READING BEDTIME STORIES
Chapter Four: Ball Caps and the Locker Laugh
***
Disclaimer: The DBZ characters belong to Akira Toryiama. The other characters introduced in this chapter belong to yours truly.
A/N: The story takes a major twist here. I'm a little worried about this… but here goes…
***
Jeice's shockingly orange eyes fluttered open weakly and he found himself looking out at the world through the liquids of a regeneration tank. Through the blur he was certain he could see Burter looking back at him, concerned. He forced a little smile to show his comrade he was fine, even though he felt half dead and totally confused.
As he let the world haze over again, he remembered little by little just what had happened back at the desert temple. A soft rose blush of humiliation crept over his face.
J was so embarrassed he never wanted to leave the tank - ever, but regardless… moments later he was out of the tank, barely dressed. He was dizzy and disoriented… but grateful he wasn't nauseous, which was often how he felt after leaving the healing liquids. He sighed to himself, grateful only Burter was present. Burter he could deal with.
As he stumbled a bit… he started to cheer up, for it felt wonderful to be clean and cool again. All that desert trekking had really taken its toil. He almost smiled - he loved being wet. Adored it, actually. It was the only time his hair was straight and controlled.
He realized Burter had been speaking to him this entire time. The purple alien's voice sounded like a soft rumble in the distance… far, far away. As he stumbled again the world twirling and the humiliation flooded back to him. There was something in Burter's tones that brought back those horrible feelings. HOW could he possibly have survived his leader's total rage? WHY would anyone LET him survive by putting him in a tank after his horrible botch back at the temple?
"Why…" Jeice tried to ask, but it came out inaudible. Why was he still alive? Who would they let him live after his colossal screw up? Who'd heal him after his shattering slip?! His mind was racing and the world was still spinning…
Burter hadn't heard him - it was like they were in two different worlds. The other continued to speak, J unable to understand a word without him realizing. Jeice's mind slipped away again, returning to the sensations of being soaking wet. It was wonderful…
As the dizziness left him he realized something was extremely different. A part of the sensation was certainly missing. His favourite part… The feeling of his wet…
His scalp no longer itched… it hurt. He frowned and started to run his hands through his hair when he literally froze. Every muscle rearranged in shock and his heart actually skipped a beat.
He ever so slowly looked at his hand… it was covered in blood.
"You should have known better than to touch." Burter felt no sympathy as he called from the other side of the closed door. Jeice was hiding inside a stall. He'd taken one look in the mirror and shrieked bloody murder. "You started the bleeding again."
Jeice didn't answer, curled up in the corner, his face wet from tears. However, he was beyond crying now… he was shade from insane! He was trembling… his humiliation was twice as bad now and BEFORE it had been unbearable.
"Jeice… the Captain'll beat you within an inch of your life and you're concerned about…"
Ginyu entered, on cue, followed by the others, "Where is he?"
Burter motioned to the end stall. They were in the change room where soldiers changed back into uniform after being in a tank. There was talk it would be renovated and made more like what some knew as a 'Locker Room'. Right now, it resembled the changing rooms at the back of human clothing stores.
Jeice silently refused to come out. He was SO destroyed. He had heard Ginyu's entrance, but still wouldn't budge or speak, so mortified. He wasn't sure how long he could hide and hold out. Hopefully, Burter hadn't sold him out.
"Jeice! Get out here!" Ginyu boomed.
Jeice shuddered, realizing if he wanted to stay alive he should listen to the Captain… but…
"I know you're in the last stall, ass! Get out here NOW!"
Ginyu waited impatiently, tapping his foot. Finally, there was the creak of an opening stall door. Jeice stepped out, his eyes to the floor in complete and total shame.
They all took a double take in complete and total shock. Suddenly, Racoome and Guldo laughed until they dropped. Ginyu and Burter remained silent. Jeice just kept his stunning eyes on the tiles… wanting to simply DIE…
Burter just couldn't laugh, it was too horrible. He'd been watching Jeice in the regeneration tank for ages and even now he couldn't help staring. Jeice looked so pitiful and broken. The tall, purple soldier wouldn't have been at all surprised if the kid starting crying all over again. It was obvious he'd been crying in the stall.
Ginyu finally started to chuckle himself… he'd been so shocked, but now… it was hilarious. This would certainly bruise the punk's ego and make him easier to deal with. Still, somewhere hidden deep down, he felt some pity… because Jeice had been crying and he was so much younger than the others. However, the military was no place for childish tears and Jeice would learn more from humiliation than pity.
Jeice listened to all their laughing, but refused to make eye contact. He couldn't bare it. He assumed they'd all be laughing to the point of tears. He had never been so humiliated in his entire existence. His outrageous ego was totally, utterly shattered…
Ginyu forced himself to stop chuckling, "Racoome, Guldo, you morons settle down and take five. I need a word with J." Still laughing, Racoome and Guldo flopped out. Burter, for some reason, had been allowed to remain.
Ginyu approached Jeice, clearing his throat. "Look, kid… about nearly killing you…" he suddenly was uncomfortable. "…well, um…" he grunted an apology and then cleared his throat again. "It was… inappropriate of me to lose my cool like that - a Ginyu No-No."
Jeice was so shocked he nearly looked up to see if the Captain was sincere… but didn't. He understood why Racoome and Guldo had been asked to leave now. The Captain was lowering himself temporarily it seemed. J swallowed and broke the silence with a weak, "But I destroyed the mission, sir…"
Ginyu raised a confused eyebrow, "What?"
"I shattered a crystal, sir." Jeice hated to say it. "You…"
"Crystal? What are you…" Ginyu trailed off, looking to Burter, who was equally confused.
Jeice said nothing, eyes still down.
Ginyu sighed, "Burter, give me a minute with Jeice."
Jeice listened to the heavy footsteps exit and hoped the three wouldn't eavesdrop outside the door. When they were alone, Ginyu sighed, "Jeice… I understand. For even *I* the famous Captain of the notorious Ginyu Force… have had tank hallucinations."
Jeice was taken by surprise again. Had it really all been some crazy fantasy he'd conjured up while Ginyu had punished him for something minor - resulting in an apology? Was it possible? It had all been so real… his thoughts trailed off as he realized how to FINALLY get on Captain Ginyu's good side.
"YOU, Captain? YOU have been in a regeneration tank? I can't believe it…" He sounded perfectly sincere.
Ginyu beamed. "Yes, soldier, even *I*… the mighty captain of the famous Ginyu Force… have been in a tank." He was starting to like Jeice after all.
"So… none of it was real, sir?" Jeice asked, eyes still down.
"Exactly, kid. All a hallucination. Whatever you experienced was like a dream."
There was a long silence in which Jeice not only felt utterly humiliated but uncomfortable as well. Finally his leader said, "Now, fix yourself up and get some rest - we've got another long day tomorrow - we're moving on to the planet Zergle."
"Yes, sir." Jeice replied so softly it was almost inaudible.
Ginyu turned to go, but then turned back, sighing and placing an almost reassuring hand on the younger alien's shoulder. "Come on, J…"
Jeice finally raised his sad orange eyes to meet the other's. The Captain never touched him in a positive way before, it was freaky.
"Cheer up, kid… after all… it's only hair."
***
Jeice hadn't slept well at all, and conquering the tiny planet Zergle hadn't made him feel any better. He hated his job. He hated his life. He just wanted to crawl into the deepest, darkest hole where no one could snicker behind his back or stare anymore.
Racoome started to scratch at is skull, when Burter slugged him in the arm. "Knock it off. Picking only makes it worse, moron. Besides, it's just plain gross. You wanna start bleeding again like Jeice?"
Jeice was so sick of the subject he nearly screamed at them. His scalp was bothering him too. It was becoming more and more painful all the time. He couldn't wait for it to heal and the hair to start growing back. MAYBE. That was another thing - it might not grow back. That was the case with 4 in 10 cases, apparently. He was simply miserable. He'd never been so embarrassed. Everyone was making fun of him, behind his back and to his face.
"Damn head lice." Racoome twitched, wanting to scratch.
"For the hundredth time - they're NOT lice." Guldo sighed. "Their Ugarians, which is Ykish for…"
"DON'T." Jeice warned, without looking at any of them. The entire day he'd been completely silent, so his voice surprised them. He was incredible depressed and sort of sulking. He was the butt of every joke around the base and would be for a very long time.
The others were enjoying a snack, while he sat in silence, staring off, miserable.
"Cute cap, Ace!" someone called mockingly as they passed. He didn't react. He was through reacting. All reacted out.
"Hope you're hair grows back!" someone else called out.
Guldo chuckled and Jeice glared.
"If looks could kill…" Racoome smirked the old cliché.
Jeice ignored this and went back to glaring, staring and sulking. He doubted he'd ever be able to live the nightmare down. Not only did people think he was insane and couldn't fight worth a whoop in hell… they had his bald, scabbing head to poke fun at. Plus, there was a 40% chance he'd be bald forever!
"So, J…" a voice Jeice found as annoying as familiar approached. A handsome humanoid officer with blonde hair, blue eyes and a life guard's tan was smiling cheerfully. Spencer. Always smiling to one's face when really his intentions were underhanded. He was user friendly… but strangely popular. "What's the story? Everyone thinks your loony…"
"Spence, as usual, you know just what to say." Burter grumbled.
"It's my sensitive nature." Spencer shrugged.
Jeice glared terribly at the cluelessly cheerful Spencer as he tried to sit down. This worked and he moved on, exchanging expressions with Burter, as though; *What's HIS major problem in life?*
"Jeice…" Racoome started.
"Just because you got to keep your hair and I didn't…" Jeice started to snarl quietly.
"Jeice." Racoome frowned. "You're taking this WAY too hard. It's kinda scary. It's only hair."
Jeice bit his lip into a thin, bloodless line, refusing to start an argument. He was just so flipping outraged about everything. People thought he was crazy! People thought he was a loser who couldn't fight! People thought he was a screw up, a bleeding, bald screw up! He might never ever have hair again! His amazing, popular reputation was lost forever.
Burter added, "Racoome got to keep his hair because it was so thin and short… it was easier to treat. They HAD to shave your head, man…"
"Besides…" Racoome tried to make peace. "…the hat really IS cute. That backwards ball cap look is really you, tiger."
Jeice admitted, he could look worse. He looked exactly the same… only… minus the huge white hair. However, every time he had to look at his bleeding, blistering scalp, he felt ill. It was take forever to heal and even longer for the hair to grow back… and it would probably never return to its former appearance. If it grew back AT ALL.
His thoughts were interrupted by Guldo rising to leave, saying his good byes… "Oh, and Jeice…" he smirked. "Skull Suckers!" with that he dropped the tray and ran.
Jeice didn't react.
Burter sighed, "How immature." He then turned to Jeice adding, "Besides… keeping the hair would have meant bleeding to death… after mere hours they'd done serious damage and you KNOW it… I just don't get how you guys didn't know something was up sooner. I mean…"
"Shut up." Racoome cringed, grateful he couldn't see his wounds.
"Those damn things were crawling in the sand the entire time. It's a good thing the rest of us don't have hair…" Burter trailed off.
"Shut up." Jeice bitterly agreed with Racoome.
Burter sighed. Jeice had always been so extremely vain when it came to his hair. Brushing and styling it had consumed almost all his free time - what little of it they had. Secretly, he'd never really liked the wild mane… He'd found it sort of… ugly… but hey, whatever suited his friend.
"I bet you feel much better now, though. All that hair must have been heavy and hot… and…" Racoome tried in vain to make the younger soldier feel better.
Jeice was suddenly upset, speaking quickly while slamming his tray away and gathering his stuff to leave, even though he was trying to mean what he was saying. "You guys are right. It's just hair. There only words. I know that. I just need time to deal, OK?"
With that, he semi-stormed out.
"I meant it… the backwards ball cap looks is good for him." Racoome admitted.
Burter sighed and rolled his eyes. Something weird was up with Jeice… something that went beyond his vanity…
Jeice was digging through his closet for all the hats he owned. If he had to deal with this… he'd deal with it stylishly. He'd just have to take it one day at a time. "Day he day." he sighed to himself. He needed to be more positive. He kept telling himself his hair WOULD grow back and people would eventually, with time, forget the whole thing.
Everyone thought he was insane because of the wacky story about the temple and the crystals. Admittedly, he had no idea how he could have believed such a freaky tale himself… but at the time it had been as REAL as the world now. They also thought he was stupid and weak because he'd finally taken pissing off his superior too far and gotten his ass kicked. As a warrior he was disgraced. His antics had finally gone to far and had cost him. Lastly, he looked ridiculous with his bald, bleeding skull. It was hideous. His agenda had been booked with dates for months to come… and now… it was empty. No one talked to him anyone, it seemed. Everyone was as grossed out as he was. He glanced in the mirror and shuddered.
He scolded himself, as he always did these days when his mind was too negative for too long. "Be positive…" he told himself. "It's always darkest before the dawn." Since he'd become an outcast… he'd resorted to talking to himself a little. The truth was though, he rarely talked in public or private at all these days. Too depressed… too ashamed…
As he gathered the last of his decent caps he sighed and went to the bathroom to do the only sane thing he could in the situation. Deal with his eyebrows… he had these big bright eyebrows and no hair - it just looked wrong. Maybe he could develop a new look for himself and people would stop being freaked. Then he reminded himself… even now, he covered his head as best as he could in public… but people KNEW. He didn't wear caps in private because they hurt.
He decided to treat his arching scalp first. His eyebrows could wait. He had all time in the world suddenly. No hair to style and no one to hang out with. As he gently medicated his head - which was a painful task - he let out a trembling sigh and finally… silent, perfect tears spilled down slowly. He felt like SUCH a loser these days for sinking so low and constantly crying…
He muttered something through his tears, something inaudible. Unfortunately, his ego wasn't bruised - it was dead.
***
Chapter Four: KI, Cards and Computers!
A/N: If you feel he's being melodramatic, please remember what an egomaniac Jeice is. Anyway, I wasn't sure about this chapter so please give me some feedback. _ There's more comedy next chapter. Enter Zarbon! ^_^
Chapter Four: Ball Caps and the Locker Laugh
***
Disclaimer: The DBZ characters belong to Akira Toryiama. The other characters introduced in this chapter belong to yours truly.
A/N: The story takes a major twist here. I'm a little worried about this… but here goes…
***
Jeice's shockingly orange eyes fluttered open weakly and he found himself looking out at the world through the liquids of a regeneration tank. Through the blur he was certain he could see Burter looking back at him, concerned. He forced a little smile to show his comrade he was fine, even though he felt half dead and totally confused.
As he let the world haze over again, he remembered little by little just what had happened back at the desert temple. A soft rose blush of humiliation crept over his face.
J was so embarrassed he never wanted to leave the tank - ever, but regardless… moments later he was out of the tank, barely dressed. He was dizzy and disoriented… but grateful he wasn't nauseous, which was often how he felt after leaving the healing liquids. He sighed to himself, grateful only Burter was present. Burter he could deal with.
As he stumbled a bit… he started to cheer up, for it felt wonderful to be clean and cool again. All that desert trekking had really taken its toil. He almost smiled - he loved being wet. Adored it, actually. It was the only time his hair was straight and controlled.
He realized Burter had been speaking to him this entire time. The purple alien's voice sounded like a soft rumble in the distance… far, far away. As he stumbled again the world twirling and the humiliation flooded back to him. There was something in Burter's tones that brought back those horrible feelings. HOW could he possibly have survived his leader's total rage? WHY would anyone LET him survive by putting him in a tank after his horrible botch back at the temple?
"Why…" Jeice tried to ask, but it came out inaudible. Why was he still alive? Who would they let him live after his colossal screw up? Who'd heal him after his shattering slip?! His mind was racing and the world was still spinning…
Burter hadn't heard him - it was like they were in two different worlds. The other continued to speak, J unable to understand a word without him realizing. Jeice's mind slipped away again, returning to the sensations of being soaking wet. It was wonderful…
As the dizziness left him he realized something was extremely different. A part of the sensation was certainly missing. His favourite part… The feeling of his wet…
His scalp no longer itched… it hurt. He frowned and started to run his hands through his hair when he literally froze. Every muscle rearranged in shock and his heart actually skipped a beat.
He ever so slowly looked at his hand… it was covered in blood.
"You should have known better than to touch." Burter felt no sympathy as he called from the other side of the closed door. Jeice was hiding inside a stall. He'd taken one look in the mirror and shrieked bloody murder. "You started the bleeding again."
Jeice didn't answer, curled up in the corner, his face wet from tears. However, he was beyond crying now… he was shade from insane! He was trembling… his humiliation was twice as bad now and BEFORE it had been unbearable.
"Jeice… the Captain'll beat you within an inch of your life and you're concerned about…"
Ginyu entered, on cue, followed by the others, "Where is he?"
Burter motioned to the end stall. They were in the change room where soldiers changed back into uniform after being in a tank. There was talk it would be renovated and made more like what some knew as a 'Locker Room'. Right now, it resembled the changing rooms at the back of human clothing stores.
Jeice silently refused to come out. He was SO destroyed. He had heard Ginyu's entrance, but still wouldn't budge or speak, so mortified. He wasn't sure how long he could hide and hold out. Hopefully, Burter hadn't sold him out.
"Jeice! Get out here!" Ginyu boomed.
Jeice shuddered, realizing if he wanted to stay alive he should listen to the Captain… but…
"I know you're in the last stall, ass! Get out here NOW!"
Ginyu waited impatiently, tapping his foot. Finally, there was the creak of an opening stall door. Jeice stepped out, his eyes to the floor in complete and total shame.
They all took a double take in complete and total shock. Suddenly, Racoome and Guldo laughed until they dropped. Ginyu and Burter remained silent. Jeice just kept his stunning eyes on the tiles… wanting to simply DIE…
Burter just couldn't laugh, it was too horrible. He'd been watching Jeice in the regeneration tank for ages and even now he couldn't help staring. Jeice looked so pitiful and broken. The tall, purple soldier wouldn't have been at all surprised if the kid starting crying all over again. It was obvious he'd been crying in the stall.
Ginyu finally started to chuckle himself… he'd been so shocked, but now… it was hilarious. This would certainly bruise the punk's ego and make him easier to deal with. Still, somewhere hidden deep down, he felt some pity… because Jeice had been crying and he was so much younger than the others. However, the military was no place for childish tears and Jeice would learn more from humiliation than pity.
Jeice listened to all their laughing, but refused to make eye contact. He couldn't bare it. He assumed they'd all be laughing to the point of tears. He had never been so humiliated in his entire existence. His outrageous ego was totally, utterly shattered…
Ginyu forced himself to stop chuckling, "Racoome, Guldo, you morons settle down and take five. I need a word with J." Still laughing, Racoome and Guldo flopped out. Burter, for some reason, had been allowed to remain.
Ginyu approached Jeice, clearing his throat. "Look, kid… about nearly killing you…" he suddenly was uncomfortable. "…well, um…" he grunted an apology and then cleared his throat again. "It was… inappropriate of me to lose my cool like that - a Ginyu No-No."
Jeice was so shocked he nearly looked up to see if the Captain was sincere… but didn't. He understood why Racoome and Guldo had been asked to leave now. The Captain was lowering himself temporarily it seemed. J swallowed and broke the silence with a weak, "But I destroyed the mission, sir…"
Ginyu raised a confused eyebrow, "What?"
"I shattered a crystal, sir." Jeice hated to say it. "You…"
"Crystal? What are you…" Ginyu trailed off, looking to Burter, who was equally confused.
Jeice said nothing, eyes still down.
Ginyu sighed, "Burter, give me a minute with Jeice."
Jeice listened to the heavy footsteps exit and hoped the three wouldn't eavesdrop outside the door. When they were alone, Ginyu sighed, "Jeice… I understand. For even *I* the famous Captain of the notorious Ginyu Force… have had tank hallucinations."
Jeice was taken by surprise again. Had it really all been some crazy fantasy he'd conjured up while Ginyu had punished him for something minor - resulting in an apology? Was it possible? It had all been so real… his thoughts trailed off as he realized how to FINALLY get on Captain Ginyu's good side.
"YOU, Captain? YOU have been in a regeneration tank? I can't believe it…" He sounded perfectly sincere.
Ginyu beamed. "Yes, soldier, even *I*… the mighty captain of the famous Ginyu Force… have been in a tank." He was starting to like Jeice after all.
"So… none of it was real, sir?" Jeice asked, eyes still down.
"Exactly, kid. All a hallucination. Whatever you experienced was like a dream."
There was a long silence in which Jeice not only felt utterly humiliated but uncomfortable as well. Finally his leader said, "Now, fix yourself up and get some rest - we've got another long day tomorrow - we're moving on to the planet Zergle."
"Yes, sir." Jeice replied so softly it was almost inaudible.
Ginyu turned to go, but then turned back, sighing and placing an almost reassuring hand on the younger alien's shoulder. "Come on, J…"
Jeice finally raised his sad orange eyes to meet the other's. The Captain never touched him in a positive way before, it was freaky.
"Cheer up, kid… after all… it's only hair."
***
Jeice hadn't slept well at all, and conquering the tiny planet Zergle hadn't made him feel any better. He hated his job. He hated his life. He just wanted to crawl into the deepest, darkest hole where no one could snicker behind his back or stare anymore.
Racoome started to scratch at is skull, when Burter slugged him in the arm. "Knock it off. Picking only makes it worse, moron. Besides, it's just plain gross. You wanna start bleeding again like Jeice?"
Jeice was so sick of the subject he nearly screamed at them. His scalp was bothering him too. It was becoming more and more painful all the time. He couldn't wait for it to heal and the hair to start growing back. MAYBE. That was another thing - it might not grow back. That was the case with 4 in 10 cases, apparently. He was simply miserable. He'd never been so embarrassed. Everyone was making fun of him, behind his back and to his face.
"Damn head lice." Racoome twitched, wanting to scratch.
"For the hundredth time - they're NOT lice." Guldo sighed. "Their Ugarians, which is Ykish for…"
"DON'T." Jeice warned, without looking at any of them. The entire day he'd been completely silent, so his voice surprised them. He was incredible depressed and sort of sulking. He was the butt of every joke around the base and would be for a very long time.
The others were enjoying a snack, while he sat in silence, staring off, miserable.
"Cute cap, Ace!" someone called mockingly as they passed. He didn't react. He was through reacting. All reacted out.
"Hope you're hair grows back!" someone else called out.
Guldo chuckled and Jeice glared.
"If looks could kill…" Racoome smirked the old cliché.
Jeice ignored this and went back to glaring, staring and sulking. He doubted he'd ever be able to live the nightmare down. Not only did people think he was insane and couldn't fight worth a whoop in hell… they had his bald, scabbing head to poke fun at. Plus, there was a 40% chance he'd be bald forever!
"So, J…" a voice Jeice found as annoying as familiar approached. A handsome humanoid officer with blonde hair, blue eyes and a life guard's tan was smiling cheerfully. Spencer. Always smiling to one's face when really his intentions were underhanded. He was user friendly… but strangely popular. "What's the story? Everyone thinks your loony…"
"Spence, as usual, you know just what to say." Burter grumbled.
"It's my sensitive nature." Spencer shrugged.
Jeice glared terribly at the cluelessly cheerful Spencer as he tried to sit down. This worked and he moved on, exchanging expressions with Burter, as though; *What's HIS major problem in life?*
"Jeice…" Racoome started.
"Just because you got to keep your hair and I didn't…" Jeice started to snarl quietly.
"Jeice." Racoome frowned. "You're taking this WAY too hard. It's kinda scary. It's only hair."
Jeice bit his lip into a thin, bloodless line, refusing to start an argument. He was just so flipping outraged about everything. People thought he was crazy! People thought he was a loser who couldn't fight! People thought he was a screw up, a bleeding, bald screw up! He might never ever have hair again! His amazing, popular reputation was lost forever.
Burter added, "Racoome got to keep his hair because it was so thin and short… it was easier to treat. They HAD to shave your head, man…"
"Besides…" Racoome tried to make peace. "…the hat really IS cute. That backwards ball cap look is really you, tiger."
Jeice admitted, he could look worse. He looked exactly the same… only… minus the huge white hair. However, every time he had to look at his bleeding, blistering scalp, he felt ill. It was take forever to heal and even longer for the hair to grow back… and it would probably never return to its former appearance. If it grew back AT ALL.
His thoughts were interrupted by Guldo rising to leave, saying his good byes… "Oh, and Jeice…" he smirked. "Skull Suckers!" with that he dropped the tray and ran.
Jeice didn't react.
Burter sighed, "How immature." He then turned to Jeice adding, "Besides… keeping the hair would have meant bleeding to death… after mere hours they'd done serious damage and you KNOW it… I just don't get how you guys didn't know something was up sooner. I mean…"
"Shut up." Racoome cringed, grateful he couldn't see his wounds.
"Those damn things were crawling in the sand the entire time. It's a good thing the rest of us don't have hair…" Burter trailed off.
"Shut up." Jeice bitterly agreed with Racoome.
Burter sighed. Jeice had always been so extremely vain when it came to his hair. Brushing and styling it had consumed almost all his free time - what little of it they had. Secretly, he'd never really liked the wild mane… He'd found it sort of… ugly… but hey, whatever suited his friend.
"I bet you feel much better now, though. All that hair must have been heavy and hot… and…" Racoome tried in vain to make the younger soldier feel better.
Jeice was suddenly upset, speaking quickly while slamming his tray away and gathering his stuff to leave, even though he was trying to mean what he was saying. "You guys are right. It's just hair. There only words. I know that. I just need time to deal, OK?"
With that, he semi-stormed out.
"I meant it… the backwards ball cap looks is good for him." Racoome admitted.
Burter sighed and rolled his eyes. Something weird was up with Jeice… something that went beyond his vanity…
Jeice was digging through his closet for all the hats he owned. If he had to deal with this… he'd deal with it stylishly. He'd just have to take it one day at a time. "Day he day." he sighed to himself. He needed to be more positive. He kept telling himself his hair WOULD grow back and people would eventually, with time, forget the whole thing.
Everyone thought he was insane because of the wacky story about the temple and the crystals. Admittedly, he had no idea how he could have believed such a freaky tale himself… but at the time it had been as REAL as the world now. They also thought he was stupid and weak because he'd finally taken pissing off his superior too far and gotten his ass kicked. As a warrior he was disgraced. His antics had finally gone to far and had cost him. Lastly, he looked ridiculous with his bald, bleeding skull. It was hideous. His agenda had been booked with dates for months to come… and now… it was empty. No one talked to him anyone, it seemed. Everyone was as grossed out as he was. He glanced in the mirror and shuddered.
He scolded himself, as he always did these days when his mind was too negative for too long. "Be positive…" he told himself. "It's always darkest before the dawn." Since he'd become an outcast… he'd resorted to talking to himself a little. The truth was though, he rarely talked in public or private at all these days. Too depressed… too ashamed…
As he gathered the last of his decent caps he sighed and went to the bathroom to do the only sane thing he could in the situation. Deal with his eyebrows… he had these big bright eyebrows and no hair - it just looked wrong. Maybe he could develop a new look for himself and people would stop being freaked. Then he reminded himself… even now, he covered his head as best as he could in public… but people KNEW. He didn't wear caps in private because they hurt.
He decided to treat his arching scalp first. His eyebrows could wait. He had all time in the world suddenly. No hair to style and no one to hang out with. As he gently medicated his head - which was a painful task - he let out a trembling sigh and finally… silent, perfect tears spilled down slowly. He felt like SUCH a loser these days for sinking so low and constantly crying…
He muttered something through his tears, something inaudible. Unfortunately, his ego wasn't bruised - it was dead.
***
Chapter Four: KI, Cards and Computers!
A/N: If you feel he's being melodramatic, please remember what an egomaniac Jeice is. Anyway, I wasn't sure about this chapter so please give me some feedback. _ There's more comedy next chapter. Enter Zarbon! ^_^