Kings, Tyrants, and Demons

Unconditional Bonds III

KINGS, TYRANTS,
AND DEMONS
By Makota
Makota2112@yahoo.com


“Where the will to power is lacking, degeneration sets in.”
–Friedrich Nietzsche


Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ , nor its characters. This is for entertainment purposes only. I am not making any profit.

NC-17 content. Yaoi


Chapter One: Flight of the Ruined


“I hear you’re in the market for a son.”

Vegeta did not respond, though he wished at that moment he had remembered to lock the door. He’d resigned himself to spending his last few moments on Earth warming the ship’s engines, not partaking in idle chitchat.

He ignored the intruder that stood in the entryway and instead busied himself by re-configuring the ship’s central computer. Only twenty scant minutes had passed since he fled Capsule Corporation, but to him, each second dragged on for an eternity.

He had to leave planet now. It was the only thought in his brainsick mind lucid enough to hold on to.

‘You went too far this time...too far.’

Shaking his head he threw himself into his task. He knew if he paused, if only for a second, he would be consumed in an ocean of tumultuous chaos. So, frantically, he typed in a set of coordinates that might as well have been random for all of the thought he put into it. He would worry about the specifics of his destination– if any– once he left this solar system. For now, he had to focus on getting off the ground.

“Why are you leaving?” the voice suddenly asked, breaking his fragile concentration.

He jumped at the sound of it, not only startling himself, but the unwanted visitor who unconsciously took a step back.

The elite’s spine went rigid and his hands shook as they hovered over the keypad. The veracity of his recent actions slowly seeped through his brittle defenses like poison.

‘He’ll never forgive you. Not for this.’

He growled softly, trying desperately to stem the stream of emotions that threatened to turn into a flood.

‘You promised never to hurt him...how many times now have you broken this vow? Leave,’ his conscience hissed, ‘spare him, and leave. Do not defile him further with your presence.’

Heart wrenching pain descended on him as that truth hit home. He would be leaving life as he knew it behind. Though he’d met many horrors in his life without fear, the thought of abandoning all that he had come to love terrified him.

He bent back over the console and attempted to continue what he was doing. He had acceded to the reality that there was no other choice but departing Earth, but now he hesitated, wondering bleakly if there was another way. Just as that thought passed through his mind he was suddenly assaulted as the last few hours flashed brutally before his eyes in scant seconds. This planet, which he had finally learned to call home, had nearly met its end. And those on it had nearly perished at his hands. He wasn’t to be trusted.

He blinked several times to fight the moisture welling in his eyes.

‘No matter how much leaving hurts, staying is out of the question,’ he reasoned with himself. ‘You don’t deserve to stay here. You don’t deserve him.’ His face contorted in agony as he recalled the pitiful cries of his lover pleading with him, begging him to stop. Cries he ignored.

‘You violated him in the most personal way possible. How could you do that to your own mate!?’ his mind screamed. ‘Your lack of discipline nearly killed him, along with everyone else...even the traitors. But they chose their fates, didn’t they?’

He clenched his fists.

‘You can pretend all you want, but you are nothing but a murderer... a mindless killer whose only purpose is to destroy. Admit it, it was the only thing you were ever really good at.’

“Vegeta?”

‘Butcher.’

“Hey, are you okay?”

‘Weakling.’

He heard the clang of footsteps fall upon the metallic tiles of the floor. The sound reverberated in his skull, intensifying the agonizing pain that was tearing through his sanity.

‘Rapist.’

“Vegeta!”

“Go home, Goten!” The prince snapped harshly. With the last of his efforts he pushed his thoughts aside, knowing he would have to wrestle with them later. Taking a breath he punched in the last line of code, successfully completing the initiating sequence.

“You can’t leave.” The sound of the teen’s voice set his teeth on edge.

“Go home,” he repeated, not taking his attention away from the console as he reviewed the schematics, ensuring everything was in place.

A silence followed, and Vegeta was hopeful that the teen had taken the not-so-subtle suggestion and vacated the area.

“Take me with you.”

No such luck.

“Goddamn it!” the saiyan swore, “Get the hell—

The prince halted in mid-yell when he actually turned his head to look at the youth.

Standing in the middle of his ship was a wraith.

Goten looked like he had aged ten years. Rumpled, unwashed clothing hung loosely on his gaunt and sickly frame. The demi-saiyan’s face was haggard and lined with bitterness as he regarded him solemnly, looking as if they had never known a day’s peace. It was his dark mournful eyes, however, that captured his attention. They were dull, devoid of spirit, yet, surprisingly, he sensed no self-pity in them. Instead, they held a resignation saved only for the terminal and the cursed. It was very similar to the mask of pain the elite now wore. He observed him a moment more before saying in a quiet but stern tone;

“I cannot take you with me.” He stood up from his hunched position over the console. “This is a one way flight,” he explained. “I am not returning to Earth.” He walked around a row of chairs to face the young man.

As he came into full view, Goten’s eyes widened. His gaze fixed itself to the furry appendage wrapped securely around the elder man’s waist.

“Your tail has grown back.”

The prince looked down, staring himself at the oddity, as if it was the first time he noticed it.

“Hm,” he muttered, “so it has.”

Tilting his head slightly, the teen gave a strange little shrug, obviously not too concerned over the matter.

“I know you’re not coming back,” he said, returning to the previous subject. “I still want to go with you.”

“Goten,” the prince sighed frustrated. He was in no mood or shape for quibbling, “I don’t have the time for this. You have a life here: friends, family—

“I have nothing,” the demi-saiyan interrupted in a quiet voice, “I don’t have any friends and my brother doesn’t have room for me in his life.” He looked unfazed by this. “I have no where else to go.”

“Don’t be stupid, boy!” he snapped. “This is your home. You’ve never even been off the planet.” Narrowing his eyes, he sneered at the youth, “As I recall, you’ve had no interest in space travel what-so-ever. So why the abrupt,” he shot him a look, “change of heart? ”

“I can’t stay here,” he said simply.

“Oh?” the prince asked in a mocking tone, “and why is that?

Goten rocked back slightly on his heels, as if trying to physically plant himself in the floor.

“I don’t belong here anymore,” he murmured vaguely. “There is no reason why I should stay.”

That didn’t answer his question. His patience, which had been razor thin to begin with, was swiftly slipping away.

“So,” he intoned waspishly, “you think you can just hitch a ride with me, and all of your problems will disappear?” He laughed, it rang bitter, even in his own ears, “You have no idea what awaits you among those stars and I’m in no shape to watch over you.”

“I’m not asking you to,” Goten said not taking his eyes off the man before him, “I promise I won’t get in your way. I’m used to looking after myself,” he admitted, “and maybe I can even help you get to where ever it is you’re going.”

‘They’re going to start looking for you. Hurry.’

Time was a commodity he didn’t have, as he constantly reminded himself. Why wouldn’t the boy just go?!

Irritation turning into anger, he wheeled on the boy. “Stupid child! I don’t even know where I’m going.” His tail, which he had only recently taken notice of, unfurled from its place and snapped angrily behind him. “You don’t get it do you? This isn’t a vacation or some kind of asinine adventure,” he seethed. “I’m going to be wandering in and out of systems, most probably by the skin of my teeth.”

The teen’s brows drew together in confusion causing the older man to scoff, “I’m wanted in the majority of the universe, you fool! Is that what you want?” he asked. “To be running from place to place, with no where to go, to always be hunted, and wonder if this day will be your last?” He was exaggerating the matter– or at least he hoped– in a vain attempt to discourage the teen.

“But you’re one of the strongest warriors—”

“Yes, so I’m not too concerned with my own safety. But I refuse to be responsible for yours. And as strong as you are you lack any discipline. Even if you did,” he added gruffly, “you’re unprepared for a life off of this planet—”

‘Hurry!’ his mind screeched again as he felt numerous kis approaching.

“Enough of this!” The engines were ready. It was time. He took a step towards the young man to grab him by the collar to pitch him out the door. “Go back home, Goten,” he said with finality as he made his approach, “and try to find some peace.”

But the teen sidestepped at the last moment. From the look on the youth’s face he expected him to start throwing a tantrum, but instead he straightened and said quite plainly. “I know you don’t believe me when I say that I am prepared to leave this place behind for good, whatever the road ahead might be.” He raised his head in defiance when the elder man looked as if he was going to argue further. “My mother is dead, Vegeta. My brother has his own life to take care of. My father,” his lip curled in disgust, “has abandoned me countless times and in countless ways.” His mouth settled into a hard grim line, “ He is the one responsible for my mother’s death and has betrayed me by running off with my best friend…My best friend who turned on me and deceived me.”

His eyes narrowed dangerously, “I wish you would have killed him,” he said speaking of his father. “I don’t know why you spared him, if I had the power, I’d kill him myself at this point. But maybe,” he mused, “he won’t survive. He was nearly dead when you left him.”

Vegeta’s eyes widened a fraction at that statement, “Yes,” Goten confirmed, “I sensed everything that happened, how do you think I found you so quickly?”

The prince’s face darkened, “All the more reason why you should leave.”

“I’m not interested in revenge,” the teen reassured.

A cruel smile broke upon the elite’s face. “No, but I was.” His visage grew more sinister as he spoke, “Less than half an hour ago I was ready to kill every single person on this planet…including you. Are you so certain you want to hole yourself up in a ship with me for immeasurable amount of time?”

“I’m willing to take that risk,” Goten said undeterred.

‘They’re coming!’

“Well, I’m not.” He abruptly marched across the bridge to the doorway, pressing the release button. The doors slid apart revealing the world outside. “Now get out!”

Vegeta wondered if the teen was going to start crying. The despondent look on his face suggested that he might; however he simply nodded in resignation. He walked towards the door and halted in the doorway.

“Goodbye, Vegeta. I’ll miss you.”

The prince gave a sharp nod in acknowledgment, still eying the teen warily.

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t better,” he said steadily, “and hope you won’t look badly on me.”

Vegeta shot him an odd look, hoping that teen hadn’t sunk to sulking in hopes the elite would change his mind.

“I know that, in our race, because of my bloodline, I am a low-level,” he explained. “Goku’s my father, but if it were my choice, he wouldn’t be.” His eyes rested heavily on him, “ I knew you wouldn’t want to see me, because I’m his son” he confessed, “but I had to try.”

The elder saiyan’s mood was unreadable and it was at this point that Goten’s face suddenly contorted, “I’m sorry for the shame he’s brought on our people. I know that will never make up for it—”

“Goten,” Vegeta cut in a rumbling tone.

“Wait,” the teen said hastily, “I’ll leave, but I need to tell you something before you go, even though it will make you angry.” He took a breath, “ Goku may be my father, but I’ve always secretly considered you my dad. You raised me after all and I’ve always looked up to you.” His eyes began to swim, “And that’s why I came here, Vegeta, you’re the only family I have left.”

He took a breath in an attempt to steady his voice that was beginning to quiver, “ I know that you’re the Prince of Saiyans and I’m from a bad line, so you’d never ever consider me a possible son. But since we’re the only ones left I was hoping you’d take me in.” Tears had erupted from his eyes and were trailing in trickling streams down his cheeks. “But I was presumptuous.” He swallowed and swiped his face with the back of his dirty sleeve, “I apologize and hope you can forgive me in time. The last thing I want is for you to think poorly of me. Just please don’t hold what my father did against me.” He bowed formally. “Goodbye, Vegeta, I am sorry to have bothered you.”


It was the father in him…at least that’s what he later blamed.


Goten let out a cry of shock as he was suddenly pushed hard enough to skid backwards across the bridge and tumble ass over heels into a navigation chair.

“Buckle your damn seatbelt, and don’t say a fucking word!”

An instant later, Vegeta had raced to the captain’s chair, strapped himself in, and frantically hit the ignition key.