Letting Go
by icypinkpop
Pairing: GokuxVegeta
Disclaimer: Just borrowing them for a while. I seriously hope there are no late fees…
Warnings: Yaoi (M/M), Shonen-ai, Uke Vegeta (not really a warning…), swearing, references to rape, blood, crying, implied masturbation, perhaps some OOC-ness, sap, WIFE BASHING (well, pretty much just Chichi bashing…), character death, violence, lime, angst, pretty much anything one can warn about.
Summary: Vegeta's feelings for Goku get the best of him one day, but his pride won't stand for it. Events that follow prove to change him forever. Summary sucks (as always). Just read.
Author's note (changes with chapter): More fluff XD This chapter is pretty sweet, I think. Oh, and it was inspired by (but has nothing to do with) Dante Alighieri's Dante's Inferno. -is a nerd-
'Text' - Thoughts.
"Text" - Spoken dialogue.
Chapter 7: Stars -
Vegeta stood before the taller Saiyan, his fist clenched defensively in front of him, teeth gritted with rage. That-that bastard! How dare Kakarrot push him away after teasing him to the point of no return?! The third-class baka had no right to taunt him in this way!
Snarling, the Prince glared down at his tormentor, watching with disgust as innocent eyes widened. If the deceptive scumbag actually believed he could toy with him and get away with it, he was sadly mistaken. No one touched the Saiyan Prince with such intent and then refused contact; he was no one's whore!
Blood pounding in Vegeta's ears, he watched Goku slowly raise himself to his full height, the latter's brows knit with concern. " What…Are you okay?"
Vegeta growled, forcing the choked words from his throat. "Do-Do I look okay, you taunting freak?!" He took a step forward, seething. "Do you think you can just-just…tease me, Kakarrot? Throw me away like a common whore? Is that what you think?!" He spat at Goku's feet, crossing his arms indignantly.
--
Goku's mouth dropped in horror. How could Vegeta believe that he thought of him as a…whore? The tall Saiyan shook his head, face still stinging from his Prince's assault. "Of course not, Vegeta!"
Said Saiyan took a quick step forward, eyes narrowing further. "Liar! Two-faced worthless waste of Saiyan blood! How dare you lead me to believe that you c-care, and then discard me at your will?! I am not-" Goku moved towards his Prince, laying a firm hand on his bare shoulder. Vegeta halted in his tirade and simply glared, bearing his fangs as if waiting for an attack. Sighing, Goku stared down into his eyes.
"Vegeta, I-I do care." He tightened his grip. "I just don't want you to hurt yourself. It's not that I don't-don't want you."
--
The smaller Saiyan began to shake uncontrollably, rage doused by the sincerity in Goku's sparkling eyes, unable to move. Kakarrot wanted him? Oh GodS, it was too incredible to imagine. No one had ever touched him so intimately without expecting some sort of favor in return. Well, no one except for Raditz. Vegeta felt his eyes begin to leak, a memory sweeping through his mind.
--
"Don't touch me!"
Vegeta tore from Raditz' grip, growling menacingly when the guard stopped in his tracks. "You promised me, Raditz! How dare you refuse me! Don't you understand that we might never have the chance again?!"
The bulky Saiyan blinked, sighing. "Do I understand? I understand that Frieza's come back a day earlier than planned, Vegeta! Don't YOU understand what will happen if he catches us?"
Raditz took a deep breath, pulling his Prince close, running a strong hand over Vegeta's naked chest. "Come now, Ouji-sama. There will be time; I will make sure of it. I promise."
Vegeta relaxed into the warm embrace, putting his trust completely in the larger warrior, nuzzling the broad chest. He began to purr as his tail was gently stroked, sleep overtaking any intelligent thought. There would be time…
--
Goku watched worriedly as his Prince trembled, fighting the urge to run his hand through Vegeta's hair. He felt his lips part at the elder's next statement. "He promised." The words were choked with sadness.
Goku had no idea how to react. Part of him wanted to respect Vegeta's space, to give him time to compose himself, and therefore reduce the chance of them both getting hurt again. However, Goku's heart insisted that he do just the opposite, and its owner was simply unable to heed the warnings of his mind. Taking a slow step forward, Goku wrapped his arms around the lithe Prince and held him close, burying his face in ebony locks.
To the tall Saiyan's surprise, Vegeta showed no interest in escaping his grasp. The Prince simply lay limp in the tight embrace, gloved hands gripping his blue shirt tightly. Vegeta pulled the garment lower, exposing his savior's muscled chest, and rested his head tiredly against the bare flesh, eyes fluttering shut. Goku gaped at the open display of trust. It was impossible for him to believe that this was the same man that had threatened to end his life more times than he could remember.
The whole scenario seemed…
--
Too good to be true, Vegeta mused, pressing his cheek more firmly against the warm satin of Goku's skin. This was an illusion, it simply had to be. The years of hatred and denial had finally taken a toll on his mind. Never before had he felt such a sense of comfort, of…safety. It was as if Kakarrot's arms were the only things keeping him from falling into a pit of darkness and despair.
Long minutes passed before the Prince could find the strength to pull gently from the protective embrace, laying down on the cool grass below, gazing up at the stars as the soft blades tickled his aching back. He heard rather than saw Goku plop down beside him, wincing when a strong hand slipped into his hair. Vegeta sighed, turning his head to stare the tall Saiyan in the eye.
"Kakarrot…how did I die?" he asked, biting back the urge to break his gaze. Goku's eyes were so deep, so sincere. It almost hurt to look.
The younger Saiyan blinked slowly, gently stroking Vegeta's hair. Kakarrot's breath hitched. "You-you went Super Saiyan Three, Vegeta."
The Prince's mouth dropped open, its owner gasping in shock. Goku continued, never once stopping his gentle touching of Vegeta's head. "Yeah, your body couldn't take all that power. I-I saw you just before you disappeared. You were beautiful."
--
He sighed, too tired to believe that all this could be happening. Super Saiyan Three, the level he had waited years to gain, was finally in his grasp. Vegeta frowned. It was all so…unfulfilling. Sure, he had reached the pinnacle of Saiyan power, but what did it matter?
The Prince started when Goku reached out towards him, placing a hand on his chest. "Vegeta…what's wrong?" The gentle voice met his ears. "You're as strong as I am now, Vegeta."
Vegeta shook his head, unable to hold his words back. "I don't care, Kakarrot." He sighed. "It-it doesn't matter."
The tall Saiyan cocked his head, an expression of worry apparent on the handsome face. "You…don't?"
Vegeta had no time to respond in any way before he was wrapped in a tight hug, Kakarrot's arms crushing him against the larger body. "Oh, Vegeta! What's happened to you?" Goku's voice was high and shaky. "Did something happen? Are you mad? Please don't be mad, Vegeta!"
--
Goku held Vegeta as tight as the Prince would let him, burying his face into the flame of velvet hair. How could Vegeta be so blasé about the increase in power? Where was the fiery, competitive Prince he had come to love? Something was terribly wrong. Vegeta's confidence had simply disappeared, and it seemed nothing had replaced it.
Feeling the lithe body struggle in his arms, Goku gently loosened his hold and allowed Vegeta to move away, eyes still locked with the Prince's. What had happened to the prideful warrior Vegeta had been just a few hours before? How had he changed so much so quickly?
Suddenly, the tall Saiyan became aware of a sudden movement to his left and turned, smiling detachedly when he saw Vegeta's tail swishing about in the night air. A sharp intake of air parted his lips when the sable appendage floated towards him, gently curling around his arm. He blinked in disbelief. Vegeta was being so…affectionate.
Sighing happily despite himself at the action, Goku looked confusedly into his Prince's eyes. "How did you get your tail back?"
Vegeta shrugged. "I-I'm not sure. I think the moonlight hit my back while I was sleeping." A pause. "Why?"
Goku bit his lip. "I…like it."
A shadow of a smile crept onto the Prince's face before Vegeta rolled over onto his back, eyes drifting shut. "Go to sleep, Kakarrot."
Goku found himself grinning like a madman as he drifted off to sleep, gazing up at the stars.
--
The gentle Saiyan pressed his palm against King Kai's back, an image of his eldest son floating about in his mind. "Gohan, can you hear me? It's Dad." A gasp of response echoed in his ears. "Dad! What's going on?! I felt Vegeta's ki disappear! Are you guys okay?"
Goku sighed, glancing over at his sleeping Prince. "Yeah, Vegeta went Super Saiyan Three last night and burnt himself up. I-I went to Otherworld and got him out of Hell."
Gohan sounded confused. "Um, okay. But aren't you gonna come back to Earth and wish him back? You didn't die too, right?" "Nope, I'm fine." He took a breath. "Gohan, do you think you could gather the dragon balls for me? I need-I want to stay here with Vegeta for awhile. He's in bad shape."
A pause. "Well, sure Dad, I guess." Goku smiled with gratitude. "Thanks. I already have four balls at home, if that helps." Seconds passed before Gohan spoke again. "Dad, did something bad happen with you and Mom? Goten told me you…moved out."
Goku almost smacked himself on the forehead. How could he have forgotten to tell Gohan? He hastened to explain. "Well, I…our relationship wasn't working out, son. I thought it would be best for us to-to go our separate ways." A sharp tinge of regret pierced his heart.
To his surprise, Gohan didn't sound all that shocked. "Oh. Wow, Dad, I'm sorry. Do you have a place to go? I'm sure Trunks would let you stay at Capsule Corp." "Don't worry about me, I've got a house." Goku tried to smile. "Anyway, I think I should go. Thanks for gathering the balls for me, Gohan. Just wish Vegeta back to life whenever you get them all, okay? We'll be there before you know it."
Eyes closing at his son's parting words, the tall Saiyan retrieved his hand, watching as the blue god turned to look at him. "Couldn't you have kept that conversation shorter? I'm missing the tournament, you know!"
Goku chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry, King Kai. Thanks for coming back to help me with this, though. I really appreciate it."
The Kai nodded, glasses shining in the sun, before disappearing once more. Blinking tiredly, the Saiyan turned to his left, eyes widening when he saw Vegeta standing before him. "You're up."
The Prince simply looked at him, a glint of confusion in the dark eyes. He didn't seem angry, the way Goku had expected, but merely…intrigued.
Smiling, Goku pointed towards Snake Way, extending a hand. "Gohan's collecting the dragon balls to wish you back. We can get going, if you want. He'll probably have them all by the time we get to the check-in station."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "Why can't you just use that technique of yours to bring us there?"
Goku scratched the back of his head, thinking. "Well, I guess I could if you want." A smile tugged at his lips. "But I kind of like flying on Snake Way. It brings back memories."
The Prince stared down at the ground, ignoring the hand that Goku offered. "Whatever."
--
Vegeta hovered alongside the tall Saiyan, staring down at the masses of golden clouds, taking care to avoid Goku's gaze. Kami, had the night before been real? How did Kakarrot expect him to act from now on? Were they to-to live together? To treat each other as companions? Something more? His mind spun with questions.
He wasn't sure how he could deal with any change in their rivalry, but oh, Kakarrot was so warm, so strong. While Vegeta didn't understand how anyone so glorious could show any interest in a sorry weakling like himself, he knew somewhere in his overworked mind that he couldn't bear to let Goku go.
Sighing, he flinched when Kakarrot's hand slipped into his, almost pulling away. Apparently having noticed the tiny recoil, the gentle Saiyan addressed him. "Are-are you okay?"
Before Vegeta could even begin to think of how he felt about the action, Goku quickly removed the offending hand. "Sorry."
The Prince shook his head detachedly. He wanted Kakarrot's attention, his touch, but these gestures were alien to him. Never before had anyone attempted to please him in such gentle ways. He never ceased to be amazed at Kakarrot's strong, yet yielding nature.
Vegeta had no time to verbally convey his conflicted feelings before he heard Goku gasp. "Your halo's gone!" Taking a quick glance up above him, the Prince observed the empty air with indifference. He wasn't even sure that he wanted to live anymore.
--
Goku watched his Prince with concern. Vegeta looked so tired of being, of living. The lack of fire in his gaze caused Goku's lips to part. GodS, when had Vegeta become so-so dispassionate? This wasn't the fiery Prince he had grown to adore. It took all his willpower to keep himself from tackling Vegeta and kissing him with as much passion as he felt.
He looked down at his rejected hand, tears threatening to well up. Vegeta's words danced through his memory, sending shots of pain into his heart. 'Do you think you can just-just…tease me, Kakarrot? Throw me away like a common whore? Is that what you think?!' Goku flinched visibly. How could such a powerful, regal, beautiful Prince believe he would regard him that way? What was Vegeta hiding from him?
High, giggling voices turned his attention back to his surroundings. Looking around, Goku saw the palace of Princess Snake. Two blue-skinned servant girls hopped excitedly on the balcony, waving frantically at him, squealing. "Goku! Hi!" "Please come visit us again sometime! We'd love to have you!"
Smiling at the memories, the tall Saiyan waved back in greeting as he passed them, eyes widening at Vegeta's growl. "My, Kakarrot. You're popular around here." The Prince scoffed.
Goku blinked in surprise at the statement. Though he didn't know why, Vegeta's words had a smile pulling at his lips.
--
Vegeta followed Goku into the check-in station, watching as the other gave a departing smile at King Yemma. "We're here, Vegeta. You ready?" The tall Saiyan raised two fingers to his forehead.
Nodding, the Prince put a tentative hand on Goku's shoulder, suppressing the urge to run his fingers along the satin skin. The unfamiliar feeling of Instant Transmission closed in on him and he instinctively clung to the brawny warrior, cheeks heating with embarrassment as his surroundings dissolved into nothingness. A few seconds later he became aware that he was standing on Dende's Lookout, five people surrounding him.
"Dad!" Trunks was the first to step forward, running up to meet his father, hugging him tightly. "Are you okay? You look hurt." Vegeta put a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder, pulling away. "It's-I'm all right. Don't worry." The Prince hardly had time to escape from Trunks' grasp before he was embraced again, this time by a dark-haired demi Saiyan.
"Hi, Mr. Vegeta!" Goten stared up at him, a grin identical to his father's plastered over his face. "Did you really turn Super Saiyan Three? That's awesome!" Disconcerted by all the attention, Vegeta nodded in affirmation and slipped out of the teenager's grasp, brows rising in surprise. "My my, Vegeta." He heard Goku chuckle from behind him. "You're popular around here."
A roll of eyes was Goku's only response.
Yay, another chapter! The next one'll be pretty entertaining, so stay tuned. Please R&R. -smiles- Thanks.
