The Snowy Mountains of Rogue City
Vegetto's stone like expression had remained in the small pause that followed his question. The firm eyes stared down the possessed Wordplay throughout, but his attention was not on the man nor on anything else in particular. The unmoving expression covered the resonating fear and desperation to avoid the impending response. Clark's devastating and complete refusal to accept the Potara's fusion stance moments ago planted doubt that the friendship could remain intact. And once again, Vegetto had failed to uphold a commitment to someone.
The promise to be the best he could be to his wife died with Kassava against Doom's death beam. The commitment to save the Breakers, destroyed by his own hands in a misguided, selfish need to be superior. And freshly, the death of Gogeta because the man had supported Vegetto's own twisted need for validation. All lost, because of his own inability to be the force needed to save them.
What would come next would be the breaking point in his mind, imagining the next steps that would follow his posed question. Clark would shun him, proclaim that he was too far gone to save. And in the interest of self preservation, Vegetto would have to kill Clark as a symbol of the ruined friendship. With the Kryptonian's death, Vegetto would have to kill Cayde as well because the android wouldn't accept any valid reason for killing Clark. After that, there would be no one left; even if he survived a battle with the Breakers or the Red King, he wouldn't have anyone in the Vortex that truly believed in him or loved him. Vegetto kept his stone expression through his warrior mentality at the thought of facing that emptiness alone. His walls continued to build and rise, preparing for the inevitable damnation that awaited him.
However, the answer from Clark pierced through the stone instantly; Vegetto's eyes twitching. His breath hitched as he nearly stumbled forward with Clark; a sea of warmth washing over him and destroying the cold walls entirely. His lips quivered heavily as Vegetto tightly shut his eyes; a couple strands of tears rolling down the sides of his cheeks as the emotion came out entirely against his will.
Vegetto sobbed a bit, his legs shaking slightly at the overwhelming notion that Clark still valued him as a friend. That despite Vegetto's overwhelming domination of his own universe, he finally had achieved a single true victory for himself here in the strange Reality Vortex after being demolished in nearly every way. He felt himself slipping, hanging on for dear life to the friendship that he put trust and effort into. And even though he had no one to blame for the state of desperation other than himself, Vegetto still felt the sense of success when Clark decided to defend that bond than let Vegetto fall to his doom.
Vegetto slowly opened his eyes, his gaze on the remaining snow on the mountainside. His eyes were still watery, a small warm smile forming on his face but avoiding Clark's stare in a mixture of embarrassment and deep thought; his dual voice cracking a bit in his raw emotion.
"...thank you, Clark...thank you..."
The example given by Clark moved Vegetto even more; when things got dangerous and rough, Clark chose to give up his own beliefs and defend the friendship. It would inconvenience Clark's beliefs, but the Kryptonian chose to uplift Vegetto just like the Potara fusion was literally doing now for Clark. Vegetto thought of it deeply; realizing that his own convenience would be in abandoning Clark to save himself.
He deserves better than that...
Vegetto's mind lamented slowly on the fallen, and of the Breakers themselves.
They all deserve better than that.
Vegetto lifted his eyes up to the possessed Wordplay again, the intense glare returning. Whoever had spoken to them was not to be taken lightly in the Potara fusion's eyes and while the figure possessed no innate presence of intimidation, Vegetto considered the figure a glaring threat. The Potara fusion could leave, his objective to save Clark and get the Kryptonian to safety his top priority. However, whoever held Wordplay was still at play, and Vegetto needed to get the Air Dancer's coin to prevent it from being used in the Red King's army yet again.
Vegetto frowned at the lack of control in the situation with this new imposing figure; the danger clear in his mind. He never once faced a truly powerful being above his strength in his universe, but the more time spent in the Vortex, the more he felt his confidence slip. Against Doom, he ignored it entirely because his own confidence in himself had blinded him until it was too late. Against Zenta, he had his confidence waver slightly but his first battle with the beast and his new abilities empowered his belief in himself ever so slightly. Against Lucifer and Bernkastel, he knew deep down he was outclassed but perhaps, welcomed the demise they would inflict on him after he gave it his all.
And now standing face to face with this new mysterious identity, Vegetto felt the self confidence finally slip away entirely. He could no longer empower his pride as he did before: the aforementioned scenarios widdling down his belief until nothing was left. The urge to turn tail and flee with Clark grew ever stronger, as Vegetto searched for that power to do what needed to be done. He thought of how Clark and Cayde both needed him to survive in this moment, the strength to move forward beginning to rise within. Vegetto dug deeper, and with one heavy breath of air inhaled in his nose, he found the resolution in his next thought as the coin in his glove trickled down into his palm while he clenched his fist.
Kass...Gogeta...I do this for you.
A small half smirk formed on his face, Vegetto cocking his head at the final addendum.
And yes...even for all of you...Breakers.
Vegetto took one step forward, his dual voice raising to address the figure in his speech while he held tightly onto Clark.
"You're right. I thought I could be the hero that everyone needed...but the truth is I can't."
The Potara fusion's eyebrows sharpened slightly.
"I ain't a hero of justice...but if you threaten my friends..."
The silver gleam illuminated Vegetto's pupils; a strong glow unlike his previous transformations present as he stared down the entity.
"I'll make you pay."
Vegetto's stone like expression had remained in the small pause that followed his question. The firm eyes stared down the possessed Wordplay throughout, but his attention was not on the man nor on anything else in particular. The unmoving expression covered the resonating fear and desperation to avoid the impending response. Clark's devastating and complete refusal to accept the Potara's fusion stance moments ago planted doubt that the friendship could remain intact. And once again, Vegetto had failed to uphold a commitment to someone.
The promise to be the best he could be to his wife died with Kassava against Doom's death beam. The commitment to save the Breakers, destroyed by his own hands in a misguided, selfish need to be superior. And freshly, the death of Gogeta because the man had supported Vegetto's own twisted need for validation. All lost, because of his own inability to be the force needed to save them.
What would come next would be the breaking point in his mind, imagining the next steps that would follow his posed question. Clark would shun him, proclaim that he was too far gone to save. And in the interest of self preservation, Vegetto would have to kill Clark as a symbol of the ruined friendship. With the Kryptonian's death, Vegetto would have to kill Cayde as well because the android wouldn't accept any valid reason for killing Clark. After that, there would be no one left; even if he survived a battle with the Breakers or the Red King, he wouldn't have anyone in the Vortex that truly believed in him or loved him. Vegetto kept his stone expression through his warrior mentality at the thought of facing that emptiness alone. His walls continued to build and rise, preparing for the inevitable damnation that awaited him.
However, the answer from Clark pierced through the stone instantly; Vegetto's eyes twitching. His breath hitched as he nearly stumbled forward with Clark; a sea of warmth washing over him and destroying the cold walls entirely. His lips quivered heavily as Vegetto tightly shut his eyes; a couple strands of tears rolling down the sides of his cheeks as the emotion came out entirely against his will.
Vegetto sobbed a bit, his legs shaking slightly at the overwhelming notion that Clark still valued him as a friend. That despite Vegetto's overwhelming domination of his own universe, he finally had achieved a single true victory for himself here in the strange Reality Vortex after being demolished in nearly every way. He felt himself slipping, hanging on for dear life to the friendship that he put trust and effort into. And even though he had no one to blame for the state of desperation other than himself, Vegetto still felt the sense of success when Clark decided to defend that bond than let Vegetto fall to his doom.
Vegetto slowly opened his eyes, his gaze on the remaining snow on the mountainside. His eyes were still watery, a small warm smile forming on his face but avoiding Clark's stare in a mixture of embarrassment and deep thought; his dual voice cracking a bit in his raw emotion.
"...thank you, Clark...thank you..."
The example given by Clark moved Vegetto even more; when things got dangerous and rough, Clark chose to give up his own beliefs and defend the friendship. It would inconvenience Clark's beliefs, but the Kryptonian chose to uplift Vegetto just like the Potara fusion was literally doing now for Clark. Vegetto thought of it deeply; realizing that his own convenience would be in abandoning Clark to save himself.
He deserves better than that...
Vegetto's mind lamented slowly on the fallen, and of the Breakers themselves.
They all deserve better than that.
Vegetto lifted his eyes up to the possessed Wordplay again, the intense glare returning. Whoever had spoken to them was not to be taken lightly in the Potara fusion's eyes and while the figure possessed no innate presence of intimidation, Vegetto considered the figure a glaring threat. The Potara fusion could leave, his objective to save Clark and get the Kryptonian to safety his top priority. However, whoever held Wordplay was still at play, and Vegetto needed to get the Air Dancer's coin to prevent it from being used in the Red King's army yet again.
Vegetto frowned at the lack of control in the situation with this new imposing figure; the danger clear in his mind. He never once faced a truly powerful being above his strength in his universe, but the more time spent in the Vortex, the more he felt his confidence slip. Against Doom, he ignored it entirely because his own confidence in himself had blinded him until it was too late. Against Zenta, he had his confidence waver slightly but his first battle with the beast and his new abilities empowered his belief in himself ever so slightly. Against Lucifer and Bernkastel, he knew deep down he was outclassed but perhaps, welcomed the demise they would inflict on him after he gave it his all.
And now standing face to face with this new mysterious identity, Vegetto felt the self confidence finally slip away entirely. He could no longer empower his pride as he did before: the aforementioned scenarios widdling down his belief until nothing was left. The urge to turn tail and flee with Clark grew ever stronger, as Vegetto searched for that power to do what needed to be done. He thought of how Clark and Cayde both needed him to survive in this moment, the strength to move forward beginning to rise within. Vegetto dug deeper, and with one heavy breath of air inhaled in his nose, he found the resolution in his next thought as the coin in his glove trickled down into his palm while he clenched his fist.
Kass...Gogeta...I do this for you.
A small half smirk formed on his face, Vegetto cocking his head at the final addendum.
And yes...even for all of you...Breakers.
Vegetto took one step forward, his dual voice raising to address the figure in his speech while he held tightly onto Clark.
"You're right. I thought I could be the hero that everyone needed...but the truth is I can't."
The Potara fusion's eyebrows sharpened slightly.
"I ain't a hero of justice...but if you threaten my friends..."
The silver gleam illuminated Vegetto's pupils; a strong glow unlike his previous transformations present as he stared down the entity.
"I'll make you pay."
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