Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Dragonball Z characters or anything in
that universe. I also do not own any of the Marvel Universe characters. I
do not profit in any way from this story.
The Prince and the Phoenix - Chapter 28
"What do you want? You don't seriously think you can take me on, do you?" Vegeta snorted at the X-men coming to a halt next to him.
Wolverine growled, but didn't take the bait. "I came to warn you, Bub."
Vegeta regarded him with amused curiosity. "Warn me about what?"
"You better treat that lady right because you really don't want me to straighten you out."
Vegeta's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You're threatening ME?!"
"Yeah, and I don't give a flying fuck about your super powers. I've beat down a lot bigger and stronger than you."
"Hmpf. I doubt it," the Saiyan answered smugly, but he, too, didn't rise to the bait.
"Anyway, that lady down there is really something, and I'd hate for you to make her cry again. She obviously cares something for you, just don't ask me why."
Vegeta was about to answer with another smart remark, but decided against it. Instead, he just nodded in understanding. Even though the X-man had no particular power to speak of, Vegeta somehow grudgingly respected him. They both made their way back down the dune to the people waiting for them below.
Bulma was embracing Storm and Cyclops when the warriors returned. "Hey, there you are! I was wondering what happened to you!"
Jean stood on shaky legs, but managed to walk over to Bulma and Vegeta. "Thank you so much for all your help in freeing me," she warmly said.
"Oh, it was nothing," Bulma cheerily replied.
Vegeta said, "Hmpf. Just stay the fuck out of my mind."
Jean looked startled, but nodded. "VEGETA!" Bulma cried.
"Well, let's get going," Cyclops stated, staring warily at Vegeta. Bulma waved as the Blackbird and the Shi'ar Imperial Battleship departed for the West and Professor Xavier's School in America. She was sad to see them go. They'd had such an adventure together! Almost like old times with Goku.
"So, what now?" Bulma addressed Vegeta.
"We're going home." He scooped her up and flew back towards the Capsule Corporation compound.
################################################################
"I'm sorry, Jean, but there is nothing more we can do." Lilandra sadly stated in the medical lab to the group gathered around Professor Xavier's beside.
"Here, let me try," Jean replied amidst the protests from the other X-men. She gently placed her hands on Charles' temples and closed her eyes in concentration. After a few minutes and serious strain, the Professor stirred. Jean sank wearily down in her chair when he opened his eyes.
"Jean," he said. "You found me."
Jean weakly smiled in return. He suddenly panicked, "Jean, the Dark Phoenix.. Is she?"
Lilandra placed a soothing hand over Charles' own. "The universe is safe. Thanks to some help from our new friends in Japan, the Dark Phoenix has been trapped safely inside the M'Krann crystal."
The Professor sighed in relief. He looked around at the worried, expectant faces gathered around him. "It's good to be back," he announced, and the others agreed.
################################################################
Vegeta landed at the Capsule Corporation and gently placed Bulma down on the ground. They hadn't spoken much on the return home except for inquiring after each other's injuries, but the Senzu beans had pretty much taken care of that.
"Vegeta, I wanted to say," Bulma hesitantly began, "well, thanks."
Vegeta regarded her for a moment. "For what?"
"Well, for everything. For saving the world and for not." She cut off.
"For not?" He prodded. "For not using the crystal to rule the galaxy and stuff," she finished, sounding kind of exasperated.
Vegeta barked out a short laugh. "I would be lying if I told you I hadn't considered it."
"Well, why didn't you?"
"Why didn't I what?"
"Damn it, Vegeta! Stop repeating my questions!" Bulma angrily cried.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Watch your tone, woman! I'm a Super Saiyan now!"
Bulma kicked a small stone at her feet. "Yeah, I know. I also know you could have taken the stone and made yourself a god, but you didn't, and I want to know why." She looked up at him with questioning deep aqua eyes.
"Because I didn't feel like it," he snapped back.
"All right, Vegeta, be that way. Well, I guess you must be pretty hungry. I'll go in and make you something to eat. Oh, and I guess I should check in with Dad about the Gravity Room upgrade." She started to walk back to the living quarters.
"Bulma, wait." She stopped but she didn't turn around.
"I just wanted to say..oh, the hell with this!" He swung around in frustration and headed for the Gravity Room. He was already too far away when she finally turned around and wiped the sudden tears from her eyes.
It wouldn't be until later that night when they would finally talk.
The Prince and the Phoenix - Chapter 28
"What do you want? You don't seriously think you can take me on, do you?" Vegeta snorted at the X-men coming to a halt next to him.
Wolverine growled, but didn't take the bait. "I came to warn you, Bub."
Vegeta regarded him with amused curiosity. "Warn me about what?"
"You better treat that lady right because you really don't want me to straighten you out."
Vegeta's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You're threatening ME?!"
"Yeah, and I don't give a flying fuck about your super powers. I've beat down a lot bigger and stronger than you."
"Hmpf. I doubt it," the Saiyan answered smugly, but he, too, didn't rise to the bait.
"Anyway, that lady down there is really something, and I'd hate for you to make her cry again. She obviously cares something for you, just don't ask me why."
Vegeta was about to answer with another smart remark, but decided against it. Instead, he just nodded in understanding. Even though the X-man had no particular power to speak of, Vegeta somehow grudgingly respected him. They both made their way back down the dune to the people waiting for them below.
Bulma was embracing Storm and Cyclops when the warriors returned. "Hey, there you are! I was wondering what happened to you!"
Jean stood on shaky legs, but managed to walk over to Bulma and Vegeta. "Thank you so much for all your help in freeing me," she warmly said.
"Oh, it was nothing," Bulma cheerily replied.
Vegeta said, "Hmpf. Just stay the fuck out of my mind."
Jean looked startled, but nodded. "VEGETA!" Bulma cried.
"Well, let's get going," Cyclops stated, staring warily at Vegeta. Bulma waved as the Blackbird and the Shi'ar Imperial Battleship departed for the West and Professor Xavier's School in America. She was sad to see them go. They'd had such an adventure together! Almost like old times with Goku.
"So, what now?" Bulma addressed Vegeta.
"We're going home." He scooped her up and flew back towards the Capsule Corporation compound.
################################################################
"I'm sorry, Jean, but there is nothing more we can do." Lilandra sadly stated in the medical lab to the group gathered around Professor Xavier's beside.
"Here, let me try," Jean replied amidst the protests from the other X-men. She gently placed her hands on Charles' temples and closed her eyes in concentration. After a few minutes and serious strain, the Professor stirred. Jean sank wearily down in her chair when he opened his eyes.
"Jean," he said. "You found me."
Jean weakly smiled in return. He suddenly panicked, "Jean, the Dark Phoenix.. Is she?"
Lilandra placed a soothing hand over Charles' own. "The universe is safe. Thanks to some help from our new friends in Japan, the Dark Phoenix has been trapped safely inside the M'Krann crystal."
The Professor sighed in relief. He looked around at the worried, expectant faces gathered around him. "It's good to be back," he announced, and the others agreed.
################################################################
Vegeta landed at the Capsule Corporation and gently placed Bulma down on the ground. They hadn't spoken much on the return home except for inquiring after each other's injuries, but the Senzu beans had pretty much taken care of that.
"Vegeta, I wanted to say," Bulma hesitantly began, "well, thanks."
Vegeta regarded her for a moment. "For what?"
"Well, for everything. For saving the world and for not." She cut off.
"For not?" He prodded. "For not using the crystal to rule the galaxy and stuff," she finished, sounding kind of exasperated.
Vegeta barked out a short laugh. "I would be lying if I told you I hadn't considered it."
"Well, why didn't you?"
"Why didn't I what?"
"Damn it, Vegeta! Stop repeating my questions!" Bulma angrily cried.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Watch your tone, woman! I'm a Super Saiyan now!"
Bulma kicked a small stone at her feet. "Yeah, I know. I also know you could have taken the stone and made yourself a god, but you didn't, and I want to know why." She looked up at him with questioning deep aqua eyes.
"Because I didn't feel like it," he snapped back.
"All right, Vegeta, be that way. Well, I guess you must be pretty hungry. I'll go in and make you something to eat. Oh, and I guess I should check in with Dad about the Gravity Room upgrade." She started to walk back to the living quarters.
"Bulma, wait." She stopped but she didn't turn around.
"I just wanted to say..oh, the hell with this!" He swung around in frustration and headed for the Gravity Room. He was already too far away when she finally turned around and wiped the sudden tears from her eyes.
It wouldn't be until later that night when they would finally talk.