Yes! An update, FINALLY!
I know most of you are probably unhappy with how long this chapter took, and I'm sorry. I was still suffering from writer's block the past 2 weeks, and it was horrible trying to work past it. Add long work weeks, my hubby and kids being sick with a cold during this past Labor Day weekend, and the pressure of not having an update for two weeks…and you've got one stressed out author. Luckily I managed to escape catching the cold mostly untouched, but I was feeling abnormally tired this whole past week also.
To those of you still following this story and reading it, thank you, thank you, thank you! I mean it with all my heart. Sticking with me during my slow updates while I work on my writer's block really means a lot to me. I feel so bad about not being able to write lately, and for keeping all of you waiting for updates. I hope you understand, and that I won't lose too many of you with this new chapter.
To all the new readers and followers, thanks for giving me a chance. I'm happy to see that you're enjoying the story so far!
This chapter is longer than the last. I actually was very unhappy with this chapter at first, and scrapped it twice and had to start over, because it was just CRAP. I re-read my story a few times, trying searching for that direction and motivation….trying to feel that inspiration again. I decided that I needed to focus on one of the reasons we're all here for, and why we're reading this fan fiction….because of Vegeta! We all love him, and I figured having a chapter that revolves around him would be something everyone would like, and that I could definitely get into.
Just like the last chapter, I don't consider this one fluff, but it might seem that way. For all I know, maybe it is fluff. So, here it is, my wonderful readers…chapter 8! I hope you all enjoy it!
A/N: Remember, this is an AU. Half the reason I scrapped the first two drafts of this chapter was because I was doing too much explaining, and not focusing on the main storyline/character. All I want for you to keep in mind is that the Saiyans are still a strong, pride-filled warrior race, but when it comes to Bulma they show a different side…after all, she's been around them since she was a baby, and they are quite fond of her. Some Saiyan behavior in my story might seem ooc, but considering they did not suffer under Frieza's rule, this is how I like to think they would be. All I ask is that you try to go with it.
Second A/N: I don't own Dragonball Z, nor do I claim to. By the way, my birthday is coming up in 2 months. I want pajama shirt with Vegeta on it, so I can sleep with him at night. Think that is too much to ask for?
Chapter 8- Cover Story
Vegeta arrived on his home planet instantly, appearing right in front of his younger brother. Since Goku was staying back on Earth, he didn't have his ki to focus on. He had to choose between his brother's, his father's, or his mother's. And no way in hell was he picking his parents.
"Brother!" Tarble exclaimed, somewhat startled at seeing Vegeta appear out of thin air in front of him. Even after these past few months, he wasn't sure he could ever get used to it.
Vegeta chuckled slightly. "Did I scare you?" he said, amused at any opportunity to faze his younger sibling as he sensed his ki spike up momentarily in surprise.
"No! You just startled me. " the youngest prince declared, quickly ignoring Vegeta's teasing as he looked at him. "Where have you been all day?!" he stressed.
"Tch." Vegeta scoffed. "I don't need to answer to you." he said, walking past Tarble, further into their luxurious shared quarters of the palace. Their common room was beautiful, completely befitting of the royal brothers. The room was colored in rich reds, dark browns, and charcoal grays, highlighted with gold and silver accents. Their large fireplace burned quietly, bathing the room in warm light and comfort. The royal seal of Vegetasei was draped above each of the doors heading to their individual chambers. Silken, crimson-dyed drapes hung over their large windows and balcony doors, which in the daylight beheld the sight of a beautiful red planet, with large, turbulent oceans and a vast, never-ending red sky that held twin suns in its grasp. Earth was a beautiful planet in its own right, but he would always prefer his red planet to the woman's blue one.
"Is that so? Then I suppose you can answer to father and mother then, without me to cover for you." Tarble said very matter-of-factly.
Vegeta frowned at hearing his brother's words. "As if I need you to." he said, crossing his arms in front of him, surveying the area.
It had taken all but one second for Tarble to see the condition his older brother was in. Vegeta's clothes were bloody, and there was dirt and blood pretty much all over him, most notably on his face, his hands, and his forearms. It was obvious that Vegeta had been in a fight with someone, and that someone hadn't been on Vegetasei, since word quickly spread that their eldest prince was nowhere to be found again. Tarble hoped his brother's most recent altercation hadn't been with a foreign dignitary from another planet. The last conference Vegeta had been in had not gone very well, and the dark prince had threatened to blast the head off of the leader if he as so much let his ambassador talk down to their mother again in front of him. Insulting the queen would be one mistake that ambassador would not make again. "You don't need me to, but it helps sometimes. Particularly right now."
Vegeta turned around to face him, considering Tarble's words for a brief moment. "So they're that pissed?" he asked, uncrossing his arms as he rolled his right shoulder around, trying to work out a kink in it. Probably from the repetitive punching he did. He probably should have warmed up first before kicking Yamcha's ass. The fleeting thought brought a smirk to his lips.
Tarble nodded, beginning to eye his brother somewhat suspiciously. "They're not happy with your disappearance off-planet again."
"They wouldn't be, would they?" Vegeta shrugged off, as he rolled his neck a couple of times, stretching out the muscles. He hadn't realized how tense he was during the fight. Vegeta swung his tail back and forth lazily. "They'll get over it." He tried to pay no further mind to the issue as he stopped his stretching and looked at the room, trying to decide on either getting a snack to eat, or taking a shower. Both options were equally enticing.
Tarble watched as his brother contemplated something. What it was, he couldn't tell. He read his tail…it seemed Vegeta was relaxed and borderline content. A very odd mood for his brother indeed, especially if he had just been in a fight. Not to mention his mood was rather calm, considering it was the ump-teenth time Vegeta had skipped out on intergalactic conferences and meetings to help draw up treaties and diplomatic policies with leaders of numerous planets throughout their galaxy and the next. Half the time it was stressful having Vegeta there, but he needed to be there nonetheless, much to the dismay of their parents, who half the time weren't sure if they should just let his older brother be, or force him to be more involved with the development and further expansion of their empire. Either way, Vegeta knew there would be repercussions for his constant absences, and that knowledge didn't seem to faze him at all.
Tarble brought his hand to his face, sliding it downwards in an act of disbelief. He looked at Vegeta, trying to stress the gravity of the situation. "Get over it? I don't know if they will. They were very irritated today, especially when Goku wasn't around to find you, and even more so when Nappa and Raditz didn't know where you took off to either."
Vegeta smirked, imagining how frustrated his parents must have been and how insulted the foreign leaders and their parties must have been when he, the crown prince and heir to the Saiyan empire, decided not to show up again today. Either that, or they were secretly glad, considering his reputation for being easily angered and uncompromising on certain issues. Vegeta's smirk turned into a feral grin…he was sure he probably got his bodyguards in big trouble again also. "Yes, well we'll find out soon enough. I'm sure father has sensed that I'm back home. If he's that pissed, he'll send for me."
Tarble wasn't sure what was going on with Vegeta. He seemed eerily calm and relaxed, and it unnerved him. It wasn't like his brother to not take his role and place in their empire seriously, and at the moment it just seemed that being reprimanded and possibly grounded on Vegetasei wasn't fazing him. He wasn't going to tell Vegeta that he seemed to be slacking off on his duties, but lately, it seemed as though that was exactly what was going on. Something else was preoccupying Vegeta's interests, and where his big brother was disappearing off to was a mystery to almost everyone. Even Goku managed to be tight-lipped about Vegeta's whereabouts, and that was a feat in and of itself.
"Where were you today?" Tarble asked genuinely, wanting to know who, what, or where was keeping him away from Vegetasei all the time.
"Where do you think I was?" Vegeta rolled his eyes slightly, wondering why his sibling always wanted to know where he was and what he was doing. He gave Tarble a challenging look, waiting to hear what absurd ideas he could come up with.
Tarble studied his brother for a moment, deciding to take a not-so-crazy long-shot as to where his brother was. "With Bulma?" he said, shrugging slightly, having a big clue.
Vegeta frowned, a serious look crossing his face as he looked at his younger brother sternly. "I was training."
Tarble gave his brother a smug look. "Where?"
"What does it matter?!" Vegeta said a little too defensively, as his tail snapped a few times in irritation.
Tarble smirked. He had struck a nerve! There must have been some truth to what he had said. Oh, this was going to be good. "You were on Earth, weren't you?!"
"My whereabouts do not concern you."
"You give yourself away, brother!" Tarble teased. "I hope you can hide it better from father and mother when they interrogate you."
"Why you little brat!" Vegeta growled slightly. "I was training in the gravity chamber there, because I broke the one here!"
Tarble quirked an eyebrow, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Ah, so you were training on Earth! And I'm sure spending time with Bulma was just an added bonus."
"I didn't spend any time with her. I was there to train." Vegeta said sternly. It's true, he insisted to himself, I didn't spend time with her. He barely even saw Bulma today, just in the morning when he woke her up, and after lunch when she took a break and he came in to see why her ki was all frazzled. He saw her briefly again at dinner before she got pissed at him, and then after his fight with Yamcha. Well, maybe he did see her today, more than he had originally thought. They were both bound to their respective planets at the moment, and they were both always so busy! The only time he got to spend time with the woman lately, if any, was when he went to Earth to bug her about fixing something.
But everyday? For the past few weeks? What excuse did he have when he had nothing for her to repair? He still found himself going to Earth. Was it only to escape the doldrums of politics and business, or because he was wanting to spend time with her? Did he actually miss her?
And with time running out before she bound herself to the weakling, Vegeta was being forced to face this unnamable tug-of-war within himself when it came to the blue-haired human. He suspected he was attached to her, and that the time he spent around her could be justified…but no, it wasn't simply just attachment. It was something more. He could feel it in his stomach, and in his chest, and around his heart, as it kept pawing and clawing to come out.
Did he love Bulma?
Before Vegeta could entertain the idea any further, his brother jolted him out of his very disturbed thoughts. "And how about all these other times, when your gravity room was working here just fine, and you were gone all day?"
"Tarble…" Vegeta warned sternly. He couldn't believe Tarble was bordering on the very thoughts that had just ran though his head. Was he was reading his mind?
"And you've been staying overnight on Earth too, huh?! I'm sure Bulma's been happy about that." Tarble couldn't help but smile. Normally he would know when to let up off his big brother, but he saw the tinge of a blush on Vegeta's cheeks. He also noticed Vegeta's tail was no longer lashing out in anger or irritation, but instead tightly curled around his waist in defense, so he knew there was some sort of truth to his teasing. It was rare indeed when he was able to have an upper hand on Vegeta. "And here father and mother, and most of us thought you were off disappearing to other planets, terrorizing foreign leaders, or training with other races, or in utter isolation. I'm sure they'll be relieved to know you've been spending your time with much more favorable company."
Vegeta brought a hand up to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes in momentary irritation. "You don't know what you're talking about, Tarble. Enough of this foolishness. I swear to the Kai's, I will strangle you if you keep this up."
"Okay, okay.." Tarble snickered, throwing his hands up slightly to show Vegeta that he was going to drop the subject. He watched as Vegeta gave him one last warning glare. Tarble decided to get serious again for a moment, observing his brother's condition. "So.." he trailed off, gesturing at Vegeta's attire, "…are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Vegeta responded rather grumpily, still trying to decide on whether he wanted a snack, or to go take a shower. He looked over to what could be considered their kitchen area. Bulma had constructed an absurdly large refrigerator for them to hold enough food that could feed a family of four for weeks. Between himself and his little brother, they could eat the entire contents of that fridge in a week, especially when that food was Bunny's. Bulma had also constructed two large ovens that were pre-programmed at the push of a button to activate bots to cook Vegeta and Tarble whatever they wished to eat. It was extremely convenient, what with their hectic schedules and all. The times they ate were usually the times the palace kitchen was closing down for maintenance and repairs. Feeding the royal militia constantly put a strain on the machinery there, and Bulma wanted to make sure the brothers could eat at their convenience. She had even programmed the bots to clean the dishes and the kitchen area so that they wouldn't have to. She also made sure they had more than adequate table space to accommodate the large amounts of food for them.
Vegeta inwardly sighed, thinking of Bulma again for the hundredth time as he stood. The damned woman would just not escape his mind. Speaking of, he looked down at his dirty clothes he was still wearing. He was not against wearing them for a little longer, feeling as though his clothes were somehow a bloody trophy showing his conquest…but at the same time, it was the weakling's blood, and he didn't want to start stinking of him. He decided a shower would be the best option. He also reasoned that if anyone else in the palace saw him, it would only lead to more questions and speculations about his whereabouts.
"Are you hurt?" Tarble asked, seeing his brother quiet, as though he was thinking of something.
"Does it look like I'm hurt?" Vegeta grumbled.
Tarble took a moment to study him. His clothes were dirty and blood-soaked, but it didn't seem like he was bleeding or wounded at all. Then again, it could have very well been his own blood, if he had healed up with a senzu bean. "Well, yes… it looks like it." he admitted.
Vegeta scoffed. "Well I'm not hurt. I don't have a scratch on me."
Tarble walked over closer to Vegeta, studying him. Well then, maybe he wasn't training all day like he said he had been. And chances are he wouldn't be spending time with Bulma looking like that. "But if it's not your blood, then who's is it?"
Vegeta smiled wickedly at his little brother. "You sure you want to know? It might make your sensitive little stomach sick." he stifled a chuckle, seeing Tarble's face go from concern over him to uneasiness at his statement.
Tarble knew Vegeta was probably just playing with him, but his curiosity got the best of him. If Vegeta really was on Earth that day, then that meant it had to be an Earthling's blood on him. He managed a difficult swallow. He wasn't sure he wanted to know, but it was too late now. He couldn't back down from his brother's challenge. "Who's is it?"
Vegeta smirked, walking away from Tarble, starting to head to his own personal chambers. "It doesn't matter."
Tarble's eyes grew big for a moment, not sure if he really heard what he just heard. "What?!" he exclaimed, hurrying over to his brother and getting in front of him, half concerned and half intrigued. "What do you mean it doesn't matter?!" It wasn't like his brother to hide something like this, even from him.
Vegeta perked up an eyebrow, amused at his siblings' reaction, quite pleased with himself. "Because it doesn't, Tarble. I have dealt with him, and he has paid for his insolence and stupidity."
"You killed someone?! On Earth?! Does Bulma know?!" Tarble rambled in awe and shock.
"No…." Vegeta grit out, his voice laced with bitterness, "…I didn't kill anyone. I almost did. I probably should have. And yes, she knows." he finished with a resounding sigh. He was horribly tired, and past the point of exhaustion. He knew he told his little brother too much.
"What happened?!" Tarble said, many thoughts running through his mind. Why didn't Vegeta want to tell him who he almost killed? Was it someone they knew? It had to be! And since when did he restrain himself from killing someone?! And how did Bulma know? Was she involved? Did someone try to hurt her? Tarble thought that might be a reason his brother would beat someone up. But there was so much blood on him….and whoever it was, was still alive?! Whatever happened on Earth, it must have been bad.
Vegeta saw all those unanswered questions in Tarble's eyes. He saw the plea in them, and he wasn't about to humor him. After all, he didn't want word getting around that he almost killed Bulma's intended. It was bad enough that there was already buzzing speculation on Vegetasei that he cared for the beautiful, blue-haired, genius human woman, and that maybe he was jealous of her soon-to-be husband. Vegeta didn't want to add more fuel to that fire.
"Drop the subject." Vegeta warned his little brother seriously this time, pointing a finger at him. "I don't want you telling anyone about me showing up here all bloodied. Or that it's a human's blood. Or that I almost killed a human. Or that I was even on Earth today!"
"But…" Tarble began, wanting to tell him something important, and then saw the cold glare from his older sibling. Vegeta was not playing around. Damn. "Fine." Tarble glared back at him. "You better have a good excuse for father and mother then, since you've sworn me to silence."
Vegeta was about to respond, when suddenly his demeanor darkened, and he visibly tensed. Tarble was about to ask him what was the matter, when a few moments later a loud knock was heard on the large double doors that led to their royal quarters. Vegeta's tail frizzed out in irritation as he wrapped it back around his waist, cursing under his breath.
He guessed his father really was pissed, if he had sent them to fetch him.
Vegeta didn't need to see who it was. He knew their energy signals. He stood unyielding, as a second, more forceful pounding was at their door. Tarble looked at his brother hesitantly, knowing who ever it was, they were there for Vegeta. They didn't have a game plan! Despite what Vegeta said, Tarble knew they needed one. Vegeta gave him a curt nod, encouraging him to go see who was at their door.
Tarble took a deep breath and let it out, walking over to the large double doors, opening them up enough to see who it was. The young prince saw the two large, burly Saiyans, and was inwardly relieved. Things must not have been that bad if father was sending them instead of a few choice others. Tarble glanced past them, seeing no one else with them, except for the royal palace guards lined up in crisp formation at their designated stations throughout their hallway, standing guard, ready to come to the defense and lay down their lives for the royal family.
"Prince Tarble." they said unanimously, bowing down to the youngest prince. "Is Prince Vegeta here?"
Tarble sighed, opening the doors a little wider, so they could see inside their quarters. "Father sent you?" he asked, watching them as they looked inside, their eyes landing on Vegeta, who was standing there looking a bloody mess. With his signature arms crossed over his chest, he was looking quite displeased and irritated as they silently analyzed his appearance.
The duo nodded, and Tarble stepped aside, getting out of the way as Nappa and Raditz stood firm in the doorway against Vegeta's unsettling gaze.
"Your highness, your parents wish to see you." Raditz said rather seriously.
"Is that so?" Vegeta quirked, showing that he wasn't going to budge an inch.
"Yes, Prince. You have been summoned to the royal quarter. Your father says immediately." Nappa said with authority, his voiced lightly laced with concern.
Vegeta scoffed. "They can wait. I need a shower first." Vegeta said, motioning with his head for his bodyguards to enter their quarters, and motioning for Tarble to close their doors. As soon as the doors were closed, and outside eyes and ears were no longer prying, Vegeta looked at Nappa and Raditz with one of those looks. A look that said he already knew what they were going to ask him about.
Nappa and Raditz relaxed their serious and professional demeanor once they were out of the view of the other guards, quickly discarding it and replacing it with irritation, curiosity, and a heightened sense of urgency. "Vegeta! Where the hell have you been?!" Nappa chastised, forgetting the formalities now that outside ears could not hear them. Hell, he practically helped raise him since he was a cub! Nappa's ties with the royal family ran deep, and he, along with very few others, could address Vegeta so casually.
Vegeta stayed silent for a moment, observing his bodyguards. Oh, they were irritated all right, as he watched their tails lash back and forth, the fur on them fuzzed up. "It's none of your business where I've been." he clipped.
"Like hell it isn't!" Raditz growled slightly. "We're your bodyguards! It's our duty to know your whereabouts and be with you at all times and protect you!"
"We've spent all day looking for you, Vegeta" Nappa said calmly, running his large hand over his bald head. "Do you know how much shit we got from your parents over you being gone from our sight again?!"
Vegeta scowled. "I'm not some cub that needs constant supervision! I will not be tied down by an invisible leash!"
"Vegeta, don't take it that way! You're the heir to our empire! You're our crown prince. There are many out there would not hesitate to try and kill you!" Nappa said, his voice laced with concern for the still wild, untamable prince.
"Tch." Vegeta ground out. "I'm the strongest being in the universe, no one would be stupid enough to challenge me, or dare think they have the strength to kill me." He then thought about the irony of his words, since Yamcha had done exactly that. He reasoned that scar-face didn't count.
"That's not the point, Vegeta!" Raditz said, throwing his arms up in the air in exasperation. "Our job is to guard you and protect you! How can we do that when you teleport off to who knows where, whenever you want, for however long you want?!"
"As if I need either one of you to protect me!" the prince sneered. "I'm stronger than the both of you combined! You're not protecting me, you're babysitting me!"
"You're impossible!" Raditz griped, pacing around in frustration.
"Well maybe if the both of you learned Instant Transmission, then maybe you could do your 'jobs' correctly." Vegeta smirked.
"I swear, Vegeta…" Raditz began, until Nappa placed his strong hand on his shoulder, trying to calm down him down.
"Easy, Raditz." Nappa soothed, as the older Saiyan tried to calm him. He couldn't blame Raditz for how he felt. It must have been genetics, Nappa reasoned. Both Raditz and Kakarot showed exemplary strength and battle prowess, even though they were born as third-class. They both were strong enough to be promoted to the rank of Elites. Raditz, much like his younger brother, showed a well above-average protective trait. Even Gohan, who himself was a hybrid, held this same guardian trait. It was what made Raditz and Kakarot so overly-protective of Vegeta and the royal family, as well as over their own families, and close kin. This trait made them perfect bodyguards, and even though Kakarot was not officially Vegeta's bodyguard, he inherently was, since both Vegeta and Kakarot were dually rivals and best friends.
Raditz huffed, crossing his arms across his broad chest as he wrapped his tail back around his waist, deciding to listen to the older and wiser Saiyan. Nappa held the hint of a smile on his lips. He wasn't sure how Kakarot and Gohan came out so mild-mannered, perhaps because Raditz had taken all of the feistiness and temperament for himself. He decided to change the sore subject. All that mattered was that Vegeta was back home, safe and under the protection of the Saiyan militia.
"Now, Vegeta…" Nappa began, turning back to the prince, "...where were you today?"
"I told you, it's none of your business." Vegeta said sternly, earning a displeased look from his mentor.
"Fine. Since you won't tell us…" Nappa said, turning his attention suddenly to Tarble, "…then he will. Tarble, where was he at today?"
"What?!" Tarble blurted out, caught off guard by the question and their intense looks. Since when was he dragged into this?! "Oh no you don't! Leave me out of this!" Tarble said, as the young teenage prince began to walk into their common room, furthering himself away from them .
"You know where he was, don't you?" Raditz realized, beginning to following behind Tarble "Tell us!"
"Don't you dare say a word!" Vegeta barked a warning to his little brother, as he walked over and stood in front of Raditz, effectively stopping him from trying to get Tarble to spill the beans. "I was busy today." Vegeta decided to give them that. It wasn't much, but it was more than they were getting from him a few moments ago.
"Apparently." Raditz mumbled, since they had both seen Vegeta's clothing was dirty and full of blood while they had stood earlier in the doorway. He backed off from trying to get Tarble, and took a step back, eyeing the older prince with a critical eye. "Are you wounded?"
Vegeta scoffed, rolling his eyes. All this concern over him was making him sick. "Does it look like I am?"
"Yes." Nappa answered bluntly, walking up to him. "If you're injured, Vegeta, you should get to the medical bay and into a rejuvenation tank right now."
"He's not hurt." Tarble said, earning a cold glare from his older brother. Well, that's what Vegeta got for not having a cover!
"Then why are your covered in blood? Were you in a fight?" Nappa asked, seeing the prince's bare chest through a burnt hole in his shirt. Vegeta looked like he had been in a brawl, and he wondered who would have been stupid enough to think they could go head to head with Vegeta. Probably someone who no longer lived, by the looks of it.
"A fight? Hardly." Vegeta scoffed, brushing the concern away. He saw the look in his bodyguards' eyes, and knew that they were demanding an answer. After all, it wasn't like he showed up out of the blue all the time covered in blood, unless he had caused the damage to himself. He read the flicker of thoughts in their eyes, and he sighed in weariness and frustration. "I'm not injured. It's not my blood." Vegeta emphasized, quickly dismissing them as he began to head to his personal chambers. Baited with this tidbit of information, all three of them followed behind Vegeta, their tails curling and uncurling behind them in unabashed curiosity.
"If that's not yours, then who's is it?" Nappa asked, his voice laced with some sort of concern. He wasn't sure what to expect when it came to the eldest Saiyan prince. Nappa was torn between knowing that he and Raditz weren't there for Vegeta if he was in in danger or in need of them, or if they missed out on something else entirely.
"I must say, I'm eager to know who or what has kept you so busy all day." Raditz spat, still irritated that Vegeta was being elusive about his whereabouts for that day. Then again, it meant the prince was hiding something, and for now, that was going to trump his annoyance towards him.
Vegeta rolled his eyes at his bodyguards. Did they really think he would give in so easily? He looked over into his younger siblings' eyes, and saw that Tarble was also eagerly awaiting any more information on who this mystery Earthlings' blood was that currently covered him. "Does it really matter?"
All three Saiyans looked at Vegeta incredulously. Of course it mattered! The fact that Vegeta was not outright boasting about whose blood it was made it that much more intriguing!
"Now it does." Nappa stated, very curious to now know what had happened while Vegeta was away. "Who's blood is it, Vegeta?"
"It doesn't matter!"
"Obviously it does!" Raditz chimed in. "Why aren't you telling us?"
"Why should I?"
"Did you kill someone, Vegeta?" Nappa asked.
"No!"
"You did, didn't you? Why else would you have so much blood on you." Raditz said.
"He didn't kill anyone!" Tarble put his two cents in.
"Shut up, Tarble!" Vegeta barked.
"Who's is it?" Raditz asked the youngest prince again.
"I don't know, he wouldn't tell me." the youngest prince began.
"Enough!" Vegeta barked. "I don't have time for this!"
"C'mon Vegeta, just tell us!" Raditz persisted, as the three of them reached the outside of Vegeta's chambers.
"You're not going to leave me alone until I tell you, are you?" Vegeta grumbled. He looked at his bodyguards and his brother, and saw their tails swishing back and forth in curiosity and anticipation. He sighed in frustration, bringing his hands to his eyes, rubbing them downward over his face. "I'm not going to tell you." Vegeta said tiredly, wanting to shower and then get reprimanded by his parents. He'd prefer that right now, instead of having Tarble, Nappa, and Raditz up in a frenzy if they knew what had happened that night. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side tonight, as both Raditz and Nappa's scouters flashed and beeped.
Vegeta's demeanor darkened, as he already knew what they were being contacted for. They all looked at each other for a moment. Reality hit them again, as Nappa reluctantly reached up, pressing a button on his scouter to answer the call. "Yes, Sire?….He is here, in his quarters….Right away, your Majesty."
They could hear a loud, gruff voice on the other end. It was the King. They couldn't decipher what he was saying as Nappa answered him, but his tone was loud and clear. He was pissed, and he just ran out of patience. The transmission ended and Nappa looked at Vegeta rather solemnly. "No time for a shower. You need to go to your parent's quarters. Now."
"Fuck." Vegeta swore, as he ran a hand through his hair. He cursed at himself for getting distracted and not entering the shower as soon as he arrived. Now he had to walk through the palace hallways, where the guards and anyone else would see him, no doubt. Arriving back home from another day gone from Vegetasei, in his bloody attire, would draw much attention. It would be the talk of the planet by morning.
"All of you stay here. When I get back, I'm going to shower. Then we are ALL going outside to spar tonight." Vegeta said with authority. He was irritated and exhausted. He knew his discussion with his parents would probably not go over well, and he would have a lot of anger and frustration he would want to burn off. What better than to take it out on his bodyguards, and his little brother, who he inwardly admitted he would be much easier on, as long as he kept his mouth shut.
"We have to escort you." Nappa said neutrally, earning a dark glare from the prince. His father didn't trust him to not leave again, or not show up for his chastisement. Vegeta growled in annoyance, and Raditz inwardly sighed. It sure looked like Vegeta was being babysat now.
"Let's go, before your father threatens to cut off our tails." Raditz said, motioning for Vegeta to start heading out.
"Fucking unbelievable..." Vegeta grumbled, huffing as he tightened his tail around his waist . He fisted his hands. He should have just stayed overnight on Earth and come back to Vegetasei in the morning, when his parents' tempers, and his own, might have cooled off a little. He would rather deal with Yamcha's idiocy again than this right now. Better yet, he would rather be with Bulma at their in-home theatre, watching some stupid movie that she insisted on seeing with him rather than be here at this moment.
That actually didn't sound like that bad of an idea. He supposed he could transmit back to Earth right now, at the risk of incurring further wrath from his parents. He'd rather be there on Earth to protect her from scar-face anyway.
Damn, even at a time like this, he'd rather be with her. What was wrong with him?
At seeing Vegeta's demeanor change from anger to looking like he was contemplating an escape, Nappa quickly cut into whatever thoughts he was having. "Vegeta. No. Let's go. Now." he emphasized, coming out as more of an encouragement than an order. The old mentor was one of the very few that could walk that thin line with the prince.
"Fine! Let's get this over with then." Vegeta spat out, as he began to storm off.
"See, told you we needed a cover…" Tarble began.
"Not now, Tarble!" Vegeta barked, in no mood to deal with his younger sibling, as he walked out of their quarters to go confront their parents, with Nappa and Raditz in tow, following closely behind their bloodied prince.
Inconspicuous looks held steady on him as Vegeta thundered through the winding walkways of the grand palace, as many Saiyans bowed to their eldest prince as he stormed by. His sensitive ears could hear the murmurs behind him of curiosity and speculation, no doubt of his outward appearance and his current, abrupt presence back on the planet. Vegeta's temper flared again, annoyed at the situation he put himself in. He approached the King and Queen's quarters, where the guards posted outside bowed most graciously to him, albeit after they quickly hid their surprise at seeing the prince bloodied up and temperamental.
"You can leave now." Vegeta ground out in a bitter tone, refusing to turn around to acknowledge his current prison wardens as Nappa and Raditz hastily bowed and walked away, not wishing to say anything more to the turbulent Saiyan prince. Vegeta shot a dark glare a the guards, and they hurriedly opened the doors to his parents' quarters. He growled in his chest as he walked in and the doors shut behind him.
"Ah, there's our missing son." his mother said, gracefully whipping her long, dark, silken hair back over her shoulder as she turned to him, a stern look on her beautiful face as she crossed her arms underneath her bosom. Her onyx eyes could not miss the bloody condition her son was in. She set aside her irritation and anger at Vegeta, since it seemed there was a more pressing issue at hand.
"So it is." his father ground out curtly, irritation clearly evident in his tone of voice, as he stood as strong and unyielding as his son. His eyebrows furrowed in veiled concern, seeing the blood on Vegeta as well. Their anger and scolding would have to take a back seat for the moment. "Are you injured?"
Vegeta growled in annoyance. "No, I am not injured." Why did everyone think he was the one that had to be injured? How many times was he going to have to go through this tonight?
"Then why is there fresh blood on you?" his mother asked, voice lightly laced with concern. Her eldest son had been gone all day from home again, without his bodyguards again, and now returned looking like he had been through hell. "Was there an assassination attempt?!"
"NO." Vegeta snapped, even though technically scar-face wanted to kill him. "And it's not my blood, if that is what you are asking." Vegeta quipped with a dark smirk, wanting to quickly change the subject and get to the real reason he had been summoned to them. The sooner he got chewed out, the better, that way he could go spar with his brother and comrades, and hopefully get a good night's rest finally. He was sure he probably looked like shit, as he then glanced off to the side, seeing his reflection in the mirror that was mounted on the wall nearby.
He really did look that terrible.
Vegeta turned his body slightly, tilting his head sideways a little, studying himself. He looked exactly like he felt: exhausted. He had drying blood on most of his face still, despite wiping it off with his hand when the bastard had spit it out on him. His face furrowed in reminiscent anger at the thought. He glanced at his hands and arms, which were bloody also. He fisted his hands a bit, remember what it felt like to punch into that worthless excuse of a human. His gaze then turned to his clothing, but his sleeveless shirt baring the brunt of the quantity of blood. That's what happened when pulverizing someone into a bloody, broken pulp! He smirked, which quickly faded away as he saw the considerable hole charred in his shirt, and the redness of his skin underneath.
No wonder the woman had been concerned over him.
Vegeta thought about the touch of her hand on his chest, and he inwardly sighed as his tail curled slowly, shaped almost like a question mark for a moment. Even in the midst of a heated argument between them, she could set aside her anger and show her concern for him. His tail relaxed and swish slightly in contentment. That damned woman, always invading his thoughts at the most random, inappropriate times. He quickly looked away from the mirror as he realized he had been lost in thought about her again, turning his attention back to his parents, who were looking at him in a somewhat perplexed way.
His mother perked up an eyebrow, momentarily intrigued as she keenly studied the passing emotions that crossed her son's face. Emotions that his eyes could not hide. Most notably, the last emotion she managed to observe. His father noticed as well, interested in knowing what his son seemed to suddenly be hiding. It wasn't like him to not say who he defeated. "Vegeta, who's blood do you have on your hands?"
"It is none of your business." Vegeta grumbled, once again tightening his tail back around his waist, crossing his forearms in front of him in displeasure.
"Of course it's our business. You have been off-planet all day, and you arrive back looking like this." his mother said, eyeing him. "I hope this isn't the reason you've been gone all day." she said, gesturing at his clothing, hinting that he better not have been going around killing anyone politically important.
"Believe me, it's not." Vegeta said, sensing that his parents were going to try to pry further into who's blood it was, rather than bitch at him about having disappeared all day again. He didn't realize that his clothing gave him away completely. He wasn't wearing his bodysuit, or battle armor, nor his gloves or his boots. He was wearing a sleeveless charcoal-grey shirt and red basketball shorts, and tennis shoes. Those were human clothes, and his parents had caught onto that as soon as he had stepped into their quarters.
"Where have you been today?" his father asked, a slight smirk on his face.
The glint of amusement in his father and mother's eyes unnerved him. "My whereabouts are none of your concern." Vegeta said defiantly, glaring at them in challenge, daring them to pry further into his personal affairs. He watched as his mother turned to look at his father, a small, devious smile on her lips.
"I'm almost positive he was on Earth today." she said.
Vegeta tensed, caught off-guard at his mother's words.
"Yes, I'm sure of it also. Could it be that he was with Bulma?" the king replied back at her, as they dually turned their attention back to their stunned son.
"What?! But…you…how?…" Vegeta stuttered, quickly snapping his mouth shut as he growled out in frustration. "What makes you think I was there? And with her of all people?!"
"Your clothing gives it away, my dear." the queen smiled a bit, watching as her son seemed to realize his mistake. Vegeta looked back into the mirror again, realizing he was still dressed in athletic human clothing.
Son of a bitch.
He knew his mind must really not have been where it was supposed to be, if he had somehow let something like this slip. Whether on Vegetasei or other planets, he wore only his Saiyan gear or battle armor. Earth was his only exception. Here he, and the others, had been so preoccupied with his bloody appearance and the questioning as to where he had been, that it didn't cross his mind once since returning as to what he was still wearing.
The prince brought a hand up and smacked his forehead, dragging his hand down his face in utter disbelief of himself. So that's why Tarble guessed him to have been on Earth! The little shit! No wonder he had said he had given himself away and that he better hide it better! Vegeta decided to hell with going easy on him, he was going to strangle his sibling after all! And he had walked through the palace dressed like that also! Now everyone on Vegetasei would be buzzing about this for sure.
"And how is Bulma?" his mother asked, almost in a teasing way.
Vegeta scoffed. "Hell if I know! I didn't see her much today!"
The king also found amusement in seeing their eldest son unnerved for once. "We were wondering where, or who, you have been disappearing off to."
Vegeta turned a light shade of red, and he wasn't sure if it was from anger or from a blush. "I was there to train in the gravity room, since I broke the one here this morning." Vegeta begrudgingly admitted.
"I'm sure that was not the only reason you were gone all day." his mother said. "You've been doing more than training. Did you kill someone there?"
"No. I did not." Vegeta emphasized, getting tired of the same questions everyone seemed to have tonight. He was getting agitated quickly, as the tip of his tail flicked sharply. He needed to take control of the conversation and avoid further questions about the blood and who it exactly belonged to. "I am going to spar with Tarble, Nappa, and Raditz tonight, and I would prefer that we get on with what you summoned me here for, so I can get back to more training."
The king and queen became serious again, remembering why they had called their son to their quarters. For now they would just have to take Vegeta's word, and find out later what had happened on Earth. "Despite where you were today, or for what reasons, still does not excuse your absence, Vegeta." his father said sternly. "You have already been absent for the first part of important discussions on trade and policy with the Acrosians."
Vegeta rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I am not needed there at this current stage of the discussions. You already know my stance on certain issues, and no number of talks or amount of time spent in that damned room will make me change my mind."
"Vegeta, as crown prince of Vegetasei, you need to be here. You are the heir to our empire. You need to be involved in all aspects the process, from diplomatic talk, trade agreements and policy, to strengthening and growing interplanetary relations." his father chastised, which made Vegeta scowl.
"You both know as well as I that loathe all the unnecessary political bullshit. And given my reputation, I'm sure many other ambassadors and dignitaries would prefer for me to not be around during the initial negotiations as well." Vegeta ended with a smirk, reminding them of how volatile he could get when cooped up in the large conference room, half the time surrounded by liars and deceivers from other planets. All politicians were the same, no matter what race or planet they were from. "I might show up when the final contracts and treaties are ready to be finalized. Even then, don't expect me agree to everything on there and sign it."
"Must you be so difficult?" the queen said as she shook her head in annoyance.
"I can be much worse." Vegeta taunted lightly, seeing his mother's tail frizz up in irritation, which brought a hint of a smile on his face.
The queen walked over to her son and touched her fingertip to the tip of his nose. "Vegeta, I expect you to be here all day tomorrow for the next round of talks and negotiations. If not, I will personally cut your tail off." And with that, she turned away from him, and gracefully strolled into their personal bedroom chamber.
"She means it." his father said, watching as Vegeta scowled again.
"She thinks she does." Vegeta commented, earning a smirk from his father.
"One day she'll do it." the king said, after watching his queen walk into their chambers and close the door behind her. He turned and looked at his son, a little less intensely this time. "Be here tomorrow, all day, in the conference room. Understood?"
"Is that all?" the prince said grumpily, unhappy about having to be stuck on Vegetasei all day tomorrow in horrid interplanetary meetings and negotiations.
"Yes, you are dismissed." his father said, placing a hand on Vegeta's shoulder for a moment, before removing it and heading to bed also.
Vegeta stood there, glad that his parents hadn't been as irate over his absences as he thought they would be. Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a day, but on the bright side, the woman was coming there tomorrow to fix his machine. Chances were she would probably be dragged into the meetings as well. 'At least I won't have to suffer though them by myself' Vegeta thought. With her there, he might actually behave, and that was good news for the foreign ambassadors. 'Thinking of her again?' Vegeta mused slightly he thought about her for what seemed to be the thousandth time lately. He glanced back at himself again. He need to shower, spar with his brother and his bodyguards, and hopefully beat himself up and train himself into further exhaustion. Maybe then he could finally get a good night's sleep, without the blue-haired scientist running through his dreams.
Vegeta placed two fingers to his forehead, deciding to teleport to his room again, chosing not to go through the hallways again.
Vegeta appeared back at his quarters again, this time not only in front of Tarble, but Nappa and Raditz as well. He frowned as he saw their tails curl in curiosity, wanting to know what happened.
"How'd it go?!" Tarble asked, worried about him. Vegeta had been gone for awhile, and thought that maybe their parents had been more pissed at him than he originally thought.
Vegeta proceeded to tear off his blood-soaked shirt in one great rip, throwing it to the floor. "Would have gone better if you had told me I had these clothes on." he snapped at Tarble, earning a nervous gulp from him.
"I tried to tell you, but you made me shut up!" Tarble insisted. He didn't think having human clothes on was going to be that big of a deal to his parents, but maybe it was. Now he felt guilty, as if he betrayed his brother somehow by letting him leave without at least changing into his Saiyan armor.
"Hn." Vegeta commented, continuing to disrobe, removing his blood and dirt-encrusted basketball shorts, and pulling off his socks and his shoes. He couldn't really be mad at Tarble. It was his own fault he didn't shower, or at least change clothes before coming back to Vegetasei, or in those minutes when he first arrived. Even so, his parents didn't seem to really care about what he was wearing, or where he even was that day, they were more concerned about the blood and those damn diplomatic responsibilities.
Raditz furrowed his eyebrows in confusion for a moment. "I don't understand Vegeta. You already knew your clothes were bloody."
"Raditz, you really are Kakarot's brother." Nappa rolled his eyes, thumping the younger Saiyan on the head. "Vegeta's wearing human clothes."
It took Raditz a moment to mull over this information. Then it hit him. "Vegeta, you were on Earth?!"
Tarble groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "It was obvious to everyone but you, Raditz."
"Hey! I was more concerned over his disappearance and all the blood, than paying attention to what type of clothes he was wearing!" Raditz defended.
Vegeta stayed silent as the cat was out of the bag now, and he turned to stare them down. They all looked at Vegeta as he stood there in his underwear. He had no wounds on his body at all, except for a circular red patch of skin on his chest.
He had been telling the truth earlier…it wasn't his blood. Then who's was it?
Vegeta gathered up his bloody clothes and tossed them to Nappa. "Incinerate those." He then looked at all three of them with tired, grouchy look. "I am going to take a shower, and when I teleport outside of this palace, I expect to see all three of you outside, in your battle armor, ready to spar. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Vegeta" Nappa and Raditz said solemnly, as Tarble simply nodded his understanding.
Vegeta swiftly turned away, headed to his bedroom chamber door, as Raditz hurried after him. "Wait Vegeta! So you were on Earth today? If it's not your blood, then it's a human's? Who's is it?"
Vegeta responded by opening his bedroom door and proceeded to slam it shut, forcefully enough to crack the door off its hinges, making all three of them wince as they got the message from the tumultuous prince: Don't ask me again.
Nappa grumbled as he left the royal princes' quarters, heading outside to incinerate the clothes like Vegeta ordered. The trek back to his room to change into his battle armor would be a long one. He was not looking forward to an ass-kicking that was sure to come.
"Kakarot was most likely on Earth today. Maybe he knows what happened over there. I'll have to talk to him and ask." Raditz reasoned out loud more to himself than to Tarble as he left the quarters, heading to his room to change into his battle armor. He was determined to find out.
Tarble sighed, heading towards his door to his personal chambers. He wasn't looking forward to sparring, and knew he was going to be hurting tonight.
The three Saiyans lined up side by side, patiently awaiting Vegeta's arrival in silence. They chose the largest training field, figuring they needed the extra space during their spars. Vegeta focused on their energy signals, sensing where they were, and teleported outside to them. He appeared, dressed in his battle armor, freshly bathed and free of the blood, dirt, and grime that had previously covered him.
"Who wants to spar with me first?" He looked at all three of them seriously as he adjusted his gloves on his hands.
Silence greeted him for a moment. No one wanted to. Suddenly, Nappa put his arm behind Raditz and shoved him forward.
"Hey!" Raditz complained, glaring back at Nappa behind his shoulder, as he then turned to face Vegeta. He heard Tarble and Nappa trying to stifle a snicker. "Guess it'll be me."
"Good. Since Kakarot isn't here, you're the next best option." Vegeta said, dropping into a battle stance.
Raditz quickly went into a defensive stance, as they began to slowly circle each other. "Why are we out here? Why not spar in your gravity room?"
"It's out of service." Vegeta said in a deceivingly calm tone, planning out his strategy on how to get around Raditz. He and Kakarot were very similar in the way they fought, so he would have to be on his guard.
"How so?" Raditz asked, carefully reading Vegeta's every movement, waiting for him to strike.
"Destroyed the power core this morning, for starters." Vegeta began.
"Bulma must not have been happy to hear about that." Tarble mentioned, wondering how much damage his brother had really done to the components of his gravity room.
"She wasn't."
"Is she going to be able fix it?" Tarble asked.
Vegeta shrugged. "I'm not a mechanic. Ask her yourself. She's coming here tomorrow."
At hearing this news, they brightened up a bit, as their tails swished in gladness. They hadn't seen Bulma in months! The damage Vegeta caused to the gravity room must have been extensive enough to think that even their residing mechanics could not repair it.
Nappa smirked. "Must be nice to have Bulma at your beck and call. She's as busy as you are these days. Are you sure she has no issues with being called away from Earth like this? Then again, it's no surprise she would drop everything for you, Vegeta."
Raditz laughed, seeing Vegeta tense up at Nappa's remarks. "Well now, since Bulma is coming to Vegetasei tomorrow, maybe Vegeta won't go missing all day again. Wouldn't that be a coincidence?" he teased lightly.
"I would find it to be." Tarble snickered, wanting to get his two-cents in.
"You are all being ridiculous. She had nothing to do with me being gone all day." Vegeta insisted.
"Of course not. You were just on Earth to train. And have your meals at her home. And find time to argue with her about repairing your gravity room, no doubt. And apparently you found the time to beat someone up to a bloody pulp. Like you said, she had nothing to do with it." Nappa teased also, earning an irritable growl from Vegeta.
"Enough!" Vegeta warned, as Nappa was starting to hone in too closely to the truth. "We are here to spar, not to discuss my personal business!" he barked, pointing his finger at them. "We are dropping the subject, now."
"Calm down. We're just teasing." Raditz then studied the riled up prince, seeing how tired and stressed he really was. "Maybe you should get some sleep, Vegeta. We know you haven't been sleeping well lately. There's no need to spar tonight."
"No. We will train and spar until we can barely make it back to the rejuvenation tanks." Vegeta finalized, flying up into the air, glaring down at them. "Tarble, Nappa, keep your distance. Raditz, your move."
Wow that was a long chapter! Too bad my writer's block had followed us to Vegetasei after all. Despite the struggles, it was still fun to write. It was nice to get away from Bulma and her tribulations, and focus on Vegeta in this chapter for sure. I wanted to give all of glimpse into Vegeta's life on his home planet, and I hope you enjoyed it!
The next chapter is where things start to pick up, as we continue on with our favorite couple's journey. I'm optimistic, I'm feeling like the writers block is finally going away, as I have an exciting plan for this story ^_^
Please leave a review and tell me what you thought! Thanks for reading!
Oh, and on a funny note: Goku married Chi-Chi, who is the Ox King's daughter. That makes her a princess, thus making Goku a prince also! Vegeta is already the Prince of All Saiyans, so I guess that makes Goku the Prince of All Ox's? And what does that make Tarble?!