Chibi Vegeta
(Whose Baby?)
A look of horrified realization dawned on Trunks's face as he stared down at the baby with black, flame-shaped hair and a fuzzy brown tail sprouting from his backside. The baby's eyes were wide open, as though startled by something he saw, and though the black irises that stared up at the demi were larger than he was used to seeing, he could recognize those eyes anywhere. The familiar eyes, hair, and facial features, combined with the discarded spandex on the floor, were enough to let Trunks know exactly who he was looking at.
"Dad?" he squeaked, dropping to his knees in front of the baby, no longer able to support his weight as his legs turned to jelly. All he could do was stare in stunned horror at the tiny Saiyan baby staring up at him.
And who else would I be, baka?! Vegeta opened his mouth to growl, but all that came out was: "Addoo abaa ka?" The Saiyan Prince's eyes widened even further at the sound of his own words spoken in a childish gibberish that lost all of the menace he had tried to put behind the words. If it weren't for the fact those those words were coming from his mouth, he'd say they sounded almost... cute, innocent, and, in every sense of the term, un-Saiyanlike. What the hell?!
"Uhh... Trunks? Why does your dad have a tail? I thought it got cut off...." Goten trailed off uncertainly. After all, that had all happened long before he was born, so he only knew what his dad and his brother told him in their stories. Having never seen a Saiyan's tail before, he was naturally curious about the furry appendage he saw waving lazily behind the chibi sitting on the floor. He reached a hand out to touch the object in question, only to have Vegeta bat at it with a chubby little fist.
Hands off, third class! Vegeta tried to growl, but, once again, his mouth just wouldn't form the words. "Hadda thaca!" he burbled incoherently, swinging his fist again in an attempt to ward off the cursed spawn of Kakarot. It was then that he truly noticed the altered condition of his body, and not just the fact that he now had a tail! Staring at his little, chubby fist, it finally dawned on him that there was something terribly, terribly wrong with him, and it wasn't just that he was feeling weak. His eyes traveled down the lengths of his unclothed body - his small, undeveloped, child's body! What the hell?!?! he yelped. "Wadaha!"
"I don't know, Goten," Trunks replied doubtfully, trying to ignore the sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. Watching as his chibi father began to twist and turn his head as though trying to examine his body, he added, "I only said I wished for dad to know what it's like to be treated like a baby. Nothing about his tail..."
That caught Vegeta's attention. WHAT?! Snapping his head up so hard it almost hurt, he gave the brat his best glare, even as he growled, What the hell do you mean by that, boy?! You mean you wished me like this on purpose?! All that emerged form his lips, though, was another string of incoherent burbling, which only served to add fuel to the raging inferno that was currently the prince's conscious mind.
Goten couldn't help it. He giggled and pointed at the scowling Vegeta. "Look, Trunks, your dad's pouting! I've never seen Vegeta pout before!" Looking thoughtful for a moment, he turned to look at his friend and said, "Well, maybe the dragon turned him back into what he looked like as a baby, an' since he had a tail when he was a baby, he has a tail now."
I am not pouting! Vegeta pouted silently, waving his fist in protest. Even so, he listened intently to the conversation the two boys were having.
Surprised by the seven year old's logic, Trunks mulled the words over in his mind before speaking. "Y'know, that actually makes sense, Goten. I must be rubbing off on you or something." He frowned as he pondered all the possible implications that this new twist to his wish might have. "D'ya think maybe dad's mind is still the same? I mean, can he understand us? Or did the wish turn him into a baby in his mind, too?"
Of course I can understand you, idiot! Vegeta opened his mouth to say, but stopped as he caught sight of his lashing tail. Inexplicably, all previous thoughts were thrown out the window and he lunged at the twitching appendage, falling on his side in the process. His quarry flicked within reach and, without thinking about what he was doing, he grabbed his tail and promptly stuffed the tip in his mouth, sucking on it contentedly.
Gaping in open shock, Trunks shook his head dazedly and answered his own question. "Never mind, Goten. If my dad was aware of what he was doing, he would have never done that!" A bead of sweat rolled down the back of his head as Vegeta continued to happily suck away.
What? Vegeta blinked and suddenly became aware of what he was doing. His eyes widened when he realized that he, the Prince of all Saiyans, had just chased his tail and, upon catching it, had started sucking on the tip like... like a baby! I did not do that! he yelled in denial, pulling the slobbery tail out of his mouth and dropping it like a hot coal. "Dadan judat!" Rolling onto his back, he waved his arms in an attempt to catch Trunks's attention. I can understand you! I am not a child! I... I don't know why I just did that, but don't let that fool you!
Unfortunately for Vegeta, the lilac haired demi-Saiyan's attention was no longer on his father, his head turned so that he could look at Goten questioningly. "What should we do, Goten? The dragonballs won't work for another year, so we can't wish my dad back to normal!"
"Well, maybe your mom could think of something. Y'know, make a machine or something that'd make your dad older?" the black haired demi suggested.
"But mom'll kill us when she finds out we turned dad into a baby!" Trunks protested, a panicked edge creeping into his voice. "Even if it was an accident!"
"But, Trunks, what else can we do?" Goten whimpered fearfully, just as worried about Bulma's wrath as his friend was. "She's gonna find out anyway, eventually!"
"I-" Trunks paused as Goten's words sank in completely, then slumped in defeat. "You're right, Goten. Might as well get it over with quickly, huh?" he said miserably as he turned to stare helplessly at the squirming baby Vegeta. "Well, if we're gonna do it, best do it now. Pick my dad up, will ya, Goten?"
"Huh? Why me?" The seven year old scrambled to his feet and backed away hastily, waving his hands in protest.
"Because I said so, baka!" Trunks stood up and folded his arms imperiously, giving his friend a regal stare that would have made his father proud. "And since I'm a prince, you have to do what I say!"
"But he's your dad, Trunks!" Goten squawked, darting a nervous glance the little boy on the floor who seemed to be scowling at him as though daring him to try to pick him up. "An' he's a prince, too, so... uh... only princes can carry other princes, and since I'm not a prince, you have to carry him!" Chibi or no, Vegeta was still Vegeta, and Goten had absolutely no desire to get that close the the grouchy old... er... young prince.
Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Trunks bent over and gingerly picked his father up. "Fine, then, scaredy cat! I'll carry my dad and you can explain to my mom what happened!" Smirking in triumph, he quickly walked towards the door and into the hall, awkwardly trying to keep a hold of his fleshy burden without dropping or hurting him. He'd never held a baby before, so if his technique in packing the little prince was less than perfect, no one would blame him. Other than the uncomfortable Vegeta, of course.
"What?!" Goten yelped, scampering after his retreating friend. "But... but that's not fair, Trunks! You're the one who made the wish! It's not my fault!"
"Then you should have carried my dad!" Trunks shot back over his shoulder as he headed towards his mother's lab, thinking that he had gotten the better end of the deal. He didn't see the small smirk crossing his best friend's face, a smirk that looked dangerously close to the one known to grace both the faces of Vegeta and Trunks.
"Okay, Trunks, but if I have to tell your mom what happened, then you have to tell my mom what happened!" the younger demi stated firmly, his eyes glinting victoriously. The smirk on his face broadened slightly when he saw the lavender haired boy stop dead in his tracks, the blood draining from his face.
"On second thought, Goten," Trunks gulped hastily, giving his friend a nervous glance. "Why don't I explain everything to my mom, and you can tell your mom what happened." Yes, they both knew which of the two mothers was the more feared. An angry Son Chi-Chi, armed with a voice that could cut through iron and a much dented frying pan, was enough to bring fear to even the bravest of warriors. Even Bulma, the second most dangerous female on the planet - as far as the boys were concerned, anyway - knew better than to get in Chi-Chi's way when she was on the war path.
And speaking of which.... Trunks paled as he realized that they had reached the door to his mother's lab. After all, Bulma Briefs might not be Son Chi-Chi, but she was not someone to be trifled with. Swallowing a lump of fear, he awkwardly shifted Vegeta to a position where he could hold the baby with one arm, leaving his other arm free to turn the knob on the door. The door swung open on silent hinges, allowing all three to get a good look at what lay waiting in the room beyond.
All while the boys had been arguing, Vegeta had been glaring darkly up at them, annoyed that they would decide who would carry him without consulting him. He made several attempts to catch their attention, but they continued to ignore him, engrossed as they were in their own debate, and he hated being ignored! Unfortunately, it didn't seem like there was anything he could do about it. Idiot brats, he muttered irritably. "Idabats."
Now his son was carrying him in a rather uncomfortable position as they made their way to Bulma's lab. Vegeta didn't know what to feel about that. On the one hand, the woman might very well be able to come up with some means to return him to normal, but on the other hand, he wasn't exactly sure that he wanted her to see him in this condition. He could only imagine her reaction, and he was more than certain that it would be damaging to his pride. Eyeing the room through the open door, he half hoped that Bulma wouldn't be in there, despite his desire to regain his adult body as soon as possible.
"Oh, hey Trunks, hey Goten," Bulma cheerfully greeted the two boys as they walked into the room, dashing whatever hopes Vegeta had that she might be out running errands. The beautiful blue haired woman waved absentmindedly as she peered through a magnifying glass at something on her table, obviously only half aware of their presence. After another moment examining whatever it was, she set the tool down and straightened up, stretching her back to get the kinks out. "Did you need something? I was just-" She cut herself off abruptly as she caught sight of black haired chibi in Trunks's arms, her whole face lighting up with delight. "Awwwww!! Who's this? He looks so cute!!" she cooed, walking over to her son so she could pluck Vegeta out of his arms. Cradling him in one arm, she used her free hand to pinch his cheek affectionately.
Needless to say, Vegeta did not like that. Growling deep in his throat - a sound that ended up more like a gurgle than a growl - he balled up a fist and swung it at the offending woman's hand. I am not cute!! And if you pinch my cheek again, I swear, onna, I will find a way to make you regret it! "Nodagoo! Finchee gaa natawa magetit!" Unfortunately, Saiyan though he was, he was too weak in this form to do any damage to Bulma, his tiny fist bouncing harmlessly off her soft skin as soon as it connected. Surely I wasn't this weak when I was a child! he thought in puzzlement, his tail curling lazily around his wrist as he pondered the matter over. Even though he honestly couldn't remember how strong he had been at... whatever age he was now, he felt certain that no matter his age he should have been stronger than a mere human female!
"Umm... mom?" Trunks began hesitantly, only to be completely ignored as Bulma's keen eyes latched onto furry brown tail wrapped around Vegeta's wrist. Eyes widening in shock, she deftly flipped him over in her hands so he was hanging over one arm like a folded towel, eliciting a squawk of indignation from the chibi prince. His tail uncurled from his wrist and waggled in the air behind him to help him maintain balance in his precarious position, not to mention proving without a doubt that the thing was quite real and definitely attached to his backside.
"He has a tail!" Bulma gasped, staring in momentary shock at the spot where Vegeta's tail sprouted from his back. Blinking her eyes as though to clear her mind, she turned him back over in her arms so she could stare at his face thoughtfully, a growing twinkle of delight sparkling in her eyes. "That means he's a Saiyan! Well, part Saiyan, anyway. Whose baby is he, Trunks?" A bubbling laugh emerged from her throat as she swung Vegeta around, not even waiting for an answer from her young son. "No, wait, let me guess! He can't be Goku's!"
Damn right, onna! Vegeta exclaimed, disgusted by the very thought of it. "Danat na!" The very idea... Me, the Prince of all Saiyans, the son of that third class idiot! I've never been more insulted in all my life!
Oblivious to the expression on the chibi's face, the blue haired scientist babbled on. "I know Chi-Chi hasn't had another kid, and Goku would never cheat on her! Hmm... say, he looks a little like Vegeta, but that's ridiculous. Vegeta can't be the dad."
Hmph. That's even less likely than the third class baka going behind his mate's back. Grumbling irritably, the Prince of the Saiyans began to feel a little dizzy from being swung around. Fortunately, Bulma either picked up on this fact, or she just got tired of swinging him, because she stopped spinning and simply cradled the Saiyan baby in her arms.
"I mean, he trains 24/7 and he barely even tolerates humans!"
Brilliant observations, onna, Vegeta sarcastically interjected. Not to mention the fact that I have absolutely no desire to bed other women. One female is bad enough! He had temporarily given up on trying to verbally communicate to the three idiots, resigned, for now, to comment silently. The stupid child's mouth that he had to speak with had an annoying habit of making whatever he said unintelligible, and thus was completely disregarded.
"Uhh... mom..." Trunks tried again, and once again ignored.
"Besides, I don't think he'd cheat on me, either. I don't think there's another woman in the universe who could put up with that bakayaro, and Vegeta's not the type to have a one-night fling." The thought of that was ludicrous enough to make Bulma chuckle. Vegeta merely snorted - or tried too. It ended up sounding more like a sneeze. "So if he's not Goku's, and he's not Vegeta's, then that must mean..." You could almost see the pieces fall into place behind Bulma's cerulean eyes, her whip-like mind putting two and two together to get...
Yes, yes, woman, it means that I'm really me, Vegeta, the Saiya-jin no Ouji! But I've been turned into a child! And now that you've figured that out, get to work on finding a way to change me back!
"You must be Gohan's baby!" she squealed excitedly. Behind her, Trunks and Goten were staring at her with shocked disbelief, beads of sweat rolling down the backs of the heads as they nearly lost their balance. Weakly raising a hand in protest, the lavender haired demi opened his mouth to correct his mother, but Bulma was too excited by her 'discovery' to let her son get a word in edgewise. "Oh, you're so adorable! Yes, you are! Gohan never even told me he had a girlfriend! Oh, I wonder who she is? Maybe that Videl girl in his class that he's been talking about so much? Does Chi-Chi know she has a grandson? No, of course not! If she did, she'd have told me all about him. Oooh, she's going to be so thrilled when she finds out she has a grandchild! I can't wait to call her!"
For all of five seconds, Vegeta was stunned speechless, his mouth hanging open in shock. Gohan's... baby... She thinks I'm... She thinks I'm... It finally sank in. I AM NOT THE SON OF THAT LOW CLASS, PEACE LOVING, PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A HALF BREED SAIYAN!!!!! "WAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Vegeta squalled at the top of his lungs, unaware that his protest had been translated into a rather undignified bawling.
Unruffled, Bulma calmly shifted the child to rest against one shoulder while she patted his back comfortingly. "There there, it's okay. I bet you're cold! You've been running around for who knows how long without any clothes or a diaper! I'd be upset, too," she cooed. "Just let me call your grandmother, and then I'll go see if I have any of Trunks's old things to put on you." If anything, Vegeta's cries only increased in volume. Completely unfazed, she turned towards the phone on her desk, armed with the happy news of Chi-Chi's grandmotherhood and intent on sharing that information with her friend.
"Mom, wait!" Trunks yelped, desperately pouncing on the phone before Bulma could reach it. "You can't call Chi-Chi!"
"And why not?" the blue haired woman demanded irritably, annoyed about being thwarted, no matter how temporarily. "Chi-Chi deserves to know that her son is a father now! I can see why Gohan might have wanted to keep it secret, seeing as how he had a child before he got married, but judging by how old the boy looks to be, I'd say that secret's been kept long enough!" Eyeing the sniffling baby in her arms, she clarified herself by saying, "Just guessing, I'd say he's a year old, give or take a month, and a year is definitely more than long enough to keep something like this a secret! Now get off the phone, Trunks, or I'm cutting off your computer privileges for a month!"
"But that isn't Gohan's baby!" the eight year old demi-Saiyan protested desperately. "That's dad!!"