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Bulma's death is sudden, but not surprising. She was a risk taker, a hard charger, and she was getting older. Regardless, everyone agrees it was still far too soon. She was hardly past middle age, not yet completely grey, and still contributing daily to the world around her as a revered scientist. Death and sickness claimed her all the same because despite how often she promised, it was never her last pack.Her husband stands at the podium. He looks around knowing he's supposed to say something. He knows his wife was famous, beautiful, desirable, even at her age, brilliant, a pioneer; truly to the end she had been royalty of this planet. But he never expected this many people. He doesn't know most of them except for the front row which is reserved for family and her closest, oldest friends. He spots Chi Chi among them. She sits alone with her two sons.
He didn't come?
Vegeta tenses and begins to power up as he searches the pews for him, each turning up empty. He doesn't mean for the air to crackle around him, but emotion is quickly over powering rational thought. His head snaps down in anguish. The wooden podium begins to splinter beneath his fingertips and a hardly audible muffled, "Fuck" echos from the mic. A ten year old Trunks musters the strength, with Gohan and Goten's help, to pull his father off stage to mourn in his Saiyan way somewhere else.Hours later, everyone is gone. The memorial is over. The kids are in bed. Vegeta is quiet, composed, standing in front of the coffee machine counting each drop. Vegeta senses him enter the room but doesn't turn."Where were you?" he asks solemnly."I was... training.""You missed her funeral to train?" he says after a long pause, carefully punctuating each word as the the counter cracks under his grip and his composure begins to crumble. "Training!?" he roars. "It's a funeral! Bulma's funeral! She was your childhood friend for fuck's sake!" He whips around with a furious glare burning holes through Goku's thick skull."But I haven't even talked to her since--""It's a FUNERAL, Kakarot! It's not about you! What about your kids? Your friends? They needed you! Fuck! I--" He stops himself and closes his eyes, exhaling sharply. When he finally opens them again, Goku struggles to meet Vegeta's gaze."I--I just didn't think it was right because of... everything." The silence is deafening. Vegeta's eyes search Goku's face for some shred of regret, but he has never been good at reading others."You're right," Vegeta snaps. "You didn't think. How can I be mad at you for doing something so--" He gestures rudely at Goku's face. "So typically 'Goku!' Always the lovable idiot! Aren't you, Kakarot?""That's not fair! How did you expect me to react?! We haven't talked in years! She hated me, Vegeta!"He scoffs. "She didn't--""She did! And I didn't exactly feel much different about her either!" Vegeta sucks in a breath and Goku regrets his words immediately, but he can't stop. "When was the last time you even talked to her? About... about somethin' other than that stupid gravity chamber to improve your training?" He waves in annoyance to the deathtrap he's always dragging Vegeta out of.Vegeta can only respond at first with a frustrated sound caught halfway between exasperation and rage. "How dare you! You have no idea what we talked about or what she meant to me! She was my wife! She was everything to me! We were--""Then what am I?!" he interrupts."What are-? What are you?" He barks out a laugh drenched in pain. "Fuck you! We are not having this conversation right now." He turns back towards his coffee."Then when?""Never!""Great." His anger is met by stone silence. "Fine. It'll only be a matter of time before you come running to me to improve your training since Bulma won't be able to do it for you anymore," he spits venomously.Vegeta's reaction comes lightning fast and without any warning. The sound of skin on skin resounds through the building. If Goku had been human he would have gone through the wall of the house. But he is Saiyan, so he stands still as a statue except for his head which is now cocked sharply to the right. His eyes sting, not from the pain, but the regret, from all the horrible angry feelings this conversation, this day, this whole week has created inside him. He doesn't meet Vegeta's dark, hateful stare. He can't. He doesn't want to acknowledge the pain he knows is there. If there is pain, then he missed her. If he missed her, then he loved her. If he loved her... He doesn't care that he has to blast through four floors. It won't hurt him, he's Saiyan. He doesn't care about the damage either. Capsule Corporation can afford it. So he leaves and he leaves with a bang by launching himself up through the compound with a blur of hot energy. Vegeta shouts furiously at him, cursing him as he flies away, but he doesn't follow. Instead he keeps yelling until he suddenly feels Goku disappear. Then he is silent.He thinks he is alone as he stands in his shattered kitchen. He thinks he is alone as he collapses to his knees. He thinks he is alone as his face falls into his palms and he cries. He doesn't know their argument woke two children. He doesn't know that one of them was even curious enough to go down stairs while the other stayed sobbing in his room over the loss of his mother. Vegeta is too wrapped up in his anger to notice his ki, too wrapped up in his grief to see his small half-Saiyan spikes peeking behind the wall.The little boy watches everything but doesn't understand what is happening; he doesn't understand what they are talking about, so he blames Vegeta for his father leaving. The once-mild-mannered child even begins to hate him for it, but never as much as he hates his father for not returning. Days pass. Then weeks. Months. Years. But still, Goku doesn't come back. *** It is a surprise to everyone and a huge relief to Chi Chi, how easily Vegeta steps into the single-parent role for three half-Saiyan children. Three because despite his new found hostility toward Vegeta, it becomes more frequent that when Vegeta goes to wake Trunks for school, he finds Goten there as well. Sleeping on the floor. Although sometimes he finds him in the kitchen. Regardless of where he shows up though, Chi Chi finds herself quietly thanking Vegeta for all the things he does that he never did."It's great isn't it?" She sits across from him at the kitchen table."Hm?" Vegeta stares into the coffee he has let sit too long."That they've found such good friends in each other." He sees their kids through the window outside doing God-knows-what with the biggest smiles he's seen on them in a long time. "Yes. It is." He sees but isn't looking, his mind is elsewhere."They look so similar, don't they?"Vegeta doesn't acknowledge her statement."Do you ever talk with him about..." She can't bring herself to say his name. She's still so hurt he hasn't come back, that he never told her he was leaving in the first place. She suspects Vegeta threatened him, fought with him. Something like that. She knows he was angry at him for missing the funeral. She knows he is still angry with her husband despite the passing years. She thinks he might even be angrier now. Strange, she thinks, how Vegeta adapted to earth and its customs. In the end, it was him who left."No." He finally meets her sad eyes with cold ones. "I don't." Goten is twelve when Trunks finds him in the middle of the night staring in the bathroom mirror with a knife in his hands."My mother, she--she hates me," he says softly."What?""She must hate me. Because all she does… is tell me… that I'm just like him." He cracks the plastic handle of the knife in his hand. "And I'm--Im not. I'm not him, I'm nothing like him! I'm nothing like him, Trunks!" He stares at himself, then at his friend for reassurance. "Right?"Trunks, who is lately becoming a master of knowing how to allay the violent impulses of unstable Saiyans, shakes his head. "Of course not." Then he calmly asks what Goten could possibly do… with a knife.It's the hair. Goten knows it. It doesn't grow like Trunks' and Gohan's. I must be more Saiyan than them... because each spike is exactly the same as his father's and his father before him. He stands there in the bathroom staring at a reflection that will never belong to him, contemplating how he should cut it. Trunks frowns at Goten's reflection and convinces him instead to start tying it back. And so he does, because Trunks is right, if he screws up it might never grow back.Hardly anyone tells him how much he looks like his father after that. And he feels more confident in correcting them when they do. Chi Chi doesn't cry as often, and her constant reminders of who he resembles find a subtler way of expressing themselves. Even Vegeta seems to scowl at him less. They aren't yet in high school when Trunks' best friend who has been showing up at Capsule Corp. unannounced for years, begins to stay for long periods of time. Chi Chi, of course, calls non-stop worried about her little boy who's missing school, who never comes home, who's always picking fights. But Vegeta tones out her calls. He already knows all this, probably better than she does. He knows because Goten and Trunks are missing school together. He knows Goten never goes home because he is always at Capsule Corporation. And he definitely already knows that Goten likes to fight with everyone because he especially likes to fight with Vegeta.Eventually though, Vegeta grows tired of only blocking, of holding back just because Goten is a child. Goten is a Saiyan child, so Vegeta decides to use Saiyan tactics to discipline him and one too many fights becomes a short efficient beating. The beating turns into training and training becomes routine. Suddenly there are no more fights at Capsule Corporation. Just arguments followed by training.Chi Chi almost panics at the word. Training. Sobbing and frantic, she asks Vegeta to stop, but he refuses. After a quiet heated argument where Vegeta vehemently denies Goten will become like his father if he trains because, 'No, I will make sure he doesn't! That is why I'm training h- I am done discussing this! He is Saiyan! He will train if he wants to!' she finally reluctantly agrees and over the next few months, it is small but Vegeta is right, Goten improves. Though his situation at home remains strained at best. Goten is fifteen when he figures out for sure that he isn't quite cut out like Trunks and Gohan. Or maybe he's always known. Sometimes he admires Trunks a little more than a friend usually does. Sometimes he has thoughts about Vegeta when they train that don't seem like thoughts he should have about Vegeta during training. Or at all. He certainly never looks at girls the same way Trunks does and so he is nervous when he finally comes out to his best friend.Trunks just grins as he wastes no time in coming to the realization that this is in fact great news! Because it means they can and should compete for who can rack up the highest body count since there is no risk to their friendship, no overlap of interests. Goten smiles before admitting he is already at three and Trunks, with an arrogant smirk inherited straight from his father, brags that he is at five. It isn't long before those numbers spike. Saiyan appetites are insatiable and the pair quickly earns a reputation for becoming notoriously competitive despite having unmatched teamwork when they want.Vegeta, however, is less than impressed by the dramatic increase in reckless behavior following Goten's self-discovery. *** It is noon on a Saturday and the slapping of skin against skin fills the small run down apartment Goten has been in since last night. It slows to a dampened rocking of hips against hips."What's wrong?" The young man asks the dark-haired half-Saiyan at his back.Goten stops completely and pulls out. "Put clothes on."He snorts. "What?"Goten throws a pair of torn pants at him. "I said put them on.""A-are you serious?"Goten who has made it to the bathroom sink and begun to clean off answers coldly, "Yes. Quickly." He struggles to get his feet through his own pair of jeans and hops one-footed out of the bathroom before trying to to make his way to the door, but it's too late. There's a knock and a low dark voice."Goten.""Shit." He fastens the button and quickly begins to pull back his hair with a tight band.The other man sits up. "Who the hell is that?"Another knock. "Goten!""Who the HELL is that?!" the other man asks with panic in his voice. "And how does he know where I live?"Goten hesitates where he's standing for a few moments then shushes the other man as he walks to the door. He opens it but doesn't unchain it. "What."Vegeta sighs. "Go home."Goten frowns and attempts to slam the door on him but Vegeta pushes back, easily snaps the chain holding it in place, and steps in."Hey! Who are you?" The human finally tugs his pants on. "You can't come in he-""Shut up!" Goten crosses his arms and scoffs. "Go home," he mocks. "To which one?"Vegeta hesitates in the doorway. "Your mother... wants to see you.""Yeah, well that makes one of us."The human warily keeps his distance. "Is that your da-?""No!" they both snap loudly."Okay. What... what is going on? Who are you? I'm gonna call the police if you don't le-""Shut! Up!" Goten turns back toward Vegeta. "I'm not going."Vegeta clicks his tongue and puts a hand on his waist. "You are. I told your mother I would bring you home. So you're going home.""No! I'm not! I hate that place! It's not home!""Too bad. You're going. You haven't been to school in a wee-""So! What do you care!?" He begins to raise his fist. "You're not my f-"Goten's back is suddenly half way through the drywall and there is a forearm at his throat. "No! I'm not! I'm the one who puts up with all your shit you little brat, so put your goddamn hand down and save it for the gravity room."Goten struggles but manages to press his feet against Vegeta's chest. "F-fuck you!" he rasps before kicking him off and through the door.Shocking violence and damage aside, something about the whole conversation seems wrong and makes the human hesitate before he presses the call button for 911. "School? How... how old are you?" the human asks."Sixteen," Goten says, dusting drywall off himself."WHAT?! WH-You're-WHAT?! I-I-" The human backs up into the headboard. "I didn't know that! You don't look-What the hell kinda sixteen year old has muscles like that?! Oh my god I fucked a-You lied to-""I lie to everyone! You're not special," Goten snaps while gearing up for a fight as Vegeta walks back into the apartment and shakes debris out of his hair."Stop making this hard for yourself," he growls in irritation."No! What do you care if I go home?""I don't! It's what your mother wants and--" He would too."She's a bitch! I don't care what she wants!" Goten begins to power up out of frustration. "I don't want to go home! You can't make me!" Gold begins to glow at the edges of his hair as he loses control of his emotions and he thinks he's going to cry as his irises turn blue. "You can't make me!"Vegeta rolls his eyes, powers up, appears right behind Goten, and delivers a hard hit to the head that puts him out and on the ground before he can get any further. Vegeta powers down, picks him up with a sigh, and throws him over his shoulder. He looks around at the broken door he was sent through, then the cracked dry wall.The human picks up Goten's shirt and phone and hesitantly hands it to Vegeta. "Please don't hurt me--is he okay? I didn't know he was only sixteen! I swear! He doesn't look--he was in a bar! He was so persistent, too, I just--I'm so sorry! Is he okay? I didn't know--"Vegeta's not quite sure why this panicked human is still talking to him and interrupts, "Are you hurt?""W-what? No..."Vegeta nods. "Consider yourself lucky. Saiyans at his age are not well-known for their self-restraint.""I-I... what?"And then they are gone, leaving the startled human alone. Goten's choice in company never made any difference to Vegeta, but he decides it isn't his place to tell Chi Chi Goten's personal matters if he is declining to tell her himself which seemed to be the case since she asked Vegeta to find him. Again."I don't know what to do with him." She cries into her hands. "He's always running off! Just like his father and I- I don't know what to do! I can't lose my baby too!" She sobs harder. "What do I do?""Stop... comparing them."She looks up at Vegeta with a hurt look. "What?"He stands. "This is the last time I'm doing this, Chi Chi. He fights me more every time."She begins to dry her tears. "I know. I know!" A pained laugh escapes her. "I just... Let me know when he's at the compound? He always ends up back there eventually, doesn't he?"Vegeta nods. "Usually." Then he walks out of her small mountain home that still sometimes smells like him.Vegeta goes home that day to find his eleven year old daughter wandering around in the labs covered in the blood of another animal she took apart piece by screaming piece 'for science, papa!' He wipes the blood off her face as she excitedly tries to explain what she learned. Vegeta listens but doesn't hear and responds by telling her she's so smart, just like her mother, but that she also knows she's not supposed to be down here without supervision. She nods with a beaming face that pierces Vegeta with its resemblance, and as a result she never gets reprimanded. She is able to run off smiling with bright red streaks still lacing their way through her blue hair.What the fuck am I doing wrong? He thinks as he sulks past his seventeen year old son who is passed out at 2 pm with an empty fifth in his hand and a book over his face. He wonders this as he heads toward the gravity chamber where he trains until a tendon in his knee snaps. *** Because Goten is the only one who bothers to keep training, by the time he reaches his twenty-third summer he is by far stronger than the other halves. Years of scheming and competing with the heir to the biggest richest company in the world has made him sharp too, much sharper than his father could have hoped to be (so everyone says), and a little bit mischievous, though that could always be the Oozaru in him.
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Before we get to the story at hand... let's take a step back to a few of the events following the defeat of Cell...
Capsule Corp. His eyes keep fluttering closed, his breathing is just a tad labored through his slightly open mouth. One hand is supporting his weight on the night stand behind him, the other is curled into the blue hair sitting atop her pretty face bobbing back and forth at his waist. His pants are barely holding on, unzipped with the belt hastily undone giving her just enough access because, well, this was a surprise and he hadn't been prepared. He has to remember not to grip too hard. He has to remember not to push her too hard. Especially as she gets older, he has to remember to be gentler. Their passionate, wild nights together are getting fewer and farther between. He looks down at her hair; it's just beginning to gray and something inside him aches. It's far from the best sex he, a planet-purging mercenary descended from Saiyan Royalty, has had but he still loves her. Even if he never says it. And he still loves the way she feels around him. So he does what he can to control himself because she just can't take it like she used to. Not that she’s ever been able to handle him, but it's getting harder. He is only getting stronger while she seems to weaken every day. He made mistakes in the beginning when they were first together because he didn't know the limits of a human. After that he hardly ever hurt her and when he did it was always minor. Strains, bruises, the occasional shoulder dislocation... all in all she didn't seem to mind, in fact sometimes she seemed to relish them like he did battle scars. Until recently. After he reached Super Saiyan his power exploded and they started having issues again. He fractured her rib. Twice. And broke her wrist. They had to change a few things. But it was worth it because here they are just a few months later and this time he’s even not lying to her about being in control. He bites his lip and gently presses her further forward than she's been going and she lets him. She always lets him. Gods , that's why I love her. She looks up at him with watery but flirtatious eyes and tiny wrinkles starting to form in the corners as one of her hands snakes around to his back. Her nimble fingers press around the small scar in the center of his lower back where his tail used to be. She knows it's cheating but she does it anyway because she just can't deep throat him like she used to. The shock of pleasure that shoots straight to his groin is enough to send him over, but it catches him off guard and he jerks forward forcing her head to the base of his shaft as he releases. She starts tapping on his arm and it takes him a few moments to come down before he remembers to let go. She chokes out a gasp when he finally does. He offers her a hand and pulls her up. She wipes her mouth and the tears from her cheeks with a mischievous grin, surely thinking up some smart remark to make, but he pushes her over on to the bed as gently as he can before the words can leaver her. He crawls over top of her, kissing every inch of her as he goes. She starts giggling, complaining that she's ticklish, but he knows that's a lie and continues. When he reaches her neck he pauses. He drinks in her red, grinning, tear streaked face. Then he goes in for the kill and leaves several deep purple marks along her collar and neck. She grips his shoulders and wraps her legs around his thighs, moaning softly in his sensitive ears. He rolls them over so she's laying on top of him and looks up at her."Are you saying I should get mine?" she asks.He nods with a stern expression."Well, then I certainly will." She grinds her hips against his and feels that he's still hard. Oh, how she loves the Saiyan race for that. He barely has time to blink before she has his pants completely stripped off and she's slowly easing herself down onto him with a gasp.His brow furrows together and he fails to suppress a deep rumbling sigh as he feels her warmth completely envelope him. He lets her set the pace. His hands barely touch her, loosely sitting on her hips. She takes them in her own and runs them up and down her body softly. Everything about her is soft as she lifts herself up and down a little faster. She throws her head back and he barely resists bucking up into her like he so desperately wants to. She's getting close and he holds her so he can help her go a little faster. He watches her closely for that face he loves. The face of complete satisfaction. He never thought he would learn to love something so sweet. And there it is.The worry that this painfully gentle intimacy is temporary doesn't stop her from rolling off of him with a satisfied hum tonight. He turns to face her as she starts running her fingers through his hair."What are you thinking about?" she says with a little afterglow still hazing her eyes."Hm?""Your brows are so deep. You look... more serious than usual." She smiles and lets her fingers trail across his face. He takes her hand gently and places it on the bed."It's nothing." He turns back over to his back."It's never 'nothing' with you.""I--I just..." You're aging so fast. He feels his heart stop momentarily. A nd you're barely strong enough as it is... If we keep doing this, injury is a only a question of when... not if.His phone buzzes saving him from the anxiety of his thoughts.He picks it up and looks at the screen. Kakarot 12:32Wanna spar? "Who is it?"He smirks. The only other person in the universe who seems to have as much power over me as you do. *** Mt Paozu His wife is in the shower while he sits on the edge of the bed, naked, staring at his phone debating whether or not he should push the send button. An hour before, he and his devoted wife were trying their best to do their spousely duties. Key word: trying because as usual, they failed. They didn't have the experience or know-how to change what was wrong even after almost ten years together. Neither of them want it to be this way, but it is what it is and at least they are in it together. Both of them sometimes wonder if getting married at 19 was the best idea, but their son Gohan continually reminds them that it's all worth it.It's not that Goku doesn't love Chi Chi. He does. And he's sure Chi Chi loves him, but... is this really what it's supposed to feel like? In the beginning, they had both been so innocent... The awkward naivety seemed normal. He stared at her with wide curious eyes when she undressed for him for the first time. He was smart enough not to let the disappointment show when she finally stripped down to nothing but a bashful smile and laid next to him. He didn't think she was ugly he just hoped she'd be... stronger? looking. The resulting first few attempts on their wedding night were thus unsuccessful because Goku couldn't get hard to save his life. Chi Chi cried and cried, despite his constant reassurance that she was in fact the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. He insisted that he was just new to this and they didn't know what they were doing. That was an understatement. Not only did he not know what he was doing, but the only education he ever received on the matter was from Oolong and Master Roshi and their large collection of magazines and movies he never found as interesting as they did. He once asked if they had the same videos but with men because girls are kind of weird, aren't they? He'd never been shy about asking blunt and awkward questions before but the look he received from both of them made him uncomfortable enough to never ask again. Or think about why he asked in the first place. It was easier just to funnel all those thoughts into his training rather than to deal with them. He is fine. He and Chi Chi are fine. This is normal. Chi Chi disagreed but as the years passed her incessant at times heated requests for him to go see a doctor which he actively resisted because no one is coming near me with a needle! eventually died down and their relationship relaxed. Although it never got easier between them in bed and in fact the more they tried the more clear the problem became. And the problem is that Goku... doesn't like sex. At all. It is difficult and always seems to leave him disappointed even when he does manage to get off and over the years it has become nothing short of a chore. His lack of interest frustrates Chi Chi, who if she's being honest with herself, really enjoys sex! At least, she does when she can get him going.... if she can get him going which was a task in and of itself. Although she finds he can usually manage to stay hard if he takes her from behind. So that's something. And at the very least, she has high ki for a human so she can take him pretty damn well even after he reached Super Saiyan. Especially on nights like tonight, when he feels particularly frustrated and needs to pound harder than usual to get there. On nights like tonight Goku stops when her head smacks into the headboard. He apologizes and is all set to just call it a good attempt, but she doesn't give up that easy. She never does. She hates to think about what her always absent husband might get up to if she doesn't try to keep him interested. So she presses back onto him and coaxes him into starting back up.On nights like tonight he sighs and stares at the wall in front of him letting his mind wander back to fighting as he tries. Something about sex always draws his thoughts to fighting. The feeling of going all out, the fist-body contact, the blood rush, the energy, the way his muscles can be pushed to the limit, the sweat, the heat, his clothing being slowly stripped away by my- “Yes, harder,” he says quietly closing his eyes to better see the muscular, narrow waist-ed, broad-shouldered body with no soft spots. The body he imagines he is pounding, no, that isn't right, we're fighting, we’re fighting, we're f--Chi Chi's high pitched voice pulls him out of his fantasy spar and he looks down at his wife. He hates when she starts talking in bed, especially when she uses that voice. Sometimes he even puts his hand over her mouth to shut her up when he's getting close. They never talk about when he does that.On nights like tonight he just slows as he takes in her soft curves arched in pleasure exaggerating her feminine charm and her long silky hair draped over her delicate back and shoulders. Then he stops and pulls out, only half hard."I'm sorry, Chi. I just can't tonight"She pulls the sheets up over her body and gives him a quiet but disappointed nod. He flops on the bed while she gets up and makes her way to the bathroom.He wishes he didn't have to think so much about sparring when they have sex but it's been the key to any success they've managed to have. Although he'd never tell Chi Chi this, she is already far too self conscious about this part of their marriage. And it seems to be less the sparring and more who he's sparring that he finds himself focusing on. Sometimes he feels bad about it but then a part of him also wonders if it's just because fighting is so ingrained in his Saiyan blood. Maybe all Saiyans are this way, have difficulty separating fighting and... sex. "Chi..."She pauses just as she's at the door. "What?""Do you think you'll get back into martial arts again?""Don't be ridiculous Goku. It's enough that you're always gone training." She shuts the bathroom door.My training has saved the earth countless times. He frowns to himself at her remark then sits back up and pulls out the simple flip phone she gave him so she could keep better tabs on him. He searches through it for a cure to the inevitable insomnia he'll have tonight. He debates for a few moments then presses send.He gets a response within a few minutes, Vegeta 12:34"Wasteland in 30."
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It is hot out today, one of the hottest days of the summer but Vegeta still insists on sparring in the vent-less gravity chamber. "Environmental Challenge" he calls it. Uhg, and I've been having such a bad week already, why not top it off with a miserable spar? Goten narrowly misses the elbow flying at his face."You're not even trying today."Goten shakes out his arms and retakes his stance. "I'm ready."Vegeta is stone-faced as he waits for him to make a move, but Goten remains still in thought. He is distracted by the disaster of his most recent lay. That weak human actually had the gaul to complain during the act! Something about, ‘Slow down, you're hurting my wrist, you’re going to hard’ to which Goten responded, 'Ahg! No I’m not! Just shut up and let me fuck you!' So Goten did end up breaking the human's wrist. By accident... ish.He has always had a temper, an issue with control when he is angry or fired up. But only recently has it become a problem for him as opposed to just... everyone else in his life, because now it is bleeding into his sex life and he is stuck wondering how Gohan and Trunks are able to fuck soft women when even the hardest testosterone-pumped gym rats he finds seem to break under the slightest miscalculation of his own strength. At this point, he can no longer lie to himself about how more and more often his training sessions with Vegeta are becoming an outlet for sexual frustration. He is so lost in thought that he is surprised by a left hook coming at him. It connects with his jaw sending him reeling across the room. He slumps against the wall and rubs at the already bruising mark on his face. When he looks up Vegeta is already at the controls. "We'll continue this when you're serious." The gravity lifts and garish fluorescent lights come back on."Aw! What? Wait, I can--c'mon, it hasn't even been ten minu--""No. You are sloppy and unfocused. Come back when you are serious.""But I need this! I'm so--I just--I need to work out!""Then go do that! But do not waste my time with a spar you can not commit to." Vegeta turns back to the controls and the room hums as it shuts down fully.Goten sighs. Asshole.Vegeta is always like this, ever since Goten can remember: a perfectionist to an obsessive degree. No slack, no room for error. He never puts up with anything being half-assed. Nothing Goten does is ever good enough. He can ever measure up to Vegeta’s impossible standard. No one can. In fact Goten is quite sure that the only person alive who can confidently claim any real-estate in his heart is his complete mess of a daughter who Goten feels is by far the least deserving.Goten watches Vegeta’s prissy body language as he fiddles with the controls with a raised brow. He can't deny that the shorts hanging low and tight on Vegeta’s waist, which is currently cocked ever so slightly to one side, have his eyes wandering south more often than he cares to admit. Not that Vegeta would ever be his first choice, because let's face it, the guy's emotionally, socially, and psychologically stunted, but he is also strong and... handsome and sometimes if you look closely he even has these amusing flamboyant hand gestures which are cute as hell. In fact, if it wasn't for Trunks and Bra, Goten would have seriously questioned Vegeta's preferences, but he supposes Vegeta is just... alien. Shame. "Why are you still here? I can hear you breathing and it's annoying."Goten rolls his eyes and runs his fingers through his sweat soaked hair displacing a few strands from the tight band that holds it all back. “Whatever. I’ll be back after the weekend then.”"If you really want to get better you would train every day on your own. You're hardly better than Trunks as it is."Goten laughs at the outright lie. He outclasses Trunks by leaps and bounds and all three of them know it. "Yeah well, I don't have all day every day to waste in here. I have classes. I have other things to do. I'm only half Saiyan.""You're as Saiyan as you choose to be. Just look at your brother." He means it as an insult because if he starts an argument with Goten then he might still get a decent spar, but the comment doesn't phase him. Goten has already long held the overtly perfect human life Gohan worked far too hard to maintain against his older brother.“If I could really choose then I would choose not to be Saiyan at all. And yet… here I am.” He gestures to the Gravity room.Vegeta sends him a scowl that could almost pass for offended. "Your lack of pride in who you are showed in your pathetic performance today.""What is there to be proud of?” Goten makes a dime sized ki ball and plays it through his fingers. “You’ve never taught me anything about Saiyans. Except that you were supposed to rule them… or some shit,” he mutters."Tch! That's because--" Vegeta pauses and considers that Goten might be right but, it’s not like you ever asked either! "What… what would you even want to know?”Goten's eyes widen with mild surprise. He didn’t expect to be taken seriously. Since when does Vegeta talk? He debates how worthwhile it is to even take him up on a question. “Hm. Ok, I’ve got one." Vegeta nods and watches as Goten tosses the Ki ball into the air and catch it before extinguishing it. “Yeah, actually the class thing... it got me thinking... Was it just the Royalty? Or were all pure Saiyans"--he looks at Vegeta with a learned smirk--"complete assholes?”A blast whirs right over Goten's head and he bites his tongue trying to duck and not laugh at the same time.“Get the fuck out! Training is over!” Vegeta yells. “I'm locking this room down! See if I let you back in here next time you show up!”“Wait! Wait, no! Don’t do that! Don't! Please, I--” He stands and stammers, not confident at all that Vegeta won’t follow through on his word. “I'm sorry, it was--it was just a joke, Vegeta." He tries to laugh it off, play it down, but judging from Vegeta's face, he isn't having any success. "I'm not--I need this! Please. Let me keep trainin--"Vegeta interrupts in a particularly biting tone, "Your last four spars have been dismal! Why should I waste any more time on someone who's not even improving?"Goten hesitates. I'm not? "Because..." His face drops and Vegeta crosses his arms a little sorry that Kakarot's brat is too stupid to know when he is obviously lying."Goten. Do you want to train?"Goten struggles over his answer for a few moments. "Yes, but--""But what?"Goten shifts uncomfortably under Vegeta’s intense glare and finds it suddenly impossible to say aloud something he's been thinking about constantly and uuuhg to anyone but him. “I just... lately I’ve--It’s been--training has only… made it... worse,” he finally admits.“Made it... worse?” Vegeta questions.Goten huffs. "Yes.""Made what worse?"Goten tries to find a more subtle way to put it as embarrassment creeps up his spine. “Uh, sometimes if I'm not paying attention... I break things, like... glasses... and plates.” And people “ And I just can't seem to..." Take the edge off "control my strength..." In the heat of the moment "under stress... And training doesn't seem to… help." He can’t bring himself to say it outright to the only person who might have a clue how to help him.Vegeta silently considers the information. He briefly wonders if Goten is… lying? Or if something else is wrong? Because the brat never seemed to care about being destructive before. He’s not sure, but he doesn't ask for clarification. He has the same solution for all of his own issues, including his own similar problem of breaking things, and it is simply, destroy himself in the gravity room until he doesn’t have the energy to break them anymore. So that is the answer he gives. "I can... work on building longer, more control-based routines for you… if that is what you’re asking."Goten slumps back against the wall. "Yeah, sure. More training. That’s what I want..."Vegeta nods and doesn’t say anything in response to Goten’s obvious disappointment before swiftly exiting. Don’t you have anything better to do or say than ‘Train?’ Goten doesn’t even consider his advice. Instead, he watches Vegeta leave, angry at the subtle sway to his hips, angry at the sweat glistening down Vegeta’s back, angry at the wave of heat that hits him, angry at-- Why do I always feel this way after fighting with him!? It really is making it worse! Fuck! I just want to jump the first thing I see and-! He looks for his phone among his gear and begins swiping through pictures until he finds a dark-haired muscle bound build that looks like it can handle him. Lately though, they never can.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Vegeta can't run away from the problem of his aging wife forever. But sometimes it helps to get away and throw fists until he forgets for a little while. His opinions of Goku have always been difficult to decipher and continually challenged by just about everything that damned idiot does. There is rivalry, of course, and jealousy. He can admit that to himself if not anyone else... but there is also respect and camaraderie. They have fought side by side and faced death together. That has built up his ability to tolerate the third class more than anything else.Kakarot’s constant bright and positive personality ringing through their shared miseries and failures has made him soften toward the third class far more than he cares to admit and the last Earth-raised member of his dead race is also, ironically, the last connection to being Saiyan that Vegeta has. The feelings accompanying that thought though are complex and dredge up things inside him he has no interest in sorting through at any point in his life. So he leaves Kakarot as he is, keeps the deep roots of his peculiar brand of affectionate animosity toward the fool hidden, and relies instead on the feeling most easily accessible when dealing with him: irritation.Despite all this complication on Vegeta’s end, they still spar and train easily together. Probably because they don't talk much and when they do Vegeta has a way of making sure it's to the point. Tonight was no different until Goku got it into his head that Vegeta was the best person to help him work through his personal issues.They had been at it for barely a half an hour when Vegeta starts lagging behind. He's not as wound up as Goku, he doesn't have the same troubling thoughts racing through his head about inadequacy. Instead he is weighed down by the heavy thought that nothing good in his life ever lasts. Goku takes the decrease in performance as an opening to start wearing on the older Saiyan's nerves, hoping he'll be more conversational now that he's tired and his guard is down."Hey, Vegeta?" Goku throws a left hook that the other Saiyan barely doges.Vegeta answers through grinding teeth, "What?!""Do you ever think about fighting..." Goku blocks a combination. "...when you're not supposed to?"Vegeta shakes his head in confusion. "What?" He tries to throw a swift round kick, but Goku counters. "There's no wrong time to think about new tactics.""No, I mean like, when you're supposed to be thinking about something else." Vegeta misses another strike and powers down lowering himself to the ground with a frustrated huff. Goku follows accepting the signal that the spar is over for the night."Kakarot. What the fuck are you talking about?" He crosses his arms.His coarse language always surprises the younger of the two even though he should be used to it by now. Goku's hand reaches behind his head and he looks away nervously."I just mean when you should be paying attention to something else." Or someone else. "But all you can think about is... sparring.""Tch." Vegeta leans back against a large boulder. "I suppose, when I was trying to achieve Super Saiyan, I thought about how I should train to beat you constantly. I find that my head is clearer now, though I do still try to think of new ways to hit you whenever I can. Why are you asking me this?""So... it's normal?""What's normal?""Thinking about... sparring when you shouldn't be.""Kakarot, who cares? If that’s what's made you the fighter you are, then think about it whenever you want.""I just want to know if it's a Saiyan thing.""If what's a ‘Saiyan thing?’""Sparing and--" He didn't plan this far. He didn't think he'd have to say it."What? Kakarot, spit it out!""Sex! Sparing and... sex," he whispers the last word as a furious shade of red heat creeps up his neck.Vegeta's face is absolutely priceless and Goku would have laughed if he wasn't so internally rattled, so he commits it to memory and files it away for a rainy day."Sparring... and sex?" Vegeta asks just to make sure he heard it right because he's sure he didn't.Goku nods."You think about sparring? While you're being... intimate with your wife?"Goku nods again. The heat on his face almost unbearable now despite the cool night air."I guess it's no wonder I haven't surpassed you, I'll never be that devoted to training," he says with a smirk, but Goku doesn’t laugh. He can’t even look the other Saiyan in the eyes."It's not like that. I don’t think about tactics." Goku hesitates. “It’s more about… I think about... my opponent.”Vegeta's brows raise. "Your ’opponent?’” Goku nods. “Is that what this is about? You're worried because you don't always think about your wife when you're with her?" Goku nods and nervously threads his fingers through his hair. Vegeta snorts. "No, Kakarot. I don’t think it’s a 'Saiyan Thing,’ to rationalize imagined infidelity as ‘sparring’ other women, I think it’s just y--" "No! That’s not what I--” Goku snaps, finally getting the point that was bothering him. “I don't imagine other women!"Vegeta laughs. "Then what's the pro--" The realization hits and the valley is suddenly dead silent. He debates whether or not he should even ask, because he thinks he already knows the answer. But he can't let the deafening silence between them drag on any longer. "Kakarot, who is your… ‘opponent?’""N-no one in particular!" he rushes the words out with his hands raised defensively. “It's just always... always a guy… and I can’t--I--It's just..." He closes his mouth before he makes this any worse for himself. There's a few moments of silence, then he hears Vegeta say something strange and foreign sounding. Goku, who has plopped down to the ground, looks over at Vegeta's amused expression with question marks in his eyes."It is 'a Saiyan thing' as you so aptly put." He repeats the foreign sound again. “It’s common. Especially among the lower classes.”“Really?” Goku smiles with relief.Vegeta’s mouth quirks as he appreciates Goku’s sudden interest in Saiyan culture. “Field relations between soldiers were not only prevalent, but encouraged because it reduces tension and battle stress.” Goku’s eyes widen. “And the lower classes were predominantly male, so….”“They were?!” Vegeta nods. “So it’s because… it's because I’m a fighter! That I like other fighters?” he asks excitedly.“I--” Vegeta's confidence buckles a little under Goku’s expectant gaze as he tries to avoid revealing the painful truth that he does not know that much more about Saiyans than Goku. “Yes?”“Oh! Ok! How common was it?”“Well, it’s not like there was any official rule or census on the matter. Class distinctions were far more important, so I don’t--” He can see Goku hanging on every word and tries to remember. “Third class was the largest class and had the lowest percentage of females, but there were many who still had families and there were also elites who didn’t, so...” He gives up. “I don’t know.”“What? Why not? You’re the Prin-”“Because I was a child when our race was wiped out you idiot!” He huffs angrily. “Raditz wasn't much older than I was! And Nappa never talked to us about Saiyan culture except that per tradition; I was the prince, I was the strongest, and so I was to lead. Strength over everything.”“But--”“Kakarot. Our planet was destroyed. My knowledge is unfortunately...” He sighs. “...limited.”There is a long quiet as Goku tries to soak in everything Vegeta told him. “But it's… it’s okay? That I don’t--It’s okay… for Saiyans?"He wants to poke at Goku's clear embarrassment because it's such a rare expression on him, but the anguish on the normally carefree face told him that his next words mattered more than usual. "Kakarot, you were the first Super Saiyan. Obviously you’re okay. ...Super okay."“Super okay,” Goku repeats quietly with a soft smile and leans back on his hands. "And you’re like this too?""I said among the lower classes, third class. I’m Royalty.”Goku frowns and Vegeta finds it difficult not to be completely honest when he looks like that. "Kakarot...” He pauses and tries to figure out how best to put it. “I traveled from end to end of the galaxy before I was a man with grunts like Raditz and Nappa to advise me. I've seen and done all kinds of weird shit before coming to Earth that I’m sure would keep you up at night, some of which was with species that didn’t even have the same basic…” He gestures one hand with a smirk. “...functions. It has never made much difference to me what it was that made the mistake of catching my attention. They all suffered the same fate in my bed.”Goku so desperately wants to ask if that meant Vegeta has been with a man. And what that was like. And if it was better and… and how? But he is far too embarrassed by the slew of imaginings accompanying his current thoughts of, “Functions?”Vegeta tilts his head with a smile. “Nappa once told me my standard of ‘compatible’ was so low it disgraced my royal Saiyan heritage ten generations back, but your brother's was even lower." He smirks at the younger Saiyan. “I suppose our dead race has denied us all the luxury of normalcy, or whatever. Shit happens.”Goku lets out a snort at his words, then furrows his brows again. "Well, do you have any advice? It's just... it’s really hard sometimes to be with Chi Chi… the way she wants."Vegeta feels a sharp pang of something unfamiliar as he genuinely considers if he does know anything worth telling him. But he's never been with a partner he doesn’t find attractive or at the very least interesting . He finds Bulma particularly alluring with her fiery personality and unusual coloring. He also understands marriage to be a permanent contract on this planet, so, "No, I don't." He sees Goku sulking and rolls his eyes. "No one's perfect, Kakarot. It's not like she and I don't have other issues.""Like what? Maybe I have those too.""Other issues, Kakarot. It's late. I think it's time we return to our houses."He reluctantly agrees and they take off. The frustration with himself never quite dissipates because Vegeta never did give him any advice. Ultimately he is still left at square one with his stressful marriage. However, it has given him hope that he isn't just… wrong . And although he doesn't think telling Chi Chi it's just a, ‘saiyan thing’ would make her feel any better, it at least makes him feel better. Plus, now he has a name for it. Though he's not sure if he's pronouncing it right. He wonders if it's Saiyan or another language. He supposes he might never find out. Even if Vegeta's gotten less intentionally malicious over time the other Saiyan is still as reserved and short-tempered as ever. His temper is as short as he is. Goku chuckles to himself as he finds himself trying to make midnight spars a habit. He isn't successful. Most of the time Vegeta doesn't respond and when he does it is rarely friendly leaving Goku to toss and turn for a few hours until he can manage to forget the insult and fall asleep. In fact he doesn't manage to get another conversation out of Vegeta until the galactic police show up and ask them to help on another mission. Well, they asked Goku and Goku asked Vegeta, who said no the first four times and yes the fifth time. "Why do you need my help?""Because, it's not one giant monster like last time. They said it's... an infestation, there could be millions. It'll go a lot faster if I have someone else to help me.""Why not take your son? He loves doing these stupid missions.""Chi Chi said Gohan can't miss anymore school."“Not my problem.”“It… it’s gonna pay good.”“Don’t care. I already live like a king.”“You mean a prince?”Vegeta shoots him a particularly grumpy scowl."But Vegeetaa~" Goku whines.Vegeta tries to muster his most intimidating glare but that’s never been a very successful tactic against Kakarot’s persistence especially not when the fool looks so damn pathetic with that stupid smile! "Tch! Fine! Just leave me alone for five fucking minutes so I can tell the woman!"The younger Saiyan grins and IT's away happily
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
A few unsatisfying hours later Goten finds himself wandering back to the compound's doorstep looking for Trunks and before long he has talked his best friend away from the mountain of paperwork he needs to finish and in front of a TV. Now they are slaying each other in smash, drinking their way through the large expensive stock the compound used to only keep for corporate parties but now, has to be restocked weekly thanks to Trunks. Though Goten certainly does his part too and although neither of them know it, on rare occasions so does Vegeta.
"Ah, damn! No! No!" Goten starts smashing buttons to save his character until there is a cracking sound between his fingers.
"Shit. Not again, man."
"Huh?" His eyes follow Trunks' to the pieces of plastic in his hands. "Sorry."
"I mean, it's not that I can't afford it." He exits out of the game. "But we’re gonna have to start buying in bulk." He laughs, but Goten doesn't as he gets up and throws the pieces away. The he collapses back onto the couch without anything left to entertain himself except a new drink.
Trunks waves his hands. “Don't get me wrong, I break my fair share of glasses too, I guess, but you're wound tighter than a spring. That’s like the fourth one you’ve broken this month."
Goten lets out a long exhausted sigh. "I knoow. It's because I can’t fuckin’... I don't know. How do you do it?"
"What, beat your ass in Smash? Practice, ha."
"No, I mean... you’re Saiyan too, aren’t you?" He buries his head into his hands. "Don’t you ever just need to--Fuck! I dont know! But I can't get a good lay lately and I'm I--I'm losing my mind, Trunks!"
"Woah, woah, woah, ok, hold on. ...What?"
"I just--I am wound up! I have so much--” He can’t quite find the right word. “--energy? So much--ahg! And I don’t know what to do with it! I just wanna fuck! But lately it’s so hard to hold back and I just want to let go but humans are so weak and... Nothing seems to help."
"Heh, you mean no one?"
Goten huffs and admits defeat.
"The internet is a vast place, Ten. I'm sure there's guys out there looking for a rough--"
"Yeah, but c'mon, no one's looking for a broken hip."
Trunks blinks in disbelief. "Is it really that bad?"
He shrugs.
"Well, have you tried, just like, letting the other guy do all the work?" he asks bluntly. “You could try letting him just--”
"Letting him just what? Ride me while I lay there like a fuckin’ mattress? That defeats the point! I don't want to let someone else do all the work! I want to--uhg, whatever."
Trunks snorts. "Ok, well, when you put it like that, it sounds terrible. ‘Lay there like a mattress.’” He shakes his head. “But it’s not that bad. When ever I fuck regular girls, I have to let them do most of the work.”
“So you do have this problem?”
Trunks hesitates. “I mean, I've never hurt anyone or, at least I don’t think I have.” He thinks for a moment and suddenly looks very unsure. “But yeah, I guess now that I’m thinking about it no one can take it like Pan can, ha. She's fucking crazy! Screwing her is like--"
"Stop.” Goten throws a small ki ball at him. “Gross, I really don’t want to hear that about my niece." He downs the rest of his glass when he realizes Trunks has left him behind again. “Must be fuckin’ nice though. To have such a convenient solution.”
"Oooh,” he mocks Goten’s unhappy pout. “Yeah, I'm sorry. Capsule Corporation is fresh out of hot half-Saiyan CEOs. Pan took the last one."
He lets out a snort of laughter. "Good, you're not my type anyway."
"What?" He pretends to sulk. "You don't like purple?" Goten rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah I know." Trunks sticks his tongue out before adding cheekily, "You like dark hair and big shoulders."
I do? Goten's brows furrow in thought. “No, that’s not true. I like blonds too."
“Yeah, I bet. Gotta get that Super Saiyan special in when you can, huh?”
Goten chokes on his drink and splutters through the burning sensation of alcohol in the wrong pipe. “F--aaach!” he rasps. “Shut up! That is not-No! No!” He manages to recover. “No.”
Trunks laughs at the chaos he caused. "Well, anyway I guess I can’t help you. Maybe, you're gonna hate this, but maybe you should talk... to my dad? I mean, he's probably got the most exp--"
"All of the money in your trust fund couldn't make me talk to Vegeta about my sex life." Again.
"Hm." Trunks looks deeply into the alcohol, searching it for the advice only a best friend can offer. "Does he even know that you swing for the same team?"
"I don’t… know,” he admits. “We only talk about training and even that is…” He grimaces. “I feel like, if he hasn’t figured it out by now then he'll never find out. And that’s probably for the better because… no offense, but he’s kind of insane."
“Yeah, none taken I guess. My sister must get it from somewhere,” he mutters before looking into his glass with a sad smile. "You remember when he would tell us about Saiyan culture?"
"Sort of." You mean, do I remember anything from before your mom died and my dad disappeared? Why do you always bring this up when you're drunk?
"They reminded me of the Spartans." Trunks cocks his head curiously as he tries to recall any details. "Warrior race and all that… martial culture… The Greeks… I don’t know. Something tells me he wouldn’t hold it against you. And plus, he’s like, been to space an’ shit. And under Freeza, he dealt with some crazy shit, right? Galactic domination and... murder and… genocide..." Trunks gestures in a lazy circle, like these are normal things to grow up knowing about your father. "So I’m sure fucking guys is very low on the list of things he cares about as far as character goes." His face suddenly lights up. "Maybe he’s eve-!"
"Trunks! Wow, no. You are drunk. And I really don't need that image in my head.”
He shows a crooked grin. “I'm a little drunk. But I’m not wrong. I'm never wrong.”
“Actually, you are only giving me more reasons why I definitely don’t want to talk to him about this. Murder and Genocide...” He rolls his eyes.
Trunks shakes his head. “There’s no helping you. You don’t want help. Ah shit, is that late already? I gotta try and get some sleep," he says as he gets up and stretches. "Meetings to attend, people to please, company to run..."
"Better you than me."
"Ha, well there's always an opening if you're interested."
"I'm not interested in being private security." Or a test subject for your weapons department again. Or involved in anything your sister is working on. Fuck. That. Shit.
Trunks starts up stairs. "The offer still stands," he says between yawns and disappears into the hall above them.
Goten shakes his head, takes Trunks' controller and plays fighting games until he passes out.
***
The week ends, the weekend passes, and he is stuck in the same ventless gravity room as before. Only this time, he is here on the condition that he will actually 'put in effort,' though it is quickly becoming clear to everyone involved that just isn't going to happen and now, Vegeta is taunting him for it. Vegeta has the worst ability to know just what to say to rile him up and Goten can't fucking stand it. But that is the point. Vegeta is trying to make him angry, because he is trying to teach him a lesson in control. It just... isn’t going very well.
"Come on brat! You are weak! I was wiping out planets at your age and you can barely land a hit!"
Goten lets out a grunt and lunges toward Vegeta who dodges easily.
"How do you plan to see your opponent if you are blinded by anger?"
Another furious punch is dodged.
"Even your third class father could defeat y--" This time Goten’s fist connects, knocking Vegeta off balance.
"My father?! My father could defeat me?” Goten snaps out viciously as he breaks stance. “I don't care what you think my father can do. Because he's not ever going to do it! EVER!" He breathes heavily. "Do you think that’s what I train for? To defeat my father?’”
He never says it but, yes, Vegeta does honestly think that is Goten’s motivation. He has assumed it for many years, because... why else would he be in here? He steps back thinking that this is not the reaction he expected as the half-Saiyan continues.
Goten scoffs loudly at him. “Defeating him is what you train for! Not me!” He lets out an exasperated huff of air and slams his foot into a bot sending to pieces against the wall. “And he's never coming back, you know! You’re wasting your time. There's no point in training for something that'll never--" He stops himself. "He's dea--!"
"He's not dead!” Vegeta bites out sharply as he too, breaks stance and slams a hand against the control panel, turning off the gravity and the bots.
“Oh? Is that so? Can you sense him? Is he just fucking off somewhere on vacation? Does he send you fucking letters? Wish you were here! Tell Goten I say hi!”
“Shut up! No! I can’t sense him!” He tries to focus on all the small broken little buttons and dials on the panel he just shattered instead of how much he wants to hit something. “But he’s not dead.”
"And you just... believe that? Really?"
"Y--What do you care!?" Vegeta shouts much louder and angrier than he intends.
"I just--I don't know. What do you care? Because you obviously do!"
"I don't!"
Goten snorts in disbelief. "Oh my God. Yes you do! You had a do or die rivalry with him! Of course you care! You fought him damn near to death! And lost! And your honor and pride and blah blah blah! But then you teamed up to defeat 'all the evil' or whatever. I don't know. And then what? Didn't you two pretty much become galactic superheroes together after that? ...Why do you even hate him so muc--"
"And then nothing!" he interrupts quickly.
"You know, you're even worse than my mother on the subject and she--” He forces out a dry mirthless laugh. “All she does is cry and remind me that I look like him. But with you it's just... Fuck! I don't know. You've never actually talked to me about him. ...When's the last time you talked with anyone about anything other than training or--or using it as a chance to just insult them?!"
"That's all most people are worthy of. Especially you, brat."
"Really? That’s all. That's why you devote so much time to training me? Because I make a good Saiyan punching bag? Is that it?”
Vegeta doesn’t respond.
“It’s not because literally no one else will train with you? Because you are Im-fucking-possibIe to be around for more than five minutes! And definitely not because I’m your worthless, idiot, third-class rival’s equally worthless son, right?!” He is going to get hit for this and he knows it, but it finally feels good to let off some steam; they haven't fought for blood in a while. "Y'know, maybe that's why I'm a prideless Saiyan! Because I’m his son, so I must also be an idiot! Third class! Worth no one’s time! And yet here I fucking am! With you! Like clockwork!" He pauses to catch his breath. Vegeta looks nothing short of livid. Absolutely boiling beneath that cold mask he always wears. Oh I’m definitely getting hit for this. Goten smiles at the thought. "All you do is curse his name and have competitions with me about who hates him more! Fuck that! Say something else for once! Stop using him just to get an easy hit on me! It’s no wonder he fucking left! Maybe I should lea--"
He sees only a blur before he is brutally smashed into the wall behind him. Vegeta's fist is curled into his shirt and he is damn near snarling into his face.
"Shut up! SHUT UP! I don’t talk to you because I have nothing to talk about with Kakarot's brat!" He moves to slam his fist into the half Saiyan's face but is met only with cold steel. Goten has already wrenched himself free from Vegeta's grip and made it halfway across the room before Karma catches up with him and a foot connects with his head sending him face first into the floor. Blood starts running out his nose. He barely manages to turn over before being pinned by Vegeta's smaller, stronger body. There is now a knee on either side of his ribs and one hand pressing his shoulder so hard he is sure it will pop out of its socket with even an inkling more of pressure. Goten still has a good opening to Vegeta’s jaw because Vegeta is breathing right down his face, but he doesn't think about that. He doesn't even think about the small, bright ball of ki wavering in Vegeta's other hand, or the low pitched growl emanating from Vegeta's chest that he's never heard before. All he can suddenly think about is Why would my dick choose now of all moments to get this fucking hard?
All the anger drains from Vegeta's expression and is suddenly replaced by confusion, then awkward discomfort as he shifts very slightly on top of Goten. Goten's face catches fire and slowly turns as red as the blood streaming from his nose as their eyes stay locked for one painfully long horrible second and realization clicks behind Vegeta's eyes. Then the ki in Vegeta’s hand flickers out of existence and he shoots up to the other side of the gravity chamber reclaiming his stoic mask.
"I think," Vegeta says uneasily, "you need to cool off."
"Uh, yeah." Goten sits up and stares down at his loose grey shorts. "Yeah, I'm just gonna..." He has never found himself out of a training session so fast. He narrowly avoids running into Trunks on his way to the guest room he has made his own for the last few years. He isn't ready to face any living soul right now and he lowers his Ki as much as he can manage while standing underneath the cold water blasting from the shower. Well, that's one way to come out. He leans against the wall and slides down to rest on his heels. How am I ever going to spar with him again? How am I ever going to show my face here again?!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAhhh!"
He dries off, throws on a loose pair of sweatpants, and collapses on to the bed vowing to sleep for the next fifty years.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The mission starts just like all of the other missions Goku offers his help on. The planet is tiny and simple, and far more archaic than Earth. It is past the hunter gatherer stage, but not yet industrial. It is still largely agricultural, well if a hundred or so specialized orchards count. Vegeta figures that must have been what drew the enormous hornet like creatures. The peculiar fruit this planet grows smells sweet and ripe to their Saiyan noses as well. Goku reaches to pick one while the locals are explaining to them the extent of the issue, but Vegeta smacks his hand down."Pay attention!"Apparently 'millions' was a vast exaggeration on Goku's part and only a small block farms were affected. However these wasps are hardy creatures and need something heavier than the usual standard issue blaster gun to be effective against them. They are quick to take off towards the plateaus where the air was warmer and the fruits smelled even sweeter only to be met by hoards of bugs twice their size.Goku watches them buzz for a moment, he watches Vegeta jump in and start blasting in his usual brusque fashion until he feels a sudden pinch on his shoulder pulling him from his thoughtless daydream. "OW!" Goku whips around and instinctively strikes out at the offending creature. It drops to the ground without much of a fight. He decides to catch up to the other Saiyan and start blasting alongside him."Make sure you don't let them sting you.""Wh--why?" Goku asks with a nervous glance."Because it hurts." Vegeta turns around revealing a few golf ball sized welts on his arms and face.Goku holds back a laugh that would surely get him whacked on the head. "I think you're just allergic. mine didn't swell up like that," he says, rubbing his shoulder."I'm a Saiyan! Tch! I'm not allergic to--Whatever! We need a different strategy or they're going to keep overwhelming us. We'll be useless before too long if we keep getting stung."Goku agrees and they fly away from the angry buzzing to scout the area. "Ha ha, Vegeta look.""What?""They're pairing up. Look, they're in teams like us."Vegeta looks to where Goku's pointing and cocks his head. He pauses and watches for a few moments and finds that Goku is right. The wasps closest the fruit are more focused on 'pairing up’ as he put it than fighting. Wait. No, they’re… “Kakarot...” Vegeta’s about to correct Goku’s misinterpretation but decides last second it isn’t worth the trouble. "We should take out the ‘teams’ first.” Vegeta points to a cluster of wasps on the ground surrounding the trees. “Then draw the others towards the area and wait for them to start f--uh... to get... distracted."Goku flies over towards the strongest smelling orchard where a small swarm has already picked trees dry, and the strategy works. It’s much easier to clear the orchards when the wasps aren’t focused on two Saiyans. It's not long before it turns into a competition for who can kill the most 'teams.' Vegeta won, but Goku's not entirely convinced he isn't inflating his numbers.A few hours later, the area is clear of irritating foe (save one but Vegeta has long given up on ever getting rid of that particular annoyance) and the painful welts are dying down to small dull throbbing bumps. They sit on top a large pile fruits of victory which taste just as delicious as they smell and wait for the locals to come back.The violet colored fruits remind Vegeta of Earth's peaches with their fuzzy outsides, except the pits are smaller and not as bitter. Goku furrows his brows in confusion before mentioning, much to Vegeta’s surprise, that they are not supposed to eat peach pits.They go through almost a quarter ton of fruit by the time the irritating sting in Goku's shoulder recedes and begins giving way to something else."Hey Vegeta," he says mid chew."What?" Vegeta stuffs another whole one into his mouth, crunching down on the pit all the same."I feel kind of… weird." He rolls his shoulder blades back as a pleasant feeling runs down his spine. Vegeta opens his mouth to say something insulting, something about how Goku is always weird, but a warm shiver runs through his body too, halting his train of thought.Goku stares at him. He watches Vegeta open his mouth, hesitate, then shift uncomfortably and take another bite of fruit. Goku watches his jaw work, acutely aware of every muscle working on Vegeta's face. He watches the deep purple juices drip down from his mouth to his neck and chest mixing with the sweat, and Goku feels his skin begin to crawl with a stifling heat.Goku’s thoughts on Vegeta are much less complicated than Vegeta’s thoughts on Goku, but they give him just as much if not more trouble. They are simple because once Goku caught a glimpse of the passionate, honor-bound Saiyan hidden beneath the layers of pain, hatred, and anger on Namek, it was settled. Deep down Vegeta was good. There is no doubt in Goku’s mind despite the older Saiyan's rude and at time’s hurtful remarks because... Goku knows he doesn’t mean them. Usually.The piece that gives him pause though is something he noticed before Namek. Something he noticed when Vegeta first came to Earth even though he had the intention of killing him. Goku thought the other Saiyan was... attractive . Maybe it was the blood-rush, the lust for battle, the fact that they are both Saiyan, he's not sure, but it was impossible to miss in their first fight: his strength, his confidence, his bod- waitno-that’snot- Goku suddenly snaps his gaze away from Vegeta so he won't catch the redness in his cheeks.Whenever strange confusing thoughts about Vegeta come to mind, which happens far more often than he likes to admit, Goku tries to write it off as misplaced respect for him as a fighter. But since their conversation a few weeks ago... His brows twist with discomfort as he revisits those thoughts for the hundredth time and he considers that although Vegeta told him he was ‘Super okay’ , it probably wasn't an open invitation to freely include Vegeta in all his sexual fantasies which Goku now realizes is exactly what he's been doing lately when in bed with his wife. Because ‘never anyone specific’ was true in the details of the matter, but he really only has one opponent he seeks out for spars these days and-- Hm. Maybe that’s what I need right now. Yeah."Hey, Vegeta.""What." Vegeta reaches for another fruit only to see that Goku has already extended his arm to him with one in hand."We should spar." He chooses not to dwell on the uncomfortable feelings that seem to churn bigger and bigger circles inside him the more he sits around doing nothing about them.Vegeta hesitantly takes the fruit from Goku's hand and eats it. "We just fought for hours. And you want to spar?" He feels too hot and itchy to spar. Maybe Kakarot's right, I am allergic to those vile creatures."Yeah," he says with a haze in his voice."Tch. Alright."Vegeta shifts to stand, but sits back down, realizing that the more he moves the worse this itchy feeling is getting. He looks down and sees that he's half-hard. When did that happen? He snaps his head back up completely mortified. He might not want to spar but he certainly wants to do something. He pulls at the low collar of his blue tank and watches Goku start walking towards an empty field."I change my mind! We shouldn't spar." He considers bolting, going off on his own to take care of his now quickly rising concern because he really wants, no needs, to amend his situation.Goku looks back at him with a playful expression. "You're not really gonna back down are you?"Vegeta hates that Goku is just smart enough to know how to push his buttons. He tries to will some amount of dissipation and after a few moments of conjuring horrible images from battles past, it works. Or enough that it's no longer noticeable at least, though honestly he’s surprised because that tactic would not have worked a few years ago and he thinks Bulma and this idiot have done a lot to soften him over the years.The three tiny orange suns in the sky put off a sweltering heat as Vegeta hesitantly follows Goku toward the field where there is no protection from their rays. Vegeta can't stand the growing itching feeling under his skin anymore and sheds his blue tank top. Every nerve in his body is starting to light up and his blood is pumping faster by the second. A spar is exactly what I need to take the edge off. He nods to himself almost completely convinced because it has always been easy to do that. To lie to himself.Vegeta takes stance and looks at the Saiyan a few meters away. "Well?" He forces his usual smirk trying to ignore how much he wants to just not be wearing anything at all because the chaffing is getting so uncomfortable. I must be allergic.Goku, who is starting to feel like he's about to snap from all the hot pent-up energy swirling around inside him, launches himself at top speed toward Vegeta without warning and slams him to the ground."Fu--UMPH!" Vegeta shoots up to super Saiyan in order to narrowly dodge the volley of quick successive punches and escaping back to his feet. "Kakarot!" He gasps still recovering from the blow. “What kind of spar is this?!"Goku doesn't answer, he just follows him up to Super Saiyan and delivers a powerful kick to Vegeta's head which knocks Vegeta back to the ground. Vegeta doesn't have time to get up before Goku is back on top of him, breathing heavily and looking at him with a curious expression. Oh no. Panic starts to rip through Vegeta. Why the fuck am I hard again? He's going to feel--Vegeta tries to buck him off but Goku grips his shoulders and stays exactly where he is. After a few awkward, fruitless moments of struggling to get out from underneath him without putting any extra friction on his groin, Vegeta manages to get a few words out. "Kakarot. Get! Off me!"The other Saiyan doesn't move and Vegeta is quickly moving from red to maroon levels fury at the issue, now extremely evident, between them."Kakarot! I said get OFF!" He shoves him back but Goku tenses his thighs against Vegeta's abdomen and doesn’t go anywhere. Vegeta has half a mind to hit him with a close range ki blast and so he rears his fist back, but finds his attention involuntarily pulled down to his increasingly tight pants which Goku is now very slowly, very slightly rocking his hips against.Vegeta debates if he should finally try to kill him. But why would I do that when it feels... so good. Vegeta shakes the thought from his head and tries to focus on his next offensive action but it's getting more difficult now that there's such needed pressure on his hips."I thought I wanted to fight but I don't think... I want to fight," Goku admits, looking down at Vegeta with confusion. There have been times when Goku felt like this before. Sometimes when they fought. When they stood there in the wastelands waiting, letting the anticipation for the other to move keep building and... building. But it is usually afterwards, when the adrenaline is still pumping through him, when he is alone in the shower, when he is alone in his room, when he is going over Vegeta’s moves and tactics and the way he looks when he’s pinned down , that Goku feels so fired up he doesn’t know what to do with himself. And somehow this … this is even more. I've never wanted anything like I want to keep doing... this.Vegeta is plagued by the same struggle. Everything is starting to feel dull compared to his desire to let Goku continue. The desire to just... Let. Go. Anger at the third class seeps out of him faster by the second even though he knows that this is wrong. Because he is married. Because Kakarot is married. Because Earth seems to have certain expectations regarding sex and marriage that he respects because in private he swore himself to Bulma. To love her, to protect her and their son despite their humanity.And yet, not a single thought about stopping has successfully made the journey from his brain to his body as he feels Goku release his grip and sit up to run one of his hands through his dark messy spikes of hair while the other wanders along his torso eventually finding the edges of his gi, lifting it up and over his head."It's... so hot. Isn’t it?" Goku pants with a deep groan as he tosses his blue t-shirt aside. The older Saiyan's mouth drops open a little but no sounds come out. He can't think of a response as he stares up at Goku with heated interest in every twitch of his muscles. Before Vegeta can stop himself one of his own hands runs up the slick muscles above him making Goku shiver. Vegeta bites his lip and feels the straining hardness between his legs becoming even harder to ignore. He ghosts his hands along the steel muscles several more times until he elicits a deep sigh from the Saiyan sitting on top of him.Vegeta takes that as his cue to move his hands from Goku's chest and torso and place them on either side of Goku’s waist. "No, harder, like this." His grip pulls Goku a little further forward then pushes him a little further back until the he gets the idea. "Ah, just like that." Vegeta's head rests on the ground with closed eyes as he guides Kakarot's hips. "Mmm, just like that."Goku starts grinding a little faster. "Is this how... is this how it's supposed to feel?"The older Saiyan cracks his eyes open. He feels something still tugging at him in the back of his mind telling him he's not thinking straight, that if he doesn't stop now, he won't be able to at all. "Y--unh, wait…” He stops Goku’s subtle but erotic movements. “We--we shouldn't be doing this.""Why not?" Goku's hands are now running all over his own body feeling the warm waves of Super Saiyan ki thrumming through and around him. I've been wondering what this would be like, with a different opponent... with you."We should stop. Something's wrong. I would never do this. I would never… betray her." He feels his body pulsing with each press of Goku's hips against him and he finds it incredibly hard to believe himself, that this is wrong. He wants it more than he's wanted anything. And he once murdered hundreds to try to become immortal. He has to have this. Right here. Right now. Right-Goku hears the wavering resistance in Vegeta’s voice and leans down until they’re chest to chest."You told me yourself it wasn't wrong.” He presses his mouth close to Vegeta’s ear. “And you must be right because this is…” He sighs into Vegeta's neck. “This feels so much better."Vegeta tilts his head, giving Goku better access as he contemplates giving into temptation just this once. "Better than what?"Than Chi Chi. Goku never says it, but he doesn’t have to. Their last conversation echoes through Vegeta’s head and he remembers what Goku nervously admitted to him. Vegeta realizes as he sits up with Goku still on his lap, as he looks at the handsome Saiyan face staring down at him with heated cheeks and hazy eyes, that Goku's probably never been with anyone other than his wife, whom he has no interest in. Goku’s naivety on the subject altogether continually shocked Vegeta and the shorter Saiyan is now beginning to suspect that Kakarot's never been properly satisfied. H ow unfortunate... Vegeta smirks as he feels a rare wave of genuine superiority over the other Saiyan. A superiority that at this very moment can benefit both of them."Kakarot." He says with fuzzy inhibitions, still trying to remember why he was against this in the first place."What?" Goku bends his head into the crook of Vegeta's neck and presses his mouth against it, dragging his tongue and teeth up the thick vein beating heavily against sweat slicked, violet stained skin."Fuck." He whispers to himself. Only because I need it so badly. Because she can't give it to me. And because you need it even more than I do. He lets out a loud sigh of relief having settled on a plan of action. He lets go of all his doubts for the time being at the contact of Goku's tongue on his neck and pushes Goku off of his lap and onto the ground."What are you--""Shut up, I'm doing this for both of us."Goku cocks his head with interest as Vegeta strips off his pants. Goku takes the hint and quickly does the same. Vegeta's eyes are not shy and drink in every detail of Goku’s built frame and he lets out an appreciative hum. "It's been too long since I've fucked another Saiyan." Vegeta says with the distraction of a distant memory in his eyes.Goku's brows furrow. "Wait, what other Saiyan have you-"Vegeta ignores that he's probably making a huge mistake and interrupts him by leaning over Goku completely naked and reaches his hand between them. He grips hard and strokes slow, forcing a loud gasp out of Goku."We haven't even started yet, Kakarot." He shoots him a strained but mischievous smile.Goku hides nothing as he thrusts into Vegeta’s hand and responds, "I didn't… I didn’t even know we could do it like this.""Like what?" Vegeta asks only half-paying attention to his words, more focused on the beads of sweat running down his rival's chest."Super Saiyan. ...Is that why it feels so good?"Vegeta stops. It has never been a possibility with any of his partners in the past. It has never been a possibility ever. Until now. "Kakarot." He resumes stroking more frantically."What?" Goku breathes out."We're going to do it in Super Saiyan," Vegeta says quickly trying not to betray the sudden spike in his excitement or his shock that Kakarot had in fact just had a stroke of genius.Goku leans up to try and kiss him but finds Vegeta's fingers in his mouth instead. He reels back as he tries to pull Vegeta's hand out of his mouth."Trust me, you're going to want this."Goku doesn't understand what he means, but let's them sit in his mouth in all the same."You're supposed to suck on them," Vegeta instructs flatly.The younger Saiyan hesitantly moves his tongue around Vegeta's fruit stained fingers."Close enough." Vegeta smirks and their eyes lock for several moments trying to figure out why they'd never done this before because, “Unh, yes, now you get it--fuck.” Vegeta watches Goku suck deeply with an expression he can safely label desperate.“I'v”--He speaks with them still in his mouth--“nevah don dith- what do I--mmmm~”"Ah~ Don't worry, Kakarot, I know. I'll show you."Goku hums around his fingers one last time before Vegeta withdraws them, dripping, from his mouth and uses his other hand to part Goku's legs. Goku sits up on his elbows and watches. He's starting to get an idea about how this is going work and decides not to think about it too much and just trust that Vegeta knows better than he does as he feels Vegeta press his fingers against him urging him to, "Relax.""I'm relaxed." Goku leans his head back and closes his eyes.Vegeta takes his word for it and eases in one of his fingers. "We can start out slow, but I'm not--" Goku bucks back against him. "Oh good. A quick learner." He smirks at him then slowly presses in the second digit. After a few moments of stillness to let the Saiyan adjust he starts moving them around in a particular motion. It all feels very strange but not necessarily unpleasant to Goku until his eyes shoot wide open at the sudden shock of pleasure. "What was that!?""What?" Vegeta looks around."No, no! You touched something! Do it again!"Vegeta smirks at him. "You mean this?" He curls his fingers against something soft and extremely sensitive."Ah, ah, ah, yes, yes that, ah! Yes! Keep--"Vegeta chuckles to himself. "Just wait.""Wait for wha-ah-ah-ah?"Vegeta presses a little harder and rubs a little faster until Goku's not sure if he'll make it to whatever's next. Vegeta spits and tries to slick up his throbbing erection as much as he can, but he keeps getting distracted by Goku's obvious impatience. He withdraws his fingers and pulls Goku's legs a little further apart. He lines himself up and leans over Goku with one hand on his own straining cock and the other by Goku's head."Remember what I said... about relaxing." Vegeta begins to ease in without any complaints from his partner and it's ohh, so much better than I remember.Goku arches as he lets Vegeta penetrate him. "Uhhn, Vegeta.. if I'd known it was gonna be like this..." He sighs deeply as he feels himself being filled. "I would have asked you years ago."Vegeta lets out a short laugh and a shorter moan as he finally sheaths himself to the hilt. "What makes you think I would have said yes? I wanted to kill you up until recently." Still do sometimes.Goku answers by griping Vegeta’s shoulders and pulling him closer as he bucks his hips up."Oh fuck!"Goku grinds harder. "I'm trying but I’ve--I’ve never done it like this. Ah~"Vegeta chuffs at Goku’s comment and stills him before rocking back and forth at a slow pace testing the limits of his new partner. Goku lets him work as he looks up at the lattice work of scars on the bronzed hardened torso in front of him. He looks at the muscles they highlight. The muscles rippling, flexing, as that body worked up to a pace Vegeta can never get to with Bulma. Goku leans his head back against the grass and bites his lip, relishing the twinge of pain with every thrust. It is different, really different, but also good, really good, and he know Vegeta can do better. "Is this all?" he asks before moaning softly and digging his fingers in a little deeper to Vegeta's shoulders.
Typical Kakarot. Challenging me when I least fucking expect it.
The waves of pleasure running through Goku are interrupted when Vegeta pulls out and violently turns him over to his stomach then pulls Goku’s ass up to meet his hips. Vegeta leans over and chuckles darkly in his ear. "No. Now we'll fuck like Saiyans." He thrusts himself back in and Goku lets out a pained yelp. But it disappears as soon as Vegeta hits that spot. And oh, does he hit it. Vegeta slams against it over and over again with so much power and strength, Goku feels like he's going to explode. He can feel Vegeta's energy crackling around them, making his own wax and wane in response. Vegeta's pace spikes and Goku throws his head back letting out short gasps as his fingers start curling into the grass, tearing it out, making deeper and deeper holes in the ground. He reaches for his achingly hard cock but Vegeta rips his arm back."No! Not yet."Instead of giving him relief, Vegeta shoves Goku's head into the dirt and pounds into him harder, powering up further, and Goku happily matches because he's never felt something as intense as this and he loves it. The ground begins quaking beneath them and the noises they're making are downright animalistic. Goku feels himself rocking back into Vegeta as hard as he's thrusting. Ki shivers up and down his spine with every blow of hard muscle against him."V-Vegeta," Goku stutters between thrusts. "Ah~ please! I want to--So bad!" And how can Vegeta refuse when asked so nicely? Goku feels Vegeta lean forward until his chest flush against Goku’s back, his face brushing the base of Goku’s neck, panting and cursing into his ear as he keeps pushing into him. Finally, Vegeta wraps his arms around him and reaches low, giving Goku the satisfaction he’s been denied.Goku is undone at once and a powerful shock of energy explodes from him. As he comes, spurting thick hot ribbons onto the ground beneath him, Goku feels Vegeta’s hips slam against him and something warm spilling inside him followed by a jolt of electrified Ki straight up his spine all the way to the base of his skull. He goes rigid from how impossibly pleasurable the sensation is and collapses completely once it is finished with Vegeta on top of him. They stay like that for a long time trying to catch their breaths until Vegeta eventually pulls out and rolls off of Goku into the ditch they made."Is that... what it's always like?"Vegeta snorts. "No. No, that was…” The best I’ve ever had. “I've never done it in Super Saiyan before. Never had the chance." Vegeta lets out a rare contented sigh. He still feels odd and tingly, though he's not sure if it's from the afterglow or something else. His head feels marginally clearer but only temporarily, like the worst is just around the bend."Kakarot, do you still feel... strange?""I feel..." Goku doesn't want to tell him he's not satisfied. But he doesn't know how else to describe it. Hot, itchy, hazy thrums of sensitive tingles keep running up and down his body begging to be fed more. He sits up and looks down at Vegeta. "Let's do it again."Vegeta wants to protest, but he's still hard and the blood pumping inside him tells him he could easily go for another round. Or two. Or three. Or--Vegeta's attention is caught by a small figure some ways away walking towards them. He recognizes him as the keeper of this particular infested orchard who gave them directions when they first got here. Just in time to stop me from making another bad decision..."There's more? I'm sure we got rid of them all." Goku looks over to the several smoking piles by the Orchard. He starts to stand up and look around."No, he's here to make sure we did our job. Get your pants on, you indecent clown." Though honestly he wishes Goku wouldn't. Vegeta still throws the orange fabric at Goku's face though and reaches for his own. They chafe against him as he walks back towards the pile of fruit and stacks of wood crates by the entrance of the orchard. They each grab another one to eat while waiting for the man to come closer.The man sees them and starts running. "What are you doing!? Stop!" They can just barely distinguish his shouting."Enjoying victory!" Vegeta yells back without looking. His eyes are still having trouble focusing on anything other than the soft cloth barely clinging to Goku's damp skin.The man finally runs up to them, wheezing out of breath. "Stop! Stop eating those! What have you done to my field?!" He points to the large ditch they made which Vegeta looks at without much concern and grunts. "Perks and risks of the job.""Stop! Stop it! Stop eating them! Put them down right now!" he shouts while keeping his distance, especially from Vegeta."What? why?" Goku whines. "They taste delicious and you have a whole planet full of them." He leans on the other Saiyan and takes another bite, the crunch in Vegeta's ear making it even harder for him to pay attention."Because! They're--" He gasps for breath. "They're our only source of income, you--They take years to ripen! You've probably eaten decades of our stock!"Goku looks guiltily at the small fruit in his hand. "Our planet specializes in cultivating this fruit because it's so valuable! As if the wasps weren't enough!" He looks at the dozens of empty bushels. "How many have you eaten!? At this rate you'll bankrupt me!" He looks at the two of them, shirtless, stained, dirty, and sweating. He tries to maintain an air of reasonableness since he knows they're powerful and the short one seems to be particularly irritable, but it's difficult when they've eaten so much of his crop.Vegeta shakes Goku off his shoulder, narrows his eyes at the man and stops chewing. "What makes them so valuable?""Oh, you didn't figure that out?" he responds gesturing to their disheveled appearances. "They're aphrodisiacs! And powerful ones, clearly, if they work on you two. Or it could just be that you ate a quarter TON of them!"Vegeta immediately spits out what he had in his mouth and sticks his fingers to the back of his throat trying to vomit up what he's eaten.Goku swallows the rest of the fruit he had been chewing on. "They're what?""IDIOT! Spit it out!" Vegeta whips around after unsuccessfully trying to empty his stomach."What?""They make you want to fuck!"His eyes go wide. He would have tried to spit it out, but he's already swallowed and he doesn't know how to make himself throw up. Plus, I think I... wanted to do that anyway..."You have to pay us back for what you've eaten! These are valuable crops!""No, we don't have to pay you anything. We fought off those beasts for you. Fuck. If we'd known though, wouldn't have eaten any," hr mutters and can still feel his skin crawling with need and tries to stick his fingers back into his throat again to no avail. When he gives up he is met by Goku staring at him, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly."What are we gonna do?""Go home and stay the fuck away from each other!" Although that really isn't what he wants to do."What? Why?" His arm drops back to his side.Vegeta shakes his head and staggers off towards the empty field to gather the rest of his clothing."Wait, Vegeta." Goku looks over to the local who is clearly distraught over his losses.“Someone is going to have to pay for this!" He raises his hand with exasperation."Yeah. I'll make sure we let the Galactic police know... or something..." He starts to edge away, then bolts off in same direction as the other Saiyan."Vegeta. Why do we have to go back to Earth? Maybe we should just--""Just what, Kakarot!? Stay here and fuck until we can't anymore?!"I wasn't going to put it that way... "It's not like it didn't feel good for you too." He moves closer to the Saiyan who is trying, with an abnormal amount of difficulty to put his stuffy, scratchy shirt back on. Goku reaches out to help him but Vegeta blocks his arm and pushes him away."It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter how it feels! We shouldn't have done that. Just, fuckin' let ourselves get overrun by a stupid fruit... We're married! We have families, Kakarot! And I shouldn’t have--fuck!" As if I didn’t have enough problems with self-restraint! It's going to be so much harder now!"Oh, what now because you know it's something we ate, it's wrong?""Ye--No! It's wrong either way!""That's not what you told me when--""Do you not fucking care about your life on Earth?""This is... It's different.""How is this different!?" He watches as Goku's hands run up and down his torso then spend a lot of time to rub out some apparent kink in his neck."Because there's nothing we can do. We already ate it. So we should... stay here..." He looks at the several meter wide ditch and the very unhappy resident fretting about it. "Or go somewhere else where we can--Oh, maybe the gravity--"Vegeta cuts him off sharply. "Absolutely fucking not. Kakarot. For once in your dull, troubled life, listen to me. We--" He feels a sudden wave of desire pulse through him and almost can't say it. "We can't ever do that again. Or tell anyone it ever happened. WE should forget it ever happened. Because--" He desperately struggles to try and rationalize to himself why it's not their fault and not think about how he's fantasized about dominating Kakarot since the moment he met him and about how this satisfied him in ways that were not just physical, but still only barely scratched the surface of thoughts and fantasies that aren't always so dark and violent, and how he'll never get form his wife what he just got from Kakarot. "Because we're... we're... just, fucking forget about it!"Goku lets out a disappointed huff."Why are you being so difficult? I feel... this." He waves his hand between them. "As much as you do right now! If I can reason through it, then so can you."Goku stops rubbing himself, angry that he knows Vegeta’s right. "Fine, we'll go back. Now." He grips Vegeta's arm tighter than he needs to and lifts two fingers to his forehead."I knew doing this stupid mission with you would be a mistake," Vegeta says more to himself than to Goku."Didn't seem to think it was a mistake ten minutes ago," Goku mutters in response.They reappear on Earth with Vegeta struggling to punch and not caress the damned idiot. They finally manage to separate themselves and breath heavily out of both frustration and effort."Fine! What now then?"Vegeta turns away from him and heads inside. "Go home to your wife, Kakarot. Like I'm going home to mine."He isn't sure if Vegeta means it as a deeply personal and private slight against him or not. And in the end, it doesn't matter. It still hurts. His mouth forms a hard line and he decides to take the advice anyway, not having many other choices with the state he's in.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It's dark when Goten awakes. Early morning he guesses. He moves quietly along the halls with his ki suppressed in search of food. He feels out the other energies in the houses. Trunks is still sleeping as calm easy waves of ki roll off him. His ki feels especially low though, so Goten thinks he probably drank himself to sleep again. He feels Vegeta on the far side of the compound and his neck burns red hot as he is reminded of their most recent… interaction. He cringes for a moment before pushing that aside so he can focus and finds that Vegeta’s ki, like usual--even when he’s sleeping--is erratic, jumping up and down. Goten starts as he feels Vegeta’s ki suddenly spike to Super Saiyan, before almost as quickly dropping back down. Then it is stable. Controlled. Awake. Another nightmare probably. He stops in the hall as he feels Vegeta’s ki move, but breathes a shallow sigh of relief as it heads outside the compound, likely via a window.He mulls over their argument and Vegeta’s assumptions about him as he rummages through the pantry and the fridge in an attempt to scrape together a few thousand calories. He starts to head back to his room, but stops when he feels the deep thrum of a power surge under his feet. He looks in the direction of the gravity chamber. “Really? You’re gonna train right now?” He shakes his head. “That man has fucking problems,” he says, stuffing a pastry in his mouth. Normally, despite all his commentary on Vegeta's state of mind, he would've been tempted to join, but he’s not sure if he’s ready to look Vegeta in the eyes yet. He is curious though and an idea occurs to him. He turns around, keys in a code at a door, and heads down into the labs. He almost drops a few packaged food items and juggles with them a few times as he wanders around looking for it but finally, four incorrect doors later, he finds it.He’s always known about it, but he’s never used this room and he raises a brow at what greets him. The room is clean, but there are multiple patched holes in the wall about the right size for a fist. The floor is also dented in several places, and there are pieces of glass and drywall and plastic gathered in the dusty corners. It’s clear someone made an attempt to clean up a mess of a Saiyan-strength tantrum, but they weren’t able to make the brand new screen fit into the wall mount quite the same way the original one did and so now it hangs a little crooked and looks very out of place. Goten pushes aside a few papers of code and sets down his food before pulling out the chair and turning on the screen.His mouth hangs open as he looks around, trying to figure out if the damage is recent or not. “Hm.” He roots through a few drawers just to see what’s in them and finds two pens, more pages of code, a couple paper clips, two empty bottles of dark liquor and one that’s only half drank. “Damn, Trunks, you really got stuff stashed everywhere.” But as he looks at the label, he realizes it probably isn’t Trunks’ because Trunks prefers clear liquor. He snorts as he inspects it a little closer. “Vegeta would like the expensive shit.”The soft glow from the screen finally illuminates the room and Goten kicks his feet up as he takes a swig from the bottle and starts clicking through the programs for the gravity room until he finds the security footage. He loads the current feed from the gravity room, tears open a bag of chips, and leans back into the chair as he watches. “Look, Vegeta.” He snorts as he cheers the screen with the bottle. “I’m studying! Just like you’re always telling me to.”But Vegeta is not training, even though the little number in the corner of the screen tells Goten that the room is cranked up to 800 gravity. Instead, he is lying on the floor. Goten waits and waits, but Vegeta just keeps lying there, staring at the ceiling in those tight blue shorts of his.Goten scoffs in annoyance. “You are wasting so much of the city’s power right now just to brood, I hope you know that.” He throws a few chips at the screen but all Vegeta does is sigh very heavily with a troubled look on his face. “Oh my God,” Goten complains. “Do something! I wanna know how you train when I’m not there. This cannot be all you do when you’re alone!” He smacks the screen a few times before slumping back into his chair with a groan. “Man, of fucking course you just sit in there for hours doing fuckin’ nothin’! You’d spend you’re whole fuckin’ life in that thing if you could!” He frowns as he sees Vegeta’s mouth start moving.“Who the hell are you talking to?” He chuffs as he watches and takes another swig, and wonders what fucked-up middle of the night thoughts could possibly be plaguing the Prince of Saiyans so much that he’s talking about them. But then Vegeta does something that makes the bottle stop at his lips and brings Goten's brain to a complete halt. His heart skips a beat. His mouth runs dry, then it salivates and he has to swallow. He lets out a shaky breath, because Vegeta is still laying in the middle of the floor, the gravity is still on. But he is not still. Goten smacks the pause button before running his fingers through his hair in disbelief. He takes a huge gulp of liquor as he stares at the screen. His face is hot now and he can’t look away. “Well… I guess we’re… even now. More than even,” he says softly to himself as he stares at the image of Vegeta cupping himself through his shorts. He is about to try and close out of everything, but he hesitates. Goten bites his lip as he looks back up. He presses play and sits back in the chair, quickly unzipping his pants. "Fuck."He can’t--won’t--deny himself. Because he hasn't had a good lay in weeks. Because as much as he hates to admit it, Vegeta is hot. And because this isn’t one of the many spar-gone-wrong fantasies safely locked away in his imagination he uses when he can't pound as hard as he wants; this is real and it is so much better. It is too beautiful and too desperate to pass up, the disaster that is Vegeta in the early hours of the morning, with the bare, glistening tiles beneath him look like they are glowing hot from the oppressive red lights. Goten watches Vegeta also quickly give in to the obvious battle in his mind and commit to touching himself. Goten joins him with a long shuttering exhale of relief. Vegeta's shorts are pulled down enough to see how scars stretch all the way up the damp skin of his legs and thighs. His naked back and torso arch, pressing his hips and shoulders into the floor while his hand takes it's time working him over between his legs. His face is tense, almost pained with an expression Goten has never seen on the full Saiyan's face as all of his body screams with agonizing desire while he pants out God-knows-what. He is fast too, but Goten is faster. “Fuck, fuck, fuc--” Goten doesn’t stop until he sees Vegeta go completely rigid too. And then it is all over. Vegeta is lying still on the floor again, palms relaxed, sweating profusely, slowing heartbeat, calmer ki, cum dripping down his abdomen.Goten is panting in the chair, still coming down as he watches Vegeta pull himself up slowly while letting out a long exhale. Goten pulls off his shirt and uses it to clean himself up before tossing it aside with a loud, contented sigh. Vegeta isn’t talking anymore, so Goten decides to back up the feed now that he can focus. He watches and rewatches and is able to at least determine that Vegeta is repeating something. A word. The same word. Again and again. His brows crinkle as they study Vegeta’s mouth. “Arrow… A-Arrow. Heh, ‘fuck yes’. Nice. …A-Arot? A-arot, A-arot…” he mumbles along with Vegeta trying to sound it out until it clicks. “No… fucking… way…” But it is. It has to be. The longer he watches, the more sure he is. He knows the shape of it on Vegeta’s mouth all too well. “Mutherfuckin’... Kakarot ?!” His mouth drops open as he watches Vegeta repeat his father’s name, as only Vegeta says it, over and over again like a mantra that will save him from death.He waves the mouse around and tries to turn up the volume so he can disprove himself, but he still doesn’t hear anything. “Where’s the fuckin’ audio on this thing?” Vegeta keeps talking to no one as he masturbates while Goten searches through settings and presses buttons. “C’mon! What’s he saying? It can’t be--” He clicks the mouse repetitively in irritation until he hears it crack. “Fuck!” He picks it up and throws it across the room. Then he sighs. “Why did I just do that?” He blows air up into his bangs as he leans against the wall before quickly ducking out and snagging another one from another computer in the lab. He puts everything back in order and plops into the chair. He can’t look at the screen anymore. He wants to break it, wants to forget what the hell he just did while watching it, and destroy everything, but he doesn’t want Vegeta to suspect anything out of order. So instead, he collects himself, turns everything off, cleans up, pushes the chair back in, and leaves.He doesn’t keep watching the live feed. He doesn’t stay to see Vegeta wrap his arms around his bent knees and sigh. He doesn't stay to watch Vegeta press his palm to the wet streaks that run silent down his face. ***
I suppose…. the memory of my father leaving makes a lot more sense now.
Goten lies on his bed wide awake as an old memory keeps replaying in his head. He was so young, he can't remember what they were saying as they argued in the kitchen all those years ago. All he can remember is that they were loud... and their expressions, he didn't recognize what they were then. But he knows now. Anger. Hatred. Pain. Things he has become so intimately familiar with himself. He also remembers the way Vegeta hit his father. It wasn’t a jab or an uppercut. It wasn’t any kind of punch at all. Vegeta backhanded his father which is something Goten has never seen Vegeta do to anyone. Not even he, Goten, violent problem-child of two households and grievances to spare with Vegeta has never been backhanded by him. Hooked, roundhoused, blasted, sure, but never… backhanded. He’s never seen Vegeta smack anyone like he smacked his father and he never once saw his father just… take a hit. Like he deserved it . He remembers expecting them to fight, to spar, like they always did and he remembers waiting to jump to his father’s side like he always did. But the fight never came. Goku blasted off without another word and that was the last time he saw him. He remembers watching quietly as Vegeta, done yelling foreign profanities at someone who couldn’t hear them, broke down for the second time that day, except this time silent and alone.He replays it now with new fuel, and more of it comes to life. The expressions more vivid, their tones more clear, and it eats at him, wondering just how long Vegeta has felt this way towards him, if anyone else knew, and what exactly were they were arguing about on the day of Bulma's funeral? Was there something more going on? But that is impossible. Vegeta loved Bulma…. Didn’t he? She was the only person he ever said a damned nice thing about and he spoiled his daughter who looks just like her completely rotten. Bra can do no wrong and it drives both Goten and Trunks up a wall when she is home. That must mean something. So what the hell did I just see in the gravity room? He thinks about earlier that same day. The day of Bulma’s funeral. He thinks about the first time Vegeta broke down. He had been sitting next to Trunks who was inconsolable but still managed to pull his father away from the podium before he killed everyone in the audience accidentally. He remembers even Gohan had been there, helping Trunks shove a quickly destabilizing Saiyan into the gravity chamber where the meltdown Vegeta had denied for himself for far too long could be contained. He remembers watching Vegeta scream as his energy flooded the room. He’s never heard someone scream like that before or since. Then Vegeta dropped to his knees and sobbed. He and Trunks both sobbed. Goten remembers watching and being surprised because it was the first time he ever saw Vegeta embrace his son. He remembers Gohan quietly saying ‘we should leave’ as he urged Goten towards the door, but Vegeta stopped his brother and squared up to him with a vicious look.‘Why wasn’t he there!?’ he recalls Vegeta asking. Gohan didn’t answer until Vegeta had already shook his head and pushed past him toward the house with Trunks in tow.‘Because he is never there , Vegeta. He missed every birthday Goten’s ever had. He missed my wedding. Of course he missed this. He’s never there .’Vegeta stopped at the words. But only for a moment. Goten’s eyes snap open as he remembers how often his father was gone with Vegeta. How often they left together to fight the Universe's 'evils’ and it is suddenly very obvious why his father was never there. The more he tries to push the idea from his mind, the more sure it seems. Their "rivalry", their constant "training," blasting off into space together every chance they got, the mutual obsession, the fight, his father’s sudden departure. The two most powerful beings in the galaxy, the two last remaining Saiyans-- how the hell did I not see this? And suddenly there is a new meaning behind all of the horrible things Vegeta says about 'Kakarot'. Kami! And I thought I was bitter. WOW. That must have been a hell of a break up! He considers telling Trunks and wonders if he already knows. He always seems to know everything. But Trunks idolizes what he remembers of his parents’ relationship and romanticizes the horrific circumstances that brought them together. Whatever helps you cope with knowing you're an accident, man . Goten ultimately decides he really doesn’t want to share with anyone, not even his best friend, how he found out in the first place, so it’s probably best not to say anything to anyone.He lays on his bed for hours trying to figure out what he could do with this information because he has to do something. This is just too good. He tosses a small ki ball back and forth between his hands debating how worthwhile it might be to try and blackmail Vegeta. Just for fun . What else is there to do? But there's literally nothing he could give me that I can't already ge- He sits up with a cold sweat as he suddenly comes down with… the most terrible idea. No, that's-- He gets out of bed and starts pacing-- Fucking perfect is what it is. He stops and looks out his window at the gravity room as he starts chewing on his lip with a troubled look . "Fuck. Why did it have to be Vegeta, though? Gahh-" He's so straight laced you think he'd suffocate! He grits his teeth and thinks about whether or it is really worth getting back at him for all those brutal training sessions, for everything insult he's thrown at Goten to try and get the underhand, for constantly demeaning him, all while just walking around with that hard tightly wound body and narrow waistline just begging to be fucked…
Oh, this is such a bad idea...
Goten shivers with anticipation as he recalls Vegeta's expression from that night and thinks not only is this perfect but it might even be easy.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goku is agitated for more than a few reasons as he walks in the door of his humble mountain home. He sees his only son sitting on the couch with a book in hand. Gohan perks up when he sees him.
"Hey da--"
"Where's your mom?"
"Oh, she's, uh, she's in the bedroom, I think."
He looks towards the end of the hall and starts to walk towards the room he shares with his wife.
"Gohan."
"Yes, dad?"
"Why don't you… go somewhere."
"Go? Why? What's wr--"
"Nothing's wrong, Chi and I... we just want some alone time right now." He tries to smile back at his son, but the mess of feelings inside him weigh heavily on the edges of his mouth.
"Where should I--"
"Why don't you go see Piccolo and train for a few hours."
"Now?"
"YES!" Goku snaps involuntarily and has to take a second to regather himself for saying softer, "Now."
"O-okay." Gohan quietly closes his book and gets up. Goku doesn't open the door to the bedroom until he hears Gohan leave. It doesn't open all the way, and he doesn't get to make the entrance he wanted because there's an ironing board in the way. He startles his wife and she almost burns the dress she's pressing.
"Goku! Oh, don't scare me like that! If I'd known you were coming home so soon, I would have saved more chores for you." She says with a smile and keeps pressing the edges of a sleeve.
He puts his hand on hers and removes it from the iron and stands it upright.
"Goku, I'm in the middle of--" He pushes the board out of the way, the dress and hot iron along with it.
"You have to at least unplug it." She pulls on the cord.
When she meets his eyes she finds him staring at her with a fire she has never seen before. At least, not when he looks at her. She thinks she sees it sometimes when he trains. She can't stop the bashful tinge spreading across her face from being looked at like she's desired.
"What about Gohan?"
"I sent him away." He gently begins undoing the small fasteners on her dress.
"What about my clothes?"
"They can wait."
"What about--"
"What about it?" As he leans in and kisses her deeply all he can think is why didn't I kiss Vegeta like this when I had the chance? He pulls the fabric away from her and wraps his arms around her hips. He lays her on the bed and finishes undressing her. He leans back and admires her, not for her body, or her looks, her soft curves; he admires her because she's stuck with him all this time. Because she's strong-willed and tries to be a good wife despite the difficulties of running a household almost single-handedly. He pulls his shirt over his head and knows she sees more in his admiration than she should.
As she unwraps his sash she almost complains about how filthy he and his clothes are. She almost tells him to take a shower first, but this happens so rarely, she doesn't want to risk killing the mood he's never in. So she swallows her mild disgust and encourages him to press his body against hers.
The sun is starting to set and he's never felt so far from completion and so driven to reach it at the same time. He can't stop even though he wants to. It was so easy with Vegeta, but here, now, in bed with his wife who is more satisfied than he's ever made her before, he just can’t seem to get
there
and he has to get there. He thrusts harder and harder as he lets his mind travel to Capsule Corp where Vegeta's ki sticks out like the moon among the stars.
Vegeta is stationary, but his ki is elevated. He's trying hard not to let it spike. Goku can feel it, his need for control. He feels another ki nearby. No,
not nearby, on top of his. Is that Bulma? Oh! He's...
The image that pops into his head brings him just a little closer to the edge. A lot closer. His mouth falls open and his hands grip a little tighter as he stays locked on that bright, powerful ki.
He can't help but pick up the pace as he feels Vegeta do the same. He also can’t help but notice that Chi Chi is being loud as all hell. He grunts with irritation and she turns her head to try and tell him something but he beats her to it.
"No, Chi. Don't talk. Don't talk, please." He leans down, chest to back, and thrusts faster. "Don't--ah!" He can feel it, he's almost there when he feels Vegeta's ki suddenly spikes to Super Saiyan giving him an echo of earlier. He almost instinctively follows, but he knows his wife can't take it, and he doesn't need to, he's already coming. Hard. He collapses on top of his wife with a hum.
She rolls him off her and strokes his cheek with a smile. "That was... unexpected."
"Yeah." He sighs still locked into the ki which dropped as quickly as it spiked and is now...
zippin' all over Capsule Corp?
He sits up with a worried expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh. Nothing. I'm--I think I'm gonna take a shower."
"I think I'll join you," she flirts and he has to bite back the urge to tell her no.
They stand under the steaming water and he runs his fingers through her long hair, combing out the tangles for her. She sighs, trying to lean back on him with eyes closed and he has to move his hips back to avoid bothering her to his lingering drug-induced situation but it doesn't work.
"Are you still...?" She turns around and looks down with surprise. "Goku, you've never been like this." He thinks she's going to try and initiate another round but luck is in his favor, there's a sound outside the shower.
"Ah! Gohan must be back! It's almost dinner time and I haven't started anything. Oh, Goku, you distracted me!" She scolds him with a certain sweetness in her voice and he knows she's glad he did. But it doesn't stop her from rushing out of the shower and throwing on a towel. She tries to wring and pin her hair up as quickly as she can before leaving to find dry clothes.
"I'm sorry Goku, I have to get started," she calls the from the bedroom.
"Mhm," he strains out, just loud enough for her to hear. He's already begun stroking himself and it isn't long before he's sunk to his knees pulling with vigor.
Thank Kami she’s gone.
He takes advantage of the privacy to try and repeat what Vegeta showed him. He puts two fingers in his mouth and experiments with different ways of wrapping his tongue around them before easing them in one at a time with a hiss. It takes him a moment to find what he's look for but when he does a groan slips from his lips. When he cums he doesn't bother pulling them out.
Again, Vegeta, again.
He doesn't know if it's the fruit wearing off or this new technique, but he finally feels himself reaching some kind of satiety. But just--just one more time...
He is too lost in thought, wrapped up in the images of Super Saiyan pleasure to hear the door open. He's too focused on another ki, which he notes left Capsule Corp by flying nowhere in particular extremely fast, to feel the the one that is almost right next to him. He is panting too loud to hear her footsteps as they edge closer to the shower.
"Goku what... are you doing?"
His eyes bolt open and he immediately drops to base form while the furious back and forth motion of the hand behind him slows to a stand still. Then he looks up at his wife.
"I--" She stammers. "I came in tell you dinners ready."
He withdraws his fingers and sits back on his heels too startled and embarrassed to try and defend himself.
"You've been in here... for over two hours... just… by yourself? After we already..." She stares at him with offense and confusion. "And what… what were you--where did you even get the idea to do
that?
"
"I--" He tries to think of something fast. W
hat's that thing Gohan's always talking about?
"The... internet?"
"You learned that from the internet?! Goku! What on earth were you searching?"
"I--my--you know, it's difficult sometimes, for me. And I just..." He stands up and reaches his other hand behind his head in usual fashion. "Apparently, it's common. And that's a way... to help. I wanted to try it and see if it would, um, help."
She isn't sure if she believes him but her husband had never lied to her before. She isn't even sure if he can. "It is not going to help. It is..." She scoffs in disdain. "Disgusting." There is a long pause as she eyes him sternly. "Clean up and then come to dinner," she says with an edge of disapproval still hanging in her voice.
"Ok, Chi..." Disgusting? The word weighs heavily on him and h
e is restless that night as he lays next to his wife. Sleep seems unable to find him even though the drive to grind against the closest warm body has all but disappeared. Amid his tossing and turning he finds himself searching for a particular ki and notices it still hasn't returned home. He's still in the wasteland? Doing nothing? He gets up quietly from bed and slips on his boots then disappears.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goten has ransacked three closets already and can't find it anywhere. He pauses when he hears the front door click open. Shit. I was so hoping to avoid him. "Ten? Is that you?" His older brother sets down a briefcase and smiles. "It is! What a... welcome surprise."Goten sits back on his heels and looks at his brother who does, for once, seem genuinely happy to see him. Then he snorts at the dorky sweater vest and the glasses he has always suspected were just for looks. Saiyans with eye problems. Goten shakes his head at the thought."It's been a while. What are you doing here? How are you?" There is no response as Goten keeps rooting through the closet. “...How’s--”Goten sighs loudly. Why does he always insist on doing this? "Fine. I’m fine. Trunks is fine. Bra is fine. And yes, Gohan, even Vegeta is fine. Is there anything else you want to know?" "I--well, you see Pan all the time, don’t you? She's always running over to the compound, and so I was actually wondering if you’ve talked to her at all, because I’ve had trouble getting a hold of her latel--""No. I really don't see her all the time. Trunks sees Pan all the time." He continues digging through the assortment of junk he assumes mostly belongs to Pan. “So maybe you should ask him.”Gohan laughs uncomfortably. "Yeah, I guess they are... pretty close these days."Goten shakes his head at his brother’s brilliant naivety and shoves the piles of things around him back into the closet and moves to another room. Gohan follows him and leans against the door frame."Mom called yesterday. She asked about you.”Goten’s expression rolls into something deeper than annoyance and there's a long tense silence while Goten continues his search.“She... would really like it if you came by.""No. She really wouldn't," he shoots back with his usual venom on the topic."She would," Gohan says sternly, with his 'I'm the big brother, I'm in charge' voice. Goten can't help but grimace at the familiar tone."You're right." Goten finally stops and faces his brother. "She would like it if I came by. She would like it even more if I introduced her to my new rich wife. I'm sure she would loo~oove it if I came home to wave my fancy professor job in her face and--!""Oh grow up, Ten! Can't you turn it off for five minutes and pretend to get along-""Turn it off?! TURN IT--How could you even think to ask me something like that?" They're now standing toe-to-toe but he's not quite eye-level. Gohan has always been one of the privileged few able to look down on him. “No!” Goten snarls. “ I can’t turn it off you insensitive--”"You know that’s not what I meant!”“Oh? What did you mean Gohan? What am I supposed to ‘turn off’?”“Your--” He hesitates knowing even what he really means isn’t going to do this conversation any favours. “Your attitude,” he says honestly. Goten relaxes and backs down. "I didn’t mean--She's your mother, Ten. She may be set in her ways but she still loves you. She asks about you all the time. She just wants to hear from you that you’re doing ok." "Well, she calls me and asks me as much as I call her and tell her. Never. Just the way we like it. Don't interfere."Gohan adjusts his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose with fatherly frustration. "Does it have to be like this every time?""You're the one who brought it up." Goten pushes past him."Look--fine, I'm just--" He sighs. "I assume you're here rifling through my family's things for a reason then, what do you want?"Goten mumbles something from another room and Gohan is sure he mishears."You want what?" Gohan follows him and finds his little brother rummaging through his office desk. He keeps his distance with his arms crossed and watches with silent curiosity until Goten looks back at him with a glimpse of vulnerability only a brother gets to see and says it again. Why... would Ten want that? "It's not in here.""Where then? I've--" Goten gestures to the ransacked office. "I've looked in every stupid closet! Where the fuck"--He walks down the hall and into another room--"did you put it? I know you have it."Gohan raises a brow. “Where do you think? It’s next to mine.”Goten pauses in his thoughts and walks back into the hallway. “Really?”The older brother frowns. "Even though you might think so, it's not junk." They walk upstairs together and turn a corner into a cool, expensively furnished room. Gohan opens his closet and reaches to the back. Even after almost a decade it still looks bright, comfortable, and-- Fucking ridiculous. Goten takes the orange fabric from his brother’s grasp. I’m gonna look like a goddamn cartoon character in this thing. "What do you want dad's gi for?" Gohan painfully remembers the last time it was in Goten's possession. It feels like forever ago. Who knows what Vegeta had been telling him about their father, but whatever it was it had the desired effect because Goten came running back from a training session furious and tried to burn it. He tried to burn everything. Gohan rescued it at the cost of taking a fiery ki blast to the back, an act that started an all out war between brothers. Gohan however was the stronger of the two at that point and won. He was able to keep it safe but it was weeks before they spoke again. They never fought as bad as that before or since. Gohan reluctantly lets go of it."I..." Goten thinks carefully over his words. He knows if he says the wrong thing Gohan will never let it leave the house "Tell me something... about dad."Gohan smiles incredulously. " You want to know… about dad?""Yeah, tell me something about him."Gohan feels a strange sort of relief. I can't believe after all this time, he's finally asking. He pushes down the suspicion of his brother's sudden interest with hope that he’s finally letting go."Mom just cried when I used to ask. And Vegeta…” Goten pauses with a smirk. “If he says anything it's usually--""Profane?""To say the least."It suddenly hits hard just how left in the dark his little brother has been. "And I was never there, was I?""Yeah. Family man."Gohan's smile turns sad as Goten begins to strip off his shirt and pants to put on the gi because it will be worthless to him if it doesn’t fit. He also has a feeling that wearing it might help convince Gohan to let him keep it. Because he is sure it is going to fit. It is going to fit perfectly. "I guess I could tell you about Cell. And being in the time chamber with him. I was terrified at the time, but looking back now it was…." Goten drowns out his brother's fond memories with his own thoughts. He really doesn't care about how their father knew Gohan would surpass him if he put him in enough danger. What an asshole. “No, no.” Gohan stops his story to correct his little brother. “You have the sash wrong. He wears it up a little higher.” He points to the blue fabric that Goten had fastened with a crude knot. “And it’s a different knot. Like this, hold on.” His brother reties and straightens it before stepping back with an approving nod.“Yeah? Is it good?” Goten stands strait up and flexes a few times in front of the mirror.Gohan chuckles. “Yeah that’s--" Goten stops his brother mid sentence by pulling the band out of his hair. There is a long quiet as Gohan stares at his little brother’s reflection with an open mouth. Promising. Goten decides to see just how good it really is and reaches his hand behind his neck to copy a motion he distantly remembers seeing his father do many times. He knows Gohan won’t say it aloud, no one does anymore around him, but maybe he can provoke him into saying something.Gohan’s reaction is immediate. He starts and reaches for Goten’s arm to stop him. “W--why did you do that? What--when did you start doing that?”Goten looks back at his older brother with an innocent look. “Doing what?” Perfect. “Goten…” he finally manages to say. “You…” He puts a hand on his little brother's shoulder and turns him around to look him dead in the eyes with a serious expression. "You're not leaving, are you?""What? No." Goten shrugs off the hand."You've been stepping up your training in the last few months; don't think I haven't noticed."Normally, he would have glowed with pride, his brother is not so subtly telling him he'd gotten stronger I knew it! but the feeling is muted by the accusation."I'm not running away. I don’t run away. I'm not like--" He grunts and turns back toward the mirror. "Anyway, I'm taking it.""You still haven't said why.""I don't need to have a reason!” he snaps. “I'm the only one who still trains…” he continues a little more thoughtfully. “I just thought it would be...""Fitting?""Yeah." He's lying through his teeth and Gohan knows it . His mind runs through a list of possibilities. It's been over a decade now. Dad’s probably not coming home… Not that he ever really did... What's the worst Ten could do with it? Besides destroy it? He sighs dejectedly."So who wore it better?" Goten flashes a cocky grin at his brother. “Don’t lie, I make it look fuckin’ good, don’t I?”Gohan lets out a short sarcastic laugh.Goten looks down at himself. "What?"“You do until you open your mouth.”Goten’s brows furrow in a slight panic. “I don’t sound like him?”Gohan chuffs. “You really don’t remember him very well, do you?” “What do you mean?”“Nothing, you just reminded me…” that you’re right. You’re nothing like him. “ I'll never forget when you came back from wherever you went with him knowing the F-word." He rolls his eyes. "You would not stop saying it. Mom was mortified, yelled at dad for hours. Took weeks to get you to stop and you never did tell us who taught you.""Tch, I never stopped. It was probably Trunks.""Yeah. Probably." Gohan shakes his head and laughs, then gives his brother a thoughtful look. "Goten, I know everyone expected--expects--a lot of you because they idolized him... and mom... definitely never made it any easier but--" He sighs at Goten's expression which is clearly wondering when he's going to stop lecturing so he can leave. "You're not him. You’re not. You're Goten. You’re my little brother. And I know we don’t always get along, but…” Goten walks over to the window and slides it open and Gohan takes his cue to hurry up his thoughts. “Please, don't do anything reckless.""Oh, Gohan.” Goten says with a mischievous smile. “You know me. I would never ." Then he disappears out the window leaving Gohan anything but reassured.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goku appears on the dark rocky plains directly behind Vegeta and is greeted by a sudden unfriendly round kick to the side of his head that he barely has enough time to register before blocking it.
"FUCK! Kakarot! I hate when you do that!" Vegeta relaxes a little when he realizes who snuck up on him. "Idiot!" He wipes his hand across his face then turns back around, running his hands through his hair with obvious distress. "Go away. I don't want to spar."
Goku doesn't move as he instead tries to think of the best way to ask what's wrong. The way that won't get him immediately slammed into the dirt with a cracked rib. The way that won't result in a spar he didn't come here for.
Why did I come here?
Silence stretches on between them, grating on Vegeta's thin nerves.
"I said GO! AWAY!" Vegeta whips around with frightening intensity and hurls a small ball of ki at Goku's face. Goku deflects it and readies his own but pauses when the light from the ki reveals an expression on Vegeta’s face Goku hasn't seen since the other Saiyan was dying in front of him on Namek.
Vegeta turns his head away and tries to produce his usual grumpy scowl, but Goku has already caught the wet streaks and quaking mouth. The ki in his hand fizzles out.
"Vegeta..." He reaches towards the other's shoulder but it never makes contact.
"Leave me alone." Vegeta has already walked off and sits on the edge of a cliff where he lets a long heavy silence hang between them. Goku waits. He always waits. Vegeta requires patience. And finally, he tells Goku why he's here.
"I shattered her. I fucking... shattered her." When he finally speaks it is a barely audible whisper and Goku raises his brow in confusion. "I thought...” Vegeta pauses to keep himself composed. “...I killed her." He presses his face into his hands inhaling sharply as he tries to stifle a choked sob. "I almost did. Fuck."
"Bulma?
"Yes, Bulma! You idiot! Who else?!" He turns an agitated glare towards Goku. "Because of you! Because of that damn stupid fruit! It was already so hard! It was already...
I didn't mean to lose control like that," he murmurs to himself. “It was just a momentary lapse.” He can still hear her agonizing screams in his head and tries to drown it out with a deep sharp anguished one of his own. He charges up a blast and fires it off into the distances. The crack and crumbling of the rock fills the dead quiet of the canyon.
Goku takes a step back prepared to have to fight the unstable Saiyan. "Is she ok?"
"Of course she is! Perfectly fine! Senzu can heal any wound, right? She's fan-fucking-tastic after almost dying in our bed by my hands, Kakarot! NO! SHE’S NOT OKAY! SHE CAN’T EVEN FUCKING LOOK AT ME! SHE'S TERRIFIED OF ME! Because I--I--"
I ruined my goddamn marriage by fucking her instead of you!
He falters. "Tch. Ironic."
"What's ironic?"
"Shut up. I know what you're thinking. We should have just stayed on that stupid planet and--Tch." He scoffs and fires another blast at the same crumbling mountain in the distance while Goku suddenly feels the dangerous urge to say ‘I-told-you-so’ creep in.
"Must hurt to admit that the-third-class-idiot was right about somethin’," he mutters.
His offhanded remark leaves him wholly unprepared for Vegeta's fist smashing into his cheek bone. "YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE! IT HURTS TO ADMIT I'M A DANGER TO MY WIFE! I almost killed her! How dare--" Vegeta's jaw clenches trying to hold back more but fails. "And it's your fault! It's your fault we went to that stupid fucking planet and your fault you eat everything you fucking see! It’s your fault it’s worse than ever and your fault I--" He breaks to slam his fist back into Goku’s face.
"How is it my fault?! How is ANY of this my fault?!" Goku shouts between the ensuing exchange of blows. "You went with me! You ate it too! You--" He manages to catch a right straight and gain the upper hand. "Don’t try and blame me just because you're a coward who can’t--"
"Coward?! A COWARD?!” He shoves Goku. “I’m not afraid of you Kakarot! I’m not afraid of anything! I was trying to protect my wife! And now--"
“Protect?” Goku scoffs and pushes him back harder. "That excuse is weaker than you, Vegeta! It was not about ‘protecting’ her and it was not my fault! You are afraid! Afraid that you--”
"Do you have no respect for the traditions of this culture?! We have families, Kakarot! Do you really not fucking care?! About your wife? Your son? Yourself!?” Vegeta exclaims.
“What? I--Of course I care about them! ...Since when do
you
care about anything other than Saiyan pride?"
He doesn't answer and instead pauses to study Goku's indecipherable expression. “What the fuck did you think was going to come of this?”
There is a long silence as Goku hesitates. He looks away from Vegeta as he says it. “I thought maybe we would, um, keep… doing it.”
Vegeta narrows his eyes at him in cynical disbelief. “And why on Earth would you think that?”
“Because it… felt good?”
“Because,” Vegeta repeats slowly as he crosses his arms. “It felt good.”
“Yeah. For you too, right? I mean...” He trails off as insecurity wracks him.
It is quiet for several moments but then Vegeta starts laughing. And laughing and laughing and Goku’s blush turns to crimson anger as he throws a hard powerful punch.
---
The first light of the morning is just beginning to peak over the mountains in the distance when Vegeta, who is exhausted, bloodied, and broken finally concedes and Goku who looks about the same, lets him go.
They collapse to the ground completely winded, taking care not to lay on any cracked or fractured bones. Goku watches the sun come up when the silence is finally broken by something other than their labored breathing.
"Not here."
"What?"
Vegeta waits for a few moments before reiterating, "My conditions, idiot."
"Your..."
"Yes. I have conditions."
"For?"
"For you! Don't make me spell it out! Not that you can read, anyway."
"For--" Goku can't hide his surprise. His eyes widen and the ghost of a smile traces his face despite the insult. "Me?"
"Yes. This can't… it won’t work unless there are..." He sits up. “Conditions.” It's only getting worse... harder to control the stronger I get... and then being with you... His eyes flit back to Goku haunted with shame and desire ...didn't help. Made me remember what it feels like not to hold back. Made me remember a lot of things. "Kakarot, I don't..."
"What are your conditions?" He doesn't mean to sound rude, rushing Vegeta through whatever thoughts he was working on, but he knows Vegeta could take all day and still never give a satisfying reason for why he changed his mind.
Vegeta tenses before responding, "Not here. Not on Earth. Our Kis can be too easily sensed by others."
Goku hums in agreement. “Ok.”
"Second, I think this goes without saying, but for the love of whatever Gods there are, never tell our wives. Never tell anyone."
"You don't think Bulma wou--"
"No. She would be devastated," Vegeta says quietly, regretfully. Goku stares at him with those big dark Saiyan eyes that are just so damn impossible to ignore. Suddenly Vegeta finds it so hard to hold on to the tumultuous layers of anxiety surrounding his poor adjustments to his life on Earth around that face. Around another Saiyan. Maybe Goku was right. This is…
different.
He bites his lip and continues,
“The influence of… foreign substances hinders our self control and opens us up to unnecessary risk. I know it will be difficult for your mannerless appetite, but..." He scowls at Goku who has taken a sudden interest in the rocks around his hands in order to avoid meeting his glare. “We can’t make another mistake like we did on that planet."
Goku begins to mutter out a response, “
I
didn’t make any mista--” Until Vegeta shuts him up with a smack to the back of the head.
“Idiot! We will also never..." He trails off with embarrassment.
"Never what?"
"Never kiss," he admits reluctantly.
"What? Why not? It's--"
"Because it's just sex, Kakarot! Nothing else! And it makes us vulnerable," he snaps.
"To who? Who's going to sneak up on us when we're--"
"TO EACH OTHER YOU DUNCE! And last! I'm always going to top.” Goku tilts his head, forcing Vegeta to elaborate. "I will always be the one doing the fucking."
“What?" Goku squawks. "Why? What if I wanna--”
“Because if you want this." He gestures to himself. "Then that's the only way you'll get it
.”
“But--”
“Oh, so you
don’t
want me to fuck you?” he remarks snidely.
Goku’s face turns hot at both the language and the image. “That’s not what I was gonna say.”
Vegeta lets out a tired sigh at Goku’s down trodden look. “Don’t take it personally, Kakarot. You just don't know what you're doing. And besides.” He smirks. “You seemed happy enough about it last time."
Goku pouts over the last two conditions and opens his mouth to counter, but Vegeta speaks first.
"Either you agree now or I retract my offer completely."
Goku takes a moment and pretends to think about it. He knows Vegeta is not going to retract any offer. Not now. He's fairly confident he can convince him to drop one of the conditions.
Maybe I should argue the kissing one
? But he's exhausted. He's already argued with Vegeta enough for one day. He decides to leave those disagreements for future Goku. "Ok. I agree."
Vegeta nods and walks toward the edge of the cliff. Goku gets up and follows him then tries to ask as casually as possible where he should take them. Vegeta shrugs the other’s hand off his shoulder as he turns to face him.
“No, I am going home. I should be getting back to her after… what I did.” So he takes off leaving Goku alone with his thoughts.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goten attempts to fall back in on their normal routine as quickly as possible despite the awkward air between them, and the fact that Vegeta seems more hesitant than ever to have any kind of contact with the half Saiyan even if it is just an exchange of blows. But Goten is right, there is no one else to train with, so it doesn’t take long for Vegeta to end up back in the gravity chamber as always, and keep his promise to build a precision and accuracy based program to better hone control and force.He taps his fingers with irritation on the cool gravity chamber tiles after a particularly frustrating spar thinking about the soft orange gi folded away into the bottom drawer where it will remain until the moment is right. That is all there is left to do now. Wait.He can’t rush something like this. But weeks of grueling training just watching Vegeta's tightly wound frame-- which is just begging to be fucked-- strutting around in front of him, stretching in front of him, flexing in front of him are definitely taking their toll. Every day revenge looks sweeter and it becomes harder and harder to get satisfaction from any other thought.But every time Goten thinks he might be able to attempt his plan he stops and hesitates. He finds himself questioning more and more just what kind of reaction wearing his father’s gi will really have on Vegeta. They didn't exactly depart on good terms and even if he is confident Vegeta and his father had something going on between them, this is still Vegeta he is dealing with.He’s starting to think that maybe this is impossible because Vegeta is so damn guarded he can barely manage to hold a normal conversation let alone have normal relationships for Goten to exploit. But just when doubt begins to creep in that there is no perfect moment, there never will be, it finally happens. Vegeta has been difficult to reach all week, but today, Goten hasn’t even seen him today, which is unusual, but does happen from time to time. Sometimes Vegeta just has these moods . They never last too long, but it still raises a flag today when Goten tries to feel him out he finds his ki is far away. In fact, if Goten’s not mistaken--which he rarely ever is with ki--then Vegeta is … out in the wasteland? He tilts his head curiously. Doing who knows what but it doesn’t feel like training. So there is no grueling gravity room session today. In fact it is late, already dark, when Goten who is making a poor attempt at studying finally feels him return. “What the--” He looks out the window and watches Vegeta fly in a slow crooked line towards the compound before rolling into a hard uncontrolled landing with a loud thud, and crumpling face first into the lawn. Goten pauses his game, gets up, and opens the window.“Vegeta?” he shouts down, but there is no response.Vegeta is face down, ass up, motionless, passed out in a meter deep crater.“Vegeta!” He calls again. “What the fuck!” He laughs, but still there is nothing. Goten raises a brow as he flies down to try and see if he can make heads or tails of what the hell Vegeta’s problem is. “Hello?” He tips Vegeta over with his foot, but Vegeta only groans as slumps over onto his back.Goten waves his hand in front of Vegeta’s face. “HelloOoOo?” He kneels down. “Damn, did you hit your head or som--” The waft of alcohol hits him and Goten stares at him in disbelief for a moment. He’s… drunk? He leans in and sniffs again just to make sure then reels back in surprise because the smell isn’t just on his breath, it is in his sweat. Vegeta reeks of liquor. Goten snorts. “I guess Trunks got it from somewhere.” He is about to pick Vegeta up and drag him inside, when a better idea occurs to him.His face lights up as he realizes, This is it! It’s perfect! This is my chance. He’s drunk! He's fatigued, his senses dulled. Trunks is out of town--where did I--Ah! I don't have much time . He flashes back to his room, pulls his hair free, jumps out of his clothes and into the gi as fast as he can manage, before bolting back to Vegeta’s still unconscious body. He hesitates momentarily, a last minute sanity check. Am I really going to do this? His hand twitches next to Vegeta’s face. He doesn’t really know what’s going to happen, but it’s probably going to end with a fight that makes it completely worth it. Vegeta exhales softly as his head lolls to one side reminding Goten of a particularly unpleasant training exercise they did earlier that week. Oh, yeah. I’m definitely going to do this. Goten reels his arm back and slaps Vegeta across the face as hard as he can. Vegeta’s eyes flutter open and he looks around, disoriented and dizzy with a tired groan. He blinks slowly a few times before finally squinting up at the person hovering over him. “Ka… mm. Kakarot?” he says as his eyes struggle to settle on the shifting double image of orange.Normally it pisses Goten off to the point of exploding to be mistaken for his father, but tonight, that is exactly what he is hoping to hear as Vegeta reaches up and touches his hand to Goten’s face with confusion. Vegeta is wobbly as he sits up and brushes his thumb against Goten’s bottom lip while his other hand clutches a fistful of orange fabric. “It… it is you,” he says with slurred relief.Goten smirks down at him, a little surprised at how readily Vegeta accepts Goten’s false reality. He is about to open his mouth and ask him if he wants to spar, but there is an immediate shift in Vegeta’s mood as his face begins to contort with anger that forces him to hesitate."Fuck you! Fuck you, Kakarot!" Vegeta shoves Goten back before stumbling up and slamming his fist into Goten’s nose. Goten barely suppresses a yell as he falls over with his hands already at the site of the injury. He stutters in shock as blood begins leaking through his fingers.“What the FUCK are you doing here?! You think you can just come and go whenever you want?!" Vegeta sways on his feet as he waits for a response but it never comes. "You think you can just disappear for a few years and show back up like everything's fine!? Fuck you!" he says, his slurring making him sound even angrier. “Where the FUCK have you been?! Where--where were you!? Where--” There is a crack in Vegeta’s voice as he pulls Goten up by his gi. “Where have you been?” he says quietly, broken, pulling himself into Goten’s chest.Only now does it finally occur to Goten that this might be a bad idea: tampering with the emotions and memories of an unstable, murderous former destroyer of planets. Goten considers giving himself away right now. Maybe he can still, at the very least, get away and continue to use this gi against him on rainy days. Because right now, this is not going the way he hoped and he doesn't know what the hell he’ll do if Vegeta decides instead to have a nervous breakdown and start crying. “Uhh…” He starts running through possible explanations about why he is in his father’s clothes that won’t immediately out his knowledge of Vegeta’s ‘feelings’ for Goten’s father. But nothing convincing comes to mind so he stays quiet for a little longer hoping he can regain control over the situation.Vegeta's gruff voice darkens with accusation. "Well?! What the fuck are you doing here, Kakarot?” He shoves a finger into Goten’s solar plexus, winding him. “What do you want?”Goten wheezes as he takes a step back trying to stay just out of Vegeta’s range.“Huh?! Answer me! Why are you here?! Don’t you have other places you should be? What about your kids? Your family? Have you even bothered to see them? Do you--" He struggles to stay angry. "Do you even care?"Goten’s hands are still clasped together over the slowed geyser of blood streaming from his nose. He stares back at a furious, unsteady Saiyan thinking maybe I should just knock him out? Because this is… not good. "What's wrong? Nothing to say?" Vegeta’s calmer now so Goten slowly shakes his head. "Tch, of course not." There is disgust written all over Vegeta’s face but it disappears just as quickly as it came because this all feels... too real and he can't resist finally letting all the angry tormented thoughts that he's bottled up for so many years pour out of him. "Because you don't care, do you? You would have come back if you did. You never would have left.” His brows furrow. “You know I wasn’t the only thing you left here! Don’t you?! Tch! By now I've been more of a father to both your kids than you ever were. Especially Goten." Goten recoils hearing his own name. "I practically raised him. And you! I bet you don’t even know the first thing about him!" Vegeta rears his first up again but he can't bring himself to land another blow now that he's looking Kakarot in the eyes and it drops limply back to his side.Goten suddenly feels himself suppressing a strong surge of guilt. Or is it vomit? How much blood did I just swallow? He takes another step back but Vegeta follows."You know he's even stronger than Trunks? Than Gohan too. I've been training him even though he's soft. Like you. Except smarter." Goten catches a shadow of a smile before it turns to blatant irritation. “But you don't fucking care, do you?” He presses his palm to Goten’s hands pushing them against his injury. “Just came back to fuck, didn't you?”Goten’s pained gasp turns into an even more painful snort of laughter because he doesn’t know how he expected Vegeta to say it, but that wasn’t it. “Mmhmm.”Vegeta's scowl deepens as he sways, silently staring at the ground with clenched fists and Goten reconsiders making a break for it because Kami, Vegeta, you are a fucking wreck, aren't you? Vegeta’s expression softens as he speaks again. “Of course you did.” He says it softly as he finally looks up at Goten, and the beautiful moment of Vegeta’s vulnerability is too hard to pass up. Oh, Vegeta. You need this more than I do, don’t you? Goten is sure he will never get this chance again so instead of trying to see if he can disappear like his father, he takes a risk and runs the backs of his fingers gently down the side of Vegeta's face leaving faint red streaks as he leans in to try and kiss him.Vegeta pulls back with narrowed eyes and grips Goten's blood covered hand, stopping its soft motion and presses his other palm to Goten’s mouth, holding him back. There is a long pause before Vegeta clicks his tongue and asks, "What are you doing?"Goten stammers in surprise. "I--I’m--" "No, Kakarot. You left. You don’t get to break the rules." Suddenly his smirk looks more like a sadistic grin as Vegeta tears the top half of his gi off his body and pushes Goten onto the ground. “Fuck you. If this is all you came back for, then it’s all you’re going to get.”Goten backs up apprehensively until he bumps against the wall of the gravity chamber, a bit unprepared for Vegeta’s slip about there being, “ Rules?”Vegeta kneels as he pulls off his own shirt, and crawls over top of Goten so he can grab his wrists, pinning him in place. "Yes, Kakarot. Rules. Was space so terrible? That you’ve forgotten?” He sneers. “Or are you just trying to play dumb hoping I don’t remember?""I… I forgot?” Goten stammers with a nervous smile as he tries to pull his wrists free. What the fuck did I just get myself into!? Do I need to figure out a fucking safe word?! Shit! What would it even be?! What rules?! Shitshitshitshi- He presses his hand tightly to Goten's jaw and forces him to meet his dark hazy gaze. "That’s ok. I didn’t forget."Goten struggles to shift their positions. He can smell the alcohol oozing from Vegeta's pores as he leans in closer and a panic begins to overtake the half-Saiyan. What rules?! WHAT RULES?! "How long have you been here?" He inhales deeply along Goten’s neck. "You don't smell like space." He smells like... the gravity room? ...And whiske--er--no, wait, that's me. Vegeta inhales again curiously as he begins to lick slowly along Goten’s neck. He tastes like … fear? Vegeta pulls back with a strange look on his face and chuffs because Goku has never been afraid of him before and it makes him pause because he doesn’t want Goku to be afraid of him either. That’s not how this works. It’s not how it’s ever worked.His hesitation gives Goten the opening to try to flip them but Vegeta holds him down, forcing Goten to rethink his tactics."What's the matter? Neglect your training lately?"Goten glares at Vegeta over the remark because he has in fact not been neglecting his training lately. This is simply a precarious and dangerous predicament that he has a feeling powering up will not get him out of and he has learned far too much to give himself away now with an explosive, violent burst. "Guess so..." Vegeta presses his canines against Goten’s neck as he talks. "Which leaves me with the question, if you weren't training... then what were you doing out there all this time?" He is already kneeing the half Saiyan's legs apart and positioning himself between them leaving Goten, who is now just trying his best not to smear his blood on everything, stuck between Vegeta and a hard place, and very very shocked at the dynamics between his father and Vegeta.He just assumed, because his father was--well, he doesn’t actually know his father--but I know Vegeta, don’t I? With his spoiled, princely air, his small narrow waist-ed body, his angry flamboyant personality--Yes, he knows Vegeta, and he is sure that any second now, Vegeta will roll over and be all but begging for ‘Kakarot’ to take him. But instead, he lets out a sound that is half panic, half surprise as Vegeta forces two fingers into his mouth. They go right to the back of his throat and Goten immediately starts choking. Oh, fuck. I’m so f--"Suck," Vegeta commands. Goten sputters, trying to turn his head away. He can feel ki on the fingertips invading his mouth. It's warm, magnetic, and tastes like iron. It feels like sparks are going off inside his head, but not the type of sparks was hoping for as he finally manages to spit out the intruding digits. Vegeta reels back in irritation. "What? What do you want, Kakarot?" He glares at Goten. "Do you want to fight?! Because we can fight!""N-no! No,” Goten reassures, before catching his breath for a moment."Then what? What do you want? Why are you here?" He yanks Goten towards him by his thighs so Goten’s ass slams against his crotch where Goten can feel Vegeta’s erection straining beneath his shorts. “If you are here to talk about fucking feelings then get fucking lost! You’re too fucking late for that.”"No, no. It's just--I thought..." Goten stops and swallows as he realizes Vegeta has an enormous advantage in the moment: Vegeta does know his father. Goten’s words must be few and necessary but he has no idea what his father would say. He barely remembers him at all. He certainly has no idea what kind of relationship this is. So he takes a dive and lets Vegeta guess what Kakarot is thinking and hopefully, it’s the same thing Goten is thinking."What did you think?" The full Saiyan leans in with a lip-curling sneer. One hand playfully pulls on his ragged locks while the other rests firmly on his shoulder. Goten tries one final time to adjust his position and Vegeta begins to laugh. “Did you think I might finally let you fuck me?”Goten nods. Wait, why ‘finally?’ What the fuck was going on between them? Vegeta laughs harder at his expense. “What, because you decided to come back? Because you think, maybe I missed you?” He shakes his head in disbelief and presses his mouth to Goten’s ear and lets his voice drop to a low toxic whisper. “Oh, I did miss you, Kakarot. I’ve missed you so fucking much.”Goten is not quite sure what that is supposed to mean coming from Vegeta and lets out a soft noise betraying his mounting fear that he may have bitten off a little more than he can chew. Goten knows that Vegeta has issues, he’s half of them! But now he is thinking he sorely underestimated them, because apparently, his father is the other half."Hn… what’s wrong? As I recall you were more than happy with this arrangement,” he teases with a tongue against the shell of Goten’s ear and lets out a satisfied chuckle as he feels a pulse against his abdomen. Arrangement?! What does that even mean?! Goten doesn’t know how he’s able to be so hard when he is so scared.“Though honestly, you wouldn’t believe some of the things I’ve let you do to me in other dreams I’ve had,” Vegeta murmurs darkly. “Absolutely depraved, Kakarot...”Goten bites his lip. Oh. That’s how. Because Vegeta is fucking hot and they both need to get laid. Because despite Trunks’ assumptions about Goten’s position preferences, he actually loves the idea of being pounded senseless. He’s just never been able to find anyone who can. Suddenly he is hot for the idea of a little rough revenge sex from the bottom because Vegeta definitely can. If he doesn't kill me... "Wait, let's--let's go inside first."“Hn.” Vegeta notes the change in body language as the majority of Goten’s struggling ceases. And leans back with approval. “Sure." He stands and picks Goten up by his shoulders before crushing him against the door of the gravity chamber, then pushes him inside, slamming the door closed behind them.Goten hesitates one last time and Vegeta attempts to quell Goten’s still visible apprehension as he threads his fingers through Goten’s hair, pushing his bangs back. "Don't worry, Kakarot. You know I'll take care of you."So, despite the potential risk to his health, Goten swallows down his concern over only Vegeta being allowed to break the “rules” whatever those are, and nods because letting Vegeta fuck him is probably better than the alternative of getting found out right now and also because… Damn if Vegeta doesn’t look so fucking good with that look on his face.Goten closes his eyes as they go to the floor, then eats up the fingers that re-enter his mouth."Much better." Vegeta smirks as he tugs on the sash around the half-Saiyan's waist with his other hand and strips it off. Within minutes Goten is trying not to scream out the most satisfied noise he is sure he has ever made while Vegeta chuckles and makes a snide remark about how 'It's nice to know... you missed me too...' Oh, this is so fucked up…
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
A year passes and Goku can still count the number of times they've slept together on only one hand. Although Goku admits it is mostly his fault because hardly six weeks after that fateful agreement, Chi Chi made the very exciting announcement that she is expecting! So naturally, he became swamped with new responsibilities and more chores than he realized their small house could possibly have because she certainly can’t do them. Especially not now that she is busy caring for a newborn! Which, more than anything else, has made it difficult for him to get away.It is not always his fault though. The few times Goku manages to get out of the house, away from the fields, away from his son(s!) and wife, the other Saiyan almost always finds an excuse good enough to warrant backing out last minute or, even more often, he never responds at all.It doesn't bother Goku at first, Vegeta attempting to exhaust every possible outlet for stress relief before finally caving to his new vice. He expects that from Vegeta, especially in the beginning. That is just how he is, how he's always been.But lately, he is even more difficult. It is starting to feel like he is trying to run away from him in his own Vegeta way . Even Goku can see it, the way Vegeta automatically tenses up around him. He didn't used to do that. But because Vegeta never hesitates to throw a punch rather than talk about what’s bothering him, Goku is continually left wondering at the end of their few moments together why Vegeta has to make this so much harder than it needs to be, why he has to make everything harder.
Speaking of...
He rolls his eyes and lets out a disappointed huff because he finally has a moment alone to search out the offending ki and finds that it is still in the Gravity room, spiking erratically for the second day in a row and by now he has learned that means Don’t fucking bother me, Kakarot.Goku wants to confront him so badly. It has been three months since their last rushed but heated affair in an impossibly cramped room aboard a Galatic Patrol ship. And now that Goku knows what release really feels like, he is becoming very familiar with the frustration of being denied it. But Goku decides to leave him alone for now. Vegeta will eventually break. He always does.I n fact it's not quite a day later when Goku gets a somewhat frantic call from Bulma asking him to drag the other Saiyan out of the gravity room."Can't you shut it down?" He cringes thinking about how pissed off Vegeta will be if he teleports to him without warning."He figured out how to disable my controls. I'm working on getting a back channel to the damn thing but until then I can't disable it remotely. He must have damaged something inside the chamber.""Aw, Bulma, there's gotta be another way," he pleads, already walking himself though a few counters to the blows he knows are coming."Get him out of there and I'll buy out the ramen place on 5th for an entire day just for you even though you were kicked out.""The all you can eat one?""The all you can eat one."He weighs his options seriously now that he has a very typically Goku excuse. Guilt and worry twist and turn in his stomach and he wonders if Vegeta really has been in there for three days straight."Ok." He hangs up and presses two fingers to his forehead and focuses on Vegeta's ki. When he reappears into the crushing pressure he has to immediately jump back in order to avoid the elbow flying towards his rib cage. Vegeta lets out a startled noise as he loses his balance and falls to his hands and knees, panting. He glares up at Goku before getting up and shouting, "Get out!"Goku doges a sloppy, slow punch. "But Bulma said--"Vegeta throws another clumsy hit. "I don't care! What Bulma said! Get! Out!"As Goku dodges a kick he notices the control panel is torn apart exposing several frayed sparking wires. He motions his head to it. "Is that why she can't shut it down?""I can't either," he admits with an exhausted grumble."What?! Vegeta! How are you supposed to leave?""I'm not!" His step falters and he nearly falls into Goku who catches him by the shoulders. "I'm not," he says more quietly on the verge of unconsciousness.Goku sighs heavily. "Let's get you out of here."Vegeta pushes against him and forcing only himself back, stumbling the whole way. "No. No! Fuck you!""Vegeta..." Goku takes a step toward him. "Don't make me do this.""Do what!? I'll fuckin'--"It only takes one punch to put him down. Goku picks him up, throws him over his shoulder, and teleports to Bulma."Your delivery ma'am. One Saiyan, out of commission." He considers dropping him at her feet to spite Vegeta, and to spite her a little bit for getting the best of Vegeta, not the pissed-off-all-the-time Vegeta, not the I-hate-myself-for-wanting-you Vegeta, not the I-train-myself-to-death-so-I-can-need-you-less Vegeta. But he thinks better of it as he watches her type away with a cigarette burned down to the filter hanging from the corner of her mouth because he considers maybe she gets those sides of him too. Maybe no one gets the good side of Vegeta... She lets out a sigh of relief and talks while still clicking away on her keyboard. "Thanks Goku, I'll make sure I come through on my promise.""Where do you want me to put him?" He looks around the lab which has papers and graphs, and various equipment on every surface."Shit. Can you... can you actually take him upstairs? I've got to finish this code for the Gravity Room. If I pause now I'll--""Yeah, of course. Not a problem.""Thanks. I owe you big time!" she calls to him as he walks out of the lab with Vegeta still slumped over his shoulder. He wanders around the house trying to remember the maze that is Capsule Corp. He opens several doors finding only closets, guest rooms, and offices. He finds one that looks like a pantry and makes a mental note to not forget that it's the third door on the left from the kitchen. He should have asked where exactly to take him. He should have asked a lot of things. Things about Vegeta. If anyone is capable of understanding him, it's her. But Goku has instead lately made a habit of saying very little to her. He is not quite sure how to talk to her anymore now that they are sharing her husband without her knowledge.He finally finds what must be their bedroom. What he assumes to be Bulma's side is messy. Her clothes are scattered, there are a few work papers and two books on the nightstand. Goku smiles softly at Vegeta's side which is bare and extremely neat. Nothing unnecessary. Nothing out of place. Goku drops him unceremoniously onto the bed and takes a minute to appreciate the sweat still glistening on his skin before muttering, "You're a real asshole, you know that?" He turns to walk out of the room but something grips his wrist and stops him. When he looks back he sees Vegeta sitting up barely managing his usual scowl."Thanks," he says, his voice scratched by fatigue."Yeah, well, I would have let you stay in there if it wasn't for Bulma.""I know."Goku frowns trying to figure out what that means. Why Vegeta would thank him if he knew that or if that means Vegeta knows it isn't true."Spar. Tomorrow.""Vegeta" Goku lets out a hurt scoff as he pulls his wrist from Vegeta's grasp. "Get some rest." Then he disappears.
***
Vegeta was exhausted and probably concussed when he said what he said. Goku knows better than to take him seriously when he's like that. So naturally, he is not expecting him the next day when he hears the knock at the door interrupting his ceaseless bickering with his wife."It just slipped my mind, Chi Chi! It's not like I forgot on purpose! " He tries to keep reasoning with her but her attention has already turned."Well, are you gonna do anything to help me around here? Maybe like answering the door? Or is that too much to ask too?"He huffs and walks towards the door. There's a momentary hesitation before turning the knob because he can't believe that Vegeta would actually risk showing up at his house unannounced. But he opens the door and there he is, the cross-armed agitated Saiyan he knows so well and yet, not at all. Looking like he's in as good a mood as ever."What are you doing here?" he asks with lingering resentment in his voice and an inkling of understanding on how everyone else feels when he teleports to them without warning.Vegeta clicks his tongue in annoyance at Goku's rude tone, even though he knows he deserves it. "Kakarot," Vegeta says, idly inspecting his nails. "Did you forget about our spar?""What?""Yesterday, I told you we would spar. Today. You didn't disagree."They both hear Chi Chi loudly mutter, "Of course.""Unless I'm interrupting something?" Vegeta asks with raised brow and looks past him at his cross wife who is holding the tiny, most recent addition to the Son bloodline in her arms."No." Goku quickly walks out, shutting the door behind him before his wife can protest. "We were just... talking.""I don't want to pull you away from anything that requires your more immediate attention," he says with a taunting curve on the right side of his mouth."I said you weren't interrupting. Let's go." He is still trying to figure out the nuances of Vegeta, what he means what he says things like what he said yesterday, and suddenly Goku has the unsettling feeling that he will never quite figure him out. He lets Vegeta lead the way and they land not far from Mt Paozu in a heavily forested grove. The sound of running water isn't far off and it's just warm enough for Goku to want to take a dive instead of enter into an exhausting battle.He looks around at the closed-in woody environment and frowns. "This isn’t a very good area for a spa--" Without warning he is slammed against a tree and Vegeta's hard, powerful hips are grinding on his. He lets out a gasp that is half-confused, half-relieved."Then take us somewhere else," Vegeta growls as his teeth scrape against Goku's neck."O-okay," he stammers as he feels the other Saiyan's fingers already removing his clothing. "Is spar some kind of codeword now?" He smiles to himself."Now. Take us somewhere else, now!" Vegeta rips off their shirts."I'm trying." He pants without even attempting."You're not trying very hard." Vegeta grabs Goku’s hand and presses it to his forehead. "Off world. Take us. Now." But Goku is too busy wrapping his legs around Vegeta's waist to pull him closer. Vegeta immediately grips underneath Goku's thigh for support and squeezes. "F-fuck... Kakarot," he breathes hotly against Goku's ear as he shifts so their erections are pressed together."I can't focus, Vegeta. Stop. You have to stop! Vegeta, st-ah!" He tilts his head back against the bark which is slowly being ground away by his shoulders and back."Stop? But Kakarot." He grins. "We haven't even started."Goku moans as the low whispers ghost along his neck. He can feel the desperation racking Vegeta's body as teeth begin to sink in to his skin. Goku never thought he would enjoy such a violent excuse for intimacy, but then again he has always found Vegeta's intensity alluring. "Unh~" He feels something warm and wet run along his palm as he weakly attempts to push Vegeta's face away from his neck. Goku cracks his eyes open and sees Vegeta’s tongue between his middle and index fingers. Goku lets out a shaky breath as he watches Vegeta take his fingers into his mouth with themost obscene expression of carnal lust on his face. “Ah~” He should stop him, but bites his lip instead and watches, conflicted, because Vegeta is right, the last thing he wants him to do is stop. "Do you think it’s easier for, ah, me? Waiting and waiting until we end up like this?" Goku feels the tree behind him beginning to splinter, creaking under the force of their grinding and he smiles because he knows it's going to be rougher than usual. Vegeta waited a long time and Goku knows now that the longer Vegeta waits, the harder he trains. The harder he trains, the harder he breaks. The harder he breaks, the harder he--"Yes," Vegeta admits.Goku lets out a shuddering breath when he feels Vegeta pause. He closes his eyes and searches deep down inside himself to find the willpower to focus while Vegeta effortlessly tears their pants away without ever dropping him. He tries to remember the location of the last planet they went. He reaches his ki out to another far away and--"Ah! Shi--" He throws his head back, smashing it into the tree. "OW! Vegeta! What the--!" He's not sure if his head hurts more or Vegeta's rough, sudden entry. But it doesn't matter because as soon as Vegeta starts thrusting all he can get out are noises of surrender. Goku's fingers quickly find the line of division between Vegeta's shoulder blades and trapezium muscles. He feels Vegeta start pounding into him with reckless abandon as soon as he squeezes. He cries out into his shoulder as his legs constrict tighter around his waist. The tree starts cracking and Goku unwraps his legs just enough to buckle Vegeta's knees, quickly forcing them to the ground before they uproot it completely. He sits on top, straddling Vegeta's hips. He shivers as he feels Vegeta’s cock pulse with need inside of him. He looks down and suddenly realizes they’ve never been in this position before and Vegeta is waiting for him to move.Oh. Goku's face heats up because he likes this. He likes this a lot. But there's too much uncertainty in his movements as he struggles to figure out a rhythm, lifting himself up and down, or should I go back and forth? Does he want me to go faster? Do I want me to go faster? Maybe I should go Super Saiya-?Vegeta grumbles with irritation before flipping them over and pistoning in and out of him with relentless speed. He does not have the patience for hesitant near-virginal experimentation right now. He has put this off far too long and is far past the point of no return. He is going to get his and he is going to get it now."Ah, Vegeta~ You didn't even let me, ah, try! What--what did you want me to, ah, do? I can--let me--I want to--" He tries to roll them back over but Vegeta denies his attempts and continues.Although Vegeta is quickly becoming impressed, maybe even a little flattered, by Kakarot’s unwavering commitment to figuring out how to please him, how to make the most of their time together. He decides maybe it is overdue for him to start doing the same because despite the guilt and regret eating at him, this affair isn’t going away anytime soon, No. Not with that face it isn’t. Vegeta looks down at the wide open blushing smile that could say no evil before locking on to the dark half-lidded eyes that are always asking for more, more, more; whether they are fucking or fighting he is always asking Vegeta to give him his all and although he tries so hard to deny him, in the end he always gives in.So Vegeta grips Goku’s wrists. First one, then the other, and he pins them to the ground because he has something in particular he wants to give Kakarot for always being so patient. But first--"Is what I want not clear enough right now?" He grunts between strokes."V-Vegeta, wait, what are you--Let go, I want to--ah!" He tries to free one of his wrists so he can reach between them and catch up to Vegeta, but it’s already too late. He feels the angle change followed shortly by the hard jarring thrusts of completion that would have broken anyone else and suddenly Goku’s laying there with eyes closed, mouth ajar, completely… unsatisfied.Vegeta has never not made him finish him before. He opens his eyes as he feels Vegeta pull out of him, his chest heaving from the exertion, and moves to stop him."Wait, but I’m not… you didn’t let me..."Vegeta nods weakly still catching his breath. "I know," he says before dipping his face down to Goku's chest and letting his nose ghost the center line down towards his abdominal muscles.Goku prop himself up on his elbows and glares down at Vegeta with that infuriating pout."What?" Vegeta bites out."You're going to punish me for something that's your fault?""What? No, you idiot. I'm going to--What’s my fault?” He scrutinizes Goku's face which is flustered by betrayal and tries to figure out where he even got an idea like that. He is not that naive, is he? "Kakarot, what do you think I'm about to do?"Goku shrugs and looks away embarrassed. "I don't know. ...Leave me like this?” He gestures to his achingly hard cock.Vegeta barks out a short laugh. "No.” He smirks. “I am not going to just leave you like this, Kakarot. Even I am not that cruel.” Then he lets the tip of his nose touch the adonis belt of Goku’s waist so Goku can feel the hot air from his breath against his skin as he speaks. “You asked me what I wanted... and I decided I wanted to teach you something since you always seem so--" He leans in even closer and lets a warm growl echo from his chest through his bared-tooth grin. “--fond of new things.” He bites deeply into the skin where Goku’s thigh meets his groin."Aaah~ Ah~ Vegeta!” His moans are short and breathless. “Y-you're not--ah--mad at me?""No more than usual." Vegeta begins letting his teeth glide against and nip at taut muscles. "Should I be?""Ah, yeah? We're... we never left. We're still on Earth. You didn’t let me focus. You wouldn’t stop. So I couldn’t…" He sighs as he feels Vegeta's mouth hovering so painfully close to his shaft. "Take us."Vegeta pauses and shifts his gaze to their surroundings, then quickly back to the sweat drenched body in front of him that he had just been happily caressing with his canines, then back to the . He remains frozen there. His brain is still clicking together, trying to process how he didn't notice, or more importantly how he lost control. He tries to figure out if he should even care now, after the fact, and how the hell Kakarot could make me break my own rules? He suppresses the rage that flashes through him, the urge to hold his own lack of discipline against the other Saiyan because Vegeta truly isn't that cruel anymore, he can't just leave him here like this. And Kakarot is right. It is his fault. Kakarot asked him to stop, but he didn't. Because he couldn't."My conditions still apply!" he forces out after a moment of silence before his thoughts can turn too self-depreciative.“Are you su--” Goku begins to tease."Yes! I just made… an exception! Because I like..." He looks around at the forest he has never been to before. “...this place and… it's not like anyone interrupts our spars anymore, so...” He cuts himself off by pressing on with what he originally intended to do. "Just shut up, Kakarot, do you want to learn something useful or not?"Goku nods with a curious smile."Good. Then I expect you to to be able to do this as well as I do once I've finished." He looks at him seriously then opens his mouth with a pissed off look on his face. Goku thinks he's going to waste more time yelling at him but instead, Vegeta dips his head down and starts running his tongue along the underside of his shaft and suddenly Goku's only worry is that he'll come the instant he feels the warm slick contact. A tremor runs through his body as the tip of Vegeta's tongue runs over a particularly sensitive spot. Vegeta grins at the reaction he draws out of Goku. "I'm guessing no one’s ever done this for you, have they?""N-no," Goku says, head leaned back, eyes closed. "Never.""What a shame,” he only half-mocks. “I only have one rule: don't pull my hair. Or I won't do it again. I'm not some whore you can jerk around.""Uh-huh."Vegeta wraps his hand around the base of Goku's shaft and his mouth around the tip. His tongue begins to swirl around the head. He thinks he hears Goku use profanity for the first time but he's not sure so he pushes his mouth further and further down, until there is no more to take, trying to get him to say it again, but he never does. Instead, a hand whips to the back of Vegeta's head and clutches a fistful of his hair as Vegeta swallows around him. Vegeta pauses then lets the hums of laughter rumble in his throat as he feels Goku shakily, release his grip in favor of attempting to gently press him down. Well, he's not pulling. So he lets him."Ah, Vegeta~" He feels his body turn to mush as Vegeta starts bobbing up and down, hollowing out his cheeks with each surge upwards. Vegeta squeezes the base a little harder and begins to deliver slow twisting stokes in rhythm with his mouth, eliciting a deep moan from Goku that encourages him to go a little faster.He can feel the muscles in Goku's thighs tensing as he traces up the ridges of his stomach with his free hand and rakes his fingertips down Goku’s side leaving deep red welts in their wake. He can see out of the corner of his eye Goku’s fingers curling into the dirt pulling up the grass as he begins to arch his back and buck his hips, driving himself deeper into Vegeta’s mouth. Vegeta moans around him, unable to hold back how much he loves feeling Goku come apart like this. The things you do to me, Kakarot... Suddenly Goku stiffens underneath him and the warm, bitter taste of cum fills his mouth. He sucks down and holds him steady, refusing to let up until Goku is finished completely and begins his whiny protests about being too sensitive to take it anymore. Vegeta holds on and waits until the last pulsing throb before leaning back and spitting what little didn’t go straight down his throat into the grass beside them."That--" Goku says still reeling. "--was the best thing I’ve ever..." He finishes his sentence by exhaling loudly with appreciation."Hn." Vegeta wipes his mouth on his forearm. "Good. You get the idea then.” He gets up and starts walking towards the sound of water. “Now we’ll have to see what you do with it."Goku watches him for a moment before following with a grin.My conditions still apply, Vegeta says before leaving him that day. And they do still try to make it off planet, but sometimes, maybe more and more often, extenuating circumstances permit exceptions that Goku continues to insist, much to Vegeta's chagrin because he knows the idiot is right, he can't be held solely accountable for.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Vegeta wakes up with a start and immediately reaches out to the other side of his bed. Morning light is just starting to stream in. He feels with his hand, it is cold, damp, and...
Empty.
He sighs
.
His dreams usually begin to drift off as soon as he wakes up, but not this time. This one lingers. It burns in his mind brighter the longer he illuminates it with conscious thought and he can't help the deepening chasm of hollowness that comes along with it, the pain is pervasive despite the haze of lust.
These dreams used to make him furious but now… now he just feels a flush of heat and loneliness
. I must have drank too much last night.... that's why it must have seemed so...
Images of Kakarot's face flash behind his eyelids. He focuses on one in particular: Kakarot's brows furrowed, sweat dripping down his face and neck, as he bites deeply into the back of his own hand to restrain obscene moans. Not Kakarot’s usual sex face, for sure, but the more of his dream he remembers the more real it feels.
We even fought. Ha. I pick fights with the stupid bastard even in my dreams. Even when it's just the ghost of him... even when he doesn't say a word... He lets out a low growl thinking he should have hit him harder. There isn’t usually that much ‘foreplay’ but sometimes, Aahg! Just seeing him makes me want to kill him! Makes me want to punch his idiot third class face in! Makes me want to--
He sighs as all the hate drains and he thinks about how he pinned Kakarot to the ground and mercilessly pounded into him barely moments after cracking his nose, taking out all his aggression, all his anger, all his passion, all his--
Another image, one of roughly flipping Kakarot over and taking him from behind passes through his head and suddenly it is so hard to resist the blood slowly working its way south.
Hn…
His hand begins to rub below his waist and he can even swear is still a little sore. “Unh~” Because Kakarot wanted it hard. “Ah~” Which wasn’t unusual. Kakarot usually liked it hard. “Yes--” In fact, over the years Vegeta made the pleasant discovery that Kakarot had quite the penchant for pain which “Fu--” really worked out for them because Vegeta himself has always been a little more than bordering on sadistic. “Mm, Ka--”
Although it gives him pause. It wasn’t just rough. It was
violent
and
angry
and--
what the hell, he punched me in the fucking ribs! Twice!
Vegeta scowls when he remembers that. He ended up jumping into Super Saiyan thinking maybe that was what Kakarot wanted? And it must have been because suddenly Vegeta was on his back being ridden by Kakarot like he would
die
without Super Saiyan cock.
“Fuck yeah he did.” Vegeta strokes a little faster now and ignores that his ribs are actually a little sore because the change of pace in his dreams, which have of late been running uncomfortably close to intimate, to something rough and painful is more than welcome. Sure. Maybe it was
a lot
rougher than usual. But that’s fine. Anything to stave off the acceptance that he feels anything more than lust and anger toward that damned idiot.
He brushes the tips of his fingers on his free hand across his lips like he did in his dream when he rubbed the blood from Kakarot’s face onto his own. He remembers tasting it, enjoying it, reveling in it. Even now he swears it’s there, the coppery metalic taste of--
"What the--" He holds his hand out in front of his face and sees… Blood!? Mine? Whose-?!
A cold sweat breaks out on the back of his neck as he attempts to shoot out of bed. He is too tangled up in the sheets to make a graceful escape and ends up falling to the floor with a hard thud. The room takes a momentary spin around him
. I shouldn't have drank so much.
He slowly gets back up to start looking over his body for injuries and finds that he is in fact smeared with blood. His heart thumps faster because as he assesses himself he finds no open wounds, nothing even close. He remembers he broke Kakarot’s nose, but--
"That was a dream, wasn’t it?" he whispers to himself, gliding his fingertips across his lips again. Yet the red stains are still there. He isn’t imagining this. He lets the hand drop to his side and feels a smirk pull at the corner of his mouth as he tries to remember...
Yesterday…
he was sitting at their old sparring grounds, getting trashed. He always did around this time of year. With Bulma's death and Kakarot's...
15 year temper tantrum...
it helps to just get away from the compound and let go sometimes.
He knows he somehow managed to make it back and recalls a fuzzy memory of barreling head first towards the ground. He rolls his shoulder thinking about the hard landing. He must have woken up and made it inside, but all he can remember is crashing and then....
Kakarot
…
He quickly throws on the pair of shorts from the night before and lets his ki surge in an effort to find the missing Saiyan but the only other ki in the compound is--
Wait, is it him?
It takes him a moment to confirm it as Goten. He’s never been as good at sensing and distinguishing ki as Kakarot, and they do feel similar,
so similar,
but not the same.
Definitely not the same.
He is sure now. It’s Goten. He can still recognize at least
Kakarot's
ki immediately. He is
sure.
Even drunk and
desperate
he is… suddenly doubting himself.
Because he remembers that last night Kakarot was...
different.
Although thinking about it now he can’t quite place what it was that felt different. It had only been a passing thought while he was inebriated, so there is no hope in trying to decipher it now, he thinks as a peculiar feeling of deja-vu runs through him.
He brushes the thought off. He convinces himself and pushes his ki outward, as far as he can reach, searching, until he is forced to the balcony and takes off into the sky.
***
Upon waking Goten slowly realizes with groggy satisfaction he has never felt so disgusting.
And so fucking
good.
He stretches and feels the pop and pull of a hundred sore muscles and a few aching joints because after sex like that, even a senzu bean can only do so much.
At least my nose isn't shattered anymore.
He smiles and lets out the contented, "I just had sex" sigh before getting up and looking at the foot of his bed where the tatters of an orange gi lay.
I'll have to fix that if I want to do this again. And I'm
definitely
going to do it again.
Because last night? Oh, last night was better than he ever could have imagined.
Nothing on Earth will ever compare to what it feels like to fuck another Saiyan. A shudder of warmth runs down his middle and he feels an implacable satisfaction knowing that he made Vegeta, Prince of Saiyans, King of assholes his; that now he, Goten, the second half-blood son of Vegeta’s rival, has the power to utterly destroy him. He didn't realize how much he wanted that power until it was suddenly in his hands. He flops back onto his bed with open arms with a happy sigh over how
easy
hate-fucking the last prince of Saiyans turned out to be
. If I knew it was going to be that easy, I would have tried a long time ago.
Shivers run up his spine as he thinks about how those hard muscles felt on top of him. And all it took was a little…
pretending.
He takes another deeper more sadistic kind of pleasure in the fact that his father apparently used to get fucked like that by Vegeta. Or perhaps it is more masochistic pleasure because, well, so did Goten. Though he can't imagine what Vegeta could have held over his father, because something like that must have been a result of blackmail or some shit! Right? What the fuck are the ‘rules’ anyway? Do I even wanna know?
“Hm.” He frowns and pushes aside the confusing intricacies of a relationship that is apparently layers upon layers more complicated than he ever could have anticipated, and instead he thinks about how that was, without a doubt, exactly what he needed despite being called the wrong name.
He hums happily to himself before sitting up to rub his back. Damn, he fucks just like he trains though. Merciless. And what the hell was with all the choking?! Is that, like, his kink? I had to hit in the ribs to get him to stop. Twice! ...I really should learn that safeword. Although Super Saiyan…. Super Saiyan was… Goten sighs. “Wow. I didn’t even know... we could do it like that.”
Not ten minutes later he is running his hand up and down his shaft on the verge of orgasm until he suddenly feels Vegeta's energy skyrocket and leave the compound.
"The hell?" He opens his eyes and stops with a groan.
Time to do damage control.
***
Vegeta returns to Capsule Corporation a few hours later with his distraction and distress written all over his face. He checked all the usual places, Mt Paozu, their sparring grounds, the look out, he even flew by Roshi's island, but they all came up empty. He starts mulling other possible locations but he can’t feel him anywhere. Maybe he left the planet again? Did he really come back for one night? Just to--He walks up the stairs toward his room and almost runs into Goten who narrowly avoids the collision on his way toward the kitchen looking…. Happy?
Vegeta pauses. He turns around and follows Goten. His normal arrogant stride is now unsure and apprehensive. He hesitates before walking into the kitchen because,
that is Goten, right?
He shakes off the doubt and walks in with his trademark scowl renewed.
"Goten."
The half Saiyan looks up from the bowl of cereal he is already halfway through. He at least had the decency to put his hair up this morning,
because you can only get away with so much at a time.
"Good morning! You sure look like a ray of sunshine." He smiles broadly at Vegeta’s disheveled appearance. "Are you feelin’ better?"
The full Saiyan remains silent for several moments contemplating how to respond to that. He searches Goten's face for any hint of something other than his usual angst and the upsettingly familiar smile he uses to hide it but can’t seem to get a decent read. Although, Goten does seem to be in a better mood than usual which is… honestly, not usually a good sign.
"Last night I--Did you--What--I…" He can't figure out how to put it without immediately creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for himself. The unbearable thought that Goten might have seen him in such a vulnerable state.
Or worse--
Goten snorts. "You don't remember, do you?" Vegeta shakes his head. "Yeah, you were really out of it." Goten watches the full Saiyan's subtle expressions carefully. "Well, I heard a huge noise last night and went to see what was going on. And found you outside the gravity chamber just… passed out, in the middle of the backyard. I guess you must have been trainin’ real hard or somethin’ because you were knocked out. I had to carry you inside."
So nice of me, to do that. Stop and take you inside. Because you passed out on me, still drunk as fuck.
"Knocked out?"
"Oh yeah. You were bleeding pretty bad too. Like… all over! I think you must have shattered your whole face." He gestures casually to the blood still smeared on Vegeta's face, hands and chest. "So, after I got you up to your room I went to find a senzu bean. And well, here you stand today." He pauses thoughtfully. "What kinda training were you doing? I haven't seen you that fucked up in years."
Vegeta’s irritation with Goten's candid commentary is fleeting, overwhelmed by the unsettling realization that maybe he is finally losing his mind.
Fuck, did I try to train like that?
He doesn't remember doing any training
but alcohol... and my... unstable... tendencies... it wouldn't be unheard of for me to... find injury.
He cringes silently.
But I can't fucking remember anything. Just drinking until I couldn't, then hitting the lawn, and then
Kakarot.
"You really don't remember anything?"
"I--" Vegeta’s face suddenly feels hot.
"It doesn't really matter, I guess.” He absently pushes his cereal around. “Spar today?"
Vegeta hesitates. "No."
"What about tomo-"
"No!" he says a bit louder than he means to. "We'll see," he corrects himself as he tries to mask his discomfort.
I'm going fucking crazy!
Goten smiles as he keeps stirring the remaining bits round in his bowl. "Y'know, you sorta came-to when I brought you inside.” He meets Vegeta’s eyes for a moment before playfully flicking his gaze away. “But you just kept cursing at me and calling me Kakarot and... I was kinda worried the impact gave you a concussion, you’re ok right? I mean, we don’t look
that
much alike…"
"I'm fine, brat!" The full Saiyan's cheeks burn as he whips around and leaves the room.
Goten laughs quietly to himself before mocking in his best impression of Vegeta, “Fuck you, Kakarot.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It started with an innocent inquiry. The gravity chamber control panel broke, mysteriously somehow, the day before. "But how did it break, Vegeta? Was it a ki blast? Did you punch it? Was it a bot?" She gestures for him to elaborate, not that she has noticed anything particularly out of the ordinary with her husband’s responses, they just haven't been helpful. Vegeta has always been a rather quiet, peculiar high-maintenance brand of alien, prone to all sorts of injuries and property damage, so she also doesn’t think much of it, other than being mildly annoyed, when she can’t get anything out of him other than:"I don’t know. Training!"She rolls her eyes. "Ok, training, well, is it just cracked or does it actually not work?"He crosses his arms. "It’s cracked and it doesn’t work."She sighs deeply. "Of course."So, while he is off wherever it is that he later disappears to, she goes through the gravity room footage. She doesn’t usually feel the need to pry anymore but how is she supposed to improve her brand new updates if she doesn’t know how it was damaged in the first place?She rolls through yesterday’s silent footage and doesn’t see him doing anything particularly reckless. Certainly nothing as self-destructive as his routine used to be which is always a welcome relief. She fast forwards through his monotonous tempered movements until she sees another Saiyan suddenly teleport into the picture. She isn’t surprised and even chuckles through the ensuing argument because she thinks she is watching her short, angry little prince try to intimidate the happy-go-lucky Goku out of his personal space. Maybe it was Goku who broke it. There is no audio so she has no idea Vegeta isn’t shouting, ‘Why are you here? Get out!’ but rather, ‘Why are you late? I texted you an hour ago!’Her smile begins to disappear though as she quickly realizes she is missing something. The longer she watches their argument unfold, the deeper her confusion grows because suddenly Vegeta isn’t yelling at Goku at all, he is grinning as he roughly pushes him back against the control panel. Then he is undoing Goku’s sash, tossing it aside with a flirtatious flick of his wrist. Then he's "Oh--oh my god." Her mouth drops open in disbelief. "He's... he's fucking Son Goku." With a ferocity she is all too familiar with. She is on her fifth cigarette by the time they are done and tears are running in full stream down her face as she watches them sit there naked next to each other still in Super Saiyan, talking. Just... talking. It makes her furious to see Vegeta laugh. That is such a rare thing from him. And to laugh… after that… She doesn’t know if she wants to scream or keep crying.She keeps watching as whatever made Vegeta laugh also made him mad enough to try and cut Goku’s follow-up comment short with a half-hearted punch Goku disappears to avoid. He reappears moments later and they laugh again. And they fuck. Again. Even more desperately than before, with this look on their faces like no matter how many times they do this, it will never satisfy either of them but they are too hungry, far too hungry, to stop. So of course she spends the next nine hours systematically going through all of the footage. She learns that they have been doing this more and more often over the last six months but that it has been going on for at least two years. She also notices that Goku is always receiving. She isn’t sure what to make of that, if it is just unexpected or if it makes this so much worse because the look on her husband’s face as he drives into Goku over and over again is never anything less than an ecstasy she did not even realize she hasn’t been giving him and it is heartbreaking to watch him get it so easily from someone else.There is something else too underneath her tear streaked face, something more dangerous than heartbreak. It simmers there as she rewatches Vegeta crush their bodies tighter together against the control panel finally sending the crack she still needs to repair all the way through it.Because of course, it really is none other than Goku wrapping his legs around Vegeta’s waist. It is Goku pressing his mouth to Vegeta’s neck like he is his. It is Goku teleporting in almost always half naked and sometimes already on his knees. Goku. Someone she trusted. Someone who is supposed to be a hero.She goes through three packs as she watches all the footage from her Prince Charming’s pressurized sanctuary over and over again. And although her pain grows exponentially the more she sees, she also can not help but absently wonder who likes giving blowjobs more: Goku or herself? ...Or maybe it is Vegeta after all she thinks as she watches her husband go down on someone he claims to hate with obvious confidence in a skill he enjoys showing off. And he calls me vulgar. Clearly there is a lot about her husband’s sexual history she doesn’t know.She pushes away from the screen crushing her last empty pack wishing she had ten more. She still isn't sure who she is angrier at: her husband or her had-been best friend. Regardless, she empties out the ashtray, dries her tears, and takes the time to calm down in order to approach this rationally before marching up to Vegeta and throwing her wedding ring at him and kicking him to the proverbial curb which in their case will likely be a space ship.Bulma is a passionate woman, but she is also a smart woman. She still has her half-Saiyan son to think about. She still has herself to think about, her company, her reputation and… Vegeta. How does he walk around like everything is fine? Like nothing has changed? Because things have changed. They have changed so much since he--An agonizing memory lights up in her mind. Excruciating pain she never thought she could feel echoes through her body as she remembers exactly why things changed, why he began refusing to lay with her. Even after four years.It took months, nearly a year, just to build back up to the non-sexual intimacy they used to share and never once since then has he ever asked her for more. Not once. He always says it is enough for him, that it will always be enough if it means never hurting her again. Because he can’t bare to hurt her again. So she never asks for more either. She can see, everyday, how much that memory pains him. How much it still eats at him. How afraid he still is. So she has been letting him work his demons out in his own way even though she is ready to trust him again with more. She has been ready.But it wasn’t... enough. I didn’t know it wasn’t enough. Tears start running down her face again. Why didn’t he tell me it wasn’t enough? We could have worked through this, we could have- Suddenly she is wondering about all the other pieces of the relationship she has painstakingly built with him over the last ten years. Is that not enough for him either? Is he getting that from Goku too?She asks this because in the end she decides, she can forgive carnal wants and needs. He is alien after all and I'm not getting any younger. But does he still love me? She needs to find out. Because that she cannot forgive.So that night she tests him. For the first time in four years, she presses him for more. She invites her husband to lay between her soft thighs and lap at her even softer folds as he so used to love to do. It is an act she reassures him he could never and has never hurt her with. And he agrees. He agrees so eagerly that it is almost impossible, despite seeing the raw evidence, to doubt his loyalty to her. But her test is not over. She needs to find out decisively whether or not he is still hers.She looks down at him and runs her fingers through his hair, her nails scratching his scalp drawing a deep velvety purring sound from him that she has so missed hearing. And she prays he does not fail, because if he fails she will have to confront him. And she is sure that argument will only lead to more pain. But if he passes God, I hope he passes... She smiles biting her lip through her toe curling orgasm, wanting so desperately to forgive him for needing more than she can give him.He crawls up towards her still licking his lips and brushes some of her hair away from her damp face before leaning in to kiss her. She runs a finger down the side of his face and neck. She holds his attention with her irresistible blue eyes. "Vegeta…” She lets her hand run further down to his evident arousal. “I want another baby." She says it quietly, hardly more than a loving whisper shimmering on the edges of her lips. He starts and pulls back giving her a perfect view of it. The fear in his eyes. Nearly four years and he's still terrified to touch her. She expected that. He hasn't failed yet. The night is long and quiet but eventually he gains the courage to say her name, his stomach twisting into knots with each passing moment."I trust you," she responds softly. "It's been long enough. I trust you." She kisses his nose with each purse of her murmuring lips. "I want you. I want another baby with you."Stupid woman, you trusted me last time too. But he can't find it in himself to resist her when she looks at him like that. Within moments he is inside her, silently admitting that he wants another too, that he, evil alien mass murderer, has grown to love his accidental family.She is sure she has never held him so tightly because, he passed! And the resulting sex is mindblowing.She decides though, as he sleeps next to her, that she will still have to confront the other Saiyan. He is the one bending over for Vegeta after all. She needs to make sure he knows exactly where he stands. --- Goku grinds his teeth in irritation as he works in the fields. He is troubled, unreasonably and unexpectedly so, because he recently figured out that Vegeta is sleeping with his wife again. He didn’t realize they hadn’t been before, but he definitely knows they are now because he can smell and taste her all over him all the time. Always, her sickeningly sweet perfume and strawberry shampoo lingers on his neck, his face, his chest, his arms, even his-- No, especially his--It drives him crazy! It is just so ahhhg! It bothers him! And it bothers him that it bothers him. Because... Bulma is Vegeta's wife and they're supposed to do that. It shouldn’t matter to him what Vegeta does with his wife. And yet it does matter and he finds himself licking, biting, sucking, eating that scent off of Vegeta, trying to replacing it with his own every chance he can. It feels carnal and good and he wants her to know without knowing, that he does it better, that at the end of the day Vegeta still always comes running to him.He frowns deeply at the fresh memory of noticing not her smell this time, but marks . Vegeta had faint scratch marks running down the length of his back that he was clearly unaware of. Did Bulma ever do that before? Goku thinks back to all the times he's seen Vegeta shirtless, even before they started sleeping together. He's not completely sure, but he doesn’t think so.The same memory also makes him smile though, because in response he did his best to cover those marks with his own and his were much better than hers. Deeper, redder, longer. They stretched from Vegeta's shoulders to the dimples in his lower back and making them was completely worth almost losing consciousness as Vegeta attempted to choke him out in order to get him to stop despite having this look on his face like he really didn’t want Goku to stop. More than worth it! Because as a result Goku found out he really likes the choking thing too.Of course Vegeta wasn’t the happiest about it as he later eyed Goku’s handiwork in a mirror... *** “What the fuck, Kakarot?” He touches the not quite bloody streaks and shoots the other Saiyan a look. “Did you do this with ki?”He avoids Vegeta’s glare and does a bad job of hiding his mischievous smile. “I dunno. I thought you liked it.” And, yes he did do them with a little help from his ki because Bulma can’t use ki.“Yeah well--” I did kind of like it, but “What the fuck are you trying to do? This is even worse than what you did to my neck last week. We’re going to run out of Senzu at this rate!” He holds out his hand expectantly.Goku silently admires the damage he did and lies in order to save it. “We already did.”“Fuck! Are you serious?” he exasperates.Goku nods innocently.“Ahhg! I won’t be able to take my shirt off for a fucking week with this!” he says before stomping off....Take that, Bulma. *** He is in the fields today though, because what bothers him most above all these things--the smells, tastes and marks--is that Vegeta just told him No . It has been years since Vegeta told him No and he doesn’t want Vegeta to stop sleeping with him. It's not fair. He is upset and angry about it and he doesn't understand what this feeling is trying to tell him. It is so unfamiliar and he can’t figure out what to do about it so he just goes out to his fields at Paozu and works as he waits for Vegeta to break. Like he used to.He waits and waits and waits until suddenly it’s been months of Vegeta saying, “No” like it is suddenly so easy for him. And it must be, because sometimes he even laughs in Goku's face when he asks if Vegeta has time to spar.Goku thinks though, as he comes over today only to drop off his smallest son at Capsule Corporation to play with Trunks and give his wife a break, that it is only a matter of time. She can’t handle you in Super Saiyan. He knows Bulma can't satisfy Vegeta the way he can. No one can. Not to mention, Vegeta hasn't smelled like her in weeks. He is going to break. Soon.Thoughts like these give him some peace of mind while he waits, especially now as he sees her walking around Capsule Corporation just a few months pregnant, waving her happiness in his face, because in the end Goku is right. Vegeta does break. Vegeta always breaks. Within moments of arriving, his littlest quickly finds Trunks and bolts off. He hasn't been at the compound for more than two minutes before pressing two fingers back to his forehead. He is about to disappear when Vegeta sneaks up from nowhere and stops him to casually mention that it is, in fact, the perfect day for a spar despite Goku making no such comment on the matter.Goku wants so badly to refuse out of spite, but the feeling is fleeting. He wants Vegeta more than he wants revenge. So instead he agrees and indulges him and his insistence that they eat first before breaking off to space.Trunks and Goten zoom past the kitchen down the hall. There's a distant sound of something shattering and Bulma, who is so kindly letting Goku eat at her table despite knowing exactly what ‘Let’s spar today, Kakarot’ means, throws a look to her husband that has him rolling his eyes and standing up to go investigate the possible cause of such a noise."It was probably Kakarot's brat," he mutters as he leaves the room."Probably was," Goku can't help adding through a full mouth."Goku~" Bulma pleasantly sing-song his name and he looks at her with a smile that disappears as soon as he sees the expression on her face. She looks like a snake after it has stalked quietly through the tall grasses and finally revealed itself to a cornered prey. Confident, venomous, and deadly."It's been too long since we've talked, just you and me. We used to do that all the time, remember? All the adventures we had together?"He swallows. "Yeah.""I remember when you were just a backwoods kid with a tail that totaled my car.”He tries to laugh away the sudden feeling that something is wrong. “You tried to shoot me because of that.”“I certainly did.” She leans back with a warm cup of coffee in her hands and now he’s a lot more anxious because she seems particularly pleased about his remark. “It was so much simpler back then, wasn’t it? Where have all the years gone?""Heh, yeah… I guess they do seem to... fly by.” He tries to change the subject, not quite sure what they are talking about in the first place. “I think Goten is starting school next year.""Is he?” She blows the steam away and takes a slow sip without breaking eye contact. “They grow up so fast, don’t they?""They...do." He instinctively reaches his hand behind his head very aware now that he is missing something. She recognizes the nervous tick she has seen so many times and closes her eyes with a satisfied smile that she has him right where she wants him."Probably wouldn't kill you to spend more time with your kids, would it?""Ha ha... Bulma.” He furrows his brows despite smiling. “That’s kinda rude--""Instead of training with my husband.""I--well, you know how seriously we take... training." He squirms in his chair as he desperately began seeking his way out of the trap he now knows he is being lured into."Is that so? You take your training seriously?”“Y-”“And exactly what, Goku, are you training for?”“I--You never know when the next--”“Because it looks to me like you and my husband are 'training'...” Bulma leans across the table and tilts her head as her smile drops. "...for a very successful career in pornography.”His heart beats through him, then stops, and there is a long uncomfortable pause. "How--""Because I'm a genius, Goku, that should be enough! But if you must know,” she says quietly, as if divulging a naughty but harmless rumor and not a family shattering secret. “You two should stop fucking each other in the gravity chamber! That I built! ...It has a surveillance system!" She slams her coffee cup down in front of her spilling some of it on the table. She inhales and exhales sharply before mustering the energy to continue glaring at him.He cringes at the humiliation of realizing that means they've been being caught on tape and Bulma has seen just how successful that career would be. (Very). He braces for more yelling but it never comes. She sits there stone-faced and resumes sipping calmly on her coffee."You're not... mad?"She laughs dryly. "Oh, no Goku. I’m not mad. I am Fu~rious. But that doesn't matter.” She sighs. “Because you're Saiyans. Super Saiyans." She gestures with sarcastic whim. "I can’t stop you. No one can stop you. You can do whatever you want, can’t you?"He's never felt so cornered and so powerful at the same time and he nods cautiously because she is right. They can and they always do. "Yes. It certainly does seem that way, doesn’t it?” His brows crinkle at her condescending tone. “But... I imagine your wife still doesn't know, does she?"Panic streaks across his face as he stiffly shakes his head.“Mhm. So tell me, this ‘training’ that you two do, is it just fucking?”“I--what?” he stammers at her crude language unprepared to answer such a vulgar question.“Is it? Because if it’s not just fucking , if you two are planning on running away together or doing some bullshit Saiyan bonding ritual I don’t know about then I need to go get my husband, you need to call your wife and we all need to have a very different conversation.”It already hurts that Vegeta makes a point to say it all the time. ...Don’t make me say it too.“I need to know, Goku. He is my husband after all.” But Goku remains quiet so she prods him a little further. “Please, I want to keep this conversation just between us and it will be so much easier if you’re honest with me.” She says with an earnest face belying that she already knew the answer; she just really wanted to hear him say it. "We can work this out, you know, if that's all it is."“Yes,” he says softly. “It’s just...”She waits, but he never finishes the sentence. Close enough. Bulma nods and takes another sip of her coffee letting silence hang in the air as Goku avoids her gaze . “That’s good to hear. Do you know why?”He shakes his head.She smiles. “Of course you don’t. So let me break it down for you." They both turn their heads at the sound of something crashing in the other room and she decides to keep her threat short and sweet. “Pay attention Son Goku, Legendary Super Saiyan,” she says sharply, narrowing her eyes at him making him feel not at all like the legendary Super Saiyan. “It’s good because it means you can just keep fucking each other. You can and I won’t say a word to Chi Chi.” She watches him relax slightly and takes the easy opening to go in for the kill. “But so help me God, if you ever try to make this something it’s not? If you try to take him away from me and my son? My kids? Oh, Goku,” She smiles with pitiless contempt. “I will destroy your life and make sure that whatever you think you have with him? You don’t. And you never will.”And just like that their friendship which had been slowly tapering towards acquaintanceship abruptly halted because no one homewrecks Bulma Briefs and gets away with it. Not the hero of the universe, not anyone.He opens his mouth to respond then closes it again as Vegeta walks back in the room holding the collars of two small trouble makers with sour looks on their faces. He is about to make a smart remark about how Kakarot's runt did actually start it, but the strangely silent moment he just walked in on makes him reconsider. It is rare that his wife is so quiet and even rarer that Goku isn't shamelessly dumping food into his body. He let's go of the two halves to a whole problem before cautiously asking, "What were you talking about?" Bulma's eyes shine brightly at her husband. "Goku was just suggesting what a great idea it would be for you two to bring Trunks and Goten along on your training today. I'm sure they could use a chance to burn off all that energy." Goten and Trunks' faces light up and Vegeta is too distracted by his own shock to try and stop them from bouncing off the walls nearly pissing themselves with joy."Wh--you did?" The dead-pan look of disbelief he gives to Goku says nothing short of 'why the fuck would you suggest something like that?'"Yes," Goku forces out."It would give me and my parents a few hours of peace and quiet finally." She stands up and stretches her back, emphasizing the gentle curve that is just starting to show. "I could really use a break, Vegeta." She can see him melting under her gaze and knows he won't argue with her now.He turns his attention to the two half-Saiyans who are running wild around the kitchen exploding with various excited exclamations. "Of course we'll bring them..."And that was how they ended up getting cockblocked by their kids with Vegeta holding Goku fully responsible for it. It takes six hours to finally train the two tiny hellions into exhaustion. The next stop, naturally, is to look for a place in a busy alien metropolis with familiar food capable of feeding four unruly Saiyan appetites."So tell me Kakarot, the curiosity is eating at me, why did you suggest bringing our children? Not that it didn't end up being good training..." He looks up towards Trunks who has passed out on his shoulders. His head rests on Vegeta's, pushing his normally neat pointed spikes in different directions. "But it wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I suggested we spar."Goku inhales deeply. He tries to think of a good answer that Vegeta won't immediately call him on but he's never been particularly adept at lying. He's lucky Chi Chi never bothers questioning him about where he goes and has remained perfectly content with being irritated about an answer as simple as 'training.' The guilty confession ends up falling right out of him."I didn't... She knows."Vegeta stops walking and stares at Goku. "What do you mean ‘she knows?’""I mean she, your wife, Bulma, knows about our 'spars.'" He air quotes in annoyance.Vegeta pushes Goku's shoulder so they're face to face. "What?! You told my WIFE?!" He struggles to keep his voice down despite their sleeping sons."No. She already knew." Goku continues walking and keeps his eyes on the colorful array of shops, trying his best to have more interest in food than this argument."How?! How could she have known?" Vegeta tries to threaten him with a look. “If our kids weren't here right now, Kakarot, I swear I would fucking--”"Cameras. In the gravity room." Out of the corner of his eye he sees Vegeta's posture drop and whatever quip he had lined up get shamed into silence. "Yeah, now who's the idiot?""It's still you!" he snaps back. "Fuck. How long has she known? We’ve been fucking in there for--fuck! For like two years! Fuck! When did she find out?! I didn’t think those fucking things still worked!”"I dunno, I didn't ask." He stops in front of a place that looks fairly promising with enormous steaming drums of what look like noodles out front."Why not?”Goku rolls his eyes in response.“Tch! Why do I even bother? Might as well just fuck me and all my conditions. I'm sure you'd love that." His comment earns him a stern look from Goku assuring Vegeta that he successfully achieved the very difficult task of pissing Goku off. An uncomfortable silence hangs between them until someone quietly mutters, ‘Fuck.’Vegeta’s ear twitches with uncertainty. Did Kakarot just, no, not Kakarot-- He turns his head and finds Goten staring at him with a wide smile and Goku looking like he is about to have a stroke. Goten has apparently woken up and decided to signal them in the worst possible way that their conversation is now over, which is of course, by letting them know he heard some of it. Vegeta will just have to deal with the knowledge that Bulma knows about their affair and hasn't killed him at another point in time."Goten?" Goku looks up at his son who is now repeating the word over and over again. "Goten, stop saying that! Goten!""Why?" Goten is now bouncing up and down on Goku's shoulders with one of his tiny hands curled into Goku's spikes. Vegeta scoffs at the glaring similarities between him and his son and it gives him a terribly entertaining idea to get back at Goku for something he knows isn't really Goku’s fault."It's a ba--""Goten," Vegeta interrupts. The gruff voice catches his tiny attention more immediately."Ya?""Do you want me to teach you more Saiyan words?""It's a Saiyan word?!" His mouth drops and Vegeta nods with a grin."No! Goten, don’t--It's not Saiyan!""How can you deny him? Your son is clearly a natural with the language.""Vegeta.” He points. “Don't you da--""Goten, say, 'Fuck you, Kakarot.'"And he does. Gleeful grin and all. His small feet bumping against Goku's chest with excitement as he repeats it half a dozen times at the top of his lungs."Vegeta! Why would you--Ahg! You are so! What is wrong with you?!" He lifts his son off his shoulders and sets him on the ground. He kneels in front of him and tries to scold him gently about 'Saiyan' language.Goten nods at his father and falls quiet for a few moments reflecting on the new information he has received. Some words... are bad... and those words... are Saiyan? It doesn't make much sense but he nods and goes along with it because he knows that's what he's supposed to do. As he is lifted back up to his father’s shoulders he turns his head and quietly whispers to Vegeta who follows behind them into the restaurant, "Fuck you, Kakarot."‘Perfect,’ he mouths back with a smirk.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The skip in his walk is still apparent two weeks later. He swears he still wakes up with afterglow, the sex was
that
good. He even stops taking every waking chance between class and training to get laid even though he can already feel the come down wearing off because, how can he? How can he settle for inevitable disappointment after
that?
Trunks keeps shooting him odd looks but doesn't say anything. It isn't until they are sitting on the couch playing a particularly gruesome game and Goten says he
doesn’t
want to go out that the other half knows something's up.
"Are you serious? You. You
don't
wanna go out? I finally get a break from my personal hell of a work schedule and your sorry ass doesn't wanna go?"
Goten nods without looking away from the screen and kicks his feet up on the table while Trunks spends several long moments studying his friend. When Goten notices he shifts uncomfortably. "What?"
"Who is he?"
"Who?"
"You met someone."
Goten shakes his head and tries to brush it off. "Tch. Don't be stupid."
"Oh come on, Ten, don't try to play me. I
know
you met someone."
"Why would you think that?" He can't help the nervous smile.
"Besides the obvious?" He gestures to Goten's relaxed posture. "Or maybe I should remind you that you haven't broken anything in two weeks?" he teases. "
And
you don't even wanna go out? Get wasted and burn the fuckin' city down with me? Unbelievable. It's the only explanation. Someone’s got their hooks in you."
Goten rolls his eyes. "Maybe I'm just tired Trunks."
"Aww, poor Ten. So tired from having sex all the time with his new boyfrie--" Trunks pinches Goten's cheek earning him a ki blast to his smiling face.
He laughs and tosses the controller aside. "Fine. Fine! Fuck it! I'm down. Let's go."
Trunks eyes him unconvinced by his answer. "Wait, really? Ten, I--if it's, like, serious we don’t have to go, I was just--"
He sighs in irritation. "No, it's not ser--If you really wanna know, I've actually been doing more control exercises. Your dad developed this program that--"
"Ohh, you started a new
training
routine, huh? That's nice.” He nods. “Are you gonna bring your new routine to the holiday party so I can meet him?"
Goten scoffs.
Y'know, sometimes I hate that you're the son of the most brilliant scientist in history
.
"How'd you meet? What’s he look like?" His bright blue eyes search him curiously for any clues. "What's his name?"
Oh trust me, you already know almost everything about him. Almost.
"Trunks, would I really be here tonight if I had something going on with someone?”
“Maybe he’s busy.”
Goten gets up and stretches his arms. “And I said I
do
wanna go out."
The lavender-haired CEO concedes only for a moment as he heads toward the stairs before pausing at the bottom and turning to Goten with a knowing grin. "But you had to be convinced."
Goten shakes his head as he follows Trunks up to his room where his best friend is already going through his expensive wardrobe. After a few moments he holds up three shirts and prompts Goten, "I will be the first to meet him right? Which one goes better with gold?"
"Really?" Trunks nods and Goten rolls his eyes. "I dont know, the black one." Trunks assesses Goten’s choice, then nods in agreement, and pulls his current shirt off.
"So, where are we going?" Goten crosses his arms as he watches Trunks meticulously piece an outfit together.
Trunks raises a disapproving brow at him before responding, "Does it matter?”
Goten huffs. “Maybe.”
“Somewhere that requires something better than the gross sweats you've worn for three days,” he says flatly, because he knows it
doesn’t
matter.
Goten sighs and kicks through some of Trunks’ designer clothes. "Yeah, you always say that but, where? Can I wear yours?" He picks up a pair of black jeans and holds them up against his waist.
"Yeah, take whatever you want.” He laughs. “If it fits."
"I’ll make it fit. Tight pants look good on me. Still haven't said where we're going though," he says, struggling to pull a pair of jeans over his quads.
Trunks rolls his eyes at his reflection as he fixes his hair. "We're going to where the youngest hottest billionaire on the planet should be going on a Friday night, Ten."
Goten ends up on the floor struggling to pull the pants without tearing them. "Why are we going to someplace your sister goes?"
Trunks looks down at him with offense. "First of all, does she run the company? No. She's not the billionaire. And I'm insulted that you think
she's
the hotter of the two of us," he mutters quietly buttoning up his shirt. "At best she is the attractive six figure secretary."
"Oh? She's been promoted? I thought she was still listed as an escaped project."
"No." He sighs. "She screamed bloody fucking murder when she found out I did that. It was just a joke."
"Was it a joke? I’m sure she's a science experiment gone horribly wrong."
Trunks watches Goten's continued struggle through the mirror and laughs before giving himself a final appraisal. "Well, who can blame my mother? The results of the first experiment were such a smashing success, I mean look at me." He turns and flexes with a cocky smile. Goten shakes his head and goes to work looking for a shirt that isn't too obnoxious.
He holds one up that looks promising but is cut awfully narrow and might tear if he turns the wrong way when he feels Trunks' energy surge for a moment. Goten turns and is met by an arrogant smirk that would give even Vegeta a run for his money.
"I'm going blonde tonight. Never fails."
Oh so it's going to be one of those nights. He and Pan must be arguing right now. He grins. "Are you sure you can hold Super Saiyan all night? You never train."
"What makes you think I don't train? Just because I don't with you or my dad, doesn't mean I don't at all. What do you think I do when I'm not working?"
"You're always working, but when you're not it usually sounds like..." He draws out his response to figure out how to press his friend's buttons just the right way. "...you're fucking Pan into oblivion."
The purple haired Saiyan's cheeks turn pink and he turns back towards the mirror to hide his embarrassment. "Nah, fuck her. That's just, like… sometimes,” he mutters. “We're not--it's not serious. Because she's a cheating--"
Oh yeah, definitely arguing.
"Keep tellin' yourself that." Trunks shoots him a look but doesn't counter. They take off from the balcony moments later with Trunks leading the way and it is ten o'clock sharp when they land in Vegas.
Goten rubs his palm against his face. "Fuuuck. We're in for a hell of a night."
Trunks is already walking down the bustling strip, "Are you coming or what?"
***
They have a system. It has been perfected by years of dedication to the art, honed by Saiyan instincts, and improved always by their constant practice; it is a system that
never
fails them. Unfortunately, though, Trunks consumes triple the amount of liquor in half the time as Goten
(must have been a long week)
and he is now struggling to stick to their usual program. Goten takes one for the team and drinks the two obscenely named and disgusting tasting drinks that the two sisters sitting on Trunks’ lap ordered for him, before urging him to slow down for once or they won’t make it to the next venue.
Despite his slurring, Trunks still manages to impress his two guests when he pays the tab. He is no longer blond by the time the four of them leave the club and Trunks drunkenly convinces the two girls it was 'just the lighting' before heading to a gay bar where he can sober up for a few minutes while Goten works his own magic. Trunks pushes the dark-haired Saiyan off into the crowd of sweating, dancing bodies as soon as they enter before finding a VIP booth to slump into.
Goten can feel the music deep inside his rib cage. He can smell cigarettes, alcohol, cologne, lust and desperation.
The perfect atmosphere.
He drinks until he finds himself in the midst of the crowd moving to the rhythm. The shirt he borrowed is torn, then gone--not that it matters, Trunks has a dozen more just like it--and he thinks Trunks is right, it really has been too long since the two of them went out and had fun.
Not that Vegeta wasn't f--Not what I wanna be thinkin' about right now!
Goten sends ki to his finger tips and quickly amasses a euphoric crowd. The faster he can find a one night stand the faster he can forget about Vegeta.
I don't need him.
The light disappears from his hands as he walks towards the strongest looking guy within ten feet. He's dripping in sweat and probably on drugs, but it doesn't matter, it might even be a bonus for the mood Goten is in.
Trunks sees them wander off and takes his cue to whisper into the girls' ear about what kind of night they’re going to have, they giggle and stumble along with him out the door.
Goten and the short, dark-haired man who is unlucky enough to be taken in by Goten’s dashing Saiyan charm all but crash through the door of an empty hotel room Goten lies about being his. Mouth on mouth, chest on chest, hips on grinding hips. The door is hardly shut before they're stripped naked. A momentary pause lets Goten know the human is impressed by his hard, chiseled physique.
"Wow. We should exchange workouts."
Goten sneers at the remark.
I'm not here to talk about training.
"Do you like it rough?"
The human laughs nervously, caught a little off guard by the first words to leave Goten's mouth since he laid eyes on him. "I--Yeah, why not, a little? But... nothing crazy."
"I like it...
crazy.
" Goten backs the man toward the bed until he falls into it.
The human’s eyes shift nervously around the room. "Let's... how about we start off slower, and then... we build up to the crazy stuff?"
"Sure." But Goten doesn't start slow. He's too inebriated. Too out of control. He feels too damn good. And this weak human in front of him isn't going to stop him from having fun. Faster than he can think Goten is crawling over top of him.
“Oh-oh…” The human laughs in relief as Goten goes down on him until the sheets beneath his partner are soaked in spit. “Wow, you’re… amazing, unh~”
Goten lifts his head up with a smirk and wipes his mouth with his forearm. “I know.” He quickly repositions himself so he try to recreate the pleasure he wants so badly.
The human sits up in confusion and stops him. "Wait, you’re going to bottom? I thought--”
“You thought what?” Goten snaps.
“Uh, nothing!” He chuckles awkwardly. “I guess, I just… you seemed like a top.”
“Yeah, well… tonight’s an exception,” he mutters tersely.
“I’m down for exceptions,” he says breathily as Goten starts to lower himself down. “Wait, wait, holy shit.” He laughs. “What are you doing? You need lube, I think I have some in my--" He reaches for his pants on the other side of the room but Goten pins his wrist down.
“I don’t need it.”
The human looks at his wrist, then at Goten in concern. “Y-you don’t?”
Goten nods as he leans in. “I
like
the pain.”
The human exhales shakily as he starts realizing he may have gone home with the wrong guy. “Oh… Well, I don--”
"Trust me, it’s going to feel good. I’m Saiyan, we’re just built different.”
“W-what’s a Saiyan?”
“Don't worry.” Goten tilts his head and flashes a smile. “I'm in control," he reassures himself before sitting back as slowly as he can manage. The human lets out a sigh as he feels Goten's ass pressing impatiently against him asking him if he’s ready. "Shit, you feel--so good, are you--"
Goten doesn’t let him finish before he starts moving at an agonizingly slow pace, or at least, a
human
pace, but he already knows it's not going to be enough.
He keeps thinking about how much better this would be if this human could just grab him and fuck him even a tenth as hard as Vegeta had done--
yeah, that felt so-- AH! Why am I thinking about Vegeta right now?!
Suddenly he is going a lot harder and faster. The human can hardly get a word out and it is still barely enough to satiate Goten’s desire to
fuck
the way he had been
fucked
.
He feels his power climbing as he slams himself down and finally starts to feel
something
as his energy begins to flicker.
"Ah-ah!" Strained sounds start to come out of the mouth he's neglecting but Goten doesn’t hear them, he is louder.
Goten grips his partner’s shoulders hard as he smashes himself down, but can’t seem to push the thoughts away about how badly he just wants to let go. He needs to go harder, he needs to go faster, he needs release and this is not as good as--
When did fucking become so fucking difficult?!
He hears the panting beneath him turn to trying to catch a breath, the moans turn to whines and every time Goten slams down, the protests get louder.
"Sto--"
Goten pushes his palm against the man's mouth so his complaints become muffled and they don’t ruin his rhythm as climax suddenly becomes possible. He can feel the ki inside him, which is always restless, telling him to go harder and all he can think about is how much better this would be if he was with another Saiyan.
No, with Ve--
"Ah~"
Except-
"Fuck, say
my
name." The man is almost screaming into Goten’s palm and only uses its absence to cry out.
"Stop! Stop! Please! I don't even know your name! AAh! St-"
"Goten! My name's Goten, say
my
name!"
"AAAH, GOTEN! GOTEN! PLEASE STO--" His voice shuts off into whimpers as orgasm rips through the half Saiyan without warning. Goten feels the muscles giving slightly beneath his fingers.
Oops. That’s gonna bruise.
As he comes down, he can smell the sweat, steam, and sex in the room. And
terror.
He opens his eyes and comes back to his senses sooner than he would have liked and far less satisfied than he wanted to be because he realizes, as he looks at his hand, then at his reflection in the window, that he is in Super Saiyan. “Oh… fuck.”
He looks at the man beneath him whose face is streaked with tears. His heart stops as he waits for the man to suck in a pained, stuttering breath. “Fuck! Fuck! Oh my God, you’re alive, thank fucking Kami!”
This is why I didn’t want to go out tonight!
He immediately lets go of his ki, drops back down, gets off his partner, and starts frantically rooting through his clothes.
"Wh-what the fuck. Call 911, please. I--please," the man says between sobs.
Goten throws a small green bean at him. "It was supposed to be for my hangover. Eat it." But the man just sobs louder, trying to reach for his hips, which Goten notices don’t look right. He runs his fingers through his hair in anguish because if he doesn’t get this guy to shut up then he is quickly going to be joining Trunks’ sister and Vegeta as yet another Saiyan responsible for the very expensive messes Capsule Corporation is occasionally forced to cover-up. "SHHHh! Fuckin'--just eat it! It will heal you!" He takes the bean and forces it into the man’s mouth. “Chew! You can still do that? Can’t you!?”
As the man reluctantly chews, too scared to not do as Goten says, there are several loud pops and a visible realignment of hips. The pain dissipates. The sobs turn into bewilderment and disbelief, and he sits up.
"Are you going to tell anyone about this?" Goten asks. The man shakes his head. "Sorry. I--” Goten hesitates. “Sorry." Goten finishes pulling his pants on, opens the window, and ducks out.
It's five in the morning when Goten finally finds Trunks covered in...
what the fuck is that? Syrup?
and at least three women. Goten shakes him awake. Trunks mumbles something indiscernible.
"Hey. Trunks, let's head back."
"What? I was tryynaa..." he trails back into sleep mid sentence
"Trunks, hey, wake up. You have a meeting at noon."
Trunks shoots up. "Oh fuck, you're right." He carefully de-tangles himself from the slender bodies around him. "Sorry ladies," he whispers with a keen smirk. He pulls his jeans on and heads towards the window. "I can't fly right now." He says wobbling with one hand on the wall. "Can we take that cloud thing? We used to as kids."
"Trunks, look at us, I don't even think it would respond if called."
"Damn." Trunks starts to slump over, but Goten catches him.
"Easy does it." He throws Trunks' arm over his shoulder and props him up slightly. Then takes off into the air.
He lands awkwardly trying not to let Trunks, who is passed out, collapse immediately to the ground.
"We're back already? How was your night?" he slurs.
"Not as good as yours."
Actually it was the worst yet.
"Hm." Trunks stumbles forward still using Goten as a steadying block. "I know you don't get along with Bra, but maybe you should talk with her about your problem."
"Yeah? Why's that?"
Just let him ramble, he's drunk. Besides, you already know how to fix your 'problem.’ It's just not… ideal.
"I think she has the same problem." He catches himself from a fall. "She's hada coupla guys try to press charges against her for some craaazzzy shit. Do you know how much we've had to pay to keep it outta the media?"
"How much?" The news doesn't surprise him. She inherited all of Bulma's beauty and even more of Vegeta's ambition. If she wants something, she finds a way to get it, and Goten knows first hand that what she wants is almost never mutual.
"You really don't wanna know." Trunks suddenly stops and pukes all over the lawn just before reaching the doorway. After a few minutes, when it seems he's mostly empty, Goten takes the bold risk of helping him inside.
It's still early, hopefully we can--aannnd of course not.
Vegeta is standing in front of them in the hallway, coffee in hand, training shorts on, towel around his neck, dripping in sweat. Goten has to refrain from biting his lip. Vegeta stares at them with an unreadable expression and there is no emotion in his voice.
"Trunks." His son struggles to acknowledge him. "Don't you have a meeting soon?" Trunks nods. "Sober up."
Trunks sighs and rolls his eyes as he pushes off of Goten and disappears round a corner.
Vegeta glares hard at Goten before speaking again. "Skipping training again, I assume?”
“What?”
“I still can smell the liquor on you,” he says with his nose turned up in disgust.
“Okay, and? Yeah, maybe I am skipping today.”
“Hm. Disappointing."
"Yeah, well, life is disappointing," he quips back angrily. “The fuck is that even supposed to mean anyway?”
“Tch.” Vegeta rolls his eyes. "It means I’ll be in the gravity chamber if you feel like proving something." Then he walks past him out the door.
He tilts his head side to side as he mocks in a gruff half-decent impersonation, "I’ll be in the gravity room. …Yeah no SHIT! Asshole! Of course you’re gonna be in there! …Fuck. And I am too,” he grumbles to himself
"Ha ha, yeah... You’re fucked up," Trunks, who never made it further than the living room couch, mumbles out.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
When they appear at Capsule Corp Chi Chi is still trying to straighten his tie and fuss with his hair. He puts up with it and lets her continue to fix his stuffy attire until she deems him ready. Goten has already bolted inside shouting Trunks' name and Goku knows he probably won't see him again until he's broken something or eaten himself into a food coma. That actually sounds pretty good right about now. Chi Chi at long last approves him for public display and takes his elbow to guide him inside.He's not sure if it's to keep up appearances or because she wants to torture him, but just as she has every year, Bulma sent them an invite to Capsule Corporation's annual holiday bash. He couldn't give his wife a decent reason why they shouldn't go, they always go, so here they are, rubbing elbows and enjoying festivities with people he doesn't know and has nothing in common with. Bulma greets his wife warmly with a tiny half-Saiyan in her arms that Chi Chi immediately starts cooing over."Oh, she's adorable! What a beautiful baby! Aw and that blue hair, just like her mother..." Bulma silently side eyes Goku as he uses the chance to slip away and make a beeline for the buffet table where he is more than content to spend the rest of the night. He takes a moment to appreciate the expensive and aromatic food spread before digging in with familiar fashion.He only gets about halfway through a roast before two hands slam down on the opposite side of the table. He looks up slowly and sees a black button up with the top three buttons undone revealing an even blacker t-shirt underneath. His gaze travels up a little further to meet fiery black eyes lined by furrowing black brows and black flame-swept hair."Hey, Vegeta." He finishes chewing and tries not to think about how the last several times they've seen each all resulted in arguments about why they aren't seeing each other. Vegeta never says explicitly why, but Goku knows it has something to do with Bulma. He can't win against her, she doesn't fight with fists; And now a small hurt voice in the back of his mind is beginning to believe whatever they had is as good as dead now that she knows.Vegeta stares at him with something implacably dark in his eyes. "What are you doing here?""I was invited.""I don't remember saying you could come," he growls threateningly."Bulma invited me and my family.""B-" He whips his head towards his wife and glares at her then re-centers his narrowed gaze on the home invader. "I don't want you here.""Too bad."He slams his hands on the table again. "I won't repeat myself!" Goku swallows the food in his mouth, sets down what he is working on, stands up full height, and leans over the other Saiyan who has to crank his neck in order to keep eye-contact. Goku is considerably less practiced at it, but can still be intimidating when he wants to be, even against Vegeta."And I said, too bad. It's not your decision this time."Vegeta grips Goku's tie, pulls him down to eye-level, and snarls in his face before pushing him away.And then he's gone. Goku sits back down like nothing happened and continues eating, trying to bury any signs of distress in a mountain of sweets. It hardly helps though, he can still sense Vegeta's ki. It feels so close. But every time he thinks Vegeta is behind him Goku turns and finds no one.Several hours later the speeches are over, the showcases are mostly finished, the music is quieter and people are starting to fall asleep or see themselves out. Goku is slumped on the couch next to a passed-out Yamcha counting the seconds until Chi Chi is ready to go home. There is a commotion at the entrance involving a ruckus of laughter. He turns his head to see what is so funny and finds it is nothing more than bad moment to let his guard down.Something grips his collar and drags him quickly through the glass sliding doors on the other side of the room. He is dropped onto a concrete patio and looks up at Vegeta who is already walking away into the darkness."I want to spar," the familiar gruff voice barks at him.Goku sighs heavily as he picks himself up. "Really? Right now? Vegeta... No." He sees piercing eyes glaring back at him from the darkness and white teeth glinting in a crooked frown."What?""I said no. I don't want to 'spar' with you. I don't want to fight with you, I don't want to talk with you. I don't want to anything with you until yo-"A fist comes at him from the shadows. It is hard and heavy but telegraphed and sloppy. Goku blocks it. A little too easily he thinks. Then a kick. He blocks that too. He blocks everything thrown at him as Vegeta tries to draw them into the darkness. But Goku has already decided he is not going to give Vegeta what he wants tonight. Goku drops his fists and turns to walk back inside. There is a frustrated snarl behind him as something hard wraps itself around Goku's legs and takes him to the ground. A warm narrow body quickly straddles him and tries one last time to strike. The fist lands in the palm of Goku's hand and Goku easily presses it back to its owner. Goku sits up until they're almost nose to nose, Vegeta's hand still prisoner to his own."Tch. Fine," Vegeta mutters.Goku feels the offending limb relax and he lets go. He starts to push Vegeta off of him until he feels something warm and wet against his neck. Goku stops as he feels it travel up by his ear and in response he lets out a noise he wishes he hadn't because it gives Vegeta the nerve to think he has won. Vegeta even begins to say something in his ear, presumably something self-assured about how victory is now his, because it is, or- it would have been. But as soon as Vegeta opens his mouth, he realizes what's going on because he can smell it. Goku stops him and holds him back."You're... drunk? Are you drunk?"Whatever Vegeta was going to say is gone and he takes a defensive tone. "What? No. I can't get drunk. Saiyans don't get drunk." Vegeta doesn't move from his lap, but he does try to hide his symptoms. He closes his mouth and looks away, his eyes darting anywhere except to Goku's amused but accusing expression."I can't believe it.""What!?" he barks with no threat of bite.Goku flops back down on the ground and says with a smile. "You got so drunk you couldn't even land a single hit. Some fight." He snorts. "You suck, Vegeta.""I do not suck!" Goku suddenly feels two hands run up under his shirt as Vegeta continues, "...at fighting." Vegeta's face dip towards the button of his slacks and begin to pull at it with his teeth."Wait, stop."Vegeta stops and waits. "Why?""I don't want to."Vegeta runs one of his hands along the inside of Goku's thigh and smirks. "I don't believe you."Goku pulls Vegeta's hand away and then the rest of him. "Stop. Stop! Look at where we are." Vegeta lifts his head and slowly looks around. "Look how close we are to gettin' caught. Isn't this why you have this rule? Our friends are-""Your friends.""Both our families are inside!""My wife already knows.""Mine doesn't!""I don't care about your wife.""I do!"Vegeta rolls his eyes.Goku stares at him in silent anger for a moment. "Kami, what is--what do you expect from me? When you do this? When all you do is make me wait and wait! Until you decide you want to!" He looks at the figures on the other side of the glass doors just a few meters away and lowers his voice. "Are you the only one who's allowed to say no?" His fingers nearly shake with frustration as he pulls them through his own disheveled spikes. "Maybe I don't want to this time!" Vegeta scoffs rudely in disbelief. Goku shoves him in response. "No. No, Vegeta! You're drunk and I--I don't wanna do this right now! I didn't even wanna come here tonight because I'm tired of dealin' with you like this! Never knowin' if you're gonna try 'n fight me or--or...""Fuck you?" he smirks. "And how would you rather deal with me, Kakarot? Disappear? Leave everything to go live on some moon somewhere? Hm? So you can have me all to yourself all the time?" His hand edges back to Goku's hips."No, but--""You can't have whatever it is that you want. Deal with what you get," he slurs with his mouth already back against Goku's neck and he starts pulling Goku's shirt apart. "It was never going to work any other way. I thought I made that clear from the beginning."Goku grips his wrists and pulls them away from his shirt, though it hardly matters, almost all the buttons are gone now, lost in the yard. "I don't want the stupid moon Vegeta! I just-! It's all you. You, you, you, you, you! Like you're the only one in this relationship an' I just want--"Vegeta scoffs with a sneer. "It's not a relationship, Kakarot.""What?!" Goku stands up dumping the other Saiyan onto the grass. "Then what is it?""Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's just fucking? Like I've told you a thousand fucking times.""That doesn't--" Goku stammers through his thoughts for a few moments. "Then why do you keep breakin' your rules, Vegeta!? Why did ya get drunk and stalk me all night, waiting for the perfect moment when no one was lookin' to drag me out here and--"Vegeta shifts uncomfortably. "I didn't stalk you--""You are riskin' EVERYTHING you claim to care about! An' for what, then? If it's just fu--"Vegeta hesitates. "I--I don't know! Because it... feels... good?" But even Vegeta's intoxicated mind knows that logic isn't going to hold up."Oh. So, that's good enough when you say it?" There is a long unpleasant pause giving Vegeta ample time to regret the mistake he just uttered before Goku continues. "Well, ya know what, Vegeta? Ya know what else feels good?" Vegeta slowly shakes his head. "Punchin' you in the face! So maybe I'll do that! Whenever! I FEEL LIKE!" And he does. Goku slams his fist into the kneeling Saiyan's left temple.Vegeta manages to catch himself and gets up, wobbling, with a ki blast already formed in one hand while the other grabs at the torn collar of Goku's shirt. Goku responds in kind with his own ball of anger cocked back and ready, knowing he's going to win, he's going to win without breaking a sweat.The sliding glass doors open and they are interrupted by Chi Chi's voice."Goku~ Are you out here? It's getting late, Goten's already fallen asleep."Goku turns and opens his mouth to respond but is interrupted by Vegeta shoulder-checking him as he quickly stomps inside, steering very clear of Chi Chi.Goku approaches his wife with a half smile, unsure if he's thankful or not that she interrupted. *** It is a strange message. Especially at three in the morning. Especially since they have been making a clear point to avoid each other for the last several weeks. Especially since he isn't sure what it means. Vegeta 0302Still want to punch me in the face? Goku's first thought is No. I want to go back to sleep. But he can't. The words keep circling around his head, pulling him further and further away from any peace of mind he has managed to find lately until he finally gives in and taps out an answer. Goku 0324yes Vegeta 0324Good. I want to show you something. Goku 0324is it the right or left side? Vegeta 0324Funny. Neither, but if you still want to punch me after you see it, I'll let you. Goku 0326ur going to regret saying that Vegeta 0326I highly doubt it. Goku 0326what is it? Vegeta 0330We leave at dawn. Vegeta is often cryptic and difficult to understand and Goku is usually wrong when he thinks he knows what he's saying, but he can't push away the feeling that this is some kind of bizarre attempt at a peace offering. He second guesses himself though because it's hard to trust those around the other Saiyan, feelings, and as a result he doesn't get another moment of sleep that night. Vegeta all but pushes him through the door of a ship which is still hissing open when he appears at Capsule Corporation. Goku complains but is silenced by Vegeta's apparent hastiness to shove him into a chair. The engine starts and the ship is in the air within two minutes."You are late! The sun is already up, Kakarot!""What're you in such a hurry for?""It's a long journey!" he snips."I could just teleport u-""No! You couldn't. You do not know where it is and I do not know how to give directions to ki!""Ok, ok, fine. You'd think we were stealin' a ship though or somethin'," he mutters to himself."No!" Vegeta snaps. "We're not. She just thinks I'm going... alone."Goku swallows any sharp feelings he has about being rushed and slowly comes to terms with the weight of what Vegeta just admitted. He distracts himself from the heaviness of Vegeta's statement by watching with interest Vegeta handle the tiny craft through the turbulent first few layers of the atmosphere and set them on a course he can trust to the autopilot. As Vegeta begins to give up his controls to a feminine-voiced ship AI, Goku, who stood up as soon as he was able and rested crossed forearms on the back of the pilot's chair, looks down at Vegeta."I didn't know you could fly ships.""With only one mind like Bulma's among its residents your planet's technology is still somewhat archaic, but yes. I can manage. And stop leaning on the head rest, I can feel you breathing down my neck."Goku shifts, annoyed by Vegeta's insistence on being... Vegeta... even when they're alone. "What're we gonna do now?""I never know what you're going to do, Kakarot, but the main cabin is a makeshift gravity chamber so, I am going to train."Goku looks behind himself at the sparsely furnished tiled quarterdeck. "Where are we goin'?""A place I've been before."He frowns. Great.Vegeta notices his distaste for the answer. "What?""I dunno what I expected, but goin' to one of your old slaughter grounds to battle it out for a while wasn't exactly...""It's not--that's not the only thing I did! I traveled all over the galaxy you numskull and not every mission was a purge! I mean, they were but--I wasn't always on mission! I found other things to do with my down time.""Like what?""Like go to backwater mudballs and murder the natives just for fun! Fuck! Kakarot!" He gets up and throws a small bag of capsules at him. "Put this away and stop asking questions."Vegeta walks over to the wall-mounted control panel and starts fiddling with the pressure conditions. Goku walks towards the back of the cabin where a sliding door whirs open, revealing a cramped bedroom with two bunks that will struggle to fit one Saiyan let alone two.He absently wonders if they'll share the room or if Vegeta will make some excuse to sleep in the main cabin, or make him sleep in the main cabin. He considers if he even wants to share a room with Vegeta right now and thinks maybe he'll save them both the trouble and sleep in the main cabin without being asked.As it turns out, they both would sleep in the main cabin. Neither of them had much energy to move after the long punishing hours of exhausting torture Vegeta does for his legitimate training that Goku mistakenly thought he might enjoy too.The taller Saiyan wakes up plagued by aches and pains on a cold floor to the sound of a soft even beeping letting them know they are within the airspace of their destination. Goku shivers and looks across at Vegeta who is slumped to the ground, passed out against the center console. His brows are knotted by irritation even in sleep and Goku's mouth twitches with a little playful quirk. Goku sits up and scoots over to him and begins to absently thread his fingers through Vegeta's coarse spikes of hair, watching carefully to see if the small muscles on his face will relax for a moment.Vegeta wakes at the touch with a soft but sudden inhale and bats Goku's hand away, denying him the small intimacy he rarely even allots to his wife because he is still adjusting to waking up to pleasant things. He ignores Goku's sullen face and looks at the screen above the ship controls."We're here."*** Goku can't stop 'wowing' over the sights as they walk down the streets of a moon sized market jam-packed with more food than he's ever seen in his life. In fact, the curiosity soaked joy that is Goku's reaction is so contagious that even Vegeta can't mask his amusement as the other Saiyan bubbles with questions like, 'What this is?' and 'What does that taste like?,' and most often, 'What is that smeelllll?'But they do not eat yet. Vegeta insists he has to make several stops before they eat and Goku is sure that is the most evil thing Vegeta has ever done. Y'know, besides all the murder. Vegeta forces Goku to stand by as he unsuccessfully attempts to barter and inevitably defaults to his usual crude intimidation tactics at six different shops, making Goku cringe with embarrassment as he quietly apologizes to each one on their way out. Despite Vegeta's labors they only end up filling only half of the capsules he brought with him before Vegeta finally gives up in frustration and says they can go eat.Immediately, Goku's nose is in the air and he tries to follow it to various street carts peddling a string of words he's never heard in his life, but Vegeta keeps taking his hands out of his pockets to pull on Goku's arm and keep him on course."Stop getting distracted. We're going somewhere specific. If it's still here." They wind their way through neon-lit alleyways alive with the sounds of cooking and crafting until they finally arrive at a shabby looking shop in a rougher looking area. Goku is stunned to find that the inside is decadent and rich in savory aromas he takes his time appreciating until they walk up to a front counter. He raises a brow at a slight red-skinned alien with yellow freckles who stares at Vegeta. Then it looks at three pictures on the wall behind it. Then back at Vegeta. Then the alien scurries away as fast as it can manage."Oh good. They remember me."As they wait Goku also looks at the three pictures. There's one of Vegeta, one of Napa, and one of Raditz all next to each other in a neat row beneath bold red lettering. They all look like they're growling or snarling, with blood on their faces and matted hair--except for Napa. Goku can't read the alien wording above it, but he frowns because he's pretty sure it doesn't say, "Welcome.""Vegeta, I think... they're scared of you.""I should hope so. I burned half the place down last time.""Wh-why?!"Vegeta thinks for a few moments before an unsettling smile stretches across his face. "I don't remember.""Yeah, ya do. You just don't wanna tell me.""The point," Vegeta says pushing past Goku's doubt, "is that I do remember they serve the best food I've ever had."A sharply dressed, barely humanoid looking creature with several beady black eyes comes running out with the red skinned alien in tow. He bows to Vegeta and then to Goku while uttering something in a foreign tongue.Vegeta responds with a confident smirk in the same language and they are led to what is clearly the finer part of the establishment. There are thicker softer linens on the tables, the carpeting is plush and red, and there is low lighting coming from extravagant fixtures in the ceiling. They are seated next to each other in the middle of the longest table in the room. A few of the other patrons lift their heads with curious expressions. One table in a far corner gets up and leaves.The staff looks terrified as Vegeta speaks to them and Goku sighs because he knows it's not easy: pleasing Vegeta. He shakes his head as Vegeta inevitably raises his voice and starts arguing with one of the aliens he is talking to. Then he buries his face into his palms as Vegeta proceeds to use a few familiar curse words encouraging the alien to quickly comply or risk taking the chance that Vegeta feels like following through on his threats today. When Goku finally looks back up Vegeta is staring at him with a troubled look, drumming his fingertips on the table."What?" Goku asks."You don't--you aren't..." Vegeta hesitates. He is about to ask Goku a question but is interrupted by the same small red alien from before although now, he is sweating. Whether it is from effort or nervousness Goku can't be sure and suddenly he feels for that little alien because of how hard he's trying to give Vegeta whatever he wants regardless of the years Vegeta's requests, whatever they are, take off his life. And suddenly he doesn't just feel for that alien. He realizes, he is that alien. Bending over backwards to give Vegeta what he wants, when he wants, how he wants, because Vegeta always gets what he wants. He controls everything just to make sure. He even controls what they eat. No, he controls what I eat.Goku looks around and finds himself, for perhaps the first time in his life, less than impressed by the promise of food. It is, after all, no secret that food is the easiest, surest way to Goku's bottomless heart and this is not just any food, it is (supposedly) the best food in the galaxy. So surely, all will be forgotten and forgiven after this, wont it? And as Goku frowns over the natural answer to that question he realizes what this is really about. Vegeta is trying to apologize, on his terms, by guaranteeing Goku's forgiveness.The feeling wells up so fast inside him, he almost chokes. He isn't just upset, he is betrayed. He feels something deep and angry that he doesn't even know how to put words to over what Vegeta is doing even though Goku is pretty sure Vegeta has good intentions in doing it. Maybe that is the worst part. Vegeta is trying to do something… nice.No, the worst part about this, Goku thinks, is that it is working. Vegeta is going to get exactly what he wants because he knows exactly how to satisfy Goku in the worst way. Because ultimately, Goku does want to eat. He wants to eat here. He wants to eat here with Vegeta, and afterwards he wants to finally, finally, have sex with him like nothing is wrong. Nothing at all. He wants it all so bad and yet none of that is really what he wants. It is what Vegeta wants and it isn't fair that Vegeta knows how to weaponize things Goku loves, things he knows Goku will never say no to, in order to get what he wants. Suddenly the most perfect date looks like the cheapest apology he's ever gotten no matter how much Vegeta pays (or threatens) for it.But the sad dark feelings begin to melt away as food starts being piled on their table from end to end. Goku is sure the incredible display is also part of Vegeta's plan to conciliate him and he wishes he could stay mad forever over how well it works but he is starving. He hasn't eaten at all since they departed from Earth and it shows. He sighs as he decides he has lost this battle and he smiles at Vegeta before picking up his utensils.It isn't long before the atmosphere between them warms back up and questions start to pour out of Goku, and Vegeta for once answers them. He points out certain things as sweet or savory or bitter or simply, Just eat it, it's fucking delicious. Anyone left in the restaurant who found it possible to ignore them before now has their focus set on their table.Goku reaches for something stringy and purple in a small circular dish but Vegeta stops him."Don't eat that one.""Why not?" he asks through a mouthful."Because! I said so."Goku looks at the dish and stops chewing. Hm. Sounds an awful lot like he said I should eat that. He stares at it because it is suddenly looking as delicious as he is still mad at Vegeta.The look that crosses Kakarot's face isn't hidden and Vegeta quickly backtracks into giving him the honest reason. "Er-I don't know what it does to other species, but for Saiyans, it's a…" He searches for the right word. "It acts like a... stimulant.""Oh." Yeah. I'm gonna eat that. "So it's like coffee?""Yeah. Sure Kakarot." He smiles in amusement at the poor comparison. "Like coffee.""I like coffee." He uses his longer reach to his advantage and snatches the bowl."Kakarot!""Vegeta!" he mocks the other's coarse irritable voice."Do not--"Goku raises it to his mouth and can see a vein pulse on Vegeta's temple. "Maybe I wanna be the one who breaks the rules sometimes.""No! No!" Vegeta launches himself towards the bowl and tries to wrestle it from his grip. They roll to the ground but Goku still manages to dump the entire thing into his mouth. Vegeta's hands go from the bowl to around his neck."Spit it out! Spit it out! What are you doing!?" He knocks Goku's head against the floor.Goku swallows in several tear filled gulps despite the pressure along his trachea."You idiot!" Vegeta takes the empty bowl and smashes it on the floor.Goku grins, showing him his teeth. "I guess you'll just have to deal with what you get, huh?"Vegeta lets out an angry growl and delivers a solid bruising punch to Goku's cheek. The ensuing brawl knocks most of the food off the table and elicits several frightened shouts from other guests who then flee the room.A few dodged ki blasts and shattered glasses later, Goku finds himself circling the table that Vegeta is now standing on. He pauses. He wants Vegeta there, wants Vegeta on the table, something in his brain says Yes! Corner him! Make him get on the table! Make him do what YOU want! But he's not really sure what to do with him now that he's there so he circles again as Vegeta turns with him, watching him closely.Goku's heart pumped hard and fast through their brief altercation but now he can feel it in his head as he too steps up on the table. His vision begins to sharpen, so does his sense of smell, and the touch of glass and raw meat under his fingertips; every nerve ending in his body is suddenly burning with attention to his surroundings. He can't help but let his eyes dart to every small sound around him, to the quiet shuffling of Vegeta's feet as he tries to back away. His breathing echos in his ears and as he gets closer to Vegeta who is beginning to run out of table. Suddenly Goku knows what he wants.Vegeta's eyes widen with an acute sense of panic as he watches Goku's posture get more aggressive by crouching a little lower with the most terrifying smile, because Vegeta knows Kakarot's 'fuck me' face and that isn't it. "Kakarot," he says slowly putting his hands out, still trying to back away. "Kakarot, wait. I know what you're thinking, and feeling." He laughs awkwardly. "But trust me, it's just the drug. It will pass. Just wait and--" But Goku is already slamming him down onto the table and straddling him. "Fuck! We're in public!""Don't worry, Vegeta~ There's not even anyone we know here!" His words blur together and he runs his hands through his hair with a smile. Goku looks down with a sigh as Vegeta's brows twist over Goku's remark reminding Vegeta of his most recent regrets. Goku sees this and naturally in response, tries to make him feel better.By shredding all of their clothing in a violent chaotic rush. Not one of Vegeta's attempts to save anything is successful. Goku even rips his own blue sash from his waist and burns it to ash with ki before leaning down almost nose to nose with Vegeta with an ever widening smile. Then he lets his energy spike and his hair turn gold. Vegeta is sure in that moment he feels his heart stop due to a terrible, confusing combination of fear and arousal he never wants to feel again."Oooooh wooow, Vegeta!" Goku sits up and throws his arms up and behind his head in a flex. "This feels amaaaazing, you should transform too."But he doesn't. He lays there looking around wondering how he is going to get out of this because he is not about to try and take on someone he barely rivals in power, who isn't supposed to be here, who already doesn't mind a little pain sober, who is high as all hell and maybe, maybe not harboring a grudge at the moment. Those are not winning conditions! He doesn't want to have to kill the idiot. (And have to explain it.) Not today, anyway! But the situation is starting to look desperate. The seconds draw on and his feelings remain admittedly mixed on the matter. We didn't even make it to the main course..."Vegeta!" Goku snaps as he grabs Vegeta's face and turns it back to him. "I said you should transform too." Vegeta decides he doesn't have much choice other than to oblige him and very hesitantly lets his ki pull him into Super Saiyan.Goku's mouth is starting to hurt from all his smiling but the expression never relents as he leans in and stares curiously into Vegeta's now blue eyes, "Yeah. Wow. You look… super." He laughs at his own joke and Vegeta laughs along too. Nervously.He watches Goku begin to shift and move and he knows exactly what is going to happen now as Goku, who is determined to position himself right, decides they are going to fuck, they are going to fuck here and they are going to fuck now. Goku is in charge of what they eat now and he has decided Vegeta is the main course.
At least he doesn't want to fight m--Oh fu--
The initial thrust down to make hips touch hips cracks the table. The second one brings them to the floor and Goku feels Vegeta's half-hearted resistance finally to dissolve into indulgence. Goku lets out a deep cathartic sigh as he moves.He starts fast, he hits hard, and he doesn't slow down. He stops Vegeta from grabbing his hips. He stops him from clutching his back, his shoulders, his neck. He finds Vegeta's persistent hands and pins them to the floor with ki. Vegeta lets out a startled noise as he suddenly feels ki around his ankles too. Vegeta is going to get what he wants. But he is going to get it on Goku's terms for once.Goku continues driving himself back onto him with an intensity he did not know he could utilize so well in this position and he genuinely wonders why Vegeta never lets him do it like this. The wonder is fleeting. It doesn't matter. They are doing it now.Goku feels him trying to buck into him, trying to disrupt his pace, so he stops. He clamps his thighs tight to Vegeta's waist and rib cage and sits completely still on top of him, scowling down at the older Saiyan."Ah, Kakarot--what--what are you doing? I was so--I want--" He writhes under him with tightly shut eyes still trying to thrust his hips up into him even though he is already as deep as he can go."What do you want, Vegeta?" He watches Vegeta's face twist with the torture that is being so close and so unable to find it."What?" Vegeta cracks open his eyes to watch the sweat pour down Goku's body."I asked you what you want. Me? Do you want me, Vegeta?"Vegeta throws his head back as he feels Goku punish his silence with pressure. "Ah, Yes! Yes! Kakarot! Ah! I want you, I want you so fucking bad!""Hm~ yeah... I know. But you know what? I still wanna punch you."Vegeta blinks. "...What?""Yeah. After all this. I still wanna punch you." Goku grins and he slams his fist into Vegeta's face because he did say he could. And to Goku's surprise Vegeta lets him! Not that he has much of a choice.Vegeta angrily spits out blood. He was wholly unprepared for that and far too close to respond properly. "What the fuck, Kakarot!?" He struggles against the ki bonds he wasn't aware Goku had been able to learn simply from seeing him 'demonstrate' one rainy afternoon. But there is nothing he can do as Goku remains still on top of Vegeta, except for his hand, which he uses to quickly finish himself, so Vegeta could feel his body tighten around him over and over again as he comes. Vegeta lets out pained desperate noises as Goku tortures him with the best kind of pleasure. Only once Goku is done and satisfied are Vegeta's hands finally freed. They quickly find deep bruising purchase on Goku's ass and it only takes three hard thrusts before Goku feels warmth spilling inside of him and the last glows of orgasm echo through his body."Fuck, Kakarot. That was..." He rubs his jaw suddenly uncomfortable with the realization. "...amazing." He says in a quiet breathless voice. Goku nods in agreement and wavers over him for a moment and Vegeta watches several concerning expressions cross Goku's face before--"'Geta… I dun… feel sooo guu-""Shit--Shit! Kakarot!" Vegeta shoves Goku's head to the side just in time for him to vomit next to his face, instead of on it and he exhales in narrow relief.Goku collapses on top of him and breathes deeply. "Sorry," he mumbles. "'mhungry."Vegeta rolls his eyes. "Of course you are." He looks around at the restaurant he inadvertently destroyed a second time. "Well, we can't eat here anymore, so what do you want to do?" And while there is an edge of pissed off sarcasm in his voice, it is a genuine question. He is fresh out of ideas and fresh out of the energy to put up with Goku's complaints if he doesn't stuff himself stupid before they leave this planet.Goku sighs as he takes his time thinking about it. "Street food smelled good, didn'it? 'S pro'lly safe..."So they go outside in torn table cloth and fill up the rest of the capsules Vegeta brought with the best smelling food Goku's nose can find. They end the night sitting on a curb munching on their fifth… whatever it is… that a kind older woman offered the two nearly naked Saiyans who are three times her size (free of charge of course). The come down finally hits completely and Goku's head falls onto Veget's shoulder unconscious, mid-bite.Vegeta sighs, considers leaving him in an alley, reluctantly throws the idiot over his shoulder, and carries him back to the ship grumbling the entire way about what a disaster things always are whenever he takes Goku anywhere, even though it had been kind of… fun.And despite waking up with the worst hangover in existence, everything is different now. Everything is better. Goku takes special care to never break that rule again, but that's only because he doesn't need to. Goku is content to let Vegeta pretend they are still following his perfect rules, because he won. Vegeta is his now more than ever even though he doesn't show it, and the next time Goku shows up, instead of starting a fight, Vegeta is all but running to him by asking, what do you want?
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goten walks up to the gravity room out of his own free will. It isn’t like Vegeta has ever made him train. He just expects him to, because he knows he will. Goten never turns down a challenge. His ego is almost as compulsively self-destructive as Vegeta’s. Almost .He stomach flips over as he stands at the door. He can feel the soft humming under his feet. It's turned up full blast. He swallows as he realizes he has no idea what kind of spar he is in store for today. Vegeta didn't seem genuinely upset with him, so he doesn't think it is going to be a beatdown. A quiet voice inside him hums in disappointment. The rest of him feels vacant after the events of the night before. It has never been that bad before. Vegeta’s ruined me. The door opens before he can put his hand on it. *** "You almost had me with that last one," Vegeta chides sarcastically. He knows Goten is struggling, probably dehydrated, probably hung over, probably still reeling from whatever trouble he and Trunks got into last night. He knows this is an awful spar. But there's no better time to train than when you absolutely don't want to . So he gives him a little bit of an edge to keep him invested."Stop going easy on me!" Goten shouts with frustration at the older Saiyan. They've been alternating drills and sparring for hours now and he's exhausted. He keeps getting distracted by the night before. It makes him feel sick. He keeps getting distracted by Vegeta. It makes him uncomfortable. Now top it off with the fact that he knows the full Saiyan is just toying with him.Another wave of alcohol induced dizziness washes over Goten and he starts to lose his footing. Vegeta smirks, throws another punch, and just like that the half Saiyan is out like a light.It is a few moments later when Goten comes to still laying on the floor. The gravity is off and Vegeta is sitting against the wall nearby. The full Saiyan notices and looks down at him."I never go easy on you."Goten sits up. "Yeah, I know." "But you're right, you’re a better fighter when you're sober. Better than I was at your age. Maybe.”Goten scoffs. “Wow. Thanks.” I guess I should train harder then because your hits are just as hard when you're drunk. Goten smiles briefly at his own thoughts, then regrets them. “But today you were distracted.”Vegeta doesn’t ask what’s wrong, because he doesn’t know how. But Goten hears the question anyway. “Last night I…” Goten hesitates. “I almost killed someone.”There is a long pause as Vegeta furrows his brow. “Unintentionally?”Goten rubs the heel of his palms into his eyes with a deep sigh. “This is why I’m fucked up,” he mumbles before laughing as he raises his head. “Yes! Unintentionally! What?”Vegeta shifts with a troubled expression. “Goten. I am…” He pauses as he searches for the right word. “Trying.”Goten’s shoulders drop because that might be the most vulnerable thing Vegeta has ever said to him. Sober. “Why bother?”Vegeta chuffs with a shake of his head. "Everything I do is for a purpose. To teach you something." Because your idiot father never will. Really? I was starting to think it was because you had a sadistic streak . "Why." It comes out as more of a command than a question. Because I don't want you to be like him. Abandoning everything and everything just because you can. "So you make the right choices."Goten snorts. "Since when have you ever cared about my choi--"Vegeta puts up his hand to silence him. "Why do you do this? Why do you fight?""To get stronge-""No. Not why do you train .” His scowl returns. “You can get stronger without fighting me all the time. Why do you fight? "Goten is caught off guard by the candid curiosity in Vegeta’s tone. I don't think I've ever had a conversation with him that didn't result in an argument. "I--I don't know. I used to--when I was little--because it was fun. Because…” that’s what I always saw my dad doing, so… “I thought… I was supposed to. But now..." He can't stop a painful memory from bubbling up. It was one of so many times after his father’s disappearance that Goten showed up trying to pick a fight. Vegeta didn't even have to throw a punch to put him on the ground. Just a careful dodge and a foot in the right place. But like always, Goten stood back up.“Fight me!”"Why should I waste my time? Your father didn’t even want to train you.” He regrets the words as soon as they leave his mouth and tries to backtrack, “Why do you keep picking fights you know you are going to lose?” "B-because when he comes ba-" His words are broken by sniffs and his voice starts to crack."He's not coming back." Vegeta regrets that too. "Stop crying. Saiyans don’t cry."“But I’ve seen you cry!” Goten points accusingly with tears running down his face but Vegeta has already turned away.“Saiyans… don’t cry,” he repeats, wishing he hadn’t said a damned thing because he can't deal with the painful truth. So he leaves. He walks away from the broken child on the lawn who needs anything but to be alone right now, and he silently resolves to start training Goten the next time he comes for a fight because, in the end, Vegeta is right, Goten’s father didn’t bother to train him, he is never coming back, and those punches were sloppy. Goten makes a resolve too as he flies home. If Saiyan’s don’t cry, then they get angry. So, in his Saiyan anger he decides burn everything of his father's. Burn everything he will never come back for. Or whatever he can manage to get his hands on. "Now, I guess it's just in my blood. I want... I want to fight all the time. I’m… angry. It's just... instinct, maybe. I don’t know." There's a long quiet pause and Vegeta stares intensely at him. "You always said I was more Saiyan than human. Maybe that’s it."Vegeta lets out a huff of laughter. You must be. "Why do you?" For a moment the half Saiyan is sure Vegeta won’t answer, that this will turn into an argument after all, but instead Vegeta sighs heavily as he pulls his gaze towards the ceiling."You have heard the stories, haven’t you?”Goten raises a brow. “I’ve heard Trunks’ version of them.” Trunks, who is known for putting a light positive spin on the worst of situations, or slurring through it.Vegeta chuffs. “The truth is that fighting has been a part of my life since I can remember. Every waking moment was a fight under Frieza and it was quickly beaten into me that there is no other way to live. I enjoyed the rush of battle, but viciousness and mercilessness became a necessity to stay alive, something I could not separate myself from even when I wasn’t in danger. " He stops and considers his next words carefully. "When I met Kakarot, things changed. It became about pride. I couldn't stand being bested by him. I was the Prince of our people. I had to be better. But I never was. And through that, he showed me there was a different way to live. But I have never been very good at it. Now..." I do it to pass the time, to not fall behind while waiting for… “ I use fighting as a way to train you because I see the same struggle in you that I have in myself, but… I’m not always successful. Sometimes, I just want to fight, too,” he admits.Goten’s mouth parts slightly in shock. It's the most Goten has ever heard the man say about anything in a single sitting. “You fight… because of me?”“If that’s how you want to look at it. It’s not like you ever gave me a choice.” Vegeta pauses thoughtfully. “Kakarot never did either.”"Why didn't you go looking for him?" The words leave Goten's mouth before he can think about how invasive they are, how much they prod at the secrets Vegeta thinks are private. “You’ve done that before, haven’t you? Weren’t you two friends?” Fuck Buddies? Lovers? Someshit? “We were not, I cared little for our petty rivalry by the time he left,” he says quickly. “I had no reason to leave and every reason to stay.” The full Saiyan gives him a sidelong glance. "Why haven't you? I always thought you would. I thought that was why you trained, why you fought. So you could find him and fight him ."Goten frowns over the evasiveness of Vegeta’s answer while he considers his own. “No. Why would I go looking for someone who didn’t care? And if I left then I’d just prove everyone right, I’d be just like…” He sighs. “I don’t know. I used to hope he'd come back, when I was younger. So I could prove to him that it didn’t matter that he left, that I didn't need him. I was stronger.But now…” He looks up thoughtfully. “I don’t even want that. I hope he is dead. Died trying to save the universe or something. Because that’s better than him still being out there, not caring."Vegeta says nothing in response."Do you really still think he will?""Come back?" Vegeta asks.The half Saiyan nods."No," he liesGoten follows suit, "Yeah, me neither."It's strange for Vegeta to look at this carbon copy of his rival and see that he is a completely different person. Someone who's probably more like him than his own son. Goten is definitely more like him than he was like Kakarot. Maybe that's not... a good thing. But Vegeta doesn't feel bad for being so hard on him all the time. It's made Goten better, stronger, hasn't it? And it gives Vegeta a reason to keep fighting. Even though it hurts.The older Saiyan stands up and extends his hand. "Goten.""Hm?" Goten looks at his hand in confusion before realizing he is offering it and reluctantly taking it."Recover.” Vegeta pulls him up. “I will not give you an edge tomorrow." Then he turns his back to him and leaves.Goten rolls his eyes. Of course.
***
The conversation about why they both keep finding themselves in that room day after day, year after year sits deeper with Goten than he is comfortable with. It makes him wonder if there is another way, a
better
way, to get what he wants,
needs,
because now every time Goten looks at the full Saiyan during training or brooding in his customary way around the compound, he feels the icey hatred that has encased him for so long beginning to melt, allowing room for something
...else.
There must be another way…
He sulks as he watches Vegeta strip off a ki singed tank top. …
to get his attention.
There must be another way not only because the torn bloodied gi which now lay crumpled up in the corner of his closet is completely unsalvageable,
I really had intended on keeping it,
but also because while, yes, their affair...
or whatever
...is apparently so fucked up it is exploitable, risking his life everytime he wants to get laid is really not a viable long term solution to his problem.
And also because, last
but not least,
it is becoming very obvious that Vegeta has not stopped thinking about that night. This bothers him because Goten doesn’t want Vegeta to think about his
father
. He is the absolute last and worst person Goten’s accomplishments could possibly be given to.
And sleeping with Vegeta is an accomplishment.
Their affair--or whatever--isn’t something he is interested in holding over Vegeta’s head as blackmail anymore.
Not after a night like that.
It is now just…
in the way
because he wants Vegeta to see
him
, not his father.
So he left. Big. Fucking. Deal. It’s been fifteen stupid fucking years. Why are you so hung up on him? I'm stronger than him. I'm faster than him. I'm smarter than him. I'm BETTER than him! You’ve even said it yourself. And!!! I’m... here. I’m right here. And we don’t have to keep
fighting
, Vegeta
He doesn't even try to hide his stares when they train now. It doesn't matter. Vegeta doesn't notice. He has never noticed. Too caught up in his own pain. Nor does the gi fix itself. So Goten waits for another one of Vegeta’s rare lapses in judgment that even more rarely ever works out for anyone. He waits again and lets it all eat at him.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
They don't know it, but it is the last time they will see each other like this for a very long time. Goku takes the mission not because it has any training value whatsoever or because it can't easily have been taken care of by someone else, but because apparently the animals the poachers are hunting to extinction are extraordinarily delicious and the planet is pretty. He takes it because it just seems like a nice place to get away.The last several years have been easy up until recently, but Vegeta is becoming distant again. He always has an excuse lately why he can't see Goku, even though Goku can feel that he is doing nothing except locking himself up in the gravity chamber. Alone. It doesn't feel like his usual training-because-I'm-too-sexually-frustrated-to-function though. It feels to Goku like the type of training Vegeta used to do when they first met, the I-need-to-escape-the-world type of training. So, it takes much longer than usual to convince Vegeta to go. Goku feels the upset in his ki even when he finally relents. Something is bothering him. But that is why Goku persists. Even though it is far. Too far, Vegeta complains. But Instant Transmission can close any gap.
...Can't it?
It takes no time at all once they arrive to scare away a few miscreants. Stopping himself and Vegeta from finishing what the poachers started, however, once they had tried one of the small fuzzy creatures, is difficult. But they manage.The natives are grateful and offer them gracious hospitality which Goku tries to convince Vegeta is what he needs right now. Not more training, not a world destroying spar, not quality time with their demanding kids and families... just, relax. Their bickering goes on until Vegeta sees the colorful corals reflecting back at him from the bottom of the lake pocked landscape and only then does he finally, reluctantly agree to stay for a few hours.It is here that Goku learns Vegeta is not only an adept swimmer, but he actively seems to enjoy it. He lays on the grassy bank of one of the natural pools and lets his eyes lazily follow Vegeta to and fro. Watching the deep blue waters wash over his quick powerful strokes is mesmerizing. With a half-lidded gaze, he watches Vegeta step out of the water. He watches his thick, soaking-wet hair resting on his shoulders begin to perk back up. He watches beads of water drip all the way down his chiseled body with a happy hum and decides there is nothing he would rather be doing and nowhere he'd rather be. And he wonders, does Vegeta ever feel this way? His heart starts thumping faster and faster until Vegeta scowls down at him and asks what his idiot face keeps staring at."Vegeta..." he whines."What?" he says nearing the shirtless, sun-kissed Saiyan.Goku doesn't say anything and closes his eyes. He feels the air shift as Vegeta sits next to him and dips his feet back into the water. Vegeta leans back and rests his head in the pleasant dip in Goku's lower back and they lay like that for a long time. *** Every now and then, usually when he's under the influence of something--Vegeta has found that Earth's alcohol has a particularly strong knack for inducing it--he gets the sensation that his tail is back. But sometimes the feeling occurs without mind-altering substances too, like when he's on the edge of sleep, or when he's hit a block in training, or sometimes when he can't seem to express the turbulent emotions within him, he feels a phantom tail try to do the talking.At first, the sensation was immensely painful. His tail felt knotted and kinked while trying to bind tightly around his waist. Sometimes, if he was especially stressed, it even felt like it was being cut off all over again. But after a slip from himself about tail sensitivities and Bulma's curiosity on the matter, a little experimentation went a long way and n ow, after many years, he feels it hanging like a normal tail. He doesn't even have to worry about someone stepping on it or pulling it because it's not really there. It is relaxed just like he is, and he feels it loosely curling up and down in a rare invisible gesture of… Hn~ maybe I did need this. As he reflects on how much he misses his tail, he also wonders does Kakarot ever feel this way? Goku's brow twitches when he feels Vegeta turn over and a hand dip beneath his sash. "What’re you doin’?" he mumbles.There is no answer as fingers carefully search for a sensitive scar and begin pressing upon it in a peculiar way. Goku yelps and Vegeta immediately pulls back, eyes wide with surprise. "Was that painful?""Yes! Very!" Goku flips onto his side getting his backside away from the hands that never let him find any rest."It wasn't supposed to be.""Well, it was! And I didn’t like it, so--" He starts to move away from Vegeta with a frown."Wait, wait, let me... let me try something?"Goku eyes him suspiciously and sees the usual overconfidence laced with something else, something curious."Give me five minutes and I promise you’ll like it," he says in that deep, mischievous tone he only uses when they're alone together.Goku debates for a moment. That look Vegeta has usually results in something worth the initial discomfort, but that grin is not reaffirming in the slightest. "Two minutes and then I’m blastin’ you to the next lake over and goin’ to sleep.""Fine, fine, two minutes." Vegeta waves him off. "Now lay back down, how you were." Goku rolls back onto his stomach with a huff and Vegeta disappears from in front of him. Goku feels him get on all fours and hover over his back for a moment before his deft fingers tug at his sash, loosening it but never pulling it down enough to expose him. There is a long pause as Vegeta's fingertips fidget around the edges of the fabric. It makes Goku a little nervous because the other Saiyan rarely wastes his time hesitating.“Do you ever...” A hot breath runs down Goku's back and stops over scarred skin. "Still feel your tail?"“Huh? No, I don’t think s-aaaah~” A tongue slides carefully, barely touching skin, around the sensitive scar several times before finally gently running right through the middle. All the strength drains from Goku's body and he lets out a low involuntary moan. "V-Vegeta~ what--" He trembles as he feels a rush of warmth spread from where his tail used to be to the rest of his body, "What is--""Oh? Didn't you know the nerve endings there were sensitive to pleasure as well as pain?" He watches Goku struggle to shake his head. "What kind of Saiyan doesn’t know that?"Goku has half a mind to hit him for stopping what he was doing to speak. "I--I didn’t--" He shivers."You mean you've never felt this?" Vegeta presses his mouth back to the raised skin. "Not even by accident?" he asks softly with his lips against it."A-ah!" His body starts to go rigid and he starts to grind his hips ground in an attempt to relieve the pressure that has suddenly built up in front. "No--I've never--"“You can not be that naive Kakarot. When did you lose your tail?""F-five, s-six may-maybe. I dunno. Unh~"Vegeta smirks at Goku's strained attempts to cope with new sensations. "Hn. I guess you can be. Haven't you at leastthought about what we could do if only you had your tail?”Goku bites his lip and moans softly in the negative. But I am now."Then it’s a good thing I have.”"Aha~ Ah~ Vegeta, please, I think I'm gonna--""Fuck yes you are," Vegeta mumbles as he starts drawing his tongue against him again a little harder and faster, but hopefully not enough to cause discomfort. He isn't used to it after all. Then while one hand holds Goku's hips still, the other finds its way through the fabric and wraps tightly around the base of Goku's cock and that is all it takes.Goku moans loudly in relief as his fingers press into the dirt and his hips jerk forward releasing a tension he barely even had time to register building up. He is left panting from how quickly and thoroughly he was brought from the edge of sleep to the crash of completion."Convinced in less than a minute?" Vegeta clicks his tongue with a smile. "And here I was thinking you had challenged me."Goku shoots him a bratty pout before trying to blast him with ki but Vegeta is ready for it and he misses. Goku makes sure he gets his revenge though. If Vegeta has decided today's kink is seeing how fast he can make Goku cum, then Goku's is, naturally, going to be seeing how long he can force Vegeta to hold out. And this is revenge after all, so Goku makes sure he takes his time. As he later takes Vegeta to the back of his throat and holds him there until Vegeta is cursing fluently in languages he's never heard he chokes trying to laugh because it's funny to him and endearing how impatient and short-tempered Vegeta is for someone with so much endurance.It is times like these that Goku enjoys the most. When they are laughing and fighting and fucking and none of it means anything but it means the world to him. He feels guilty sometimes knowing he has never, and will never give this to Chi Chi, this kind of satisfaction, physical and... otherwise. He hasn't quite figured out what that other part is, but it is there. It has been there for a long time. He thinks maybe even since Vegeta first came to Earth and challenged him, it was there. Hours later Goku is leaning back in the water with his arms up on the lake edge, looking at the wispy clouds imagining different shapes when he feels Vegeta who was on the other side of the lake just a moment ago start brushing against his abdomen with his nose and mouth. The motion surprises him and he looks down at Vegeta, who usually likes to bite, with curious eyes and watches as he instead presses his lips to his skin higher and higher on Goku's body, occasionally dipping his tongue out to taste the more sensitive areas. When Vegeta reaches his neck, Goku stares at him with his dark endless pools of trust and places his hand under his chin to turn Vegeta's face up to meet his."What?" Vegeta taunts with a tilt of his head.It isn't what he wants for their first kiss: Vegeta frantically splashing in the water trying to escape while Goku pulls him under, doing his best to soak it in passion. But that is how it happens.When they come up for air Vegeta is pissed, wiping his mouth with an angry look. His long hair is too heavy with water to stand on end and lays down messily instead, partially covering his face making him look... adorable. But Goku will never say that out loud. He still isn't sure he'd put it past Vegeta to kill him on the spot for such slander."Was it all you hoped and dreamed it would be?" Vegeta grumbles.Goku lets out a chuckle. "Yeah, pretty much.""Don't get used it." He huffs. "It's not happening again.""You always say that when we break one of your rules ...and then we do it again anyway." He hums and gets out of the lake using his ki to dry off. "Soon, you'll be beggin’ me to break your last condition.” He twists his face into a lewd scowl and does his best to mimic Vegeta. "'Fuck! Oh fuck, Kakarot! Yes! Fuck me! Fuck me harder! Yes! Fuck me like a fucking Saiyan, Kakarot! Ah~’” He looks over at Vegeta’s shocked expression with a smile. “That’ll be you.”Vegeta chuffs at his impression. Do I really curse that much? "Impossible." He begins to backstroke off into the center of the lake. "You’re too soft to fuck me like a Saiyan. You'd hold out on me and I'd end up doing all the work. ...I'm sure neither of us would like it at all."Goku gives him a mischievous look. "I dunno, Vegeta... I am stronger than you.""While it's possible that you are marginally stronger..." He floats in the water thinking about how Goku's clever attempts to get him to rise to the challenge are getting better and better. But still not working, Kakarot. "I've already shown you that doesn't matter. Though, I guess it is a shame we'll never get to find out for sure that I do it best." He goes below the surface securing his place as having the last word. They fuck and fight and sleep and fuck and fight again. The day does feel long, but now the sun is starting to set just as it does on Earth, so neither of them question the other unusual celestial patterns in the sky above them. They set up a small fire and Goku leans on Vegeta's shoulder yawning, waiting for the small creatures they caught to cook. Both of their gazes rest on the brilliant colors being painted across the clouds by the dual suns' low zenith."We should stay for another day or two.""No. We can't stay.""Why not?"Vegeta stays silent for several moments. "Because I promised her I would come back.""It would just be a few more days""No..." He looks at Goku and slowly tilts his once-rival's head up. "It wouldn’t." Goku feels Vegeta's pulse pick up and melts against him as he is pulled in. The way Vegeta begins moving his lips against his is deep and languid. It is the kiss Goku wishes he got the first time and he threads his fingers through Vegeta's damp hair trying to get as much out of it has he can. He tries to memorize every motion, every touch, every taste. Every passing second becomes more fervent than the last because Goku knows something is wrong now. He knows because Vegeta lets Goku wrap his arms around him and kiss him like it's the end of the world. He knows because Vegeta kisses him back like Goku's the best thing he's ever tasted. And it's So. Damn. Good.Vegeta doesn't pull away until he feels the pangs of guilt set in too deep to ignore and when he does they both are breathless and blushing. When did I let this become more than it was supposed to be?Goku, who has never felt Vegeta be so honest with him as he was during that kiss, knows that Vegeta is now shut down. Saying anything will most likely result in an argument that goes nowhere and he doesn't want to be the one responsible for ruining such a perfect day. If Goku knew this would be the last time that they would see each other like this, he would have tried harder to convince Vegeta to stay longer, maybe stay forever. But he doesn't know. So he sits by the fire next to him in silence. If Vegeta had known, he would have told Goku that his wife is dying. That he needs him right now as more than just a casual Saiyan fuck buddy--he always has. But he doesn't know. And he is too consumed with guilt and grief and shame to admit it anyway. So he pokes at the fire quietly trying not think about anything.They eat and IT back to Earth without exchanging another word. When they arrive it is early and Earth is green and warm. They exchange confused glances because they are both quite sure everything was greyer and colder when they left. The last thing Goku sees before he teleports back home is Bulma, who looks paler and thinner than the last time he saw her, walk outside and slap her husband before breaking down into tears on him.He would find out later how sick she was, how quickly her health was deteriorating over the last year. How the stress of her husband going missing for weeks, almost two months, when he said he'd be gone for just a few days only made it worse. It didn’t feel like that long… But Chi Chi assures him, very loudly as soon as he arrives home, that he did indeed miss radish season. And Gohan’s wedding. And his youngest son’s birthday. Again. Vegeta never comes to him again after that. He never responds to his messages either. In fact they do not see each other again until the night of her funeral several months later.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
After Trunks gives a sloppy but well-received speech at the annual holiday party he realizes he's already fucked up and hasn't even had a chance to find Goten and harass him about why he didn't bring his new beau. When he finally finds a moment to wander through the music, the people, the dancing, the laughter, and other fruits of his sixteen hour days he wonders if his mother would be proud. He wonders if he’s done right by the legacy she left behind. Several people tell him so, but the obsessively perfectionist side of him inherited from his father doubts it and mentally pulls up three or four projects she left behind that he could in fact be working on right now. The thought doesn't linger long before it is drowned out by the distracting festivities.
He bubbles past a particularly sober Vegeta, which wouldn't be unusual except that this is one of the few times a year where even Vegeta finds it within himself to relax and become tolerably social because maybe deep down he liked to enjoy himself too on occasion, and because
she
would have wanted it.
If Trunks paid more attention he might have noticed that his father also looks exhausted. Maybe if he didn’t work so much he might have even realized he is exhausted because he hasn't been sleeping right; he has been training harder than usual and for longer hours, sometimes with Goten, but mostly without. Trunks wouldn’t have known why of course, his father had never been the talking-type, but it is because Vegeta is beginning to fray at the seams over the concern that he can no longer distinguish dreams from reality.
I swear… he was really there...
But Trunks… is drunk. He isn't paying attention. So the Capsule Corporation heir doesn’t worry over the sight of a scowling sober Vegeta among a crowd of drunk happy people as he struggles to find his other half.
At some point a new element adds herself to the equation and he is almost unable to stand now because she is hanging all over him trying very indiscreetly to drag him off somewhere more secluded, but Trunks insists he must see Goten first.
"Ten, Ten, Ten, Ten." Trunks bumps into him, spilling half of Goten’s drink., and quickly pulls him into the kitchen away from the crowd.
"What?” Goten cocks a brow as he flicks alcohol off his hand. “You finally decided she's not enough Saiyan for you?"
Pan sticks out her tongue at him and whispers something in Trunks' ear which makes his face glow an even brighter shade of red.
"Pan!" He shakes her off. "Why don't you make my best friend here another drink, instead. Since you spilled it." Pan shoots daggers at him but complies.
"Actually, you spilled my drink.” Goten smirks.
Trunks watches her walk away with a sappy glowing smile that makes Goten cringe. "I think I'm gonna marry her."
"You said that at last year's party too."
"Yeah, but this time, it's for real, she's like--" he slurs something but Goten can't understand what he says. "Oh shit, Ten, I almost forgot! Where's your new boy toy?"
Goten rolls his eyes. "We’re... having an off week."
"Yeah? He 'not enough Saiyan for you'?" Trunks snorts and throws his arm around Goten turning him towards the party and gestures toward the crowded living room. "Fuck him.”
Honestly, Trunks, you have no idea how hard I’ve been trying to do just that.
Goten hasn't been obsessively tracking Vegeta's ki, but he is far more aware of him than Trunks is and his eyes immediately zero in on his target.
“Look at all the other possibilities you have tonight."
It's quite a site. A destroyer of worlds, a notorious planet conqueror, a war-torn child soldier turned ruthless mercenary, turned family man, turned… depressed single parent. He stands with rigid posture, furrowed brows, trying his best not to rip someone's head off as they ask him about the rumors surrounding Capsule Corporations weapon department.
Fuck! If I could just manage to--If he wasn’t so--
"Happy holidays, uncle." Pan returns and pushes a bottle into his chest.
He sips on it before nearly spitting it out. "What did you put in this?"
Pan laughs. “Secret recipe.”
“Tastes like shit.” He takes another swig and exhales with a sour taste in his mouth.
"You didn’t make me one?” Trunks whines.
“No, because you don’t need it.” She glares at her only sometimes significant other.
Trunks scoffs. “What? I’m not even as drunk as I was last year. I even finished the speech!”
Pan begins sarcastically clapping her hands in applause. “What an improvement! Man of the Year!”
Trunks frowns. “I’ve cut down. A lot.”
“The only thing you’ve
downed
are, like, the three bottles before I even got here.”
Goten rolls his eyes.
Really? You guys are gonna do this now? What a fucking buzzkill.
“Yeah! Because it’s a party, babe!”
“We’ve talked about this! You have a serious--!”
Goten interrupts before she can get another word, “Yeah, Pan, c’mon. It’s a fuckin’ party.” He offers the bottle to Trunks who reaches for it but hesitates when he sees the look of unabashed offense on Pan’s face. The ensuing unpleasant silence is then interrupted by a high pitch squealing that makes Goten's heart drop into his stomach.
"'TEEEEN!"
Goten’s eyes flutter closed with defeat. "You told me she wasn’t coming. You told me--you betrayed me, Trunks, why?"
Trunks takes a step back with a guilty shrug. “Sorry. I thought she wasn’t, but she..." He sighs. "...surprised me earlier.”
Goten doesn't even try to avoid the flash of blue careening through the room. He lets it smash into him knocking him to the floor. Goten wheezes beneath her trying to catch his breath again, struggling to dislodge her knees from his rib cage.
"Trunks!" She pouts up at her brother. "You said Ten wasn’t going to be here!" She turns her big blue eyes back to Goten. “I knew he was lying. You're always here. And I’ve been looking for you aaaaaall night.”
“Yeah well, at least telling you that gave him some time to enjoy himself.” Trunks nauseates at the gleeful mess that is his sister. "Before he had to worry for his safety."
She stands up and dusts herself off before offering Goten her hand. “I’ve never put him in any
serious
danger." Goten shudders a little bit as he remembers her attempts last year, and the year before, and the year before that... and thinks she might be right but it is definitely not for lack of trying. He doesn’t take her hand as he starts to stand, but she grabs him and pulls him up anyway before yanking him in close.
His panicked eyes search for an exit or something he can use as a distraction, a weapon even.
Desperate times call for desperate measures!
He looks to his friend for help but Trunks has already abandoned the issue and slumped into a chair with Pan in his lap previous argument all but forgotten.
"Bra, how many times do I have to tell you," he mutters as he tries to untangle her body from his arm. "I'm really not fuckin’ interested!"
"You don't have to play coy with me." She leans in to whisper in his ear, "I'm eighteen now."
He sends a final desperate plea to Trunks only to see that Pan has silently used the commotion to move in for the kill. Trunks mouths ‘I'm sorry’ with a half-smile as he is dragged off to who-knows-where. They disappear out the glass kitchen door to the outside leaving him alone with--
"Oh, Ten, there's music! Won't you dance with me? Just one dance." No matter where he looks there are big ocean eyes or lush sky colored curls in the way. The undefeatable weapons that can get her almost anything she wants.
Almost.
“Just one. Please, ‘Ten? Ple~ase. Please, please please!”
She doesn’t give him the chance to refuse, she never does, before pulling him into the party and up against her curvy chest.
"Bra," He whines with discomfort. “Please don’t do this.”
"You know, Ten.” She brushes a finger teasingly long the underside of his jaw that he instinctively pulls away from. “I’m starting to think you don’t like me!” Then she smirks a very Vegeta smirk.
He rolls his eyes. “That's because I don’t! For the last time, I’m--!”
“Is it the dress?” She giggles at his growing frustration. “Tell me it’s the dress.”
“It’s not. The fucking. Dress!” He is a hundred percent sure he can not physically express more abject exasperation.
At least she’s not using any tech this time. …Is she?
He looks around in a silent panic.
“I know, I know. It's Versace, so of course it’s not the dress.” She sighs. “Hmm… what else could it be? It’s not like there are a lot of possibilities, I’m literally perfect. In fact, there are only two reasons why a man doesn't like me”
“Only two?” He looks down at her doubtfully.
“Yes, and one doesn’t apply, so you must be telling the truth about not liking pretty girls after all,” she says, lolling her head back with dramatic defeat.
“What's... the other reason?"
She leans in very close to Goten’s face with big bright eyes and a bigger brighter smile. "Wouldn’t you like to know?" Then she runs her hand a little lower down his back.He recoils reflexively but she doesn’t let him go and presses a finger to his lips. "Once dance. You promised."
“I didn’t!” But she forces them to turn slowly in rhythm anyway. "Why are you doing this? WHY do you always do this? What can I say to make you stop!?"
"I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Nothing, probably. It's just too fun to see you get all riled up. That look of fear like there’s no escape." She bites her lip and wraps her arms around his waist, tugging him close. "Plus... I heard a rumor that you had a very specific
problem
. So I thought we might finally have something in common to bring us
closer together
." She presses him closer.
“You what?! Trunks! What the fuck!" He looks around for his friend but instead sees that Vegeta is now watching them with an unreadable expression.
Oh fuck. Just kill me now! Make it quick!
"Relax, Ten. Dance with me. Tell me about your 'problem.'"
He tries to escape her grip, but none of his training has prepared him for the feeling of her nails clamping down on his shoulders, forcing him to bite his tongue to keep from shouting out. "It's really not your concern." He strains trying not to power up and ruin Trunks’ party for the third year in a row.
"Oh, come on Ten. Who else are you gonna talk to about these things? Trunks is useless with love. Obviously. So who else do you have? Gohan?" She snorts. “Your one night stands? Yeah, no.”
His eyes filled with contempt for her. "Bra, let go of me.” He tries to remove at least one of her hands. “Your dad is--"
"I don't care." She bats her lashes at him
He screams internally.
This bitch!
"So tell me, are you breaking every boy you sleep with or what?"
He lets out a barely repressed noise of frustration as he tries one more time to tear himself away without causing a scene but she's half-saiyan too and that drink is starting to kick in.
"What? Am I wrong?" He makes an angry face confirming her suspicions. "I didn't think so."
"Fuck you. What are you gonna do, huh? Are ya gonna try and fuck my problems away?"
"If only it were that easy." She frowns mockingly at him. “But you don’t like girls.”
“Ha!” He throws his head back. "Even if I was straight and desperate I wouldn’t fuck you. What, are humans not enough for you either or something? Can't they handle how much of a psychotic whore you are?"
She pulls away from him with very real annoyance painted across her face. "You know what, Ten? Maybe they can’t and maybe, just maybe, you're not exactly the only half-Saiyan with stress management issues. And maybe I even had a few solutions to offer you because I’m so fucking generous, but now, since you've been so rude, I've changed my mind."
"What could you possibly offer me? An arrest warrant? No fucking thank you-”
She scoffs indignantly. “Who told you about that? Uhg! Nevermind! Fucking Trunks.” She rolls her eyes. “You’re right, Ten. It's not like I have access to the best scientific minds and latest technology. There must be
nothing
I can offer you."
His eyes widen and his mouth opens slightly in shock as she smiles smugly at him.
"T-Trunks would--"
"He doesn't know what he's looking for, he doesn't have problems. Or, at least, not the same problems. And maybe it's something I've been working on myself, you don't know. Maybe if you'd been nice and danced with me like I wanted you would've had a quick fix.”
He looks back towards Vegeta but he isn't there any more.
"What's the matter? Forgot to keep a close eye on your surroundings?"
His eyes start scanning the room, but there's no need. There's a chill on the back of his neck and he knows exactly where the last full Saiyan is as Bra’s face lights up.
"I hope I'm not interrupting." The gruff voice behind him makes him wince.
This is what she wanted. For rejecting her all these years. This blue... she-demon. She planned my murder.
"Papa!" She throws her arms up with a broad grin before hugging her father who only ever accepts the gesture from her. "Of course not! We were just
dancing!
"
Goten musters the courage to turn his head. His blood runs cold because Vegeta is attempting to smile. It's not the same kind of smile you see on anyone other than a former mass murderer and it's one of his more unsettling expressions.
The larger than average canines really don't help.
“Are you enjoying the party?" He lets go of her.
She nods excitedly. “Goten was just telling me about all the training he’s been doing.”
Vegeta nods and gives Goten a strange look before his daughter continues. “I just don’t know how you do it. All that strength, and you never lose control,” she says, sneering at Goten.
Goten’s face reddens in embarrassment as his eyes quickly flash to Vegeta.
“Gosh, I feel like I’ve missed
so
much. It’s been
so
long since I’ve been home~”
“Because you knew if you came back they’d put you back in the lab where you belong,” Goten mutters.
She giggles and pushes on his chest with a gesture that looks playful but felt threatening from the force behind it and the fact that she made sure he felt her nails. “Oh, Goten. Speaking of labs! We’ll have to chat more later, I think I see an investor wandering off to places he shouldn’t!” She waves before dashing off into the crowd.
Goten attempts to make a similar motion, but a hand on his shoulder stops him. "No. Not you. What were you doing with my daughter?"
It's so strange being intimidated by someone a foot shorter than you.
"N-nothing."
"Nothing?"
Goten nods.
"That did not look like 'nothing.' Are you not interested in my daughter?"
"No! I promise!" He holds his hands up trying to brace for the blow he knows is coming. “Please! I’d never--”
"Then why do you let her act like that around you?”
He lowers his hands and laughs nervously. “What?”
Vegeta studies him for a moment. “Do you think I will not approve?"
"I--What? No--that’s… I mean, yes, I am also trying to avoid being murdered,” he mutters. “But--”
“I would approve.” He crosses his arms.
Goten snorts in surprise. “Oookay... Well, that’s.. .uhhhaha…” His brows furrow as he slowly backs up until he hits a wall in an empty hallway, still not entirely sure if he was going to make it out of this conversation alive or not because
I think I would actually rather you kill me than date your daughter.
Vegeta follows him and, Goten realizes, has cornered him.
“Even though you have made an absolute embarrassment out of her at the last three holiday parties by upsetting her with your continued rejections.” Vegeta frowns and stares at him with a rare perplexed expression. “She is clearly still interested in you.”"Yeah, wow. That’s…” Goten laughs. “Not how I would put it.” I’m pretty sure it’s pronounced, ‘assault.’ Goten shifts uncomfortably under the sudden attention he has been seeking so desperately and is now getting for all the wrong reasons.
“You do not return that interest?”
Goten quickly shakes his head.
“At all?” Vegeta asks, obviously confused.
"No, I’m…” He hesitates. “You really don’t know?”
Vegeta huffs. “Know what?”
“You've trained with me since I was, like, ten. You see me almost every day," he slurs the last few words and the lights now start to blur.
That drink is really kicking in.
Vegeta looks at him expectantly, waiting for him to elaborate. Goten can see all the tiny worry lines buried within his pure Saiyan features just beginning to make themselves apparent. It is hard to deny how handsome he is, even when he looks so sad and tired. Hn. He doesn’t even look a day over 25.
“Oh come on!” Goten gestures. “You’ve probably met more of my one-night stands than Trunks has because you were the one draggin’ me home half the time. I even--” He cuts himself off. “How do you not know?”
At this point it should be fuckin’ obvious.!
But these things are not obvious to someone whose internal measures for attractiveness blossomed at a time in Vegeta’s life when he did not have any cultural context to ground them in except war. If he ever felt one way or the other towards any particular brand of exterior, Saiyanoid or otherwise, it has long been drowned by his flooding desire for strength above all else. And sometimes he forgets he is relatively unique in that regard, that most creatures do not obsessively value one trait so highly.
Vegeta leans a little closer, still a bit unsure what to make of Goten's interactions with his daughter even though he has noticed over the years that Goten seems to prefer male company. He has to think about it. He has to slowly recall that he has in fact only ever seen Goten with men. And it still takes another minute before, Oh! Vegeta utters a foreign sound in surprise. “Just like--”
“What?”
“You… Never mind. It’s nothing.” Suddenly he feels a little awkward for pressing the issue. He knows his daughter can be quite a handful and does not always have the most stable or agreeable disposition. “I did not mean to pry.”
Goten shakes his head.
How does he still not get it? HOW? I've done everything but straight up ask if he wants to fuck. You know what? Fuck it. Fuck it!
Goten’s anxieties and worries about his own mortality in that moment suddenly drop from his face as he settles on doing what is apparently the only way to get Vegeta's attention the way he wants. He runs his fingers along the edge of Vegeta's angular jawline.
The full Saiyan twitches and pulls back slightly. “What are you--” He doesn't get to finish because Goten has pulled him into a sloppy, alcohol-soaked college-boy kiss. There is a short moment where Goten is sure he succeeded. He found another way! They’re not going to fight, they’re going to f--
But then a hand presses gently on his chest and pushes him back. Vegeta's expression is complex and difficult to diffuse. The only two emotions Goten can pinpoint for sure are discomfort and confusion. Goten is just a little bit too past his limit to catch the rest. Then Vegeta is gone.
Goten looks around. The party is winding down and no one is paying him any attention. Bra, Trunks, Pan none of them are anywhere to be seen.
Thank Kami because... did I just--
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Now, my lovely audience, we’re going to take one final step Back this chapter and another even bigger one Forward… so strap in! This is it.
It's the night of Bulma's funeral and Goku is flying at breakneck speed to the first place he can think of for a moment of peace and quiet. He lands on Kami's lookout without a sound. Dende lifts his head from his garden and smiles softly. Goku is on the verge of tears and sits on the edge pressing his face into his hands until he breaks and finally lets out a quiet sob.
"I didn't see you at the funeral."
He lets out a frustrated tear soaked noise. "Yeah, I know," he says sharper than he means. "She was my first friend and I cared about her a lot but--” He rubs at his face trying to dry the streaks away. “That's just not how I do things."
Dende nods his head in silence, feeling a bit out of place for a conversation like this. "You can use the chamber if you wish. Take all the time you need."
Goku runs his fingers through his hair and shakes his head. "No. I don't... wanna train right now."
It's caused enough problems this week
and being in the endless void isn't exactly appealing at the moment.
Dende bows and walks away.
Goku tries to remember the last time he felt happy, the last time he felt not alone, not alien. He can't help the same place coming to mind over and over despite trying to push it away. But he's never been one for denial. So he gives in. He raises two fingers to his forehead and disappears.
He reappears tens of thousands of light years away. Further than he knows the others can sense. He's always been the best at it.
His boots touch down onto soft ground. He is on a hill where a small pack of brown fuzzy creatures with several black beady eyes skitter away from his sudden arrival. He spots a bright pool of water and walks towards it.
The gravity is heavy here, much heavier than on Earth. Good place for meditation, he thinks. He plans only to stay for a few weeks, a couple months at most. Then I will go back... Like nothing happened. Like nothing ever happened. Just like he wants. But first he needs a moment away because it's always been easy to do that. To leave.
It's exactly what he had hoped for and just what he needed for the first few weeks. Of course he does a little heavy lifting around town for the locals when he first arrives but before long he is spending long uninterrupted days doing slow practiced katas under the heavy air.
As he lays on the bank of a pool, he soaks up the last of the rays from the suns watching several moons begin to rise, eclipsing the view of the galaxy. He thinks he’s never seen a place so beautiful. But it isn't home and it doesn’t feel the same as it did when he was here last. The flicker of guilt that inevitably begins to stay on for longer and longer until it is a steady flame is enough to convince him this isn't where he should be even though it's not the first...
or probably the last...
time he's done something like this. It isn't fair to his sons to just up and leave. They might be used to it, but
I should be getting back... for them...
It is about this time though, that he is thinking of staying just a
little
longer, when an elder of the town a few miles away shows up. These people are kind and some of the most peaceful he's ever encountered. It's a shame their planet is a target for poaching.
Those little fuzzy creatures do taste delicious,
he licks his lips thinking about them.
"Hello."
Goku sits up and smiles at the old man.
"You are quite the talk of our village."
"Still? I've been here a little while."
"Yes. But your abilities are really quite special to see. Last time you came with your friend, didn't you? Another soldier?"
Goku frowns at the reminder, although it is why he picked this planet over the dozens of others he has visited over the years taking occasional odd jobs with the Galaxy Patrol for extra cash and well,
an excuse to get away.
“We are not friends.”
“Oh, I’m… sorry. I just assumed.” The old man’s brows crinkle. "We… wanted to thank you. For everything you've done."
"It's nothing."
The man hands him a small container of green soupy looking liquid.
His Saiyan appetite wakes up. "Oh! Thanks, what's this?"
"We noticed you like to eat, it's a delicacy you won’t find anywhere else in the galaxy. The process for making it is unique to our planet because of its spatial properties."
“Oh! Thanks!” But before he can swallow it all in his usual Saiyan fashion he is prompted by the man’s curiosity.
"Where's your planet?"
Goku looks up at the stars. It takes him a few moments to find it. He senses with some trouble because it's so far, but he is able to point in a rough direction in the sky. "It's there... But you can't see it."
"You spend a lot of time looking at the sky here."
"It looks so different. I've never seen the stars move… like this…” He gestures vaguely to the darkening sky. “So fast."
"They aren’t moving faster, we’re moving slower. Time is funny, isn’t it?"
"Hm?" He has the container up to his mouth but again he hesitates before eating because of this alien’s unusual comments.
"I have never been off this planet, but from what I understand we're close to the center of the galaxy, so the gravity--"
"Wait, what did you say before? About time?"
"It… passes slower here, I believe."
"Slower?" Goku stares at him with his usual foolish grin, because that is impossible.
"Yes, I think so. We've had outsiders mention it to us before. It’s why we have such a hard time finding help to defend... you didn't notice on your last visit?"
"What?" He tries to remember. "No, I don't--" He thinks back to not quite a year ago, when he was here last. They were only here for a few hours, not quite the whole day.
Weren’t we?
It didn't take long to scare away some poachers.
Afterwards we went to the lakes and--
It was so beautiful but--
Vegeta said we couldn't stay.
He tries to remember when they got back.
But I was still thinkin’ ‘bout how we had
--
Bulma, she was mad. She was still alive... Chi Chi was mad too. But she’s always mad. Was it Goten? Who mentioned something about it having been weeks? Almost two mon--
Crushing fear begins to set in as he realizes he has made a
terrible
mistake.
No. no, no no--how long have I been--It couldn't--that’s not possible!!!
"I need to leave. Now." The realization is sudden and comes out rude. He hands the container back to the man without even a sip, taps two fingers to his forehead and disappears from the man's sight.
He reappears back on earth. He knows which ki he searched for but he doesn't see her. He looks around and recognizes Mount Paozu, but it looks different, the house is more worn.
Was the paint always chipping like that?
There's a figure hanging up laundry with her back to him. Her hair is almost completely gray and she looks much older than she should for just a few months. He approaches her quietly, hesitantly.
“Chi Chi?”
When she turns around all the color drains from her face and she collapses. He barely manages to catch her.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Ten days. For ten days since the party Vegeta has successfully evaded him. He has canceled on all of their spars and all of their training. ‘Cancel’ being used loosely here, since there is no conversation, the chamber is just already locked and turned up and doesn't turn off again until it has to in order to avoid overheating.Goten supposes there are worse reactions. Vegeta could have decided to get back in touch with his inner murderous psychopath. Ignoring him (more than usual) is pretty tame considering who Vegeta is, or was. But Goddamn is this getting annoying! Goten ends up having to go alone to the wasteland just to blow off steam which is unsatisfying at best and self destructive at worst because everything he does on his own just ends in frustrated venting. He sits there, blasting the same cracked mountain until it completely disintegrates and no matter how much wanton destruction he causes none of it makes him feel any better. The few times Goten manages to catch Vegeta he doesn't say a word. He walks past him, ignoring every word out of Goten’s mouth. Not that he ever says anything worth paying attention to anyway , Vegeta thinks as he narrowly avoids him that morning. But these constant attempts to explain away what he did are getting particularly annoying because Vegeta has no idea how to, or any intention of dealing with… WHY would he--He’s my s--Or no, he’s Kakarot’s--but I’m still his--his… teacher? his…? He honestly isn’t sure how to qualify the strained but constant relationship he has with his once-rival’s youngest son, but it certainly isn’t THAT!!! It’s now midday and Vegeta can still feel the half Saiyan's energy outside the door. He's waiting there like he has been every day this week and Vegeta can hardly focus on the kata he's doing.Goten lets out a huff of boredom and hears a loud thud behind him. It shakes the ground. He's only got about fifteen minutes left before it shuts off, five if he keeps that up. Goten has no idea what he's going to say this time, nothing has worked so far, but he has to do something. Vegeta is his access to ninety percent of the training equipment after all. That's all that seems to matter to either of us anyway… The humming ceases and Goten perks up with a bad idea with just seconds to spare. The door hisses open and Goten waits for a moment before getting up and turning around. He almost regrets snapping the band out from his hair because for the first time since Bulma's death he sees Vegeta's normal scowl lost to something… Else. Vegeta's mouth is still slightly open in as much shock as his tight angry expressions can manage. The pain of being reminded stops him where he stands. He is about to say it even though he promised himself he would never say it. Again. He said it once and regretted it immediately . He is probably the only adult in Goten’s life who ever put in a conscious effort not to say it because he knows how much Goten hates it and he also hates reminding himself.But still, when was the last time I've seen him with his hair like that? Six? Seven years? He was just a boy, but now-- 'Similar' doesn't quite cut it. Chi Chi is right, they are damn near identical. Eerily so. Almost frighteningly so. Vegeta didn't even realize how much so until today. Same stupid face. Same stupid hair. Same stupid smile--It was hard enough already to look at Goten. But now, he can’t even find the words. Until the brat opens his mouth to speak.“Fuckin’ finally,” Goten mutters.At the half’s words the full Saiyan quickly reminds himself for the hundredth time that he has in fact not willed his dreams into reality, that Kakarot is not here and will never be here.. “Er, I mean, hey Vegeta…” Goten tries to backtrack and look surprised. Like he didn't anticipate letting his hair loose would have this kind of effect. It did on everyone. But Oh if he didn’t just discover that Vegeta has the wonderful habit of always giving him the best reactions. What a difference a few years could make. He hopes it might help convince Vegeta, but suddenly he’s not sure it won’t just provoke him."What are you doing?” Vegeta snaps. “…Here?""I just... wanted to train.” Goten forces a smile but it is clear Vegeta’s patience with him is already waning."It is empty now. Go. Use the machine. Train." He walks past him and heads towards the kitchen door."I--but--you--Vegeta, wait!" Goten follows close on his heels.“What?!” Vegeta whips around before Goten can reach out and grab his shoulder. “What do you want? I said it is empty! What is your problem?”Goten hesitates as he watches the sweat drip so slowly down Vegeta’s bare chest. "I--I just... it’s--” You’re my problem. “What, boy?! I do not have all day for your useless stammering!” I’m actually pretty sure you do. He scoffs. “Do you wanna know my problem? Really? Do you? Or are you just asking so you have something new to yell at me about? Because I’ll fucking tell you if you really wanna know!”Vegeta hesitates and doesn’t say anything because something gives him the feeling that he doesn’t want to know, and Goten doesn’t want to talk about it, but Goten continues anyway.“Well, since you obviously wanna know so badly!” He pauses and struggles to force the truth out. “I nearly killed the last guy I fucked!” he finally admits. “That’s what I meant when I told you I almost killed someone. It wasn’t an argument or a fight; I was trying to fuck him. But instead! I shattered his hips, probably his spine, I don’t know! But lately, everytime I try to… I can't control… Humans are just so… so weak compared to me!" Compared to you. “And this!” He gestures to the gravity room. “It’s not helping! And I--I don't know what to do anymore! An’ so now I’m… I’m asking ‘cause I thought you might know… what to do,” he finally confesses, hoping Vegeta catches his drift without him actually having to say it.Vegeta's face begins to turn red with embarrassment. "Isn't this more a conversation for Trunks? Or Gohan?" he says quietly. Or ANYONE else? He tries to walk away but Goten keeps following him.“You think I wanna talk to you about this with you? You don’t think I've already asked Trunks? Of course I have! But... he has Pan and Gohan he--We don’t--Videl is strong, really strong for a human. They got lucky, I don’t know, but they just don't seem to have this problem!""What on Earth makes you think that I do?"“I--I don’t know!” Maybe ‘cause you fucked my dad? “‘Cause Trunks’ mom--” The full Saiyan visibly tenses at the mention. "She never did any martial arts, she didn't fight. She wasn’t strong..." Huh. That actually… this is starting to make a lot more sense… for you at least. "I--” With flustered embarrassed body language, Vegeta makes it apparent that Goten is right, he definitely does also have this problem. But he never has solved it. Only ran away from it with K-- Vegeta shakes the thought from his head and forces his focus away from his past failures and onto the young man standing in front of him that he is currently failing. "She was strong in… other ways.”He asks desperately, “But how did you--”“The relationship I had with my wife is none of your concern!” he spits aggressively. “Why don't you talk to Bra about this? She is also half-Saiyan and very inventiv-""Oh my-! How do you still not-! For the last time! I am not ‘interested’ in your crazy bitch of a dau-!" Goten is not prepared for an instantaneous fist to his eye socket, but he should have been.Before his head snaps back, Vegeta already has his arm cocked back, ready to land another blow, but he holds back when Goten stumbles and doesn't take a stance. "Choose your next words carefully, boy."The half Saiyan just slumps against the rounded wall of the gravity room waiting for Vegeta to relax but he never does. Why did I think this was going to work. It’s fucking Vegeta! Literally! “I just--How did you... deal with it?”Vegeta's eyes search the half-Saiyan's face for a reason to hit him again, but he can’t read minds so he doesn’t find any. He lowers his fist and shrugs with discomfort. "I'm sure you'll grow out of this… problem... if you keep working on your contr-""What? I'll 'grow out of-' I'm twenty three!!""You are barely out of adolescence for a Saiyan.""I'm only half Saiyan! I'm an adult! I have a life, I want to have a life! I don't want to be an ascetic asshole who trains all day like you!""Tch. Maybe if you did you wouldn't have these problems.""A-are you fucking serious? Train? That’s your answer? That’s your answer to everything! Isn't it? Bad day? Train. Anger issues? Train. Dad left? TRAIN! Not getting fucked the way you want? GUESS WHAT!? More training! That's always the fucking answer!" And he's starting to believe him."It is how I have survived my entire life! So what the hell do you want me to say?! Be more careful?! In my experience that was never very effective!" He silently curses himself for the truth as soon as it leaves him.“Then what was?! Obviously you managed somehow!”Vegeta looks away and never answers. He shuts down because he can't stand this conversation anymore. It is driving him to places in his mind that he hates thinking about. Things he wished he could have said, shouldn’t have said, never said, things he'd never been able to fix, things he’d never dealt with, pushed away deep and out of sight.Goten lets out a sharp dry noise of exasperation over Vegeta’s unwillingness to come to the obvious, convenient, solution that would help us both since he knows how Vegeta dealt with this problem."What if….” He takes a deep breath to try and quell his nerves. “I was just thinking… since you’re Saiyan too, y’know, and you don’t… you’re not…." He laughs nervously while Vegeta begins to recoil at the disconcerting words fumbling from the half-Saiyan’s mouth and in a desperate last attempt reaches his hand back behind his head to rub his neck as he meets Vegeta’s scowl “...maybe sometimes we could do more than spa--” “Stop. Goten. Stop.” The urge to explode evaporates as the void always eating away at his insides fills with a very deeply unsettling flood of discomfort. How can they be so different and so exactly the same? He doesn’t know when Goten started repeating that irritating quirk, but it is enough to turn his stomach with regret. Vegeta has to look away. He doesn't understand how Goten can even consider what he is suggesting. He rubs at the creases on his forehead and avoids eye contact as he tries to fathom a possible response for such an inappropriate request. “I do not know what I have done to give you any indication that I train with you for any other reason than to shape you as a warrior, but I assure you that is not, and will never be, the case.” He pauses, but still doesn’t meet Goten’s troubled gaze. He can’t . “I can no longer continue training you. In fact." He lets out a shaky breath. "I think you should go home."Goten doesn’t move. “W-what?”“Go home, Goten.”“But this is my…” He watches Vegeta walk away into the compound. “Fine! I don't need your stupid training anyway!” *** An hour later Goten is in the guest room he has lived in since childhood laying on bed putting off packing instead, wondering if Vegeta would change his answer if he told him he knows. Not that he has the emotional energy for another argument right now or felt his chances of success to be very high at the moment, but it sure beats thinking about where he’d rather go: Gohan’s… or my mother’s? Uhg. Fuck. And what am I gonna tell Trunks? ‘Yeah so your dad kinda kicked me out because after calling your sister a crazy bitch (which she is) I made probably the worst pass of my life at him and uh, well, shockingly he said no! Ha! So crazy right? I mean what’s with him!? Who turns down a Super Saiyan?’ He looks at his phone and begins tapping out a message, but he never sends it.He throws a small ki ball up toward the ceiling then catches it when it comes back down. And again he throws it as he simmers over his miserable failure. You were eager enough to jump my father at the first sign of him. Didn’t even have to say anything. Then again, he isn't his father, as much as everyone wants to think so. Except for Vegeta. Ironic. One throw too hard sends the ki ball right through the ceiling. He rolls his eyes, sighs and he gets up brushing the drywall off his face.He begins idly sorting through his clothes, tossing some aside and some toward a small duffle bag until he finds himself staring at orange. At least I got one good run out of it. He puts on one of the faded blue weighted wristbands and snorts at how light it is. I can't believe he trained with these. He picks up the shirt and frowns at the red stains running down the front. Maybe I could get away with just wearing the pants. He picks them up and inspects their wearability. Honestly, if we fought again before hand, at night, I could probably-- His thoughts are interrupted by a light tapping at the door. His pulse quickens as he senses who it is. He frantically begins stuffing the shirt and pants into his bag.The knocking continues. "Goten." says a stern quiet voice."Yeah! Just a sec!" He scrambles to his feet and kicks his bag away into the closet."Goten?""I'm packing. I thought you wanted me to leave," he says sharpley as the door opens."I…” Vegeta pauses as he takes in the sight of a room he’s not sure he recalls ever entering before. He never had any reason to, it is easy enough to just scream at each other through the walls most days, and the first thing he thinks is… Disgusting. Goten’s room is disgusting. Every drawer is open, most of them emptied onto the floor. Everything is crooked. The bed isn’t even lined up against the wall. Clothes are every which way with no possible way to tell what is clean and what isn’t. Every single piece of furniture is broken in some way or another. The full length mirror that had once hung on the closet door has been shattered and its pieces deeply embedded into the carpeting letting Vegeta know it has been broken for quite some time. Months. Maybe years. There isn’t a single bit of clear usable surface space. Vegeta looks to his left and picks up a plate that, just as he suspects, is stuck to the pizza box underneath. He sets it back down and looks up at the newest damage to Goten’s ceiling. What… the…. fuck… Goten follows Vegeta’s thought process through all of this because it is written all over his face as he looks around. “Well? Did you need something? Or did you just stop by to organize my life for me by staring at it?”“I--no.” How do you live like this? “I came to tell you that I've changed my mind. Not about--” He looks at the floor with a scowl. “I mean that you can...” His gaze scans again over the various scattered mostly damaged contents of his room. “...stay if you need to," he continues somewhat reluctantly. “And you are free to keep using the gravity chamber.” "Oh." There is a long awkward pause."You don’t have to, if you don’t want to, but…” Gohan always had the Namekian… But Goten has... If I don't at least try to guide this pain in the ass... “I know control is difficult. It... was difficult for me too.”"No, no. Yeah, that’s, uh, thanks. ‘preciate that." Well that’s gonna make things easier. “I’m--yeah, I’m gonna stay. And I'm sorry ‘bout earlier, I don’t know what I was thinking. I just--school stress, you know? You’re right. More training is exactly what I need,” he says a little too enthusiastically for someone who was just coldly rejected.Vegeta nods slowly then tilts his head curiously when something about Goten catches his attention. Goten follows his line of sight to his wrist, to the blue cloth on his wrist. Shit- "Is that--You kept those?” he asks with surprise. Careful dark eyes begin searching his room for the rest and spot a dark blue sash laying on the floor half hidden under the bed, missed in the rush to hide orange.Goten quickly grabs the sash and holds it behind his back.“You have his sash too? I didn’t know you kept it,” he says softly .Vegeta has to stop himself from immediately asking to see it. Why he even has it. How long he’s had it.“Uh… yeah… yeah I did… uh…” Goten chuckles anxiously, his heart thumping out of his chest in fear, as Vegeta looks around with particular interest in Goten’s closet.“Where’s the rest?” “Why do you care?”“I don’t,” Vegeta snaps. “I just…” He gestures to the mess that is Goten’s room. “...don’t think it should be kept in such condit--”Goten takes a step back. “I’ll keep it however I want.”Vegeta narrows his eyes in suspicion. “Where’s the rest?”“I don’t know. I don’t have it.” “But you have his sash.” He furrows his brows as Goten keeps holding it behind his back. “You’re hiding something.” He takes a step forward.“No,” Goten steps back. “Maybe I just don’t trust you with it, all you do is curse his name.”Vegeta scoffs. “I’m not going to damage it, Goten. Where’s the rest?” Yeah, you kinda already did though… “I don’t know.”“What are you hiding?” Vegeta reaches for it but Goten switches hands and holds it out of reach.“Nothing! Why do you wanna see it so bad?”Vegeta lurches forward and reaches it, but Goten is taller. They struggle for a moment before Vegeta finally succeeds in freeing it from Goten’s grip without tearing it. He backs up, wrapping his fingers into the cloth with a quiet reverence. He looks down at the soft blue fabric always haunting his dreams. He thumbs at the blood on it. Wait, blood? He squints at the deep red spots. “Goten,” he says without looking up. “Where did you get this?”“Gohan gave it to me.”Vegeta shakes his head doubtfully as he takes a step toward the half close enough to see blood on the wristband too. “Where did you get this? Did you find this?” He takes Goten’s resounding nervous silence as a yes and his eyes widen in shock. “Where? Where did you find this?!" Vegeta starts backing him into the wall."I--" Nervous laughter escapes him. "I didn’t--I already told you, Gohan, he--""Goten! Where did you find this? He was here?! He was! I knew he--” No. He couldn't have been. Goten, that morning, said --Vegeta backs off as he sorts through his confusion. But if Kakarot never--Then whose blood--he stares down at the sash. Then back up at Goten, who still hasn't put his hair back up.There is an audible snapping from inside Vegeta's head as the pieces finally click together. "You..." He turns back towards Goten very very slowly. Goten forces a sheepish grin hoping Vegeta did not just figure out what he thinks he did.“YOU!?!” Vegeta flashes into super Saiyan and launches at Goten, taking him through three walls outside.Vegeta's sudden barrage of hits is uncoordinated but they are hard and heavy. Over and over again his fists land on Goten's face, his energy surges, crackling in the air around them. Goten is able to block the worst of them but even the ones that make it through are of bone cracking strength.Goten manages to power up and get a hard elbow into Vegeta's jaw knocking his head to the side disrupting his volley. His first thought is to escape and make a break for it and he does but Vegeta is fueled by anger. He catches Goten and pins him onto his stomach."Who the fuck do you think you are!? I fucking raised you!"He grips Goten's hair and pulls up lifting the upper half of his body off the ground along with it. Goten struggles to reach back, trying to break Vegeta's hold. He screams out in agony as the full Saiyan pulls harder. Goten hears his back starting to pop while blood drips in a steady stream from his mouth to a pool on the ground.“How did you know?! How did you--” He can't even get out the words as he slams his fist into Goten’s kidney. “No one knew but her! NO ONE!" His deep gruff voice cracks under the volume and the weight of realization. Goten only screams in response.“HOW DID YOU KNOW?!”“Gr-gravity room footage! ““IMPOSSIBLE! I DELETED IT ALL! ALL OF IT! YEARS AGO!”“Wh-what? It was just a few weeks ago, AHhh! Ahha! I saw you--it looked like you were saying his nAAHh! Name! But I couldn’t hear you, so I didn't-!" Vegeta pulls up harder on his hair. "I didn't know for sure until-! Ahhh--until--AAAAAAHHH!""Until I was too fucked up to tell the difference?! And told you myself?! And for what?!" he roars into his ear. “So you could-!? You used me?! For--you planned this! You waited! Until I was-! AHH!” He begins smashing Goten’s face into the ground over and over again until the concrete below him is dust. Goten can barely recall what day it is or what his name is when Vegeta stops smashing his head in favor of wailing on his spine."You disgusting piece of shit! I gave you everything I gave to Trunks! And this is how--You think you can just mess with other people’s lives?! You have NO idea what the FUCK was between us!"Worse though, than the feeling of pain now surging through his body, is the other feeling that accompanies it when Vegeta stops hitting him and instead, leans down, against him, chest on back, his mouth almost touching his ear. Fff--yes~ Goten’s already bruising back instinctively arches in response. Now fuck m--Wait, what? "You sick son of a bitch.” Vegeta begins to speak in a low deadly voice that makes Goten want to bite his lip and dig his fingers into the ground. “This is turning you on, isn’t it? What the fuck is wrong with you?"Goten just whimpers. Why is this making me-- “Tch. No. No, no, no, no. I’m not going to fuck you, Goten." He cranks Goten's head back further so they can make eye contact. "I’m going to kill y--” And then the whole world stops. Everything is silent. The pain. The adrenaline. The hatred. The shameless uncomfortable pleasure in it all. For one long quiet moment everything is muted because in that moment another energy, one neither of them has felt in almost fifteen years, blinks into existence.It's quiet at first, Vegeta's dry mirthless laughter, but it grows louder, almost manic until he interrupts himself. "He always had good timing."Goten doesn't struggle. He can’t. Not even when he feels the heat of Vegeta’s ki. He is too overwhelmed by shock. And he thinks this is the moment he is going to die. This is his execution and it is almost poetic. Dying just in time for his father to come back. But the ki never touches his skin. Instead, the air around him fills with a putrid burning smell and his face hits the floor, finally released from the tension of Vegeta’s fist.“There.” Vegeta rolls off, allowing the half Saiyan to quickly get back to his feet. “Now no one will ever mistake you again.” He faces Vegeta and gets into a stance with his left eye already swollen shut, his nose shattered and his lip split in several places but Vegeta never stands. He lays there staring at the sky."Go home, Goten. Go home and see if he’s glad he just saved your miserable life.”Goten lifts his hand to his hair then backs away slowly. He breaks into a sprint across the yard until he clears Capsule Corporation property and takes off into the sky.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He can't see where he's going. Far too much blood, sweat, and swelling all over his face. He knows about where he should be though as he comes to a stop. He lands by the river just a little ways from the house that isn’t home and the ki that has been missing for so long as something painful begins to well up inside him. He runs his fingers through his hair over and over and over again even though they keep getting caught as he tries to hold down the knot of tension in his throat.
He is saved by the distraction of Gohan's fast approaching energy that he doesn’t have the physical or mental wherewithal to try and avoid.
"'Ten! Ten, you’re here! You felt it too! He’s--” Gohan is breathless when he finally lands and reaches him. “What are you-?”
“Gohan, can I... stay with you? For a few days?"
“I--what?” Gohan's jaw drops when his little brother turns to face him. “Oh my god!! Goten! What th--Your face! And your hair? What--Are you ok?"
Right on cue, protective brother.
"Shut up, I’m fine,” he mumbles. “It's just from... training.”
"Training? Wh-? But Goten, your hair--"
"Yeah! I know! ...My hair," he says quietly.
“Who did this? How did--You’re still bleeding, did this happen just now?! Ten, did Veget--”
“Gohan! I said shut up! Don’t fucking worry about it! I’m fine. I just need… a place to stay.”
Gohan can’t mask his concern, but he also knows arguing won’t get them anywhere. “Yeah... Of course you can stay with me.” He gives his little brother a moment before bringing up what brought them to this side of the mountains in the first place. “Ten, you feel it too, right?”
“Fuckin’ duh. What do you think I’m doing here?”
“And you’re... you're sure you’re ok? You’re going to go see him, and mom, like… that?”
“Yup.” He can feel the blood caking around his nose and mouth. “Just like this.”
“I have senzu beans at the house if you--”
“I’m pretty sure this is a little more important than my dashing good looks, Gohan. So why don’t we hurry before he disappears for another twenty years again, hm?”
Gohan's brow furrow at his brother’s snide remark. “He was only gone fifteen.”
Goten smacks a palm to his face and immediately regrets the pain it took to make such a small gesture of annoyance. “Wow, only fifteen. Like it makes a fucking difference!”
Gohan just stares back at him, keen critical eyes still assessing and judging his injuries.
“Whatever. Let’s just go already.” .
As they walk toward the house they can feel both their parent’s kis softly resonating from inside. Gohan looks down at his little brother before turning the knob. Something doesn’t feel quite right and he cringes a little thinking about their mother’s reaction when she sees Goten's face.
“Are you ready?”
"No,” Goten says honestly. “I can’t--I don’t…" He backs away from the door threading his fingers anxiously through his hair again. "I need… a minute."
Gohan tries to reassure him. Even though he's terrible at it. "Yeah, yeah of course. I know this must be…” He adjusts his glasses. “I'll make sure they know you're here, okay?”
Goten nods and heads back to the river.
Gohan walks in with a soft painful smile and tears already threatening to break loose.
"Father!"
“Gohan!” Goku stands up from the table and embraces him. "Gohan,” he says again, holding him by his shoulders so he can see all the things missed. “You're… you’ve changed so much."
Gohan nods and pulls his father back into a hug.
"Chi Chi tells me Pan’s in college now,” Goku says when Gohan finally lets go.
Tears are now streaming freely down the eldest son's cheeks. "Yes, she's all grown, she's doing great. We're so pr--we're so…” He takes off his glasses so he can wipe the tears from his face. “Dad, where were you? Where--what happened?"
"I…” He looks to his wife who was still sitting at the table, refusing him eye contact. “...lost track of time."
“You… what?” Gohan never thought his father was particularly smart. He often wondered just how much head trauma he suffered as a child and then as a martial artist. Regardless, his excuse is still awful. Worse than what he expected him to say, but that is his own fault. He shouldn't have expected anything. This is Goku. So he just nods and moves on. “You’re going to stay, right?”
Goku looks back at his wife who’s trying not to cry by holding on to a cold cup of coffee as tightly as she can, and nods. “I didn’t… mean to leave that long, I’m so-”
"Where's Goten?” Chi Chi cuts him off. “Did he come?" Gohan can't quite tell if it's worry or bitterness in her voice.
"Yeah. He's here. But he..." Gohan looks at his father who is staring sadly at the floor. "...needed a moment."
"How is he?" Goku asks without looking up. "He's probably all grown up too, isn't he? Chi Chi says he looks just like me.” He smiles.
"Yeah." Gohan laughs uncomfortably. "He… definitely used to," he says quietly.
Chi Chi frowns. "Tell him to come inside."
“Mom, I don’t know if that’s--why don’t we wait until he’s--”
“He is
not
going to throw another one of his tantrums instead of being here with us. All of us.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “Go get him.” She says quietly but with a stern urging tone.
Gohan sighs, gets up, and heads to the door, but Goku stops him.
"I'll get him." He smiles hopefully to his son and wife. “I’ll--yeah. I’m sure he’s just… a little shy.”
As optimistic as Gohan usually is, even he knows that’s wishful thinking. Gohan is quick to follow his dad out the door and pull him aside before he makes his way toward the tumultuous ki of his youngest son. "I didn't want to say this in front of her." He pauses and looks at his father’s blank carefree expression. He never learned how to see under the mask. Goku made sure few ever did because he always found it advantageous for everyone, even his family, to underestimate him. “Goten is--he's been training... a lot lately. I'm not really sure what happened, but when you see him don’t, uh, I just think it's better if we don't say anything to mom about it."
Goku doesn't understand what that's supposed to mean. Goten’s going to come inside, isn’t he? Chi Chi is going to see him, isn’t she? So what are we trying to hide from her? He decides not to ask and instead just nod his head and smile before walking down.
Gohan goes back inside and sits down with his mother who is wiping away tears. "He's exactly the same, isn't he?" She nods with a painful laugh. Gohan sips on the cup of coffee. "Exactly the..." Suddenly Gohan realizes what feels wrong. "Mom, what did he mean when he said he 'lost track of time'?"
Goten presses his fingers into his hair again. He can feel several places where it melted together into clumps.
Didn’t even know it could melt.
He flops down onto the river bank and looks at his reflection in the water. He flashes into super Saiyan to see how bad the damage is. His proud gravity defiant hair is now half the length; the wild spikes are replaced by short jagged chunks all slanted slightly to the right, and they are still black in some areas instead of gold.
How do I look even worse than I feel?
He slumps back into his normal state and tries to at least wash the blood off. The cool water stings his skin as he rinses it through his mouth until he starts spitting clear again. He is still wearing the blue wrist band and he burns it off his wrist with ki before responding to his buzzing phone.
Trunks.
He swipes disconnect but it starts ringing again. Goten swipes again. The messages assured Goten that Trunks doesn't know what happened or why, just that something happened and it is bad. That is good enough. Trunks is calling for the sixth time and Goten is about to throw his phone as far as it will go when he feels a barely familiar ki approaching.
He has the sudden urge to blast off. He's not quite ready to face the grim reality yet of what he's done. He’s not yet ready to look the center of his issues, because he will never admit that it is himself, in the eye.
Goku stands behind him sheepishly waiting for him to react, to say something, but his son stays kneeling at the river bank with his back to him. Goku tries to think of something to say to the boy he left behind. "Hey Goten. How, um, how are you?” He waits several long moments for a reply but nothing comes. "Gohan tells me you've kept up with training... That's--"
"Yeah." Goten cuts him off, put off and annoyed by his choice in topic and how casual he is pretending to be. "I have."
"We should... maybe we could spar sometime? You could show me how strong you've gotten--"
He scoffs and rolls his one open eye.
You and Vegeta and your obsession with training.
"I'd rather not."
Goku reaches his hand behind his head and rubs his neck, not sure what to make of Goten’s sharp remarks. This is a very different reaction than the one he received from his eldest son and he remembers Goten being such a soft boy. "Who have you been training with?"
"Who the fuck do you think?"
"Hey!” Goku reels back in shock. “Watch your--"
"No! I'll say whatever the fuck I want! I don't know yo--!” He stands, turning as he speaks and as he does, his voice catches in shock. He isn't like the pictures. He isn’t like the descriptions. He isn’t like the constant reminders. He is like a mirror. Everyone… was right. They look the
same
. Goten doesn’t know if it’s infuriating or disappointing. And he doesn't know why, he knows Saiyans don't age like humans, but he still expected his father to look older, bigger. He remembers him being older, bigger than him. “I don’t… I don’t… know you,” he repeats in disbelief.
Goku can't hide the instant pain and regret he feels looking at his youngest son's misshapen bloodied face. He wouldn’t have even known it was his own son standing in front of him if it wasn’t for his ki.
“Goten… your fa--”
"Like Gohan said." He grins painfully. "I'm just keepin' up with my training."
Goku is unnerved by his son's response and inhales shakily, still smiling a plastic artificial smile, in order to force a friendly air that isn't there. "What... kind of training is that from?"
"The beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other kind of training. What does it look like?" he snips with irritation at Goku’s pathetic attempt to keep this conversation going. He wonders if his father just has a bad case of denial or if he is actually as incapable of picking up social cues as Vegeta.
At least he's not the jumping to conclusions type!
"That… doesn't look like it's very good for you."
"Oh?! You would know, huh!?” He steps towards his father, who steps back. “Because you train with me every day, right? So you’d know ALL about what’s
good
for me."
“I--no, but… it looks… Do you want a Senz--”
“No! I don’t want a fucking Senzu bean!” he snaps in exasperation. “I’m fine.”
Goku is silent for a long time as Goten kicks at the rocks on the edge of the bank. “Are you--”
"Did you really think everything would be the fucking same?” he interrupts. “Did you really think this was gonna be some exciting game of catch up and that everything was gonna be ok? Why did you even bother coming back?"
A thousand different ways to try and explain away the mistake he made come into Goku's head. He can hear Vegeta's angry words echoing in his ears, '
so typically Goku
.’ "I didn’t… know I was gone for so long," he finally admits.
Goten narrows his eyes at him and he wonders if his father is being genuine. He wonders if he's just that stupid, like everyone says. He doesn't think so. Goten is not like his brother, he can recognize pain when he sees it and he knows it is there despite his father's bright smile. He hates that he can see it there. He doesn’t understand why it’s there at all.
You’re the one who left.
“Goten… I’m sorr--”
"No. No!" Goten backs away, "You don't get to say sorry and catch up with me in ten minutes. It's been almost fifteen years. You missed it. You missed out." His nose starts bleeding lightly again. "You don't get to know me. You definitely don’t get my forgiveness. Fuck off.”
“Wh--Goten, wait.” He reaches out but hesitates when Goten whips around with his arm cocked back ready to land a blow. Goten glares at his father’s troubled expression and he feels for the ki behind it.
I'm… stronger than him?
The realization is hollow.
A lot stronger.
He searches his father's face. Reads his body language and is beyond disappointed when Goku looks at his fist but doesn't brace. He doesn't move at all. His father just tries to smile, tries to keep believing his son is happy to see him. Like he used to be when he came back.
But it is impossible to miss the flare of ki. “You... really have gotten strong.”
“Yeah.” Goten looks past his father and sees his brother leaning against the door frame. He lets his arm drop back to his side.
You're… not even worth it.
“I have.” Then he shakes his head and walks off in the forest wondering how much time he has before his father talks to Vegeta.
Never... If I can help it...
Gohan walks up to his father after a few moments. "Well, that went... a lot better than I thought it would."
Goku furrows his brows at his son. “It did?"
"Yeah. Goten is... He's had a lot of... He was angry when you left. He's been doing better... But coming back so suddenly, I think it just… I don’t know. What did he say?"
"He said…” Goku pauses regretfully. “He just needs time. And I'll… have a chance to make it right.”
Gohan raises a brow, doubtfully. “He did?”
Goku looks at his oldest and shakes his head. “He’ll come back, though, won’t he? Chi Chi said--"
“Come back
here?
” Gohan laughs dryly. "No, definitely not. Today was the first time he’s been home in three or four years.” Gohan hesitates and decides the faster his father starts catching up, the easier returning to the status quo will be. "He and mom don't speak to each other. I… was surprised he came at all today.”
Goku turns to his son. “They don’t? Is that why she seemed so worried about him? Why not? I should--”
Gohan puts his hand on Goku's shoulder. “No, no whatever it is, dad, you shouldn't.”
“What? Why not? …What’s wrong?” Goku watches his son struggle to pick his words.
Gohan laughs uncomfortably. “Uh, well, nothing's
wrong
. Goten’s just… he's--He doesn't--it’s not--Mom… never made it easy for him and…” He looks at his father who is waiting on the edge of each word and sighs. “I’m sorry, I just… don’t think I should tell you if he didn't.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry. I’m sure you’ll get another chance to talk to him. But please don’t bring him up when we go back inside. Mom, she’s… well, you know.”
Goku nods even though he
doesn’t know
and looks at the river. “She said he looks just like me, but I didn't even recognize him.”
"Yeah. I’m… not sure what happened. He wouldn't tell me."
Although you did return rather suddenly and Goten and Vegeta aren't exactly stable people.
"My guess is he and Vegeta got into another fight."
"Another fight?” Goku tilts his head. “He and Vegeta fight a lot?"
"They used to. All the time when Ten was younger. He'd come back from Capsule Corp. pretty upset most of the time... but never hurt. Not that I’d ever seen. Definitely not like this. Eventually I think their little squabbles turned into formal training, or whatever you want to label the excuses they make up to hit each other,” he mutters. “And he started staying there all the time. I'm not sure if Vegeta looks any worse or not but Ten insisted it was just from training.”
Goku isn't sure if that really makes it any better, if those bruises are mutual. “Oh. He lives there now?"
Gohan mulls over variations of the truth for a moment. "Uh, well, he used to. But I think he’s… staying with me and Videl now.” Goku looks hopefully at his son and Gohan tries to dampen it with practicality. “Just… give him time. I’m sure he’ll come around. I'm... I'm going to head home. I'll let you know about getting everyone together to welcome you back, alright? My phone's been buzzing off the hook, I'm sure everyone will want to see you! Let's plan on tomorrow?"
"Yeah... Sure."
Chi Chi is still sitting at the table when Goku comes back in and she looks up at him with wet eyes. "Where's Goten?"
"He left.”
She gets up and slams the bedroom door. She isn't really mad at him. Or at Goten. But they are the ones who
keep leaving.
Goku sleeps on the couch that night. He keeps thinking about Goten's face and how upset his son was. He keeps thinking about what he said and did wrong.
Everything.
He keeps thinking that even though he fought with Vegeta many times, neither of them ever walked away like
that.
Not since their first fight.
When he swore he'd kill me.
He smiles, but it is fleeting. He keeps thinking that as much as he really still isn’t ready to quit yet, he needs to talk to
Vegeta.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
As soon as Goten feels his mother and father’s ki appear at the door of Gohan’s house, he disappears out his window and sits by a tree outside not far away. He is close enough to hear everyone’s voices from an open window, but just far enough that he can pretend he doesn’t. He sits there staring up at the branches letting the wind bite lightly at his bruised, still occasionally bleeding skin lamenting the fact that the pain is even worse than yesterday.
He recognizes some of the voices, like Piccolo, but others he doesn’t. He hears someone who sounds so old, it can't be anyone other than Master Roshi but he has no interest in confirming it. It is enough to hear them all bombarding his father with questions that are subsequently answered by his hilariously under-prepared and stumbling responses.
Goten listens as his brother steps in nearly every other sentence to explain or clarify because Goku sure doesn't seem to understand what he’d done. A particularly awkward silence following someone asking, “Why there?” leaves Goten wondering if he really would have been any better off being raised by someone so impulsive, irresponsible, and utterly
brainless
.
Goten admits though, the regret in his tone is palpable as he finally responds, “I just thought that planet was… a nice place for… meditation...”
“Tch.” Goten considers flying off to the wasteland for some aimless destructive blast practice but decides against it as he runs his hands through his hair and thinks about the breeze out there. His thoughts are interrupted by a buzz from his phone.
He rolls his one working eye. "Wonderful. Just who I was hoping. Queen bitch."
I know.
Goten flips through the thirty odd messages from Trunks asking if he’s ok, what happened, and of course, ‘did your dad really come back?’ before responding back to:
He sighs heavily because it definitely really
is
that bad and he knows anything he tells her will go straight back to Trunks.
Maybe I should take Gohan up on that senzu…
But he also… kind of
likes
the pain. The dull throbbing reminding him it was
worth it.
At that, he turns the screen off and tries to ignore the next few minutes of constant buzzing. He is unsuccessful.
Just has to have everything she wants, doesn't she?
He thinks though, maybe it couldn’t hurt to occasionally get what he wants too. He considers whether she really does have any useful solutions. He huffs out a sigh of frustration as he scrolls past the twenty new messages from her begging him to respond. He frowns and angles his phone for a picture.
Send.
Hardly five seconds later his phone starts ringing.
"What?! What do you want?!"
"OOOOH MYYYY GOOOODDDDD TEN!! What the hell did you do?!" He can almost see her twisted smile.
“I didn’t do anything!”
“Liar!” She giggles. “You always do something. Although, I thought he’d do it that night at the party, not that it was my intention of course.”
“Oh, no. Of course not,” he drolls sarcastically. “You know, I did too actually. But instead he just asked me why I let you act like an embarrassment in front of the company.”
“Fuck you! No he didn’t!”
Goten chuckles. “He really did.”
“Gosh…” she says, her voice a little distant from the speaker. “I just can’t stop staring at it. I knew it was
bad,
but I wasn’t expecting you to be permanently disfigured. Wow. I’m gonna frame it,” she chirps happily.
"I am not disf--Are you gonna help me or what?”
"Is it because your dad came back? I've always suspected you and my father had like this… weird proxy hate relationship. Did he just like--snap? Or something? Or wait, did
you
snap? Oh my God, Ten, did you do it to yourse--?”
"No--Ye--NO! Fuck! Do we have a deal or what? I need--" He looks back at the house and lowers his voice. "I really need this. If you have anything that could help me…” He swallows down his pride and fear. “I’m willing to try it.”
"Ok, I have something alright.” She cackles. “But only if you can get to my lab in Capsule Corp."
"What? No. Get it for me."
"Oooh, sorry, but I'm at school right now and I have a test tomorrow and plans for the next six months because I'm
popular.
" She sighs dramatically as if it really is so terrible pretending to be functional.
“Trunks put you back on the blacklist for the labs again, didn’t he? You can’t even get into your own office.” He snorts. “What did
you
do this time? Torture another intern?”
“I didn’t
torture
him
.”
She clicks her tongue. “
Anyway
long story short, if you want it now you'll just have to get it yourself. Should have just been nice to me at the party. Then you’d already have it."
"Whatever. I’ll just ask Trunks to get it. What is i--"
"NO!" she shouts suddenly on the verge of losing her temper. "No, you will NOT tell him about it! This is
my
project! It’s not under his stupid oversight and I'd
really
prefer if it stayed that way, Ten." She grits through a forced smile.
“He doesn’t know about it, does he? What kind of ‘solution’ is this?”
“You’ll just have to find out, won’t you?”
He scoffs. "Why are you making this so complicated?"
"Because I hate you, Ten.” She giggles. “Kidding! I’m kidding. I desperately want you to try it. You really have no idea how much I’ve been dying to share this project of mine with someone who would really
appreciate
it."
He huffs. "Well, how the fuck am I supposed to do that? Look at my fucking face! And that would hardly be the worst of it if I step foot there again any time soon because your dad is fucking psycho--”
"So it was my father! I thought so… Trunks wasn’t sure, he’s obviously in denial. Or an idiot.” She snorts. “Oh well, figure it out and let me know. Or! Wait until I hack my way back into the security system and un-blacklist myself, but honestly, Trunks is getting pretty good. It might take me a while this time."
The line goes dead and he is left fuming.
Inside, amidst the reunion, stands an awkward, uncomfortable Goku. He's trying to laugh. He's trying to smile. He’s trying to be happy to see everyone, but it's crushing to see how much they've aged. To see that their families are grown. To see they have even less in common now than they did before he left and that was already dwindling toward nothing. It is hard to look his mistake in the face of everyone he left behind. It is hard to see his wife trying not to be angry for abandoning her. Again. It's hard to answer all the questions, to deal with the excitement that he is still too time shocked to share. It is hard to hold it all in.
Everything starts to become a blur of discomfort and nausea. He has to escape this huge house that is slowly becoming claustrophobic. He finds a moment when everyone is distracted to step away. On his way out he walks by Gohan who is in a quiet argument with Chi Chi.
“You said he was here, where is he?”
“I know, he was, but--”
“Where did he go? Why won’t he--”
“You think he talks to me? I don’t know!” His son exasperates. “He’s--”
Goku doesn’t catch the rest as he slips out the door. He deeply inhales the fresh air and stretches. He catches something in the corner of his eye and turns to see Goten sitting against a nearby tree looking...
he’s still angry.
Guilt washes over him, but the optimist within, the casual demeanor he uses to assure those around him that nothing is wrong even when it absolutely is, is stronger than the disappointment he has aimed at himself.
"Oh hey! What are you doing out here?" he asks in the friendliest tone he can manage, trying to invite a response.
Goten turns and smiles with bared canines because
Vegeta's right. He does have good timing.
It is a risky plan; he has to hope that his father is just as dumb as everyone always said and he has to put a
lot
of faith in Vegeta to keep their
little secret
for it to work but if it does it’s going to be
so
worth it. "I could ask you the same thing."
Unfortunately Goku is not very practiced at reading his son’s expressions; he doesn’t realize yet that none of them are friendly, that there is always something else there, so he smiles back warmly thinking this is already going better than last time. "I, uh, never... really liked parties." He laughs awkwardly and rubs the back of his neck.
"Me neither."
"I'm glad you stayed... even though you weren't... inside."
Goten nods curtly. "Yeah... I'm sorry about yesterday. The shock….was just… a lot and I--"
"No, it's--don't apologize. It’s not your fault. I know I'll never get the lost time back. I know I left you and Gohan and it wasn’t--wasn’t right and I--" Goku's chest is starting to tighten. "I know that. But I still want--I didnt think it would be--I didn’t mean for this--" Without warning Goku is spilling things he was barely aware he was feeling.
Goten stands and faces him with a raised brow. He waits to see where this goes but Goku stops and looks at his son with watery eyes. Goten reels back slightly because
Oh no. He’s gonna--
Goten stiffens as he is embraced. It is a much tighter hug than he expected and he is caught off guard by the pain now shooting through his back. He winces, but doesn't make a sound, trying not to ruin the moment his father apparently needs.
Just let him have it. This is your only way to Capsule Corporation right now.
Goten inhales and exhales through the pain while for the first time since his return, tears run down his father’s face. They land softly on Goten's shoulder without a sound as everything finally hits him. He holds back a sob and quietly apologizes as he presses one of his hands to the back of his son's head. Goten flinches away but his father’s hand remains in his hair, fussing there until Goten pulls back and smacks it away.
“Stop! Stop that. Don’t touch my ha--!” He trails off not sure why it bothered him so much. It never did before.
Goku looks at his fingers which now have a few spots of black residue on them. "Goten… your hair.” He watches his son anxiously begin running his hands through it, resetting it and messing it back up. “What is--did your hair get burned, wh-?” He reaches toward him but Goten steps back, “How?"
Goten is surprised to see how upset his father suddenly seems about something so much more trivial than the brutal facial injuries looking him in the eye right now and he is surprised it didn’t take a little more prodding to find something exploitable. Goten turns away trying to save this perfect opportunity and thinks for a moment about how best to frame his innocence. “I thought you'd understand right away when you saw, but... you didn’t.”
"Understand what?"
“Isn't it obvious? Look at me. Look at what he--” Goku looks but says nothing. "No. You’re right. I’m not worth it.”
“What? Goten, what are you talking about?”
“Forget I said anything. It doesn’t matter, I don’t matter. It’s ok.”
“You--of course you matter. What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing. Or I guess you could… ask him yourself. I’m sure he can’t wait to tell you what a
joy
it’s been having me in your place. He… always made a point to tell me, anyway.” Goten looks down and kicks at a rock as woefully as he can.
“Who--”
“Who do you think, Dad?” Goten laughs dryly. “Vegeta. Vegeta did this to me.”
Goku knew it had been Vegeta, because
who else
. He's sure he and Vegeta had given each other some nasty bruises on occasion, but this-- “Vegeta? But why? I don’t--”
"I... reminded him of you, I guess. I don’t know why he picked fights with me after you left, he just did. And--” He forces his voice to waver. “You know, I thought: ‘training.’” Another forced hurt-sounding huff of laughter. “That’s what I tell everyone, it’s just training. But it’s not. It's--and then getting you back--” Goten sinks down to his knees and covers his face with his hands to hide his smile. “I thought--I thought maybe you could help me, but--” He shakes his head as he tries not to laugh. “Dad, you’re so weak. How could you help me?”
By distracting Vegeta for me is how!
“He did this to you because… of me?”
Goten shrugs and nods, “This isn't even the worst."
"What?!”
"I thought it had gotten better and it did but--" He tries to make a few tears start streaming down his face but he can’t. His nose starts bleeding again, but no tears. "I just wasn't strong enough to fight back when you returned. He was so angry--maybe he was just confused, I don't know." He wraps his arms around himself. "I’m such a disappointment, dad, just like he said. I wasn’t strong enough, please don't be mad that I couldn’t win--"
"Of course I'm not mad at you Goten. Why would you think--I don't--" Goku can’t even begin to process what his son just told him. "This isn't... I don't understand... why he'd..." Goten watches as his father shoots into Super Saiyan with a promisingly upset expression. Then he tilts his head curiously as he presses two fingers to his forehead. It takes a half second for the gesture to click but Goten realizes what he’s doing and grabs on to him before he disappears.
Please don’t be in the gravity chamber.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Vegeta feels Goku's energy the moment it spikes. Goten must have finally told him some version of the events that led to his face. Damn bastard deserved worse! He knew that the first time they saw each other wouldn't be friendly, but he still bristles with anxious anticipation because he was hoping it would take a little longer. Maybe never.He shuts off the gravity room and feels his hands shake just a little when pressing the small buttons on the control panel. His thoughts are racing so fast he can hardly understand them. I haven't felt that ki in so long and now it's so close I could tou- He nearly jumps through the ceiling when he feels it appear right behind him even though he is expecting it.Goku stands in all his blinding glory just a few feet from him, but it is Goten who catches his eye first. He isn't powered up. He's just standing behind Goku looking around. Orienting himself. Vegeta's first impulse is to blast him through the door. Blast him into space. Into another fucking galaxy! He moves before he has time to process what he's doing. His only thought is violence until Goku cuts him off with an arm to the neck putting Vegeta on his back with the wind knocked out of him.Before his vision is back, Vegeta has a blast ready but the gravity chamber door is now wide open and Goten is gone. He is forced, instead, to reckon with the angry Saiyan standing over him. Goku pulls Vegeta up by his collar and rears back his fist. He opens his mouth to speak, but the words catch and his posture softens as he looks at him and sees that Vegeta might be the only person who hasn’t changed while he was away. “I didn’t know! I didn’t fucking know! You have to believe me, Kakarot, it was a mista--” Vegeta doesn’t fight back as he tries, desperately, to explain himself until his voice gives up because he is already coming apart. He still hasn’t fully processed what he did; he was hoping he’d never have to. And this isn’t supposed to be how the next time they saw each other happened. “A mistake.”Goku tenses again, pulls his fist back further, but doesn’t throw it. “What do you mean you didn’t know? Know what? That he was right in front of you? How can you hit someone like that by mistake , Vegeta?”“I--” Vegeta hesitates. “Wait, what… did he tell you?”"That it wasn't the first time! Or the worst! That you just--just attacked him, an’ for what? Because you were mad at me? Because I left? So you took it out on him? On my son?! How can you even begin to explai--"Vegeta raises a brow, then laughs. "Is that what he told you?! HA! Oh, that is rich!” He’s just as ashamed as I am. “That is so--” Goku tries to shut him up with a punch to the face but Vegeta can’t stop laughing. “No. No, Kakarot. He's the one who always picked fights!""Wh-what? Why?”"Because growing up was hell for him and raising him even worse! But you wouldn’t fucking know that, would you?” Goku tries to throw another punch but Vegeta catches it easily and sits up. "You wouldn’t know that he just kept showing up here, starting fights, begging to train, because I was the only one who didn't have the fucking cruelty to tell him everyday that he was nothing more than the spitting image of the person he hated most." No one thinks I pay attention! I DO! I know what that harpy used to say to him! I know why he stayed here for days on end! Why he would rather endure hours of grueling training than go home.Goku drops from form. “He looks nothing like m--”“He looks EXACTLY FUCKING LIKE YOU!” Vegeta's chest heaves with each breath, struggling to contain all the overwhelming emotions coursing through him. “ Exactly … I didn’t… even realize until… until--He was the one who--who..." There is no right way to admit it. His stomach turns at the thought.Goku waits for him to continue but he never does. “Who what, Vegeta?”But he can’t utter a word. Suddenly Goten’s lie isn’t hilarious in how poorly concocted it is. It’s brilliant because of how well it preys on Vegeta’s inability to communicate. There is no way he will ever admit to anyone what happened. And Goten knows that. When their eyes meet and there is a sudden collision of emotions. The deep cavern of anger and pain crashes into waves of confusion, frustration, and an agonizing amount of regret. Vegeta breaks first. He can't stand to meet those dark pools of naivety always asking questions you don't want the answers to. "Why did you do that to him?""He--I just--" He struggles to get his thoughts in order, bouncing between Goku, that night, the fight, this fight, he can't bring himself to say it. “Training… too hard..."“You want me to believe you burned his hair… for training?! Vegeta! I didn’t even recognize him!” That was the point. "He's Saiyan, he'll hea--" Goku finally punches him hard in the jaw. "Just because he's Saiyan?! You think that makes what you did ok?! What is wrong with you?!" His eyes search for answers. “How could you be so angry at me that you--”"I WASN’T ANGRY WITH YOU , KAKAROT!” Goku is startled by the sheer volume of pain the other Saiyan manages to put in every syllable of his words as he stands up. "I haven’t--haven’t been angry with you in fifteen fucking years! You weren’t here to be angry at! It wasn’t about you!” Except... it was. “It was him. I was mad at... him."“For what?! What could he possibly have done to deserve--”“You have no idea what your son is capable of,” he spits darkly. “I don’t care what he’s capable of, Vegeta! Or how strong you think he is! That doesn’t make it right! You can’t just--”“ He’s not fucking right!” he yells knowing he is doing nothing but digging his own grave.Goku swings and Vegeta lets it hit. And the next one too. And the one after that. He is laying on the floor and Goku is on top of him and he isn’t even trying to fight back. He can block easily, but he doesn't. He can overpower him. But he doesn't. He just lets him hit because I deserve it and because it feels fucking good to get hit by you again, Kakarot.“Do you think this will win him over?” He finally catches a fist. Goku hesitates just long enough to let him continue and because he can’t even pull his hand from Vegeta’s grip, he’s so much weaker. “Suddenly stepping in as the over protective father? Fighting his battles for him?” He sits up and leans in nearly nose-to-nose with Goky. “You left, Kakarot.” You left him behind. You left everyone behind. “And this won't make up for it." Goku's face drops. "It's not like I meant to leave for so l--""I don't give a fuck! What you meant! " He gets up and wipes the blood from his nose and mouth.Goku looks down, still kneeling, and with a softer tone mutters. "He doesn't either.""Then why are you here? Why do you even care about what happened?""Because he's my son! And I should--""You don't even know your son!""It doesn't matter! He's still my son! Everyone else just brushes it off like it’s ok but it’s not! And I don't--I just--Why would you do that to him!!? Especially if you--” His face drops. “...If you raised him. What--Vegeta, what could he have done to deserve that?”The older Saiyan says nothing and shakes his head.“Was it... because I came back?""Tch, no. You just… returned at a bad time.""Then why?""Fuck! Kakarot! I already told you! Training!”“What ‘training’ could have done that? You’ve tried to kill me plenty of times but you’ve never done th-”“Maybe you were just better Kakarot! Maybe I just lost my fucking temper! Because I’m fucking psychotic! Maybe! It was because he was always complaining that I go easy on him! Maybe I didn’t and he couldn’t fucking take it!” Or maybe I just hate myself for the truth. Vegeta looks away. “ I don’t--It was just… training.” *** He's on the phone as soon as he's inside the compound. "Ok, I'm here, what do I do?"“Holy shit, really? That was like, super fast! I didn’t think you’d actually make it. Like ever. And I was going to have to eventually get it for you.”“What?”“Yeah. Look at you though, getting results. You must be desperate. Or--”“I don’t have time for your bullshit! Where is it?!”“Fine, whatever. Go to the lab, then down the hall at the end and make right and you'll see a few offices, mine's the last one on the left."He puts in Trunks’ code to the door and heads down to the labs and enters a large open room with wall sized computers on one side and several rows of tables with all kinds of gadgets and bots scattered everywhere on the other. A technician tapping away on a computer lifts his head and raises a brow but otherwise his presence is ignored. He finds the hall, turns and quickly heads to the last door on the left. It doesn’t open and he is prompted for a passcode."12345,” she tells him without any prompting.“Would’ve thought you had better security,” he mutters as the door clicks open and he walks in. “Oh, I do.” The lights turn on automatically, dim at first, but they grow brighter after a couple moments. The room is neat, sparse, and organized. He sees a shelf filled with various awards and trophies from a variety of different sports. In the middle is a framed picture of her standing at a podium hands on hips, with a bright smile and short pigtails. Everyone looks miserable except her."Did you get in ?""Yeah, nice shrine to yourself.""Hmph, being Saiyan has its advantages, doesn't it?"He chuffs in agreement. “Ok, so what am I here for?" He looks over at the desk and starts rifling through the drawers."Stop going through my desk. I'll show you where it is. Just give me a second, I didn’t expect you to get there so soon, I’m still pulling up my programs.” He hears her clicking and tapping frantically for a few moments before finally, “Ok! Turn and face the wall behind you." He hears whirring followed by a loud clunk behind him and turns toward the wall behind the desk which opened up revealing a small work shop."Oh shit, that's fucking cool. I didn't know you had your own shop." "Yeah, well, I'm not about to work on any of this in the main lab."“Damn… Wait, how’d you open it? I thought Trunks locked you out?”“He did. But this isn’t on Capsule Corporation systems.”“What system is it on?”“Mine,” she sing-songs happily. He walks in and sees corrugated walls lined with different types of tools and equipment he's never seen before. The steel table is covered in scraps and shavings, papers and designs scattered all over, nowhere as neat as her office. In fact, it is a mess. "Holy--what is all this?""You like it? I thought you would."Among the shavings are all kinds of strange looking objects that he can’t even begin to identify although a large number of them looked like some type of jewelry or bracelets. He sees several sets of metal restraints among them and snorts. “Is this your personal sex dun-?" “No! It’s not! Disgusting! As if I would taint my laboratory of science with s--”"I always knew you were a freak.""Did you know I can also remotely turn on my super secret lab’s super unique and super special non-Capsule Corporation security system that Trunks knows nothing about?""Ok! Ok. Don't shit talk your creepy shop, got it." He smirks as he picks up a chunk of metallic rock. "The hell is this?""Whatever it is, put it down. Don't touch anything unless I say so. Who knows what it might do , " she adds with uncomfortable emphasis.He sets it down carefully. "Oh kay… so, what is it?""You’ll see. You get to be a test subject for it!""What?! I thought you at least knew it would work?! You've never even tested it?!""Relax, I know it works. The question is how well. I don’t think it was originally designed for you, but it should be fine.""Who was it designed for?“I have my theories, but that’s not important. The point is, it’s brilliant technology whose initial testing you get to spearhead.”He picks up what looks like a small belt fitted with some kind of metal studding on the interior side. "Well, it better look normal because I'm not going to wear or use something stupid." He looks at a thick cord of copper wiring hanging off the edge of the work table. He cautiously notes that it is hooked up to a battery. "I'm not into any of that weird shit either." "Yeah, right. Because I'm sure you're such a romantic when you're losing control of your ki, breaking the poor twink you convinced to come back with you.""Ok, first of all, I don't fuck twinks. Second--""That's right I forgot, Trunks told me you only fuck jacked Saiyan look-alikes." She snorts. "Daddy issues much? Or is it a narcissism thing?""What?! No I d--Shut the fuck up! What the hell am I looking for?"She chuckles. “It's small. Looks like a bracelet. There’s a bunch, but this one has an 'x' on it. It should be over by the drill press."He looks at several metal bands roughly large enough to fit over his wrist. All unmarked, except for one, off to the side, which has a small 'x' on the inside. "What about the ones without the x?”“If you really want to blow your hand off with a scrapped one, feel free.”He sighs as he picks up the one with the ‘x.’ "This is supposed to help me?"She snorts. "Who knows if there’s anything that can help you . But it’s worth a try, isn’t it?"He stands there staring at the band. "What does it do?""What do you think? It's a ki blocker.""What? A ki blocker?" He doesn't try to hide the disappointment. "How is that going to help me? It's just gonna break.""No, it should hold up to even your ki. I think. "You think?""Look, ki isn’t an exact science, I’m working on that, but rest assured it probably won’t explode on you. Interested or not?"He frowns. "Don't you have something else?""That works? Not really. I've been messing around with ki amplifiers, but they don't work very well on humans, I've already tried. You could just--""Amplifier? Ooh. Where are those?" He casually picks up a couple of the scattered papers trying to figure out what else she’s been working on. They are difficult to read and he isn't a genius but he’s been in these labs with Trunks long enough to know the difference between input and output of energy. He finds one with a detailed layout of something smaller than the band he has in his hand, Looks promising. "You don't get to have an amplifier. They aren't ready and you have enough issues as it is. Trust me, it'll only make it worse. Like soooo much worse.""Oh c'mon, who better to test it on? I'd be interested to find out what-""Ten! I told you it's not ready!""Jeez alright." He finds a small set of rings of various sizes off to the side near the bracelets. Most re bent or broken, several are in pieces but he finds a couple that are still whole. He picks one up that looks like it might fit him and puts it in his pocket."Just take the band, go out and have fun, ok? Tell me if you're able to get your rocks off without violently rearranging some idiot’s insides.""Tch. So all you had for me was a ki blocker? Wasting my time. It's going to break.""It's not going to break. I built it. You should be on your knees thanking me like the Goddess I am for bestowing such a gift on to the likes of you. First rate craftsmanship.""Why don't we wait to see if it works first, hm? Is there anything about this thing I should know? How does it work?""You should be able to tap the 'x' and pop that bad boy onto your wrist or ankle or wherever . It might take a couple seconds but you'll know once it's working.""Are there any... side effects?"There is a long pause. "Like I said. You'll be the first to test this one. If it makes you feel better though, blocking has been the biggest success I've managed with ki tech so far.""That honestly makes me feel worse.”“Well, lucky for you, if you grow a third arm made of ki, I can probably fix it.”“Mhm.” He looks at the band curiously. “You work a lot with ki?""Ever since I stumbled on some old notes a few years ago, that's all I’ve been interested in. it’s the future, Goten. Trunks is too scared, doesn't want the company to experiment with it, something something 'it's too dangerous' something something 'I'm a total pussy' I don't know, that's just what he said." Goten snorts at her impression of her brother. "So I do what I can for myself. Anyway, you got it. Now get out of my lab. Before I kick you out.""Cool." He walks out and the wall closes up behind him automatically. “Now to grab the rest of my shit and save my dad from getting his ass beat.”“Is that how you got in the compound?!” His smug silence confirms her suspicions. “Wow. How’d you manage that? Did you cry? Waaaah! Daddy! The Prince of Saiyans hurt me~” She cackles. “I bet you cried.”He sighs. “Honestly I tried. But I couldn’t. Really would have pulled the act together though. But I guess he bought it anyway. Actually, I should probably check before I walk in there and make sure it’s going as bad as I hope it is.” He makes a sharp turn towards the gravity room controls.“You are literally so fucked up. This is why I keep you around. Who do you think will win? Can you put me on video!? I wanna see! Go papa!”He shakes his head. "Vegeta’s gonna win. My dad has actually been gone only for like... a few months or weeks. Dilation or something, I don't know. We're leagues ahead of him. It's kind of... pathetic, actually.”"Time dilation?! Oh my god no way! That’s so cool! How--"He puts the phone down on the desk as he boot up the system. He can hear her yammering on in the background while he flips on the screen. The red glow of the gravity room immediately comes to life, slightly washed out by the daylight coming in from the open door. They are standing in the middle of the room and he can see blood on Vegeta's face."Oh shit." He can't help but crack a smile."What are they doing?? Don't just leave me hanging!" he hears her yell."I don't... I don't know... looks like they're just arguing right now. Talking?” He picks the phone back up. “Is there audio for this thing?" He tries fiddling with the controls but just like last time, can’t find it."I don't know. It's kind of old and I never cared much for the gravity bullshit so I never messed with any of it.""Hm. Well, they're just standing there… talking.” Why are they just talking? You’re supposed to fight! *** “So that’s it? You were just… sparring. And… he lost,” Goku repeats, obviously dissatisfied with Vegeta’s answer. Vegeta nods half-heartedly anyway. “One of you is lying. Or both of you are. I don’t know which is worse.” Vegeta suddenly looks up at him with an expression Goku has only ever seen on him a few times. He looks scared. Now he knows something isn’t right, but Vegeta hasn’t changed. He is stubborn and difficult as always, so Goku also knows he isn’t going to get the answer today and the gap in power is too shocking for a fight. He relaxes a little because he knows Vegeta will come to him eventually with the truth. He always does. “You know…” He rubs the back of his neck as he looks around. “this is the only place I’ve been that hasn’t changed.”Vegeta tilts his head with relief as he balls his fists up into Goku’s shirt, not as a threat, but to pull him closer. “You’re… really back.”Goku smiles softly. "Do you want to know where I went? ...You're gonna hate it.""I hate most everything you do."“I know.” Goku's let's out a gentle huff of laughter. "Do you remember the last time we were together? The planet with the lakes?"Vegeta smirks. What a hopeless roma-- Then his eyes widened in shock. "Kakarot, how long did you think you were gone?""Weeks? Maybe a couple months." He smiles sadly. "I didn’t realize it was like that. I just wanted to clear my head. I’m… I’m so--"And just like that the weight is lifted from Vegeta's restraint. He tugs harder on his rival's shirt. "Why would you do that?” he says quietly. “When it's already empty you idiot." And he pulls Goku against him, pressing their mouths together. "You idiot," he whispers against his jawline. Goku hesitantly, and contrary to his instincts, pushes him back. Everything between them is so fragile, it always has been. "No. No, I can’t right now. Vegeta, this isn’t--I just got back and everything’s--”“Everything’s fine."“Fine?” Goku resists the urge to let Vegeta do with him as he pleases. “Now I know you’re lying. Nothing’s ever ‘fine’ with you. …What happened? What’s wrong?” He tries one more time for an answer. But Vegeta just lets go and resumes his usual scowl, his mood immediately soured by the rejection he knows he deserves. And how can they have this conversation anyway with him lurking around. Suddenly Vegeta’s ki prickles and his eyes dart around anxiously.Goku rolls his eyes with a huff. He really hasn’t changed. He tries to figure out what Vegeta is looking for and realizes, “Where did Goten go?"Vegeta tenses up trying to restrain his anger in front of Kakarot. "Must be picking up all the literal trash he left here," he says through clenched teeth.Goku sighs as he walks out of the gravity room, then raises his brows in shock as he sees the hole in the side of the compound and the shattered patio."Kakarot." Vegeta hesitates as he follows him out, also looking at the result of his wrath. "You can’t trust him.""Hm. So you taught him to curse, and to lie.” Goku looks at Vegeta with heavy judgment in the face of his destruction. “He always did seem to pick up your worst habits."Veget sucks in a short breath, shocked that Kakarot can still pierce him so easily after all these years, and crippled by how deeply they cut after everything that has happened. He got the painful honesty from you though.
***
"What.The! FUCK!?!? WHAT THE FUCK?!”"What? Oh my god, What!?” Bra cackles on the other end of the phone.“NO! NO NO NO NO! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!???" he grips both sides of the screen and shakes it until the plastic threatens to give. "AHH! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?!""What's going on?! Oooh my Goooood, Ten, you have to tell me! Who hit who?""Shut! UP!" He slams his hand down onto the phone, shattering it. Ki fizzles in Goten’s hands but he resists smashing everything he can reach because he doesn’t want to leave evidence that he has been here. So he bites his tongue and digs his nails into his palms instead until his rage quiets to a simmer. He inhales and exhales deeply as he tries to process what he just saw."Damn it. You were supposed to fight... not..." He watches them leave the gravity room. They're coming inside. He turns off the screen and sprints up to the wreckage of a room he'd left behind. His bag was still out and his clothes still scattered over the floor from last time he'd been here. He is seething as he angrily jams whatever he can into his bag. He can barely focus on anything other than trying to figure out how the fuck that could have happened. I mean really, look at me! He looks furiously at the blue sash lying next to his bed and blasts it to nothing. He looks around his room. Hm. Or maybe I just need… to try… harder.
***
Goku steps through the hole in the wall and sees his son sitting in the middle of the floor zipping up a duffel bag. The air smells like burned paper and there are several burn marks on his floor, and the edges of his furniture but otherwise there is nothing in the room except a bare dresser and an empty closet. Even the bed is stripped bare. "Goten?” He doesn’t bother knocking since he hadn’t bothered to use the door. “Is this..." He looks around a bit spooked by the peculiar emptiness. “...where you've been staying?”Vegeta stands behind Goku in the hallway scowling with his arms crossed. As soon as they make eye contact Goten recoils with a startled frightened expression and quickly starts backing himself into a corner. "Don't--please don't, Vegeta!” he covers his face with his hands."Oh. you lying little sh--" Vegeta tries to step forward but Goku shoves his hand into Vegeta's chest holding him back."You fucking--Why are you here?!” He pushes back against Goku easily and forces his way into the room. “Thought he’d get payback for you?"“No, but it would have been a nice extra,” Goten mutters quietly with a smirk.Goku is almost on the verge of Super Saiyan in his attempt to restrain Vegeta from launching himself at Goten.“I will fucking end you, you--" Vegeta tries to get his hands on the insufferable brat."Get off him! Get off!" Goku struggles, barely managing to pull the offending Saiyan away before he can land a punch. Vegeta only relents because it's Goku pulling him off. "What is going on?!""There's nothing going on." Vegeta snarls towards Goten.“Vegeta!” Goku shoves him. “Stop! I don't wanna fight you!" I can barely hold you back. "Why are you doing this? What is wrong with you?""I told you! I--nothing." He drops his fists and looks Goku in the eyes, "Nothing is wrong with… me .” He glares at Goten. “Kakarot, you have to believe me ," his voice is urgent, with more than a hint of desperation."No, no! That’s not enough, Vegeta. You can't just say it was just ‘training’ and expect me to believe you!" He fumes while Goten balks in amusement behind him at the word training. "Especially when the first thing you do when you see him is try ‘n fight him. Haven’t you already done enough?!” He gestures to his son’s still shut eye and busted face.Vegeta wants to respond but chokes on his words. "I--he--"Is that what he told him? Lost his temper during training? This is too perfect. Goten holds back a smug smile. “Yeah, haven’t you done enough? Look at what you did to me.” Goten turns around and lifts his shirt up revealing a network of painful bruising on his back. Goku's expression is wide eyed, he didn't realize it was that extensive. "You should have heard him, Dad. Always yelling about how I was a disgrace to the Saiyan race, that 'Kakarot's brat' should be ashamed to be so weak. That I was a third class idiot just like my fathe--" he knows his impersonation of who Vegeta used to be is spot on because he watches Vegeta's face explode with red hot fury."I have NEVER fucking said that! You--" He lunges forward and nearly trips over Goku who is trying his hardest to stay between them. “I have never fucking said that to you. I’ve never--”“You might as well have,” he says honestly."Stop! Both of you! I don't care! I don’t care what you said or didn’t say!" Goku looks at his son whose face has been washed of fear and replaced with something more... he doesn't know the word for it... but it's not nice. Then he looks back at Vegeta who is caught up inside his own head as usual. There have been so many times he wishes he could just press his hand to Vegeta’s head and read his mind. But never in ten million years would Vegeta ever let him do that. And most things in Vegeta’s head are probably better left private. Especially now as Vegeta glares at Goten's face. The bastard probably isn't healing out of spite, helps his lies. Fuck! And he still looks like his father, should have hit him harder. Should have burned his face too. Should have killed him for what he did, should have-- Vegeta feels his face suddenly heat up with shame thinking about that night . Desperate, pathetic... him and I both… Goku doesn’t hear any of that though, because Vegeta doesn’t say it. He can, however, see who has bruises and who doesn’t, so he tries to make the best call. "I thought you were better than that, Vegeta. I thought you had changed.”Vegeta's eyes widen with a stiff shock of hurt and a pang of guilt strikes through him like lightning but he can’t bring himself to respond. Aggression seeps out of him faster by the second and Goku lets go of him and steps back."Goten, let’s go.” He already has two fingers to his forehead as he extends his hand to his son.Goten looks at it disapprovingly with a raised brow and snorts. “What am I, five? I’m not holding your hand.” “I--oh. Right, ok…” Goku lets his hand drop as Goten slaps a palm onto his shoulder.“Oh, but Vegeta?” He says just before they disappear. “Since your previous arrangement isn’t an option anymore, if you ever change your mind... let me know.” His smile opens up into a grin twisted with confidence. “You already know I’m good for it.”If looks could kill, the daggers Vegeta shot him for such a statement would have murdered the half Saiyan ten times over. Goku gasps as he sees Vegeta’s hands pooling with ki and they are gone before it touches them.Vegeta’s palms glow but Goten is gone before the place where he was standing is charred to ash. *** Goten stumbles when they arrive, still disoriented by the sensation of instant travel and groans in discomfort.“What was that?”“Huh?”“Why did you say that to him! What arrangement? Change his mind about what?”“Change his mind about fighting to the death, Dad. Obviously. I was just… talkin' shit.”Goku frowns. “Why would you provoke him like that? If I hadn’t gotten you out of there he would have hurt you. Again!”“Yeah, well.” Goten sucks his cheek as he gives a sidelong glance to Gohan’s house. “Good thing you were there then.”"Did you really live there? At Capsule Corporation? For years?”“Yeah.”“...Why? If things were so bad between you two, why?” "I don’t know! Why are you asking so many questions?!” he snaps defensively.Goku frowns and watches his son warily.“I--Because I thought... it’d make me strong... like you to… to fight with him… all the time." He almost throws up at the sentimentalism in his words, but it looks like his father is believing every bit of it, so he forces himself to continue. "But I guess I was wrong and… also Vegeta didn’t usually bother me most of the time because me and Trunks are really good friends. So... I don't know. It was better than being at home," he mutters.“You and Trunks are still friends?” Goku raises his brows in surprise.“Yeah. Why is that shocking?”Goku shrugs because he has a feeling saying nothing is better than admitting that Goten just doesn’t seem like he has a lot of friends.“Anyway, thanks for holding him off or whatever while I grabbed the rest of my stuff.”Goku nods, a little put off by finding out that was apparently Goten’s main reason for going with him.“I, um… I just wanted to say though, that… if you ever talk to him again, and I find out, I’m never talking to you again.” “Wh-what?” Goku stammers in shock.“Yeah, I mean… he tried to kill me. Probably still wants to. So I just feel like, it would really… make me feel like you didn’t care about me. At all. If you did that.”“But-but I do care!” Goku tries to reassure him.“Yeah, and I believe you. Which… is why you should believe me. And not talk to him again.”“I--” Goku rubs the back of his neck anxiously. He can’t promise that. He won’t. But they also just started making progress. He doesn’t want to ruin that either. “I, um, okay? I guess. But--”"Cool.” He smacks his dad’s arm in agreement. “Cool. Well, I’m going inside. Thanks for the… instant… whatever.”“Transmission. Wait, you're going? Are you sure? I brought us here ‘cause it was the first place I thought of, but Chi Chi really wants to see you. She says you haven't stopped by in a while. I thought, um, maybe we could--""Yeah, I'm sure. It's getting late and I'd rather wait to see her until... y'know..." Goku looks at him expectantly, waiting for him to finish, because he really doesn't know. Goten, with the very little self control he has left, resists rolling his eyes. "Until I'm a little more healed up, you know how she gets. Gohan probably has some Senzu, so maybe I'll stop by tomorrow." Or never, whichever's more convenient, really. "Oh. Ok, sure. I'll see you--" Then he perks up. "Would ya wanna spar then?"Goten's already heading towards the door, pretending he hadn't heard the question."Ok...! Some... other time..." He watches Goten for a few moments, then takes his time heading towards another cold night on a couch. *** The ki he has gathered inside himself dissipates only after a significant amount of restraint. He begins to pull all of his hatred inward as he walks back to the gravity room. He's on autopilot when he turns up the gravity to its maximum setting. His anger now feels so far away. He has no thoughts in his head as he does agonizing routines. He hasn't trained like this in years. He throws a furious punch into a bot, shattering it into thousand pieces, sending a painful shock of electricity into his body. He lets out an agonizing yell as he is thrown against the floor. He is in almost enough pain to forget what he is feeling. Almost. So he does it again.And again.And again.And again...Until finally he doesn’t feel anything and collapses mid-kata, from exhaustion, into a dreamless sleep.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The pain in his head, his whole body, slams into him immediately upon waking and he vocalizes his discomfort with a low profane grumble."He lives to see another day."Goten recognizes the voice as Pan. "Wha…?" He looks around slowly with one eye cracked open."Feeling better?""No." Reality slowly starts to come back to him and he hides his face underneath a pillow to try and avoid it a little longer."What was that thing anyway?""What thing?" he mumbles out from beneath the covers."That band thing?"He bolts up. "Band? Shit!" His eyes search her, then himself, then the room. "Where--fuck! Where is it?" He tears the sheets away and starts searching frantically.She scoffs. "You're not gonna find it. Booze for brains has it.""Trunks? Why--Wait, what? What the fuck happend last night?""Seriously?" He looks at her expectantly."Ten! You just like… disappeared! And then exploded! We spent hours tracking your ass down. Even my dad couldn't sense you until you finally powered back up. It was crazy! And don't tell me that was a new technique because I know you weren't training when we found you." She snorts.The memories are still spotty. He can't quite recall what she's talking about. "'We'?""Yeah, but don't worry, 'we' as in me, my dad"--She crosses her arms with a pouty frown--"and Trunks," she emphasizes her displeasure. "Managed some discretion and fortunately found you before your date called the cops.""Uhgg." He puts the pillow back over his head to block the afternoon light streaming in through the window. "Why are you here?""Why do you think? Because my dad made me baby sit you until you woke up. In case you like, started choking in your sleep or something, I don't know, even though Trunks said it wasn't drugs. He's OD'd on everything so he’d know, right?" She rolls her eyes. "Whatever it was though made your ki freak out like all super crazy. What the fuck was that thing?""Get out." He groans in response.She scoffs at him. "I am, but you might wanna have something to say for yourself when your big brother comes home." She tosses his phone onto the bed. "It's been going off for hours." She kicks at an empty liquor bottle as she stands up from the chair she'd been sitting in. "Also how did you already trashed this room? You've been here for a week.""UUUUhhhhhg, get out!" He throws a pillow at her which she deflects with ease as she leaves. He picks up his phone and looks at the screen. He's groggy and the words still look a bit fuzzy to his sleepy eyes. 48 missed calls. He scrolls through them. Gohan...mostly. Trunks... Pan... He flips over to the texts. He has dozens from Gohan and Trunks all asking in some way or another where he is and why he isn't answering. Then there are the texts from Bra. 0105: Sounds like you used it! Yay!0106: How was it? Be descriptive.0106: Trunks was literally useless. He just woke me up to yell at me. Uhhg, so annoying.0115: I literally can't imagine what else he had in mind when I said I'd help you. Like ok so it has some side effects. Whatever, it's the first trial.0120: So anyway did it work?0223: Omg! Ten! Respond! Dont tell me you actually fucking died. Crazy bitch, making me a guinea pig for her creepy experiments. He finally responds with:
He frowns at her message, the winky faces are not particularly reassuring, and walks himself backwards to the last thing he can remember. *** It's ten 'o' clock the night before. He's laying on a bed in a spare, furnished room at Gohan's house staring at the ceiling tossing ki between his hands at varying speeds, intensities, sizes, colors, or whatever he can think of. Not much of a training routine, but it is mildly entertaining.Besides, what else is there to do? It is Friday night and his phone is silent. Because he put it on silent four hours ago. Because he can't stand the explosion of messages from Trunks who keeps asking if he's OK, keeps asking what happened, why he moved out, what's wrong, if he wants to hang out, and--Goten sighs heavily just thinking about it. His friend's concern warms him as much as it irritates him because he hasn't quite figured out how to face him and all his questions. So instead of explaining why living at the compound is suddenly a health hazard, he lies and says things are just different now that his father is back and he's sorry but he's exhausted from classes, the same classes he hasn't gone to in almost a month. Still, maybe next weekend, Trunks. As a result Goten spends yet another night in his room doing nothing when he honestly could have used a break from 'home.'Though it is starting to get tolerable. His face is mostly healed now thanks to his great Saiyan genetics and the pain has mostly receded, but it isn’t the same as before. No one says it, but it’s clear when they look at him that they are thinking it. We don’t look the same anymore. He extinguishes his ki and grumbles about not being able to get what he wants but at least no one else is getting it either. He's sure Vegeta and his father won't be on speaking terms any time soon, let alone anything-else-terms and he will do whatever he can to keep it that way.He picks up the only viable solution to his problem at the moment unless-- or until-- Vegeta changes his mind . Wouldn't that be fucking convenient? He twirls it around his fingers and debates the likelihood that Bra is fucking with him and the band does something completely different.
Very likely…
He also thinks it would be satisfying to prove her wrong and break her device by overloading it with ki. He looks at the curious little thing in his hands. He keeps pressing the little 'x' but nothing happens. It's not quite big enough to fit around his palm but it won't come apart either no matter how hard he tries. “What the fuck is this made of?” He presses his thumb to the little 'x' again, but sends a small jolt of ki into it and it pops open from a hidden seam. He clicks it on to his wrist and watches it lock up automatically."Oh. Hm."Then it hits. He feels like all his energy is being sapped out of him, like he's being pulled into the spiritual ether along with all his ki. He wants to yell out but he can't make a sound. He struggles to roll out of the bed and collapses to the floor as soon as he does. He barely manages to crawl towards his desk where his phone is."Fusddv…" His mouth is having difficulty forming words. He feels like he's the drunkest he's ever been in his life and impossibly weak, barely able to support himself on his hands and knees. His hand reaches up for his phone and slides around sloppily until he succeeds in knocking it off the desk. He keeps slurring profanities because his brain can't produce anything else. He manages to pick up the phone but can't focus on the screen. He drops it and reaches for his wrist and loses consciousness.His eyes snap open startled and confused as he looks around. It's been two minutes. There's a loud knock on the door and someone saying his name in a panic. He gets up only after several attempts and stumbles towards the window feeling weak and strange. He tries to pull the band off but doesn't have any luck. His senses are still fuzzy and he wobbles on his feet but his thoughts are clear enough for him to have a bad idea. He opens up the large window in his room and lets the cool wind hit him. With a little stabilizing help from the wall, he plants both his feet on the frame.The ground looks further away than he remembers and it seems to shrink away from him the longer he stares down. The urgent knocking on his door accompanied by a whole lot of, "Goten! Are you ok? Your ki dropped! I can barely feel you! Goten?! Why is your door locked?" convinces him that yes, jumping, not confronting the source of concerned knocking, is the better option.He jumps out aiming for the sky but doesn't make it more than a hundred meters before landing flat on his chest with a quiet thud. He groans and picks himself up. Effective ! He looks at the little metal band around his wrist and holds out his other hand to try and conjure up a blast. Nothing but a fizzling pop of energy comes out of his finger tips. He shrugs before brushing himself off and runs off towards the road thinking in this state he'd have to catch a bus downtown.Gohan looks around the empty room, having shouldered the door open a few moments too late. He runs towards the open window and looks down, finding nothing. "Goten?! GOTEN!” There is no response from the dark clear air and he can't sense his brother's ki anymore; it's so faint, indistinguishable from the millions of others in West City.Gohan flies off and tries searching on his own for a while before finally breaking down, taking out his phone, and begrudgingly calling the only other person who might know what just happened. Gohan finds out in that same call that same person had--not five minutes ago--broken up with his daughter. Again. Or maybe she dumped him. Again. The situation isn't clear. Trunks quickly slurs over it and Pan's indiscernible yelling in the background doesn't help. But they both agree to put that aside for now and help him look for Goten.Gohan inhales and exhales several times very slowly before dealing with the night ahead of him. Meanwhile Goten walks into a grungy, crowded dive bar that caters to a particular crowd. The beat is heavy. He can feel it from his toes to his head and there are already more people than the Fire Marshall allows on the dance floor. It is exactly the environment he thrives in, but tonight the lack of ki makes him anxious and uncomfortable. He keeps calling on it, but it never comes. He has to do something to dull the intolerable feeling of energetic stillness inside him."Hey." He bumps into a short bleach blond haired man in the process of snorting something up his nose. "You have any more?"The man looks him up and down with a smile. "For you? Yes." He pulls out a small plastic bag of pills and offers him one. Goten looks at the one with a raised brow and takes the bag instead. He dumps the entire contents into his mouth and washes it down with a random drink he snags off a table."Woah! Hey! Wait! What the--those were expensive! You're going to OD! What's wrong with-!"Goten silences him with a hot satisfying kiss. "I'm fine." The man looks at him doubtfully, "Barely enough to get me buzzed anyway. How about I prove it by… thanking you at your place.""I--""I'll give you a better time than those ever could."He smiles weakly as Goten leans in and continues that hell of a kiss. "Alright…"The lights are bright, starting to leave trails in their wake. They keep catching his attention as they makes their way toward the exit. A fuzzy feeling now flushes Goten's chest with warmth telling him to relax and enjoy the muted electrical current that usually thrums excitedly through him.The slick bodies around him feel phenomenal and he touches everything he walks by. Tonight's catch has to keep tugging on him to keep him focused. He is sweating like he's never sweat before and the crisp cool air feels like a godsend when they finally make it outside. Goten presses his prospective lay against a brick wall with peeling posters and kisses him with an open mouth grinding against him, relishing the feeling of another warm body pressed against him. He runs his hands up the sides of the very blond boy causing him to shiver. It is only once they pull away to breathe that the human notices the bracelet on the half Saiyan's wrist.He looks at it curiously and watches a little steam rise from it into the cool air. "Cute."Goten looks down and stares at it too for the first time since arriving and notices that it's starting to glow. He tries to call on his ki and watches it pulse a little brighter. "Yeah, pretty isn't it?" he slurs.The stranger pulls back. "You sure you're alright?"Goten laughs softly and gives him a hazy nod. "I'm Saiyan. I'm more than alright.""Saiyan? Is that in Asia?" Instead of answering, Goten pulls the blond toward the street. "Which way?"They're on each other as soon as they're through the apartment door. Goten lets himself be backed into the bed which he immediately falls back on and claims as his own. Everything feels so soft and good he can't help but arch a little, letting out a whine."Fuck me. Fuck me really really hard." He figures just in case it doesn't work at least this way the consequences would probably be manageable."Ok." The blond laughs. "I didn't peg you for a bottom."Goten threads his fingers through the bleached yellow hair with a devious grin. "I'm not. Usually.""Lucky me." The blonde hovers over him with a playful expression."Lucky you." He takes the guy's hand and pulls him in close with surprising speed and strength for someone so seemingly inebriated. Goten wraps his legs around him and doesn't bother with foreplay.About two hours and several different positions later the blond can't help but stare down at the dark-haired stranger in his bed with a strained smile. The human is panting, exhausted, and barely able to keep up. "Your endurance... is really... impressive..."It's taking everything he's got to not get off a second time because he wants to satisfy this Greek God looking man who wears glowing bracelets. He has used every trick he knows but Goten doesn't come. He only responds with deep rhythmic moans asking him to go harder. The blond tries to run his fingers through his partner's hair, but is halted by an excruciating grip around his wrist."Ahh-what’re you--that hurts--""Don't. Touch. My hair.""Ok! ok, ok! Ah! Let go! That fucking hurts!" Goten releases his grip, somewhat surprised the human's wrist is still intact."Damn, you're really strong." His pain turns into a casual flirtatious smile. "Those muscles aren't just for show, huh?" The blond runs his finger tips around Goten's biceps."No." Goten grips the man's shoulders and flips their positions because it is alright, the band is definitely helping, but it just isn't getting him there. He needs more. He needs something to compensate for the lack of ki because while the gap in power has been significantly closed the band does nothing to temper his need to fuck the way a Saiyan fucks. Goten stops and sits up on his partner. "I want you... to hit me," he says slowly, not quite sure if it is what he really wants but he isn't sure what else to fill the void with."What?""Hit me," he says confidently this time."Uhh… like this?" The blond hesitantly smacks his palms against Goten's ass."No." He takes one of the human's hands and balls it into a fist then places it against his cheek. "Like this. Punch me.""In... the face?""Yeah." He sighs with a half smile. "In the face. As hard as you can. Don't worry, you probably won't hurt me.""A-are you sure? You're not too fucked up are you? I don't think I should--"Goten laughs briefly before baring down with a sudden peculiar seriousness that was just shy of threatening. "Do it.""Uhh… ok…" He hits weakly, but Goten's face doesn't budge except to frown."That was pathetic."The human scoff. "Ok. Fine." And this time there's a satisfying tingle underneath his right eye. "Shit! Are you o-"Goten rubs the spot with a smile. "Again."The human bites his lip with uncertainty and throws his fist a little harder this time."Again. Mm~" Goten starts moving, going faster and harder than his partner could as he is hit a fourth time. "Ah! Again." The human strikes him square in the jaw and it even snaps Goten's head a little to the left. "Fuck, yes! Like that! Again." He feels every sensory nerve in his body begin to light up with pleasure urging him to grind a little more urgently as he feels another punch. He tongues the prick of blood on his barely split lip and finally feels himself getting close.The sudden shift in pace and intensity is too much for his partner though. "Holy-! Wait, slow-! I can't--Ah, yes! I'm gonna--""No! Don't fucking come yet! Hit me again!" The words are halfway between commanding and pleading, but it doesn't matter. He feels the man beneath him tense and grip his waist as tight as he can, which isn't as tight as Goten wants, and thrust into him deeply, but not quite deep enough. He sighs and tilts his head up toward the ceiling in a poor attempt to mask his disappointment. He knows he isn't going to get any closer to what he wants tonight so he wraps his hand hard around himself and, since he is more sensitive from whatever it was he swallowed earlier that evening, manages to finish.The blond takes a few moments to catch his breath and pull out. "That was... that was insane." He exhales a soft laugh still not quite sure what to think about the hitting thing, but the rest was, "Wow. Whatever you did at the end was… the best I've ever had."Goten smiles because it's been a little while since he’s heard that. "Hn." He rolls off and splays out on the sweat and sex soaked sheets. "Yeah, it wasn't bad.""Not bad? What's that supposed to mean?""It means… " He rubs at his wrist which is starting to itch and decides not to insult the blond for being human. "...I’m fucked up.”The blonds leans back, skepticism and offense all over his face. "Maybe you shouldn’t have taken all my drugs then.""No. You couldn't handle me sober." He smirks.The blonde props himself up on his elbow with an expression of coy disbelief. "Really? You're even more of an animal when you’re not fucked up?""You have no idea." Goten turns away from him and tries to shut his eyes and sleep but he keeps feeling irritation around his wrist. He sits up and looks at the band which is glowing so brightly now it illuminates the dark room. He then notices a small burn through the sheets where his wrist had been resting. Then a few others scattered about the rest of the bed. Not much larger than what stray cigarette ash might cause and he wonders if those are all from the band."You're still wearing that?" The man touches the band then abruptly pulls his hand back. "Ow! Fuck! What the-! It's burning hot!"Goten looks at the red skin underneath now beginning to blister, then at his more than satisfied lay. Guess I don't need it anymore. Tonight anyway. With some effort he pools a small spark of ki into his thumb and presses it to the 'x' and the band pops right off. He feels suddenly very sober as a cold sweat breaks out on the back of his neck. Then he feels like... Oh no I'm gonna-- "Hey, are you o--"Goten bolts to the bathroom and starts vomiting up everything he's ever eaten. He's never felt so nauseous. The whole room starts spinning as he feels his ki zooming back into his body giving him a painful sense of vertigo. Sparks and arcs of lightning begin to crackle around him as ki rolls into and off him."Are you ok? Holy shit! Are you like--ODing?! Shit! Shit! What do I do--""I'm--" He pukes into the bowl. "I'm fine!" he rasps out."Is that electricity?! What the fuck is going on?" The room starts to rumble and shake. "Oh my god! Your--your hair!? How did you--"Every time Goten throws up he feels another wave of energy wash through him pushing outward in every direction all at once by his ki as it races through his blood back to where it belonged. He is sure there is nothing, not even organs, are left inside him but his stomach just keeps heaving until he is left shaking violently against the tile wall struggling to contain what he can of the painfully dizzying energy transfer.He thinks he hears someone else, maybe a few other people once his ki finally begins to settle and he's able to power back down. Where did they come from? Oh god, please not the cops… He then passes out, still naked, onto cool porcelain. ***After a long period of review he sighs and hits the send button. The response is almost immediate.
He rolls his eyes and scratches at the light burns wrapping around his wrist before scrolling through the other messages and sees for the fifth day in a row, the same question from an unsaved number."want 2 spar today?"It only serves him right after what he said that his father keeps trying to reconnect, to spend time with him, to get to know him. Uhg, And here I thought I had learned my persistence from Vegeta, turns out it's genetic. And who let him have a phone anyway? He tries, with his massive headache and turning stomach, to think about who he'd rather deal with right now... His father or his brother..."sure, I'll be over soon."He gets up and starts opening his drawers and rifling through them for a clean pair of sweatpants. He pauses when he realizes this might be a golden opportunity for a better test run. One that wouldn't fuck him over mind, body, and soul. He tries to remember what pants he was wearing when he went to Bra's lab . He shudders at the thought then pulls up a pair of lightly worn jeans. He starts feeling the pockets until a small little ring with an 'x' on it falls out onto his hand. He smiles."You won't find it." Great. I have to deal with him anyway. He closes his hand and drops the pants he’s holding."Find... what?" he turns around and looks at his older brother."Whatever that device was you wore last night." Goten feigns disappointment as his brother continues. "Yeah, I know about that. What I don't know is what in Kami's name gave you the bright idea to mess around with a--what was it? A ki blocker? I can't even imagine why you of all people would want something like that.""Yeah, you wouldn't know, would you?" he mutters quietly.Gohan walks over to his little brother. "Do you have any idea how dangerous something like that is? It could have been so much worse! So much worse. Goten." He pulls his little brother into a hug. "Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?""Oh." Goten uses the opportunity to slip the ring into his pocket. "You really shouldn't have been..." He shifts awkwardly."How can you say that? How--" He lets go of his brother. "Ten! I found you in some stranger's apartment across town passed out in a bathroom that had been completely destroyed by your ki. You scared whoever that was half to death! Not to mention me and Trunks!" Goten can't suppress the brief pang of guilt. Uhg, he had to bring Trunks into this. "Your ki was almost impossible to find until it just… exploded! I thought you were--" He stops just short. "I don't know what I thought!" Gohan pauses and tries to calm down. "But you're not getting it back. That's for sure," he says sternly. "And I--""Gohan, this has been a great talk. As usual. You know how I love these bonding moments where you lecture me about all the things I've done to disappoint you, but right now I'm late for a spar so if you could just hurry this up…” he gestures in annoyance. “I would really appreciate it.""What?! A sp--Why would you spar with Vegeta after what he did?! Ten, you’re barely healed as it is, I can not--""No, not with--with dad! Stupid!""Oh.” He relaxes. “Wait, you're sparring with... dad?""Yeah.""Really?" Goten nods with an implied 'Obviously' dripping from his expression.Gohan feels his irritation at his brother's usual sharpness start to drain away. He's tempted to ask if he can come, but he doesn't want to interfere with whatever fragile relationship Goten’s managing to rebuild on his own. "Oh." He smiles with disbelief. "I guess... I won't keep you from that." "Thanks.""Are… are you sure you're feeling ok to spar? After last night?" He looks at Goten's pallor with concern. Goten’s pupils are still hardly more than pinpricks despite the low afternoon sun."Oh yeah." Goten waves him off. "I feel super great. Takes more than that to put me down.""...Right."Goten grins his fake practiced grin and walks past his brother out of the room.By the time the thought strikes him that Goten is probably much much stronger than their father, and this may not really be a spar as much as revenge Goten is already long gone and a cold chill runs down Gohan’s spine.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He stands for a long time at the door just staring. He hasn't bothered bringing his hand up to knock and he feels a little sick. He's not quite sure if it's a residual after-effect from last night or if he's really this hesitant to face the two people who brought him into this miserable world. He tries to push away the memory of the last time he went through this door with no luck.
Four Years Ago
His brother always makes a point to be with their mother this time of year. Goten does too, but to less and less of an extent as the years pass. Although even he notices how somber their mother gets in the late fall when all the trees are dead and snow starts falling in the mountains. Everything becomes cold and empty in the countryside. It is hard not to feel alone. It is hard not to wonder where he went and why he didn't come back.Goten sits next to his mother and across from Gohan who has Videl and Pan sitting on either side of him. They are all at the table ready to dig into the incredible food Chi Chi has laid out for them. Her youngest already hasn't been living here for a while, coming home only when it suits him which just so happens to be whenever he is really craving a good home cooked meal. Capsule Corporation can brag all they want about their state of the art kitchen appliances, but in the end they still have nothing on the Ox Princess' prowess with a wood stove and two half Saiyan appetites to sate.She finally puts the last dish on the table and sits down, beaming at her two sons. This has slowly started becoming her favorite time of year because Gohan always manages to get time off and talk Goten into taking a break from class and… whatever else it is that he does. Though as they sit here she wonders when her son became so quiet. He hardly ever talks when he comes over and he hardly ever comes over at all. She worries Vegeta has had too much of an effect on him.Once upon a time she thanked the self-professed murderer-to-be of her husband. Now, a little regret creeps in, regret that she didn't know how to handle her little boy, regret that she relied on him to help her control him, regret that she was too wrapped up in her own loss to show her son more love than resentment, regret that she didn't know how to talk to him about his father. He hates it when she tells him how alike they are. She knows he hates it, but she still does it, she can't not. She finds it hard to resist even now as he sits there looking at all of the food with the exact same expression on his face that he always had."Oh, I wish you'd stop wearing your hair back like that. It's not very traditional."While it is getting easier to pretend to enjoy the small talk the more time he spends away, after a comment like that he still has to make a conscious effort to tone back the sharpness in his voice. "Well, I'm not very traditional." He prays he doesn't provoke her to say it.Chi Chi sighs sadly and bites her tongue on the matter. "I guess not.""Besides." Goten scoops more food onto his plate. "It's what everyone's doing now. You should see Trunks’ hair, it’s almost past his shoulders," he says, trying to lighten up the conversation and push it away from where it is headed."If you're so fashionable then what's with the rest of your get up? You have a UFC match later?" Videl teases and waves a fork at his baggy sweats. He answers her with unamused silence. She laughs. “Oh c’mon. We just wanna know what you’re up to. We hardly ever see you. Always so…” She waggles her fingers at him. “...mysterious.""I'm not mysterious. There's just not a lot to tell. I go to class and I play video games with Trunks." He pokes his fork absently at his food, slowly losing his appetite."You know Gohan was already married at your age," his mother chides."Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm not Gohan then because I'd rather get punched in the face than have a nosy woman around to annoy me with stupid questions," he mutters quietly drawing Gohan's glares upon himself."I know you're in your rebellious stage, with all your training." Chi Chi tacks on the last part with a frown. "But soon you'll want to settle down with a nice girl and have a family too."Pan lets out a short sharp, "Ha!" before catching the sudden ire in Goten's eyes and stifling her laughter with more food. Goten chuffs though because it is an amusing contrast, what he lets his mother assume and his actual life. “Yeah, mom. Sure.”Gohan stops chewing and looks at his mother who doesn't seem to realize what is wrong with her statement, then to Goten who is no longer eating. "You... still haven't told her?""Gohan!" he snaps back in a harsh whisper. “What the fuck!”"Goten! Language!” she snaps before getting a hopeful gleam in her eyes over the prospect that her son isn’t a total recluse. “Tell me what?" “Nothing.” Goten looks away from the table and plays idly with his silverware. "Tell me what?" she asks again, looking at Videl and a sixteen year old Pan whom she hopes will tell her if her boys don't, but Videl just shrugs with a half-smile while Pan just keeps cramming more food into her face to try and escape the conversation."Goten." Her smile broadens. "Did you meet someone? You know she's welcome here, we always have enough food--even with you two--" She casts a sly eye towards her oldest who forces an awkward smile. "I'm sure she's--""I'm full." Goten gets up from the table with his plate and walks into the kitchen.Chi Chi looks at her oldest with concern. "Was it something I said? What's wrong?""No, no mom. He’s--" He pauses and gets up to follow after his little brother. "Hold on."He finds Goten at the sink washing the broken shards of the plate he had just been eating from."You still haven’t told her?”"No. Why would I?" he says with quiet irritation so they aren't overheard."Ten. You said you were going to! You need to tell her, she's-""I don't need to tell her anything.""She's your mother, Ten!""Yeah? I guess I should tell Dad too then. Hm. Wonder where he went off to. Sure would like the whole family here for my big coming out party that you apparently planned without me," he snipes with bitter sarcasm.Gohan exasperates over his brother's words. "Goten--""It is my life and my decision to make. Not yours! I decide when and if I tell her. Not you!""I--""So how 'bout you shut the fuck up and let me do this my own way. And maybe! That means never telling her! Ok? You don't always know what's best for me. Definitely not about this!"“But--”“No! You don’t! You don’t know, Gohan.”He scoffs. "And I suppose Vegeta does?""Wh--where did that even--” He throws his hands up. “He has nothing to do with this!""Well, he's definitely not helping! Teaching you violence and cursing will solve whatever your attitude can’t." He gestures to the shattered remains of the plate in Goten's hands."Shut up, Gohan! You don't understand anything!" He throws the shards into the soapy water splashing it all over the floor."Boys? Is everything Ok?" They hear their mother call from the other room."Everything's fine," Gohan says with that same irritatingly fake happiness he uses to casually correct someone's suspicions when they've caught him lifting something impossibly heavy or eating more than a human should be able to eat, or doing anything remotely Saiyan. Goten looks to the ceiling with crumbling patience.Gohan crosses his arms. "We'll talk about this later.""No. We won't."Gohan sighs as he rubs the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Let's just go sit back down then, alright?""Sure, whatever."They've barely gotten back to their chairs before Chi Chi finds a point of worry. "Is everything ok? You didn't get any more food..."Gohan speaks before his little brother has time to respond. "Everything's fine, but…" He looks at his little brother. "Goten has something he wants to tell you after dinn--" How fucking dare-- Goten's mouth drops open in shock. Even Videl and Pan give Gohan looks of uncertainty. Videl even touches her husband’s shoulder and shakes her head."Actually." He speaks over Gohan's meeker tone with pure unadulterated spite. You want to run my life? You want me to tell her? Fine. I'll fucking tell her. "I want to talk about it now."Gohan hesitates, sensing the shift in Goten’s tone. "Are you sure you don't want to wait until after--""Oh, no!" He grins joylessly. "You said it yourself, Gohan, I should tell her. And since you are just so confident for some reason! That she'll be understanding! I can only assume I have your full support. Right? So, why wait? In fact, I want everyone here. So it’s official.""I--" Gohan weakly concedes his brother's point and nods as he finally starts to realize that Goten might actually be right for once; he doesn’t know, he doesn’t understand, and it might have been better to leave this to Goten’s judgment."Mom." Goten takes a moment to smile and look her in the eyes. "I'm never bringing home a girl. Not this year. Not next. Not ever." He watches her face drop with confusion. "Because... I'm gay. Actually, I’m not just gay.” He chuckles then charges up to Super Saiyan and lets energy roll off him in waves, knocking almost everything around him over. Then he puts his hands on his hips proudly as he effects a stereotypical lisp to say, “I’m super gay.” There is a long painful silence. Chi Chi looks like she has just been hit with her own frying pan. Gohan's face can't be put into words and is absolutely worth the price of a happy family dinner. The silence is finally broken by Pan bursting out into laughter and Goten smirks in amusement that at least his sense of humor landed on someone, but she is quickly silenced by a glare from her father.“How was that, Gohan?” he asks, as he drops back into regular form. “Was that a good coming out? Everything you hoped and more? You know, since you’re the expert and know all about this. Did that meet your standard?”Gohan just stammers, unable to find the words.Their mother finally speaks. "Was that …a joke?”Goten rolls his eyes with a sigh. “No, Mom, it wasn’t. I am actually…” he gestures whimsically. “Super gay.”“No, you're not.” She shakes her head.“You see, Gohan? This is why I didn't tell her.”Gohan’s regret is palpable, but it is not enough. Neither are his weak attempts to break down the science of genetics in order to explain to their mother that it isn’t a choice. Goten scoffs, hurt and disappointed over his pessimistic expectations finally being validated by reality. “No, no my son isn't… We can--we can fix this. I'm sure this is just--"“Fix? But mom." He gestures to himself. "I'm not broken. This is who I am.""No. It's no--""It is! And actually!" He cuts her off. "Since everyone is so interested in my life!" He looks at Videl. "I'll tell you what I've been up to. I’ll tell everyone! Since it’s apparently everyone’s business!""Goten…" Gohan starts."Fortunately for you"--he smiles at his mother--"I still won't be introducing anyone. Because so far, it's all been one-night stands. Like, a lot of them 'cause I don't know if you know this Gohan, but we Saiyans are immune to everything.""Wait, we are?" Pan asks curiously. "How do you know you’re not just lucky?""Pan!" Gohan snaps at his daughter."I mean, I don't think you get 'lucky' two hundred times in a row." He smirks.Pan raises her brows and nods, impressed. Gohan meanwhile is struggling to comprehend, "Two hundred?""Yeah give or take, but that's not counting all the--""Goten!" His mother is the first to shout."What?!" he shouts back. "There something I need to fix ?" His hand accidentally hits a glass and it shatters.Gohan stands up, his chair making a loud scraping noise as it scoots back drawing everyone's attention. "I think we should go outside and talk."Goten smirks and slowly leans forward, pressing both hands onto the table which creaks under his weight. "Oh yeah? You sure you wanna talk big brother?" The spike in ki and aggressive posture is impossible to miss, Goten wants a fight. Gohan is half-tempted to give him one, but for the first time that evening Gohan notices how much bigger Goten has gotten since the last time he saw him. He's not taller than him, probably never will be, but he's broader. Then he realizes that Goten doesn’t just rival him in strength, he has surpassed him.Gohan's confidence begins to waver and slowly dissipate as he wonders when that even happened. And he quickly tries to backtrack because this wouldn't be like one of their childhood brawls where it was an easy win for Gohan and everything seemed to be worked out afterwards. This wouldn't be like that at all. No, Goten wants a fight because he knows he will win. “I--Goten, I just… I thought--I’m so--”“You’re fucking sorry?! Really?!”“I--”"Both of you be quiet! And sit down!" Chi Chi interrupts on the verge of tears, still wanting to believe she's stronger than them. And maybe she is in terms of will, but she's hesitant to step between them with a cast iron like she used to. These aren't the little boys she could still barely control from back then. Gohan sits down, but Goten doesn’t. She looks at her youngest. "I will not have you ruin this with another fight.""Oh, I ruined it?! I ruined it? Gohan was the one lecturing and pressuring ME about why I should tell you! This is his fault! I knew you wouldn’t accept me. I knew,” he says softly. “So thanks, Gohan!” He sneers at his older brother. “Great advice! So happy to always have you trying to run my life! And fix everything! You fucking asshole! You ruined dinner!"Gohan’s face is in his palms. He takes his glasses off so he can try to rub some of the stress out of his face and he curses under his breath. “Well, maybe it would have gone better if you could manage to hold it together for five minutes! But no, you've broken a plate, a glass, probably cracked the table! If you’re so capable on your own, then why don’t you fix that, Gote--""AAhh! Fuck you! FUCK YOU! It’s not my fault everything breaks!” He kicks at the chair and knocks it over. “Always acting like you're so much better than me! Like you’ve never broken anything! Like you're so fucking perfect! Because you pretend you're not Saiyan! And you belong on this weak planet with all these weak humans! And all this stupid breakable furniture!" He flips a plate and sends it across the room. "Well, fuck you! I can't pretend! And no amount of money, or stupid rich wives, or mansions, or jobs at esteemed universities will fix me!""Great speech, Goten.” Gohan claps. “You at least made it sound like one of us isn't a complete disappointment."He almost launches himself across the table at his older brother but resists. Instead he growls out loudly in his frustration. "So that's it then? I come out and it doesn't go how you thought it would in your perfect fucking world, so now I'm the fucking disappointment?!""No! Goten! You really think my frustration has anything to do with you being gay!? It's about your refusal to learn some tact and self-control before you become a violent sociopath like Ve--""Shut! Up! Gohan! You wanna know why I train with him all the time?! You wanna know why I never come home? Because the only thing he says I ever have to 'fix' is my form! He gets it!" His voice cracks. "He fucking gets it," he says softly, struggling to get the words out. “He doesn't pretend--doesn't..." Goten feels his throat tighten as the room falls silent. He lets out a shaky breath and holds it back as he looks around at everyone. Even Pan is sitting with wide eyes, slumped down into her chair unable to ignore the skeletons Goten always manages to drag out of the closet whenever he comes over.He glances at all the broken furniture, the mess of a table, and bitterly considers that he has actually ruined everything just to try and--what was I trying to prove again? His mouth presses into a hard line and he heads towards the door."Goten, stop. Wait.” His brother stands and reaches out. "Don't lea--""No, let him leave. Just like his father." And there it is. Like fucking clockwork. He turns back towards his mother and nods with a viscous smile. "You know what? You're right. I am just like him. So just for you mom, since you never got to see him leave, let me recreate that moment for you." Chi Chi's head tilts up daring her son to continue. But he does. He snaps the band in his hair letting it fall free. Then he turns and walks out the door.He hears something shatter by the wall as he leaves and starts running as soon as the cold air hits him. Before he realizes it, he's sprinting, he's screaming too but he hardly hears it while he's bolting through the forest leaving a narrow strip of destruction in his wake. He runs until the forest ends, turning into a vast wasteland. Only when he is standing on the edge of a cliff does he stop. He senses a ki nearby.
Vegeta?
He lifts up into the air and spots him a short distance away and lands a couple meters behind him and sees that he has a stack of beers and a few bottles of alcohol next to him."Vegeta? What are you doing out here? ...You drink?"Vegeta looks over his shoulder with a strange look. It's dark and he's a little buzzed. It takes him a long time to respond. "Goten?" he finally says with uncertainty."Who else?""No. I don't drink." He hands him a beer and turns back towards the wasteland."Heh... me neither." Goten pops the tin lid with a satisfying hiss and sits down next to him looking out at what used to be mountains but were now large piles of blasted boulders. He's not sure if this damage is from years past or if it was done tonight. He doesn't have the energy to ask. Vegeta wordlessly answers anyway though by charging up a blast he thinks only he can do. It glows purple in the night and Goten listens to the crumbling rock in the distance. He then follows up with a smaller beam of exactly the same color. The surprise on Vegeta's face is clear even in the dark. Goten finishes the can and fires more in varying shades of purple."I didn't know color could be manipulated at will," Vegeta says somewhat perplexed by the technique."Really?" Goten's brow furrows in thought. "I didn't realize you were doing it unintentionally. I just thought you liked purple or something… And so I figured there must be a way for me to do it too with any color.""You taught yourself just from watching?"Goten shrugs in response."What other colors can you do?"Goten smiles. "I've been working on red." He throws a bright pink ball into the air that explodes some distance away. "Haven't quite managed it yet." He flops onto his back. "But one day I'll be able to make a big fuckin' rainbow." He chuffs. "Saiyan pride."Vegeta laughs a little too but he doesn't really understand what Goten means. The context is lost on him. "Can... you do blue?""Yes." He hesitates before lifting his palm straight out in front of him and aims at the stars. He can pick any shade. But he doesn't. He makes it light blue, almost white. Just like his father's. Or as close to memory as he can get. Because he knows that’s what Vegeta is really asking.Silence hangs for a few moments before Vegeta decides not to say it isn't quite right and instead asks, "What makes red more difficult?"Goten opens a bottle and downs most of it in a single gulp. "I'm not really sure. It's just easier with ki I've seen. Like, I know red exists, Gohan told me Frieza's ki was red, but I wasn't there, so I don't know... how it feels.""Hm. I know how it feels. I've been tortured and killed by it."Goten coughs on the rest of the liquor he was pouring down his throat and looks at the other Saiyan apprehensively."I have been working on reprogramming two new bots. They should be ready tomorrow. We can practice on those.""Uuuh... Sure." Note to self, don't stand behind those bots. "They will be more durable than," he gestures to the landscape, "Earth.""Cheers to that. Earth is fucking weak." Vegeta nods, they clink bottles and don't exchange another word. Goten drinks until he can't then passes out with a final mutter of profanity.Vegeta lets him as he continues staring out into the nothingness wondering what Kakarot would think if he could see them now. "Sorry I taught him to curse, Kakarot." He looks regretfully at Goten laying beside him with furrowed brows even in alcohol induced sleep. “It seemed funny at the time.”Goten wakes up the following afternoon on Capsule Corp's couch wishing he never woke up at all. Goten never thinks about it, but it was the first time Vegeta took him back to Capsule Corporation instead of his home in the mountains. *** He finally gains the nerves to knock. His fist falls through as the door is opened for him. His father stands there with a look that is far too happy for the shitshow he came back to in Goten's opinion."Hey, Goten!"Goten steps inside the familiar house. It hasn't changed at all save the new Saiyan addition. Chi Chi is in the kitchen preparing food and he can't resist sniffing the air with a hum. When she finally turns to face him he thinks she's going to break down. His father is in his periphery and he's wary that he has no other choice but to apologize if she decides seeing her son for the first time in four years is too much to bear. Even if Goku wasn't here, he knows that's what he should do, but he's not sure if he's ready. He's not sure if it will be genuine.She doesn't break down. She simply drops the spoon into the pot and rushes over to him for a hug without saying a word. It is not until she finally pulls back, that she starts to bombard him with questions.“What happened to your hair, baby?”“Got a haircut.” He catches a troubled look on his fathers’ face before smiling at his mother."You--but it--” It’s clear that she’ll cry if she continues, so she doesn’t. “Well, how have you been?""Fine...""Gohan said you're still in school, are you still in school? How's it going?""Yeah, college is fine...""Are you going to graduate or stay another year?""I don't know, I'll probably be done before next summer..."She touches his cheek. "You're so pale, and your eyes look red, are you sick?""No, I'm not sick.""You look tired, you should stand up straighter--""I just stayed up a little late last night..."She tsks at him. "I know your courses must be stressful, but you shouldn--""I don't plan on making a habit of it.""Oh, well, how long has it been since you've eaten properly? Are you losing weight? You know, I've been so concer-""I'm eating enough, Mom, don't worry. ""But you haven't been eating here, so how can I be sure?""I--""Are you going to come back for dinner? I'm making a roast.""I guess we'll be back in time for dinner..." A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth even as she starts fussing over his new hair. He reflexively reaches for her hand and grasps it. He manages to gently pull it away and set it back at her side without giving her cause for alarm. She's so good at resuming things as normal. Gohan must have gotten that from her and for once he is thankful for it. But in fragile situations it only takes a tap to break the glass."Oh good. I’m making enough in case you want to invite anyone, you know."Goten raises a brow. “Who would I invite?”“I don’t know. It’s been a little while, I thought maybe you’ve finally met a nice girl or something.”In the blink of an eye all the ease that was barely there in the first place has evaporated leaving a tense void. Goten was hoping it would be a little longer before she said something. He's also surprised it wasn't the first thing out of her mouth. He stares at her for a long time. Goku sits at the table with a plate of food in front of him, fork half way to his mouth. He stops and looks up at his son with a half-smile. "You're awful quiet." He thinks he's being cheeky, he doesn't realize just how sore of a spot this is for his son."That’s because no," he says flatly. “I haven’t.”"Well, I'm sure it'll only be a matter of time." His mother overlooks his obvious distaste for the topic.His eyes flutter with tired annoyance. "Yep. I'm sure." I'll 'turn it off for a few hours', just for you Gohan. You and your perfect world without a fucked up little brother . Goku looks back down at his plate and finishes shoveling it into his face to avoid being pulled into whatever disagreement they had in this department.“I told you it was just a pha--""No, it's--" He pulls away from her hands which are trying once more to fuss over his new 'haircut' and grumbles in frustration before saying, "Mom. I didn't come here to have this conversation again. I came here to train. With dad. And that's what I'm going to do. Now." He looks at his father who shifts with discomfort before agreeing and standing up.“I, um, is everything o--”Goten starts pushing him out the door. "Go. Just go, she's always like this. Bye Mom. See you in another few years. Maybe," he says with a bitter tone. He hears something crack as he leaves and just like last time he doesn't stay to see her inevitably breakdown.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The flight to the waste land is quiet. Goten flies behind his father, watching him intently. His father’s face is twisted into a tight pout and Goten snorts as Goku looks back at him because Is that really what I look like when I'm upset? Goten keeps waiting for him to say whatever it is that he is thinking, whatever he keeps hesitantly opening his mouth for, but he never does. They touch down onto a windy plateau that whips his father's hair to and fro. Goten resists the urge to run his fingers through his own, not wanting to remind himself that his hair doesn’t do that anymore. He absently kicks at the rocks with his hands in his pockets fiddling with the ring instead while his father warms up.Goten wasn’t lying when he said he would never be the first to test one of Bra's inventions again. And this one has so much more potential. He tries to think of a way to interest his father, or trick him, or maybe I'll just... jam it on? He hasn't arrived at a solid decision when his father, with a smiling-but not-quite-happy expression on his face, asks, "Are ya ready?"Goten looks up a little startled. "What? Yeah, yeah. Sure." He takes his hands out of his pockets."Alright.” Goku steps into stance expecting his son to do the same, but Goten stands, relaxed, with shoulders slumped and a tilted head as he scrutinizes his father's peculiar fighting posture making Goku hesitate. Then he throws the first hit.Within fifteen minutes the only sweat breaking on Goten is from how hard he’s working to refrain from injuring his father. He's making a conscious decision to hold back instead of easily knocking him down, keeping him there with a foot on his chest, and declaring himself the winner because What's so great about 'Earth's Hero?' Now that they are sparring, he wants to know.Before long Goten though is lost to the motion. He has forgotten this was just supposed to be an excuse to get out of the house and away from his brother. He has forgotten about the little ring in his pocket. He has forgotten about the night before. Instead of regrets and shame and other things he hardly reserved time for contemplating anyway, he catches himself thinking Maybe we should spar more often. He even stops his father to ask about a particular movement, but Goku just pauses and stands there rubbing the back of his neck, thinking, before finally saying he isn’t sure what he did, he just did what felt right.
What feels right? What the fuck does that even mean?!
Goten doesn't stop to ask him anymore after that. Instead he just tries to pay closer attention and study Goku's movements, trying to pick up on the nuances of technique that Goku can't explain, to see if he can pinpoint what it is his father is doing that allows him to get in hit after jarring hit despite the gap in speed and power. "You've definitely been training," Goku says, a little winded but still with a friendly smile."Yeah." Goten doges."A lot."He chuffs and counters, knocking Goku back."Your technique is good too. Really good. Your offense is strong.” It looks so similar to Vegeta's, but with... flare! "But your defense still needs work." He lands a jab. They've definitely been training together. Not just fights... spars, drills, katas... real training. Goten frowns and launches a sudden powerful blast at his father who avoids it just in time by powering up. Goku grins back at him now in Super Saiyan. "That was close!" Not close enough. Goten smirks and follows in form. It's harder now, to pull his punches and he's struggling to hold back in his elevated state, quickly turning their easy spar into a difficult exercise in control.Goten uses a momentary hesitation on Goku's face to go in for a solid right straight but his father disappears. Goten leans forward, off balanced, and is shoved into the ground by a soft push on his shoulders. He gets up and scowls at his father. "That's cheating, you can't use that technique.”Goku hovers just a little above him smiling. "Why not? You have no idea what kind of enemy you'll be facing in the future."Goten laughs darkly. "If that's how you wanna play then." No more holding back. Goten launches at full speed and tackles him mid-air, bringing him down to the ground. It doesn't take much maneuvering to force his father into a painful arm bar.Goten starts to press up with his hips against Goku's elbow. A part of him is hoping he'll get to hear the snap. He never tapped for Vegeta. Half the time it was because he could escape. Half the time it was because he was willing to endure recurrent, bordering on permanent, injury to his joints rather than give up. They have long since stopped those types of drills because of Goten's unnerving levels of persistence.Goku twists in an attempt to escape. "Wow, you really were holding back." The strain in his voice becomes more apparent as he starts charging up a blast with his free hand. Goten lets the blast hit him in the face without blocking so he can keep his grip and continue pressing up with his hips. Goku quickly realizes that he's not getting out of this without doing something risky that could hurt them both.In hindsight he thinks maybe goading his son into powering up further was foolish even in a friendly spar. He can't overpower him, I'm not even close , and Vegeta's right, he doesn't know what his son is capable of, and suddenly he has no interest in finding out. He taps Goten's leg twice and his son lets him go with a disappointed sigh.Goku rubs his elbow and tries his best to not look flustered by how much ki he now realizes his son is hiding. "How strong are you?""Stronger than you, I guess." He stands up."Yeah... Show me.""What?""Show me, I want to see. I knew you were pulling back, but you still surprised me. Show me.""You want me to just... power up?""Yeah!" he says with a proud smile. "As much as you can. I want to see how far you've come."A part of Goten is jumping with excitement because he wants to see the look on his father's face. He used to dream of this moment. Another more cautious side asks if this will give him away. If doing this will chip away at the fragile image of himself he has created that makes him look more trustworthy than Vegeta at the moment.His ego wins and he lets his power soar with a prideful tilt of his head. As he begins to raise his ki higher and higher he feels a spell of dizziness start wrapping around his body, an echo of the night before. His vision waivers as lightning arcs around him and he stops powering up so he can instead focus on not throwing up. Or passing out. He suddenly feels unstable, like his ki is rattling around inside his body making it harder for him to reach and control it.Goku studies him for a moment then closes his eyes. Goten takes that as his cue to drop back into base form with an exhausted breath. He looks at his shaking hands. That shouldn't have been as hard as it was... Goku opens his eyes with confusion. "Why did you stop? You can go higher than that. Can't you?""I--" Goten hesitates. “I don’t know…”"Don't hold back. I wanna know what to train towards." He smiles. "I only felt it for an instant last night."He lets out a nervous laugh. "Last night? You felt that?""Yeah, it dropped too fast for me to really focus on it, so at first, I thought it might have been Gohan, but now... I'm sure it was you." Then a thought strikes him. "You must be almost as strong as Vegeta. Maybe stronger." His brows knit together at the realization. "No," Goten responds coldly. "He's stronger. I feel it every time we fight." Especially when we fight about reckless decisions of mine. "I don't think it's by much." His mind wanders back to the bruising his son had when he first saw him. Did he let Vegeta do that? Goten bristles with discomfort at the direction of the conversation. "You have no idea how strong he is now.""I don't know, I'm pretty good at sensing ki and he’s… not very good at masking it. So, I think I know exactly how strong he is." He looks off into the distance toward Vegeta's ki, hundreds of miles away."How sure can you be? You thought that was Gohan last night.""You're brothers. It's hard to tell family members apart, even for me." He huffs. "Gohan was the strongest when I left, why would I have assumed it was you?""Because I’m the only one who’s kept up with tr--it doesn't matter! The point is I'm not even close to Vegeta's level right now.""You are. You definitely were last night. What were you doing? That energy was..." He whistles.Goten is about to argue but then he remembers that he might have just the thing for such an opportune moment to turn this conversation in a direction he can control. "I was... I was training with Capsule Corp. tech." His face splits open into a wide grin. "I was testing something for Trunks.""What? Like bots?""No, better! Do you want to try it?""Oh, uh…” He reels back with uncertainty. “What is it?""A ki amplifier! It’s why my energy must have felt so high!" He feels his pockets and pulls out the small ring.Goku looks at it curiously. "Amplifier? That sounds... kinda dangerous.""It's not. It just makes you stronger. A lot stronger. Maybe you could even spar me at full power. Then you'd really get to see how far I've come." Goku's eyes widen and Goten can see his hesitance beginning to melt away. He found his father’s weak spot. "Yeah, Bra's invented all kinds of cool stuff like this.""She invented this? I thought you said you were testing it for Trunks.""Yeah, yeah, uh, his company, her inventions. It's--" He waves off his father's comment. "Doesn't matter. The point is, it’s amazing. And you should try it so we can really spar." Goten extends his open palm with the ring in the middle and Goku takes it to get a closer look."Gohan told me Trunks had taken over the company. …Guess they both turned out just like their mom," he says softly, turning over the ring between his fingers.Goten lets out a snort of laughter. "I don't know if I'd say that.""Why not?""Wasn't Bulma, like, a good person?"Goku thinks about that for longer than he knows he should have to. "She... cared. A lot.""Ok, well, they... don't. Or at least Bra doesn't.""About anything?" ... Maybe they are more like Vegeta. Goten shrugs. "I guess she cares about what she looks like.""Oh. Is she pretty?" he asks with a soft smile.Goten shakes his head with a chuff. "Depends who you ask.""I was askin' you," he teases gently.Goten raises a brow and for the sake of avoiding his father's visible expressions of distaste for foul language holds back the few choice words he has regarding Vegeta’s daughter . Goku waits for his son to say something on the subject but he never does. He looks back down at the ring. "I can't use this. It doesn't feel... fair.""You said it yourself dad, there's no cheating. Who knows what kind of enemy you'll face in the future. Besides, don't you wanna see what I can really do?"He thinks about it, then nods in agreement. "I guess you're--I'm--right, heh. How does it work?""You just put it on and tap it with a little ki. It should work right away. Then you can match my power and you can see just how much my training has paid off."Goten thinks this might be the best idea he's had in years. He should have asked about ki devices a long time ago so he and Bra could have already moved past the testing phase. He could have already had the solution to all his problems. Or most of them, anyway… Goku slips it onto his index finger and taps it with a small prick of ki. "I don't feel anything.""You have to give it a second." He looks at it hopefully. The ring begins to glow and Goku shoots up into Super Saiyan. "Wait, uh, maybe you shouldn't power up yet.""I didn't." Goku lifts off the ground a little and looks around bewildered. "This is... wow! I feel... I feel, I dunno, I've never felt like this before." He smiles broadly. "Ki’s just flowing into me! From everywhere, I can sense it, wow, this is…" He looks at his hands and sees ki sparking around his fingertips. He turns around and begins charging up a ki blast to throw into the canyon. Goten gets chills as he feels his father's ki spiking higher and higher with no end in sight."Ka… me… ha… me…" The blast he's gathering is dense and huge. And unstable. Goten is having trouble imagining what it will do to the landscape. “Dad, I think you should aim that into the sky…” He keeps waiting for the blast to be fired, but it never leaves Goku's palms. "Dad?" He sees his father suddenly heaving for breath and he touches his shoulder. "Dad?"The ball of light disappears with a sudden electrical pop and Goku immediately begins clutching at his chest."Oh shit! Shit! Dad?"Goku falls to his knees and starts gasping. His ki skyrockets and he screams out in agony. The force of his power up knocks Goten several meters away and onto his back. When he gets back up he sees his father face down in the dirt in back in base form."Oooh shit. Ohh what have I done." He quickly checks to make sure he's breathing and lets out a sigh of relief when he feels his pulse. He turns him over and looks at his father’s unconscious face. He shakes his father and starts calling out to him as he smacks him a few times, but nothing happens. He winds up and hits him hard, but still there’s no reaction. “Oh shit, oh fuck, oh shit.” He stands up and starts pacing in a panic for a few minutes before kneeling back down and pressing his hand to his father's chest to try and see if he can sense what’s wrong. His ki feels stable, but something about it isn't right. The ki is pooled inside of him, like still water in his chest. It doesn't stir even when he touches it with a little bit of his own and neither does Goku."Well, you were right, Bra, it was definitely not ready,” he mutters as he pulls the cracked smoking ring off Goku's lightly burned finger. He curses under his breath while shoving the tiny piece of metal into his pocket, then sits back on his heels, pulls out his phone, and starts fretting about what to do next."Fuck." Goten rocks back and forth a few times before finally giving in and tapping out an SOS to the only person who might know what the hell just happened. The response is immediate: (1204) Omg wow!!! Look at you! Finally admitting it :DD So proud!! Let me give you my therapist’s number. She has lots of experience with personality disorders. “Not that kind of help you fucking--Ahhg!” He smashes the call button.“Okay,” Bra begins without even considering that Goten may have called for any other kind of help. “So, she doesn’t know about all the Saiyan, alien stuff. I told her that my dad is just like, really fucked up from being a child-soldier conscripted into a bunch of wars in an undisclosed country and she doesn’t really poke too much into it; I highly recommend you stick with that narrative, maybe say you're dad was his war buddy or something. I dunno. Obviously, unfortunately, not all of your trauma is going to get addressed. But honestly, she’s so grea--”“Shut--oh my God. Shut the fuck up. I’m not calling you for a fucking therapist recommendation.”“But…” She humphs. “You need one so bad.” He shakes his head. “I really don’t.”She tsks. "Whatever. What else could possibly be so important that you had to disrupt my beauty sleep?"He rolls his eyes. “It is the middle of the day.” “Yeah, well I had to catch up after being woken up by Trunks at 1am because of all your stupid bullshit. Which I’m fucking pissed about by the way! He refused to give it back to me! It’s going to take me forever to find it! He’s really good at hiding stuff!”“Tch. Sounds like a you problem. Also I don’t think you get to call it ‘beauty sleep’ just because it allows you to keep your horns retracted.""Hm. Is that right? Well, I guess whatever you called me for really isn’t important…""No, no! Wait! Don't hang up." She scoffs. “Fine. Do you have more details about the band? Did you magically remember more now that you’re sober?”"Uh, not exactly. So... you know how your devices might have... side effects?""Oh, shit.” Her voice lowers a little. “Did you like, grow a third arm made of ki? The amputation is going to be painful, and I mean really painful. We also might black out a few neighborhoods, but you should be fine--""What? No. Is that a joke?"There is a long silence before, "Just tell me what's wrong."He looks at the shallow rise and fall in Goku's chest. "Okay, so I might have tested your device... on someone else."“Wait, like earlier? Or just now?”“Just now.”“You… you still have it?”“Yeah…”“But Trunks told me he had it.”Goten cringes as he lies. “Well, he gave it back to me.”"What?! To you?! He gave it back to YOU?! WHEN?! That fucking--Ok. I don’t know why the fuck you didn’t tell me that earlier. But I guess it doesn't matter now. So, what? You went back out and just now tested it on someone else?" “Yeah.”She snorts. “Ten, you’re fucking crazy.” “Yeah, but it didn’t go… well.”“Oh.” He hears her shift and her voice drop into a serious tone. "Ok, I get why you called me, but what you need to actually do, is hang up, like right now, blast the area to nothing like, seriously nothing , Ten. Then take the band, leave--obviously--and give it back to me, immediately. They weren't important, right? You're not in public? Did anyone see--""What? Bra, what are you talking about?""Oh--" he hears her sigh with relief. "He's still alive? I'm assuming it's a he. What happened? Did he go into a coma?""Wait. Was that your protocol for dealing with a body? ” he whispers. “What the fuck?! How often do your test subjects die? Did you think I was gonna die?!""I don't see how that's relevant, but no, Ten, I didn't think you were going to die. You're a Saiyan. Is he conscious or not?" And here I was, naively thinking they had been assault charges. "No, he's not. You gonna help me or what?""Mmm. No.""What?!""Why should I? He's just some stupid human. Worthless for data. Dump him at a hospital or something. You should be fine. It's not like he knows your name, right? Oh! But make sure you get the band first. You, uh, might have to cut his hand off, kinda gross, I know but I can not have that in the possession of the police. It's not patented. Also, how did you get it from Trunks? He freaked out at me for like half an hour about it. Said he was going to destroy it, I just can’t--""Why would I cut his--never mind. You should help me because he's not just some stupid human!" he snaps."Ooh~ So you did find a beau? I'd have bet the company's fortune that you didn't know the names of the last twenty guys you fucked, but Trunks kept insisting. He's always giving you more credit than your worth... SO! Tell me! Is he cute? What's he look like? How strong is he? Is he--""No! Shut up! Oh my God, you and Trunks are the worst! No. ...It's my dad."He hears her bust out into grating high pitched laughter. "WHAT?! Your DAD?! Why!? Oh my god, Ten, why would you-?" Her laughter cools. "I never know, I just never fucking know what you're gonna do." She sighs. "This changes everything. But first, before I can help, you need to tell me exactly what happened before he lost consciousness." He hears her start moving around."Uh, nothing really..." He glances at his father. "His energy just spiked like crazy and then there was this giant shock-wave that knocked me back. When I got up he was passed out and I couldn't wake him up.""Ok and how long has he been ou--wait, a shockwave? Is that what that was? That was him?""Yeah, it was huge! You felt it too?"She hesitates. "Ten is his ki... kind of fucked up now? Like, unresponsive?""Yeah, actually it is. Is that a good sign?""No, bozo! It's not. Ten. You took a ki blocker, right?""...Yup.""You're sure?""Mm-hm.""You took the right one?""'Course.""And none of this... happened to you when you did it, right?""Uhh, nope. Don't think so.""Is he still wearing it?""No.""How the fuck--Okay." He hears her mutter something, scattering papers. "Uhg, I'm going to have to find a way into my lab. UHG! I have so much other work to do that isn't bypassing Capsule Corporation security! You are such an inconvenience, you know that? I better at least get good data out of this.""I mean, it's not like it matters whether it was a ki blocker or not, right?""Of course it matters! Don't be stupid! Ki-tech is extremely sensitive, and by default, deadly."He mouths a few silent curses before admitting. "It wasn't a ki blocker." He squeezes his eyes shut and holds his breath waiting for her response."I literally told you which one to take! How did you grab the wrong one? What was it? Send me a picture. It should be you in a stupid coma right now!""No, no, I did take the right one. And Trunks still has it." The line is very quiet as he continues, "Because I... I took something else, too."There's a long painful pause before her unbearable shrieking breaks through the speaker. "WHAT?! WHAT DID YOU TAKE?" He lowers the volume on his phone to save his ears. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING-""Bra, listen--""YOU STOLE FROM MY LAB!? AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH-" He holds the phone away from his face even though it's almost muted as she screams. She stops to take a breath. Then continues. Then stops to take another breath."Are you--are you done yet?""AAAAHHH! NO, YOU IDIOT!" she screeches. He imagines her breathing fire through her nose as she struggles to regain composure. "Fine! Yes! I'm done! What the fuck did you take?!""I think it's an amplifier.""Was it a ring?""Yes.""Oh my f--Ten! You are actually the worst person I know! AAAAAAAHHH! Those weren't even close--and now it's probably destroyed! I have to start all over! You fucking RUINED! MONTHS! Of research that I--" He holds it away from his face again and waits until she stops talking. She doesn't, so he speaks over her."You're still going to help me, right?""Yes! I will help you!" she fumes. "If for no other reason than getting MY invention out of your stupid hands! ...And," she continues suddenly much calmer, "I'm kinda curious about your dad.""Curious how?" he asks, immediately suspicious of the way she says that word."Just... you know... curious . Is he everything everyone said he was?""Well, he's lying here basically dead to the world again, so, no, not really. Anyway, how soon can you get here?""I dont know. It's going to take me a while to get back into my lab. A few hours maybe? Is he stable?""Yeah… I think so." Goten chews his lip as he looks at his father. "But I can't stay here all day, Bra. Can't you come sooner? My dad is--""No, I really can't." He scowls as he looks off into the valley. "Then can you meet me at Gohan’s later?”"Eeeww, you're staying with Gohan ?"He grumbles. “Yeah.”“Uhg. Fine. Just text me once everyone’s asleep. Because I really don’t wanna deal with any of that.” “But I--” The phone beeps and she has already hung up. Goten sighs heavily as he looks at his father.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goten hesitates before landing at the front door. He still doesn’t know what he’s going to say. He isn’t given any more time to think about it either because the door opens and Gohan pushes his glasses up as he looks up at them. He watches Goten descend with furrowed brows, his face growing more and more concerned the closer Goten gets. Goten lands with his father still in his arms, and the realization clicks. “Is he--Oh my God. Is he unconscious?!” Gohan bolts over to him. “Goten! What happened?!”“No, no, he’s fine. It's not what it--" Gohan quickly grabs his father and takes him from his brother’s grasp before laying him on the grass. “Dad? Dad! Hey! Dad!” He tries to shake him awake for a few moments. “Oh my God.” He checks his pulse and starts inspecting him for injuries. “What did you do to him?" He looks at each limb carefully, finding nothing. "What did you--Goten... his ki. What have you..." "Relax, he's just knocked out.""Relax? You want me to RELAX because he's 'just knocked out'?" He stands up and lets his energy spike. "Ten. I can feel his ki! He's not just 'knocked out!' What did you do?""I didn't do anything.""Oh. He just knocked himself out then?""And so what if he did?""Goten! What kind of--Kami! I can't believe you sometimes! You are so--""What!? So what? You gonna do something about it?" Gohan flinches when Goten thrusts his face and chest towards him. "Tch. Didn't think so. Weak... He's fine." Gohan backs down out of necessity. He knows better than to walk into a fight he can't win. Unlike his brother. They both look down at their father's vacant face.“How can you say that? His ki is… He's not fine. He's just laying there, like…” he mumbles before pausing and his eyes widening in realization. “Like you. Last night. You have another one of those ki dampeners don't you?" Shit! Maybe those PhDs were worth it. "No, no, I don't have any more. You can ask Trunks. It was just the one. You took the only one. Ask him." His brother narrows his eyes at him."Then what happened?""We were--we were just sparring! Like I told you earlier... and... he got excited about how... how strong I was and asked me to power up so I did.""And then what, he asked you to hit him?""Yes," he says matter-of-factly.Gohan makes a face of utter disbelief. "And I'm supposed to believe that?""Is it really that hard to believe? You even suggested it. That's the type of person he is. You should know that better than me.""Goten! Even if I believed he, in some absurd failure of logic, asked you to try and spar him at full power, why would you agree? Why?! Are you as brain damaged as he is?" The comment comes out before he has time to think it through and he inhales sharply with regret. "Ten, you know you vastly outclass him. You knew you could hurt him. Why on Earth would you agree to something like that? I know you're still angry at him, but--""Because he's just like everyone said!" The words come out rushed and splintered with truth. "All he wants is to get stronger. All he wants to do is train. All he wants is for me to not be mad at him." Goten rolls his eyes. "He's been asking me almost every day since he came back if he could spar with me. And finally I said yes because I figured it couldn't hurt to give him a chance and spend five minutes with someone who actually takes an interest in my hobbies instead of always telling me I'm wasting my time! Or use them to vent their own anger issues and beat the shit out of me." He pauses to gauge Gohan's reaction and takes a breath. "So, of course when he asked me to hit him full power I said yes! I didn't--I didn't think he'd get knocked out in one hit." His voice drops. "I thought he was going to be... better."Gohan frowns and adjusts his glasses, more or less accepting his response. "Yeah, he has that effect on people.""Not like it takes much to disappoint you though,” Goten quips. “And at least my expectations were let down in an area he can improve.”Gohan ignores his little brother as breathes a tired sigh toward his father. “Stay here. I’m going to see if I have any Senzu beans.”“Because I have so many other places to go right now…” Goten mutters as soon as Gohan turns his back. When he hears the door close he nudges his father’s face with his foot. He briefly considers kicking him, but Gohan is back before he processes a decision. Gohan crushes the senzu to a powder and they both watch as the soft bruises disappear, but still Goku doesn’t wake up. Gohan sits back on his heels with a sigh. “Shit. We need to take him to a hospital.""What? A hos--No! He's Saiyan, they can't do anything for him there." Besides, it's going to be so hard to sneak in Bra to a hospital. "They have enough trouble when either one of us comes in. Do you know how many times Trunks has been pronounced dead on scene from alcohol poisoning only to wake up like two minutes later in the ambulance, run out, and finish the keg?""Goten." Gohan pinches the bridge of his nose underneath his glasses with muted exasperation, a gesture that always makes Goten smile. “Why do you tell me these things?”"My point is, he's going to be fine. He probably just needs... to sleep it off."Gohan lowers his hand and raises a brow. "So I guess we should leave him here then? Let the wolves have him while he sleeps away his concussion. Great Idea, Ten, you always seem to have such creative solutions to your problems--""Shut up, obviously that's not what I'm suggesting. We’ll just bring him inside and he’ll be right as rain in the morning.""If anything, we should take him back to mom's.""No, no! She'll lose her mind. And... I--she's not very happy with me right now.""You haven't seen her in years and you managed to make it worse!?""She brought it up! I tried to be civil but she made it fucking impossible for me!""Oh, of course. I'm sure it's anyone else's fault but yours.""AAAH! Gohan! That's not-! Look, she'll make a huge deal out of it. Out of me. Out of dad. You know she will. Just let him sleep it off at your house. He can go back tomorrow. He'll be fine, She'll be fine. I’ll be fine. Everything will be fine!” He throws his hands up. “I'm sure she's used to him just being gone randomly by now anyway."Gohan lets out a long irritated exhale and debates his options. He hates it when Goten makes a valid point, but he also doesn't want to deal with the mess of getting his mother worked up over what hopefully looks worse than it is. "Alright. I'll call her and let her know he's staying at my house for the night. Quality time with his sons, right?" He glares at Goten who suddenly seems very interested in the clouds. "But if he's not awake by morning I'm taking him to a hospital and telling her what happened.""Great, I'm sure he's fine though." Goten smiles and moves to pick up their father. Gohan stops him and lifts their father over his own shoulder. Something in the back of his head said it still isn't past Goten to 'accidentally' drop him on the stairs. *** He feels out the softly humming kis one more time before getting up from bed. He steps carefully avoiding the creaky boards to the room his father is in. He stares down at the face nearly identical to his own and gently presses on his chest. The ki he feels there remains still and distant despite the steady even breathing. He sighs and texts Bra who responds almost instantly, then he waits.He is sitting cross armed on a chair in the corner of the room starting to doze off when he hears tapping on glass. He lifts his head and looks at the window where two eerily bright blue eyes framed by straight locks of equally bright blue hair are searching the room for him.Her face lights up when she sees him approach the window. He opens it, but blocks her from coming in. He looks closely at her before taking a few strands of her hair between his fingers. "If you tell me you took over an hour because you straightened your fucking hair--"She bats his hand away and climbs into the room with a backpack. "Don't be stupid, Ten. I'm half Saiyan too. This is what it looks like when I don't put time in. It only took an hour because I only did my face." She purses her lips at him."...The curls are fake?""Of course the curls are fake!" she snaps quietly. "And they never hold for long. My hair is SO stiff and wiry." She blows at her bangs. "I guess we can't all be blessed like Trunks, but at least it doesn't stand up like my papa's. Uhg. What would I do, then?""Give up and die?""Probably! If I had any self respect! Anyway stop sidetracking me. Ring! Now!" She thrusts an open palm into his face."Ok, ok." He reaches into his pocket and dumps the charred metal in her hand."AA-""SHH!"She whispers a scream. "It's completely blown! You've set me back months!" She tantrums as quietly as she can manage before stuffing it into her back pocket and pushing past him and walking towards the quiet figure on the bed.Her eyes widen as she stares down at Goku, then back at him. "What the--! Holy shit! Everyone was right! He looks exactly like you!"He rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I know.""Do you? 'Cause I mean, he looks exactly like you. Even with the new haircu-""Yes! I do know!" he whispers angrily."That's so weird." She looks back and forth between them several more times for comparison."So... does the rest of him look like you too, or what?" She begins to pull the sheets back over his torso until Goten stops her."Not what you're here for, you psychotic deviant."She smirks. "It's purely scientific interest." She takes a small pen light out and shines it in one of Goku's eyes. "Oh, wow. He's really out. No dilation or anything.""No shit. That's why you're here."She ignores him and starts reaching into her bag. She pulls a silver semi circular piece of metal and taps each end with ki before brushing Goku's bangs back and placing it over his forehead. As soon as it hits his skin it attaches and he can see a light on either end echo into his temples. She pulls out a thin cords of flexible metal and starts untwisting them from each other."What's that do?""Excites ki. Hopefully.""How long will it take?""I don't know.""Do they all work like that?""Like what?""Using ki to activate them. Are they all like that?""Yes.""Why?""Ten." She sets down the wiry contraption in her lap. "I am trying to work my magic here. So why don't you go find something better to do instead of annoying me with stupid questions.” She glares at him. “I might just 'mess up' because of your idiocy!”"I'll take the risk. It'd be worse to leave you here alone with him. Who knows what you have in that backpack for 'scientific interest.'"She smirks a very Vegeta smirk and starts wrapping the metal around Goku's left arm then taps it in various places with ki until it too begins to glow."What's that? Why does it go on his arm?""Literally stop talking! You stole from my lab. You don't get to know anything. You're lucky I'm even here right now digging you out of what would have eventually turned into 2nd degree murder.""Hm." He watches the softly pulsing light flow through the cables and tries to remain quiet for a few minutes wondering what kind of metal it is to soak up ki like that. "What about the dampener though? Are you still going to tweak it for me? It kinda sucked, but I'd definitely use it again if you made it better." "Over my dead body!" She huffs and reconsiders. "Maybe. Your misadventures do have a tendency to keep me entertained. ...Uhg except when Gohan calls me an 'enabler' of your behavioral problems." She rolls her eyes. "But to do that I'll have to find a way to get it back from Trunks, who I'm sure will try to destroy it." She scoffs. "He has no appreciation for the hard work I put into my inventions. Why are older brothers so annoying? Don't they know we just want to have fun?"Goten shrugs with a smile. "I don't know what their problem is, but I feel like Pan is the common denominator, driving them both crazy.""NoOoOo, Pan! Don't even get me started! Trunks can do so much better. I literally hate them together so much! Every time I see them break up and get back together I want to throw up.""Same! And that's all they fucking do! Hook up, break up, hook up, breakup, hook up, break up. Ahhhg… It's like they enjoy being miserable!" He crosses his arms. "I don't fucking get it.""I know! Me neither! It's literally no fucking wonder he drinks so much. I would too if I dated such an annoying bitch.""Right? It's totally because of her. Like, maybe if she stopped trying to control him and make him go to AA every other week he'd stop on his own."Bra snorts. "Saiyans at AA.""I know! So stupid! Besides! Drinking makes him fun. When he's sober all he does is work.""No, drinking does not make him fun. It makes him practically fucking useless!""Whatever. I'm pretty sure she's just dating him because it pisses off Gohan. Which... ok, pissing off Gohan is pretty hilarious--""Wow." She raises her eyebrows. "It's like daddy issues run in your family.""Yeah. Wait." He narrows his glare at her. "The fuck is that supposed to mean?""I dunno, you tell me." She grins down at Goku."I do not have fucking daddy issues.""You know, denial is like"--she waves at his offended expression--"really not a good look for you.""Shut the f-!"They both feel Goku's ki start to 'wake up' and go quiet. The glowing band wrapped from his wrist to his shoulder to the center of his chest begins to smoke lightly and fill the room with a burning smell."Is that ok?" he asks."Yeah, it's... yeah, it's probably fine.""You don't sound very confident about that."The band around Goku's head suddenly pulses with bright white light and Goku shoots up open-mouthed. It takes him a moment to pull in a sharp breath, but once he does he immediately starts trying to rip the hot wiry bands off his arm but he can’t, they are stuck to him. Bra struggles to try and stop him but he pushes her away and she falls to the floor."Ah! What--what is th--Goten? Where--where am I?" He stumbles out of the bed still fidgeting with the hot wires on his arm."Calm down. You won't be able to get it off yourself, let me take it off for you," she says getting up and reaching towards his head."Who are you?" He eyes her suspiciously and keeps his distance. "Are you a doctor? Am I in a hospital?" He starts backing up until he thuds quietly into a wall. "How do I--why won't this come off? Are these needles? What is this!? Is it needl--""No, no, no. No needles." She shows him her empty hands. "I'm not a doctor. Of medicine.” Goku doesn't show any signs of recognition. "I'm Bra... Bulma and Vegeta's daughter?""You’re… Vegeta's daughter?""Yeah."Goten hits the lights and Goku looks around at the room he's in. Goku lets her approach him and gently tap at and remove the head band, then tap at and unravel the one wrapped around his forearm and bicep. Goten is sure there's something not so scientific in the look she gives him before she turns her attention to inspecting her devices."Where am I?""Gohan's house. You're in one of the guest rooms.""But we were... we were just sparring, weren't we?" His gaze locks on the open window and notices it is dark. "What time is it?""It's one o'clock in the morning.""What?" Goku rubs the red marks spiraling down his arm. "What happened?" He looks distrustfully at Goten. Then casts his eyes towards the other half-Saiyan, sitting on the corner of the bed carefully handling and untangling the hot pieces of metal. His face lights up and his expression shifts back to his natural smile. "Bra?"She smiles back. "The one and only.""Sorry I pushed you.""I'm more upset you didn't recognize me. I’m… kind of iconic."Goku laughs. "When I left you were hardly talking.""Tch. If only she still hardly talked," Goten mutters. Bra shoots him a nasty look in response."But now--You're all grown up! And Goten was right!" He beams at his son. "You're so pretty!"Goten slumps back into the chair with a sigh. "Why would you say that? I never said that. She will never leave me alone now-""Goten thinks I'm pretty ?! And here I thought you weren't capable of saying anything nice about me." She pouts at Goten.Goten rolls his eyes. "I'm not. How could I be? You look like a drowned siren." He gestures to her hair.Bra clicks her tongue but retains her bright smile. "Sirens don't drown, Ten, the sailors do. Stop trying to flirt with me." She feigns romantic bashfulness. "We're in front of your dad."Goku watches this vibrant young woman chide his son. "Wow. You look just like your mom.""Oh, I know. Everyone tells me." She flips her hair. "But I think they’re just saying that. I'm sure I don't even hold a candle. Her beauty was legendary.""No, no really! Your eyes, and--and all the blue and--" Then it finally hits him. He will never see Bulma again. The sadness that had been creeping on him since the moment he returned suddenly feels bottomless. He is back and she is still gone. Which, more than anything, means he will never be able to apologize to her. He had wanted to do that. Before she passed. But he could never bring himself to face her after their last conversation. His smile drops. "I--yeah... You look... a lot like her.""Dad." Goten rubs his palm against his sleep-deprived face. "Stop feeding the she-demon compliments. It only encourages her.""Te~en, don't use our pet names! You're embarrassing me. I want to make a good first impression." She giggles. "Thank you, Mr. Son. That's so sweet of you to say.""You don't have to be so formal. Everyone calls me Goku.""Oh. Well, thank you, Goku. " He bristles with discomfort at the way she says his name. "You know, speaking of good looks, it's suddenly so clear where Ten got his from."Goku isn't sure how to respond to that. Or her tone, or anything about her really and simply nods."You could even pass for tw--""Finish that sentence and I swear to God,” Goten interrupts. “I will kill us both, Bra, I don't even care anymore.""You'd murder-suicide? With me? And they say romance is dead."Goku’s brows furrow as he slowly becomes more and more confused about what kind of relationship they have. "Are you and Goten...?"Before Bra can open her mouth to say something damning, Goten jumps up. "No!" He waves his hands. "No... Never. We're not even friends! I hate her!""Don't listen to this dummy." Bra puts her hands on Goten's shoulders and draws him close to her. "He's just being coy! Ten-Ten and I are actually best friends. Like, the most best friends ever." She shakes him a little. "We must be because I came over in the middle of the fucking night," she reminds him with her death grip, still grinning through bared teeth. "To help him out even after finding out that he screwed up big time.""Oh. Ok." Goku’s laugh is somewhat nervous because he isn't sure what that means. "Is that... is that why that wire was on me? To help me? What... happened?" Bra and Goten exchange looks and she lets him go."Well, you said you, uh... remember sparing me, right?""Yeah. We were... in the desert and--" His face scrunches in thought as he tries to walk himself through the day. "You gave me something, didn't you? So we could spar more? You gave me... some kinda ring? That's the last thing I remember."Goten looks at Bra who's biting back a smile trying her hardest not to blurt, 'You got yourself into this, you get yourself out' out loud. Fuck. "Yeah, that ring... it was a ki amplifier, but it, uh, I guess it wasn't... uh, calibrated... properly because--"Bra snorts loudly. "Calibrated? Do you even know what that word means?""Yes! I know what it--"'Doubtful,' she mouths.Goten deadpans at her and turns back to his father. "Anyway it knocked you out instead of making you stronger so we could spar."She scoffs and taps her foot in annoyance. "Are you serious? You really tried to use it for training?""Yes," he says with clenched teeth."That is so boring. Wasted it for nothing," she mutters under her breath to him."Bra, shut--" he cuts himself off and tries to silence her with a look."Ki amplifier," Goku repeats slowly."Yeah.""And... It didn't work?""Well, it did for like... a minute.""Oh, wait. Did it really?" she asks with interest."Yeah his power was crazy for a second. More than mine! I almost got to see the strongest ka-me-ha-me ever." Bra let's out an impressed 'humph' and starts examining the marks on Goku's arm. She pulls a notepad and pen out of her backpack and begins writing."Did you know it was going to do that?" Goku sits back on the bed giving bra full leverage over his singed limb while she sketches and details equations."No," he says honestly."It didn't do that with you?" He furrows his brows at Bra who has taken out her phone and started taking pictures."No. That's why I called her. She, uh, knows her tech better than me. But you're ok now. Right, Bra?"She doesn't take her eyes off his arm and Goku notices she's put down her phone and notepad and gotten awfully touchy. He starts to pull away, and she reluctantly allows it. "Yeah. He's fine. But, Goku," she purrs out his name. "If you have any side effects or weird ki or grow a third arm, please." She leans in while pushing her chest out. Goku bows back slightly in response and shoots his eyes towards the ceiling. "Don't hesitate to call.""Sure," he says, forcing a smile.She takes a moment to lean in just a little bit closer and Goten doesn't know if he's more irritated by her tactless desperation or amused by his father's awkward discomfort. She stands up, tugs on her short-shorts and starts gathering all of her equipment and putting it away in her bag. Goten begins to hurry her until he is almost shoving her out the window.She hesitates on the outside windowsill, her hands halfway in, halfway out. "Super Saiyan? More like Super hot! Am I right?!" she whispers with a mischievous smirk, looking at Goku."What?""Your dad! He is soOo cute. You should totally let me know if he and your mom don't work out!"Goten slams the window down, trying to catch her fingers but she's too fast and escapes, sticking her tongue out at him before she flying away."Crazy bitch," he mutters before turning back to his father who stares at him with disapproval."That... wasn't a very nice thing to say.""She's not very nice.""She was nice to me.""Yeah, because she's compulsively promiscuous. Even more than me. Which is... yeah. Wow.""Com… what?"Goten rolls his eyes. "A whore, dad. It means she's a whore.""Wha-! Goten! You shouldn't say--""I'll stop saying it when it's not true." He shakes his head. "Look, if you could just forget about this whole thing and not tell anyone..." His father looks at him warily. "I--Gohan doesn't know I train with equipment like that. He... thinks it's dangerous...""He's right." Goku rubs at the blistering marks."I know. But it would... mean a lot to me…" His stomach almost heaves at his choice of words. “...if you didn't mention it to him. Gohan and I don't exactly get along very well and this would make him super mad at me. Which will be extra annoying because I live with him right now.”"You don't... really get along with anyone very well, do you?" Goku notes quietly."What?""Yeah. Gohan, Chi Chi... Veget-""That's because no one gets along with Vegeta!" He doesn't expect his father's bluntness to cut as deep as it does and he shocks himself with his tone."I didn't... mean to upset you. I just--""I'm not up-!" He lowers his voice. "I'm not upset."Goku looks at his son's intense unhappy expression. "You seem kinda upset.""I'm not-!" Goten closes his eyes and breathes heavily through his nose. "No, you're right. Thanks dad, for noticing. I'm so glad you could point it out and politely remind me that all of my relationships are tense at best and homicidal at worst, like I didn't already know! Because I'm sure yours are so much better!"Goku closes his mouth and frowns. "...Sorry.""Yeah. You should be. And, you know what? Maybe I don't get along with them because they're the ones the problems. Did you ever think about that?""...No.""Yeah. Well they are. I have friends. I get along with other people. Just not them.""Oh. Well that's good. Like who?""I--" Goku stares at him with an interest that makes him feel strangely vulnerable. "Like Trunks. And..." He tries to think of anyone else. "Trunks and I are really good friends.""What's wrong with Bra? She seems to like you. A lot."He sighs. "So, so, so, so many things are SO wrong with her, Dad. Please do not--""She really does look just like Bulma. But with Vegeta's nose." He smiles."Well, why don't you date her then, since she's so fucking pretty! " Goten snaps. "I'm sure she'd take you up on it!”Goku frowns. “Goten, that’s not--”“Can we just fucking drop this already? I don't want to talk about her. I don't want to talk about anyone."His father nods and looks away trying to think of a way to repair another shot attempt at reconciling with his youngest son.Goten catches a short glimpse of all the turning little gears inside his father's head, all discontent, worry, sadness. All the things that dumb smile tries to hide. Does he have to look like that? "Look, it's just--You don't know her. And you don't know me, ok? And it's... it's not like that. It's never going to be like that. ""Like what?""Like--" He groans and face palms. "Dad, like--like--oh my God. Did Gohan not tell you? Or, uhg. Or mom? …I’m pretty fuckin’ open." But I guess you wouldn’t know that… "Tell me what?"He sighs. "Well, at least he learned some sense of respect for my personal life, I guess.""Tell me what?" he asks again, hopeful that his son is finally warming back up to him."That I'm gay."Goku takes in this information and processes and reprocesses it several times, but never draws a conclusion on its meaning. "What's that?""What do you mean, 'what's that?'"Goku doesn't say anything and Goten realizes with painful clarity he's going to have to spell it out. He drags his palm down his face. Vegeta fucked you! More than once apparently! So why do I have to explain this to you? What the fuck was your relationship with him anyway?! "It means--I can't believe you don't--This is embarrassing. It means I--" Suddenly the words catch. "I'm--" He looks at his father who is just standing there waiting for him to continue and Goten's brain suddenly starts running through a list of worst case scenarios. Why the fuck am I worried about what he thinks? But the feeling doesn't dissipate so he holds his breath and avoids eye contact as he says it. "It means I'm only attracted to men."There is a long awkward pause before Goku suddenly, excitedly blurts out, "You are?!""Yes," Goten says flatly.A hundred thousand thoughts run through Goku's head, but all he ends up saying in response is, "Okay!" And then he Smiles? Why is he smiling? Goten doesn't have a clue on how to internalize this. Of all the different reactions Goten anticipated, none of them had been a simple declaration of acceptance. Is he actually... happy? For me? The truth is how can Goku not smile? He wants so badly to shout, ‘me too!’ because it is a huge relief to finally meet someone who’s just like him! His own son! But Goku continues to stand there silently bursting at the seams with questions because he doesn't know how to ask without mentioning the fact that he has been cheating on his wife for the better part of a decade with... Vegeta... right. That. His smile begins to fade."And that's... all you have to say?""I--" Goku meets his son's eyes with sudden worry. "Was I supposed to say something else?”Goten lets out a short laugh at how flustered his father suddenly looks while trying to find the right words to reassure him. "No. If that's all you had to say, then that’s… all you had to say. I was just… surprised."“Oh. Does your mom know? What, uh, what did she say?" he prods carefully."Well, she didn't take the news as well as you did. That's for sure.""She didn't?"Goten shrugs. "You should ask her about it. It’s one of her favorite topics."“Really?”“What? No. Dad.” He shakes his head. “No, she…” He sighs heavily. “It’s why we don’t talk anymore. She was furious when I came out.”“Well, that’s not…” Goku hesitates. “...very fair of her. It’s not right to be mad at you for--It's not--It's just... how you are. Because you're Saiyan. You can’t change it."Goten chuckles. “Trust me when I say I would love to see you try to tell her that, but I don’t think--” He furrows his brows. "Wait, backup a sec. Did you just say it's because… I'm Saiyan?""I--well, yeah! It's common for Saiyans. ...isn't it?""What?" Goten’s brain blanks. “Where the fuck did you get that idea? Wait, no--okay, humor me. How 'common' is it for Saiyans?""Oh, it’s just, um, the lower classes, I think, because they're..." How did Vegeta put it? This doesn't sound right now that he’s saying it out loud. Goku looks away and finally utters, "I don't really know. But it's ok. Vegeta told me it was ok. So you shouldn’t worry about it."“I… wasn’t worried.” Goten's brows raise in shock. "Really? Vegeta ... told you? It's a Saiyan thing? A low class Saiyan thing?" Goku nods hesitantly. "And you... believed him?""What do you mean? Why wouldn't I believe him?" Goten stares at his father in disbelief. No. Fucking. Way. There is NO way THAT'S why he-- "Dad. How, uh, did that conversation come up?”“Oh, I brought it up. Because I wanted to know…” Goku's face begins to turn red and his eyes flit away. “...more about Saiyans.”“So you asked Vegeta if homosexuality existed in Saiyan culture?” Goten asks, bewildered. “Uh, I don’t know what that is. But I asked if it was… normal to like guys and he, um.” He chuckles awkwardly. “Said it was. For Saiyans.” Goku taps his index fingers together anxiously.“For Saiyans… like you?” He waits for his father to deny it, but he never does. “You’re gay?!" he asks, in shock."That means you only like guys?" he asks, clarifying instead of bothering to refute."Yeah.""I think Vegeta called it something else." He rubs the back of his neck. “Don’t, um, tell yer mom.”Goten's mouth drops open. "Well, no shit I’m not telling Mom. Ha! Fuck! You're--" Well, I guess I shouldn’t be THAT surprised. He and Vegeta did sleep together. But there is just no way the man standing in front of him, the had-been most powerful being in the galaxy, his father, is in the fucking closet?! He stifles a snort. "Well, that's... great."“Just like you.”“Just… like me. Right.” Goku visibly relaxes and smiles softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “It’s not that uncommon for humans either, just so you know.”“Oh. Really?”“Common enough.” Goten shrugs. “But uh, honestly, this whole 'Saiyans are gay thing' is actually news to me. So I'm just wondering... what else did Vegeta tell you?""Uh, just that it's... common because… because Saiyans were warriors and they spent a lot of time on the battlefield... together." Goten nods with continued interest. "And class and strength were more important than who you liked, so it's not--""Right, right. Of course they are. That makes so much sense." And suddenly Goten knows exactly what this 'arrangement' was that Vegeta had with his father. He knows how Vegeta tricked him into it, he knows why his father went along with it, and he knows how to use it to his advantage. "It does?""Sure! So... Vegeta knows? That you’re gay?" Goku nods. "Does anyone else?"Goku shakes his head. "Or--Bulma knew. But she and I... weren't friends after she found out.""Some friend.""I... wasn't a good friend either." Well, now you're just making it sound like you two fought over Vegeta. Guess you won. "Hm. What made you ask him?” What can I get you to admit? “Is Vegeta also--""No," Goku says quickly. "I don't know, really. What even made me ask him." He laughs awkwardly. "I just thought, he knows a lot. About Saiyans. If anyone would know why I... felt this way... then it would be him.""Ah." Oooh this is getting worse and worse, isn't it? Goten knew Vegeta wasn't a nice guy, but using someone's insecurity with themselves for a satisfying power fuck? Because that's definitely what it was. It's definitely what it felt like! He hums over his thoughts. Wow. What a monster. Although, maybe he shouldn't be so surprised. His father's reputation of naivety is currently preceding him after the events of today. And Vegeta, well. I already know what an asshole he can be. Any guilt Goten had about what he did is starting to evaporate and now he feels something unfamiliar; he almost feels bad for his father. I mean, what a way to pack in an insult! 'Lower Class.' Did he tell you only the lower class take it, too? Or was that just you being so desperate to get laid you agreed with anything he said? His father's expression tells him everything he needs to know. "Well, that's all... incredibly interesting. So. Uh, how did you end up with mom? Or, I guess… why are you still with her?""What?""Yeah. Most gay guys, it might surprise you to learn, don't get married to women and have kids. It’s certainly not in my plans."Goku rouges a little. "I didn't--uh, Chi Chi and I married so young... I knew something wasn't--I thought I was just--I don't know." Goku begins knotting the sheets underneath his fingers. "I don't regret it though. You and Gohan mean everything to me." His face brightens as he looks up at his youngest son. Aw. How could I hate that stupid fucking face. Goten is just shy of sneering back, trying to contain how dumbfounded he is by his father's ignorance, trying not to make a biting comment about how he sure had a funny way of showing he cared. "So... you're just… going to keep staying with her? Even though you're unhappy?""I'm not... unhappy."Goten raises his brow in doubtful pity. "Dad, you literally left for fifteen years. Of course you’re unhappy. Happy people stay with their wives. I--wait, were you seeing someone else out there?” He gestures vaguely outside towards the sky. “No! No,” Goku waves his hands as he laughs uncomfortably. "Of course not, Goten. That's cheating. I would never--" He looks away. "Never cheat on her. She's... she's my wife!"Goten shakes his head with a chuckle. "Wow, you are a terrible, and Dad I really mean terrible, liar.""I--""It's ok, I'm not gonna judge you for it. Trust me, I get it. And this is kind of... a unique situation, don't you think?" Goku looks at his son with reluctant relief and nods weakly. Goten waits for his father to open up and change his answer but he doesn't so Goten presses. "So... Have you? Been with someone else?"Goku exhales shakily before quietly admitting, "Yes. One..." “A guy?”Goku nods. Oh... no... It could not get worse. He was the ONLY one you've-?! Vegeta just likes to RUIN Saiyans, doesn't he? Goku continues in an impossibly small voice, "We we're... seeing each other for... a few years before I left.""Wh--years?!" Goten can't hold back his surprise. Goku looks away and his son scrutinizes his face very carefully. "And... are you still seeing him?"Goku thinks for longer than Goten feels he should need before eventually deciding, "No. ...That wasn't why I was gone by the way," he suddenly rushes out. "I wasn't--wasn't seeing him while I was gone. That wasn't why I left. I left because--I--I dunno, it was an accident, I didn’t mean to--""Dad." Goten puts his hands up reassuringly. "It’s fine. I'm not mad at you about that. I mean, I was. But I'm not anymore." He places both hands on his father's shoulders and looks him dead in the eye with a half-smile and pitying look. "In fact it's good to have you back. So good. We have more in common than I ever realized!" He grins widely at his father and decides not to break his spirit by pressuring him to admit who he cheated with. I'll save that can of worms for a rainy day. Seeing Goten's canines gleam like that unsettles Goku and makes him doubt the words coming from between them. "Yeah?""Yeah. This… was a good talk, Dad. I feel like we can finally reconnect. But hey, look, it's getting late. We told mom you'd be back tomorrow. Didn't want her worrying about you--you know how she gets--So, catch some shut eye because we have a lot of training ahead of us.""We do?""Oh yeah." His father opens his mouth but Goten already knows what he's going to say. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone about what you told me. It's just between us. You can trust me."Goku's not sure what made his son change his mood so suddenly. He should feel relieved, and he did. Earlier. Not so much now as he watches Goten hit the lights on his way out. As he lays back the muscles in his shoulders and neck knot with tension. Goku tosses and turns until day break thinking to himself that while he is no closer to knowing his son any better, Goten is learning almost everything there is to know... about me...
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It is no time at all before sparring with his father becomes a daily occurrence and Goten begins to understand why he struggled so much under Vegeta's oppressive training regiment. On a warm summer morning in the wasteland, the difference between the last two remaining Saiyans becomes glaring and in fact it is suddenly easy to see why training never helped before.Vegeta is efficient, brutal, and unrelenting; he is an intense creature of habit and extremes. He does not believe in rest days. He does not believe in fun. He always fights to kill--or since his time on Earth, incapacitate--and he trains to win . Even simple drills with him can get dangerously competitive despite everything being calculated, routinized, and technical to a compulsive degree. He thinks everything through, maybe even too much, and he never fails to take a shot when he has it.Goten has learned over the years the last part is reflexive, probably the result of a life of constant combat. The largest telltale sign being that Vegeta doesn't always mean to snap out a violent uppercut. Especially not early in the morning in the kitchen. It would just happen and he often looked just as shocked as Goten did when the latter was left reeling on the floor with a bloody nose after accidentally startling him by coming around the corner too fast.Because of this, in order to beat Vegeta, Goten has found you have to match his brutality. You have to get angry. You have to always be itching for a fight. You have to want to win just as badly as he does. Sometimes if you're willing to take the risk you can tap into his egomania, but that rarely results in anything good for anyone because instead of victory, it usually triggers a screaming match that ends with someone slamming the gravity room door behind them and disappearing from the compound for a few days.His father... is different. Once Goten pushed past the disappointment in Goku's comparative lack of strength and speed, he is able to see that his father's skill doesn't come from a life on the battlefield. He is difficult to startle and impossible to upset. Fighting isn’t a competition, but a game . Every spar is fun. Every day is a rest. He loves sparring and practices it with passion because he is not a soldier. He is a martial artist in the purest sense. Every kick, every hit, every punch is the stroke of a brush on the canvas that is his opponent. He doesn't calculate. He doesn't plan. He doesn't think about what he's doing. Doesn't think about a lot of things, apparently. It is natural and every movement flows through him like water. "Dad..." he asks hesitantly one morning. Goku looks up at him with a bright face, eager to listen to anything his son will tell him. "Do you ever... lose control?"Goku furrows his brows in thought. "What do you mean?""I mean, your power. Like, when you're upset. Do you ever... just... snap? And break things you don't mean to? Like a glass or... or a table? Or... I don't know. Have you ever hurt someone by accident?"Goku thinks for a while before shaking his head. "No.""How do you... stay so calm?"Goku's face lights back up. "Training!""Of course," Goten draws before sighing in disappointment. Goten sees where his natural aptitude to improve comes from as his father makes quick easy strides in power during their long morning hours together under the sun. Goku has a mastery over his form that beats committing routine to muscle memory. He is the best. And he knows it. And he wants to share it. As a result, training with him actually makes Goten feel… better. Maybe his father is right, training can help, and he's just been doing it all wrong all these years. Because suddenly, he doesn't have to get angry. He doesn't walk away still wound up. The rubber band of rage inside him hasn’t been pulled taut by an argument for once, so he is able to walk away thinking instead of boiling over about what he will do in order to be better next time. Which is literally anything other than what his father keeps suggesting he try: Meditating. Uuuhg. No. I'm not just going to sit around and breathe. ...Stupid. Despite how much he has to learn from his father, the opportunity to win by overpowering is always there, and often taken advantage of. But Goten has still realized that there are only two ways to beat him in a fair fight. You either have to be better than him-- which is pretty much impossible --or wait for him to let his guard down-- which he does constantly! much to Goten's irritation. He's not sure if that habit formed from always underestimating his opponents because his father is used to being so much stronger or if it's an unadjustable facet of his soft trusting personality.That is different too. Goku is incredibly soft. He is almost criminally naive which makes it harder to hate him than it is to beat him and Goten thinks it's almost disheartening to believe the world ever put their trust in someone so... simple. His interactions with Chi Chi, Pan, Videl and Gohan all reveal how innocuous he is, how hard he tries to please others based on his knowledge of acceptable social customs; a knowledge he is clearly lacking. But Goten still watches carefully trying to learn more about this superhero-like figure, who's supposed to be his father, but acts younger than him half the time and showed back up in his life at the most inconvenient time.He thinks the few moments he catches between his father and mother are the worst by far. He cringes through each and every one of them unsure who he pities more: his mother who seems to be warming back up to her estranged husband, clearly oblivious to his disinterest or Goku who almost always finds a reason to leave the house whenever and for however long he can because he doesn’t want to be there. With her.The best moments though, the ones Goten lives for, the ones he never thought he'd have and definitely never thought he'd enjoy: the father-son moments. He learned so much about his father from those. *** Goten wakes up so suddenly he winds up on the hard wooden floor of his room still cocooned in his sheets. He then grumbles something unintelligible about not wanting to spar because he is still hungover and, "How many fucking times have I told you I fucking hate it when you do that! Text me first! Or something!"“I did text you. Almost a dozen times,” mutters his father, who has just appeared in his room cross-legged on the corner of his bed because Goten is over two hours late (again) for the early morning spars that Goten insists on. He has long given up trying to get Goten not to curse and just asks if it's really that bad because this is the third day in a row he's used it as an excuse."Yes, it's literally the fucking wo--" He hiccups and struggles to free himself from the only barrier protecting him from the light streaming in from the window. "-rst! ...Have you never been hungover?"Goku thinks for a moment before hesitantly admitting, “Once, but it wasn't from... drinking." He rubs the back of his neck and his son reluctantly opens his eyes."What?""I don't know. No,” he changes his mind. “I've never... really been drunk, so--""Wait, you've never been drunk?!" Goku doesn't even have the chance to reconsider his answer, "HA! We need to change THAT!" Goten turns over and roots under his bed for a few moments before a few clinks and thuds result in two opened but more or less still full bottles of dark liquor. He gets up apparently ready for the day, despite being in nothing but his boxer-briefs. "We'll spar once you've finished the whole thing." He wobbles and realizes he is in fact not hungover but still drunk from the night before and hands both bottles to his dad who doesn't take them."I don't think--""You'll be fine. I do this all the time." Goku frowns at him disapprovingly. "Oh come on. Don't look like that. It's like--Think of it as..." Goten gestures while he thinks. "...constitution training." He grins.Goku hesitates. "It's... but it's 9 in the morning.""So? Five o’clock somewhere. What the fuck else are you doing today?" Goku honestly doesn't have a good reply to that as Goten swishes around the liquor trying to tempt him.“But we won’t really be able to spar, if we’re drunk. It--"Goten shrugs. "I mean, I don't know about you , but I definitely can. But I guess if you’re scared then--"The reaction is instant. Goku takes the bottles and within a few minutes has drained them both. Na thanks to his Saiyan metabolism is swaying on his feet within a few seconds. And that was how Goten learned his father can not and will not turn down a challenge and Goku learned he can spar drunk! Even better than Vegeta can! Well, until he dislocates his shoulder. "Why would anyone ever do this?" Goku whines.Goten shrugs. "Because it's fun.""It's not fu-huuuhhhhhhg--!”"It was earlier." Goten laughs.Goku looks up with pained doubt before puking again into the alleyway trashcan he is using to hold himself up at four o' clock in the afternoon around the corner from a pizza place that had been delicious about fifteen minutes ago but currently tastes like regret. Goku, who of course took the bait to train on a nearly constant basis together, also learned a lot from these father-son moments. During their long summer days together Goku learns that his son, while a gifted fighter, is not... a good person. "Wait. Wait--she what? Dad." He pauses with disbelief. "You didn't even know what marriage was? There is… so much to unpack there."Goku shakes his head. "I mean, I had some idea. But when I promised her we were just kids." He laughs sadly. "I didn't think it was going to be so... permanent."Goten frowns. “It’s not.”“Huh?”“It’s not permanent.”“It isn’t?” he asks, distracted as he looks away to the other side of the noodle shop where a waiter stands behind the bar tapping on the register. “No. It’s not. It’s called divorce, and this is kind of your chance. You were gone for fifteen years. Have you even consider--" But his father is no longer listening. His attention is elsewhere and Goten sighs his face deeply into his palms. "Oh my God. Dad. Stoooop."Goku looks back at his son startled. "What?""You and that waiter have been eye-fucking each other for like twenty minutes!""I'm--I'm what? No! That’s not--What are you even say--""You weren't? Really?" Goku stammers for a moment. "Ok. So then what were you thinking about? As you visually assaulted him from six tables away.""I--I was just thinkin'…" he says, glancing back at the waiter with a blush. "He looks kinda Saiyan, doesn't he?"Goten's lip quirks and he tosses a glance toward the short bleach blond man currently helping another customer. No, he looks like one Saiyan in particular. Goten frowns. "I guess. Is that your type? Blonds?""What? No, I don't have a--a type. What does that mea--""Hm. He's kinda... I don't know." Weak "I personally wouldn't. But he's not bad looking. I'll give you that.""I didn't say--""Well?" He looks at his father expectantly. "Are you gonna get his number? Normally, I’d say, don’t fuck where you eat. Trunks and me have both gotten banned from places because of that, but in your case I feel like it’s safe to say that you’re not gonna--""No! I’m not! Gonna get his number! Or do any of that!" he says, visibly flustered."Why not? Look at him." Goku doesn't look and Goten snorts. "He'll definitely say yes. He keeps smiling back at you all cute and flirty and he's come up to the table like five times.""Because he was taking our order!""And what did you do? You just--" He gestures to his father's uncomfortable posture. "I don't know. Nothing. You did nothing except get more food. And honestly, if he comes over and I have to watch you cockblock yourself one more time--""Goten! That's not appro-!""Oh c'mon. It's not like you've never cheated. In fact, now that I’m thinkin’ about it, you used to ditch Mom and disappear all the time, didn't you?" Goku looks away from his son in shame. "So, what makes this any different?""It--it just is, Ten. I don't think this is--"Goten holds up his hand. "Ok, no. Who gave you permission to use that nickname? Because it definitely wasn't me."Goku reels back with hurt. "I thought everyo--""Well, you're not 'everyone,' are you?""But I'm your--" Goten dares him to finish the sentence. Goku's mouth opens. Then closes. And he never says it. It bothers him, in moments like that, when his son reveals how much he still harbors hate and animosity towards him. He thought it was getting better but suddenly he isn't so sure. He is never sure about anything around Goten."Look, whatever. The point is, Dad, if you really want to stay trapped in your barely functional marriage and never get laid again, then fine. Do that. But…" He smiles and waves a chopstick at his father’s face. "If you want a good distraction on the sidelines to help you stop sulking over your ex-boyfriend then you should really take advantage of what an easy lay our waiter obviously is.""I--no, that’s not--he’s… not my ex--""Well you're definitely not still with him," Goten sharply interrupts. " Whoever he was. And I'm sure you can do better. You're Saiyan. You can literally have whatever you want." Goku looks away and Goten sighs loudly with disappointment. "Stop. Being. So. Miserable. Lighten up. Have fun. I'm not gonna say anything if you decide to 'disappear' for a few days with--""No, Goten, I would never--that isn't right.""Yeah, well... a lotta things you’ve done aren't right. So what's one more?"Goku abruptly excuses himself from the table and heads toward the bathroom where he lets the sink run cold while he looks at himself in the mirror.He doesn't know what to make of his son; the things he says, the things he does, the things he tries to convince him to do. Goku pulls out his phone and scrolls through it refreshing the messages several times even though he knows there won't be any new notifications. He doesn’t know what to make of that either. He sighs and puts it away before wetting his hands and his face trying to pull himself out of the sinking loneliness he's been falling into since his arrival back home. Goten is right about that at least. He is miserable. He looks it. He feels it. But he knows, despite his son's continual insistence to the contrary, that someone else is not going to make him feel any better because he doesn’t want someone else. He takes one last long look at his solemn reflection before taking a breath and resuming his so-typically-Goku smile and walking back out determined to pretend that their previous conversation did not just happen.But of course Goten had flagged down the waiter as soon as his father disappeared behind the door. Goku freezes as soon as he hears them."Yeah, he's just really shy.""That's so cute." The waiter chuckles as he scribbles on a piece of paper.Goten looks up at his dad who has just arrived back at the table and the waiter hands Goku the little scrap with his bottom lip caught between his teeth."Is that the check?"Goten dead pans at his father. "No, stupid, it's his nu-""I just want the check. Please. …Sorry."The waiter's face drops with embarrassment and rejection, the paper crumples in his hand, disappears into his pocket, he nods and walks off.Goten watches him walk away then scoffs. "Great. Now it's super awkward and I look like the asshole. Where are we supposed to get thirty bowls of noodles now?" Goku rolls his eyes. "Do you have any idea how many restaurants Trunks and I have been kicked out of? This place was like, the last all-you-can-eat place in the city that didn't charge us extra and--"Goku shakes his head, doesn't say another word and makes his best attempt at scowling as they walk out with Goten still complaining. *** It annoys Goten that his father doesn’t take his advice. Because it means that Goku ends up spending all his time with his son, since he will make up literally any excuse to get away from his wife. In fact, Goten has been so busy training and talking and catching up that he hasn’t even had a chance to follow up with Vegeta on that offer he gave him. Goten thought he was content with where everything was--everyone hating Vegeta as much as he hates himself--but, instead, he’s getting bored. It’s been weeks since he lost his luck with the band and he’s starting to lose his mind. He needs to pursue other options again. Even--no, especially--if they’re dangerous. And now he has his father to use against Vegeta. He has to say yes.On mornings like this, though, while he sits in Gohan’s kitchen watching his father struggle and fumble over his phone before attempting to enlist Pan’s help, he knows he won’t get the opportunity. Instead, his mind wanders and he wonders how the ‘Hero of the Earth’ ever managed to get himself tangled up with someone like Vegeta. Goten, at least, is as shallow as he is strong. He can easily overlook Vegeta's winning personality in favor of those handsome Saiyan features and ability to power-fuck him senseless. He can't say the same for his father. In fact he strongly doubts that overwhelming power is what drew him because, as he recently found out, his father does not struggle with controlling his power the same way he does. So if not that, then what?He decides that, if it is none of those things, then his father really must have just been that desperate to get laid and too unworldly to realize he could find it somewhere other than Vegeta. The thought almost makes Goten feel bad for him. Goku really is too painfully nice for his own good. His father is always fumbling through every social interaction he has with barely the wherewithal to recognize when someone is flirting with him, let alone using him. It is painful to imagine him falling into a casual routine with someone as toxic as Vegeta, who probably only encouraged his insecurity to keep him coming back.It surprises Goten that as close as they come to the topic, it never comes up. Who in fact his father was having his affair with. In fact, Goku is very careful when he talks about Vegeta. He never brings him up. Goten is starting to suspect that Goku might have figured it out, that Goten knows who it is and Goku’s too afraid to bring him up, because of it. Too afraid he'll shatter all of the fragile relationships he's just beginning to reform. So, Goten doesn't push. He doesn't need to. It’s clearly over between them, and it’s not coming back.He rolls his eyes and lets his gaze shift away from his father, who is still asking questions about this tricky new device he has to figure out, to the kitchen window. Morning training is over and his father is clearly trying to find reasons to put off returning to Mount Paozu by finding small ways to do nothing in particular with the people he is enjoying getting to know again.He wonders if his father never left, what would have happened? Eventually someone would have noticed, right? His father's unhappiness, the fakeness, the way he looks at any blond male under five-foot-six. Wouldn't they? Maybe Gohan? Surely himself. And what about Vegeta? What would have become of that? How different would he be? How different would everything be? If he never left… "--oten, Goten. Goten!" His suddenly pulled out of his thoughts by his name and looks at Pan who is waving her hand in front of him trying to get his attention."Finally. You were gone there for a second.""What?"She points at Goku's phone. "Can you show him how to use the rest of the settings on here? I can't believe he's struggled with it for this long. Grandpa, you've had this for like, six months."He frowns. "I haven't even been back six months.""I know, but still. Goten, take it. I have to get ready.""Ready for what? You can't pass this off on me. Finish what you started."“Uh, ready for the beach? Obviously? It's beautiful out. Marron and I are going to go work on our tans. So you and that purple-haired idiot better not make the news or anything today, because I don't wanna get another midnight call to help deal with your sh--" She looks at her grandfather and hesitates. "Your personal issues." She slides the phone towards him, stacks up the dozen plates on the table, and carefully puts them in the sink before walking out of the room.Goku looks at his son with his usual soft smile. "I haven't seen much of Trunks since I've gotten back. How's he doing?""Good, I guess. Been hard to see him lately, but he's running Capsule Corporation now." Goten looks down the hall to make sure his niece is out of earshot. "He's dating Pan.""Really? She didn’t--""Oh, yeah. For a while too. You should ask Gohan about it. He's super supportive."Goku gives his son a doubtful look. He's starting to figure out that his son likes to tell him to ask about things that get him in trouble. Sometimes with Chi Chi, but usually with Gohan. He's not sure how Gohan feels about Pan and Trunks, but now he has a suspicion it is nothing positive and he should not in fact ask about it."Is Bra in the company too? She seems ... energetic.""No, she's in school, working on, like, her second PhD or something. Tch. Overachiever. Trunks might put her on the board now that she's 18 I guess. But I think the company actually has a no-felony policy.” He snorts and picks up the phone intent on changing the subject. "So what could you possibly need help with other than texting and calling?" He starts flipping through it."I like the camera. I was tryna figure out how to use it better."Goten goes straight to the messages. "What do you take pictures of?""I dunno, the mountains around Paozu. There's a lot of pretty things on Earth. I missed it. Sometimes I take pictures of the fields, to see if they're growing fast or slow.""Huh." Gohan really doesn't give you enough credit. "So you want to datemark them and stuff?" He squints at the phone and sees that nearly all of the messages are between Goku and himself asking about spar times and places, and the occasional, "wanna eat?" There are some between Goku and his other son, and even less between him and Chi Chi, usually asking if he'll be home for dinner, the occasional xoxo from her. "I think it does that automatically, you just have to go into the picture settings and..." He taps on it as soon as he sees it.Hey*hey*Hey*spar?*hey*jei vehtajs wanna spra?sparsooru im kidnadurnkiisally wann talk Goten exhales as he reads. Oh my god he did not drunk text his ex. hey. sorry about my messages yesterday. wanna spar?*whats up*hey*wanna spar?*hey*hey*hey*hi*spar?*hey*r u there?*hey*wanna spar? The messages are stretched out over weeks, usually time marked in the early morning before dawn, and there are no responses back. He's sure he would have sensed it if they'd been near each other. They definitely haven't. He’s been tracking Vegeta's ki like it’s his job and knows that Vegeta is locking himself in the gravity room eight days a week, alone. He's pretty sure Vegeta is sleeping in there too. He smiles when he sees how recently the latest one is postmarked. Two days ago? Don't you get it? He's just not into you. Why are you even trying? Goten thinks maybe it is definitely time to pay Vegeta a visit. Check on how he's been holding up without his boytoy. See if he is interested in a better one yet. I was starting to miss having a constant source of discord in my life. "Yeah, if I could see the day and time that would be helpful. How do I-" Goku looks over Goten's shoulder to see what he's doing and his eyes widen when he realizes what he's looking at and he reaches for the phone but his son stands up and steps back."You sure text Vegeta a lot, after I asked you not to talk to him," he accuses. Goku doesn't respond, he just reaches for it again and Goten presses one hand to Goku's chest while the other holds the phone behind his back, out of Goku's reach."Those are private!""Ah, ha, nothing's private these days. Don't you know anything about technology?" Goku struggles for a few moments trying to get it back, then gives up and leans back against the table trying to work out a different tactic."Here." Goten hands it over to him without argument and Goku hastily accepts it.Goku takes a moment to think about how he's going to justify himself, which he knows he shouldn't have to do because he hasn't done anything wrong, have I? He meets his son's expectant glare, "I know you two fought or--or something, but he's still my… friend, and I--""Your friend ?" Goten can't resist laughing. "That's funny, because to me it looks like he's not much of a friend right now. Maybe ever."
Look at you, texting him for permission to come see him instead of just showing up, unannounced, like you usually do around anyone else. If I didn't know better I'd think you were hopelessly in love with that asshole. Just how fucked up was that relationship?
Goku looks down sadly at his phone and Goten watches as he starts deleting all his messages.
Oh. Oh... you are? Aren't you? How did he do that to you? Is that why you left? Why couldn't you have found yourself a nice guy to go "fishing" with on the weekends and leave the psychopathic megalomaniacs to me?
"Why the hell do you wanna talk to him so bad anyway?”Goku shifts uneasily on his feet for a moment. “Just… wanna know how he’s doin’... Something seems… wrong.”He bites back a cruel smile. "Dad, I already told you what's wrong. Friend or... not, you've been gone for fifteen years. He's a different person now. The sooner you realize that, the better.""He... seemed the same to me.""No, he just looks the same." His father doesn't respond and Goten absently taps on the table to fill the stretching silence. “I can’t believe you, Dad. After what he did to me?” Goten shakes his head. “Tch.”Goku’s regret is instant and satisfying. “I--I’m sorry, I just thought--”“No, you didn’t. You didn’t think.”Goku sucks in a short breath because he’s heard those words before, and it is hard not to show how deeply they cut. Maybe even deeper this time. “Sorry,” he says again, quieter.Once Goten has soaked up as much pain as he can to satisfy his hunger for revenge, he relaxes. “It’s fine.”“I’m sor--”Goten puts his hand up. “I said it’s fine.” Goku nods then starts when his phone starts ringing. They both look at the screen and see Chi Chi pop up on the caller ID.“You should probably get that,” Goten says as he walks out of the kitchen.“Wait, where are you--”Goten stops and turns. “I’m gonna go see Trunks, because if Pan's ‘beach day' means what I think it means, then they're in an off and he and I have a date with Tequila.”“Oh.” His brows furrow. “Wait, are you going to Trunks’ house?”“Yep.""At... at Capsule Corporation? But isn't that--""It's fine. Don't worry. Trunks is there!""But--""I'll text you if I need you. So--" He salutes and walks out of the room leaving Goku alone with his ringing phone and the unsettling feeling that he should in fact worry a lot.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goten has never been patient, but times like these force him to strategize and think tactically. He will find a way to get into Capsule Corporation and that way is definitely through Trunks who he has been neglecting lately, but Trunks’ ki isn’t at the compound for once.
He frowns when he realizes Trunks’ ki is in downtown and takes out his phone to call him instead of showing up to where he might be uninvited. It is three tries before he finally picks up, and when he does he is almost impossible to understand through his slurring.
“Tententen you got my m’ssgez! Comehang, ‘m out attabar comehere. Lezgetdrunk, wh’reyou at? Wherya been? I’ma gzhuva…”
“What? Trunks, where are you?”
“Bar! The bar, on fifteenth… the one wi’the bartender who hates you cuz you fucked’iz boyfriend in the bathroom. Ha… ‘member? But he alwayzlets me buy by the bottlemm cuz I tip good… ‘n the liquor store wazn’topen yet… so’m here.”
Goten groans and smacks a palm to his head. “Of course. Okay, I’m on my way.”
“Yaaay~”
Goten rolls his eyes and hangs up. When he arrives the bartender flags him down with an annoyed look.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m not staying, I’m just grabbin’ Trunks and gettin’ him out of here.”
“Not that. I mean, yes, that too. But…” He shakes his head. “You need to get him help.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not going to ban my best paying customer, his monthly tab alone could keep me in business for a year, but Capsule Corporation’s ‘boy genius’ over there just drank himself stupid by crushing four bottles in two minutes.”
Goten raises a brow and looks over at Trunks who is sitting with his head in his arms at a table in the back corner. “Really?” He frowns.
“I didn’t have time to stop him! I gave them to him and when I turned around they were gone!” he says a little defensively before sighing heavily. “I didn’t realize he was going to drink them all at once. He doesn’t usually.”
“Yeah, I know. He’s okay. I got him.”
“He’s not okay. I almost called a hospital but he’s… he’s still coherent,” he says, slightly bewildered.
“Ish,” Goten mutters. “He’s fine. You know us, don’t worry about it.” Goten walks over to the table and shakes Trunks’ shoulder. “Hey, Trunks. Trunks!”
Trunks lifts his head up with watery eyes that light up as soon as they see the familiar face. Goten is knocked into the wall, cracking it, from the sudden embrace.
"Heyy! When didju get here?! Why’s yer face look like that?” He swipes a sloppy hand across Goten’s nose.
“Like what?” Goten shies away.
“Looks messed up. Yer hair, Ten, oh my Gooood…” He’s about to touch Goten’s hair too, but Goten smacks his hand away.
“Because it is messed up,” he grumbles quietly.
“Aw. Fu~ Sorry. I'm a little… a little…" He sways with a smile as he lets him go.
“Are you… crying?"
"No." Trunks rubs his sleeve across his face.
"What, this time she dumped you for good this time?"
His shoulders slump. "I hope not.”
“Don’t worry, she never does.” Goten snorts as he smacks Trunks’ back, almost knocking him over.
Trunks barely manages to catch himself against a wall, sending his palm through it and into the concrete behind it. “Shit.” He shakes it off and looks at the bartender. “Sorry! I’ll.. I canzzzhh fix it.”
The bartender sighs with a tired look and waves him off.
“You’re lucky you’re so rich. When
I
punched that wall he tried to have the bouncer pull me out.”
“Haa. That’s cuz you did it on purpose and took out half the wall…” Trunks laughs and stumbles forward trying to follow Goten out, but keeps tripping until Goten just huffs in frustration, picks him up, and throws him over his shoulder.
“You have got to cut down, man. This is ridiculous.”
He hiccups. “I know… Can you take me home?”
“Yeah. Let’s go home.”
Goten takes his time meandering towards Capsule Corporation. He tries to fly slow and keep his ki low, because he wants to have a plan. But he can't stop his heart rate from spiking with excitement as the urge to just wing it tempts him. He pauses when he finally arrives and looks down at the place he once called home. He almost immediately feels the agitated ki inside the gravity chamber spike in recognition.
Damn, if the hum alone of that room still doesn't make me sweat!
He is too close now to turn around and it only floods him with adrenaline to think about what might happen once he touches down.
All those fond memories, all those wonderful screaming matches we had in the gravity room. All those torturous hours of 'tactical drills'... ah, Kami, I've been missing all the fun we used to have together. Haven't you, Vegeta?
“Shit…” mumbles Trunks. “Didn’t even think--are you’n my dad okay?”
“Uhh… yeah. Yeah we’re good.” He lands on the balcony of Trunks’ room. “Totally good, man,”
“Thefuckwuzthat shit about anyway?”
“Nothing, I don’t know. He’s just crazy.”
Goten slides open the door to his friend’s room and is immediately greeted by stacks and
stacks
of folders and papers scattered around the room and suddenly he starts to feel bad for avoiding him. He can see how much Trunks needs this, a friend, as he plops him down onto the couch.
Trunks exhales deeply and lets his head fall against the top of the couch. Goten tosses him a controller and turns on his game system, but instead of playing, Trunks starts talking.
Goten is now a captive audience to the, at times, disgusting details of heart break and reassures Trunks it's not the end of the world because they'll be back together next week anyway. Trunks eventually, after much convincing, and tears, nods in agreement and lets the subject go. By the time he has Trunks laughing again Goten has almost forgotten why he came here in the first place.
Almost.
It is edging in on evening and Trunks, after a hesitant glance to his other half, gets up saying something about needing to take a piss and leaves the room. Goten takes the moment to feel out the ki he's been locked on since it left the gravity room an hour ago.
It is nearby and moving, but masked. He frowns and sits up trying to focus but it is just low and just quiet enough to keep in the periphery of his senses. It feels blurred and he can’t quite pinpoint it until-
-there it is!
Bright as lightning right behind him.
He's not expecting the sudden uncomfortable feeling of fingers running through his hair before they clench tightly around the shortened locks and snap his head back against the edge of the couch he's on, cracking the frame. Goten looks up into dark, livid eyes holding nothing but ill-intent for him while sucking in a sound of pain.
A low dark voice growls through bared teeth, "Get. Out. Of. My. House."
He bites his tongue to distract himself from the hand on his head and grins up at him. “Why? You want to do it in the gravity room instead? That’s probably a good idea. We can just say we we're trai--”
He pulls on Goten's hair and lifts him up to threaten him more effectively since his first tactic doesn’t seem to be working. “Shut the fuck up, you sick--”
"Don’t tell me you’re still mad at me." He feigns disappointment.
Vegeta’s grip tightens, knuckles white from the tension. Goten can hear Vegeta's teeth grinding together, clicking with rage. "GET. OUT."
"Trunks invi--"
"I don't CARE! What Trunks did. GET. OUT!" The veins in his neck pulse with each syllable.
Goten smiles wider. "Ooh, it couldn't have been that bad, could it? I seem to recall you enjoyed it."
Yeah. Get mad at me. Make me hurt. Make me hurt Really. Fucking. Good.
"YOU VILE--I DID NOT--I--I…" Vegeta stammers as something suspiciously close to embarrassment instead of rage crosses his face.
Goten turns back as much as he can with fingers still locked into his hair. "You did. Or do I have to remind you?" He can smell the anger seething through Vegeta’s pores, and
Kami, if that isn't satisfying in its own way
. "About how hard you came when I--"
"SHUT! UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Vegeta raises his other hand but never brings it down.
“Make me,” Goten says in a low voice with a near maniacal edge to it and he begins to raise his ki. He watches Vegeta’s expression shift as it gets higher and higher.
Yes. Fight me. Fuck me!
"You know you want to."
Vegeta smacks his hand over Goten's mouth. It's not a mark-leaving strike, but enough to stop the words from leaving his mouth. Vegeta can feel Goten smiling beneath his fingers. Then he lets out a noise of disgust as he pulls his hand away from Goten's open mouth and tongue.
Vegeta clenches his fingers tightly into his palm and cocks back. He wants to end this conversation the way they end
all
their conversations. But there is something
wrong
about this. About Goten. Like he
wants
Vegeta to hit him.
Vegeta hesitates. His fist drops a few inches. He can suddenly no longer bring himself to connect fist to face even though
he
wants to hit this nightmare for a Son so damn bad square in that shit-eating grin. Even though he wants to murder him, tear him apart limb by limb until there is nothing left. Even though he wants Kakarot, being the idiot he is, to try and bring Goten back with the dragon balls just so he can have the chance to kill him again. And again. And
again. And everytime he’s brought back-
-He cocks his head and briefly debates the thought with furrowed brows,
actually that’s a good idea. Where’d she leave the radar again?
He shakes the thought from his head and his resolve hardens as he decides to do the next best thing and pull the half-Saiyan over the couch. He begins dragging him across the room in order to physically remove him from the compound.
"AH! Fu-! Yes!" Goten grits out through clenched teeth as he grips Vegeta’s forearms with both hands. “Harder. You know I like it rough." Vegeta stops, drops him and slowly turns around to face Goten. He lets out a deep murderous growl.
Goten props himself up and watches the ball of ki in Vegeta's hand aimed at his face waver and he can’t imagine from where Vegeta managed to dredge up this self-control because he’s certainly never demonstrated the capability to hold back before. Goten frowns.
“If you’re worried about my father.” Goten watches the ki suddenly disappear altogether. “Don’t be. He’s weak.” Goten stands and takes a step toward him. Vegeta takes a step back. “And stupid.” He takes another step closer. “Not like me.” Goten takes another step closer, smirking confidently as Vegeta’s back hits the wall. “I’ll give you a week.”
Vegeta’s eyes search him with desperate confusion.
“If you don’t change your mind and come find me to talk to me about restarting our…
training…
” He runs the back of his fingers down along Vegeta’s jaw, making him flinch. “I’ll tell him everything. About how you sought me out for another fight, but that time… was different.” He lets his fingers drop down to Vegeta’s collar, then slowly glide down the front of his sweat-soaked shirt. “You were drunk. I knew you were drunk and I tried to stop you, but I…” Goten leans in so his mouth is by Vegeta’s ear as he loewrs his voice. “I was just so scared as you pushed me to the ground, I didn’t know how to tell you to stop as you tore my clothes off and--"
"That’s not true! That’s not--! I didn’t--!” Goten watches Vegeta’s expression spiral down with guilt and rage and confusion and emotions Goten’s not even sure there are words for.
“What do you mean? Of course it is.” Goten lauds his bigger stature over Vegeta, hovering so close their chests almost touch as he whispers, “You’re just… so much stronger than me.”
"But I’m… not,” he says quietly, broken. “He would never believe y--"
Goten pulls back slightly with a laugh. "Oh, he’ll believe whatever I tell him. He’s
so
gullible. But you already know that, don’t you?
Don’t you,
” he says with a cruel smile. “And you certainly haven’t done yourself any favors by ignoring all his pathetic messages.” Vegeta’s eyes widen in shock. “So why don’t we just hurry this along to its inevitable conclusion and go to the gravity room after Trunks passes the fuck out, so I can show you how much
better
I’ve gotten since our last
fight.
"
They hear a door open and look down the hall. By the time Goten turns his head back, Vegeta is gone.
Trunks walks back in the room with a troubled look on his face.
Goten chuffs. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah… That sobered me the fuck up. Ten…” Trunks rubs his bleary eyes. “Was my dad just in here?"
"Tch, no. I think you’re still fucked up. Maybe you should knockout for the night." Goten picks up a liquor bottle and thrusts it towards Trunks’ chest before sitting back on the couch with one of his own.
Trunks looks down at the bottle just given to him. “Dude I just… poured my fuckin’ heart out to you. And you have the nerve to just…
lie
to me like that?” He tosses the bottle aside. “What the
fuck.
”
"It's not like I asked for all those details about your relationship."
"W-what?! It doesn't matter! We're friends! No--you are
family
to me, Ten! It's what we do! Support each other! Listen to each other!" he pauses. “Definitely not lie to each other when you
know
I can sense ki just as well if not
better
than you--”
Goten snorts in disbelief. “No you can’t.”
Trunks shakes his head. “Fighting isn’t the only kind of training there is, you know. So what the fuck happened just now? What did he say? Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine. It was nothing,” Goten says, trying to wave him off. But his hand shakes slightly with the adrenaline still coursing through him as he takes a drink. He can feel Trunks' glare harden as he starts thumbing the controller again, restarting the game. Trunks stands in front of the TV and looks Goten dead in the eyes. "What?"
"GOTEN!" He puts his hands on his shoulders. "What the fuck is going on!?"
"Nothing's ‘going on.’" He avoids Trunks' heavy expression and tries to roll his grip off without success.
“Nothing’s going on? Really?
Really?
” Trunks scoffs. “Ten! You moved out! To your
brother’s
house, who you hate--for good reason! Your
dad,
who’s been missing for like twenty years, came back! You… you cut your hair?! How can you look at me and say that?”
“It’s not--you’re overthinking this. I’ve just been really busy with--”
“I KNOW you’re busy! That’s why I’m asking! I want to
know
what the hell you’ve been doing with all this crazy shit happening! And why… why won't you just tell me?" He shakes Goten out of frustration. "We used to tell each other everything. I still do." Goten opens his mouth to respond but can't find the words. Trunks sighs and lets go. "I've called and texted and asked for
weeks
but you keep dodging and weaving, until I give up. You think I haven’t noticed you've been avoiding my house? And me?! I even asked Gohan and Pan. What help they were, fuck. Gohan told me it was probably for the best that we haven’t been hanging out. Asshole.” His eyes search Goten's for a shred of an answer. “Fuck, Ten! You MUST think I'm stupid to believe that everything’s ‘fine’ and I can't imagine where you got such a deranged idea! I run the biggest tech company in the world at twenty five! Who the fuck do you think I am?! I am Trunks Briefs! And yes, I drink
way
more than I should, but really? You think I didn't notice as soon as I left the room he's in here 'talking' about whatever the hell is going on between you?"
Goten’s heart suddenly thuds in his chest with fear. "I--did you... hear?"
"No, I was throwing my fucking guts up and regretting all my life choices, because I really drink way more than I should, but I still know that whatever it was it wasn't a great big ‘welcome back, son!’”
Goten makes an annoyed face. “He’s not my--”
“Dude.” Trunks pulls out his phone and starts scrolling through it until he finds what he's looking for and turns it showing Goten a picture he recognizes immediately. “Just tell me why the fuck this happened. And if you’re okay.”
Bitch! She sent that to him?! ...Of course she did.
and it suddenly occurs to Goten that Trunks might have been the last one to find out about Vegeta’s attempt to reshape his face.
“Oh. That. It wasn’t as bad as it--” He doesn't have time to read the surrounding messages before the phone is pulled away.
“IT WASN’T AS BAD AS IT LOOKS?! GOTEN! REALLY?! You’re going to say that to my fucking face?! When I can see EXACTLY how fucking BAD it was!? Are YOU drunk!?”
It is hard to look at Trunks when he is right. So Goten diverts his gaze to the TV then to the window, then to...
anywhere else.
"This is not normal. If--" Trunks stares at the picture, "If you knew how angry I was at my father when I saw this--We haven’t argued like that in years! And I still don’t understand what happened! I tried so hard to get it out of him but all he would say was that he lost his temper and now he just locks himself up and doesn't--! Fuck! I called you so many times. I tried--Ten, I had NO idea your fight was this bad! I'm so used to feeling your kis clash and spike all the time... I didn't think--but this? It looks like he tried to fucking kill you!
Kill
you, Ten. Lost his temper?! Are you serious? What does that even mean?”
"Exactly what you think it means. He just fucking lost it. Trunks, he’s fucking crazy!"
Trunks’ eyes narrow. "So that's it then? He had some psycho PTSD flashback or some shit and... snapped." His words drip with sarcastic doubt. “Even though he’s
never
done that before.”
"I fuckin' guess so, I don't know what goes on inside his head. He doesn't exactly talk to me about his deeply disturbing psychological issues."
Goten feels a sweat start breaking out on the back of his neck as Trunks face scrunches with anger. Trunks shakes his head and takes a deep breath before walking over to the window. He looks out at the gravity chamber. "You know he hasn't left that stupid room since except to eat? Even that is rare. We haven’t even spoken in weeks."
“I--”
"But suddenly,” he bites sharply. “As soon as you're here, my dad comes out of the fucking woodwork to say fuck knows what to you. So, sure. You can try, TRY to lie to me and say he just randomly decided to have a psychotic break, but I know you better than that! I know my father better than that." He waits for Goten to respond but silence hangs between them. Trunks finishes his drink and shakes his head. "God, you’re worse than he is."
“Oh so it’s
my
fault this happened?”
“Wh--no! I just… What the hell could have triggered something like that? He's never--"
Goten cracks the controller and drops it on the table in frustration.
Damn it! Why are you making this so difficult!? “
How about you take a minute to think about what else happened that day!” Trunks’ brows furrow with thought. “I thought you were a fucking genious! Could it be that my dad came back?”
Such a lucky coincidence for me.
“Do you think that might explain why he just fucking lost it?”
Trunks’ eyes widen. “So it…
is
about your dad?"
“What?”
Trunks shrugs. “I… I wasn’t sure, but it was the only thing that made sense. He came back and now… everything’s different. Did my dad say anything? When you fought? About him or something? ‘Cause… man, he’s
not
okay either right now, and I… I don’t know what to do.”
Goten shakes his head. "No. He didn’t say anything. He just… went crazy. And I was just… in the wrong place at the wrong time."
“Okay, but did your dad--since he’s back…" He tries his best to tread carefully over what he knew to be the most fragile of topics with Goten. "I mean, what did he do when he saw your face? Does he know my dad--”
“Nothing. I don’t know. He’s been gone for fifteen years. How much do you think he cares?”
Trunks tilts his head with uncertainty. “I don’t know. You haven’t really talked to me since he’s been back. But I know you’ve been spending a lot of time with him.” Goten reels back slightly in shock that Trunks had been apparently keeping tabs. “Is he… different?”
Goten down at the floor pensive for a moment before answering honestly. “No. He’s exactly the same. It’s… it’s kinda weird. We actually... have a lot in common.”
Trunks’ brow furrow. “Like… rivalry?”
“What?”
"Goten. Why did you come over today?"
"What do you mean? You were wasted at the bar and I took you home and--"
“Yeah, and the last time I saw-slash-heard from you was like two months ago when I peeled an unconscious you off the floor of some rando’s bathroom floor, so was this just you repaying the favor?”
“I--what? No, Trunks, I--”
“Also, by the fucking way! Are we just going to brush over the fact that you’ve been messing with ki tech? How did my sister even convince you to test that shit? You know that’s why she had a warrant out for her arrest last year? After she--Fuck! Ten. You have
no
idea how dangerous that shit is! You’re lucky it didn’t blow your damn arm off!”
“You were the one who told me to ask her for advice.”
“What?! When?!”
Goten shrugs. “When you were shitfaced.”
“And you listened to me?! Dude! I love her to death, she’s a fucking genius! But she’s also CRAZY! If anyone’s prone to psychotic breaks, it’s her! Do not encourage her projects! They’re dangerous, even for Saiyans.”
“Well, it worked,” he mutters.
“Yeah, that time.” He huffs. “You know, I'm starting to think you came here looking for a fight."
Goten snorts. "No, why would I even do that? I’m not--"
"I don't fuckin' know! Revenge? You and my dad are always at each other’s throats for some bullshit or another. Call it training, call it anger management; to me it just looks like both of you get off on how much you hate each other. Or your dad? Or whatever! But it’s really
really
fucked up. It always has been."
Goten's mouth drops open slightly with surprise because maybe that's not... the most inaccurate way to describe his complicated feelings for Vegeta at the moment.
"And it's only gotten worse since you're dad's been back and I'm so--I'm so fucking confused now. Is he, like, encouraging you to pick a fight? Or training you to get back at him? Or… I don’t know! What’s going on?! ...Why did you come over tonight?"
"Nothing, I--I came here to hang out with you.” He forces a laugh. “Because it's been--"
Trunks just slowly shakes his head. "I don't believe you. If you really wanted to hang out with
me
, then why haven’t you fucking
called
me? Or answered my texts? Or gone
out
with me? You haven't seen me in weeks! And then you just show up all of the sudden, and all night, all fucking night! you've been looking over your shoulder, half-paying attention to me. Even though I… I am fuckin’
struggling
to keep it together. You don’t care. And then your ki skyrockets as soon as he walks in the room. …Did you think you were going to beat him this time? Or are you trying to prove something to your dad? What is this about?"
"No, no, I'm not--Trunks, you don't understand-"
"Then
help
me understand! Because I’m starting to think you really came here looking for revenge, using me as a shield just in case.”
Goten scoffs. “No… that’s… I’m not using y--”
But Trunks has learned how to read emotionally damaged people better than anyone and Goten
isn’t
a good liar, giving himself away with his inability to look Trunks in the eyes. “That IS it isn't it?! I can’t! Fucking! Believe you!"
Goten watches as he gets heated. He watches as he snatches a bottle off the table and down it, whipping his arm across his mouth when he is done. “Trunks…” He watches as Trunks turns, drops slightly, and takes a familiar stance at just the right distance. Goten knows exactly what's going to come but a part of him doesn't believe it.
“I think you should… slow down on the drinking.”
“Fuck. You.” He winds his fist back and the dark haired half's face breaks into a condescending doubtful smile,
he’s not gonna do it.
But he does. He throws his fist straight into Goten's eye socket. It knocks Goten back a few steps and he's surprised it’s as painful as it is.
"I used to love fighting with you! But this?! This hurts!" He rears his fist back again.
"Wait, Trunks.” He puts his hands up non-threateningly. “Calm d--"
“I’m not gonna calm down! What the fuck? What the hell have you become, huh? Are you that consumed with anger? And power? That you'd just throw our friendship away? To finally fucking win? We're brothers! We were fuckin’ brothers Ten! Is punching really the only way to fucking reach you?" He throws his fist again, but even though Goten catches it, something breaks. The only bond he held sacred, the one that could not be broken, cracks.
"You're right." He closes his fingers around the fist.
Trunks stops with salt water in the corner of his eyes. "What?"
"You know me too damn well." He smiles. "I'm always looking for a fight but not... not this one."
He lets his hand drop out of Goten's loose hold. "Why? Why are you trying to start something right now?"
Oh, Trunks, there's not enough alcohol in the world to help you cope with the truth
. "It’s… complicated. I was actually just hoping things were… back to normal. But…” He looks out the window towards the gravity room. “They aren’t. I'm sorry I dragged you into it. I'm sorry I've been a shitty friend and--"
Trunks snorts weakly. "Whatever, Ten. Fine. Don’t tell me anything. You never do. No one ever does. I'm too drunk for this anyway and I..." He collapses onto the couch and grabs for a bottle, but it’s already empty. He tosses it aside in annoyance and it shatters against a wall.
"And you what?"
Trunks throws him a mocking petty smile. “Oh nothing, it’s fine.”
Goten picks up a controller and joins him on the couch. He throws his legs up on top of Trunks' and grins at him. Trunks looks warily at him through the new rift that has formed between them and out of all the things Goten did and said tonight Trunks finds that grin the hardest to believe.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
This is the eighth time he's called her today and it's getting
annoying
. Her brother just won’t stop whining and bitching about the gravity room codes; something about the auto-shutdown being overridden; something about their mother’s notes being encrypted; something about their father somehow actually being very
very
tech savvy. Who knows, but she hates when he gets like this--
worried
--because it has this way of rubbing off on her and she doesn’t like to be
worried
when she’s
working
.
She huffs and puffs but eventually gives in and returns to Capsule Corporation because Trunks finally lets it slip that their father has locked himself in his personal torture chamber for the last five days and even she knows something isn’t right about that.
Her brother claims their father used to do this sometimes when they were younger but she can't remember, so as far as she is concerned this is an unprecedented and unacceptable level of self destruction.
She
is supposed to be the bringer of chaos in their family, not him. Her father crossed that bridge a long time ago, or at least he claims as much.
She wonders if he's having flashbacks or if something triggered him into some kind of episode. She knows how much he hates being surprised. She knows how difficult it is for him to communicate about normal things, let alone traumatic things.
Being a child soldier for the creature who wiped out our race would fuck you up like that
. Well, whatever it is, she doesn’t like it and she is going to destroy it because that is
her
papa and she is his favorite for a reason.
Until then though, she sits at the desk next to her brother hunched over the keyboards looking between the several screens Trunks had to bring in from other areas of the labs because the gravity room controls only had one pathetic screen that hung crooked on the wall. They spend hours trying to piece together what they had from their mother's old notes--and whatever the fuck those symbols were that their father wrote in the margins--in order to shut down the machine only he knows how to maintain now.
By the time the clock hits four am they've tried thousands of different variations of codes with no luck. She looks at the largest of the screens and her eyes trace the red and black washed figure of her father laying on the ground, motionless. His ki is still strong albeit wavering and not as bright as usual. He is alive but not well and it is only a matter of time before he starts cooking alive.
She kicks back from the desk in frustration. "This is impossible! He sabotaged it from the inside! We should just blast it open!”
"No. No! There are NO safeties in place! The explosion would be catastrophic. Even under low gravity, blasting it while the machine is running like this would be a mistake."
"Ahhh! Well it's going to melt down eventually! I’m sure he’s been through worse. He’ll survive!”
Trunks shakes his head. “A hundred gravity, maybe. Eight hundred? I’m not risking it.”
“Uhggg. Why would he do this?!
How
did he do this!? These safety protocols should NOT have been able to be overridden! They were literally designed to be untouchable! Look at--" She pulls up several command prompts of code. “Look at this. How did he get through that? We can’t even get through it.”
"I don't know! I don't know! But it's getting worse." Trunks presses his exhausted face into his hands.
"What do you mean, ‘it's getting worse?’" She narrows her eyes at him.
"I mean, it's getting worse! He keeps staying in there for longer and longer, he barely eats, he barely sleeps, and when he does I don't even think I want to call it that because I'm pretty sure he's just passing out from exhaustion."
"What? How long has this been going on?"
"I don't know, like two or three months? But this week, this week has been so bad."
"What?! MONTHS?! Oh my god!! Trunks! How could you not tell me!?”
"Because it didn't seem abnormal at first! He used to do this shit all the time! And--”
“That was then! This is now! What the fuck!”
“I know! …I know.” He chews his lip in worry. "I'm sorry."
"You should be! This is--I can't believe you didn't tell me that… wait. Wait.” She stops typing and glares at her brother. “You know something What do you know?"
"Uh…”
“Trunks. You’re not allowed to know things I don’t!”
“It’s nothing. I don’t think--”
“What do you know?” She says with careful annunciation.
“Goten… might’ve come over... and tried to start shit?” he admits quickly.
Her eyes widen. “Start what shit?!”
“I mean... it's not like he
did
anything. They just argued or talked or I don't know--but it was--”
"Trunks." She closes her eyes and exhales, restraining her temper only because it's her brother. "I really
really
think you need to get into the habit of telling me these things because you clearly don't know what to do with them except get stressed out and try to drown them in alcohol."
"That's not true." He tightens his grip on his coffee defensively and looks away from his sister. "I punched him in the face about it."
"HA! You WHAT!?”
“He admitted he came over to pick a fight, so I… guess I kinda gave one to him.”
“You are my brother after all!"
"Thanks, B. Sister of the year, yourself, of course." He rolls his eyes.
“Why was he looking for a fight?”
Trunks scoffs. “Why isn’t he?”
“Ok… I get that, but he hasn’t been to the compound since he fought with Dad. Why so all of the sudden? Because no offense, but it doesn’t sound like he came over for you.”
“Yeah. He didn’t.” Trunks pauses his typing for a few moments while he thinks about his answer. “I think maybe he's trying to prove something to his dad? Or restart their rivalry? I don't know. I haven't been able to get it out of him. But it has something to do with his dad. I think he might even be encouraging Ten to fight with him.”
“Really?” She looks doubtfully at her brother. “You think
Goku
is behind this?” He shrugs, “Have you even met him?”
“Wh--yeah, of course I have. When we were younger he--”
“No, I mean since he’s been back.”
Trunks thinks for a moment. “...No.”
“Ok, well you might want to rework that theory because Goku is like, super sweet. Not even a complete psycho like Ten.”
“And you know that… how?”
“OH! And speaking of! Trunks! Did you know they look the same!?”
“What?”
“Goku and Goten!”
“Yeah I’ve seen the pictures. Don’t ever say that to him though because he loses his mind.”
“No! It’s more than that! More than the pictures! They look EXACTLY the same! I guarantee you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart if Goten hadn’t fucked up his hair.”
Trunks snorts. “They don’t look
that
much alike. I definitely could.”
“No. I swear. Here, I’ll pull up a picture and you have to guess which one it is.”
She scrolls through and shoves her phone into his face. Trunks tears his gaze away from the screen and stops clicking so he can study the image for a moment. “That’s Goten.” He squints at the screen in confusion. “What happened to his arm?”
“WROO~OONG!” she says gleefully. “It’s Goku.”
“I--Why… do you have pictures of him shirtless on your phone?” He exhales heavily, not sure if he really wants the answer.
“Because." She looks down at her phone and smiles. "He’s hot.”
“B.” He shakes his head. “I don’t even know what to say to that,” he mutters. “And you didn’t answer my first question about his arm.”
“Uh! Yeah! Because it’s not important! What matters is that Goku is the nicest guy ever and hasn’t even been to the compound. MEANWHILE Goten on the other hand! Didn’t you see what dad did to his face? I sent that picture to you. He probably said something stupid when he came over out of some petty sense of revenge. He knows dad’s triggers better than anyone.”
And if that’s the case ooooh I’m going to have sOoOo much fun next time I see him.
Trunks tilts his head side to side in consideration. “Maybe. But this only started when Goku or Kakarot or whatever ‘mysteriously’ returned. So. That’s my theory and I’m sticking with it until you can give me proof to the contrary.” He resumes typing. And so does she. Silence settles in the lab.
Then something strikes her. Goku has been to the compound. He'd even been in the gravity room. Months ago sure, but Trunks said this started months ago. Goku even fought with her father. Goten was kind enough to give her that information before yelling about who knows what and hanging up without even saying goodbye, ruuuude. Suddenly thinks maybe--just maybe--Trunks is onto something. She glances over at her brother's tired haggard face which is barely resisting the urge to nod off. "Trunks... We'll never get anything done if we don't sleep. Why don't we take shifts?"
"No, we can't stop, we're clo--"
"We're not close. He's going to be in there for a while, probably longer if we mess up because we're sleep deprived. You: go to bed. You've been here since yesterday morning. If I make any break through, I'll wake you up."
He hesitantly agrees then heads up stairs, but not without stopping in the kitchen to grab a bottle of 120 proof liquid sleep.
As soon as the door to the lab closes his sister starts an agonizing search through the gravity room settings until she finds the archives.
"Oh good, it saves video." She scrolls through the list and starts clicking through a few different feeds, with roughly the right time and date until she finds the one she’s looking for
.
She fast forwards through a few tedious hours of drills until she sees her father fidgeting with the controls followed very closely by--
What the!? How the fuck did they get in there?!
She pauses the feed, rewinds a few seconds and plays it back normally, but she still can’t figure out how they enter.
Did the feed just cut out or?
She watches closely as Goten quickly turns face and leaves the chamber for the compound while Goku is…
Holy shit he’s kind of beating the shit out of papa.
Within seconds her father is bleeding while Goku remains untouched, but it soon becomes clear that the obviously stronger of the two is not losing because of any difference in ability but because he is refusing to hit back. He is even refusing to block. He takes it. Like he wants it.
Then, they're just arguing. Then just talking. Then…
Did… did my papa just fucking smile?
She's not sure what to make of that since on the very rare occasions her father chose to speak about 'Kakarot' it was usually about his inevitable demise by his hands and he never smiled for
anyone.
Her brows bend and twist with questions and she so wishes this stupid machine had audio because she's dying to know what the two Saiyans could possibly be reminiscing over until-
"Oh… Oh my God." She's not sure what she just saw so she rewinds, watches it again, stops, rewinds again, watches it again, stops, rewinds again, then pauses. “No. WAY! What. The. Fuck!" Her jaw drops because the two last known full Saiyans are
KISSING?!?!
And then they aren’t. Goku pushes her father away.
She thinks she's having a brain aneurysm from the shock. All of the overworked cogs in her head stop turning and there is not a chance anything from here on out will be processed logically.
She stares at the screen open mouthed, unable to make a sound, thinking that maybe she should have taken the first sleep shift, because she MUST be dreaming; there is absolutely no way this could be real, even less way that the reason her father is bleeding all over the floor of the gravity room concussed right now was because
he got REJECTED?! BY GOKU?! ...ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
She can’t help but laugh out loud at the sheer impossibility. But it dies off when she thinks about how she will tell Trunks. If she will tell Trunks. Because you don’t just kiss someone randomly after cursing their name for fifteen years. You kiss someone after cursing them for fifteen years because you’ve kissed them before and you missed it. Hm. When did he disappear again? Wasn’t it right after--
Her head falls into her palms because Trunks
glorified
their parents’ relationship. He is sappy like that
and probably still insecure about being an accident
. If there is even a chance that whatever this is had been going on while their mother was alive Trunks would be devastated. Top that off with his own relationship drama, the stress of his usual sixteen hour work day he will have to resume at some point this week and how many bottles of liquor there were in the freezer last time she opened it, she decides not to say a word on the not-so-off chance that her brother will react...
badly
.
Capsule Corporation is already barely functional with Goten and Vegeta hating each other and themselves and everything around them and then there is her with her own issues costing the company a fortune whenever she decides to have
a little
fun. If Trunks isn't able to hold it together, who would?
So maybe you were right about Goku and maybe you don’t really need to know that right now.
Although a part of her thinks, maybe Trunks' unfortunate case of humanity is justified. She wants to be mad too. Loyalty, and family, and love, and honor, all that bullshit. She sighs as she looks back at the screen where he is lying on the ground motionless. No, how can I be mad at him? Poor papa, he probably hasn't been laid in like 15 years and then he gets rejected! I'd wanna die too! Besides, she thinks, she never even knew her mother. She is dead now. What's happened has happened. And she really doesn’t know anything about this situation. Maybe… it wasn’t what it appeared to be. Though, that raises the question, how long had whatever it was been going on? And what... exactly was it? She has a feeling she knows someone with the answers she's looking for.
And he’s not happy about it. I wonder why.
She smirks, whips out her phone and takes a picture of the screen just in case she needs the leverage and then deletes it because
Yikes! Definitely don’t want Trunks snooping through this and choking to death on his drink!
Then she refocuses and begins working on the codes again with renewed fire. She doesn’t exactly have oodles of time to spend shutting down this archaic piece of equipment her father turned into a death trap.
I have so many other things to do! Like fuck with
you
, Ten-Ten.
So every few minutes, after she runs a new line, she picks up her phone and calls her favorite half-Saiyan.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goten wakes up at god knows what hour to a phone call. Or five. He looks at who it is, silences it and goes back to sleep because whatever it is , the bitch can wait. When he wakes again it is with his alarm and his phone now has over fifty missed calls from the same person. He smiles at her persistence but doesn't have time to call her back before heading out to spar with his father, which ends up being miserable. The worst to date. Through the whole thing Goku is missing hits, not blocking, not even looking at Goten half the time, and his son has to call it a day about twenty minutes in because at this rate he was going to seriously and for once unintentionally injure his father. He’s never like this. He's never sloppy. Never unfocused. And yet he's been like this for days, today more than ever and Goten has the aching feeling he knows exactly what--or rather who--is the cause of it because he is bothering Goten too. Everything has been off since I went to Capsule Corporation earlier this week. And Goten's having a lot of trouble understanding what the hell he’s supposed to do about that. Nothing went the way it was supposed to and if Goten thought Vegeta was difficult to talk to before it has become downright impossible now. He is now always in the gravity chamber. Goten’s sure he hasn’t left in days . Which is getting really irritating! How am I supposed to get under your skin, under your sheets, if I can't get near you?! He supposes he’ll have to follow through on that ultimatum he gave Vegeta and see if that will change the status-quo to something more favorable. Maybe Vegeta (and his father) just need a little more closure, because every time he thinks he has their relationship? That's probably a strong word for it--figured out, one of them does something that forces him to completely rework his tactics. He's starting to think he's been approaching this situation all wrong. He's been trying to maneuver Vegeta, who is impossibly stubborn, when instead... he has a far more malleable piece of the problem in front of him. If Vegeta won’t end this farce, then Goku will.So, despite their mutual disappointment in this morning's spar, Goten insists they do something other than return home, intent on finding out just what is going on inside his father's head so he can exploit it. Goku happily interprets this as an open invitation to find something to eat.Half an hour later Goten finds himself laying on a shaded bank lazily watching his father who is wearing a borrowed pair of Goten's dark sweatpants rolled up to the knees. Goku is not very happy about having to wear them, but he doesn't have much of a choice. Chi Chi has long given his clothes away and the comfy colorful clothes he adopted off planet were getting worn. He could have gone shopping but Gohan said Goten still had his gi! When he asked about it though, Goten nonchalantly informed him he had burned it. And when questioned why his son only replied, 'Ask Vegeta.'It was a risky thing to say, ‘ask Vegeta,’ but Goten feels fairly confident that one, his father won't ask Vegeta, and two, if he does Vegeta won't tell him, and three, those two words will bother the shit out of him. He was right on all counts and after a long quiet pause under his father's half-irked, half-suspicious stare after saying it, Goten followed up by throwing him a pair of his own-- Keep ‘em-- giving him his usual shit eating grin, and walking away. The conversation left Goku hesitant to replace the bright orange gi until he figured out why it was burned in the first place but the subject hasn’t come up again.Everyday it is becoming harder and harder to ignore the aching suspicion Goten is hiding something. But he can never seem to find the words to express that without Goten throwing it right back at him. Even months later, he is no closer to figuring out what it is than the day he returned.And despite the daily decrease of Goku's confidence in Goten's trustworthiness, his son still has this way of being the only person he can talk to because he’s the only person who even has a glimpse into what he’s been silently struggling with for so long. Even though he’s starting to feel more isolated than ever, Goten always finds the right words to reassure Goku that everything is exactly how it’s supposed to be.Goten has this way of poking and prodding at the truth though. The doubts, worries, concerns, the fears Goku tries so hard to push down are all constantly shoved back in his face lined by a familiar caustic smirk constantly reaffirming Goku’s painful insecurity about… everything. It’s like his son is always silently bragging about knowing something Goku doesn’t. Which, Goku admits, his son knows lots of things he doesn’t, but sometimes Goku gets the feeling he knows things he shouldn’t. It is all so confusing and frustrating and it leaves Goku at even more of a loss with deciphering Goten than he was with Vegeta who had taken years of patience and countless arguments to understand and truthfully, is still a work in progress. But at least he never burned my things! ...right? What kinda answer is that? 'Ask Vegeta?' You're the one who burned it! What does that have to do with him? For now, it is all out of sight and out of mind. He is poised with closed eyes and bent knees. He has one foot in front of the other and stands completely still in the shallow waters of the creek swishing by him. His arm is raised, angled, ready to dive into the cool crisp water as soon as his prey is close enough. Goten dips his hand in the water with a smile disturbing it with a tiny pulse of ki the moment he senses any fish get close. It turns out this is a good exercise for him too. Timing, control, patience. Too much ki and maybe he’ll kill the fish. Too little and it will be drowned out by the two enormous Saiyan ki crackling through the air. If they’re too far, it won’t reach them. If they’re too close his father might manage to grab one before they startle and get away. By the fourth time he dips his hand into the water he can see his father shake his head slightly, agitated that his prey keeps swimming away just as he is ready to strike.After finally plunging his hand in and coming back with nothing he whips around glaring at his son. "Do you wanna eat?" Goten gives his father an innocent look and nods. "Then stop! Are you doin’ that on purpose?""Doing what?""You keep scarin’ the fish."Goten sighs lazily and rolls on to his back. “I didn’t mean to.”“Wh--” Goku huffs. "Yes you did! I can feel you! Yer sendin’ little shocks into the water!" Goten raises a brow.“You keep messin’ everything up everytime I try and…”“Try and what?” Goku pauses and wonders now, more than ever, just what Vegeta meant about him being 'capable.' Capable of what? Goten is a skilled fighter, yes, but there is something else lurking there under the surface that is starting to set him on edge lately, especially when Goten seems to be in a good mood like he is today, especially when he keeps doing things like this, however small or harmless they seem. "I dunno. I just... thought this would be easier.”"What, catching fish?” He smirks before sending a narrow blast of ki into the water and they both watch as a coi nearly as big as them bubbles up to the surface partially charred. No. Comin’ home. Goku frowns. "Catchin’ fish isn't hard except when you make it more difficult than it needs to be." Goku steps out of the river dragging the unfortunate creature chosen for breakfast behind him, sits down in the grass, and makes quick work of gutting it.Goten has a feeling he's not talking about the fish, which is fine, because he doesn't want to talk about fish either. “Where’s the fun in doing things the easy way?" His father doesn't take the bait to lighten the atmosphere and settles into silence. When they are done devouring what could have been a better tasting breakfast, Goku assumes a meditative position to try and focus on anything other than the far away ki that keeps painfully ebbing to the forefront of his mind. Goten however, decides there's no time like the present to ruin his father's day."You really sucked today.” He draws out the ‘really’ for emphasis. “This whole week, actually. What uh, what’s up?” He shoots a small absent blast of ki into the river and watches another fish bubble to the surface and drift with the current down the river.Goku shoots a disapproving look at his son for the unnecessary cruelty, but doesn't say anything. He takes a long time to think about his one word, one name answer. He feels embarrassment creep up, remembering the text messages. Something about the way his son reacted to that doesn't sit right with him. And it’s clear he really doesn’t like Vegeta. But, he also thinks, despite Vegeta and Goten's apparent issues with each other, if anyone could understand, if anyone could help him sort through this, it would be his son who is far more confident and comfortable with the more 'Saiyan' traits they have in common. Although that confidence has a tendency to grate on his nerves when it results in text messages from strangers telling him he is the cuter twin, definitely the good twin. Even though we are NOT twins! AAAhg! Goten! I don't care if the coffee shop guy seemed nice! Stop givin' out my number! Ultimately he decides honesty is the best policy while Goten sits there quietly getting impatient with his father's drawn out 'thinking' over something he already knows the answer to. They both move to push the conversation along. “I, um, I need to tell you something about me and V--”"I know it was Vegeta"They talk over each other and halt.Goku can't stop the feelings he had been ignoring so he could focus on repairing the things that were supposed to matter most, from resurfacing. But they are quickly overwhelmed by questions because he knows Vegeta would never say something about it, would he? "When did you find out? How--Was it…‘cause of the messages?”Goten chuffs. “No. No, I knew... before you came back.”Goku’s eyes widen. “You knew this whole time? But you--you weren’t--I don’t--You made me think I--” He stutters through a waterfall of emotions he isn’t even sure he can identify.“Yeah, I just… thought it would be better if I let you tell me yourself rather than… tryna confront you about it.”“But… this whole time! …How!?”“How do you think?” He pauses to keep his father in just another moment of tormented guessing agony. “Vegeta told me.” Goku reels back in shock. “No, he didn’t.”“Yes. He did.”“He wouldn’t. I know he wouldn’t, it-- it was one of the… He wouldn’t.” “But he did! I mean…” Goten shrugs. “...he didn’t exactly use a lot of words, but yeah, he told me.”Goku sits there on the grass devastated and dumbfounded with disbelief.“Honestly even if he hadn’t told me, it was kinda... obvious.” Goten chuffs. “If you heard the way he talked about you, I mean, Kami." Goten notices a tiny smile tugging at the corner of father's mouth. "It wasn't nice. Ever. If that's what you're thinking." Goku's face flushes. That had been exactly what he was thinking or at least hoping.“He never said anything nice about you, if you could get him to say anything at all. It was pretty much limited to 'third class' this, 'idiot' that, 'real Saiyans don't run away' this, 'you need to train harder to beat me, if you want to be the one that gets to kill him' that."Goku’s face breaks into a sad smile. He hasn't changed at all. "And there was just something about the tight clothes and his weird--” Goten gestures in an attempt to mock Vegeta’s mannerisms. "That always set off my gaydar.""Your what?"Goten snorts. You know dad, the sad part here is, I'm not lying. “Nevermind, I dunno. There just comes a point when denial becomes affirmation . " And I really, really should have figured it out sooner. "He was obsessed with hating you, with proving to everyone how much he hated you." Goten shakes his head and mutters, “Talk abouta bad break up.""He doesn't hate me…" Goku frowns and absently threads his finger through the grass. "That's just... how Vegeta is."“What?”"Yeah, he says those things but he doesn't mea--""Wait, has he said those things... to your face?! He called you a 'worthless third class idiot' to your face?" "He doesn't mean it," Goku says quietly."Ha!" Goten claps his hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing. "What do you mean he doesn't mean it?" His father's silent expression tells him everything he needs to know and he sighs, “Y’know, I thought I was doing you a favor by telling you this. I didn't realize he was like that before you left. Are you fuckin' serious? He said that shit to your face and you still slept with him? How could you let someone use you like that?""He wasn't using me. Maybe at first, but I--I was usin' him too." His words are rushed, nervous, and defensive as his face heats with embarrassment. "At first. It wasn’t really like that, we--It’s--it’s complicated.”“You? You think you were using him?” Goten scoffs. “Oh c'mon. You're not that stupid. Are you?"Goku shoots an offended look toward his son. "No. I'm not.""Dad, this 'arrangement' you had with him, or whatever you seem to think it was, I honestly don't know much about it" and please let's keep it that way because I really don't want to know about whatever weird fucked up shit he's gotten you to believe is 'Saiyan custom.' "But I do know that how you feel about him and how he feels about you are two very different things.""No, it's the same. He just… doesn’t show--"Goten exhales and rubs his eyes with his palms. "Oh wow… this is bad. Listen. I am far more experienced than you could ever hope to be on this matter. So trust me when I say he is quite literally using the fuck out you and I guarantee whatever he did or said to make you run away the first time, he will do it again.""He didn't make me run away, I--""You wanna know why he isn't responding to your texts? It's because he doesn't care. Because he's stronger than you now.""He--what? Stronger? What does that have to do with--"Goten snorts. "I’ve heard him talk enough shit about your 'rivalry' to know that whatever that was between you two was rooted in his psychotic obsession with power and obvious inferiority complex and--" Goku stares at him. “I’m saying he’s fuckin' crazy!”“He’s not, he’s just--"Goten sits back on his hands. "Oh my God. How can you keep making excuses for someone who treated you so badly?" Goku doesn't answer. "Like everyone always said you were soft, but Dad you are impossibly forgiving and you don't deserve this. There are plenty of other...." He looks at the bones beside them and smiles. "...fish in the sea who don't want to tear out and eat your intestines while soaking in the entrails of victory that is domination over you when they're having a bad day.""You're making that one up, he never said that.""The point is not what he says! It's-!" Goten's tone softens with pity. "It's that you need to know this isn't right. What are you still holding on to? It's clear he doesn't feel the same way and he’s using this relationship to hurt you."Goku turns his burning red face to the intermittent rippling in the water and stays quiet. He is cautious to reveal the things he feels are private. It isn't like that. More than that, he wants to keep hidden just how little he knows about the inner workings of the relationship he's had for so long. Is it? There has always been doubt of course. There have always been arguments, questions, things he wanted but never got, conditions, rules, breaking points. It had been rough, sometimes violent... but... They were Saiyans. They did it like Saiyans. It is just complicated and he doesn't know how to put what it is in words; the things he feels, the reasons why, the deeper nature of the only other full Saiyan that he couldn’t stand but always understood. He doesn't know how to explain how he knows it isn't like that without telling Goten things he doesn't want to tell him. He's got Vegeta all wrong! Unless… While his father has an internal crisis regarding the nature of his relationship with Vegeta as told by Goten, his son sits there trying to figure out how he could make it any more obvious to this dense, naive man, that Vegeta hates him. Doesn't want him. Certainly didn't care for him. And whatever the two of them still think they had needs to End. So I can pick it up instead. Goten doesn't even have to make anything up! That is the worst part! Vegeta is an absolutely miserable person to be around! Who would want that!? …Wait"Kami, Dad, what has he done to you?""He didn't do anything to me.""Sure, sure he didn't." he rolls his eyes. "Next you're going to tell me he had rules that only applied to you or something, like that the lower cla--"Goten’s words hit a tender nerve and Goku snaps back before he can think. "The rules weren’t only for me! We both broke 'em!" He immediately reels with regret over what he just admitted to someone who should not have heard it.Goten’s mouth drops open at his father who looks mortified. "Ohh no," he says slowly and just a little bit sarcastically. "Dad... what were the rules?""It doesn't matter! That's private!" he rushes out. "And I agreed to them. So it was ok.""Are you sure? 'Cause I'm startin' to think... you'll agree to anything for Vegeta, even if it's not ok.""I--No." His voice falters with shame and pain and humiliation running rampant all over his face.He doesn't need to push that subject any further, it is already clear what type of 'rules' they are. Vegeta SAID there were rules but I really didn't think it was like THAT . "You know, I'm starting to understand why you thought running away might have been the best thing for you. This is so much worse than I thought! He's got you completely wrapped up in this sick fucked up little game of hi--""Wh--No, he's--it wasn't like that! You don't know! You are just assumin' things and--and stop saying I ran away!""What? Of all--You did run away.""I didn't! I always planned on comin' back, it was only supposed to be a few--""Who cares how long you intended to be gone? You left! It doesn’t matter if it's for a day, a week a year, or fifteen.” His voice steadily rises with each word. “You. Left! You. Ran! AWAY!” Goku shies back, surprised by Goten’s anger. "You said you weren't still mad about th-""Yeah? Well! I lied! It hurt every time you left! Every time you weren’t there for us! The amount of time was just insult to injury. Tch! It still hurts! Even though you're back. Especially that you're ba-!" He stops because he didn’t mean to say that. Any of that. Where did that even come from? When did the conversation shift? He is supposed to be the one in control. His head snaps down to hide his emotion wrought face. He runs the fingers of his left hand through his hair and pulls at the roots until there is pain, enough to pull him away from the thoughts he doesn’t want to deal with right now. Or ever."Goten, I’m s--”“Don’t. Say anything,” he exhales shakily and doesn’t look up.Goku’s mouth closes and he looks away.“We're done training for today. Just. Go.”Goku doesn’t move, he’s not sure he should leave, but he didn’t know what else to say, doesn’t know what else to do.“Now!” Goten snaps angrily before quietly adding, “I’ll find my own way home.”Goku nods and decides maybe there is no hope in trying to re-bond with his son because each attempt only seemed to drive a wedge deeper and deeper between them. This was the worst conversation he's ever had with someone and he's had a lot of conversations with Vegeta that resulted in bone cracking fights. Vegeta. He wants-- No, needs --to talk to him. Alone. He wants-- No, needs-- answers. Truth. He looks at his son who’s still running his hands through his hair even though he hates when it is touched. His sons’ ki is distracted, bothered, anxious and Goku feels sort of bad for thinking this is a good time to leave. But taps his index and middle to his forehead anyway and focuses on the other troubling ki that was causing him so much strife because he knows he’ll have at least a few minutes before Goten can catch up to him.Goten feels the energy next to him suddenly disappear. He breathes in relief at first. He felt like he was suffocating with it buzzing right next to him, while he was trying to push the world away. He takes advantage of the uncomfortable solitary silence to regroup his thoughts and check his phone. He taps through the screen and scrolls through the-- Oh my god, how many times did she call me? He flips over to the messages. They range from four in the morning until one minute ago. He starts reading through them, amused by how angry and vague they are until he comes across one with a picture attached. Is that the gravity room control screen? He squints at the picture of a picture. And… me and Vegeta are, no. Wait. My dad and Vegeta are… His heart thumps out of his chest when he realizes what he's looking at. How the fuck did she get this?! No. No, no, no, NO, NO. NO! NO!!! NO!!!! Anyone but her. ANYONE BUT HER! SHE COULDN'T HAVE FOUND OUT! NOT HER! WHAT THE FUCK! He immediately hones in on her energy. Then his rage spikes as he feels his father’s very close by.
That! Motherfucker! And that FUCKING disappearing technique!
Goten shoots up trying his damnedest not to have a mid-air panic attack as he bolts toward Capsule Corporation.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The first thing Goku’s senses are forced to notice is the sweltering heat. The air is thick and hazy and the red lighting makes it feel even hotter. There are error messages all over the screens on the central control panels which have been torn apart, and Goku nearly collapses to the floor from the pressure. His chest almost collapses from the sight of him. He has never seen Vegeta's reputation for self-punishment go this far.He was half-expecting to be pinned to the wall and fucked through it. He was half-expecting to be punched in the face and told to fuck off. And despite those being exactly the things Goten told him aren't what Goku thought they were, he surely would have let either happen for any semblance of reassurance it would have given him that Vegeta is exactly who Goku knows him to be. He was prepared for the inevitable fight, fuck, argument or whatever he wants at this point! it would take to get him out here. But this? He was not prepared for this.Vegeta is laying in a heap on the ground, crumpled in on himself. He is thinner than usual, paler than usual, unconscious, bleeding, broken, and bruised. It finally occurs to Goku that waiting for Vegeta to break like he usually does might have been a mistake this time because maybe things are different after all, maybe things have changed. But how was I supposed to know that?! He can't seem to make sense of what’s going on. He doesn't understand why everything is suddenly so much more complicated. It was already bad enough before I left!!! He kneels, presses his hand to Vegeta's shoulder and focuses on the nearest ki he hopes he can trust. *** She's almost got it. She has given up on ruining Goten's day for the time being in order to devote all of her attention to getting her father the fuck out of his hell hole. She has run another successful command and is about to call her brother to wake him up and tell him to get his ass down to the labs, but before she dials she notices something on the screen."What the…" She squints at the new figure who has just appeared in the gravity room. "How did he--" Then she is shrieking so loud it pierces Goku’s eardrums and scrambling back against the desk, knocking papers and a keyboard onto the floor because he is suddenly right behind her kneeling on the floor with her very unwell father.She continues screaming unintelligible expletives until finally finding the wherewithal to tell Goku he has three seconds to give her a reason not to fire the ki pooling in her hand."Sorry. Sorry! Bra, wait. Wait, don’t--Bra, shhhh! Stop screamin’! Calm--it's ok. Help--Help me! Please!" He gestures to Vegeta and picks him up. She supposes that's a good enough reason for now and lets the crackling light dissipate."Fuck, okay, I--You are not the idiot I expected to see today,” she mutters.“What?”“Nothing!” Her suspicious narrowed eyes don't leave him as she feels for the keyboard and puts it back up on the desk. But I can work with this. "I think we have a makeshift med-bay somewhere around here…" She motions for him to follow her and starts down the maze of hallways. She keeps turning back to make sure he stays fast on her heels as she leads him away from the main lab toward a room that Vegeta hasn't trained himself into in a long time. It is a bit dusty now, but it is adequate. She clears the bed off for Goku to set him down and begins rooting through drawers for gauze and bandages.He watches her frantic search. "Don’t you have any Senzu beans?""No!" she snaps. "This is a house of science! We do not grow magic beans! " She pauses her search and turns to face him. "So, maybe, if you know where some are then you should make yourself useful and go get them!" She doesn't expect him to take her up on her suggestion. She expects some kind of response, an excuse as to why he doesn't have any. Instead he looks around rather sheepishly, does something stupid looking with his hand and disappears. Right before her eyes. He is gone as quickly as he came. She blinks and then looks at the bed to make sure she didn’t imagine everything, but her father is still lying there with his ragged breathing looking miserable."What.... the... fuck… He better come back, because boy, do I have questions now.” She eventually finds enough material to begin wrapping the worst of the lacerations, which have already mostly stopped bleeding on their own. She scrambles through the rest of the supplies to at least get the basics underway. She nearly knocks over the flimsy stand she is struggling to hang an IV bag from when Goku suddenly reappears.The look she shoots him strongly encourages him to take a few steps back, so he does. Until he realizes what she’s doing and abruptly reaches his hand to hers and halts her.It takes all over her self restraint to not tear his head off right then and there. "What. Are you doing?" she hisses through her teeth."That's a n--it's a needle? He doesn't--Why would he need that? He doesn’t need--""It's for an IV you-! He's probably dehydrated!""But--""Goku.” She forces a smile and drops it just as quickly. “I swear on the dragon balls themselves, if you don't remove your hand from my wrist right now there will never be enough wishes to undo what I will do to you."He lets go and holds out his other hand. "I brought a Senzu bea--" She snatches the tiny green bean from him before he can finish."Fantastic!" She drops the needle and abandons her amateur attempts to play doctor. "Now start explaining."He shifts awkwardly for a moment waiting for her to do something with the bean and regrets letting her take it from him. "Explain what? Shouldn't you--""Not yet!" She shoves a hand against his chest and pushes him back from the bed toward the door. "While he's still knocked out, YOU are going to EXPLAIN! What are you doing here!? And how did you even GET here!? What the fuck was that magic disappearing bullshit you just pulled?” "I--I--" He lets her back him into a table. "It’s called instant transmission and I thought everyone knew I could do that! I’ve been able to do it for a long time! It’s, um, how I left, and--and got back." Instant? Really? ...Interesting. “No! Not everyone knows! My brother and I have been working for damn near DAYS trying to shut that stupid thing off so we could get him out! Ah! I knew there was an easy way out! There always is... GOKU!"To say she frightens him would be an understatement. This is much different than her first impression and he now understands completely why Goten described her the way he did. Maybe... he's not lying about everything. "But you didn’t answer my first question! Why are you here? Hm? Why suddenly so interested in my father?" Because obviously you weren’t six months ago. “Why did you teleport to him? Why now?! What the HELL are you doing here?!”His panicked mind reaches for the most readily available answer it can come up with that won't give him and Vegeta away, a default answer. "I... I wanted to--to spar.""You wanted to... what?!" She shakes her head in disbelief."Spar," he offers meekly.Her whole head rolls along with her cold blue eyes. "A spar. You came over to spar with him.” He nods. “Without any kind of warning or anything. Haven’t seen each other in who knows how long and you just appeared out of thin air while my father happened to be unconscious to spar . Do I have that right?" She backs off and gives him a little room to reconsider the lunacy of his answer. The silence hangs in the air. "Well?""I-" He nervously reaches back to rub his neck. He's not sure how to explain what he came here for. He was just responding to Vegeta's obvious distress like he has a thousand times before. Responding to his own, looking for reasons to prove his son wrong. Why is she making it seem like a bad thing I pulled him out of there? "I--I don't know. I used to just show up sometimes. We used to train together all the time before I--I didn't know he'd be.... I just… knew something didn’t feel right and…" He has trouble keeping her unceasing gaze as his voice drops off into a mumble then into silence. His hand twitches and she takes a step forward to keep him in arms distance in case he tries to disappear on her again."Well, you sure picked a convenient moment to show up, didn’t you? Waiting until he's trained himself half to death to dig up your old rivalry. Came to finish the job? Is that it?""What?! No! It's not--I'm not-! Why would I--I don't want to hurt him! I just wanted to--" He tries to keep himself from saying something he shouldn't. The echoes of his earlier conversation are still rolling around his head, bothering him, reminding him. And she still hasn't given Vegeta the Senzu yet! What is wrong with her?! "Oh, Goku, I don't know WHAT you want to do. But I do know that I don't like the way you just teleport into my house like you own the place and harass my father when he’s-""It's called instant transmission," he mutters as his eyes keep flicking away towards the bed and there is nothing about his body language reassuring her."Oh. My god." She inhales with fiery irritation. "You might have everyone else fooled into thinking you’re some hapless idiot but I see right fucking through you. You don’t get to play the I’m-Just-A-Big-Dumb-Idiot card with me Goku. YOU!” She points at him. “Are definitely not here for 'sparring' or whatever it is that you do for 15 years when no one is looking. So please, one more try. Tell me, why the fuck are you here? And if you lie to me again, I swear on my mother’s grave you will never leave this compound. Instant transwhatever or otherwise."That gets his attention. She sounds just like her mother. And given her unusual inventions he doesn't doubt her ability to also be able to follow through on everything she promises. "His ki, it... it's been off for days. I could sense it and… I dunno I was just worried and I... I wanted to talk to him,” he admits quietly. He doesn't know why but it makes him feel guilty. Maybe he should have come sooner, maybe he shouldn't have come at all. Why is this so hard? “ Talk to him? My father does not talk about things.” She steps up to him and keeps her eyes locked on his and she wonders if that disappearing technique is ki based. “So what could you have possibly come here to talk about?” “It’s--” He steps back but she follows. “N-nothin-”“Don’t. Lie. To me. Tell me. Why you’re here.”“I was just worried!” He says quickly. "You were worried. You were worried? What, worried he might kill himself before you had the chance to do it yourself? Worried you weren't causing him enough pain? Hm?" "No! I would never do that! I would never--What kinda person do ya think I am?!""I don’t know! I don't know you! I help you and your dumb son one time and suddenly you think that gives you free access to my house?!" She waves her hands in his face condescendingly and he reaches for the one with the bean in it. He has her nearly pushed up against a wall in his attempt. He towers over her and he knows he's stronger than her. She's the weakest of their kids, he can feel it, he could easily overpower her if he needs to and he is quickly running out of options. He flares his ki and she glares up at him holding the Senzu behind her back and This isn’t right! I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to hurt him! I don’t want to hurt anyone! Bra feels the flash of ki. But senses that he is still on the defensive as a peculiar tint of anxious hesitation flashes through his eyes. She suddenly has the distinct feeling he doesn’t have it in him to follow through and she decides to call his bluff. "What the hell are you trying to do now? Trying to scare me? Trying to hit him where it hurts?" She waves her hand in his face aggressively. He doesn’t flinch but he doesn’t change stance either."No, he needs-""He needs this, huh?! Is this even a real fucking Senzu?! I didn't see where you go it!" She badgers him."Of course it's REAL! Why would I--""What the hell do you want? Why are you here?! What game are you playing at Goku?!” She raises her voice and pushes him back and he lets her, and she can’t believe she’s able to bully the ‘Legendary Super Saiyan’ this easily. This tactic would never work on any other Saiyan. She knows, because she’s tried. “I will not let you stomp around here in MY HOUSE trying to goad my father into some stupid fight when he's fucked up like this!”“I’m not trying to fight--”“I KNOW you’re not here to spar . So what the hell do you want?! Huh?!”He doesn’t want to talk about this with his son and certainly not with Vegeta's daughter, the products of other relationships that made this one so darn impossible! But she is stubborn and unrelenting and he has a feeling she always gets what she wants one way or another. She reminds him so much of Bulma and he can’t help but remember how miserable everything was after she found out. And he still never said sorry to her or talked to her before she passed and now she is never coming back and instead he is forced to reckon with her frightening little girl who has just enough Vegeta in her to make everything worse. His feet begin to take faltering steps backward. His breathing is heavy, getting heavier; his chest feels tight, feeling tighter with every accusation, every demand for answers she throws at him. She won’t let up and he doesn’t understand why it’s any of her business and now there is something in the back of his throat that he can't swallow down. This was never what he expected to come back to and suddenly how much everything has changed is hitting him full force. It was just supposed to be a little while! I never should have left! Why is everyone so different? Why is this so hard? Why am I so bad at this? I never should have left! I thought he would tell me. I never should have left! I thought he would tell me and then I saw him in there... and he looked--I should have just kept kissing him that day… I never should have left! but Goten! He said--but that can’t be true! And I NEVER SHOULD HAVE-- “AaaaAAAAHHHhh!!! I’M SORRY!" He sinks to the floor as it all comes pouring out of him, hot tears already streaming down his face. "I didn’t mean for this to happen! I’m sorry. I’m so-” He is almost whispering now. “I just wanted to talk to him about…” Vegeta told his son, so who cared if he told Vegeta’s daughter? Maybe everyone at Capsule Corporation knows. “About us. ...Because now I’m back--” He sobs. “And it’s worse! I didn’t think… it could get any worse!” A painful laugh escapes him. “And I just… really need to talk to him about… about what the heck is going on and… and I shouldn’t have waited so long, but he usually comes to me when… when we need to…” His head drops into his palm. “...talk. About us.”There is a long pause. Well. That wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. I didn’t even have to get you in my lab! “You… wanted to talk to my father about…” She gestures whimsically to Goku and her father. “‘Us?’”He nods.“Us… as in like, a relationship ‘us?’”He nods and presses his forehead to his palms to stifle his choked sobbing breathing. She could scream, throw her tantrum. She could even try to hit him. He will just disappear. Maybe this time forever.But Bra says nothing. She only looks at him curiously. She pulls his face into her fingers and tilts it up so his eyes are forced to meet hers. She rocks his head this way and that while she debates her opinions of him. He tries to pull his face from her grip but her nails dig in ever so slightly and squeeze his cheeks. He could break her grip but he doesn't, too overwhelmed by his own confusing emotions to respond much to hers. “But you rejected him. Didn’t you? Right when you came back?”Goku’s brows furrow and his expression tightens. “What? No. I told him--Wait, how do you know that? I never--”“Goku.” She grins and leans in almost nose to nose. “I know fucking everything. Just answer my questions.”And well, if that wasn’t the most unsettling expression he’d ever seen on someone so close to his face. He gulps. “Yes, er--but not really. I jus’ told him that I wasn’t… really ready to… to be together.”“Why. You both have obviously been waiting a long fucking time, Goku.”“I--I know, but… I just got back. And everything was… was crazy, I didn’t really know what was going on, I--I still don’t. And I had just found out it was him who hurt Goten. So it didn’t seem right to--”“Why did he fuck Goten's face up?”"I thought you knew every--" Her nails dig a little deeper and her keen eyes dare him to finish that sentence. “...I don’t know why he did that to Goten.” His eyes downcast to the floor. “Neither one will tell me.”She stares long and hard at his watery expression and decides... it's sincere. This is not the behavior of someone intending harm. In fact, it is almost... cute, in a desperate pathetic sort of way, him getting all worked up into hysterics. That's supposed to be my job. I guess you are worried about my papa. But it makes this a little more difficult to figure out. Now, she's not so sure what to make of him and she thinks maybe he and her father do have some things they needed to talk about. He seems harmless enough. He did get my father out of there after all... "Stop crying. It's gross." She squeezes his face."Ok." He struggles to utter between compressed features. She lets him go and gives him an inquisitive look as she crosses her arms. Silence hangs between them as she debates whether or not to trust him. But now that they have both stopped yelling, arguing, crying she finally hears the quiet tone coming from her back pocket and pulls out her phone. “Hmm, I might have agreed, but for now, you’re going to have to postpone your ‘talk.'" "Wh--why?"She smirks at Goku and shows him her phone. They look down at the screen between them and see the number calling her marked as, ‘TenTen <3 <3 <3'Goku's eyes widen and his face pales. He grabs the phone from her and presses on it a few times with rushed uncoordinated taps."Wha-! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" She shrieks. "Don't touch my things!" She rips it back from his fingers and sees the call has been canceled. "What the HELL?!"His hand finds the back of his neck and rubs with more pressure than usual as he realizes that the game is up and Goten is moving very quickly in this direction. He only has a few minutes. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I have to go. I don’t know if he’ll follow me or--or not, but you can’t let him come here, Bra. You can’t let him talk to Vegeta."Bra cocks her head. "Why not?"He looks quickly at Vegeta and stutters but no words come out. It begins to click inside Bra's head what's going on here. Her hands find her hips and she smiles darkly at him . "Goku. What is going on?” “I… don’t know,” he answers honestly. “But it’s not… good.”She pouts at him as her phone starts ringing again. "Ok. Fine. Here's what we can do to try and get the best of both worlds." She purses her lips. "How will he react when he sees you?" She gestures to her father.He shrugs. "Annoyed? He might punch me in the face. But I’m not here for a fight, I promise. That’s just how we say hello sometimes."“Saiyans.” She snorts. "No catastrophic meltdowns, are you sure?" He shrugs again and she huffs in thought. "Okay, well, I have to wake up Trunks and finish shutting down the gravity chamber. Otherwise, boom! There goes Capsule Corporation! And no one wants that. SO! You have until I reach his room to figure out a better time and place for your talk ." She holds her hand out and offers him the senzu bean. "And I will make sure Goten doesn’t come anywhere near here, or him until that talk happens. Okay?" She shakes her open palm at him. "Well? Do you want to kiss and make up or what?"His cheeks flushed at her suggestion... What a strange girl. He doesn't really understand why she's suddenly so helpful, no one else is happy about him and Vegeta. Not even me and Vegeta! He's not sure if he should trust her but at the same time, it's the only chance he has so he takes it. He nods and she walks swiftly towards the door, phone in hand, but before she exits gives him a final warning:"Oh, but Goku... if you try anything stupid? I don’t care how far you think you can teleport, or how fast. There is nowhere you can go where I won’t find you, and when I do I will send you to a worse place than hell." He nods and smiles at her with a twist of confusion at what could be worse than hell.She takes her time on her way up to Trunk's room. The chamber probably won't really explode. Not unless it is blown open--although it might give Trunks a heart attack when he sees the energy bill this month--so she pauses in the hallway and pulls out her phone which has been buzzing off the hook in her pocket for the last few minutes and answers it. "Well, well, well if it isn't the devil himself." She giggles.At first there's just wind, then: "BRA, OH THANK--WE NEED TO TALK RIGHT FUCKIN' NOW!""Ew, Ten. Why are you yelling at me? You know I won't talk to you if you're mean to me." "AHH! Bra, you fucking--SHIT! I almost hit a fucking plane! My dad! My dad is at Capsule Corporation right now, don’t--DON’T LET HIM NEAR VEGETA!"“Why not?”“BECAUSE--I’m on my way! I’m just--until I get there, make sure they’re not--”“Oh, would you look at that.” She idly inspects her nails without concern. “I think he’s already leaving.”“What?! WHAT?! Wh-Bra! What the FUCK is going on right now?!”"Hmm, I'm hungry, meet me somewhere and we can talk about it, Ok?""What? Where?! I'm already halfway! F--""Don't care. I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday and that is NOT good for my metabolism. I'll let you pick the place. I still need to clean up before I get out of here, uhg, I look like a disaster.""What the fuck? No!”“Well, I guess I’ll just go tell Trunks all about what I found in the gravity room archives and--”Goten yells into the phone out of frustration. “NO! NO! Don’t do that! Don’t tell Trunks!”“Then go find a fucking noodle place and wait ,” she threatens.“I’m not talking about this shit in publi--” "Oooh yes, you bet your temperamental ass we are. You've got another thing coming if you think you're running over here yelling and crying about your issues ." Already dealt with one of those today. “But I--” And with that she hangs up. *** Goku waits until he feels Bra leave the labs before looking over Vegeta's ragged appearance. He sighs sadly before taking the senzu, crushing it, and pressing it into his slightly open mouth. It takes a moment before his body's natural responses begin to take over but sure enough the bruises soften, the cuts close, and the burns fade. Goku lets go of a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and places his hand on the side of Vegeta's face as his eyes begin to flutter open.The grip that finds Goku's wrist is excruciating and unforgiving. His hand is wrenched away and Goku is suddenly face to face with wrath incarnate.“Goten!? What the fuck do you think you’re--”"What? No, no, Vegeta. It’s me. It’s me. "Vegeta stares at him for several long painful moments before realizing he is telling the truth. He looks around briefly, confused and angry. The first thing he forces himself to do is feel out the kis in the building. He visibly relaxes when he confirms the absence of one in particular."Vegeta..." he says with tear streaks still on his face.Vegeta’s expression softens at the sight, and as soon as Goku sees the smallest trace of anger begin to dissipate he leans into Vegeta and wraps his arms around him forcing Vegeta back onto the bed. "Vegeta, I--" His throat is tight with emotion. "Why do you do this? Why do you keep doing this?"They're laying uncomfortably but together while Goku runs his nose and cheeks along Vegeta's neck before pressing his mouth to his face. He doesn't care where he just knows he has to feel him against him. It doesn't last long before Goku feels himself being pushed away."Kakarot. Kakarot, stop, what are you doing? Where are we?"He tries, fruitlessly, to pull Vegeta back against him. "I didn't mean--I thought you would--I didn't know--I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"He sits up as the hazy memories of tearing up the Gravity chamber are starting to come back to him, and everything else too."Stop apologizing, idiot. It's not your fault," he grumbles while turning away from Goku's mouth."What?""I said it's not your fault. It was never your fault... What are you doing here? Bra and Trunks are here, you can't--" He is silenced by a sloppy kiss as Goku pulls him back down."I know, I know I can't stay," he whispers quickly. "But I need to talk to you, I have to--""Ok." Vegeta stares at the emotional wreck shifting all over him with furrowed brows trying to figure out if he's dreaming or not, because this isn't what he expected to wake up to. Ever. "Kakarot, Ok!" He finally manages to push Goku up and off of him and now they're both sitting up. It's not that it isn't nice, but he is STARVING, very disoriented by the sudden barrage of Kakarot's unwarranted affection, and still not quite sure where he is, although he thinks he's in the labs somewhere. He needs a moment to figure out what the fuck is going on. "Tonight... I'll come find you. Once everyone is asleep. Just, leave me be for a minute. And don’t let my kids see you."Relief washes over Goku's face and he nods while pressing their mouths together one last time before Vegeta can stop him, this time with tongue, and then he disappears still licking his lips. Vegeta rolls his eyes and scowls. Great. Now I'm hungry AND hard.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
By the time she's off the phone, Goku is gone and her father is moving away from the labs with--as far as she can tell--a normal ki signature. This alleviates a great deal of stress on her end because while she never makes an empty threat, she osn't exactly prepared to keep someone with Goku’s unique abilities knocked out and locked up somewhere for an extended period of time. That requires
resources
and
time
she just doesn't have right now.
On the fifty seventh knock, Trunks finally answers through the door. His voice is muddled and fuzzy at first but wakes right up when she tells him (
part of
) what happened. Hardly ten seconds later he's hurriedly dressed in yesterday's clothes and in front of her bombarding her with questions.
"No, Trunks, he's not here anymore, he just disappeared! Which seems to be his only talent at the moment."
"What the--he left?! You let him leave!? Where did he go?!"
"Well it's not like I expected him to! He just disappeared! To who the fuck knows where! And ANYWHO why didn't you tell me he could do that? We could have had dad out of there days ago."
"I don't know. I... I hardly ever saw him do it, I haven't--I was so... I was so stressed about the whole thing-"
"Whatever, I get it. Your sad little human feelings took over and you forgot the mysterious Goku's creepy fucking abilities, great. Well, lucky for us he has perfect timing. While we're at it, is there anything else weird he can do that I should know about?"
"I don't... think so?"
"For his sake, I hope not."
He shakes his head and ignores her. "So... what? He just showed up, got Dad out then left?"
"Yeah, pretty much." She shrugs.
"Why? How did he know?"
"No idea, he was super weird about the whole thing."
"Weird how?"
"Weird in that, he's like, the ugliest crier ever. But still super cute? I don't know how he does it. He's weird."
"Ugly--what? Bra, the fuck did you do?"
"Um, he just showed up in our house unnanounced with Dad and so, obviously I very politely asked him what he was doing here. Don't blame me for his psychological distress. He's clearly very sensitive."
Trunks sighs. "Well, is dad Ok? How is he?"
"Goku had one of those magic bean things on him. So yeah, he's fine, awake, probably wandering around trying to figure out what to do with his life since he can't train to death."
"Alright, I guess... I'll talk to him or... something. Fuck. Fuck! We have to finish working on the chamber, don't we?"
"Yeah, no... about that. So, I have a date... Which means you have to finish on your own. But don't worry I was aaalllmost done, probably just a few hours left of coding and you'll be able to shut it down." She pats his cheek. "You'll be fine."
"Wh--are you serious?! A fuckin' date?! It's like eight in the morning! On a weekday! What?! Cancel it! I'm pretty sure this is more important!"
"Yeah, no." She flips her hair. "I'm pretty sure it's not. I need to get ready because he's not going to wait up. He's--" She laughs playfully, "A little psycho. But nothing I can't handle. Don't worry."
He deadpans at her. "The only people I worry about are those who agree to spend time with you."
"Okay, rude. Anyway, Dad is out of the imminent peril until his next breakdown. So maybe you can ask him what all those squiggles in the margins of Mom's notes are and finish in like thirty minutes."
"I have a fucking company to run! I need your help! B, what the fuck!"
"You're the boss, take a day off! Probably wouldn't kill you!" She turns away and begins to walk down the hall.
He groans and rubs a palm against one of his eyes in frustration. "I've already had to take--uhhg, why do you have to make everything so difficult when you come home!"
"Me? I didn't lock myself in the hell chamber. Take up your complaints with him," she says, disappearing around a corner. She has a full schedule after all. She has things to do, people to see, idiots to interrogate, important research to conduct like,
Do they both ugly cry? Because they have the same face but how can I know? Unless I make them both cry!
She grins the whole way to her room.
Trunks grumbles something about how maybe she
should
be the one locked in the hell chamber as he winds his way through the compound. He stops at the kitchen and lets out a long exhale as he looks at his father who is quickly making his way through the mountain of food in front of him. "Feeling better?"
Vegeta doesn't look up or acknowledge him and instead keeps eating, which his son safely assumes is an answer in the affirmative. Trunks leans against the door frame and looks around the room. "The gravity room is still locked and running."
Vegeta still doesn't say anything and Trunks' hungover mind comes up with a few choice words for his aloof and deeply troubled father. "I could use your help shutting it down. ...If that's even possible," he mutters the last part under his breath.
Vegeta nods without showing any signs of stopping his meal.
"Like... now. Unless you don't mind half the building getting blown up."
Vegeta grimaces at his son as much as he can with stuffed cheeks and swallows. "Where is your sister? Why isn't she helping you?"
"Apparently, her DATE is more IMPORTANT than CAPSULE CORP!" he says turning back towards the compound, loud enough to try and get within her hearing range.
A distant muffled, "SHUT UP, TRUNKS, YOU'RE STUPID," echoes back and Trunks shrugs at his father. "I don't know what her deal is."
Or yours. Or Goten's for that matter, it's like you're all losing your fucking minds lately.
"She says she got pretty close to disabling it though before... I guess... Kakarot? Goku? Goten's dad showed up..." He barely resists the temptation to pressure him with questions. The resulting argument, his father cursing in some alien language, and storming off somewhere he could handle. Working on the machine alone, however when he has other obligations, not so much. So he bites his tongue.
Vegeta's eye twitches because Trunks just inadvertently informed him that Bra
saw
Kakarot and he knows that probably isn't a good thing. Even Vegeta is aware of his daughter's unsettling reputation and now he's wondering if Kakarot had been crying before or after he walked into the labs.
What the fuck did she say to him? …What the fuck did he say to her?!
His head swims with questions and confusion about the whole situation and he regrets damaging the machine so badly because he just wants to forget everything and punch something until his knuckles are raw. He doesn't want to think about any of this but here he is letting it all coming back in waves to torment him.
Goddamn it Kakarot, I was in there for a fucking reason!
He is still far from ready to deal with
Goten, that disgusting fucking--
He struggles to stay focused on his murderous rage as it quickly gives way to nausea. Goten's words flash through his mind along with deeply frustrating emotions he doesn't have the energy or willpower to process. He has to stop eating and will his food to stay down while his mind attempts to purge the thoughts.
"Dad, are you ok?"
Vegeta comes back to reality with a distorted version of his usual scowl. He had been burying his face between his hands as his fingers gripped at the roots of his hair. He lets go and looks down at the cracks in the table where his elbows had been resting. He decides not to acknowledge it, presses his hands to the table and stands up with a grunt. He picks up several plates and walks past his son. "Let's go, I don't want to be there all day."
Trunks sighs dejectedly and follows behind food encumbered father to the labs.
***
In record time Bra has put the last of her mascara on and quickly double-checked her figure in a full length mirror to ensure that she is date material.
Uhg, Of course I am. I'm Saiyan. I don't even have to try.
She frowns because she
likes
trying.
She follows Goten's slightly flared ki to a noodle shop in a less than reputable area of town. She knows it is too much to expect him to pick a half-decent place but still, she'd been hoping for a better place than this dump. She finds him sitting at a more secluded table in the dirty, empty shop with a dirty, empty bowl next to him and a cold half-eaten bowl in front of him tapping his chopsticks anxiously.
He turns as she enters and his expression drops with annoyance and disbelief as soon as he sees what she is wearing. "Can you go anywhere without dressing like a whore?"
She takes it as a compliment because she has learned over the years the nastier his comment, the better she looks. "Oh, Ten, please. Try to restrain yourself. We're in public." She flips her hair as she sits down across from him then signals to the only waiter for five bowls of whatever Goten's eating and he dashes off with a smile. "We might just keep this place in business another week."
He bares his teeth in an unfriendly grin. "Wouldn't that be nice? Maybe I'll come here again to celebrate the anniversary of your inevitable death by my hands."
"Oh stop, you're making me blush." She waves him off but he doesn't lighten up. "Look, Goten, for once I'm not your enemy. I can help you! We can work together on this because clearly you are too incompetent to handle it on your own."
He scoffs. "Help me what? I came here to-" He grins even though he is furious. "Correct some information you clearly misinterpret--"
"Oh my god, getting them together! Duh!"
"What?! You think I
want
them to--What is wrong with you!? No! NO! That is exactly what I'm trying prevent!"
"I--" Well, that explains Goku's outburst a little better... A lot better. "You are?"
"YES! What the fuck?!"
"I don't know." She shrugs, "I thought if anyone wasn't going to care if our dads were fucking, it would be you."
He scoffs with a bitter smile. "No. Now give me. Your phone." He grounds out the words between his teeth and extends his hand towards her. "So I can delete all that shit."
She chuckles devilishly. "I don't think so." He reaches for it but she pulls it back before he can get it. "What are you going to do? Smash it to pieces? It's not like everything on there isn't already backed up somewhere you can't get to."
His eyes snap towards the empty restaurant, but he thinks better of being reckless for now. He settles for glaring at her while digging one of the plastic chopsticks into the table until it cracks and falls apart between his fingers. She watches with a smirk, grabs a set off another table and hands it to him.
He snatches them from her. "What the fuck do you think you're gonna do with it? Blackmail my father for sexual favors, you fucking deviant?"
"Ooh, I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for the idea."
His nose crinkles in disgust. "I don't think you'd have much success."
"Oh no? Why's that? He more interested in a certain Prince Charming?"
Yes.
"No, Bra. He's not! He's fucking married!"
She clicks her tongue. "Like that ever matters."
"What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"What is wrong with YOU, Ten? My father is quite possibly the Galaxy's loneliest creature. He could totally use to get out of the house more often. A love life would probably do him wonders. And I think it'd be extra cute with the whole enemies turned lovers thing they have going on." She smiles flirtatiously at Goten.
"You think. It'd be
cute
."
"Literally, our family drama is the only thing that gives me any joy when I come home."
"Cute. Family. Drama. That's what this is to you."
"Mmhm." She nods with big eyes. "So tell me, Ten, how's your parent's relationship? We can totally make this work. Matchmaking is like, totally my new thing."
"What?! No! This is not happening! Or did you not watch the whole footage? My father's not interested. Tch! Obviously! Who fuckin' would be? It's Vegeta."
"Are you
sure
?"
Because that is definitely not the impression I got this morning!
"Just tell me what you're planning to do so I can stop you before you start."
"What am
I
going to do? I only just found out! I think the real question is what have
you
been doing?" She smirks at him.
And... why?
"What have I--!? I haven't been
doing
anything!"
Unfortunately.
"Except tryin' to keep Vegeta--" He laughs in an awkward attempt to mask his anger. "--the fuck away from my dad because he's clearly got some sick obsession with him and--"
"Oohkay, no, I'm going to stop you right there. One, it was your dad who just showed up randomly to beat the shit out of mine in the Gravity Room before their spontaneous make out session. Two," She holds up two fingers. "I'm pretty sure my father hasn't left the compound in weeks. So, where you're getting the deeply misled idea that
my
father is the one running around harassing people is beyond me."
He rolls his eyes. "They did not 'make out.'"
"Superfluous details, Ten! My point is, the problem is not my father. I mean he has problems, yes but if someone is going around trying to fuck shit up it's not him and." She smirks, "Well, let's just say I have my suspicions about who it really is." She narrows her eyes at him.
He leans in with his teeth bared in a silent snarl. "I haven’t done
anything
."
"Maybe. But I'm just going to keep believing it until I'm proven otherwise."
"Believing what?! What could you think is possibly going on here?" he growls. "Your dad made some awkward pass at mine when he came back! And was rejected!"
"And?"
"And what? That's it!"
"Oh come on, you knew for months and never said anything?"
"Yeah! I told my dad to stay away from Vegeta!"
"So you have talked about it?" she reaffirms curiously. "He knows you know."
"I--" He leans back and crosses his arms realizing he'd just walked right into her trap. "Yes. We talked about it because he thinks I'm the local expert on all things gay."
"Well, he's not wrong. What else did you say? I imagine since you are also the local loveless sex expert, you just had SO much insightful advice."
He rolls his eyes and lets out an annoyed sigh. "Bra. My dad is married! He has a wife and family! The fuck do you think I said?"
"Really. Family. I'm supposed to believe that you, Goten, the guy who HATES his family, lectured his estranged father who disappeared for fifteen years on the importance of
family
."
He lets out a frustrated growl, "YES. I DON--I don't
hate
them."
"Trunks is more of a brother to you than Gohan ever was."
"N--yes, ok, that doesn't matter. Look. Whatever you think you saw, whatever you think is going on between them. It's not! There is nothing going on!"
"Right." She clicks her tongue, "That explains why everything has been in constant chaos since Goku mysteriously returned; why there have been fights between him and my father, between you and my father; why you moved out, not to mention other egregious crimes like THEFT. I'm not going to forget that by the way. Must also be why my dear old dad locked himself in the gravity chamber for the last four days and tore the thing apart
.
Yeah Ten. Obviously everything is fucking dandy. That
must
be why you rushed off here so quickly acting so, hmph, grumpy." She mocks his expression with her head in her hand and pouting lips. "Because
nothing
is going on."
"I rushed here because I knew you'd try to fucking involve yourself in this!" Goten spits venomously leaning across the table, "Even though it's not your--Wait, he what?"
"Oh, you didn't know? Yeah 800 gravity, it was 142 degrees in there. All the safety overrides completely fucked over. He almost fucking killed himself." She watches his eyes widen and debates whether or not to take his shocked expression at face value.
How can no one seem to know why this happened?
"No, I didn't know that." His brow folds down.
That's...what the hell Vegeta? This is severe even for you. I thought we'd made such good progress.
She studies him closely trying to get a read on whether or not he's telling the truth. Her nails click on the table as she thinks about how to draw a little more out of him. "Strange that you didn't know... Goku seemed to know."
He cocks his head. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"If it wasn’t for Goku, my father would still be in that deathtrap."
Goten’s brows furrow. “Did he say anything?”
“Not really. He just pulled him out, cried, and…” She gestures to the window. Left.”
“Are you sure? Were you there the whole time? What about while they were in the gravity room? Bra, you have to go in and--”
"Uhg, Ten, we're in public, keep your voice down."
Ok, check that off, at least you two aren't coordinating something with each other. And whatever it is you think you're doing is having... unintended consequences...
"The place is fucking EMPTY." He can nearly feel the steam rushing out of his ears from his boiling blood as he settles back into his chair. "So tell me WHAT! HAPPENED! WHEN WAS HE THERE?"
"Mm. Ok, I'll give you information if you give me some."
"I don't-! Have time-" he barely resists slamming his hands down on the table. He manages instead to curl them into tight shaking fists and set them down without a sound. "For your bullshit. I've told you what's going on. Nothing." His voice is low and has an edge to it she's never had the pleasure of hearing. "So tell me--"
"Oh my God. It’s not even that big a deal. They kissed. Maybe they used to fuck. Who cares. Why the hell are you so bent up about this? What the hell do you know that I don’t?"
He speaks through his teeth. "I don’t!"
"Uh, okay, so then why~ would my father do what he did to you? I mean really Ten," She flips through her phone for the picture. "He put the work in on your face." She turns the screen so he can see it. "Clearly you know something you shouldn't."
"Fuck you." He snaps. "That has nothing to do with--"
She snorts. "If it's any consolation, you're basically back to your super hot depressed looking self." She says looking at the picture of his battered face. “Hm. Almost.”
His brows fold, his mouth opens but he can't find the words to respond.
"Your nose is still like, a little crooked but yeah, it's almost like it never even happened. Literally the only way to tell you and your dad apart is your hair." She giggles. "Which totally works for you by the--"
She had only been trying to keep the mood light. Teasing him as she always did. She didn't realize how sensitive he is about this. He usually cowers around her. She fails to realize that is not because he is afraid of
her.
So when his arm whips across the table clearing it of everything, shattering the two bowls against the wall, she startles.
He grips her forearm and pulls her forward. "Listen, cunt." He points a glowing palm at her face and leans in taking full advantage of her mistake in letting him choose the place. "Tell me what the fuck he was doing there or I will fuckin' show you what it's like to have
the work
put in on your face."
His tendency towards unceasing eye contact usually doesn't get to her; she finds those dark eyes quite enamoring most days, but intimidation is rolling off him in waves and he is
far
better at it than his father. She remains still, her smile gone, and glances toward the other empty tables. He is not Goku. He is not
soft.
And he is definitely not forgiving. He might even be a worse grudge holder than her own father. And it is only now that she finally realizes she might have stepped into something dangerous.
"It’s like I said. He was there for less than a minute.” She says coolly. "He said nothing."
His grip tightens and his eyes flash blue. She feels the air crackle and his hair statics but doesn't turn gold. "Nothing?" he says with acidic doubt.
"He showed up, got my unconscious father out of the Gravity room. And then he left without a word."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"Not a word?"
"Not a word," she reassures. "Why do you think I'm here asking you about this? I didn’t even have a
chance
to ask him."
Goten smirks because he can smell the shift in emotion on her.
She's afraid
. She's never been afraid of him before,
but papa isn't here to protect you now is he?
He trusts, incorrectly, that fear is enough to drive her to tell the truth. The ki in his hand is close enough to singe the edges of her hair and gives him a good look at how much make up she cakes on to try and hide those sharp Saiyan features of hers.
"If he shows up at the compound again. You don't let him talk to Vegeta. You don't let him near Vegeta. You find out what he's doing there and you tell me. Immediately. Got it?"
She nods.
Not a chance in hell.
"And you don't talk to
anyone
about whatever the fuck it is you think is going on between them."
She nods again.
His confident, threatening demeanor doesn't break until five bowls, precariously balanced on the slim waiter's arms, are set down between them. Goten lets the light flicker out and sits back still staring at her but with less hostile intention.
She has so many more questions and no more leverage because Goten just made it abundantly clear that there absolutely is
something
going on, but
she
is not going to find out right now because right now she needs to focus on getting out of here with all her limbs intact. He is clearly not in a bantering mood anymore and she just bought this dress. She is not about to engage in a fight she will certainly lose just to ruin it.
Goten watches her come to terms with the situation as he reaches for one of her bowls. He wonders if she's going to bother protesting. She doesn't. She stays silent as he drinks it all down in one swift go despite it being far too hot. He licks his lips and sets the empty bowl to the side before picking up the next one and doing the same. It doesn't bother him that it's scalding his throat the whole way down. It feels good to be the one in control for once.
What a spiteful-
-She forces herself to twist her anger into a smile as she lets him take a third one.
"I hope there's rat poison in it."
He finishes the fourth, sneers, and stands up. "Did I make myself clear or do I need to repeat myself?"
"Clear as fucking day." She meets his eyes.
"Good. I'm glad we finally agree on something." He walks towards the door but stops just before exiting. "This was fun." He eyes the small singed edges on the right side of her hair. "I really felt the
sparks
fly between us. We'll have to do this again." He cocks his head with a peculiar unnerving smile, letting his canines gleam. He cracks the sidewalk when he takes off and she notices he didn't pay.
“Asshole!”
She stews over the one full bowl he left in front of her and thinks about everything he just told her. She knows he's responsible for the state of her father. Intentionally or not he is still going to pay. It strikes her as odd that Goten was so insistent his father be kept away from Vegeta.
What does Goten think is going on? Why does he even care so much? He should be, like, the last person on Earth to care about that!
She sips on the soup which has finally cooled.
On top of all of this is the most disturbing piece of the puzzle. Goten actually
threatened
her. She knows--because
everyone
knows--how much Goten hates being told he looks like his father. She is vaguely aware of his childhood tantrums over the matter. But she has NEVER seen him act like that. Sure the place is empty and he probably threatened her only because he knew he could get away with it,
but he acted almost like he was--
The thought makes her choke on her noodles. She makes a loud snort sound on the inhale and it is without a doubt the ugliest sound she's ever made. The waiter laughs too.
His mistake.
His restaurant sucked anyway
, she thinks as she flies--and the waiter runs--away from what would probably be labeled, "A tragic kitchen fire."
It doesn't stop her from laughing all the way home. "Oh Ten..." She shakes her head. "I always suspected you were the
jealous
type."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goku waits, sitting on a rock in the middle of the wasteland absently drawing circles in the dirt with a stick. He's decided what he needs to do right now is forgive Vegeta for what he did to Goten. Vegeta has never been particularly good at apologies and Goku knows that. He also knows Vegeta’s extreme degree of 'training' these past few months is more than a clear sign of how terrible Vegeta feels about what happened. It is enough of an apology for him. Goku sighs as he thinks about how he’s forgiven Vegeta for worse in the past and now that he knows his son a little better, forgiveness will be easy.
Sometimes even I want to punch him…
This still feels different from all those difficult arguments in the past though. He can’t quite put his finger on why, he just feels that it is. Different. And he can’t help but let a little guilt creep in for letting it go this long. For letting Vegeta do this to himself. This needed to happen sooner. Maybe even that day in the gravity room. Vegeta was so quick to forgive me for leaving… I think he’s the only one who really has. He even… Goku refuses to doubt the intentions of that kiss despite Goten's words echoing around his head, eroding his optimism.
... He's using you...
He shakes away the thought and shifts anxiously.
Tonight we can finally talk about... everything.
Although last time he tried to get Vegeta talked about his...
feelings
it didn't go well. Though, he admits, a few hours after Bulma’s funeral probably wasn't the best time to talk to Vegeta about that.
He sits there repeating in his head what he wants to say and how he wants to say it, occasionally distracting himself with images of what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. And although it's nothing he hasn't said or done before and it's only been a few months for him, it's been over fifteen years for Vegeta and that is a bit nerve wracking to think about.
What if he is different? What if… there’s someone else?
The thought disappears quickly. It is too ridiculous. Vegeta doesn't like personal attachments. He fends them off with an almost admirable ferocity, even the ones he needs, even the ones that change him. Maybe... especially those. Both Goku and Bulma had to more or less force their way into Vegeta's life. Back then Goku was the most powerful being in the known galaxy and even he struggled with how much effort it took just to get what he did. He’s not sure how Bulma managed at all being human. And what did either of them have to show for it? They both ended up leaving Vegeta, in one way or another, alone like he claimed he wanted to be.
He sighs and presses both palms to the back of his neck and wishes that wasn’t the case. As unfriendly as they had become towards each other at the end she was still the only other person who knew Vegeta like he did. She was the only person who knew anything. He wonders how everything would be. If she were here now. Better? Worse? The same? He supposes it doesn’t matter anymore, but he still has trouble letting the thought go.
He sighs deeply because on top of all these emotions and questions and half-prepared speeches tangling up his mind, he's also a little annoyed because it's nearly three o' clock in the morning and he’s
still
waiting. He has successfully evaded his son ALL day and into the evening despite Goten texting him non-stop about their next spar, if he was feeling better, apologizing for what he said, if everything is ok, if he wanted to eat, and all sorts of random things with a weird sort of urgency that made him unsure if Bra really helped his situation. But at least Goten never showed up at Mount Paozu, or asked him about Vegeta, which was a relief.
So, he’s getting impatient, because he managed to avoid all that, placate everyone, including his wife, in order to ensure this moment would be possible and yet he can feel Vegeta's ki at Capsule Corp not moving, not training,
not doing anything!
He wants to IT over there already and ask him what the heck is going on,
but he said he’d come to me.
So instead he blows air into his bangs, flares his ki a little and keeps waiting.
***
On the outskirts of West City Vegeta sits on the roof of Capsule Corporation fretting about the energy he can feel spiking lowly out in the wastes. The only being left on this damn planet, maybe this whole galaxy who could possibly understand him, is the last person he wants to see and for once it is not because he is annoyed him, but because...
what do I tell him? How?
He feels his stomach churning again and he knows if he doesn't leave soon, Kakarot will show up here regardless of whether or not he wants him to and Vegeta
definitely
doesn't want him to. Too many other variables are likely to get involved. He sighs as he finally takes off into the humid summer air.
Vegeta stops as soon as he sees him and watches for a moment before tapping down quietly and slowly approaching.
Goku smiles and turns his head. He stands up, looking at Vegeta with soft dark eyes and leans in to embrace him. He is halted by a hand in his chest.
"Vegeta..." Goku tries instead to hug around Vegeta’s waist with no luck. He can't even get Vegeta to look him in the eyes and gives up trying to wrap him up in his arms the way he so badly wants with a huff. "What's goin' on?"
Vegeta opens his mouth to respond but no sound comes out. Goku doesn't expect him to answer all at once, it usually takes a few tries, but it was still frustrating. He exhales trying to organize what he wants to say.
"Okay.” He steps back and exhales in mental preparation. “I know when I came back you--we--I didn't--” He stops and huffs at himself in frustration. “I know I was mad at you for what you did to Goten but I--I’m not mad at you anymore. He's ok. I mean, he's not ok, he's kinda… an asshole."
Probably because of you but that's not the point.
"But I don't hate you, Vegeta, I could never hate you, and I just wanted--" He struggles to explain himself, wishing he was better with words because it sounded so much clearer in his head. Now everything is getting mixed up and he just wants to tell Vegeta how he feels but he doesn't know how he feels or how Vegeta feels and that is making this so much harder. "I know I should have said this sooner, Vegeta, but you're… I know how you are and… and I understand. And I…" He struggles to catch Vegeta's gaze who is staring off somewhere into the darkness. "I forgive you." With that he runs out of words and waits hopefully wondering if what he managed to get out would be enough to get his point across because he
really
wants things to go back to the way they were.
Vegeta furrows his brow at Goku in confusion. "You still don’t know… why we fought, do you?” Goku’s expression affirms his suspicions. “Kakarot…” He sighs deeply. “You have no idea what you're forgiving."
"I really don't care! I don't care anymore, Vegeta. It's forgiven! It doesn’t matter!"
Words can not describe how relieved Vegeta would have felt to hear those words that day in the gravityroom.
Where the hell is that relief now?
He just feels hollow.
Goku watches Vegeta waver and battle with his thoughts.
Why doesn't he accept this? Why is he hesitating? Why is he still fighting me? Why is he
always
fighting me?
His anxious resolve to push the conversation towards making Vegeta prove Goten wrong in some way or another is quickly building up pressure in his brain and he thinks maybe it will be easier for them to speak with actions.
He could
show
forgiveness. He could
show
how sorry he is that he left. If he did that then maybe it would be easier for Vegeta to
show
him what he wants too. And he decides that will be more than good enough for now.
"Kakarot. It’s not what you th--" He doesn't finish as Goku suddenly pulls them chest to chest and places his hand gently over Vegeta's mouth, stopping him mid-sentence.
“I don’t care,” Goku says with a smile as lets his palm slip down behind Vegeta's neck and he leans in and kisses him.
It is supposed to feel good, but Vegeta’s mind is suddenly dredging up every miserable thing in his past that never bothered him before while a sick, ragged voice in the back of his head that he can't shut up says things like:
<<<You
fucked
his son. He will never forgive that. Do you even want him to? What kind of person accepts forgiveness for something like that? Sure, you thought it was Kakarot, but you knew something was wrong. He smelled different. Tasted different. Felt different. And Vegeta, don't forget, just like he said, it felt good>>>
He visibly shudders away his disgust with himself and pulls away.
“What’s wrong?”
“Things… things have changed,” he says brusquely.
"Nothin' has changed." Goku puts his hand underneath the other Saiyan's jaw and turns it back towards his mouth and tries harder to keep his rival-turned-who-knows-what there.
The talking can wait, I want him so bad; things are always better after we do it.
Goku's mouth works hard to keep Vegeta against it, until it begins to touch lower and lower, against Vegeta’s collar, against his chest. He lifts Vegeta’s shirt as he sinks to his knees, so he can get to Vegeta’s abs and press his mouth against the soft outline of his--
Suddenly fingers are working quickly on the waistband of Vegeta’s shorts, shaking Vegeta from his nonplussed shock at the direction Goku suddenly decided to take this night in and he reaches down abruptly to stop him. "Don't.”
"But--"
"I said don't!" He feels his insides burn with a hundred different emotions all aimed at this fucking idiot who trusts him so implicitly it should be against galatic law. "I can't. I--I can't, Kakarot I--"
I can't accept this, can't enjoy it, don't... deserve it.
"Why not? Everyone is asleep. We’re in the middle of nowhere!”
"It's not about getting caught." He pulls Goku back to his feet.
Why is he--he's not--he doesn't want--
Goku's now panicked mind starts spitting out the first thing it can think of to keep Vegeta interested. "We can go off world if that's what you want. We can… we can do anything you want." He tries to lean in and kiss him but Vegeta's hands push on his shoulders and hold him back. That definitely isn't what Goku wants, but
anything
is better than nothing, right? It has to be enough, it has to. "Okay, I won't kiss you. I promise, we can just--"
Vegeta watches Goku’s usual smile begin to sink into desperation.
How is he still willing to concede my conditions? After all this time? After everything I've put him through?
<<<This idiot will forgive anything. Look at that desperate face. Yes, he’ll forgive even
that.
He will, you know he will. You don't deserve his forgiveness.>>>
Vegeta’s grip tightens and he can't bear to look at Goku anymore and he pushes him away, almost to the ground.
Goku catches himself. "Vegeta!? What the--What’s wrong?!"
'I forgive you.' Those fucking words.
They are as good as murder. She told Vegeta the same thing. Even though she broke down on him, even though he continually disappointed her, she still said it every time he chose to crush her heart with disloyalty. And Kakarot... he never had to say it, he practically screamed it through his actions. He was always there waiting and waiting and waiting and
waiting
for this to be something it was never going to be, agreeing to damn near anything Vegeta asked him for in the process. He doesn't want to hear those fucking words again excusing some godawful thing he's done for the hundredth time from ANYONE.
And it is at that moment that he finally realizes what he needs to do. He should have done this years ago. He never should have given in to Kakarot in the first place but it is far too late for that. All he can do now is stop it and save Kakarot any further pain. "We can't do this anymore."
There is a long uncomfortable pause before Goku finally asks, "What do you mean?'"
"I mean, we can't DO THIS!” He gestures between them. “Anymore!" Goku is quiet. “It's been fifteen fucking years, Kakarot! What made you think I’d even
want
you when you came back?”
"I--what? Vegeta… ‘cause we--"
"We what? We WHAT, Kakarot?"
"We're..."
"No. No, whatever it is, we're not. Never were."
"I just wanted..."
"It doesn't
matter
what you want, Kakarot. What did I tell you every time we did this?"
Goku hesitates and feels his face flush. "That it was just--"
"Just fucking." He has lost count of how many times he has had to insist on this. Maybe some part of him has always known that if it were really true he wouldn't need to say it so often, but it's better to keep insisting. It's better for Kakarot to understand this so he can hate Vegeta like Vegeta hates himself and stop giving him something he doesn’t deserve.
"But it wasn't--"
"IT WAS."
"NO! It NEVER was and you know it!"
"Is that so? You really think it was more? You think all those times I fucked you until you couldn't stand were passionate embraces between lovers? No! You idiot! They weren't! That's not how lovers fuck, Kakarot! Not that you would kno--"
A super Saiyan blur slams into Vegeta and Vegeta happily matches because violence is a language he speaks easily.
"You are lying! You are lying to me and you lied to Bulma!" Goku narrowly misses Vegeta's fist, but he isn't quick enough to block a left elbow.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, KAKAROT! You know NOTHING about my relationship with her!"
Goku backs up from Vegeta's aggressive advance trying to wipe the blood out of his eyes, trying to block, trying to counter, trying to keep up. "Yeah, well, I know she was smarter than me! And I always knew! So she must have too! Why are you--"
Vegeta throws his fists down, furious that he's so transparent, furious that the last remainder of his race chose now of all times to learn how to be stubborn. "Kakarot! You fucking--You still have a WIFE! Or did you fucking forget?! What the fuck could you possibly want from this? From me?!"
The blows pause while he keeps a healthy distance from Vegeta's kick radius. "She's not-! I dont-!" He avoids the uncomfortable topic altogether. "I just want you to be honest with me! Why won't you just admit it?!"
"Admit WHAT?!"
"That this is more than-! I want--I want you to admit that your stupid conditions aren't for me! They were never for me! They were for you! Because you're scared! That you’re--"
Goku's pretty sure his eye socket is now completely shattered. They exchanged no words for the rest of the short bloody fight. Vegeta silently acknowledges that Goku has been catching up quickly in the last few months, but not quick enough. By the end he has him pinned, both arms behind his back and presses Goku’s face down into the dirt.
"Those conditions were for you Kakarot, because I knew this would happen. I was just using y--" Suddenly Vegeta is launched backward and pinned to the ground, looking up at the beautiful glowing object of affection he is denying himself because he hates himself for wanting him so badly he’d betray them both.
"
Using
me? You were USING me!? YOU think--" Goku shouts at him with more anger than he's ever felt because he can’t stand to even
imagine
that his son was right. Meanwhile Vegeta is a little caught off guard by the massive spike in ki and the painful subsequent punches because he’s
sure
he’s said worse things than that. And yet he is suddenly being forced to maintain the upper hand.
Their second bout is far more violent, but Vegeta still finally pins him. Goku is frustrated that he is so
much
weaker and Vegeta is frustrated too because he feels even worse than before as he struggles to hold him down and force him to accept this rejection as easily as he accepts everything else.
He pushes Goku’s face away because he can't stand to look at him for the final blow, the one that will ensure Kakarot never comes back to him. Never forgives him. Never learns the truth. Never breaks down over learning the disgusting things Vegeta has done. Never tries to fix what will always be broken. The one that will allow Vegeta to suffer alone for his mistakes and Kakarot to maybe finally move on to something better. Vegeta shuts his eyes and swallows down the regret he feels saying the words, "You're not even worth… fighting anymore."
Then it stops. All the wiggling and kicking and attempts to punch him. The valley is still. Goku has dropped out of form and just lays there letting himself lose. Vegeta let's go without saying a word. He doesn't need to. He won. It's not the kind of win that has any pride or glory behind it and it makes him sick that
this
is how it finally happened because it is also the first time he's ever seen Kakarot... give up.
He watches as Kakarot's eyes go dead with hatred. He recognizes the expression immediately but not because he's ever seen it on
Kakarot’s
face.
He staggers to his feet and turns around dizzy with nauseous regret that he made the universe happiest idiot look like that. He drops to his knees waiting for a response.
The silence is broken by a laugh. It is a short hurt laugh, the type that comes from the absurd humor in being able to accept the immense irony of Goku’s attempt to
get back together
turning into the most disastrous break he could’ve imagined between them. "He was right. I can't believe he was right. I thought... I thought I knew you better than anyone. But I don't know you at all, do I?"
A cold icy chill runs down Vegeta's spine and he turns back towards Kakarot. "Who was right?"
Goku looks at him with a joyless smile as he stands up and brushes himself off, already boxing away all the heartbreak he is agonizing over, so he can hide it in front of Vegeta. He will not give him the satisfaction of vulnerability after that kind of humiliation. And then Goten's words start circling around in his head again and he has to ask. "Is it even a 'Saiyan thing?' Or was I just dumb enough for you to take advantage of me? Was this all some kinda revenge because you could never beat me in a fight? And now that you can, I'm not 'worthy?'"
Vegeta's heart stops and he immediately starts backtracking. "Wh--revenge? Of course not--you're not--It wasn't about revenge--I--I just can’t--couldn’t--I--"
"All hail Prince Vegeta, strongest of the Saiyans. You finally got your wish. You win. I'm not even worth your time for a spar. In fact I will
never
annoy you again with my third class presence."
Vegeta stutters as he realizes he wasn't the only target for that sick fuck's anger issues. Of course I wasn't. It comes with unimaginable remorse, the sudden understanding that he has done exactly what that horrible little nightmare wanted. He walked right into it. He pushed Kakarot away, out of the way, and now he is alone. Open to his continual torment and blackmail. Kakarot was his only chance to expose that miserable wretch, wasn't he? And now he'll never be able to. He can’t take back what he just said. Why did I even say that? So self absorbed, I wasn’t thinking I thought--I thought I could spare him from… and now he has us right where he wants us.
Vegeta looks up at Kakarot with a trembling lip.
What have I done…
He changes his mind. He wants to tell Kakarot everything,
everything!
He wants to tell him that he waited all these years, trained so hard, stayed on Earth, never left, because he thought Goku would come back, hoped he would, believed he would. He wants to tell him that he cared, trained, housed his idiot son because it was the last piece of Kakarot he had and he looked just fucking like him,
Kami, it was so hard at times. Both our youngests killed me inside every day just looking at them, constantly reminding me of the people I wronged and could never apologize to.
He wants to finally admit what he did.
Fuck! I thought he was you
!
I thought you were--and somehow he planned this! planned--I don't know,! But everything I told you tonight is a lie and it's tearing me apart how much you still want this because I want it too because I fucking l--
“No, wait, Kakarot, I--Goten, he--"
"Stop, Vegeta. It's ok. You don't have to explain. I understand now. And... I still forgive you. For everything. For all those years of
using
me," he says plainly without any kindness. "Even though you don't deserve it. And you're right, this... was a mistake. I should be getting back to
my wife
. Who is still alive."
"Kakarot, wait, I--" Vegeta reaches for him as Goku places two fingers to his forehead but he is too late. His hand makes contact with nothing. He would have admitted fault, defeat, humiliation, anything Kakarot wanted he would have said it in that moment, but he is gone, the moment is gone, and he is alone. For the thousandth time in his life, he is alone.
His scream into the void is agonizing and long. Ki explodes off of him as he yells until his voice gives out. When his lungs can no longer produce sound, he vomits up everything until he heaves dry, and then he collapses into darkness, exhaustion being the only way sleep can find him these days.
On the other side, despite his smug remark about still being married, when Goku appears in his home beside a sleeping Chi Chi he realizes he can not stay or he will wake her with the break down he can no longer put off. So he leaves again, eyes already wet, out the bedroom window almost as quickly as he appeared.
***
An explosion of energy wakes him up. He immediately recognizes it as Vegeta's. He pads quietly through the house.
No one else woke up? Good.
He'd always been a light sleeper. He quickly searches out the most likely cause for such an outburst, but his father's energy is nowhere near there...
Strange
. He also wasn't... at home.
Stranger
. He debates which one of the two he should go to.
He hears sobbing as soon as he touches down.
"Dad... is everything--"
"WHAT! DO YOU WANT?!" His father is hardly an inch from his face and stanced for a fight.
Goten backs away hands up. "Sorry, I felt your energy and…" He's having trouble figuring out what to say because
holy shit those bruises are BAD,
and he'd never seen his father
angry
before so that is also odd. So many questions are running through his head now as he watches his father back off and sit back down by a river bank.
His face falls into his hands and he starts crying again. Goten hears him say something muffled but can't make it out.
"What?"
He lifts his head up and makes a choking noise, "I said! You were right!"
"I was?"
"YES! You were right. He... does not feel the same way."
Goten smirks.
Look at you, Vegeta. Getting my job done for me in the most unexpected ways. And here I was WORRIED about what would happen if he tried to talk to you.
"He did this? Just now?”
Goku's face twists, as much as it can, with upset, and he nods.
Damn. I missed the whole fight.
"Did you at least get some good damage in?"
"Yeah, he looks worse."
Goten's brow raises with doubt. "Are you... lying?"
Tears start streaming down his face again as he nods. “I barely got one good hit in.”
Goten sits down with a long sigh beside his father. "I'm sorry."
"For what?”
"For being right." He turns his head to hide his smile as he pulls his father into a hug.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The sun is starting to come up and his father, who is sleeping on the grass, looks almost back to normal after finally agreeing to eat a senzu bean and crying himself to exhaustion. Goten isn't able to get any more out of him, but settles on the fact that this is a victory for them both. Even if his father doesn't realize it. I mean really, Dad, you're going to be so much better off without him. me on the other hand… Although it bothers him that he can't get to Vegeta right now, despite still being in the wasteland. What kind of training could he possibly be doing right now? He silently grumbles to himself hat it will be impossible for him to approach Vegeta today without drawing his father's attention. Maybe for a few days. He will need to come up with a distraction before seeing how the Prince of Anger Management Issues is coping with the fact that Goten is right and Kakarot just isn’t going to do it for him anymore. He nudges his father. "Dad. Hey. Dad!" Goku slowly opens his eyes. "We should go home.""I wanna... spar," he says sleepily, the edges of his dream still threading their way through his words. "No. I really don't think you do. Let's go home." Goku nods and is unusually quiet as he gets up and teleports Goten back to his brother's house. He opens his mouth but decides against whatever is going through his head and disappears back to Mount Paozu without a word. Goten stares at the place his father was just standing with a feeling of uneasiness before going inside. Well , hopefully I don't need to worry about him doing something rash after...that. Then again... I must get it from somewhere, right? He brushes the thought aside as he collapses into bed. *** Trunks wakes up looking at a stack of papers. The Sun is barely up as he lifts his head from the desk. There are lines all over his face and he pulls a paper clip off his cheek as he gets up and makes his way upstairs. It took much longer than his sister said it would, but the damn thing is finally off. Hopefully forever. Though he has to remember to keep a close eye on equipment orders for the next few weeks because he didn't miss his father's quiet mention that it will take weeks to fix the gravity room like this without her . And there's NO way I'm going to let him buy bullets for the gun he just shot himself in the foot with. They finished around midnight and his father wandered off sometime after that while he stayed down in the labs trying to catch up on work. He didn’t even try to ask about why they were in this situation to begin with. Although he did learn the language his father writes in is not Saiyan, it is instead some form of a pictograph-based language used widely on the black market. So, that’s something.As soon as his brain starts to defog, he slaps the coffee machine. Ki starts ringing through his head making his hangover nearly unbearable. He rubs his forehead in anguish as the machine bubbles quietly. He doesn’t know how all the other ki-sensitive people in his life just live like this, with nothing to dull it or labs to run to that help dampen it. Ki is noisy and sharp and loud and Saiyans just have so damn much of it! But he lifts his head because today something feels off. It’s not so loud today. He starts walking, then running towards the other side of the compound. He stands in front of his father's door. He doesn't know why he bothers knocking, he knows there's no one there. His ki is nowhere inside Capsule Corporation. It isn't even in West City. Normally, that wouldn't panic him. But after yesterday… "Why the fuck is he--" He bolts to the nearest exit and takes off.When he finally spots his father, he can't suppress the noise of shock and he lands a little harder than he means, causing the full Saiyan laying on the hot sandy ground to finally stir.After a long night of sleep that offered no rest Vegeta finally gains the strength to crack his eyes open and finds himself staring up at purple.
Fuck.
"Dad, dad!" Trunks kneels down and puts his hand on his shoulder which Vegeta quickly shrugs off as he sits up."I'm fine," he grumbles before glaring at his son. "What are you doing here?""What am I--what are YOU doing here!? We're--" Trunks looks around at the wasteland and gestures. "We're in the middle of fucking nowhere! What the hell!?"Vegeta growls and struggles to his feet. "Training.""Training?! What?! No you weren't! You were knocked the fuck out! Dad!" Trunks reaches for his father's face. "What the--were you in a fight? With who?"Vegeta grips his son's wrist and throws it away from him. "No."He scoffs in disbelief. "Then what were you doing? You haven't trained out here in YEARS. Not since--""Since what?!" He snips defensively. Trunks frowns. “Since mom died,” he says unapologetically. Vegeta softens a little in surprise at his son being able to say it so easily and looks away. "The machine is broken, where else was I supposed to go?" Trunks shakes his head in angry disbelief. "Because YOU broke it!""It needs an upgrade," he mutters."No, no! It doesn't need an upgrade! You think I don't know the difference between a stray blast and sabotage? I can't believe the shit you say sometimes! It took DAYS just to shut it-!" His words drop off as his father staggers slightly in front of him but catches himself. "Dad, oh my God. Are you okay?”“I’m fine!”“You’re not,” he says with concern weaved into every word. “What were you doing out here?""None of your fuckin' business!" But no sooner do the words leave him then his head begins to drop towards his chest and his eyes struggle to stay open."Wrong!" You and Goten are just alike sometimes, no wonder you two hate each other! "You... are wrong. You haven't eaten, you haven't slept... properly at least! What you did with the gravity room was…" He sighs. "Un-fucking-believable is what it was. I had to call Bra back from school to help me and Goku, er--Kakarot? of all fucking people was the one who dragged you out of there! What the fuck is going on? I deserve to know!"The mention of Goku's name pulls Vegeta’s attention from a dreamless darkness and he stares wide-eyed at his son. His brain is still hazy and his only thought at the moment is that Trunks has that same look of concern that Bulma would get in the very beginning when he first knew her, when he was still obsessed with power, before he realized there were other things worth fighting for. Seeing it now on his son breaks him just a little more. He thinks his children really are too beautiful and too brilliant for their own good; both of them, just like her. Sometimes he doesn't understand how they could be his children, they are so much more like his dead wife it hurt.Vegeta silently wishes he didn't keep breaking everything he cared about. He asks himself why can't seem to get this right; this simple life without bloodshed and horror. He wonders why dealing with the people close to him is so much harder than dealing with his enemies. He thinks today would have been easier if it had been Goten who showed up. Blood. He could do that easily. He would find the energy to kill him. It doesn't matter anymore, Kakarot can't hate him more than he does now, he is sure of it.But now, looking at that expression, those familiar blue eyes, he feels too exhausted to be angry with his son for asking questions he doesn't want to answer. He’s too exhausted to stay angry with himself over last night, over the last fifteen years; too exhausted to find reasons to keep his regrets bottled up and he finds himself answering honestly for once."I made... a mistake. I was... weak." It is a relief to admit it out loud, even though it is not to the person who needs to hear it.His son breaks the long silence that follows his odd admission. "What is that supposed to mean? What mistake?"Vegeta's vision begins to blur from the heat, the lack of food, the lack of water, and he stumbles forward before he can say more."Dad?" Trunks catches him and holds him by his shoulders. "Dad? Wh--damn, you are fucked up," he says now completely supporting him.Vegeta follows up with something that is incomprehensible other than the word, 'Kakarot' and loses consciousness again. Twice on their way home Vegeta wakes up, struggles against his son, succeeds and makes it a few meters before free falling to the ground. Trunks manages to catch him, of course, but not without sweating a few buckets of regret over his decision to always skip training his speed and power for work, women, and drinking. When he walks in with his father he is met by the inscrutable gaze of his sister. She is standing at the top of the stairs looking like her always drop-dead gorgeous self despite the frizzy blue mass of hair standing on end and mismatched pajamas. She has a toothbrush still in her mouth, make-up from the day before still streaking down her face, and has been awake for about twelve minutes. Which as it turns out, is enough time for her to realize that her brother and father were not out just getting groceries and liquor. Her feet tap on the cool laminate as she walks up to them. She places her hand on her father's face and turns it revealing the mild bruising on his jaw and temple. Her bright, curious eyes flick up towards her brother's. "He didn't do that to himself." She walks away back down the hall towards the bathroom and finishes brushing.He knew it was true before his sister said anything, but hearing it reconfirmed by someone else isn't helping his nerves at the moment. “Yeah, and he definitely waited until I fell asleep before he left the compound, so I have no idea. I’m starting to think we need to start working 12 hour shifts to figure out what the fuck is going on. ”“Shifts?” She snorts. “Absolutely not.”Trunks closes his eyes momentarily and takes a breath before getting his father up the stairs and onto his unmade bed without further incident. When he returns downstairs, his sister is sitting at the kitchen table with two cups of coffee, or rather, one cup of coffee and one cup of milk and sugar with less than a splash of coffee in it. She stares at her brother with furrowed brows. "Where did you find him?”“The wasteland. He looked… awful, B. I’ve never--I mean, he hasn’t done this kinda shit since mom passed and I just--you shoulda seen him! He--” “Ok, slow down. What happened?""That’s the fuckin’ question of the century, isn’t it?! I--I don't know. I woke up, noticed he'd left, and after yesterday... I went to go find him. He was in the middle of fucking nowhere unconscious, or sleeping, I don't know. He woke up for a few minutes but... Fuck, he's really sick or something I don't--I almost took him to a hospital. I still might.""Really, Trunks?" She interrupts with an irritated click of the tongue. "Because that's what we need right now. Our unstable alien father waking up in a hospital only to pitch a very expensive bitch fit about the inadequacies of human medicine.” She shakes her head.“Well, something's wrong! I had to literally carry him home. At least in a hospital he’d--”"He'd what?""I--""Stop being dumb. You’ve literally OD’d enough times to know a hospital wouldn't do him any good. Like, how many times have you and Ten ended up in the ER with the doctors just scratching their heads over your insane anatomies?" Her brother sighs and buries his face into his hands. "Exactly. They don’t know what the fuck they’re doing. The only good thing that ever comes out of a Saiyan at a hospital are the conspiracy theories about super soldier projects.""Or the alien ones," he mumbles."Well, those aren't theories, are they? And they are very expensive to cover up if I recall."He can't help the momentary smirk before resuming his tired expression. "We have to do something ourselves then. We can’t just--I don’t know. We have all of Capsule Corp at our disposal. And three doctorates between us.”“Wow, three and a half. I am almost done.”“Oh my God,” he whispers into his hands. “Bra, please. ”She balks. “Fine. Whatever, let me put it this way, I’m not gonna be the one he wakes up to running a bunch of tests on him to see what’s wrong. I’m pretty sure he never even let mom do that.”He sighs in exasperation. "Well, we have to do something because I can't keep chasing his ass all over the planet every time he decides to have a nervous breakdown. Not at the rate he's having them! We need to get him help or--or something!"“Yes! I know! He needs serious help, probably has for a long time, but I don't know anyone capable of doing 'talk therapy' with the Prince of Goddamn Saiyans! Because--okay--my therapist is good, but she is not galaxy-renowned-xeno-psychologist-with-a-speciality-in-mass-murderers-turned-single-dads good. I don’t think anyone is."He rolls his eyes. “Then what do you suggest? Because I’m out of ideas!”“I think, on the count of three, we should say what--or who--we think the problem is.” Trunks shakes his head. “What?”“One… two…”“No, really. Bra, what?!” “Three!”“Goku,” Trunks says without hesitating, because he knows it is usually just best to play along with her.“Goten,” Bra responds at the same time. “Oh my God!” She rolls her eyes. “You are not still on about that, are you? Why do you think this is his fault?”Trunks chuffs. “Because it started when he came back and…” he furrows his brows in thought. “It was the only thing he said when I found him.”“What was?”“‘Kakarot.’ Just his name. And… I don’t know… something about making a mistake?”She frowns because, well, Goku was supposed to talk to her father. “Plus! What’s-his-mcfuckin’-disappearing-face was here yesterday. He’s gotta know what’s going on, I mean, if you ask me it’s pretty fuckin’ obvious that he--”Her brother continues talking while her eyes shift toward the gloomy weather present in the window. She purses her lips while she thinks Trunks is right. For once. It must have been Goku. For better or worse she had pretty much given that giant idiot the green light to do... whatever it was he thought he needed to do to make things right, which was apparently try to solve his issues the big dumb Saiyan way and fight it out. Uhg, really, Goku!? Maybe you are stupid! Or worse! I swear if your dumb son is right about you, I will lose my mind because I hate when he's right! “...but on the other hand, dad is, like, a metric fuck ton stronger than him! So It doesn't make any sense that he would…”She considers that her brother is right about that too. Although this situation is hardly ideal--Goku still probably lost the fight. But… he wants to be with Goku, doesn’t he? God I wish that stupid tape had audio… “...I mean something just doesn’t add up here, if they did fight then why…”She needs to figure what the hell happened last night and if Goku is just incompetent or her father is just an asshole, or… if Goten got involved. Goten, after all, made it abundantly clear yesterday who the real danger is in all of this. It is not hard to see that whatever he wants out of this is something far less innocent than a fight and he will do anything to get it. (And he calls ME the deviant.) She definitely needs to get some answers. The trouble now though is how is she supposed to get to that big dummy again without drawing Ten's violent ire? If he’s not tracking her, then he’s absolutely tracking his father.Trunks waves his hand in front of her face, "Hey, sis, planet Earth is calling." She bats his hand away. "Yeah, I know, I was ignoring it. I had more important planets on the line."He snorts. "Yeah? And? What did Neptune say?"“It was Uranus!” she snaps, making her brother laugh. She snorts too then blows a defeated huff of air toward her brother. He tilts his head sympathetically letting her know he feels the same way. I literally can't even believe you're best friends with the world’s biggest psyco- -Her eyes suddenly light up.“Oh… oh no.” He frowns. “You have that face. Why do you have that fa--”“Because I have an idea!”He looks doubtfully at his sister. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”“Ok, so you know how you and Ten are like, the best of friends? Ever? That he trusts you implicitly? Maybe the only person he's ever trusted? Because you've literally never let him down? Because you've supported him financially and emotionally for almost twenty years? Because you're the only person who has day after day found the energy to put up with his insane amount of psychological problems?”"B…" he groans. “Where are you going with this?”“Hear me out. It's totally legal this time, I swear. I mean, mostly," she says with a broad excited smile."No, you're not--I don’t know what it is, but no. No, no, just, no.”“Oh my God, I’m not even going to use any of my super cool awesome world-changing technology. Probably,” she mutters.“Are you still working with that shit? I told you to stop or I'd pull all your projects and permanently ban you from using Capsule Corporation’s assets.” She scoffs as she crosses her arms and rolls her eyes.“If you think I'm not serious, I swear--"“I’m not working on it, I’m no~ot. I promise,” she says with big innocent eyes as he scowls at her with as much disapproval as he can muster."This is why you're not on the board," he mutters."I'm not on the board because I don't want to be. It's BORING." She huffs and knocks over her empty coffee cup, then incinerates it. "I’m not saying we should torture anyone for information--I mean, we totally could, if you wan--”“Jesus fucking Christ.” he rubs his eyes despite there still being a smirk hiding on the corner of his lips, because while he'll never admit it, he’s always appreciated his sister's ability to keep her dark humor in darker times. However, he also knows better than to take her jokes lightly. He presses his finger tips together and leans his face into the space between his thumbs and index fingers. “What’s your idea?”"Oh, Good! So you agree!! That's really great, because your job is not going to be easy." "No, B, that is definitely not what I said." He exasperates, running his fingers through his hair. "I haven’t agreed to anything except hearing you out.”She clicks her tongue. “Whatever.”“Anyway, what’s my theoretical part?”“You… distract Goten.”“What? Why?”“So I can talk to Goku.”“No. I'm not going to let you hurt Goku. Okay? Or Goten. We need to just figure out what the hell is--""Obviously, Trunks." She lets out an exaggerated sigh. "I have no intention of hurting them. Don't be so crude. My methods really aren't as terrible as everyone makes them out to be, if you'd just listen.""Ok, fine. Go on..." He gestures.“Actually that’s it!” she announces excitedly. “You distract Goten, so I can talk to Goku!”“Why don’t you distract Goten so I can talk to--”“Uh, Trunks, it’s for ethical reasons. I can’t have you going in there with your big huge confirmation bias just looking for any crazy old reason to say it’s his fault. And who knows, maybe Goten will finally tell you something. He definitely won’t speak to me.” “You’re not allowed to pull the ethics card. Also, why do we have to ‘distract’ Goten?”“Beca~use, he’s crazy, Trunks.”He closes his eyes and presses his face back into palms exuding a deep sigh. "So are you.”She pauses with a confused look before letting out a strange laugh. It is a little too loud and too fast to be out of humor and sounds more like it had been caught part way between nervousness and pure unhinged insanity. He used to think he was the more Saiyan out of the two of them, but every now and then she does something that unsettles him to such a degree he is left without a doubt that she is the more alien one. “Okay, Trunks. I need to tell you something. But first, I need your sworn secrecy as my favorite--" He looks at her doubtfully, but she smiles. Trunks is a good brother. He will always be on his little sister’s side before Goten’s. "--my only--brother, that you won't say a word about this to anyone ever, especially Goten, ok?"“Why?” he draws unenthusiastically."Are you going to promise or not?" she says with an uncomfortable edge still lingering in her voice.He rolls his eyes and draws an 'x' across his chest. "On our mother's grave, good enough?"She nods. *** It is edging on evening and Goten is finishing his fourth bottle of liquor at a dimly lit bar since drinking at home around his puritanical brother is never any fun these days. Biggest. Buzzkill. Ever. I disappear ONE TIME and suddenly I'm the household liability he has to constantly watch and lecture, not Pan, who is always gone to who knows where until who knows when. He scrolls through his texts again but there is nothing new. He frowns with dissatisfaction and impatience that it will probably still take time before everything and everyone falls into the places they need to be, but still, there is nothing more to be done today.He leans back against his chair with a cold drink in hand while a tall handsome dark-eyed man leans over him and tries to convince Goten why he's the one tonight. And although Goten had more or less sworn off humans, he has to admit he's enjoying the attention. M aybe I could make an exception. After all, it has been a while and who knows when Vegeta would want that rebound. He ignores the idle thought in the back of his head that control is still a lingering issue as he eyes him appreciatively and considers that he does look… kind of Saiyan.He's about to say something in a warm dark-liquor stained voice that had never fails him until the sudden appearance of another Saiyan's energy interrupts by shoving itself right between them. He and the man scramble back in surprise."Ah!! Da-?! What?!"Goku looks around, a little disoriented. "What! Are you doing here?!" he says, still trying to brush the liquor off his arms and shirt.Goku smiles at his son. “Goten!”"Holy shit! Where the hell did he come from?!" The human looks from Goten, to the man who has just appeared, then back again. "Is that your twin?! Wait… is this a tag team offer? ‘Cause…" He smiles and looks back at Goku. “I might be interested.”"Tag team?" Goku smiles. "What's that?"The man runs his tongue along the edge of his top teeth with a mischievous grin. "It's when you--""He's not--No! FUCK no! Shut the fuck up!" He glares at the human who backs off then at the very out of place shirtless Saiyan who is looking around in bewilderment.“Wow… this place looks fun. Where are we?” Goten finishes his drink, stands up, and yanks his father’s arm and pulls him out of the bar. On his way out, Goku smiles with big wide eyes at everything going on around him. The lights, the outfits, the music, the busy bar, even the sticky dance floor. He is a little too startled by everything all at once to focus so he can't be sure, but he thinks nearly everyone there was male.When they reach the outside Goten roughly shoves his father toward the brick wall. "The fuck!? Dad! You can't just teleport to whoever you want, whenever you want!” Goku opens his mouth to utter an apology but never gets the chance. “Did it ever occur to you that I might be busy? Kami, what if I'd been--ahg! What the hell? Why are you here?"It honestly did occur to Goku that he might be interrupting because he usually is, but he is also used to it so he doesn't think much of his son's admonishments. He can’t imagine what would be that bad to interrupt. Except maybe… Oh. He blushes and looks away, distracting himself by looking around at all the various people outside the bar smoking cigarettes, casually chatting. He even sees two men making out. He knows it’s rude, but he can’t pull his eyes away. Goten’s right. I’m not… alone . “Hey!” Goten snaps his fingers in front of his father’s face. “I asked a question.”Goku looks back at his son. "I just... wanted to talk to you.""Dad, it is eleven o' clock at night and--" His face scrunches in disbelief. "Look, I get that you had a really rough night last night, but you know your phone works twenty-four-seven, right?""Yeah. Course I know that,” Goku mutters."Then use it! Instead of giving my happy ass a heart attack in the middle of the night!" His father's dejected look reels in his temper and he can't stop himself from asking with a defeated sigh. "What could you possibly need to come and talk to me about so badly that it couldn't wait until tomorrow?""I... uh, I left Chi Chi." He smiles weakly.Goten’s inebriated mind suddenly feels a lot more sober. “You…” His jaw struggles to form words. "You what?"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goku stares at the small home in the mountains that he shares with his wife and sighs. The sun has barely risen above the treeline as he walks through the door. He is surprised to find his wife already awake at the counter washing dishes. Or cooking. He doesn't know, he doesn't care. Not today. He stops in the hallway and remains quiet as he takes in her figure. Always conservatively dressed, she hides her age well, but she's not Saiyan. it still shows through her graying hair and wrinkles on her face. She is a little rounder and a little more fragile though her ki is still high and bright for a human and it glows through her. She is still strong, determined, and organized; things he desperately needs from anyone trying to be more to him than the occasional sparring partner, but she still lacks the one thing he wants.He still thinks though, considering the circumstances, he made a pretty good choice for a wife. Not that it was much of a choice. She decided almost everything about their relationship, including there even being a relationship in the first place. And although he knew it was completely necessary because he had no idea what to do in that regard it could at times feel suffocating. He often feels like she is drowning him in obligations and expectations he can never seem to uphold or meet and definitely never signed up for.In fact, even though he knows how much it hurt her each time he left, the cause for those temporary absences both with Vegeta and alone morphed over time from the simple desire to fight into a necessary escape from a life he found more and more frustrating as time went on. Because, well, saving the world? That was easy: Train, fight, win! So easy! But keeping Chi Chi happy? Keeping himself happy with her? Settling down to live a human life despite being everything but that? Not so much. But this was how it is supposed to be. He is supposed to be happy with her, supposed to stay with her. Supposed to want her. She told him so. Everyone told him so.
...Even Vegeta said so.
"Goku!” She smiles at him. “Where were you? Do you want Brea-" Her words drop off in surprise when she feels his arms wrap tightly around her. She can feel a shaky breath against her neck as his lips touch her skin and his nose brushes away her hair. She sets down what is in her hands and tries to turn around but he doesn't let her. He holds her tighter."Chi Chi..." His fingers press a little harder. "I'm sorry.""It’s okay..." she says slowly. She isn’t sure quite what he’s apologizing for and feels him shake his head. She waits for him to say something more but he never does.She is still glad to hear it though and she will probably never tire of hearing it because no matter how many times he apologizes it will never really be enough. A part of her is still furious at him; furious that her hard work to create the family she wanted was ruined by the man she relied on to maintain it, furious he left her for the hundredth time, and for so long. But there is another part of her… Now that he is here again she finds it almost impossible not to let her bitterness melt away like it always does every time he returns.She finds it impossible not to want to acknowledge how hard he's been working the last few months to make it up to her, the lost time. She finds it impossible not to notice how much he hasn't changed, how much he is still the man she fell in love with. Handsome, spontaneous, and so sweet even if he can be a little absent minded at times.So, even though it's a little embarrassing--him touching her like this in the kitchen of all places--she can not bring herself to deny him. Not now, not ever. In fact, she's been hoping since his return, in the back of her mind, that he would do something other than kiss her and work the fields to show her that waiting has been worth it; to show her he still loves her. As unbecoming of her as it might be, this is the apology she has been looking for and she is ready to accept it.She has been ready.It took a few weeks but she did invite him back to their bed where to her disappointment, he has done nothing to ease her insecurities. Instead, he has been sleeping there (for a few months now) while she has been laying there next to him, night after night, waiting. She is a little too embarrassed, a little too nervous to be forward with him after so long. Instead of asking him for what she wants, she stares up at the ceiling and quietly wonders if it is because he doesn't find her attractive anymore. She had taken care of herself, but she isn't twenty five anymore. She knows that. As much as it hurts her, she can't blame him. But then, she layed like that, waiting, many many nights before he left too. Why not then either? Why can’t I make him happy? Why doesn’t he want me?It floods her with burning shame how much more she wants him now that he is here again, even after fifteen years. She always remained loyal to her heartbreak and she is so desperate now that he had come back for it all to be worth something, to gain back some semblance of the life she has been denied, to have what she always wanted.His hands come up and cup her chest and she feels his fingers squeeze lightly. "Goku!" she chides as blush quickly works across her face. "Why don't we move to the--""No." He runs one of his hands down from her chest, along her soft middle and presses it between her legs. He keeps moving his mouth to different places on her neck and rubs his calloused palms against her gently.His sudden interest catches her off guard but the last thing she wants to do is start an argument the moment he finally decides that he is comfortable enough to be intimate. So instead of reprimanding him, she leans into his touch and presses her hips back into him slightly. "Ah, Okay..."He hears a small gasp escape her when he finds the slit along the side of her dress and runs his fingers underneath tearing some of the fabric so his hand could dip beneath the soft cotton and touch bare skin. He relies on her moans to tell him when he finds the sensitive spot along the part of her that always… sort of grossed him out. Even when he did eventually get past how weird and strange women apparently look, the wet amalgamation of folds and lines and pressure points remained far too complicated and off-putting for him to ever have any desire to figure it out and so he is still, after twenty years with her, reluctant to touch her like this.He knows he isn’t bad at it though. He knows how to find what someone likes. He knows how to please. Similar to fighting, the answers are hidden in all the little motions and movements of their body, the ones that tell you everything about a strike, where to hit and how hard. It is in the hitch of their breath, their heart rate, the way they shut or suddenly open their eyes, the twitch of their fingers, even the sweat on their skin. Where to touch and how rough. He has done it a thousand times with Vegeta and never failed. In fact he loves being able to pick up on those little signs with his heightened senses. It gets him hot to know how crazy he can drive him. So why does it do nothing for me when I’m with her? In the past he usually tried to avoid the whole mess by jumping straight to it. Though that usually only seemed to make sex with her even more difficult and he finds it hard to ignore, now that he's got his hand all over it, the reasons why he began having an affair in the first place. But he continues. He needs to show her he can be a good husband, the husband she wants. He needs to show himself that he doesn't want Vegeta, doesn't need Vegeta; he still has his wife who, although demanding and critical, loves him, wants him, doesn’t use him.He keeps his motions simple and gentle which seems to work because she moans a little louder as his fingers slide across her soft slick folds. He shudders as he feels her getting wetter and can tell from the way her legs and her voice is catching that she’s a lot closer than he is. In fact he is still at the starting line. She moans as her hand suddenly finds his and squeezes it and he knows she’s coming. He lets her guide his fingers to the warm place inside her. She throws her head back as he slides them in and out of her. He grinds against her trying to get something out of this for himself but keeps getting distracted by the fact that even though she smells like sex, she doesn’t smell like good sex and--Ahg! Why isn't this working!?He withdraws his fingers, lifts up her dress, and strips his sweatpants down to his knees. He tries to stroke himself to the sight but gets frustrated with his body's lack of response and winds up rushing into his waiting wife only halfway to where he needs to be. He thinks maybe the physical stimulation will be enough this time. Sometimes it is. And he begins thrusting into her with fast desperate strokes."Goku I--"He rests his forehead against her neck and one of his hands presses against her cheek. "Sh-shh Chi, stop--shh, I need this. I need you to--" prove I'm ok. It's him--it's him who's broken. Not me--not-- "Ah!" He pulls her hips flush against his as reaches one of his hands back to try and press on his tail scar the way Vegeta showed him but only succeeds in irritating it. He starts to reach down further to see if that will bring any relief.“What are you--”“Nothing.” He leans over her and lays his still clothed chest to her back and his face deeper into her neck to keep her from looking back. But he’s too anxious to go any further and places both hands back on her hips to try and keep her happy. But no matter what he does, it doesn't feel right . He has to try so hard to keep his head from flooding with all the thoughts and feelings and memories that he doesn't want to feel or think or remember anymore. He is too stressed out and nothing he does is bringing him any closer. Or even getting him started in the first place. He grips the counter until it cracks as he pounds into his wife harder, trying to find release.He can see pain beginning to edge in on her face, hear her hips banging into the counter, feel her legs shaking as he holds her tightly against his relentless pace and he knows this isn't right. Not just for himself, but for her."G-Goku-s-s-slow down! S-slow-Stop! Goku, Stop!"And he does, immediately, completely in ruins, trying to hold back the anger and frustration and desperation he feels as he asks himself why this hurt as much as it did, why he can't just enjoy his wife, why this never worked for him; all of that is compounded by the crushing ache he can't ignore telling him that he will never feel with her what he felt with Vegeta, even though he didn't feel anything for me! That is the thought breaks him.There is a crackle of energy in his fingertips, the need to release SOMETHING rips through him and he cannot hold it back. She almost jumps when he yells and slams his fist straight through the concrete wall dividing the kitchen from the dining room.She jumps at the sudden reminder that she is married to a Saiyan. "Goku! Goku, I--what's wrong?! What--I--"He turns around and looks at the shocked, exhausted woman he never loved the way she deserved then forces his eyes up to the ceiling to avoid letting the salt prickling the corners to fall down his face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare ya,” he nearly whispers. “It’s not--I’m just...” She walks up to him slowly, without any fear, stepping over the small chunks of tan drywall and gray rock he dislodged from the wall. "I know… this has always been... difficult for you... It's.. it's okay, Goku. It was the first time since you've been back, these things can take time and... I know I'm not as young as I used to be." She looks up at him softly."It's not you, Chi," he says, letting her wrap her arms around him. He stands against the hole he just made, his arms slack at his sides, thinking about the last time he let her down like this. It had been before he left. Several years before he left. ***
He nervously halts her advances, "I thought you didn't want more kids?"
"I... I don't. But it's not always about that." She bites her lip trying not to sound lewd, but they haven't been together in so long, not since they conceived their second son and she wishes he would show her he desired her a little more often.
He smiles but it is not genuine. “Right...” At the time, the guilt of knowing he is getting something she isn't--earlier that day, too--weighs on him and he doesn't know how else to respond other than let her try. She always tries harder than he does.
*** He quietly untangles from her. "I'm… sorry. I’m gonna shower." He is still covered in blood, sweat, and grit from the night before and now he feels even dirtier. All he wants to do is wash it all away. His wife follows him to the bedroom but lets him shower alone. She passes the time waiting for him to finish by putting on another dress that isn't torn and redoing her hair. He is still not out when she is finished so she presses her ear to the door and opens her mouth to call his name until she hears what sounds like soft sobbing. She closes her mouth and decides to give him room instead.It is late by the time she is done with her usual errands. She caught herself continually stopping to stare off and reflect on what happened this morning, what he said, what went wrong, what is always going wrong. She wants to be upset, she wants to blame him, but she can't. Not after seeing how much it bothers him, how badly he wants to make it right. She starts wondering what she can do to make it easier. Not that it was ever easy before, but he seemed to be trying so hard to make this work that by the time she finds herself back at home, she has decided she will try harder too.Once home, she spends an hour and a half cooking a dinner he never shows up for and finds him still in their bedroom naked as the day he came, sprawled out face down on their bed."Goku?" She hears a soft sound letting her know he's awake. "What are you doing? Have you been like this all day?" She throws a blanket over him with a teasing smile. "Don't you want to eat? I made--""No." And although he can see nothing but pillow, he can feel the hurt that just appeared on her face. “Are you okay? You never--”“I’m fine. It's just been a long day and I'm… tired. Sorry."There is a long silence as he feels the mattress dip down next to him. "What if..." She bites her lip not sure if she will even be able to bring herself to do it. "What if we tried something else?"His brows furrow. "No, you cook fine Chi, I'm just--""I don't mean my cooking." He finally turns over partially to look at her and she places one of her hands on his cheek. "I mean... us. What if... we did something different? Between us? Would that help?"He props himself up on his elbows and leans into her hand. He knows she wants him to kiss her, touch her... she always wants him to do something. It makes his stomach twist with discomfort just thinking about it, especially after this morning. He leans in and kisses her anyway, like he always does and she smiles at him because she doesn't know the difference."I know there were certain things that I thought were… degrading... but I'm older, we're... it's harder for me to keep up with you... maybe I can... we can--" He sits up and looks at her trying to figure out what she's talking about as she places her soft hands on his thighs. "I just… I don't want to give up. On us." She positions herself between his legs and looks down at his lap with a slightly open mouth until he starts to pick up on what she's asking."I--hold on, let's--" He's hesitant to let her, after the disaster that was this morning and he really isn't in the mood, but she looks so determined; he shouldn't stop trying if she doesn't, right? "Okay… I guess we can try..." He adjusts so she'll be more comfortable.She didn't think he'd agree this quickly. She thought she'd have a little more time to figure out how to do this and is somewhat flustered as she takes her time looking at him, at his face, then his crotch, then his face again, then at his--"Chi, if you don't really wanna--" He looks away with discomfort."No, I do." She moves her hand around his sculpted hips and keeps him from shifting away from her. Then she reluctantly, lightly, grasps the problem that has stood between them for so many years and moves her face towards the only part of his body that has ever been soft. "I want to."After a few minutes in her timid fingers and hesitant insecure kisses just below his navel edging ever closer without ever quite getting there, he is convinced this is a bad idea. He is sure he won't be able to get hard, let alone get off, which seems like a ridiculous notion because blowjobs have never felt anything less than amazing before and he himself is amazing at them. And if he could figure it out, he is pretty sure anyone could. He had actually been surprised by how easy it was to figure out considering how very few things about Vegeta are ever easy to figure out. In fact, Vegeta made it not just easy, but-- Wait, no, don't... think... about- -But as he feels her finally take him into her mouth, behind the private sanctuary of his eyelids he can see nothing other than Saiyan Royalty.Without warning his rival is on his knees in front of him, soaking wet, naked torso, tight spandex shorts, dark blue, leaving so little to the imagination, mouth parted, still smirking, He is always smirking, and deep dark eyes looking up at him, daring him to do something- He feels a pulse of blood run through him and he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, while shutting his eyes tighter in anguish and embarrassment because this is definitely wrong.
Stop. Thinking. About. Ve-
He tries to shove the image away but he can't help it as she gently moves her tongue around. Vegeta's all he can think about because He does it better. That single image he can't get rid of breaks the dam and now there is a flood of fantasies and memories, some innocent, some definitely not , some of them aren't even Vegeta, but none of them are Chi Chi. He opens his eyes and looks down at her in an attempt to purge his thoughts but it's too late, far too late. He has to give up.He just wants to feel good and this doesn't feel good. It is making him feel worse: lying to her, lying to himself, pretending to want her, to want to be here, to want any of this. Even if he could forget Vegeta, he is sure he doesn't want this as a replacement. This frustrating dissatisfaction with his marriage was something he felt before he met Vegeta. And he would have been miserable here with or without the other Saiyan to show him why. And he will stay miserable if he doesn’t do something.The realization washes over him like an icy cold river on a hot day. Jarring, almost painful, but also offering insurmountable relief."Stop," he says quietly as he presses his hand gently against her forehead and slowly pushes her off and away from him. Her face is riddled with confusion, insecurity, her desperation to make things right, her want to have the perfect life he's denied her in so many ways."Chi... I'm sorry. I don't want... I can't… do this anymore." This will never work. It had never worked . Not the way she wants, not the way he wants. She wants something he can not give her. And so does he. He shouldn't have come back to her. Not this time, nor anytime he left. He asks himself as he watches her try not to break down in front of him why he bothered trying these last few months, why he stayed here when he has the entire world at his fingertips. Their kids are grown, Gohan and Goten don't live here, they have their own lives, it doesn't matter. He doesn't need to pretend anymore . "You... can, I--""I can't. Chi Chi, I can't." He places his hands firmly on her shoulders and holds her, trying to figure out where they go from here. "No, Goku, you can, I will not--""Chi Chi!" He shakes her gently to make her listen. The movement causes tears to fall down her cheeks. "I won't ." He wishes he found a way to tell her sooner, before he left her alone for so long. He moves to wipe one of her tears away but she swats his hand away and stands up. "Chi..." He reaches for her."No. NO! Don't TOUCH me!" She bats back his arm defensively and there is a long agonizing silence between them. "I have waited and tried for SO LONG! To make this work." She pauses and breathes heavily through her nose. "You can not IMAGINE what I've gone through, FOR YOU! WAITING for you to come back! Every time you left I--The sacrifices I have made! Because you couldn't! For this family. For our sons. For YOU." She glares at him long and hard. "And YOU have the NERVE to show up here after almost fifteen years of wherever you were! To tell me you can't--no--you won't do this?! That you’ve given up?!""It's not like I could help it! I didn't know how long I wa-"She lets out a furious exclamation. "You couldn't help it? YOU COULDN'T HELP IT?! YOU LEFT! You didn't have to LEAVE!""I didn't mean t--""I don't CARE! I don't! I don't!" Tears are now streaming down her face and she can't bear for him to see her this way, so undone. She is supposed to be the rock in their relationship. "Why can't you do this? Still?! It's so easy, Goku! I don't ask for much! I really don't! I have offered everything I have to you! And you still can’t--I don’t understand! What more can I do? What am I not giving you? Why..." She laughs at how much it hurts to admit. “...don’t you want me?” She stares into his dark eyes for a long time but gets no answers. "Is this something you decided while you were away?""No, I decided it right now.""You decided right now , while I was-uhg! UHG!" She slams the bedroom door on her way out."Wait, no, that's not what I meant! Chi Chi!" He quickly snags the pair of sweatpants off the floor and throws them on before following her out into the hall.They are standing in the kitchen with a lifetime of problems between them. "Chi..." His mouth closes and he stares at his wife's broken heart, open on display in every line of her face."What, was I not up to your standards?! Have you gotten better ones out in space from--from prostitutes? I should have known from how quickly you agreed that you--""No, Chi Chi-! I--" He stops short and stares at her trying to figure how he should respond to an accusation that isn't that far from the truth... "Was there someone else? Is that why you always left? Is that... why you can't--why I'm not--" 'Never tell our wives.' A nagging voice flashes through his head and he bites back at it. I... am done being controlled by Vegeta. Done trying to please him and his stupid conditions, all his annoying rules. None of that means anything now! Goku suddenly decides he can say what he wants to who he wants and if anyone deserves to know it was her; the mother of his two children, the woman who put up with, housed, and somehow managed to feed them. He wants to tell her because it is the truth, it is right, and it is the biggest 'Fuck You' to Vegeta he can think of right now and that , that also feels really good."Yes," he says with righteous confidence. The feeling is temporary though because the hot cast iron pan, while it didn't hurt, certainly has a heavy thud as it slams into the side of his face."You. Cheating. Bastard." Her voice is low and quiet, simmering with fury and he's impressed by the strength she managed in that swing. He is sure that if humans were capable of transformations, she would definitely be a super-something right now. "That's it then? You had some whore out there that you-? Or was it whores? And Vegeta! You two always--Was it his idea? To run around on your wives?""No, Chi Chi. Er, yes, sort of, but he was--it was him. I was... with him. Just him."There is a long uncomfortable silence. "What?""I left... to be... with Vegeta." He says it slowly, each syllable lighter, sweeter than the last. He didn't realize how much that weighed on him as she blinks at him with an open mouth. "I--I didn't always--the last time was different. We got into an argument, so I left to be alone. I didn't know how long I'd be gone, it was an accident. But most times I left were… yeah, to be…” It's not like she is going to make him feel worse about it, he was pretty damn sure he couldn't feel worse about it after last night, so what was the point in lying anymore? He had loved every minute of it up until the end, every damn miserable one. He loved it so much he had been willing to weather it's painful inconsistency just to have it in the fleeting moments it lasted. It hurt more to pretend he didn't want it. He can't deny it, won't deny, so with a quiet exhale he says it. "with him.”Her mouth drops, "You slept with Vegeta ?"The corner of his mouth quirks with a smile. "We didn't do a lot of sleep--" She slams the pan into him again hard enough to cut him off and put him off balance and he thinks he absolutely deserved that one. "All those 'missions,' all your 'training,' every time you left with him , you-! You were-! For years?! You--" She screams as he lets her hit him with the pan one more time, but stops her when she tries to get him again on the back swing. She struggles to get the pan free from his grasp but he doesn't let go. He pulls it out of her hands and drops it on the floor and watches her completely break down in front of him. He wonders if this is how Vegeta felt watching him yesterday.Then her expression pleads softer. "It’s--it’s his fault, isn’t it? He perverted you, that must be--he- it was him who--" She is so desperate to cling to any shred of hope that she can still have him. But he refuses to let her. Not this time."No, it wasn’t Vegeta’s fault, Chi Chi," he says with irritation. “I was the one askin’ most of the time.”But she doesn’t hear him. "And to think I let that--that monster near my son! I let him train my baby. I let him--I didn't know. How could he? He was just a boy and he--Now he's--he did this to Goten too! To my baby!”"No, Chi Chi! That's not--Vegeta didn’t do anything to him! Goten has nothing to do with this!” His brows crumple in confusion. “That’s not how it works!" he snaps."How can you be sure?""Because I was like this before I ever met Vegeta!" She closes her mouth and stares at him through watery eyes. "Even on our wedding night- I--I couldn't--It never felt right with you. There were a lotta fights I really enjoyed but not ‘cause I wanted to fight the guy, you know? It just… took me a little time to figure that out. But we… were already married. I didn’t… know how to tell you.”"I don't…" She can barely form the words and tears stream down her face in fresh waves. "If it isn't--It's not--Is it because you're Saiyan? Are all Saiyans depraved aliens who--"He wants so badly to roll his eyes. He is tired of hearing his insecurities voiced by the people who hurt him most. He is not going to let her win this time, like he always used to do. "YES, Chi Chi!” He scoffs loudly. “All Saiyans are perverted! Er--most of them! I don't know! It doesn't matter. I can't change it! But you know what?! I like it!"She cuts him off with a scream. "You lying! Cheating! Uhg!" She stutters trying to find the word. “How could you do this to me!?! I married you! I supported you! I trusted you! I--I--! AAh! Get! Out! GET OUT!" ahe yells at the top of her voice. "And THIS TIME, Don't EVER COME BACK!""I won't! I don't want to come back!" He sort of regrets saying that but it comes out anyway and he can’t take it back. She shoves her hands against his chest but he doesn't budge. "Ahh!" She screams until her voice breaks. "You shouldn’t have come back the first time! You--!”“I know! ...I know. But I did. And... I’m sorry.”“Sorry?! You’re-!?” She stops herself and regains what is left of her composure with closed eyes. She takes a deep breath and looks at him with more hurt than he’s ever seen. Her tears stop falling and she points to the door. “Just get out.”“I-”“And when you see him, you tell that sick son of a bitch, Vegeta, if he ever comes near Goten--" She pauses to catch her breath. "--near either of my children--again, I'll find a way to kill him myself."He frowns because why does she keep bringing him up? Goku isn't very good at puzzles, his mind rarely clicks things together that way but he is starting to get the feeling that she just pointed out something important because out of all the things that have come out of Goten's mouth, he knows at least that is true. It might have been the only thing Goten has said that’s true. He thinks, maybe Chi Chi has a point, maybe Goten does have know something more than he does about the mess he’s found himself in. He always seems to know everything. In fact, the attention they both occasionally received on account of his son's confidence with himself often left Goku feeling self-conscious and at times, inadequate. He is beginning to think it is no wonder his relationships with both Chi Chi and Vegeta were such disasters and maybe he needs to start taking advice from someone who understands all this better than he does.He doesn't have much time to reconsider the thought because his wife picks up the frying pan and he has about four seconds to get out of the house before she forces him out with her iron will. He manages to stumble out the door before any serious damage befalls him but it's late and he is a little disoriented by racing thoughts and a racing heart. He isn’t sure where to go so he quickly searches out the only energy who might understand why he just did what he did. He exhales in relief, because that ki just so happens to be awake.Goku locates him in the middle of West City in an area he is unfamiliar with and hears another shatter of glass as he disappears.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He wasn't expecting to arrive in such a loud, energetic place. He certainly didn't think his son would be drunk, although he's not particularly surprised either and it makes him suddenly much less confident that Goten is really the best person to talk to about this or at least, that this is the best time. He stammers through it anyway because he doesn't have much of a choice now. He is already here with nowhere else to go. "I left... we--it wasn't going to work. With Chi Chi. So we're not… together anymore.""Let me just--Hold on." Goten presses his hand to the wall to steady himself. "Let me make sure I'm understanding this. You... decided it 'wasn't going to work' and left," he repeats slowly.Goku's hand reaches back to rub his neck as he nods. Goten sways slightly and stares at his father. "Did you tell her why It wasn't going to 'work'?""I--sort of." He thinks for a moment. "But I'm not sure she understood. Or maybe she did? Because then she brought you up and--""Of course she did." Goten rolls his eyes."I guess she also thought it was like, uh, a Saiyan thing." His father lets out a short uncomfortable chuckle."Ohh my god. Not the 'Saiyan thing' again. Is that really how you've been internalizing this?" Goku stares back at his son with a sheepish smile, not that this is the reaction he hoped for but it is a lot better than getting hit by a frying pan.He watches Goten drag his palm slowly down his face. "Uhhhg, fuuck. Why? Why would you do this? Are you like, some kinda masochist? Is that your thing? You just like to be miserable? Because after Vegeta--”"No, I'm not--!” Goku quickly cuts him off at the mention of his name. “I don't know what that is, but I just thought it was the right thing to do. You even said, when I first told you, you asked me why I was still with her and I thought about that real hard an' I decided--""I did not tell you to leave her in the middle of the freakin’ night with no plan! I did not say that!" he says quickly and lets out a frustrated growl. "Does she know you were cheating on her?""Well, yeah. That was… why she kicked me out. She was--" He chuffs uncomfortably. "Really mad about that.""No fuckin' shit." Goten stares at him with open incredulity. "Did you tell her with who?" Goku nods. "Oooh my god. FUuuuck! Really?! Your timing, Dad, I--Fuuuck… you couldn't have gone about this literally any other way? You had to tell her--Goddamn it." He lets his hand drop and shakes his head at his father who is just standing there looking past him at whatever it is behind him he finds so interesting. "Dad, did you do this because you think it will make Vegeta come back to you?" His father turns his attention sharpley back to his son. Goten rests both hands on Goku's shoulders. "PLEASE don't tell me you did this to try and get him back. I swear, that would actually be--" Goten shakes him rougher than he means to. "The worst possible--""No!" Goku says defensively, shrugging away his son’s grip. "No, I left because I was unhappy. With her. I didn't want… to be with her. I left… I left because… it was… right. Right?"There is a long silence between them and Goten searches his father's face. Then it suddenly hits him why his father is here after wrecking the only two relationships he's ever managed to have in less than 48 hours. He could have picked anywhere in the universe, but he didn't. He chose here because... Oh goddamnit, he's looking for reassurance. ...From me?! Then again, who else is there? Gohan? He snorts.Still, he feels stuck. Now just so happens to be a very bad time for everyone and their brother to find out about The Family Drama he is trying to keep as quiet as possible. But he can't very well tell his father to go back to his wife. In fact if he says the wrong thing, Goku might do something rash, have a nervous break Or worse. He might try to run straight back to Vegeta. So, as inconvenient as it might be, the cogs slowly turning in Goten's head begin to come to the conclusion that he can do nothing other than give his father that reassurance he is so desperately seeking. His shoulders slump and he tries to figure out how best to do that while keeping the situation contained, while absolutely wasted, while still not knowing anything about Vegeta's reaction to anything that has happened in the last two days, while also still knowing he’s supposed to be happy for his dad about finally coming out.Goten lets out a long sigh. "Yeah.” He nods. "Yeah it was the right thing to do... finally leaving your lie of a marriage so... congratulations, I guess." He looks at his father whose eyes keep flicking away half-tempting Goten to turn his head and see what keeps distracting him but he doesn't.Goku visibly relaxes and smiles in relief. "Yeah, thanks, it's--I feel better.""That's... great,” Goten says with forced smileGoku nods, even though he didn’t receive the response he is looking for. "So, what, uh… what do I do now?"Goten's head lulls back with a condescending grin and he gestures to their surroundings where finally sees-- Nice. I knew you had a thing for blonds. "Anything you want.""Oh." He looks back toward the bar and shyly admits, "I kinda wanna go back inside. It looked really fun in there. What, um, is it a bar? Or… somethin’?”Goten sighs. “It’s a club.”“Oh!” Goku smiles. “That was… a lot! For a club. Isn’t it? It looked more like a ba--”“A night club, Dad!” Goten huffs. “Not a fuckin’ afterschool activities club. Fuck. It’s a gay club!”Goku nods quickly as he takes it all in. “There are…” he looks back at the entrance to the bar with a broad grin. “...clubs for that?”Goten rolls his eyes. “Yeah. It’s like a bar! But…” He gestures. “More drugs and louder music, I dunno.”Goku considers that information thoughtfully. “Well, I could… I could actually really go for a drink right now.” He chuckles awkwardly.Goten raises a brow at his father's disheveled shirtless appearance, "I'm sure you could, but." Goku walks towards the entrance and Goten stops him from invading his territory with a hand on his chest. "No. I think we should go--" Then he has a crushing realization. Home. "You... you don't have a place to stay, do you?"Goku shakes his head. "But that's ok. I don't mind the outdoors."Goten laughs. "No, Dad, that's--no. Gohan might actually get back in touch with his Saiyan side if he finds out I let you sleep outside.""Oh... Ok. Well, we don't... we don't have to go there right now." He cringes in worry that his eldest son might not be quite as receptive to the news as his youngest."Yeah, well…" Goten snorts. "We're not staying here." He pulls his father with him as he walks away from the brick-faced building with blacked out windows that aren't quite dark enough to keep a blue light from occasionally pulsing on their faces."Wait, but--" Goku pulls away from his son and looks back toward the building. "But I want to see more of--of the club. It looked--""Nope. No. No. Noooo, no, no, no. No. We're definitely leaving. We're going to Gohan's. Now."Goku’ face turns into a pout and he crosses his arms and stays right where he is as he tries arguing with Goten. “But I--”"Oh my--Dad! Are you serious? This place is not for you.”"What do you mean? You said it was--”“No, No! Just trust me! It's not your kind of place.”“You don't know that, I actually kinda liked the music. And the--""Yes, I do know that and- why are you still arguing with me about this? Maybe I didn't want to be there anymore, alright? Certainly not with you.”Goku doesn't say anything in response and looks away.Goten’s eye twitches as he watches his father continue to pout. Aren't you supposed to be the parent here?! "Look, I'm sure that finally coming out of the closet is just so fucking liberating all of the sudden but I'm also sure that the first thing you should NOT do after leaving your wife and getting dumped by your abusive boyfriend--""He wasn't--""Fine, then your--your whatever he was to you!" Goten presses on with irritation. "The next step is still NOT go to a gay bar, pick up the first twink you see, and try to rebound like there's no tomorrow. Like, are YOU drunk? Because, shit. That is just... wow. Astonishingly reckless. And that's coming from ME." He shakes his head."You said I could do whatever I wa--""It was a figure of speech!" he snaps angrily before launching into the air. “Well?” He looks down at his father. “Are you coming?” Goku looks away and reluctantly follows his son into the air after a few moments of tense silence."What's a twink?" Goku asks once he thinks his son's temper is a little cooler.He rolls his eyes with a smirk. "Everything Vegeta... is not,” he says as he lands. "Enough with with all the questions and let's just--c'mon, let's go. And please for the love of--don't fuckin' say anything to Gohan about this, ok? We'll have a big fuckin’ pow-wow about this shit tommorow or something and figure out what to tell him. For now just say we were training late or some shit and, Iunno." He doesn't bother looking back to see if his father agrees as he staggers to the door.They make a racket getting through the door, drawing Gohanb out of his room. "Goten, it's almost midnight, please. What are you--Dad?" Goten and Goku look up at Gohan who is adjusting his glasses at the top of the stairs. "What are you doing here?""Ruining my night is what he's doing," Goten slurs quietly."Chi Chi sorta… kicked me out," Goku says with a nervous smile.Goten stops in his tracks. His face pales and the urge to wack his father in the back of the head before he says anything else burns through him. If it hadn't been for Gohan standing right there staring at them, he might have."She what?!" Gohan quickly makes his way down the steps and with a worried look assesses his father's current state of undress. "She--what happened?""Yeah, I..." Goku's eyes are suddenly drawn to his youngest son who has quietly positioned himself behind his older brother. "It..." He squints, trying to discern what Goten is mouthing because his hand gestures don't make any sense. "Wasn't... working...? It wasn't working," he says confidently now looking back at Gohan.Goten rolls his eyes and shakes his head silently then tries to look nonchalant when Gohan turns around to scowl at him. Gohan turns back towards their father as he says, "Well, I'm sure you and mom can... figure this out and--""We did figure it out. And I left."Gohan stares at his father speechless for several moments. "Well, that's--there's counseling for... You left? Or she kicked you out?""Both.""I--” he stammers in confusion. “Why?""Because I'm--" he sees Goten quickly drawing his hand back and forth across his neck while shaking his head which does make Goku hesitate, but still doesn't shake his resolute decision that no one is going to tell him what he can and can't say anymore. Not Vegeta and especially not Goten. So he blurts it out and hopes for the best. "I'm gay!"Goten plops down on the steps and resigns his face to his palm."You're..." Gohan turns slowly and raises one brow at his little brother. "...gay?" Goten sighs before nodding his head in confirmation. "Dad..." Gohan looks back at their father. "Do you... know what that means?""Yes!" he says with a smile. "I like guys!"Gohan cocks his head, not quite convinced his father really understood. "But you... have kids.""Gohan, that's not--Uhg." His little brother buries his head further into his hands."It's a valid... concern.""No. It's really not," Goten mutters."I… I still love and care about you guys if that's what you mean."Gohan frowns. "No... that was not what I meant. I meant that--”"Gohan!" Goten snaps."What?" he asks, genuinely confused."He knows what the fuckin' word means! He's gay, not stupid!""I didn't say he was. I just don't understand how--dad you're married, you have kids. When did you deci-""Oh my--Don't even finish that fucking sentence!" Goten interrupts on the verge of losing his temper, "It is not something you 'decide!'""I--I know, I didn't mean--but--""But what?! What is there to question about this? If you spent literally any time with him, you might even know that he’s not just gay, but a huuuge faggot."Gohan's jaw drop.Goku looks between his son’s opposing expressions. "What’s a faggot? Is that another word for it?""Yeah," Goten says before his brother has time to recover. "But not everyone who's gay is a faggot. Like me, for example, I'm gay, but I'm not a faggot.""Oh. What makes me a faggot then?"Goten opens his mouth with a smirk to respond but never gets the chance because Gohan is tired of dealing with the fallout of his little brother's antics, tired of tolerating his constantly poisonous remarks about everyone. He is unable to stand there and watch his brother make fun of their father with a homophobic slur while he is trying to come out--as if that already isn't shocking enough by itself. His voice suddenly explodes at a volume it hasn't found in nearly two decades."GOTEN! WHAT the FUCK is WRONG with you!?" Goten is trying his hardest not to laugh and doing a terrible job of it until his brother pulls him back to his feet by his shirt and makes it a lot easier. "What is your problem?!"It is at that moment, as he feels Gohan's ki flare, as he watches something dangerous flash across his eyes, that Goten sees for the first time not the quiet bookish university professor who likes to show off to everyone his perfectly human life, but the Saiyan who defeated Cell. Gohan is furious and Goten knows first hand what anger does to power. He knows it hurts. It hurts a lot.After an uncomfortable glance toward his father who is just standing there, watching, doing nothing useful, he realizes the gap between him and his brother may not be as big as he thought with as drunk as he is right now, and that gap would not count for much if he is outnumbered. Gohan lets go and Goten drops back to the stairs. "Leave."His eyes widen, "What?""I said LEAVE!" Gohan gestures to the door in frustration. "Go outside or something! You are... unbelievable, Goten! Calling him that. Worse, telling him to say something like that about himself! What is wrong with you? Why… would you--"Goten looks back at his father, who is still making no attempt to defend him and frowns. "Fine! Fine, I'll leave." He slams the door on his way out.Gohan lets out a heavy sigh and puts his hand on his father's shoulder. "I'm sorry.""I Probably shouldn't say that word... should I?"Gohan shakes his head slowly. "No. No, it’s…” He sighs in resignation. “Dad, in your own words, not his, why... are you here right now?"Goten has his ear pressed to the door for several minutes, hoping, PRAYING, his father doesn't say something stupid. Their voices are quiet at first and he can't quite make out what they're saying. He hears his brother say Vegeta's name and he backs off from the door, unable to stop himself from running his fingers through his hair even though he hates the sensation as he walks over to a window.Gohan looks upset, pissed off. He's shaking his head and Goten smiles. Should have saved my dad the trouble and let him sleep outside. He'll probably be joining me out here in a few minutes . Gohan doesn't understand. He's never understood. He watches Gohan's mouth move. For a long time. Goten can't figure out what he's saying, but then... He hugs him. Gohan hugs their father."What?" He presses his palms to the window pane.After several moments Gohan lets go. Their father smiles sadly and so does Gohan. Goku walks upstairs but his son does not. Gohan looks down at the floor and then directly out the window Goten is standing behind. He can sense the anger seething inside his little brother. It is clearly illuminated by the light from inside. Gohan frowns and motions for him to come inside.Goten backs away out of the light, his hands forming fists, his nostrils flaring and he blasts off instead. Furious that his father so easily got the support and reassurance Goten has never felt from his brother.He flies straight back to the bar he was at earlier that evening, radiating toxicity. Everyone gives him room as he searches quickly for the man who was almost unlucky enough, but doesn't find him. He looks for the next best thing and even though the next best thing was already talking to someone he sits down next to him. He taps on his shoulder and the next best thing turns around with an annoyed look on his face. "What?"Goten smiles confidently and waits for the man to come to his senses. He doesn't so Goten makes it explicit. "What do you think? I'm interested."The man raises his brow. "Ookay, well, I'm not. So, how about you move along." He doesn't even turn back around fully before he feels Goten's hand on his thigh."I'm pretty sure you're interested," he says darkly, very close to the back of the man's neck.The man tries to pull Goten's hand away. "No! I'm really not! Hey, Bartender!" Goten lets go and turns the man's head to face his own. "If that is your standard." He points rudely at the man's thin, pock-faced date. "Then you should consider yourself lucky I even noticed you."The man lets out a disgusted noise and tries to pull his face away from Goten's hand. "Get over yourself. You're not my type, gym rat.""I'm everyone's type.”He scoffs. "Well, I'm not everyone . Hey, Bartender!" He tries to wave down the overworked tattooed blond behind the bar. "Bartender, this asshole's bothering me!"The bartender looks at Goten. "You fuckin' botherin' him?""No. I'm not."The bartender raises an eyebrow doubtfully. "Oh yeah? Well, you’re botherin' me , haven't ordered a damn thing and already you're causin' a fuckin' scene."Goten rolls his eyes. The blond puts both hands on his hips and tilts his head. "Oooh, an attitude." He smirks at Goten. "Then how about I get you a tall glass of 'get the fuck out' or, no, maybe you want to jump right to it and get a pint of 'throw you out.' On the house of course."Goten sneers. "How about a bottle of whatever-the-fuck-I-want, you weak useless human." He reaches behind the bar despite a serious attempt by the blond to physically stop him. His hand goes straight through a glass and there is a loud shatter. Suddenly everyone's eyes are on him.He curses and pulls back, uncomfortable with the sudden lull in noise around him. He shifts and frowns. "Fine, whatever! Don't wanna fuckin' be here anyway!"The wasteland is quiet and empty as he begins firing blasts out into the open. He wonders if he’s ever managed to hit another planet with all his stray blasts into the sky. He stops firing at the thought and stares thoughtfully at the stars until he passes out.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Thundering rain pouring down on his face wakes him up. He is caked in mud and tracks in a small river when he arrives back at Gohan's house. He can't sense his father's Ki anywhere nearby and his brother is just sitting there in the kitchen, drinking coffee, reading something on his phone before going off to his normal job like a normal human; like everything's just fuckin' great! Isn’t it? Because you’re the perfect son and one hell of a brother! Aren’t you? As Goten walks by the kitchen the elder brother looks up, sighs and puts down his phone. "Go--" "Don't! Don't say anything. I really really don't want to hear"--Goten turns to face him--“for the thousandth time, how much of a disappointment I am to you.""That's not what I was going to say.""And before you power up, all self righteous and pissed off, let it be known that I'm sober, I won’t hesitate, dad’s not here, and you will lose.” “Self right--what?!" Goten stares at his brother who is now adjusting his glasses to rub at the bridge of his nose. “God, Ten. How do I reach you? Without violence? Do you really not understand why I was so upset with you last night?"Goten scoffs loudly, “Oh no, I do understand. I should have been so fucking excited about another striking similarity for us to bond over, right? So everyone can compare us more than they already do, right?” He crosses his arms. “I should have been ecstatic to be his emotional pillar of support in these trying times, shouldn’t I? As IF this somehow made everything he did ok, right? Especially for ME, right?! This just must be SO easy and AMAZING for ME because he’s--”"Goten." He sighs. "Yes, Dad obviously made some mistakes and, yes, like you, I'm angry with him. I am beyond hurt that he lied to us for years , that he left us time and time again apparently to pursue some kind of affair with--" He stops short of saying something he still doesn't believe. "Which, seems to have gone about as well as anyone could have guessed, but…" He searches his brother's face for any shred of the half-humanity that supposedly resides there. "He’s still our father, Goten! You should be there for him! Not... torment him! He came to you first! He trusted you as someone he could talk to about this! Do you not understand why he--?”Goten snorts as he silences his brother with a gesture. “Talk to.” He rolls his eyes. “Right. Do you know--Gohan, do you know where I was when he decided to appear all fucking magically, like he does, with his ‘exciting news?’” Gohan shakes his head. “I was at a club--a gay club, obviously--and--Oh, don’t worry, it gets better.” Goten wipes away mud that was dripping down from his hairline towards his eyes with a smirk. "He didn't want to leave. It was an effort to convince him to come here. In fact, he was never convinced. He argued with me the whole way home about why we should have stayed.” Gohan's eyes widen. "Really?""Yes. Really. So, I’m sure talking, to me anyway, wasn’t high on his list of priorities after realizing getting kicked out meant he was single and--Kami, Gohan, do you know what an uncomfortable position that puts me in? I’m his SON! Not his best fucking friend! What were we going to talk to about? His plans for the future and--""I’m sure that wouldn’t have been the worst idea.""--and advice on how to pick up guys?” His face scrunches with irritation. "Yes! It would have been the worst idea! I was not about to sit there and let our FATHER, Gohan, get drunk and start crying about his ex or--or whatever!” On that note, are you just going to brush the whole Vegeta mess under the rug? “In a public place, making a scene, before inevitably trying to hook up with the first stranger who caught his eye! Because despite evidence to the contrary, I do understand! I understand that he’s incredibly prone to bad decisions right now! Example fucking A, he was going to sleep outside, or at a stranger’s house, before I brought him here. Outside, Gohan.”“And with you being the local expert in bad decisions," Gohan says with a gesture to his little brother's clothes. "I'm sure convincing him to use a homophobic slur as a self-descriptor was just another helpful addition to your resume of destructive relationships, wasn't it? I mean, honestly, Ten! I cannot fathom why YOU of all people would do something like that!”“‘Me of all people,’” he mocks his brother. “Because it’s true! Fuck! Doesn’t anyone pay ANY attention? At all?! Or am I really the only fucking one who knew?”"You knew? Before last night?"Goten huffs before confirming, "Yes... He told me shortly after he came back.”“That… that was months ago.”Goten nods. “Yeah, I know. But even if he didn’t tell me, I would have figured it out pretty quick. You should have known even before he left. How did you not notice?”“What was there for me to notice?”"Did you never spend any time with him before he left or something? Did you never talk to him? Or go in public with him? Ever? It’s soo--Gohan, I can’t take him anywhere without having to remind him fourteen times that it’s not socially acceptable to mentally undress every masculine object you walk by as obviously as he does! He’s--Gohan, he’s a disaster. And when he’s with mom? Oooh, God, don’t even get me started.”Gohan chuffs weakly. "No, we didn't... really spend a lot of time together except when the fate of the world depended on it."Goten frowns. "Really? At all?""Yeah,I had Namek, when he finally showed up and then... there was the year in the time chamber during Cell, but I was still pretty young and we were focused on training. We didn’t talk very much. And after that... He was always gone. With you, with Ve--by himself. By the time he left I had my own family to start worrying about. You’ve... spent more time with him since he’s been back than I ever got a chance to.""Why… Why didn't you ever tell me that?""That I felt abandoned even before he left? Ten, you idolized him as a kid. Even though he missed important things for you too. When he left, it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. But you? You were devastated. You didn't need the weight of my bitterness too."Goten chews on that thought for a moment before mumbling. “Well, whatever. I'm sure I'll find a way to… apologize or something. Where…” He shifts his eyes upwards and his nose follows, aimed at not quite the center of the ceiling. His father's energy is low, calm, and very, very high up. "Why’s he... where?" Goten tilts his head in a curious fashion.Gohan hesitantly lets the subject drop and crosses his arms. “You don’t know where he is?”“I do. But, not… Is he on a mountain?"“No, he's... on Kami's lookout.""Oh. Really? I didn’t know it was that high up. Why is he there? Is he using that stupid time room?""Kami's lookout is more than just the room of spirit and time, it's…” Gohan tilts his head from side to side for a moment trying to work out how to describe Dende’s home. “It's a place where he can seek guidance and meditate without interruption. Maybe you should find somewhere you can do the same."Goten scoffs. "I don't meditate.""Regardless, I'm sure you both could use a break from training right now. I don't know what else you've been doing but whatever it is has exhausted you, Ten. You look... " "Fan-fucking-tastic, I know." Goten lolls his head back letting more muddy rain drip on to the floor. "When did he go? This morning?" "Yes. I imagine he has a lot to think about right now. He might not be back for a while.”“Hm.” Meditating in the sky, huh? Maybe that's a good place for him. Away from everyone, out of my fuckin' way at least. Might be my chance to finally get to Vegeta. Goten's stomach suddenly flips at the stark feeling of rejection still rolling through him from last night. First things first… “I need a fucking shower." He says with a shiver. Slopping, wet footprints follow him as he resigns himself to the only warmth he’s been able to feel lately.Goten stays under the hot steaming water until his brother leaves for work so he can avoid any more needling questions he might have. He stays there for the remainder of the morning to wash away the sick feeling from last night that keeps bubbling up in his chest. He stays there until he feels Trunks nearing the house. He better be coming here for Pan. He was not there for Pan.*** Goten rolls his eyes as he steps out of the shower and finds Trunks already in his room yammering something about ‘the best adventure we’ll have yet.’ “What?”“Amsterdam, Ten! It's the new thing, we have to go!”Goten frowns, unconvinced. “No, c’mon! There's like--there's this festival going on right now and everything!” Trunks doesn’t actually know if there is a festival, or much of anything in Amsterdam besides the vague promise of a drug-addled good time, but it is the best thing he can come up with. It is a default activity: getting fucked up. Goten won’t question it and Trunks is sure he can get his best friend to agree.Trunks still isn't convinced this is a very good plan but his sister was insistent and he didn't have a better one; so, here he is, distracting one Son, maybe trying to get information out of him, while his sister goes to question the other. Two birds, one stone.A pair of black jeans hit Goten, who is still in a towel, in the face. “I don't wanna go out. Let’s just go to your place.” Because I REALLY need to figure out what the fuck is going on with Vegeta. What has he been DOING this whole time? Obviously not actively trying to kill me… that’s a good sign! Right? “What? My house?! Why? There’s nothing to do there! Let me make it up to you. Let’s go out, some place fun and expensive. I’ll cover everything.”“You always cover everything.”“Yeah, and we always have fun when we go out.” He grins widely, letting those big blue eyes of his really shine because his sister isn’t the only one with irresistible charm.“Make what up to me?” Goten says already sulking over what he knows will inevitably be coerced into doing.“For… for our argument. I wanted to apologize.”“You want to... wait what?” He pulls on the pair of jeans Trunks threw at him and casts him a confused look. “Why?”Trunks has already disappeared into his closet again and is now rooting through his clothes. He pokes his head out to respond, “‘Cause! I wanted to say sorry, you know, for punching you in the face? I felt bad..." Well, not that bad. I was drunk, but I'm pretty sure you deserved it. "Look, it's okay, I get it, you’re going through some shit with your dad being back or whatever, and you don’t wanna talk about it yet, but I don’t want you to think I’m not still totally one hundred percent here for you.” But still, I would appreciate a little honesty every now and then. It’ll be a lot easier if YOU tell me what was going on, because while my sister is creative and efficient, I approve of ZERO of the ways she gets information from people. Goten nods his head trying to process what he just said as Trunks picks a bright colored shirt. “You... don't have to do that. No, not that one. It’s too tight.”Trunks looks at it with a smirk. “So, definitely this one?”"No, Trunks, really. I already--last night was super shitty, I don’t wanna go out. I’d rather just go to Cap--”“Last night? Who cares about last night?! I’m talking about today! We have to go out. I’ve been trying to escape that helldome for weeks! C’mon, Ten, I finally have a day off, tear up the town with me.” Yes, but you have the day off on The One Day my idiot father chose to be inaccessible to everyone and I finally had an edge on Vegeta , FUCK! “I really really don’t want to go out, Trunks, you have the better game system and--”Trunks has a trump card though and his smile broadens as he uses it.“But, Ten, my sister is home. And you know how she gets when she sees you. We won’t get in one good game.”Goten opens his mouth to respond. He isn’t worried about Bra these days, but Trunks dpesn’t know that and Goten already set off enough alarms last time he went over. He needs to start keeping up appearances, not making them worse. Shit. Why isn’t she back at school? He is forced to concede. Vegeta will just have to wait. The first bar Trunks pushes Goten into is over-saturated with hot beautiful people and before they have found a place to sit down, Trunks has somehow already procured a bottle and pressed it forcefully to Goten's mouth. “Drink! It’s on me! Everything is on me!”Goten pulls the bottle away with a choke, wipes his mouth and gives Trunks a look, but his best friend just keeps laughing and joking. Goten can't help but follow suit and comply. He's not even done when Trunks hands him another. And another. And another. And before long everything is a blur of lights and smoke and heavy music. He's not very aware of where he is most of the time but he's OK with that because at least Trunks seems to be and has him by the wrist, confidently leading him between clubs and crowds and people Goten wished his best friend would slow down enough to let him look at.When Goten comes to for the first time, it has barely been an hour and the most beautiful man he's ever seen is dancing against him. He remembers looking down at his hand at a thick wad of cash that Trunks must have provided because otherwise he had no idea where it could have come from. He remembers looking over at Trunks and noticing that he was sitting alone staring at his phone, no beautiful girl, no club slut, no drink, no nothing but him and his phone. He opens his mouth to say something to his friend, but he doesn’t remember what.When he comes to for the second time he is staring down at a glass of bright green liquid. He can hear someone distantly asking if he's ok. He remembers looking up at a ripped, dark haired but effeminate stranger and thinking they looked... concerned? He remembers them saying, "You sure you trust that friend of yours?" Goten nods with a smile and this time he remembers what he said. It was something along the lines of, "I trust him with my life." He also remembers trying to lean in for more than conversation only to be rejected because, 'Honey, no. You are way too drunk. You sure you’re alright?' The last thing Goten saw after that was the last of the green drink all over the table and shards of glass between his fingers.The third and final time he comes to, he is in the middle of throwing up in an alleyway and Trunks is leaning against the wall next to him.“We’re definitely not allowed in the last place ever again.”“Huh?” Goten struggles to get any sound out of his body other than heaving.“Well, you're definitely not. ...I didn't even know we could do that with our ki.”"What’d I do?" Goten is suddenly aware that he is shirtless, there is some kind of bright glowing paint mixed together all over his torso and in his hair from when a blacked out Goten had mistakenly let some tall handsome man run their (now broken) hands through it.“I’m not really sure, but it was colorful, awesome, and everyone loved it. If you can learn how to do it without nearly burning everything down, you should teach it to me, because it was… really fucking cool.” He smiles genuinely.Goten nods weakly before throwing up another liter of burning alcoholic bile. “Mmm… fuck.”“You good?”“Yeah…” He stumbles out towards the street, “I wanna… go home. Let’s go. This… this--I'm too… This wasn’t fun. Why’d ya do this to me?” he asks only half-kidding.“What? Not fun? Just because you don’t remember doesn’t mean you weren’t having a literal blast. And why do you think? Because you’re my friend and you needed it. And I needed it. Besides, when was the last time it was just me and you against the world?” He slings his arm around Goten’s shoulders, almost making him fall over.“I don’t know… ”“Too long, was the right answer, Ten, too long." He pulls out his phone, looks at the time and quickly rereads through his messages before letting out a sigh. "But, since you can’t fuckin’ hang, If you REALLY want to, I guess we'll go home. And here I was mistakenly thinking you could out party me any day of the week." If we go into one more place that serves alcohol-- Trunks visibly shudders. I’m not going to make it. The urge to get where Goten was had been slowly eating at him throughout the afternoon until he'd begun feeding Goten alcohol every time he wanted a drink himself as way to get vicarious satisfaction. It had gotten them both nowhere good something fast and he was regretting it. Not only did it make him feel worse, but it made Goten extremely difficult to control. They were incredibly lucky no one was badly hurt with his last stunt, even though it did look fucking cool. "I’m pretty sure… I still can…” Goten's head drops towards the floor and the rest of his body has to fight to not follow. "You’re sober aren’t you? You can't lie to me…”“What? No, I--”“You drank like eight gallons of diet soda at the last bar, I saw. Is it ‘cause you have a drinking problem? Is Pan tryna make you quit again?”“I--no,” Trunks responds sharply. “It’s not about her.” “Well, she’s right. You do. Yer shakin’. Sweatin’,” he slurs. “Think this iz the longest I’ve seen you sober since we were teenagers.”Trunks stops in his steps and wonders if that’s true.“Ha! But yer more fun when you drink.” Goten shoves him playfully. “Fuck Pan! She doesn’t know shit!” He staggers off and spins in a haphazard circle as he slurs, “Saaiiyans with drinking problemss… Saiyaaans with angerr problemss… Saaaiyans with disappeaarring problemss… fuck, even Saaiiyans with eye problemss… all Saiyans have fuckin’ problemmss and I’m the oonnly one who admitss it,” he says with unintentional honesty before tripping over his own feet.“Oh yeah? What’s your problem?” Trunks asks, hoping maybe Goten might finally open up.“ I have fucking problems.” He grins despite slipping into unconsciousness.Trunks catches him without responding and carries him home feeling like the worst friend in the world. He hopes that his sister at least got something useful out of today, because all he’d gotten was an afternoon full of regrets and withdrawal.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Bra is trying her best to push her brother towards the door, but he is resisting. “Oooh my God, Trunks! What!?”“I just think it’d be better if I came with you.”“Trunks!” She huffs. “Don’t be stupid! You have to keep Ten distracted. Do you really think he won’t find some weird convenient reason to show up and interfere? After what I told you?”“I don’t even know if I believe what you told me.” She glares at him and he sighs. “Fuck, whatever. Fine, I’ll go. Just keep me updated, ok?”“Yes, yes, all the updates.” She opens the door and starts shooing him out. “And you do the same. Maybe Captain Trainwreck will finally open up while he hopefully gets more wasted than you do.”“Shut--I told you, I’m not going to dr--” He rolls his eyes and halts in the doorway. “I’m taking this seriously.”“Uh, well I sure hope so because it’s too late to be having second thoughts; you saw our father. Now, get out there and... pretend to have fun, okay?” She finally succeeds in shoving him out of the compound and shutting the door on his moping face.She leans against a wall and blows air up into her bangs before smiling a very cruel Vegeta smile and quickly making her way to Trunks’ office which she methodically begins ransacking. She starts with his desk and then systematically works her way through each filing cabinet. She checks every draw, under ever paper, in every possible hidden compartment, but the only contraband she finds are a few flasks of what smells like tequila--Gross--and what she suspects to be a pair of Pan’s underwear, misplaced and long forgotten. “Eeewww, I’m going to shower in disinfectant after this!” she shrieks as they burn to ash in her hands.Finally though, in a locked safe she smashes open, underneath a pile of financial documents confirming her suspicions that Capsule Corporation is in fact in Trunks’ extremely capable hands regardless of his flaws, she finds it. A silver metal band untouched. “Ugh! Thank god you do not have the resources to destroy this!” She gleefully kisses the band and sprints to her lab to run a few diagnostics. Once she is done, she confirms her father is still sleeping (19 hours and counting) before heading out with two five gallon ice cream containers toward a ki located somewhere unfamiliar and very very high up. “What the--is he on a freakin’ mountain?!” ***A girl stands in front of him calling to him repeatedly while making huge annoying gestures to draw his attention like she expects something from him. It bothers him not because it is extraordinarily irritating--although that too--but also because it is Vegeta’s daughter and not Vegeta. Not that I want to see him right now either or anything…As she attempts to disrupt his mediation he does his best to ignore her and stay focused on the ball of light in his mind that represents wholeness. He is trying, at his eldest son's recommendation, to take a moment away from everyone to figure out what his next step will be. He is trying to clear his head before using the room of spirit and time to close the gap in power between him and Vegeta that he was forced to come to terms with in the worst way. He is trying but now she is here and Why is she here?!He doesn't open his eyes or shift from his straight-backed seated posture. “Can I help you?”She sighs loudly. “Obviously, Goku or I wouldn't be here yelling at you! But don’t worry, I brought a peace offering, so you know my intentions are good.” He hears her drop two drums of something at his feet.He finally opens his eyes and frowns at the obvious bribe before trying to resume meditating. Bra is immediately slighted by the gesture, leans into his face with narrowed eyes. “Alright, look, I gave you a chance the other day to ‘make it right’ and now my daddy dearest is worse. So, you better tell me what the fuck is going on or--”“I don’t know! What’s ‘going on!’" he snaps rudely. “Oh really? I suppose he just punched himself out into the middle of the desert then, hm?”“Sure sounds like somethin’ he would do,” Goku mumbles as he shifts his seated position counter clockwise away from her.“He’s prone to psychotic breakdowns, yes! But usually not without a good reason! What the hell did you do?”“I didn’t do anything!” “Goku!” She turns his head to face her. “You are mistaken if you think I’m asking!” Her ki flares and frizzes her hair. “I’m trying to be nice.” She kicks one of the ice cream containers. “Because I promised my brother I wouldn’t cause Capsule Corporation another ‘incident,’ but I swear--” She lets go of him and Goku watches her pace back and forth. “I swear on my mother’s grave, if you don’t tell me what the fuck happened that is making him try to fucking kill himself, Kami over there”--she points to Dende who is some distance away tending to some strange looking plants--“better fucking help you, because I’m about to lose my mi--”“That’s Dende, not Kami,” he remarks snidely.She pauses, her mouth drops open in sheer shock that anyone would dare be so blatantly rude to her. She pulls in a deep inhale and starts screaming in his face because a tantrum has never failed her before. He immediately claps his hands to his ears to try and shut her out. “AHH! WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU WANT!? SHUT-!” he shouts over her and she has to admit, she’s secretly impressed. She holds the record for volume in the Brief household and this soft-spoken push over easily out matched her. She stops and lets her hands drop back to her sides trying to get a better read on him before doing something rash. “Sorry--I’m sorry…” he starts, barely recomposed. “But I can’t help you. Or him. It’s over. He’s… he doesn’t want my help.”“Wh--of course he does! What do you mean ‘it’s over?!’ Did you not talk to him? I literally told you to do that!”“We did talk! That’s just it! We talked and now it’s over!”“Well, what the hell? You were supposed to make-up, not break-up! That was the whole plan! Wasn’t it?”Goku’s breaks posture as he runs one of his hands through his wild spikes of hair. “Yes! It was! And I tried! I tried really hard!” he admits, relieved to finally be able to vent his frustration and hurt to someone without being insulted or forced to defend his feelings. “I apologized, for--for leaving, and… and I forgave him for stuff that he did, but I don’t know! It didn’t… work? Because then he--he got really upset and we fought, and usually everything’s better after we fight!” he adds with confused desperation in his voice as everything comes out in a flurried rush. “But this time… it wasn’t like that. I--I just couldn’t keep up, he’s so much stronger, and so according to him…” His voice breaks off.“Okay, that sounds… a little toxic, not gonna lie, but we’ll unpack that later. According to him, what?” she prods carefully.“According to him I’m not ‘worthy’ of even being a sparring partner for the Prince of--” He looks at Vegeta’s daughter and hesitates. “Prince of jerks,” he mocks sharply before trying to resume a steady seated posture.“What? Sparring partner? That’s your kryptonite?” She rolls her eyes. “Why am I not surprised?”He chuffs. “It was more than that,” he says softly with closed eyes. “It’s always more than that with Vegeta.”She sighs. “He’s my dad, trust me. I know it’s always more than that. That’s why I’m here. To figure out what the fuck is really going on. Because obviously this isn’t really about ‘strength’ or whatever and he is not okay and I need your help getting to the bot--”His face twists into disagreement and he interrupts, “He’s fine.“ Goku looks off in the direction of the compound. “In fact he’s sleeping. Like nothing’s wrong.”“Really?” she remarks snidely. “Like nothing’s wrong? He’s SLEEPING. In the middle of the day! What timeline did you come from where my father ever does that? He doesn’t even sleep at night! So no, he is NOT fine! You KNOW he’s NOT! You saw him in the chamber, Goku! Fuck! And I know you care or you wouldn’t have been there.”“Of course I do!” He throws his arms up in frustration as he gives up on meditating. “But he doesn’t! Care! And I can’t--It’s over. He wants nothing to do with me! So I don’t know what you want me to do about his problems!”“What do you mean he doesn’t care?”“I just mean he’s not… who I thought… I don’t know. I don’t know! Everything is all messed up now, and I don’t know if I messed it up or it was always this way, or… I don’t know! But I can’t fix it,” he says as his posture slumps and his face drops into his palms.She crosses her arms, steps back to give him a little room. “Goku, can I ask you a personal question?” He looks like he’s about to say no so she continues before he can. “Just out of curiosity, how long has your, uh, for lack of a better word, affair with my father been going on?”His brows furrow with consideration for a moment. He sighs in resignation after a moment when he decides it doesn’t matter what he tells anyone anymore. He has nothing to lose. “That… sorta depends.”“Depends on what?”“Sometimes it was… going on, but sometimes it wasn’t.”“Okay, well when did it start?”He chews his lip a little as he thinks about it. “Before Chi Chi had Goten… or right around then I think.”Her mouth pops open in surprise. “Wooooooww! That’s like! Oh my god! Like almost ten years! Right?” She counts briefly on her fingers.He nods. “But we--it wasn’t constant. We stopped a lot. Especially in the beginning. Sometimes for months,” he confesses quietly. “It got better, actually a lot better. But then Bul--your mom got sick.” He pauses with thoughtful regret. “Everything changed after that. We stopped seeing each other and I left not long after.”“Holy shit.” She chuffs. “I suspected it had been going on for a while, but I didn't think--Oookay. Well, at least you had the decency to give my mother her last few months with him.”“I--” He looks away shamefully. “Yeah, I think it... hurt her a lot when she found out. We weren't friends afterwards.”“She knew?”He nods again.“Of course she did.” Bra smiles. “For how long?”He shrugs. “Almost the whole time.”“And she was… obviously not okay with it, but, like, didn’t send you into the sun? I’m confused.”He lets out a soft, sad laugh. “I think she probably considered it. She confronted me about it once, and I thought she might try, but instead she just said he ‘n I could, um, keep…” he blushes as he glances at Bra. “...keep training together…” Bra snorts at his choice in euphemism. “...because no matter how much we, um, train I still won’t ‘have’ him the way she does. And I never will.” He frowns. “She never brought it up again. And I didn’t either. Actually we never really talked again after that.”“I imagine not and under normal circumstances I’m sure I’d take her side, and be, like, super crazy to you and ruin your life or whatever, but she’s not here. You are. So, how about you tell me what’s going on with my dad before I lose him too.”“Bra.” He looks at her with honest pain. “I have been gone for almost fifteen years. Things are different now, things have changed! He changed! I can’t tell you what’s ‘going on’ because I don’t know what’s going on. I really don’t! I just know that… he doesn’t want me anymore. We’re… it’s over. It’s… it’s done. For good. He said so, and I…” He swallows and nods resolutely. “I’m not gonna go an’ beg him to change his mind. Not after what he said to me.”“Oh, Goku.” She sits down next to him with a soft pout. “He probably didn’t mean what he said. We all know how bad-mouthed my father can be.”“It wasn’t like that this time.”She frowns. “How can you be sure?”“I just know!” he says sharply.“What if he regrets what he said?”“Then it was his mistake to say it!” “Oh my God, clearly,” she mutters under her breath. “Before I waste any more time, do you even want him back?”“That’s a stupid question,” he snips.“Great.” She clicks her tongue. “Complicated runs in the Son blood.” He rolls his eyes. “Goku, we’re in a state of Saiyan emergency here and I’m just going to lay it on the table that if I don’t get your full cooperation now I’m going to have to resort to other methods and I guarantee you’re not going to like those.”“I don’t like any of your methods now.”“Oh, because yours are so much better, right? The method where you don’t speak at all? Where you do fucking nothing while he attempts to train himself to death in a super heated gravity room? No, Goku! That’s not working!”“Yeah? Well, I’m not the one you need to convince!”She purses her lips. “Apparently not. But my father’s not exactly the most approachable person in the world, Mr. I-Already-Know-That-Because-I-Only-Talk-To-My-Boyfriend-When-Shit-Is-Absolutely-Already-Fucked-Up-Beyond-All-Repair. I’m on your side here, Goku. Work with me.”Goku gives her a sidelong glance before hesitantly admitting, “Vegeta has said a lotta really horrible things to me--to everyone--in the past. And I have said things I regretted, too. But this was… different. It felt…” His forehead crinkles with emotion. “...desperate. Like he said it because he didn’t know what else to do. Like…” Goku’s mouth purses with thought. “When you back an animal into a corner until they’re trapped and scared, and so they lash out at you. And Vegeta is just like that. He always lashes out when he’s scared or upset. But I can’t… figure out why… he woulda felt that way. I was very”--he clears his throat awkwardly--”clear about wanting to be together again. On whatever terms he wanted, too.”She raises a brow at him and snorts. “Maybe that’s what scared him. You were hella forward.”“No, that’s never been a problem before,” he says quickly. “It’s something else. And whatever it is happened recently ‘cause when I saw him a few months ago for the first time after comin’ back, he was… it was like I never left,” he says sadly. “Like we just picked right up where we were before… before everything. But I wasn’t really ready yet,” he confesses softly. “There was so much goin’ on at the time.”“Maybe when you pushed him away back then it, like, really hurt his feelings or something.”Goku shakes his head. “I don’t know what it is. He should have told me when we talked. But he didn’t. Instead, he started a fight and… he lost.” He looks off into the clouds with furrowed brows. “Because he lost me.”“Uhg, fine. He’s the asshole who fucked things up, and he dumped you because he has emotional problems. Fuck. I had a bad feeling that was the case.” She watches him with a pout and clicks her nails against the cool tile floor as she thinks. “Ok, so normally I would never recommend this, because your ex is not just some guy, he’s my dad, but have you like, tried going psycho on him?” Goku blinks and looks at her in surprise. “What?”“Yeah, you know, like calling non-stop, showing up at his house, forcing him to talk to you. Maybe even throw in a few casual threats. Light his car on fire. I mean--if he had one. I’d say break the gravity room, but he already did that himself, sooo… I don’t know. But I’m sure I could help you come up with something catastrophic to get his attention and make him admit whatever the hell is going on.”“Why would I--” His brows arch with uncertainty over whether or not she’s joking. “I don’t think any of that is a good idea.”“Maybe not, but it’s highly effective in my experience. Pyscho-ex rule number one, breaks-ups happen only on your terms.” He looks at her doubtfully. “I don’t think any of what you said would work and anyway, it’s not me! I told you! It’s him! Or... something else that’s making him all crazy! I have tried to reach him, but I really don’t know what his problem is!” He softens a little and hesitates before offering. “Maybe you should ask Goten what’s wrong with Vegeta. He knows everything.”She throws her head back with a laugh. “HA! No he doesn’t.”“He knows more than me.”“Ok, well, no offense, but that’s still really far from everything. What makes you think he would know anything about this though?” She begins kicking her feet back and forth.He looks out into the clouds. “Uh, because when I told him about me an’ Vegeta, he already knew,” he says slowly, clearly still processing the information.“Oh really?”“Yeah. And he was right about... I dunno. He just says a lot of things I don’t understand, so he must know more about everything. Even Vegeta.”Her feet pause and she cocks her head. “Oh yeah? He says stuff? Liiiike what?”“Hm? Oh… I don't know.”“Oh, c’mon, Goku!” her feet resume their whimsical back and forth. “I know you're not stupid. What could Ten-Ten possibly tell you that you didn't understand?” She pushes one of the ice cream containers at him and he hesitantly accepts it.“Vegeta always called me stupid,” he mutters before digging a spoon into the softening ice cream.She snorts. “Well, after a freakin’ decade together hopefully you know better than to believe everything he says. I love my father, he spoils me like the princess I obviously am, but even I know what a compulsive jackass he can be when his pride is on the line."“Yeah... I did used to outsmart him a lot while fighting.” A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.She giggles. "Of course you did! And I bet he hated it!” A grin finally breaks free. "Couldn't stand it, which is why I always did it." "Ah! Goku! You're the best." She chuckles. "Now spill. What does Goten say that has you all turned around?”Goku laughs with the spoon in his mouth. “If I tell you what he said, will you tell me what it means?"She smirks. “I'll certainly try my very best to explain the great mysteries of Goten.”“Okay… it’s just words mostly. Like, he said he has… a gaydar? And Vegeta set it off? And I wasn’t sure what that’s supposed to mean.”She snorts. “Okay, I guess I can see that. My father is a little… eccentric. Kinda weird that he told you that though. Don’t you think?”“Uhh…”“Right okay, so you know what radar is?”“Yes… Oooh!”“That’s right, you guessed it!” she says just shy of being condescending. “Gaydar is radar for detecting the gay in people.”“So it’s like the dragon ball radar! But for--”“What? No, it’s not like the dragon ball radar.”He furrows his brow. “Then how does it work? Is it ki based?”“No Goku, it’s not… it’s not a literal radar! It’s an observation thing. It has to do with paying attention to how someone dresses and walks and talks. It’s a little hard to describe to someone who doesn’t have a foundational understanding of human stereotypes, but sometimes you can look at a guy and just know. He makes it obvious. Got it?”He arches his brow in thought. “Yeah, I think so. Do I make it obvious?”She clicks her tongue. “It might shock you to learn that being married with two kids has a tendency to throw people off.”He laughs awkwardly. “Oh. Yeah, I guess it… threw me off too.”“That’s--yeah, your gaydar probably needs some work, but that’s okay. What else has Goten told you?”“Uh… well, he asked me if I was a… a mass-a-kiss?”She raises a brow. “You mean a masochist?” “That's what I said.”“Yeah, no it wasn’t. That's someone who…” She hesitates as she considers the possible context for such a question. “...likes pain.”“Oh.” His face twists with consideration. “Hum. Maybe in a way because... I really like fighting. And that hurts a lot.”“No, no, no, no--not like fighting. Uhg.” She shakes her head. “Masochists like pain during sex. They get off on it. Makes the experience… more intense, or something, I don’t know, it’s not my kink. But that’s the general idea.” He stares blankly at her and she mistakes his unfocused look for confusion. She doesn’t realize he’s simply trying very hard to repress the urge to blurt out,“But that is like fighting!”“What?”“Yeah, it definitely makes it more intense just like when--er--” He looks away in embarrassment and stops himself from admitting something he realizes probably isn’t appropriate. “Sorry. Never mind.”She then watches him subconsciously reach his hand behind his head to rub his neck with a blush OH my God. Is that a nervous twitch!? That is SOO cute! and quickly realizes he has not misunderstood at all. “Well, I’m sure you really compliment my father in that regard.”“Huh?”“Nothing. I’m enjoying this little talk is all. What else don’t you know?” She twists a finger through her hair with a smirk.“Ummm. What’s a twink?”“Wow, Goten is wasting no time in introducing you to modern gay culture.” She chuffs in surprise. “That’s a stereotype thing again. It’s a gay man who’s…” She gestures whimsically. “I don’t know, slim, young-looking, usually a bottom. You know those terms right? Top and bottom?”Goku nods with a blush. “So am I a twink, then?” he asks in a shy whisper.“What? No, Goku, why would you think you’re--” She starts to backtrack when she realizes why. “Umm, okay, hold on. It’s really more of a looks thing, not a--When I say slim, I mean like, skinny, slender. No body hair, no facial hair, usually blond, and they look young, like uhh...” She pauses as she sees Goku assessing himself, confirming the Saiyan quirk for a lack of body hair, hair color manipulation, and aging extremely slowly.“Is being a twink a good thing?” he asks, smiling.“I--what? I don't know! Sure? It depends who you ask. Some guys are into it, some aren't--But that doesn't matter!" she says quickly. "You’re not a twink!”“But you said--”“Your muscles are too big for you to be a twink! You’re like six feet tall and super jacked.” “I--”“Just trust me! It's impossible for Saiyans to be twinks! All of you are, like, genetically predisposed to being huge, hyper-masculine, walking, talking chops of meat. I swear you guys even have muscle for brains! Even Trunks, who has purple hair and never trains isn't--"He eyes her suspiciously. "Are you sure you know what you're talkin' about? I thought you said they were blond?""Oh my God." She inhales before muttering, "It is literally a miracle that I turned out to be the brilliant, radiant feminine beauty I am while being surrounded by so much stupidity and testosterone." She exhales. "Goku, if you really must doubt me then go search it on the internet when you have some alone time or something. Did Goten call you a twink? Is that why you’re so insistent? Because one, you’re really not, and two, that would be, like, super weird of him to say on a lot of levels.”“No, he didn’t. Oh! But he did call me a faggot. And I don’t know that word either.”“What!?!” She flips back over with a loud slap of her forearms and palms against the sterile laminate. “When! Why?!”Goku nods. “Last night when we were talking to Gohan. I know it’s not… not a nice thing to say, but… I still want to know why I am a faggot and he’s not a f--”“Stop--stop saying it! Goku! …Is that really what he said!?” Goku nods. “Ohh my--WOOW! I can’t BELIEVE he said--I mean, I totally can, but still! Talk about self loathing.” She shakes her head and looks at him with a sigh. “It’s just… an insult. It doesn't really mean anything, it's just used to express hatred and disgust towards someone who's gay,” she says seriously. “But you should totally smack him upside the head next time he says it and tell him it takes one to know one. Ha!” She sticks her tongue out. “Gohan kinda already did.” He tries not to smile. “Not really. But he yelled at him for sayin’ it and they started to square up. Maybe I shoulda intervened, but Gohan is… He doesn’t do anything without a good reason, so I figured, Goten probably deserved it. But they didn’t fight. Gohan kicked him out instead.”“Oh shit, that’s some good drama. Wait, so… Does Gohan know about all this?”“Yes. Mostly. I told him about… me ‘n Vegeta.”She pauses before asking, “And… your wife?”“Yeah.” He chuckles anxiously. “I left her. Yesterday.”“You did!?”“Yeah, I was… really unhappy with her and then, everything happened with Vegeta the day before, so I don't know, I just kinda… broke down and told her… everything.” She gasps. “Oh my Gosh, Goku!”“What?” he snaps, because he’s tired of hearing from everyone about how he shouldn’t have done that.“I legit can’t even imagine how difficult that was and I want you to know that even though it was probably a total shit show of crazy feelings and yelling and crying stuff”--he nods in confirmation with a huff--“you’re like, totally doing good things for yourself and I’m really happy for you!”He looks up in surprise. “You are?”“Yeah!” She smiles genuinely.“Thanks! I feel so much better after leaving her.” Goku smiles back warmly. “It’s--I mean, I care about her, but…” His brows furrow.“No no, I totally get you. It’s hard. This is really good though.”“It is? Really?” he says with relief because neither Gohan nor Goten made him feel good about something he knows was the right thing to do.“Yeah!” She laughs. “Now you can get out there and live your best life! Sure, you’re also upending shit all over the place, but I can respect that. You’re just trying to do you.”“I’m tryin’.” He laughs weakly as he plays absently with the spoon. She hums over her own giant bite of ice cream. “Yeah, wow. So, your wife knows, Gohan knows, Goten knows. You’re, like, out out! Yay for Goku!" She claps excited and he sheepishly joins her for a few meek claps of his own. "Wait, but you said Goten already knew before you told him, right?”“Mmhm.”“How?” she asks, twirling a spoonful of ice cream.He shrugs. “I don’t know. He said Vegeta told him.”Bra lets out a shriek of laughter. “What a liar! No he didn’t!”“Yeah… I don’t think so either, but I dunno how else he would've known. Gohan and Chi Chi definitely didn't know, so I'm sure they didn't tell him.” He chuffs.“Hmm, yeah..." She thinks for a moment. "Did you bring it up? Or did he?""I think I did?""How did he react? Called you names apparently, but what else? Did he, like, freak out or anything? That is a classic Goten response to literally everything.”He pauses thoughtfully. “Yeah. He did actually. He got really upset even though he claimed he already knew and told me to ‘stay away' from Vegeta because he’s 'using me.’ And then the rest of the time I think he was just makin’ fun of me for… being with him in the first place which isn’t fair. He doesn’t--” His eyes flick to Bra’s and he starts putting serious work in on the drum of ice cream instead of saying any more. “Using you? Why would he think that?”“That’s just it! I don't know! I never really told him anything about me and Vegeta except that we were--er, havin' an affair, I guess, for a while before I left! So I--I really don’t know! I'm sure Vegeta wouldn't have talked to him about that... But somehow he knew. And he was right, because… Vegeta said it himself. That he was using me.” He digs the spoon in and just stares down sadly into the melting drum.Bra purses her lips. “Did it not strike you as odd that he ‘knows’ all this?”He considers her question carefully. “What do you mean? Of course it's weird!”“Yeah, but you don't think maybe he...?""Think what?"She looks off into the clouds with her father's furrowed brows. "Goku, just how well do you know your son?”“I know him… pretty well, I think.”“You know that he’s like, ultra psycho right?”“I--”“Literally the biggest asshole I’ve ever met.”“He’s still my son Bra and I would appreciate it if you didn’t say things like that about him.”She rolls her eyes. “You know Goten’s also gay right? Like, zero interest in women whatsoever.”He smiles. “Yes!”“And that… he lived at Capsule Corporation? Spent basically all his time training with… my father?”“Uh, sort of, yes.”“And you know they had a huge fight the day you came back, right? Haven’t talked to each other since?” “Yes…”“And… none of that raised any kind of red flags for you?”“I--what… red flags? I don’t... It’s not like--I mean, yeah, it did, but I don’t--Vegeta didn't tell him! I'm sure!”“Okay, yeah I would agree with you, but Goten isn't like... a normal person. He's actually, shockingly, really scary.""Vegeta's not afraid of Goten. He didn't threaten him. That's--" he scoffs. "That's just silly."She frowns. "You know that Goten hates you, right?”She tilts her head while she watches Goku fidget with the spoon in his hand. “Goten doesn’t... hate me.”Ok, maybe I am overestimating him a bit. "What?”“He’s… Not very nice, but I don’t think--”Bra lets out a bark of laughter. “Oh, oh my god. You can’t be serious. Do you believe everyone is good deep down or something?”“Yes, of course.”She throws her head back with another laugh. “HA! I see why my father likes you so much. You’re just a ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” She sighs. “I hate to break it to you, but Goten? Not exactly your number one fan. Enemy number one more like. No one could even bring you up around him without risking a total meltdown--screaming, crying, ki everywhere; it was a nightmare, uuuhg. And don’t even get me started on if someone made the mistake of mentioning that you two look alike.”“We don’t, really.”“Uh, yeah ya really do and Capsule Corporation went through like, a lot of mirrors back in the day as a result.”“He…” Goku shifts uncomfortably. “Well, we train together all the time now. Things are better. Since I've been back. I apologized...”She deadpans at him. “Apologized? You think that's enough for him? He's crazy! He nearly killed you during your training!”“I don’t think he meant to do that and it was because of your tech--”“Wh-didn't mean--Are you for real? I can’t believe he convinced you to keep sparring with him after that! And it was my technology, yes, that he STOLE from MY lab! I didn’t give that to him!”His eyes widen in shock. “You didn’t? But you said--”“No, no, don’t you dare twist my words, Goku. He told you what he was doing with it, because I sure as hell had no idea.”“He stole it from you?”She stares at him in disbelief. “You really don’t know shit about your son, do you?” He stammers for a moment. “Ok, what did he tell you happened to his hair and face? I’m just curious now, how the situation you’re in continues to elude you.”He hesitates for a moment. “Goten said… Vegeta attacked him. Vegeta said… he lost his temper while they were training.”Bra cocks her brow at him. “Oh really? Training, hm? Likely story.”“Yeah. I… don’t believe them either.” He sighs and fiddles his spoon around the half melted ice cream still left in the container. “But even though Vegeta is a jerk, he rarely lies. Not… not to other people anyway. He lies to himself. A lot.”“Well, I hope you know your son, on the other hand, is a very proficient liar.”He looks up at Vegeta’s daughter. “No, he’s not. He’s… he’s terrible at it, like me. He just does it all the time. About everything. So I can never tell when he's telling the truth.”“Don’t know--the fuck? If you know he’s lying then call him out on it!”“But he’s-”“But he’s what? Your idiot son? So what? Look in a mirror. You are Son Fucking Goku. Hero of the goddamn universe.” He is so startled he stopped eating and stares at her not knowing what to say to that. “Goku, what the fuck. Are you the hype? Or not?”“I--I--the what?”She scoffs. “Goten is clearly taking advantage of how trusting you are and pushing it as far as it can go. He thinks he can control you! And Goku, all I’m hearing from you is that you’re letting him! Because you still feel bad for leaving! Or something! Whatever! You’re back! Get over it!”“Controlling me? Wha--why? He’s not-”She hesitates because she has a few ideas now that are more solid than theories, but she’s pretty sure Goku is not going to want to hear it from her, and wouldn't even believe her if she did tell him. “I don’t know! No one knows. It’s Goten, he’s a fucking psychopath. And not even a fun one like me. He’s like a dark broody angry sad one. Ew. The point is! I don’t know! But you're right! He does know something about Vegeta! But it's not me who should ask him, it's YOU!""But--""Clearly he's involved with this shit between you and my father. He knows A LOT of stuff he shouldn't! And you need to find out why! And confront him about it so he stops what ever the hell he's doing! Before my father completely fucking loses it!”“I--uh, how? What do I do?”“Uh, well you DON’T need to waste time meditating about this shit. What do you mean ‘what do I do’?! Do the Saiyan thing! Fight him. Win. Get the answers! If not for my father, then for you. Remind him who you are. Don’t let him get away with lying to your face when you obviously know better! What is wrong with you?!”A warm fuzzy feeling floods his chest before there is a long pause and his expression drops.“He’s… stronger than me. So’s Vegeta.”She clicks her nails against the cool tile. “And I… have a solution for that little problem.” He looks up at her and tilts his head as she pulls out a metal band with a small x on it from her pocket. He scoots away with widened eyes.“No, no, no.” She holds out her hands reassuringly. “I'm not going to use it on you. I mean. I was, if you didn't cooperate. But now I'm giving it to you. Because I’m ama~zing.”“No, no, that’s not-I’m just--” He laughs nervously. “--going to spend a few days in the spirit room. I don’t want--”“The what?”“It’s--” he points with his head towards a building near where Dende had been earlier. “Time is different there. I can train-”“Oh. Well, then.” She clicks her tongue. “Sure. You can keep fucking around with time and waste more YEARS of your life not knowing what he’s lying to you about. Or.” She puts a tap of ki on the band and it opens. Then she closes it again and offers it to him. “You can use this. It binds ki and I know for a fact it works on him.”Goku stays silent as he hesitantly accepts it.“You probably won’t have to use it. But just in case. You know?”“Just… in case…” He repeats with uncertainty.“Yeah and don’t worry, it’s super easy to use. Just put a little ki into it and it pops open. Then you slap that bad boy on him and boom, no ki. His heart might stop for a couple seconds, don’t worry, he survived the first time, he’ll survive this time too.”“What?”“Nothing! Really, it’s safe. I promise.”He sets it aside a safe distance from himself while Bra pulls out her phone and begins scrolling through the slew of messages her brother sent her. “Oh, fun! My brother sent a video! Look! They're like--totally partying right now.” She leans towards him so they can both look at her screen. Goku watches in fascination the most incredible ki display he’s ever seen before a particularly large uncontrolled burst causes Goten to fall off the table he’s standing on and nearly split his face open on the floor. The video abruptly ends with Trunks running towards him saying, “Holy shit! That was so fucking cooOh shit a fire! Fuck, a BIG fire! Shitshitshithi-”“Wow, I didn’t know we could do that,” Bra admits.He pulls her phone a little closer to his face and replays it. “That’s--I’ve never seen anything like that before. I wonder how he did all those colors.”“Yeah, your son is gifted alright. Here, selfie time.” She pulls him in close and looks up at her phone. “Smile!” She snaps a picture of his bewildered face squished next to her gleeful one.“What was that for?”“Just… letting my brother know I kept my promise and didn’t do anything… rash.” Her brightly colored fingernails tap through her phone until she finds a filter she likes and sends it. “Goku, this was… really, it was a great talk and I expect great things.” She stands up. “But I have to go. Time is running out, I can tell, my brother is already shaking from withdrawal and can’t keep Goten entertained much longer without getting fucked up himself, so! I’m off! But! Keep me posted on how everything’s going, okay? If you just need to talk, call me, text me, whenever!” He nods with a smile as she walks backwards toward the edge. “And… please for the love of--let me know immediately if you use that.”“I will.”She mouths the word ‘good’ and winks at him before leaning back off the edge into a casual free fall for a few thousand feet which was thrilling, but really no good for her hair. *** “So, that went… terribly. What do we do now?” Trunks sulks in the hallway looking like a ragged mess.“Well, I guess we don’t really have a choice. We help dad upgrade the Gravity Chamber.”“What? Why would we--”“So we have something to do while we wait.” She smiles deviously before walking away towards her lab.“While we wait? Wait for what? You said he didn’t tell you shit! Oh god, oh no, what did you do?” He follows her. “You said you didn’t do anything! Bra! What did you do?! Wait for what?!”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"No, dad, you have to--try aiming at their heads. And stop button smashing, you're going to break the controller.""I’m not gonna break it! I just don't know what any of the buttons do!""Well that doesn't mean you should press all of them at once! I told you, x is jump, triangle is smash, square is reload, right AND left trigger are shoot! Uhg, here, try... try this: turn towards that guy, ok, now run up to him and press x-x-triangle-circle really fast.""AH! Yes! I got him!" He smiles broadly. "Oh wow, that's a lot of blood!""See? Not so hard. Consider it training for... tactics and reflex."Goku nods and gets a serious look on his face before trying the exact same combination several more times with a slightly-better-than-chance success rate. This isn't originally what he planned on doing when he sat next to Goten. He had intended on trying to talk him into training this morning with the deeper intention of trying to start a conversation about something he really doesn't want to talk to him about again. But it is storming outside and he got distracted when his son offered to teach him the game he was playing. It is in Goku's nature to avoid and put off difficult things for as long as he can, but he is antsy and getting anxious about it after only three days. The feeling that he needs to take action is beginning to needle at him. Vegeta's daughter is right, he can't keep continuing to pretend nothing is wrong. Despite Goten's continual insistence and everyone else's seeming ignorance, he knows better. Though, it isn't reassuring to remember the last few times they talked about anything of importance, it didn’t get them anywhere. Out of habit and longing, he finds himself suddenly reaching for Vegeta’s ki. He’s still angry with him, and hurt, and confused, and heartbroken. Talking didn’t get them anywhere either. But he’s still worried about him. He feels him now, agitated, but low--like he’s simmering, on the verge of exploding--inside Capsule Corporation and he frowns. It doesn’t feel right. It hasn’t for months . And Bra is right, Vegeta is crazy, but not this crazy, and definitely not without a good reason. If it isn’t something Goku did, which he’s sure it isn’t , then it must be something someone did. Their fight… Goten’s face… Goku pauses the game and stares at the screen for a few moments before turning to his son with a serious look. "Goten, I think we should--"The front door opens, interrupting him, and drawing their attention. They look over at Gohan who has just walked in drenched from the pouring rain holding a small cardboard box looking nothing short of miserable."Long day?" Goten asks before putting his feet up.Gohan gives his brother a curt, exhausted nod before walking over and dropping the box on the coffee table in front of his father. "This is... all yours. Or all mom would give me anyway."Goten can't read minds, but the implacably dispirited expression crossing his father's face says nothing short of, 'Oh yeah. I forgot. I left my wife.' Goten has to bite his tongue to avoid laughing."Actually… dad, can we talk for a minute? I guess I have… good news for you," Gohan says with a tired sigh. "Sure…" He sets down the controller and follows his eldest son into the kitchen.Goten watches with his peripherals until they've cleared the other side of the wall and starts talking before taking the box and going through it. He has noticed his father is quite the minimalist, but it still surprises him how few possessions he owns. Some clothing, a bag of senzu beans, some weighted training gear, which looked very old, some kind of… red… stick? A pole? Goten picks it up and inspects it out of curiosity but never comes to a conclusion on its purpose. He picks up a glass orange orb with four red stars on it. He hums over it, the stories, the rumors he's heard, then places it carefully back in the box and continues rooting through the rest of his father's belongings. All that is left are a couple of pictures. He’s shocked his mother gave them to him.He idly flips through them before he hears a little ding behind him. That damn sound has been incessant lately and sure enough there is another. And another. ”Holy shit.” He turns around and stares at the phone his father mistakenly left unattended. His father has been absorbed in it more than ever lately. He used to be difficult to get a hold of. But for the last few days he’s been sucked into that screen constantly . When Goten asked what the hell is so interesting all of a sudden about the phone that he barely knows how to use, Goku just glanced up and said “the internet” with a cheeky smile. It beeps again and Goten narrows his eyes at it. “Who the fuck is blowing up your phone?” He quickly looks around the corner and sees Gohan still talking to their father before slumping onto the couch and picking up the phone. He is halted by a request for a password. "Shit. Who taught you how to do that?" 1-2-3-4 (wrong)4-3-2-1 (wrong) Damn. …What’s his fucking birthday? He agonizes for a moment over a possible date until something else on the screen captures his attention. Goku has almost a dozen messages waiting for him. Goten can't see what they say but he can see who they're from. What. The. FUCK! THAT! BITCH! What the fuck does she think she's doing!? He is livid. He was so sure he secured that liability. So why the fuck would she-- Her father is in no position to protect her , is he? Neither is Goku. I out-power him . Which only leaves…“Trunks!” Goten's eye twitches as he fights to contain the sudden burst of rage. No, can't be mad at him. Not Trunks' fault his sister is a conniving whore. He doesn't know anything. He would have said something. ...Right?This is getting out of control. He is losing his grip on the situation. Maybe even reality. He has to contain this before it spins out any further. He needs to deal with her and maybe if he is lucky deal with -no, not deal with- have a good long talk with Vegeta to really set things right. But he can't do any of that with his father just going around doing whatever he goddamn wants! Ruining every- His next step comes very suddenly and very easily to him. He doesn't question it. It is the only way. It just. Makes. Sense. He has been left with no choice. Nothing is going to change otherwise. He has to fix the problem that was his father picking the most inconvenient time to show back up in his life. And he has to fix it now. He quickly tosses the phone back onto the couch before his father walks into the room, hand behind his head rubbing his neck in that stupid way he always does when he is uncomfortable or nervous or just doesn't know what else to do. Goten picks up the controller and resumes the game. "Everything good?" he asks as Goku slumps next to him.A rare moment of contemplation chases across Goku's face. "Chi Chi and I… weren't technically married when I came back. It was already… 'annulled'? I don't…. have to get a divorce, so that is good. Because that sounded really hard." His brows crinkle. "But I think I'm still technically dead.""Yeah well, your other ex is still an illegal alien after almost thirty years. I wouldn't worry about it."Goku nods and picks up his phone and starts laughing quietly as he reads through it."What's so funny?" Goten asks sharply."Hm? Oh… nothing…" “Who are you talking to?”Goku gives his son a sideways look. “It’s not really your business,” he finally says as he slides his phone into his pocket before picking up the other controller, still smiling over her messages. I might just kill her too. "Dad," Goten suddenly says brightly in high contrast to his usual temperament. "Let's spar."Goku looks out the window with a frown. "But it's pouring out.""Oh. Never mind, I guess. I didn't realize you were afraid of a little rain."Goku pauses with deja-vu. He knows that tactic. It is the same tactic he uses to get Vegeta to do things he knows Vegeta doesn't want to do. Other than whining, of course. Vegeta also has a soft spot for whiners. Still, Goku had no idea it was that effective. Even though he is so viscerally aware that something about the way Goten asked isn't right, the Saiyan part of him could never turn down a spar after a comment like that. Of course I'm not afraid of the rain! I can fight in any condition. He can't pass it up. "I'm not.""So... you wanna spar?""Yeah." Goku hopes maybe this will work out for him too. Maybe he can wear Goten out and convince him to finally tell him what's going on. That almost always works with Vegeta, too.***Goku finally thinks he understands the advantage to the extremely tight pants Vegeta always wears other than leaving him hopelessly distracted during their spars.Sweatpants aren’t like his gi pants. They get heavy in the rain. Not that weight is an issue, but the constant chafing of his movements and the fabric not following him the way he expects it to is unbelievably annoying. He doesn't understand how Goten isn't bothered by the same thing. He's not sure if he trains in weather like this regularly, or if he just doesn't care. Whatever the case, he seems to be enjoying this and is hitting just as hard as he usually does. Maybe harder.Over the last few months he has noticed many things about his son. He doesn't always take the hit when he has it, but when he does, he always means it. When he is serious, which doesn't seem to be very often around Goku, he can be a ferocious fighter and like Vegeta, he never lets his guard down. In fact if it wasn't for the wasted movement that slows him down, allowing for sloppy openings, Goku is sure his son would be the better fighter. But he isn't. Even though he is stronger. He isn't better.All his thoughts give him pause and he is not paying as much attention as he should be. Goten's fist is coming at him quick and he has to instant transmit to avoid it. When Goku reappears his counter is blocked and repaid with a kick to the rib cage that sends him straight to the ground wheezing.Goten flies down after him and lands in front of him. "You almost had me!" he says with a peculiar smile. "But you're getting predictable with that."Goku rubs the aching spot while getting up. "Am I?"Goten, unlike usual, hasn't powered up once out of frustration, and with a calm almost pleasant demeanor responds, "Yes. I knew exactly where you were going to go."Goku stands there in the pouring rain for a few moments, eyeing his son warily not sure if he is really having a good time or if something else is going on in his head."I like that technique though. Keeps me on my toes." Goten smirks. "It's ki based isn't it?"Goku laughs uncomfortably, "Uh... I think so.""Teach it to me."There's a long pause as Goku hesitates. "I've never taught it to anyone. I'm… not sure I could.""Tch! What? But you are the greatest fighter of all time, Dad. I'm sure you could teach it. And I really want to learn it." He leans in close and even though he's smiling, the baring of his teeth is a very unsettling gesture up close. "Because you're right, you never know what kind of enemies I might be fighting in the future."A chill runs down Goku's spine and in an unusual move of self preservation he keeps his guard up and kicks one of his feet back into stance as Goten begins circling him."How about... I fight you for it?"Goku tracks his son’s movements carefully. Something… isn't right. "Fight me for it?""Yeah." He crosses his arms and continues circling him, slowly. "We'll spar in base form, I won't power up; even footing." He sneers. "We'll fight to the first hit. And if I win, you at least try to teach it to me.""And if I win?"Goten stops face-to-face with him. "I don't know. What do you want?"He thinks for a moment whether this is really the best time to bring it up. His son has a strange way of being his happiest when something is wrong and something is definitely wrong. But he has to ask. Bra is right, he needs to know. "I... want the truth.""The truth? About what?" Goten asks with a smug laugh."About you and Vegeta.""Me... and Vegeta," he says slowly looking up at the rain and he lets out a short huff of laughter. Ooooh yeah, she's done for. "And why... would you want to know that when I've already told you a dozen fucking times?""Because I don't believe you! I know you're lying."Goten narrows his eyes and stands toe-to-toe with the man he once impersonated. "If you're so sure that I'm lying, then tell me, what do you think happened?""I--I don't know," he admits honestly."You don't know… And yet, you want me to say something other than what I’ve been telling you over and over… Hm. " He tilts his head up and pretends to think about it. "No. I don't agree to that condition. Pick something else.""That's… but that's all I want. Is for you to stop lying to me. It's all you've done since I've come back. To me, to Gohan, to Chi Chi… to everyone.""Well, I guess it's an immutable facet of my personality you'll just have to deal with like everyone else." Goku frowns as his son resumes circling him. "Pick something else. Something fun." He pushes on Goku's shoulder in mocking sportsman-like camaraderie.His father shakes his head as he glares at him distrustfully."Alright! Fine. Have it your way, if you get the first hit, I'll tell you whatever you want to know. About anything. " He holds out his hand in truce, but it is so hard to trust Goten when he has that look in his eye assuring his father he isn't going to fight fair. Goku decides the danger is limited as he remembers the band in his pocket. He shakes Goten's hand. "Ok."Goten blasts off quickly to gain distance and forces his father to start off by catching up. When he does, Goten is waiting for him and goes for an all out knock out right off the bat. Then again. And again. And again. Goku is sure he has never been forced to dodge so quickly because he knows If he doesn't he'll go straight to the ground.Goten is snapping his fists back too quickly for Goku to risk trying to catch one. He might end up getting pulled in close instead. He tries to figure out a pattern or opening or something! And fast! Because although Goten's form isn't perfect, he learns quickly and takes full advantage of his natural aptitude for powerful, well-coordinated combinations.Goku watches and waits for the moment Goten powers up. He is sure he will. He always does. That's how Goten wins all their spars. So Goku decides to dodge, weave, and play defense, biding time for the moment Goten proves this wasn't just a spar. He can catch him off guard by using his arrogance against him. He knows he can. He’s done it before. Just not with Goten. The moment comes when Goku tries to bring the battle back down to the ground and Goten chases after him ready to land a final blow with a glint of Super Saiyan simmering on the edges.Just before he does, before Goten can transform and land that hit, Goku disappears. Then reappears and disappears and reappears. Over and over again he teleports around Goten trying to disorient him, moving too quickly for Goten to respond tactically. He disappears one last time and watches his son from a distance away.He watches Goten turn and turn, trying to figure out which direction his father will reappear in, before looking up and flying towards him. But Goku is far enough away. He has enough time. He places his fingers to his forehead and teleports one more time, but this time, extremely close. A left elbow connects to the back of Goten's neck forcing his abdomen to collapse onto Goku's knee. Goten slips out of Super Saiyan, coughs violently, and they are both back on the ground."I win. I'm not teaching that technique to you. Now tell me the tr--"Goten staggers upright and wipes his mouth. "That's ok." He sneers. "I don't need it." Goten explodes in power and charges full speed at his father."Ahhg! Goten!" Goku stutters between blows. "What are you AHHHGG--!" Goten interrupts him by slamming his fist into Goku's nose."Goten! Goten stop! Please! Stop! Wh--why are you doing this?!" He splutters. "WHY?! Because! I hate you!" He pulls back and sits up. Goku's eyes are wide and he stares at his son who leans in with a bloodthirsty grin."You want to know the truth? Ha! HA! FUCK!" He punches again. "YOU! THAT'S THE TRUTH!"Goku manages to clip Goten's jaw and for a moment he thinks he has a shot at regaining the upper hand, but the moment doesn't last long. Goten flares his power and catches one fist. Then the other. He twists them back forcing his father into a pin. I'm… I'm losing. No, I can't lose! Not again! Goku focuses on freeing one of his hands and succeeds, but he still can't get to his pocket as Goten rears his fist back and starts gathering ki."You know dad, I'm worried about all your head trauma. I'm worried that if you take one more bad hit you might never wake up.” The ki in his hand grows and condenses, glowing threateningly against both their faces. “Or maybe worse. ” Goten’s canines gleam. “What a tragedy that would be.” Goku sucks in a panicked breath and squirms, still reaching, as he watches the ki continue to grow. “But don’t worry, I’m sure someone will bring you back. Maybe Gohan.” He laughs and leans in close. “Eventually.”Goku stammers in shock. “Goten… stop! Stop! Goten! Stop this!”Goten tilts his head with a mocking laugh, then looks down at his father with hatred in his eyes. “No. You have no idea how long I've fantasized about this moment. Since you left, really! I always told everyone I thought you were dead out there because I'd already murdered you a thousand times over in my head. But then you just had to come back. And ruin fucking everything."Goku’s blood runs cold. He now realizes fully what Vegeta meant when he said Goku didn’t know what his son was capable of. He now realizes what Vegeta’s daughter meant when she said Goten is scary. “You wanna know what I’m gonna do once I kill you for real? Do you? Do you really want to know the truth?”Goku shakes his head.“Too bad. I’m gonna tell you.” He grins. “I’m gonna go back to Capsule Corporation, and I’m going to find Vegeta. And then.” He bites his bottom lip. “I'm going to fuck him. Again. ”Goku hears the words. But he doesn’t process them. Instead, there is a snap in his head as time seems to slow. Goku watches electricity arc around the ball of ki in his son’s hand as he readies it to be thrown. The opening is suddenly clear as the arrogance he was waiting for finally appears and in an act of opportunistic desperation, Goku runs his one free hand up under Goten's shirt then just below the waist of his pants frantically searching for something. His palm sweeps across the rough edges of a scar and pauses.Goten abruptly pulls back. "What the fuck are you--"Goku throws as much ki as he can as fast as he can into his palm and slams it into the scar.The ki is distinguished immediately as Goten goes completely slack and collapses on top of Goku, howling in pain. Goku seizes the opportunity to wiggle out from underneath his son’s buckled frame and looks down at Goten, who is a quivering drooling mess from the agony still coursing through him all the way from his tail scar to the edges of his ears, fingertips, and toes."That was... such a cheap... shot..." The words come out fuzzy as his vision blurs. But Goku isn't thinking about fairness, he is thinking about the words his son just said. He stands and towers over him with a dark expression.“You’re lying. Why would you even say--You--he didn’t--he wouldn’t--You’re lying.” It’s all he can manage to say. “I know you’re lying,” he accuses, barely above a whisper.Goten laughs weakly as he struggles to turn over onto his back. “Am I? Or is that why he doesn’t want you anymore? Because I was better. ”Goku’s heart pounds with adrenaline. And a thousand other emotions he has to put aside so he can think . He hates using this technique without consent, but Goten has given him no choice and he really should have used it sooner. "I'm…” He hesitates because he’s pretty sure he doesn’t mean it, but says it anyway. “...sorry.""Sorry for wha..." Goten begins to struggle up, but is stopped by Goku gently putting his hand on the side of his son’s face. Everything is put on hold as he is forcibly pulled into conscious limbo. There is a moment of darkness and then everything flashes in front of them instantaneously.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goku's mind is immediately choked with feelings, all of them deep, dark, and intense. There is so much anger and hatred it is hard to break through to the painful memories underneath. When he finally does he is accompanied by a strong sense of fear belonging to his son. Goku knows what he's looking for is here, but he doesn’t know where. So he starts at the beginning. He starts with a string of yelling-matches-turned-violent-fights with Vegeta that begin just after his disappearance.They are violent because of Goten. He starts every single one of them and only sometimes does Vegeta indulge him when he absolutely has to out of self defense, because even though Goten is young, he is strong . But eventually there is a shift. The fights are regimented, scheduled and Vegeta has full control over which techniques Goten will try and use.*"Stop hitting from your shoulder, boy, or next time I will shatter it. Throw using your body, that is where your power comes from." Vegeta demonstrates and Goten is left reeling. "You want to be better than him, don't you?" Goten nods. "Then learn how to fight better. You are not even half the fighter he was." Goten is only nine and it is the first (and only) time since his father left that Vegeta has compared them. Vegeta doesn’t mean it. In fact the regret is palpable on his face. He even offers his hand but it's too late. The words have already had their effect. Goten smacks Vegeta’s hand away and takes his advice seriously. His next hit is clean, quick, and powerful. *Between Goten’s constant fighting with Vegeta there are flashes of painful heated arguments at home with Gohan and Chi Chi. Goku remembers being so close with Goten when he was little and it is agonizing to see how devastated he is by Goku's sudden absence because everyone keeps comparing them, driving the knife in deeper and deeper every day. Arguments at home are common, so is running away to Trunks’ room. But soon there are far more flashes of Goten alone in a small but furnished guest room at Capsule Corporation.*A door creaks open and Trunks’ voice calls out. “Ten? Is that you? I felt your ki but I thought you went ho--”"Can I stay here another day? I hate--" A fourteen year old Goten tries to hold back tears in a dark room with his knees hugged to his chest. "I hate going home.” He begins to break down. “All my mom does is talk about--” “Yeah, forget about her." he rests his hand on his shoulder. “I found something cool the other day that’ll cheer you up, wanna see it?”Goten straightens up a little just before any tears have had the chance to fall. “Yeah.” And Trunks quickly reveals that he found Capsule Corporations special events liquor stash. *There are a lot of snapshots of him and Trunks and those seem fairly happy at first, even though they're getting into so much trouble... But it becomes clear they are both just looking for ways to escape the pain and grief they are surrounded by in their homes. Vegeta doesn’t intentionally ignore his children but it is clear even through Goten’s memories that he doesn’t know how to deal with loss any better than they did.Goku watches a sixteen year old Goten sneak into a hospital from a window and shake Trunks awake. Goku cringes as Trunks sits up suddenly and fearlessly rips an IV out of his arm. "Euch, I can still taste the fuckin’ charcoal--” He looks at Goten with a wide grin, “What time is it? Where’ve you been? You let me stay here all night? Dude!"Goten shrugs. “That girl you failed to impress had a brother.” Trunks scoffs. “Fuck, that puts you ahead by five now, doesn’t it?”“Well maybe if you stopped getting so wasted you died every time someone said they didn’t wanna hear about Capsule Corporation’s boring projects, you could keep up.” He snorts.Trunks rolls his eyes, tugs on a pair of pants and heads toward the window with one last look to make sure the coast is clear. “Whatever man. Let's get out of here before they try to do an MRI or something. Those things mess me up for days.”“That shit makes your ki feel weird too? I destroyed the machine last time they tried to do one on me.”Trunks laughs. “Dude, overkill much? It doesn’t feel that bad.”“Ah, well you know me.” He gins. “I couldn’t help it.” And they jump out the window.*As he gets older and Goku scans through the years of memories, Goten stays more and more at Capsule Corporation until eventually after a brief flash of a shattering plate and Chi Chi crying, mount Paozu disappears entirely from the memories that are quickly becoming more and more punctuated by the way Goten looks at any dark-haired guy who walks by with a little bit of muscle, and sometimes even by the way he looks at Vegeta. Especially on hot summer days when he wears a particular pair of blue compression shorts.Goku doesn’t like that at all and it bothers him for both reasons that were easy to name, like jealousy, and deeply troubling ones that aren’t. But he’s… raising you. And you can’t even stand each other. The only thing you have in common is fighting and… the realization makes his skin crawl …being angry at me. The looks he sends to strangers more and more often turn into hot heated moments in dark clubs, darker rooms. How…. many...? Goku can't count the number of different faces in different beds and from the way those memories blur together, it becomes apparent his son doesn't know either.Goku tries to speed through those as quickly as he can and ignore what he sees but he can still feel Goten’s continual lack of satisfaction from it all. No matter how many men, or how much alcohol, or how many fights, it doesn’t matter. Nothing is enough. Goten always needs more. More, more, more, more. “More what?” Goku asks and he hears his son respond in confused desperation, trying to push him out of his head, “I don't know! I DON'T KNOW! GET OUT!”He refuses, presses forward, and watches as Goten increasingly struggles with not knowing what to do to break through the endless cycle of instant gratification being immediately followed by bitter emptiness. Goku watches him get more frustrated as every one-night-stand gets rougher. He watches his son's disconcerting dependence on Vegeta as an outlet for his anger and frustration become more and more pronounced. He watches his son fail to be held accountable and deal with his anger issues. He watches as his son's desire for strength begins clashing more regularly with his ability to keep control over his temper and thus his power. He'd always had a hard time with that but now it is interfering with the most basic of tasks, even--Another memory. A flash of Vegeta on the monitor for the gravity room. Goten is... just watching him. The memory flies by him in a quick flash, hardly more than an instant, but Goku is able to catch the only thing that matters. He knows what Goten saw and what he did and worse what he figured out. Goku stumbling across Goten’s realization is followed by a sudden, dramatic shift inside Goten's head. There is a loud flood of angry noise that momentarily disrupts Goku’s concentration. Then a strange dark feeling of envy envelopes Goku as he tries to push past the noise now distorting not just the memories but the echo of Goten’s internal voice.
Vegeta...
Every time Goku reaches for a memory now it is pulled away or so full of noise he can’t quite make out what he’s supposed to be looking at. Goku is suddenly very aware that Goten is trying to block something from him as Goten’s stomach turning reaction to that night gets louder.
...wants my father? But Vegeta hates my father! I hate my father! How could he--No, WHY would he--
Goku can feel how hard his son is trying to hold it back before it snaps free. Then Something mischievous works it’s way into Goten’s warped reverberating thoughts, making the hair on the back of Goku's neck stand on end. …You have no idea, Vegeta, how well this might work out for both of us .Another memory surfaces amidst the noise and Goku doesn't understand what he's looking at. Myself? Is this my memory? How did this get in--He is flexing in the mirror, wearing his gi at Gohan’s house with Gohan standing next to him. But then he speaks and curses and he double takes at the memory. No, wait… is that Goten? He is genuinely stunned by the resemblance he has denied almost as vehemently as Goten until now. And suddenly he wonders if Goten’s face was purposefully disfigured by Vegeta.Goku doesn’t have long to reflect though as he is abruptly roughly pushed forward through the memories until he is suddenly met by an argument between Vegeta and Goten over... my gi? He watches Vegeta launch at Goten and begin hitting him relentlessly, all while shouting at him, threatening to kill him. He doesn't understand where this is coming from. Vegeta has never started a fight with Goten. “What’s going on? Why are you fighting? What is this about?” “I’m showing you the truth, Dad! This is what you wanted to see isn’t it?!” Goten’s voice comes through clearly. “Isn’t it obvious?!”“No, what--how did this start? You’re fighting over my gi? Why? I don’t--”“Don’t be stupid, Dad! He was mad at me for keeping it! That’s all it is!”“Then why did you say what you said earlier?” Goku’s tone is serious and hurt as he delves deeper for the missing part. “I know Vegeta isn’t like that... You’re hiding something else.”“Stop, STOP! Look. He is! Look what he did to me. Get out. Get OUT! GET OUT! GET--!”But Goku hears something. He hears his name as only Vegeta says it. Over and over again, “Kakarot” is being called somewhere far away and it catches his attention. He searches and searches, but it is buried deep. Goten is trying to repress it, trying to pull it away from him. It is only with a persistence he usually reserves for training and a concentration he strictly uses for meditation that he is able to finally grab onto the memory and hold it between their minds.Goten is wearing his gi and standing over Vegeta who is asleep on Capsule Corporation’s lawn. He watches Goten smack Vegeta awake and almost immediately provoke a fight. Goku listens and watches carefully as Vegeta mistakes Goten for himself and throws a sloppy punch into his son’s face that his son really should have seen coming. Goku almost wants to laugh because that is exactly the response he expected to receive when Vegeta saw him. Goten is wrong. He hasn’t changed at all. The urge to laugh evaporates though, as he watches Vegeta continue to fail to realize who is in front of him. He should… realize… any second now… But he watches Vegeta begin to shout angrily, openly clearly drunk about personal things, private things, things he never meant to tell Goten . Or anyone.He watches, through Goten's eyes, as his son's hand reaches towards Vegeta’s face in a more than friendly gesture. He watches as Vegeta suddenly gets that look. The one he always gets after they argue and he doesn't understand why his son... did that. Why he doesn’t... say something because this is starting to get very very uncomfortable. “Why are you--Goten--What are you--” He watches as Vegeta pushes his son into the gravity room with a smirk and shut the door behind them."Don't worry... Kakarot...." The words seem to drag out for an eternity as Vegeta leans in close and Goten lets him…“No, No! Vegeta, stop! Goten! STOP! STOP! That's not--! This isn't real! This isn’t REAL! Vegeta would never--” Goten’s laugh interrupts him, but the memory keeps going.“Kakarot, Kakarot, Kakarot. What's so fucking great about Kakarot?” Goku can hear the sneer in his son's voice as it echoes around him. “You are a giant gullible idiot who let Vegeta walk all over you. Just look at the way he fucks m--you. He used you. ...Pathetic. So fucking pathetic!”Goku is silent as he watches the night unfold before him with Goten’s unpleasant narration.“And it just blows my fucking mind that you let this go on for… how many years? I mean really, Dad, what did you think was going to come of this? Especially now that he's had me .” Goten snorts.Goku tries to shut out his son's thoughts but the panting and sighing surrounding him isn't any less painful to hear.“You're--you're wrong! And you’re--!” He struggles to find the words that can begin to describe the disgusted angry shock washing over him.“Are you sure? He even said it himself, didn’t he? Oh look. I love this part.” Goku watches as Vegeta bites deeply into Goten’s shoulder. “You really must be a masochist. Don’t worry though, I got him back for you.”Just as Vegeta begins slowly begin lapping at the blood, pressing his mouth and lips to the wound in a way that is far from cruel Goten yanks hard on Vegeta’s hair. Vegeta growls out in anger. “AH! What the fuck, Kakarot?” He pins Goten’s wrists above his head. He scowls and breathes heavily over Goten for a few moments and Goku can see the confusion and slight betrayal on his face because that’s something Goku never would have done. Not because it’s a rule, but because it is something he knows Vegeta doesn’t like or enjoy.Goku stutters and tries to pull away, but Goten has decided, maybe this will work . He has given up on resisting the unwanted presence in his head and tries instead to exploit it. He yanks his father’s presence to another moment, one that will really twist the knife into the injury. *A slew of filthy words exit Goten’s mouth provoking a shocked slurring Vegeta to ask. "Kakarot, where the fuck did you learn to curse like that?” Goku is forced to listen as Goten smartly replies. "Ah, from you. Mm!" Vegeta laughs while Goten encourages him with a casual buck of his hips to fuck him harder. "I learned everything from you." Vegeta palms the blood on Goten's face and takes him up on his encouragement.*“Especially how best to hate my father.” Goten’s voice rings clear in his head and he laughs while Goku thinks he's going to be sick. “Is he always like that? So rough it hurts? I didn't even know we could go Super Saiyan during sex! What a climax, isn’t it? I’m just assuming that you know.”Goku struggles to find the words. As if the ocean of hatred and pain inside Goten wasn't enough, he is now having difficulty controlling his own emotions which are suddenly so many. Anger, betrayal, jealousy, fury, rage everything… his son has felt for so long fell into his own chest faster than he could respond to it.“But he thought you were me. That's why--he knows you--you tricked him! He knows! You deserved what he did to you! How could you--YOU’RE the one who used him!”“Yeah… no, it's a shame I didn’t burn it sooner, but... I really thought I was going to have the chance to use it again,” Goten says with mocking cruelty.“Again?! AGAIN?! Goten! That was--! It was ra--!”“I know exactly what it was!” he interrupts darkly. “It was revenge. Revenge on you. Revenge on him. On everyone who thinks I'm exactly like you! I finally got something I wanted on your behalf besides constant reminders about how I look exactly like the person I hate the most. And let me tell you, Dad, It. Felt. Phenomenal. ...Do you know what the best part is? Do you?” Goku doesn't respond. “I don't even like Vegeta. I hate him almost as much as I hate you. He's just hot . And powerful . And, yeah, I did use him. Exactly like he used y--”That is it. That is the last straw. Goku breaks the connection and he breaks it painfully.Goten can hear his father's screaming in his head. Louder and louder until everything begins to crack and shake, coming in and out of focus, giving him the most agonizing wave of dizziness, but he is finally able to regain his bearings enough to rip his father's hand away with a startled cry.When Goten comes back to reality he is still reeling from the pain in his head. He is still not quite sure what just happened, because he didn’t think something like that was even possible, as he comes back to staring directly up at the face of his father who has nothing more to say to him.Goten begins to struggle but Goku doesn't even give him the chance to get up. He has far more in control of his faculties as he wipes the tears from his face and he takes full advantage of it. He quickly yanks Goten’s arm up, snaps something on his wrist, stands, looks down at his son, presses two fingers to his forehead, and disappears.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Trunks has just stormed out of the Gravity Chamber after yet another argument over the addition of yet another safety protocol that is according to his father:“COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY, NOW GET OUT! I don’t need your help!”Though Vegeta does admit, it could use a better ventilation system. The rain outside offers no relief in the now partially lit, air conditioner-less hellchamber he abuses so dearly. He stops to peel off his sweat-soaked tank top before reaching his arm down beneath one of the panels of the center console.He feels several shocks of electricity while he contemplates for the thousandth time the best way to kill Kakarot’s son and get away with it. Although, he supposes, he doesn’t have to get away with it if he can live with Trunks and Kakarot hating him. What’s one more enemy? So… first, get the radar... I think it's still in her old lab. Then, I kill him… then resurrect him and kill him again. How many times can I kill him before Gohan or Kakarot intervenes? Should I kill him immediately? Or take my time torturing him? If I torture him, where would I keep him that the others wouldn’t find him? Hm. Maybe I should ask Bra if she can-- He jumps up and hits his head on the console, then immediately curses himself for being startled because he knows he should be used to it, even after so long. But still, he didn’t expect it. Not now. He turns, still wrapped up in murder, to Goku who has just appeared behind him soaking wet with a cracked bloody face and stains on his cheeks. Vegeta’s eyes widen and his expression softens at the sight.“Kakarot…” He stands up slowly. “What--”Goku puts his hand up, gesturing for silence and interrupts with a tired voice, "I know… what he did.” Goku watches about a hundred unreadable thoughts cross Vegeta’s face, warping it with emotion. “I know everything,” he says with a serious face that isn’t quite angry, but still leaves Vegeta unsure how to proceed.“Everything?” he asks, letting the word trail off into space.Goku inhales deeply. “Why… Vegeta, why didn’t you tell me?” They are past pride and honor now. Vegeta can not hide. Goku won’t let him.“N--Kakarot, I--it's… I didn’t--” He pauses as he becomes increasingly irritated with himself. Goten’s sudden untimely death? He has that planned. In fact he has at least a hundred different feasible ideas. He knows what he’s going to say, how he’s going to say it, and exactly where he’s going to stick the knife. Dealing with Kakarot however... No thought whatsoever has gone into that. He has tried to hate those thoughts and memories away and push them somewhere deep down where they won’t bother him, where he won’t ever have to think about how much he regrets them and how much they’re tearing him apart. He tried to convince himself that there wasn’t even a point in facing them. Kakarot would never want to see him again regardless. Right? His brain struggles to comprehend why Kakarot is here at all talking with him about this regardless of new information. Especially with new information. “If could take it back--”“Take it back? Take--” Goku laughs in pained disbelief. “Vegeta! It wasn’t your fault! You didn’t… even know. Stop… blaming yourself.” He takes Vegeta by the shoulders and shakes him gently. “Stop. Just...” Tears well in his eyes. “Stop this. Please.” “I--I wanted to tell you… after we... But I--” Vegeta pulls away.“After… what?” Goku asks, genuinely upset that Vegeta could have possibly thought there was a ‘right time’ for that kind of confession that wasn’t ‘as soon as possible.’ “After you told me how unworthy of you I am? After you told me you were just… using me? Then? Then you were going to tell me what he did? Is that when you were going to tell me why I had to pull you out of this--this stupid room! Unconscious! Half-dead! Or were you going to wait until he tried to kill me, Vegeta?! Or maybe you were waiting until after I forced the truth out of him and was forced to WATCH what he did! After that?! Vegeta?! IS THAT WHEN YOU WERE GOING TO TELL ME!? WHAT HE DID?!” The distance between them is suddenly closed and Goku finds himself breathing heavily down onto Vegeta’s face and he backs off with a huff.“I didn’t mean… what I said, when we--”“So, you admit it then? You were lying. What we had… it was more.”Vegeta’s jaw tenses. “Yes, it was... more,” he says quietly and Goku nods with a bitter frown.“I know, Vegeta. I always knew! And I knew your dumb conditions were just that! Stupid! So to hell with that! I am worthy! Of being a lot more than your sparring partner!” He inhales and stands up tall with his hands on his hips. “I’m Son Fucking Goku! If anyone, it’s me who should be deciding who’s ‘worthy!’ but I don’t! Because that’s not how this works! Vegeta!”Vegeta almost smiles because he’s still so soft for Goku’s serious face. “I… know.” He pieces his thoughts together slowly. “I…” Vegeta’s hands flex by his sides and he is unable to look his counterpart in the eyes."How did you think cutting me out was going to make this better?”“I didn’t! But I couldn’t--couldn’t deal with--” Vegeta swallows and slowly nods his head trying to tread carefully through a conversation they'd put off two decades too long. “I didn’t know… what you’d… I was so--he made me believe that I was fucking crazy, and I couldn't--”Goku lets emotion crush down on his brows and sighs. “But if you’d just told me then--”Vegeta instinctively defaults to the only thing that feels comfortable these days: anger. "Because it would have been that easy, wouldn't it?!""Yes!" Goku snaps back."No! Kakarot, it's never that easy! Would you have even believed me!? That he--he--Tch! I can barely believe it! And I--!” His voice cracks and he pauses. “Kakarot, you never would have believed me. Even if I did tell you, he would’ve made sure you didn’t believe me.”“Why didn’t you offer your memories, then? I still had to force them out of one of you and he could’ve killed me! He almost did!” He wipes the blood from his nose, thinking about it. “And then where would you be?” He lets out a half-hearted laugh. “You’re supposed to be the one who does that.”Vegeta chuffs and looks up at Kakarot’s attempt to offer a little comedic relief. “Why… why are you here Kakarot? To interrogate me about how it makes me feel? Or maybe his memories weren’t enough and you need mine too? Just to make sure? Are you going to root through them, like I’m sure you did his, shredding any sense of privacy I ever had? Is that it, Kakarot? You want to look in my head and make sure I fell into your demon’s little trap because I was just that self deluded by my crippling desperation for you? Are you feeling insecure? Or did you just come to humiliate me further over how I’ve ruined everything I’ve ever--and--and fuck! Kakarot! Why are you here?”"Vegeta!” Goku scoffs. “You KNOW why I'm here!" Vegeta stares at him before Goku shakes his head, pulls Vegeta his chest and locks their mouths together. Vegeta barely registers what is happening. At first all he feels is heat and rain, then soft skin. Then... nothing as Goku gently pulls away.“How can you still want...? After everything? Why? How can you keep forgiving me?”Goku hums against his neck. “Sometimes when you ask questions like that, Vegeta, I think you’re the idiot.” He runs his hands up Vegeta’s back and can feel his shoulders roll forward in encouragement. “But if you really wanna know, then I guess because… it feels good.” He smiles down at him.Vegeta lets out a short huff in agreement. “It feels… so good,” he admits. Then his brows furrow and he looks towards the door. “Wait. Where is he? He will try to intervene or--or something. What happened, Kakarot? Where is--”“Don’t worry. I…” Goku pauses. “Dealt with him.”“Dealt? How?” Vegeta looks him over with worry. “You look awful.” Goku huffs. “I know.”“What are you going to do about--”Goku covers Vegeta’s mouth with his own again and begins working on their clothing. “The only thing I'm going to do right now, about anything, is you.” He sighs happily when Vegeta gives in and begins assisting him. Soon they are naked on the cool tile floor trying to avoid the loose wires. Goku grunts as he pulls a wrench out from underneath him and tosses it away.“We should lea--”“No. No,” Goku pants out. “Now. Here. I want it now. No more leaving.” He bucks against Vegeta’s hips. “No more running away.” “But--”“But what?”“At least let me lock the door,” Vegeta whispers against him as one hand reaches up to the console and pats around. “Fuck, I hope it still works. The whole Goddamn system is still fried because I--” There is a loud clunk from the door and Vegeta sighs in relief and lets instinct take over.Goku gasps out when he feels Vegeta grip his shaft. Goku thinks it won’t be any good if Vegeta has him undone in minutes with just his hand, so he tries to take back the advantage. He grips Vegeta’s hard narrow waist which is settled comfortably between his thighs and rolls them so he can be on top. Then he presses his whole body against Vegeta's for a rough, bruising kiss, that Vegeta returns with fervor.It's a break from their usual foreplay, which never involved much kissing before and Goku still isn't entirely convinced Vegeta will let him keep doing it, but here they are doing just that and it is a maddening sensation. It is far better than their first kiss. More chaotic and frenzied than their second, or any that that followed. This is the best one by far, and Goku is so happy that this, like the rest of his broken rules, is recurring.Goku places his hands on either side of Vegeta's face and rocks against him, tongue rolling over tongue. His excitement is met with a deep rumbling chuckle from inside the older Saiyan's chest. It is the first time Vegeta has laughed in years."Feeling good?" Vegeta asks as his fingertips tease at the edges of Goku's hair. Goku frowns, wondering why he'd bother stopping just to ask a pointless question he already knows the answer to. Vegeta can hardly hold his partner off for a moment before they are lip-locked again.Soon they are both panting and running their hands up and down each other's bodies. Goku rakes his nails down Vegeta’s chest and sides while Vegeta bites deeply into Goku’s neck. He can feel how hard Vegeta is beneath him and moves his hand towards their exposed shafts. Vegeta stops him and there are several moments of hushed whispers between them."What?" Goku honestly isn't sure he heard him right. "But I like it like this--I don’t wanna change posi--""Don't argue--Just--fuck! Just do it! You’re going to like it."Goku grumbles, "Fine, but I don’t--""Shut up with your whining and do what I say for once ," Vegeta pleads as he tries to shift. Goku, looking doubtful, begrudgingly obliges, dismounts, and lays on his back. Vegeta then suddenly parts Goku’s legs and kneels between them with too-serious a look on his face. His hands touch lightly along Goku’s sides forcing out a laugh.“St-stop, that tickles, Vegeta~” The offending hands stop and Vegeta hesitates before taking him to the back of his mouth in one fell swoop. Vegeta’s hands run roughly up and down Goku’s torso as Goku wraps his leg around the back of Vegeta’s neck and back. Goku arches as he feels himself hit the back of Vegeta’s throat again. Goku, with a pleased hum, notices for the thousandth time how Vegeta likes to make a point about Saiyans not having a gag reflex. He remembers once asking during the act if that was why they could swallow so much at a time when they ate too. That was the first and only time he’s ever made Vegeta choke.“Ah! Ve--Vegeta! Wait, I want--Ah, I want to--wait!” Vegeta is right, he does like this. He likes this a lot, but it is far too soon for him to feel this close.Vegeta comes up gasping. “Shut up. I know what the fuck you want.” He dips his head back down and continues, leaving Goku writhing.Goku runs his fingers through Vegeta’s coarse locks and pushes him off. “Ah! No, I can’t take it. Please, I want to--”Vegeta slaps his hand over the younger Saiyan’s mouth with a smirk. “And I said, I know what you want.” He pulls away from Goku's grip and continues the hardcore eroticism that is covering Goku’s entire shaft with his warm wet mouth. When Vegeta finally releases him from what was beginning to edge on torture, he makes his way slowly up Goku’s torso, crawling over him with a hungry almost desperate look that is about to drive his Goku nearly over the edge, and then Vegeta straddles him.Goku’s eyes widen and his breathing shallows as Vegeta slowly grinds against him. It’s starting to click now why Vegeta whispered harshly and quickly in his ear, “Get on your back and stay absolutely still until I tell you,” just a few moments ago.Goku is already sweating in anticipation. Steam is starting to roll off of him from how hot he feels just watching every muscle engage on Vegeta's body as he rocks. Goku watches them tense and give in his neck, his shoulders, his chest, his thighs; Goku feels him relax and strain above him. His heart skips a beat and he’s suddenly worried he won't last through the night. He's sure he'll die here and now as Vegeta wordlessly agrees to give him something he’s never given before.Goku hesitantly rests his hands on Vegeta's hips and looks up at the other Saiyan with flushed cheeks and a lot of uncertainty as Vegeta takes a hold of Goku’s shaft and begins to sit back onto him, slowly, so agonizingly slow. Goku throws his head back in rapture once he feels Vegeta finally pull back and press himself all the way down and Vegeta utters a sound of relief like he's been waiting for this his whole life.The pace is painfully gradual, but each stroke is complete. A little harder, deeper, faster, better than the one before. As Vegeta speeds up his pace he also tightens his grip around the other Saiyan's shoulders. His grip begins to turn into an embrace and suddenly Goku can feel Vegeta's chest against his, hear his panting in his ear, feel his hair brushing against his cheek; Vegeta’s arms are now locked around him, one hand caught in his hair, the other digging painfully into his back. Goku pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, relishing that feeling and his fingertips drag down Vegeta’s spine in barely contained ecstasy.Goku doesn’t know it, but there is a reason Vegeta is holding him so tightly. He is afraid. Incomprehensibly afraid that Kakarot might disappear at any moment. He grips until his knuckles are white to hide that he is shaking with anxiety, worried that this moment, like so many others he’s dreamed in the last fifteen years, isn't real-- Or worse-- And despite an attempt from Goku to shift, Vegeta doesn't let him go. Instead everything intensifies, tightens, and holds closerIt's not until Vegeta finally releases him in favor of accessing his face so he can kiss him again that Goku realizes exactly what's happening. This… is different. We're... we're not fu-- "Kakarot." Vegeta pauses his deep fluid motions. "Kakarot, I want you to--"Goku opens his eyes and looks up at him with the haze of sex clouding his mind, unable to figure out what Vegeta could possibly want him to do that's better than his. Vegeta’s breath catches for a moment and the only thing stopping Goku from whining is the sudden movement from Vegeta that causes them to roll so their positions are flipped, Vegeta’s legs wrapping around Goku’s waist in the process."Unh, what?""Fuck me. Go fucking Super Saiyan and fuck me already." Fuck me and my conditions. Vegeta bucks his hips to try and encourage him and it works. Goku begins thrusting. He goes slow and deep, trying to feel every part of him. He focuses on making sure he’s hitting that spot, he focuses on Vegeta’s breathing, and his heart, the hitch in his breath as he finds the right angle. Then, he feels the other Saiyans arms come up and crush into his back, forcing them chest to chest. “Transform already!”"No. I don't want to.""What?""I don’t want to f-fuck you." he stutters when he feels Vegeta tighten around him, tensing from feeling the pressure of their sweat slicked abdomens on his cock. "You were, ah, right. I'm too soft. I don’t want to." He buries his face into Vegeta's neck before pulling out as far as he can before pressing back in again, slowly. “I want you... like this."Vegeta almost breaks then and there and lets out a noise choked in wordless apology that he denied him this for so long. He wants to tell him, but trying to find the words to voice the sentiment is difficult when Goku is pressing in and out of him so well it is driving him insane. He settles on arching his back and pushing hips up to meet those deep meaningful thrusts and breaking the sudden tension by teasing him for it. "You're--unh, anything but soft right now, Kakarot."Goku laughs and picks up his speed while kissing along Vegeta’s neck and jaw. They bind closer together, locking lips and hips over and over again until Goku is sure they must be fusing. He feels himself getting impossibly close and pulls back to draw it out just a little longer."I don't, ah, I don't care if this is the only time we do this. It's--ah--it's enough to have you once the way I want you. Ah~" He moves his hand between them and sends Vegeta into too much ecstasy to respond.Goku's strokes, his words, his touch, his everything drives Vegeta crazy until he can't even think straight. A final press of their mouths together is the final straw; he breaks. Totally and completely. He belongs to Kakarot in that moment and every moment after and he knows it."Ah, ah! Are you-unh!? Wait! No, not ye--Vegeta! Aah! You feel so-Yes!!" One final press in as hard, as deep as he can go and then another and then - -Goku’s mouth opens, but he can't get out a sound. All he can do is crush the other Saiyan tighter to him as they finish together, ki bending and waving between them around them making their shuddering rush even more pleasurable.Then a few breathless moments later it's over. Even though it's just begun: the rest of their lives together.Vegeta feels his heart slow down and after several deep breaths and deeper thoughts finds the strength to move. He picks up Goku’s hand and places it on the side of his head. Goku smiles and rubs his thumb against Vegeta’s temple. “Hi.” Vegeta rolls his eyes. “I want to show you something. And I am… trusting you…” He hesitates. “Not to look for anything else.”Goku nods. Vegeta takes a deep breath and closes his eyes and everything goes black.It feels like a void. Vegeta’s mind. It is very dark and very very quiet. Unnaturally so. Goku’s pretty sure he couldn’t find anything Vegeta didn’t want him to see anyway, it is all boxed away so tight behind heavy walls and closed doors. Like some of Goten’s had been, but better. Deeper. More practiced. Decades of practice. All the chaos is wrapped up and hidden away but Goku can still feel it lurking there.He waits, still, in the silent dark until a memory finally finds him.*“You can’t leave me.” Vegeta looks down at his wet palms and sucks in a shaky breath as he wipes the tears away. “You can’t.”“Vegeta…” Bulma coos with a tired voice. “I don’t have much of a choice.”“But--” His normally gruff tone is chopped with emotion and Goku can feel how hard it is for the words to find him, there is so much feeling blocking them. “The dragon balls. Again, we can try and--”“We’ve been over this,” she groans. “They won’t work. ...Not this time. ...Not this time,” she repeats softly.“What the hell is all your science for if you can’t even use it to cure yourself?”She sighs deeply, with a little difficulty and removes the breathing mask and beacons him to come to her. He hesitates only for a moment then very carefully, very gently moves some of the wires. She scoots a little and there is just enough room for him to lay next to her and everything is quiet except the soft beeping and humming of machines.It is night, the room is dark, illuminated only by soft moonlight and computer screens. They lay there breathing for what feels like hours. Goku can’t see but he knows, because it is Vegeta’s memory and he can feel what Vegeta feels, that Vegeta is playing with Bulma’s hair. Running his fingers through it, running his fingers along her face. Tracing her mouth, her neck. He presses his nose and forehead to hers, and Goku wonders why Vegeta would show him something so private.“Vegeta. Before I pass…” Vegeta shakes his head and presses his mouth to hers to silence her but she turns away. “No, listen to me. Before I pass…. I want to speak to him. Tell him to come see me. He won’t come unless you tell him to, I know he won’t.”He shifts and there is a long pause. “Why? I thought you hated him.”“I thought you hated him,” she teases but Vegeta doesn’t laugh and she exhales in thought. "Because… I don’t want him to think I’m going to haunt him from beyond the grave.”“You should anyway.”“I should.” She giggles then coughs painfully. “But I'm not. Because you’re going to need him when I’m gone.” Vegeta squirms with discomfort. “You are.”"But you said--”“Oh, Vegeta. I said so many things out of anger that I didn’t mean.”“I know. You have a fouler mouth than I do. I have to pull from other languages just to keep up.”“You don’t know. You don’t. I was so angry, for so long.” She runs her fingertips gently down his jawline, “I whipped up quite a few things in that lab of mine I’m not proud of in my moments of weakness. Thank god they never saw the light of day because… God, Vegeta, you are going to need him. Don’t push him away. Don’t let your grief destroy you.”“I don’t have a choice. ‘Til-death-do-us-part does not apply to Saiyans.”She laughs softly. “But then what about Trunks and Bra? Who would take care of those little trouble makers? They need you.” Vegeta tenses against her with anxiety over the implication that he would have to raise them alone. “I won’t pretend I wish it wasn’t like this, but it is. I could see it even in the beginning, before Trunks. I knew a piece of you was already sold at a price I could never buy. And--” She balls her fists into his shirt and pulls him close. “I just--I want to talk to him. I want to make it right. I’m tired of being angry, and I want you both to know that I won’t hold this grudge when I pass as long as you two do right by each other and our kids. No more disappearing. No more leaving. No more lies. Be there for each other. So you can be there for them. They are going to need you so much. Will you do that for me?”He sighs shakily, “No, I--I can’t. I don’t want to make it right. I can’t- I can’t…”“You will.”“I don’t need him, I need yo--”“Yes, you do! Or we wouldn’t be having this conversation!” His breath hitches with hurt and her tone softens as she continues. “Who else will keep that ego of yours in check?”His laugh is quiet, short, and painful. “I can’t, I don’t- Bulma, I can’t do this without you. I lo--” He has to recompose himself to and try again. “I lov…” He breaks down, his mouth whispering against hers as he finally says it for the first time. And then the memory is over. Goku can feel himself being pushed out and he pulls his hand away. "Kakarot." Vegeta’s deep voice cracks as his mind finally clears enough to find those words he is looking for. "Kakarot I--I made a lot of mistakes…”Goku goes completely still and waits for him to continue with bated breath. “I had time… to get used to the fact… that she wouldn’t always be there. I always knew humans didn’t live as long as Saiyans. It was still… difficult... so… fucking difficult, but I never thought… you’d leave me too. And it always felt.... easy to justify you as something I could always have but didn’t need because I just assumed that you wouldn’t. Leave.” He has to pause to collect himself "I know I was terrible to you and--" he inhales deeply and stutters out a sad laugh. "And I swear I still don’t know if I want to kill you half the time or If I want to... fuck, Kakarot... I’m… I’m sorry. For everything. I have been waiting… for you to come back, hoping you would, so I could tell you… I’m sorry." He pulls himself out from under Goku and lays next to him naked without any shame. He has bared himself to this idiot completely and fully and Kakarot to him. Though he thinks, maybe for a long time Kakarot has been giving himself up completely, but that doesn’t matter anymore. There are no more rules or restrictions. There is only them. Silence lingers a long time. “I’m sorry… I didn’t tell you that she wanted to speak to you. I was… weak. But… she would’ve… wanted you to know.”Vegeta tenses for an instant as he feels Goku's arm wrap around his waist. He relaxes as Goku works his other arm around his other side and pulls him close. So close he's shaking from the effort, no he's shaking from... crying? Vegeta turns his head to confirm his suspicions just as Goku says it.“That wasn’t fair,” he responds after a heartbeat.“I know." Goku smiles. “I just… wanted you to know.”Several expressions pass through Vegeta’s face as he opens and closes his mouth several times trying to figure out what to say, but he never does. Instead he just yanks Goku’s face in, and kisses him before drifting off to sleep. Goku drifts with him knowing that's the best response he will get out of him for now. He drifts off saving the worries of their kids for another day. He is going to take in everything this moment offered for exactly what it is and nothing more. Unconditional. Love. *** Goten collapses to his knees on the compound’s lawn gasping for breath after sprinting the fastest the band would let him. He can feel their kis and he curses, trying to power up. He aims at the gravy room door but there is nothing from his palm. The band glows brightly and he can see the rain sizzling as it hits it. Then he feels another ki. He knows he can’t outrun it in this state. He doesn’t even try. It gets closer and closer to him until it is right behind him. He doesn’t turn or say anything. He feels a hand on his shoulder as it leans down to whisper in his ear."We're going to have soo~ much fun together. Aren't you excited?" He shakes his head with palpable fear in his eyes. "Aw. Well I hope you know I'm excited.” He feels a prick in his neck and then there is nothing but darkness.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goku puts the last plate into the sink before pressing Vegeta against the counter and answering him with teeth nipping at Vegeta’s smirk with every syllable.
“I already left her.”
“What? When?” Vegeta’s voice is quiet as he cranes his neck allowing Goku access to the thick corded muscles there.
Goku hums. “Actually she... kinda kicked me out... a few days ago.” Then he runs his hands down just beneath Vegeta’s ass and lifts him up onto the countertop. Goku stands between his legs and smiles. “And that’s it. Gohan said I don’t have to do anything else about it. Because I’m dead.”
A soft muffled huff escapes through Vegeta’s teeth and as they sink into Goku’s shoulder. “Good news on all counts then,” he says, wrapping his legs around Goku’s waist.
“Ya know, I’m starting to think you hated your rules as much as I did,” Goku teases with his nose just below Vegeta’s ear.
“Redicu--” Vegeta stops and his whole body locks up. They had been a little too focused on each other instead of their surroundings. Goku opens his mouth to ask what’s wrong but his question is answered as Trunks turns the corner into the kitchen head aimed down at his phone. Although, Goku’s not sure how he can be reading anything when his eyes are still closed.
Vegeta’s son doesn’t look up as he makes his way to the coffee maker. The two Saiyans hold their breaths watching him with increasingly reddening faces. They aren’t naked anymore at least, only because Vegeta had smartly insisted they put
something
on before going inside to eat. Still, their current position is nothing short of precarious and this is NOT how Vegeta planned on telling his children. In fact this is
exactly
the situation he was hoping to avoid.
They watch Trunks fumble for a mug then barely succeed in pouring half a cup, nodding off the whole time. Goku’s eyes dart back to Vegeta trying to figure out if he should teleport them, or maybe just himself, but his hands are still trapped underneath Vegeta’s legs and the other Saiyan is not moving. So they continue to sit there in the dark kitchen, partially wrapped around each other, seeing if maybe they can get away with waiting this one out. Maybe Trunks would sleep walk out right out the way he came and be none the wiser.
They watch Trunks pull a bottle out of the freezer that is definitely not creamer and fill the empty half of his cup. The mug makes it all the way to his lower lip before his brows furrow and he slowly turns his head towards the two figures next to him.
So much for coffee…
The mug is now in about a hundred pieces because it slipped right out of his hand and onto the floor. There is a long uncomfortable silence that is only broken when a small bot zooms in and begins trying to make its way around Trunks’ bare feet collecting the shattered ceramic pieces of his current understanding of the situation.
Trunks’ mouth drops open just a little and his hand is still raised to his face holding a now nonexistent cup as Goku quickly awkwardly distances himself from Vegeta instinctively reaching his hand behind his head.
“H-hey… Trunks…”
Trunks’ arm lowers as his father slides off the counter and crosses his arms refusing eye contact.
“Go--?” Trunks takes a moment to shake the sleep out of his head. “Hold on. Let's try this again.” He turns around and exits the way he came. Vegeta and Goku have just enough time to exchange glances before he reenters the room a moment later and flips on the lights, leaving them no room to hide.
He addresses his father first. “Good morning, Dad. I see you’re up all bright and early.” Bright blue eyes then immediately drill into the now extremely embarrassed face of the taller Saiyan. "Oh! Hello Goku! I wasn't just dreaming. Wonderful. Good morning to you too, then. …What the fuck are you doing here?"
Vegeta mutters something to Goku that Trunks doesn’t quite catch. "I'm sorry, WHAT WAS THAT DAD? I CAN’T HEAR YOU OVER THE GIANT ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM." He cups a hand behind his ear for sarcastic emphasis. He pauses and waits for either party to respond but they remain silent. Trunks shuts his eyes and rubs at his temples. “Goku.” The named Saiyan smiles awkwardly. “Clearly you are just… bursting at the seams to tell me what you were just doing with my father in my fucking
kitchen
at 5:30 in the morning, but if you don’t mind I think I need to talk with him first. Alone.”
Goku laughs uncomfortably and looks at Vegeta who is wordlessly screaming at him to stay. Goku raises two fingers to his forehead anyway. It takes him a few moments to decide who he should lock onto but after a very long uncomfortable quiet he disappears, leaving Vegeta, who is half-tempted to reach out and grab him so he can disappear too, alone with his son.
Trunks snaps at his father as soon as the other Saiyan leaves. “What the fuck was that?! What the fuck did I just see?! Because it LOOKED LIKE you two were about to
fuck
on my kitchen coun--”
“Watch your mouth, boy!”
Trunks rolls his eyes with a snort. “Am I wrong?” Vegeta leans back ,arms crossed even tighter and doesn't say anything. “Are--are you serious?! You and Goten’s dad are--”
Vegeta's eyes flash dangerously towards his son. His posture stays rigid as he nods curtly and finally admits, “Yes. Kakarot and I… are… we’re...” He struggles to find the right word. “...complicated.”
Trunks reels with shock because he never expected his father to actually admit it. “Compli--Yeah! No shit! First your arch enemies, next he's trying to hook up with you in our kitchen! And what the hell was he doing trying to hook up with you in our kitchen anyway?! Isn’t he married?!”
He shrugs his shoulders with irritation. “I don’t know, apparently not.”
“You don't know. ‘Apparently not.’” He shakes his head. “Great. Well, were you planning on telling anyone? How long--Fuck, I mean, what exactly--I don’t even know where to begin. Does Goten know? Is that why he’s been so--”
“So what?!” Annoyed embarrassment suddenly shifts to something threatening. Even though his father is quite short, he has a particular way of being extraordinarily intimidating when he bares his teeth in a snarl.
“N-nothing.” Trunks puts his hands up defensively. “He’s just been… off lately.”
“I do not know what is
wrong
with
Goten.
His problems are his own!” Vegeta spits out venomously before trying to reclaim composure. “Do not mention that name in this house again. He is not welcome here.”
Trunks reels back. “What? Why not?! He’s my--”
“I don’t care! Because I said so!” Vegeta growls out.
“Is
this
what you two fought about?”
Goten… knew? Why didn’t he tell me?
“I’m… guessing he didn’t take the news well?”
Vegeta stammers for a moment and looks away. “No,” he finally mutters, quietly. “That is all I will say.”
Trunks briefly reflects on where the last time he brought this up with his father got him and reluctantly lets the subject drop. “Fine, whatever.” He re-focuses on the more pressing concern. “What about everything else then. I mean, honestly dad, I never thought you'd date again, let alone date… a guy?” Trunks tilts his head curiously. “You like guys?”
“Tch! Don’t be ridiculous. We're not ‘dating’ and I don’t
like
anyone.” His son deadpans while Vegeta’s face crimsons.
“Yeah, ok. Well, how long has this ‘not dating’--” Trunks gestures to the countertop they’d been caught on. “--or whatever you wanna call it, been going on?”
“Since--” he hesitates and looks at his son’s bright blue eyes. “Since yesterday,” he lies.
“Yesterday? Really?”
“Yes. Really! Are you done asking questions? This is a private matter and none of your conc--”
“HA!” Trunks lets out a hollow laugh. “Fuck that. I just walked in on it! So, I’m pretty sure it is my concern.”
“No! It is not! I’m not discussing this with you any further!”
Trunks meets his father’s glare with one he inherited from his mother. “Did you ever stop to think whether or not it matters if you want to talk about it? Your problems don’t just affect you! How do you not get that? How does it not cross your mind that you not communicating your fucking ISSUES makes my life hard too?! Especially--” His father opens his mouth to interrupt but Trunks silences him. “No! I’m not done! Especially! When I have to pull my sister back from school so she can help me spend fucking
days
trying to shut down a piece of equipment you turned into a suicide trap before it fucking blows you and half the damn city up! Only for Magic-Fucking-Disappearing-Man, who as far as I know hasn't even talked to you since he came back, to show up and make a scene! And now you’re fucking!? IN THE KITCHEN?! WHERE I EAT!? REALLY, Dad! It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to talk about it! Your inability to deal with your own bullshit still affects me!”
He can feel himself suddenly on the verge of snapping. He's never snapped on Trunks. On either of his children. He thought he was past that part of himself, but here he is wondering if he might just have a stroke from how hard he's working to repress the urge to just fucking explode and not deal with any of this. Vegeta grits his teeth together for a few moments and Trunks can see his jaw working, grinding on itself with stress, taking a long time to come to terms with what is being demanded from him and Trunks is not having it.
“Well?” Trunk pushes. “What’s going on? Are you enemies? Are you rivals? Are you dating? You’re obviously fucking. But is it serious? Does anyone else know? Is he staying? Does he need to stay? Do you want him to stay? Is this just some Saiyan thing you haven’t told me about? What’s the fucking deal? And why--"
Inhale. Exhale. Fuckiiinnnggg breath. He's your son. and... He's right.
Vegeta lets out an irritated explosive huff of air that brings an abrupt and necessary end to Trunks' machine gun fire of questions. “I don’t! Know! I don’t know. I haven’t asked if… he wants to stay. Here. …With me.”
“You should ask then, because I kinda need to know that, Dad, I live here too. God, it’s like you’ve been losing your damn mind since he… got… back…” The cogs in Trunks head begin to shift into gear now that he’s fully awake. “Since he got back.” Trunks repeats as he nods with a sigh. “You lied to me.”
Vegeta starts to shake his head. “No, I--”
“You said this started yesterday.” Trunks pauses. “But this started before he left, didn’t it?”
Before mom died...
Vegeta hears the deeper question behind what his son is asking and finally looks at him. Trunks has his mother’s worry in his mother’s eyes and it has always been near-impossible to lie to him because of it. Vegeta’s shoulders and face drop as he admits fault. He doesn’t know what else to say. “I’m… sorry.”
In his twenty-five years of life, Trunks has never heard his father say those words. Not to him, not to anyone. It catches Trunks off guard and takes him a few moments to recollect his thoughts. He notices there is a stack of plates in the sink other than his own for the first time in weeks and smiles softly.
“I know you are. Just, please, for once…” Trunks pulls out a chair and gestures to it before taking his own seat at the table. “...talk to me.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Goku is not expecting the heavy volume of a quantum electrical theory textbook to smash into his face and as a result he topples over a stack of books with titles he can barely pronounce.“WHO THE HELL--Oh. Hi Goku. You really shouldn’t sneak up on me.” Bra stands over him with a bright smile then offers him a hand up.“Yeah…” He rubs his face and cringes when he accidently brushes his nose before taking her hand.“You’re a hot mess.” She eyes him as he stands and brushes himself off, then smiles. “Are those… my father’s clothes?”“Huh?” He looks down at the blue tank top that was just a few sizes too small and gym shorts that hug his hips a little tighter than is comfortable but certainly don’t do him any aesthetic disfavor. “Oh, yeah.” He blushes. “I think we’re…” He reaches behind his neck with a bashful smile. “...back together.”“You are?!” she asks gleefully.He nods. “Yay! I’m so happy! That’s, like, the best news ever! And I can’t believe I--” She furrows her brows at him. “Your nose is bleeding. Did he break it? Or did I just do that with my textbook?” She grimaces. “Sorry.”Goku runs his fingers across the bridge of his nose and finds that it is still sensitive and not quite straight. He tweaks it back in place with the palm of his hand then inhales experimentally through it a few times. “No, I think it was broken before me and Vegeta…” His words drop off as he peers curiously behind her at her laptop which she promptly shuts. “What’s that?”“Ohh, nothing interesting. Just a… pet project of mine. You really should text me before--” She waves her hand at him. “--showing up all spooky-like behind me. I could have been conducting experiments for all you know.” Her eyes flash with something implacably mischievous that unsettles Goku. “You don’t want to lose an arm do you?”“No, ha ha.” He rubs his cheek where the book hit him. “That’s a joke, right?”“Maybe, maybe not. Best not to find out.” She smiles not quite pleasantly. “Anyway! Not that I don’t absolutely loo~oove company at my early morning study sessions, but!” She begins to close all of the books on her desk. “I have a feeling you don’t know much about artificially throttling the power in a bioelectric generator.”“Heh. No, I don’t think I know anything about… that.”“That just might be the understatement of the year.” She sits up on the table. “So what’s up? You came all the way here to tell me how excited you are to be my new step-dad or what?”“I--what?” He immediately flusters. “No, that’s--I’m not--I don’t--uh, um, uh--I mean, I guess he and I are--” “Relax! I’m teeaasing you. Don’t lose your mind. Why are you here? Not that I’m not super excited to get all the drama, but it’s like… five am. So… did something crazy happen? Or what?”“Uh, well…” His face turns an even deeper shade of red. “Sorta. Trunks, uh--”She cuts him off. “Trunks?! What do you mean, ‘Trunks?!’ Oh noo, what did my brother do?!”“Nothin' really!” He reassures quickly. “Me and Vegeta were… just eating…” He laughs nervously. “But then... we weren’t. Eating. And--I don’t know. He walked in and...” He feels his face heat up despite the cool, still air. “...dropped his coffee and…”She takes several moments to process the information. “You--Wow.” She clicks her tongue in amusement. “In the kitchen? That is just… wow. You deserved getting walked-in on.”“Yeah.” He chuckles anxiously. “So I left…”“Wait, what?!” She stares at him in disbelief. “You just left my father alone to explain--? Oh my God! You are the WORST boyfriend ever! How could you do that to him!?”“I’m not! Am I?” he says with a mild panic in his voice. “Trunks asked me to leave. So I thought--”“And you listened to that idiot? You are! You should never listen to Trunks! He gives terrible advice! My poor papa! He’s probably having a stroke right now because I don’t know if you’ve ever talked to Trunks, but he has, like, a lot of feelings and, uhg, Goku! You know how my father is with feelings! ”“Sorry! I didn’t know what else to do. That’s why I came here. ‘Cause Gohan, he’s not--I don’t know.” He hesitates then tries to force a reassuring smile she does not return. “Your ki was awake! And I thought... you’re smart! You’d know what to do!”She lets out a long irritated sigh aimed up at her bangs before finally acknowledging his compliment. “Thank you, but you don’t have to keep telling me. You’ve already SOMEHOW weaseled your way into my good graces. I was really hoping to break this all to Trunks little by little. Uhg… At least you gave me a warning before he calls me completely wasted in about--” she looks at her phone. “I give it fifteen minutes.” Then glares at him.Goku frets silently before asking. “Should I go back? He's your brother, so he’ll understand, right? That Vegeta and I--? But he seemed upset. I--Maybe we should just leave--me and Vegeta--or--”“Goku. Goku!" She snaps her fingers at him and he looks up at her with a tortured expression on his face. “Stop. I get that your fucked up little family has made this whole situation an absolute nightmare for you by getting mad at you, but--”“Gohan wasn’t mad.”“I bet he was disappointed though, wasn’t he?”“He said he was glad I told him. And also that me and Vegeta weren’t…. Together.” Goku frowns and looks away. “I told him right after we fought.”She throws her head back. “Oh, that is so classic Gohan. Probably dressed it up as support and concern too, gross.” Goku’s face flashes with sad confirmation. “Yeah, it’s a trend with him. Trust me, I know. Trunks and Pan piss him off to no end and I have to hear all about it; that’s beside the point. Trunks is… he’s...” She motions her hand in a circle. “He’s… not like that. Just imagine… me, but not as smart, obviously, and... purple and… if I solved all my problems by working and drinking myself to death. I don’t know, he’s--honestly, we’re just going to have to wait and see. But you in the meantime.” She glares at him seriously. “Are not going to run away. Definitely not with my father in tow. Disappearing didn’t solve your problems last time and it won’t this time either, alright?”He pauses thoughtfully before nodding in agreement. It is only after that extremely short moment of reflection that he has the wherewithal to take in his surroundings. He notices just how dark the library Vegeta’s daughter has decided to camp in, is. There might be over a thousand characters in the room, but only two of them are breathing. “Is this…? Where…? Are we allowed to be here?”“Goku, priorities. Really? Whether or not the library is open? Not important right now. But since you don't seem very interested in perusing the shelves for me…” She begins neatly packing all of her color coordinated belongings away into a matching book bag. “How about we go get something to eat while we wait for my brother to call and have a total meltdown about being scarred for life, ok?”She stashes as many books as she can into her bag.“Here, take these.” And thrusts the rest into Goku’s arms before leading him out through an open window on the fifth floor and then to a nearby coffee shop where she orders them the same very elaborate drink. He quickly decides doesn't taste very much like coffee and is in fact much much better than coffee. So much so that he convinces her to order four more.“These are--this is one of the best things I've ever tasted!” He sucks down the last of the sweet iced drink.She smirks and sips on her own. “Well, I’m glad you got your fill because they’re only selling it for a few more weeks.”“What? Why?!” He’s about to get up and order just one more, when she pulls on his arm to sit back down.“Because they sell an even better one in the Fall. Leave some for the rest of humanity, will you?”“Better?”“Yeah, remind me and I promise I’ll get you a dozen.”He stays standing, looks at the register then back at her. “Two dozen.”“Are you trying to bargain with me? No! Sit down. I come here regularly. Don’t make it weird by ordering them out of stock before 6 am.”He resists and narrows his eyes. “Two dozen.”“Oh my god. You are--fine! Whatever! Two dozen!” He finally sits back down with a smug grin. “Uhg. I get why my father wanted to kill you.”“Sometimes I think he still does.” A small smile chases across his face.“Well, then he should get a trophy for his self-restraint or maybe you should get one for survival. Because here you sit before me.” She gestures. “Speaking of, I’m guessing everything’s all hashed out now? All’s well? I mean, obviously. You said so and you’re in his clothes.” She giggles. “But for real. How’d you finally get him back to his senses? What happened? What did he say?”“I… confronted Goten, like you said.”“You did?” She taps her nails eagerly against the table even though she already knows. Goku’s brows furrow and he looks away in thought and nods. “And we were right. He was… lying.”“About what?”“About…. everything,” he says quietly. “Okay, and?” she prods for more details.“And…” he draws slowly, as he looks for a way to avoid her prying because he knows Vegeta would feel beyond disrespected if he told anyone what he found out, even his daughter. Maybe, especially his daughter. It is too painful and too private to share and he is still grappling with it himself. “And, uh… Oh! I forgot to tell you, I used the ki band. And now... I can’t sense him.” His expression twists with discomfort as he avoids answering her question. “I know he’s not in otherworld but it’s like he’s not on Earth either. Or anywhere. This has never happened before. I should still be able to sense him. I could sense him after I put it on him. His ki was just small. But when I woke up this morning, I couldn’t. It’s like… he disappeared.”She sips slowly trying to work out a response to keep his worry at bay. “Well...” She sets the cup down and taps her nails on the table again. “It is a ki dampener. He’d have almost no signature whatsoever.”“But I’m really good at sensing ki.” He asserts confidently.“I am aware of that, but we’re also talking about my invention. Pair my invention with perhaps a bit of, ‘I don’t wanna be found’ and I’m sure even you’d be limited, hm?” Goku looks at her doubtfully. “Honestly Goku, you of all people should be somewhat aware of the dramatics for an emotionally distressed Saiyan.” “You think he left? Where would he go? ...How?”She shrugs her shoulders and takes another sip. “I don’t know. Maybe he picked up that disappearing thing from you.”“No!” His open palm smacks down on the table just hard enough to cause the empty cups to fall over. “No, I told him I would never teach him that. He will never learn that technique from me,” Goku says, not loud enough to draw attention, but it is impossible to miss the sudden pang of anger and hurt searing his expression.She is caught off guard by his reaction. Whatever Goten was lying about, he definitely found out. She figured as much when she caught Goten on the verge of having his pathetic breakdown on compound property yesterday, and then of course when Goku popped in on her this morning. But she was hoping it wasn’t this bad, this confirms the worst of her theories. She watches Goku carefully struggle to fit all the plastic cups back on the small table between them. “Maybe… it was something else then. But you get what I’m saying?”“No." he answers stiffly. "I do not get what you’re sayin'. He can’t just disappear. He… he has to answer for what he--”“Hold that thought.” She pulls out a buzzing phone and smiles. “Let's find out if you're allowed back at Capsule Corporation any time soon.” He shoots her a devastated look. “Kidding! I’m kidding! I'm sure it's fine." She puts the phone up to her ear. "Hey favorite broth--”“Oh, OH my fucking--! I am so glad you picked up! You will NOT BELIEVE what just happened! I swear, I COULD NOT make this shit up, Bra! I could NOT! Fuck! You are NOT going to believe what I just saw!”She winks at Goku and motions for him to lean in so he can hear. “Try me.”“Okay, so, sit the fuck down. I hope you’re not at that lame fuckin’ coffee shop on campus right now because I shit you the fuck not, Goku and Dad…” He pauses for dramatic effect. “...are fucking!” He waits for her to respond.“Noo...” She tilts her head and smirks at Goku who is now blushing profusely.“YES! They’re--I swear, I swear! Dad said it himself. They’ve been sleeping together for like YEARS, Bra! Before he left, I mean! AND now that he’s back! They’re getting back together! I practically just witnessed it and I’m scarred for fucking life and--fuck! I didn’t even get my coffee! I don’t even WANT coffee anymore and… what… what’s going on? You’re not screaming. Why aren’t you screaming? B? Did you fall over dead? Oh my God,” he mutters. “I’ve killed my sister from shock.”She rolls her eyes. “You know, all in all Trunksie, I’m impressed because you seem to be taking this really well. You’re not even crying.”“Me?! Why would I cry? You don’t even sound surpris--oh. Oh! Fuck! You! How long have YOU known!? Was I the last one to find out?! How the hell did you find out?”“You might’ve been, but it doesn’t really matter now. And Goku told me when I went to cloud city or wherever the hell he was and you were distracting Goten.”Goku eyebrows quirk with question but she holds a finger up urging him to stay quiet.“And you didn't tell me?!”“I was going to.”“When?!”“When I thought you wouldn't lose your mind over it.”“I'm not--you--” he grumbles. “I'm not losing my mind. I just woke up to literally the last thing I ever expected, in MY LIFE, to see. So THANKS for not keeping me posted on all the happenings in our house that I might just WALK IN ON!”“You’re welcome. ...You’re not even slurring. Are you sober?”“What? Yes,” he mumbles in annoyance. “Why?”“Wow. You are taking this SO well! I should have just told you right off the bat, but I was super worried you’d just freak out because it had been going on since basically forever and--”“I--” He sighs. “I mean, I did sorta blow up on him, but we hashed it out. We’re okay.” “I… thought you’d be more upset about finding out he cheated,” she admits as she gives Goku a reassuring pat on the shoulder.“Oh, no, trust me. I am pissed at him! For lying and all the shit he’s put us through, but… at the same time, when would’ve been the time to tell us, you know? We were really little when this was all going on, and then Goku left, and so, I don’t know. Dad’s right, it is complicated. And… it would be kind of shitty for me to hold this against him twenty years late. After everything. He even like… apologized to me. I didn’t even know he could do that. Besides, Pan and I cheat on each other all the time. So maybe it's just a Saiyan thing."“I really think that’s just, like, a toxic relationship with a crazy bitch thing. Anyway, how’s Dad?”“Shut--she’s not-! You are the worst! …I don’t know, he’s… he seems…” He sighs. “Better, honestly. Maybe a relationship will be good for him. I don’t know if I trust this Goku yet, though. I mean what’s his fucking deal ? What else did he tell you when you talked to him the other day?”“Uh, honestly? Basically the same thing except with a lot more crying involved. He’s a good guy. I think we can trust him. He did drag papa out of the gravity chamber after all.”Goku starts. “I didn’t cry!”“Shh!” ‘you did!’ she mouths at him.“Yeah…” Trunks continues, “But why was dad in there in the first place, you know? I feel like we’re still missing something, and--”“Wow, I don't know. It’s like Dad is terrible at handling interpersonal relationships or something. Who could have guessed?” Trunks snorts. “And just so I have it on the record, Goku’s not going to have to brave our upgraded security system is he?”“What? No. I don’t even think--They’re Saiyans Bra, they’re gonna do whatever they want. I don’t care. So long as they don’t fuck in my Goddamn lab, or in the damn kitch--! Wait. Wait, hold on. Is he-? He’s next to you isn’t he?”“Yup.”“He disappeared to you ? What are you guys like best friends now or something?”“Pretty much.”“I hate you so much sometimes. He’s in the gravity room! But how about you use the door like a normal person!” he shouts to Goku. “Uh, ow?” she says, holding the phone away from her ear.“Yeah, well, I had to let him know. That disappearing thing is fuckin’ spooky and Dad's terrible with that kinda shit.”“Oh my God! Right?! SO spooky!” She rolls her eyes at the Saiyan smiling at her ecstatically. She waves at him as he stands abruptly and makes his way towards the door. “Well, Trunks.” She watches him leave and take off. “I'm sure we're gonna have a big family pow-wow about this at a later date but I'm actually--I’ve got plans. SO, I’m gonna let you go~”“No no, wait, is Goku still there?”"No, he literally just left. Why?""Because where the fuck is Ten? I can’t find him, I've been trying to reach him. but--”“I don’t know. Why are you asking me, dumb dumb?!""Ahg, I wanted to ask Goku! And I can't do that if he comes back here and Dad's around. I don’t know what the fuck happened, but Dad FREAKS out if you even say his name. I’m pretty sure this was the reason behind their fight a few months ago, I don’t know how he found out, but something isn’t right there and I have a lot of questions."“Well, Goten is just bad vibes all around all the time, so, surprise surprise, he didn’t take the news well. I don’t know what you expected.”“Bra, you don’t understand. It’s more than just ‘he didn’t take the news well.’ Dad nearly snapped my neck when I brought him up! And, you know what, on that note, can I just add that it is really fucking weird how much he and Goku look alike? Like, I always knew from the pictures and from everyone always nonstop saying it, and Goten’s serious issue with mirrors, but--wait." His voice drops. "Wait, you don’t think Ten is like… ” “It’s anyone’s guess I imagine! Don’t hurt yourself thinking about it, ok? It’s the mysterious Goten. No one knows what goes on in that head of his. And anyway, Goku’s gone, so you missed your chance and that's not my problem. Besides he’s your friend, you were the one who was supposed to keep tabs on him.” She hears him hesitating over his words for a few moments then give up and sigh.”“Fuck it, you’re right. He’ll reach out when he’s ready, I guess. I'm done with this fucking compound right now. I’m taking another personal day.” “Ok, well you do that and I’m just gonna stay back at school and catch up on all my missed classes now that everything seems to be back to uh... Saiyan standards of normal. I’ll talk to you la-”“Wait, wait if you find out anything else, let me know, okay? PLEASE? I kind of need to know these things! I’m the one who lives here!”“Byyyyeee best brother everr~” She taps her phone and pulls out another one that is not encased in sparkling rhinestones. This one is all black and has hardly anything in or on it of interest so she scrolls through the messages again. Gohan: Where are you?Are you ok? Are you still sparring?Why is Dad at Capsule Corporation? Are you there too? He’s not picking up my calls.Goten! Pick up the phone!Where are you?Are you ok?Pick up! She smiles at the message she typed out and sent in response hours ago: im fine. fuck off She must have said the right thing because Gohan’s curiosity was suddenly satisfied. That or his frustration with his little brother had reached its limit. Because he didn’t call again. Or message him. And she is fairly certain she can at least trust one of the Son’s to not just appear wherever he wants whenever he wants.Trunks is a little more persistent and it takes her a while to work out the right responses to the eighteen calls and thirty odd messages loaded with questions and annoying sentiments about friendship the phone receives from Trunks over the next few hours. Aw, Ten. It’s like he’s the only one who even cares about you. It is much much later that this phone receives a single message from someone else. She has to cross check it with her own contacts to verify who it is because Goten hasn’t saved the number despite there being a long history of messages between them in the last few months, making it easy to guess who it is. (Unmarked Number)Where r u? She decides to leave that one alone.*** Goku makes several stops on his way back. He searches the area where he and his son sparred, but the only trace of his son he finds are the craters they left behind. The rain washed away any hope of trying to track him. He searches the wasteland and previous places they have spared but everything turns up empty. He checks Gohan’s house while his eldest son is at work, in order to avoid him, and his calls, before eventually making his way back to Capsule Corporation. He doesn’t know how the day escaped him, but it did. It is dark as he makes his way upstairs and he hesitates at the door with Vegeta’s ki behind it.He knocks softly, then turns the knob and walks in. Vegeta shifts slightly.“You’re back,” he mumbles.“Yeah.” Goku strips off the shirt and shorts and makes his way over to the bed, which isn’t a first for them, but Goku’s pretty sure he could count the number of times they’ve shared an actual bed on one hand, this being one of them. Usually they are in the grass, or the floor, or a table, or- it never mattered much where they were, but they have certainly never been together on this particular bed and he takes a moment to let that sink in.He finds a comfortable position under the covers and stares up at the ceiling, feeling the warm ki next to him wondering if this is really happening. Vegeta turns towards him and lays an arm across him.“Are you staying here from now on?” he says, sleep still clinging to his words.“Unless you wanna go somewhere else.”“Hn… Maybe… another time…”Goku presses his nose into Vegeta’s hair and notices it is still damp. He suddenly finds it so hard to resist the challenge of convincing Vegeta to work up a sweat right after a shower.Turns out it isn’t much of a challenge.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He comes to groggily in a dimly red-lit room.
Where… Am I in the gravity chamber? How did I get here?
He lifts his head, which is pounding, and looks around. His eyes lock on Vegeta who is sitting a few feet away from him leaning back on the center control panel. Vegeta is staring right at him with the most malevolent expression he's ever seen. The cruel upward twist in his lip isn’t making any reassuring promises. His father's head is resting on Vegeta’s shoulder and his eyes spring open as soon as Vegeta moves to stand up. Goku follows and stands just behind him. They are naked and bear the marks of rough, intimate sex all over their bodies. Goten is particularly unnerved by the blood streaks between both their thighs running down the back of their legs.
“Kakarot, I can not thank you enough for bringing him to me.”
Goku smiles softly at Vegeta and wraps his arms loosely around Vegeta’s waist while Goten’s heart starts quickening with fear. He starts up but Vegeta holds out his palm and aims it at his face. Goten prepares for a blast, but it doesn’t come. Instead, he feels a burning sensation of ki around his wrists and ankles as ki bands appear, pulling him to his hands and knees, securing him to the floor. Vegeta’s feet tap on the cool tile and he stares down at Goten.
Goten begins to power up but Vegeta clicks his tongue and before Goten can reach Super Saiyan he feels another band around his neck. He watches Vegeta’s mouth twist into an evil smirk as it tightens.The collar burns as it clamps tightly around his trachea. The more he powers up the more he chokes. He quickly gives up and grimly accepts his slim to none chance of escape.
“Don’t try anything stupid,” Vegeta tuts before addressing the other Saiyan as he continues to study Goten with sadistic curiosity. “What should we do with him?”
Goku hums and Goten is suddenly very aware that he himself is also naked.
They stripped my clothes?
He tries to look around but doesn’t see them anywhere. He breaks into a cold sweat. As Vegeta begins charging up a ki blast in his palm aimed point blank at Goten’s face.
“No, no! Wait, don’t kill him.” Goku places his hand on Vegeta’s forearm and Goten doesn’t miss the casual exchange of body language that is Goku’s hips pressing up against Vegeta’s backside. “Please. Don’t kill him.”
Vegeta tilts his head side to side and debates the appeal. “You are too forgiving, Kakarot. But... since he is
your
son, I suppose I will so graciously spare his life,” Vegeta says bitterly. He then takes a knee in front of their captive and tips Goten’s head up to meet his gaze. “What should we do, then? Hn? Should I fuc-”
“No!” Goku starts forward, then turns red with embarrassment.
“Jealous?” Vegeta smirks.
Goku stammers, then looks away without saying anything.
Vegeta clicks his tongue. “Kakarot…” he coos. “Don’t be like that. You know it would mean nothing.” But Goku continues pouting.
“It would mean something to me,” he whines quietly, pulling away, refusing to give Vegeta the satisfaction of touch. Vegeta grunts in annoyance but gives him his way. He narrows his eyes at Goten as he voices other possibilities. “We could just leave him here. Saiyans can live for so long without food, did you know that, Goten? Weeks. Your ki will slowly dwindle until I won’t even need to keep you bound like this."
Goten lets out an involuntary whimper as Vegeta’s face nears his brandishing his gleaming canines. “What’s that? You have an idea about how you should pay for what you did?”
“Let… let me go. Please, I’ll… I’ll leave. I’ll never come back, just let me--” Goten rasps out, with fear now coiling tightly in his chest and something else, too, coiling a little lower making this far more unbearable. He supposes he was bound to get found out by his father eventually, he always knew this was coming, but he shouldn't be getting
excited
by the thought of punishment.
What's wrong with me?
“What’s that? Beat you senseless? No. No, I've already done that. Doesn't seem to do any good." He runs his hand down Goten’s spine and it causes an involuntary shiver. Vegeta smirks and lifts his hand from Goten’s now shaking body. “In fact,” he whispers darkly. “I think you
liked
it. Didn’t you?” Goten’s eyes flicker briefly to Vegeta’s, then to Goku’s with a pleading look. Vegeta follows his gaze.
“Goten,” he says, turning his head slowly back towards the half-Saiyan. “Your creativity never ceases to amaze me. Personally, I think it’s disgusting, but you are disgusting, so I guess I’m not surprised and... if that's what you feel you deserve… then who am I to stand in your way?” Vegeta stands up and backs up toward Goku who immediately begins ghosting his fingertips along Vegeta’s shoulders and biceps as soon as he can reach him, desperate to touch him.
“Don’t worry, Kakarot, he doesn’t want me to fuck him.”Goku exhales with obvious relief on his face that he tries, poorly, to mask. Vegeta chuckles. “No, better. He wants
you
to fuck him.”
Goku stops and his eyes widen. “W-what?”
“Fuck him, Kakarot. He doesn’t understand why what he did was wrong. He needs you to show him. He needs
you
to make him understand.”
“No, no, Vegeta, I cant--I couldn't do--that’s disgu--”
“Kakarot…” Vegeta turns to face the other Saiyan with a softer tone, trying to weasel his way through Goku’s soft, porous morals. “Kakarot.” He presses gently against him and begins caressing Goku reassuringly, avoiding still tender areas. “If you can't even discipline your own son after what he did to us, how can I respect you? How can I believe you’re worth my attention if you let him get away with what he did to me? To you?”
Goku wavers and looks around nervously. “I don’t… Vegeta, I don't think I can--”
Goten watches Vegeta make putty out of his father. He watches the careful placement of each touch of his mouth to his father's neck and collar and jaw. It is sensual, erotic, and threatening all at the same time. “You are his father. Discipline him. Or I will take out what I think he deserves… on you.” Goku bites his lip with a sly smile. “And you
won’t
like it,” Vegeta says with an edge just short of menacing. The smile immediately drops from his father’s face and his expression shifts. Goten watches his father begin to consider and reconsider then settle on a decision and
no...
“No. No, no, no, no, Dad, please--you can’t actually be--Don’t listen to him--Dad--this isn’t--that’s not-! Don’t do this, don’t--” He starts struggling frantically to escape from his bonds but Vegeta's face is suddenly right in front of his, hand on his throat just above the collar.
“I could kill you now, boy,” he hisses out. “I could kill you now and your father couldn't stop me. He won't even
try
.” Goten freezes and Vegeta releases his hold. “You know, Kakarot, I can’t decide if he’s a sadist like me or a masochist like you.” He walks back over Kakarot, running his fingers along his naked skin.
Goku blushes and reaches his hand behind his head to rub his neck with a goofy smile. “I’m not…”
“You are.” Vegeta taps his finger to Goku’s nose. “You
love
pain.”
“Oh, Is that what it means?” Goku laughs softly in agreement. “Yeah… I do like it.”
“I know.” Vegeta smirks as he drops to his knees in front of Goku. “Regardless, either way, I don't want him to enjoy it.” He throws a nasty glance in Goten’s direction before holding his hand out, towards him and forcing the ki on his neck up, which in turns, pulls Goten’s head up, forcing him to look at them.
“Watch. Like you made him watch.”
Vegeta then takes Goku into his mouth and presses the O of his lips to the base. After a moment he pulls back to the tip. Goku involuntarily lets out an embarrassingly loud, pleased sigh while trying to avoid eye contact with his son who is now more envious than anything else. He doesn’t understand why Vegeta would choose his weak, stupid father. Doesn't understand why his father would go back to a controlling psychopath. Doesn’t understand any of this. Vegeta repeats the motion until Goku’s cock is completely slick and completely hard. Goku’s head is tilted back with what looks to Goten like unimaginable satisfaction when Vegeta finally releases him.
“Now, teach him a lesson since he's so eager to learn.”
Goku looks at Goten then to Vegeta and nods. He mouths ‘I'm sorry’ as he walks by his son to settle behind him.
Goten is frozen in disbelief and can't bring himself to struggle as he feels his father reluctantly position himself.
This… isn't happening. This isn't happening.
He closes and opens his eyes several times but there he remains. He feels a soft press against his backside. “No,” he whispers. It is the only thing he can manage to get out as he feels the slightest twinge of pain and his father eases himself in. He feels arms wrap around him and Goku chest comes flush to his back and-
He’s… so warm.
“I'm sorry, Goten. But he’s right,” he says quietly. “I have to do this.”
“No, you don't, Dad, please stop.” He is surprised at how weak his own voice is, how pathetic it sounds. “Don't do this. It--it hurts,” he lies.
“No it doesn’t.” Vegeta tsks. “But maybe it should.” He sends a reassuring look to Kakarot and motions for him to continue.
Goten chokes back a moan. “Stop--please, stop, plea--”
“It's unbecoming to beg, Goten,” Vegeta chides darkly, watching them closely.
“He's manipulating you, Dad, you don’t want to do this, I know you don’t. We can take him, he’s--”
“He's not manipulating me, Goten, you are. This is for both of us,” Goku whispers against his neck. He is silent, his expression hasn't changed, immobilized by shock, as his father begins fucking him in earnest.
He feels his father’s fingertips press into his hips and a smooth grind follow each thrust. Why… why does this feel… good? Burning hot shame creeps up his neck, because he can't deny it; it feels good. Really good. Maybe even better than Vegeta. A twisted voice deep down asks, ‘is what it’s like to be fucked by yourself?’
The devil himself walks over and leans over Goku’s shoulder. “Harder.” And Goku obeys, forcing a noiseless gasp out of his son. “Harder.” Goku begins pounding faster and now there is blood on his cock. “I said, harder, Kakarot, he’s not getting the message. He’s enjoying it.” Goten can feel the red liquid beginning to drip down the back of his legs and he bites into his own arm to keep from moaning out, because the pain feels
so
good.
“But then I--I'd have to power up.”
“What did I just fucking say?” Vegeta hisses.
Goku nods and pauses so he can shift into Super Saiyan. The change is immediately felt by his son who cries out, but doesn't dare match him as he feels the collar tighten. His father picks back up where he left off, and then some. Goten arches in response, his hips press back, his cock pulses; he can’t help it, it feels
amazing.
He is thankful for the collar now because every noise spilling out of his mouth is choked by it, sounding miserable instead of elated as tears now stream down his face.
But soon he is wheezing, beginning to feel light headed. He can't hear what Vegeta is whispering to his father but whatever it is, makes Goku move more frantically and Goten takes solace in the fact that his father is apparently not one for endurance. He can feel it. This is going to end quickly.
Vegeta moves out from behind Goku and steps in front of Goten. He pushes his head to the floor with his foot and listens to his ragged breaths.
“You’ll
never
be as good as him. Now you know.”
Vegeta pulls Goku’s face towards his and kisses him teasingly at first but Goku eagerly chases after more which Vegeta freely gives to him. And Goten watches. He watches Vegeta and his father kiss while fucking him. Not just fucking him, but slamming into him, sliding against his prostate, so fast, and deep, Goten has never felt anything that compared. Goten bites into his lip until he punctures it, trying to hold back the urge to pretend he is watching himself and Vegeta. Trying to be disgusted and not suddenly
immensely
turned on. Something twists inside him however as he watches how much they
enjoy
each other. Their kiss is slow and languid and he rips his gaze away out of jealousy.
“Vegeta--ah.” Goku pants breathlessly. “I’m so close, I can’t--you’re, ah, making me get so--” Vegeta’s lip curls into a smirk as he slowly releases Kakarot.
“Well, don’t be rude, Kakarot. We’re teaching him, not torturing him. Finish him first.”
Goku nods, staring dreamily at Vegeta before reaching his hand towards Goten’s already hardened, leaking shaft. Because despite the pain, the blood, the shame, the embarrassment, the utter sickness of this, he is
close
. Goten lets out a strangled sob as the last of his dignity is stripped away.
“No! No, no, no, no! Wait! Don't make me--Please don't--!” His coughing and spluttering from the tightening collar cuts him off as he begins shaking violently against the ki binds and bucking back against Goku but the motion only brings him closer. Much closer now that a hand is wrapped so tightly around him, moving so agonizingly slow and so agonizingly well. “Ah no, no no, no, NO don't make me--You can’t! I won’t! I won’t! This--it’s torture, I won’t! You can’t make me--” He forces his cries through the choking, as his fingers claw at the tile flooring, but he can already feel himself right there on the verge and he thinks he might go insane from the pleasure he is getting from this type of pain, as he feels himself boiling over, he looks up at Vegeta’s who’s dark cold eyes are glaring down with him with more hatred than he’s ever seen in a living being and the collar suddenly loosens allowing something to finally snap inside Goten. “Ahhh!" He screams out at full volume now that can take a breath. "Fuck! Fuck! Yes! Oh my God, YES! YES, DADDY MAKE ME CU-!”
***
He wakes up gasping in a cold sweat seconds from orgasm. Instinct not rational thought has his hand reaching beneath the covers and gripping his shaft in a rush to finish before he loses it. He pauses. What was I dreaming about? He bites his bottom lip when he feels his cock pulse begging him for release. His fingers twitch and he hesitates. He wanted to come so bad. But what the fuck was I dreaming about that got me this hard? It’s still fuzzy. He can’t quite recall the details, so his grip tightens and begins moving without his permission and it is barely seconds before release finds him. The high isn’t even over before he lurches up and feels his way through a dark room he doesn’t recognize. He manages to find a bathroom where he is immediately sick with disgust and self-hatred because just as orgasm hit him, he remembered his dream.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He hasn’t heard from her yet. Or anyone. He can't feel anyone either. And I’m really fucking good at reading ki! It's driving him crazy because he doesn’t know how long he’s been here or where he is, if maybe he’s even on a different planet, but he suspects wherever he is, it’s been a few days. He is at least sure that he has been sitting under the icy water of the shower for several hours because now he is shaking.He sits there under the water because he can’t sleep. Won’t sleep. Doesn't want to sleep. His dreams--nightmares--are worse torture than the small prison holding him. At least in the holding room, there are several capsules of capsule-quality food. But he can’t hold anything down, not that he is even hungry to begin with. He is sure the band is poisoning him, messing with his head, his nerves, making him sick, making him crazy. She did something to it. I know she did. I never should have messed with any of her inventions to begin with . Never should have trusted her… He runs his hands through his sopping wet locks and pulls as hard as he can trying to mute the humiliating heat he feels in his body right now--the residual discomfort from his dream--with pain. Water is beginning to pool on the floor of the small bathroom because at some point he tore down the curtain and the railing that held it. Shattered the mirror too because he hates it, hates seeing his face every time he looks in it.His teeth chatter as he hugs his knees to his chest when he hears a voice come through on an intercom he can’t locate. He stands up in his soaking clothes and exits the bathroom to look for the source of her voice.“--oten? Gooooo~tennn? GOOOTENN? WHERE AREEE YO-There you are! Finally!”He steps out into a small windowless reinforced concrete room that has been made barely livable. His eyes immediately find the wall with her bubbly blue face projected on it, or through it, he isn’t sure and he approaches it slowly.She sighs dramatically. “I’m sorry it’s been so long! I’ve just had sooo much to do! Ten you won’t believe what’s happened while you’ve been…” Her eyes scan the room. “...destroying the place! Oh my God, Ten! What did you do to the walls?!” He looks behind him at the shallow cracks he managed to produce then down at his swollen bloodied fractured knuckles. “It hasn't even been a week you know!”He remains silent and she clicks her tongue with a smirk. “Well, while you’ve been having a temper tantrum I have been doing a little research!” She waits for him to respond but he never does. “I’ve just been SoOoOo curious since our last little talk, you know, the one where you threatened me and burned the split ends off my gorgeous hair? You remember that? Well, that little chat got me thinking! I just KNEW you were up to something! I knew it! But I didn’t have any evidence! Uhg! SO! I thought, well, since our fathers got caught on tape maybe, just maybe, I could catch you too!”He tilts his head curiously at where this is going. ”Catch me? Doing what?”“Oh my God! I’m SO glad you asked! This is, like, so much better when you play along! Catch you being totally green with envy because you have a thing for my father, which by the way”--she snorts--“is so fucked up. You’re like, basically his kid, Goten. Gross.”“I do not have a thing for him,” he mumbles. “And I’m definitely not--”She laughs. “How can you even say that when I found SO much evidence to the contrary?!” His brows furrow. “Yeah! Honestly, I thought it was just going to be some fight in the gravity room or maybe some monologuing to yourself in there, but it was so…” She inhales and exhales deeply. “So much worse. I mean really. If I suspected it was this awful, I probably wouldn’t have even looked. This… was shocking to find to say the least. I actually screamed when I saw it.”“Saw what?”“Saw what you did, Goten. That started this whole fucking mess. I know what you did. I know everything. And you…” She sighs deeply. “Oh you’re going to suffer so much for it.”“What are you talking about?”“Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.”He shakes his head. “No, there’s nothing. I didn’t--”“Okay, no, you’re not supposed to deny it, you’re supposed to ask me how I found it because obviously, I did.” He stares at the screen and silence lingers until, losing patience, she shouts, “SO ASK ME HOW!”“Okay, okay! H-how did--did you--”“Ohhh! Alright, fine!” She smiles. “Since you insist, I’ll tell you! Amidst all the chaos this week, I went down into the gravity room archives and pulled up every single freakin’ hour of that stupid room for the last year. To INCLUDE! The painful task of recovering a bunch of deleted files! It’s a little extra, I know, but you know how I am.”His stomach drops. “You--you what?”“Yeah, I went and recovered everything! And then I went back, I went forward, I went up and down and--Ah! It took FOREVER. Like, I knew that you trained a lot, but still! It’s like that’s all you do! But I persevered, Goten. Because I also KNEW there HAD to be something and... AHH!” She squeals with delight. “THERE WAS!” she says bursting with excitement as she squints at something off screen. “720 hp. Fucking ridiculous. We’re billionaires. Can you believe this? Should be 4k.” She shakes her head and another screen comes to life on the wall adjacent to the one with her face on it. His face pales as he looks at the footage being cast across it.“It took days to go through it all, even after narrowing it to just footage with your face in it. Imagine me just staring at screens for hours and hours waiting for you to do SOMETHING other than sulk around and punch bots. So boring… except…” He feels a sweat break out on the back of his neck as he sees himself being shoved through the gravity room door in his father’s gi. “...When it’s not.” “That’s… that’s not me.” He sweats nervously. “That’s… my fa--”She chuckles. “I thought you’d say that. You guys really are pretty much identical. I actually thought it might have been him too at first, but then I checked the date and whadya know! This was, like, months before he came back!”“He--he can teleport. It could be--”She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, well, he didn’t do that. And you know it. I can literally see your heart rate spiking through the roof right now.” She waves her phone screen at him and he can’t bring himself to say anything. “Honestly, Goten, it’s pathetic you’re even still trying to lie to me at this point, I mean, wow. Look at you go!” Goten watches his own face light up with a dark sadomasochistic grin when Vegeta goes Super Saiyan. “Yeah, that’s you, no doubt. Oohkay and we’re gonna pause here because yuck.” The feed pauses just as Vegeta’s in the process of tearing their shirts off. “Unlike you, I don’t want to watch my dad fuck his boyfriend. Or you. Or… ew, any of that. You’re super gross.” “How--how did you-”“I already told you how! But really, it was by the power of sooo much coffee and banned energy drinks, Ten. The last two weeks have not been good for me. But--” She makes a worried, slightly disgusted face. “--at least I look better than you. Have you slept?”He turns his face away from the screen.“Or eaten? Why are you wet?” She frowns and glances at the video paused next to her. “Anyway, finding this is all well and good. It totally, completely validated me. It explains why them getting together bothered you sooo much . And why he hates you. And why you two had that super crazy fight where he beat the living shit out of you. But…”“But?”She sighs dramatically. “It’s just not enough, Ten.”“Enough?” he asks dejectedly.“Yeah! It’s not enough! Like, okay, great so I solved Goten.” She throws her hands up with mock celebration. “I figured you out. I figured out all this bullshit that’s been going on for the last freakin’ year! Your completely fucked up daddy-doesn’t-love-me complex was just sooo emotionally crippling and you were sooo jealous of how much more everyone loved your dad than you that you decided to try and be him! So that my father--because he's never given you the acceptance you so desperately needed--would ‘love’ you too in the only way you know how to process some vague semblance of that concept: sex. Horrible, totally nonconsensual, borderline-incesty sex.” She shudders. “Ew.”“I--that’s not--it’s not incest, that’s--we’re not even related,” he stutters out a defense that doesn’t get very far. “He basically adopted you.”“You… you don’t--you don’t know what--you can’t prove- that isn't--”She hums. “Was it worth it, Ten? Was it the best night of your life? Did he finally love you enough? Did you finally get to experience what it’s like to be daddy’s favorite? ” His mouth stays open but he never responds. She lets out a cackle of laughter. “I guess you don’t have to tell me. I don’t really care. And neither do they! They’re too busy forgetting about you and being madly in love and--”He snorts and rolls his eyes. The interruption is rude enough to stop her in her tracks. “What?” she snaps. “Love? Love? He hates my father. Vegeta is a sadistic manipulative asshole using my father's pathetically naive understanding of the world to have power over him because he could never beat him in a fight. I would know. I fu--”She stutters through her smile for a moment, then breaks into full blown laughter. “Ohhhh oh no.” She pauses to assess his sincerity. “Oh, Ten, your self delusion is just sooo pathetic! I wish you could see them now… They’re so cute and happy it makes me want to throw up. I love it. I love them. Have you ever even seen my dad smile before? It’s so fucking weird! All those teeth! Really makes the mass-murderer in him come out. But, I guess I’ll get used to it.” She shrugs.“No, you don’t understand, he’s using him, he’s--”“You can keep lying to yourself if it really makes your life bearable I guess, it doesn’t change the truth. You can say it was out of hate instead, or power, or whatever, who cares! Not me! The point is! There is barely any satisfaction in proving you’re horrible anyway! Uhg! Because I already KNEW that! So the problem I have now is what do I DO about it? You know? Because it’s definitely not enough to just let you rot here with all the regrets I know you’re literally incapable of feeling.”His heart is now thumping out of his chest as he glances at the still frame of himself.“Obviously I’m not going to tell anyone because while I do kind of want to see if Gohan would end up being the one to finally snap and kill you, it would also be, like, a huge disrespect to my papa, and Goku to air their super traumatic personal business like that. SO! I decided, since you are SO interested in experimenting with my inventions! So much so that you'd steal them and test them on your own! That you’re going to help me test them! Yay! I can’t wait to play with you!”He feels an unsettling sense of Vertigo as the room begins to pull away from him but her face seems to grow closer. “Play?”“Yes! Play!”"I've come up with all kinds of fun games and tests for you!" She claps her hands excitedly. “Doesn’t that sound like fun?”His stomach drops and he feels the world closing in on him. “No. No… No, no, no. No! No! NO! N--”“Yes. Yes! Yes! YES! Ten!”He starts screaming. “NO! Let me GO! LET ME OUT! YOU CAN’T KEEP ME HERE!”“Oh my God, stop whining. It’s literally going to be so fun! I even went through the trouble of making sure you have everything you’re ever gonna need down here!”“Down?! Down where?” He looks around."You don't know where you are? Can’t you sense it?" She pouts mockingly at him. "Just kidding! I know you can’t! But guess what?”“...What?”“You're home! You're in the compound! In my lab! Or, underneath it actually." She sighs happily. "Where no one can hear you. No one can feel you.”“W--what?”She raises a brow. “You think what I showed you was everything?” Her elated grin widens, “Not. Even. Close. You think I could have made what I made and tested it if you could sense ki from outside my lab? No. No, my brother isn’t stupid. He would have found me out in an instant because let me tell you, he was not happy about the first three lawsuits to escape from my lab.” She bares her teeth in a frown. “Yikes, those were a little messy. But don’t worry. I’ve made lots of improvements since then.” Goten backs away from the screen and cautiously looks around, eyeing the room. “What kind of improvements?”“Wouldn’t you like to know?”He glances at her fearfully.“Anyway, the timing of all this is really just so perfect because I’ve been in the market for a new test subject, a more durable test subject. And You. Are. PERFECT! SO, I took the liberty of cleaning up this place. I bleached the floors, I even gave you a mattress and food. I didn’t have to do all that!” She smiles genuinely. “I’m so good to you! And now! We can play whenever I want! Right underneath Capsule Corp!""AAAHH!! AHHHH YOU CAN'T KEEP ME IN THIS--THIS--FUCK YOU!"“Aw. Ten.” She pouts and twiddles her hair for a moment. “Yes I can!” She lets out a squeal of laughter. “Gosh, I've just been SO busy these last few days, making all this possible. Oh, Ten, I hope you appreciate my effort!" She hums with a smile as he tries and fails to charge up a ki blast.“What… The fuck!” His dark eyes finally find their way back to her. “What is wrong with you? You can’t… you can’t do this! I’m--I’m not… Bra this… this isn’t--you can’t keep me here! You can’t!” He starts screaming again and slams his fist into the wall. “Oooh, but I can. Because no one cares about you, Ten-Ten. You’ve made my job easy and already alienated everyone in your life.”“No, Trunks, he--”“You shouldn't have sent him all those mean messages telling him to shut the fuck up and mind his own business then!” She waves his phone in front of the screen and he falters. "I hope you know you’re never leaving this place. You’re never going to hurt my father or antagonize him, or enable my brother, or threaten me, or break Goku's cute little nose again. And I should add Goku is just on a stellar campaign right now winning the hearts and minds of everyone at Capsule Corporation faster than I ever thought possible. Really, he is… just super. Except for the disappearing thing, literally no one likes that.” She clicks her tongue. “But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re never going to be a problem, Ten. Never again."He weakly beats his fists against the walls, against her face. "Wh--but you can't- and-""I can. And I will. Oh, but would you look at that? I have real work to do. This is my side project after all. So, while I'd really love to stay and chat with you about your daddy issues and all the fucked up shit you been doing, because, well, it does endlessly amaze me you were able to get as far as you did, I'm busy~ I have OTHER places to be. I have school work to catch up on! And a new member of my family to get to know! How exciting! SO, I'm just going to leave you alone with your thoughts for a little while longer. Byyyyyeeee." She blows him a kiss.His eyes widen. “Wait, Bra, please! Don’t--” The transmission cuts out and her face disappears leaving him completely alone.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Day 5
Goten's arm is outstretched in front of him as tiny sparks of ki dance around his fingers. It is excruciating but he keeps going. He has been trying to power up for days. Trying to overload the band which is now so hot his skin has peeled away in some spots leaving the metal in direct contact with his bone. The band radiates white hot waves of heat but still won’t break. He is so close to giving up. But not yet. Not yet. It will break. Everything breaks! “Oh Teennn~” His arm drops and he exclaims painfully as he hears her voice come through. He knows her face is now on the wall behind him. “What are you dooiiing?” He turns around slowly with a tired look on his face. “Are you trying to overload the band? Puh-LEASE tell me that’s what you’re doing.”He tilts his head and his mouth hangs open a little as the will to live slowly slips away from him. "I know it's been a while since we last talked, but I was hoping you'd do this exact thing! Can you believe it? We're totally on the same wavelength! Ah! Yay! You're just the best test subject EVER! Do you know why? Ask me why."He sighs heavily. "Why?""Because!" she sing-songs. "Now I can show you how I solved the overheating problem! Just like you wanted!” His brows furrow in confusion. “Yeah! Remember how you said it gets too hot? Oof! Yeah! I mean look at that! It's been absorbing a whole lot of ki, hasn't it? I bet it's like… 926 degrees! Must really hurt, huh, Goten?"He looks at the layering of burns along his wrist. "Well, it turns out, the solution is actually super simple. In fact! I solved it a while ago and I’ve been waiting for you to do this so we could see how your body responds to the physics of heat transfer. Do you know much about heat transfer?” He shakes his head. “Good! It’ll be a surprise then!” She grins as she clacks away on her keyboard and then there is a sudden explosion of heat inside his body. “Suprise!!!”He screams out in agony as the glow of the band begins to subside.“I had a few options, honestly. I could have sent it back into you in a steady drip as you fired up your ki, or in little bursts too, that sounded kind of fun. But I thought this would be the most… dramatic! And I know you like dramatic. Clearly, I mean look at you, screaming. Dra~ma~que~en." She rolls her eyes. "Anyway isn't this device just so cool? How it can hold and pass energy like this? It took a little math to figure out how to get it to let go of it so I could push it back into the wearer via my software, but the results are pretty neat. Now, the downside is, this would never actually work with a human even though they're pretty good conductors because their bodies are just too flimsy! All that heat? Yuck! I once had a subject melt straight through the floor and I wasn't even trying to do that! But you’re Saiyan. So… I don’t know! Completely undocumented parameters here. Let's see how much of your own energy you can take back!” Goten keeps screaming as he tears off his shirt. His skin is on fire and he rushes to the shower and turns the water on as cold as possible, but heat and burning pain is still coursing through him. He hears her reading out numbers from the other room. “Body temperature 108, 116, 123, 134, wow ten! That’s pretty high! This must be what my father felt like while he was locked in the overheated gravity chamber!" Water begins to turn to steam against his skin and he seizes before losing consciousness. Day 5 - On the Other SideGoku’s bare feet pad through the cool linoleum halls of capsule corp until he finds the snack pantry, third door on the left from the kitchen. He begins raiding it of food to take back to Vegeta's room for the night until something else catches his attention.There is another ki nearby. He recognizes it as Trunks and ignores his better instincts to head straight back upstairs with what he’s managed to find. Overladen with food and struggling to fit it all in his arms, he walks over to the kitchen where Trunks is resting his forearms against the sink watching a large clear bottle empty into the drain. The freezer is open and there are several more empty bottles next to him and two that are still full. Trunks looks up, tired and nods before his eyes find chocolate syrup among the food items in Goku’s arms. He smirks and shakes his head. “Nice.” Goku looks down, not quite sure which thing he is holding provoked that response but blushes all the same and holds it a little tighter. “What are you doing?” he asks curiously.Trunks lets out a long sigh before mumbling, “Nothing… Pan just said she’d… give me another chance if I…” his train of thought comes to a halt as he looks up at Goku’s friendly but eerily familiar face. “Actually, while you’re here, I wanted to ask you something.” Trunks stands upright. “Have you talked with Goten recently? Does he know…" Trunks gestures vaguely in the direction of his father's ki. "...about all this?” Goku nods as Trunks searches his face with big blue eyes that reminded Goku of Bulma more than Bra’s did. “He does?” His expression breaks into relief because he really didn't want to be the one to break it to him. “What did he say? I’ve been trying to get a hold of him, but--”Goku struggles with all of the food items in his arms for a moment as an unnaturally somber look drowns his normally dopey grin. “He said… he hates me and then he…” tried to kill me “...broke my nose.” “Oh. Uh, wow, yeah I didn't think he was going to take it well, but, uh…" Trunks promptly shuts his mouth and tenses with discomfort for several moments organizing his thoughts before trying to continue. “Well, have you heard from him since? Do you know where he is? Is he okay?”Goku bites his cheek for a moment before shaking his head. "No. I think he left.""Left? Left where?"Goku shrugs. "I don't know. Somewhere far away.""I--what? Why? Would he do that?"Goku hesitates and looks back in the direction of Vegeta's ki."Goku, did they fight again? Please tell me if something happened. This is what they fought about the first time, right? When you came back? If they fought again, then he might've--""I don't know what that was about!" Goku snaps suddenly before apologizing. "Sorry, I don't--I don't know what that was about. Not this though. It was… Training… or something," he mumbles. Trunks raises a brow. "Okay, well you… are a really bad liar."Goku opens his mouth then closes it, ashamed that he is lying, but he doesn't know what else to do. "They didn't fight. Again," he finally says. "Goten only fought with me before he left.""Are you sure? What did he say? What happened? Are you sure they didn't argue or--or anything? I mean, what did you say? Did you ask him if he--""I don't…" Goku interrupts suddenly, looking away. "...I don't know where he is. Sorry." There's so much concern in Trunks’ face, it's hard for Goku not to think about what he saw in Goten’s head. Continually enabling each other's competitive destructive edges because of their inability to deal with grief, the inability of those around them to provide the support they needed to stay out of trouble. Through it all though, Goten never looked as concerned about Trunks. Goku finally breaks the long uncomfortable silence with a soft question. “Is Goten... a good friend to you?”Trunks face scrunches in confusion. “What?” “Is he a good friend?” “Yeah, he's my best friend. We’re br--” “That’s not what I asked. Is he a good friend?" Trunks opens his mouth to respond but no sound comes out as he recalls the last several times they saw each other. “I don't think he's a good friend…" Goku continues seriously. "To you or anyone.”Trunks huffs in annoyance. “Well, that's not really your call is it? You barely know him. Or me.” Goku holds his tongue and lets Trunks have the final say on the matter. “You really have no idea where he is, do you?” Goku shakes his head. "Your sister said maybe he left the planet. …He'd have to be really far away though because I can't sense him. At all," he admits sheepishly.“My sister told you?" Trunks frowns. "Hm. Will you let me know? If you hear from him? No matter what he says? Maybe I can… reach him, you know? He and I… we get each other." Goku nods then walks out of the room before Trunks can badger him with any more questions about his son. Trunks watches Goku leave and is left in an even more frustrated mood than before as he begins pouring out another bottle. He takes out his phone and skips past the messages with Pan, then the ones with his sister. He re-reads the slew of angry profanity filled messages he has received from Goten’s phone over the last few days. The messages don’t answer any of his questions, not that Trunks expects him to, but he usually doesn’t blow up on him like this and it bothers him. Something isn’t right about this. He doesn’t empty the last bottle and takes it with him down into the labs to his office. It would be the first time he’s been there sober in six weeks and he would finally realize that it had been broken into. His eyes gloss over the office that was suddenly so much neater than when he left it aside from the cracks in the floor tiling and a brand new safe."Damn it, B. Sister of the fucking year, yet again. Fuck. When did you take it?" he throws his arms over his face and groans in anguish. "I don't even know!"He drops into the wheelie chair that once belonged to his mother and spins in it for a couple moments weighing the likelihood of the band still being in his sister’s possession or if she decided to help another unstable psychopath who suddenly doesn’t want to be found. He resigns his head to his desk with a long sigh as he recalls the horrific side effects Ten experienced last time Trunks found him with it. He wonders how long it will be before he finds him again in a similar, if not worse position."Damn you too, Ten… I told you not to mess with that stuff." Day 8 “NO! Fuck you! FUCK YOU! I refuse to do that! I’d rather fucking kill myself! And then I’ll be in other world and I can tell everyone what you’ve been doing to me!”“Oooo Ten, I think you’ll find that’s a little hard to do,” she says with an exaggerated frown. “Besides, I haven’t done anything. It's all your ki hurting you. You could even say I’ve been doing you a favor. I’m basically protecting you from my father who I’m pretty sure, based on how he reacts to just your name, will kill you on site. So, keeping you here… it’s actually pretty nice of me.”He bolts to the bathroom and picks up one of the glass shards of the broken mirror, then returns facing her irritating blue face on the screen with it held up to his neck.“You sadistic spiteful bitch! I’m not going to live as your captive! I'm sick and tired of these fucking tests! These fucking games! This is torture! You can’t--” “It's not torture if it's for science, Ten! Everyone knows that.” She rolls her eyes as he begins to draw it across his neck and smirks at him.His hand stops. His body locks up and he falls to the floor from a painful hot series of shocks stemming from the band around his wrist. He can’t get any words out and just writhes for a moment on the floor in front of the screen. “You have always been unreasonable and unstable, Ten. You act like I didn’t prepare for this. Uhg, honestly it’s disheartening how much you underestimate me.” He barely succeeds in turning towards her and mumbles something about the pain. “Well, that’s not my fault. You shouldn’t have put so much of your own ki into my device. The more you try to use, the more it hurts. I thought you would have figured that out by now.” She lets out a huff of disappointment. “I’ll just do it later. When you’re not looking.”“Well, I might applaud your efforts except that besides heat transfer, which we have been learning is very painful , that cute band also tells me all kinds of things about you!” She waves her phone at him. “It sends me alerts and vitals and really, if I could get Trunks to stop being such a pussy about ki tech, it could save lives like it just saved yours. Even humans have ki. Just not very much. But maybe you're right! I should encourage you to try, and we’ll just call it a test in my response time.” He groans and begins to pull himself upright. “What do you want from me?” he slurs. “Nothing, really. I don’t know. Entertainment. I’m always bored. We’ll see. Maybe this experiment will run its course and I’ll just… throw you to the wolves. Let our fathers deal with you. But for now, you are just as exciting as ever, Ten. And I'm getting a lot of good data out of this.” He collapses back on the floor with a sigh. “Whatever. I’ll just starve myself to death then.” Don’t ever want to eat anything anyway anymore. “You can’t force me to eat.” “Oh! You're right... See? You keep my life full of interesting problems that require creative solutions!” He throws her a sarcastic sneer and continues to lay sprawled out on the floor. Day 8 on the Other Side Vegeta wakes up with Goku on top of him, kissing him, touching him, grinding against him, trying to feel skin on skin in some way or another. Not that he is complaining--he’s woken up to far worse things in his life--but as he cracks his eyes open to watch this show of lust-fueled body on top of him, he catches an edge of worry in the other Saiyan’s face before it quickly masks itself behind a wide grin.“You’re awake," Goku whispers.“It’s a miracle I’ve managed to sleep at all,” Vegeta mumbles, sitting up. Goku wraps his arms around Vegeta’s neck and leans in. His lips make contact with nothing as the shorter Saiyan pulls away. Goku tries again with the same results. “What?” He softly grinds his hips against Vegeta's.Vegeta tilts his head and lets his lip twist with the beginnings of a smirk. “Nothing. I just woke up. Give me a minute.” All week Goku’s been jumping him every chance he can get, and at first Vegeta was all for it, but lately it is starting to feel… desperate, like Kakarot is looking for something Vegeta isn’t giving. But there are no more conditions. Veget is giving him everything, so he doesn’t understand what other kind of reassurance Kakarot could be looking for and he wishes the idiot would just open his mouth and tell him what it is wrong because Vegeta can’t for the life of him figure it out because he, unlike Goku, cannot read minds.Goku bites his lip and buries his face into Vegeta’s neck, forcing them back onto the pillows. Vegeta pushes back against Goku’s chest and keeps him from landing that sinful mouth on whatever it can reach. “Kakarot...” he says, still groggy from staying up the night before. “What? You don’t want me to? I can--let’s--” Vegeta watches Goku stammer through a list of things they can do and studies, with confusion, the insecurity laced through his expression.Vegeta shifts uncomfortably beneath him, “Kakarot, what’s…” He narrowly catches the pained anxiety chasing across Goku’s face as he avoids kissing him. “What’s wrong?” Goku hesitates through an unnatural laugh. “Nothing. I just want to--” But every time he leans in Vegeta holds him back. “We’ve hardly left this room all week. As much as I would like to, we can’t stay here forever.” He stretches with Goku still sitting on top of him and is rewarded with several satisfying pops in his back. “We should get something proper to eat. And then... we haven't had a real spar since you've been back.”Goku sits back on his heels and rubs the back of his neck. “I know… but… ” … especially now that he’s had me. Of all the painful things his son said to him, that has stuck with him, making it impossible to forget what he saw, to let go of his doubts. Goten's cruel, overly confident tone accompanied in his head by the sighs and moans Goten had been able to elicit so seemingly easily from the only person Goku has ever felt intimate with.He knows it can't be true, but still the worry eats at him, refusing to leave him alone, no matter how many times they give themselves to each other. I need to know he was lying, that Vegeta doesn't really think Goten is-- “What?” Vegeta presses with irritation.Goku’s eyes swim with a pool of mixed emotions. “Nothing. I just…""Just what?""I… I'm better than him, ri--?” He never finishes the sentence as Vegeta’s palm clamps tightly around his jaw. Faster than Goku can process, Vegeta's face is an inch from his own. “Do not. Ever . Ask me that again.” Vegeta's expression isn’t angry but Goku immediately regrets asking. Vegeta exhales sharply and gently pushes Goku away from him before getting up and pulling on a pair of shorts. “I’m sorr--” Goku begins to stumble out an apology but Vegeta puts his palm out in an unusually reassuring manner as Goku struggles to find the words.“Kakarot.” He closes his eyes and exhales deeply through his nose. “You’re concerned--I want to make sure I fully understand the thought process behind what you just asked--you’re concerned, as in, it has actually crossed your mind, that you do not satisfy me, sexually, as well as someone who--” He can’t bring himself to say it. Goku shrinks back a little in shame before quietly uttering an affirmative. I’m definitely going to break that little shit’s neck if he ever shows his face again. "Kakarot, after everything…" Vegeta sighs as he faces Goku with vulnerable eyes. "After everything, you must know, despite whatever fucked up shit he told you and showed you, that is never what any of this was about, it was never a competition, and there is no part of that… that night… that I do not remember with disgust.""I… I know, I just… wanted to hear you say it," he confesses softly.Vegeta raises a brow. "Have I not said it enough?""What?""Tch. I suppose I'll walk you through this one for my peace of mind. Who… Kakarot, who is here in my bed harassing me with stupid questions every chance they get?” Goku hesitates for a moment. “I am.” “You are. Right.” Vegeta's warm rough palm finds its way underneath Goku’s chin and tilts it up toward his face. “And who has kept me up in that bed with them, day and night trying to get fifteen years of sex in a week?” Goku laughs. “I've almost succeeded.”Vegeta rolls his eyes. “And just so we’re clear, whose name have I been calling out? Whose name have I been drowning in compliments…" He pushes Goku onto his back. “...which are so rare to receive from the…” He begins crawling over top of Goku.“...Cruel, sadistic Prince Vegeta… Sworn enemy to the…” He leans in with canines gleaming. “...legendary Super Saiyan?”Goku gulps back a swell of warmth and lust and nervous anticipation blooming in his chest as Vegeta gets that look he loves so much. “Mine.” Vegeta lets out an appreciative growl before pressing their lips together quickly, teasingly, confirming his answer. “Yours. And no one else's. It has never been anyone else's. Not then. Not now. Not ever. I've said it a thousand times and I'll say it a thousand more." Goku kisses him again, longer, deeper this time. "Did I answer your question sufficiently so it never needs to be asked again?"Goku nods and Vegeta nods back, then turns and continues dressing.Goku stays on the bed for a few more minutes thinking Vegeta is right, that had been a stupid thing to worry about. He begins to follow suit and looks for clothes to put on until he remembers a tertiary reason for why they’ve stayed in here for so many days. He holds up and looks over the only pair of pants he has, finding them torn in half.“Hurry up! I’m hungry.” Vegeta looks over his shoulder and sees Goku’s predicament. He sighs with irritation. "Just throw mine on and--”"Yours don't fit!"Vegeta rolls his eyes. "I'm sure you can force your way into a pair of loose athletic shorts even if they are a size or two off.""More like three or four sizes," Goku mutters."What?" Vegeta snaps. “I said if I keep wearing yours…” he fusses with the torn fabric in his hands, “...then you won’t have anything to wear either before too long.” A shirt hits Goku in the face.“Like that’s a problem for you.” A pair of pants make the same journey as the shirt covering Goku's mischievous smile. "Vegeta~" He whines. "These are pants, they definitely won't fit." “Stop making excuses to stay naked! I'm not coming back to bed! I can't believe I have to convince you to get something to eat.” Goku huffs and struggles to fit into the allotted clothing.
Day 12
Goten inhales shakily, not quite ready, but he figures he'll never be ready for something like this and at this point he just needs to grit his teeth and bare it to give himself a chance. He looks down at his ki-banded wrist, streaked with burns of varying degrees. He holds it flat against the sink counter in the bathroom. With his other hand he holds the solid metal rod that used to hold up a shower curtain. He exhales as he brings it down.He can hear Bra’s voice suddenly come in. “Ten!? Ten, where are you? You’re heart rate is through the fucking roof what are you doing? Uhg! Please not another suicide attempt, it’s getting annoying!”He looks at his shattered palm and quickly begins trying to work the band around all the crushed, broken bones crunching and grinding together. He lets out an agonized gasp as he begins to tear it from the skin and tendons left around his wrist it has melted to. It is almost past the misshapen knuckle of his thumb. “Just--just a little more… Before she--" He never finishes. And when he wakes up hours later, his hand is no longer broken or burned and there is the bitter taste of senzu bean on his tongue.
Day 12 (On the Other Side)
It is early and his phone starts buzzing again. It wakes him but not Vegeta and he is forced to reckon with the fact that short, poorly spelled text messages would not be enough to keep his eldest son at ease. He lets the call go to voicemail before getting up and finding a better place to have a conversation he has tried to put off as long as possible.***For the first time since they’ve gotten back together Vegeta wakes up in an empty bed. He gets up and homes in on the ki sitting in the kitchen. Goku’s voice is quiet but clear and Vegeta pauses, curious who he’s talking to since there are no other kis nearby. Goku lets out an annoyed gust of air. “It’s just how it is now. … I don’t care what you think about him. … No, why would I do that? I’m not going to-- … No, he asked me if I wanted to stay. And I did.” Another sigh. “Yes, but I decided-- … No. … Yes, I can do that,” he says matter of factly. “And I will! … Well you’re wrong.” His forehead slumps into his palm and his posture falters as the phone call continues. “You don’t know that. You don’t know anything about him. … I never said that-- … You don't know--” When Goku looks up, he sees Vegeta leaning against the archway between the kitchen and the living room. He motions with his head for him to come in and Vegeta quietly begins making two cups of coffee. “No. … I never said that! … It’s not like that-- … Yes! It--" He grumbles as Vegeta sets one of the cups in front of Goku and sits across from him at the small table. “No. I already told you Vegeta didn’t do anything.” Goku says sharply. “I don’t know! It was just... training! … I don't know. … No, I don’t know, I can’t sense him either. … I-- … Yes! I’ve tried looking for him. … Maybe! You should ask him. … Well I’m sorry that he said that. … Not really. It sounds exactly like something he would say. … I don’t know what you want me to do. … He doesn’t listen to me either. … Yes. … Yes, I will. ...Yes. … Yes.” He rolls his eyes. “Yes. Of cours--No! I have to go. … Yes! I will! I have to go! Yes! Bye. … Bye!” He finally hangs up and drops his phone onto the table before attempting to rub the stress out of his face.“Gohan?”Goku sighs. “He doesn’t make things worse… but he doesn’t make them easy either.”Vegeta speaks into his mug. “I believe you and my son may have that in common.”Goku raises his brow in question.“I mean Gohan is just protective. Of you. Of his daughter. Of everyone he cares about." He drinks slowly , “His Saiyan side has to come out one way or another.”“Yeah… I guess so.” Day 33 He is sure he’s exhausted every option by now. He’s tried overloading it, punching his way through the walls, killing himself so many times , screaming at the top of his lungs. But Nothing. Nothing has yielded anything more than her howls of sadistic laughter through a screen on the wall. Never once has she stepped foot in this room while he’s been conscious and he can’t figure out where the entrance could even be; he’s checked every wall for holes, cracks, hinges, anything. But there is nothing.So he has, out of pure desperation, resorted to something he never thought he'd do. He isn't even sure if he's doing it right, but it is all he has and lately it is the only thing that's keeping him together, a last resort to try and escape mentally, since he can't escape physically. He sits there in the dark, in the shower where he usually sleeps, when he can manage to sleep, and he focuses on the old techniques Gohan attempted to teach him when he was little so he can control his heart rate and vitals during pain and stress. He thinks he might be able to try breaking his hand again soon, because he’s getting pretty good at it.But not yet because he is currently struggling to block out Bra calling for him again. He ignores the painful little shocks she is sending to the band. He will not succumb to her pain conditioning. I will not! He is calm. He is present. He is focused on the little ball of light in his mind that is his ki. He is visualizing it, unlocking it, controlling it, so it will be ready when he can finally draw upon it. He is training. But it is so much harder than he remembers it being. Training like this. He blames it all on the band. For a moment though, he can feel his ki almost at the edges of his fingertips, but still not quite there, unattainable. Just far enough out of his grasp it might as well have been across the universe. He lets his anger, his frustration with himself, with his situation, with his father, with Vegeta, with Bra, with everything, and everyone break his concentration. His heart rate jumps. He opens his eyes. He stops. He stands. He screams it out for a few minutes as he slams his fists against the wall. Then he takes a breath, sits back down, and tries to meditate again.
Day 47
The lights at Capsule Corp. which have been flickering all morning finally go out with a loud electrical pop. Goku sends a curious look to Vegeta as they step out of the shower. The shorter Saiyan shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know. It happens sometimes when she’s home.” A few moments later they are both starting to wish they’d stayed out to spar a little longer as the loud voices of two half-Saiyans begin ringing through the halls. “What do you mean! NOT YOUR FAULT?! You just blew the power breaker for the WHOLE COMPOUND! And now! It might be out for HOURS! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WILL COST US?!” “I MEAN it’s not my FAULT this dome’s stupid million year old power grid isn’t equipped to handle my brilliance!” She slams the door of the lab on her brother’s face and stomps down the hall. “If YOU had just updated the compound's MASSIVELY INEFFICIENT ENERGY CONSUMPTION like I asked, then this could have been avoided!” They hear the lab door slam again as Trunks stomps out after her. "No, NO! That’s NOT how this WORKS! It IS your FAULT and YOU have to FIX IT! What the HELL were you doing that blew the breaker anyway?!""Wouldn't you like to know!" she snaps."...YES! THIS IS WHY YOUR PROJECTS STILL NEED OVERSIGHT!" “They do not!” “They do!”“DO NOT!”“DO TOO!” "DO NOT! “DO- “FINE! If I can’t be TRUSTED! You fix it! I’m LEAVING! I have BETTER THINGS TO DO!” “‘I have better things to do,'” he mocks her high voice as she storms away. “Not anymore! If you don’t fix what you did, then after I DO, I’m pulling your access to ALL our systems! Including entry! How about you try to rewire that! Huh!? While you stand outside the compound triggering the security system!” She stops in her tracks and turns around, “Wha-! I wrote half those systems! You can't do that!” “I can do whatever the fuck I want actually because I’m the CEO. And I can blacklist you in our database if I want to.” She immediately tries to default to the easiest way to get her way. Her face begins to break apart and she lets her eyes water. “No.” He points a finger at her. "Don’t you dare! Don’t you fucking dare.” “PAPAAAAAA!” she screams. “TRUNKS WANTS TO BAN ME FROM THE COMPOUND!” Vegeta who has at least managed to get half-dressed before the inevitable breakdown of sanity, lets out a defeated groan and resigns his face to his palms. “It’s like we’re cursed.” Goku, who is still in a towel just smiles, sits next to him on the bed, and pats his shoulder. “DON’T LISTEN TO HER, DAD! SHE’S-” A ki blast fires over Trunks' head and scorches a wall. He looks back as his sister with an angry glare.“HEY!” Vegeta’s head snaps up at the sound of more ki charging. "NO BLASTS IN THE HOUSE!” Their father easily out-shouts them through the door. Bra then skirts around a corner with her tongue out before Trunks can catch her with the blast and both halves are out of the compound before Vegeta has mustered the energy to get up and end their fight in a manner consistent with Saiyan culture. Goku flops backwards on the bed with a laugh. “What?”“Nothing. They’re… they’re a lot like you.” Vegeta frowns because he isn’t sure if after what just transpired that is an insult or not.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
His sister somehow got her way for the thousandth time and Trunks comes back to a dark house. He is left grumbling alone with his own thoughts fussing with a singed jacket. He taps in a passcode set by his mother many years ago. But it doesn’t work because the doors lock is on house power. “Of course.” He leans his forehead against the cool metal door before letting out an exasperated sigh and blasting the lock open so he can get to the labs.
He walks into his office and turns on the only working piece of equipment he can find. He stares at the little spinning icon on the tablet for ten long minutes before several green text lines appear telling him that all their main systems and 68 percent of their auxiliary systems are down and require immediate attention. He slides the tablet across the desk a little too hard and it hits the wall behind it, shattering the screen.
“Fuck.” He rubs his temples. He gets up, makes his way to the main fuse box and flips several of the switches. None of the lights come back on and he slumps against the wall. It is only after three and a half hours of only partly sober troubleshooting and ki soldering various electrical components that he realizes this power outage, while expensive, is also a brilliant opportunity for revenge.
He wouldn’t put it past his sister to have installed her own backup security system with its own power source, but as he breaks her door off its hinges and discards it a few feet away there is a relieving absence of lights, red dots, and alarms.
Her office is quiet, dark, and neat. Trunks raises a brow, somewhat surprised. "Hm." The first thing he goes for is her computer. He pulls open the tower and pulls out the hard drive. “Try and get into my systems now you little--” He searches her desk for any other tablets or devices, but there is hardly anything in the drawers. In fact, he finds the office is mostly… empty.
There are a few note pads. With nothing written in them. A couple pens. Paperclips. His brow furrows and he starts searching for nothing in particular a little more thoroughly.
Where is everything?
This isn’t right. This isn’t his sister. It has her trademarks, but it isn’t her. There aren’t any safes or lock drawers or pretty little notebooks jam-packed with bizarre feverish scribbles and doodles resembling something out of a science fiction nightmare decorated with feminine charm.
He looks at her wall of trophies then at the bookshelf behind her desk. He cocks his head because the books are all clearly a bit too elementary. He’s sure she hasn’t touched, “The Basics of Physics,” since the sixth grade. "Where’s all her…"
His lip quirks. "You think you’re so clever." He backs up a few feet before throwing a powerful ki blast at the wall destroying the bookshelf and the books she will never miss. He hardly makes a dent in the peculiar metal reinforcement behind it.
“That… is not our regulation insulation.” His fingertips brush the surface until they find a small seam and he begins to pry it apart.
“Ahhg, c’mon Saiyan genes! Work for me! Prince of all fuckin’ useless--Ah!!” He pulls and pulls and pulls until the sudden give of the door lands him against already damaged shelves. He gets up and walks through the new entry way into a small metal shop. Or at least that’s what it looks like. He holds up his palm with ki to illuminate the room.
“When the fuck… did you build this? And how?!” He supposes giving her an underground office that had an exterior wall maybe wasn’t the best idea in retrospect. He looks around and finds the area crammed with tools and band saws and laser cutting machines and what he thinks are different types of batteries. He eyes the workbenches and sees a variety of bands and rings and several more things he isn’t confident he can identify and others he isn’t comfortable identifying.
He begins sorting through the piles of scattered paperwork. The books in this room made much more sense for her level of study and she has stacks of them pushed off to one corner. He pauses when he finds a notebook filled to its capacity with sticky notes, loose papers, color coordinated handwriting and hand drawn pictures. Her illustrations of complex circuitry are beautiful and as he begins to thumb through it he takes a moment to appreciate them before reading her notes on ki as a power source.
He raises a brow as he reads. "Yes, Bra, a ki battery is a great idea, especially since we’d have a monopoly, but unethical doesn’t even begin to describe your ideas on harnessing it."
He quickly turns through a few more pages until he finds a hand drawn image of the central nervous system in a human body. "These better be old because if I find out you're doing human trials again… Fuck, B. It's going to be really hard to keep you out of prison this time."
As he skims further it doesn’t look like she had much success with batteries, although she did have some interesting notes on manipulating energy output from ki generators. Though he isn’t sure how she could have built one or even come up with the resources to test something like that because nothing can generate ki except for Saiyans. "Is she testing this on herself? Where the hell is this data coming from?"
He turns the page and sees a picture of a man's arm and torso with a peculiar looking coil wrapped around it and different notes on how the ‘source’ conducted and reacted to what she had labeled first a ‘failed over charge’ followed by a ‘successful recharge.’
"Oh… fuck…" He picks up one of the rings. "Oh fuck. Oh my fucking fuck. Goten!? GOTEN! GOTEN?!” He drops the notebook and begins searching the room. His palm brightens and he shines it around the room. “There’s more, there has to be more to this place. What the fuck! WHAT THE F--GOTEN!? GOTEN!”
He begins firing blasts at the walls, through her work benches, machinery--all of it, gone until he is surrounded on all sides by reinforced metallic walls that don’t seem to respond at all to ki. He searches them for seams like the first one but he can’t find anything.
“Where is it? I know there’s more! GOTEN?!” He starts frantically moving left over debris away from the walls trying to find an opening. His sloppy hurriedness pays off when he trips over a small metal latch on the floor.
***
Goten lays on the concrete floor staring at nothing, like usual, only this time it was different. The screen of his tormenter's face is off. He is alone in complete darkness with the exception of the slight glow from the band.
He wonders what Bra is up to. She was telling him about how she's been building something new for him to 'test' and it was almost ready. He saw her with tools in her hands and electricity glowing on her face and that evil, chilling laughter and then suddenly everything just went dark.
He wonders if this was some kind of reprieve? Or if this is the calm before a horrific storm. Would she just leave him in the endless dark indefinitely? Did something happen at the compound? And what the
fuck
whas that thing with wires going every which way going to do? He has no idea, but it looked painful. He gets up and flops onto the mattress figuring there’s not much to be done either way.
Maybe… she'll forgot about me. Thank Kami.
He bolts up when he hears a loud thud above him. Then another. He backs against a wall as the thudding continues, getting closer. Very close. He instinctively raises his palm to the source which sounds like it’s coming from the ceiling. He’s not quite sure what’s going on as there is a sudden loud clanging and crumbling of concrete.
“Stupid fuckin’- can’t get a damn door open.”
“...Trunks?”
“Goten!?” There is a gasp. “GOTEN! Fuck! What--” Suddenly there are hands on Goten’s face, on his shoulders, checking him for injury. “Are you ok? What the fuck!" Trunks holds up his palm and sheds light on the other half who’s clearly seen better days. He has lost weight and the pallor in his face is emphasized by the dark rings of sleepless weeks hanging around his eyes. “What are you doing here?! Your ki is--oh shit.” He looks at the glowing band on his wrist and takes Goten's hand so he can inspect it. “Shit. Shit!” He tries to throw ki into the little ‘x’ on it but it doesn’t open.
“Stop. Stop!” Goten says, tearing his wrist away. “Don’t use ki on it. Only the person who put it on can take it off. It’ll just absorb all the other energy it comes into contact with. Trust me."
"Who put it on you?"
Goten just tilts his head in a strange cringe and looks away.
“Ok, we’ll figure it out. C’mon let’s get you the fuck out of here.” Trunks loops Goten’s arm over his shoulder and helps him make his way back up the way he came. Goten is relatively quiet until they reach the surface.
“Her lab… What--what happened to her lab? Trunks! Did you do this?” Goten breaks away and starts picking up the broken charred pieces of her unfinished projects. “The only--the only fucking chance I had of getting this off was in here! It was here! You destroyed it! What did you do?! How- AHH! Trunks! Are you fucking shithoused? What the FUCK!”
"What? No, I mean--I didn't know you were here, Ten, I didn't know--" Trunks watches Goten frantically try to flip through papers and pick up burning glowing chunks of metal before tossing them aside. “Goten, it’s ok, we’ll find a way to get it off.”
Trunks tries to pull him away from her lab, but Goten shirks off his grip. Trunks then forces him up and out into the hall where emergency lights can lend him a better look at the craftsmanship. “Who put this on you? My sister? I can make her take it off. She--I can make her do it, I have ways to force her hand, okay?” He takes out his phone and begins scrolling through it.
“No! That bitch never could've gotten this on me!" He smacks the phone on to the floor.
Trunks throws him a glare. “Then who?” Goten doesn’t answer. “Goten! Who put this on you?!”
“My dad," he finally utters through gritted teeth.
“Your--What?! Why?! How did he get it? Does he even know what this is?! What it can do?!"
“Yes! He fucking knows! Because your sister told him and gave it to him!"
"Wh--why the fuck would she do that?!"
"Because! SHE'S CRAZY! Now help me get it OFF!”
"Can we ask your dad to--"
"NO! We can't fucking do that, Trunks!"
"Why?"
"It's not important
why
. Just help me--"
“It is important! Tell me what’s going on! Why the hell--and how--did he manage to put this on you?"
Goten places his hands on Trunks’ shoulders and shoves him against a wall, holding him there as he bares his teeth. “If you don’t fucking help me--”
“Ten.” Trunks presses back and he easily wins, “I
won’t
help you unless you tell me what's going o--"
“Shut up! Shut the fuck up, Trunks! You have no idea what she's been doing to me down there. The
pain
she has put me through!" Goten throws his fist toward Trunks’ face. Trunks catches it and glances at the band which is now starting to glow brighter. "We have to get this off!"
“Tell me what's going on," he demands seriously.
“I’ll tell you AFTE--”
“No. You won’t. You never do. You never tell me anything! So, you’re gonna tell me now. What the fuck is going on and why did your
dad
put this on you.” Trunks searches Goten's face sternly for the truth he refuses to give. “Oh, and also! Why does my father freak the fuck out every time someone says your name? What the hell was your fight with him about? You haven’t been right since. And neither has he! Why--”
“Why? WHY? Because!” Goten laughs. “He is fucking! CRAZY! How many fucking times! Do I have to explain it?! He just LOST it while training and--”
“BULLSHIT!” Trunks scoffs. “That is such fucking bullshit. I always know when you’re lying, man. You are AWFUL at it." Goten’s forced half-manic, half-furious smile drops, and he swallows as he slowly realizes Trunks really isn’t going to do anything until he gets answers. "Just tell me what the hell is going on! FOR ONCE! God, Ten. Why is opening up such torture? I--I know it’s like,
super
fuckin’ weird that our… dads are… a thing, but if you just fuckin’ talked about it--like, unpack some of your fucking trauma about this, then maybe you could actually--”
“Oh, so you know all about it, do you?” he snaps and grips Trunks’ shirt, pulling him forward with an aggressive snarl. “And you still have to ask what my fucking issue is?”
Trunks nods his head grateful he had the sobering foresight not to take the band off first before they had this conversation. given him his ki back. Goten doesn’t seem quite right; more volatile than usual, and usual is already concerning. “Vegeta knows. Your sister knows! I thought you were smart Trunks. You always say you’re a fucking genius, but here you are asking me what’s, ‘going on’, when even my dumb dad was able to figure it out. See it first hand, even!” He sneers at his friend who pulls back and eyes him warily.
"See what?"
"Why don't you ask your sister? She's the one who found the gravity chamber footage. Bet she stills has it, sick twisted bitch."
“Gravity chamber footage? Goten...” Trunks says slowly as the other half begins rifling through drawers and cabinets, knocking desks and tables over in his search for a way to start hacking at the band bur all he manages is bending and snapping a few blades. “What… does the gravity chamber have to do with this?"
He slams a drawer. “Fine. Fine!” Goten stops. “I’ll tell you. But only, if you swear to take this off me.” Trunks nods and Goten lets out an irritated sigh before briefly facing the only person left who gives a damn about him. “I fucked! Vegeta! Your dad. I fucked him.”
Trunks searches Goten’s face blankly for several moments and his mouth drops open a little in shock.
“Actually, he fucked me, but it doesn’t really matter! Point is, we had unbelievable--and I mean it was fucking incredible--sex, Trunks, but!” He chuckles. “There was a problem. Your dad didn't want to fuck me. So, in order to get him to rail me into oblivion, I had to pretend to be someone he
did
want to fuck: My dad!”
“W--what?”
“They used to fuck before my dad left. You know, when your mom was still alive. I don’t know if you knew that or not, but I did! So, I found my dad’s old gi and waited for just the right moment and oh, man, Trunks! Did he fall for it! He was just soOoOo desperate for ‘Kakarot.’” He mocks while shaking his head. "He was all over me in an instant! And so we fucked right here at the compound. In the gravity chamber! And it was
perfect. He
didn’t realize he fucked
me
for WEEKS!"
“You what?”
“I wish you could have seen his face when he realized his mistake!” He does his best impression before continuing, “Classic Vegeta!”
“YOU! WHAT?!”
Goten rolls his eyes and walks out into the main lab and begins going through all of the capsules he can find. “What was I supposed to do? Humans just BREAK! And he was never going to fuck
me
! Trust me! I asked! And he said no before basically kicking me out." Goten hums over that for a moment.
"But then he changed his mind and tried to do this weird half-ass apology. He like barged into my room and it was super awkward until he saw my dads gi." Goten sighs. "I think deep down I wanted him to find it. Maybe not then? You know? But eventually. I was definitely hoping to use it a few more times and see if it would open him up to sleeping with
me
, but… instead he totally fucking lost it and beat the shit out of me and then my dad came back in the middle of our fight, totally by coincidence and… yeah. Here we are." He takes a moment to appreciate the sudden weight lifted off his chest before continuing his search. "Now help me get this off and find a ship or something before they both murder me. Because as many times as I’ve tried to fucking kill myself in the last few weeks or months or however fucking long it’s been, I don’t actually want to die.”
“You f--you--with… But you were like a--a… Why would you--how could you even--” Trunks' face contorts with disgust.
Goten finds a case of them in their aeronautics section that looks promising, then turns back to Trunks with a frightening smile and equally unmasked laugh. “Yeah, it’s a little fucked up, I know. But that's what made it so good!" Goten pockets several of the capsules and walks over to his friend. He places his hand on Trunks’ shoulder. “And honestly? Despite everything… I still think it was worth it. It was
definitely
worth the beating he gave me." Goten chews his bottom lip at the thought. "Oh yeah. In fact, I kinda liked that part too. God, Trunks.” He pulls his best friend in close. “There is just
nothing
that compares to sex with a Super Saiyan.” He sighs. “Wow.”
And just like that, the last link to humanity Goten has is broken. He knows it is broken because he watches something happen to Trunks that proves he is as much Vegeta’s son as he is Bulma’s.
He watches Trunks snap like he watched Vegeta snap. He can see the sudden disconnect in logic as rationality drains out of his eyes and pure Saiyan anger fills his face. Goten thinks, only for a split second, maybe that was a mistake: to say that before he had his ki back. Because he is not able to dodge any of the subsequent hits to his face.
Trunks grabs Goten’s collar, shaking him as he yells at him. But Goten can’t hear what he’s saying. Everything is muted. Whatever friendship had been left lingering between them is dead and his own voice sounds distant as he bluntly asks his brother to follow through on his promise. “Trunks. You asked me to tell you. I told you. Now take the band off.” He lets his head lull back and it hits the floor as Trunks lets go.
He laughs dryly at Goten’s request. “You know what? You’re right. You did tell me. And I said I’d find a way once you told me, didn’t I?” Goten sits up and nods. “We’re brothers. I’d never break a promise to you. Hold out your arm, Ten. Let me see it.” He does and Trunks inspects the band for a few moments before settling on a plan of action. "This would definitely break all my saws and power tools. Too much energy." Trucks fumbles with Goten's wrist. "Yeah… that's gonna be the only way. Dude, I told you not to mess with this stuff. My sister… she’s smarter than me, you know. Barely.” He rolls up his sleeves and carefully repositions himself so he is kneeling over Goten's shoulder, blocking his view of his own arm. “But if she designed it not to come off then…" He shrugs. “It’s not going to come off. And well, your dad… I imagine that’s not an option, is it?" Trunks looks back at Goten for confirmation
Goten shakes his head.
"Yeah… He was real sensitive when I brought you up. You tried to kill him, didn't you? Just like you always said you would."
Goten nods.
"But my sister gave him this as insurance against you. Man. She's so smart. I never would have thought of that."
Goten swallows nervously.
“Don't worry. I'm not going back on my word. We're gonna get this off.” He sighs, then looks back at Goten's wrist, and begins charging up his palm. "Wait, but before I do this, you have to promise me something. And you have to keep your word, you know, because we're brothers," he says, bitterness clinging to his words.
"Sure, sure, anything," Goten says desperately.
"Promise me you're gonna take that ship." He motions to the capsule next to Goten. "And you're gonna go as far away as possible. Forever," he says coldly. "Because I don't ever want to see you again."
“What?”
"My father almost committed suicide because of what you did. The only reason he didn't is because of Goku. And you tried to kill him too. I don't… I don't have it in me to kill you. I wish I did, but I… I've always been the least Saiyan of us." He sighs thoughtfully. "After this band comes off your ki will come back and my father…" He chuffs. "My father
will
try to kill you. So, the only option is for you to take that and go as far away as possible before he gets here because I am not going to protect you from him when he does."
Goten stammers in shock.
"Promise, Goten."
Goten nods, shakily.
“Okay. Good." Trunks smiles and gives him a friendly, but fake knock in the shoulder. "I hope you're ready because this is definitely going to hurt." Goten feels the ki pooling in Trunks' hand. "But I'm pretty sure we’ve both survived worse."
“Wait. Wait--what’re you--" He struggles but Trunks is sitting on his shoulder, immobilizing and trapping that arm. Goten tries to kick and strike with his other limbs, but he is no match for a Saiyan in his current state. Trunks doesn't even budge. "TRUNKS! WAIT! DON’T-!”
The blast only lasts a moment. A flash of light followed by the soft sound of metal dropping on the floor then, screaming. Goten curls up into a ball holding what is left of his arm to his chest while Trunks picks up the band and watches the light begin to fade from it. "If you don't leave soon, they'll catch you. You promised, Goten."
“AAAAAAAHHH!" He gasps. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!? YOU FUCKIN’-! AAHH-” The yells of agony quickly drop off into silence as he begins to feel the familiar zoom of ki. He throws up water all over the floor, because it’s all he’s been able to put down in the last few days. Then he throws up bile because there is no water left. Then, once the bile is gone, he throws up burning hot light and drops onto his chest.
Ki begins emanating in waves from him as he convulses on the floor flashing back and forth to Super Saiyan. His ki sky rockets then drops and then sky rockets higher before dropping even lower.
Trunks has never seen anything like it. Last time he arrived after Goten had gotten his energy back. He knew it had been bad, but this? He takes a step back from the shuddering, jerking body threatening to break itself in its excruciating attempt to restore balance.
Without warning another energy is suddenly standing next to him. Trunks looks at Goku with regret, confusion and horror at what he has done.
Goku looks down at his son’s writhing frame in shock. “His--his arm. His ki. What--”
“I-I dont know. Do you have senzu?”
Goku avoids several stray ki blasts. “Even if I did… they heal wounds… not limbs, Trunks. What--what happened? Where--”
“Fuck.” He runs his hand through his hair, “Fuck!” He backs away from Goten and Goku. “I gotta--I need to call my sister she designed--I don’t know--I don’t know!” His hand shakes as he pulls out his phone and within moments he and his sister are shouting at each other over speakerphone.
Goku kneels by his son as the crackling energy around his son becomes less violent and the shaking dies down. The first intelligible thing he utters as he forces himself to stay conscious is, “S-ship." He grips his father’s collar with his one good hand and yanks him down as he swallows down a wave of dizziness. C-capsule. Capsule! Find it. He’s gonna kill me.”
“Goten. Goten, what--where were you? Your arm, It’s--”
“I don’t care! About my fucking arm," he splutters. "I care! About my fucking life!” He gets up and falls over several times before finally standing and ripping off his shirt and shakily wrapping it around the ki-cauterized wound.
“Goten, let me see your arm, Bra said--” Trunks tries to pull Goten’s arm away from his chest to see how bad it is but the other half pushes him back with his foot.
“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH ME!" He sends off a crackling spray of wild ki towards Trunks that Trunks easily dodges. Goten still has no control as it keeps disappearing and reappearing; spiking then going dark like he isn’t there at all as he clumsily goes for the capsuled ship.
Light leaks out from his fingertips, the ends of his hair, his nose and mouth as he talks. “He’s gonna fuckin’ kill me--let go, let go!” He pushes his father away and tries to walk out of the room but he keeps falling over, unbalanced.
"What do we do?" Goku asks.
Trunks shrugs, just watching with scientific eyes as his sister's voice continues through his phone. "I kept my promise. Don't think there's anything else I can do except keep my sister at bay."
"Okay, then do that."
His ki still dropping and spiking, sending out uncontrolled bursts that floor him. Goku follows him, but Goten doesn’t make it further than the bottom of the stairs. “Fuck, he’s gonna fuckin’ kill me. I don't even have a chance.” He mumbles before crumpling in on himself in pain.
Goten is right and Goku knows it. He saw the look that crossed Vegeta’s face when Goten’s ki suddenly popped into their peripherals. Instant transmission had bought him barely two minutes. He can feel that Vegeta is flying here quickly with one singular goal in mind. Goku needs to make a decision and he needs to make it quickly.
He is still angry at his son. He hasn’t forgiven him, but Goku is not a murderer. He never was, and he never will be and he doesn’t want to watch Vegeta walk down that path again after so long. But he knows he can't hold Vegeta off, and doesn't even think he would
if
he could. So, as he feels Vegeta’s ki closing in on the compound he does what is second nature to him, even after all his mistakes, all his regrets, and all this time. He puts his hand on his son’s shoulder and two fingers to his own forehead.
***
He’s not even sure if he’s been to this planet before. It was just the furthest place he could reach that felt vacant. Goten pukes as they reappear and remains laying in the sand as a final shiver of ki makes its way through his body before finally disappearing altogether.
Goku quickly turns him over to see if he’s still alive, and he is. Goten mumbles something incoherent as he sits up. “Where--where are we? Where did you take me? Is this where you went?" he looks around, disoriented. "Why? Looks shitty…"
“No, it's not. I don’t know where we are. ...I’m sorry.”
Goten rubs his face with his one good hand and looks around. “For what?” he asks tiredly.
“For leaving.” Then Goku steps back and Goten watches him disappear for the last time.
***
As soon as he reappears, Vegeta is shoving him violently against a wall, yelling at him louder than Goku has ever heard. "HOW COULD YOU!? HOW COULD YOU LET HIM LIVE AFTER WHAT HE DID?! HOW COULD YOU?!” He shoves Goku again, harder and holds him against the wall. “WHERE DID YOU TAKE HIM?! WHERE?!”
"I don’t--I don’t know! He’s still my son! And I couldn’t let you--I couldn’t watch you--” He buries his head into Vegeta’s neck even though he is still fighting him.
"FUCK YOU KAKAROT! FUCK YOU! HE IS NOTHING TO YOU! IF HE EVER COMES BACK I'LL KILL HIM! I’LL KILL--I’LL--I’ll--I'll kill him. You will not stop me! And you! You LET HIM disappear. You--” He points at his son who doesn’t respond, but remains slumped against the wall with his face buried into his palms as his sister’s voice finally goes quiet through the phone laying next to him. Vegeta yells out in anguish and falls to his knees taking Goku with him as he breaks down completely, with his fists balled up into Goku’s shirt.
***
Goten would never see how much it breaks Vegeta to be denied the final say in his fate. He would never see Bra, in her typical fashion, get away with almost everything. Almost. He would never have the satisfaction of seeing research on ki technology finally and officially halted as Trunks personally oversees destroying every single remaining piece of it.
He would never see his brother Gohan lie to their mother for the thousandth time assuring her that Goten is ok when just like usual, he knows Goten is not ok.
He would never see Trunks finally ask Pan to marry him. He wouldn't be there for him when they divorced. He wouldn’t be his best man a second time when Trunks inevitably gets remarried. To Pan. Again. He would never see their daughter.
He would never see a lot of things.
Instead, in those moments just after his father disappears, Goten sits in the sand trying to figure out where he is, but he can't make sense it because what he does see… is blurry. He looks around and finds that
everything
is blurry. His eyes sting and he palms his face with his left hand and it is wet and he realizes, for the first time since he can remember, he is crying.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Seven Years Later
Goku is waiting for Vegeta to finish talking to the alien behind the desk when something catches his eye. He walks over to a large slate board that has an assortment of parchment ads tacked to it, one of which has Vegeta’s face on it. There is also one of Raditz and one of Nappa and there is another significantly newer one that he could have mistaken for himself if it wasn't for the hair. And the tormented expression. He tears it down and quickly shoves the crumpled paper in his pocket before Vegeta walks over with a smirk and asks him what he's looking at.
“You.”
“That's from a long time ago.”
“I know. What does it say?”
Vegeta tilts his head and pulls it off the board for a better look.
He points to the biggest blotch of symbols. “Warning: Extremely Dangerous.” Then he points to another. “Do not approach.” His finger begins tracing the lines of symbols down the page. “Call… authorities if sighted… Saiyan male wanted for… murder, of course.” He snorts and tilts his head back and forth with amusement as he names the rest of the charges. “Arson, trespassing, public indecency, war crimes to include… torture, genocide, mass destruction of… I don't know the translation for this one… federation land? Galactic property, maybe. …What? Cannibalism? I’ve never eaten a Saiyan.” He frowns and scrutinizes another line, but never translates it. “I don't think I ever did that either. Tch. Maybe I did. ...I think it's gone down since the last time I cared to check.” He taps his finger on the large printed blocks at the bottom. “But I'm still worth a lot if you ever want to turn me in for extra cash."
Goku wraps his arms around him and leans his chin on Vegeta's shoulder as he looks down at the page and frowns. “Humm, I don’t get it. It says wanted but none of those are the reasons why I want you.”
Vegeta throws the paper on the ground and sends a sly look over his shoulder. “And why do you want me?”
He tilts Vegeta's head up and into a kiss. Then he begins pressing him against the slate wall.
“Can you wait five minutes? We’re about to have accommodations fit for Gods we are.” Goku whines as Vegeta pushes him off and pulls him into a bath house.
***
It wakes him suddenly and he bolts up from the bed Kakarot is trying his damndest to take over by splaying out his arms and legs in a way that does not look at all comfortable to Vegeta.
He doesn’t have a lot of time. It never lasts long. He quickly finds a window and heads to the roof of the alien establishment. He looks up at the sky and thinks this is the closest he’s ever felt it. With enough power a blast could definitely reach it. His aim is accurate, precise. He will not miss. He doesn't care if he takes out a whole planet, it will be worth it. He raises his palm toward the sky and it begins to glow.
The ki signature he is locked on is loud and violent. Reckless, even. Vegeta knows the source is hurting himself by producing it. He knows because he has been guilty of the same behavior. His palm drops a little as he considers if it really is worth it anymore. He wonders, too, if Kakarot will notice. And if he does, what he will think.
He feels the energy begin to fade and he re-aims because he might not have another chance like this. It is happening less and less and he might never be this close again. But as the energy signature disappears, the ki never leaves his palm. His arm drops to his side as he continues staring up at the sky for several long quiet moments.
Another energy suddenly appears right behind him. He laughs softly as their arms wrap around his waist because he could feel that the energy behind him had not bothered to put clothing on.
“What’re ya doin’ out here?” Goku says sleepily, his head already falling into the comfortable refuge that is Vegeta’s shoulder.
“Just… getting some air.”
“Mm. Hey…” Goku mumbles.
“What?” he answers quietly
“You ‘member when you asked me if I could ever still feel my tail?” Vegeta’s brows crinkle as he tries to remember. “I can feel it right now. You wanna know what it’s doin’?”
“Sure.”
“It’s like…” He struggles to try and describe the unfamiliar feeling of a phantom limb. “Tryna… hug ya.”
Vegeta chuckles. “Is that what it’s doing?”
“Yeah…” His arms hold a little tighter. “Why, what’s yours doin’?”
“Hnn...” He turns around and faces Goku with a slight, but genuine smile. “Trying to return the favor.” And he leans into him with closed eyes and breathes deeply.
Revenge is not worth you. I don’t know why… I ever thought it was.
***
Another long boring day in the labs working on bullshit
. Though her brother was good on his word and never told anyone what she did, he still manages to lord it over her every chance he gets, using it as a way to bind her destructive creativity at every turn. For the safety of humanity, of course. Now she is stuck in administration doing paperwork and grants and proposals. Which aren’t just a waste of her potential, they are also impossibly time consuming.
She rolls her eyes as another email pings her phone reminding her she is behind on a particular project she isn’t interested in finishing, then grins as a welcome distraction walks in.
“Goku! Just the Saiyan I was looking for!” She leans back in her chair and kicks out from the desk and he smiles brightly at her. “I didn’t expect you to be back already. Did you bring plenty of fun space tech for me to play with?”
“Yeah.” He pulls out a couple capsules. “And we found a lot of that metal too.”
She takes them and stashes them in a lock-drawer filled with dozens of other capsules she hasn’t been able to explore under the oppressive shadow of her brother’s corporate ‘ethics.'
He softly crinkles something in his pocket. "I found something else too…” He hands her a piece of worn parchment and she finds herself staring at a very familiar face.
"Oooh, what’s this?” She sits up with wide eyes. “He’s alive?!”
Goku nods. "This is the first time I've seen it, so I think it's new."
“How interesting…. I assumed he was dead this whole time.” A wide grin stretches across her face. “What does it say?”
He studies it silently for a few moments before pointing at a group of symbols. “This word is, ‘danger.’ This one is, ‘Saiyan.’ And that’s a number but I don’t know how much."
“It looks like a big number.” She smirks as she reclines back and throws her feet up on her desk. “He must be popular to get this kind of attention." She holds it up and compares it to Goku, “You're lucky no one's tried to hunt you down for this.”
He shifts and laughs uncomfortably. “Yeah. I guess so.”
“So. What do you want me to do with it?" She asks and begins folding it into a paper airplane.
He shrugs. "I just... wanted to tell someone."
"And you thought I'd be the only one who wouldn't tear your head off or what?" He nods. " Do you miss him?" She asks curiously.
He fidgets with a paperclip on her desk. “No. But sometimes… I can sense him.” he admits quietly.
She sits up in her chair. “Really? I haven't been able to sense him since he…” She hesitates because she’s not exactly sure what happened that day, no one ever did give her the full story no matter how hard she pried. “… left."
He turns and tilts his head up toward the ceiling. “Most the time I can’t either.”
“...But?” She gestures and he reluctantly continues.
“But sometimes… he’s there. First, it’s small, like he’s whispering. I can barely sense him. Then, it’s loud… really loud. Like he’s screaming or--or trying to call out. With his ki. Not to me. Just… to someone. Anyone, maybe.”
“Hmm… Is it always in a pattern when you feel it? Low then high then silent?”
He furrows his brows thoughtfully. “No. Lately there is less… screaming.” He looks at Bra. “In the beginning he used to do it all the time. He would just... explode. From nothing. And he would stay like that for a few minutes, then go back to nothing and I wouldn’t sense him again until a few weeks later when he’d explode somewhere else. The whispering is new… he started doin' that in just the last year or two, maybe.”
“Huh. Very interesting. I wonder what he’s doing out there…” She spins around in her wheeley chair a few times. “He continues to elude us as one of the great mysteries of the universe. ...Does my dad sense him too?”
His face goes through several bothered expressions. “There have been times when I know he should have. But... he’s never said anything.” There is a long silence before he takes his cue to exit. “Thanks.”
She continues her spinning. “Anytime~” As he leaves she wonders if she’s the only one who does miss him. Because if nothing else, he’d been
such
a good test subject.
***
He sits in the wastes of a civilization vacant planet trying to tweak the clicking damaged elements of a barely functional metal prosthetic adhered to his body by mismatched bolts and screws. It clicks when it moves and mobility is limited. It can grasp cups, large objects,
the occasional neck sure why not,
but anything more refined is a painfully impossible task.
It reaches almost all the way up his forearm, stopping just an inch shy of his elbow. The skin is grey discolored where the alloy and skin meet. From the juncture come raised blackened lines that twist and stretch past his elbow to just under his shoulder. There are jagged angry marks left behind from burns and cuts maring his tough Saiyan hide tracking along his right bicep, the side of his ribcage, his neck and across his chest. Even Vegeta has nothing quite like them because Vegeta has never experimented with how different metals reacted to massive volumes of ki being forced through them. Turns out most exploded. Or worse. They melted.
He watches the two suns set in a red sky and stands. He tries to step into a kata he’s done and seen a thousand times on Earth. Even with a creaking chunk of metal hanging off him, he can produce practiced, fluid motions. Step after step of flawless execution. But steps and movements are easy. Anyone can do them with practice. What he struggles with is the same problem he’s always struggled with. Controlling the energy that is meant to accompany these motions.
The pain that usually shoots all along his right side is at a dull throb today; he is calm enough to begin unlocking his energy little by little from the dark chaos filled box in his head. He has only recently learned how to do that.
He begins to form a ball of light between his palms as he moves. It is barely the size of a quarter. It is such a simple kata.
Just move the ki back and forth, from one palm to the other as I move
. But the pain worsens and the metal hand has trouble holding conducting ki. He calls on more to try and compensate for the unnatural buzzing feeling on his right side, but as soon as he does he feels an uncomfortable wave of vertigo. It shakes him, making him dizzy to the point of vomiting.
Too much. Too Much! TOO MUCH!
He drops to the ground and pulls his knees to his chest. He begins breathing and counting, running shaking hands through his hair in anguish as whispers of ki ghost across his skin and around his body. Sometimes he can reign it back in. Sometimes meditation works. But today, he is tired, so he gives up. He lets the chaos in the box break out. He lets his frustration take hold, and he lets the power he can no longer control flood his body.
He seizes violently against the cold rocky ground. Unconscious now, eyes rolled back, he thrashes as ki explodes in shockwaves from him. He wakes up a few minutes later on hard glassed sand and sees small foreign shrubs still in flames around him. He looks at his now white-hot metal right hand. Blood seeps from the edges and steams as it makes contact. He lays there, and he cries. Because sometimes it is the only thing he can do that makes him feel better.
Eventually he stops. Eventually he picks himself back up. Eventually he tries the kata again because he’s made a lot of progress so far; he feels good about it. He can almost get half way through it now.
.
.
.
.
END