It always hurt as he picked himself up afterwards, as he pulled his clothes back on and reached for his Buster Sword. It always hurt when he saw the former General laying there, looking nonchalant and unconcerned. Even though his face always stayed neutral, neither smirking nor frowning, Cloud always felt like he was celebrating some warped victory.

Sephiroth called him on it on the battlefield. Every time. Cloud's friends were fooled by the unusual comments made. Sephiroth was out of his mind, right? Well, Cloud knew exactly what he was doing. Taunting him, teasing him, reminding him of the time they spend together. But he didn't need Sephiroth's taunts to keep their encounters on his mind.

Cloud knew the darkness would never leave him until he could say no, until he could stand up and deny the consent. He wasn't sure what Sephiroth would do when that day finally came. He didn't know if he'd even ever be able to do it.

The darkness was too much for him to handle alone. He needed to find his light, his own special light. In a way… he did have a small beacon amid his darkness. Every kiss, every touch was filled with the light Cloud needed and wanted. Cloud couldn't say if he loved him yet or not, but he was sure of one thing.

Until his darkness was gone, until Sephiroth was gone, until he could finally say no…

Until Cloud could refuse to consent, he wasn't free to indulge in the light.

He wasn't free to love anyone.

-end-

Sassy: Amazingly, this one went right where I wanted it to and didn't linger or get off track. You should all be very proud and leave me reviews, okay?