Discipline

It was a balmy summer morning when the Capsule Corporation jet landed in the dewy valley near Mount Paozu. Vegeta sneered at the small house on the top of a hill as they touched down, not at all pleased to be spending the entire day in the home of the shrill-voiced harpy and the sons of his deceased rival. Behind him, his six-year-old son was bouncing in the back seat excitedly, chattering incessantly about all the games he was going to play with the Son brats and all the food he was going to eat at lunch. Next to him, his mate giggled as she unbuckled her safety belt and turned off the engine. Clearly she was pleased about this visit as well. Rolling his eyes, he opened the door and stepped out of the small jet.

He inhaled deeply, the permanent scowl on his face easing slightly as his lungs filled with the fresh air, unpolluted by factories, cars, and garbage. At least there were some minor benefits to coming to Mount Paozu, though he was still irritated by the company. With a sigh of defeat, he turned and followed his mate and brat to the house. The front door was already open with the harpy leaning against the doorframe, stirring something in a mixing bowl as she watched them approach. He could see the younger of the two brats jumping up and down behind her, obviously eager to see Trunks.

Apparently Trunks saw the same thing because he dropped the act of nonchalance and started a mad dash to the door, ready to bulldoze over anything that might get in his way – including Chi-Chi. Frankly, Vegeta didn't care about the annoying woman's welfare, but he didn't approve of such behavior from his son, so he reached down and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"Don't even think about it, boy," Vegeta growled, dropping his lavender-haired son on the ground next to him.

Trunks looked up at his father, hurt flashing in his blue orbs. "What, Dad? I wasn't doing anything!"

Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest. "You were going to run over there, knock the harpy down, and make a fool of yourself and your entire family."

"Sorry." Trunks stood up and patted the dirt off his shorts before resuming his walk to the house, no longer showing any hurry. By the time he and Vegeta reached the door, Bulma had already greeted Chi-Chi and gone inside.

"Trunks, you're here!" Goten shouted when they finally came inside. Excitement rolled off the young boy in waves as he tackled his friend. As they rolled around on the floor wrestling, Vegeta stepped over them and crossed the room to sit on the couch.

Chi-Chi closed the door and sighed when she saw the two boys already roughhousing, but she didn't comment on it as she skirted around them and went into the kitchen where Bulma was already seated at the table. She set down her mixing bowl and slumped into the chair across from the blue-haired woman.

"Everything okay, Chi?" Bulma asked.

Chi-Chi nodded slowly, not entirely convincing her guest that her answer was true. She looked horribly tired, with stray hairs frizzing out at odd angles from her bun, dark circles under her bloodshot eyes, and her skin an almost sickly pallor. "I'm fine, just didn't get much sleep last night." She sighed again, adding to herself mentally, 'Or the night before that, or the night before that…'

Bulma frowned a little. "You know you can tell me if anything's wrong. I'd like to help if you need anything. Here, let me make you some tea." She stood up and went over to the sink, filling a tea kettle with water and putting it on the stove to boil.

"Thanks, Bulma," Chi-Chi mumbled. "I'm okay, it's just been hard working to earn a little extra money while I'm raising two half-saiyans."

"But Gohan is so well-behaved," Bulma said, hoping her praise would cheer up her friend. Chi-Chi wasn't always the easiest woman to get along with, but everyone knew she had her family's best interest in mind and prided herself on raising her sons to be gentlemen.

Chi-Chi smiled weakly as she pulled the mixing bowl over to her and continued stirring. "Gohan is, yes."

The blue-haired woman quirked an eyebrow. "And Goten?"

"Isn't."

It really was hard for Bulma not to chuckle at that. Goten visited Capsule Corporation enough for her to know he was rather rambunctious. More than Gohan ever did, he reminded Bulma of Goku when he was young. Wild at heart and terribly naïve, he seemed to find trouble wherever he went and he willingly followed Trunks into any mischief he could think up. While she didn't believe it was bad for a little boy to be playful and lively, she did appreciate solid discipline, which was why she kept Vegeta around some of the time. Yes, she knew discipline was good, but it was so hard for her to dish it out sometimes. But the strict saiyan prince didn't allow too much foolishness. She was lucky, really, to have a mate who could give rewards and punishment so well. That was what Chi-Chi was lacking; of course she had always been the disciplinarian when Goku was alive, but now that he was gone she simply didn't have the time or energy to keep Goten under her thumb as she had with Gohan.

"Well," Bulma said, trying to lighten the mood, "you remember how Goku was when he was a kid. I'm sure Goten will grow into a good man like him even if he is a little wild now."

Chi-Chi shook her head. "I'm not worried that he won't be good, I'm worried that he'll end up like Goku without an education or a job and unable to ever really settle down. I train him, you know, when I have time, but that's all he ever wants to do! Gohan was never like that. He kept his nose in the books, and you know he's going to get into a good school and be a real scholar someday. But Goten, I can't get him to finish a single lesson before he's begging to play again."

"You know you can't expect them to be exactly the same."

The young widow opened her mouth to reply when the kitchen door burst open and two young demi-saiyans crashed into the room. Trunks threw Goten across the room, knocking a pile of unwashed dishes onto the floor, shattering them. The boys didn't seem to notice as Goten lunged at Trunks, pushing him back out of the kitchen and into the living room.

Bulma glanced at Chi-Chi, feeling pain for the poor woman as she saw tears welling up in her eyes. No doubt this was a common occurrence, but she couldn't imagine how frustrating it must be.

"Brats!"

Jumping out of their chairs, the two women raced across the kitchen to see what was going on in the living room. They stopped at the doorway, nearly falling over each other when they saw Vegeta standing in the middle of the room holding a demi-saiyan in each hand. Bulma giggled a little, but Chi-Chi gaped at him as she watched.

Vegeta glared at his son, holding him at eye level. "What have I told you about fighting in the house?" he snarled.

Trunks laughed nervously. "Um, don't do it?"

The flame-haired saiyan's eye twitched with irritation. "That's right, boy. Don't do it. So why were you fighting in the house?"

"Because it's not our house. I thought the rule only applied to home," Trunks explained.

"Well, let's amend that rule then, shall we?" Vegeta dropped Trunks, who landed on his feet. "No fighting in any house. Since you seem to want to fight so bad, you're going to train with me for an hour when we get home. Got it, boy?"

"Yes, sir."

"Go outside." Vegeta held Goten out at arm's length after Trunks ran out of the house. "And you, brat. I highly doubt you're allowed to fight indoors. You have no proper training facilities here."

Goten shook his head so fast he made himself dizzy. "Mommy says I'm not allowed to, but she never stops me when I do so I thought it wasn't too bad or she'd yell at me."

"Yes, I'm sure that excuses everything," Vegeta said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "If I hear you're fighting in this house or any other house on this kamiforsaken planet, I am going to lock you in the gravity room for a day, and I won't give you any provisions."

"What's provisions?" Goten asked innocently.

"Food."

Vegeta snorted when the boy's bottom lip started quivering. The brat definitely wasn't a hard one to punish; all it took was a threat to not feed him and he would obey any rule without question, even if Trunks assured him the rule was frivolous. Considering the discussion over, Vegeta dropped Goten on the floor and pointed to the door. "Out."

Nodding like a bobble-head, Goten picked himself up off the floor and practically flew to the front door to go find Trunks outside. His Uncle Vegeta hadn't said they couldn't fight outdoors, so he was eager to pick up where they left off. And, despite the threat to go without food for a day, he was excited that the full-blooded saiyan gave so much attention to him, almost as much as Trunks.

Once the front door slammed shut behind the youngest Son, Vegeta sat down on the couch again, crossing his arms over his chest and scowling at the dark TV screen on the opposite side of the room. His reflection stared back at him. So far his visit to the Son residence had been all he expected and more: nothing but a headache with noisy brats running around causing chaos.

Bulma slipped back into the kitchen after the boys disappeared. She felt that Vegeta had, perhaps, been a little hard on the boys, but then that was why she left the discipline up to him. He was harsh, but fair. Ever since they could walk, Trunks and Goten had been taught that they needed to be mindful of their superhuman strength and speed, especially when interacting with people who weren't, such as their mothers. Still, they were young and excitable and frequently forgot the need for caution. And really, she couldn't blame Vegeta for his sour mood. She knew he hated coming to Mount Paozu, or leaving Capsule Corporation in general. Knowing this, she was impressed that he showed as much restraint with the boys as he did.

Chi-Chi didn't immediately follow Bulma back into the kitchen. She never cared for Vegeta, but for once she felt a bit of gratitude for his gruff, antisocial attitude. Taking a deep breath, she walked around the couch so she could face him, nervously clinching her skirt in her hands as she met his dark gaze.

"What?" he snapped when she stood there staring at him for a moment too long.

She bit her lip before exhaling slowly and telling him, "I wanted to thank you, Vegeta. For handling the boys. I – I can't really keep Goten under control, and, well… that's all, I guess. Thanks."

"Hn."

The brunette nodded curtly before going back to the kitchen and sitting down at the table again. Bulma was on the other side of the kitchen preparing her cup of tea. "Is he always like that with them?"

"Hm? Oh, you mean Vegeta?" Bulma picked up the steaming cup of tea and carried it over to the table, setting it down in front of Chi-Chi. "He's not always so, er, rough with them, but yes, he tries to keep them in line. Says they have to act like saiyans and whatnot."

Chi-Chi cracked her first real smile of the day. "Sounds like something he'd say."

"You're not upset with him, are you? I mean, it's not really his place to punish Goten like that…"

"No, no! I'm glad he did. Goten listens to him more than he does to me." Sighing, she took a sip of tea.

The older woman didn't miss the hint of bitterness in Chi-Chi's voice. Yes, Goten certainly did listen to Vegeta, always heeding his warnings and threats and doing everything he could to please the saiyan. It had to be hard on Chi-Chi knowing her baby boy respected a man she hated more than he respected her.

"Gohan tries, you know? He tries to be the man of the house, and he does his best to get Goten to behave, but they're still brothers. Gohan lets him get away with more than he should and I just can't do it." Chi-Chi looked down into her tea, the steam curling through the air and warming her haggard face. "He just – he needs a father, Bulma. And I can't give him that."

Bulma looked over at the kitchen door, imagining her mate still sitting on the couch, still scowling at his reflection on the TV screen, still refusing to socialize. "You're right, Chi. But you know Vegeta can. He's strict, and he does follow through on his threats, but I think it's good for them. He understands saiyans better even than Goku did, so maybe letting him discipline the boys is a good idea. And you really can't expect Gohan to do that. He's not Goten's father and shouldn't have to act like he is."

"Forgive me, but I don't want my son to turn out like Vegeta."

Laughing, Bulma shook her head. "Don't worry about that, Chi. That's about as likely to happen as Gohan ever earning a B in school. Where is Gohan, anyway? I haven't seen him yet."

Chi-Chi smiled proudly. "He's in his room studying. I told him if he finishes before lunch he can take the rest of the day off."

"How…nice."

Later, when it was close to lunchtime and the two women were setting the table for a feast large enough to feed an army or a small group of saiyans, Gohan emerged from his bedroom and passed through the living room, nodding a silent greeting to Vegeta. The saiyan prince didn't bother acknowledging him, but Gohan never expected a response anyway. He walked into the kitchen and hugged Bulma.

"Hey there, Gohan," Bulma said. "How're you doing?"

"I'm fine," he replied, somewhat distracted. His attention was more on the meal being laid out on the table than small talk.

"Gohan, sweetie," Chi-Chi said, "did you finish your studies?"

"Yeah, Mom." Gohan snatched a dumpling when her back was turned and popped it in his mouth, holding his finger to his lips as a gesture to Bulma to keep quiet about it.

Chi-Chi turned around, frowning sternly as she set a steaming bowl of rice on the table. She didn't have to see his action to know he did it. "Good. Would you go outside and get Goten and Trunks?"

Nodding, Gohan turned on his heel and left the kitchen. He glanced over at Vegeta on his way to the front door, noting how he was in the exact same position as before with the exact same scowl on his face. He shrugged to himself as he went outside and cupped his hands around his mouth, yelling, "Goten, Trunks! Lunch is ready!"

No more than three seconds later two small demi-saiyans crashed into him, bowling him over in their excitement to see him and eagerness to eat lunch. Gohan fell to the ground and shoved them off, standing up and patting the dirt off his pants. He frowned disapprovingly before cracking a grin that exactly replicated his father's. "What have you two been up to?"

Goten could barely contain his excitement as he told his brother, "Me and Trunks were fighting inside and you won't guess what happened! Uncle Vegeta told me he'd lock me in the gravity room without food! Isn't that awesome? He only ever says that to Trunks!"

Gohan raised an eyebrow as he led the two boys back inside. "That's great, Goten, I guess."

"Uh huh!" Goten ran in circles around Gohan as he walked toward the kitchen. "Mom used to yell at me and tell me she'd do mean things, but she never does anymore."

The eldest demi-saiyan wondered why his brother would want to be given threats for disobedience, but shrugged it off. Most likely he thought it was a positive thing since Trunks received threats and warnings from both his parents on a regular basis. If anything, Goten probably thought he was missing out on something spectacular since their own mother had become more lenient – with Goten, at least.

"Guess you'd better behave when Vegeta's around then, huh Squirt?"

Goten shook his head vigorously. "Not just when he's here! He said if he ever heard about me fighting in any house in the whole world he'd lock me in the gravity room!"

Now indoors, Gohan glanced over at the couch where the full-blooded saiyan had been sitting a minute earlier. The couch was now empty, so Vegeta must have already gone in to the kitchen. His gaze moved around the room. It looked like a whirlwind blew through, no doubt the devastation caused by the two boys now trailing on his heels. Not for the first time, he wondered how his mother put up with it, constantly having to repair or replace furniture and decorations, cleaning up the messes the boys made, all the while trying to cook meals and keep up with her regular housekeeping.

He thought that perhaps it was a good thing Vegeta took the initiative to punish both Goten and Trunks. Honestly, he was surprised that the saiyan prince cared enough to say anything about the boys' behavior, but if it would give his mother a break, he could appreciate the harsh style of discipline for his little brother. To his even greater surprise, he felt a sense of relief when he opened the kitchen door and saw the two youngsters immediately sober up when they came into Vegeta's presence. If Vegeta was willing to be a disciplinarian for both of them, it was a burden off his shoulders. Much as he wanted to help his mother out, he just couldn't be a father figure for Goten. Let Vegeta take that responsibility. He was more fit for the role anyway.

A/N: Yeah, it's been a long, long time since I updated this. So, when I started losing the drive to write my other stories, I figured I'd write something for this. One-shots often get the creativity flowing again. This chapter was inspired by my bulldog puppy, a little troublemaker much like Goten in need of some serious discipline.