06-06-2008, 03:25 AM
Bardock couldn’t stop howling. There was more than a good chance somebody was going to hear him, but he didn’t care. Woe betide the poor fool who found him in this state. No sleep was going to come to him tonight.
That wasn’t how it was supposed to go. That wasn’t how it was supposed to be. He hadn’t meant for things to turn out this way. The first time…the first time he’d turned the axe on her, it had been an accident. He had been so intent on watching his own back, so alert for the presence of danger, that he’d forgotten she was with him. Except the fear in her eyes had been real enough. Bardock had been up front since the beginning that things would be hectic, but he had always intended to state his objective if it came down to that. Of course, the second time, the fighter had been aiming to kill, his mind separating the two. He didn’t see that as the mistake…the mistake was trying to open up about it afterwards. All he’d been attempting to do was to communicate, to prove to himself that she was going to be different, but she wasn’t. How could he have expected her to be? Maybe this was why saiya-jins were only meant to live on Vegeta-sei.
It’s just a fucking game! his mind screamed. It doesn’t mean a damn thing!
This was supposed to be release, just a little fun before you moved on with the rest of your life. Maybe you dug the prize, the title, the fame, maybe you dug the thrill of the hunt. Either way, it was an indulgence that for one reason or another they’d all entered of their own free will.
Bardock smashed his fist into a tree, the trunk splintering and cracking all the way up and down. The fighter couldn’t even figure out how the pair had made it past the first day. It all seemed like a good idea back on the ship, all that time ago. There, things had been awkward, but he had felt something. Here, they didn’t make sense. They were complete opposites: different ideals, different methods of approach. Just too different.
So why didn’t he pack up and leave, and go his own way?
Because you’ve already made your decision…
No matter how much things didn’t make sense, and no matter how unlikely his choices had been, he’d pulled her up from the edge of the cliff, and he’d parted out some of his medical supplies so she could have a better chance of defending herself, even after trying to kill her. Bardock wasn’t going to go back on his code: if it came down to it, if it was only the two of them, then he would make the executive decision. Until then, he was just going to have to do his best to make it work. Things were broken, and he didn’t know how to fix them. Violet annoyed the hell out of him, he didn’t understand her, she didn’t understand him, they were both angry at each other now, and none of this made sense. He spoke truthfully, he didn’t need her there. The second half of the equation was just missing. He didn’t need her there, but…he wanted her there. That had been all he was trying to say. And the human had spat in his face, made him feel like a fool for even bothering.
The warrior stopped, having gone far enough. What lay before him was tempting: emptiness, freedom. However, he couldn’t walk the path, if only because he’d left his weapon and supplies back at the camp. Bardock’s hardened features softened. He wasn’t giving up this time. He turned around, looking at the path of destruction he’d carved. Most of it, he didn’t even remember, he had been so furious. Slowly and silently, the bronze bruiser made his way back to camp. Immediately, he noticed that Violet had fallen asleep by herself. The saiyan shook his head. Sleep was a necessity, he couldn’t deny that. Out here, there were certain precautions that needed to be taken. No doubt, she was just as exhausted as he from their blow-out.
He approached her a little closer, foot cracking across a branch next to her head. Instantly, Bardock paused, but she did not arise. Even worse. If he had intended on attacking her, she would have been dead in less than a second. Fortunately, that was not his purpose. Violet was sopping wet, threatening exposure. Geez, it was one mistake after another. Still somewhat angry, Bardock nonetheless went to his pack and produced a blanket he’d pilfered from the sporting goods store. At the time, he had only predicted taking care of himself, so he’d only grabbed one, but somebody needed to keep watch and the male was not going to be making use of it tonight. The sun was scheduled to rise soon, and at that point, they were better off on the move.
Bardock draped the blanket over her unconscious form and went to retrieve his axe, still embedded in the tree. He stoked the fire, reviving its dying flames, and settled himself in for the remainder of the night. His rage had not completely dissipated, as it was never that easy. Because of what had happened, there was no longer a chance of eliminating the doubts and distractions that plagued their pairing. Bardock could only try his damndest not to let that affect his fate in this tournament.
As he stared into the distance, eyes alert for intruders, he wondered what it was about her that compelled him to care at all.
That wasn’t how it was supposed to go. That wasn’t how it was supposed to be. He hadn’t meant for things to turn out this way. The first time…the first time he’d turned the axe on her, it had been an accident. He had been so intent on watching his own back, so alert for the presence of danger, that he’d forgotten she was with him. Except the fear in her eyes had been real enough. Bardock had been up front since the beginning that things would be hectic, but he had always intended to state his objective if it came down to that. Of course, the second time, the fighter had been aiming to kill, his mind separating the two. He didn’t see that as the mistake…the mistake was trying to open up about it afterwards. All he’d been attempting to do was to communicate, to prove to himself that she was going to be different, but she wasn’t. How could he have expected her to be? Maybe this was why saiya-jins were only meant to live on Vegeta-sei.
It’s just a fucking game! his mind screamed. It doesn’t mean a damn thing!
This was supposed to be release, just a little fun before you moved on with the rest of your life. Maybe you dug the prize, the title, the fame, maybe you dug the thrill of the hunt. Either way, it was an indulgence that for one reason or another they’d all entered of their own free will.
Bardock smashed his fist into a tree, the trunk splintering and cracking all the way up and down. The fighter couldn’t even figure out how the pair had made it past the first day. It all seemed like a good idea back on the ship, all that time ago. There, things had been awkward, but he had felt something. Here, they didn’t make sense. They were complete opposites: different ideals, different methods of approach. Just too different.
So why didn’t he pack up and leave, and go his own way?
Because you’ve already made your decision…
No matter how much things didn’t make sense, and no matter how unlikely his choices had been, he’d pulled her up from the edge of the cliff, and he’d parted out some of his medical supplies so she could have a better chance of defending herself, even after trying to kill her. Bardock wasn’t going to go back on his code: if it came down to it, if it was only the two of them, then he would make the executive decision. Until then, he was just going to have to do his best to make it work. Things were broken, and he didn’t know how to fix them. Violet annoyed the hell out of him, he didn’t understand her, she didn’t understand him, they were both angry at each other now, and none of this made sense. He spoke truthfully, he didn’t need her there. The second half of the equation was just missing. He didn’t need her there, but…he wanted her there. That had been all he was trying to say. And the human had spat in his face, made him feel like a fool for even bothering.
The warrior stopped, having gone far enough. What lay before him was tempting: emptiness, freedom. However, he couldn’t walk the path, if only because he’d left his weapon and supplies back at the camp. Bardock’s hardened features softened. He wasn’t giving up this time. He turned around, looking at the path of destruction he’d carved. Most of it, he didn’t even remember, he had been so furious. Slowly and silently, the bronze bruiser made his way back to camp. Immediately, he noticed that Violet had fallen asleep by herself. The saiyan shook his head. Sleep was a necessity, he couldn’t deny that. Out here, there were certain precautions that needed to be taken. No doubt, she was just as exhausted as he from their blow-out.
He approached her a little closer, foot cracking across a branch next to her head. Instantly, Bardock paused, but she did not arise. Even worse. If he had intended on attacking her, she would have been dead in less than a second. Fortunately, that was not his purpose. Violet was sopping wet, threatening exposure. Geez, it was one mistake after another. Still somewhat angry, Bardock nonetheless went to his pack and produced a blanket he’d pilfered from the sporting goods store. At the time, he had only predicted taking care of himself, so he’d only grabbed one, but somebody needed to keep watch and the male was not going to be making use of it tonight. The sun was scheduled to rise soon, and at that point, they were better off on the move.
Bardock draped the blanket over her unconscious form and went to retrieve his axe, still embedded in the tree. He stoked the fire, reviving its dying flames, and settled himself in for the remainder of the night. His rage had not completely dissipated, as it was never that easy. Because of what had happened, there was no longer a chance of eliminating the doubts and distractions that plagued their pairing. Bardock could only try his damndest not to let that affect his fate in this tournament.
As he stared into the distance, eyes alert for intruders, he wondered what it was about her that compelled him to care at all.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
_=Pass you by, it's all in this life you have
Pass you by, good-bye to you=_
Pass you by, good-bye to you=_