𝓢𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼 x

Chapter 26

Not liking the awkward silence between them, Goku cleared his throat and smiled over at Tarble who remained frozen in shock. Trunks glanced around the place in silence whilst clinging tightly onto Tarble, a heavy tension occupied the room and calmly Goku took a step forward whilst peering back at Vegeta who too remained frozen on the spot.

"How have you been?" Goku asked he wasn't certain what else to say, he was just as stunned to see Tarble as it had been a while since he last heard from him.

"Get out," Tarble said in an indistinct voice, his eyes remained fixed on Vegeta stood behind Goku.

"What?" Vegeta responded and stepped forward, he frowned as Tarble took a step backward whilst holding Trunks closer to him.

"I said get out!" Tarble yelled, tears rolled down his cheeks as he kept his glare on his brother. He shook his head at Vegeta as he gave him an obscure look, "are you deaf? Get out!." He exclaimed.

Trunks tugged at his dads top with a worry etched on his face, "daddy they are friends."

"Tarble, what's wrong?" Goku asked whilst he tried to edge himself closer in hope to console him.But each slight step forward he had made caused Tarble to take a wide stride back.

"Just get out!" Tarble reiterated as he raced down the corridor with Goku and Vegeta pursuing him with worry expression. Tarble dashed into a room, and locked himself in with Trunks who kept questioning what was going on.

Vegeta felt his heart constrict, as he leaned against the door with Goku listening to his brother crying the other side of the door. Overwhelmed by his brother's reaction he wasn't sure what he could do or say that would help, guilt wracked his body as he hadn't stayed in contact after moving away. He slumped down by the door listening to his brother sobbing whilst Trunks questioning why he was upset. It crushed his heart hearing his brother sounding so upset, and he felt quite helpless.

Goku pressed his lips together staring down at Vegeta slumped against the door, he drew in a sharp breath and tapped on the door. "Tarble, what's wrong?"

Vegeta could hear Tarble speaking to someone, he glanced up at Goku exchanging the same curious look as they pressed their ear against the door to listen. Tarble's voice was muffled and what they could make out between the faint voice and sobs was him pleading for Raditz to come home. Goku leaned back from the door and softly tapped on the door again.  Vegeta frowned listening to his brother sobbing from the other side of the door, he rose to his feet and pulled Goku back from the door.

"Tarble, it's me your brother please talk to me, I don't understand why you are being like this?"

"Go away, just go away Vegeta!" Tarble croaked.

"Why do you want me to leave?"

"Because I hate you, I despise you both, you both left me there to rot and suffer!"

Vegeta pressed his head against the door, forcing back his tears as he listened to his brother crying. He could hear Trunks starting to cry alongside his dad, which left him feeling more helpless.

"You left me there Vegeta, you left me with her and your little gang of friends who saw me as their new target. I hate you." Tarble croaked before he started to calm his son down.

Those three words were as if someone had stabbed him in the heart. He believed he warranted it; he deserved any kind of hatred from his family. Even if it was from his brother, he failed at protecting his brother. Realisition surged in, all the insults he had endured from his stepmother, Tarble had probably gone through too. He dropped onto his knees, looking at the door. Within an instant he felt Goku's arms wrap around him from behind to comfort him. Still looking at the door, Vegeta processed what his brother had said not only had he dealt with their step mother, but he was tormented by the gang who he hung out with. His brother had evidently suffered a lot, and the fact he had been alone during that hit Vegeta hard. Tears glistened down his cheek. His brother said he hated them both and as he heard Goku humming into his ear in attempts to calm him. He realised it wasn't his boyfriend Tarble was referring to; it was himself and Bulma as they had left him to fend for himself. At that moment all went still, no sobs, voices, just silence that dawdled in the air, thick and heavy, like a blanket. The silence gnawed at his insides.The silence was like a gaping void, desiring to be filled with sounds, words, anything. The longer no words were uttered, the more of that heavy feeling was felt in the pit of his stomach. The silence was shattered by a raucous slam of the front door that caused Vegeta and Goku to jolt up.

"Tarble where are you?!" bellowed a familiar voice.

Frantic foot steps made their way towards their direction causing the two to look over and notice Raditz stood by the entrance of the corridor. Tarble could be heard starting to break down again, Raditz face contorted from worry to fury as he glowered at Vegeta and Goku.

"What did you two do to him?" Raditz asked in a low and sharp tone.

Vegeta's heart stuttered, as he gaped at Raditz uncertain what to say. His mind overflowed with regrets, and he noticed Goku still had his arms around him that caused him to nudge him off. His body trembling due to the tensed atmosphere . A gentle palm rested on his shoulder assuring him he was safe, he tried to slap the hand back but deep down he knew that he needed that comfort.

Goku looked back at his brother and lightly squeezed Vegeta's shoulder reminding him that he was safe, "we didn't do anything, Vegeta and I were talking in the kitchen and then Tarble arrived, when he saw Vegeta he got very upset."

Raditz pursed his lips. His expression softened as he gave the two a curt nod and gestured for them to step aside as he knocked on the door. "Tarble open up, it's me,"  the door swung open, Tarble leaped towards him hugging him tightly with Trunks. Raditz held them into a comforting embrace "it's okay" he soothed and glanced back at his brother and Vegeta. "Mind waiting in the living room?"

Vegeta followed Goku into the living room, leaving Raditz to console his brother. His mind raced, processing all the information on how his brother reacted and what he had told him. If only he was there to protect his brother against his old group of friends and their stepmother, sadness and regret consumed him and it ached so much more than physical pain. It was a greater pain that he couldn't even describe it; it was just there and it lingered for a while. Witnessing the way Goku is with his family was something he had always craved himself.  Not long after the two had sat down, Raditz sauntered in and seated on the recliner opposite them with his hands clasped together.

"I got the rest of work off since I said it was an emergency so don't worry about that," Raditz sighed and leaned back on the chair.

Goku looked over at Vegeta sat next to him before glancing back at his brother, "is he okay now?"

Raditz nodded his head and exhaled, "I'm sure you both have some questions, so if you'd like to stay for dinner hopefully Tarble would be in the right frame of mind to talk to you," he drew his attention directly on Vegeta.

Vegeta glanced back at Raditz and let out an audible gulp. His jaw twitched and his chest tightened. All he could do was give a concise nod in response as he tried to remember how to breathe again he dragged his nails along his jeans whilst trying to remain focused.

"You remembered your medication?" Goku leaned in and whispered whilst resting his palm lovingly on top of his.

Vegeta forced a smile knowing Goku meant well. He composed himself withdrawing his hand away from Goku's. "I-I would," he cleared his throat and inhaled deeply before slowly exhaling, "I'm happy to stay for dinner."

"Great, I'll make a start on it shortly. Thank you both for babysitting, sorry about what happened, I'm happy to explain everything." Raditz smiled at the two and stood up from the recliner. "Would you like a drink?"

"Um, I think a glass of water would be fine," Goku grinned and waited for his brother to leave the room, he turned to face Vegeta and held on to his hands. "You're doing great everything will be okay," he soothed as Vegeta stared back at him with tears glistening in his eyes.

"My brother hates me and I don't blame him," his voice trembled as he tried to hold back his tears.

"You don't know that."

Vegeta scrunched his face up at him, "did you not hear what he said?"

Goku opened his mouth about to say something else but could hear his brother strolling back into the room. The two separated their hands and rested back as Raditz walked in and handed the two a glass of water.

"You guys okay?" Raditz asked as he observed the way Vegeta was sat anxiously with tears forming in his eyes.

Goku chewed on his inside cheek as he glanced at Vegeta before letting out a sigh, "I guess we all have something we need to talk about," he glanced back at his brother as Vegeta frowned at him . "Only if it's okay with Vegeta," he averted his eyes back on Vegeta.

Vegeta swallowed the hard lump he felt at the back of his throat. So much was happening all at once, and he knew what Goku was proposing, but he wasn't certain if he was ready.