Touched
3: I Don't Leave You Alone
"Marron-chan!" Bra screamed the minute she was home from school. She smothered her new nanny in a big hug.
"Hello, Bra-chan," Marron greeted. She was almost embarrassed when she realised that the twelve-year-old was practically the same height as her. Lousy short-genes from otousan! Why couldn't I have taken after my mother? "How was your day at school?"
Bra gave Marron an odd look. "It's your first day, and you're already into it!"
"I like doing this sort of thing. Besides, I'm trying to make a good impression."
"That's cool. School was pretty boring, as usual. It's so annoying that I have to go to school with such morons. And they all think they're so good, because it's a private school, but none of them are anywhere near as rich as us!" Bra sniffed the air. "That smells good. What are you cooking?"
"Dinner. It's just lasagne, nothing special."
"Well, I hope you're a better cook than nii-chan. He always seems to burn stuff."
"Speak of the devil," Marron commented as Trunks walked through the front door. "Nice to see you, finally."
"I'm so sorry, Marron," Trunks apologised, sheepishly. "I got held up. Otousan showed you around didn't he?"
"Uh, yeah, he did." Marron did not wish to disclose any more information about her day with Vegeta. Especially not about their little run in; she was probably in enough trouble as it was.
"So, you're the new cook too? I'm sure Bra will be happy about that, right Bra-chan?"
"Yes, Bra just mentioned your cooking skills, or lack there of." Marron smiled. "Oh, by the way, is there a specific time you like to have your meals?"
"Yeah, when tousan yells, 'Woman, where's my damn food?'" Trunks said. His smile faded as he realised what he had said. "Of course, he tends not to say the 'woman' now days."
Bra looked at her feet, and Marron shifted uncomfortably. She supposed it was a good thing that Trunks had brought the situation about. She hadn't known what she was going to do if there was a mentioning of Bulma. She was just glad Vegeta wasn't around. But then, she was always glad when Vegeta wasn't around.
Marron forced a smile. "Well, it's just about ready now. Do you think your father would be offended if we asked him to come and eat now?"
Trunks shrugged, thankful for the change of subject. "It's your funeral. You go ask him."
Marron was about to refuse, since she thought Vegeta was still probably mad at her, but then she realised that Trunks would expect an explanation; an explanation that she didn't particularly want to give.
"Fine," she mumbled. "Keep an eye on the lasagne, please Bra."
"Sure thing, Marron," Bra chirped. "I won't let nii-chan burn it!"
Marron found her way to Vegeta's Gravity Room without too much trouble. She tapped lightly on the door, but there was no answer. She knocked a little louder, and was still refused acknowledgement. Finally, starting to become impatient, she opened the door.
"Baka of a woman!" Vegeta roared, from his prostate position on the floor.
"I-I'm sorry!" Marron stammered.
"You could have at least knocked."
Marron felt her face go red again, and it was definitely with anger this time. "I did! But you ignored me."
Vegeta didn't even bother to deny it. "Well, what do you want? Snooping around again?"
She chose to ignore his comment. "Dinner is ready, if you wish to join us."
He snorted. "It's about time." He picked up a towel and wrapped it around his shoulders. "I'm starving."
Vegeta pushed his way past Marron and started towards the kitchen. Marron glared after him, wondering if taking this job had been the worst mistake of her life. But as she stared after Vegeta in anger, a completely random – and unwanted – thought entered her mind.
He has an amazing body… EW! I can't believe I just thought that. She shook her head to clear anymore perverted thoughts, and hurried after her boss.
* * * * * *
"Yum, this is so good, Marron!" Bra gushed.
"Yeah, not bad," Trunks agreed.
Marron blushed, and quietly said thanks. She glanced over at Vegeta, hoping to receive some sort of compliment from him also, but the Saiya-jin Prince did not even look at her. He had, however, had many helpings, so she supposed that was close enough.
"Next time we eat, Vegeta, you'll have to have a shower first," she joked, trying to make conversation.
It had the opposite effect. Vegeta stopped eating for long enough to give her a stern look. Bra stifled a giggle, and Trunks smirked. Marron cringed, awaiting a verbal attack. But Vegeta just looked back at his food, and replied, "I'll try to remember."
This was the third time in one day that Marron had wanted to kick herself. Maybe it's true what they say about blondes… Fortunately, Bra was going to rescue her from the current pit of self-loathing.
"So, where's your room? Is it near mine? If it is, we can stay up talking and stuff."
"Tonight's a school night, Bra," Trunks scolded. "You know you're not supposed to stay up late…"
Bra's mouth curled into a scowl, and she glared at her brother. "Those are your rules. Marron's looking after me now, not you. So she gets to decide when I go to bed."
"Trunks does have a point there," Marron said, gently. She didn't want to make Bra her enemy as well; she had enough in this household. Searching for a peace offering, she added: "Maybe you can invite Pan over on Friday night, and we can get some videos."
Bra's scowl instantly turned into a grin. "Wow, cool! You're the greatest Marron!"
Marron glanced around the table, and saw that everyone had finished eating. She stood, to start clearing the table, as she was used to doing at her own home.
"What are you doing, Marron?" Trunks asked. "The robots will get that."
"Robots?" Marron repeated, stupidly.
"Yeah, the cleaning robots. Cleaning is not a part of your job, so don't worry about it."
"That's good to know." Marron thought for a moment at what she should do if she didn't have to clean. "Bra, do you have any homework?"
"Homework?" Bra whined. "But…"
"Homework is important if you want to get through school. I can help you if you'd like."
"Okay, then. I'll bet you're heaps smart."
"Not as smart as your mother…" Marron cringed yet again. Strike four, Marron. You're out. "A-and Trunks is very smart too. Has he been helping you much?"
"No, he's always too busy."
"Well, let's get started on it now. Then maybe you can watch some TV when you're done."
As Marron passed Trunks, he smiled and winked at her, indicating that he thought she was doing a good job. Amazingly, it wasn't Trunks that Marron wanted to impress, and she had only just realised that. Marron looked at Vegeta hopefully. Was there some sign of him being impressed? Not a chance. He was already leaving the table.
Marron sighed, and followed after Bra.
* * * * * *
Marron was completely exhausted by the time she got to bed. She never realised how hyperactive Bra could be. It had taken her a while to convince the young Princess that she really did need to go to bed, so she could wake up bright and early for school the next day. Marron did not have anywhere near as much trouble getting to sleep herself. In fact, she was asleep the minute her head hit the pillow.
When he had at last finished his training for the day, Vegeta said goodnight to his son – who was finishing up some work for the next day – and made his way to his room. But seeing that Marron had left the door to her room open, he went to close it.
Bulma had always liked to have doors closed, so after she died, Vegeta had made it a habit to keep every single door in his home firmly shut. He knew that Marron wouldn't have known that, but he still felt it his duty to maintain the tradition.
Taken hold of the handle, he absentmindedly glanced into the room, and saw Marron sleeping peacefully. Vegeta felt a pang of heartbreak as he stood there. How many times had he watched Bulma sleep, like this? Nights when she'd gotten tired of waiting for him to leave the Gravity Room and just gone to bed alone. Some nights, he had silently climbed into their bed, just wanting to watch her sleep like the angel she was. Other nights, he had been especially noisy, so she would wake, and they could make love.
Marron stirred in her sleep, which stirred Vegeta out his dream. He had been imagining that Marron was in fact Bulma. If he tried hard enough, they did look similar. But Marron was blonde. And her eyes, though blue like Bulma's, were much lighter, the icy blue of her mother's eyes. Vegeta looked down at his feet, and accepted the truth that Marron didn't look a thing like Bulma.
He quietly shut the door, leaving a smear of blood on the handle. He hadn't even noticed that he had been digging his nails into his palm again.
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