Chapter Six
Bulma stepped out of the house wondering what Trunks had wanted only to see a very curious site.
Vegeta was sitting on the sandbox border with his elbows on his knees and hands bracing his head. He was laughing...hard... and wickedly. It was strangely reminiscent to the second time he had arrived on Earth and there was the whole Namek's going to explode thing.
Intrigued, Bulma decided to investigate, anything that could make Vegeta laugh that hard would be either incredibly hysterical and bloody or ironic and bloody or just gory and bloody. Actually it really could be anything, there is no telling what he might find amusing. One time she had talked him into watching a gory movie with her and there was this particular scene where a guy gets ripped to pieces, Vegeta thought it was hysterical. She had asked why he thought it was so funny and he had responded because it was so unrealistic. She had tuned out the details why.
As she got closer she could see Android 17 crossing his arms indignantly and beyond him Ava and Trunks were sprawled out in the sandbox.
Concerned she nudged her son. "Trunks?"
She jumped as he let out a high pitched giggle and told her matter of factly as he peeked at her through his fingers. "I'm dead, go way."
Bulma smiled as Trunks started to laugh almost as hard as Vegeta before reassuming his former position. Five-year-olds are easily amused, however, Bulma turned to Vegeta, my husband is not.
"What's so funny?" She lifted an eyebrow.
"Tell her, Android," Vegeta managed before he started to chuckle.
Well, at least he's calming down, Bulma turned a thoughtful gaze to 17 who, to her amazement, was blushing slightly.
"I'll tell you what happened!" Ava announced as she got off the sand. "This idiot thought that I, Princess of all Saiyans, was having an incestuous relationship with my nephew." She glared at 17 who winced.
Vegeta kept chuckling.
"Ava, I didn't even know who Trunks was... How was I supposed to know he was your nephew!" 17 snapped defensively.
"You could have watched my keepsake!" Ava put her hands on her hips.
"He had your keepsake!" Vegeta shook his head completely amused though he managed to refrain from laughing again. "What kind of idiot doesn't investigate such obvious clues." Vegeta smirked at 17's dirty look.
"So, basically, you thought Trunks was Ava's boyfriend," Bulma pressed her lips together, Vegeta could get away with laughing at them, but she didn't think they would let her off that easily, A jealous android... no wonder Vegeta's amused.
"I would have honestly thought an android," Vegeta stood up gaining everyone's attention, "would have been smarter than a simple human. I guess I overestimated you."
Ava glared at him. "Go suck a mite infested Splavoid!"
Vegeta grinned at her and chuckled. "Sounds tasty, Ava, but I must decline, have to train the boy. Besides I'm not the one who marked him."
Ava put her head down in acknowledgment of his acceptance of their union.
Vegeta walked up to Trunks who was still playing possum. "Trunks? Are you dead?"
Trunks peeked at him through his fingers. "Yes," he giggled.
"Good, we can eat you for dinner," Vegeta scooped him up and threw him over his shoulder.
Trunks laughed and tried to squirm out of his father's grasp. "But I am not plump enough to eat!"
"It doesn't matter if you already dead..." Vegeta's voice was cut off as they disappeared into the house.
Bulma smiled lovingly at her family before turning to the bickering couple. "You guys hungry?"
Ava glared at her. "I would not eat with you if all other food was poisoned. May you be attacked by twenty men twice your size!"
Bulma nodded. "If you're sure, have a nice day too, Ava."
Ava nodded back and blasted off to parts unknown.
17 was perplexed. "Nice day?"
Bulma looked at him and laughed. "Yeah, well, saiyans speak their own language." She studied his ruffled appearance. "And, you just realized she was one. Hey, she marked you!" Bulma smiled.
At 17's confused frown, Bulma whipped out her make-up mirror from her bag and gave it to him.
17's eyes widened as he saw the dried blood on his cheek where Ava had licked him.
"Marked?" 17 inquired as he returned Bulma's mirror.
"Yeah, so other females would know that you were taken. Consider yourself lucky! At least yours is temporary. Maybe it's because your a guy. " Bulma smiled at him.
17 tilted his head to the side. "How long am I supposed to keep it?"
"I don't know, ask Vegeta, or Ava," Bulma shrugged. "When dealing with aliens it is always best to get advice from another alien!" Bulma winked at him.
"Are you suggesting I ask Vegeta for dating tips?" 17 asked sarcastically.
"Yes, I am," Bulma raised a blue brow, "Unless you can find another full-blooded saiyan well versed in saiyan mating habits."
17 looked off to the side eager to be gone. "I'll take my chances."
Bulma frowned. "You are making this harder than it has to be."
17 smiled for the first time on Bulma's property. "Yeah, but it's more fun that way."
Bulma shook her head as he blasted off God knows where. "More fun for the bystanders you mean, she isn't human, she's saiyan, and that alone is cause for alarm."
"Mommy!" Trunks screamed from inside the house. "Dad's cooking me!"
"Speaking of alarm..." Bulma burst into the house.
She found Vegeta pretending to force Trunks into a huge pot. Trunks was giggling madly.
"Mom! Tell Dad I'm not plump enough to eat!" Trunks started laughing as Vegeta put the top on the pot.
Bulma gasped as the pot exploded. She covered her head as metal shrapnel went everywhere. She looked up hesitantly to find a large piece of metal embedded in the wall right by her head. Her eyes darkened in anger.
"VEGETA! TRUNKS!" She stood up and put her hands on her hips.
Vegeta and Trunks froze at the tone of her voice. They turned to look at Bulma only to find her mess-with-me-and-die expression. Vegeta slowly lowered Trunks to the ground and let go of his leg. Trunks scrambled to his feet and put on his I-didn't do-it face and looked up at his mother with puppy dog eyes. Vegeta straightened and lifted an eyebrow.
"What?"
Bulma's scream of frustration echoed down the busy streets of the city.
**
17 paced as he went over every mental file he had about saiyans for an insight to Ava.
-- Saiyans are a seemingly barbaric race.--
17 frowned. They are not... well...she's not.
-- All saiyans have an almost instinctual need to fight. Almost like it's imprinted on their soul. A good example would be Goku. Even after being hit on the head and forgetting everything about saiyan culture, he still roamed the earth looking for ways to get stronger and different fighting techniques to master. Thus it is not surprising that he became the almost accidental 'hero' of the world. His values are supported/backed up by his need to fight.--
Well, that's true but it doesn't help!
--According to the fight between Goku and Vegeta, they have a very strict class system, that goes by strength.--
Well, that might explain Vegeta's vendetta against Goku, 17 shrugged.
-- Though it appears that to maintain the vast amount of energy for fighting they have to constantly eat or eat large amounts when they do eat. From intense study of Goku it was been noted that he eats large amounts of food regardless of whether he is going to fight or not but he eats more when he's preparing to fight.
One conclusion that can be drawn is that Goku is subconsciously preparing for the next battle storing energy somehow within his body. Thus when a enemy comes up he has more than enough energy to fight with, though he will try to eat before he goes into battle anyway.
One more note: Goku enjoys nothing more than to eat unless it's fighting.--
That's it! Food! 17 smiled triumphantly. I know exactly what to do and to think she offered me advise about who to get advise from. Like I'd go to that overgrown ape for advise. It made perfect sense, when he first saw her, she had been hunting and the third gathering vegetation. Yes, he knew exactly what to do. It was simple.
**
Ava was fishing. She had to store up on her supplies. The time was coming when she wouldn't be able to hunt or forage for a while.
Ava blew her bangs from her face, she was standing in knee-deep water standing perfectly still waiting for a fish to swim by, and she needed to be able to see the damn fish to yank it out of the water.
She took a deep breathe. It would not be good if she transmitted her tenseness to the fish by clenching her muscles, she had to stay relaxed, though that wasn't easy when her mind was working a hundred parsecs a minute.
Vegeta's right, all humans are idiots and insane. Ava huffed to herself in disdain, to think 17 thought Trunks was my mate! Imbecile!
She took another deep breathe to calm herself as she spotted a whopper of a fish coming her way. Closer, closer... She readied her muscles for the snatch, tensing only the muscles the needed it, moving only her upper body, slowly as if being moved by the wind. The fish was coming within range, good , closer, closer...THERE!
"Ava?"
SPLASH!
Ava sat up, her chin just clearing the water, and glared at 17. She had been in mid-lunge when he said her name, causing her to turn in surprise... on one foot, causing her ungraceful landing in the water, and her fish to get away.
"What are you doing?" 17 smiled at her smoldering expression. He could only see her from the mouth up.
She growled at his amused expression. He's ruining everything! He almost cost me a deer! He made me lose almost a full day of foraging! And NOW! He makes me scare all the FISH!
"Are you swimming?" He lifted a dark brow.
Ava stood up, not caring about the water that slid down her body, not noticing how 17's expression became interested, as she marched to the shore.
"Ava?" 17 questioned hesitantly as she walked past him to a rather large pile of fish.
She spun on her heel and planted her hands on her hips. "What do you want?" She bit off.
"What's your problem?" 17 frowned at her welcome. "If anybody should be mad it should be me. Why didn't you tell me who you were?"
"You should be mad..." Ava narrowed her eyes. "You didn't tell me you were an android, did you, hunter."
17 stiffened. "That's personal."
Ava leaned forward slightly. "So is my family."
17 looked at Ava's defensive position and the warning glint in her eye with something akin to shock. "Why?" It was the only thing he could think of to say.
She deflated a bit. "Because they're all I have worth taking. They're the ones I care about. and you could use them against me, to break me."
17 could only watch as Ava, for the first time since he's know her, just slumped.
Ava rubbed her temples. This isn't going to work. Vegeta could do this because he has more people skills...well, more experience with dealing with people... He knew how to handle them.
17 felt himself soften. She looked completely lost and disappointed.
Ava stiffened as she felt 17's arms encircle her. "What are you doing?"
"I am giving you a hug, just relax, it is meant to comfort," he informed her.
"What am I supposed to do?" Ava looked into his blue eyes, she had always liked the color blue.
"Hug me back and put your head on my shoulder," 17 smiled at her as she nodded and complied. I can get used to this. He thought not minding the wet clothes.
Ava sighed as she allowed herself to go limp and cling to 17. Her eyelids went to half mast as he started to rub her back soothingly. It was an amazing thing, this hug, she actually felt better and safe... It has been a long time since she felt safe in another's presence. The only other person she had ever felt safe with was her brother, Vegeta... But when Frieza came along... well Frieza ruined everything...
17's eyes widened in surprise as she started purring. Oh, yes, I could definitely get used to this! It was amazing really, he had never felt so protective of anyone since... his sister. Though, God only knows that she can take care of herself, but still, that didn't stop her from being his sister. Like the time when she was fighting Vegeta, and the other guys came to help him, sure she could have handled them all easily, but it just didn't sit right with 17 to let them gang up on her.
I guess I didn't need to get her a gift after all! But I'll give it to her anyway, no harm in winning extra points. 17 gently pulled Ava away from him.
She looked up at him with her beautiful black eyes with her mouth soft, in fact, all of her seemed soft at the moment, a rare thing, she was truly exquisite.
"Ava?"
"17." She smiled at him.
"I brought you a present." 17 announced softly before grinning and ducking behind a tree.
"A present?" Ava frowned slightly as he returned with a box.
"Yes, a box of chocolates!" 17 smiled.
17 didn't notice Ava's face darken into a glare. He also didn't notice her fist until it connected with his nose.
