21
Vegeta turned his head, trying to see the red mark Bulma had gave him. Sighing in defeat, the teen exited the tiny bathroom to find his Mate staring at him with wide, pouty eyes. "What?" Vegeta snapped, coming out harsher then he intended too. "Are you upset about the hickey?" Bulma asked, her voice small and her eyes glued to the floor. Using his index finger under her chin to gently lift her eyes, the Saiyan assured the other teen, "No. Although, you shouldn't have done that in front of so many people. Remember Woman, you still have to follow my lead and be somewhat submissive when we're out in public. Let that temporary mark act as reminder of your position."
Sourly crossing her arms, Bulma scowled, "I'll have too. Nothing I have can cover it." "If I hear of you covering my latest marking, I'll cover you in them from head to toe." Vegeta growled playfully. Bulma smirked just as playfully, "Only if you let me Mark you properly." Rolling his eyes at his Mate's determination, the teen scoffed, "Tch, as if you'd be able to get me off once I pinned you down. Come on Woman, it's time for bed."
Stripping down to his underwear as Bulma slid under the covers, Vegeta crawled in after her. With his Mate warm and safe against him, the Prince almost didn't want to tell her what he was planning on doing but the conflict in his mind clued Bulma in that something was bothering him. "Vegeta, what's wrong?" "What do you mean Bulma?" Still unsure of this aspect of the Bond, Bulma said, "You've just been kinda off all night… And I think you're conflicted over something. Something that has to do with me."
An arm wrapped protectively around Bulma's shoulder as Vegeta stated evenly, "I was struggling with whether or not I should tell you what I plan on doing, but it seems my choice has been made for me. I'm going to kill Freeza." Sighing, the Prince continued, "I'm tired of the speeches, the cameras, the Game, all of it. I'm done. I need to see the light leave his red eyes when I kill him." Bulma clenched a fist against his muscled chest, "Anyone can kill anyone, even a President, Vegeta. Question is, are you willing to sacrifice everything about who you are to do it?"
"I'd kill everyone on Ee-arth just to keep you safe." Vegeta declared, holding Bulma tighter to him. "Don't…" She whispered into the darkness, "Don't kill for me. Not if it means destroying yourself." His deep, gravelly voice rumbled in his chest, "I'd die a thousand deaths just to spare you the pain of tasting it, Woman. Now sleep, morning will be here before we know it." "Good night Vegeta." Bulma yawned. "Good night Bulma." Vegeta whispered softly into the silent room; but he felt her lips twitch in a smile against his chest.
A putrid, rotting stink filled his nose as he sloshed through calf-high, watery sludge. 'I hope that was a chokkie that just floated by me and not what I think that is.' A white-haired man with a strange accent said just behind Vegeta. 'Shut up and keep moving.' The teen hissed. It's impossible to move through here quietly… Following the silent cameraman into a small culvert, he was just glad to be out of that sludge.
The smallish group took turns sleeping while they had a few hours of peace. Suddenly shooting upright from a light doze, he held a finger to his lips as he listened for… something. Very faint splashing could be heard in the tunnels but what caused the most panic for the teen was the unmistakable smell of blood and roses. 'Everybody up! We've got to move. There's something hunting us in the tunnels.' He hissed, grabbing his weapons and leaving the supposed safety of the culvert, not with checking to see if the others followed him.
Luckily they did. He'd found a ladder to another level and directed everyone to climb while he stood guard. 'Vege…ta…' A voice called out, sending chills down his spine. 'Vege…ta…' Launching a fire arrow at the tunnel where the voice was coming from, he saw a familiar silhouette against the flames behind her. 'Bulma? What are you doing here? Come on, there's something hunting us. I'll keep you safe.' Bulma slowly walked towards him, It's like Her body is not Her own…
The closer his Mate got to him, the stronger the foul smell got. A body thumped behind him as maniacal laughter sounded from the level above, 'My dear Vegeta… Did you honestly think that it would be so easy to 'save' your Mate? Kill him.' At Freeza's command, Bulma snarled like a wild animal and launched herself at him. 'Woman? Snap out of it! This isn't you.' But his words fell on deaf ears as his Mate kept attacking, swinging her arms wildly as four-inch claws grew from her nails.
Please, please don't make me hurt you, Bulma… He begged, dodging every attack. 'Vege…ta…' Bulma hissed, her beautiful face twisted by the evil grin on her purple painted lips. 'I… I can't…' He whispered, nocking an explosive arrow and fired up the ladder at the lizard who had destroyed his Bulma. With his tormentor killed, he dropped his weapon into the murky waters, wrapping his powerful arms around his Mate, and fell into the water. I'm sorry…
Vegeta jerked awake in a cold sweat, his chest heaving as he tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. "Vegeta?" Bulma yawned, his shifting woke her up, "Everything ok? It's not time for you to leave, is it?" Nuzzling his nose into her hair, he sighed, "It was just a nightmare, Woman. Go back to sleep." Confusion colored her pale face, but her rough voice held strong, "You're scared Vegeta. I can feel it… I think." "You're not going to drop it, are you?" Vegeta sighed, earning him a small chuckle, "Nope. Talk."
Giving in to his strong-willed Mate, the black, flame-haired teen kept his face towards the ceiling, but his voice wasn't quite as emotionless as he'd hoped, "I was in the Capital, I think. It was definitely a sewer system. I heard and smelt something hunting us. Just as I was about to climb to safety, I heard my name being called." Vegeta clutched Bulma tighter as he spoke, "It was you calling my name… But you were not yourself. Freeza ordered you to kill me before I could kill him. I… couldn't hurt you… so I let you get close enough to grab and drowned us both…"
'I'm sorry…' It's fine Bulma. I think I'm just psyching myself out. Turles and Roshi just captured the train tracks into the Capital and with his hovercrafts buried under five tons of rocks, Freeza has no way of escaping me. I'm hoping that we'll have complete control of the Capital before you arrive but that lizard's a slimy one. There's no telling what kind of tricks or monstrosities he'll put in our way just to mess with us. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Vegeta released his Mate and sat up, "No sense in going back to sleep, I'll just have to be up in an hour." "Ok." Bulma sighed as she followed him out of bed.
"You don't have to be up with me, ya know." Vegeta said over his shoulder as he pushed a button to open the closet. Bulma slid up behind her teenaged Mate, smiling slyly as she ran her hands over his hard muscles, "I know. But if you think you're getting out of spending every last second with me before you leave, you're dead wrong." It took everything Vegeta had to not rip his battle suit from the hanger at the feel of her soft hands on his body. Clearing his throat did little to hide the desire in his voice nor the color on his cheeks, "Now is not the time, Woman. I'm going to take a shower. And no, you're not joining me."
Bulma trailed after Vegeta in the cramped quarters, pouting, "Why not? I've already seen what your hiding... kind of. And besides, we're going to be full Mates eventually…" Swiftly turning and catching a fistful of blue hair, the Saiyan growled, "I said no. I don't have to explain myself to you, Woman."
Releasing Bulma, he pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply, "But I will since you don't seem to understand what you do to me. I've always been protective of you Bulma but when I Marked you, that same drive to protect you turned into a desire for you. Anytime I see more of your perfect porcelain skin than normal or you act like this," Vegeta vaguely gestured to all of her, "those desires begin to spiral out of control. I'm a lot stronger than you, Bulma; the last thing I want to do is hurt you. Even by accident." Before she even had time to register that he had stopped talking, the teen was safely behind the locked bathroom door.