Adult-FanFiction.org : Gundam, Beyblade, DBZ, FMA

Atavism	By : ctsama Category: Dragon Ball Z > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 9192 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball Super, Resurrection 'F', or Battle of Gods or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 26
- 27
- 28
An extra long chapter today!
Wild Card

Vegeta shot out of a turbulent sleep, Goku’s warning still echoing through his mind. The pain in his body had flared to new heights during a horrific night of violent nightmares and unfulfilled lust. He shuddered before he had a chance to smother it, then took a few breaths to steady himself before turning to see Beerus at the end of the bed smiling cheerfully at him. That alone was enough to give him chills. “Something I can do for you?” he asked blithely.

“I’m hungry.”

“All right, fine,” Vegeta huffed. When he reached for the clothes he’d discarded before bed Beerus’ eyes narrowed though the smile stayed in place.

“I’m hungry now.”

Beerus didn’t move, making it clear Vegeta’s comfort level would not take precedence over his hunger. Vegeta grimaced and reached for Goku as he began to untwist himself from his sheets.

Goku’s attention was on Whis and he could feel that something had gone very badly so he kept a tight hold on the connection but didn’t interrupt. The pain ramped up further as he moved, burning him from the inside as if to protest the air-conditioned draft brushing his skin as he moved to the kitchen. The dampness at the front of his boxers from his unsatisfied erection didn’t help matters.

He grit his teeth and did his best to ignore it all. He was as rested as Beerus was going to allow him to get. As soon as Goku was done attending to the crisis on his end they needed to make their move; if it had been anything but Whis he wouldn’t have waited at all.

Beerus followed him downstairs, listing off the many things he wanted for breakfast and Vegeta’s teeth ground. “I don’t have half of that. You’re going to have to give me enough time to order more food if you want it all.”

The longsuffering, disappointed sigh Beerus returned further grated on his nerves. He was a prince, not a personal fucking chef. “Fine. Just make whatever you have. But make sure it’s something tasty.”

Beerus took a seat at the breakfast bar, watching him cook with head in hand. He asked questions every once in a while and Vegeta did his best to answer, but between the pain and his link with Goku there was too much on his mind and his focus kept wavering. He wondered how the food in his hands wasn’t cooking from his touch alone; his body was so hot he could barely stand it.

“You aren’t being very fun today,” Beerus complained with a dramatic eyeroll as Vegeta failed to rise to the verbal bait he kept dangling. “And this is taking too long. Can’t you speed things along?”

“Sure, if you like eating charcoal.”

“Fine. Then... bring me those red berries to tide me over.”

Vegeta bit back a retort and pushed the carton of cored strawberries across the counter.

Beerus frowned. “I said bring them to me.”

With exaggerated movements Vegeta picked up the carton, walked around the counter and placed it before Beerus with a flourish. “Better?” he asked. He turned to go but a hand on his arm pulled him back around, and he had to smother a snarl of revulsion as Beerus opened his mouth and waited for him to put one in. He was indulging in one of his favorite hobbies yet again: goading him into losing his temper.

He took a deep breath and picked up the largest strawberry he could find, quickly popping it into Beerus’ mouth before those sharp teeth could click shut on his fingers. After moaning in delight he opened up for another but Vegeta had had quite enough. “How do you expect me to make you breakfast and hand-feed you at the same time!?” he snapped, beyond irritated.

“Hmm. I guess you have a point. I’m not actually hungry anyway.”

The carton went flying, sending strawberries everywhere as Beerus jammed Vegeta’s arm behind his back and shoved his chest down on the high counter. The tips of his toes pushed against the base of the counter, scrabbling for a purchase that his stature wouldn’t allow. He roared in surprise and alarm, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

“Oh, stop it. I’m felinoid, of course I can smell how deep in heat you are. And even if I couldn’t it’s clear you’re in terrible pain and you’ve been walking around here hard since you woke up, wagging that ass at me like a flesh peddler. You’ve been begging for my attention.”

To have Beerus insinuating that his current state had anything to do with his own choice incensed him to no end. “Your attention?! Don’t fuck with me! You knew this would happen when you sent Kakarot away, didn’t you?!”

Beerus only chuckled. “Maybe. But that doesn’t change the fact that you can’t even think straight. You need a good fuck, and in all honesty you should be flattered I’m deigning to indulge you. I almost decided to just give you to someone else but to be honest, over the time I’ve spent watching your race I’ve always wondered what the fuss was all about with your kind.”

Sharp claws tore into his skin as Beerus yanked his underwear down around his thighs.

This wasn’t part of Vegeta’s plan; he hadn’t seen this coming, it seemed he never would. To him the answers were straightforward. You devastate your enemies, destroy them utterly. Rape? It didn’t matter that he’d suffered the act. His mind wouldn’t consider it an option. Yet again it was his blind spot.

//KAKAROT!!!//

Beerus made a contemplative hum as he began to caress Vegeta’s hips, sliding down to cup the firm ass pressed against him. Vegeta grunted as the touches added to the pain ripping through him and boosted the now painful burning of his body.

He tried to jerk free and Beerus let him struggle, enjoying his helplessness and Vegeta was no stranger to that sickness. He growled; Goku has been correct, his ability to focus was severely compromised making his more powerful, concentrated ki attacks out of the question.

Though his focus was gone he wasn’t about to give up without a fight. Beerus rolled his eyes, feeling power beginning to well up inside his toy. While he knew it would be a good battle it wasn’t what he wanted at the moment. Besides, what he was about to do would inspire enough rage to ensure interesting battles for the rest of Vegeta’s life. He leaned low, whispering a lover’s breath over his ear.

“Did you think I couldn’t smell your brats all over the Namekian?”

Vegeta’s eyes went wide as the implicit threat sent a cold chill rocketing through him. The power build stopped immediately. ‘My girls…’

Beerus chuckled and drew away again, knowing his threat had hit the mark. Though Saiyan children learned to defend themselves faster than most species, their parents were extremely protective until that day came; he’d learned that lesson the hard way. Not even Vegeta was immune, it seemed. “Saiyans are only good for feeding, fucking and fighting, and right now I don’t feel like fighting with you or watching you eat. Now. Nod if you’re going to behave yourself.”

Alone, Vegeta knew he couldn’t kill Beerus, not in his current state. He needed help right fucking now and he just didn’t have it.

I’m coming, Vegeta. Just hold on a little longer.

The thought struck him like a blow.

That was it, then. He was… alone, to do the only thing he could do.

Endure.

Slowly, he nodded.

“Good boy,” Beerus sneered. “You know, I’ve always wanted to do this…”

“Stop it you bastard!”

Beerus paid him no mind, pulling Vegeta’s tail free and beginning to stroke it leisurely. His body jerked and it took everything he had to submit to this without a fight. Even worse, in the battle between his mind and body, his mind was losing. His breath came too quickly, his arousal hanging heavy and leaking between his legs. Beerus’ hand finally released his tail only to drag its way up the slickness dripping down his inner thighs.

Beerus grinned in anticipation. He remembered the dreamy, almost dazed smiles, the loopy walks of Goku and the others after their mates had been in heat. Of all the sampled delights of this universe that belonged to him, this was one of the few that had been denied him up until now.

“Your skin is burning, Vegeta,” Beerus murmured, more to himself in awe than anything. “And I’ll bet the inside is even hotter. It doesn’t matter how much you hate this, your body will welcome me like a long-lost lover, won’t it?” For a moment the stakes were forgotten and Vegeta snarled, jerking his arms hard and almost breaking free of Beerus’ hold. “Hey! None of that!” the god chastised, slapping Vegeta hard on his ass for emphasis. “Or shall I track down the Namekian and pay him a visit?”

A roar of pure frustration built inside Vegeta’s chest and forced its way out of him, and Beerus chuckled. “Come now, try to look on the bright side. Not many can say they they’ve been fucked by a god. I’ll try to keep my power in check but… you do smell very, very good and it’s been at least a couple thousand years since I’ve indulged in this so you’ll have to bear with me.”

He carelessly wiped his hand on Vegeta’s back, grinding his erection between the cheeks of his ass. Vegeta grit his teeth, painfully reminded of the inherent peculiarity in male feline genitalia.

As focused as he was on his task Goku wasn’t with him; at least he wouldn’t experience this as it happened. Though he was grateful for that the thought didn’t relieve him as much as it should have. He’d been alone most of his life. It was nothing new to him, he’d even learned to draw incredible strength from it.

But now… it just filled him with a maddening despair. ‘When did that happen…?’

“Freeza said you were stubborn. Let’s see if I have better luck than he did in loosening up those vocal cords of yours,” the god gloated.

That at least was a game Vegeta could win, but it would be all he could win until Goku arrived.

He ground his teeth together as Beerus pressed against his opening and gods he wanted to scream, to rage, to burn himself to death and take Beerus with him. He’d only wanted to bring back his race, was this to be the eternal price for his pride? To have his traitorous body give pleasure to whatever cock it could wrap itself around while his mind and soul screamed in agony?

A wave of energy pulled Beerus’ attention away less than a second before a blast caught him completely off guard, hitting him hard enough to knock him off Vegeta and through a wall. Dazed, Vegeta slipped down the counter and strong arms eased him back to his feet. In shock from the unexpected rescue and in a weak moment Vegeta allowed it, relaxed for a moment into those arms that were so familiar and yet not…

That place in his mind where he pushed the raw pain, the unprocessed shit he either didn’t have time to deal with, didn’t know how to deal with - all the things he felt he needed to keep the hell away from his gentle mate - howled with the overflow of what he was shoving into it. With an effort he battled the beast into its cage, knowing that if it consumed him even Goku’s bright presence might not be enough to save him from it.

Those fingers that held him twitched and all at once he realized without his mind to fight his body’s reactions he’d pressed his hips back against the bulk of the newcomer’s body, inviting the invasion that would end the ever-building firestorm inside him. ‘Saiyan, strong,’ his senses whispered to him. His soul though, screamed out.

‘Not Kakarot!’

Suddenly he went wide-eyed, twisted, shoved himself backward away from those hands with a snarl and stared into shocked, concerned black eyes that were so much like his father’s.

Gohan swallowed hard, fighting the urge to reach out and pull Vegeta against him again. His hands and body still tingled from where they’d touched that overheated skin. Goku had tried to warn him to stay away from Vegeta, didn’t think he could resist such temptation and he’d been right to be afraid of what his son would do. Gohan had known this would be difficult but he wasn’t prepared to find Vegeta this exposed, his alluring scent so overwhelming it almost made him dizzy.

Lust flared and roared within him, threatening to take him over and it took all the fortitude he’d gained over the past two years to fight against it.

His fists clenched. ‘I will. Not. Harm Him!’

They unclenched and he let out a long breath. The shock in Vegeta’s gaze morphed quickly into confusion, still unsure of why he had come, and Gohan didn’t trust himself to speak just yet. Though the irony wasn’t lost on him Gohan couldn’t hold in a growl of pure rage as he took in the bloody scratches at Vegeta’s waist. A roar from Beerus shook the ground and captured Gohan’s attention. He turned and walked outside, both to give Vegeta a minute and to prove to them both that he possessed the necessary control to do so.

Gohan stepped through the hastily opened doorway to confront the angry god. “Have you gone insane!?” Beerus bellowed.

“Not at the moment,” Gohan replied coolly.

Beerus snarled and blitzed Gohan, stunning him with a blow to the chest and dragging him off the ground by the neck. “Fucking Saiyans,” Beerus spat. “Was it worth your life? You stopped nothing!”

Power built in Beerus’ hand and Gohan struggled to not fight back just yet, unwilling to show his hand so early. “I would gladly die… to defend my Prince. He doesn’t belong… to you.”

“The only reason he survived the purge is because I wished it. He belongs to me, along with everything else in this universe,” Beerus hissed.

Vegeta’s now gloved hand closed over Beerus’ wrist, squeezing so hard he lost hold on the power he’d collected and dropped Gohan to the ground. “It’s about time someone challenged that idiotic belief of yours,” Vegeta snarled.

Beerus gaped in shock at his plaything who was showing far more power than he’d ever seen from him before. Vegeta didn’t let him sit long with the discovery. He dropped and swept Beerus’ legs out from under him, then kicked him hard in the gut while he was in freefall. As Beerus skittered along the ground he considered that both Vegeta and Goku had been hiding what they’d learned and masking their power.

A tingle of fear touched his spine when he registered how far away he’d sent Whis, but dissipated when he remembered that Goku was out of touch as well. Vegeta was alone, deep in unrelieved heat and probably still recovering from yesterday’s fight. Without Goku here to stabilize him he could be beaten. Though he hadn’t been bluffing in his threat on Vegeta’s children he decided to put that on hold. A lesson needed to be taught first.

______________________________________________________________________________
Vegeta only took enough time for pants and gloves before rejoining the fight, just in time. He needed to know what Gohan’s intentions were but words took too long. They were running short on time and would have to turn to the much faster pace of mental communication. //You’re as big an idiot as your father. You’re lucky he didn’t kill you.//

‘It still would have been worth it.’ *Where’s Dad?*

Vegeta grimaced. //I don’t know; turns out there’s a little delay in inter-universal travel. I think he can get here more easily if I open myself up. But I can’t do it while I’m dealing with-//

Beerus’ aura flared once again, dark purple and furious.

//That.// Vegeta finished.

*Do it. Don’t worry about Beerus. I can keep him away from you, it’s why I came.* Before Vegeta could be the next in line to question his sanity today, Gohan answered Beerus’ challenge with an explosion of power that Vegeta had banished.

Vegeta’s mouth went dry and he couldn’t help taking a stumbling step backward as a spike of terror ripped up his spine. Arousal deep and intense poured off Gohan in waves and combined with that great strength, the same as it had when he’d tried to make Vegeta his.

He’d thought he sensed the great rumbling of ki that heralded Shenlong’s calling as he slept, but it had been such a difficult night he couldn’t be sure of anything. He found he couldn’t get his voice above a whisper. “You wished it back.”

Gohan smiled at him, but there was much sadness in it. *...Yes. But I’ve been training like hell since you’ve been away, and most of that was learning control, real control. I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t try to hurt you. The way he was looking at you yesterday… I recognized that look, I knew what he was going to do to you. This was the only way I could be strong enough… please Vegeta, I’m not my father but… I’m here. And all I want is to protect you. Use me.*

Vegeta wavered. To make himself an easier target for Goku he would be essentially defenseless, would have to trust this man who almost destroyed him to now protect him. Even so… if Gohan wanted to take advantage of his condition he could have easily done so when he’d first appeared. Even Vegeta had to acknowledge that level of restraint was… remarkable.

He swallowed hard and came to a decision. “Then go. Hold him off. But remember, you gave your life to me and I haven’t given anyone permission to take it.”

Gohan’s eyes widened in surprise, and a smile spread across his face as he nodded tightly.

______________________________________________________________________________
Something wasn’t adding up.

Beerus cringed, knocked back by a blow from this creature that didn’t possess god ki, didn’t even possess full Saiyan blood. Goku’s son hadn’t even been possessed of a fighter’s spirit the last time he’d been on Earth. It made no sense.

Or did it?

On his next attack Beerus forced Gohan into a hand-to-hand struggle to have a closer inspection of the boy and things fell into place. He knew that scent, hell, in a way he’d created it. Gohan hadn’t smelled that way yesterday…

He began to change tactics while he considered.

______________________________________________________________________________
Gohan began the fight with a goal in mind. Victory was not the objective, he only needed to keep Beerus occupied for as long as possible without losing his own life. Strangely Beerus had begun to cooperate with that goal not long into their battle. If he had to put a name to the game he’d have sworn Beerus was testing his abilities, not trying to kill him.

“Stop!” Beerus roared, coming to a halt. Gohan pulled his attack short, twisting in the air and dropping to the ground in wary confusion. Whatever he wanted didn’t really matter. Talking or fighting… either way he was keeping his fucking hands off of Vegeta.

“What do you want, Beerus?”

“I was just curious about a few things. About you.”

Gohan’s eyes narrowed and Beerus smiled that knowing grin that said ‘I’ve already won.’ “The brats you got on Vegeta, the ones under the Namekian’s care. Was that done by force?”

Narrowed eyes widened in shock. “How did you know what I-”

Beerus simply tapped his nose. “You two both have distinctive scents, even when combined in children. Now answer my question.”

“I… no. He wasn’t… willing.”

Beerus only smiled and waved away his obvious shame. “It’s perfectly natural. You should be proud of conquering him, it couldn’t have been easy. Let me guess…” He thought back to everything he remembered about the hyper-aggressives he used to keep before unleashing them back onto Planet Sadla. “Being with him was unlike anything you’d ever felt before. Your power magnified when you were with him. I also heard that they could calm the rage in your blood. Did he?”

Between Beerus’ seductive words and Vegeta’s intoxicating scent Gohan was taken back to a time that haunted him. Thoughts of Vegeta lying pliant and moaning in his arms him came unwanted to his mind and his breath hitched. His cock twitched at the unbidden memory of plunging into that hot, unresisting body each time he’d used it as a weapon to keep his chosen subdued.

“Oh gods… He did, he-” Gohan briefly covered dug the heels of his palms into his eyes, trying to wipe away the sudden visions. What he’d done to Vegeta was the worst thing he’d ever done in his life, and yet he’d never known such absolute bliss.

“I’ll take that as a definite ‘yes’ then,” Beerus chuckled. “Your species started producing his kind in response to certain… problems inherent to your race, and the primary problem was, well, you, in point of fact. You and those like you. Don’t you understand? You can’t take by force what already belongs to you; all you did was assert your natural rights. The only one who should be ashamed of himself here is your father for taking what was yours. I’m surprised you allowed him to do it.”

“I didn’t allow it,” Gohan snapped, his mind spinning. “I was ready to-”

He shut his lips around the words but Beerus kept pushing him along. “No, go on. You were ready to kill your own father just to keep him, is that it?”

This was insane. What the hell was Beerus playing at? It made a frightening kind of sense but he didn’t dare believe Beerus who wouldn’t hesitate to lie if it suited him. ‘Just keep him talking,’ Gohan repeated to himself. ‘String him along. Just keep him talking.’

“...I was prepared to, if it came to that.” His gaze hardened. “Even if what you’re saying is true it doesn’t matter now. He’s bound to my father. That can’t be undone.”

“Who told you that?” Beerus snorted, almost grinning at the bitter tone in Gohan’s voice. It was almost too easy.

“I know because I tried it. It didn’t work; I almost killed him.”

“That’s probably because you didn’t do it right.”

Gohan crossed his arms, a sarcastic smile twisting his lips as he began to embrace his role. “Oh really? And how do you know that?”

“I saw it done once. Under other circumstances, but the theory is the same,” Beerus shrugged.

The smile faded as Gohan began to understand. “You’re… you’re serious. And what do you want in return?”

“Does that matter?” Beerus laughed.

“It does to me,” Gohan growled. “I don’t trust you, but I might be able to trust your motives.” As much as he tried to remember he was just humoring Beerus as a way to kill time the god’s words were too seductive, too persuasive for him to remain indifferent.

“Fine, I suppose. What I need is an extraordinary fighter. Though your father would have sufficed you will better serve my purposes. In the past my brother has proposed a battle between warriors of his universe and warriors of mine. I’ve put him off before now because I wasn’t absolutely certain I could win. But now, I am. The way you are now, with Vegeta’s strength to draw on you will be unstoppable. After a tournament of sorts, I’ll need you to do things for me from time to time. Aside from that, your time - and pursuits - are your own.”

“If he’s mine, he’s mine. You might have been able to separate him from my dim-witted father but I have no interest in sharing him with you, or anyone else.”

Beerus sighed and scratched the side of his head, deciding to humor Gohan. It didn’t really matter what he told the boy, he was the God of Destruction. He did what he liked and no one would tell him otherwise. “Agreed, though I haven’t had such an interesting toy before. No matter, the two of you should be entertaining enough. So, do we have a deal?”

Gohan gave a derisive snort. “Of course we do. He’s all I’ve wanted for most of my life. So how do I bond with him without killing him?”

“For now I’m sure you can find some way to use his current… condition… to keep him from fighting you. Drain him as much as you can while you’re enjoying yourself.”

“And my father? When he shows up again I doubt he’ll take my actions kindly.”

“That’s the easy part. Kill him.”

“Then I lose Vegeta!”

“I know that,” Beerus snapped testily. “It’s the shock of having the bond ripped away that will kill him, trust me. I’ve studied it. As soon as it’s gone take over Goku’s place. It’s a very small window, only a fraction of a second but if you’re successful, he’ll be yours to command.”

“This can’t be,” Gohan murmured. “It’s impossible…”

“Come on, you’re supposed to be more intelligent than your father, aren’t you? I shouldn’t have to spell this out for you. There’s one sure way to find out whether or not I’m telling the truth. If I’m lying, you haven’t lost anything.”

Gohan started. It couldn’t hurt to find out if this was true, could it? Surely it was all lies…

There was only one person here he could trust to tell him the truth, and he was the one person who had the most to lose in this. He turned his back on Beerus to approach Vegeta, rousing him from his efforts simply by walking into his space. Vegeta’s eyes snapped open and narrowed as he absorbed the information from the small piece of his consciousness he’d left aware.

*Is what he says true?*

//Gohan, you don’t understand. It’s not that simple-//

*Then make it simple! Please, tell me!*

Vegeta took a deep breath. //What he says, about what we are to one another is true.//

A sound escaped Gohan, one of pain as it felt like he’d been punched and Vegeta silently cursed Beerus once more for for such a clever diversion.

*Ever since you changed , when I look at you I… everything in me screams that you should be mine, that we should be together. And it’s true, it’s been true all along-*

//Genetically speaking, yes, even I can’t argue with that. But Beerus left a few minor details out of his story. He didn’t tell you that he created your kind by selectively forcing our people to breed for aggression like animals, for no better reason than his own entertainment. The damage done by your kind almost destroyed our people. Whis thinks my kind developed naturally, but because of all the problems we got something a little extra. We had the ability to attract and neutralize your kind, and we were the only ones with enough stamina to survive being mated to you.//

*What about what he said about bonding? Was he lying?*

//I have to assume he’s telling the truth; he doesn’t want me dead but he’s wanted me away from your father since the day he woke up.//

*If I did what he says, if I broke your bond with my father could I… make you hold me? Make you want me the way you want him?*

Vegeta held his ground, betrayed nothing though looking into Gohan’s feverish eyes it wasn’t easy. If Gohan hadn’t truly changed, if he was going to give into the weakness that had caused him to give in to temptation in the first place it would be now. The timing was awful but at least Vegeta would know once and for all whether or not he was truly safe from Gohan’s desires. He held his breath, gathering his strength for an attack in case he’d simply traded one assailant for another.

//Beerus may think you can overcome me but I’ve been making damned sure that he has no idea what I can really do. Kakarot is my chosen. I will not allow you to harm him.//

Gohan’s eyes hardened at the mention of his father’s name, his power flaring at the challenge as he gave in to the blood roaring Beerus’ words in his ears. “You’re supposed to be mine, not his!”

Vegeta scowled at him, pulling power of his own in response but Gohan was faster, grabbing his arms and crossing his wrists behind him. Vegeta felt the unmistakable vibration of ki restraints and he couldn’t pull his wrists apart. Gohan’s arms threaded through his own, encircling him in a parody of an embrace. He smiled down into Vegeta’s look of shock.

*You don’t know what I can do either.*

He pulled until their bodies were tight against one another but Vegeta could feel that he lacked the wholehearted brutality that had consumed him that fateful night in the meadow. The younger man’s hands trembled against the exposed skin at the small of his back and Vegeta could feel Gohan’s presence amidst the raging storm of emotions. He was still in there somewhere fighting for control.

Gohan hadn’t given in, he truly didn’t want this. Somehow that knowledge drained away the lingering fear of Gohan’s touch.

“What if you’re wrong, Vegeta? What if I can take you and my father down? Could I have you the way I want?!”

“If you could subdue me you could do make me do whatever you want. Then you can spend the rest of whatever life I have left fucking me, using me up and knowing that every touch I give you will be hollow, every time I spread my legs for you it will be on command, nothing more. Knowing that if you relax your control over me even for a moment I’ll gladly take my own life or rip your throat out with my teeth without a second thought.”

Gohan gasped as a powerful memory took him over, one torn from Vegeta’s own mind. It was the one he’d held closest to his heart during Vegeta and Goku’s absence, the one that had driven him so relentlessly to embrace the power in his Saiyan heritage and finally learn to control it.

‘It’s Gohan. It’s Gohan. He won’t do this to me, he won’t…’
Relief so intense it shook his body as the transformation fell away. Gohan gifted him with the same gentle smile that he knew, had always known. He knew this boy, should have known Gohan could fight for him, would fight for him. He shouldn’t have doubted, Gohan would nev-
Their eyes met and Vegeta saw in them his own downfall. He felt the chill of despair, the raw terror of betrayal.
‘He knows me. Oh gods… He can destroy me.’

Gohan snapped back to himself in wide-eyed shock and wondering if Vegeta had pulled that to the surface of his mind. He let go of Vegeta and stumbled back a few steps in horror.

//Is that really how you want me!?//

‘Betrayed, hating me… Terrified of me.’ Gohan thought back to what it had been like before, when he’d had this wary man’s trust, how good it would feel to have it all back. To have his respect again… He realized that none of the false intimacy Beerus was offering would ever be enough to truly satisfy him.

*No. It’s not. It’s not at all what I want. I’m sorry, Vegeta. I didn’t mean to lose control like that-*

Vegeta pulled his focus together for a show of force and easily broke the ki restraints holding his wrists and stood unflinching before both Gohan and Beerus.

//You fought it and stopped yourself. That’s something you weren’t able to do before.//

*Still… When this is all over, take Beerus’ instructions out of my mind.*

//...No. I don’t believe you’re ever going to try that again.//

Gohan blinked, startled. It had been whisper thin, but he knew he’d sensed cynical amusement in that thought.

“Get on with it!” Beerus shouted, impatient at the delay. “I don’t have all day!”

Vegeta’s lip curled into a snarl. //You saw what he was doing to me. Did you really think he overpowered me so easily? He knows the girls are with Piccolo. He threatened our children, Gohan. And the Lookout is probably the first place he’ll search.//

Gohan’s heart skipped a beat. “Our… Really?” In all that Vegeta had imparted the only thing echoing through him was that Vegeta had called the girls ‘our children.’

What he’d given up was just a fantasy. Despite the dangers and uncertainty, this reality felt so much better.

Gohan rounded on Beerus, transforming once more as he launched himself after the startled god with a vengeance.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

Beerus’ fist jarred his body. To the god’s surprise a smile curved his lips. “Taking Vegeta up on a far better deal than yours.”

______________________________________________________________________________
Goku wasn’t aware of much, only movement and Vegeta’s presence which was getting stronger with each passing moment. But it wasn’t strong enough to move as quickly as he knew he somehow knew he could. Then abruptly that presence exploded in his mind, and suddenly he could feel his speed increasing. ‘Faster,’ he thought.

‘Faster.’

‘Fas-’

The thought died as he hit a brick wall, or at least what sure as hell felt like one. He opened his eyes, blinking rapidly to clear the bright flashes of light blinding him. Dark eyes swam into his vision and relief washed over him. Goku wanted so badly to reach out to touch that beloved face, to embrace him and ensure his safety, to apologize for having left him alone for so long.

He raised his arm and… nothing happened. His heart began pounding in his chest as Vegeta slipped his arms underneath him, pulling him into his lap and cradling him. Goku called out in a panic. Vegeta! What’s wrong with me, why can’t I move?!

******************************************************************************************************************
Next up: Gohan’s fate is revealed. Vegeta and Goku must find a way to overcome Goku’s physical state and Vegeta’s deteriorating mental state to defeat their strongest opponent yet.

Wow guys, thank you for all the awesome reviews and encouragement; it really keeps me going! I am still responding to each so check back if I haven't hit you yet. I just figured you’d rather me post the darn chapter as soon as possible! :~D

ZeoViolet: I hear ya, and I put a lot of thought into all the bonding stuff. As far as my writing goes I’m fairly obsessed with characters that I feel can truly work together as a team. I haven’t seen it much in life, so doggoneit, I’m going to write about it! :) Your understanding is spot on, any imbalance was Beerus’ way of limiting Saiyan power as he knew they’d eventually get strong enough to kick his ass if he didn’t do something. As far as the boys go, I feel like Vegeta’s tendency to take too much on and Goku’s to let too much go is going to have to come to a head before they get where they need to be. As you say, even loving families and relationships can have some serious issues that need working out. They’re so close!
I’m up to speed on Super, and omg I almost went that way, the two sides of the same coin, creation/destruction thing but I decided it would be too obvious, lol! Since I’d have to rewrite a lot to set that up I think I’m going to have to just make the break from canon. I’ll have to figure out where to draw the line but I think/hope what I have planned will be pleasing. See you in a couple of weeks!

Ulrike: The stakes just keep getting higher, don’t they? I hope the Gohan story arc paid off/continues to pay off well, I will admit to having a devilishly good time with his unpredictability. :D

Akiravadel: Awesome, I’m glad you found the story and are enjoying it! And I’m really glad that people are willing to invest in such a long story, I’m grateful. So far I’ve been able to keep up new chapters every two weeks, so I’ll see you a couple of Mondays from now. Thank you!
- 26
- 27
- 28
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Atavism