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Nowhere: seVEN

He was on his back staring up at the water-damaged ceiling. His hands were behind his head, and one leg was crossing the other, ankle resting on knee. The Prince of Saiyans peered out the window at the muggy sky.

"Hey. Kakarot."

"Hm?" the younger man replied as he looked up from a magazine.

"Why don't we go out?"

The black-haired beamed and tossed his reading material onto the broken coffee table, "I thought you'd never ask! Oh, I have nothing special to wear."

Vegeta resisted the urge to roll his eyes, "I was thinking more along the lines of leaving town."

Kakarot's expression fell, and he slowly repeated, "Of leaving town..."

The brunet nodded in confirmation as he stood, "We could find a place that doesn't rain all the time."

"You don't want to go out there," Kakarot replied, unable to meet the other man's eye.

"Why?" Vegeta snapped sarcastically, "Afraid I'm going to leave you?" He caught the minute flinch at these words. Shocked, he stated, "Shit. You do think that."

In contrast, Kakarot burst with emotion, "You don't understand! You never have. I can't protect you, if you leave."

Baffled, the prince inquired, "Protect me from what?"

Kakarot inhaled deeply, covering his face with his palm, "From everything."

Damn him! Damn his riddles! Damn his sentimentality! Vegeta swiftly strode over and shoved the man back into the couch, "Protect me from everything? I’m not a child to be coddled, or some charity case to be pitied! How weak do you think I am? What kind of protection do you think you can offer? You didn't protect me when you took me to that basement. Which, by the way, how did you find those blueprints? Awfully convenient, wouldn't you say?"

"What are you insinuating?" his friend stared up at him, aghast.

"Give me a reason to trust you."

"What?"

"Give me a reason to trust you!" Vegeta commanded.

After a brief moment, Kakarot spoke calmly, yet firmly, "No."

"No?"

"You're not looking for a reason," was the next declaration, "You're looking for an excuse. And I will not commit to such a tenuous and poor foundation. If that's how you view me, then, well, you've made your decision, just don't expect me to agree or comply."