Chapter 5 – Love for the Weak?
The only light that penetrated the darkness inside the gravity room (modeled after the spaceship that took Kakarot to Namek) was the machine's main interface and compulsory controls. Some occasionally blinked; checking, confirming and correcting changes in atmosphere. Vegeta didn't make it to his retreat; the sterile and unadorned living quarters below.
As Vegeta passed between the control center and the huge monitor that hung from the ceiling, he stopped and glanced at the screen. Wistfully, he watched for a sign of recognition. Somewhere in time, Bulma's unrelenting badgering had become a welcome comfort. Her striking face, with endless blue eyes would appear to call him away from training, requesting his presence. Her persistent broadcasts conveyed to him that he was still needed...wanted. The corner of his lips moved from the visions that crossed his mind. They urged him to make a smile: His onna's pouting; the anger that forged the fire in her eyes; her masked pleasure when he conformed. Even the hair and garment changes amused him, especially when she worked so hard to get him to notice. But the monitor remained dark and his scowl returned.
Out of desperation that the Prince would not admit to, Vegeta stepped over to the controls and check for historic transmissions. Nothing. He had hoped for a call, any call recorded, though he couldn't recall ever doing as much or saving those that were played back. Suddenly, it pained him not to be at his onna's side, but he couldn't go back- not when they were there. The Prince gritted his teeth to hold back his pain. He slammed a fist down on the console causing a nice dent in the otherwise indestructible metal compound. How could she do this to him after all he did for her?!
"What have you done to me?!" Vegeta hissed and then quietly started to hyperventilate. Nothing that Kakarot ever threw at him could hurt as much as this. The constricting pain in his chest was almost too much to bear. He waged a battle against the dry lump that formed in his throat. Tears escaped from his shut tight eyes. Falling to his knees he groaned, "What is to come of me, onna?" Sensing his son approaching, the Saiyan turned to sit with his right leg drawn up. Resting against the console, he wiped away any trace of tears and worked to calm his breathing. "Ha ha! How miserably pathetic..." The Prince sucked in air through his nose to clear the nasal passages and he mumbled, "Father, you must be turning over in your grave." Hearing the auto door open, he laid his arm on his knee and dropped his head. He knew what his father, King Vegeta would think of him. What concerned him more was what his son thought of him now.
It was dark, yet Trunks sensed where his father was. As his eyes adjusted, he was able to make out Vegeta sitting on the floor under the Gravity room's console. Most of his father's body was in the shadow, except for his left leg that was intermittently illuminated by the occasional blink of the machine's controls. The boy walked softly to his father and stood over him. He couldn't tell if he was asleep and hesitated to find out. For some reason, it felt unnatural to be above his father's head so he sank down to sit next to him. Trunks made his position similar to Vegeta's; only he pulled both knees up to his chest before putting his head down. It was so quiet, that Trunks listened to hear if his father was still breathing.
Careful not to reveal his emotions, Vegeta didn't move but said quietly, "You belong in your sleeping quarters."
"Dad?" Trunks looked up and studied his father's down turned profile. With another blink from the console he could see that Vegeta's eyes were open and staring into his lap. His father didn't respond so he went on, "Grandma says mom won't leave us."
The Prince grunted with apparent lack of reassurance.
"No, really Dad. I think Grandma's right. I mean, Mom couldn't leave us. You know how she always insisted that we finish what we started? Well, by her own account, she still has a lot to do here. And..." Trunks peered in the dark at his father's face while laying a light hand on his leg. "...we need her...don't we?"
Vegeta's head jerked to glare at the boy. Did his son just insinuate that the Prince of Saiyans and his offspring needed Bulma or any human for that matter? Nothing had to be said, the boy's eyes dropped in shame; his blatant display of weakness was acknowledged.
Trunks shifted and as he went to lay his head down over the hand that was on his father's leg, he mumbled, "Anyways, I'm sure Mom thinks we need her."
Vegeta's face softened and he looked upon his son with masked fondness. The clever boy was able to save face. His words settled on the heart of this Saiyan and they doubly worked by easing its heartache.
"Anyway."
"Huh?" Half asleep, Trunks didn't comprehend Vegeta's correction at first.
"Mind your vocabulary, boy."
"Um...sorry..." Like his last word, the boy drifted off in sleep.
The thought of how perceptive this mere child was caused Vegeta to smooth away his soft human like hair so that he could see his son's sleeping face. Then he heard the unmistakable sound of a surveillance camera come to life and pulled away.
Bulma's parents where undoubtedly checking on the whereabouts of two missing warriors. Grabbing the boy by the back of the shirt, he stood; bringing Trunks up to catch his legs into a loose cradle hold. Without recognition, Vegeta strode regally out the automatic door. Outside, he took to the air and entered the residence through Trunks' room second story window.
Stepping around his toys, Vegeta made note to speak to Bulma about the boy keeping his room free of this junk...that is if she decides to remain. He laid Trunks down in his bed with little objection from the sleep disturbed child. The Prince went to put out the light next to the boy's bed when he heard him murmur, "Wake me up when Mom comes around, please?"
"Yes."
"I love you father."
Vegeta stood motionless; his mouth poised to respond. How simple it was for Trunks to say. His offspring had no reservations regarding this particular human emotion. The words flowed uninhibited with true feeling. Yes, his son loved him, despite who he was. The concept of returning such an emotion continued to evade Vegeta's conscious. All he could say in reply was, "I know," and he turned out the light.
Trunks blinked at the closing bedroom door. Did he hear right? Did his father just openly acknowledge his son's declaration of love? If so, it was the first. Though there were times that Vegeta offered a small sign of tolerance (he could count them on one hand), his father never verbally responded, preferring to dismiss the token as a sign of weakness. Trunks closed his eyes and began to drift off with a smile on his face. Grandma was right. Mom was going to wake up and things were going to be a whole lot better.
Their bedroom was dark and quiet. For a moment, Vegeta stood at the doorway his shadow stretching across the plush carpeted floor. He tried to remember when the room actually became theirs and realized how long it has been. It had to be shortly after the Cell Games...after Kakarot left the living. Without Kakarot, he was without purpose. The desire to conquer the Universe seemed less appealing without opposition, so he looked to Bulma and Trunks for reasons to stay on this esthetically pleasing world.
Silently, the Prince padded over to the terrace door, drew open the chiffon like curtains, and opened the door. A slight breeze caught the light fabric, causing them to raise and roll away. The crisp, fragrant night air washed over him and chilled his body. Normally, he welcomed the cold. Tonight it only made him feel alone and empty. A sense of wistfulness filled his soul and he looked to the one that could comfort him.
Vegeta rose from the ground and floated over to his mate. His body parallel to hers, he studied the woman that changed him. Many a time he thought to rid him of this vixen and her cub. But he could not bring serious harm to them and assumed it was a weakness that this warrior would be forced to endure until he found a way to relinquish their hold. An unlikely assistance came in the form of the insect Babidee. Allowing the wizard to invade his mind and body, he had hoped to gain the strength he needed to surpass Kakarot and rid himself of this weakness towards Bulma and Trunks in the process. His eyes closed as he smiled with the admission of their unyielding force that remained in this Saiyan's heart. The love that they persisted to offer to him unconditionally had rooted too deeply for Babidee wizardry to overturn. How could he possibly be without her?
The sadness returned and Vegeta looked once more upon his quiescent onna. He lightly touched her cheek...still warm. His finger traced her upper lip...still breathing. Pulling the covers aside the Saiyan Prince floated down beside her and covered them both. On his side he watched her face for a sign...any sign. This wouldn't do. The longer he stared, the more his apprehension grew. The ache in his chest revived with a vengeance. Why couldn't he put his faith in what his son believed?
With an uncanny gentleness, Vegeta wrap his arms around her and pulled her close. The warmth that augmented between them helped to ease his discomfort. He buried his face in her scented azure hair; his lips close to her ear. "Onna?" he whispered. There was no response so he went on. "Would you have me renounce my Saiyan legacy and speak my one greatest weakness?"
The lump in Vegeta's throat threatened to hinder what he might say yet he swallowed and went on. "If...if I told you that...I loved you, would you stay with me?" The Prince held his breath for fear of missing any sound that might come from the earthling. His Saiyan ears could hear Bulma's heartbeat and found it in sync to his own. Was this a sign...her answer to his question? The wetness return in the corner of Vegeta's eyes as hope enveloped his being. He sought for her presence within their unison heart rhythm. The dew ridden air, the awakening sunrise and the figure lurking in the shadows, went unnoticed as Vegeta's consciousness slipped away.
---
Supreme Kabido-Kia smacked his knees. "There! You see?! He said it." The god sat comfortably crisscrossed in front of the looking orb while Elder Kia stood behind him, tapping his fists together behind his back. The ancient one sported a halo, his badge for sacrificing his life for the warrior Goku.
They watched from their Afterworld domain; on the planet that hosted the Universe's final defeat of Babidee's recreation; the menace Buu. It happened only yesterday by Earth's time. Their sacred abode survived the battle, although there was quite a mess left for the two to clean up.
"Hmm, I hardly call that a true declaration of love. He merely offered the words."
The younger one tilted his head back until he could see the ancient one's face. "Oh come on! I mean no disrespect Elder, but clearly Vegeta is willing to put aside his pride to appease his human mate."
His elder frowned down at him, "Yes, but that is no indication that he is capable of returning such an emotion."
Kabido-Kia returned his gaze at the large glass ball. He propped his head in his hand and sighed. If he was a gambling God, his money would be on the Prince of Saiyans. He credited the old Kia's lack of insight on having been cooped up in the Z sword way too long. He was positive that even an evil tainted heart such as Vegeta's, could offer love given the right circumstances. Something moved in the dark room that was projected in the orb and it caught his eye. "Uh, Elder? Who's that?" he sat up and pointed.
"Eh?" The old Kia walked around and squatted down across from the younger Kia. Frustrated, he snapped back, "How the heck should I know. You're supposed to be the Supreme Kia! You tell me."
"I've never seen the being before. Maybe it's another family member or a friend of the family."
The elder suspiciously watched the creature. There was something un-human about it twitching from behind. His discovery escaped his lips before it fully registered, "a tail..."
Suddenly, both rationalized how serious this could be. "Holy Guacamole!" cried Kabido-Kia. They both jumped up and frantically pointed at each other. The younger god blurted, "We got to do something!" at the same time the old god exclaimed:
"You've got to do something!"
Then they both turned their pointing fingers to themselves and they both protested, "Me?!"
Elder Kia indignantly crossed his arms, raised his nose and refused to look at the Supreme KabidoKia, "What are you looking at me for, this is your dog and pony show, not mine."
"Well I-I..." Kabido-Kia's shoulders slumped and admitted, "Of course you are right, Elder."
"Humph. Naturally that goes without saying. Now I suggest you get over there and take care of that intruder immediately."
Given the circumstances (with a very agitated Vegeta involved), he timidly asked, "Maybe it would be wise to alert Goku first?" As it was, Goku ranked number one of all the known warriors in existence. Vegeta held the number two spot. Both had surpassed even the mightiest of Gods. It also puzzled him who would be brave or crazy enough to disturb one of these Saiyans...especially Vegeta.
The old god incredulously eyed the younger god. "And you call yourself a Kia."
"Alright, alright! I'll do it myself," grumbled Kabido-Kia. Before he teleported to Vegeta and Bulma's bedroom he suggested, "Maybe you could find out from King Yama who I'm dealing with here?"
The old one rolled his eyes but then nodded to get the young one going. When Elder Kia's successor disappeared, he griped, "Like that senseless ogre would remember one out of billions of souls." He squatted down again and looked for Kabido-Kia to appear in the scene shown in glass ball as he thought. Tapping his chin, he searched his vast knowledge of infinite wisdom, as he spoke to himself, "Now how do verbal communications between Worlds works again?"