So sorry guys, gals, and non-binary pals! The text went haywire when I uploaded it, but thank you to Selena Moonlighty for calling it to my attention :)
Please enjoy and let me know what you think!
"You know she's gone, right?"
Goku rolled over on his side, his eyes opening lazily to see the same shadow self he'd been talking with since that first night it had showed up months ago. Every now and then, he'd appear while he slept and talked with him about what it meant to be a true Saiyan. A lot of the time it boiled down to Isla and how he felt about her. It seemed like tonight would be no exception.
"What are you talking about?" He yawned, pulling his cover up to the bottom of his chin and trying to keep his eyes open. "She's in her room down the hall."
He watched the shadow frown deeply.
"You sure?"
The man groaned, annoyed at being woken up by this intruder. "I saw her walk into her bedroom before me and Vegeta did the dinner dishes. She's in there."
The shadow was quiet for a moment, his face painted with a thoughtful scowl. After a few minutes, his gravel voice returned in the same tone that Goku recognized as concern.
"I can't feel her energy."
Goku sat up on his elbows, looking at his shadow self. Usually, the only emotion he gave off was lustful and aggressive. This was the first time he had spoken like Goku. This was the only time Goku had recognized himself in the look-a-like.
"Wow, you're really worried about her." He teased himself before rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "I guess she was acting weird today." Eventually, he turned back to the shadow and smirked as it glared at him, "Nah, don't worry about her, she's tough. I trained her myself."
"What if we got up right now and went to her room. Would she be able to fight back? What if we made we ours right now?I know you want to."
It was Goku's turn to glare. He'd been trying to be good. He'd been trying to ignore the burning under his skin that only grew day after day. Some times when they would fight each other in training, he would have to break and make her do something else so he could compose himself. He would often wonder if Vegeta had the same problem.
"What about him? You can't really know what's going on in Vegeta's mind. What if he'd already claimed her? The prince of Saiyans is thirsty to get his race back on track, after all."
The alien shook his head, "Vegeta doesn't have any interest in her. He's a loyal husband. And so am I."
The shadow scoffed, rolling his eyes and shifting them around the room before returning to meet Goku's.
"Oh so loyal. Both of you are like hunting dogs sniffing for a rabbit. And that little rabbit puts off a sweet smell. You remember how he acted today and how she could barely look at him during dinner."
"Go away."
The shadow smirked, "Fine. Go back to sleep. Dream of that little rabbit."
Goku plopped down onto his back, sighing as he closed his eyes.
"Oh, and by the way," The sound of the shadow's voice caused him to roll onto his side, trying to face away from it, "I think the other dog's left the kennel for a solo hunt."
Goku's eyes popped open, scanning over to Vegeta's bed. The new sunlight drifted through the large opening in the wall that led to the balcony, dimly illuminating the prince's usual sleeping spot. However, it seemed that the prince had gotten up early.
He could tell something was wrong since breakfast. When she sat down, he watched Isla pick at her clothing, her fingertips dipping in and out of her shirt collar before moving up to pull at the base of her hair. He noticed her shift uncomfortably every few minutes before returning to her rice.
His suspicions were confirmed when he began her training for the day, feeling her power surge at odd intervals instead of her steady stream of more intense power and then a sudden drop.
"Can't you concentrate any better than that?" Vegeta watched as the female Saiyan balled her fists at her fifteenth attempted prolonged ki blast. Instantly, her anger turned toward him instead of the inward anger she'd displayed ever since her first failed attempt.
"Maybe I could if someone would stop shouting at me for every little mistake!" She fired back, her voice raised considerably. Vegeta scowled. She turned to meet his glare, both Saiyans' energy spiking. Clinching his fist, he yelled at her, "You think I've been shouting until now? I'll show you training that will make all of our previous sessions seem like toddler playtime!"
"Can't wait!"
With that, Isla raised her hands and sent a blast of energy toward her teacher which he easily deflected. Vegeta smirked, returning with his own intense blast. Unlike the prince, Isla couldn't deflect so easily. The stream hit her, sending her flying backward into the bottom of the cliff behind her. Vegeta let out a humorless laugh as he watched the dust settle around her. However, to surprise the girl rallied so quickly. She flew back at him with such speed that he almost did not have time to raise his arm in defense. He could tell that Goku was training her well with the speed and power of her blows. After a moment he had enough and caught her fist in his gloved palm. This only made her angrier, sending her opposite fist to strike him. He caught this one as well.
The look of pain and anger on his face as she struggled against him seemed to effect him more than he realized. His mind wandered back to when he held her down in the tub of ice water during her transformation. It was staggering to see how much stronger she was now.
Pushing her arms down to her side, he pinned her close to him and watched her thrash.
"Let me go!" She screamed in his face. Vegeta just held her tighter.
"Stop acting like a child who didn't get her way!" He yelled back.
Her struggle slowed as she calmed down. She looked at the prince for a moment before realizing how close the two had gotten to one another. Vegeta seemed to notice too, but his hands tightened around her biceps holding her next to his chest. While hovering in the air, the two were the same height, Vegeta's frustrated scowl faltering as his eyes traced down her face and onto the exposed skin of her neck and upper chest.
He could smell it. It was the beginning of the heat cycle. Admittedly, he'd never been allowed to be around Saiyan women during their heat cycle while he was growing up under Frieza's rule, so it was all new to him. His body reacted in a way that he never thought it would. Even though he fought with all he had, he couldn't help but pull the woman closer until her glaring face was inches from his. He could feel the soft contours of her body close to his, sending fire rushing through his veins and into every extremity. His mind was in a deep haze, so thick he couldn't remember why they were there in the first place. Instinctively, he pulled her closer and this time she did not resist. He watched as the girl moaned through her teeth, rolling her head back and exposing her throat. Vegeta felt his mouth water as he ached to lean into the soft flesh and mark it, bite into it as he would a ripe fruit.
"What's wrong with me?"
The prince could hear Isla's question, but it felt as though she'd whispered it from a mile away. The fog of heat almost choked out her words, but they finally processed in his mind. What was wrong with her? What was wrong with him? He pulled together his last strands of free will and pushed her away unceremoniously.
Isla's back hit the ground first, snapping her back to reality. She sent a frightened look at the prince as she sat up on her butt, her legs crossed in front of her.
"I was about to…" She started, her face painted with disbelief. "I'm so sorry, Vegeta. I wanted to…"
Somehow she couldn't bring herself to put her almost actions into words. Shame filled her belly; she wanted to vomit. Bulma was her friend. Vegeta was her teacher.
The prince turned his back on her, before saying, "Training is over for today. Go back to your room and stay there."
He powered up quickly and flew off, leaving the girl alone in her self-loathing.
He had to do something about her presence. Sure, it wasn't her fault but she was still a liability as long as she stayed on the planet that was inhabited only by himself, an angel and his pet fish, a destroyer god, and Kaka—. Kakarot. Since she lived in her own world, the moron had lay claim to the girl. Now that she was in heat and even the prince of all self-control couldn't keep himself away, Vegeta knew that Goku was not long for the path of self restraint. Something had to be done. He knew Isla couldn't stay in her room forever, but he also knew that Goku wouldn't let her go without a fight. Literally.
Isla held her head in her hands, her body folded over itself as she sat on her bed and wallowed in shame. She couldn't believe what she'd done with Vegeta— or almost had done. She couldn't believe that she pulled herself close to him, pressing her breasts against his hard chest. Her body moved independently; the desire for him to bite her neck overtook her as she threw her head back and exposed it to him. While not something she would have normally done, she figured it was something to do with being a Saiyan, so she didn't think too hard about it.
Lying back, she sighed deeply. What would she do when she saw Vegeta again? How could she look at him at dinner? What could she tell Whis to explain why she couldn't make eye contact with the prince?
She bit her lip. What would she tell Goku?
Her heart sank at the thought of the look on his face as she imagined telling him that she had done something so awful. She could see the forecasted disappointment.
"I thought you were stronger than that, Isla." "Paul was right about you, I guess."
A loud groan escaped her as she covered her face once more with her palms.
"What am I going to do?"
"What are you going to do about what?"
A cheerfully curious voice from her window made her jump, sitting up on her bed to look toward the owner. The tall Saiyan sat on the railing, frowning at her with a tilted head that showed all the confused interest of a golden retriever.
"Oh, uh," Isla stumbled around in her mind for the words she could string together that made sense. "I don't feel well today, so I'm going to skip out on training."
Goku's eyes widened slightly in genuine shock.
"That's not something I've ever heard another Saiyan say."
Hopping down, he made his way toward her with worried tinted in his eyes. Isla could feel herself retract, fisting her covers and pulling them up around her neck. Goku stopped advancing once he was towering over her, his fingers tapping his chin as he thought. Slowly, he bent down with one hand dropping to her knee and the other on her shoulder, leaning her forward toward him. Isla squeezed her eyes shut, covering her mouth with her blankets and praying over and over that her face would not explode into a bright red blush. When she felt something on her forehead, she blinked them open and realized she was staring directly into steel grey ones. Goku's forehead was flush with hers, their noses and lips only a few centimeters apart. Isla thought her fingers were going to rip through the cotton fabric of her blanket, she gripped it so hard. Finally, the man spoke.
"This is what ChiChi does to see if I have a fever. And you really feel warm, Isla."
"You don't say." She replied, her voice muffled by the cloth that covered her mouth. She watched the eyes retreat as Goku stood and scratched his head. His cheerful smile was showing at only half the power of its usual wattage, with the rest of the emotion being uncertainty.
"You really should rest up. I'll just, uh, go spar with Vegeta or something. See you at dinner, ok?"
She couldn't help but be charmed by his awkward worry. Dropping her blanket, she smiled at him and nodded.
"I'll see you at dinner."
Something was definitely wrong. Goku couldn't put his finger on it, but Vegeta's energy was off during their sparring match and their training with Whis. The shorter Saiyan's attention seemed to be anywhere but with him and their match. He'd catch Vegeta's eyes drifting to Beerus's tower again and again. Eventually, it annoyed him so much he landed a blindsided blow on the prince before smiling and apologizing for the "accident".
Dinner didn't get any better. Isla sat at the end of the table, her knees curled up to her chest as she ate. She wouldn't look at either male Saiyan, only making light conversation with the angel at her side as he asked her about some TV show they'd been watching.
"So who do you think she'll end up with? Haruhi is quite the independent woman, so it's hard to get a read on who she actually likes. Oh my, reality TV is horrendous, but it sure it addictive."
Whis's eyes flitted over to the female Saiyan, watching as she shifted the rice in the bottom of her bowl with her chopsticks. His brows knitted together.
"Isla? You're still not feeling well? I thought you'd surely be at least a little better by this evening."
She shot him a small smile, her legs extending in front of her so her bare feet could rest on the cool floor.
"I'm sorry, Whis." She said, her grey eyes catching his soft violet ones. "I guess I'm still a little off balance."
The angel pursed his lips, "It's very uncommon for Saiyans to get ill. Perhaps I should check you. My staff isn't only for decoration, you know."
Isla stood quickly, her dishes in her hand, "N-no, I don't think that'll be necessary. I'll just go right to bed and I'm sure I'll be better in the morning."
Goku's eyes followed her movements as she walked toward the kitchen and then back to the table. She quickly pushed her chair in and said a soft, "Goodnight" before turning and leaving for her room.
That was the last time he saw her.
Vegeta waited until Goku was snoring to silently make his way to Isla's room. The embarrassment of how he'd acted earlier hit him again and again like a violent wave on the sea. If he was going to be able to remain on this planet and train, that girl would have to leave. Even as he made his way into her bedroom, standing beside her bed to watch her sleep, he felt a dark urge well up inside of him. His bare palms sweated as he watched her and suddenly realized why Goku had enjoyed watching her through that ridiculous portal for so long. She lay on top of her blankets, a small glimmer of sweat covering her forehead. Her long, untamed hair sprawled around her head like a halo as she lay on her back, legs in a reclined cobbler's pose and arms lazily beside her head. She wore black athletic shorts and large grey Capsule Corps shirt that she'd brought with her from earth. It looked sloppy, but be could still see the outline of her muscles on her thighs and a small part of her toned stomach as the shirt crept up around her waist. She was tanner from being in the heat of the suns for months on end. His mouth watered as he exhaled though his nose and made his move.
Clamping his hand firmly over her mouth, he straddled her. As excepted she woke up with a start, her hands pushing against him and a scream caught in her throat by his scarred hand.
"Stop struggling." He growled, dodging her adrenaline fueled attacks, "Stop and I'll let you go."
Her eyes scanned his and he could see the thought process in her mind. He was obviously stronger than her and had the advantage. She looked at his demeanor to determine intent, but he just looked as angry as he usually did. After a moment, she decided to trust him, her hands lowering to the bed and her noises ceasing.
Just as he'd promised, the prince dropped his hands from her face and sat back on his heels. He stared at her, taking in the concentrated smell of the heat that radiated off of her. Isla sat up on her elbows, her eyes never leaving him.
"It's taking every bit of my self-control to just sit here." He said, his tone even.
Isla was surprised that he was so honest with her, but if this wasn't a time to be honest, then when was it? She nodded slowly.
"I know what you mean."
After a moment, Vegeta shook his head and removed himself from his position over her, his bare feet on the floor. His eyes lingered over her before darting to the window.
"We have to hurry before Kakarot wakes up. Get your things quickly."
The man walked toward her closet, grabbing her duffel bag and throwing to her on the bed. Isla sat on her butt, legs crossed in front of her her as she shot him a confused look.
"What are you talking about?"
Vegeta groaned in exasperation. He made his way to the bed, yanking her off of it by her forearm.
"Get the things you need in this bag and do it quickly. You need to be back on earth before Kakarot wakes up."
Isla shot him a look, pulling her arm away from him.
"Stop pulling me around like a rag doll and tell me what's going on!" She demanded only to be met with a harsh "shh" from the Saiyan prince.
"Lower your voice, girl!" He growled through his teeth, "You're in heat. I can't train if you're here because I'll be spending all of my energy and efforts trying to mate with you. You're not strong enough to fight me off let alone Kakarot. You're leaving now so that idiot doesn't try to stop you."
Isla was once again struck by his bluntness. Rolling her eyes, she sat back on her bed and let the bag fall beside her.
"We'll do this in the morning when I can make breakfast for you guys and say bye to Goku."
Vegeta's energy peaked. Isla could tell he was intensely angry, but she didn't understand why it was such a big deal to leave that moment. The man bounded over to her, his hands wrapping around her biceps and bringing her to standing.
"Don't you see?! He's already called a claim on you. He will never let you leave."
Isla scoffed, "What the hell are you talking about?"
She felt as though she'd asked that question a hundred times in the past few minutes. Vegeta's hold on her loosened as he faded from angry glower into a forbidding frown. The grim expression on his face let Isla know that he was gravely serious.
"Kakarot has claimed you ever since he first saw you. That portal in the cave, he'd been watching you for months before he brought you through. In his mind, you're his. In reality, that's all it can take for a Saiyan's intention to be set."
Isla felt as though the breath had left her lungs as she processed Vegeta's words aloud.
"Goku… was… watching me?" She asked dumbly. A memory flashed through her mind of seeing his face once. It was at her birthday party and she'd thought he was extremely handsome. Afterward, she asked Quinn who he was, but she just shrugged and said that she was too drunk to know. That's why she'd thought she'd seen him before; she had.
Without another word, she grabbed her bag and made a round in her room, taking only what was most important. Really, she hadn't brought much from earth and only wore a few outfits repeatedly so it didn't take her long.
Before long, she and Vegeta were making their way toward the room where Whis spent his nights. Knowing that he didn't sleep actually comforted Isla as she followed the prince down the hallways and up to the angel's nest. The prince gave a tentative knock on the doorframe and waited until the deity called out for him to enter.
Whis sat in a large chair at the center of his room, his seer fish floating in its bowl beside him. He uncrossed his legs and lay his book over the arm of his chair to hold his place before standing to greet the two Saiyans.
"How odd to see you two out of bed." The angel stated, his eyes going from Vegeta to Isla, "It's even more odd that you've chosen to come to my room of all places. This must be serious."
Vegeta sighed, his arms straight by his sides, "Isla has to go back to earth."
The angel let out a noise of confusion, "Is that so? Why would that be?"
Glancing over at Vegeta, Isla could see a bright blush burst through his face. He stumbled for a moment before she took pity on him and stepped forward.
"Whis, I— ahem, I'm in heat. Apparently Saiyan females go through a heat cycle a few times every year and this is it. I don't feel like it's appropriate for me to be here with Vegeta and Goku."
Whis' brow twitched with embarrassment, "Oh my, this is a problem."
The angel turned his back to the pair, his hand outstretched as he called his staff to it.
"Does Goku know of this development?"
Isla flinched at the sound of his name. She really didn't want to think about him too much until she had time to sit and process his violation of her privacy for so long. A sudden pang of anger bit at her mind, her face falling to an intense stare.
"Are you going to let me leave or not?"
Whis' eyes back and forth between the Saiyaness and her prince. He could feel the strange emotions coursing through both of them; lust, frustration, anger, fear. Finally, he nodded.
"We'll leave immediately."
Capsule Corp was completely dark when Isla and Whis appeared in a flash of brilliant gold, lighting up the garden briefly before dousing it in darkness once again. The woman stepped away from her companion, unlinking her arm from his and facing him.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you, Whis." She said, her voice soft and matching the quiet evening around them. The angel smiled at her.
"I know. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to have to learn an entirely new biology in such a short amount of time. It must be very frightening."
Isla nodded slowly, her eyes falling down to the ground before shifting back up to her friend's.
"Could you please hold Goku off as long as possible?"
Whis let out a hum of amusement, "I know this is not my place, but I believe that he fully intends on making you his mate. Why not do what is biologically inevitable? Do you not like Goku?"
The Saiyaness crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head in disbelief, "He's married! He has a wife and two sons. That would be the worst thing I could do! Besides…"
The woman's voice trailed off causing the angel to raise his eyebrow at her, "Besides?"
Isla's hands balled into fists, straightening by her sides as anger rose within her. Whis felt her energy spike, his grip on his staff tightening slightly as he watched her work through her sudden burst of rage. When Isla spoke, he could tell she was trying to calm herself down by controlling the volume of her voice, but her energy was still unchecked.
"He was spying on me in my own home! He was watching me through the fucking mirror in my living room! I don't really know for how long, but Vegeta told me it was a while. Under normal circumstances, I would call the police and-"
"Yes," Whis interrupted his friend, his voice friendly but firm, "But are these circumstances normal?"
The woman faltered, her energy taking a sudden dip. Whis relaxed at the drop.
"I-I," She started, her eyes falling to the ground once more, "I guess not."
"Of course it was not right, Goku spying on you." Whis said, "However, he did save you from a rather nasty potential death. Maybe you should think about your new circumstances and what exactly you should be angry about."
Isla fell silent, her arms crossing over her breasts once again as she turned her head from Whis. The angel stayed for a quiet minute before turning and wishing her a good night and disappearing into another bright flourish of golden light.
Whis's words rang in her head as she slipped into her bedroom and removed her shoes before getting into bed.
Letting out a loud sigh that extended into a loud growl of frustration, Isla punched her hands into the bed beside her covered legs and fell back hard onto her pillows. She lay the way for a few minutes, her eyes burning a hole into the dark ceiling.
"Whis is right."
A voice from the corner of her room caused her to jump up, her hand yanking on the pull string of the lamp beside her bed. Once the room was partially illuminated, she could see that there was nothing there. Staring hard at the corner she heard the voice originate from, Isla sat back down on her bed and clicked the light off once more. In the darkness, she could see the distinct outline of a figure, causing her to gasp and pull the string once more. Again, there was nothing.
"What the hell?" She asked softly to no one in particular before slowly turning the light off once again. The figure returned.
"Stop that!" It demanded. From the timber of the voice She could tell it belonged to a woman. Watching the figure, she saw it move forward a bit, stepping closer the the moonlight that peaked in through the break in the curtains over the balcony window. Squinting, Isla could barely make out the features of the intruder, but as she got closer to the light source, she could tell that she was staring at herself. Her hand reacted under its own influence, clicking the light on again and making the figure disappear. Collecting herself, she gathered her courage and clicked the light on. The figure's face… her face… was twisted in anger.
"I said stop! I'm not leaving until I talk to you, so cut it out!"
Isla pulled her hand away from the lamp, uncovering her legs and swinging them off of the bed so she could spring into action if the occasion called for it. The figure sighed.
"I'm not going to fight you, you idiot. I'm from your own mind. Settle down."
"You're from my mind?" Isla asked causing the figure to give her a sarcastic smile and handclap.
"It speaks! Wonderful. Yes, I'm from your mind. I'm the one that your Saiyan brain created to help you."
Isla shot her a look of confusion, "Help me… what?"
The shadow figure leaned her elbows against the back of the chair she stood behind.
"I'm your Saiyan-self. Every Saiyan has one. Goku is actually Kakarot. You've heard Vegeta call him that? That is his Saiyanhood. Whether he knows it or not, Kakarot plays a large part in his life. He leads him in many ways." Isla watched her shadow motion her hand toward her, "Exhibit A."
Isla scrunched her nose, "What are you talking about? How am I 'Exhibit A'?"
The shadow groaned, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You're not too bright, are you? Kakarot chose you as a mate when he saw you. You know Goku. Do you think his attention span is long enough to watch a person do monotonous tasks for hours on end, month after month? There was something about you that called Kakarot and held him there. Whether or not you like it, you're what he wants."
It was Isla's turn to squeeze the bridge of her nose before running her palm over her forehand and through her hair onto her neck.
"And, I know there's something about him that calls to you too."
Isla's brow furrowed, her head shaking side to side violently, "No, no. You're wrong. I don't have any feelings about a man who is married and has been for many years."
The shadow scoffed, "Bullshit. I know how your body feels when you're around him. When you turned Saiyan, all of that unbridled instinct filled you and you threw yourself at him, lest we all forget."
A bright blush filled Isla's cheeks as she looked away from the shadow. Biting her lip, she thought of a counter argument, but found none. The shadow was right. She felt a draw to him like no other.
"That's not fair." Isla sighed, looking back to the shadow. The shadow rolled her eyes
"Who said anything about fair? This is the law of Saiyan attraction. It's biological and can't be stopped."
Isla frowned, "I can stop it."
Before the shadow could get another word in, the Saiyaness pulled her feet into bed and lay on her side, her back facing the shadow.
"Be gone, or whatever I say to make you go away. I'm going to bed. Unless you want to hang around in that corner all by yourself."
Glancing back over her shoulder to shoot the shadow a sarcastic glance, she noticed it had already vanished. Laying her head back on the pillow, she sighed once more and closed her eyes. It took a while, but she drifted into a dreamless sleep.
The small personal kitchen that the Briefs family usually used in the mornings was completely empty when Isla woke up. Although it was closer to midday when she ventured out into the home. After making a meal for herself and cleaning up the evidence, Isla walked down to the lab Bulma was usually fiddling around in that time of day only to find it empty.
"Huh, weird." She mused aloud.
Walking back into the kitchen, she pressed the button on the wall beside the door. After a moment, the intercom sprang to life.
"You're back early, Ms. Briefs?"
Isla recognized the cheerful voice as the one of Bulma's assistant, Yuki. She could tell Yuki was surprised at the use of the intercom, possibly because she thought Bulma wasn't there.
"No, Yuki, it's me, Isla."
Immediately the voice switched to its usual helpful tone.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Isla."
The woman smiled, pressing the button again, "Good afternoon to you too, Yuki. Could you tell me where Bulma is?"
"I'm afraid Ms. Briefs and Mr. Trunks are gone to a conference. They left yesterday morning and are not scheduled to be back until tomorrow evening."
Twisting her mouth into a disappointed frown, Isla pressed the button and thanked the assistant before turning and walking back toward her room.
What was she supposed to do for an entire day and a half before Bulma got back? More importantly, how would she approach the subject of what happened with Vegeta? She had to tell her, there was no other option. She didn't want their friendship to have this dark cloud hanging over it, so she had to tell Bulma about what happened… right?
Throwing herself back on her bed, so realized how hard this was going to be.
She wished Quintana was there. The sassy blonde would know exactly what to do. She'd tell her that Bulma deserved to know that truth and what she should say and how she should say it so that the Saiyaness and the blunette's friendship stayed in tact.
Groaning, she turned onto her side. Her body ached with boredom and the need to be satisfied with physical exertion. Clenching her fists, she let her muscles contract. Maybe she could find someone here that would help her.
Gohan was Goku's son and he was, supposedly, pretty strong. The thought of fighting him made her body tingle with anticipation. Her arms and legs twitched with excitement. Perhaps she would pay him a visit.
"Oh, Isla, I didn't know you were back from the Beerus's planet."
Videl answered the door and invited the woman in. Isla smiled at her as she sat on the sofa in the living room, Videl on the opposite end.
"Sorry for showing up unannounced."
The younger woman simply smiled and waved her off, "Oh, never mind that. I was hoping I could come up with something to do today besides laundry and then you showed up. I should be thanking you."
Isla laughed lightly, "I know what you mean. I hate laundry and I only have to do it for myself. You have an entire family to worry about."
Videl sighed, "Yeah, it's definitely a never ending job. I'm surprised Vegeta and Goku didn't make you do their laundry on Beerus's planet. I can't imagine them doing it themselves."
Isla tensed at the sound of the Saiyans' names, but tried to match the human's airy laugh with her own.
"Yeah, they're something."
The two sat in silence for a few moments, avoiding eye contact while trying to think of things to say that would break the awkwardness. The sound of the screaming tea kettle made Isla jump, but was welcomed just the same as Videl rose to finish preparing their tea. Returning a few minutes later, she handed Isla a warm cup and then sat back down with her own.
"So," Videl began, bringing her cup to her lips, "Did you need something?"
Isla rolled the cup in her hands, nodding slightly, "Oh, yeah. Bulma was gone for the day and I was super bored at Capsule Corp all by myself, so I wanted to see if—"
The younger woman's eyes lit up as she dropped her cup to reveal a smile, "So you wanted to see if Pan and I could spend the day with you? That sounds great! Pan should be up from her nap soon."
Isla opened her mouth to correct Videl, but the girl seemed so happy to have someone call on her that it didn't seem right to dash her hopes. It was probably really mind numbing being a stay at home mom sometimes, Isla thought. She never heard Videl talk about any other friends, so she wondered if she had anyone else besides the wives of the other fighters. A feeling of pity hit her as she watched Videl jump up excitedly and talk quietly about cleaning the kitchen before they left so she could start on dinner when they got home. Isla wasn't going to say anything about how it was already immaculate, she simply stood and offered her services wherever Videl needed them.
While Videl changed Pan after her midday nap, Isla stood in their hallway and examined herself in a wall mirror. She'd certainly changed since she left to go train with Vegeta and Goku and it showed in her body as well as her hair. Running her fingers through the long ponytail, she noted the uneven ends and wild waves. It had been unchecked for so long, she barely recognized it anymore. Her jacket and t-shirt hung away from her body, only showing the contour of her breasts as they fell. Her jeans were barely hanging on her hips as she turned to take in what such intense training had done to her behind.
"We can do a bit of shopping if you'd like."
Videl's voice caused her to jump and smile in embarrassment from being caught in an act of pure vanity. A small blush formed over her face as she let out a small laugh.
"Oh sorry, I didn't know you were done with Pan."
Videl smiled back, "Don't worry, I check myself out in this mirror all the time. Besides, you need a haircut too. It's looking pretty rough."
Isla sent her a look of mock surprise, "You mean my crazy alien hair that's been in a ponytail for months doesn't look beautiful? How dare you."
Videl laughed, "I hate to be the one to tell you, but it looks like crazy alien hair. Don't worry, Gohan's has to be cut like every other week. I'm sure yours will be the same."
Isla frowned, "That sounds like an actual nightmare."
The younger woman nodded, looking at herself in the mirror beside Isla, "Actually, it kind of is."
The day went by more smoothly than Isla thought it would. She did like hanging out with Videl at the gatherings Bulma held for her fiends, but didn't really know how it would be with them one-on-one. Surprisingly, Videl was funny, smart, patient. She wasn't a boring girl that was obsessed with her kid, she was a young woman that knew a lot about a lot of things. Isla could tell why Gohan was so attracted to her. Videl reminded Isla a lot of ChiChi and the way she handled the world. Videl was strong and didn't let much get to her. Gohan had a job that took him away for most of the day or, sometimes, several days in a row. Videl carried on as if it didn't bother her a bit. However, Isla could tell that it worried her that he would end up like Goku.
"Goku wasn't around for any of Gohan's teenage years. When I met him, Gohan was a huge mama's boy who was strong physically but really behind emotionally. A lot of things got to him, but he's mostly grown out of that. Now, he's pouring himself into something he really loves. I'm proud of him for coming this far in his studies, but sometimes he reminds me of Goku and his training."
Pan played with toys that Videl had brought along from home as she sat in her highchair at the table while the woman sipped coffee. Isla nodded in sympathy.
"It's hard for a Saiyan not to get wrapped up in getting to be the best at something. From my point of view, Gohan has found where he wants to dominate and he's doing whatever it takes to get to the very top. I don't think any amount of scolding will deter that behavior. In that regard, I think ChiChi should just accept Goku the way he is and let him run wild."
The Saiyaness took a long look at Pan, reaching across the table and hopping her small stuffed bunny closer to her, causing the baby to laugh and hug it close.
"On the other hand," she continued, "There should always be compromise in a relationship. Both partners should do what is best for the family. If that means that Gohan isn't the best at pie charts or whatever he actually does, then he should accept it and turn just as much energy to you and Ms. Pan. That's something I don't think Goku will ever learn. He's all Saiyan and Saiyans are all extremely selfish."
Videl nodded, "Ever since I met Goku, he's been that way. Gohan has been battling that mindset for a while. I just try to support him."
Isla smiled at her friend, "You're a good partner, Videl. Gohan is pretty lucky."
Videl returned the expression, "Thanks, Isla."
The pair sat in silence, both watching Pan play with her toys and taking sips of their coffee intermittently. Isla enjoyed the normalcy of the time. It reminded her of home, not the endless, high energy, supernatural training that had become a part of her new life. Her confidence in Videl's ability to give her sound, non judgmental advice rose with each minute they spent talking. Maybe she could get help from her after all.
"There's something I need to talk with you about. I'm guessing you'll help Pan go through this because she's also a female Saiyan."
A look of curiosity washed over Videl as she sat her daughter's rattle down and gave Isla her full attention. Isla could feel her mouth dry. Nervousness overtook her.
"W-well," she started, clearing her throat, trying to strengthen her stuttering voice, "I'm going through something right now called 'heat'."
"Like a dog?" Videl questioned.
Isla nodded, continuing, "Yeah, I guess. Long story short, that's why I'm back here. It was getting… awkward on Beerus's planet."
The younger woman's mouth formed an 'o'.
"So, what does that mean? What does your body do while you're in… ya know?"
Isla shrugged, "I don't know. I asked Vegeta and he didn't really give me a clear picture."
A barking laugh came from Videl, her hand flying to her mouth to contain her surprised humor.
"Let me get this straight, you asked the high and mighty 'Prince of All Saiyans' to tell you about the birds and the bees?"
Isla laughed, "Well, who else was I going to ask? Goku? I'd be surprised if he knew where Gohan and Goten came from."
"I guess you're right about that." Videl nodded, "So what made you leave?"
Isla sat back in her chair, sighing deeply, "I had an incident with Vegeta."
Videl gasped, "You don't mean you—"
Shaking her head vigorously, Isla sat up again, "No no no! But it was close, so we decided that I needed to leave. Well, actually, he came into my room in the middle of the night and threw my stuff into a bag."
Videl nodded in understanding, "I guess for Vegeta that's the same thing as asking politely."
A small silence settled over the the women once more, this one a little heavier than the last. Videl shifted in her seat. She didn't want Isla to feel uncomfortable and knew that what her new friend had told her was very vulnerable. Smiling, she leaned forward on her elbows.
"Well, that can't be easy to go through. If you think of any way I can help you just let me know."
Isla returned the smile, thanking Videl before turning her attention to the clock on the wall beside them.
"It's getting pretty late. Maybe I should get you two back home?"
Videl peaked over at the clock, her eyebrows tasing in surprise as she stood quickly.
"Oh! I didn't realize! Gohan will be home soon."
The women gathered their things, Isla with the few shopping bags from the day and Videl with Pan and her essentials. By the time they reached the outside of the shop, Pan was wriggling in Videl's arms trying to get down. Videl juggled her daughter's restlessness and her own baggage attempting to soothe the baby. Isla reached her hand out to hold something for her friend, but Videl declined and soldiered on.
"Pan, stop wiggling." Videl softly scolded as she child repositioned herself again and again, throwing her mother off balance and sending her into the shoulder of a large man walking next to her. The man's arm was knocked violently toward him, spilling some of the hot coffee from the cup he was holding onto his shirt.
"Hey!" He exclaimed, his voice was laced with anger before either woman saw his infuriated expression. As he Turned his body to face them, Isla could see the large brown stain on white cotton. She winced. Videl's face erupted in a fierce blush.
"I-I'm so sorry, sir—"
Before she could get her entire apology out, the man advanced, towering over her and Pan as he glowered at them menacingly.
"Yea, you are, you dumb bitch!"
Isla's mouth fell open at audacity. Stepping forward, she crossed her arm over Videl, shielding her from the aggressor.
"She said she was sorry. It was an accident."
The man smirked, a short scoff imitating from his throat as he leaned down to eye level with the Saiyaness.
"Who are you? Her body guard?"
"Uh, why don't we just go, Isla?" Videl faltered as she put her hand on top of Isla's protective arm. Her heartbeat began to quicken as she felt a surge in Isla's energy. Videl knew when she was in over her head with a Saiyan. She'd sparred Gohan and seen him fight plenty of times, so she knew what an energy level that she couldn't handle felt like. With every second, Isla's energy level grew, tying the knot in Videl's stomach tighter and tighter.
"No." Isla spoke, her voice was stern—not at all what Videl was used to from the woman. "This man owes you an apology for that name he called you."
Videl shook her head, her grip tightening on Isla's arm.
"Isla, it's time to leave before you do something you regret."
The older woman's head snapped toward her friend, their eyes connecting. Videl couldn't recognize the black orbs burning into her brown ones. They seemed so foreign and unlike the grey eyes Isla had before. They seemed to go on forever into a void of rage. Videl watched her friend lips lift into a snarl.
"We're not leaving until he's begging for forgiveness."
The intensity caused the younger woman to stumble backward, Pan clutched closer to her chest. Quickly she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and dialed Gohan. After a few rings, he answered the line with his usual upbeat greeting. Videl bypassed the pleasantries, trying to keep her panic from seeping into her voice so Pan wouldn't pick up on her anxiety.
"I need you to come to that little coffee shop in the mall that we go to. Isla's snapped and she's too much for me to handle on my own."
She heard the phone line die, dropping the device back into her pocket and focusing on the situation in front of her.
Isla was trained on the man like a hunting dog on a raccoon. The man laughed in her face, insulting her in any way that popped into his mind.
"Like you'd stand a chance against me, doll face. I'm the heavy weight champ of my city, babe. You're just a little bitch thirsty for attention, aren't you?"
A perverse smile broke out over the man's face as his large hand found its way to her chin, lifting it up to get a better look at her and so she could take in just how much bigger he was than her. Isla's expression was unchanged, silent rage building in her mind, bubbling in her gut like a dormant volcano.
"Say it for me, you're a thirsty little bitch."
In an instant, Isla's hand flew to the man's holding it fast. The man's face dropped into a look of confusion as he attempted to pry his hand out of the woman's grasp and failed again and again.
"Hey! What the—"
He stopped, his eyes locking with Isla's before he could finish his exclamation. The smile on her lips froze him with its inescapable cruelty.
"Who's the bitch now?"
With that, the woman closed her hand around his. She could feel his bones crumple under the pressure of her grip. Metacarpals and phalanges being ground together into dust just by the sheer force of her strength. His piercing screams didn't phase her. Honestly, they didn't really register until a familiar voice called her out of the almost pleasurable moment.
"Isla, stop!"
Dropping the man to the ground, Isla whipped around to see a man dressed in multiple layers of green clothing and what looked to be a motorcycle helmet on his head. The tall, slender frame and higher timbered voice gave him away. Immediately, she recognized him as Gohan.
"Why are you dressed like that?"
The man faltered, clearing his throat before striking a pose.
"Uh-I am the Great Saiyaman!" Gohan had dropped his voice into an odd register that didn't fit it, "I am here to stop this violence! Think about what you're doing, Isla! You don't want anyone to get hurt!"
Gohan watched the woman's eyes drop to the floor in thought. He hoped that this would be enough to sate her anger and calm her down. Truly, after feeling the kind of power she put off, he didn't know if he could take her. He cursed himself for his neglecting his training. Any other time, he'd sweep the floor with her before anyone else got hurt, but now he was just calling upon her humanity to stop what he was afraid was about to happen.
His breath hitched as Isla's eyes snapped up to meet his, her face painted with the same intense stare as before.
"You're wrong, Gohan." She said, her hands clinching into fists beside her, "I want to hurt them."
To be perfectly honest, the mirror gave her the creeps. Every time she passed it now, she'd pretend not to see it. Sometimes, she actually shield her eyes from it if she got too close. Hell, even Rex avoided the prime sleeping spot.
She'd toyed with the idea of taking it down and hanging a painting in its spot, but something stopped her each time. Maybe it was the hope that Isla would come back through it since Paul had told her that she left that way. In any case, it still hung in the same spot near the front door of the apartment.
Quinn sighed as she pulled the fast food burrito out of the brown paper bag in the kitchen before plopping it onto a plate with a few packets of hot sauce and filling up a glass of water. She'd already dumped food into Rex's bowl, so the only thing she'd left to do was to veg out in front of the TV for the night.
Friday nights were especially hard for her. She sat alone in the apartment once occupied by her best friend, eating some sort of artery clogging take out, and watching reruns of a 90's tv show. Pulling her legs underneath her, she chose a show that she'd watched with her mother when she was little. The old familiarity comforted her.
Her mother had been trying to get her to move back to Texas. She'd told Quinn that it was too depressing to live somewhere with so much death surrounding it. Quinn quickly corrected her that there was no death because Isla wasn't dead and she was going to prove it.
She put her finished plate on the coffee table in front of her, kicking her feet out so that she took up the length of the couch. Turning onto her side, she pulled herself into the fertile position and continued her weekly spiral. She'd remembered to take her anxiety medication Dr. Steinburg from work had prescribed her after the disappearance, to stop her racing mind, and now the soothing sounds of childhood were helping to numb herself to the emptiness of the apartment.
A black tail perked up in front of her face, trailing along her nose and causing her to swat it away.
"Got lay down, Rexie."
The small creature seemed to obey her command. She watched him hop up onto the back of the couch through the reflection on the glass in the picture frame beside the tv. Every now and then, her eyes would float to the small image of the mirror reflected in the same glass. The thought of Isla pulling herself through the mirror back into her own world pulled at the edges of her mind. Every time she looked toward the mirror, the expectation she had was met with a bitter disappointment; she'd engross herself back into the world of funny families and bright colors before starting the cycle over again.
She went through the cycle over and over again before the haze of sleep took her over. The medication took her dreams away, she found. It helped when she wanted to simply drop off the face of the earth for a while. It made for a restful sleep and usually she slept until late morning when she took it in conjunction with a sleep aid. However, this night a sharp clink cut through her haze. Her eyes popped open, immediately going to her the small reflection in the picture frame's glass.
Instead of the usual blank space that held the black void that was the dark mirror, a figure filled the area. The urge to jump straight up was crushed by the height of the black figure growing taller—into an inhuman stature. Chill sent shockwaves through her veins as her blood turned to ice. The presence filled the room with an aura of evil, pumping darkness into it from where ever the figure had come from.
Her fingers tightened around the couch cushion, suppressing a scream.
The figure stood in the room for what seemed like hours before finally making its way toward the door, shrinking to a more reasonable size before disappearing into the doorway. She could tell the figure was gone when the air in the room returned to a normal. As soon as she thought it was safe, Quintana bolted upright, rushing to the mirror to examine it. Her fingers ran along the ornate frame and then streaked down the glass, leaving smudges of frustration in their wake.
The woman stared at her reflection. Raising her hand, she pinched her arm and winced from the pain.
"Well, you're awake, Quinn." She assured herself, determination set in her soft eyes, "And you're right."
Thanks for reading :)