I've gotten more reviewers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *jumps up and down*
Thank you so much : unibabe, Kasa, Vegeta's lil' Princess, and nOy. And you
even commented on each others' reviews! Thank you so much for your input
and you'll have to read on to see how I used it . . .
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So here it is - the next chapter.
Disclaimer: why do you think I'm posting this on Fanfiction.net?
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Chapter 5: Living La Vida Loca
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*
She choked on her first drink. However Goten had raised an eyebrow and she had quickly downed the lot. He smirked and ordered another one, which made Bra turn a little green. Nevertheless she refused to lose this bet, especially in only five minutes. Vegeta wasn't her father for nothing.
After the second drink and Bra got used to the buzz that was starting to make her head spin, she couldn't help herself.
"What exactly is this?"
"It's called absence. British import as a matter of fact." Bra frowned, trying to shake off the image of Goten suddenly breaking out into proper British English and calling for a pot of tea. (sorry to all the Brits out there, it's a stereotype I know) "Fairly decent amount of alcohol in it though."
"Fairly decent?" She asked, not really sure if she wanted the answer. Goten grinned, his still white teeth flashing in the dim light.
"120 proof." Bra nearly dropped her glass. 60% alcohol!!!!!!!!!!! She gulped. Oh yeah, she was definitely going home plastered.
"That's nice." She murmured, feeling even more light-headed. "And you drink this regularly?"
"I have a high tolerance. Probably from my high body mass." Bra felt somewhat surprised by his response. So his dense behavior when he was young was just an act, though she would've thought any brains he had would've been rotted out by the night life he participated in.
He raised his arm again for the return of the waitress and she blanched. This time, Goten seemed to take pity on her. He whispered something into the girl-with-the-red-tube-top's ear and she nodded. When she returned, it was with a drink that had a red tinge. She placed it in front of the blue-eyed girl who eyed it warily.
"You might like this better," Goten said affably. Her gaze shifted to him. Why was he being so friendly now? He had basically told her to f* off ten minutes ago and now he was being all nice. She highly doubted it was the alcohol. Something told her that getting Goten drunk would be a real feat. And there was still that glint in his onyx eyes which made her instinctively not trust him.
"What is it?" she asked bluntly.
"It's a cocktail. You might find the taste, a little more palatable." She raised an eyebrow.
"That's a big word, didn't know you had it in you," she said sarcastically.
"There's a lot you don't know," he murmured, his eyes watching her carefully as she finally took a tentative sip. It was slightly sweet, which she had to admit she liked. She didn't drink it too fast though. She had a feeling the drink was still plenty strong and she wanted to hold onto her rationality for as long as well. Getting into a drinking contest with Goten could only lead to bad things, a point she wished she had considered before doing so.
"I see you like sex on the beach," he said conversationally. She choked and started hacking. He smirked, obviously amused at catching her so off guard and at the red flush that blossomed over her face.
"WHAT?" she coughed out. He inclined his head to motion her drink.
"The cocktail is Sex on the Beach. Why, what'd you think I meant?" His lashes swept down as he peered at her innocently, his eyes glittering even more intensely. She grit her teeth. This was going to be a long night.
"Yes I do, I mean like the drink, not-" She closed her eyes, shutting out the sight of his leer and hating the fact her foot was completely wedged all the way down her throat. "Not that I've tried the latter." There was a second of silence, as the leer dropped completely off his face. At last he began to chuckle. Oh yes, this was going to be fun.
*
*
They didn't talk that much, taking turns randomly volunteering odd bits of information while Bra studiously ignored the smoke from his cigarettes. Goten apparently was rather skilled at getting information from people while drinking: within an hour he knew she was dating, who, for how long, and what he was like. Oh yes, what an angel. He learned that she did like clubbing and was just finishing high school. On Bra's part, she learned that he liked black, he had gotten his piercing exactly five years ago, had a dragon tattoo on his back, and smoked a lot. When she broached the topic of his dating, he had merely smirked and carefully changed the subject. They didn't talk about anything substantial: Bra correctly assumed that anything concerning the Z-fighters, especially Goku, was strictly off limits.
After an hour and a half though, they began to attract more attention. The partiers were puzzled. Who was this girl that Akuma let stay at his table? And for so long, nonetheless? He was known to always have some woman around, but usually they retreated to more private 'quarters' quickly. Also, it came to their notice that every time Akuma got a drink so did the girl (thankfully for Bra, with longer intervals in between than before). They'd had drinking contests with Akuma before, and had always lost miserably. The man could down enough alcohol to down a horse, without even a slurred word. It was truly a mystery.
Akuma was actually an enigma to them. He'd appeared a few months after the club had opened and quickly claimed his own corner. His presence was at first intimidating, but his laid back disposition soon led them to realize he would not only tolerate them, but even allow himself to be drawn into their group somewhat. He however made a point to make sure that the women he surrounded himself with were never from their clique, which some of the girls regretted. He spoke easily with them, though they always got the sense his smirk mocked their childish habits. That was another puzzle: Akuma's age or even his past. They were convinced Akuma was a nickname, yet his real name was never revealed to them nor any other details about Akuma's life. There were moments when he seemed impossibly wiser and older than them, by his mannerisms, his humor, and his aura. Yet he appeared no older than they. He was always up for a smoke, a drinking contest, and a dose of whatever drug they were on, though when he removed himself to his table, it was rare he allowed an audience.
Raen, the red-haired boy who had pointed Bra to Akuma, was probably the only one who had the slightest insight into their mysterious 'roommate'. It had been closing time a few months ago, and he found himself leaving at the same time as Akuma. They were in the midst of the hallway when Raen had thought he heard something. Akuma had stopped and cocking his head, turned to a closed door. Raen could never say for certain later, how long it was between the time of the noise and Akuma flinging the door open with an expression on his face Raen had never seen. The black-haired man had frozen, as if torn between two ideals. But upon making his choice, he was swift in action. The door was slammed into the wall behind it and Raen was able to make out a crying girl huddled against the wall as an older man leered over her. Despite the dim light, he was able to tell that the girl was only half-clothed. The man turned to them and slurred something about leaving them alone. Raen had never seen so much cold fury in his life, than on the face of the usually impassive Akuma at that moment. He never saw what happened next, only a gust of wind and the other man crumpled against the opposite wall. The girl kept crying and tried to back further into the wall when Akuma approached. The man's face gentled, also an expression unfamiliar to Raen, and he had soothed the girl with gentle words and gentle hands that carefully wrapped her in a nearby blanket. After escorting the girl out, he had handed her to Raen with explicit instructions to take her to wherever she lived. The rage that still smoldered in the man's eyes ensured Raen gave no protest, not even to ever question what happened after he left.
To be honest, Raen wasn't sure what that night meant in reference to Akuma. A hatred of rape? Yes, but Raen felt that the rage he saw that night was buried inside of Akuma, for reasons he might never know. He couldn't be sure that Akuma even hated the mistreatment of women, for he used women like candy bars. Once he consumed what he wanted, he threw out the rest. Which brought him back to the girl at hand. Did she know him? If so, from where? She was too innocent to know him as he was now. Perhaps some past life then? And as he watched her carefully, amazed at how much alcohol she had consumed thus far, he finally saw signs of it catching up with her.
Bra giggled a little, amused by the fact the flames on the walls seemed to be moving. This wasn't so bad. She felt light and loose, like she could do anything. Which might explain what she did next. "Wanna dance?"
Goten snorted and shook his head. She pouted.
"Why not?" Her attention was snagged before he could answer though, her eyes lighting on the partiers. She suddenly bounced up and glided over to the table next to them, surprisingly not staggering though there was a certain rolling motion in her gait. Her eyelashes swept down flirtatiously and she smiled sweetly. "Would any of you wanna dance?" Immediately five boys were at her side and she giggled, letting them propel her back into the main area to dance, all stating the reasons she should dance with them over the others.
Goten blinked. Well that was unexpected.
*
*
She had lost track of who she was dancing with or even how long it had been. Was it Tern or Mamiko? She didn't really care, it wasn't as if she was able to tell them apart anyway. The crowd around her faded to a blur of colors and all she was aware of was the rhythm that beat in her blood, the heat and feel of movement. Keep moving and never stop. Oh, it was glorious.
Her head was spinning and she suddenly wasn't sure if she was still right side up. Ooh, dancing on the walls. She knocked into someone and was shoved back into the crowd, banging into people left and right. The glow that had suspended her evaporated and she felt her stomach lurch as she was jostled. She suddenly developed a definite pity for pinballs. Vaguely she suddenly became aware that someone had caught her elbow and dragged her unto shore from the sea of the dance floor. She clutched the bar, hoping its steadiness would suddenly transfer to her. After a moment she felt stable enough to sit down and immediately put her head in her hands, hearing a indistinct babble of voices above her.
Mamiko, a heavyset boy with light green hair, was who Bra had to thank for her rescue and was also the first to suggest she should go home. The rest of the boys immediately rushed to volunteer their services, getting into a rather loud disagreement and completely ignoring the fact none of them knew her name, let alone her address.
"I wouldn't suggest escorting her home." The boys swiveled their heads to see Akuma casually leaning against the bar. At once they all took a step back, suddenly uncomfortable. They were not about to tread on Akuma's turf; they held him in enough awe to give him ample space. But hadn't he . . . he'd not shown any claim to the girl prior.
"Why not?" asked Tern, a gangly blond who had all the blunt mannerisms of a bear.
Akuma shook his head mockingly. "You haven't even figured out who she is, have you?" When all the boys continued to look at him blankly, he just shook his head again. "Let me give you a clue, the blue hair isn't dyed." Since Bra had hit sixteen, dying your hair blue to match hers had been all the rage for teenage girls.
Still blank. Then one boy's eyes widened, Akuma noted that he was a close friend of Raen. Intelligent people should always stick together. Teenaged, blue hair, blue eyes, great dancer, expensively clothed, the boy ran the characteristics through his head and gulped.
"She's not-" he broke off as Akuma's eyes bored into him. "Bra Briefs!?!?!" he finally declared in a shocked voice.
Akuma's smirk widened. "Daughter of the richest women in the world and the most dangerous maniac on the planet. Decapitation is too painless a way to die in his mind, especially when it comes to his little princess." The boys were pale by this point and the closest one to Bra began to edge away from her. "Ripping off your balls would probably be more his style," he continued pleasantly. Funny, he reflected staring at the deserted form of Bra, he hadn't thought they could move that fast.
He contemplated her form, knowing it would be his responsibility to get her home. He frowned. D* responsibility. He hadn't asked her to come . . . but he had challenged her to stay. And so she had.
Bra resisted the return of gentle tugging on her arm. She just wanted to sit and sleep, oh for the next three days. The tugging became more insistent and she raised her head to scold whomever was bothering her. Black eyes meet hers and she released a groan.
"Leave me 'lone," she mumbled, but she let him cajole her off the bar stool and towards the exit of the club.
"Time to get you home." Suddenly he wished he hadn't given such visual pictures to those guys. He really wasn't looking forward to dropping a drunk Bra off at her father's house at, he checked a nearby clock, nearly two o'clock in the morning by the time he got there.
"How're you so, so together? Especially after all that, that abstinence c*," she moaned, annoyed at the fact he had consumed probably three times as much alcohol as she and showed no sign.
"Absence," he corrected immediately. Abstinence, now that was a good joke. "I work as a bartender, not here," he clarified off-handedly, steering them safely through the jostling crowd. "Like I said before, I've built up a tolerance." She looked up at him through blurry eyes.
"And you come to a bar during free time? You are soooo cracked."
The cold fresh air that enveloped her the minute they stepped out of the club made her wonder just how she had lasted so long without it. She took greedy gasps, cleansing her lungs of the second hand smoke she'd inhaled for so long and wishing that the air would clear her pounding head. Goten stood at her side until she adjusted and began to fumble with her purse. He raised an eyebrow when she pulled out a key chain.
"What are you doing?" She wrinkled her nose as she held up her keys to the light from the club sign.
"Car," she muttered, or at least that was all he could make out. She pressed a button triumphantly and a nearby car's lights flashed. Goten shook his head and swiftly grabbed her by the waist, her back to his chest.
"You are way too drunk to drive," he said matter-of-factly. "And Vegeta will rip off my balls if he found out I was in any way responsible for you getting hurt."
"But . . . my car," she sputtered, struggling weakly as he began to levitate. He shrugged.
"Not my problem," he answered breezily. "Now Capsule Corp would be-"
"My apartment," she interrupted, starting to feel ill again and eying the ground that was getting farther away with no little apprehension. There had been more than one reason for her never learning to fly. Of course, the thought of her father catching her with Goten, drunk as a skunk, at two in the morning, was also enough to turn her stomach, regardless of how much alcohol resided in it.
Goten blinked. Already independent, he hadn't expected that. "Where is it?"
"5A Juniper Avenue," she recited weakly and was relieved when he said he knew how to get there.
She felt less relieved at the pace they traveled it. "Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick," she muttered weakly, closing her eyes and trying to block the knowledge of how and how fast she was traveled. This however only made Goten go faster. The thought of her vomiting over the city was slightly amusing, but ultimately disgusting. ChiChi had impressed cleanliness on her boy too much, for him to act in any other way.
Thankfully Bra was still cognizant by the time they arrived at her building and was able to hurriedly point out her blessedly unlocked balcony. He all but dropped her on the deck, in time for her to hurry to the bathroom and see again all the unidentified alcohol she consumed that night. By the time she dragged herself wearily from the toilet, he was gone.
What a night. Tiredly she dropped onto her bed. Vaguely she wondered if she had won or lost the bet, but she was asleep before she could really ponder the thought. She turned over to her side, clutching a pillow to her, and revealed a slightly crumpled note.
Congratulations princess, or should I say woman?
4:00, Fen's Plaza. I'll be there.
She would smile triumphantly the next morning when she found it. She had proved herself. Not by getting drunk, but because she had refused to give up. Goten smirked at the remembrance of the determination that marked both of her parents. Why was he playing along?
He merely smirked wider. This was going to be fun.
He was going to test her much more, and in ways not even he anticipated.
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Tada! The next chapter. Like I said, Goten and Bra are not just going to hop into bed.
Connection: Tern is that ogling boy from last chapter, I thought it would be too long to say that during the fic.
The part about being torn between two ideals is important, and will be further explained in later chapters. Basic run down: there's Goku and how Goten should act, but Goten hates Goku and wants to be the exact opposite.
What's the deal with Goten and girls? Also will be explained in later chapters.
So what happened to the guy in the room? O.o
I'm going to try to update weekly, at the most I promise no more two month breaks. Also, this section of Sins of the Father is basically two- pronged. There will be a 'ten years later' part. Don't expect a happy ever ending for a while.
Toodles!
Nitte iz
*
So here it is - the next chapter.
Disclaimer: why do you think I'm posting this on Fanfiction.net?
*
Chapter 5: Living La Vida Loca
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*
She choked on her first drink. However Goten had raised an eyebrow and she had quickly downed the lot. He smirked and ordered another one, which made Bra turn a little green. Nevertheless she refused to lose this bet, especially in only five minutes. Vegeta wasn't her father for nothing.
After the second drink and Bra got used to the buzz that was starting to make her head spin, she couldn't help herself.
"What exactly is this?"
"It's called absence. British import as a matter of fact." Bra frowned, trying to shake off the image of Goten suddenly breaking out into proper British English and calling for a pot of tea. (sorry to all the Brits out there, it's a stereotype I know) "Fairly decent amount of alcohol in it though."
"Fairly decent?" She asked, not really sure if she wanted the answer. Goten grinned, his still white teeth flashing in the dim light.
"120 proof." Bra nearly dropped her glass. 60% alcohol!!!!!!!!!!! She gulped. Oh yeah, she was definitely going home plastered.
"That's nice." She murmured, feeling even more light-headed. "And you drink this regularly?"
"I have a high tolerance. Probably from my high body mass." Bra felt somewhat surprised by his response. So his dense behavior when he was young was just an act, though she would've thought any brains he had would've been rotted out by the night life he participated in.
He raised his arm again for the return of the waitress and she blanched. This time, Goten seemed to take pity on her. He whispered something into the girl-with-the-red-tube-top's ear and she nodded. When she returned, it was with a drink that had a red tinge. She placed it in front of the blue-eyed girl who eyed it warily.
"You might like this better," Goten said affably. Her gaze shifted to him. Why was he being so friendly now? He had basically told her to f* off ten minutes ago and now he was being all nice. She highly doubted it was the alcohol. Something told her that getting Goten drunk would be a real feat. And there was still that glint in his onyx eyes which made her instinctively not trust him.
"What is it?" she asked bluntly.
"It's a cocktail. You might find the taste, a little more palatable." She raised an eyebrow.
"That's a big word, didn't know you had it in you," she said sarcastically.
"There's a lot you don't know," he murmured, his eyes watching her carefully as she finally took a tentative sip. It was slightly sweet, which she had to admit she liked. She didn't drink it too fast though. She had a feeling the drink was still plenty strong and she wanted to hold onto her rationality for as long as well. Getting into a drinking contest with Goten could only lead to bad things, a point she wished she had considered before doing so.
"I see you like sex on the beach," he said conversationally. She choked and started hacking. He smirked, obviously amused at catching her so off guard and at the red flush that blossomed over her face.
"WHAT?" she coughed out. He inclined his head to motion her drink.
"The cocktail is Sex on the Beach. Why, what'd you think I meant?" His lashes swept down as he peered at her innocently, his eyes glittering even more intensely. She grit her teeth. This was going to be a long night.
"Yes I do, I mean like the drink, not-" She closed her eyes, shutting out the sight of his leer and hating the fact her foot was completely wedged all the way down her throat. "Not that I've tried the latter." There was a second of silence, as the leer dropped completely off his face. At last he began to chuckle. Oh yes, this was going to be fun.
*
*
They didn't talk that much, taking turns randomly volunteering odd bits of information while Bra studiously ignored the smoke from his cigarettes. Goten apparently was rather skilled at getting information from people while drinking: within an hour he knew she was dating, who, for how long, and what he was like. Oh yes, what an angel. He learned that she did like clubbing and was just finishing high school. On Bra's part, she learned that he liked black, he had gotten his piercing exactly five years ago, had a dragon tattoo on his back, and smoked a lot. When she broached the topic of his dating, he had merely smirked and carefully changed the subject. They didn't talk about anything substantial: Bra correctly assumed that anything concerning the Z-fighters, especially Goku, was strictly off limits.
After an hour and a half though, they began to attract more attention. The partiers were puzzled. Who was this girl that Akuma let stay at his table? And for so long, nonetheless? He was known to always have some woman around, but usually they retreated to more private 'quarters' quickly. Also, it came to their notice that every time Akuma got a drink so did the girl (thankfully for Bra, with longer intervals in between than before). They'd had drinking contests with Akuma before, and had always lost miserably. The man could down enough alcohol to down a horse, without even a slurred word. It was truly a mystery.
Akuma was actually an enigma to them. He'd appeared a few months after the club had opened and quickly claimed his own corner. His presence was at first intimidating, but his laid back disposition soon led them to realize he would not only tolerate them, but even allow himself to be drawn into their group somewhat. He however made a point to make sure that the women he surrounded himself with were never from their clique, which some of the girls regretted. He spoke easily with them, though they always got the sense his smirk mocked their childish habits. That was another puzzle: Akuma's age or even his past. They were convinced Akuma was a nickname, yet his real name was never revealed to them nor any other details about Akuma's life. There were moments when he seemed impossibly wiser and older than them, by his mannerisms, his humor, and his aura. Yet he appeared no older than they. He was always up for a smoke, a drinking contest, and a dose of whatever drug they were on, though when he removed himself to his table, it was rare he allowed an audience.
Raen, the red-haired boy who had pointed Bra to Akuma, was probably the only one who had the slightest insight into their mysterious 'roommate'. It had been closing time a few months ago, and he found himself leaving at the same time as Akuma. They were in the midst of the hallway when Raen had thought he heard something. Akuma had stopped and cocking his head, turned to a closed door. Raen could never say for certain later, how long it was between the time of the noise and Akuma flinging the door open with an expression on his face Raen had never seen. The black-haired man had frozen, as if torn between two ideals. But upon making his choice, he was swift in action. The door was slammed into the wall behind it and Raen was able to make out a crying girl huddled against the wall as an older man leered over her. Despite the dim light, he was able to tell that the girl was only half-clothed. The man turned to them and slurred something about leaving them alone. Raen had never seen so much cold fury in his life, than on the face of the usually impassive Akuma at that moment. He never saw what happened next, only a gust of wind and the other man crumpled against the opposite wall. The girl kept crying and tried to back further into the wall when Akuma approached. The man's face gentled, also an expression unfamiliar to Raen, and he had soothed the girl with gentle words and gentle hands that carefully wrapped her in a nearby blanket. After escorting the girl out, he had handed her to Raen with explicit instructions to take her to wherever she lived. The rage that still smoldered in the man's eyes ensured Raen gave no protest, not even to ever question what happened after he left.
To be honest, Raen wasn't sure what that night meant in reference to Akuma. A hatred of rape? Yes, but Raen felt that the rage he saw that night was buried inside of Akuma, for reasons he might never know. He couldn't be sure that Akuma even hated the mistreatment of women, for he used women like candy bars. Once he consumed what he wanted, he threw out the rest. Which brought him back to the girl at hand. Did she know him? If so, from where? She was too innocent to know him as he was now. Perhaps some past life then? And as he watched her carefully, amazed at how much alcohol she had consumed thus far, he finally saw signs of it catching up with her.
Bra giggled a little, amused by the fact the flames on the walls seemed to be moving. This wasn't so bad. She felt light and loose, like she could do anything. Which might explain what she did next. "Wanna dance?"
Goten snorted and shook his head. She pouted.
"Why not?" Her attention was snagged before he could answer though, her eyes lighting on the partiers. She suddenly bounced up and glided over to the table next to them, surprisingly not staggering though there was a certain rolling motion in her gait. Her eyelashes swept down flirtatiously and she smiled sweetly. "Would any of you wanna dance?" Immediately five boys were at her side and she giggled, letting them propel her back into the main area to dance, all stating the reasons she should dance with them over the others.
Goten blinked. Well that was unexpected.
*
*
She had lost track of who she was dancing with or even how long it had been. Was it Tern or Mamiko? She didn't really care, it wasn't as if she was able to tell them apart anyway. The crowd around her faded to a blur of colors and all she was aware of was the rhythm that beat in her blood, the heat and feel of movement. Keep moving and never stop. Oh, it was glorious.
Her head was spinning and she suddenly wasn't sure if she was still right side up. Ooh, dancing on the walls. She knocked into someone and was shoved back into the crowd, banging into people left and right. The glow that had suspended her evaporated and she felt her stomach lurch as she was jostled. She suddenly developed a definite pity for pinballs. Vaguely she suddenly became aware that someone had caught her elbow and dragged her unto shore from the sea of the dance floor. She clutched the bar, hoping its steadiness would suddenly transfer to her. After a moment she felt stable enough to sit down and immediately put her head in her hands, hearing a indistinct babble of voices above her.
Mamiko, a heavyset boy with light green hair, was who Bra had to thank for her rescue and was also the first to suggest she should go home. The rest of the boys immediately rushed to volunteer their services, getting into a rather loud disagreement and completely ignoring the fact none of them knew her name, let alone her address.
"I wouldn't suggest escorting her home." The boys swiveled their heads to see Akuma casually leaning against the bar. At once they all took a step back, suddenly uncomfortable. They were not about to tread on Akuma's turf; they held him in enough awe to give him ample space. But hadn't he . . . he'd not shown any claim to the girl prior.
"Why not?" asked Tern, a gangly blond who had all the blunt mannerisms of a bear.
Akuma shook his head mockingly. "You haven't even figured out who she is, have you?" When all the boys continued to look at him blankly, he just shook his head again. "Let me give you a clue, the blue hair isn't dyed." Since Bra had hit sixteen, dying your hair blue to match hers had been all the rage for teenage girls.
Still blank. Then one boy's eyes widened, Akuma noted that he was a close friend of Raen. Intelligent people should always stick together. Teenaged, blue hair, blue eyes, great dancer, expensively clothed, the boy ran the characteristics through his head and gulped.
"She's not-" he broke off as Akuma's eyes bored into him. "Bra Briefs!?!?!" he finally declared in a shocked voice.
Akuma's smirk widened. "Daughter of the richest women in the world and the most dangerous maniac on the planet. Decapitation is too painless a way to die in his mind, especially when it comes to his little princess." The boys were pale by this point and the closest one to Bra began to edge away from her. "Ripping off your balls would probably be more his style," he continued pleasantly. Funny, he reflected staring at the deserted form of Bra, he hadn't thought they could move that fast.
He contemplated her form, knowing it would be his responsibility to get her home. He frowned. D* responsibility. He hadn't asked her to come . . . but he had challenged her to stay. And so she had.
Bra resisted the return of gentle tugging on her arm. She just wanted to sit and sleep, oh for the next three days. The tugging became more insistent and she raised her head to scold whomever was bothering her. Black eyes meet hers and she released a groan.
"Leave me 'lone," she mumbled, but she let him cajole her off the bar stool and towards the exit of the club.
"Time to get you home." Suddenly he wished he hadn't given such visual pictures to those guys. He really wasn't looking forward to dropping a drunk Bra off at her father's house at, he checked a nearby clock, nearly two o'clock in the morning by the time he got there.
"How're you so, so together? Especially after all that, that abstinence c*," she moaned, annoyed at the fact he had consumed probably three times as much alcohol as she and showed no sign.
"Absence," he corrected immediately. Abstinence, now that was a good joke. "I work as a bartender, not here," he clarified off-handedly, steering them safely through the jostling crowd. "Like I said before, I've built up a tolerance." She looked up at him through blurry eyes.
"And you come to a bar during free time? You are soooo cracked."
The cold fresh air that enveloped her the minute they stepped out of the club made her wonder just how she had lasted so long without it. She took greedy gasps, cleansing her lungs of the second hand smoke she'd inhaled for so long and wishing that the air would clear her pounding head. Goten stood at her side until she adjusted and began to fumble with her purse. He raised an eyebrow when she pulled out a key chain.
"What are you doing?" She wrinkled her nose as she held up her keys to the light from the club sign.
"Car," she muttered, or at least that was all he could make out. She pressed a button triumphantly and a nearby car's lights flashed. Goten shook his head and swiftly grabbed her by the waist, her back to his chest.
"You are way too drunk to drive," he said matter-of-factly. "And Vegeta will rip off my balls if he found out I was in any way responsible for you getting hurt."
"But . . . my car," she sputtered, struggling weakly as he began to levitate. He shrugged.
"Not my problem," he answered breezily. "Now Capsule Corp would be-"
"My apartment," she interrupted, starting to feel ill again and eying the ground that was getting farther away with no little apprehension. There had been more than one reason for her never learning to fly. Of course, the thought of her father catching her with Goten, drunk as a skunk, at two in the morning, was also enough to turn her stomach, regardless of how much alcohol resided in it.
Goten blinked. Already independent, he hadn't expected that. "Where is it?"
"5A Juniper Avenue," she recited weakly and was relieved when he said he knew how to get there.
She felt less relieved at the pace they traveled it. "Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick," she muttered weakly, closing her eyes and trying to block the knowledge of how and how fast she was traveled. This however only made Goten go faster. The thought of her vomiting over the city was slightly amusing, but ultimately disgusting. ChiChi had impressed cleanliness on her boy too much, for him to act in any other way.
Thankfully Bra was still cognizant by the time they arrived at her building and was able to hurriedly point out her blessedly unlocked balcony. He all but dropped her on the deck, in time for her to hurry to the bathroom and see again all the unidentified alcohol she consumed that night. By the time she dragged herself wearily from the toilet, he was gone.
What a night. Tiredly she dropped onto her bed. Vaguely she wondered if she had won or lost the bet, but she was asleep before she could really ponder the thought. She turned over to her side, clutching a pillow to her, and revealed a slightly crumpled note.
Congratulations princess, or should I say woman?
4:00, Fen's Plaza. I'll be there.
She would smile triumphantly the next morning when she found it. She had proved herself. Not by getting drunk, but because she had refused to give up. Goten smirked at the remembrance of the determination that marked both of her parents. Why was he playing along?
He merely smirked wider. This was going to be fun.
He was going to test her much more, and in ways not even he anticipated.
*
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Tada! The next chapter. Like I said, Goten and Bra are not just going to hop into bed.
Connection: Tern is that ogling boy from last chapter, I thought it would be too long to say that during the fic.
The part about being torn between two ideals is important, and will be further explained in later chapters. Basic run down: there's Goku and how Goten should act, but Goten hates Goku and wants to be the exact opposite.
What's the deal with Goten and girls? Also will be explained in later chapters.
So what happened to the guy in the room? O.o
I'm going to try to update weekly, at the most I promise no more two month breaks. Also, this section of Sins of the Father is basically two- pronged. There will be a 'ten years later' part. Don't expect a happy ever ending for a while.
Toodles!
Nitte iz
