Chapter 3: Betrayal
He woke up feeling unusually groggy. The sun cast its happy rays into his room, which was one thing he noted because they usually weren't as bright as they were when he normally rose for the day. The prince sat up to find the world spinning before him. Growling, he forced himself to ignore the dizziness and head downstairs. In the kitchen area, Bulma stood reading a paper and munching on a cookie. Vegeta glanced at her, but headed straight for the coffee pot.
Normally he didn't drink the caffeinated beverage, but for some reason he felt as if he'd need it. He picked up the pot, examined how much was in it, and finally just gulped it down. By this time he had caught Bulma's eye. It wasn't everyday Vegeta came downstairs looking - blatantly - like shit. She folded the paper and put it down on the table, "What's wrong, Vegeta?"
His eyebrows furrowed and he began to speak softly, "I do-" He cleared his throat and spoke in a normal voice, "I don't know..." A look of concern graced her face as she leaned in to have a better look of him. Black gazed into blue and vice versa. He wasn't sure why, but he felt awfully protective. Suddenly, his arms reached out and embraced his human mate, holding her close, "Listen, woman... Bulma..you...you're the closest thing I.. I've ever had to a friend. I just don't want to see you get hurt."
She never felt happier in all her life, but it was odd for Vegeta to admit his feelings at any random time, "Are you going to be okay? Maybe you need to go train or something..."
The brunette chuckled a bit, some at her comment and some at his own absurdity, before turning a bit serious again, "Yes, but...I..don't want to lose you." If Bulma didn't know any better she'd say Vegeta was being romantic.
"What are you worrying about?" she asked, daring to run a hand through his unruly hair.
His body tensed at her question and he repeated, "I don't know..." By her words he had realized that he'd been worrying, even though there was nothing to worry about. No, he couldn't sense any danger..so what was the matter?
Bulma sighed, a smile curving her lips, "Goodness, Vegeta...sometimes you're so strange. Honestly, I don't know why I chose you other than the fact you're incredibly loyal, and great in bed." She gave him a wink and a grin. A small blush threatened to creep up Vegeta's neck at the compliment. He gave her a startled, though embarrassed, look. The blue-haired scientist giggled before placing a small kiss on his cheek, "I love you too, Vegeta." He blinked, his eyes growing a bit wider at her powerful statement. Neither gave the other heart-felt declarations. "You look so tense!" she teased as she pulled back. "Go train already!" she said, giving him a playful slap on the rear before running off, giggling.
Absentmindedly, Vegeta rubbed the area she had thwapped before silently deciding that training would be a good distracting activity to perform. He entered the gravity chamber and set it to a mild 150 G for a warm-up. He stretched his muscles, feeling that odd sense of displacement - as if things weren't exactly right. He shook his head as if trying to remove it from his conscious. No, there wasn't anything off, he was just worrying...
He leapt into the air, doing a series of kicks and punches before he noticed his mind was wandering again. He just couldn't shake this feeling. It was truly odd. He landed silently and placed his hands over his face. He closed his eyes to concentrate, so he could decide on what to make of the matter. He was just worrying, and worrying over nothing, so he shouldn't worry at all. There. Nothing to worry about, just drop the whole thing and it'd go away. He let his arms fall to his sides as he stared out into space, still debating. 'Since when has my instinct ever betrayed me?' he thought to himself, truly concerned, 'But since when have I not been able to sense danger? I only worry for a reason, but I do not see one!'
A few moments of silence ensued, which was followed by a shrill scream. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, spreading like wildfire. Something was wrong...Oh god, something was wrong!
Vegeta instantly raced towards the source of the outburst, running down the hallways at break-neck speed, opening doors with such ferocity they damaged the walls they banged into. He came upon the den where Bulma, Trunks, and Goku resided. Bulma was back against the wall, a stunned look of terror on her face. Trunks was on the ground, wincing, blood trickling down the side of his face. And Goku stood tall, proud, with his hair trailing near to the floor. Vegeta took a few breaths, confusion writing itself all over his face.
"Glad you could come, little prince," Goku turned his gaze towards Vegeta, acknowledging him. Goku spoke slowly, "You'll have to excuse me a moment." Trunks had managed to get upon his feet by the time Goku finally looked back at him. When the demi-Saijin saw him, however, he instantly backed away, his blue eyes wide with fear. Before another move could be made, however, Bra bounded into the room.
"What's going on?" she asked, head tilted to one side, "Why did mom scream?" Bulma grabbed her daughter and pulled her close as if to protect her.
"Goku, please," the scientist pleaded in a shaky voice, "Whatever it is...we can help you.." Goku responded with a laugh that Vegeta knew all too well. The third class looked at the prince, their eyes meeting briefly. Vegeta was taken aback by the look. All traces of the happy good-natured hero were all gone and replaced with bitterness, coldness, and dare they even look...sadistic? Oh god..something was most definitely wrong...
"You can help," Goku whispered, humor in his voice, "by dying." The words triggered something inside of the prince's mind. Something long ago and forgotten....No! It couldn't be true! God, it couldn't!
Trunks. Kakkarot. Bulma. Kakkarot. Bra. Kakkarot. Kakkarot smirking, laughing..laughing at him.
His muscles clenched to the point where it began to hurt, his lungs temporarily forgetting to inhale. No...
His stomach twisted and he began to slowly walk, watching as the black-haired Saijin became nothing more than a brutal murderer.
It was just a dream! How could it have meant anything? Was this what was nagging at the back of his mind? An unignorable plague that was trying to warn him? Had he subconsciously known..? No! No! It couldn't be real! Kakkarot couldn't be....And what about himself? What could he do?
There were pictures of himself. But he was alone. Always alone.
No...it just couldn't...
There before him he saw Kakkarot killing his son. That woman Chi-chi was next, and then, Goten...
His eyes darted around the room, as if to emphasize his rapid thoughts. His eyes lay upon Trunks, the blood on his face registering in his mind. The fear from Bulma and Bra seemed all too haunting. Denial and self-blame swirled within him. No, this was too much!
"You killed your family!" Vegeta spat, disbelief and anger mixed in his voice.
Goku raised an eyebrow, "Very interesting, little prince. I would like to know how you knew that."
Vegeta felt himself shake. Oh god, it was..it was real! This was happening! Nausea came over him and he staggered for a second. He dragged himself out of shock, his eyes once again going to Goku's. "Eighteen! Krillin! Piccolo! Dende!" he shouted, fists clenching tight, knuckles turning white.
"Yes," Goku confirmed with a nod and shrug, "they're dead too." Dead, gone.... No! This wasn't fair! What sick joke was THIS!? That when he finally had settled down it would be torn from him!? That Kakkarot would betray all the things he had taught him, the Prince of Saijins, was okay to do and still be able to be a warrior!? He had worked too hard for this! Dear lord! Wasn't it ironic enough that Kakkarot was finally what he wanted him to be, but only when he DIDN'T want him to be that way!? He had worked painstakingly hard to achieve what he had. He'd worked so much to be able to be where he was at today. The years of fighting for a pure heart were not to be cast to the wayside because of this! NO! It was so incredibly difficult and embarrassing to finally become like one of them, and he was not giving up on it now! This was so insane! So impossible!
"This is impossible!" Vegeta proclaimed, wishing it could be true.
"As impossible as a third class becoming Super Saijin," Goku casually inserted, suddenly looking bored, "Look, are you over your melodrama? Because I have business to conduct here."
Vegeta growled savagely, powering up to his full potential, "NO! You leave them alone, Kakkarot! As your prince, I command you!"
Goku snarled, baring his sharp fangs, "Quiet, bitch! I respect my prince, but I do not take orders from those who cannot even rival me!"
Vegeta flared, his aura growing brighter, swirling around him like a miniature whirlwind, "You think I cannot rival you? Ha! I've done so for years!"
Goku took his turn to growl, looking deeply annoyed, "No, Vegeta. You were always one step behind. I never wanted to hurt you, so I always let you think you were close. You have no idea how far ahead of you I am. This foolishness ends now, it has gone on for far too long." He turned away from the brunette, gathering a ball of ki around his right hand, "Any last words, brat?" Trunks felt paralyzed from the shock of the situation, barely able to breathe. "Very well," the black-haired Saijin said with a shrug, preparing to launch his attack.
"TRUNKS! RUN!" Vegeta screamed, jumping onto Goku's back and attempting to choke him by wrapping his arms around the level three's neck.
Goku winced at the unexpected attack, but quickly jabbed his elbow into Vegeta's side, making him gasp and loosen his grip. The third class grabbed his prince and threw him onto the floor before swiftly turning and catching the run away, "Say goodbye!" The assault reminded Vegeta of the battle with Cell, when the android had unexpectedly blasted Mirai through the middle, instantly killing him. The emotions that he felt proceeding were too familiar - familiar and intensified.
Trunks. Kakkarot.
"FUCKING BASTARD!" Vegeta screamed at the top of his lungs - grief, anger, and betrayal fogging over his vision to make him see red. The loud sound of skin hitting skin emitted, and shockingly, Vegeta noticed his distressed mate standing before Goku.
"How could you! After so many years we've-" she started before a larger hand silenced her, smacking her to the floor, an instant dark purple bruise marring her cheek.
"Silence, woman, your presence irritates me enough that I don't need your screeching to go along," Goku informed, looking down upon her in disapproval and disgust. That was enough for the prince. He charged the other Saijin, but only got within an inch of him before he felt a large fist jam itself into his stomach, pressing against his spine. Vegeta coughed red, falling over and holding his abdomen, trying desperately to keep his golden form. God, that idiot was right...he was more than one step behind... He wasn't strong enough, he would never--
"Get your hands OFF of me!!" Bulma shrieked as she was lifted off the ground by her hair. Struggling to rise, the prince forced his stomach to expand back to normal and his spine to compress correctly.
"Let her go!" Vegeta demanded again of the surviving member of his race. Goku gave him a sidelong glance, but that was merely all.
"Quick and painless, right Bulma? That sounds exactly how you'd like it," Goku playfully thought out loud, carrying her around aimlessly.
Vegeta tackled him with all the force he had, sending all three of them onto the ground. Vegeta raised his fist and brought it down upon the other Saijin's face mercilessly. "STOP THIS NOW!!" the prince screamed, punctuating every word with a fist to the face. Finally a palm caught his knuckles, a savage growl emitting itself loudly from beneath him.
"Little prince, little prince.." Goku taunted, tightening his grip, "I think you should stop while you're ahead."
Vegeta tried to pull back but with no avail, in fact, the grip tightened, "Kakkarot, this is..madness-"
The younger nodded in agreement, "So true. So true... For years I never understood why you wanted to destroy this pathetic planet. And me. But it makes so much sense now."
Vegeta wrapped his hand around his trapped wrist, trying to get himself released, "What are you babbling about!? For fuck's sake, Kakkarot..this is bullshit!"
Goku's eyes narrowed, glaring at the slight figure on top of him, "You hated me, prince. I cannot forgive that." The hand around him squeezed, and Vegeta somehow restrained himself from letting his vocal chords work. He felt the bones move out of place, the ligaments tear, the joints being shifted. Slowly, but surely, his hand was being crushed...
And then, mercy was granted. The cost, however, was even worse. Bulma intervened, clawing at the younger man's face, so he instantly shoved Vegeta out of the way and advanced on the defenseless woman. His hand enclosed around her throat, slowly crushing it. She made one noise before air refused to pass through, and then her hands tried in vain to peel her attacker off.
Vegeta ignored all the pain he was experiencing and lunged himself at the taller man, intending to ram his shoulder into Goku's back. When he slammed into the other man, the response was immediate. A swift kick in the stomach sent him reeling. Momentarily stunned, the brunette fell backward, clutching his midsection, his senses numbed. He struggled, trying to sit up, wondering briefly if any bones were broken. All thoughts of his own well-being completely disappeared as he watched Goku slam his woman into the coffee table, glass shattering, wood splintering. Vegeta tried to rise, but he could only manage to cough, blood dribbling out of the corner of his mouth. The younger Saijin summoned a brilliant blue ball of ki, aiming it towards his life-long friend.
Suddenly a figure threw themselves into the path, screaming, "NO! MOMMY!"
Goku laughed, "You? You're going to stop me?"
Vegeta swallowed and managed to get onto one knee, "Bra! NO!" The young lady ignored her father and powered up, launching a few ki blasts at Goku until she was too tired to continue doing so. "BRA, GET OUT OF HERE!" Vegeta demanded, standing up, a hand still coiled around his middle. She turned to him, hesitating, and her indecision cost her dearly. Through the smoke she had created, a thin ki blast shot out, striking her through her left breast. She fell backward, her form trembling for a moment before she lay limp, her eyes losing luster. "No," Vegeta choked out, his voice hoarse, "NO!!" He headed in the direction of his fallen daughter, but an arm grasped him. It coiled around his body, holding him off of the ground and pinning his arms to his sides, rendering him immobile.
"This is best gift I could ever give you, prince," the faintly recognizable voice of Kakkarot whispered in his ear, "You should be thanking me, really. I'm setting you free." His hand lifted slowly, taunting the brunette as he purred, "Emotions make you weak, Vegeta. I'm making you strong again." The older man struggled with all his might, even going as far as trying to bite the arm that held him, but it didn't work. "Quick," Goku murmured, a ki blast generating around his hand, encompassing it, "and painless." Vegeta writhed, kicking and screaming as if that could stop what he knew was about to happen. The blast enveloped his mate and overloaded her form, causing it to shut down immediately. It was a merciful death in a way, and it did not damage her body.
Vegeta tried his best to not submit to the horror - to give in and mourn in front of the other Saijin; he also resisted the urge to block this out, to go into denial which would develop rapidly into other mental imbalances. He had to cope with the reality, but he could not afford to be consumed by it. He was suddenly placed onto his feet and spun around. He stared blankly into the chest of his enemy until his hair was grasped and he was forced to look up. "And now it's your turn, I suppose," Goku mused with himself, smirking devilishly.
Vegeta refused to show him fear, refused to give in, to submit himself to this other man. No, he had been in a similar situation for years, with Freiza. Freiza may had been stronger than him, but Vegeta would've been damned if he would ever yield to the tyrant. He would not show submission to him, and he would not show it especially to Kakkarot. All he gave the other Saijin was defiance, a look that said the prince was better, regardless of the circumstances.
The first response was a look of anger, but it soon melted into amusement.
"Very well, little prince, you get to live. You might be fun later on after all."
And just like that, Kakkarot was gone.
He woke up feeling unusually groggy. The sun cast its happy rays into his room, which was one thing he noted because they usually weren't as bright as they were when he normally rose for the day. The prince sat up to find the world spinning before him. Growling, he forced himself to ignore the dizziness and head downstairs. In the kitchen area, Bulma stood reading a paper and munching on a cookie. Vegeta glanced at her, but headed straight for the coffee pot.
Normally he didn't drink the caffeinated beverage, but for some reason he felt as if he'd need it. He picked up the pot, examined how much was in it, and finally just gulped it down. By this time he had caught Bulma's eye. It wasn't everyday Vegeta came downstairs looking - blatantly - like shit. She folded the paper and put it down on the table, "What's wrong, Vegeta?"
His eyebrows furrowed and he began to speak softly, "I do-" He cleared his throat and spoke in a normal voice, "I don't know..." A look of concern graced her face as she leaned in to have a better look of him. Black gazed into blue and vice versa. He wasn't sure why, but he felt awfully protective. Suddenly, his arms reached out and embraced his human mate, holding her close, "Listen, woman... Bulma..you...you're the closest thing I.. I've ever had to a friend. I just don't want to see you get hurt."
She never felt happier in all her life, but it was odd for Vegeta to admit his feelings at any random time, "Are you going to be okay? Maybe you need to go train or something..."
The brunette chuckled a bit, some at her comment and some at his own absurdity, before turning a bit serious again, "Yes, but...I..don't want to lose you." If Bulma didn't know any better she'd say Vegeta was being romantic.
"What are you worrying about?" she asked, daring to run a hand through his unruly hair.
His body tensed at her question and he repeated, "I don't know..." By her words he had realized that he'd been worrying, even though there was nothing to worry about. No, he couldn't sense any danger..so what was the matter?
Bulma sighed, a smile curving her lips, "Goodness, Vegeta...sometimes you're so strange. Honestly, I don't know why I chose you other than the fact you're incredibly loyal, and great in bed." She gave him a wink and a grin. A small blush threatened to creep up Vegeta's neck at the compliment. He gave her a startled, though embarrassed, look. The blue-haired scientist giggled before placing a small kiss on his cheek, "I love you too, Vegeta." He blinked, his eyes growing a bit wider at her powerful statement. Neither gave the other heart-felt declarations. "You look so tense!" she teased as she pulled back. "Go train already!" she said, giving him a playful slap on the rear before running off, giggling.
Absentmindedly, Vegeta rubbed the area she had thwapped before silently deciding that training would be a good distracting activity to perform. He entered the gravity chamber and set it to a mild 150 G for a warm-up. He stretched his muscles, feeling that odd sense of displacement - as if things weren't exactly right. He shook his head as if trying to remove it from his conscious. No, there wasn't anything off, he was just worrying...
He leapt into the air, doing a series of kicks and punches before he noticed his mind was wandering again. He just couldn't shake this feeling. It was truly odd. He landed silently and placed his hands over his face. He closed his eyes to concentrate, so he could decide on what to make of the matter. He was just worrying, and worrying over nothing, so he shouldn't worry at all. There. Nothing to worry about, just drop the whole thing and it'd go away. He let his arms fall to his sides as he stared out into space, still debating. 'Since when has my instinct ever betrayed me?' he thought to himself, truly concerned, 'But since when have I not been able to sense danger? I only worry for a reason, but I do not see one!'
A few moments of silence ensued, which was followed by a shrill scream. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, spreading like wildfire. Something was wrong...Oh god, something was wrong!
Vegeta instantly raced towards the source of the outburst, running down the hallways at break-neck speed, opening doors with such ferocity they damaged the walls they banged into. He came upon the den where Bulma, Trunks, and Goku resided. Bulma was back against the wall, a stunned look of terror on her face. Trunks was on the ground, wincing, blood trickling down the side of his face. And Goku stood tall, proud, with his hair trailing near to the floor. Vegeta took a few breaths, confusion writing itself all over his face.
"Glad you could come, little prince," Goku turned his gaze towards Vegeta, acknowledging him. Goku spoke slowly, "You'll have to excuse me a moment." Trunks had managed to get upon his feet by the time Goku finally looked back at him. When the demi-Saijin saw him, however, he instantly backed away, his blue eyes wide with fear. Before another move could be made, however, Bra bounded into the room.
"What's going on?" she asked, head tilted to one side, "Why did mom scream?" Bulma grabbed her daughter and pulled her close as if to protect her.
"Goku, please," the scientist pleaded in a shaky voice, "Whatever it is...we can help you.." Goku responded with a laugh that Vegeta knew all too well. The third class looked at the prince, their eyes meeting briefly. Vegeta was taken aback by the look. All traces of the happy good-natured hero were all gone and replaced with bitterness, coldness, and dare they even look...sadistic? Oh god..something was most definitely wrong...
"You can help," Goku whispered, humor in his voice, "by dying." The words triggered something inside of the prince's mind. Something long ago and forgotten....No! It couldn't be true! God, it couldn't!
Trunks. Kakkarot. Bulma. Kakkarot. Bra. Kakkarot. Kakkarot smirking, laughing..laughing at him.
His muscles clenched to the point where it began to hurt, his lungs temporarily forgetting to inhale. No...
His stomach twisted and he began to slowly walk, watching as the black-haired Saijin became nothing more than a brutal murderer.
It was just a dream! How could it have meant anything? Was this what was nagging at the back of his mind? An unignorable plague that was trying to warn him? Had he subconsciously known..? No! No! It couldn't be real! Kakkarot couldn't be....And what about himself? What could he do?
There were pictures of himself. But he was alone. Always alone.
No...it just couldn't...
There before him he saw Kakkarot killing his son. That woman Chi-chi was next, and then, Goten...
His eyes darted around the room, as if to emphasize his rapid thoughts. His eyes lay upon Trunks, the blood on his face registering in his mind. The fear from Bulma and Bra seemed all too haunting. Denial and self-blame swirled within him. No, this was too much!
"You killed your family!" Vegeta spat, disbelief and anger mixed in his voice.
Goku raised an eyebrow, "Very interesting, little prince. I would like to know how you knew that."
Vegeta felt himself shake. Oh god, it was..it was real! This was happening! Nausea came over him and he staggered for a second. He dragged himself out of shock, his eyes once again going to Goku's. "Eighteen! Krillin! Piccolo! Dende!" he shouted, fists clenching tight, knuckles turning white.
"Yes," Goku confirmed with a nod and shrug, "they're dead too." Dead, gone.... No! This wasn't fair! What sick joke was THIS!? That when he finally had settled down it would be torn from him!? That Kakkarot would betray all the things he had taught him, the Prince of Saijins, was okay to do and still be able to be a warrior!? He had worked too hard for this! Dear lord! Wasn't it ironic enough that Kakkarot was finally what he wanted him to be, but only when he DIDN'T want him to be that way!? He had worked painstakingly hard to achieve what he had. He'd worked so much to be able to be where he was at today. The years of fighting for a pure heart were not to be cast to the wayside because of this! NO! It was so incredibly difficult and embarrassing to finally become like one of them, and he was not giving up on it now! This was so insane! So impossible!
"This is impossible!" Vegeta proclaimed, wishing it could be true.
"As impossible as a third class becoming Super Saijin," Goku casually inserted, suddenly looking bored, "Look, are you over your melodrama? Because I have business to conduct here."
Vegeta growled savagely, powering up to his full potential, "NO! You leave them alone, Kakkarot! As your prince, I command you!"
Goku snarled, baring his sharp fangs, "Quiet, bitch! I respect my prince, but I do not take orders from those who cannot even rival me!"
Vegeta flared, his aura growing brighter, swirling around him like a miniature whirlwind, "You think I cannot rival you? Ha! I've done so for years!"
Goku took his turn to growl, looking deeply annoyed, "No, Vegeta. You were always one step behind. I never wanted to hurt you, so I always let you think you were close. You have no idea how far ahead of you I am. This foolishness ends now, it has gone on for far too long." He turned away from the brunette, gathering a ball of ki around his right hand, "Any last words, brat?" Trunks felt paralyzed from the shock of the situation, barely able to breathe. "Very well," the black-haired Saijin said with a shrug, preparing to launch his attack.
"TRUNKS! RUN!" Vegeta screamed, jumping onto Goku's back and attempting to choke him by wrapping his arms around the level three's neck.
Goku winced at the unexpected attack, but quickly jabbed his elbow into Vegeta's side, making him gasp and loosen his grip. The third class grabbed his prince and threw him onto the floor before swiftly turning and catching the run away, "Say goodbye!" The assault reminded Vegeta of the battle with Cell, when the android had unexpectedly blasted Mirai through the middle, instantly killing him. The emotions that he felt proceeding were too familiar - familiar and intensified.
Trunks. Kakkarot.
"FUCKING BASTARD!" Vegeta screamed at the top of his lungs - grief, anger, and betrayal fogging over his vision to make him see red. The loud sound of skin hitting skin emitted, and shockingly, Vegeta noticed his distressed mate standing before Goku.
"How could you! After so many years we've-" she started before a larger hand silenced her, smacking her to the floor, an instant dark purple bruise marring her cheek.
"Silence, woman, your presence irritates me enough that I don't need your screeching to go along," Goku informed, looking down upon her in disapproval and disgust. That was enough for the prince. He charged the other Saijin, but only got within an inch of him before he felt a large fist jam itself into his stomach, pressing against his spine. Vegeta coughed red, falling over and holding his abdomen, trying desperately to keep his golden form. God, that idiot was right...he was more than one step behind... He wasn't strong enough, he would never--
"Get your hands OFF of me!!" Bulma shrieked as she was lifted off the ground by her hair. Struggling to rise, the prince forced his stomach to expand back to normal and his spine to compress correctly.
"Let her go!" Vegeta demanded again of the surviving member of his race. Goku gave him a sidelong glance, but that was merely all.
"Quick and painless, right Bulma? That sounds exactly how you'd like it," Goku playfully thought out loud, carrying her around aimlessly.
Vegeta tackled him with all the force he had, sending all three of them onto the ground. Vegeta raised his fist and brought it down upon the other Saijin's face mercilessly. "STOP THIS NOW!!" the prince screamed, punctuating every word with a fist to the face. Finally a palm caught his knuckles, a savage growl emitting itself loudly from beneath him.
"Little prince, little prince.." Goku taunted, tightening his grip, "I think you should stop while you're ahead."
Vegeta tried to pull back but with no avail, in fact, the grip tightened, "Kakkarot, this is..madness-"
The younger nodded in agreement, "So true. So true... For years I never understood why you wanted to destroy this pathetic planet. And me. But it makes so much sense now."
Vegeta wrapped his hand around his trapped wrist, trying to get himself released, "What are you babbling about!? For fuck's sake, Kakkarot..this is bullshit!"
Goku's eyes narrowed, glaring at the slight figure on top of him, "You hated me, prince. I cannot forgive that." The hand around him squeezed, and Vegeta somehow restrained himself from letting his vocal chords work. He felt the bones move out of place, the ligaments tear, the joints being shifted. Slowly, but surely, his hand was being crushed...
And then, mercy was granted. The cost, however, was even worse. Bulma intervened, clawing at the younger man's face, so he instantly shoved Vegeta out of the way and advanced on the defenseless woman. His hand enclosed around her throat, slowly crushing it. She made one noise before air refused to pass through, and then her hands tried in vain to peel her attacker off.
Vegeta ignored all the pain he was experiencing and lunged himself at the taller man, intending to ram his shoulder into Goku's back. When he slammed into the other man, the response was immediate. A swift kick in the stomach sent him reeling. Momentarily stunned, the brunette fell backward, clutching his midsection, his senses numbed. He struggled, trying to sit up, wondering briefly if any bones were broken. All thoughts of his own well-being completely disappeared as he watched Goku slam his woman into the coffee table, glass shattering, wood splintering. Vegeta tried to rise, but he could only manage to cough, blood dribbling out of the corner of his mouth. The younger Saijin summoned a brilliant blue ball of ki, aiming it towards his life-long friend.
Suddenly a figure threw themselves into the path, screaming, "NO! MOMMY!"
Goku laughed, "You? You're going to stop me?"
Vegeta swallowed and managed to get onto one knee, "Bra! NO!" The young lady ignored her father and powered up, launching a few ki blasts at Goku until she was too tired to continue doing so. "BRA, GET OUT OF HERE!" Vegeta demanded, standing up, a hand still coiled around his middle. She turned to him, hesitating, and her indecision cost her dearly. Through the smoke she had created, a thin ki blast shot out, striking her through her left breast. She fell backward, her form trembling for a moment before she lay limp, her eyes losing luster. "No," Vegeta choked out, his voice hoarse, "NO!!" He headed in the direction of his fallen daughter, but an arm grasped him. It coiled around his body, holding him off of the ground and pinning his arms to his sides, rendering him immobile.
"This is best gift I could ever give you, prince," the faintly recognizable voice of Kakkarot whispered in his ear, "You should be thanking me, really. I'm setting you free." His hand lifted slowly, taunting the brunette as he purred, "Emotions make you weak, Vegeta. I'm making you strong again." The older man struggled with all his might, even going as far as trying to bite the arm that held him, but it didn't work. "Quick," Goku murmured, a ki blast generating around his hand, encompassing it, "and painless." Vegeta writhed, kicking and screaming as if that could stop what he knew was about to happen. The blast enveloped his mate and overloaded her form, causing it to shut down immediately. It was a merciful death in a way, and it did not damage her body.
Vegeta tried his best to not submit to the horror - to give in and mourn in front of the other Saijin; he also resisted the urge to block this out, to go into denial which would develop rapidly into other mental imbalances. He had to cope with the reality, but he could not afford to be consumed by it. He was suddenly placed onto his feet and spun around. He stared blankly into the chest of his enemy until his hair was grasped and he was forced to look up. "And now it's your turn, I suppose," Goku mused with himself, smirking devilishly.
Vegeta refused to show him fear, refused to give in, to submit himself to this other man. No, he had been in a similar situation for years, with Freiza. Freiza may had been stronger than him, but Vegeta would've been damned if he would ever yield to the tyrant. He would not show submission to him, and he would not show it especially to Kakkarot. All he gave the other Saijin was defiance, a look that said the prince was better, regardless of the circumstances.
The first response was a look of anger, but it soon melted into amusement.
"Very well, little prince, you get to live. You might be fun later on after all."
And just like that, Kakkarot was gone.
