[Flashback] - how the deal was made
He stands - at least he thinks he's standing - in a world of shadow.
From behind him, the sound of a grating weight - stone, he assumes - seals the space closed, locking him in the dark. He can't see even as he turns around, trying to squeeze light from some place - any place. His eyes are useless. The shadow weaves its way to and from within him, seeping into every pore of his body, swallowing any light left in him.
"W-h-h-ell," a voice - smooth, suave, cocky - echoes from some location he can't begin to point out. Cloud tilts his head towards the ceiling. "If it ain't ol' lost-his-light boy."
The distinct sound of saliva being slurped and sucked in makes itself apparent. It's coming from somewhere above. There is panting. Like a dog's, only thrice as much. Cerberus.
"So what can I do for ya, kid?"
He turns his head from left to right as though he still has use of both eyes, fooling himself - reassuring himself. This is what his memories are like, what his heart feels like, all this darkness.
He grips his sword tightly - tighter - in his hand, not speaking. Hardly breathing.
Cerberus' breath on the other hand, warm and rank - the smell of death and lost souls - hovers in the air around him. And then a moment later, the three-headed beast pads away, heavy steps against the ground.
"My light," he hears someone say, and it isn't until Cloud closes his mouth that he realizes it is him speaking.
"What about it? C'mon, I don't have all day. I've got gods to taunt, Wonderboy Hercules to kill." Hades appears suddenly, making himself visible, a looming figure standing over the other man. He smooths a hand back through his blue-flame hair, eying him. A shade of tinted light makes the god of the Underworld bright enough to see.
Cloud takes a step back, ready for the possibility of a fight - though it is a fight he knows he would lose. "You said if I got rid of Hercules, you'd help me find who took it."
"Right. Our deal - gotcha." His voice echoes. "Well, look kid, the deal still stands."
Cloud clenches his fist.
The god of the Underworld continues. "You get rid of Herc, and I'll get you the guy who took your precious light, yadda yadda yadda. We can even sign the deal in...I don't know, blood - or something. Not that I have any blood, being an all-powerful god and all." He chuckles at his own joke. "Just kidding - so whaddya say?"
A piece of paper emerges out of no where in front of him, like a star in a nightsky - the only light he can see in this room.
"Tournament's in a couple weeks. That should give you some time to train. And then...watch out, Wonderboy."
A quill appears beside the contract.
"All right," Cloud says, plucking it out of what seems like thin air.
He signs his name.
"Excellent."
The deal is made.
From behind him, the sound of a grating weight - stone, he assumes - seals the space closed, locking him in the dark. He can't see even as he turns around, trying to squeeze light from some place - any place. His eyes are useless. The shadow weaves its way to and from within him, seeping into every pore of his body, swallowing any light left in him.
"W-h-h-ell," a voice - smooth, suave, cocky - echoes from some location he can't begin to point out. Cloud tilts his head towards the ceiling. "If it ain't ol' lost-his-light boy."
The distinct sound of saliva being slurped and sucked in makes itself apparent. It's coming from somewhere above. There is panting. Like a dog's, only thrice as much. Cerberus.
"So what can I do for ya, kid?"
He turns his head from left to right as though he still has use of both eyes, fooling himself - reassuring himself. This is what his memories are like, what his heart feels like, all this darkness.
He grips his sword tightly - tighter - in his hand, not speaking. Hardly breathing.
Cerberus' breath on the other hand, warm and rank - the smell of death and lost souls - hovers in the air around him. And then a moment later, the three-headed beast pads away, heavy steps against the ground.
"My light," he hears someone say, and it isn't until Cloud closes his mouth that he realizes it is him speaking.
"What about it? C'mon, I don't have all day. I've got gods to taunt, Wonderboy Hercules to kill." Hades appears suddenly, making himself visible, a looming figure standing over the other man. He smooths a hand back through his blue-flame hair, eying him. A shade of tinted light makes the god of the Underworld bright enough to see.
Cloud takes a step back, ready for the possibility of a fight - though it is a fight he knows he would lose. "You said if I got rid of Hercules, you'd help me find who took it."
"Right. Our deal - gotcha." His voice echoes. "Well, look kid, the deal still stands."
Cloud clenches his fist.
The god of the Underworld continues. "You get rid of Herc, and I'll get you the guy who took your precious light, yadda yadda yadda. We can even sign the deal in...I don't know, blood - or something. Not that I have any blood, being an all-powerful god and all." He chuckles at his own joke. "Just kidding - so whaddya say?"
A piece of paper emerges out of no where in front of him, like a star in a nightsky - the only light he can see in this room.
"Tournament's in a couple weeks. That should give you some time to train. And then...watch out, Wonderboy."
A quill appears beside the contract.
"All right," Cloud says, plucking it out of what seems like thin air.
He signs his name.
"Excellent."
The deal is made.