Echoing whispers swam through his head. He was completely captured by the abyss, falling towards something that made electricity jolt through his arms. Eyes finally opened, there was something in the distance that caught their attention. Was it coming towards him? Or was he going towards it?
Every second that passed it seemed to be coming faster and faster into his point of view. He couldn't speak...he couldn't move...he could only watch, waiting for the inevitable. The once whispers now progressing into a louder, raspy voice, that somehow seemed familiar. Like a smell from childhood, and you can't seem to place a finger on what it is.
That's when he realized what he was staring at. It came to a halt 6 feet in front of him. His eyes opened wider, taking in the bloody view he was forced to face. It was him. A ragged, bloody, beat up version of him. It was as if he was laying upwards, the only difference between the two was the orange outfit and the battle outfit clinging onto the other man for dear life.
He frowned and watched as the others facial expression mimicked his. The other raised its arm and he couldn't help but to mirror its actions. There was no self control. They both raised their hands out, the raspy echoing getting louder and louder. If he concentrated enough, he might have been able to make out what was being said.
"Come", the others voice spoke over the rest. Pulled out of his thoughts, he noticed the whispering stopped abruptly. He couldn't help but to feel a small sense of dread. He couldn't even draw his eyes away from what was in front of him. Their hands slowly started to touch and intertwine. So badly he wanted to stop what was happening, but for some reason he knew that if he could, he wouldn't.
"Why." He finally answered, watching their arms merge until the other was close enough for toes to finally meet. It was no surprise to find they too started to slip together, and he finally realized that they were doomed to become one. Closer and closer the other kept coming, and the more they merged until all that was left was the face.
"Just remember you wanted this."
~•~
Goku's eyes snapped open as he gasped and swung himself into a sitting position. It wasn't pitch black, he wasn't falling into nothingness, and he was not melting into another person. He blinked a couple times to try to adjust, using one hand to prop him back and the other to rub his eyes. It was so unbelievably bright.
His body hurt everywhere. The conclusion was made after he had a giant struggle to stand, only for the ground to win. So, he let himself lay there, using one arm over his eyes to keep the burning sensation at bay. He thought about what he had just dreamt about, and tried to recall every detail, but everything seemed to be..hazy?
"I think he landed over there", everything was clouded but that voi- "What are you doing? Go check, idiot."
Goku tried to sit up upon hearing the voice. He knew it, he felt like he had known it for an eternity, but who's was it? His head started to pound as a feeling of lightheadedness rolled over him. Open your eyes. He fell back onto his elbows and let out a huff of annoyance. The feeling of being weak playing a part to cause it.
"You", hands suddenly slapped down on shoulders, lifting the limp body as Goku groaned. "State your business here."
Shaking his head and trying his best to look at his surroundings, he couldn't make anything out and started to wheeze as the grip on him got tighter.
"I-" Goku began to speak but was interrupted by a punch to the stomach. He leaned forwards and felt hot liquid drip out of his mouth. No doubt it was blood.
The man let himself stay leaned forwards and took deep breaths to ease his pain. He couldn't help but to wonder about what was going on. Where was he? Why was he in so much pain? Where was the voice he had heard earlier? Goku's questioning was put to a pause as he felt another blow take place on his body.
"Stop", another voice called out. A loud ringing filled his ears which made it more of a struggle to understand what was to come. "-my father."
Goku tried everything he possibly could to listen to what was being said. Murmured voices kept bouncing around as the ringing in his ears became more intense. The grip started to loosen, making it easier to breathe in air, and he wasn't sure if he was gasping for it or not. Nothing was able to be felt in the body but a tingling feeling covering the toes to the head.
Only the smallest feeling came through, and it was around the left side of his neck. Something was moving around it that made the hairs on Goku's body rise. He gave a flinch away from whatever it was as a response.
"Hey. What's your name." It spoke out again, making Goku's concentration shift from thoughts to where it came from. Hair was grabbed to lift up his head and forcefully look at the person talking. If Goku was able to focus hard enough, he would have been able to make out who was in front of him.
So he did just that. And, as the blurriness left and the structure of the man became more comprehensive, a singular name rang throughout Goku's head. But he wasn't the owner of the voice he had heard before.
"Radditz?" He called out, but wasn't completely sure why he did. He was certain they have never spoke to one another before, but didn't trust the thought whole heartedly. How would he have known his name?
Standing before him, wearing a deep frown (the look carved deep into facial features), Goku wondered if he'd never have smiled before. Maybe he wasn't even capable of it, yet for some reason the man intrigued him. Wearing a funny green thing on his head, long black hair, with a pointy black and brown suit to match, something about his presence seemed so-
"I've seen you before." Goku blurted aloud, and cursed himself under his breath for being so impulsive. Apart of him wanted to keep talking, but he knew he'd only be digging himself a deeper grave. So, the beat up man decided it was wiser to keep his silence.
"Yes. Many years ago-" the other began to speak, however another cut him off.
"Radditz don't be such a fool. You don't even know if that's him. You're telling me some aimless, dilapidated garbage is the brother you haven't seen since you sent him away as a baby?" Yes. That was it. That voice.
Goku strained his neck back to peer at the owner of it. He seen a small vague image come from the direction to which he had heard the addicting sound emerge, but wasn't sure if that's who it came from. His head got snapped back to face the man in front of him, and he let out a yelp of pain whilst it happened.
"You look at me when I'm talking to you. Why are you looking at him? It's not like he's going to help", Radditz spoke out, completely ignoring the other mans words. "You're not doing a whole lot of talking."
"I don't-" Radditz cut him off.
"Your name. What is it." Goku drew in his breath and held it as he tried to think about it. He knew what it was, he could almost say it, but for some reason his mind would wind up in a problematic situation. It was completely empty.
"I think", words left the mouth as a long pause pursued after. Now was not the time to draw a blank. Goku furrowed his eyebrows together as he tried to piece things before continuing. But, much to his despair, it was like solving a million piece puzzle.
"I think", he began, while struggling to keep the pounding and ringing sensation at ease. Goku heard the man speak again but no longer held the ability to recognize what was being discussed. Focus.
But, the conditions only got worse. He started to feel dizziness return, and was certain he'd sway until he'd have hit the ground if there wasn't someone holding him up. Goku felt something hit across his cheekbone, feeling a burst of electricity run across the entire right side of his face. And, as if almost on cue, a short crescendo of echoing was heard in the mind until it was chanting itself repeatedly.
"Kakarot", he heard himself and a million other voices mutter at once over the intoxicating feeling rushing throughout him. "I think it's Kakarot." Goku said more surely. The name was alien, yet it felt good to roll off the tongue.
"You think?" The raspy voice called out to him. Instantly, his head turned to the direction it was attracted to. He squinted as much as he could to view the owner, but just like his previous attempt, it was futile.
"Do you not see the state he's got himself in. I'm surprised he's able to think this clearly. Besides, I caught whiff of his scent," Goku shifted his gaze from the blurry image he was trying so hard to make out, and looked at the man in front of him. Scent? "It's Kakarot, I made sure to memorize him in the odd chances we would ever collide again. I'm disappointed in you for taking so long."
He sensed himself be released, and sank to the ground with a loud groan. Feeling being returned throughout this body, apart of him wished he was being squeezed to death again. At least it was less painful.
"The fact that he's in this condition makes me believe he is not your brother; maybe your nose lost it's touch." Reclining back onto his knees, and using his hand to clear the blood that stained the parts of his lips and chin, Goku peered over to who had ahold of him.
"Or maybe you've officially lost it." The unknown voice spoke, with a snicker following suit. He decided then he wasn't very fond of the sound coming out of the others mouth. He was very bald, and very large. If Goku wasn't going to lie, he got rather creeped out by the being.
"Or, maybe you both are forgetting his result as a cub was a mere third class." Radditz, louder than the others, spoke with irritation dripping near the end, shooting a glare in his direction.
"Like we made it important to remember your shit brother." Goku then seen two white gloves take hold of his shoulders.
His first thought was about how he was wearing a complete black suit and not the orange gi he felt like he should have been wearing, the second was about how he felt the wind get knocked out of him as he got slammed against something incredibly hard, and the third being that the man talking was the same one he'd been attempting to view.
"So you're Kakarot-" he spoke again, taking the time to look Goku up and down, while he stared back with wide eyes.
He had hair that flowed like eternal black flames, and eyes that held deeper secrets than a black hole. And, just like one, Goku was being sucked in. He felt like he had known this man his whole life, but at the same time knew nothing at all. Mesmerizing.
"Your brothers right, you look like your father", words snapping him out of thoughts, Goku blinked a couple times to try to break the spell he'd fall under. "Although I guess I should get to know you too."
And, before he had time to ask what that meant, the shorter one leaned forwards until his nose was skimming against the nape of the mans neck. Letting out a gasp as he felt him shift from neck to ear, he didn't realize the compliment being said about him smelling good.
"I'm Vegeta." Words spoke lowly, and a small huff escaped Goku's body again. Finally being able to piece himself together, he pushed Vegeta away and furrowed his eyebrows together.
"What-" Goku gave an attempt to say, but was immediately distracted as Vegeta threw his head back and laughed at him. He was incredibly captivating.
"I was learning your scent. Something you'll find useful once your on confusing battle grounds."
"How are we going to tell Freiza about him?" The ugly bald one spoke. Goku glanced between the two as Vegeta's face twisted up into a confused glare, and the other one raising an eyebrow as a response.
"And who said he's coming along with us? Nappa." Vegeta expressed with distaste, whilst switching his gaze to meet his. Goku drew in his breath, and was about to speak out before Radditz beat him too it.
"I did. I take full ownership of his actions since he's my younger, now can we just get moving?" Vegeta held Goku's stare for a few moments longer before breaking it to agree and give order to leave.
He felt the man who claimed to be his older brother grab hold of his arm and drag him towards three silver pods. He tried stopping them but, due to his current state, wasn't strong enough to.
"Where are we? Where are we going?" Goku tried asking, but Radditz kept dragging him along until they all came to a halt and Vegeta turned around to look at him.
"I guess you're riding with me. You're too big to even try to fit you with the others." He stated and climbed into the orb before him. He had time to look at Radditz and the one Vegeta called Nappa before he felt someone grab him and drag him down and into what was in front of him.
The door closed shut, and Goku checked the whole craft out before changing attention to the beeping coming from Vegeta's end.
He watched with curiosity as unknown symbols flashed across a green screen every time Vegeta pressed a different button. He took note that Vegeta's eyes took peeks at him every now and then until he watched him press a button on a similar thing Radditz was wearing on his head. But, instead of green, it was red.
After speaking out what Goku assumed to be coordinates, Vegeta took the small thing off, sat back with his arms crossed, and eyes held shut. He really didn't mean to stare so much, there was just something about the other stoic man that made Goku so..enraptured.
"I suggest you try to sleep while you can. Especially in your current state, Freiza's unpredictable." He spoke with unopened eyes.
Even if Goku didn't want to listen, the drowsiness that was trying to sink him the whole time was finally weighing down. He wanted to speak more, ask him why he felt like a song he'd listen to as a child and couldn't remember when. But, before he could even open his mouth, the black faded in.
Enclosing itself around the man until all there was left was the distancing hum of the pod, and his thoughts slowly turning to a million distorted echos coming at him in a rush, he wondered if those thoughts were really his.