Fate Be Told

Chapter 10: Damage

Bulma gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth at the site she saw. Vegeta looked terrible. What had Frieza done? Bulma moved off of the bed, advancing towards Vegeta.

"Vegeta..."

"Woman, don't." Bulma stopped in her tracks, Vegeta's voice was cold towards her... it reminded her of the first time she had met the Prince. It was uncaring and indifferent.

Vegeta was holding his side, his clothes could not be called clothes anymore, there was blood. So much blood...

"Frieza is gone. He came to remind me where I belonged."

"Does this mean you are leaving?" Panic overtook Bulma like a tidal wave. She didn't want Vegeta to leave, she didn't want him to leave her! Vegeta's coughing brought her back to reality and put her feelings on hold.

"I will be leaving in the next couple of days." Vegeta was looking straight at her, there was no emotion, his eyes were dead... and it scared her. Something in her expression must have triggered something because his features softened just a fraction. That's when he fell to his knees.

Bulma was at his side immediately. She put his arm around her shoulders and lifted him up, she knew he was doing most of the work because there was no way she was strong enough to support him fully. She led him to the bed and pushed him down gently. She could tell he was fighting unconsciousness. She didn't say a word and she looked over his injuries... they were pretty severe. There were a dozen gashes and she was definitely sure that two of his ribs were broken, maybe more. How could Frieza do something like this for no reason at all? She made her way to the bathroom in search of a first aid kit.

When she had located it, she made her way towards the bed. She opened it up to and reached for gauze and antiseptic cream. She was just about to apply it when Vegeta grabbed her wrist stopping her.

"Bulma don't." Vegeta was looking at her through half-lidded eyes; she could see the pain in his eyes.

"What do you mean don't? Vegeta you're in pain!"

"When Saiyans heal on their own they get stronger. That's the only satisfaction I get, knowing this when Frieza is cowardly beating me."

Bulma couldn't believe it. She couldn't watch Vegeta like this, but at the same time she couldn't look away. She watched him fight the pain, how could he be so strong? So stubborn? So resilient?

"Then let me just clean you up?" Bulma hoped that he would agree to this. Vegeta didn't reply which she interpreted as a yes. She left the antiseptic cream and went back into the bathroom for a bucket of warm water. She started cleaning the dried blood and dirt from Vegeta scarred and torn flesh. He didn't move an inch. He didn't make a sound. At one stage she thought he may have let sleep consume him, but when she was done, he motioned for her to lie next to him.

She lay on her side, making sure not to touch him, but close enough for her to feel his warmth. She put her hand on his shoulder... one of the few spots that wasn't bruised, cut or broken. He moved his hand and put it on top of hers. At first she thought he was going to shove it away, but she was surprised when he just left his hand on top of hers. She smiled inwardly and couldn't help the butterflies in her stomach even though it wasn't the most pleasant of situations.

Vegeta turned his head so that his eyes could lock onto hers.

"I am going to kill Frieza." It was a statement. Nothing more, nothing less. It made Bulma believe him. She believed he could defeat Frieza, she believed it with all her heart. But she knew deep down, that he wasn't strong enough yet and she knew he knew that too and it broke her heart. How much more would they have to endure before Vegeta defeated Frieza... or if the unthinkable happened and Frieza decided to kill Vegeta. She couldn't think like that.

"I know." Bulma replied, leaning over to kiss Vegeta gently on the lips. She lay back down and watched as Vegeta finally let sleep consume him, she let sleep take her soon after, falling into troubled dreams.