Chapter 21: Let It Go

Dom held his breath as he approached the castle gates. He walked down the lonely halls. His heart thundered in his chest. He kept thinking about Hans. Why was Dom so worried? He couldn't understand why he was so powerless to Hans. He didn't want to believe it, but he really liked his life here. He didn't want to ruin it by beating up Hans, or letting Hans reveal his secret. Dom knew that his powers would be too much for most people. It was a miracle that Anna hadn't run away in terror. Then again, she was probably too scared to. Dom smiled and shook his head. He was exhausted from his day of work. He wandered down the halls. Nothing seemed familiar around him. He sighed tiredly. He walked aimlessly down the empty halls. While he did, his mind kept going back to Elsa. He knew what he had seen. It wasn't right either. Even a cruel Saiyan like himself would not raise his hand to a defenseless woman. Her expression was stained into his mind. So much pain filled her eyes. Dom couldn't stop, and the more he thought, the more furious he became with Hans. Dom had done battle with a genocidal tyrant, but Hans was not a saint by comparison to say the least. Dom had been wandering around for 15 minutes when he came across Elsa. She was quietly sneaking through the Halls Dom stepped in front of her. Her eyes looked red. She wore a brave smile, but her eyes were desperate and painful.

"Hi, Elsa." Dom smiled.

Elsa hid her face from Dom. Dom rolled his eyes, sarcastically as she turned away. He wasn't stupid. He knew she must have been crying. Without warning, Dom wrapped his arms around Elsa. She tried to struggle for a moment but broke down. Her head pressed on Dom's shoulder she let out her tears. "I'm sorry, Dom." She cried. Dom rubbed her back and the back of her head. "Shh… It's ok." He soothed. "Tell me what hurts."

Elsa looked up and saw Dom smiling to her. "It's Hans." She spoke in a shaky voice. Dom nodded. That was no surprise. She broke into tears. Dom wrapped an arm around her and began to lead her towards a balcony. As he opened the door, he found they where near the back of the castle. As he looked down he saw the private and empty yard Elsa took a deep breath and coughed. She tried desperately to hold back her tears, but as Dom held her, she broke down. Dom hugged her for a moment, but quickly remembered Hans. Dom couldn't be friends with Elsa. He reluctantly pushed her back. He stared into her eyes with sorrow. He knew Hans wouldn't care for her, but he couldn't be there either.

No. Dom could be there. Maybe he couldn't hug her, but he would be a friend. It was his duty to the Queen. "Are you okay?" He asked. Elsa fanned her eyes. Her makeup had begun to run. "I look a mess, don't I?" She asked. Dom knew she was trying to hide her real concerns with a joke. Dom smiled, "You look beautiful." He spoke plainly. Elsa smiled at him. "I'm sorry you had to see me like this."

Dom shook his head, "It's okay. Is it about Hans?" He asked.

Elsa nodded, sadly. "He's being so cruel."

"its okay, Elsa." Dom soothed. "Don't let him hurt you."

"But he's right, Dom!" Elsa exploded, "I'm still naïve. I let a stranger reside in the castle! I'm not worthy of being a Queen."

Dom stood back as Elsa ranted.

"He calls me stupid, and foolish, and it only hurts because he's right!"

Dom quickly wrapped his arm around her back. "Don't say that." He whispered sharply. "You are not stupid. Maybe he doesn't understand what you do. You trust your judgment. That's not a crime. You are a great Queen and don't let him make you think you are stupid."

Dom's stern voice surprised Elsa. She looked at him in awe. Dom was a stranger, but he still cared deeply for the her. Elsa didn't want to cry anymore. She looked at Dom and smiled.

"Thank you." She whispered.

Dom nodded and lead Elsa inside. As they wandered down the Halls, Elsa began to wonder about Dom.

"Where exactly are you from?" Elsa asked.

Dom hesitated. Her question took him by surprise. "What do you mean?" His voice was shaky and nervous, as his mind raced to come up with a fitting lie. It wasn't really a lie at all. He'd just leave out a few minor details.

"You know, tell me about where you came here from."

Dom smiled and laughed nervously. "It's far away…" Dom began. He envisioned New Vegeta in his mind. "… with a lot of great people." Dom's mind imagined all of his friends, "We were a proud people." The image of his father giving his life flashed in his eyes. "But," Dom hesitated, "We were under rule of an evil tyrant." Dom saw Frieza laughing in his mind, the evil sound echoed in his ears. Elsa looked at Dom, perplexed. "A tyrant?" She echoed. Dom nodded, and tears began to well in his eyes. "He…" Dom's voice stumbled, "He killed… so many good men." Dom grunted as tears began to fall down his cheek. Elsa looked over at him, she tried to wrap an arm around him, but Dom pulled away. Hans would let Dom's secret out if he saw Dom touching Elsa. Elsa knew she would be in trouble if Hans saw it too, but seeing Dom break down was hard for her. He wasn't a bad guy, like Hans said. Dom cleared his throat. "So… I led a rebellion against the ruler." Elsa looked up in awe. "A rebellion?" She asked, "What happened?" Elsa asked eagerly. Dom smiled, "I took down the tyrant, but…" Dom's voice trailed off him again, his legs gave out and he collapsed in the hall. "Damn it" he grunted quietly, "I sent so many damn Saiyans to their grave." Elsa crouched beside him, "It's okay, Dom." She soothed, "You did what you had to. Sometimes, leaders have to make tough decisions." Dom wiped his eyes and looked up. Elsa placed her hand on his back and met his glare. Dom stared into her frosty blue eyes, and she looked back into his deep brown eyes. Dom forced himself to turn away. "Hans will be pissed if he sees you like this." Dom whispered. Elsa sighed and nodded, "You're probably right." Dom stood up and helped Elsa up. "I'm sorry you had to see that." Dom apologized, embarrassed. "Don't apologize." Elsa giggled, "I'm glad you can show emotions, and tell me something as private as that. But, I still don't understand why you left. Weren't you a hero?"

Dom shook his head. "No. How could I be? I let so many men die."

"But, you saved your people from tyranny." Elsa interjected.

Dom looked at her and smiled, "If you saw the damage, then you would understand."

Elsa nodded. "I guess." She wrapped her arms around Dom, "I think you're a hero." She whispered, before letting go. Dom smiled and stared at her. They looked out a window. They hadn't noticed, but they were talking all night and the sun began to illuminate the Kingdom. Dom smiled. "Thank you, Elsa. I needed to talk." He bowed. Elsa smiled, "I think we both needed it." She curtseyed to Dom as he began to head outside for another day of work.