Hello everyone! So sorry this took forever to update but I kind of gave myself too much to work on and I sort of forgot this was a public story lol. Oops! Not to worry though, I should have more time in the coming months to work on all of my projects so, hopefully, the next update won't take like 2 months.

*****The Bakery*****

A full week has passed since the day Nappa hired on the two trouble-makers – one long, draining, self-esteem crushing week. Somehow the boys have managed to work pretty well in the bakery, their constant smart-ass comments aside. They even managed to avoid getting into more debt with Nappa, which was a relief since Nappa could barely afford to keep the ingredients stocked.

Raditz picked up on the baking better than Vegeta had, after learning how to fit his massive mane in a hair net, of course. Since Vegeta had smaller hands, Nappa assigned him to oversee the decorating. He taught him the basics, but the piping still caused him a great deal of trouble – always squeezing the bag too hard and leaving globs of icing everywhere. They weren't pretty, but they were better than Raditz had done.

The end of the daily tasks had been done and the boys were more than relieved to finally get off the clock. Their days off would be on the weekend and they couldn't wait to just do nothing, this was not how summer vacation was supposed to be spent, slaving over hot pastries and ovens. Even summer school was looking better with each passing day, at least there they could sleep in class.

Raditz finished up the dishes while Vegeta cleared out the display cakes – taking home some of the leftover or day-old goods was the only thing they truly liked about the job so far. They had both stayed a while later to help Nappa close since the old fart seemed to be distracted or something. His age must have been getting to him.

A sudden uproar of shouting, footsteps, and trash cans being knocked over in the alley had caught their attention. Vegeta walked into the back looking confused while Raditz stated that Nappa had just gone out to throw the trash. A few more muffled shouts and the sound of someone groaning and they dashed out the back door.

Nappa walked out of the back with a trash bag in hand, he knew they were there. He had been waiting for them all day. They were there once a month, like a goddamn menstrual cycle causing him unwanted pain.

"You need to pay your dues or sell the joint, old man! Things are only gonna get worse the longer you hold out!" A tall, red-headed man with a dopey tone shouted.

"The only thing you're getting from me is 'The Bitch-Slap Special!' Now, why don't you go on and tell your boss that I ain't interested in selling!" growled Nappa through clenched teeth. Guldo had caught him off-guard, cleaning his glasses and mocking him while Burter crept closer. Just as Nappa realized what they were up to, he blocked Burter but was left open for Guldo to land a strong kick to the shin – not that that had been enough to take Nappa down.

He punched Burter and kicked Guldo right back, sending him flying into a nearby trash can. A few more jabs at Burter and Recoome jumped in, trying to overpower Nappa. He was fighting alone, which meant that fighting fair was not a rule they were playing by. Nappa found an opening and kneed Recoome in the junk sending him stumbling back while he took a chance at smashing Burter in the nose with a headbutt.

Just as Jeice – the white-haired man with what looked like a permanent sunburn covering his skin – was about to close in for his own shot at Nappa, the back door swung open. There stood Raditz and Vegeta looking confused about what they had come across and quickly taking their own fighting stance once they were at Nappa's side.

"This isn't over, Nappa!" yelled Jeice as he motioned for his men to retreat.

Vegeta clenched his fists and found the biggest rock he could and threw it as hard as he could. The rock flew at a nice spin until it smashed Jeice in the back of the head. Raditz howled with laughter as Burter, bloodied nose and all, rushed to Jeice and tossed him over his shoulder. Vegeta hadn't meant to knock him unconscious but that was a welcomed plus for them running off like cowards.

Once the alleyway was calm again and the small gang of men were no longer in sight, the boys looked up at Nappa with questioning gazes.

"Just a bunch of punks that tried to mug me, no big deal. I had it all under control. You two finish up the task list and lock up on your way out, I have a pile of paperwork I need to get through tonight."

He didn't say another word as he walked past the boys, avoiding their eyes. They looked at each other and shrugged, leaving their growing suspicions on hold while they finished the work. The night was a little quieter than usual, only a few cars out and no people on the sidewalk, not even the typical gang members.

"He's lying, right?" asked Raditz trying to get the eerie silence out of the air.

"Yup."

"What do you think is really going on?"

"Word on the street is: someone is buying out the ghetto. All of the businesses are being bribed or threatened to sell out under the market value to make room for some high-class condos or something."

"Wow, where did you hear all that?"

"Don't worry about where I heard it, idiot! The point is, it's looking like something that's actually true considering those goons were roughing up Nappa in the alley."

"Yeah, I guess you're right…did you hear it from your mom?"

"SO WHAT IF I DID?!"

"Nothing! Geez," laughed Raditz. "It's just the kind of thing you expect to hear from an adult and not some dealer on a corner, ya'know."

"Hmph! With all the time we spend working there's no way I'd even have time to run into a dealer," muttered Vegeta with a slight blush. Never in a million year did he think he'd have to rely on his mother to be a source of information.

"Eh, I think Goku is my only source to the real world too. He's not a good source though. Speaking of, I better hurry home and make sure that dimwit didn't eat my Cupcake!"

"Your actual cupcake or chicken?" asked Vegeta with a raised brow.

"Can't it be both?" laughed Raditz as he darted down the sidewalk towards his apartment. Vegeta shook his head and wondered out loud why he hung out with such a weird guy. He knew Raditz could always amuse him in some stupid way but if he really had to guess, it was because Raditz was bigger than everyone at school and didn't seemingly always get into trouble – but when he did, boy did he get himself into trouble.

The next morning was pretty typical for the bakery; they did the morning baking and prepping, opened the shop, and waited for customers. Though rather than do paperwork, it seemed like Nappa spent most of his night baking a cake for an "important client." The decorations were the only finishing touches he needed and he instructed Raditz and Vegeta to arrange them neatly while he dealt with a potential customer on the phone.

The decorations had been pre-made by Nappa and the piping had already all been done. "Good Luck, Tights," is what the cake read. The fondant stars, telescopes, and planets were placed next to the cake, waiting to be placed.

"Tights? Again?'" wondered Vegeta out loud.

"Yeah I think it's the same Tights we made that cake for last week?"

"Bulma's sister?"

"Yeah! Bloomers is friends with Chi-Chi, Goku's girlfriend or crush or whatever. He talks about them non-stop at home. Apparently, Tights was excepted into some ultra-advanced school for astrology and space travel and junk," explained Raditz as he gently dropped a fondant star on the top tier of the cake.

"And these people are really celebrating again after just a week since graduation? Pfft, I guess that's what you can expect from a whole family named after underwear," snorted Vegeta.

"Oh, don't act like you wouldn't tap that if she gave you the time of day," smirked Raditz.

"Tap what? I wouldn't tap anything!"

"Don't lie, Vegeta! I've seen you lookin' from time to time," chuckled Raditz. "Can't say I blame you though, Bloomers looks damn good in a mini skirt," he winked and instantly had to dodge the fondant graduation cap that came flying at his hair.

"Shut up, clown!"

The sound of the front door chime stopped them in their tracks and they quickly tossed the decorations onto the cake. They were expecting someone ready to pick up the specially made cake but found themselves face to face with Goku.

"Oh, it's the smaller clown…."

"Hey Vegeta! I got this delivery for you guys. Can you sign for it?"

"Fine," sighed Vegeta as he walked around the counter. He scribbled his name illegibly and bumped the stack of crates Goku had set down on the counter. They wobbled dramatically and Goku rushed to stabilize them but was unsuccessful with the top crate.

"Hey, what'd you do that for?" he asked Vegeta who didn't slow down as he walked to a nearby chair.

"It was an accident," Vegeta replied in a faux-innocent tone.

"Yeah right," mumbled Goku. He busied himself with cleaning the mess while the other two just watched from their side of the counter. Just as he was about to grab a small box of food coloring, a small hand reached it before he could. He trailed the hand up the arm to the smiling girl staring at him with a blush.

"Here, let me help you," she offered and continued to grab this and that to stuff back into the crate.

"We saw that ya'know."

Vegeta looked up from the newspaper he had picked up to ignore everyone and was confronted by Bulma with an unimpressed glare.

"And?"

"Why do you have to be such a jerk? Can't you get fired for that?" asked Bulma crossing her arms under her breasts and maintaining her irritated tone.

Vegeta tried his hardest not to look but he couldn't help but notice all the cleavage Bulma was showing. Summertime was definitely the best time of the year. He curled his lip at her and rolled his eyes, not even justifying her with a response – not that that would stop her from talking to him.

"Hey wait, how'd a tough guy with such a bad rep end up working in a Bakery? What? Can't find a sweet girlfriend to take care of your sweet tooth?" teased Bulma.

The other teens began to giggle as Vegeta hid behind the newspaper, clearly trying not to let her see the bright blush on his cheeks.

"So, does this mean you can bake? Would you bake me a special cake, Vegeta? One with little hearts and edible glitter all over it? Oooooo! Do you know how to add the strawberry filling to the middle? Strawberry is my favorite! Oh! Or maybe just a triple chocolate with NUTS! Would there be a chance I could get a discount too?" She leaned onto the counter and batted her eyes even though Vegeta appeared to not be looking.

Bulma burst out laughing as Vegeta tensed so much he ripped the newspaper in half. He was just too easy to mess with! Raditz shook his head and as soon as he noticed Vegeta look in his direction, he made lewd hand gestures under the counter and nodded towards Bulma.

"Do you always have to be this annoying?!" snapped Vegeta at both Bulma and Raditz but more so to Bulma.

Just as he snapped, Nappa rounded the corner and slapped him upside the head. "You can't talk to customers like that!" snapped Nappa, matching Vegeta's attitude so he'd get a taste of his own medicine.

"Tch! Whatever!" hissed Vegeta and walked to the back to hide. It was humiliating enough to have Bulma outright flirt with him the way she did and to have Raditz act no better but getting disciplined in front of everyone was the icing on the cake.

While Nappa finished the transaction with Bulma and Raditz carried the cake out to her car, Vegeta was still in the back pretending to put away the order that Goku had just delivered.

"You know, it might be easier to talk to pretty girls if you aren't an asshole to them," snickered Nappa as he stood in the doorway with his arms crossed.

"And what makes you think I actually wanted to talk to her?" asked Vegeta, his back still to Nappa and his lips pursed in annoyance.

"She got on your nerves, but you not only stayed at the counter but sat in the chair closest to her," chuckled Nappa. "Don't worry, kid, your secret's safe with me."

Vegeta shook his head and didn't respond in hopes that Nappa would drop the subject and let him go on with his day.

******Across Town******

Jeice was standing in front of the apartment door, his nerves on end as he tried to muster up the courage to knock. His crew stood behind him looking like they had been hit by a freight train. All night in the Emergency Room had really taken its toll on the small gang. Nappa was no average baker, the fractured bones, concussions, and massive bruises made that very clear.

The knock echoed in the hall of the rundown building, the type of place that you'd expect to find dirty deals going down. The voice from the other side beckoned them to enter quickly. The men were quick but less than graceful as they crutched, hobbled, and hopped in as quick as they could.

Ginyu took one look at the bunch and spat in their direction. The saliva just an inch short of landing on Burter's shoe. It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened but, against better judgment, he asked anyway.

"It…it wasn't entirely our fault! No one gave us any information on his fighting skills," rushed Jeice. Ginyu put his hand up to stop him in his tracks, not wanting to hear his whining voice any longer.

"Listen, I was told this guy was from some tribe in the Eastern Moon Islands. That information alone should have given you a heads up. It's said that while the tribes have become more civilized in passing years, they still practice their fighting traditions. They were all a bunch of savage warriors way back when. He may not be in his home anymore but that doesn't make him any less a warrior. You all got careless! Assuming that his chosen profession, a ridiculous choice for a man his size, was a sign of weakness is exactly why you all look like a complete mess. I expect more from the Ginyu Force!

"You will have a second chance at him soon, for now, we'll work the surrounding areas like we were paid to do. The next disappointment from you will have you 6ft under, am I clear?! I will not have you sully my name with your pitiful excuses!"

"Yes sir!" they all exclaimed simultaneously.

"I will be sure to do more research next time. Thank you for the second chance!" said Jeice in his best brown-nose voice.

"You'd better," muttered Ginyu. He was about to turn his back on them, signaling that they were done with the conversation when Guldo spoke up.

"Captain Ginyu, sir, would it be of any interest for you to know that Nappa has kids working for him now? Two kids, they seemed ready to jump into the fight too. One knocked out Jeice with a rock when we ran away," he mentioned.

The captain watched in annoyance as Jeice elbowed Guldo in the ribs for telling him how he managed to get a concussion. He considered the new information and slowly became angry, an idea for that situation that would have ended this with Nappa coming forward.

"You idiots!" screamed Ginyu, throwing a punch at Guldo and landing it on the right lens of his glasses. "You should have seen that coming four eyes! Just like you should have taken advantage of those kids last night! Nappa would have no choice but to follow suit if you had threatened the kids, or even taken one of them! They're kids! Ready to fight or not, how hard would it have been to threaten them and their families if Nappa didn't comply?! Your failure is nothing short of despicable! How dare you call yourselves the Ginyu Force!"

"We…we couldn't have, boss! R-really! The kids didn't show up until after the scrape with Nappa! I was the only one left, there's no way I coulda taken on Nappa and two kids! One of them was almost as big as Nappa!" Jeice put his hands up in front of his chest, hoping the placating gesture would serve its purpose.

Ginyu grit his teeth and pointed towards the door, urging the men to get out quickly and fast. Once the room was cleared, He could only wonder how the boss was going to feel about this utter failure. If he was this hard on his own men, then how hard would the boss be on him for letting them fail.

What started out as minor harassment has now escalated to violence, all because Nappa didn't break as easy as the other businesses they were hired to take over.

******The Bakery******

The day was ending rather typically, it was slow, and they again had leftover pastries that would likely never sell. All day, the memory of last night bugged Vegeta. He had no clue how Raditz was able to work and not at all be curious about it. As far as Vegeta was concerned, if this was a typical thing that happened around here then he should know about it. He worked there after all, and if that meant an occasional fight then this job was starting to get more interesting.

He tried to ignore the loud munching sounds Raditz was making as he started scarfing down some of the day-old pastries they had sorted for themselves. He watched Nappa carefully as he planned out a new custom order he had gotten earlier and wondered how Nappa himself was so calm. Sure, he had won the fight, easily from what it seemed, but why wasn't he more worried about the business or his employees?

"Nappa," gruffed out Vegeta, his tone commanding the attention of everyone in the room but also sternly making it clear that he wanted answers. Both Nappa and Raditz were a little shocked by his voice – Raditz thinking about how much he sounded like his father.

"What was with those assholes last night? I know you want us to drop it but if we're going to work here and that's going to be a constant thing, then we have the right to know." He left little implication that this subject matter would be dropped at all tonight.

With a loud sigh, Nappa dropped his pencil on the table and grabbed his mug of coffee, now almost completely cooled from the time it sat ignored. He took his drink and contemplated the situation he was now facing with these kids. 'Damn it, he's right. They need to know,' he thought as he placed the mug back down and looked at the boys, Raditz with a mouthful of pastry and frozen in anticipation.

"Alright, I'll give it to you boys straight. I was thinking I could avoid this but you're right, you do have a right to know since this could affect you. A few months ago, I started seeing these goons come around. Every month on the same day, like clockwork. First, it was one guy trying to 'talk business' with me – then more and more showed up the more I refused. They want me to sell the bakery at under market value. Sell it straight out and I can pocket all the cash and they'll pay off the taxes and all the other junk.

"I said no dice. The problem with selling like that is, they can go in and pay the taxes and just claim I abandoned the building. If they do that, I will never get a chance to have another business and it will ruin me with all the fines I will have to pay. Basically, I would walk away with nothing. So, every now and then they come by to try and get me to see things their way, last night was the first time they decided to rough me up. Not that that did any good!" laughed Nappa.

"So, does that mean you wouldn't mind selling if they tried to do it the legal way?" asked Raditz while shoving another pastry into his maw.

"Not a chance! Back when I was a kid, my grandmother raised me after I lost my parents to some hostile takeover of our village. She was the village baker, always making and selling bread and even found a way to make sweets using what was available to her. I helped her every day when I wasn't doing my schooling. Her dream was to have a big bakery, one where she could always make sweets to sell – they were her favorite things to make. Said she'd call it 'Super Saiyan Sweets,' after the golden God of wrath she always prayed to. I never got into all that prayin' and junk but when our Village was terrorized again, I lost my grandmother, well, everything really. Those of us who were left were forced to leave the Island.

"When we got here, it was hard to find work. We were discriminated against because we were so 'hostile,' which who could blame us after we lost our livelihood. But when I finally got things together, I opened up the shop. It's been a harsh few years, the location isn't the best, but some customers always come back just for the pastries."

The boys simply stared at Nappa as he explained everything. They had no clue he wasn't from there.

"Golden God of Wrath. Your grandmother used to pray to the 'Golden God of Wrath?' I just wanna make sure I actually heard you say, 'Golden God of Wrath.'" Smirked Vegeta. "Your grandmother sounds hardcore."

"I bet she was a tough old broad, wasn't she? Did she try to fight off invaders with day-old bread?" teased Raditz.

"Tease all you want but he was a real God that our people believed in. Every winter, instead of Christmas like celebrated here, we gave offerings to him and the God of Fire under the blood moon to give thanks for our fighting spirits and the fiery passion of our women! Ha, those were the good old days!"

"What the actual fuck, Nappa," laughed Vegeta. "Where exactly are you from?"

"Where I'm from doesn't matter, its where I'm going – or rather where I'm not going, which is nowhere. Point is, I've worked too hard to get this place, failing or flourishing, I'm not giving it up. This was Oozma's dream and I'm gonna live it for her!"

"Oww! My teeth hurt!" exclaimed Raditz holding his jaw.

"Yeah, that story was all too fucking sweet for my taste too," said Vegeta with a shake of his head.

"No! I think I have a cavity! My tooth actually hurts!"

"Well, dumbass, all you've done is eat sweets since you started working here!" laughed Vegeta.

"I can't help it! They're all so good!"

"Just like Oozma used to make!" laughed Nappa boisterously and Raditz began to clench his eyes tight from the pain.

On the way home, Vegeta ignored Raditz for the most part. His thoughts drifting back to the situation Nappa was in. Someone was buying out the ghetto. If that was true and they developed newer more high-class apartments like Nappa later explained, then that meant the people already living here would no longer be able to afford it. Expensive apartments meant expensive businesses will be next, or probably be tossed into the building plans by the same developer if they had the money – with sleazy business like this, they probably did.

"Hey, are you even listening?"

"No."

"Oh, you're worried about Nappa, aren't you?" mocked Raditz.

"I'm worried about myself, clown!"

"What do you mean, Vegeta? Are you scared you can't take those goons when they come back?"

"No, it's what else Nappa said. About the more expensive things that will come. If that happens then the price of literally everything will go up. My mom can barely afford the bills as it is, imagine the rent doubling just because some fancy restaurant opens up? They'd probably raise rent to afford fixing up the buildings to lure more rich snobs here."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess I zoned out after my tooth started killing me. Pretty much what you're saying is, it's in our best interest to help Nappa stay put?"

"Exactly! Nappa said that 'surrounding' businesses have already sold out. Like the cleaners behind him, and the shops across from him. That means the bakery is right in the middle and there's no way they'll build up new apartments around it. There's a bunch of legal stuff regarding that, like so much distance between a dwelling and a business or some shit. The building would never get approved by the city."

"Damn, Vegeta, you're smart. How are you not some straight-A nerd?"

"Just because I'm always in detention, doesn't mean I don't have good grades. I do my work fast, so I can do what I want afterward," scoffed Vegeta. As if his father would tolerate low test scores from him.

"I guess no one can call you a nerd if they never see you being one," laughed Raditz as he swatted Vegeta on the shoulder. "I bet you used to get all the answers from looking at Bloomer's homework."

"Nah, her tits always got in the way."

"I guess it would be hard to concentrate on cheating with those bad boys hanging out!" Raditz laughed loudly, the sound echoing across the entire neighborhood.

"Stop talking about her tits!"

"Hey, you brought them up! Or rather she did, just for you in the bakery this morning!"

"She did not!"

"Oh, she totally did, Vegeta! The way she fluttered her lashes and asked you oh so sweetly to bake her a special cake, she's so into you! And we all saw that boner you had for her!"

"I DID NOT HAVE A BONER!"

Raditz dashed off ahead of Vegeta knowing he was about to get his ass kicked for making him scream that in their dark, quiet neighborhood. Vegeta was hot on his heels and ready to pounce when Goku called out from across the street.

"Hey guys! Oh hey, Bulma! What're you doing out here?!"

Vegeta stopped in his tracks and quickly looked around, hoping to Nappa's Gods that she was not there and didn't hear the loud conversation he had had with Raditz. Nope. No Bulma anywhere.

"Told ya you had the hots for her!" laughed Raditz as Goku high-fived him.

Vegeta stared in pure contempt as the brothers disappeared in the direction of their apartment. He had been tricked, by Goku of all people. He must have heard the conversation and came to rescue his brother, even though he was asking for a beating.

"Pfft! Damn Sons," growled Vegeta under his breath. Oh, he'd get them both back for this, that much was a guarantee!

Ginyu stood near the doorway of the dimly lit room. The desk and the person standing behind it as they peered through the blinds were almost completely immersed in darkness. The news of the failure hadn't been met with hostility, just silence. No name calling, no threats, and no instructions. Ginyu was unsure if he should even still be standing there at that moment. Should he leave? Were they done here? Or would that anger the boss?

The silence was making him uncomfortable, it was far worse than getting berated in his opinion. Only the sound of ice swirling in the glass of whiskey the boss had poured when he walked in was audible.

Clink. Clink. CLINK!

"Tell me, Captain Ginyu, why is it they call you 'Captain?'"

"I…uh…. well, I was a Captain in the military forces."

"I assume this meant you were more than capable of leading if you were giving such a title and rank?"

"Yes. Of course, I would have detail of every mission and constant updates at my disposal. In this business, it's harder to coordinate when your men have a tendency to go rogue."

"I see. Well then, I suppose we need a new method of cooperation. You said he hired kids?"

"Yes, sir. Two teenage boys. It's my understanding that these kids have had run-ins with the law and are likely working off a debt as a means to stay out of more trouble." Explained Ginyu. He wasn't as dumb as his men, he knew very well that he was going to need as much information about everyone in that bakery before he could even begin to suggest a new plan of attack.

"Wonderful."

"Sir?"

"We'll do some research before we try to convince Mr. Nappa to sell. Watch them. All of them. I want to know what those kids do on their off time and where they live. The more we know, the easier it will be to twist Nappa's arm. I'll work out some other details but for now, have your men continue their work with the previously mapped out areas. We'll save the bakery for last."

"Yes, Frieza," Ginyu nodded. Just as he was about to leave the room, he turned to meet the red eyes at the other end of the desk.

"Oh, and Ginyu…the next failure will be met with less understanding. It would be a shame to lose five men over such small incompetence."

The deadly intent weighed Ginyu down like a ton of bricks. He had seen and done many horrible things in his lifetime and yet, nothing was as atrocious as the things his new boss had been rumored of.

*****A/N*****

Thanks for reading! Again, sorry for the long wait but I hope this was still a decent chapter :)