Chapter 29: Weighing the Results

Vegeta walked into the convention center showroom to a crowd of extremely fit men and women of all different sizes.

"Hey 'Geta!"

Vegeta looked up to see the buffoon waving at him through the crowd, pushing his way to get to where he stood by the entrance.

"Geta! I was wondering when you'd get here." He turned to gaze at the throng of bodies bustling about, attempting to form lines under signs containing different letters of the alphabet. "Apparently we're suppose to wait in the line with the first letter of our last names."

"Tsch. Obviously. You'd think this would've been more organized."

"I don't think they expected this many people to sign up," came Raditz's voice from behind them.

"Hey Radz! No buffet?"

"No. We'll just have to go somewhere and get something to eat after this."

"You two imbeciles thought they'd have food here?" Vegeta asked.

"They expect us to stand in these long ass lines, I expect to be fed afterwards," Raditz answered grumpily. "Seriously. We're gonna be standing in these lines for at least an hour."

"And Geta will have to stand by himself. At least we get to be in the same line," Goku said as he lightly punched his brother in the chest.

"Like I need or want anyone to talk to."

"I bet if Bulma were here you wouldn't mind having company while you wait," Raditz said suggestively, wriggling his eyebrows.

"Of course I wouldn't mind. I'm fucking her."

"Vegeta!" Raditz and Vegeta both gaped at Goku. He hardly ever called Vegeta by his full name. Goku blushed slightly as his own outburst. "Don't be so crass when talking about Bulma, okay." He kicked at the ground. "We know you love her. No point in putting on a face about it."

Raditz stared at his brother. The little twerp does have a brain in his head. He scratched his chin then clamped his hand on his sibling's shoulder. Goku looked up and saw the smile on Raditz's face. "That's sweet, bro. Always looking after Bulma. Even when you were little."

Goku smiled but then frowned as he saw Vegeta starting to walk away. "Hey! Where're ya goin'?"

"Away from you two fuckwads and your stupid sentimental shit."

"Vegeta-" Raditz called.

"Fuck off!" He bellowed, giving the two brothers the bird as he continued walking away.

"Well, wait for us when you're done!" Goku yelled.

Vegeta pushed through the crowd, making his way to the sign bearing an O. This line wasn't as long as some of the others. There were probably only ten people in front of him. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited his turn. He tried to forget the stupid conversation between his cousins a moment ago. He was already annoyed just being here, surrounded by a bunch of people. He didn't like being chastised by Kakarot too. His line moved steadily forward, the moderators working efficiently and as quickly as possible. It didn't take as long as he had expected before he was next in line.

"Name," the woman behind the clipboard said disinterestedly.

"Ouji, Vegeta."

"On the scale."

Vegeta stepped up on the wide scale. He made sure he wore his tightest fitting singlet and spandex shorts to get his weight right. Hopefully he wouldn't be too far off from what he came in at when he weighed himself last night.

"176," the woman read. "Stand still so I can take your height." She moved a metal stick that was attached to the big scale up to Vegeta's height. "Tilt your head back so I don't count your hair," she commanded. "Okay. 5'5"." Vegeta frowned. "Arms out for Reach." He spread his arms out to his side as the woman set down her clipboard and came back with a tape measure. "66."

She stepped back and went around to her table. She wrote some more on her clipboard and took a seat. She scribbled some things down on a card and then grabbed a small plastic goodie bag from a box beside her on the floor.

"Here's your info card. Fill it out before your first match and hand it to the moderators to get your number." She handed him the small card. "This is your admissions sheet telling us you came in today for weigh-in. Up here indicates your weight class." Vegeta looked to see the word middleweight circled, "provide us an email, phone number, and address to contact you at and then sign at the bottom."

She handed him a pen and he quickly wrote down his information then returned the clipboard to her. She signed underneath his name then tore off the top sheet and added it to a growing pile next to her. She gave him the pink copy and handed him the plastic bag.

"In here are information packets. Rules and regulations. Make sure you read them. Have a nice day," she said, effectively dismissing him.

Vegeta made his way out of the crowd. He could see the Sons still in line, laughing along with each other and some other random person. He scowled. He took a seat on a bench outside the double doors to the big room, mindlessly watching people enter and exit, prepared to wait for his cousins.

His mind wondered back to Kakarot and his admonishment earlier. Vegeta hadn't meant to insult Bulma. But the oaf did have a point. He was crass because he was talking to Raditz. He always tried to maintain his tough facade. But Bulma completely destroyed that persona when he is with her. He was sweet and kinder around her. Yeah, he was still gruff. But not nearly as crotchety as when he was around others. He hardly let his guard down, even around the Sons or Nappa. Nappa saw through his bullshit most of the time. Years of practice on his part.

But his character had never been questioned by the brothers before. They knew him better than most. Raditz just teased him and egged him on, knowing that he had a short fuse that he loved exploiting. But he knew Vegeta well enough to know he wasn't all anger. That his outward animosity at the world was hiding his inner feelings of resentment and frustration at the cards he'd been dealt in life. Kakarot on the other hand just laughed off Vegeta's grouchy persona. Never really acknowledging it. Vegeta never gave much thought to what was going on in the buffoon's head before. But he was starting to realize that he may have more then two brain cells to rub together. And he wasn't sure if he liked it. Because lately, every time the guy would say something mildly intelligent, it was always a reprimand about how Vegeta treated Bulma.

Vegeta's hands balled into fists. He knew he hadn't been the best boyfriend lately. But he had a lot on his plate. Fuck that, he thought. Because he knew that was no excuse. Bulma was the love of his life. She was putting herself in danger just to be with him. And she deserved better. Far more than what he could give her. His heart constricted, thinking about it.

"You actually waited for us!" Goku shouted, pulling Vegeta from his darkening thoughts.

"You okay?" Raditz asked.

"Fine. What weight classes did you two get?" he asked as a distraction.

"Middleweight," Goku said at the same time Raditz said, "light heavyweight."

The three men stared at each other.

"How is that possible?" Goku asked. "You only weigh a few more pounds than me."

"It's not," Vegeta responded. "This was deliberate. So we won't be in the same bracket as each other."

"What weight class are you?" Raditz asked.

"Middle."

Raditz looked confused for a moment but then remembered something, staring off into space. "I think you might be right, Vegeta." His eyes refocused on the two in front of him. "Remember that guy that tried to bribe me? What if me refusing did this?"

Vegeta nodded. "Makes sense."

"But why leave me and you in the same category?" Goku scratched his head.

"Make it seem like we have a chance at our plan," Raditz shrugged.

"Or they have something else in mind."

Goku stared at Vegeta. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know." Vegeta scowled, unable to think of another fair reason for this to have happened. "But this was by no means an accident. I agree with Raditz though. This is definitely connected to the man he met at his shop."

The three sat in silent contemplation for several minutes. Vegeta stood from his seat on the bench. "Let's find a place to eat. And call Nappa to meet us there."

Fifteen minutes later and the three buff guys were seated around a table at a Mexican restaurant waiting for Nappa.

"I think I'll get the enchiladas. No! The burritos. Maybe some tacos..." Goku pondered aloud as he scanned the menu.

"Hey boys," Nappa greeted as he took his place at the table. "What's good here?"

"Everything!" Nappa smiled at Goku's answer.

"I think I'm gonna get the fajitas trio," Raditz mused as the waiter came by to take their orders.

"The molcajete tradicional," Vegeta told the man, handing him back the menu.

"Can I get the burrito, taco, and enchilada combo. All beef. Oh! And a side of rice and beans." Goku smiled as he addressed the waiter.

"Mexican pizza, please," Nappa stated simply. He folded his arms on the table and eyed the three boys in front of him as the waiter left to put in their orders. "Well, I'm glad you invited me for lunch. But I feel like there was a reason for doin' so besides wanting my delightful company."

"We have something to tell you," Goku said as he started in on the complimentary chips and salsa.

"Raditz ended up in a different weight class than me and Kakarot," Vegeta explained.

"Hmmm," Nappa responded as he took in this information. "And you think this was Frieza's doing?" The boys nodded. "What'd you weigh in at?" he asked Raditz.

"They didn't tell me so I double checked the paperwork. It said 196, but I came in at 183 last night. We think it's connected to that guy that came into the shop the other day."

"Yeah," Nappa nodded. "Definitely could be related. But if it is that means that you still have to compete. If you dropped out now that'd only prove to King Cold that you only entered to help Vegeta."

"Not to mention that it'd look like he accepted the bribe if he dropped out," Vegeta added.

"True," Nappa agreed, taking a sip of his water. "Well, it doesn't really matter anyways. Doesn't change how many fights I'll have to watch." He frowned at the thought.

"And I was so looking forward to going up against you two," Raditz chuckled.

"I know all your moves, brother," Goku grinned. Raditz threw a chip at him.

"Hey! Come on! We're in public," Nappa scolded.

Vegeta sat in silence. He didn't know why this new predicament bothered him so much. He refused to believe it was because he liked the safety in knowing he had Raditz in his corner.

"Let's cut the shoptalk for now. How've you guys been? Still feeling okay?"

"I feel great!" Goku exclaimed as he stuffed more chips in his face.

"No problems with me," Raditz agreed.

"Vegeta?" Nappa turned his gaze on him.

"Vegeta is his usual cantankerous self," Raditz chimed in.

"Cantankerous?" Vegeta lifted a questioning eyebrow.

"Crotchety. Prickly. Bad-tempered. All means the same thing," he threw a chip at him, "you're a dick." Raditz laughed at his own joke.

"I can't take you three anywhere," Nappa grumbled like the old man that he was.

"Oh lighten up, baldy," Raditz said. "I'm just tryin' to lighten the mood." He crunched on a tortilla chip. "I'm still right."

"About what?" Goku asked.

"That Vegeta is a dick."

"I feel like the phrase 'takes one to know one' fits in well here," Vegeta bit back.

"Got that right!" Raditz barked. "I still got nothin' on you, man. They don't call you the Prince for nothing. Prince of all Dicks."

"Now that just sounds wrong," Nappa commented.

"Oh, I stopped thinking Vegeta was gay forever ago," Raditz said. "And that was before he was dating the heir to a major technological advancement company."

"How is Bulma, anyways?" Nappa asked Vegeta. He'd stopped receiving daily messages concerning Vegeta's whereabouts and progress, so he could only assume the two were back to normal.

"She's fine."

"Yeah she is," Raditz mumbled under his breath. It was Vegeta who threw the chip this time.

"For fuck's sake! I'm about to take those away from you three!"

"I haven't thrown any!" Goku exclaimed.

"No. You've just been scarfing them down like they're about to disappear," Vegeta sniggered.

"I'm hungry," Goku pouted.

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "You're always hungry."

"How did we just get so far off topic?" Nappa questioned, agitated. "Vegeta. Bulma? How is she?"

Vegeta furrowed his eyebrows. "She's fine. Why so interested in her well-being?" He raised an eyebrow at his godfather. "Going for younger women now?"

Raditz snorted. "No. He's trying to get in with Panchy."

"Oh, I think Dr. Briefs handled that situation the other night," Vegeta quipped, remembering the sounds coming from behind closed doors after dinner Sunday.

"What's that mean?" Nappa asked almost angrily. He wasn't trying to go after the Briefs woman. He just didn't like the look on Vegeta's face. His godson just tapped the side of his nose with a grin. "Oh, fuck all of you!"

The waiter arrived then with their food and gave Nappa a disproving look which made Raditz and Vegeta laugh.

"Great. You lot act the idiots and I'm the one that gets in trouble for it."

Raditz scoffed. "Oh please. A disgruntled waiter doesn't mean anything. Just stop complaining about our childish actions and eat your food, old man."

Nappa angrily started eating his Mexican pizza. Goku was already halfway through his burrito, having ignored the three other bickering men. Man, I'm so hungry! he thought. Vegeta and Raditz kept throwing barbs at each other across the table as they ate.

He would never admit it, but Vegeta liked having dinner with his cousins and godfather. It was such a nice reprieve from all the other crap he had to deal with. And it was different from when they were all training together.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Goku all-but shouted halfway through the meal. "Bulma has invited you over to her place the night before the first match, Radz. Me and 'Geta too. And Chi Chi, and Krillin and 18."

"A sleepover, eh? Sweet!" He took a bite of his food. His face fell as he chewed. "Wait! I'm gonna be the only single one!"

"You could try to put the moves on Bulma's mom like Nappa," Vegeta suggested with his shit-eating smirk. Nappa glared at him.

"Nah. I wouldn't want to face the wrath of Dr. Briefs. I guess I can survive one night being the seventh wheel." He took a sip of water. "Just long as it doesn't turn out like when we all went to the club."

Vegeta blanched. He didn't like to remember that night.

"Well, Vegeta is with Bulma now. So it's bound to be better!"

"Still could end with me punching you in the face," Vegeta jeered.

Raditz grinned. "One can only hope."

They finished their meal and went to the front to pay.

"That was delicious," Goku stated, rubbing his stomach.

"You think all food is delicious," Vegeta said.

"True!" As they left the restaurant to head down the street, Goku asked Vegeta, "are you staying at your place tonight?"

"Either that or at Bulma's. Why?"

"I'm staying over with Chi Chi so I didn't know if you'd be there too."

"It's whatever the woman wants to do."

"Cough. Whipped," Raditz coughed under his breath.

"Better that than having no one," Vegeta retaliated.

"Hey! It's not like I can't get a chick. I just haven't been looking. Too busy dealing with your grumpy ass," he tousled Vegeta's spiky head.

"I'm sure my ass has everything to do with it."

"You three give me indigestion," Nappa griped. "I'm headed home. I'll see you guys later for training."

"See ya," the three younger men chorused as Nappa walked back to his car. They continued on foot down the street.

"Hey Vegeta. If you aren't staying at your place tonight, mind if I use it?"

"Why not just go back to your place?"

"Cuz I'm lazy. Come on. Do me this one favor." He bumped him on the shoulder.

"Fine. But you sleep on the couch. Don't even think about stepping foot in my room. And make sure you clean up after yourself."

"Yes sir!" Raditz said with a salute.

They arrived at the apartment building and Goku knocked on the girls' door as Vegeta let Raditz into his place. They both came to a complete stop in the doorway at what they saw.

"Oh my god!" Bulma screamed as she threw herself on the floor, trying to hide behind the coffee table.

"Out!" Vegeta yelled, pushing Raditz out the door.

"But you said I could stay here!"

"Not anymore!" He slammed the door in the broad man's face. He turned to look at his girlfriend. "How the hell did you get in here?"

"Like I don't know how to pick a lock, Vegeta. I didn't think you'd be bringing Raditz over here though!"

"How is this my fault? You're the one who broke into my apartment."

"Because I was trying to be sexy!" She was no longer cowering behind the little table anymore. She stood before him in thigh-high stockings, a navy blue lacy bra – if you could call it that since it was practically see through – and a matching thong. She wore a pair of killer heels as well.

Vegeta sauntered over to her. "You look incredibly sexy," he said in his deep, gravelly voice. He spread his hand on her bare back and abruptly brought her up against his body, making her gasp. "Now please," he said against her lips. "Tell me what you had planned in this getup." Bulma smiled. She twisted them around, pushing Vegeta down on the couch, and then straddled his lap.

"Let's just say the workout we'll be getting tonight will make us too sore to train in the morning," she whispered in his ear before tracing her lips down his throat. Vegeta groaned, enjoying the feel of her lips over his pulse. He completely forgot about leaving Raditz out in the cold as the bluenette lifted his shirt above his head.


Author's Note:

Sorry for the long wait, guys. But I hope you enjoyed the silliness in this chapter. I love my Saiyan boys!

I'll probably be updating this story a little more sporadically than I have been, so I hope you all can bear with me.