Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Twins ❯ He could never harm the innocent ( Chapter 3 )

Vegeta stares at Kakarot "Do you think what I said to be an idle threat, Kakarot?"

Goku blinks, for a moment not knowing what Vegeta is referring to, then he swallows as he remembers. "You wouldn't do that to me." But his voice shivers, he's not so sure of this...

Vegeta glares. "You think not?" he asks in a silken tone. "You think I will let you kill my sons? I told you they fail, Kakarot. Because you will not take care of them. I will not allow you to kill my sons." Vegeta takes a step closer to Kakarot.

The taller Saiyan backs away slowly, his eyes never leaving Vegeta's face. "I'm not trying to kill our.. the cubs. I'm just not hungry.…"

Vegeta scowls ferociously. "What you are doing is killing them, Kakarot." He takes another step, hands fisting angrily at his sides. "You bear twin Saiyan cubs, Kakarot. They sap at your energy, trying to stay alive. And if you will not feed them," he takes another step and yanks Kakarot down to face him, "I will see to it that you are fed."

Goku eyes him warily, backing away until his back meets the wall. He feels distinctively threatened. He know, deep inside, that Vegeta is right - what he does is detrimental to both his own health and the health of his cubs... and everything inside him screams to protect his young. Slowly, his hackles start to rise, instincts telling him the opposite, that Vegeta tries to harm him and the cubs.

Crouching low, he prepares to fight, growling deep in his throat, eyes slowly changing and narrowing, nothing in them reminding of the happy-go-lucky, good-natured naïve man he was before. "Don't come any closer.…"

Vegeta smiles, grimly, but he smiles. "Instinct taking over, Kakarot? Feel like I'm threatening the cubs?" Lightening fast, he grabs up a piece of the meat that Kakarot has refused to touch. "I have been providing for you, for them." His voice lightens, becoming almost teasing. "Come, my mate, eat."

Goku eyes him, still not trusting, his instincts telling him that something is wrong. "I'm not your mate." he growls, eyeing the meat with hunger and yet disgust.

Vegeta holds the meat up a bit more, a bit closer, his other hand reaching to gently caress Kakarot's tail. "Not officially. But you are carrying my cubs," his fingers ruffle the fur, little teasing strokes alternating with smooth petting, "and that means I have the same responsibilities to you a mate would have. Eat, Kakarot…"

The taller Saiyan still eyes the food distrustfully. "You only recognize your cubs... you still don't remember what happened…" He asks tentatively, questioningly, trying once again to get an answer to the question he's been carrying inside ever since all of this started. The prince had hated him, insulted him, fought him... then suddenly turned around, and instead of killing him, had brought him to the highest heights, to a heaven he never thought he'd be able to reach, to a fulfillment he'd only ever dreamt about. He had pined over Vegeta from afar, never daring to touch or act upon his desire. Then, it had happened... and the prince forgot. Forgot all about it, still acted like nothing ever happened - like he hated him. It had broken his heart....

"No, Kakarot," Vegeta replies, his voice dropping to a gentle whisper. "I don't remember. There has to be a reason why, since so obviously it happened, but I don't remember." Skillful fingers thread through the other's tail, attempting to calm him. "Eat, Kakarot. For the chibis. They are innocent in this, will you save them... or kill them?"

Goku looks away, pain in his eyes. He can feel the call, inside.. they are calling to him too. Their voices are unarticulated, coming to him as raw emotions: enquiring, curious, hungry and ... strangely warm, affectionate. Twins.. his cubs. He still could not believe he was really carrying, but it was undeniably true. Absentmindedly, his hand wanders to his stomach, caressing the small bulge steadily growing there. No... it's true. But... does he want them? He's not sure. His heart tells him they are innocent... they are his children, and the children of the man he's felt for like for no one ever before. But they remind him, too... of the moment where he thought he'd finally gotten all he ever wished for - only to be cruelly pushed away from heaven's gate. " I.. I'm not killing them…" Goku whispers quietly, eyes still downcast. Of course not! How could he, he's the savior, the protector, the good guy... he could never harm the innocent, especially not his own cubs... could he?

Vegeta kneels before him again, the hand caressing Kakarot's tail moving to its base, the other splaying across the slight bulge as he rests his head against a firm thigh. He holds the position, opening himself to the tiny cubs. His eyes widen, his grip on the base of Kakarot's tail tightening enough that the snapping of the bones is clearly audible. "YOU BASTARD!"

Goku's eyes widen at the sudden burst of raw anger from the prince, then he screams in raw, undiluted pain as his tail is twisted and then a bone snaps. He falls to his knees too, thoughts jumbled, unable to understand why... why the prince hurts him… again… why? Not again, no more of this... the accusations, the odd glances, the insecurity... the despair, the depression, the darkness inside… no more... what, what is it now? Sobbing, almost crazed by pain he curls up on the floor as best as he can since the irate prince that looks like a man that the gods themselves would fear, still has his tail. "AAAAAAAAH! Please... no... not again.…"

The hand against Kakarot's stomach begins to glow, energy being desperately transferred to the tiny ki flickering erratically. One cub has always been weaker... and Kakarot has not been eating enough to support them both. "You bastard! He's dying!"

Through the pain Goku doesn't really understand what's going on anymore... he just knows he's wounded and completely helpless... at the mercy of the prince that still glares murderously at him. He cries, tears running down his cheeks in rivulets. Suddenly something penetrates the haze of pain, the flicker of ki inside him... no... I'm sorry... I never meant to... so... sorry... and mercifully he passes out with that thought.

Vegeta, snarling, carries Kakarot down to the med rooms Bulma had set up. He strapped his non-mate into one of the beds, and quickly rigged up an IV drip. Then he settled onto the edge of the bed, curling half on top of Kakarot, sending all the energy his young sons could stand in a desperate attempt to keep them alive until the forced feeding took effect.

Receiving the emergency call Bulma hurries down the stairs to the medical room, finding her ... whatever he was, not husband certainly like most people believed at her best friend's side. Worriedly she quickly walks over to the bed, connecting Goku to the screening monitor and checking his vital signs, relieved to find them weak but steady. As for the babies... she does a quick check-over on them too, not having to ask what Vegeta was doing. Finally, leaning back and wiping the sweat from her forehead, she faces the father of her only child. "It's okay now.. I think they are steady." She eyes her charge fully for the first time, eyes suddenly coming to rest on the oddly crooked appendage hanging limp over the table. "Oh god! His tail! What happened, Vegeta?"

"His tail?" Vegeta remembers then, his fingers crushing the small bones at the base of Kakarot's tail. "I wasn't very happy with him. He'll heal."

Bulma's eyes search his in disbelief. "Vegeta.. you can't be serious.. you broke his tail? You.. you know how much that hurts…" Suddenly she eyes the unconscious Saiyan and gasps. "Oh no... you think... he tried to..." She shakes her head violently. "'Geta, he wouldn't! I'm sure it wasn't in his intention... he probably just didn't know better... he was so desperate.. How can you be so cruel and uncaring about him, after everything you did to him? Don't you feel anything for him? He's the one carrying your cubs! It's not his fault!"

"He is killing them!" Vegeta snaps. "The only thing keeping the younger one alive right now is me! He knew better. Believe me. I warned him - if he didn't take care of himself and the cubs, I would see to it that he was taken care of." Vegeta indicated the IV drip. "Nutrient slop and enough tranks to keep him out until I decide he's healthy!"

Bulma's eyes widen at these words. "Vegeta! You cannot keep him unconscious until the babies are born! I don't even think it's possible, not to talk of the ethical issues! Not even you can be that heartless! I'm sure if we wake him up and explain to him again…"

"No!" Sheer rage light the fires burning in Vegeta's eyes. "It is possible, it's been done. There are no ethical issues, woman. The bastard is killing our cubs! I will not allow it. He is not to wake up." His voice softened. "He's too ill, as it is."

She stands, facing him, eyes just as much filled with anger as his are, fists on her hips. "Fine! FINE! Do as you wish, like you always do! Like you did to him! But don't think this was the last word in this! You are a cruel heartless monster and I can't believe I ever loved you! How you can do this to him is totally beyond me! First you rape him, now you use him against his will again! Just so you know it - he has all my sympathy. I despise you!" And with that, she storms out of the room, fuming and ready to kill.

His head drops, coming to rest against the other Saiyan's stomach. He reminds himself that he chose this, chose it so that the other could keep the approval and companionship of those who cared about him - the ones he loves. The cubs have stabilized, Bulma was right. With a weary sigh, he stretches out next to the larger Saiyan, carefully settling around the wounded tail. His eyes close as he falls into fractured sleep.