Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Unforgivable ❯ Needle ( Chapter 14 )

Jewel: Sweet Vegeta. Ugh. I think I need to gag. That was just… I dunno, a little too sappy.

Vegeta: Yes, it was. Go fix it.

Jewel: Hey, this isn't where I talk with you. That's at the end!

Vegeta: Then fix it here.

Jewel: Scram. I need a muse, not an arrogant Saiyan prince.

Vegeta: !!!

Jewel: ?? Did I just say what I thought I did? Mind! Mind! Come back quick!

--------------------------

Vegeta's still asleep. Good. I was afraid I was going to wake him up. Oh, man. I haven't been this sick for a long time! I don't care what he says, next time I am not eating that much! Kuroichi staggered back to his bed, spent, and flopped onto it. The click as the door opened barely registered, but the soft laugh of the man who entered did.

He got up, moved to the door. "Go away. Got a customer. Can't have you here."

"Kuroichi, you know we'll just send your customer on his way, just like we have before."

"He don't take well to being woke up."

"Then be a good boy, so we don't have to wake him. Or maybe," the man opened a zippered bag, pulling out a needle, causing a strangled gasp from Kuroichi, "we'll show him how to keep you under control."

Kuroichi backed away from the door, his breathing had quickened. "No… no. Not that. Put it away. You… can come in." The three men had backed him to the bed, but his gaze was fixed on the needle.

"Of course we can. Now remember, you don't want to wake your customer up!" the shortest man laughed genially, then slashed him with a razor. He caught his breath, a soft little gasping cry. "Now, now, Kuroichi. That's not what I want to hear, and you know it! Brad, let him have it."

Brad raised the needle to wave in Kuroichi's face. The other two men were holding his arms. "Are you going to beg, Kuroichi?" the man asked, the needle moving closer to the Saiyan's face. "Aren't you going to beg your friend to come and save you?"

"He won't come. He never comes," laughed the short man. "Come on, stick him. I want to see how he reacts to this. It should be fun." Kuroichi tried to back away, falling onto the bed. The men laughed, fastening him down with the straps there for that purpose.

"Your customer should thank us for this." Brad ran the needle across Kuroichi's skin. He whimpered, trying not to, gasped when the needle would prick him. "It's the latest craze, heightens your sensitivity and your sex drive. You won't be able to do enough to please him! After we finish with you, of course." Brad paused, the needle held ready. "Here we go, Kuroichi!"

"Don't! Stop it, no!" Kuroichi thrashed wildly as the needle entered his arm, crying out now as he always did. "No! Don't let them do this! 'Geta!"

"Ah, Kuroichi, don't you know 'Geta won't come? Haven't you learned that by now? You call him every time, and he never comes. 'Geta doesn't care what happens to you."

"Oh, but you're wrong." Kuroichi looked up, seeing Vegeta grab the man, break his wrist. He whimpered in relief when the older Saiyan removed the needle. "I did come, and I do care." Vegeta threw the men out the window, then settled next to him.

"'Geta? 'Geta! You came! You came for me… you came…" He broke down, sobbing, ashamed.

"Yes, of course I came. You called for me." Vegeta undid the straps, pulled the shaken Saiyan close. "Goku, I'm here. You're safe. They won't bring the needle back." Vegeta held him.

Kuroichi cried, trembling. He clutched at Vegeta, holding him like a lifeline. He came, he came. I'd forgotten… the needle… I forgot he was here. He didn't let them hurt me, didn't let them drug me. He came for me… he heard me call him. He came…

His eyes were gritty when he woke up, curled tightly against the Saiyan prince. He still clutched the older man. Vegeta hadn't left him, hadn't been angry at his weakness. It wasn't possible. "'Geta?" he whispered.

"I'm here." The soft reassurance was accompanied by a gentle hand running through his mangled hair.

"You came… you stayed with me?"

"You called me, I answered. You needed me to stay, so I did."

"You despise weakness."

"Yes."

"You stayed." The statement was both accusation and question. Vegeta chuckled, running a comforting hand along the younger man's body. "Yes, I stayed."

"Why?"

Why indeed? That's a good question. I despise weakness. "I felt like it." I am not sure who this is. He is not so emotionless as Kuroichi, but not nearly as emotional as Kakarot. Goku. Argh! I am confusing myself!

The two lay quietly, with Kuroichi burrowed under Vegeta's chin, curled against him. Gradually, Kuroichi relaxed. Vegeta grunted a little, rearranging himself more comfortably as the taller man unwound from the ball he'd managed to get himself into. "'Geta?"

"Now what?"

"I want to go home."

"Goku…" Vegeta whispered.

"I want to go home, 'Geta, I want to go home… but I'm dead. I can't go home, can I?"

Vegeta felt the warm wetness of fresh tears against his throat. "I can take you home."

"Will everyone love me? Will they know me? You know they won't. You know they think I died. I sent Chi-Chi her ring back. I killed myself. Kuroichi… take him home with you 'Geta. But don't forget me. Let me stay beautiful. Let me die innocent."

Vegeta barely understood the last breathy whisper. He pulled the young Saiyan closer. "I will."

--------------------------

Goku: Huh?

Vegeta: I don't get it.

Jewel: Well, I do. I think. Kuroichi moves to Capsule Corp.!

Goku: But… I don't want to die!

Vegeta: You aren't dead.

Goku: *reads, points* See! I don't want to die!

Jewel: Goku, relax. It's a very complicated emotional issue.

Goku: I hate complicated things. Math is bad enough.

Jewel: *remembers Goku subtracting one from sixteen* Um, yeah.

Vegeta: I am being a wimp again.

Jewel: You are gaining a personal servant completely devoted to you.

Vegeta: J Oh! *evil snicker*

Jewel: … hehe… bad boy!

Goku: Huh?