RENEGADE ;

     as much as his conscious tried to convince him that he shouldn’t be doing this, his body just wouldn’t succumb to thought and mind. as though muscles and limbs were running on autopilot. onyx hues scan over his features, admiring each inch of zarbon’s face as though he were admiring a work of art. he truly was beautiful, wasn’t he? astonishing he’s only just now taking time out to realize that. 

     the warrior tenses up for a moment, tail flicking side to side as zarbon holds his chin in place. breath hitched in his lungs. he should pull away, he should leave and be done. but.. for the life of him, he can’t. bardock’s been enchanted, lids narrowing as he leans back in return. lips meeting one another in the middle for a delicate kiss. tail swishing around behind him, putting his excitement on full display for the other to witness.

    – That was easy for him to say, wasn’t it? He wasn’t the one constantly messing up, looking stupid in front of his family. That plate was part of a set– one of the few things that mom had left behind when she went away! And like an idiot, Jeice had broken it. His sobbing doesn’t cease, but instead Jeice leans closer to Bardock, hiding his face upon the other’s leg. ❛ “M– I’m sorry, I– I. I messed up. ❜

      the saiyan’s tail slips down to wrap around his waist and lift him up more to his height, still trying to soothe the child caressing his mess of snow white hair. he wasn’t sure who had the most hair sometimes, him or raditz? both were almost impossible to maintain. 

     ❝ hey -- don’t cry, accident’s happen. ❞ bardock reaches down to ruffle white locks. it wasn’t anything major, just a broken plate but the boy was a bit more emotional than most. it didn’t take much to set him off into a fit of sobs and sniffles. nothing he didn’t know how to fix, though. ❝ s’alright. don’t worry about it, okay? ❞

    Sure, he had killed people before– but he had never actually killed someone. It was never anything personal– those just destroyed beneath the rubble of their cities as Jeice and his teammates carried out Lord Frieza’s requests. Never did he ever see any of their faces– never did he have to think twice about his actions, see the terror in another being’s eyes. There was a disconnect. It made his work easy; guiltless.

    ❛ FUCKING GET AWAY FROM ME! ❜ he nearly screeches, stumbling as he is released from the Saiyan’s grip. Now, there was panic in his eyes, chest rising and falling with every manic breath.

    ❛ You. You have some fuckin’ balls, mate. ❜

     ❝ s’what i thought.. ❞ there’s no victorious expression on the saiyan’s face, nor a hint of a regret for his actions. emotionless for the most part, accompanied by the iced glare in his eyes. he’s seen a lot, and much of it’s desensitized him to violence. his only real concern is that his children would share the same fate. 

    His breath is quick to escape him– leaving in a quick, startled gasp as Bardock makes the first move. He was gonna shoot! He really was! His nerves were just getting to him, he–!      – He finds himself struggling beneath the Saiyan’s grip, the initial shock draining all his strength momentarily, as if he had completely forgotten how to use his power beneath the stress of his nerves. Trembling, he thrashes around– much like a small animal in one’s palm, head ducked below his arm and heels digging into the dirt.

    ❛ Let GO, bastard! Do you know who I bloody am?! ❜

     one of the ginyu force, that’s who he was --- god knows how, though. he’s so young, of course bardock had no intentions of hurting him. but if he’s going to threaten him, he needed to be able to back it up. 

    ❛ Tch! You must be real ballsy if you think that’s gonna threaten me! Or real pathetic! ❜ an uncertain laugh, curtained with a false sense of confidence. He wasn’t holding the gun up, yet– no, but instead keeps it in his clutch at his hip, sweat balling on the back of his knuckles. He hated this Saiyan’s words! How dare he tries to make a fool of Jeice! Does he even know who he’s talking to?!

   Suddenly, the gun’s raised, Jeice positioned with his feet far apart, both hands tightly upon the grip. Fine– this guy wanted to dance? Two can tango.

   ❛ Right, you monkey bastard! You asked for this! ❜

     ❝ what’re you waiting for? i’m right here. ❞ steps continued. slowly but surely closing the gap between the two men. at this point, he’d have to be the absolute worst shot in the universe to miss from such close range. ❝ i’ve seen a lot scarier things in life than some kid with a gun. ❞ 

     high speed reflexes let bardock reach out and snatch his wrist, tugging the firearm upwards and pointing it at the sky’s above. he’s not going to pull anything, if he was bardock wouldn’t have gotten this close.

     ❝ no, but if you pull a gun on me, you better be ready to shoot it. ❞ onyx eyes stare daggers, legs marching himself closer and closer to potential death without a care in the world. truthfully, bardock wasn’t scared to die --- he’s a low class warrior, the first thrown into battle and the most expected to perish in combat. death had lost its grip on him after years and years of war. ❝ if you’re going to threaten me, you better be able to back it up. so shoot. ❞

“I was a child then, father. The boy is now an adult. And he’s running around in a bright green tunic and clunky helmet doing Ginyu-esque poses. How are you not feeling any second hand embarrassment?”

Might the narrator continue to bring up the stupid names he’s made for his attacks? Like Vacation Delete?

“My nephew has grown up to basically be Ginyu now oh gods-”

Raditz. You have no right to talk, Mister Double Sunday.

     breathing halts for a second as he feels his hand move to grasp his chin so carefully. light red dusting his cheeks and nose, brows furrowing in zarbon’s direction. unsure of what’s prompted such a question, bardock’s left with nowhere else to go. he might as well just answer the question.❝ ... you’re --- a valiant combatant. tough, for someone so graceful. i.. hmn..❞ a frustrated huff escapes the saiyan, too lost for words to really continue on. he’s not good at this whole thing.

    There wasn’t much that Zarbon hadn’t expected– yet, at the same time, he had been caught completely off-guard with this. Zarbon had still ( somehow ) expected Bardock to easily be able to undress himself– as if that was such a feat; but it seemed that Bardock was a little bit more worse-off than he expected.

    ❛ It does seem to be that way, ❜ Zarbon hums, back curving slightly to be at the Saiyan’s level. ❛ Well, we can’t just have you shower clothed, can we? ❜ A soft chuckle, and he pulls Bardock’s arms gently away from his body.

    ❛ It seems I have to do everything around here, don’t I… ❜

    And with that, Zarbon clutched the armor, and began to pull upwards.

    ❛ Do you need to be carried? It almost seems as if you’re going to collapse. I’m doubtful I’d catch you if you fell, however, ❜ he didn’t even wish he was joking– rather entertained by the thought, he gives a small huff, continuing to slowly, gently lead the other. It wasn’t much of a walk, and even Zarbon had begun to consider how he might need another, anyhow– blood upon his hands had never been something desirable, especially with how it dried and cracked..

     ❝ m’fine. ❞ he wouldn’t let his pride fall over some sore muscles! he’s supposed to be strong, damn it. lips snarl a little, teeth baring as he embraces the pain. fortunately, he’s lead to the bath without having to be carried. it’s.. much nicer than what he was used to. sometimes on long missions he wouldn’t be able to bathe for weeks.. bardock’s a little eager to get in.

    ❛ … I would hardly call communal bathing a luxury. I don’t think you actually understand what a bath house is, ❜ he would sigh, shaking his head. ❛ How absolutely silly. Oh, well. It doesn’t matter. ❜     Noticing the other’s slight wince, a hand guides itself to Bardock’s back, in almost a supportive, guiding manner. ❛ I would hope it isn’t. I don’t just do this for anyone. ❜