The Horse with No Name


Chapter Thirty-Six

House of Cards


Rixas is a man of wide steps and an even wider mouth.

He talks at Goten all the way to the mysteriously dubbed estate, going on about a lot of nothing. There's the mention of food and how much Gohan had gushed about it upon first getting here, then he brings up more baseless, irrelevant subjects like the weather, animals in the forests here, swords and all the hiking spots in the area. Normally, Goten would be more into small talk because he's not terrible at it, but after everything tonight, he kind of wishes that Rixas would slap that mask back over his face and walk in silence.

Quell and Rixas are different species. Had Goten not seen this guy in action then he wouldn't believe him to be a god at all and instead some airhead with incorrectly administered authority. But nope. Soldiers had bowed as they'd left the Spire area, Roarg too showing her respect with a subtle nod as they'd left. It would have been nice for her to come too, he thinks. Handling Rixas alone… is a lot. As he goes on and on, Goten can only nod, humming occasionally and swallowing up the surrounding aesthetics of the area as best he can. It registers, after ten or so minutes of pure motor-mouthing, that all this is likely an effort to cheer him up on Rixas' part.

Roarg had been right. Goten comes to find that his survival has brought on a wave of guilt, he thinks of those he left behind, he remembers the bodies, he considers those he got along with and simply abandoned; what would Gohan or his dad have done? If they'd been crippled in the same way Goten had been would they still fight? Well, Dad, yes, Goten knows with confidence that for sure he would have ran up to Brutil to sock it to him. Gohan? Well, Goten thought he would have too. Now, Goten's unsure. Does he even know his brother anymore?

"We'll get you checked out at the estate, all right?"

Goten nearly tumbles when he receives a hefty slap on the back.

"Is that where Gohan is?"

"Yeah, so chin up."

They'd taken a strange warp pad thing that Goten's never seen before to get here. The whole thing brought about a very nauseous experience, Goten had nearly upchucked into some bushes nearby as Rixas had unsympathetically watched on.

He'd snorted. "Like peas in a pod."

Goten couldn't and still can't make much of the area out due to the night's thievery of it. There are occasional street lampposts pottered about – dim, overarching things looking to had bad backs – that light up small sections of gravelly pathways. They wind into varying sections of a forest, or rather, the pitch black that represents it.

Night birds caw overhead, bats swoop and onwards they walk. Goten rubs the wound on his arm tiredly. What time is it? His body is wiped. After everything, he really could do with a rest.

"When we get there I need you to be as quiet as you can be," Rixas says with sudden seriousness. "You've met Quell. What you saw of him on Earth? Yeah, that isn't an act. He will have your head if you give him reason."

"You're saying this as though you didn't nearly kill my dad."

Rixas astounds him by flicking him on the forehead. It hurts. "Ow!"

"If you see him you don't say a word. Let me talk, and don't you dare even mention Goku Son. Quell can't stand him. You bring him up and Mori will be piecing you together limb by limb… and I don't wanna' deal with that."

"Quell hates him?"

"Yes. Now stay close to me. And by the Almighty, call him Lord Quell to his face… Likely whilst on your knees and begging for your life, should it come it."

Soon enough, they reach what Goten can consider a castle or least something of the size. It's enormous. Trimmed lawns, bountiful with foliage introduce the grounds, hidden within bricked walls. It would be considered respectable in an old-time movie about dusty old people and their servants, perhaps traditionally pretty; at least from what Goten can actually see. After all, it's dark and Rixas is rushing them through the garden at pace. He practically throws Goten up the stairs, through the massive door and into a lobby.

"Shh!" he hisses as soon as Goten goes to open his mouth.

It's fancy as hell in here. There are pictures frames lining the walls; Goten sees them and thinks they're all boring and tasteless. He'd critique them if he had the energy, and if Rixas wasn't marching them up a spiral staircase.

"Head down."

Goten tries his best but he's curious, so very curious. Why are they at some extravagant place like this? Is there where Gohan lives? Or Quell?

Statues run guard down the next hallway, watching the trinkets and aged carpets with darkened expressions. Large glass-shielded weapons look particularly daunting as they pass, along with the many bookshelves that loom over them. So much dust tickles Goten's nose that he nearly sneezes. Rixas physically squeezes at his nostrils in a dramatic swoop.

"Oh, come on," Goten snaps in a whisper.

Rixas looks behind them, his shoulders slumping. "Okay. I think it's fine. Quell rarely ventures this way. We're in Mori's wing so it's only him to fear now."

"Gohan's… wing…"

A door comes into focus, and then a petite, blue person opposite. On reflex, Goten retreats and stands behind Rixas but apparently it ought for nothing. Rixas doesn't worry at all.

"Myra," he greets the person, in an understandable language possibly for Goten's ease, "Is he in there?"

This Myra is a very pretty lady, Goten notices instantly. She looks like a kai but her features are far too human-esque to be considered as such, what with her doe eyes and nice, long hair all plaited like that. When she turns to him, Goten's face instantly heat.

"Hi," he weakly says, voice crackling.

Myra looks from Rixas to Goten and then to Rixas once more, cheeks ballooned.

"I…" She purses her lips. "I want no part in this."

"The hospital is on fire. I'm sure he'll forgive it. Is he in?"

"I haven't willed myself to knock."

"Did something happen?"

Long eyelashes rapidly blink in Goten's direction pointedly. "Apparently the kais have been unearthing some of Lord Famis' old scriptures. It's given Lord Quell a headache, thus giving Lord Mori one too. Last I saw he was in a very, very bad mood."

Rixas cringes as he turns to stare at the menacing door opposite.

"You shouldn't go in," Myra says. Goten thinks she's referring to him but she's in fact looking at Rixas. "Not right now."

Rixas is in agreement. "Yeah. Good plan. You heard that, kid. You wanted your brother, right? He's all yours. Go ahead. Knock."

Myra is, as said, absolutely having nothing to do with any of this. Her hair bounds atop her head as she canters down the hallway, clip-clopping swiftly away from them. Goten would be more disappointed about it if not for the sudden clasp of anxiety.

"He's in there?"

Rixas shrugs.

Goten pauses, fist above the wood. He knocks.

No answer. Again, he tries. Nothing. When he pushes the handle, however, the door pushes ajar easily, as though it beckons him in.

"Oh, then he should be in," Rixas confirms. "If on the off chance he's not, just wait inside, okay? Right, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to bounce at this point. It's best that I leave you both to it, anyway."

So this is where Gohan lives. Goten peeks into the room. It's so, so dark. What time is it? Maybe Gohan's actually asleep. Though, that Myra lady hadn't been worried about knocking before – is it normal for Gohan to be up at this time? He turns to ask Rixas as much, only to find himself staring down an empty hallway.

Well, here goes nothing.

This is what he wanted, Goten reminds himself. This is him finding his brother. In he goes.

The door gingerly shuts behind him as he surveys his surroundings. It's a huge space, one that could be considered a library with the how many bookshelves stand aligned; row after row and all so full with literature. Unlike outside, there's little in the way of dust. These have been cleaned lately, or at the very least must have been recently used. Really, they're nearly impossible to distinguish from the shelves and the walls themselves with how dark it is in here. There is light, but it's dim and hardly illuminating much of anything at all; two small lamps do their best either side a grand albeit gaudy fireplace, flickering dismally.

Goten continues on, passing them and a couple of armchairs. A robe has been thrown over one of them as though someone had just taken it off and chucked it on the nearest possible surface. Quite possibly they had. It's the closest thing to discourse. The entire room is eerily neat so it seems out of character otherwise.

Unsurprisingly, the pattern endures when Goten peeks his head around one of the many alcoves, where he finds an enormous bed, tapestry running above. No-one is within the sheets.

"Hello?" Goten attempts, rounding back to the main section of the room, "Gohan?"

Goten soon comes across a computer – or at least he thinks it's one – and then the large stack of books towering beside it. Noticeably, one has a picture of a dragon ball on it. He can't help himself from skimming the pages, looking absently. There's not a sniff he'd be able to understand any of the weird writing but he can appreciate the pictures. Dragon balls document different pages, script scrawled beside them. It's not Gohan's writing, he'd recognize that. Plus, Gohan hates jotting in his books and shouts at Goten for the habit.

Goten recalls a more recent memory of them studying together where that very thing happened.

He flips another page to find himself taken with the illustration of dragon balls being resized. One as big a planet being is reduced to that of a basketball; is that even possible?

When Goten hears something fall, he jumps, throwing the book down.

"G-Gohan?"

He cranes around another nook, his breath hitches.

It is Gohan… and he's asleep.

Finally, he's found some mess in this place. A toppled book from his pile has found a new home on the floor; Goten knows as much because another one soon joins it, tumbling noisily. God, there has to be at least ten stacked; fortifying the strewn mess of what Goten believes must be research of some kind.

Apprehensively, Goten approaches until close. Hunched over dispersed paper and books, it really could be the Gohan of old; an image he's so used to seeing that he can't help but breathe a laugh – it's so relieving. Really, looking at him like this (Ignoring the upmarket clothes) it could be the one and the same Gohan from Earth.

Goten first taps at the hand on the table. "G-Gohan."

He doesn't stir, strange because he's a light sleeper. Goten has never had any problem befo—

What's this?

Collecting the half-filled glass on the desk, his nose crinkles. Ugh! He can smell that from here. What was he drinking? Bleach? Since when did Gohan drink?

"Gohan," Goten tries a bit firmer, jostling him softly. "Gohan."

"…Goten," Gohan murmurs. He's still asleep. "G'ten, Mum said… said…"

Goten will never know what Mum said because that's where it ends. It's so jarring. They could be at home at the family house or at Fire Mountain and none of this would be out of place at all – Gohan's crashing at his desk, studying, ratting him out to Mum…

One major difference does stick out here.

I can't believe you got your ear pierced, you poser.

Goten sees the humour. After tonight, he deserves a good laugh.

The earring isn't awful or anything. It's probably a god or a kai thing to actually have one because a lot of them wear earrings similar; all dangly and colourful, and this one isn't any different. It's appropriately orange, maybe in honour of Dad's gi, connecting to the ear by a thin, gold link.

It's not… terrible.

Goten tries to touch it, and when he does –

"Ah!"

Gohan's hand has his, gripped in a vice. His eyes are still closed. The asshole is still asleep!

Goten does the first thing he thinks of; he grabs the drink and douses Gohan, the stench of alcohol burning his nostrils and splashing indiscriminately. Immediately, there's a response. Gohan gasps loudly, and Goten flies. He's pulled by his hand, twirled and launched into the bookcase behind, landing so hard that multiple shelves collapse. Books cartwheel free.

Gold sears angrily, burning only inches away from Goten's onyx wide-eyed stare.

Goten breathes out, struggling. The wound on his arm now aches. "I-I…Rixas! He…!"

Realization dawns.

Slowly but surely, the grip lessens; Goten slides down the shelf as Gohan's fingers unhook at a snail's pace. There's a look of processing. Gohan is trying to assess what's happened.

"Are… Are you okay?" Gohan then asks sluggishly, as if he's still coming to terms with the situation. The waking world is not doing him any favours right now; he looks dreadful, with plunging bags and bloodshot eyes. This however doesn't stop him from noticing the forming blister on Goten's arm. "What happened? Rixas… You said his name, what happened?"

"The Spire was attacked. I woke up and there was fire and these guys were there – kais, Brutil! Brutil was there – and they hurt so many people—"

Gohan doesn't even blink. "They took the orb."

"Y-Yeah."

Finally, Gohan does react. He moves away and pinches his brow. "Did they try and take you with them?"

"No! Gohan, that guy tried to kill me. He wanted me dead to spur Dad on to fight against, well, to fight against you guys! You! To fight you, right? What the hell is even going — hey, what are doing?"

Gohan pulls on some rope chain–thingy. "There are some casual clothes in the top drawer in the brown dresser to the left. You're welcome to take a shower or a bath should you so choose."

"A shower or a… what are you saying? Are you going somewhere?"

Going off of Gohan's quick changing of his alcohol infused top; most definitely. "Towels are in the bathroom."

"You can't leave me! I just got here!"

The door opens and Goten hears the familiar steps of those heels. Myra appears, acting as if she hadn't just met with him moments ago in the hallway. She greets Gohan in Lanit-Tongue, but Gohan at least does the kindness of outlining his wants as to be understood.

"He needs a medic," Gohan tells Myra, buttoning his new shirt. "Don't pull any from the Spire. Have one called in from the centre."

"Yes, my lord."

"Gohan—!"

"Make sure he doesn't leave this room."

Even Myra looks unsure at that. "I'll… try my best."

"I'm coming with you!"

"You," Gohan starts, rounding on him, "Will wait here for me while I go see what's happened in my three hour absence of this world. How it begrudges me for daring to shut my eyes, I swear. Oh, Myra, I also need you to also get in touch with that curse breaker. Tell them not to bother coming tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

"Talk to me, please!"

Gohan takes Goten by the shoulders when he starts to trail after him to the door. Those golden fires cinder deeply. "You're in my room, Goten. After your excellent sleuthing, you've won, you've got me. Now, all you have to do is wait and be a good boy just for a short while, and then I shall come back and talk to you about everything I am able to. But for that to be possible, I need to be updated on all situations, including the Spire one. Do you understand? Nod if you understand."

Deliberately, he nods. "Goha—"

"Good." He lets go. "And Myra, don't gossip with him, for God's sake."

The door slams shut.


Gohan thunders along the halls, stairs and lobby, wracking his brain to compartmentalize what he'd just witnessed in his quarters. He wants to be angry at Rixas for bringing him here but whilst it would have been a foolish decision on any other night, it makes sense for Goten to be here. It's a kindness, Gohan acknowledges; something that makes him more irrationally angry because he wants to continue being mad at Rixas. Annoyingly, Rixas had gone out on a whim. He'd brought Goten here in spite of Quell's orders, a first for him, and likely a last when Quell gets wind.

Fuck, fuck, fuck…

He jogs the last few steps to the rhythm of his own frustration. All this is a mess. When he gets back to his room he's going to have to make some serious decisions regarding Goten. The memory cleanse is off the table, clearly, considering the Spire is likely ashes. And Doctor Jivel… It doesn't bear thinking about right now.

Gohan is nearly at the front door when he hears a resolute whistle. Turning, he spots Rixas and Roarg near the back of the foyer, waving him over.

"At least thirty soldiers infiltrated," Rixas says in greeting, "Though we're unsure how they secured entry into the realm."

"We believe it to be Lord Beerus' intervention," Roarg supplies.

"Impossible. Only Whis would have that sort of power," Gohan bites out, "I doubt he would have become involved in this. Angels are neutral."

Rixas throws his hands up. "That's all we've got."

"Let's wait for Quell before we make assumptions. I don't suppose we have a casualty number?"

Roarg looks to Rixas first and then to him. "No, not yet. Estimations are of between one to two hundred deaths so far. Hundreds more have been injured and are currently being treated, but… with most of the doctors being…"

Gohan groans, scraping his hair back. "Jivel?"

"…Lord Mori, I'm sorry. I really am. We… We found him in his office with Doctor Yuluk. They'd both died of smoke inhalation."

"Fuck." Gohan's hands catch his face and he breathes, long, hard. Doctor Jivel had been more than a doctor him, he'd been his counsel, his friend, his confidante…

We spoke only hours ago…

He sinks into himself, folding until a large patch of warmth suddenly spreads across his shoulder. The comfort sears. Gohan waspishly retreats, scolded, eyes thinly pointed at Rixas for daring to do such a thing.

"I'm fine," he hisses, "Just… I… Did…" Heartache burns. "Goten said he saw Brutil… He's a Kai Champion. Had he been leading the attack, Roarg?"

"Eyrelle is confirming this now but we believe so."

Gohan will kill him, the bastard.

"Mori?"

"I said that I'm fine. Anything else known to be taken, aside from the Orb of Permanence?"

"They're still sorting through valuables, but they don't think anything else is missing. From that one deposit only the orb had been snatched."

"Mori, you're white. Sit down."

Gohan does but only because he so chooses to, the others follow him to the chesterfield. His head is banging, his eyes throbbing, yet still all he can envision is two people huddled together, holding one another and choking on the fumes of something Gohan could have stopped. Sleeping… why had he been sleeping when finally the kais had chosen to make their move? Rixas and Quell hadn't been sleeping. They'd been working. Gohan meanwhile can't even keep a teenage boy at bay, he'd even been awoken to him standing above; a victor in a game Gohan hadn't even known they'd been playing.

God, what must have Goten even gone through though? What must he have seen at the hospital? Who'd saved him? Rixas? No, he doesn't survey. Roarg. She would have been the only one able to match Brutil.

He takes her hand, not caring if Rixas sees. Fuck him.

Neither Roarg nor Rixas say anything. They ignore his weakness and Gohan's grateful. Just a moment… that's all he needs.

A lot more could have gone wrong tonight.

An abrupt bang of a door striking the wall has all three jump. Gohan releases Roarg's hand on reaction, heart hammering. It's just in the nick of time because Quell strides into the foyer at breaking speed, Cross pottering behind. Before Rixas or Gohan can even update him, his hand rises.

"I already know," he tells, before then turning to Cross, "Bring a bottle of 622 to the sun room; three glasses."

Roarg sees that as her dismissal. She stands and bows in their general direction before following Cross out. Gohan watches her leave, heart heavy. His moment is dead.

"It's two in the morning, brother," Rixas argues, "Can this not wait until morning? Look at him, he's a mess."

'Him' as though Gohan's not sat right here. Honestly, it's quite possibly the worst thing Rixas could have said. Gohan sees the challenge in it. He can handle this as finely as either of them; he's been orchestrating this for years. Rixas meanwhile doesn't even know what's going on half of the time.

Gohan stands, wearily. "Shut up, Rixas, if you don't want to join us then you don't need to make excuses."

"You stubborn idiot."

"I really will bang both of your heads together. It's not a workshy threat; that I promise." Quell clicks his fingers, gesturing them both out. "Sadly, Rixas, this chit-chat is not up for debate as I come bearing news of my own, so let's move this somewhere more comfortable."

The sun room suffers a lack of sun this evening, and despite what Quell had suggested it is most definitely not comfortable. Gohan perches on one of the pointy wooden chairs to make himself as unsettled as possible. Falling asleep isn't an option, though the glass of wine being urged into his grip is just a move plotted against him. Red always makes him dozy.

"Thanks," he grumbles as Cross puts the wine bottle centre of the coffee table. As always, Cross pretends Gohan is merely a figment of a bad daydream and ignores him, skulking away and closing the door behind once dismissed. "One day, we'll be best friends, I'm sure."

Quell snorts into his drink whilst Rixas already tops himself up. He shrugs when they both turn to him, still pouring. "If we're going to do this then I'm going to do this right. It's been an awful night."

Gohan sips his just once and plants it firmly away on the table. He has to return to Goten and he can't be dealing with that situation tipsy.

"I shall make this as brief as I can," comes Quell, "As you know, well, as Mori knows, I suppose, I have been out since this evening in meeting with one of the representatives of the Kai and Lord Beerus. For some strange reason, they believe me to be behind the Supreme Kai's extraordinary disappearance, but that is neither here nor there to me. Perhaps you can explain that situation when you get the chance, Mori, as you were the one to foolishly let him slip through your – sorry, no, my – fingers on the night of your massacre."

"I'll pencil it in."

"Had the Supreme Kai truly been left to me then my little Beerus situation would a thing of the past. There'd be no guessing to his fate. Have you even heard from him, perhaps a love letter; no? Maybe one in thanks for his life despite him not deserving as such?"

Gohan's sick of going over this. "No."

"How your bleeding heart forsakes. Next time, finish the bloody job."

"Ahuh."

Rixas, now lounging across the entire length of the couch, circles a finger around and around the top of his glass. It sings dreadfully. "Don't you think it a coincidence for the kais to organize a meeting with you – tonight – the same time they plan to send a Kai Champion and his cronies to the Spire?"

"There is no coincidence about it. We always knew of an impending attack; a result of the Kai Council's death in what you could call 'tit for tat'."

Gohan at least has the decency to feel guilty. Though, it's true what he'd said that night; had it been Quell that had first found out then there would be no kais at all. There's some comfort in that, though that's not to say the kais hadn't deserved their fate and that Gohan took no satisfaction in enacting it.

"We reacted to what they did to Famis," Rixas returns.

"And they reacted to that, and I believed that you would be able to defend against a counterattack," Quell snipes pointedly at Rixas, "Though, I cannot necessarily be too cross. Attacking a hospital is… not a step I assumed they would take. How tasteless."

"Jivel died," Rixas adds quietly.

Quell takes a sip, and then softly says; "I know."

"…Anyway, what happened at your meeting?" Gohan doesn't want to linger. "Did you find out why they were digging through Famis' research?"

"Yes, well, no, not in full. They'd been examining his Majin work; perhaps as to present it against us should it come to a higher power needing to be involved. Famis had liked his… darker projects, hadn't he? Let the Almighty rest his soul…" Quell throws his head back. "Ahh… How life likes to spin in a circle. Truly, it is but an ugly waltz to behold as we dredge up such foul history."

"Higher power? Like who? The other universes? The Kai can ask whoever they want; we're not taking this lying down."

"Oh, do not worry yourself with it too much just yet. The other universes are far too wrapped up in their own issues, their own wars; their own politics. The Kai even approaching them with this would be a waste of time, especially after all the instances Universe Seven snubbed them."

"Then what's the reason we should worry? Why am I sat here at nearly three in the morning? What else could Beerus want?"

Quell eyes him. "I will ignore your testy behaviour if only because of your beloved mortal boy's death in the hospital tonight. My sympathies, truly. Yes... Let us imagine that his end had been quick and painless as to move on to focus on… to… the – What? What? Why are you both looking at me like that? What am I missing? The boy is dead, is he not?" Rixas opens his mouth but his words falter. Quickly, Quell grows agitated, turning to Gohan and sloshing his wine as a result. "He's dead, right?"

Gohan bites on the inside of his mouth. The ceiling suddenly seems so much more interesting.

"Mori?"

"…Hmm?"

"Mori, you are to tell me that you are absolutely beside yourself with grief and your speechlessness comes as a result as such, aren't you?"

Rixas coughs. "I brought the kid here."

"WHAT?"

"Where else could I have taken him?"

"The morgue!" Quell yells, spit flying asunder. "Just what in the Almighty's great name were you both thinking? Heavens, I thought you two were still bickering! Had you planned this behind my back all along? Had you coerced—?"

"I had nothing to do with it," Gohan insists. "I don't want Goten here, either. I'd just woken up to him in my quarters after Rixas thought it a good idea to leave him there."

Quell deflates. "Oh my God."

"So what would you have done?" Rixas bites back, now sitting at full attention. "I saved him for you!"

"Roarg saved him. Don't think me stupid. Had it been you in the Spire then you'd probably have done something in a raging fit the moment you saw the kais, killing everyone in sight."

Quell sinks into the couch, horrified. "You're telling me that I have a mortal child in this house right now?"

There's a splutter of outrage from Rixas. "I'm competent at my role, you insolent shit. What have you contributed other than this entire headache?"

"Truth!"

"You can't tell the truth to save your own life, never mind that kid in your room! Slaughtering the Council led to this. You killed Jivel; I hope you know that! I hope it fucking hurts."

Gohan jumps to his feet, the tired ache replaced with numb vehemence. He wants to both throw-up and strangle the bastard at the same time. "Then let's just do what you do all day; train for a few hours, party with some whores and drink until there are no brain cells left. Revelation? Who's that? Never fucked her before!" He jabs a finger into the brute's chest. "I tried your way and nearly killed myself for real! Grow up! At least I'm trying to achieve something!"

Rixas too stands, squaring up. "Which is what by the way? Or am I supposed to keep blindly following? No, no. It's fine, I'll just watch a few other hospitals burn, force yet more soldiers into civilian areas, kill an occasional kai when the feeling strikes, oh, and let's not forget about chasing after the mortal boy you levied yourself with after stupidly reincarnating yourself into a moron! God, maybe I should have knocked more sense into you on Earth!"

Gohan vibrates at the memory. His teeth bare. "Oh, and here I thought you were sorry about that."

"And here I thought we'd be moving past it by now!"

"There's no moving past it when your pathetic inferiority com—"

"THERE IS A MORTAL BOY IN THIS HOUSE." Quell's up and Gohan worries he might actually reach out for them and knock their heads together for real. But no, he grasps onto the wall for support, voice low through gritted teeth as he sneers between them. "Is this conscientious stupidity or have you both LOST YOUR MINDS? There is no time for whatever this is between you, not now when we have to deal with everything not only outside this estate but apparently within. Never in my extensive existence has there been a mortal over the property line, never mind within the confines of these ancient, prestigious walls. And… not only that but he's in Mori's private quarters? What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about Mori but I see that was a mistake."

"Are you going to go up and give him another scare, like back on Earth? Maybe you can strangle him again."

There's a smash. Quell's glass strikes the wall and sparkles splash out. Red catches the couch.

"Stop it."

Instantly, the room cools by several degrees. All is still. There's an icy tension as Quell's pressure rises like the grass grows. Usually, it wouldn't bother either of them but this time it's particularly nasty. Its weight makes itself known and Rixas jerkily and so very gradually, returns to his seat, nostrils flared like the beast he is.

"Mori, you too."

Gohan however is not some dog.

"Mori."

Gohan looks at Quell, standing, eye to eye. They're equals and he'll remind him as much.

"Goten is in my quarters. I will take him where and when I need to. Right now, Earth is not an option for him as we shouldn't reward the Kai's behaviour with a returned hostage."

"That creature is not welcome here."

"Yes, he is. That idiot brought him here so he clearly agrees with me, despite our differences."

Quell looks about ready to be sick himself. Torrents of air bluster from his nostrils as he considers them both; Gohan, here in front of him, and Rixas sulking where he sits. He's but a statue, holding out and testing Gohan's resolve as the pressure frosts over, crackling silently between them. It's important that Gohan doesn't look away. This isn't negotiable.

"You… are very fortunate that we have more pressing issues," he breathes, "Both of you will sort your feelings out for one another because I refuse to deal with this, a residing mortal child and the consequence of my meeting with the Kai representative, all with such petty drama threatening victory."

Gohan doesn't move.

"I do not want to see the boy," Quell threatens, "He does not leave your quarters."

"Of course."

"…Good. Well, I shall make this fast, then, as it appears we all need an adequate rest and perhaps some space from one another, me included as I am starting to wish I hadn't bothered at all with either of you tonight." When he sits, Gohan follows suit. "The whelp I spoke to tonight hadn't offered much in the way of information so please excuse the thin tale. He came on the order of Beerus to let me know of the time and place in which Beerus wishes to have an altercation. I believe the word used was "conversation" rather; however I know Beerus well enough to recognize when he wants to decree that hungry streak of violence of his.

He said that Beerus would be bringing his dragon ball."

Rixas makes a noise of indignation. "And you believe that?"

"Beerus is many things but he is not a liar, not in terms such as these."

Gohan's chest bates. This could be their chance if that's the case. Getting the dragon ball is another step closer to the Revelation – and all they'd need to do is beat Beerus. They could do that, especially between all of them… right?

He rubs his temples. Why would Beerus bring the ball? Quell hates him enough to want to fight him outright, dragon ball or not. What's with this extra temptation? A bonus?

"Yes. It's a trap," Quell supplies as Gohan's brain powers to overdrive. "Do not overthink it."

"But…" Gohan imagines taking the ball from the cat's claw, holding it, grinning with the success when overcoming the biggest hurdle. "If it's true… that he plans on bringing the dragon ball… do we really want to waste the opportunity?"

"I am not denying our attendance." Quell clicks his tongue. "It is a matter of strategizing. Rixas, you must talk with Roarg and the soldiers about how you wish to divide forces. I want you to accompany us to this meeting as a precaution. Beerus will not be alone, I assure you." Gohan catches Rixas, where there's distaste so tarry that his mouth curves unhappily. He nods nonetheless. "The Zealites must also be used offensively. Byleath stays with us for numbers. Whilst I doubt that pesky angel will get involved I do believe his back-up will prove to be particularly troublesome. Mori, how do you feel about opposing Goku Son?"

What?

"I need to know now before I allow you to stand beside me. Will your conflict of interests stand in our way?" Gohan doesn't even know where to look. Has this been certified? Will his dad really go this far to involve himself? He knows that they have Goten, right? "We cannot know for sure who will ally themselves to the kais. Little brother, your allegiance must be true, your devotion strong should it come to it. Would you be able to face that… man in battle?"

Gohan is honest. "I won't kill him."

"Do not worry. I'll do it for you."

Oh, he bets Quell would. It wouldn't a chore either. Regardless, it won't come to that – Gohan will make sure of it. Goku Son does not need to fall to this.

Quell doesn't stray his attention. "Will you be able to stay resilient? What is it that you want?"

"This. This is what I want, Quell."

He nods, cheek twitching upwards. "Now, there are some famous last words."

There's a scoff beside them. "Indeed."

Rixas downs the rest of his wine, stands and leaves without another word to either of them. Silently, Gohan watches him go, and then Quell too after the latter bids goodnight.

"Tomorrow, let us be ready for anything," Quell cryptically administers, disappearing through the door, the rest of the wine in hand.

Gohan sits there awhile to appreciate the hooting of night birds outside until he, lastly, finds the strength to get up and return down his own path.

Goten awaits.


The walk to his quarters is long and arduous. His legs are pylons of great mass that choose to bury into the floor with each dragged step back; whether it's his body finally giving up or him himself wanting to avoid the fourteen year old lump of questions, it's anyone's guess. When he does get there, Gohan momentarily stops in front of his door, pressing his forehead against the wood. He breathes.

It's time to suck it up.

Remember, Gohan. Distance needs to be preserved.

Opening his door, Gohan expects to be dazzled with chaos akin to a floodlight drowning a football field. Perhaps there could have been a fire here or there, Myra wielding one of her hairpins in self-defence as the medic attempts to usher Goten down from the top of a bookcase. But no. It's most definitely not that. If there had been a medic at all they're long gone because it's just the two of them, now Gohan too, watching with mounting concern as he shuts the door behind him.

They're just sat there, Goten on the floor and Myra in the arm chair behind. His shirt is off and she's rubbing what Gohan assumes to be medical salve into his shoulder. Neither has noticed him just yet, talking quietly whilst Goten has a stupid look on his face.

Teenagers are painfully all the same…

Taking a moment, Gohan moves over to his collection and pours himself a thumb's serving of liquor. It won't soften tonight's edge much but it'll help him sleep when it finally comes to it. What time is it now? Nearly four? God, what time does he even need to wake up tomorrow? When are they going to meet Beerus? Perhaps he should stop drinking now that's he training again, the fasting is producing cleaner energy but for truly clean ki he'd need to stop all his vices.

Clinking the bottle back into place amongst its brothers, he must have given himself away because there's a scuffle of movement, a shout of realization; Goten's seen him.

"Gohan!"

Goten has actually showered, which is good because he'd smelt like a bonfire earlier. As a result, Gohan now smells his soap on him; a strange, strange sensation to behold, and not only that but Myra must have picked out something for him to wear because he's not wearing the casual clothes Gohan had earlier suggested, but instead some nightclothes Gohan's never seen before. Where Myra had pulled them from he has no idea. The wicked ways of that woman have no limits, including whatever beguiling spell she has over Goten (That's less of a mystery however).

Before Goten even reaches him, a hand is out in ready to keep him at bay. Myra is to be addressed first. "When the hours are respectable have someone bring out a whetstone, not the blunt pebble that sits at the back of armoury, but a new one, preferably from the Sheathed Splinter when it opens."

"Yes, my lord."

He speaks as he organizes his bottles tiredly, savouring their uniformity in his crisis. "Also have them send several weighted surujin. Mine have had their day."

"Suru…jin."

"Surujin. Write it down."

She does, producing a notebook and glittery pen with a little feather attached.

"I'd have any kyoketsu-shoge but I doubt they stock them and even more so I doubt that you can spell it so just leave it. Oh. Also, Contact Zamasu and tell him we need to move the meeting to an earlier time. After two is best. Tell him to be prepared to adjust his schedule accordingly should I need to leave earlier."

At the same time Myra asks "Where to?" Goten squawks at him as much the same.

"Undisclosed."

"Do we have a time estimate?"

"Afternoon. Late afternoon, I hope," he mutters grumpily, then sipping his nectar. It's sweet, not strong and tasting of spiced honey; his only grace right now. "I also need a Spire casualty list once the numbers have been finalized, urgently. I want it tomorrow"

"Of course. Anything else?"

"Gohan, is Doctor Jivel okay? How about Doctor Yuluk?"

Goten is pulling on his shirt, and Gohan watches him buzz like a fly, around and round. "Fortifying rocks. Twelve should do nicely. A shaman to accompany them would be ideal too because I doubt Quell will enable the force field."

Myra also looks towards Goten, lips puckering. She understands. Twelve rocks to girdle the perimeter of his quarters will keep Goten from an escape act. Should he try to leave then he'll receive a bit of a nasty shock, quite literally.

"Gohan, the doctors?"

"I don't want a wake-up call tomorrow. Unless Quell directly asks for me then do not knock." She nods. "And get some rest. We'll need to talk more at length tomorrow about what needs to happen concerning the Revelation and its next steps."

"Yes… sir."

There's something disconcerting about Myra's obedience, her placid nod of the head and simple yes and no answers. He misses her spark – is this what it was like before, before before?

"Gohan!"

"I heard you!" Gohan hadn't meant to snap. He groans, stretching a hand across his face. "That's all, Myra, thanks, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

When the door locks closed behind her, Goten wastes no time in demanding the moon and the stars from him. His mouth motors and words leave but Gohan can't decipher any of them. What he does recognize is when Goten snatches the glass from his hand. Gohan raises a brow but the snot doesn't offer it back, in fact, he actually doubles down by stepping back, the glass and its contents but an unfortunate hostage in the situation.

"Going to throw this one over me, too?"

"If I have to."

Gohan shakes his head, stepping forward faster than Goten could dream to. The glass is swiped and returned before Goten realizes what even happened.

Whilst Gohan's in such close proximity, opportunity is seized. He takes Goten's bare arm, twisting it as to look over the burn and settling blister there. Red carries from the elbow and all along the shoulder. Freshly applied salve has settled it nicely however; the tiny swelling happening there means the body is healing.

"Myra said it'll be better tomorrow," Goten bites out.

"Did she now?"

Gohan thought he might have had a concussion when he first saw Goten but the pupils have since returned to a normal size. They're focussing better. It's likely no medic was called as Myra has been handy in the past with minor injuries; he trusts her judgement well enough after years of her sewing him up. When Gohan releases him, Goten throws on his matching nightshirt and takes a cautious step back.

"Gohan, tell me, the doc—"

"I'm sorry," he says, and that's that.

Goten stands in stunned silence, likely waiting for more, but what more can Gohan say? There's nothing to add. People die. So many people will die.

He finishes his drink. It burns all the way down.

"Aren't…. you sad?"

Goten sure is. His voice wobbles and his eyes are damp with emotion; strange really considering the short amount of time he'd even been at the Spire for. Doctor Jivel had been in Gohan's life for years – he's the one who should be allowed the time to mourn. That's his prerogative, his right, but that's not the reality subscribed to unfortunately. Gohan just… hasn't the time or the emotional supplies for it.

The glass is returned to the tray in which it came from.

"It's war," Gohan replies sensitively – not enough so, apparently, because Goten looks at him at though he'd just been backhanded.

"Brutil said the same thing before trying to kill me."

"For that, he'll face justice."

"And what? Are you justice? I… I…" God, Goten's crying now. There's hiccoughing and tears which build in the corners of his eyes, spilling sporadically. They're tired tears. They're the tears of someone who's had a long day. "Justice, huh, Gohan? Is that you?"

"You should go to—"

Goten slaps his hand away when Gohan goes to guide him to the bed.

"You're a god, right? I mean, how does that even happen? Did you die… and… like, did you just accept the job?" There's a monumental sniff. "You talked about Revelation, whatever that is. I remember the Supreme Kai going on about it all at Capsule Corporation, about the gods, about relics, about loads of stuff you probably already knew about. Like… Like… who are you? Who the hell is Mori?"

A migraine buds as Goten badgers, relentless.

"What happened?" he demands, "What's happening now? Haven't you thought about Earth or Mum and Dad or about me? Why are you just pretending that we don't exist? You planned on just sending me back off to Earth, huh?"

"Goten, just be qu—"

"No! You're acting like a robot! Tell me what happened! Who's Mori? Why are you with those gods? It's because you're a god, aren't you? Gohan! Gohan, answer me!"

"YES!" Gohan throws his hands up. "I am. Yes! Well done. Amazing. I'm a god! You got me!"

Apparently hearing others say it is one thing and hearing it from the horse's mouth is another. Goten falters. There's another hiccough. Sympathy is fickle – Gohan can't bring himself to feel bad. No, Goten had wanted this, hadn't he? Gohan breathes out a listless breath, smiling through his own fucking mania.

"God of Death, who knew? Wow. Spooky, right?" Gohan then laughs, his body wheezing in exhaustion. "And you think I should have told Dad that? Are you stupid? Do you even know what I've done, the people I've killed?"

Goten's back is now against the dresser. Gohan's scaring him but he can't just end it here. He'll give him the kicker. "Goten, moments after I left you on Earth I went straight to planet Geo and to the Kai Council and brought about..." he spits it out like a dirty word, "Justice there. So how do you think Dad'll take that when he pals about with the best of them? 'Sorry, Dad, I just ran my sword through these fucking disgraces but I'm sure you can make some new friends.' Should have I dropped by right after? Maybe I should have brought a bouquet of apology flowers."

"What… are you saying?" The teenager's chest rises up and down, erratic. "They… they said they were massacred. Shin… he's presumed—"

"Missing; yes. Dead; no. I spared him. God knows where he is."

Phlegm congeals, he splutters. "Y-You really did it? They… thought Quell…"

"They thought wrong. You don't understand what's at play, Goten. I'd tried to spare you this – all this – but you had so desperately wanted to be involved when you had a perfectly good life for you at home. I'd worked at fixing the problems. Dad is insensitive, Mum is cruel to be kind; these are the issues of the mortal experience and pale in comparison to this… this web you've crawled onto!" Gohan runs his hand through his hair, pulling. "You were safe! I told you to stay there! I told you not to be involved in any of this! Are you happy now? What more do you want to know, Goten? Do you want to hear about how one of the kais begged for his eternal soul or about how I conspire with the literal devil?"

The unit behind quivers as Goten's body rattles them. He's still crying. Placid and blotchy, his face is woven with horror. Likely, Gohan will see this tonight in his dreams but he struggles to bring himself to care – not just about Goten, but about much of anything right this second.

He slams a fist against a wall. The building shakes. "Fuck," he curses. "Fuck!"

"G-G…"

"Just shut up… for a moment." Gohan crouches on the floor, swallowing his head in his hands. God, his head jangles. "I warned all of you," he lets out, "And now you've made it so much harder. I didn't want you to know."

"You killed people."

"And I'll kill more."

"What happened… to you?"

There's a slideshow of wrongs he's witnessed, of people hurt, of victims screaming and crying and begging and wanting everything Gohan can't give to them at the moment they most needed it. How could Goten ever understand that? How will any of them? Rixas doesn't. Quell can't. This madness consumes him.

What happened to him? Who fucking cares? At least he's making it all right.

Gohan is so, so tired.

Not just metaphorically, but… even now. Standing is difficult. Knees crunch.

"A lot has happened," he admits to his tarnished baby brother, drained, "And I'm going to fix it. The Revelation… will fix it."

"The… Revel—"

"I'll remove it all," he interrupts, "These super powered abilities; mortals will no longer be able to call upon them and peace will be brought into the universe, not right away but in time. It'll happen. Goten, like you they will be deprived of their ability to use ki, and then this nightmarish era of using it against one another will finally come to an end."

"W-What? You mean you plan to—"

"I'll sever the connection to ki."

Goten nearly falls from the shock. "You're joking."

"I'm not."

"Gohan, you can't just… steal people's energy!"

"Not right now, no." Gohan sighs against his hand. That's why he needs the dragon balls. His chest hollows, exhaustion making him stupid and loose lipped. He can feel it happening, sentence by sentence. "The Revelation will be had. The universe will rest easier."

"Taking people's ability to use ki is like… stealing something from within – I'd know! Inside feels wrong and… and I'm so weak and pathetic! I can't help nobody—"

"You shouldn't have to! Nobody should!"

"And nobody should have to feel like me!"

"You did it to yourself!"

"Yeah, and now you want to do it to everyone else!" Goten wipes the new onslaught of angry tears. "Just because I'm a weakling did you think I was gonna' agree with you?"

Gohan gestures to him, lost. "I thought you'd understand. Dad's obsession with power has ruined your relationship with him. Imagine it, Goten, imagine a world where you could have just been a normal kid with a normal dad. Maybe I could have had a normal childhood too. Maybe instead of being suited and booted to fight Frieza on Namek I could have been playing football with my father! Maybe, maybe instead of being thrown before Cell at nine I could have been doing anything else!"

Goten's eyes are wide and unblinking, inches away from where Gohan pants, looking livid.

The god backs away. He needs a second to compose himself – just a second.

"I've… seen the truth to it," Gohan soon continues, calmer, "This is not a power mortals should have access to. This… is too much for them."

"I'm mortal. Don't I get a say? Don't any of us?"

"No."

"You don't get to do this!" Goten retaliates, "I'd have done anything to be as strong as you! Do you know that? You've never known what it's like to be me—"

"You'd have done anything? Don't make me laugh." Something ugly dredges up from somewhere deep. "You could have tried. That's the problem with you, Goten. All you've done is feel sorry for yourself and done nothing about it. You were born stronger than me, you've had more potential and all you've done is bitched. I've felt sorry for you because I thought you didn't want to be a fighter, but actually it's not that at all. You want all the acclimation without any of the work. You want to be the strongest without training. You just… want… You want, want and want.

"Do you know why I'm strong, Goten? It's because I don't think about myself when I have a goal. I think about others. Ever since I was a little kid I'd needed to be better and better otherwise those I love would have died. You've never had that problem. Oh, wait, you have, what, once? That's right. You'd had the opportunity to stand up to the challenge when Majin Buu had been a problem but you and Trunks had fucked that up. Still, you'd been kids so it's understandable Gotenks was doomed to fail, yet you never saw that as a chance to improve yourself. I did and yet you still blame me for your failures!"

"I do not!"

"Yes, you do!"

"You will never understand because you're the favourite!"

"And you're spoilt!" Gohan fumes, "Lazy, undetermined and expectant of those around to take care of you! I worked for everything I had and you resent it!"

"Mum has always bragged about you! I'm the embarrassment with a sketch book!"

"You get to sketch?" Gohan fakes his surprise. "Whoa, I never had the time! I've seen your report card, Goten, don't try and peddle me your crap about not being an academic. The moment you actually tried and studied with me your grades went up."

"Because someone helped."

"No one helped me! You think Dad read to me every night or something?"

"Dad has never looked at me and seen me!"

"He's never seen me, either!" This actually wobbles Goten so Gohan takes it and runs. "None of them did! No-one here does! And when someone does…" He thinks of Videl, of Roarg, of Haruto, of Doctor Jivel… "I can't… even…"

Gohan feels something in his throat. The frog dies. His argument wilts.

There's burning in his eyes. No, he can't – he won't.

He's strong now.

Distance, he reminds himself. This is what happens when one is exhausted, he reasons, they become drunk on it. They become inebriated and loose lipped and… sad and…

"I killed the Kai," he reminds Goten in case he becomes too comfortable. "I…"

It's not fear that Goten looks at him with, it's something else. Onyx eyes, shaded red with weariness, stare, filling with tears as Gohan can only enviably watch.

For arguing with a child he suddenly feels exceedingly dumb.

As he simmers, embarrassment floods through. The nausea returns. "I ruefully apologize for…" he coughs, "Raising my voice as such. It is not something I would normally do when discussing the nuances of Revelation with a minor and—"

"Stop it. Don't talk like that!"

Gohan pauses, only fleetingly. "And… this is where we should end this tonight. It's late. You are clearly exhausted after tonight's affairs."

"Gohan!"

His chest hammers, his head drums along. "I… will take a walk to… to sort out my own thoughts but feel free to take the bed. There are throws in the cupboard just… to the right. Pillows, too, should you need them. I have t-toothbrushes in the bathroom so just help yourself."

"Gohan—"

But Gohan's already at his door, pulling it open and skimming past it onto the other side. Goten reaches him just Gohan pulls the knob. It partitions them with a swift click where on one side Gohan locks it, and the other, Goten is banging at the wood and likely shouting for him. He would be heard if not for the excellent soundproofing.

The knocks, however, echo piercingly.

For the thirty minutes, Gohan sits there, silent, seeing nothing.

And finally, Goten stops.

Another thirty are sat waiting just to make sure it's safe for him to enter, and when he does, he finds Goten fast asleep against the wall next to where he'd just been assaulting the door.

Statically, he carries the belligerent snot to the bed, tucking him in and pretending that he's four as opposed to fourteen.

"I'm mortal. Don't I get a say?"

"I have to do this," he mumbles. "For you, too."

Gohan checks the time. It's past five. He hopes Myra won't bother him until well after noon. Tomorrow will be a day of reckoning, of change. He'll need the energy.

Just for a while, he'll lie next to Goten and then he'll move to an armchair.

He'll move shortly.

In a minute.


Earth

Miles upon eons upon non-measureable units away, in a vacuum of white and nothingness, pinwheels of light glare in their brilliance. They explode, dyeing perfection a blemished rainbow. Blips of movement disappear and appear in between, climbing the spectrum of colours until a most blue beam penetrates outward. Heat bursts. Fire-like ki pours like rain and as cerulean as the ocean.

The hum of energy, that had been prevalent throughout, hushes into death.

Footsteps follow.

They tap along marble tiles, leading up the steps and into the home characterized by the two symmetrical hour glasses either side. The clock facing out lines perfectly in the middle, hanging above the mouth of the building, open to any and all who want to be stronger.

Eight months.

Goku has been in the Room of Spirit and Time for eight months so far.

With Dende stolen from his post, the guardianship had been officially recognized as over. Dende is on Namek, at least. He's safe. And so Goku would take the Gods of Revelation's thievery as an opportunity. Instead of bringing him home, Goku so chose to leave him there as to use the Room of Spirit and Time once again. With him gone, the time limiter reset. His two years no longer count.

Goku will use this to get stronger.

Yes. Yes. Once he is out of here, they'll see what a super saiyan god can do.

Goku will get his sons back. He'll beat the gods – and anyone who dares to take his boys – and he'll let it be known that Earth is not anyone's to mess with!

Gohan… I'll bring you home. Gohan. Gohan…

Red hair descends back into black. Cracks born with each step crumbles the marble as he walks. This is his to control now, freely. This is his tool. His will. And with this, he'll get stronger and stronger.

Eat, sleep, train… He thought this was his way before but now… This is all he knows. It's just him and his thoughts. And yes, whilst these thoughts… have not been kind; what's happened to him, what's happened to those he loves, what will happen to those who have crossed him, they will empower him.

His sons, too, empower him.

Gohan and Goten helped Goku achieve this form, and with it, he'll save both, his boys.

Eight months…

He knows that for sure when the door opens, revealing Brutil who solidifies what the clock says. Weirdly enough, after months of solitude, he finds that he actually hasn't missed people. He's not happy to be disturbed, to be interrupted in his sacred training.

But then, it's music to his ears.

"Lord Beerus is ready. He has the dragon ball. Let us go and be the knights of justice, Goku Son."

He nods, sweat dripping down his neck.

Eight months… will have to be enough.

"I won't lose this time."


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Fast enough? :')

Thanks to Kags for her FAST editing over the last couple of chapters. Honestly, I'm a bit of a slave driver. I just couldn't wait! This chapter had be really excited for a long time because the argument between Gohan and Goten has been brewing for a while. Whilst Gohan and Rixas had some nasty choice words, Goten and Gohan's clash really felt like the bigger moment to me. Goku meanwhile is... uh, well, I'm looking forward to giving him some "screen" time next chapter. Speaking of which, it'll be a pretty thick chapter and possibly (but hopefully not) split into two parts. So much goes down. So much.

Anyway, thanks for all the feedback. I would love to hear what you're thinking so far! Cheers~