Description- After a brutal breakdown that nearly broke two strong Sayians, the only emotion they seem to be feeling is a bitter numbness. Vegeta can feel his control slipping beneath his fingertips, he doesn't feel like he can survive another lonely night. He watches Bulma with a careful eye, as she continues on with the man she had left him for. Goku is dealing with the sudden and heart-wrenching lost of his oldest son. His breakdown had been bad, but the aftermath seems worse. Too much pain for the usual carefree man. Feelings are tense between the two Sayians, but it may seem that they may be all they have left, to fix what each has broken…
~WARNINGS~ Lots and lots of swearing. Sexual stuff. Rape, violence and gore. Oh, and this is a sequel to my story Breakdown. So if you haven't read it, and don't want to be confused as fuck, I suggest you go and read it. Thanks!
MORNINGS… /One month after Breakdown story.
A strong September gust charged against the windowpane, causing it groan and creak in protest. Rain pitter-pattered on the roof as thunder boomed and lightning flashed. The sky was dark and gray like cement, any sunlight forced behind thick curtains of clouds. It was dreary and threatening day, forbidding access into the outside world.
Though he tried, he couldn't sleep through the raucous storm and had to wake up. Vegeta pushed the quilts aside, feeling a rush of cold air blow pass him. He shivered and tried his best to ignore it. Damn woman doesn't know how to heat a house, he thought bitterly as he left the warm mattress. His bare feet touched the ice-cold floor as he shuffled across the room, and left, slamming the door behind him.
The smell of bacon and eggs wafted from downstairs, but the prince didn't have the stomach to eat. He felt like he could throw up anything he consumed. It made him nauseous just smelling it.
He shuffled into the bathroom, cursing once more that there was no lock on it, depleting his chances of privacy. With a sigh, he stood at the toilet and relieved himself. odd enough, he could see his reflection from where he stood.
Reflected back at him was a familiar, yet strange man. Black hair that usually stood up matted down from eight hours of sleep. It hung to his shoulder, and in his black, ebony eyes. It didn't stick down, but rather spiked out in soft tuffs. It was so long, after many years of growing it. Down to his shoulder blades. Strands of gray were almost hidden amongst the thick black follicles.
The black eyes he had inherited from his father, his real father, were drawn of energy, lined with stress. He closed his eyelids, watched his long eyelashes flutter, then slowly drew them open. Lines of red ran from the corneas to the irises. Bags of exhaustion hung below them. Stubble clung to his chin and upper lip, but he knew he wasn't going to shave it. That would mean using energy he didn't feel he had anymore. You look pathetic, his inner voice growled, of which sounded like his father. The King. It was clearly made to offend him, but had no effect. The prince just finished and left the bathroom.
Somehow, he managed to force himself down the steps, and into the kitchen. Chichi was bustling around, cooking eggs and bacon, squeezing oranges and searching for a lost shoe. "Damn it, Goten! How did you manage to lose it? AGAIN?!" She scolded, as she flipped over an egg and squished an orange into a juicer.
"I dunno, Mom. It just kinda happened." He paused slightly when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. It was Vegeta. "Hey, Uncle Veggie! Can you help us find my lost shoe? It's my left one. I last sawed it yesterday when I came up from school. I took it off in the kitchen cuz I was lookin' for a snack. It's brown with a black heel."
"Shut up, brat," he mumbled, rubbing his temples. "Didn't your mother specifically tell you to take your shoes off by the door when you come home? Is it that hard to follow the rules?"
"But I-"
"I don't want to hear your excuses. You're going to be late for school. Get up and go."
"But my shoe-!"
"You should've thought of that before losing it, brat. Get lost. And when you come home, I better see that shoe at the door before coming two inches into this damn house. Understand?" He glared down at the Kakarott clone, crossing his arms in that old-fashioned stance he had.
Goten mumbled something and dragged his feet out the door, closing it gently behind him. Silence followed like a blissful rainbow after a raucous storm.
A hand enclosed over his shoulder, and he swiftly turned to face the brunette. "Don't touch me." He stepped back from her.
"Um. Sorry. I just wanted to say…thanks. For helping me." She nervously twisted her fingers together. "He never listens to me. Only one who could make him obey was Goku and Gohan…" Chichi's voice trailed off, and she simply walked into the kitchen, not making another sound.
The prince stuck his hands in his pockets, wondering where to go from there. Blasted woman. She always makes me think. "Woman. I suppose by my services, I am paying off my debt for staying here. You do not have to say thank you. I am merely doing my duty," he said solemnly, hands pulled out of his pockets, and folded inside his crossed arms.
All she could reply was a tight, shaky smile. He couldn't muster the energy for that much. An perturbed tension vibrated back and forth from Chichi and the Sayian, an uneasiness feeling that had been there since Vegeta had moved in. It wasn't as if it were uncomfortable, but strange and foreign. Before this, communication between them had been severely limited. He couldn't recall two words he had said before.
With that established, he figured he didn't have any point in staying there. He wasn't hungry, he wasn't in the mood to chat about the weather and annoying children. Actually, a nap sounded fine. Maybe a jump of a cliff. A very high cliff. With spikes at the bottom.
He turned to leave, but Chichi called out. "Vegeta. Bulma called. She wants to know if you're picking up Trunks and Bulla this weekend or not."
Just the mention of her name send a wave of nausea in the pit of his stomach. The room suddenly lurched to the left as he held onto the wall for support. "Tell her I…will see them this weekend."
"Are you alright, hon?"
"Don't call me 'hon'. Yes, I'm fine. Worry about your family, don't stress yourself over me. I can take care of myself." He turned and left, as quickly as possible. Wet tears fell down his cheeks and he didn't want anyone to see his shame. Damn it! I thought I had gotten over this shit. I'm making a damn fool out of myself…
Goku woke just as Vegeta left, feeling his chi depart the area. He jerked up in bed, feeling as if he hadn't slept a wink. I am so fucking tired, he thought miserably, shoving the quilts aside angrily. But I just am not sleepy! He never thought there was a difference before, but now he knew.
Wearily, he ran his hands over his worn, numb face. The bandages roughly rubbed against the skin, as he drew them down from his eyes to the jaw line.
Soft taps knocked on the door, and he jumped slightly. "Who is it?" He nearly whispered in the stillness of the bedroom
"Goku. It's your wife." The voice sounded on the verge of anger, mixed with frustration. He could picture her standing there, arms on her hips.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to get the hell out of there! You can't stay holed up in there for the rest of your life over this-"
No. No. In an attempt to block out her voice, he covered his ears. She doesn't understand.
What do you mean? She lost him, too. Stop acting like a damn three year old. The voice sounded like Vegeta. It had been scolding him relentlessly in the past month, as if trying to talk some sense into him.
If she understood, she wouldn't be treating me like this-
When you act like a child, you get treated like a child, Kakarott.
"Goku! Have you been listening to me?!" Chichi's voice barged into the whirring thoughts and arguments. "Stop ignoring me!" Her words were breaking, with desperation thick in each word.
"No. Go away!" It exploded from his mouth without really thinking about it. He slammed a chair against the door, and watched it break and splinter apart with a detached regret feeling. That was my grandfather's favorite chair…
Idiot. See what happens when you don't control yourself? You're going to end up hurting someone so bad, they might just die…Do you want another dead body on your conscious?
"SHUT UP!" Goku screamed, slamming his bandaged hands against the headboard, feeling the pain shoot up his arms, which induced a much louder yell to spew from his mouth. Blood reddened the white dressings in large round splotches.
Chichi stood outside the door, biting on her sleeve, feeling the hot tears stream down her cheeks. She slid down onto the floor, shoulders shaking with each racking sob. Her ribs hurt with each hiccup. Oh God…what a mess…
~A/N~ Yah! The first chapter of the sequel! I don't know what I'm thinking, writing two stories at once…but I can tough it! Check out my other stories, why don't ya? Vegeta's Memoir and Vegeta's First Christmas (thought it's a little early for that.) Thanks for your reviews on Breakdown, all you loyal followers : )