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Vegeta was the one who suggested Gohan’s involvement in the first place. The boy's power was undeniable. And although the older Saiyan could not understand what reason the halfling had to pursue earthling ambitions over tapping into that power, he had grown to respect Gohan’s power and intelligence.
The kid had grown up and chosen his path.
But seeing him on the ship, shoulders hunched in and gaze unseeing, the pieces of the puzzle slowly started to come together.
He thought back to the Cell Games so long ago. It took so much goading and antagonizing for the kid to bring out his inner power. And then back to Frieza. He was a saiyan alright, his power was enormous and his rage red hot. But these traits clashed completely with his human nature, more so than he had seen in his own son, or even Kakarot’s other brat, Goten.
Trunks was excited by the competition in fighting. Not as much as himself or Kakarot, but there was a sense of enjoyment in sparring, in technique. Vegeta was not blind, he knew much of that was his son’s desire to spend time and bond with him, but Trunks did not have the fear of his own potential that Gohan had. Nor did he have an intense violence bursting beneath the surface. Gohan had only scratched the surface of his potential, that was obvious to anyone. But he had no desire to see what was inside.
Fuck it. His time on earth had made him soft, he knew it. But Gohan was one of their strongest fighters, if something was bothering him, it might affect his performance in the tournament. And with so much at stake, that was the last thing he needed.
Vegeta came up right next to the half saiyan and took a seat. The ship's engine hummed lowly in the background.
“Planning strategies?”
Gohan’s eyes snapped to Vegeta as if startled. “Oh, hi Vegeta.”
“Ready to represent the Saiyan race?” No one could accuse Vegeta of not trying.
“Yeah, sure.” Gohan placed his head in his hands, his elbows sinking past his knees as a sigh weaved through his body, making it’s way through his chest, rounding out his back, before flowing out of him again.
Vegeta just sat there for a bit, unsure of what to say.
“I’m so mad at him.” Gohan finally said after a few moments passed.
The older Saiyan didn’t need to ask who he was talking about. Although Vegeta was always down for a challenge, he too was angry at Kakarot for the way this had come about.
“It’s senseless. And now my family and everyone on Earth is in danger,” Gohan clenched his fist. His ki rose slightly, emanating from his body. It had been a while since Vegeta had seen this side of Gohan. “And I don’t know what to do.”
“You have to fight.”
“Because he’s given me no choice.”
“I fail to see the issue. You’ve fought these battles before, with stakes just as large.”
Gohan turned to him and lifted a brow.
“There’s eight universes, Vegeta, each with people and families. And I have to fight them, and destroy them. And I will, because I have something to protect. But they do too, and it isn’t fair. It’s senseless, and I can’t help but be angry.” His body tensed, as if ready to get up, but then he released it. “I can’t even look at him. I know he’s a saiyan and fighting is in his blood, but I never thought that would cloud his judgment like this. That he would put us in this level of danger.”
“You’re a saiyan too, surely you’ve felt those urges for power.” Vegeta had no desire to defend Kakarot, but found himself doing so anyway. It also wasn’t lost on him that he also had his fair share of putting people in danger for the challenge of a good fight. “Our species is a predatory one. It’s in our nature to seek the challenge of a battle. That same blood is what has kept you alive for so long, Gohan.”
“I don’t want it,” he whispered lowly, and stood up to leave.
Something dark rumbled within Vegeta at that moment. He got up and pushed Gohan back down on the bench. Vegeta leaned over him, their eyes meeting, and pushed a finger into his chest.
“Your power is a gift! Do not ever reject or rebuke it. Within you lies the power of millenia of Saiyan warriors. Had we been back on our planet, such a statement would be treason.” He yelled through gritted teeth. Vegeta would have killed for such potential, had killed to gain the power that Gohan would so carelessly cast aside.
“It’s an honor to serve your people and your planet! It’s a privilege to be able to protect your family. Do you know how many soldiers have died helplessly, begging the universe for even a fraction of that power you take for granted?”
Gohan stood up and towered over the prince. “You think I don’t know that? But I can’t take pride in this Vegeta! Not in this battle, when I have just as much at stake as anyone else. These aren’t bad guys like Cell or Frieza. And I have to annihilate them, and live with that.”
“If they sense weakness in you, they won’t hesitate to kill you.”
“I know that!”
“They’ll destroy you, the earth, and everyone on it.”
“I know!”
“Your father, your mother, your woman and child.”
His hair stood upright as power surged around him. “I said I know! But how will I hold my daughter in my arms with so much blood on my hands.”
Gohan’s chest heaved up and down as he struggled to rein himself in.
And there it was, the furious depths hidden right under the surface. In that moment, Vegeta understood the curse that lay within Gohan. Even with everything at stake, the thought of shedding blood, of giving into his body’s urges to fight is entirely at odds with his inner nature. He was both demon and angel. Both bringer of death and protector of life.
“Use that, Gohan. You don’t fight for competition or skill. But there is no shame in fighting to protect that which you care about. There’s honor in it. Make sure your daughter will never have to make those choices.”
He stood in front of the younger warrior who had so long ago gained his respect. Slowly, Gohan’s breathing leveled out, and he met Vegeta’s gaze evenly.
“I’ll make sure Pan never carries this burden.”
Vegeta saw flames in the younger saiyan’s eyes.