Chapter 3: The Story Begins

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He was huddled in his quarters, shaking ever so slightly now and then. A knock came from the door. His left ear perked at the sound, soon followed by Whiz requesting entrance.

"Lord Beerus, are you alright in there?" His mentor asked, a tint of worry making itself known in his voice.

It took a moment. "Leave me be, Whiz." He almost stuttered. Almost.

"Goku and I are curious as to why you left from the dining table so abruptly. It's not polite to leave guests unattended, you know." Whiz tried again, wishing the deity would open up his locked chamber doors.

Beerus sighed. He wanted to disappear for a moment, if only to escape this reality as well as the eleven that followed.

"Please open up Beerus. If it was something I said to frustrate you, I'm real sorry." Came Goku's voice on the other side of the door. "Please don't destroy Earth, or any other planet for that matter." Beerus scoffed. The fool reminded him unintentionally that he could revert to destruction at this point, but... some feeling told him not to. "Is something bothering you?" The sayin asked. My, my was he full of questions. "We could... talk about it if you want." Goku offered, feeling a bit awkward of asking if the God of Destruction wanted to discuss emotions.

Wanting there to be silence, Beerus surrendered this once, and opened the doors. "I'm fine, I assure the both of you." He said, turning his gaze slightly away. "Just a bit... tense for one reason or another."

Whiz could sense the lie, as he always could. "Goku has offered to discuss about what's troubling you. It's frowned upon to deny an invitation." Whiz turned, walking away from the two warriors. "It may do you some good, too."

With that, Whiz left them alone, both feeling their fair share of awkward and unsettling tension.

Goku was the one to break the silence. He sighed, scratching the back of his head nervously, avoiding the God's gaze. "Look, if something's bothering you, you should talk about it. Don't just blow things up, as fun as that may be for a God of Destruction, talk. It's easier and I think you'll find it relaxing and even more relieving than destroying things." The sayin was serious about this from reading his posture and expression.

"As crazy as talking about something as absurd as emotions with my archrival sounds..." Beerus began, thinking about if he really wanted to go through with this. Sure, he'd talk with Whiz about these things, but Whiz already knows his story like the back of his hand. Perhaps Goku could offer a new perspective on the whole thing. "...I'll take you up on your offer."

The sayins eyes widened. "Wait, really?"

Beerus sighed. "Yes. Though, you should know that this story, if you wish to hear it, will take quite the long time to hear and process. I suggest you send a message to North Kai to tell your family you'll be gone for a while. Not that long - two weeks on Earth at most."

Goku thought about it, then gave Beerus a thumbs up. "Gotcha!" He said, then put two fingers to his right temple. "Hey, North Kai! Can you hear me?"

Back on earth, North Kai was in the middle if preparing a meal and almost split a bowl of rice from the sudden transmission. "Goku! You startled me!"

The sayin sweatdropped. "Sorry about that. But, listen. I need you to send a message to everyone, ok?"

The Kai's antennas twitched forward. "I'm listening."

"Tell them I'll be gone for two weeks at most. Beerus would like to... uh... train me a bit so my body can get used to the god power." He said shakily. Telling North Kai the real reason he's staying in the Gods domain seemed a bit awkward, as if he didn't feel that way already.

"Alright Goku."

"Thanks North Kai! See you in two weeks." Goku ended the transmission message and turned his gaze back to Beerus. "It's a go."

"Excellent." Beerus turned, motioning for Goku to follow him into his quarters. "Come, sit."

The God's chamber was a decent size. It had a circular bed toward the left end of the room, a table in the middle with two chairs, and what looked like a washroom on the right end.

"Nice place. Roomy." Goku said, taking a seat in one if the chairs. Beerus joined him on the opposite side.

"Indeed. I hate being cramped up."

"Yeah. Same here."

It was silent for a moment before either spoke.

"So, are you prepared to listen?"

"You bet! So, what's troubling you?"

Beerus closed his eyes shaking his head slightly. "Goku, as I've told you, I've lived longer than you can comprehend. What's troubling me isn't just one thing altogether."

"No problem! I understand."

Beerus groaned. "Do you?"

Their conversation came to a dull pause. Goku was more confused now more than ever. If he wants to talk, why is he staling?

"I guess the real question is, are you truly willing to listen? Not even Whiz can sit through one if my sorrowful rants. Respect differs than trust in more ways than one. While I admit to respecting you, how do I know I can trust you?" Beerus eyed Goku, searching for anything that'd make him doubt the sayin.

Goku sighed. "You said you wanted to talk. I've never met someone who fights me to the death, then decided to change their views on me." He explained, drumming his fingers on the table out of slight nervousness that still lingered. "But, hey. Everyone has things that trouble them from the past, including me. As long ago as it was, my own brother wanted me dead. I never really dwelled on it till now, but some part of me wishes he was still around as a better person."

Beerus sat there, listening, absorbing this information.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is... everyone has feelings that are vulnerable to being crushed, whether referring to something as stubborn as pride, or as complex as love. My pride was crushed a little finding that I couldn't reach Super Sayin God on my own - without help from others, but I swallowed that pill. We all go through tough times, whether you're a God of Destruction or not." He paused, thinking of how to ease the awkward tensions that was building more and more as each second passed. Goku chuckled nervously. "If you're worried about me telling someone, don't fret. You have my word."

Beerus did chuckle at that. "You certainly know how to change the mood quickly."

Goku grinned. "Yeah... I get that. But in all honesty, your past is most likely something you don't normally talk about. No matter what, you can trust me. I promise." He finished, holding a hand out to seal the deal.

Beerus sighed. The sayin seemed determined. He didn't know if it was the speech or some other unclarified reason. Whatever it may be, the God of Destruction was willing to trust someone other than his mentor with his past for the first time. Maybe he was just this desperate to get it all out?

"Very well." Beerus nodded while shaking Gokus hand. "Now... where to begin? I suppose now more than ever would be the time for questions."

Goku jumped at that, curious once more. "Ok, to start, were you born a god? Or... did you have to work to achieve it like me?"

Beerus lolled his head back in thought. "Funny you should ask. No. I wasn't born a god. Greatness isn't something you're born with, don't you agree?"

Goku shifted in his chair, leaning back on it. "Yup. So, how did you become a god?"

Beerus grinned. "That is as good a place to start as any."

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To Be Continued...