Twists And Turns
Chapter 12
The moment I left, my head all but split open. I nearly fell out of the sky as my temples throbbed angrily, stabbing ruthlessly at the meat of my brain with what felt like blunted daggers.
I limped through the sky, unable to see straight with the agonizing headache – which I think was much too simple a word to describe it, it was more like a head-attack – and eventually I gave up on flight and tried to teleport. A useless effort, as I couldn't concentrate in the slightest with the agony mincing my skull. I traveled painfully on foot, clutching my forehead and feeling like I would throw up at any moment.
By some miracle, I made it back home, but there was no one there; the house was empty. I collapsed with a pained groan on the sofa; relief from the torment was impossible - and I did try everything - so I just lay still, teeth clenched, covering my eyes with my hands, trying not to make it worse.
An hour or two dragged by, and I refused to move, refused to give my body another reason to punish me. I was used to pain, I'd been subjugated to more than my share of it in my life; but never for absolutely no reason. I was used to enduring pain while fighting to protect or to better myself, knowing the suffering would pay off in time, and relying on adrenaline to dull a large part of it.
Eventually, there was a change; but instead of the horrible migraine relinquishing its grip, it actually had the nerve to get worse. I couldn't help but cry out, jolting to sit up unsteadily; by the gods, it was unbearable, like a drill slowly boring into my head from all sides, the very walls of my skull felt like they would cave in. Beneath my skin, my blood turned red-hot, like spears of fire jabbing through my veins.
I couldn't explain it, but a deep sense of foreboding crept through me, and I got to my feet despite the internal torture; staggering out the door and mustering enough strength to try to fly again. Some primal sense in my pressurized mind told me that if I just followed the gut-feeling to the source, the agony would subside. And I had nothing else to go by, so I flew unsteadily; wishing to regain the ability to teleport.
.
.
It took me a long moment to realize I was flying for the dual ki-signatures of Vegeta... and Gohan. I can't explain why, but the second name brought a deep growl from my throat; and the closer I grew to the two of them, the more my head began to clear, to my relief.
I was about a dozen yards away when scent rushed into my nostrils. I could smell that the prince's unique scent – overlapped with my own when I'd kissed him and bitten him – was now tainted with the scent of the demi Saiyan, layered right on top of mine. Rage roared through me; though I wouldn't be able to easily explain where it came from, and I put on a burst of speed; one desire roaring in my mind, the desire to get rid of the challenge I was interpreting.
I collided with my target, not bothering to check my speed, instinctively attacking; choking the breath from my victim as I streaked towards the ground. My knees buckled as the hard earth came in harsh contact with my feet, but I paid no notice. Every inch of my skin felt like it was engulfed in flames, and I didn't even need the monster to feed the rage burning up from my stomach to spread throughout my body.
I slammed the traitorous demi's face in the dirt, wrenching his arms behind his back and twisting them mercilessly; just wanting to give the vermin a taste of the agony he had forced on me. He had no right to be so near to Vegeta; no right to touch him, no right to even look at him.
"How dare you?" I snarled furiously, ignoring the muffled sounds of pain coming from the demi, "How dare you!"
My quarry choked an unsteady breath and stammered fearfully, "How d-dare I what? What d…did I d-do?"
How could he ask that? Did he not realize the crime he'd committed?
"You know very well what you did!" I shouted, baring my teeth, "You touched what's mine, and for that you'll pay."
Distantly, I heard the sound of Vegeta's voice shouting at me, and I tuned it out, though some part of my mind was reproachful. I felt the prince try to drag my prey away from me, and I growled warningly and grabbed the demi before he could escape, accidentally hitting Vegeta in the midsection with my elbow in the process.
He stumbled with a grunt released between his teeth, and I felt concern slice through the barrier of instinctive anger for a moment; some visceral worry for the prince being elbowed with Saiyan strength in that particular area.
"S-stop it!" the prince spoke once he'd recovered his breath, pushing me away from the demi-Saiyan, "Kakarot, that's your son! Are you trying to killhim?"
A snarl drew my lips back; Vegeta was defending that criminal? I would not stand for that.
"Whose side are you on?" I demanded, enraged. I pointed a finger viciously at the demi-Saiyan trash, who'd fallen to the dirt once I released him, "His?"
"What are you talking about?" Vegeta shouted, "Have you gone insane, Kakarot?"
He snarled at me, mirroring my bared teeth with his own in a feral challenge.
"Me?" I retorted, outraged that he would suggest such a thing; I was not the one at fault here! "If anything you've gone insane! You belong to me, Vegeta, not him!"
The prince stopped, his snarl falling away, leaving his expression totally blank.
"W-what did you say?" he asked shakily.
My eyes rolled impatiently; did I have to spell it out to him? I dragged him over to me, swallowing a growl as I caught the scent of Gohan mixed with his, centered around his face, neck and chest. Had the half-Saiyan kissed him? A fresh wave of anger swept through me, and I jerked Vegeta to the side irritably, sliding down the thin sleeve of his dark blue shirt – which had a conspicuous rip along the abdominal area, I might add – to display the bloody mark I'd left on his shoulder.
"See?" I growled, pointing a finger angrily at the bite mark, "See?"
The prince blinked at me once, "Yeah, you bit me." he muttered.
Captain obvious... I thought bluntly.
Did Vegeta not understand how serious this was? Did he not understand that the demi who'd committed the crime must be punished for it? Did he not understand the agony I'd just gone through when that bastard kissed him?
The prince spoke again, and he sounded frustrated and angry, "Why don't you just leave like you did last time? You haven't made good on anyof your promises so far, so why don't you just go? I don't need you and neither does the baby!"
"No." I said instantly, a slight edge of trepidation finding its way into the word.
"Why not?" Vegeta countered, "Nothing's keeping you here!"
"You're wrong..." I protested unsteadily, "I c... I can't leave..."
"What do you mean you can't?" Vegeta snapped, his dark eyes blazing, "You just did two hours ago!"
"Yeah, and everysecond I was away from you was like a railroad spike being pounded into my skull!" I snarled, remembering the pain that had practically made me pass out with its intensity and ruthlessness, "I got the worst headache ever,and when my son kissed you I felt like my blood was going to catch fire!"
"I kissed him first," the prince said smoothly.
My jaw very nearly dropped; What, was I not enough for him? Why did he settle for such a meager substitute just seconds after...?
I let the thought trail off in favor of responding.
"And what in the godsdamned universe would make you want to do that?"
"You weren't there." he shot back.
I fell dead silent, having no comeback for that.
I was aware in the back of my mind that Gohan was still there behind me; I wasn't finished taking out my anger on him, but that would have to wait.
Slowly I inhaled, and let it out with a sigh.
"I'm sorry." I said softly.
To my shock, he started shouting at me.
"You're sorry?" he snarled, "That's it? I'm just supposed to forgive you and go on with my life? As what, a possession?"
My response caught in my throat, sounding a little like a pleading sound. I didn't want him to be angry with me... but at the same time I knew he had damn good reason to be so.
Vegeta sighed resignedly, ""Kakarot, you've evaded every attempt I've made to try and get you to tell me the truth thus far. The closest I got was two hours ago when you bit me, and just now." he crossed his arms over his chest, "So tell me once and for all; what exactly do you feel for me, and why?"
"I..." I began, trying to think of a reply on the spot.
The prince shook his head, "Ah-ah, Kakarot," he chided, "Think first. Make sure you know before you try to explain."
I bit my tongue to keep from giving a bitter rebuttal, quashing an urge to pounce on Gohan and commence with his punishment as he got to his feet unsteadily. I turned my gaze from the demi and tried to focus. The monster was quiet again, letting me make the next move on my own.
"I feel..." I said hesitantly; I was never good at explaining my feelings, "…protectiveof you… possessive. Like I'd kill anyone that tried to hurt you," I shot a glare at the limping demi-Saiyan over my shoulder. "I feel like I shouldbe with you… but at the same time... I hate you."
He winced, but I wasn't done.
"I hate you for enslaving me," I said sharply, "...for manipulating me, for forcing me. I hate you for gloating, for humiliating me, for chasing me when I try to escape."
He never left me alone. He never gave me a moment to sort out what I was feeling before he crammed everything I should feel down my throat. He never let me consider if I really did feel...
The thought trailed off, and I continued with my tirade.
"You're like a plague, Vegeta. You're everywhere at once, destroying as you go. So yes," I took a deep breath, "I hate you..."
I paused and sorted through the emotional tangle in my mind, trying to be certain. And there it was; the tiny flare of the emotion I'd only ever felt for one other person.
"But at the same time..." I said carefully, "...I love you."
TBC