After Divide

A/N: Betaed by the awesome Rocquell.

Part 2- Revenge

A year and a half later.

Snow; cold and muddy after its fall to the ground. Another obstacle in his fighting and training. Cloud could think about at least a dozen reasons why anybody wouldn't wanted to serve at Snowy Village. Wasteland to be more precisely. But for Cloud when he thought about snow, he felt it was clean, pure, white, safe, isolated. Perfect. It was not that he didn't feel the discomfort of the constant 20 degrees Celsius negative or the dull ache over his bones when he was exposed more than the ten hours outside in the camp. But there was no Zack, no Sephiroth and no bad memories to face every day. The cold, freezing place was as good as heaven for Cloud.

Zack insisted so much at see him that Cloud gave up and even allowed a hug when he made his mind to leave. Still, Zack had the gall to bring the general with him.

Of course, Sephiroth didn't come close, but Cloud saw those green eyes locked on his own. He saw when the man said he was truly sorry and turned his back, vanishing into the inwards of the quarter. Cloud just stared at the retreating Sephiroth, a silent acquiescence that he made not because he had forgiven the general, but because he wanted to never see or talk to him again. Pretend became a necessary survival skill; inside and outside of the army.

Cloud had to choose between being the scared little boy or the brave little Soldier.

When he reached his official commander, he was notified that he would not be staying at the quarters. He followed the instructions the first official had given to him and found a small and well furnished apartment. Superior orders the official had said. The commander handed him a confidential and private letter. Later when Cloud opened it and saw the first line, written by the general's hand he tossed it away. If it was an order, he would have taken heed, paid attention to it, but it was not. The words were clear: private, said the commander. Private from General Sephiroth. He had enough 'privacy' with the general to not want any other form of contact with the man.

The nightmares still freaked him sometimes, but the burning sensation of still being in that room, in that bed, obliged to all Sephiroth's wills had passed. Pretend as a way to survive was his dilemma.

Until now…

Until the day he was mounting guard in front of one of the reactors and a helicopter came.

His eyes landed on and followed the powerful figure that was crossing the snowy camp forward towards the entrance of the building. On the way that said man paused, glanced at him with blank eyes and said nothing. A wisp of the man's hair, floating due the strong Wasteland's wind touched Cloud's face. He felt like a flick of fire had hit him in the face. He felt nauseous, but remained in his spot. He felt his eyes were getting teary, blurring his sight, but Cloud could not even blink. His dizzy mind has thought that he had seen the man open his mouth, but no sound came out from him.

Minutes later more shifts came around and the camp was filled with soldiers and officials; it was a training exercise. They would stay a month. The general would stay only a few days and Cloud would avoid the man's presence for dear life.

The days passed and all the quarters were involved in the training, and because Cloud was in the hostess brigade he had to join them. But by the grace of God, no sign of the General. Inside Cloud's mind, all he could think by now was…by this time he had not been seen by Sephiroth. The disturbing feeling that it could happen at any time though, prevented Cloud from sleeping, to rest, to think properly at anything besides Sephiroth. Flashes of their moments together crossed his mind from times to time, some of it bad, some of its were…he'd rather not think about it. He didn't dare. Mako pills and work out were the best to make it all go away. Stress the body and clean the mind, was Cloud's thought.

A month had passed and the possible hated encounter with Sephiroth would be just an unpleasant fantasy of his scared mind. One more. With great relief, Cloud congratulated his foreigner comrades when the others left Snowy Village to return to their original base. He didn't see Sephiroth. Nor a glimpse of his silver haired figure.

Cloud was weary and soon after the farewell ceremony had finished, he went straight to his apartment and threw himself into his bed, but not before turning on the calefactory to a temperature as if he was on a summer day in Costa Del Sol. He needed to feel warm and protected.

It was night when he awoken to the sound of knocks at his door. He pulled only his trousers on and walked towards the door. He had the privilege to order food and it was what he had thought the knock was for, though, he didn't remember to has ordered anything.

"Don't slam it in my face again..."

Cloud could not believe what his eyes were looking at. He was there. At his door…and it caused his heart to race and the blood to pound in his ears. Cloud stared at the man; at a complete loss for words. He never wondered what he would say to Sephiroth, if they would face each other again, because it never occurred to him. He had fantasized about fighting the man; killing him, to do the same he did to him, but never actually to face him again; not like this.

Unconsciously, Cloud stepped back. The still opened door was letting in some snowflakes while Sephiroth entered inside his home. The strong wind of Snowy Village seemed to laugh at his misery, as if Cloud would never be free of his life's nightmare.

With Cloud's motion caused by his surprise, the General thought it was an invite and crossed the door, getting inside the house.

"I assume that you are ready to accept, again, my apologies?"

"What?"

Sephiroth was standing in front of a half dressed Cloud. He had grown a lot in those last months. He was taller, stronger; male…he was not a boy anymore. He was beautiful, thought Sephiroth while he turned to close the door, which was letting the frozen wind blow inside the apartment.

For a second, he wondered how stupid he was to give his back to a man that hated him, but a second later he thought that Cloud could never really hurt him. He was Sephiroth.

Out of the sight of Cloud, Sephiroth closed his eyes and took a deep breathed. The change of temperature inside the apartment was impressive. From cold to warm. From controlled to something unpredictable.

"Or…I assume that you didn't read my letter."

Cloud blinked, still too shocked to say anything. He was defenseless in all the ways he thought it was possible to be.

Sephiroth had closed the door and slowly walked further along, but he stopped between the hall and the living room. The last thing he wanted was to scare Cloud. He himself was feeling scared, not by the thought that the blond might attempt to hurt him, but with his need to see Cloud; the burning need to be forgiven by Cloud. Sephiroth would never admit it, but all those months, those blue eyes hadn't given him peace. Cloud's eyes, face, words, all of him were deeply burned in his mind. So deep, so painful that he had caught himself distracted. And something more that he was ashamed to feel, but he couldn't deny he was feeling. He was present in body with Zack, at his work and duties, but not with his mind. His mind was still attached to…their infamous moments inside his old bedroom. Old, because when Zack suggested moving out for another place, he was the first to agree and settle things for a new home. A home, which he was not succeeding to build again with Zack. Because of Cloud, because of his acts in the past and his torments in the present.

The silence fell like iron inside the small and cozy apartment.

Cloud was sweating and he noticed the discomfort on Sephiroth when the man passed his hand across his forehead. The apartment was hot as an oven by the time the heater was turned on.

"Why are you here?"

"Did you read…"

"No."

Cloud's voice was faint and he wanted to be defiant, but he was feeling his legs slightly shaking. Sephiroth was not looking at his face and now the man was facing the window, his long hair was becoming damp with sweat. He glanced at Cloud and took off his heavy winter coat, showing he was disarmed. Cloud gulped with the sight of the long silver hair floating under his shoulder blade, till the man knotted the long hair in a loose pony tail.

"I won't take much of your time. Can I leave my coat here?"

Cloud blinked twice, he felt his cheeks blush with the sight of the man, and a mixture of feelings was spinning as a peon inside his mind. His feelings ranged from rage to fear. He nodded for Sephiroth to do what he wanted and when the man slowly entered the living area to let his coat over a chair, Cloud stepped back again.

He was making the wrong move, he thought to himself. Instead of running to the exit he was going away from it, but the memories of his sword near his bed stilled him a bit. Now, Sephiroth was in the living room. His presence filled the entire place like a mystical or poisoned mist, thought Cloud. And the blond could not say a word.

The general stared at Cloud's body language and he deciphered the meaning of it.

"I'm not here to hurt you, Cloud."

"You can't hurt me any more. You didn't leave any space for that. Please go away. I don't have anything to talk to you about, sir; if it's not official."

"I know. But I have. I'm here because… of what I have done to you. I know you hate me and that you never will forgive me, but …I'm not the kind of person created to support betrayal. And it was what Hojo's trap made me feel. I'm not justifying what I did to you, because I know there is nothing that can erase it. But… Zack misses you. He shouldn't have to pay for my faults. We have a campaign in Kalm and Zack wonders if you might be interested in joining the force there and leave this frozen hell."

Cloud felt his eyes watering with angry tears. Not sadness. Angry, furious, he would kill that man.

He thought that Zack could be behind this or perhaps it was only one more game of the general. Somehow, Cloud might be interfering at his life with Zack. He couldn't believe Sephiroth was sorry, the man has relished too much in Cloud's abuse to feel himself regretful. The anger and the hunger for vengeance made Cloud lose his sense of danger and he ran towards the general.

"You are right about that! Nothing can replace what I was before you had raped me, hurt me, and twisted me. I hate you! Bastard! You were a hero for me! I hate you! Monster! I hope Zack leaves you. You don't deserve any kind of love! Any! And hell no, I won't stay close to you and neither Zack, not while he is with you! All the suffering of this fucking world I wish for you!"

"You should not talk…"

Cloud slapped Sephiroth. Not once, but twice. He punched the man's chest with closed fists. He cried out his despair, he spoke to Sephiroth's face all the evil things he had done, while tears rolled down his cheeks and his punches became stronger.

Sephiroth accepted without saying a word all the punches and slaps. He needed that punishment. Cloud needed it too. The statement inside his mind prevented him from making any attempts to avoid Cloud's spanking fists. He wondered when in the name of Gaia he would let any other man do this to him. Not even Zack. No one. But he owed it to Cloud, he had actually done all those horrible accusations, which were being spat right back in his face. He had been a monster and he still was because Cloud brought to light those feelings inside him. He wanted to dominate, to possess, to be desired and needed, to bend the boy's will and claim him as his possession. The insanity of his feelings for Cloud, were so many that Sephiroth could only grasp the surface of them.

When a panting Cloud, gasping for air had wearily unleashed the latest blow of his fury, Sephiroth held him.

If it was not for the scorching heat of the apartment, were it not for his confusion of feelings about this man, were it not for the strong arms embracing his body, Cloud would have thought that death came for him. But no. Sephiroth gently held his body and breathed in tempo with him. He didn't say a word, he was panting hard as the blond felt blood dripping on his forehead. Sephiroth's blood. Cloud lifted his hand without looking at Sephiroth's eyes, to touch his face. He felt it wet, swollen and he thought he probably had broken the man's nose. If it was possible. Sephiroth seemed to sense the blond's worries and soothed him, still with firm arms around the other's waist and back.

"There is nothing broken, just cuts."

"Why are you here?"

Sephiroth didn't answer, instead, he lowered his head and inhaled the scent of Cloud's nape. Their breaths were coming back to normal and slowly they turned their head to look at each other.

"I'm sorry Cloud. I never…I hope one day…"

Cloud put a finger on Sephiroth's lips. He had enough in the last months. Enough agony. Enough nightmares. He didn't want it any more. Not even the guilt when the nightmares had turned into dreams, and those ones had made him awoken embarrassed, wet in sweat and come. When in the silence and solitude of the barracks, he touched himself; and those green eyes flashed on his mind. Only so, his body shivered and released in a guilty pleasure, which added more injury to his confused judgment. What Sephiroth had done to him? What he, himself was doing?

Cloud broke the embrace and left Sephiroth in the living room. Seconds later he came back with a first aid kit and found the general in the same spot, facing the window. Tentatively, Cloud came close to Sephiroth with a cloth to clean the injuries he had made.

"No. I don't need this."

Sephiroth said the words with blank eyes and took the trembling hand in his. He deeply stared at Cloud's face, he was seeking for any signal of anger or hate. He didn't find it. The old light was not there yet, but neither sorrow. Those blue eyes were different now and Sephiroth could not read them. What worse could happen if he took the venture? A Punch? He already had a lot. A kick? He was strong enough to withstand at least ten shots. A clear and objective rejection? He would turn his back and would go away. Tears and fear? There was the problem: this, Sephiroth could not take.

Cloud remained impassible in front of his face. He was demanding an attitude, even if it was not clear inside Cloud's mind. Sephiroth saw that and he thought about something that Zack had told him once. It was a tale about the word serendipity.

Only with the meaning of the word's tale inside his mind, Sephiroth took Cloud's hand and kissed the red marks, caused by the slaps and punches on his face. Cloud sighed or hissed, Sephiroth did not know how to analyze the sound. He quickly looked at Cloud and he saw no tears. He continued to kiss his palm and his pulse, not breaking the eye contact, because at any sign of fear or tension he would stop. Cloud closed his eyes. Sephiroth, more cautiously than he ever could remember being in his entire life in a situation of extreme excitement, put an arm around the slender waist. Cloud did not say a word or stiffened at the contact, thus, Sephiroth closed the distance and kissed furthermore, from the forearm to his shoulder, till he reached for Cloud's neck.

The man sighed and Cloud felt his hot breathe against his skin. He opened his eyes to look at the general. Sephiroth saw a lonely tear rolled down the exquisite face and he promptly stopped, breaking all the contact and getting away from Cloud.

"I'm sorry. I'm leaving. I wish you the best Cloud."

Faster than before, Sephiroth grabbed his coat without look back and went forward the door.

"Please don't go."

The phrase was said almost in a whispered tone. Sephiroth's hand was already turning the knob, but he paused and pondered about what he was going to do. If he was able to do it and deal with the later consequences. No he was not. But when would he be? For how long would he deny what he wanted to do since the last time he had hurt Cloud? He wanted to be forgiven, he wanted to heal the past, he wanted to show his other side to Cloud. The good and warm side. The pleasure, the kindness. He wanted to be this man for Cloud. Not only to erase their past experience, but to have a fond place inside Cloud's heart. He was madly lusting after Cloud. As badly as an addict.

The blond youth had dug a hole inside his heart and was not leaving any space for something else that was not him.

The few steps that separated their bodies in the small, hotter living room seemed meters to Sephiroth. He usually would grin before conquering a prey, but it was not the issue here. He was not the same inside those walls, in front of Cloud.

Cloud noticed, for more than usual it looked like Sephiroth was…doubtful. He already had proven to Cloud he was sorry and he was remorseful. Cloud didn't know what to do, but he also knew that he wanted those slight and tender caresses back. And, perhaps, the rough ones. Why? What for? Again, the word enough flashed inside Cloud's mind. He still was trapped inside Sephiroth's room, more than he would like to admit.

While Sephiroth walked forward to him, he did the same. When they came closer to each other, Cloud leaned his head and hands on the man's chest and waited. His heart was beating fast, he was afraid but he was also thrilled, fighting with himself to know why he was letting his once molester touch him again. Indeed, why did he desire this so hard?

Sephiroth embraced him again, slowly, cagey and he ran both hands across Cloud, back and forth from his waist to his nape and hair. He needed to feel the other was safe, and so he would kiss those lips and claim that body, this time with tenderness.

Cloud lifted his face and stared at Sephiroth's bloodied lips and cheek. He smiled with the general's image in that state and burned the image inside his mind. To have slapped a man like Sephiroth with his bare hands and survived was something at least, lucky, let alone still be alive in the arms of said man. The mere thought that Sephiroth wanted him in his arms spread a wave of arousal down Cloud's spine. He felt his cock swelling.

He rose on his tip toes and planted a kiss on those bruised lips.

The chaste kiss surprised Sephiroth and he lowered his head to savor more of Cloud's lips. A kiss. They had never shared a proper kiss before.

Soon what was chaste grew into a mess of tongues and licks, sucks and a battle to taste each other. Hands were pressing shoulders and arms were cupping faces and closing the gap between their bodies. Cloud sucked Sephiroth's bloodied lips till he felt the iron and salty taste of the reopening cuts, while his fingers were tangled inside that silvery hair. He didn't notice it was so soft and with care to not pull the wisps of hair, he loosened it from the pony tail, smelling his scent: a mix of sweat, mako, cologne and Sephiroth himself. Powerful.

Cloud felt the warmth of Sephiroth's hand travel up and down his bare torso, squeezing his skin tight but not painfully, although, the fear of being raped again crossed his mind. At any signal of brutality, Cloud swore to himself, he would kill Sephiroth. But, it was not what he felt since the first time he saw Sephiroth standing at his door. Since in Midgar. Specially now, in Snowy Village.

" Cloud…"

His name was being whispered by those lips. Soft. Lustful. He wanted him. Not revenge, not a sad thought of…Zack. He was his friend and Cloud disowned his friendship but he was surrendering at the ardent kisses of his lover. He felt disappointed with himself, though Zack didn't break up with the man that had brought him so much suffering.

"Sephiroth…Why did you come after me?"

"I…"

He had gone so far to deny the truth from those deep blue eyes staring at him. If he wanted Cloud to be safe, he should provide it.

"I couldn't close my eyes and not have your face surrounding me. I couldn't stop the dreams and the nightmares…I have to try to erase the pain that I inflicted on you, but, only if you want me to, Cloud. You said that I twisted you but you too, twisted me."

Cloud heard the words and lowered his head. He stopped his caresses and took one of Sephiroth's hand in his. He walked with the man towards his room. He didn't want to think about Zack or about the guilt, or whatever would happen later. He wanted what he was going to have now: A chance to turn bad memories into good ones.

He released Sephiroth's hand and hesitantly, Cloud sat on the edge of the bed facing the man.

The general pulled off his long sleeve shirt and took off the heavy boots and remained in his trousers, eliciting a sigh of amazement from Cloud. He was gorgeous in ways that no one mortal could ever be, thought Cloud. The thin streams of blood on his face added an extra charm, lascivious in the man's exquisite beauty.

Sephiroth reached for Cloud's pants, opening the first button and gently pulling it down. With one hand he leaned Cloud onto the bed while he bend down in front of him. Cloud's eyes were locked at him, suspicious but expectant. He pulled the sheet up till his knuckles turned white and sighed. He was motionless. It was as if his body was somehow getting ready to receive what that man had to give. For the good and the bad. The sensation of those kidnapped nights caused fluttering in his stomach. Even though he had been scared, however he had denied with words and screams, his body welcomed the sadistic pleasure which Sephiroth inflicted.

Always gentle, what he was intending to be during their time together, Sephiroth tenderly kissed the inner thigh of Cloud, slowly licking the soft skin and making it down to his ankles, still kissing one by one. Sephiroth glanced at his tense young lover, his eyes were closed and his mouth parted. How sweet was Cloud in those moments? He would never forget this, and besides the previous violence, he remembered the few times when the blond had reached his climax.

The mere thought of this lightened a fire of lust over Sephiroth's heart. He felt his member throbbing inside his leather pants. The extremely hot temperature of the room was making him sweaty as if he was under a scorching sun. Or it was only his own lust after Cloud.

He slid his hands over Cloud's thighs, opened his legs furthermore and placed himself between the blond's crotch.

Cloud opened his eyes and what Sephiroth saw was a glimmer of lust when he pulled down the blond's briefs. His scent, his smooth skin, the soft curled and blond hair of his groin. He wondered if all of it was there before: the innocence that he thought he had trashed but somehow still was there. There, joining with the perfect beauty of Cloud's body, that he, an arrogant man, didn't notice before.

" Oh Cloud…You're so…beautiful."

He wanted to curse and groan how much he wanted Cloud, but he knew what it would cause for Cloud, thus, Sephiroth showed what he was feeling. He passionately kissed Cloud, who returned it with equal excitement.

Cloud moaned and pulled his arms around Sephiroth's neck, slightly winding his body under the heavy man's one. The jolts of pleasure were slowly taking the place of his apprehensions. The blond slid backwards to have more of his body positioned into the bed and so he could let more space to Sephiroth.

The general made his way to Cloud's neck and collarbone, kissing and sucking the delicate skin. Sephiroth wanted to mark the boy, now with his contentment. At each touch he heard Cloud moaned, and it was a suffice assurance that he was giving pleasure to the boy. When Cloud arched his body to give his nipples a suck and lick, it was Sephiroth's time to moan. He did it. The same places he had abused before, he would worship now, the same spots he knew would be painful, should be praised. He didn't want to close his eyes; he wanted to see the desire arise in Cloud's body. He wanted to see at those long lashes blink in pleasure while he was stroking his arms, legs and belly, circling his tongue in wet patches, nibbling and kissing.

"Sephiroth?"

"Yes?"

"I know the truth…but, would you pretend that you care for me?"

Sephiroth stared at Cloud who had spoke, not facing at him, but looking at the opposite side of the room, closing his eyes as soon he finished his words. He stroked the boy's cheeks and chin with his fingers and with delicacy he turned his face to look at him.

"Cloud…Look at me, I won't be pretending. There would be no point to be here if I would lie to you."

Sephiroth wouldn't know how to explain where exactly Cloud's word had hit him, but it had done it and if before he was with the purpose to show tenderness, now he wanted to show passion.

He didn't want to bring up too much about his inner reasons or he wouldn't be able to look at Zack again.

Cloud stared at those green orbs, he smiled and lifted his body to kiss Sephiroth and began to undress the last part of the general's clothes.

"I never had a smile from you…I liked it Cloud."

Cloud smiled again and also Sephiroth when his last garment fell beside the bed, and they stroked each other. They ran their hands across muscles; they sensed the differences in their bodies. The soft and the rough, felt with hands and tongues. It was the time of revealing secrets, thought the blond youth. During his captive with Sephiroth, the only thing the man wanted to know was his ass.

Cloud never had thought that Sephiroth would groan and turned his head from one side to another with pinches and sucks to his nipples, while they rubbed their erections against each other.

Otherwise, Sephiroth found out that give pleasure was a good thing; when he was greeted with higher moans, his name whispered in such wanton need while he engulfed Cloud's sex with his mouth, licking and sucking from the base to the swollen tip. He didn't forget Cloud's taste, but being able to feel it again, hot and spicy, welling inside his mouth was something amazing.

He felt his body stiffen when the member inside his mouth throbbed and dripped with pleasure, close to rupture. He didn't want to finish so soon, but he wouldn't dare to push Cloud away from his climax. But Cloud seemed to not want it end too soon and his small hands squeezed Sephiroth's shoulder in a clear signal. He found out that Cloud was particularly sensitive in the slit and along the large vein of his member. He was close. The silver hair man glanced at Cloud and with a final stroke he rode the orgasm with his lover, intensifying the pressure with his mouth.

"Oh God…Sephiroth I - I…"

"Come for me Cloud."

Tbc

* Don't forget to read " Divide and Conquer from Rocquell - fanfiction.net/u/1678212/