Stand Up
#14 of A Lions Obsession
Cloud winced at the painfully rough grip that Squall had on his arm. The smooth flesh underneath undoubtedly now forming into a fresh bruise.
No matter what came to Cloud's mind he couldn't find a way to escape this. He wanted to scream; draw attention their way. Break free and run. But something about the dark look in Squall's eyes promised that not only would the attempt be futile but he would regret making such a decision later on. Why Cloud didn't call the bluff and yell anyway he wasn't sure.
Perhaps he was paralyzed from fear; he had seen first hand what Squall was capable of and knew if Squall were to turn his rage on him it would be all over. Swift and painless if he held mercy, but after he caught him red handed he doubted Squall would be merciful. Oh no, he would be far from merciful.
Cloud followed in front of Squall obediently even though every cell of his body demanded for him to do otherwise. Their foot steps sounded in his ears and sent him into a surreal trance; he didn't even realize when they had stopped and he was already being ushered into the car.
The moment Squall had shut the door Cloud's shoulders slumped and his fingers twitched. For just a moment; as Squall rounded the vehicle; Cloud contemplated jerking open the door and running as fast as his legs could carry him. To get away from the crazed lion; now angered by his actions. Had only he not been caught; he would've been free. He would have made it... just like he could now...
Before Cloud could even command his paw to move the driver side door jerked open and Squall quickly sat down. Running quickly became a fleeting memory.
Watching Squall's paws and knuckles turn a soft pale white as they gripped and released the steering wheel almost made him wonder if he had ever had the thought in the first place.
"Cloud," Squall's voice was low and harsh; the unsettling tone causing Cloud to have to swallow an unanticipated lump in his throat.
The blonde didn't move an inch; nor change the direction of his gaze. Blue orbs bore intently into his paws which had begun fidgeting in his lap. He would never be caught dead doing such a childish gesture months ago. It would have seemed beneath him to act like a child getting scolded; fidgeting... He wanted to scoff at himself but finding he couldn't so much as produce a sound from his throat. He mentally cursed himself for not paying more attention.
If he had just been a little more careful..
"Cloud," this time it was firm and felt almost like a bite in his flesh. Cloud's gaze jumped to Squall for a moment before his brows lowered. Just by looking at the lion he knew there was no excuse to save him from whatever Squall deemed worthy punishment. He couldn't help but keep trying to think back to when he became so weak. Never in his life had he given any part of himself to anyone unless wanting to. He would never dream it. Zack had his body and his heart; but having to use those things so callously just to have a chance to get back home... and than to fail so miserably...
"Cloud," Squall spoke his name for the third time and it pained him as much as the first, "...Why Cloud."
Cloud's gaze fell again but just as soon as it did a rough paw darted out to grip his boxed muzzle and jerk it back to face Squall. Cloud could've sworn the movement in itself could've snapped his neck; at this moment he wished it did. Squall's eyes had a fire burning behind them; anger, pain, betrayal, frustration. Every emotion burning right back into the depths of Cloud's own numb features.
"I asked you a fucking question," Squall's voice rose dangerously before dropping to a whisper, "Why would you call ‘him'."
Cloud winced at the way Squall hissed at the mention of who he knew to be Zack, but even as he opened to speak no words came forth. His own voice seemingly lost to him.
Cloud's silence didn't appease the raging brunette in the slightest, "Fine.. We'll just have to deal with this when we get back."
Cloud fought back a sigh of relief as he felt the paw on his maw jerk away. He didn't know what Squall's idea of dealing with the situation was. No doubt the tiny bit of information Cloud managed to get to Zack would be enough not to pinpoint his location but give him a good idea of where to search. As long as Squall didn't do anything drastic...
Cloud silently prayed that Squall would be to upset to think of moving their location. If that were the case Cloud was sure he would never be able to convince Squall to trust him again and than earn his freedom.
The ride back to his prison was long, quiet, and thick with tension. He was all but jerked out of the truck as Squall dragged and tossed him inside. It wasn't like he would have run but he simply concluded Squall was just trying to get out some frustration.
Cloud sat on the floor where he was dumped unwilling to move an inch. In all honesty he didn't care too. He was tired and defeated. He wanted nothing more than to sulk quietly in place. Something again he would have never caught himself doing before this all started.
His emotions were run through a roller coaster of ups and downs. He was surprised his heart hadn't suddenly given out with all the stress it was put under.
He could have laughed at how all the events transpired. It was like a bad movie plot had taken over his life. He silently cursed whatever god was pulling the strings on this one.
What comes around goes around. What a joke that statement was. Here he saves some guy from getting his ass torn out and this is the thanks he gets?
Save guy. Lose boyfriend. Meet saved guy. Start to fall for said guy. Find out said guy who he's falling for kidnapped his boyfriend and is a crazed fucking lunatic. Get boyfriend back. Face said guy and end up here... Where ever here even was.... Just how the hell would this all end?
Apparently Squall needed a moment as he stormed into the other room. Cloud winced at the sounds of things getting turned over and breaking. He silently thanked the heavens that it wasn't him getting such treatment.
Squall heaved another heavy breath as he flung yet another lamp within his grasp around the room. It smashed into the wall and fell to pieces against the floor. His breath was coming in pants and all he wanted to do was scream.
His usual clam and kept composure evaporated the more he thought of Cloud's betrayal. His angel had tricked him! Had used his feelings for the blonde god in order to deceive him. In all the world he couldn't think of where he went wrong.
He thought Cloud had finally understood. Everything he did. Everything he was doing. Everything thing he was. He was giving to the one he loved; his angel; his light.
For everything he had worked for to suddenly come smashing to a halt back in front of his face was making his head lightheaded with rage. He couldn't bring himself to ‘hurt' his angel. He knew even if all he intended to do was slap the pale Grey fur of Cloud's cheek he would undoubtedly wrap his calloused paws around that slim expanse of Grey fur and drain every ounce of breath left in the boy's body.
How dare he?! HOW dare HE!?
After offering everything he had. After all this careful planning. That bastard wolf still held his angel's heart! How he longed Cloud to be so desperate for him.
Squall's frown turned into a larger grimace; what was he to do. That bastard Zack would always have a hold on his lover's heart. He should have gotten rid of him when he had the chance. He shouldn't have hesitated; he should have slit that bastards throat. Everything would be perfect if he had. Cloud would've never found him and this would've never had to transpired.
Cloud would only have eyes for him. If only Zack were...
Squall's grimace started to lift into a sadistic smirk. Oh yes; if Zack ‘were' gone. There would be no temptation in Cloud's eyes. That foul beast would have no weight on his angel's heart and he would be free to have Cloud all to himself.
Zack glared at the phone; the voice recording promising him he would get no help from the police at the moment. Call tomorrow? Call tomorrow?! He didn't have until fucking tomorrow!
He paced in the small room; if he wasn't going to get any help he would just have to leave and call the police for help while he was on his way. Perhaps even call the police of town Rosaila as well. He wasn't going to let Squall slip away with Cloud again. He'd be damned if he lost his lover again. He was so close he could taste it!
He needed to move and fast; there was no telling what Squall would do. He was sure that it had to have been him. Cloud was mid-sentence; Squall must have managed to sneak up on him and hang up the phone.
Zack held back tears that pricked at the corners of his eyes. If Squall had heard what Cloud had said there was no doubt the blonde would be in trouble. He prayed that Squall would never use the methods he once used on himself with Cloud. He liked to think that if Squall had ‘loved' his lover as much as he claimed than he wouldn't be so inclined to physically hurt Cloud.
Oh but if he did. If Zack found he laid one paw in anger down upon Cloud... He would have that lion's head.
Zack jumped as the phone rang back, and made no hesitation in closing the gap between the two. He ripped the phone off the receiver and jammed it to his ear. His heart was racing and he could feel all the hope overwhelming him. Maybe Cloud had noticed Squall and hung up! Maybe Squall had never seen Cloud and now the blonde was calling him now that he had another chance?
Zack's shaky breath settled for a brief movement before whispering a unsteady, "H-hello?"
"Hello Zackary," all the color drained from his face. The familiar voice over the phone making his free paw ball into a tight fist.
"Where is he you sick fuck," Zack growled over the phone as he heard a dark chuckle on the other line.
"Oh I plan to tell you," the voice was even darker than he remembered. It unconsciously sent chills down his spine.
"What?"
"Don't act like you didn't hear me. Now listen and listen closely because I won't repeat myself Zackary."
Zack's only response was a growl as he shifted the phone closer to his ear; he wanted to hear every word this crazed feline was going to say.
"To make myself clear. If you call the police; we'll disappear.. If you call anyone; I promise you'll never see him again even if it means me killing him, understood?"
Zack felt the panic rise back up to knot his throat. Kill Cloud? Surely Squall wouldn't... no he couldn't do that right.
"I see I have your attention... now...," there was a pause over the line as Zack tried desperately to rid the sound of his heart beating through his ears, "I'm sure Cloud knew as much to mention we were in Rosaila." Squall spoke flatly as he continued, "I'm sure however, he didn't know the exact location did he? Well Zackary, I'm feeling a little... generous.."
Zack finally managed to swallow the lump in his throat, "What are you getting at...?"
"What I'm ‘getting at' Zack is that you are going to come here. I told you once before; you're in the way. You can find us just outside Rosaila... North East of it exactly. You'll find a dirt road off of Canal Street, head straight up that road. It'll come to a fork and you'll take a right; after that you continue straight and you'll notice a cabin. That my dear friend would be where we are."
"Why... why are you telling me this; how do you know I won't show up with police anyway."
"Because Zackary; I know how unbearable it would be for Cloud to die. And I know that you won't take that risk. Just know I will kill the both of us before you even get close to him. I promise if I so much as imagine a siren Zackary... I will kill him and bury him where you'll never find him. Even in death I promise you; you will not have him. Do we have an understanding?"
Zack gritted his teeth, "Fuck you!"
"Ah; temper, temper. I expect you here tomorrow evening... until then."
"W-Wai...," but the line was already dead. Zack fell to his knees as he threw the phone in a moment of helplessness and frustration. He knew he didn't have time to waste. Putting his anger aside he quickly darted for the computer to get directions before scribbling them down; along with what Squall had told him.
He made a quick grab for his keys and swiftly exited the door, "Hold on Cloud... I'm coming!"
Author Note:
"Even in death I promise you; you will not have him." *shudders* So dark, and menacing!! *hugs Squall* Never thought I'd be able to make such a sadistic character. But, I did it!! And I love him for it!!!!
"He silently cursed whatever god was pulling the strings on this one." Teehee I'm so cruel. :3
But anyway. Drama is my new middle name!!! *goes to change birth certificate* lol. Yeah, poor Cloud. This chapter almost made me cry at how sad and emo Cloud is being, but I pulled through for my amazing readers!!! *Gives cookies out to the faithful readers of this series* What will Zack do now that he knows where to find his lost lover, and the psychotic lion keeping his lover captive? I guess we'll have to find out in the next chapter. And because I'm in such a good mood today I'm going to give you all a little sneak peek of the next chapter. Aren't I awesome?!
_Preview of the next installment of A Lions Obsession:
"If it has to be anyone... I want it to be you Cloud...," Squall heaved as he pushed himself off the ground. His eyes remained fixed upon the creature that held both his heart and his life in it's paws. Squall's clouded eyes locked with a violent storm of blue, "Do it Cloud; my angel...."_
Squall moved the gun's barrel against his chest and slowly allowed the cool metal to trace up his body and over the side of his neck before resting in the center of his forehead.
Cloud sobbed as tears threatened to fall down his already dirty and tear streaked face. It was to much; everything. Squall; Zack; himself. He felt like the world itself was bearing it's full weight upon him.
"Please...my angel..."
Cloud heard Zack's scream right before the gun sounded.