Chapter 4: Fire in the Darkness
The next day, Cloud woke up in his room, an empty feeling in his stomach and a hazy memory of the day before. The events with Sephiroth came flooding back to him, and he shuddered as he recalled the uncontrolled passion they had shared.
After cleaning up and dressing, he descended into the dining room, his mind distracted by the turbulent emotions he felt. In the dining room, he found Zack Fair sitting at a table, reading a mission report. When the young blond approached, his friend greeted him with a smile.
— Good morning, Cloud. How was your evening?
Cloud sat down, avoiding looking directly at the dark-haired boy.
— Well… I had to go talk to Sephiroth about something.
Zack arched an eyebrow, but didn't press the other SOLDIER, knowing he was evasive about his personal matters.
— I understand. Be careful with Sephiroth, anyway —Zack warned calmly—. He doesn't let himself be manipulated, and if he has something important to tell you, make sure you have answers ready.
Cloud nodded, his mind wandering back to the events with Sephiroth in the office. Although he still felt a constant flow of excitement in his body, he was also confused about what the feelings the general had awakened in him really meant. There was no way to understand him, always so calm and collected, except when he looked at him with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
— I must go.
Cloud got up from the table, feeling Zack's gaze following him. He hadn't wanted to talk about his encounter with Sephiroth, but he couldn't help but think about him constantly either. When he reached his room, he sat on the bed, resting his head on his hands. His mind relived the moment of that encounter in the SOLDIER office with overflowing passion. The young blond shuddered, feeling a heat run through his body. What was it that he felt for the general? Was it just physical attraction, or was there something deeper?
Suddenly, he heard a noise at the door. He stood up when he saw the door to his room silently open. He found himself face to face with Sephiroth, who was watching him with those same bright cyan eyes from the night before.
— Cloud… —Sephiroth murmured, his voice deep and sensual—. May I come in?
The general entered without waiting for an answer, closing the door behind him. The young SOLDIER noticed how the room seemed to darken with Sephiroth's presence. He felt a chill run down his spine as the general approached him. The blond was alone, without Zack around to distract them, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and fear at the same time.
— Sephiroth, what do you want? —the young SOLDIER asked, his voice firm but trembling slightly—.
The general smiled, his lips curling into a wicked expression.
— I just wanted to see how you felt after yesterday, Cloud. —Sephiroth replied, moving even closer to him—. I want to know if you're ready to go through with this...
He removed the black coat of his uniform, revealing his bare, muscled torso. He wrapped his arms around Cloud, his gaze fixed on the other man's eyes. Without a word, he began to strip the young man of his clothes.
Cloud could barely move, stunned by the general's speed and decisiveness. His own hands fell to his side, offering no resistance. He didn't want to fight, not now, not after what they had shared yesterday. Once the blond was naked, Sephiroth pulled him closer to the wall, his body pressing against Cloud's. The general's lips sought out the opposite ones, kissing him with a voracious passion that allowed no room to breathe.
The kiss was a fusion of desires, his tongue invading Cloud's mouth with eagerness. The young SOLDIER responded with equal intensity, his hands running over the general's bare torso, feeling every muscle under his touch. Sephiroth lifted his head, his cyan eyes shining with desire.
— I want more of you, Cloud —he whispered, his breath hot in the other man's ear—.
With a wicked grin, the general guided the younger man towards the bed, pulling him down. The blond sat on the edge of it, looking at Sephiroth with a mix of fear and desire.
Sephiroth moved closer to Cloud, his fingers gently brushing the blond's skin. Without giving him time to react, he placed a finger in Cloud's anal hole, applying pressure to force entry.
— Shhh, easy —the general whispered, his voice calm but heavy with desire—. I'm just getting started
Sephiroth moved his finger in and out of the hole, stretching and stretching the entrance. Cloud moaned softly, his body tense and ready to react to any sudden movement. Suddenly, the general added a second finger, separating them and inserting them back inside the young man. The penetration was gradual, but insistent, adjusting the speed to Cloud's response.
Sephiroth's fingers moved in and out with increasing confidence, stretching the pink entrance more and more until the opening began to respond, its elasticity allowing greater entry. The general withdrew his fingers and then pushed them back in with more force, the cavity stretching and adjusting to the pressure. Cloud moaned softly, his breathing labored and his legs spread to give the general more access.
— Do you like it, Cloud? —Sephiroth asked huskily, looking into the young man's eyes—. I want to know how you feel.
The blond could barely nod, too busy with the aches and feelings of uncertainty in his body. Sephiroth smirked as he saw that Cloud was ready for more. The general removed his fingers and, without wasting any time, removed the rest of his clothes, revealing his erect member. Without giving him time to breathe, he slid his manhood into the young SOLDIER's anal opening. The penetration was slow and deep, controlling every inch that entered Cloud's body.
— Sephiroth... —the blond whispered, his voice muffled by the combined pain and pleasure—.
The general stopped, his body leaning on the young man's legs as his phallus stayed partially inside him. He looked at Cloud with eyes shining with desire.
— Ready for more, Cloud?
Cloud nodded, resigning himself to what was coming. His body shuddered at the thought, but his mind was already consumed by the general's desire. Sephiroth buried his member inside Cloud, filling him completely. The blond moaned as he felt his hole being stretched, but the pain combined with a feeling of fullness that sent him over the edge.
— Ah... —Cloud moaned, his head thrown back, breathing shallow and slow—.
The general moved, beginning to thrust in a steady rhythm. Each stroke inside Cloud's body was a repetition of pleasure and pain, his member entering and exiting the anal cavity in a murderous dance of passion and control. Cloud moaned with each stroke, his body arching and shifting on the bed in search of relief that was not coming. His hands gripped the sheets, nails digging into the fabric.
Suddenly, Sephiroth increased the intensity, pounding hard into the young man. The blonde moaned, his moans rising as his body was pounded and stretched to the limit. The general controlled every thrust, manipulating Cloud's body like a toy. Sephiroth's eyes shone with wild desire, his expression fixed in a look of concentration and lust. The blonde was getting closer to the edge, his body tensing around the other member, ready to climax at any moment.
Sephiroth felt it, his thrusts becoming more brutal and faster, wanting to bring the young SOLDIER to orgasm before he did himself.
— Ah... Sephiroth... I can't take it anymore! —Cloud moaned, his voice hoarse and heartbreaking. His body shaking and tensing, about to explode in an explosion of pleasure—.
Cloud climaxed, his body exploding in a wave of pleasure that made him cry out in ecstasy. He became a mass of nerves and sensations, his inner walls squeezing Sephiroth's member tightly, sucking him even deeper inside as he ejaculated between both their bodies.
The general allowed himself to lose control, his body moving with wild, uncontrolled force. With a gasp of pleasure, he ejaculated as well, filling Cloud's insides with his hot, thick sperm.
The young SOLDIER's body trembled, skin covered in sweat and mind in a whirlwind of sensations. Sephiroth slowly withdrew, his phallus slipping from the blond's anal cavity with a wet sound. He sat on the bed, gently caressing Cloud's abdomen with his fingers.
— You're perfect, Cloud —Sephiroth whispered, his voice husky with satisfaction—. I've never had you this weak before.
Cloud panted weakly, his body stretched and aching from the anal penetration.
Sephiroth rose from the bed, his muscular body naked, and gathered his clothes, dressing without haste or hurry. The blond sat up, leaning his back against the headboard of the bed, his breathing still labored.
— What does this mean, Sephiroth? —Cloud asked, his voice weak but heavy with emotion—.
The general turned, his gaze fixed on Cloud with a serious expression.
— You are special, Cloud. And I I need someone like you.
The young SOLDIER didn't know what to say, his mind still processing what had just happened. Sephiroth's gaze was serious, which made him feel uncomfortable.
— I don't understand... —he admitted, his eyes watching as the general dressed—. Why me?
Sephiroth came closer, sitting next to Cloud on the bed. He placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, his touch warm and safe.
— Because you're strong, Cloud. You fight for what you believe in, even when you're up against me. That attracts me. —His voice became softer—. And I think you have feelings for me too, even if you won't admit it.
Cloud nodded, his mind starting to work more clearly after the orgasm and the conversation with Sephiroth. He got out of bed, searching for his clothes.
— I should go to the training room. Zack is waiting for me. —he said, putting on his uniform and making sure it was tight—.
Sephiroth looked at the blond, his expression enigmatic.
— Go ahead, Cloud. But don't forget that we now know the truth.
Cloud paused, looking at the general curiously.
— What truth, Sephiroth?
The general shrugged, his wicked grin returning.
— The truth about your feelings for me.
Cloud felt a tickle in his stomach, not knowing how to respond to Sephiroth's provocation.
— Well, I better get going. —he said, finally, his voice a little hesitant—. Zack and I have training.
The blond left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Sephiroth sat on the bed, staring at the closed door with a thoughtful expression. His thoughts were filled with strategies and plans, knowing that his relationship with Cloud was deeper than he had ever admitted before.
Cloud Strife met Zack Fair in the training room, his eyes tired but his expression happy at seeing his friend. The two SOLDIERS began their daily routine in one of the virtual rooms, jumping and striking their swords at the targets, moving in perfect synchronicity.
— How did you feel with Sephiroth? —the black-haired man asked, noticing the tension in Cloud's body—.
The blond looked at his friend, sighing lightly.
— It was intense. But also different.
Zack narrowed his eyes, his intuition leading him to suspect that something more had happened between Cloud and Sephiroth. But he didn't say anything, not wanting to worry his friend unnecessarily.
As the two friends trained in the virtual room, a figure approached, discreetly observing the two SOLDIERs. It was Professor Hojo, the head of Shinra's Scientific Department and Sephiroth's father. Hojo was an older man with a hunched posture, long black hair tied in a ponytail, and round glasses that gave him an air of intellectuality. After a moment, Professor Hojo approached the young men, his enigmatic smile shining on his face.
— Ah, our SOLDIER heroes, are you ready for the next training? —he asked, his voice calm but laden with an underlying intensity—.
Cloud and Zack paused in their virtual training, looking at Professor Hojo with curiosity. The young blond boy had an inquisitive expression in his eyes, while Zack seemed more relaxed.
— Professor Hojo, what brings you here today? —Cloud asked, his tone neutral even as his mind began to race with all the possible reasons behind the scientific director's visit—. We were not scheduled for additional training.
The professor laughed in a condescending tone, his gaze falling on Cloud and Zack with a mix of curiosity and disdain.
— Ah, but this is no ordinary training, young ones. This is something that will demand the best of you. —Hojo pulled a device from the pocket of his white lab coat and activated it, projecting a 3D image into the training room—. This is the subject of my latest research: the potential of SOLDIERS to withstand maximum stress. I want to see what limits they can overcome.
With a gesture, Hojo activated the training system, creating a dangerous and challenging virtual environment.
Both SOLDIERS entered the virtual environment, their bodies materializing within the holographic projection. Immediately, they realized the enormity of the creature before them: a gigantic beast, covered in darkened scales and with enormous bat wings. It emitted a low, dangerous growl, its pale green glowing eyes gleaming with malignant intelligence.
— This beast must be at least 30 meters tall! —Cloud exclaimed, his Fusion sword materializing in his hand—. There's no way something like that could exist in nature.
— Even as a genetic blueprint, that's excessive —Zack nodded, his Buster sword also present in his hand—.
The beast moved, moving with a clumsy but swift movement towards both SOLDIERS. It had a muscular and robust torso, with hind legs similar to those of a giant dog and long, sharp claws. Its bat wings moved rhythmically, generating a cold wind that made the two friends' hair move.
— It's not a dragon, but it is a very dangerous creature —Cloud said, adjusting his position to face the beast's attack—. Let's see what abilities it has.
The beast attacked, opening its wide mouth and showing long, sharp fangs. The two SOLDIERS moved together, their swords joined in a perfect flow of defense and counterattack. The creature was fast and powerful, its frontal attack hitting Cloud and Zack's defenses hard. Cloud dodged the main blow, his Fusion sword colliding with the beast's upper jaw with a metallic clang.
At the same time, Zack leapt back, taking advantage of the distraction from the frontal attack to strike the creature in the side with his Buster Sword. The beast growled in pain and fury, spinning towards the black-haired man with surprising speed. Zack swerved, dodging the blow from the long claw that tried to catch him. He took advantage of the moment to attack with a series of quick and precise blows with his Buster Sword. The creature moved to avoid them, but Zack was fast and agile, always keeping a safe distance.
Meanwhile, Cloud was preparing for his next attack. With a powerful leap, he rose into the air and launched his Braver technique, striking the beast with a devastating attack that resonated throughout the virtual environment. The creature staggered, wounded, but did not fall. Its resilience was surprising. The blond launched into a counterattack, striking with another of his attacks, Focused Thrust, penetrating the beast's dark scales several times.
The creature turned towards Cloud, its expression of pain and fury changing to one of pure rage. It lashed out with a long claw, attempting to grab the young man. But Cloud moved with agility, dodging the blow and countering with one of his attacks, Triple Slash, slashing the beast in quick succession and dealing significant damage with each blow. The beast growled, its blood staining the dark scales. But it didn't give up. With a roar, it launched itself towards Cloud with surprising speed, slamming hard into him. The young blond boy braced himself for the impact, but the force of the creature threw him against the wall of the virtual environment. He quickly stood up, his breathing ragged but with no time to recover. The beast was upon him, its sharp fangs near his neck. But Zack wouldn't let it.
The raven-haired man leapt forward, launching his Costly Punch attack at the creature, using some of his own health for the blow. The force of the punch hit hard, but not enough to defeat the beast. Wasting no time, Zack launched into a chain of rapid attacks with his Buster sword, striking the creature with another of his techniques, Chain Slash, and keeping a safe distance. The beast growled in pain, but refused to back down.
Meanwhile, Cloud took the moment to regroup.
— This won't get us anywhere, Zack —Cloud said, his breathing ragged and his expression determined—. We must finish this beast once and for all.
— Completely agreed —Zack nodded, his gaze fixed on the creature—. We're going to make a joint attack.
The two SOLDIERS joined together, their friendship and perfect timing allowing for a devastating joint attack. The raven-haired man leapt into the air, brandishing his Buster Sword, sending out explosive blasts of Meteor Shots that struck the beast hard.
At the same time, Cloud launched his Blade Burst technique, unleashing a wave of non-elemental mako energy that joined his friend's blasts, striking the creature with a devastating impact that sent it crashing into the ground of the virtual environment.
The beast lay on the ground, its movements uncoordinated and its energy dwindling. The creature had been defeated, its stamina exhausted after Cloud and Zack's joint attack.
Professor Hojo watched the scene with morbid interest, his analytical and calculating gaze analyzing every detail of the fight.
— Very interesting —he murmured to himself, his voice heavy with satisfaction—. It shows that they can overcome extreme limits of endurance and agility. I will write a detailed report on this experiment.
With a gesture, Hojo turned off the holographic projection, the virtual environment abruptly disappearing. The two SOLDIERS found themselves standing, catching their breath and assessing their minor injuries.
Professor Hojo approached Cloud, his gaze scanning the blond's body from top to bottom with an expression of appreciation.
— Excellent, young man —he said, his voice heavy with condescension—. Your skill with the sword is impressive. No wonder my son Sephiroth has taken notice of you.
Hojo paused, his voice changing to a more personal and emotional tone.
— And not just because of your skills. You are beautiful. Both in body and spirit. A true artifact of nature. —the scientist laughed in a somewhat crazy tone, his gaze shining with a morbid interest—. Yes, my son has good taste.
Cloud felt uncomfortable under Professor Hojo's gaze, his body tensing and his breathing quickening. The blond tried to divert his attention, looking at Zack.
— Well, I think that's enough for today. —he said, his voice a little forced—. I'm tired and I want to rest a little.
The black-haired man nodded, his expression understanding.
— Totally agreed, Cloud. Let's go to the living room to relax for a while.
— Not so fast. —Hojo suddenly said, stopping the SOLDIERS in their tracks towards the exit—. Cloud Strife, I have something to show you.
Cloud stopped, looking at the professor with a mix of curiosity and distrust. Zack also approached, his expression worried.
— What is it, Professor Hojo? —the blond asked, his voice firm but curious—. What do you need me to see?
The scientist smiled, his gaze shining with a morbid enthusiasm.
— Come, I'll show you in my lab. —he said, extending a hand towards the blond with an insistent gesture—. Your friend can wait here.
Cloud looked at Zack, hesitating for a moment. But he finally nodded, his expression determined.
— I'll go, but only because I want to know what you have to show me, Professor Hojo. Not because of your insistence.
Hojo smiled, satisfied with the blond's answer.
— Very well, very well —he said, walking towards the elevator—. I'm glad you're interested, young man. Come, I'll take you to my private laboratory.
Leaving Zack Fair behind, the two men entered the elevator, which began to rise with a mechanical sound. Cloud stood to the side, separated from the professor, his body tense and alert at the situation. He didn't know what to expect, but he had an uneasy feeling in his stomach.
The elevator reached the 64th floor, the Conference Rooms, and Hojo stepped out with a quick stride, Cloud following behind. He headed for a passage of metal stairs nearby, and the scientist took it, quickly ascending. The blond followed behind, his feet echoing on the cold metal.
The professor led the young SOLDIER through the laboratory, his footsteps echoing on the metal. The blond looked around in growing horror, his gaze scanning the shadowy rooms and the blue cylindrical tanks with specimens inside.
Finally, the scientist stopped before a mako tank. Cloud approached, fearing what he might find inside. His gaze fixed on the contents and his face went white, his body shuddering. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Disbelief mixed with fear and anger in the young blond's heart.
What the hell was going on here? And why was Professor Hojo showing this to just him? Questions flooded his mind as his gaze locked onto the mako tank, fixed on the body lying inside.