***Chapter 4- A Love Debate***
(This is about two months later from the last chapter)
"Damnit!" Lilly screamed as she furiously ran down the hall. "Vegeta where are you? I'm sick of your jokes! You should have told me Ayeka called me and asked me to pick up Sasami instead of telling her I was running naked down the street singing 'let it rain marshmallows' you stupid..."
She stopped in the middle of the living room. Looking around, she noticed the place seemed so quiet and peaceful; Vegeta seemed to be nowhere in sight. Lilly stood there puzzled. Then, out of nowhere, Vegeta came and knocked her to the floor. He laughed as she stood back up and glared at him.
"What the hell is your problem?!" Lilly screamed at Vegeta.
"It's fun to make fun of you," he replied, chuckling.
"Likewise," she muttered.
"Oh? Like how?"
"Tera."
Vegeta crossed his arms. Great, Lilly is trying another stupid joke on me and she thinks it'll actually work... hah I'm not gunna play this game.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I know you like her!" Lilly yelled. "It's so damn obvious and you definitely can't hide it well!"
Vegeta raised an eyebrow at her; why is his personal life so interesting to her? Well, they've never gotten along so she just likes to try and tease me... hah what a fool. He turned away and started walking to his room.
"Whatever," he muttered.
A grin came across Lilly's face; she knew she had hit a spot in him he wasn't comfortable with. She tapped her fingers gently against the kitchen table and watched him slowly walk away.
"I'm sure you'd be glad to know she's dating Phoenix right now..." Lilly added.
He stops suddenly; she had to be kidding- Phoenix? Ha, that guy was such a weakling! Why would she choose such an idiot like him? He turned around slowly and faced Lilly.
"Phoenix?" Vegeta asked. "That loser? That weakling?! Hah, that's kind of pathetic and low for Tera huh?"
"Tera can do what she wants you know?" Lilly replied, crossing her arms. "Sides, he's more of a man that you probably could ever be. Ahh that look on your face is priceless!"
There's no way I can win this one, Vegeta thought. He grumbled and walked off into the other room. I swear I will kill her someday...
"Oh look, TERA'S HOME!" Lilly screamed.
Vegeta popped his head quickly from his door frame. Lilly started laughing and Vegeta realized once again he was tricked. Damn, he shouldn't even thinking about that woman anyway and now he was reacting to her name. Urg, I should punch myself in the stomach for this. He grumbled and stuck his head back into his room.
"Haha, I was KIDDING!" Lilly laughed; this was heaven to torture him.
"If you weren't married to my son I'd kill you," Vegeta muttered from his room.
"Like you could anyway!" Lilly yelled back. "I'm the Goddess of Life!"
No reply came from his room. Lilly stood there and waited.
"What are you out of good comments for me?" Lilly asked.
"Leave me alone," replied Vegeta, "I'm tried."
Lilly bit her lip; this was odd, usually he had some kind of comment for her but he was being more solitary than normal. Odd, even for him. A small grin came across her face as she though that maybe she really did get to a part of him he wasn't comfortable with. This is the perfect opportunity to do this, she though as she opened the door slowly.
"Maybe I'll go visit her since she's also interviewing Trunks," she said loud and clear.
Lilly waited right outside of the front door for him; she knew he was going to follow. About a minute later, Vegeta opened the front door slowly and jumped when he still saw Lilly standing there.
"So you want to come along?" taunted Lilly.
"Just to get out of the house," replied Vegeta, walking ahead of Lilly.
"Suuuuure," she teased.
The whole way there, Lilly jumped around Vegeta, bugging him with annoying questions and just being plain stupid. Why... please someone remind me again why I agreed to this? Vegeta thought to himself. He looked around at the scenery and thought, "Well, maybe it is better being somewhat settle, except I feel weaker- I haven't been training in what seems like forever! Maybe I'll ask Trunks to spar later..."
"Dazing off again how sweet," Lilly said, floating around him.
"You're an idiot," Vegeta muttered. "I'm thinking about fighting."
"Okay yeah..." Lilly laughed, "if you call it 'fighting'..."
"Are you drunk again?" asked Vegeta, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Nooooo," Lilly said, stretching her O's. "You would know if I was drunk..."
"Man if this is you normally, I sure don't want to see you drunk," Vegeta said, increasing his pace.
They got to the building (finally, it seemed like forever dealing with Lilly) and walked inside. Vegeta looked around the place; this was only his second time being in here so he didn't know where they were going. Lilly waved cheerfully to the people as they walked by their offices, with Vegeta rolling his eyes. After walking up a few flights of stairs, they got to the production room, where the interview was taking place.
"...and I'm Tera Evans. Thank you Trunks for being here tonight and thank you all for watching."
"Cut!"
Tera and Trunks walk off of the set. Trunks sees Lilly and smiles as she runs up to him.
"Hey," Trunks said, hugging her then kissing her.
"How pathetic," muttered Vegeta.
"How sweet!" Tera said.
Vegeta glanced over at her strangely; why would she think that's sweet I mean come on... Lilly's a total beyoch- oh yeah she's looking past that... still that mushy-mushy stuff is just... ugh.
"Can't you just wait to have a great husband like this one?" Lilly asked Tera and Trunk held her in his strong, muscular arms.
"Yeah," Tera replied. "Hopefully it'll come soon."
"Maybe Phoenix is that someone..." Lilly said.
Lilly glared over at Vegeta as she said that. Lowly, he growled a warning at her not to piss him off even more today.
"Maybe," Tera said, sighing.
Is Tera actually considering that? Vegeta thought, watching her face expressions, seeing she was truly thinking the idea over. For that weakling, he continued thinking. Why would she actually fall for that weakling?! He's just... pathetic! I never liked him to begin with and this sure doesn't make me like him even more. He didn't notice Lilly was watching him as he watching Tera. Vegeta coughed, trying to interrupt the silence and hopefully change the subject.
"Hah, you're pathetic!" Lilly said.
"What are you talking about?" Vegeta asked.
"You are obviously jealous!" teased Lilly, sticking her tongue out at him.
"That's insane!" Vegeta yelled back, "me jealous of some weakling? Hah!"
"You're just denying," Lilly said grinning. "I can see right through you!"
"Lilly," interrupted Tera, "I appreciate you trying to make me sound like I'm wanted by many guys, but that's definitely not true."
"Oh trust me," replied Lilly, looking at Vegeta, "I'm not lying."
Vegeta crossed his arms and glared back, remaining silent. Why do you have to be so childish Lilly? He thought. It's quite ridiculous...
"Oh Trunks," said Lilly as she turned and faced him, "Ayeka called. She wants us to look after Sasami for about a week. Are you fine with that?"
"Sure," Trunks replied, with a smile.
"Okay then we'll go pick her up," Lilly said.
"How boring," muttered Vegeta.
"Well I have work in the office to do anyway," said Tera. "You guys go ahead. I'll be home in a little bit."
Trunks and Lilly went to leave one way as Tera took some papers and headed down to her office; Vegeta hot on her tail. She didn't really think about Vegeta following her until he spoke:
"Mind if I tag along?"
"What's the occasion?" asked Tera, walking into her office with him behind her.
"I'm just bored that's all," he replied, sitting down in a chair.
"Don't blame you," she said, messing around with some papers on the desk.
Vegeta sat there and just watched her; it was quite amazing how much work this woman could do. Letting his mind drift off, he though about her, then shook his head quickly as he realized what he was doing. After a few minutes, he was getting frustrated and decided to start some small talk.
"How was the interview?" he casually asked.
"Just perfect," she replied, sitting down in her chair. "The audience seemed to love it, especially the part about how much he loves Lilly-"
"Psh," Vegeta interrupted, "why would something like that be so interesting?"
"People love to hear love stories," Tera replied.
"Why?" he asked. "Love is... dumb."
"No it isn't!"
Vegeta closed his eyes and crossed his arms across his chest.
"All it does is hurt you," he stated. "I don't see why people want to indulge in something that just brings them pain."
"You get a great joy out of having someone to love and then losing it than spending your life alone," Tera told him, causing him to open his eyes and look at her. "Love gives you this great feeling; an indescribable feeling you never want to go away. Being alone, choosing to be alone, gives you pain. I don't see why people indulge in loneliness if it only brings you pain."
Vegeta chuckled under his breath.
"Love is for the weak," he mumbled.
"Love is for the strong," contradicted Tera, looking him straight in the eye," the ones who have the guts to take on a chance of being in love and to stay with it."
"It makes you weaker!" he yelled, standing up. "You give into some one and you get weak."
"Everyone has a weakness... but love makes you stronger; It gives you something to defend and fight for... something to live for..."
"So does leading a life of being a warrior. It gives me something to live for, everyday trying to train and grow stronger and take down anybody who stands in my way."
Tera sighed softly and shook her head as Vegeta sat down.
"You just don't get it," sighed Tera.
Vegeta just sat there and watched her; they held a gaze for a minute and she suddenly turned to the stack of papers and started going through them. He just sat there watching her, not even realizing her arguments were going through his head and he was seriously thinking about them. Shaking his head he thought, "I'm letting my guard down..." As he watched her, there was an object on her desk that caught his attention: a picture with two people in it. He stood up, walked over there and picked up the picture and looked at it.
"Are these your parents?" he asked, looking over the picture.
"Yes," she muttered softly. "That was a long time ago, before they died."
He looked up from the picture and looked down at her. Tera just continued to work on organizing her papers. Always, she seemed as if there was something in her past she was ashamed of as well; she never talked about her past. Maybe she had a really tough childhood as well.
"...my regrets," he said, setting the picture back down on the desk.
"It's alright," Tera replied, "they died when I was very young. It's all in the past. I barely remember them anyway... What about yours?"
Vegeta hesitated; he hadn't ever really been open with anyone about his past, except for what he told Tera about his nightmares. Well, I guess I have nothing to lose he decided.
"As I had told you before my home planet of Vegeta was destroyed," he finally said. "I was about ten when Frieza took me away. I don't remember much of my parents at all."
"That's terrible," said Tera, looking up at him.
"I don't really care," Vegeta replied. "As long as I'm fighting I'm fine. Fighting is my life. It's all I live for. Hell, fighting runs in my blood as a Saiyan..."
"What does all of the fighting lead to?' she asked him. "What's the purpose of being in control of everyone? Won't it get boring having everyone else below you?"
"I enjoy seeing people below me," he coldly replied.
"You enjoy killing all of those people?!"
"It's not like they matter to me," he said, turning his head away from her.
"How could you be so cold and heartless!?" yelled Tera, standing up.
"How could I be anything else when I didn't have a heart to begin with?" he asked.
"Deep down, everyone has a heart," Tera replied. "They just need the right person to unlock it."
Tera walked out of the room and down the hall, very angry at Vegeta. Of course, he followed and kept up a steady pace with her.
"Not true," he continued the argument. "I know I don't have a heart; the only one thing I DO have the passion for is fighting."
Tera stopped and turned; facing him and causing him to stop.
"How would you ever know if you didn't even give it a chance?" confronted Tera. "Or did you with Bulma-"
"I didn't love her!" Vegeta blurted. "I never have and never will! It was just... a small affair that happened... but I could never love her or anybody else!"
"Do you plan on spending the rest of your life alone Vegeta?" Her eyes glared deeply into his dark, shielded eyes.
"I'm a fighter, not a lover."
"You won't be able to fight for the rest of your life," Tera said. "Vegeta, honestly I think you should at least try to be a little more settled."
Tera turned from him and started walking again, with Vegeta following.
"I don't need to be settle," he told her.
"Everyone does at times," she replied, checking her watch. "If you don't mind me, I have a date to prepare for."
"Why would I mind?" asked Vegeta, walking beside her.
"Considering the way you were acting about Phoenix," Tera said, "I just thought that something was up."
"I just don't like weaklings."
"Then you shouldn't be around me," replied Tera. "Aren't I a weakling?"
"I don't like anyone, okay?!" Vegeta yelled.
"You should try to!"
Vegeta watched her walk out of the building; he didn't dare follow her when she was angry. He decided he was going to wait for a while until he went home... but... what Tera had said did give him something to think about- he didn't want to think about it but it was something that would be stuck in his head for quite a while.
"Women," he grumbled.
(This is about two months later from the last chapter)
"Damnit!" Lilly screamed as she furiously ran down the hall. "Vegeta where are you? I'm sick of your jokes! You should have told me Ayeka called me and asked me to pick up Sasami instead of telling her I was running naked down the street singing 'let it rain marshmallows' you stupid..."
She stopped in the middle of the living room. Looking around, she noticed the place seemed so quiet and peaceful; Vegeta seemed to be nowhere in sight. Lilly stood there puzzled. Then, out of nowhere, Vegeta came and knocked her to the floor. He laughed as she stood back up and glared at him.
"What the hell is your problem?!" Lilly screamed at Vegeta.
"It's fun to make fun of you," he replied, chuckling.
"Likewise," she muttered.
"Oh? Like how?"
"Tera."
Vegeta crossed his arms. Great, Lilly is trying another stupid joke on me and she thinks it'll actually work... hah I'm not gunna play this game.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I know you like her!" Lilly yelled. "It's so damn obvious and you definitely can't hide it well!"
Vegeta raised an eyebrow at her; why is his personal life so interesting to her? Well, they've never gotten along so she just likes to try and tease me... hah what a fool. He turned away and started walking to his room.
"Whatever," he muttered.
A grin came across Lilly's face; she knew she had hit a spot in him he wasn't comfortable with. She tapped her fingers gently against the kitchen table and watched him slowly walk away.
"I'm sure you'd be glad to know she's dating Phoenix right now..." Lilly added.
He stops suddenly; she had to be kidding- Phoenix? Ha, that guy was such a weakling! Why would she choose such an idiot like him? He turned around slowly and faced Lilly.
"Phoenix?" Vegeta asked. "That loser? That weakling?! Hah, that's kind of pathetic and low for Tera huh?"
"Tera can do what she wants you know?" Lilly replied, crossing her arms. "Sides, he's more of a man that you probably could ever be. Ahh that look on your face is priceless!"
There's no way I can win this one, Vegeta thought. He grumbled and walked off into the other room. I swear I will kill her someday...
"Oh look, TERA'S HOME!" Lilly screamed.
Vegeta popped his head quickly from his door frame. Lilly started laughing and Vegeta realized once again he was tricked. Damn, he shouldn't even thinking about that woman anyway and now he was reacting to her name. Urg, I should punch myself in the stomach for this. He grumbled and stuck his head back into his room.
"Haha, I was KIDDING!" Lilly laughed; this was heaven to torture him.
"If you weren't married to my son I'd kill you," Vegeta muttered from his room.
"Like you could anyway!" Lilly yelled back. "I'm the Goddess of Life!"
No reply came from his room. Lilly stood there and waited.
"What are you out of good comments for me?" Lilly asked.
"Leave me alone," replied Vegeta, "I'm tried."
Lilly bit her lip; this was odd, usually he had some kind of comment for her but he was being more solitary than normal. Odd, even for him. A small grin came across her face as she though that maybe she really did get to a part of him he wasn't comfortable with. This is the perfect opportunity to do this, she though as she opened the door slowly.
"Maybe I'll go visit her since she's also interviewing Trunks," she said loud and clear.
Lilly waited right outside of the front door for him; she knew he was going to follow. About a minute later, Vegeta opened the front door slowly and jumped when he still saw Lilly standing there.
"So you want to come along?" taunted Lilly.
"Just to get out of the house," replied Vegeta, walking ahead of Lilly.
"Suuuuure," she teased.
The whole way there, Lilly jumped around Vegeta, bugging him with annoying questions and just being plain stupid. Why... please someone remind me again why I agreed to this? Vegeta thought to himself. He looked around at the scenery and thought, "Well, maybe it is better being somewhat settle, except I feel weaker- I haven't been training in what seems like forever! Maybe I'll ask Trunks to spar later..."
"Dazing off again how sweet," Lilly said, floating around him.
"You're an idiot," Vegeta muttered. "I'm thinking about fighting."
"Okay yeah..." Lilly laughed, "if you call it 'fighting'..."
"Are you drunk again?" asked Vegeta, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Nooooo," Lilly said, stretching her O's. "You would know if I was drunk..."
"Man if this is you normally, I sure don't want to see you drunk," Vegeta said, increasing his pace.
They got to the building (finally, it seemed like forever dealing with Lilly) and walked inside. Vegeta looked around the place; this was only his second time being in here so he didn't know where they were going. Lilly waved cheerfully to the people as they walked by their offices, with Vegeta rolling his eyes. After walking up a few flights of stairs, they got to the production room, where the interview was taking place.
"...and I'm Tera Evans. Thank you Trunks for being here tonight and thank you all for watching."
"Cut!"
Tera and Trunks walk off of the set. Trunks sees Lilly and smiles as she runs up to him.
"Hey," Trunks said, hugging her then kissing her.
"How pathetic," muttered Vegeta.
"How sweet!" Tera said.
Vegeta glanced over at her strangely; why would she think that's sweet I mean come on... Lilly's a total beyoch- oh yeah she's looking past that... still that mushy-mushy stuff is just... ugh.
"Can't you just wait to have a great husband like this one?" Lilly asked Tera and Trunk held her in his strong, muscular arms.
"Yeah," Tera replied. "Hopefully it'll come soon."
"Maybe Phoenix is that someone..." Lilly said.
Lilly glared over at Vegeta as she said that. Lowly, he growled a warning at her not to piss him off even more today.
"Maybe," Tera said, sighing.
Is Tera actually considering that? Vegeta thought, watching her face expressions, seeing she was truly thinking the idea over. For that weakling, he continued thinking. Why would she actually fall for that weakling?! He's just... pathetic! I never liked him to begin with and this sure doesn't make me like him even more. He didn't notice Lilly was watching him as he watching Tera. Vegeta coughed, trying to interrupt the silence and hopefully change the subject.
"Hah, you're pathetic!" Lilly said.
"What are you talking about?" Vegeta asked.
"You are obviously jealous!" teased Lilly, sticking her tongue out at him.
"That's insane!" Vegeta yelled back, "me jealous of some weakling? Hah!"
"You're just denying," Lilly said grinning. "I can see right through you!"
"Lilly," interrupted Tera, "I appreciate you trying to make me sound like I'm wanted by many guys, but that's definitely not true."
"Oh trust me," replied Lilly, looking at Vegeta, "I'm not lying."
Vegeta crossed his arms and glared back, remaining silent. Why do you have to be so childish Lilly? He thought. It's quite ridiculous...
"Oh Trunks," said Lilly as she turned and faced him, "Ayeka called. She wants us to look after Sasami for about a week. Are you fine with that?"
"Sure," Trunks replied, with a smile.
"Okay then we'll go pick her up," Lilly said.
"How boring," muttered Vegeta.
"Well I have work in the office to do anyway," said Tera. "You guys go ahead. I'll be home in a little bit."
Trunks and Lilly went to leave one way as Tera took some papers and headed down to her office; Vegeta hot on her tail. She didn't really think about Vegeta following her until he spoke:
"Mind if I tag along?"
"What's the occasion?" asked Tera, walking into her office with him behind her.
"I'm just bored that's all," he replied, sitting down in a chair.
"Don't blame you," she said, messing around with some papers on the desk.
Vegeta sat there and just watched her; it was quite amazing how much work this woman could do. Letting his mind drift off, he though about her, then shook his head quickly as he realized what he was doing. After a few minutes, he was getting frustrated and decided to start some small talk.
"How was the interview?" he casually asked.
"Just perfect," she replied, sitting down in her chair. "The audience seemed to love it, especially the part about how much he loves Lilly-"
"Psh," Vegeta interrupted, "why would something like that be so interesting?"
"People love to hear love stories," Tera replied.
"Why?" he asked. "Love is... dumb."
"No it isn't!"
Vegeta closed his eyes and crossed his arms across his chest.
"All it does is hurt you," he stated. "I don't see why people want to indulge in something that just brings them pain."
"You get a great joy out of having someone to love and then losing it than spending your life alone," Tera told him, causing him to open his eyes and look at her. "Love gives you this great feeling; an indescribable feeling you never want to go away. Being alone, choosing to be alone, gives you pain. I don't see why people indulge in loneliness if it only brings you pain."
Vegeta chuckled under his breath.
"Love is for the weak," he mumbled.
"Love is for the strong," contradicted Tera, looking him straight in the eye," the ones who have the guts to take on a chance of being in love and to stay with it."
"It makes you weaker!" he yelled, standing up. "You give into some one and you get weak."
"Everyone has a weakness... but love makes you stronger; It gives you something to defend and fight for... something to live for..."
"So does leading a life of being a warrior. It gives me something to live for, everyday trying to train and grow stronger and take down anybody who stands in my way."
Tera sighed softly and shook her head as Vegeta sat down.
"You just don't get it," sighed Tera.
Vegeta just sat there and watched her; they held a gaze for a minute and she suddenly turned to the stack of papers and started going through them. He just sat there watching her, not even realizing her arguments were going through his head and he was seriously thinking about them. Shaking his head he thought, "I'm letting my guard down..." As he watched her, there was an object on her desk that caught his attention: a picture with two people in it. He stood up, walked over there and picked up the picture and looked at it.
"Are these your parents?" he asked, looking over the picture.
"Yes," she muttered softly. "That was a long time ago, before they died."
He looked up from the picture and looked down at her. Tera just continued to work on organizing her papers. Always, she seemed as if there was something in her past she was ashamed of as well; she never talked about her past. Maybe she had a really tough childhood as well.
"...my regrets," he said, setting the picture back down on the desk.
"It's alright," Tera replied, "they died when I was very young. It's all in the past. I barely remember them anyway... What about yours?"
Vegeta hesitated; he hadn't ever really been open with anyone about his past, except for what he told Tera about his nightmares. Well, I guess I have nothing to lose he decided.
"As I had told you before my home planet of Vegeta was destroyed," he finally said. "I was about ten when Frieza took me away. I don't remember much of my parents at all."
"That's terrible," said Tera, looking up at him.
"I don't really care," Vegeta replied. "As long as I'm fighting I'm fine. Fighting is my life. It's all I live for. Hell, fighting runs in my blood as a Saiyan..."
"What does all of the fighting lead to?' she asked him. "What's the purpose of being in control of everyone? Won't it get boring having everyone else below you?"
"I enjoy seeing people below me," he coldly replied.
"You enjoy killing all of those people?!"
"It's not like they matter to me," he said, turning his head away from her.
"How could you be so cold and heartless!?" yelled Tera, standing up.
"How could I be anything else when I didn't have a heart to begin with?" he asked.
"Deep down, everyone has a heart," Tera replied. "They just need the right person to unlock it."
Tera walked out of the room and down the hall, very angry at Vegeta. Of course, he followed and kept up a steady pace with her.
"Not true," he continued the argument. "I know I don't have a heart; the only one thing I DO have the passion for is fighting."
Tera stopped and turned; facing him and causing him to stop.
"How would you ever know if you didn't even give it a chance?" confronted Tera. "Or did you with Bulma-"
"I didn't love her!" Vegeta blurted. "I never have and never will! It was just... a small affair that happened... but I could never love her or anybody else!"
"Do you plan on spending the rest of your life alone Vegeta?" Her eyes glared deeply into his dark, shielded eyes.
"I'm a fighter, not a lover."
"You won't be able to fight for the rest of your life," Tera said. "Vegeta, honestly I think you should at least try to be a little more settled."
Tera turned from him and started walking again, with Vegeta following.
"I don't need to be settle," he told her.
"Everyone does at times," she replied, checking her watch. "If you don't mind me, I have a date to prepare for."
"Why would I mind?" asked Vegeta, walking beside her.
"Considering the way you were acting about Phoenix," Tera said, "I just thought that something was up."
"I just don't like weaklings."
"Then you shouldn't be around me," replied Tera. "Aren't I a weakling?"
"I don't like anyone, okay?!" Vegeta yelled.
"You should try to!"
Vegeta watched her walk out of the building; he didn't dare follow her when she was angry. He decided he was going to wait for a while until he went home... but... what Tera had said did give him something to think about- he didn't want to think about it but it was something that would be stuck in his head for quite a while.
"Women," he grumbled.
