I can't take this. It's so cruel. How can we do this to him? Didn't we always say that we'd never hurt anyone? Why is Goku doing this? It's not right. I know he tried to kill Piccolo, but it's been like this for so long. They won't even let me sedate him and let him loose, even if it's just for a few hours. I can tell he's in pain. His eyes tell me all I need to know. He smiles when I come in with food. The drips just nourish him, but they don't kill his hunger. He's a Saiyan like Goku, so he also has an appetite. I try to get him to talk, but he seems to have withdrawn into himself. If I could just find out why he wanted to kill Piccolo, then we could try and find a decent solution. Until then, I'll just try to ease his suffering as best I can.
I walk into his room. I make a mental note to try brightening it up a bit with a few pictures or artworks. I've got platters of food and a chocolate cake with fudge icing on a trolley with a good supply of fizzy drinks. He's been on Earth for about a year now. He's been chained like this for five months, and he's starting to look so unhealthy. I'm tired of following Piccolo and Goku's orders because it sickens me to see someone waste away like this. I know he's not a good guy. I know he's done a lot of bad things. But who are we to pass judgement on him? No one deserves to be like this, pinned to a wall like an eagle with its wings ripped off.
"Hey, Vegeta."
He nods, as I stand in front of him. I won't pull up a chair. Why should I have the luxury of sitting while he sleeps upright?
"I bought you your favourites. I know how much you like strawberries, and steak."
"And that stuff over there, with the chocolate on top." He tries to indicate with his head.
"Oh, doughnuts? I got them fresh, just for you."
He gives me a smile, and I smile back. I think my visits are the only highlight of his long and boring day. He has a really handsome smile. Maybe its because he only does it for me.
I remember the first time I brought him food. It was just after they chained him there. He refused to accept anything from anyone. He was livid at his situation, and who can blame him? But as time passed, and he realised that it wasn't going to get any better any time soon, he started becoming quieter. For the first few days, he'd yell at everyone, including me. I kept trying. I never gave up on him. Goku visited in the beginning, but he stopped coming. He tried to explain to Vegeta that it was just temporary and that it wasn't so bad. Vegeta just swore at him in the most unbelievable way, but I have very little sympathy for Goku, and I was cheering for Vegeta when Goku retreated. I know he just wants to protect us, but it doesn't warrant this sort of imprisonment. Nothing does.
"That's great."
"You're welcome. So, what do you want to start with?"
I wait for him to choose, and I can see the thoughts humming behind his eyes.
"Um, that green stuff, in the middle of the blue tray."
It breaks my heart to see him like this. Imagine the highlight of your day being dinner time. If I could sit here the whole day, I would. But I'm required all over the place and I only have the nights off. I shop in the early evenings to get his dinner, usually from the nearby deli or bakery. Everyone thinks I'm wasting my time. He's a murderer and there's no reason to spoil him. But I don't care. They're all bastards for allowing this to go on.
"Those are artichoke hearts. They've just come into season this week, and I think you'll like them. Don't worry, it's not like asparagus."
There was that one time when he tried asparagus, and really didn't like it. We had a good laugh over that, the way he spat it out and scrunched up his face. To be honest, I've never liked it either.
I spike an artichoke onto a fork, and feed it to him. I watch his facial expression as he chews, then he swallows. His face lights up.
"That was better than strawberries!"
I laugh, as I give him another. I'm introducing him to as many different foods as I can, and I can tell he appreciates it.
While we're on main course (pasta and meatballs) my phone rings. Vegeta cringes at the loud noise it makes, his oversensitive hearing recoiling instantly. I switch it to hands free, an earphone in my ear as I twirl fettuccine onto a fork for Vegeta.
"Bulma speaking."
"Hey, baby girl! It's Yamcha here."
"Oh, hi."
"So, what you doing tonight?"
"What do you think?"
I roll my eyes, and Vegeta smirks. He can hear the conversation clearly.
"Oh, you're spending it with that Vegeta, aren't you?"
I smile.
"Well done, ten points for you."
Vegeta laughs to himself, and Yamcha grunts.
"In case you've forgotten, you're my girlfriend."
"I still am. But I happen to enjoy looking after Vegeta. Maybe you've forgotten, but you were one of the people advocating his torture."
"It's not torture, Bulma. It's just a restraint to stop him from slaughtering us while we sleep."
"Is that so? Well, he's better company than you are. At least he doesn't check out other girls or take me for granted. He's always happy to see me."
"That's because he doesn't see anyone else. And you're just good for food when it comes to him. And another thing! I don't –"
"Spare me, Yamcha."
I disconnect the call, and switch my phone off.
"Sorry about the interruption. Honestly, he gets on my nerves."
"That's understandable."
He tries to stretch his back, but he's held in place. I'm reminded of a sane person in a straitjacket.
"Vegeta, I'm so sorry. Don't give up. I won't let you stay like this forever.''
He tilts his head to the side slightly as he looks at me.
"I know you had nothing to do with this. But I give you my word that I would never harm you. I know that maybe the promise of a murderer isn't much, but it's all I can offer. Kakarot and that bloody Namek would make trouble for you if I got free, and I understand your predicament."
I nod, as I chop up a meatball for him.
"Thanks for understanding, Vegeta. Whatever your reason was for attacking Piccolo, maybe it's not as unreasonable as the others think."
He takes a bite of meatball, chews and swallows.
"They would never understand why I did what I did. They have no clue about how I grew up and they don't even want to find out."
He shivers. He's only dressed in baggy tracksuit pants with a loose top. He gets changed once a day, but we have to knock him out with the same tranquilliser that game rangers use on elephants.
"Hang on, I'll turn up the heater for you. Be back in a moment."
I feel his eyes follow me as I go outside the room to the thermostat. I adjust the temperature in his room and go back in.
"Better?"
"Much."
I'm surprised at how much he's talking tonight. He's not much of a talker, and I know his pride is taking a huge knock because of his dependence on me. Maybe I can find out why he hates Piccolo so much. I'll ask him after dessert. He's cleared away so much food, but I'm not surprised. I think about how much I see Goku eat, then I wonder how Vegeta makes it through the day. No one wants to look after him during the day, and I rush up here whenever I have a free moment to give him some snacks.
My opinion of Goku has lowered considerably. I used to think Goku would show mercy to anyone. I suppose that maybe it's because Vegeta tried to also kill Gohan that he's so adamant that he stays chained like this. But he never bothered to find out why Vegeta is the way he is. I will find out, if he's willing to tell me.
After Vegeta finishes the last spoonful of mango sorbet and swallows the last raspberry, I lean against the wall next to him, my head resting against his outstretched arm. I'm cautious, ready to move if he seems unhappy. But he doesn't say anything, so I relax.
"Vegeta?"
"Yeah?"
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but could I ask you why you attacked Piccolo?"
He's quiet for a minute, and I think that maybe I shouldn't have asked.
"It's okay, I shouldn't have pried, if you'd rather keep it to yourself."
He shakes his head, and turns his face towards me as best as possible.
"No, you deserve to know. All I wanted was revenge for my mate."
"Revenge?"
He nods.
"Raditz, the saiyan that came here a few years ago, he was my mate. He cared for me just as you do. The Namek filth and that bastard Kakarot killed him, and Gohan helped too. They took away the only person to love me, to save me from the hell I called life."
I stood there, and listened to him talk of his life with Frieza, how he was trained to purge planets from the age of eight until he came to Earth. He told me about how he was raped and tortured and beaten, how he lost his planet, and how the love of Raditz was the only thing to keep him going, his raft in a sea of blood and pain. Even though he tried to keep his voice normal, it cracked when he spoke of how it had hurt to lose Raditz. It was then that I finally understood how he became who he is. I know Goku would kill anyone that killed Chichi or Gohan, so what makes him different from Vegeta? By the time Vegeta was finished, I felt like crying. I felt sick. How could anybody do that to him? How could someone go through so much, and still be sane? No wonder why he wanted to kill Piccolo. I would kill anyone that hurt my loved ones. It's the most natural instinct there is, and here we are punishing him for being what we call 'human'.
"I wish I had known sooner, Vegeta. You don't deserve this."
He looks so sad. I can't help myself, and I hug him, my arms around his neck, and I try to hold him close. He rubs his cheek against mine in the only way he can somehow share the hug with me.
"I'll be okay. I've got you, haven't I?"
I nod my head, my face buried in his neck. I don't want to let go. I just want to somehow draw all the hurt out of him, I'm scared to let him go. I don't know why. It's just a gut feeling of mine.