Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Persistence ❯ Part 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Hello, NewFan! Nothing good will happen after Vegeta finds out, but you'll see that in this chapter anyway.

 

Hello, LadyKATT! No, Veliro isn't trying to outdo the prince - it just happened. And sure as hell Veliro doesn't expect to get to the prince through Kakarott. Veliro isn't so stupid that he'd try that.

 

Hello, GundamnCat! First DBZ? Oh well, I hope my fics won't scare you off reading anything of DBZ. Glad you liked it so far.

 

 

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ. I'm not making any profit.

Warnings: Yaoi, (male x male). Kakarott/Vegeta

 

Note: One very kind girl drew a picture for me. It illustrates this chapter. Check it out: http://marias17.deviantart.com/ The picture is called “Armor”. She has plenty of other nice and funny pics.

 

Persistence by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by achillona

 

Part 8

 

The prince sat in his room contemplating the armor clutched in his hands.

 

He turned the armor in his hands over again. It happened so very long ago, but he felt as if it were yesterday - the first time he held his armor custom-built by Kakarott….

 

The prince gently brushed his fingertips over the red flame ornament on the armor breast. He was so filled with regret when he outgrew the armor. Once he realized that those wishes the guard brought from Kakarott were lies, he wore the armor incessantly. Later, when he thought that his father murdered Kakarott, he couldn't bring himself to wear it. He'd been ashamed then - he thought that his selfishness and inaccuracy brought death to Kakarott. He felt unworthy of wearing that armor. Now some of the guilt's faded away, and he's able to look at and touch the armor again. But it's different now. The armor was made by an innocent boy, and compared to earlier, when he put the armor on to remember Kakarott, it now brought two images to mind: Kakarott as he was then and Kakarott as he is now. Kakarott had changed. He felt so distant now. Despite what he told Kakarott, he didn't manage to restore the close ties they had. It hurt him. He'd try so hard, but, after each meeting, Kakarott only drifted further away. Even though it wasn't his fault, that incident, Kakarott didn't forgive him. Kakarott didn't want to kill him anymore, but Kakarott didn't accept or acknowledge him, as he wanted. And it hurt. It hurt so much. He was trying to win back Kakarott's trust, but everything he did was futile.

 

He tried speaking to Kakarott, but it didn't appear that Kakarott was even listening to him, or even if he listened he didn't exactly hear what was being said. Kakarott jumped at his every touch. He couldn't even look at Kakarott with affection because this made Kakarott skittish and frightened. At those times he just wanted to hold Kakarott in his arms and to say that he would never hurt him, that he cared too much to hurt him. And he just couldn't believe that Kakarott thought that he was the one who gave permission for the guards to do with Veliro what they wanted! Kakarott didn't trust him anymore.

 

Oh, how he wanted to make Kakarott forget everything and start anew. His father now wouldn't be able to do anything about it. If Kakarott only said the word, he would do everything for Kakarott.

 

Despite his feelings he was not blind. Kakarott had changed. Kakarott still had most of the features that he was able to recognize, but there were some added wrinkles to those features. Kakarott became a murderer. He couldn't comprehend how this happened, no he could, but he just couldn't believe that it had. Kakarott still wasn't a bad person, Kakarott fought for what he believed, Kakarott took responsibility for his actions - he didn't try to run away. Besides, it wasn't for him to decide if Kakarott was a bad person or not. He saw Kakarott as fighting for his hopes and beliefs. Anyone could kill if that one believed in something passionately enough. That actually didn't disturb him so much - Kakarott still respected life. Kakarott still wasn't a cold-blooded sadistic killer. Kakarott helped Veliro. First Kakarott himself had attacked the man, but later he rescued Veliro from the guards. Kakarott still cared.

 

Almost. He had almost lost Kakarott then, in that party hall, when Kakarott wanted to pour the poison into the punch. If Kakarott had done that, there hardly would be a way to turn back. He was in time to stop Kakarott. The hate Kakarott had was destroying him. He'd seen emptiness and darkness in Kakarott's eyes. But Kakarott was not lost yet. If only Kakarott allowed his help. He wanted to help Kakarott to forget that hate. Some people could live with a murder or two without feeling changed, but Kakarott was not one of them. Kakarott was suffering from his own actions; Kakarott was falling apart. Kakarott had his beliefs, that probably would never change, but there were methods other than killing. Maybe Kakarott would never have a fondness for Elites, but that HATE Kakarott had was something inconceivable, and Kakarott needed someone to help him deal with that.

 

He was ready to give all the help he could. But Kakarott didn't want it from him. Kakarott wanted nothing from him, only to let him go, which he couldn't do. He still didn't know what he was going to do with Kakarott. Kakarott didn't try to escape or hurt guards or Veliro deliberately. Kakarott could have escaped if he wanted - the door keeping Kakarott in that room was not a problem for Kakarott, but Kakarott still had enough honor to pay for his deeds.

 

If only Kakarott promised that this was the end, and he would never return to his current profession, he'd let Kakarott go. Maybe. He could forget everything Kakarott did, but he still didn't want to let Kakarott go. He was sure that if he let Kakarott go, he would never see Kakarott again. And he wanted to see Kakarott. He had found Kakarott and he did not want to let go of him. He still had a small hope that Kakarott might respond to his feelings. He wanted Kakarott to respond. He still wanted Kakarott. He wanted that happiness back, and he was going to try to get it back. He was not a person who would give up easily.

 

Kakarott's scent, voice, everything about Kakarott was making him dizzy. It always did. It brought the memories back, warm memories. The fishing trip, spars, conversations, love, pleasure. He wanted everything back. How many times had he dreamt of going to meet Kakarott that fateful afternoon?! How many times had he dreamed that they were together again!

 

It was so long ago, but at the same time those were very recent events. They were recent and alive. At first he thought that Gods or destiny or whatever was punishing him with those feelings. And he accepted this punishment; he thought that it was his fault that Kakarott was killed. Years passed and the wounds still didn't heal. It became easier, though. He didn't see Kakarott's face every so often, didn't stop in his tracks or abandon whatever he would be doing at the moment after inhaling a scent similar to Kakarott's or hear a voice similar to his. He thought he was being punished then. Now, after meeting Kakarott again… he still wasn't sure, he didn't actually believe in destiny, but on the other hand he'd never believed in love at first sight until he met Kakarott, thus, now he saw all those years not as punishment - he saw them as a gift. The gift that had kept his memories and hope. The gift that might be able to turn his despair, longing and loneliness into something better. The gift that might help bring Kakarott back to him.

 

He'd never stopped loving Kakarott. He had lovers, several of them, but he never became attached. Not like he did with Kakarott. Kakarott's scent, skin, hair, smile, laugh followed him everywhere, anytime. Those were the things he looked for and found some of them in any and all partners that he chose. He'd never gotten over Kakarott.

 

No one could ever replace him. Nor could any take his place.

 

XXXXX

 

Kakarott woke up after the sun began to glare into his eyes through the slightly drawn curtains. He blinked his eyes then loudly yawned. And then he noticed that he was not alone in bed. It took Kakarott a few moments to replay last night's events in his head before falling asleep. He smiled then and snuggled closer to Veliro.

 

Veliro was lying farther from the window and the sun still hadn't reached him. Veliro was facing him, one hand thrown over the pillow, other behind him, hidden under it.

 

Veliro had long eyelashes. And Veliro wasn't snoring - his breathing was even and soft - a very big plus. And Veliro was handsome. At first he found Veliro only likeable, but, as days went by, he caught himself thinking that Veliro was very handsome. Veliro wasn't a beauty, Veliro didn't have that something to make one's head turn when he walked past, but Veliro was attractive in his own way.

 

Kakarott brushed a lock of hair from Veliro's forehead. Veliro had very distinct Saiyan hair; same as him, the only difference, Veliro's shoulder length hair, which wasn't as spiky. And Veliro had a beautiful body. Veliro wasn't as muscled and big as Damaro, but actually he even preferred Veliro's body to Damaro's. Damaro's body shouted about power and aggressiveness, Veliro looked calmer, more reconciled.

 

Kakarott noticed Veliro's eyelids twitch and then Veliro's eyes opened. Kakarott laughed when Veliro started at him then quickly blinked trying to understand what was going on.

 

“Morning,” Kakarott greeted, smiling. “You look quite surprised,” he chuckled.

 

Veliro smiled too. “Not each day I find a very handsome man in my bed…” He quickly glimpsed to the window. He let out a relaxed sigh - the sun had just risen, and he didn't oversleep.

 

“Don't know much about that handsome man, but the bed is mine,” Kakarott grinned. He watched Veliro smile back at him. Kakarott brushed over Veliro's chest with his palm then sighed and put his head on it. Veliro had that particular playfulness and innocence about him. Veliro was warm and giving. Veliro had something soothing about him. He was like that before he met `Veliro'. He had been innocent and uncorrupted then. Now he felt awkward lying beside Veliro - he didn't quite feel that he deserved Veliro. Veliro was open and sincere. What had he to give Veliro in exchange?

 

He needed Veliro. He needed Veliro to help him heal his wounds, to make him forget. He simply needed someone. He had been long on the run and alone, and Veliro was offering shelter, stability - a relationship that he had been craving for so long. He wanted to accept it all so much, but what had he to offer for Veliro? He couldn't just take everything from Veliro, just rob Veliro of everything. He couldn't do that - he was not like that monster, `Veliro'.

 

Feeling Kakarott shiver, Veliro soothingly brushed over Kakarott's hair then his hand submersed into Kakarott's hair to massage his scalp. “I have to go,” he said, leaning to kiss the back of Kakarott's head. “I start work in ten minutes.”

 

Kakarott sighed then raised his head to look at Veliro. He wanted Veliro to stay, but he knew that Veliro had to go. “Will you come back today?”

 

Veliro gazed at his eyes for some time. “Do you want me to?”

 

Kakarott gazed back. Yes, he did want Veliro to come back, but… Wasn't he using Veliro? It felt…not right somehow. He liked Veliro, he wanted Veliro to come back, but…did he have a right to ask Veliro this? What he could offer Veliro? What was going to happen with them both?

 

Veliro watched Kakarott's face where hesitation, confusion, uncertainty were fighting with longing and need. He gently ruffled Kakarott's hair. “I'll finish around seven. Besides, I'm obliged to bring you your meals,” he smiled at Kakarott. He saw relief pass Kakarott's face.

 

“Thank you,” Kakarott closed his eyes and put his head back on Veliro's chest again.

 

“Now I really have to go,” Veliro squirmed under him. He shifted, trying to get from under Kakarott, who suddenly somehow managed to roll on top of him and move in between his legs.

 

Kakarott pressed Veliro firmer into the bedding. He grinned at Veliro. “Around seven?” he ground his hips into Veliro's. He laughed softly after Veliro gasped and arched at the friction. Then Kakarott frowned confused, after Veliro's body suddenly froze completely and stilled, his eyes focused on something past his shoulder. Kakarott followed Veliro's gaze and turned his head to look at the door.

 

The look. The eyes. The face. He felt his entire body freeze and tense in waiting. Their eyes locked and he could feel himself start sweating, his heart pounding madly. He'd never seen that expression in those eyes before, but he could perfectly read them and understand the message. He touched what wasn't his. He was not allowed to touch Kakarott. The Prince was going to kill him.

 

Kakarott didn't understand what was going on between the Prince and Veliro, but he didn't like how the Prince was looking at Veliro. The Prince was growling threateningly, his fists clenched, his tail puffed out in agitation and lashing in frenzy behind him. Veliro was in danger.

 

Kakarott quickly shoved Veliro behind his back, one hand keeping Veliro in place, the other throwing the covers away, getting ready. He locked his eyes with the prince's and bared his teeth. He knew he didn't stand a chance but he wasn't going to retreat.

 

Kakarott was a bit surprised when, after their eyes locked, the prince suddenly seemed to lose most of his rage. Kakarott could feel Veliro trying to wiggle out from his hand, but pressed even firmer to keep Veliro in place. “Stay still,” he hissed through clenched teeth, not breaking eye contact with the prince.

 

That's what he felt now… oh, there were no words to describe it. The rage and fury. Oh, how he wanted to get his hands on Veliro's neck and to hear it make a loud crack. And at the same time somewhere in the clouded back of his head he knew if he did that, he would never have Kakarott again. Despair and disbelief. And at the same time he was vaguely able to understand that Veliro was innocent, that it was not Veliro's fault. He never ordered Veliro not to touch Kakarott. He was angry with himself as a result of his belated awareness. Despite Veliro having slept with an imprisoned man, it wasn't as if Veliro did that to mock him. He knew Veliro well enough to realize that, and he knew too that now he either had to accept the fact, or fire Veliro, or kill him. All three options weren't good. Killing Veliro, meant that Kakarott would never forgive him. Giving Veliro the sack meant that Kakarott still would think that he killed Veliro; it's not that he would allow Veliro to visit Kakarott after he was fired. Accepting the fact meant…well, it meant accepting the fact. It meant accepting Veliro and Kakarott as lovers. He wasn't ready for this, but the other two options would destroy all hopes.

 

After the prince silently closed the door, Kakarott exhaled the breath that he'd been holding. He removed his hand from Veliro's chest, finally allowing Veliro up. “What the fuck was that? Did you forget to mop the floor in his room or something?” Kakarott muttered, turning to Veliro. He frowned in confusion after noticing Veliro lean away from him. Veliro was looking at him with big eyes.

 

“You and the Prince…” Veliro suddenly felt anger engulf him. “You were lovers before, weren't you?!” he shouted at Kakarott's face. He bared his canines at Kakarott. “You fucking used me to make him jealous, didn't you?!”

 

“What?” Kakarott blinked, withdrawing from Veliro. He could see that Veliro was near attacking him. “Jealous?” he repeated.

 

Veliro stared for some time at Kakarott, a loud growl vibrating in his throat then it began to still. “Idiot,” Veliro muttered, climbing out of bed. He began to search for his clothes. He pushed Kakarott aside who tried to turn him around. “Fucking idiot,” Veliro repeated, pulling his torn pants up. Holding the pants at the waist to keep them from falling, he stumbled out the room.

 

XXXXX

 

He didn't exactly understand what happened. Why was Veliro so angry with him? That nonsense about jealousy and such…he could understand that Veliro might have been a bit shocked after the Prince almost attacked him, which made him talk nonsense, but Veliro was really angry with him.

 

Kakarott expected to see Veliro when he brought breakfast, but this time he received his meal via some other male whom he had never seen before. He was afraid that something might have happened to Veliro; for whatever reason the Prince almost attacked Veliro - the Prince had been really, really furious.

 

It was beyond him how Veliro gained knowledge that he and the Prince had lain together earlier, but he didn't actually care. He had been trying to brush those memories away for the past several weeks, and he could feel that he was succeeding. He still hadn't managed to separate `Veliro' and the Prince's pictures in his head, but he was already moving in that direction. He wasn't growling anymore whenever he saw the Prince, was he? No, he wasn't. He didn't like the Prince around him, but he didn't feel intimidated anymore.

 

He wanted Veliro to come back. He'd been able to sense then that Veliro really felt hurt and angry. But he didn't hurt Veliro, did he? If Veliro decided that he didn't want to have anything to do with him, he at least wanted to know why Veliro changed his opinion.

 

He wanted Veliro to come back because he felt close to Veliro. He didn't exactly understand how it was possible, but he felt that. It was a very long time ago when he had felt such closeness to someone. Nine years ago, to be exact.

 

XXXXX

 

Veliro closed the door behind him, looked at Kakarott then crossed his arms. “So, are you going to tell me what happened between you two, or should I ask the Prince himself?” he glared at Kakarott.

 

Kakarott sighed, pulled himself up from the pillows and leaned on the headboard. He felt relieved - it was one o'clock in the morning, but Veliro did come back. Kakarott motioned for Veliro to sit down on the bed. Veliro didn't move.

 

“There's not much to tell,” Kakarott shrugged then. He watched Veliro sit down at the table. Bandages on Veliro's tail were loose again. “It happened nine years ago. We were only boys then.” He shifted uncomfortably under Veliro's gaze. “Our relationship lasted only several months.”

 

“Why?” Veliro asked. He leaned on the table. He was confused and tired, and now he simply wanted to get some sleep. The problem was that he couldn't go to sleep before he finally knew what to do with Kakarott.

 

“He said that his father wouldn't let him,” Kakarott shrugged. “After we split up, the next time I saw him was at that party where someone poisoned the fish,” he shifted a bit uncomfortably again. “I didn't even know who he was until several weeks ago. While we were going out, I knew him as Veliro.”

 

“Veliro?” Veliro asked surprised. “He didn't tell you his real name?”

 

Kakarott shook his head.

 

Veliro stared at Kakarott for some time. It could be possible. He didn't actually remember much of what happened nine years ago, but the Prince could have chosen to conceal his identity. And it was more than likely that at that time the King forbade his son to see Kakarott again.

 

He might've thought about a different possibility - that the Prince simply had been playing with Kakarott then as a distraction from boredom, but after seeing the Prince's eyes when he walked in on him and Kakarott in bed… The Prince was in love with Kakarott. He was sure that if the Prince hadn't been afraid to upset Kakarott then, he would have killed him without a second thought. The Prince was in love with Kakarott and was ready to kill anyone who only touched Kakarott, but Kakarott wasn't reciprocating his feelings.

 

“Why didn't he find you later?” Veliro asked.

 

Kakarott shrugged again. “He said that he had been looking. I don't know, it doesn't matter anymore,” he shook his head.

 

“He tried to talk to you?” Veliro asked carefully. There was something strange about Kakarott's recitation of events. Kakarott jumped from one sentence to another, although Kakarott wasn't drawling he could see that Kakarott was forcing himself to speak and at the same time was masking himself behind indifference.

 

Kakarott nodded. “Yes, he said he sent me some letter or something where he explained what happened. Then said that he had been looking for me.”

 

Veliro frowned. “Can you speak clearly? I'm not exactly following you… You're jumping from past to present. When did he tell you that his father forbade him to see you? What letter? What exactly happened?”

 

Kakarott rubbed his forehead. “Look, I really don't want to talk about this.”

 

“Either you talk, or you'll never see me again,” Veliro snorted angrily.

 

Kakarott moaned silently. He sighed and closed his eyes. “One day I was digging the garden, he came over to me. He told me that his name was Veliro. After that he visited me constantly - we went out to spar, fish, swim. I didn't know much about him, only that he was Elite, was studying at War Academy and that he was afraid that his father would find out about us. After several months we had our first sexual intercourse. After that I never saw him again. I thought that he was simply playing with me then. Not until this recent party, where I was told that the Prince wanted to see me. Of course I was angry with `Veliro' and when I saw the Prince I just… Well, then he told me that he was the Prince, that he had been looking for me and that he had been sending letters. I don't know; besides, I never got them.”

 

Veliro studied Kakarott's face. “And what exactly happened during those nine years?”

 

Kakarott was silent for some time. “He got me pregnant then, when we…” he shrugged at Veliro's round eyes. “Not that it matters …but … the baby died.”

 

“Gods…” Veliro finally muttered. Now he knew why Kakarott couldn't understand and didn't accept the Prince. Now he knew why Kakarott had reacted to his name like that. “I'm sorry. He doesn't know, does he?”

 

Kakarott shook his head.

 

“But how…? Didn't you use any precautions? I can't believe that he would be so careless…”

 

“I wasn't in heat,” Kakarott shook his head again. “I have that syndrome…err…what's it called…” he tried to remember.

 

“Oh,” Veliro nodded. “I know it. You mean you don't necessarily have to be in heat to get pregnant?”

 

Kakarott nodded. “I didn't know this back then.”

 

“You hated him, didn't you?” Veliro sighed, his hands supporting his heavy head, his fingers buried in his hair.

 

Kakarott nodded. “You can't imagine how.”

 

“Why did the baby die?” Veliro asked softly. “Was it born dead?”

 

Kakarott shook his head. “No, he was a bit weak, but otherwise fine.” He shifted between the covers. “When we, my father and I, moved out…” he sighed. “It's a long story, but on our way we were robbed. We didn't have anywhere to stay. We found some old house in a forest and settled in. We decided that after I gave birth, we'd simply go to a city where I could work as a blacksmith again and earn some money. My father was ill; he was hardly able to do anything useful. Anyways, the winter, as ill luck would have it, was very cold and stormy. My father went to hunt for food, and I grew very worried when he didn't come back at his usual time. After he'd gone missing for a whole day, I went to look for him.” Kakarott fidgeted with his fingers. “Gods probably decided to have some fun, because after several kilometers I went into labor. Well, after that I was quite disoriented and, after the blizzard started, it was enough to throw me off track. I got lost. I don't remember much, probably I just circled around in that white invisibility. Damaro found me near the cave he and his brother lived in. I was unconscious for several weeks and the baby was frozen to death.”

 

Veliro moved to the bed and embraced Kakarott, feeling Kakarott desperately clinging to him. He began to kiss Kakarott's tears away. “Shhh…” Now he wished he hadn't pushed Kakarott. “And your father? Did you find him?”

 

Kakarott nodded. “Terso that he tried to hunt down gored him.” He shuddered, the picture of his dead father emerging in his head. “It was awful - as told the winter was very harsh. There was hardly anything left except picked bones when Damaro and I got to him. I was able to recognize him only by his clothes.”

“Shh…” Veliro pressed Kakarott's head to his chest. He stroke Kakarott's hair for some time. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed you,” he sighed then.

 

Kakarott let out a shuddering breath. “It's okay. I needed to speak with someone about this, eventually…”

 

Veliro took Kakarott by his chin then kissed his forehead. “I'm really sorry,” he brushed over Kakarott's cheek with his fingers. “Let's go to sleep now; it's late.”

 

TBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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