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Post by Grimmmee on Mar 28, 2024 0:30:11 GMT
Somewhere deep in his sleep Cloud was dreaming he had just woken up from his captive slumber to a figure towering over him. It was hard to see at first but as his sleepy eyes came into focus, his heart and the world stopped. Sephiroth was standing over him, a blade poised and ready to dig into the naked flesh Rufus had so kindly left out. He was frozen unable to move, unable to breathe, to blink; the presence of him was suffocating. “I’ll let Rufus keep you for awhile but,” Sephiroth slowly began to sink the blade into Cloud’s abdomen with an ever widening grin as he spoke his words echoing through Cloud’s being, “..remember that you are my puppet.”.
Cloud woke with a jolt and ready to fight for his life to realize it had been a nightmare, only to be remember he was in living another. Rufus voice was already back to remind him. Cloud hauled himself back to his knees, the adrenaline of the dream leaving him riled up. He looked around for things that he could use for his advantage in a fight, but it would be meaningless if he couldn’t get the cuffs off. The cord might be able to be used to his advantage, but that still didn’t solve the cuff issues. A dead Rufus just meant an executed Cloud later.
If he couldn’t escape at least he might be able to keep Rufus off him. He wouldn’t make it so easy like he did last time, Cloud reminded himself. He had felt shame at so easily succumbing to Rufus the night before. The anger and shame wore on his face, hyper-focused on Rufus and his every move. He knelt on the bed, poised still and ready to fight. If only his sharp glare would actually cut.
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Post by Behax on Mar 28, 2024 12:43:37 GMT
Rufus continued to ignore Cloud for a while yet, continuing his phone conversation. After a while he stood up from his chair, and walked to the windowed wall behind him. He eventually ended the call pocketing his phone before putting a hand up to the reinforced glass.
“What a waste,” it was quiet and the words were full of derision. What Cloud couldn’t see was that Rufus was looking down on the ruined Sector 7. Rufus may have been ruthless, merciless and selfish, but even he thought his father’s plan to drop an entire sector onto the undercity below had been a horrible plan. The loss of life...the loss of resources and the expense....It was such a disgusting waste. Never mind that one of their best agents had been seriously injured in the undertaking, and the number of their own troops written off as collateral....Wasteful in the excess.
Finally he turned away from the window and looked in Cloud’s direction. Calm fury replaced that smug smile Cloud was getting used to seeing. The young president began to walk towards him.
“Did we sleep well?” He asked mockingly. He stopped when he reached the wall of the barrier, not yet deactivating it, something was different about Cloud....His expression was full of anger and hate....but something else too. Fear perhaps? But not of him that much he could tell.
“Why, you look like you’ve seen a...ghost....” His speech slowed as he was talking, his brows furrowing slightly as that cock sure smile finally faltured. If Cloud followed Rufus’ eyes he might have noticed that he wasn’t looking at Cloud’s face, but rather a spot on his lower abdomen. There was a mark there...a fresh scar....and it hadn’t been there yesterday of that Rufus was sure, and there wasn’t a feasible way Cloud could have done it to himself.
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Post by Grimmmmm on Mar 28, 2024 14:05:17 GMT
The torment he had been out through over the last several weeks (unknowingly years) and more specifically over the last few hours had really put him on edge. It didn’t matter he was naked and at a disadvantage, Rufus wouldn’t touch him, he wouldn’t let it happen this time. It was grinding over and over into his head, all the while he was trying to twist his hands out of the cuffs behind his back. The pain from doing so only heightened his determination that he would escape but his hands weren’t budging and he was sure the only damage he had done was to his own wrists.
“…ghost..”
Looking at a deadman , Cloud thought to himself although the words didn’t leave his lips. To Rufus’ confusion he took a glance down to where he was looking to find the new pink scar where Sephiroth had stabbed him in his dream. “…no…that really…” His voice broke, his lips parched. His eyes widened and a new panic ran through him. That had really happened in the night. Unsettled by the scars appearance he looked back to Rufus fear and confusion mounting the more he thought about it. “What games are you playing at?” Cloud seemed desperate for Rufus to explain it to him some way.
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Post by Behax on Mar 28, 2024 15:00:18 GMT
Cloud’s look of fear and confusion was met by Rufus’ own confused scowl.
“What games are you playing at?”
Those words seemed to break Rufus out of his own thoughts, his brows twitching into a deeper scowl.
“Not one of my own design, that’s for sure.” But if not his, (and he surely would lord it over Cloud if it had been,) then whose? The only people who had the security clearance for this room were himself and Tsung, and the Turk wouldn’t dare cross that threshold without Rufus’ permission or in the event of an emergency. So then...Who?
He pulled out his phone and deactivated the barrier, but before Cloud could so much as budge an inch Rufus was on him. He seized the other blond by the throat and pinned him back to the bed. He couldn’t be bothered to wrestle with the younger man right now, another time the fight might be entertaining, but not right now. His eyes were on the fresh scar, his free hand going to the new mark. Far too gently he ran his fingers over it. It was a clean cut, executed with precision by something extremely sharp.
“But not a scalpel...” he muttered to himself. “Security, list all key codes who had access to this room last night after 11pm.”
It took a moment for an electronic voice to come to life and reply. “No data found.”
“Who had the last access last night.”
“Last code access for date xx/xx/xx. 00000001. Rufus Shinra. At 19:00 hours. No later access found.”
He ran his hand over the new scar once more, it clearly vexed him, igniting his possessive nature. Cloud was his...would be his, and somehow someone else was leaving marks on him.
The grip he had on Cloud’s neck loosened as he climbed off of him.
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Post by Grimmmm on Mar 28, 2024 16:24:30 GMT
Cloud was ready, at least he thought he was when the barrier was turned off. But in the blink of an eye he was once again at Rufus’ mercy a hand on his throat pinning him down in the bed. Rufus would feel Cloud struggling with his restrains behind his back, his chest and abdomen was arched forward toward his captor. Cloud’s body tensed under Rufus as his fingers ran gently over the mysterious scar. The phantom pain left behind burned to life pushing a small whine of discomfort through the airway Rufus left open.
Through Rufus own examination and investigation Cloud worst fears had been realized, and the dread flooded his eyes. It did really happen. Sephiroth had been there and he…
He gasped for a deep breath after Rufus let go of his throat but remained where he had been left in the bed. Thoughts were racing through his mind, the shame and torment he had been cursed with were threatening devour the resolve Cloud had built up. He had thought he wanted to be the hero, but hero’s don’t end up like this. This was disgraceful, he couldn’t save anyone. “I’m not a puppet.” He whispered to himself remembering what Sephiroth had told him.
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Post by Behax on Mar 28, 2024 18:56:41 GMT
It didn’t make sense, how had such a mark appeared overnight? And seemingly without anyone accessing the room, at least through the security door. He heard Cloud’s tormented whisper, but ignored it and his distress for the moment.
“Security, show me the feed from last night after I departed.”
It would likely have horrified Cloud even further that there was security footage of everything happening in this room.
A projected image appeared in the air in front of Rufus showing several different angles of the two ajoinng rooms and bathroom.. He watched himself leave at 11pm, watched Cloud’s frustrated and anguished screaming followed by him falling over onto the bed in defeat, and then nothing.
“Speed through,” Rufus instructed and the security footage began to fast forward. At one point there was a curious blip. “Stop. Go back. Further. Play.” The footage rewound and then played onwards. There was a moment where the images across all the cameras began to distort, their images going fuzzy with static. “Stop!” Rufus instructed again, his blue eyes narrowing on the paused image. It was still heavily distorted but there was very clearly a figure there.
“Go back. Stop. Play.” He went back far enough to see how this person entered the room...But they didn’t, they just appeared and in an instant was gone again. If you blinked you might not have seen it at all. “Security, send this footage to Tsung and have him investigate.”
It was perplexing and not the least....Concerning.
Finally Rufus turned his attention back to Cloud, his smug expression was gone, replaced by one that was a schooled picture of calm but if you looked close enough you could see the concern that was there, and the questioning look as he tried to figure out what this had to do with Cloud. It was a look Cloud might have been familr with, Tifa had had the same questioning look at times but with more warmth than what he was getting from Rufus.
And then he walked away again. Without turning the barrier back on, though Cloud was still leashed in place by the thick cord attached to the floor.
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Post by Grimmememe on Mar 28, 2024 21:31:56 GMT
The thought of security having footage of the events from the night before made his stomach turn still unaware of the more personal shots Rufus had taken earlier. Those would certainly mortify Cloud in the future if he was ever shown. His lips pulled into a tight grim line seeing the distorted frame frozen in the air. It would happen anytime he saw Sephiroth, that fear that gripped every fiber of his being. He was connected to the other man, that much was clear, but he didn’t understand why. Sephiroth was always an intrusive thought rattling around in his head.
Mako eyes turned to see Rufus looking at him in a familiar way. It was the same way the girls would look at him when he didn’t make sense. That look of concern. At least he didn’t sense any pity from him unlike the girls. He didn’t like it when they looked at him that way, it made him feel like a disappointment. How would they look at him now?
With Rufus moving away from him and the barrier down, Cloud wasted no time getting up from the bed and trying to make a break for it. It wasn’t so much that he had forgotten about the cord around his ankle but the overconfidence that he could perhaps snap it with sheer force. The moment the leash grew taunt it slung Cloud and his forward motion right into the floor with a heavy thud. Without the aid of his hands to break his fall the cold metal floor slapped his bare skin hard, knocking the wind from him. The hit was jarring enough to keep him on the ground where he landed recovering from the absolute failure of his attempt.
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Post by Behax on Mar 28, 2024 22:01:05 GMT
Rufus hadn’t gone far, he heard the moment Cloud’s bare feet hit the floor. Then he waited and shook his head when he heard the inevitable sound of Cloud slamming into the floor at full force. “Honestly,” he muttered to himself feeling at least a little disappointed that Cloud had really tried that. As if Shinra couldn’t make something strong enough to restrain a SOLDIER.
He removed his overcoat, and could be heard rustling with something before walking back over. He looked down at Cloud with a mixture of contempt and pity.
“Did you really think that was going to work?” He asked. In his hands he was holding a food tray. He knew by now Cloud must be a combination of starving and dehydrated, and well...He wasn’t a complete monster. Never mind that he didn’t want Cloud dying on him, and didn’t really think fucking someone half starved to death was that appealing or attractive.
“Now are you going to sit up so I can feed you, or are you just going to keep laying there?” He remained standing at a safe distance for now, waiting to see what Cloud would do.
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Post by Grimmmeameaha on Mar 29, 2024 0:13:14 GMT
Cloud tried to tune Rufus out. He hated his voice. Hated everything about this man. Of course he tried, why wouldn’t he? He didn’t need Rufus to add to his abashment. Cloud was wallowing in enough self-disgust. Why wouldn’t he just go away- ”…sit up so I can feed you….” At the mention of food his body betrayed him growling in protest at its treatment. It had been quiet awhile since Cloud had last eaten and the amount of calories he had burned during his raid on the Shinra building had left him drained. His stomach was savagely reminding him.
After considering his options Cloud awkwardly peeled himself off the floor the best he could. Bare skin bore angry red marks where he hit the floor, the cable still tight made it hard for him to get up, first kneeling as if he was going to trying something else before thinking better of it. He sat back using his feet to cushion his bare ass from the cold floor non threateningly, his stomach calling for the food on the tray. He knew he needed the food and water. “Don’t expect me to beg.” At least his voice was defiant even if his stomach wasn’t.
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Post by Behax on Mar 29, 2024 0:31:12 GMT
Even if Cloud had tried something, he would have found Rufus to be standing just out of his reach. The man was no fool. He watched as Cloud pulled himself from the floor and sat back. At least Cloud’s body knew what it wanted, or rather at this stage what it needed. The (allegedly) ex-SOLDIER was hardly going to escape this place on an empty stomach. (Not that Rufus intended to give him the opportunity.)
When he was sure Cloud wasn’t going to do something stupid, Rufus finally crossed the threshold of the cord’s reach. He crouched down in front of Cloud, perching the tray across his knees. The food was simple fare, warm porridge and plain water by the looks of it. Hardly a feast, but filling and...well probably a good idea given how long it had been since Cloud had last eaten.
“I don’t need you to beg, that will come in time,” he said with a smirk. “But I will warn you only once. Spit at me, and I will find a more unpleasant way to keep you alive.” His tone was stern and his expression serious, the implication clear. He didn’t need to do this, he was choosing to.
For a mercy, he wasn’t patronising about it when he held out a spoon full of the porridge for Cloud to eat.
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Post by Grimm on Mar 29, 2024 1:31:15 GMT
The spoon being held out to him felt like a calculated gesture that seemed to mock Cloud’s vulnerability. He looked at it with wanting and suspicion. Cloud's jaw clenched, tension radiating through his body as he hesitated, wariness evident in his expression. Yet, hunger gnawed at him, driving him to accept the meager sustenance despite his reservations. After a moment of inner delegation and with a resigned sigh, he leaned forward, allowing Rufus to feed him. The sensation of the warm porridge against his lips a stark reminder of his indignity of his nakedness.
With each spoonful, the heat seeped into Cloud's skin, mingling with the cool office air. Cloud fought to suppress a shudder, unwilling to give Rufus the satisfaction of seeing his discomfort; although his bare skin prickling with goosebumps would be enough of a give away. He licked his lips between spoonfuls, tasting light hints of cinnamon and other spices awaiting the next bite. With each reluctant swallow, Cloud felt the walls of his captivity closing in and he couldn’t bring himself to look at whatever expression Rufus was wearing on his face. Despite his defiance, he couldn't escape the precarious truth of his situation – stripped of everything and without his friends, he was at Rufus's mercy.
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Post by Behax on Mar 29, 2024 13:14:40 GMT
It was less to mock Cloud’s vulnerability and more because Rufus wasn’t stupid enough to think Cloud wouldn’t attack him the second he removed those restraints. Weak as he now was, Cloud could clearly still muster the energy to put up a fight. Oddly there was no cocky smile or scathing comments as Rufus fed him, it would be easy to but surprisingly even Rufus had lines he didn’t cross. Skewed as they were. But then Cloud didn’t really know what things had shaped Rufus in his life, it would be easy for many to assume the young president hadn’t suffered himself. They would be wrong.
When Cloud was done eating, Rufus held out the glass of water. He’d at least included a metal straw to make it easier.
He was uncharacteristically quiet, but that was because through this he was thinking about the footage and Cloud’s new scar. He’d already looked into Cloud’s files, but perhaps he needed to dig a little deeper and get into the real meat of what Hojo had been trying to do.
Honestly, everyone his father had surrounded himself with were villains in their own right, and Rufus was more convinced by the day each one of them was certifiably insane....except maybe Reeve Tuesti and the Turks.
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Post by Grimm on Mar 29, 2024 16:58:01 GMT
Cloud appreciated the silence as he was being feed. He had assumed Rufus would taunt him during this process. Being kept like this was humiliating enough, but at least he wasn’t having to figure out how to eat unassisted. Although something told him Rufus might find it entertaining to see him try. So he agreed to allow the silence Rufus created to remain. His stomach had gone quiet with the last spoonful of porridge, it had indeed filled him up more than he initial thought it would.
When he was offered water Cloud greeted it a little more enthusiastically than the porridge. He was beyond thirsty and in his haste he ended up chasing the straws tip around the edge until it finally ended up in his mouth. Without stopping for a break Cloud sucked down the entire glass of water in a continued series of gulps until the last drop was gone. He pulled back with a half-refreshed sigh wishing he has several more glasses of the liquid.
He could hear a little imaginary Aerith on his egging him on to show his gratitude toward the act of kindness, “Tha—-“ the words partial his lips before he squashed them flatter than Sector 7. “Give me back my clothes.” Cloud demanded hoping to cover up what he had been about to say.
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Post by Behax on Mar 29, 2024 17:41:31 GMT
In truth, Rufus wasn’t really paying much attention to Cloud anymore, it was only his demand for his clothes that brought him out of his thoughts again.
“A fine way to show your gratitude,” he softly scolded before standing up with the now empty tray. “Perhaps I would be more inclined to let you earn some clothes with good behaviour and better manners.” Interestingly he didn’t say anything about them being Cloud’s own clothes.
“But for now, I still have work to do.” He manoeuvred the tray so he could hold it in one hand, before taking his phone out of his pocket and re-igniting the barrier. “I’ll be back later, of that you can be sure. So make sure you get some rest, you'll need it,” he said before walking back into the office side of the room and then once again leaving entirely.
As much as he would love to play with his new pet some more, it was only the afternoon and his fun (and Cloud’s torment) would have to wait until after the work day had ended.
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Post by Grimm on Mar 29, 2024 18:39:48 GMT
”…you’ll need it,”
He was back to his feet and to the end of his tether which stopped him just short of the barrier. “Bastard! Let me out of here!” Cloud’s protest only grew louder the further Rufus moved away until the president left the space entirely. Left alone again Cloud quieted himself, shaking his head as he thought about what Rufus might be planning to do tonight. It would be enough to make anyone restless.
He had enough sense to walk the boundaries he could reach and test what pieces of furniture might be useful, but he found everything in his reach had been bolted down. Even the lamps didn’t budge from their places. This was really ending up to be hopeless. Feeling defeated he sat down on the bed, his body posture just as deflated as his ego. He sat like that for sometime until his bodily functions required his attention. Luckily the bathroom was in reach and automated enough he could manage by himself.
On his way out he caught a glimpse of himself in the polished steel mirror and stopped turning to face the mirror entirely. The new scar once again unsettled him but it was the small flash of a red corner peeking below the bandage around his neck unsettled him more. Cloud leaned in closer using his hips against the sink counter to steady himself to get a better look. He could recognize it as the ShinRa logo without having to see the entire thing.
Cloud returned to the edge of the bed as sat down watching the sunlight go across the sky. Unable to rest from the anticipation of having to try to fight off Rufus. As the light grew dimmer outside Cloud got up front he edge of the bed and began to pace.
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