Collared
A Dragon Ball Z Fanfiction by Shikatoki
Chapter One:
The prince silently cursed the cold, biting wind as it whipped his hair into disarray. He was walking down one of the many streets of the Crown City, determined to go anywhere other than back to the castle tonight. It was the last straw.
Vegeta had had enough of his father's constant tirade about heirs. He didn't want a mate yet, and he would remain prime for many more years besides! Why was this such an issue? The king had been pestering him about having an heir since he was eighteen. He just couldn't take it anymore, he wanted out.
Forgoing his usual outfit for something warmer, Prince Vegeta flew out of his window in the dead of night. He wasn't going far, just out of the castle for a night or two. From the way he was dressed, he looked more like a rich traveller than the prince of the planet upon which they all stood. He liked it that way. His father couldn't track his whereabouts if no one knew who he was.
It was early on in the cold season, and it was likely to take hold soon. There wasn't any snow yet, but it was not far away. Vegeta breathed into his cupped, gloved hands, trying to work some more feeling into them. He could have used ki, but he wanted to keep his ki use to a bare minimum. It would be a dead giveaway as to his identity for anyone wearing a scouter. As it was, he had left his scouter behind, as it too would be a dead giveaway. He felt half-blind without it. Like everything was supposed to be tinted red and filled with numbers.
He sighed into his hands again, scanning the lamplit street for a place to stay the night. He was still in the better side of town. No matter how angry at his father he was, he would not stoop to going to the other side of Crown City. He, being dressed as a rich traveller, would be prime pickings in the thieving little hollows by the outskirts. Not that he would have much to fear from cutthroats. He was stronger by far than many of his subjects, and would have little to no trouble dealing with them. But he still was adamant about not blowing his cover. Plus, it was somewhat satisfying being right under his father's nose in the ten mile ring around the palace.
His eyes caught the smooth outline of a flourished sign on the other side of the street. It was too far away to read clearly, but he was certain he saw the word "inn". Whatever it was, he was too cold to keep looking. He would just have to sleep there. He could hear the faint sounds of activity from its general direction, as well as see light spilling into the street through the windows.
He crossed the expansive street, looking for more information on the sign as it slowly became more clear.
"Carved Crown Inn" He whispered under his breath, sticking his freezing hands under his arms to keep them warm. "It'll do."
Vegeta walked to the carved, dark, wooden door, listening to the faint sounds of conversation drifting from behind it. It sounded like several voices, so it was obviously still open. He huffed, pushing the door inward, and blinking furiously at the well lit interior.
He was greeted with the vision of two men sitting on either sides of a bar on the left wall. One looked to be the innkeeper. He was muscular looking, if a little round in places. His square jaw was framed by two long locks of greying, black hair, the rest of which was pulled into a ribbon at the base of his neck. He had a sort of odd smile on his face as he discussed in low voices with the man sitting across from him.
The presumed innkeeper kept fingering at something on the stained bar and flicking glances at the door off behind him.
He turned a little on his stool to look at the newcomer to his inn. He politely ended his conversation, picking up a small stack of something on the counter. His other patron departed up the painted, wooden stairs, a lecherous smirk plastered to his face. The man rose, walking over to where Vegeta stood framed in the doorway.
"A good evening to you, sir." He said, bowing slightly at the waist and extending his arm to the side, adding his tail to the gesture. "How may I assist you?"
The innkeeper straightened a little, looking the prince over from head to toe. His smile grew each time it passed over another piece of expensive clothing covering the lithe form before him.
"I need a room." Vegeta stated flatly, gloved hands resting comfortably in his pockets, and tail curled firmly around his waist.
"Of course, sir!" The innkeeper practically shouted his enthusiasm. "Just for the night, my lord?"
"Hn." Vegeta grunted. He was at first concerned at the man's choice to call him "my lord", but dropped it. He hadn't given a name, nor any indication of nobility. He was just being addressed as any rich young man would.
As if reading the prince's thoughts, the man then gestured over to the bar he had been sitting behind earlier.
"Let me just get your name and room keys, my lord." He ground out through his still hungry smile.
The door at which the innkeeper had been glancing slowly opened a few inches. Vegeta's attention caught on it, as well as the innkeeper's. The door swung forward the rest of the way, and a handsome young man walked through it. His skin was honey-tanned, especially across the tops of his broad, muscular shoulders. The boy had longish, shaggy, black hair that grew in wild spikes all about his head. His slightly sharp chin was currently being used to hold in place a log slipping from the large stack of firewood he was carrying.
"Close the door, boy!" The owner shouted, flicking his wrist at the handsome youth. "Don't let in all the cold!"
"Y-yes master Cchini." He replied back, terrified, long, brown tail curled protectively around his waist.
He gently swung his hips, clicking the door into place without upsetting his stack of firewood. The young man set down his armload, bowing to his master and Vegeta, before turning to leave out the same door again. Now with the stack of wood out of the way, the prince could see something else about his appearance. He was wearing a collar. A bronze collar.
Children born on Vegetasei were always tested for power. If a child was strong, they were kept on-planet and trained. If they were weak, they were sent to purge weak planets. But, in the rare case that a child was too weak for even purging- they were collared. The bronze collar was fitted to them at birth, even though few that weak survived to adulthood. Apparently, this boy had. Well, almost- he wasn't an adult yet.
"Wait, boy." Cchini shouted before his fingers had even closed around the knob.
"Yes, master?"
"You are needed in room fourteen. See to it."
"Yes, master." A low, dejected voice answered.
The youth turned, showing an emotionless face as he walked resolutely to the wooden staircase up which the other patron had left. He turned his head around, looking over his sculpted shoulder directly at Vegeta. The prince nodded his head slightly, as if to dismiss him. The young man stopped on the staircase, turned, and bowed deeply. Vegeta smiled approval at the gesture, making sure the boy had seen it.
"Mmm-hmm, right this way, my lord." The innkeeper stated, reminding Vegeta of his presence.
The prince sighed, following him to the bar as the boy scampered up the stairs behind his retreating back. He took out a large, brown leather book and opened it right near the end, scanning a column with his left hand while fishing in his pockets for a pen.
"Room thirty-three is open, my lord, but it is a smaller suite. It would be four silver a night." He looked at the prince from beneath his eyebrows, as if saying "But you're much better than that." he continued hurriedly. "But room forty-six is much bigger and nicer, for only six sil-"
"Just give me a room already." Vegeta stated, throwing a handful of half-silvers on the table. It was at least the equivalent of nine full marks.
The man's yellowish eyes widened, taking in the overpay chiming merrily against the dark, wooden counter. His square jaw worked, trying to fix itself into a convincing smile. He didn't succeed.
"Room fifty it is, my lord." He almost whispered, failing at disguising his obvious glee. "Please, follow me."
The prince followed behind him as they passed through the hallways and steadily up several staircases. He already was growing to dislike the man. He seemed too... He just couldn't put his finger on it. He was greedy, that was certain, but it was more than that. He just was the kind of man that one... Merely does not like.
They arrived at a landing upon which stood only one door, a brass number "50" adhered to its polished surface. The odd innkeeper handed the keys to Vegeta, adding another bow and mumble of "My lord." before leaving back down the stairs. Once out of earshot, the prince let out a relieved sigh.
"Finally" He breathed, turning the key to his new room.
Vegeta flipped on the light as he walked inside. The interior was worth what he had paid for it. Plush, red furniture set out comfortably took up the main room. There were two rooms branching off to either side. One, an elegant bath, the other, a rather expansive bedroom. The fireplace had a log set in it already, with several, long matches set beside. He stood and lit the fire, enjoying the simple warmth as it kindled to life, lighting the room yet further.
He sat on the red, silk bedspread, not even toeing off his boots as he flopped on to the warm duvet. It felt wonderful being free. He sighed. This room was nowhere nearly as nice as his own, but it was so very much better. His father wasn't here. Neither was his name, or his responsibility.
"Finally." Vegeta whispered under his breath. "Alone."