Rumoosh: This “goku” person is downright despicable.
Gowasu: No no, I’ve met him, he’s a very kind person!
Rumoosh: I don’t exactly trust your judge of character.
The story I wrote this Sunday! Starts with what we already know from the canon, but takes a different path right below the cut.
Comments would be appreciated and constructive criticism is very much welcome! Especially characterization and if there’s anything that sounds plain weird from the reader’s perspective.
Featuring: Zamasu, Beerus, Whis, Gowasu, Rumoosh, universe 10 angel; Shin gets that one sentence that’s just enough for me to feel guilty not mentioning him; Grand priest is mentioned only
“Don’t get cocky.”
Suddenly Beerus was there, firmly clutching his hand. He was fast - too fast for Zamasu to react in time, which itself was a surprise. Zamasu gulped. Nothing good could come out of that. He felt cold drops of sweat running down his temples as the other threateningly stretched a hand in front of his face, but did not look away.
For a few seconds - long, terrifying seconds - they stared into eachother’s eyes without a word. The world went completely still.
“Pardon me, Beerus-sama.”
Whis’ voice broke the tension, and Zamasu dared to breathe again.
“Perhaps it would be better if we leave this matter to the tenth universe’s own deities. Else it could be seen as meddling.”
“mm, why should I? Now that I have him right where I want him? He threatened our universe first. - besides, we’ve already started this - meddling as you call it - when we prevented the old guy’s death. Gotta finish what we started, eh?”
“True, but it’s an entirely different thing. Now that we’ve warned Gowasu-sama, he should know how to handle the situation properly.” He glanced towards the Kaioshin, who nodded. “But actually killing a Kai could even be considered a dangerous intrusion.”
”Hmph.” Beerus lowered his one hand, but the other was still grasping Zamasu. “So what do you suggest we do?”
“Inform this universe’s god of destruction, of course. This is his responsibility.”
“And I suppose you then volunteer to go with him to ensure it goes well?”
“But of course, Beerus-sama!”
“Very well then. We will get going... I expect a full report from you later. And don’t take too long.” He brought Zamasu’s hands to eachother for Gowasu to materialize handcuffs on them.
“Good luck,” said Shin quietly, and they were off.
So this is where our god of destruction lives, Zamasu thought. There were many more rocks around than at his home, scattered over the grass in a way that looked random at first, but a careful eye could notice there was a pattern. It created a sort of eerie sense, and Zamasu began to wonder if perhaps things aren’t looking so bad for him. What could happen next? He had no way of telling. The handcuffs were cold on his wrists, reminding him he was still a prisoner. He tried to break them apart.
“I would advise against doing that,” Gowasu said sternly. “They will only get tighter.”
He was right - the handcuffs were magical. Of course they were. Zamasu gave a vengeful glare to his master, who sighed and looked away. A perceptive person could have noticed a great deal of pain in his expression, but Zamasu did not. Or he just didn’t care.
At the temple’s door, a short female angel was already waiting for them. She had felt their arrival and came to greet the guests.
“Gowasu-sama! Whis! What brings you here today?” She hardly even glanced at the god in handcuffs.
“Hello,” Whis said. “We must speak to the god of destruction - it is very important.”
“Oh!” she blinked. “Rumoosh-sama is currently taking a bath, I’m afraid. But - if it’s really important... I guess it can’t be helped. I will let him know.” She spinned on one leg and hurried inside.
“Zamasu,” Gowasu called when she was gone. “Listen. There is still time to repent.”
“Repent? What for?”
Gowasu sighed again, though he couldn’t help but notice his student did not sound as determined as before - slight trembling in his voice, possibly from the fear he’d been through, but not negligible. Was he starting to change his mind, even though he could not yet admit it even to himself?
The short angel was back in a few minutes. “Rumoosh-sama is ready to listen to you. Please come in~”
She spinned around just like before, and they followed her in.
“Is that so?” Rumoosh’s voice was cold and hard. “This Zamasu wanted to appoint himself as the only god, and remove all mortals?”
“Exactly, Rumoosh-sama,” Whis confirmed. “What’s more, he would then go to our seventh universe, and attempt his justice there as well. Then quite possibly all universes would be threatened too.”
Zamasu gulped. The situation wasn’t looking at all good for him. If he had hoped to find understanding and approval at the destruction god, that hope was all but gone now - the tone of his voice and the sternness of his eyes were revealing enough. He couldn’t help but shudder when Rumoosh stood up and approached him.
“Are you afraid now?”
He was. Petrified, in fact. But he did not look away, he put all of his energy into hiding his fear. He could not let the other know how scared he really was. (Not that he was doing too well, though.)
“But you were not afraid when you thought to STICK YOUR DAMN NOSE INTO WHAT IS NOT YOUR JOB, WERE YOU?” His voice got louder and sharper with every word. Zamasu could hardly keep from looking away. This is it. This is the end.
“Um. If you’ll excuse me, Rumoosh-sama...” This time it was Gowasu who interrupted. But unlike the last time, the tension remained.
“Hm?” The elephant-like god was not at all happy about being disrupted.
“Well. I would only like to add - he did not actually succeed at doing any of those things, now. There might still be hope for him.”
“You would defend the one who tried to kill you?”
“Well...”
Zamasu was shocked. Really? Gowasu did not hate him? Did not want to have him gone? Sure, he didn’t mind not being erased, but why would Gowasu ask for him to be spared? After all that happened? He was either very brave or very stupid. Zamasu was leaning towards the latter.
“Hm.” Rumoosh seemed to have the same doubts. “What do you think?” He turned to his angel.
“Well. Killing the gods, invading other universes - those are not light crimes. But... he is still young. So then I will agree with Gowasu-sama that a second chance might be worthwhile. However, we must make sure he doesn’t just wait to execute his plans at a different time. He must be kept in check. Whis?”
“Yes,” Whis nodded, “I like this idea. But what about our culprit?”
Now all eyes were on Zamasu, waiting. For the first time during the trial, he was given a word. This was his chance.
“Mortals fight without cause. Destroy everything they get their hands on. Have no respect for the sacred. They-” he stopped, astonishingly aware the eyes on him were disapproving. Judging. He started to stumble over his words. “Mortals... Justice...”
“Careful now, Zamasu. You’re standing on the edge. This is your last chance: will you repent? Or will you keep this justice agenda until the inevitable doom?”
Rumoosh’s voice was calm, but threatening. Zamasu gulped again.
“I only want to bring peace to the universe!” a last, desperate attempt. He was almost crying.
“Now, now, Zamasu.” That was Whis. “You sure are convinced of your own right, aren’t you? But what if there’s something you’re missing?”
Missing?
“Ohoho~ I got your attention, didn’t I? Yes - what if there is a deeper wisdom behind it all - why your role is what it is, why mortals matter - and you’ve just been failing to see it?"
Zamasu’s eyes widened. For a while he just stood there, unable to utter a single word as he tried to process the information. What if there’s -? He really never had thought about this possibility before. But.
“If there is such a thing - why don’t you tell me right away? So I will know?”
“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t~ It would be too easy then wouldn’t it? No... You must find it for yourself... You are still young, Zamasu. There is still much for you to learn, and some things can only really be learned from experience.”
As much as Zamasu was unwilling to admit it, those words hit him right in the heart. He didn’t say anything, but looked at Whis in awe, like a child who’s just learned of a world he never even imagined. Whis now had him under control, and was aware of that.
“There was a reason you could only be an apprentice, and not a supreme Kai yet, right? You are not ready for the position - you lack too much.”
A greater wisdom... That you’ve been missing... A purpose... On top of that, the alternative being more than death...
“Well?” Rumoosh urged. “Have you decided? We don’t have all day, you know.” Not like he had anything particularly important to do at the time, but still. Besides, Zamasu couldn’t know that.
“...Fine. I accept your offer.”
Gowasu behind him let out a sigh of relief. Whis smiled. The other angel, however, kept a neutral expression, and Rumoosh’s eyes were clearly saying: I’m not done with you yet.
“Very well,” he said. “But remember - if you prove yourself a liar, if you even try anything shady like that ever again - this time we’ll know. And I will destroy you on the spot. Understood?”
Zamasu nodded tiredly, Rumoosh’s words were menacing, but at least he could relax a little knowing the worst danger was over. All the stress of that day had taken a huge toll on him, and he wasn’t quite feeling himself.
“Right then,” Rumoosh turned to his angel. “When you said he must be kept in check, did you have anything particular in mind?”
“Well, clearly Gowasu-sama didn’t do a very good job with him, and it would be too dangerous to have them together, knowing what he is capable of, so there should be someone else, that’s what I’m saying.”
“...You don’t mean to keep him here, do you?”
“Well. Do you have a better idea?”
“Oh, I suppose we could ask the grand priest about it, no? He will surely know of someone,” Whis interrupted.
“Oh, yes, that’s a good idea!” The other angel smiled. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“It’s settled, then,” Rumoosh confirmed. You will go see the grand priest... And by the time you’re back, Zamasu should be ready to leave.”
“Yes.”
Whis left, and Gowasu went home with the still-cuffed Zamasu. He (Gowasu) assured them it was okay, but Rumoosh and his angel insisted on going with them for safety measure. And so they did.
The first thing Gowasu did then was offer them all some tea and had Zamasu uncuffed.
“You will begin packing tomorrow,” Gowasu said. “Get some rest now, child. You’ve had a rough day.”
Rest. Yes, that was exactly what he needed right now. He absentmindedly staggered to his bed, not really noticing Gowasu had just called him a child, which was highly unusual. Rumoosh followed him like a shadow. At another time Zamasu would find this terribly bothersome, but not now. He was too tired. He didn’t care.
