Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters
Special thanks to preciousjade76, iluvveggie, v-mangrl, smalsa, and bval1.
Ironically, the first time I worked on this chapter I apparently had not yet become as huge a fan of Star Wars as I am currently, and I had also injured my knee again (despite the surgery I re-injured it not too long ago, but it's good now…man how times change!)
Vegeta avoided Bulma like the plague for the rest of the trip to Planet Vegeta. In fact, the only reason she knew he was still around was that Kakarot would say he was given orders to feed her or to draw her a bath. Kakarot had been her only source of information after Vegeta had disappeared. She learned about their race, customs, everything that she hadn't thought to ask Vegeta after learning about his father.
They were part of a race called the Saiyans. They had always been warriors, but Vegeta's grandfather had been a kinder ruler than his father. So many treaties had been established, and the Saiyans had fought for other worlds instead of against them. The planet had profited more from those treaties that were now broken because of the tyrannical king who, like his father, son, and the planet, was also named Vegeta.
Kakarot also told her about his family. He was married to an alien of another race who had been forced to reside on Planet Vegeta, and they had a little boy. Kakarot lived with his parents and his two brothers. The family unit he was describing reminded her so much of families on Earth that she couldn't help but smile as the Saiyan told her his family stories.
She did enjoy getting to know the upbeat Saiyan, but the truth was that she was worried about Vegeta. After their last encounter, Bulma realized that she had overstepped. It was obvious that he was different than those other aliens or else he would have done away with her when he found her. He showed her compassion when there was no hope for her and she shoved it back in his face. But she was still scared and getting used to the fact that there was no more Earth and being that last of her race. It was normal for her to feel the way she did about the situation, but now the guilt was eating away at her and she believed she was at fault.
She was brought out of her thoughts when Vegeta entered her room. He looked incredibly beat up, many new cuts and bruises littering his skin. She had never seen someone so injured before and she panicked, rushing over to the Saiyan prince.
"Vegeta, are you alright?" she asked, her brows furrowed in concern as she looked over him. He frowned at her when she ran her hand over the cuts on his cheek. His response to her concern was smacking her hand away. Bulma looked surprised as she held the smack hand to her chest looking pleadingly into his emotionless eyes.
"We are landing in an hour," he stated with his arms crossed. "Be ready."
Before she could say anything, he disappeared. Bulma had no idea what caused him to act this way. For a moment, she was afraid of him. The way he stared at her was so dark and cold, even though they seemed to develop an understanding during their last interaction. She had still hurt him, though, so maybe he was still sore over that. The guilt began to gnaw at her again.
"It's not you." Bulma looked up to see Kakarot, who could tell she was blaming herself for Vegeta's attitude. He didn't look happy. How could he be when he knew that Vegeta only acted this way to play his father? It wasn't fair that Vegeta needed to always appear indifferent to protect those he cared about. His friend couldn't live life pushing others away. "He's usually like this when we have to go back. If he ever showed emotion around his father, the bastard would exploit it."
Bulma seemed to understand, but she too became slightly angered, though not at Vegeta. "Is that why he's been avoiding me?" Kakarot nodded. She frowned and looked away. It was hard to believe that there could be someone so cruel and callous as the king that Kakarot had told her about, though she had already seen so many that held those same characteristics in the aliens that attacked her planet. She just shook her head in disbelief.
There was something she wanted to ask, but she was struggling to find the words. Kakarot waited patiently knowing that there was something she needed to know. "Did he hurt himself?" she finally said, basically forcing the words out.
"Yeah," Kakarot muttered reluctantly. Bulma squeezed her eyes shut and tried to take a calming breath. "But it's not as bad as you think," he attempted to convince her. Bulma gave him a disbelieving look mentally asking, Are you freaking kidding me? Sensing her apprehension, he explained, "Saiyans heal a lot faster than any other race and, when we do heal, we get stronger. We also have these beans that heal us instantly called senzu beans. Next time you see him, he won't have any cuts on him. It's just a training method." Truthfully, not many Saiyans trained that way, but Bulma didn't need to know that right now.
Bulma still didn't like that Vegeta was purposefully hurting himself, magic beans or not. She wanted t voice her distaste, but Kakarot interrupted her train of thought. "Oh, before I forget, here."
Bulma looked down at the bracelet Kakarot was holding to her. It made no sense to her that he was giving her a bracelet. Silently, she questioned it, not moving to take it. What exactly was it?
"It's a gravity control set to Earth's normal gravity," Kakarot told her without her even asking anything. She wondered if all Saiyans were this perceptive or if it was just Vegeta and Kakarot. "Planet Vegeta has ten times more gravity than your planet and until you can be weaned up to that level, you need to wear it."
Bulma nodded and took the bracelet. After she put it on her wrist, she rotated it around to observe every detail of the strange technology. A smile appeared on her face making Kakarot raise an eyebrow watching her with amusement.
"What are you doing?" he asked forcing himself not to laugh at her.
Bulma's eyes lit up and she turned her smile to him. "If all your technology is like this, I think I'll be in heaven."
Kakarot chuckled and shook his head. "Come on, let's go get strapped in."
Things were going well during the half hour before Vegeta entered the control room. He sat in the chair facing Kakarot and Bulma. He looked tense yet dangerous, and Bulma couldn't help but stare at him nervously. Kakarot stared at him with equal seriousness and waited to hear what Vegeta had to say. The atmosphere was tense.
"When we return, Kakarot, you will not tell my father anything. If he asks about the mission, tell him I intend to answer all those questions in a full report. If he asks about the girl, you will tell him that you know nothing other than what was said over the scouter and our energy during the last few nights." Bulma did not like the sound of that. She knew, thanks to Kakarot, that most of the Saiyan race could sense energy levels, including subtle increases and decreases in mood or activity. Vegeta was telling Kakarot to say their energy indicated high activity, which just made her feel dirty. She guessed that she was going to have to get used to that type of talk if she was acting under the pretense of his concubine. "Any other questions you may answer at your discretion."
He turned to Bulma. He had spent the majority of the time the previous night thinking on ways to keep her as safe as could be expected. "As for you, you will say nothing, starting now. I intend to make him believe you are still in some state of shock. He is not to know of your engineering abilities or status on Earth. He is to think you are my concubine. You will not react to anything I say, understand?"
Bulma swallowed nervously and nodded. She had to admit that she was afraid of Vegeta now that he was acting so cold and calculating. It was like the small amount of kindness she had seen in him disappeared.
Vegeta took his scouter and put it on. "Any questions, Kakarot?" he asked as he turned on the device.
A firm frown found its place on Kakarot's face. Bulma, for the moment, could barely recognize him. "No, sir."
The landing wasn't nearly as bad as Bulma thought it would be. It was incredibly smooth, unlike flying on an airplane. She couldn't help but think that if Earth hadn't been wiped clean by that other group of aliens, that they could have learned a lot from the Saiyans and maybe could have made a treaty with them or something to prevent Earth's destruction. Both planets could have prospered and made a trade, but those on Earth hadn't really known all of this existed. There had always been theories on alien life, but no one expected intergalactic warlords attacking the planet. Honestly, they hadn't stood a chance and that, to Bulma, wasn't fair.
Vegeta walked up to her and glared down at her making her shrink up inside. She looked down to the ground, feeling so nervous and small under his dominant gaze. Her eyes moved to look up at him, though she was still looking down. He was smirking and looking at her with approval. He gave a curt nod, and that's when she realized what he wanted. The fact that she was in a submissive position was apparently appropriate. She didn't like it, but if they were going to fool his father then she would have to play along.
Bulma followed behind Vegeta and Kakarot and, though she was curious about her new surroundings, she did not look up at the guards saluting their prince. She could see them from the corners of her eyes, however, and could tell by the way they looked at Vegeta that they highly respected him. It made her wonder why no one was going up against their tyrannous king, but she didn't dare voice anything to Vegeta, at least not at the moment.
She almost jumped when a bald guy ran in front of them. She slightly peaked up and could visibly see his anxiety.
"I trust your mission went well, Prince Vegeta?" he asked hopefully.
"Not this time, Nappa," Vegeta replied calmly and walked around the man along with Kakarot. Bulma followed behind and caught the look of panic on the other Saiyan's face.
"I see you have returned, my son. How was the flight?" Bulma heard a voice boom.
Vegeta shrugged. "I'm here."
"I see." The king turned to face Kakarot. "Soldier, what do you have to report?"
"Nothing that V…Prince Vegeta won't tell you," Kakarot replied.
The king smirked. He knew that this soldier was a friend to his son and only kept quiet about missions when Vegeta ordered it in attempts to keep the other man from being punished. He planned to humor him and his son. It always served to be more interesting to him when he toyed with those beneath him. "I understand that you have a mate and son, correct?"
Anger flickered in both Kakarot's and Vegeta's eyes at the apparent threat. "Y-yes, sir," Kakarot said clenching his fists.
"You may return to them now. Expect payment within the week."
Kakarot knelt down and bowed, refraining from displaying any emotion. He felt relieved, though, that he was being dismissed, but he was concerned for his friend. He knew the sacrifice Vegeta was making for him. "Thank you, your highness." The words were spoken with respect, and Vegeta knew that Kakarot was referring to him under the guise of responding to his father.
Kakarot left the throne room, and then the king dismissed the others Bulma assumed to be guards or soldiers as well. It was now just the king, Vegeta, and Bulma.
The king was frowning at Vegeta. "What happened that you ordered your underling not to speak of and who," the king asked sneering at Bulma, "is this weak creature?"
Vegeta didn't flinch or display any of the nerves he was feeling being on the other side of his father's rage. "When Kakarot and I landed on the planet, it had already been purged by others. This young girl was the only survivor and, though she is in shock now, I feel she will be able to tell us who in the future so that we can confront this new threat. In the meantime, I wish to take her as my concubine. She is a pretty creature, wouldn't you agree?"
The king's features darkened. "Nappa!"
The bald Saiyan from earlier entered the throne room. The king looked to Vegeta who immediately understood what was about to happen as well as knowing that his father accepted his request regarding Bulma.
"Nappa, take this girl to my quarters and make sure she is fed. My father and I have more to…discuss."
Nappa hesitated, but nodded and turned to Bulma. "Come, girl," he said forcefully.
Bulma looked to Vegeta who stared at her with a cold expression. She shivered and turned to follow Nappa. It amazed her how much he could control her with a single look. That fact alone frightened her. That and the fact that Vegeta was staying back with his father. She didn't understand why the king had ordered Nappa in, or why he got so angry with Vegeta for things that were beyond his control.
"You must be special, girl," Nappa said quietly, interrupting her thoughts. She didn't respond, so he continued to talk just as softly. "Vegeta never shows any interest in anyone, let alone a weak, human female." Bulma tried her best not to retort to the insult, mainly because she knew that compared to the Saiyans and the aliens that conquered her planet, she was weak. "Probably has something to do with that jackass we call the king."
Bulma was shocked that Nappa would speak about his disdain with her so freely and about how he knew Vegeta's motives without actually knowing anything at all. Maybe this entire race felt this way about their king and hoped their prince would take the throne, but then why not revolt? They were a strong, warrior race. There had to be something she was missing regarding the situation. Just what gave the king so much power?
"Here we are," Nappa said stopping in front of a large door. He opened it and led Bulma into the room. "I will have clothes and food sent here for you. If you need anything else, there will be a guard posted outside the door, got it?" Bulma nodded.
Nappa turned to leave and Bulma muttered a quiet "thank you" before gasping and smacking her hands over her mouth. She turned nervously to Nappa who just smirked at her.
"I knew it," he replied. "Don't worry, girl. You are under the prince's protection. Your secret is safe with me."
"Um, excuse me, um, sir," Bulma said quietly, matching his volume. He raised his brow at her, curious as to what she was going to say. "What's going on? I mean, what is going to happen to Vege…I mean the prince?"
Nappa frowned and replied saying, "That I cannot tell you, girl. You will find out soon enough what the king does if someone fails a mission."
"But it's not Vegeta's fault!" Bulma exclaimed. Nappa covered her mouth quickly. He shot her a glare making her fearful of the man.
"You would be wise not to talk that loudly again," he warned. "Saiyan hearing is incredibly powerful and the king could have overheard." Bulma nodded, tears starting to fall from her eyes. Nappa's face calmed and he actually looked guilty for the moment after frightening the girl. He sighed. "Just, go inside."
Bulma didn't have to be told twice. She ran into Vegeta's room and shut the door quickly behind her. She was terrified at the way these people were and for the moment, she wished she had been killed with the rest of her family. Then she would be happy with them, free of suffering, and not in the middle of this. More tears fell. Why didn't he just kill me?
Hours later, Bulma was awoken by the sound of the door opening. Two guards were carrying Vegeta and lying him down on his bed. She remained silent, pretending to still be asleep as the guards did their duties. "Why can't we just give him a senzu?" one of them asked.
"You know how the king is," the other said. "He has forbidden it. The prince must heal on his own."
"He can barely even move to treat himself. At this rate he'll catch an infection and die, Zorn."
"We cannot help him," the guard said sadly before escorting the other out. He turned back to look at Vegeta, and Bulma could even feel his reluctance to leave. "Good luck, my prince."
After the door had shut, Bulma got closer to Vegeta. She could barely make out his form in the dark since there didn't seem to be any lights in the room. Instead, she opened a window and was shocked to see a sky, similar to her own night sky, though violet-red and not blue. There were many stars and a crescent moon lighting up the room. Thankfully, it was enough for her to see Vegeta.
She moved to sit down on the bed next to the prince and gently touched his face. Vegeta moaned slightly from the contact and Bulma quickly pulled her hand back.
"Don't touch me, girl," he ordered, though his voice lacked his usually forcefulness.
"But you need help," she told him.
Vegeta attempted to sit up and object, but fell back down on his bed. "Stupid," he mumbled.
"What is?" Bulma asked, but Vegeta didn't reply. She then remembered what the guard said about an infection. She went into what she assumed was Vegeta's washroom and found and wet a cloth with warm water and possibly soap. She returned to him to clean the cuts.
Vegeta hissed when the cloth came in contact with one of his wounds. "What the hell are you doing?" he scolded in a whisper. Bulma was starting to notice that everyone in the palace needed to talk quietly in order to stay safe from the king.
Bulma looked up at him and glared. "I'm making sure these cuts don't get infected. Just suck it up, shut up, and let me work, okay?"
Vegeta stared at her defiantly but said nothing else as Bulma cleaned the rest of his wounds. Secretly he was impressed that she had stood up to him even though he was much stronger than her. He frowned knowing he could say the same for his father. He knew he was stronger than the king. It was that damned trinket he found that gave him power, but there had to be some way around it.
Bulma left to return the cloth to the washroom and Vegeta started to give into exhaustion. By the time Bulma was by his side again, he was asleep. Bulma looked around nervously before reluctantly getting into the bed with him. Unfortunately for her, this type of contact was going to be her life now and she needed to get used to it, especially when Vegeta unconsciously wrapped his arms around her waist in his sleep. She nearly screamed when he pulled her against his body. Her panicked state was forgotten when she turned to face him. Even though he was asleep, his expression was pained and his breathing was uneven. Bulma took her hand and stroked his strong face and his tense jaw. His face changed from tense to relaxed, and Bulma realized that she was not the only one who needed comfort. Vegeta needed it too. She could only hope that he wasn't too proud to accept what little she could offer him.