Vegeta cried out as Kold threw himself at the prince, punching him to the other side of the room. Frieza flinched, but was far too afraid to stand up against his father. Instead he just watched, praying that his life at least would be spared.
"Do you still wish to defy me, Vegeta?" Kold demanded with a cruel smirk.
"Yes…" Vegeta rose to his feet. "For as long as you hurt him!" he powered up, and glared at Kold. "So get used to it!"
"Vegeta!" King Vegeta cried. "Stop it at once! Come on; leave Kold to do what he likes to Frieza."
"No!" Vegeta yelled. He looked sternly at his father. "Didn't I say before? I love Frieza, and I'll protect him no matter what!"
"Vegeta…" Frieza watched him timidly, the smallest of blushes on his face. Why…? Why was Vegeta doing this? How could he possibly love such a weak being?
"And if that means I have to fight Kold, maybe even get killed…" Vegeta looked at the changeling king. "Then that's what I'll do!"
"What!" King Vegeta's eyes widened. "He really does love him!"
"How noble." Kold smirked. He looked at the saiyan king. "Wouldn't you say, Vegeta?"
"All saiyans are noble." King Vegeta growled. "And all saiyans are brave – something that you never will be!"
"Hm?" Kold tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"Coward!" King Vegeta shouted at him. "You only fight battles that aren't fair! You would never have the courage to stand up to someone who abused you!"
"That's true, Vegeta. I only fight battles I know I can win." Kold replied, and added. "Like this one."
"So come on!" Vegeta shouted. "Fight it!"
"Soon." Kold told him. "But first…" he made his way over to Frieza, whose eyes widened and he scurried as close to the wall as he could in pure fear. Kold peered down at his son, and smirked. "This boy has been bothering me for a very long enough."
"No!" Vegeta gasped.
"Father, pleases!" Frieza begged for his life.

"No!" Vegeta threw himself at Kold but Kold punched him away, sending him flying into King Vegeta.
"Vegeta!" Frieza flinched, and whimpered. Kold grabbed his tail and picked him up, dangling him like a toy.
"You were an amusing son to have, Frieza." Kold admitted. "But certainly not useful."
"Please Father…"
King Vegeta ran over to his son and helped him up onto his knees, Vegeta leaning against up.
"Come on." King Vegeta mumbled to him. "Let's leave them to it. Frieza's as good as dead, we might as well –"
"No!" Vegeta shouted at him. King Vegeta stared at him in a mixture of disbelief and anger.
"No!"
"You don't know what love is, do you Father?" Vegeta answered. "If you did you wouldn't have to ask me why I'm doing this."
"Doing what?"
"Nya!" Vegeta leant to his feet and charged at Kold. "Leave him alone!"
"Vegeta!"
"Get away!" Kold threw Frieza to the ground and tackled Vegeta.
"Vegeta!" King Vegeta repeated, and leapt into the fight.

Propped up against the wall, Frieza watched the scene. Vegeta would surely die… why was he protecting him? Naivety, perhaps. What a fool.
"Frieza, run!" Vegeta shouted as he and King Vegeta battled King Kold. "Please!"
"I…" Frieza began.
"Persistent vermin!" Kold snarled at the saiyans. "Tell you what Frieza, kill them and I'll let you live another day."
"…" Frieza didn't respond. Kold grabbed Vegeta by the throat, and held him in front of Frieza.
"Let go!" King Vegeta charged at him but Kold blasted him away, knocking him unconscious against the floor. Frieza flinched as he did so.
"Well?" Kold stared at him son, and held up the saiyan. "Here, you have a clear shot of him. So do it."
"Father…" Frieza said.
"Come on."
"…" Reluctantly, Frieza started to build a ki ball. Vegeta's eyes widened as he did so.
"Frieza…!" he choked. "You'll really do it, won't you? Frieza…" he gazed pitifully down at his prince. "If it buys you another day, then I'm happy to die."
"!" Frieza gasped in shock. "V-Vegeta!" it was too much for him to take, and he was sure tears were forming in his eyes. "How can you…"
"Frieza! I'm losing my patience!" Kold snapped.
"…" Frieza's face grew stern, and the ki ball started to grow. "Oh…" he growled. "Shut up!" before he could even realise it Frieza sent a blast so powerful flying at Kold's face that Vegeta was blown out of his grip.
"Gnyg!" he gagged as he hit the floor hard. "Frieza!"
Vegeta leapt to his feet to see Kold lying dead on the floor, his body in pieces. Vegeta then moved his eyes over to Frieza, who stood staring in a mixture of shock and horror at his dead father.
"Vegeta…" Frieza said weakly.
"Frieza…!" Vegeta ran over to him, and caught the changeling prince just as he fell to his knees. Kneeling down with him, Vegeta hugged Frieza tight. "It's okay."
"Vegeta…" Frieza whimpered.
"Ssh." Vegeta kissed his cheek. "It's okay. You did it." He smiled, and pulled Frieza closer to him. "You're safe now."
"…" Frieza closed his eyes. "I know…"

Vegeta looked at the prince, and he just had to know. He had to know if Frieza's feelings were still the same. Had Vegeta changed him at all? He couldn't stand not finding out.
"Frieza," he began.
"Yes?"
"… Do you love me?"
"…" Frieza stared at the ground. Did he? Vegeta had been the only person that had ever cared for him… but what was love? He didn't understand it.
"Frieza?"
"I don't know." Frieza answered.
"Okay…" Vegeta felt hurt again, but he forced himself not to let it show, and just held Frieza there.
"…" Frieza leaned against Vegeta. Strange… this didn't feel wrong anymore. What did this mean…? Did he love him after all?
"Vegeta." Frieza said.
"Yeah?"
"Let's live together." Frieza turned to look into the saiyan's eyes. "Until I can answer you."
"Frieza…" Vegeta smiled. "Yes!" he hugged Frieza tight. "I'm so glad you're saying this! I promise I'll take care of you from now on, I'll protect you from everything! I love you, Frieza."
""