Behind Palace Walls ch 20
I'd like to say thank you to all the dedicated readers who have followed this story from the beginning and have kept on reading, and even to the new commers who have fallen in love. Your patience has my deepest gratitude as has earned you a lemony treat in this chappie so I hope you enjoy!
Please also know that I am working hard to finish this story as it has been way too long (obviously), and my goal is to finish by the end of this year. Again thank you for your patience and dedication, you guys are the best!
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King Vegeta strummed his fingers against the arm rest of his throne impatiently. This was ridiculous, it was early afternoon, he should have been here already.
Sighing irritably, he looked to his dutiful assistant at his left, then to his impatient council at his right. They'd all been waiting since late morning.
"Any news from the port?" the King asked his assistant.
The dutiful soldier checked his scouter. "No. Nothing yet sir."
The King gruffed this time. "No need to waste time then," he turned to his council. "You're all excused. It seems this little shit thinks making a mockery of his future kingdom is in good taste."
As the council prepared to exit, one of the elders stopped to address the King. "And about tomorrow night your highness?" he asked.
"It will remain as scheduled; we have a few more suitors arriving tonight."
The councilman bowed and made his exit leaving the King and his right hand alone in the throne room.
Once they exited, King Vegeta threw his head in his hand. "What happened Nappa?" he asked.
Nappa clicked at his scouter again. "I'm not sure. There's no trace of him in near orbital space sir."
"I thought you had it all arranged? I thought you said he was to arrive last night?!" The King was growing irate now. He could see why his son had tossed his former right hand to the side; he wasn't near as cunning as he was large.
"It was sir. I handed him the blue prints just as you asked. Told him the plan, and arranged for him to arrive late last night; no one else should have been at the port."
"Well…." King Vegeta trailed.
Nappa grimaced. He couldn't exactly be held responsible for what someone else did after he was already instructed what to do.
"Maybe he was interfered by pirates," Nappa offered.
"Pirates?!" Nappa winced. "This is absurd! Prince Kalakai should have arrived long ago and had my daughter in tow before the crack of dawn. Do you know my utter surprise when I awoke this morning to find my daughter still in her bedroom? And then now, well into the afternoon and he is still nowhere to be seen?"
"Uhhhh…well, I know now."
King Vegeta let out an exasperated huff and plopped back in his thrown. He hadn't realized he had been pacing until now. "You're intolerable Nappa," he said.
Nappa shrugged. He had been working with the King for a couple years now and was long used to his attitude. "It's alright sir. We can just get someone else to….err..capture the princess."
"He wasn't going to capture her you bloody moron," the King corrected. "And for fuck's sake, keep your voice down." Nappa looked around to make sure they were still alone in the room. "He was going to take her away for a while; protect her. Just until I can secure a few things for her return. It was only supposed to look like a kidnapping so I can distract this idiot council and idiot son of mine while I make my move."
"And what move is that exactly sir? You're already King."
King Vegeta huffed. "Don't worry yourself with the major details Nappa just follow orders and try and keep up."
"Sir," the solider nodded in confirmation.
"There has to be some other way to keep her from Freeza" the King thought to himself.
XXXX
"Vanessa?"
There was a faint knocking at the Princess' bedroom door. "Vanessa honey are you in here?"
Queen Valerie opened the door despite her daughter's lack of response and entered the dark room to find her daughter wrapped up tightly in her bed, sleeping restlessly after what seemed like an intense bout of crying. Tissues littered the floor near her bed and her pillows were soaking wet.
"Vanessa?" the Queen approached her daughter's bed and sat on the edge, bringing her hand to her daughter's flushed face. It woke her up at the touch. "Oh Vanessa darling, have you been in here all day?"
Red, puffy eyes struggled to open and the Princess took a sharp intake of breath from rising out her slumber. She was disoriented for a moment; she didn't know where she was or what time it was but when she saw concerned eyes up above her, she regained full consciousness.
"What time is it?" she horsed out and Valerie stroked her daughter's cheek. "It's past lunch sweetheart. You've been in bed all day."
Vanessa made some semblance of a mumble before rolling deeper into her bed if that was at all possible.
"Darling are you sick?" Valerie made a reach for her daughter's for head only to find it was blazing hot. "Do you need me to get Bardock?"
"No!" a little too quick to respond, but remembering the gash at her side, Vanessa sighed at her mother's stunned response. "I mean…I'll be ok mom. I just…" she sighed again. "I just don't feel well today. I think I forgot to take my pills last night or something."
Queen Valerie sighed. She knew it was a lie, she could see it all over her daughter's broken-hearted face. But whatever the truth was, she was positive now wasn't the right time to speak about it. Vanessa was stubborn like her father but thankfully she inherited the Queen's ability to speak at ration. She would come to her mother when she was ready.
"I see," she said instead and eased her daughter back into bed. "Well, just get some rest then. I know you were scheduled to meet Prince Kalakai today but it seems he has yet to arrive so there's nothing left on your itinerary this afternoon."
Vanessa groaned, trying to push back the tears in front of her mother and buried her face in the pillow. She didn't want to hear his name. She didn't want to hear anything about him. She just wanted to go back to sleep.
Queen Valerie rose from the bed. "Just rest sweetheart. I'll pick up your dress from alterations downstairs and iron out the final details for tomorrow night."
Vanessa squeezed a couple tears into the pillow. She had almost forgot about that. Just the place she didn't want to be; her suitor's ball.
XXXXX
"I don't understand why this fool talks in so many words. Why doesn't he just say what he means to say?"
Bulma stopped her preparation to read the next sentence to cut Vegeta a look. She'd been reading to him for about an hour now, and for the most part he'd been quiet. She was snuggled up to his chest, both of them leaning against a tree but she made it a point to prop herself up and raise the Prince an eyebrow at his comment.
"Don't you look at me like that, I'm a Prince! The Prince of all Saijins! If my vocabulary wasn't up to par my kingdom wouldn't respect me." Bulma giggled and turned back around to lean on his chest. "This guy is just a fisherman…and a stupid one at that. If some animal bit off my leg I'd kill it that very instant and retrieve my leg from its innards."
She turned back around again, this time with a crinkled nose. "Ewww Vegeta, gruesome much?"
"Well what the hell would you do about it? Cry?"
Bulma thought about it for a minute. "Mmmm, nah, probably build a new leg and move on with my life. I'm not really into vengeance."
"Probably why your people are so weak" the Prince thought to himself, but he found no need to say it out loud. His silence however intrigued Bulma so she continued on.
"You seem surprised," she said. "Isn't it obvious?"
Vegeta twitched the corner of his mouth as a sign he was listening. "I suppose," he said. "Although I'm not sure what kind of vengeance you'd be capable of anyway."
"Vegeta if I wanted to, I could poison your entire population's water supply and make off with one of your ships while you're all shitting your life out with dysentery. I just choose not to."
Vegeta grunted. "Now look who's gruesome." Bulma giggled and folded the page in her book and closed it. "I guess you really are as smart as you say," he admitted. "Because if you ever thought to poison me, I'd kill you without a second thought."
She giggled again and this time stood up. "Uh huh"
Vegeta stood up with her. "Woman, I don't like it when you mock me," he said. "I'm not that fisherman in that stupid little book of yours. If you mess with me, I will kill you."
"Well what are you waiting for then?" she was suddenly in his face, big blue eyes sparkling back in his own, her voice husky and laden with sudden desire. The Prince was confused for a split second. This escalated, very quickly. "C'mon," she teased, taking a few steps back and the Prince was right there to meet her, step for step. "No one is here to see me mock you. And no one will miss me; if you're so big and bad, do it."
"Woman," the Prince warned, but it found it hard to be firm in his voice. "I'm not toying around now. I mean it…I will—"
Cold water suddenly splashed in his face. "I—"
Bulma erupted in laughter. Vegeta certainly hadn't expected that; in fact, he wasn't even sure when she led him to the shallow shore of the beach. But what he did know was that when he felt that bubbling urge to react in anger, he tucked it away and replaced it with something else; vengeance.
"I'll show you to mess with me woman," he growled and scooped up water in his own hand.
That was Bulma's cue to take off and she screamed giddily as she went. "No! No! Vegeta I was just kidding, I was joking, don't—" a cascade of water hit her in the face and she laughed, temporarily blinded but splashing more water in Vegeta's direction.
Vegeta smirked and continued to splash her back, his splashing of course much more powerful than hers and drenching her heavily. The two of them chased each other back and forth, blissfully unaware as their body guards watched the inevitable pair for once, act like children.
"Ok! Ok! Ok! Truce!" Bulma suddenly cried. About 3 minutes of splashing had somehow left her like a soaked cat in a sewer.
"The strongest race in all the galaxies doesn't settle for a truce. Beg for mercy or feel my wrath," Vegeta negotiated.
Bulma glared through soaked eyelashes. "Drop dead you monkey."
He splashed her again. "Hey!" Wiping the water from her face, she marched over to him and jumped on top of him, bringing him to the ground by surprise and crashing her lips on his.
Vegeta was surprised at first. Just as before he hadn't expected the action from her but he wasn't about to refuse it either and wrapped his arm around her and returned the favor. The two of them rolled ashore while the gentle waves came in and out around them.
When a wave rolled over the two of them it washed Bulma from atop her Prince and she giggled as she lay back on the sand and recovered her breath from her lip lock.
Vegeta crawled on top of her and she smiled at him. "So?" she asked, another wave washed around her.
"Truce," he said and kissed her again.
XXXX
The two had splashed and kissed each other on the beach well into sunset and by the time they made it back to the palace, they were cold, wet and hungry. Neither condition seemed to bother them though, as they walked through the palace arm in arm until they made it back to Vegeta's suite. A couple of on lookers stopped to stare; Vegeta was sure it would become gossip in no time, but for once he didn't care. He was without worry, even if it was just for the day and with Bulma he could remember to just; breathe.
When they reached the suite Bulma discarded her coat on the floor and carefully set her possessions on the dresser.
"Wanna grab a bath with me?"
Vegeta paused from removing his cape to stare at her. Was she serious? He knew they had a moment there on the beach but this…..?
He looked behind him to make sure no one else was in the room. "You want me to bathe with you?"
"That is what I asked isn't it?" Her tone was playful and Vegeta was skeptical. He'd had a good day so far but if the woman was toying with him it could escalate rather quickly.
"You mean you're not nervous anymore? Last time we bathed together it was you who was shitting herself."
"Does this look nervous to you?" Removing her soaked dress and dropping it to the floor, Bulma looked the Prince dead in the eye.
Vegeta couldn't believe it; pure confidence. It was the first time (save the beach) she ever came on to him like that and it was turning him the hell on. The elders must be shining down a stroke of good luck on him or perhaps it was this whole "day off" business but whatever it was, he sure wasn't going to miss out on the opportunity.
The room was still for a moment before Vegeta ripped off his cape and latched onto Bulma's body like a leech. He fumbled to remove his clothes as he kissed along her neck, and ripped off her bra while dragging them to the bathroom.
Bulma giggled and struggled to walk with him, fumbling for the lights as they reached the door. "Hold on a second there cowboy. We have to fill the tub first."
"Fuck the tub," The Prince said and dragged her to the shower. "I want you now"
He pulled her in the expansive shower and turned on the water, not bothering to close the door. Leading her to the marble bench he sat he down and towered over her, taking a second to marvel her before he was on top of her again.
"These have to go," he growled, ripping off her panties and throwing them on the shower floor. He was on top of her again, first attacking her neck before relishing her mouth. Then he made his way down to her breasts and slid along her belly before kneeling in front of her and prying her legs apart.
"Wait!" Bulma suddenly cried and abruptly stood up. Vegeta could feel the heat rising in his body; he should have known this was a set up.
He shot her an annoyed look.
"This is your day off remember?" she said, helping him up and swapping places so he was now seated on the marble bench. "I want to…I want to…"
"Fulfill your concubine duties?" Vegeta finished for her.
She whacked him on the chest. "Ew…don't make it sound so skeezy."
Irritation gone, the Prince now laid back in the shower, arms crossed behind his head and observed her. "Alright, show me what you've got."
Bulma blushed. "Mind if I try something?" she asked. He now sat upright.
"No," his face hardened.
"C'mon Vegeta, you know I'm new at this, and I don't know what your people do here."
"Well sit back down and let me show you. But there's no way I'm letting you try one of your weird Earthly customs on me."
"C'mon Vegeta, I promise it'll feel good," she knelt on the bench next to him and began to rub his shoulders.
"No"
"I'll let you wrap your tail around me tonight; I know how much you like that."
"No," he folded his arms across his chest.
"I'll sleep naked next to you for a week."
Taking a moment to ponder this, he unfortunately took too long and the heiress took this to mean a deal so she kissed him to seal the agreement before she was kneeling before him. Vegeta was just about to ask what she was up to but his member was in her hands before he could blink and her tongue reached out to lick the top of it.
The Prince froze. He was in ideal shock. A massage? Yes. A hair wash? Maybe. Her tiny, delicate hands, moving up and down his throbbing cock and her curious tongue reaching out to taste it? Well he hadn't expected that at all.
She looked up at him with curious eyes just to make sure her imminent death wasn't soon to follow for catching him off guard so quickly. He looked hysterical actually. His face stuck in a place between untainted terror and unadulterated ecstasy. Bulma wasn't entirely sure about this or how exactly she'd execute it. She'd picked up a magazine that had wondered from Earth with an article about How to Please your Man in the Bath and had been thinking for about a week now when the opportune moment would be to catch Vegeta so she could try it. Now was that day and she was a little nervous, but without any clear direction to stop she decided she'd keep going.
Using one hand to caress his shaft, Bulma leaned forward and licked him again, this time following her hand straight to the top until she kissed the crown.
Vegeta hissed, growling out a slow "shit" as she went. He was glad the hot water was pouring down on top of him because he was sweating grenades right now. He'd received blow jobs before from his other girlfriends but nothing like this. Her curious doe eyes and her timid innocent hands did something to him he couldn't recognize. He liked rough sex, that was no surprise to him, but what was, was his wanting to explore with her, teach her, and watch her gain her confidence to please him.
Reaching out to assure her, Vegeta tucked a strand of hair behind her ear then caressed her just below it.
Bulma smiled now and took as much as she could of him in her mouth.
"Fuck!" Vegeta rose from the bench and hissed again, still caressing behind her ear as she worked his cock.
It took her a bit to find her rhythm, working her hands up and down his shaft, while her mouth bobbed around the head. Vegeta tilted her chin up so she could take more of him, making sure not to choke her.
Bulma swirled her tongue around him, and pumped a few good times, before splaying her arms up above on his torso, and relying solely on her mouth. The Prince was well endowed, it was a little challenging to do, but the genius was up to the task.
"Shit, I can't do this anymore, I have to have you now," Vegeta pulled her back from his cock and swiftly pulled her up by her arms. He cradled her neck and crashed her into the corner of the shower, his lips crashing down on top of hers as well.
"But I wasn't done yet," Bulma protested when he ravished her neck again and the Prince growled in her ear.
"We'll finish that later," he said. "I have to have you now woman; I need you."
Stopping his onslaught of kisses, Bulma pulled Vegeta's face so that his eyes met hers. "Vegeta," she said. It was silent between them for a moment and the hot water of the shower poured down atop them. "Vegeta, tell me again. Tell me what you just said."
He was breathing hard; he hadn't even realized he said it; wasn't even sure he meant it, but the feeling was real, that he couldn't deny. "I need you Bulma; all of you."
Bulma kissed him now and Vegeta returned it with fever, prying her legs apart and positioning himself at her entrance.
"Mmm, mmm, bed, please." Bulma uttered out when she felt the tip of him grazing her opening. She didn't want her first time to be in the shower; as sexy as it was.
He scooped her up without a second thought, still leaving the shower running as he took her to his massive bed.
Laying her gently atop of it, he crawled on top of her and kissed her hungrily, running his hands up and down her body as he went. Bulma moaned when he slipped two fingers inside of her and arched her back up to meet him.
She was slick and wet; Vegeta wasn't sure if it was from the shower but he was sure that she wanted him. He wanted to take in all of her slowly, but he also wanted to take her quickly and claim her as his before she changed her mind.
He moved to her neck again and began to bite her at the apex of her shoulder. She squirmed when he did this and tried to move him back to her lips.
"Ouch, that hurts Vegeta."
He lapped and bit her again and she cringed beneath him. "Vegeta!" It was a cry of irritation more than ecstasy and he paused to look at his work. He irritated the skin rather than broke it and he knew if she wouldn't receive him then she wasn't ready.
Faintly disappointed, his fingers plunged back into her core and she moaned again, her annoyance with his biting rapidly dissipating. This she was ready for and if he couldn't claim her as his tonight, he'd at least be sure the whole palace knew she smelled of him and she was his territory.
Positioning himself above her, Vegeta removed his fingers and kissed her again. He brushed her hair from her face and locked eyes with her. He didn't want to miss a moment of her facial delight, when he took her once and for all.
He—
Knock, knock, knock
Vegeta froze again, this time in undeniable shock. This couldn't be real, he couldn't be hearing what he thought he was hearing could he?
Knock, knock, knock
The look on Bulma's face told him she heard it too. Turing to face the door Prince Vegeta growled loudly so his inconvenient guest knew of his ill timing.
"I don't care what you're doing with that wench of yours Vegeta, open this door."
Vegeta growled again, this time ferociously. "Go away you bastard, I'm busy," he bit out. Ignoring his father and turning his attention back to Bulma he made to kiss her neck again and found her entire demeanor had changed. She was cringed beneath him and shrouded up, trying to hide it seemed under his naked form. She didn't look at him anymore as her eyes were locked on the door.
Bang! Bang!
"Vegeta open this door before I blast it open!"
Bulma whispered a gasp and turned away to hide in Vegeta's fore arm and the Prince sighed. There went his entire evening, good mood, and most importantly hard on; gone in an instant by his imprudent father.
Angrily getting off the bed, Vegeta ripped open his door, more upset with his father for upsetting Bulma than he was about ruining his night with her. It was no surprise Bulma was afraid of him; and Vegeta has never settled the score with his good ol' dad for hitting her.
"What the fuck do you want?!" he yelled, naked as the day he was born in front of the King.
King Vegeta rolled his eyes. "For Christ's sake Vegeta…"
"This is my private suite, which you so vulgarly decided to enter, now speak! What the fuck do you want?"
"Watch your tongue boy." Vegeta's jaw hardened and he folded his arms across his chest. "Prince Kalakai," the King began. "What do you know of him?"
"It is not my business to know of Princes of other planets unless they pose a threat. Isn't it your council's job to play baby sitter to these idiots?"
"My council has no idea where he is and he was supposed to arrive to meet your sister this morning."
"That's none of my concern," Vegeta made to close his door but his father stopped him.
"Look boy, I need you to make it your concern because that idiot Prince is carrying with him some very important weapons that belong to us."
Vegeta rolled his eyes. He wished he could just tell his father his sister had the pleasure of killing that idiot so they could move on with their lives. That and this weapons trade was a load of bullshit anyway. If his father put half as much of his energy training his mean to become the legendary then he did in teaching them how to use weapons, then maybe they could get out of this mess.
"Like I said, none of my concern," Vegeta retorted.
"Oh really? And what is of your concern? Wasting your day around town with that wench of yours?"
Vegeta growled and his tail thrashed. "Watch it."
The King was unfazed. "Waste another day like that again and I'll be sure to find you and beat the living shit out of you for disregarding your kingdom." Vegeta snorted. "Find out what happened to the Prince and report back to me by the end of tomorrow." The King did a once over of his son. "And for fucks sake, take a shower and put some clothes on. You reek of concubine."
Vegeta slammed the door in his father's face.
"Argguhhhhh! That incessant, whiny, stupid, little fuck!" He growled and kicked at his dresser, breaking it on impact…again.
Taking in a deep breath the Prince came down off his anger high and turned to the bed to find Bulma was missing. Well that was no surprise, after his father came barging in, his night was undoubtedly ruined. Looking around for her, she was nowhere in sight but when his ears picked up on movement coming from the bathroom he made his way in that direction.
He found her in the shower, alone, mouth devoid of his cock, washing her hair as if nothing in that same shower had previously happened.
Joining her under the water, Vegeta wrapped around her from behind as she rinsed her hair out. "Ignore my idiot father," he murmured to her as he lapped at her neck again. "He will never put his hands on you again. I promise. Not so long as I'm living."
Bulma turned around to face him. "He knows about Prince Kalakai?"she asked. "He knows what we did?"
"The old man hasn't a clue," Vegeta told her. "He wants me to find out by the end of tomorrow."
"Oh…well what are you going to tell him?"
"I'm going to pull up those reports you sent to the main frame. That is if the council doesn't find them first."
"Oh…"
"Thought you'd be happier. Your genius idea seems to be fool proof."
"No I am, I just…." Bulma dropped the shampoo bottle she had in her hand.
"Don't worry about him woman," Bulma looked to the floor and Vegeta tilted her chin. "To get to you he has to go through me, and he can't, he won't. He's not that foolish."
Bulma nodded and locked eyes with him again. Though the fever was gone, the connection was still there, and she knew Vegeta felt it too. "Could you say it again? Tell me like you told me before."
Vegeta never broke eye contact with her. "I need you Bulma"
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The next morning, Bulma awoke (naked as per agreement) to find that Vegeta was already up and about. That was nothing unusual; he always arose earlier than she did and made enough noise to wake her up along with him.
Gone was his regal outerwear and his usual training gear was on, while he searched in the rubble of the broken dresser for his gloves.
"Dammit….stupid dresser…fucking mess."
Bulma slid up in the bed and giggled. "Maybe you shouldn't break things when you're angry and you'd be able find your clothes," she offered.
Pausing what he was doing, Vegeta shot her a glare. "Shut up woman, no one asked your opinion."
Giggling again Bulma got up from the bed to help him search. She was still naked which was distracting the Prince and lessening his care to find the damn things anyway.
"They were in the top left drawer so they shouldn't be…ah! Here you go," she handed his gloves to him with a smile. Vegeta's eyes didn't lose contact with her breasts.
"I see nudity doesn't bother you anymore," he accepted the gloves and Bulma blushed.
"It does when you mention it like that." Using her hands to try her best to cover up, she looked at Vegeta through the mass of her morning hair.
Vegeta smirked. "You have nothing to be ashamed of woman; I like you this way," he pulled her close and took a long inhale of her sweet scent. "Although, as much as it pains me, you are going to have to get dressed. Breakfast is in under an hour."
Bulma looked around the room. Usually the maidens would have arrived by now, drawing her morning bath and setting up her usual table for breakfast but they were nowhere in sight. "Hey, where is everyone today?"
"I told them not to come. From now on, you're going to have breakfast with me."
The heiress went wide eyed. "Wha—what?!" Breakfast with him? But that would mean she'd have to sit at the royal table, and sitting at the royal table meant that she'd also have to sit with… "Vegeta, I don't know if this is such a good idea."
"Why not? It's not like you haven't had a meal with my mother and sister before? The only difference is I'll be there"
"Yeah well, you remember the outcome of that," she retorted and went to sit on the bed. She was suddenly feeling woozy.
"Woman, what did I tell you last night? My father's irate but he's not foolish. I'll be right there next to you."
"But why do you feel the need to egg him on? Can't you just leave him alone?"
The Prince snorted. "A Saijin never backs down from a challenge."
Bulma shook her head. "That's not what this is about Vegeta. Why are you doing this to me?"
He knew why he was doing it. He'd been up all of last night thinking about it. About her smarts, her capability, what she could do. It wouldn't be soon until she figured out she had the means to leave this planet, and leave him, what with all the freedom he's been giving her recently. And he didn't think that locking her away in a dungeon was the smart answer; it'd only convince her she had to go. So he had to coax her into staying, show her she was meant to be with him, show her, he needed her. And that had to start with a change; immediately. He needed to exert to her and to everyone in the palace, she was someone of importance, and she was to be treated with respect.
"Because," he said. "Things have to change around here. Starting with you."
"Me?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Did I stutter woman?"
Bulma rose from the bed and felt Vegeta's for head, laughing nervously. "IIIII think this day off has got you feeling loopy Vegeta. Tell you what, why don't you go train with your men again, you know, pound Radditz into snot, and then we'll revisit this tomorrow."
Vegeta's look hardened. "Two things woman, one, don't ever mention another man's name in front of me, especially when you are without garments." Bulma squeaked at his possessiveness. Although he wasn't nearly as mad as he always is when frustrated, he was serious. "Two, I will not have my state of mind questioned when I make an order, now hurry up and get dressed."
Bulma rolled her eyes. "Finnnnneeee!" she grouched and rose from the bed to make her way to the bathroom. "But if I die, I want daisies at my funeral from Earth! And I expect you to travel there and hand pick them all."
Vegeta rolled his own eyes. "Just hurry up woman."
XXXX
She'd been huffing a puffing since she took a shower this morning and her huffing only gathered more intensity as they neared the dining room.
Bulma was sure she was over dressed; she wore a navy blue skirt and blood red tunic in hopes to impress the King with her knowledge of the royal colors but she was almost sure he wouldn't notice. No matter how cute her gold espadrilles were to match. All she could think was sitting down next to him, at a table, his eyes boring holes into her for head until he finally leapt up and beat her into a bloody pulp.
"Would you stop fidgeting?" Vegeta all but snarled as they reached the dining room and he reached for the door.
"Wait!" she cried, halting them from entering. "Vegeta, I don't know if I can do this."
"Woman, don't be such a baby about it, for the last time, he's not going to—"
"He hit me," she suddenly rushed out. "That day when we went to Bardock's house. Your dad came in the room, and he said… he said you would kill me and then tried to kiss me and I bit him so he hit me."
Vegeta's ki began to rise. Although he was already aware of who had hurt her in those weeks prior, he didn't like hearing about it; especially the gory details.
"And I know that you already knew that but…." Bulma rubbed her shoulder. "He makes me….he makes me feel like I can't do it Vegeta, like I can't survive here. He's the reason I broke down that day and…I just don't want to go back to that place." She sighed and looked down at the floor in shame.
"You want to survive here?" he asked her. Bulma didn't look up.
"I'm trying"
That was good enough for the Prince. It told him everything he was doing was to keep her. She had to do this.
"You've proven to me you deserve a place here," that made her look up. "Prove that to him. Don't let him see that it bothers you."
Bulma sighed. "Goku told me that too." Vegeta snorted. He couldn't believe that moron having an ounce of sense.
"Well?"
"You make it sound so easy"
"It is," Vegeta made and reach for the door and Bulma took in one big deep breath before nodding at him, and so he opened the door.
The pair walked in, Bulma clinging tightly to the Prince with her right arm, and fidgeting with her necklace with her left.
"Stop fidgeting," he whispered sharply to her and she abruptly lowered her hand.
They weren't noticed at first, Valerie was chatting with her husband about tonight's ball, while Vanessa looked gloomily into her bowl of what looked like oatmeal. It wasn't until Vegeta asked one of the maidens to bring another place to the table that everyone looked up.
Vanessa looked happy to see the pair together, Queen Valerie looked pleasantly intrigued, and King Vegeta, as usual, looked pissed.
There was a long pause in the room, of which time no one said anything, and Bulma looked to Vegeta with what to do next and he simply held out her chair for her.
Bulma cleared her throat. "Uhh, Good morning," she squeaked.
"Good Morning Bul—"
"Don't you dare sit at this table!" came the King's thunderous roar. "Vegeta, what the hell is this nonsense so early in the dammed morning?"
Glaring at his father, Vegeta made sure to never break eye contact as he pushed Bulma's chair in, forcing her hovering behind to take a seat. Whelp, it was over with now. Bulma stared from father to son, son to father, each of them never losing their challenging glares with one another.
"Darling," Valerie rested her hand atop her husband's fist, trying to get him to calm down.
"What have I said about having concubines at the royal table?" he gritted.
"I don't know," Vegeta fanned out his napkin and placed it on his lap. "Must have been the same thing you said about raping them in the harem. You seem quite satisfied with that."
King Vegeta slammed his fists down on the table. "You disrespectful little shit! You had better—"
"Alright that's enough!" Now it was Valerie's turn to rise from the table to set her husband and son straight. "Bulma is a guest at our table this morning, one of many guests that is to arrive today and I will not have this kind of …this kind of anarchy going on in my house!" Everyone looked at the Queen as she spoke, father and son included. "Both of you need to act like you were raised with dignity and class before our guests arrive today and see your foolish behavior! Mark my words, if I'm the talk of intergalactic gossip come tomorrow, so help me I will come after your blood. Understand?!"
More silence followed as both father and son were unwavering to back down but knew Valerie was serious. Because of this, King Vegeta decided to take his seat, but not before grumbling something about disrespectful children on his way down. Prince Vegeta only rolled his eyes and Vanessa stifled a laugh. She was quickly coming out of her bad mood.
"Now," Valerie breathed some hair out of her face and took her seat as well. "Ms. Bulma, would you like something to drink?"
Bulma looked nervously around the table. "Umm, water is fine."
"Wonderful, some water for Ms. Bulma please," the Queen asked of one of the servants.
"Vanessa?" The young lady looked up from pushing her oats around in her bowl. "I've picked up your dress from alterations but they do need you to be sure it fits before tonight honey. We'll go up after breakfast and try it on ok?"
Vanessa sighed and mumbled an affirmation.
"And do try and forgo that dreadful grouchiness tonight in favor of something a little more respectful. You're a lady, not a wild animal," the King added as their food was being served. Still in a bad mood after being set straight by his wife, he decided he'd lash out at the next target since his son's wench was obviously off limits.
"This is so stupid," the Princess murmured into her oats.
"What was that?"
"I said this is stuuuppiiiddd!" she reiterated. "I mean, why are we doing this? Can't everyone just leave me alone?"
"Vanessa," Valerie scolded.
"Why are we doing this?" King Vegeta set down his knife and fork. "Do you know how many kingdoms I have to beg just to send their dukes and Princes here? You've made a pretty terrible reputation for yourself. No one wants to marry you."
Vanessa huffed. She found it impossible to believe it was her that gave her planet a bad reputation but she'd let her father run with that idea. "Ok fine, stop begging then. It's not like I want to get married anyway."
"And what else do you plan to do with your life?" The Princess was silent. Her father had a point. While she wasn't interested in marriage at the moment, she didn't exactly have a backup plan either. "My point exactly. Your marriage will shed some much needed light on this kingdom Vanessa. Get over it and just pick one already."
Valerie sighed. This isn't exactly the way she pictured this conversation going. It was very hard to warm her daughter up to the idea of meeting suitors; especially in light of her revelation with Pragus.
Vanessa shook her head. "I just don't get why all the pressure is mine and not Vegeta's. He's the one taking the throne, not me. Why don't you ask him when he's getting married?"
Having ignored the conversation and beginning to eat, Vegeta looked up from his meat and almost choked when he heard his name and marriage in the same sentence.
Having come to a sudden realization, Queen Valerie cocked her head to the side. "Huh…I guess we have been pushing Vegeta to the side haven't we hun?" The King grunted. He didn't think his little shit of a son deserved all the attention he got. "Well?" Now her attention turned to the Prince. "Have anything to say son?"
Vegeta now glared at his sister for bringing it up and then his mother, irritated they were having this conversation. He was beginning to think he liked it better when he and his father argued. "What the hell do you want me to say? I'm busy getting Freeza off our damn backs. I don't have time to think of foolish things like marriage."
"Well you do have to get married before you can take the throne," his mother offered.
"Why?" Vegeta asked. "When I can just kill the old man and have it now" King Vegeta glared and is son smirked back at him.
"Well he does have a good point," Valerie offered and King Vegeta turned his attention to his wife. "Not about killing you dear but about Freeza. Things have changed and we're not living in times of peace like we used to."
"What's your point?" The King grouched.
"I think it at least warrants a conversation." The King stared down his wife. Just what the hell was she up to? She was starting to put ideas into their children's heads; awful ideas that marriage would be an ungainly option for the two of them and that's not what he had in store for them at all.
"Could we start with tonight?" Vanessa asked.
"No," King Vegeta answered abruptly. "You are meeting your suitors, you will pick one to marry and you," he pointed his knife at his son who looked at him lamely. "You will get back to work directly after breakfast, and you will not disappear so much as to take a piss without my permission. End of discussion"
Vanessa and Valerie rolled their eyes while Vegeta ignored his father. Bulma could only watch too stunned to say anything or to eat. Were family meals always like this?
"Ms. Bulma?" Valerie picked up the conversation again, this time to include the silent heiress. "What are your plans for tonight dear?"
"Ummm," Bulma looked around the table for an appropriate response. Vegeta was immersed in his meal and had seemingly left her to sink or swim, his father was glaring daggers at her, and Vanessa had gone back to pushing her oatmeal around her bowl. "Nothing really, just reading a couple of books I picked out from the library."
"Oh perfect, than you'll be available to come to the ball tonight," Valerie smiled.
Ball? Huh, must have been what all this talk about suitors was about.
"I uhhhh—"
"You heard the girl, she's busy Valerie. She can't come" King Vegeta answered curtly for her. Aside from the fact that his wife had lost her mind, the last thing he wanted to see, is that shining ball of blue hair walking around the ballroom tonight.
"Oh nonsense, you can read anytime. Plus, they'll be a lot of suitors here." she sang the last part. "Who knows, maybe you can snag yourself a Prince," Valerie winked at her and Bulma laughed nervously. Her first instinct was to turn to Vegeta who had immediately stopped eating and snapped his head toward his mother as if she sprouted five of her own. Even Vanessa stopped what she was doing to look at her mother. All this party planning must have really sent her off the deep end.
"Have you lost your mind mother?"
"No," the queen sipped at her tea as if she hadn't just said the comment she said, leaving her family to question her sanity. "You said it yourself, you're very busy and don't have time for marriage. Why should Bulma suffer and miss the opportunity to meet someone nice?"
"Valerie/Mother! She's not meeting anyone at that damn ball!" The King and Prince said in unison, then glared at each other when they realized what they've done.
Valerie internally chucked and continued to sip her tea. "So, Ms. Bulma, need help picking out a dress?"
"That's it, I've had enough," Vegeta rose from his spot at the table and threw his napkin down. "Let's go woman, breakfast is over." Hauling her from her seat, Bulma quickly snatched her toast and took a chomp out of it to go before Vegeta was dragging her out of the room.
"Bye Ms. Valerie, bye Vanessa, bye sir! Uhh, thank you for breakfast, it was great!" she said on her way out.
He hauled her out the room and down the halls of the palace, still fuming at his mother's remarks. Bulma was struggling to keep pace but all the while wondering what he was so mad about, it seemed as if his mother was joking but Bulma only had so many interactions with the Queen so she couldn't tell.
"Let's get something straight here," Vegeta stopped suddenly and whirled around, slamming Bulma into the wall and cornering her by locking her between his arms. "You are not to talk to any of those grubby little assholes tonight because you will be with me. And if anyone of them so much as even says hello to you, then I'll tear his lips from his face and staple it to my fucking breast plate, got it?"
"Ok, ok," Bulma said. She didn't know what else to say. It's not like she was the one who made the comment at the breakfast table but more importantly than that, this possessive side of Vegeta was a little new to her. She didn't know what to do but agree with him. This was the first time he's expressed any interest in not just protecting her, but being with her. But his manner of approach was a little intense. "Sooo, is this my official invitation for tonight?"
Vegeta sighed out his rushed anger. "Jesus Christ woman." Customary to when he was frustrated Bulma giggled at him.
"Ooo goody my first ball. This is so exciting, what do I wear?"
"Something to cover up I hope." Vegeta looked to the spot in her neck where he had tried to claim her last night. It was still red and irritated. He didn't want the palace to know of his failed attempt.
"Oh man, I need to go shopping," she said to herself. She was beginning to ramble about all she had to do to get prepared for the night.
"Go down to the shops and charge whatever you want to my name; I cannot accompany you today but I will be back in time to escort you to the ball."
"Why not? Have to take a piss?"
"I have to—" Stopping mid-sentence, Vegeta realized as Bulma stifled a grin that she was jabbing at him, specifically citing the nonsense his father told him earlier. He glared at her and she laughed this time.
"You love toying with your own death don't you?" he asked and she laughed again. "It's not funny," he pouted and now Bulma frowned, mockingly of course.
"Oooo, I was only kidding Vegeta," she leaned against the wall and caressed his cheek, sure to put on the sweetest face she could. Vegeta smirked although he didn't like being the butt end of a joke, and leaned into her, locking his pelvis with hers. He still wanted her and he wanted to make sure she felt it.
"That kind of talk is going to get you forty lashings tonight woman"
"Aww, I like it better when you're sweet to me," she coyed, touching her nose to his and leaning in for a kiss. He kissed her back before moving to her neck again, beginning to nibble at the apex of her shoulder where he left off the night before.
"Oww, Vegeta that hurts," she used her arms to get leverage and push him back this time then glared at him directly in the eyes. "You're chomping the hell out of my skin and leaving marks. I want to look pretty for tonight."
"You're already beautiful" he thought but instead huffed aloud. "Who the hell for?"
"For you," she said with a smile and inwardly Vegeta's organs did a flip flop while outwardly, his hard on stiffened even more; if that was at all possible.
"You're insatiable woman," he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Bulma kept grinning. "Only to you."
"Because I'm the only one who needs you"
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