Odd|yssey Four
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ, and DBZ doesn't own me.
Ha! Just kidding, Vegeta is my life.
"This is a formal wake up greeting for one Vegeta. This is a formal wake up greeting for one Vegeta. Wake up greeting sent by Council member Whis. Wake up greeting sent by Council member Whis. This is a formal wake up greeting for on—"
"OKAY!" Vegeta threw the comforter off of his cot, snarling in the face of the robo-tech. The loud beeping was enough to drive him to the brink of insanity, but the repetition of the robo-tech's words ignited the fire in his chest.
"Good morning, Vegeta. The time now is 07:13, dawn of the second sun. To dismiss this wakeup call and confirm your rising, please scan your palm heat print in the center of this one's console." The robo-tech's smooth white middle console lowered, leaving a scanning device in its place. Vegeta mumbled a string of curses, wiped the sleep from his eye and pressed his hand flatly against the surface. The scanner was warm against his flesh as the laser moved around his palm, taking too long for his standards.
"Wakeup call dismissed. Satisfactory report sent to Council member Whis. Would you like a receipt of this transaction?"
"Fuck off!"
"Prompt not recognized, this one detects foul language. Please repeat prompt using this planet's formal language."
"No, I don't need a," he stopped, feeling another curse tattooing itself on his tongue, and smoothed his face, "I do not require a receipt."
"Receipt declined. Occupant is ready for the day. This one, 0616J, has completed obligatory duties and will now exit."
Vegeta watched the robo-tech hover out, scowling as it did. He looked over at the hologram clock by the window, the orange light of the second sun spilling through. It felt as if he had just shut his eyes, and now this blasted machine had disturbed his slumber.
The loud obnoxious snoring from his comrades infiltrated his ears and he groaned. Of course they could sleep through such a racket, but he would be damned if he were to be the only one to suffer the cursed fate of this day. His feet touched the cold floor as he stretched, walking over to his shared closet to retrieve two towels and two sets of jumpsuits/armor. Making his way to the farthest cot away from his, he looked down at the sleeping tenant and huffed, feeling the irritation slither around in his belly.
"Wake up," he demanded, dropping the towel and jumpsuit/armor combo on the occupant.
"Hmmnn? What?"
"I said wake up, third class," he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, "get yourself properly showered and groomed and meet me in the mess hall for a quick breakfast."
"Where are we going, Vegeta?" Kakarot sat up, removing the towel and clothing from his head as he yawned. "It's early."
"Well you should have thought about the time before you decided to play human protector. If I have to babysit the weakling, you are coming with me. And that is an order." And with that he turned to leave, a head scratching Kakarot left behind.
They showered and ate, moving at a fast pace set by the prince. By the time they left the premises, the second sun was sitting high in the sky, beaming its rays down like a proud mother.
Landing in front of the bar, Vegeta barged his way inside, ignoring the courtesy greeting of Tien. He marched to the counter, Kakarot on his step, and slammed his palms against the top.
"I demand a drink, human."
"At this hour, Vegeta?" Kakarot whispered, his tone judgmental.
"I am not a child like you, Kakarot," he barked, turning his face slightly over his shoulder, "and I require an elixir to start the day."
"All I have available is Kinto Un," Tien responded, taking inventory of his bar, "I'm still waiting on my good shipment to come in within the hour. Beer is the only thing that people babysit around here."
"Fine," he grit his teeth in disappointment, "I'll take one of those. And that insane looking key to the devil who lives upstairs."
Tien chuckled, grabbing a Kinto Un from the fridge and popping off the cap. "So Bulma is still on your bad side, I see? I figured you two would get along."
"Why the hell would you think something like that, fool!?" Vegeta snatched the beer from his hand, fizz staining his glove, "I would never mingle with someone of your kind."
"Because she isn't like my kind," Tien said, shaking his head at Vegeta's outburst, "she's a different breed of a woman if I say so. She can hold her own when it comes to her respect. I thought for sure you'd admire that."
Vegeta swallowed his beer in one gulp, wiping his hand with the back of his mouth and belching. "This is fucking garbage," he complained, "it tastes mainly of sweet dew."
"Yeah, well, the women patrons love it," Tien slid the glass shard key in Vegeta's direction, "and it is sweet dew mixed with yeast. Not my best seller but beggars can't be choosers."
"Watch your tone, scum," Vegeta threatened, knocking his bottle down hard against the counter, "if I wanted, I'd take every drop of liquor in this pathetic establishment."
"Sure, sure," Tien waved his hand as he continued looking over a clip board, "I get it; you're a strong guy. You know, back on my home planet I was considered to be the strongest. I even won a competit-"
"I don't care!" Vegeta was making his way around the bar towards the back, "Let's go, Kakarot! I have no time to waste on your idiotic ass!"
Kakarot shook his head, taking a deep breath. "Well, I guess I'll see you later, Tien. Maybe next time you can tell me that story, it sounded interesting."
Tien smiled, glancing up from his clipboard. "I can't believe that you're a Saiyajin, Kakarot. Compared to your moody prince, you're pretty much a saint."
"Go figure," Kakarot waved at him, pacing himself faster to keep up with Vegeta.
He hoped he was in a better mood when he gathered the women upstairs.
oooOOOooo
Vegeta banged on the door with such force that Bulma cursed him from the other side.
She opened the door, eyes full of fury and a sharp tongue to match.
"Is there any reason that you need to pound on my door so hard? I'm not deaf to subtle knocks, you know!"
"Hmph," Vegeta crossed his arms and scoffed, narrowing his eyes, "I put nothing past a race as weak as yours."
Bulma grit her teeth, opening the door fully and blocking the entry way. "You're impossible, lost prince. You have some nerve to show up to my residence with such a rude disposition and insults to boot. Shouldn't you of all people understand what it's like to have the peace of your home disrupted?"
Vegeta growled threateningly, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "What did you just say to me, devil woman?"
"You heard exactly what I said," she put her hands on her hips, showing the fierceness that Tien bragged about earlier, her blue eyes alive with fire. "You should be a bit kinder, considering the predicament you're in."
"You pitiful female!" He raged, "How dare you continue to speak to me that way?! Do you understand what I am capable of doing to you?"
"Do you understand what I am capable of doing to you?"
"AS IF YOU COULD TRY, YOU BITC—"
"Vegeta," Kakarot calmly placed his palm over Vegeta's shoulders, gripping it tightly. "There's no need for that. You did treat her rudely in her own home."
"FUCK OFF, KAKAROT!"
"So untamed," Bulma clicked her teeth and shook her head, "much like a wild animal. An unstable primate."
The air between them thickened, and even Kakarot dropped his hand to stare at her in bewilderment. He could practically wear the rage that covered Vegeta like a second skin, and he narrowed his eyes in a warning. "Bulma, I don't think you understand the weight of your words."
Bulma looked to them both, her eyebrow rising in confusion. Her pillowed lips parted, a question stained on her tongue.
"You are a vulgar creature," Vegeta growled, his voice menacingly low, "and it is taking my full restraint to not rip your head from your shoulders. You dare call me, a Saiyajin prince, a primate?"
"It's just a saying," Bulma swallowed thickly, becoming aware that she had made a mistake, "one that my father used to say to me. I meant no harm, really Prince Vegeta."
"You hear that, right Vegeta?" Kakarot urged, keeping the tone of his voice calm and reassuring, "she didn't mean it. She's not a Saiyajin so she doesn't understand what that really means."
Vegeta whipped his head in Kakarot's direction, his nostrils flaring. "I am getting really sick of your shit, Kakarot. A true Saiyajin warrior does not make excuses against the enemies that have wronged them. You know what calling a royal member of Vegetasai a fucking PRIMATE means!" Vegeta looked every bit the wild animal, his eyes crazed.
"I'm not the enemy," Bulma sighed, running her hands through her long waves. She closed her eyes for a moment as she gathered to regroup her thoughts, hoping to alleviate the raging prince. "I'm sorry, okay? I don't know what that word means to your race, but my intention wasn't to cause you ill will." She brought her hand out towards Vegeta as he eyed it from over his shoulder. "Forgive me?"
He looked at it for a moment longer, letting his hand look over the disapproving flesh by his standards. "Do you not remember what I told you would happen the next time you touch me?" He practically whispered. "That goes either way. If my flesh just so happens to bump against yours, the only blue you will be seeing is my spandex armor as I crush you to death."
"Of course," Bulma retracted her hand and took a deep breath, smoothing the front of her robe. It was truly too early to cause such a scene, but Vegeta certainly knew how to push the right buttons. "Why are you even here? Chi-Chi is still asleep."
"You know The Council, right?" Kakarot stepped in front of the still irate Vegeta.
"Who doesn't?"
"Well, it turns out you were right about Chi-Chi being from royalty and all," he scratched the back of his head, still unsure as to how Bulma knew so much about anything, "and they want us to take her to get supplies in the casual district. You know, clothes and basic needs and stuff. And because you're taking care of her, they want us to let you indulge a little too."
"Oh?" Bulma's eyes sparkled, her lips curving upwards into a smile, "I've always wanted to go shopping in downtown Citadel!" She cupped her hands together tightly, her head thinking of all of the wonderful purchases she could make. "How generous of The Council!"
"Does that excite you, harpy?" Vegeta had finally managed to calm himself, although his tone was still laced with ice, "considering your living quarters and your expensive jewelry that you adorn, I would be sure that you have pleasured yourself in Citadel shopping."
A frown drew over Bulma's face, and she pressed her lips together tightly to avoid saying anything to get his anger ignited again. "Not that it's any of your business, but everything I own was left to me by my father. He brought me those jewels from a trade with Otul when I was 12."
"Oh? And what was the trade? Your mother? I heard that Otul is very generous when it comes to trading of women. And if your mother is anything like you, I'm sure she was sold for far more than just jewels."
"Vegeta!" Kakarot turned on his comrade, his mouth agape.
"No, Kakarot, let the lost prince assume what he wants." Bulma's stomach sank at his insult but her face did not betray her sentiment. She took a deep breath and readied her composure, letting her eyes blink rapidly before tears tore down her face. "I will wake Chi-Chi up," she said dryly, inviting them in and not turning around to face them, "give us about an hour to get ourselves prepared." She turned to leave them, sounds of the shower being heard moments later.
When they were alone, Kakarot stormed up to Vegeta. "Vegeta that was cruel of you to say," his chest puffed out with masculinity, for the time being forgetting who exactly the superior was. "You should apologize to her; you have no idea what her family could have gone through."
"Me!? Apologize to a weak human?! I should slice your tongue out for even speaking those words!"
"Vegeta," Kakarot's tone darkened, as well as the expression on his face, "you were out of line. If The Council finds out that you've been mistreating their special guests, you know what they will do."
"Unbelievable, Kakarot," Vegeta closed the gap between them, his broad chest pushing Kakarot slightly backwards, "you have absolutely zero loyalty to your own, trash. Your hollow threats do not move me, you son of a bitch. Don't think I have magically forgotten what happened on Enut; you may have weakened that thing, but you are fooling yourself if you think you can ever beat Prince Vegeta." He let his power surge over his body, filling the air of the room with harsh static.
"I'm loyal for what's right, Vegeta," Kakarot retaliated, "and I'm not threatening you, I'm merely letting you know the consequences of your actions. You will apologize to her."
"Or what!?"
Kakarot's eyes darkened. "Or I'll speak to Beerus myself. I won't allow you to be rude to Bulma any longer, or Chi-Chi for that matter. They deserve better from us, and if you can't see that then you have a lot to learn."
Vegeta studied the Saiyajin man before him, getting déjà vu as he remembered an older replica of this messy haired brute standing before his father in the same ridiculous manner. He drew his lips over his teeth, his anger rising out of him like a phoenix. "You listen to me, third class. When I get Vegetasai back, when I am king, I swear to you on the royal blood of my father and all who came before him that I will have your life for your insolence. It's clear what race you'd rather belong to," he nodded in the direction of the back of the apartment, "and I will have no member of my race stooping to such monstrosities."
"We'll see when that time comes, Vegeta," Kakarot whispered, "I hope that by then you'll be a different man."
"Oh, I will be. I'll be the king of Vegetasai, and I will declare you an enemy of our kind. And then there will be no place in this godforsaken galaxy that you could hide; no cunt or tit that you can cower behind. Mark my words, Kakarot. I will lay you next to your father's grave, if you even deserve that much."
Kakarot backed down at that point, feeling the anger beginning to consume him as well. He liked Vegeta, he truly did, but he knew that this man that he had grown to be was different than the young prince who led his race fruitfully, who had only joined Frieza's ranks at the urging of his tyrant father. This Vegeta was turning into a replica of the king, and more than in just their mirrored looks. Kakarot vowed that he would get the prince with promise back to someone of a true stature. Back when she made him promise that he would try.
But damn it all to hell if he wasn't losing his patience.
oooOOOooo
The women readied themselves and left to accompany the Saiyajins on their outing, but Bulma was different.
Vegeta noticed her sulking, her withdrawn behavior and he scowled. This is why he hated humans; they relied on hurt feelings and petty emotions instead of brushing it off and moving the fuck on.
He ignored the ghost whisper in his head that called him a hypocrite.
Chi-Chi was feeling grand; latching unto Kakarot's arm as he led her down the busy streets of the Citadel. After exclaiming for nonstop minutes about how it had been so long since she had seen anything so exquisite, Kakarot finally decided to take her on a grand tour of the Citadel in its entirety.
"I only need two of your credit passes, Vegeta," he explained after Vegeta threw a tantrum, "you put 20,000 a piece on each one, right? You can use the rest on Bulma!"
"Tch," he clicked his teeth, irritated that Kakarot was acting as if nothing trivial had occurred between them. None the less he handed them over, eager to get Kakarot the hell out of his face.
"40,000 credits!?" Chi-Chi exclaimed, cupping her hand over her mouth and looking at Kakarot. "That's far too much money to spend on me!"
"Don't go worrying about anything like that," Kakarot smiled sweetly at her as he stuffed the passes into his back pockets, "it's at The Council's request that you have the finest things, you were a princess after all. Besides, I want you to see the Citadel how it's really meant to be seen."
Chi-Chi lowered her head in embarrassment, her cheeks dancing with cherries. No one, with the exclusion of her father, had treated her as kindly as this one named Kakarot. It was a bit overwhelming, and yet she appreciated the safe encompassment that he possessed. She need not look up to feel the heat of his eyes burning against her temple.
"Well get the hell out of here then!" Vegeta barked, interrupting their silent moment, "the faster these women get what they want, the faster I can go back to important things!"
Kakarot glared at Vegeta and shook his head. Sometimes it just seemed like there was no hope for the prince. Luckily enough, Kakarot wasn't the type to lose hope.
Vegeta watched their backs as they bustled down the busy streets of the Citadel, and he had to choke back his anger as he watched Kakarot place a hand at the small of Chi-Chi's back. Kakarot was a bitter abomination, and he waited for the day when he could finally spit him out of his mouth.
He turned to spot Bulma walking the opposite direction, her withdrawn demeanor still painted obviously on her flesh. He scowled and quickened his pace after her, reappearing in front of her face in the blink of an eye.
"Where do you think you're going, wench?"
Bulma's eyes were fixed on his before she lowered them, studying the ground. She stepped past him and continued her stroll, leaving the prince behind with his mouth agape.
"Don't you walk off on me like that! Impudent female!"
Bulma stopped her stride, turning to face him with her fists clenched. She opened her mouth to say something, her lips forming over unsaid words, but she closed them almost instantaneously, throwing her head back to look at the sky.
Vegeta crossed his arms and looked her over, noticing the paleness of her neck, so fragile and delicate, and his mind instantly wondered over what it would be like to break it.
"You don't need to accompany me," she said finally, her head coming down to meet his gaze, "I can handle purchasing my own needs."
"As if I'd trust my credit passes over to you," Vegeta scoffed, "I don't want to be in your presence either, so stop dawdling on your emotions, human, and let's get this over with."
"Don't you get tired of being like that!?" she snapped, her lips quivering, "It's amazing how you continue to be this self-absorbed asshole as if you know no better!"
"Who the fuck are you to assume what I do and do not know?!" He walked towards her, his breath growing hot with every inch of their gap lessening, "I have had about enough of your riddles and puzzles, woman!"
"If you allowed yourself to see instead of choosing to be blind, nothing I say would riddle you! It may even help you!"
"Help? Help!?" Vegeta threw his head back and laughed, becoming aware that he was now close enough to touch her. "You think that someone like me requires the help of someone like you? That will be the day!"
"You say that now, but you never know what could change, lost prince. When everything crumbles at your feet, it will be your wickedness that produced the flame!"
"Shut up!"
"You shut up!"
Vegeta snarled, although somewhere inside of him (he would not admit to the following truth) he was relieved (was that even the right adjective?) to see her fire back in her eyes. At least this way, she was entertaining.
"Just give me the stupid passes and I'll get what I need," she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, lips pursed, "I don't need you following me around like a broody child."
"Says the woman who has been moody since we've arrived. And no deal. If I leave it to you, you'll leave my account dry." He ran his eyes over her attire today, a navy blue dress that flowed behind her feet, the front rising to just above her knee. Her heavy breasts struggled to stay in place of the off the shoulder neckline and he tried not to gaze at their womanly appeal, reminding himself of her race. "You'll need all of the money you can get anyways, woman, for it appears you can't whore your way out of any bills today."
"I AM NOT A WHORE!" She screeched, raising a hand to smack him. He caught it, looking at it as if it humored him, before clutching her wrist tightly.
"One little snap," he moved her joints around between his thumb and forefinger, earning a hiss of pain from Bulma, "and I can make it so that you will never use this wrist again. Did I not tell you that you should never touch me?"
"You wouldn't," she whispered, attempting to stifle her bout of pain, "I know The Council would not allow you to do such a thing. Otherwise, why would you even be here?"
He eyed her dangerously, taking offense to her statement of truth. "I am not their puppet, you bitch, and I will not do what they say if I am violated. You are walking a thin line of my patience and I don't think you understand the repercussions of what happens when I snap." He dropped her hand roughly, leaving her to cradle her now bruising wrist.
Her blue eyes grew to an intense fire, a devil's dance burning in her sockets as she pressed her lips together tightly. He mocked her, in the form of a cruel smirk as he crossed his arms, meeting her gaze head on. "What?" he taunted, "Have you nothing to say?"
"You sadistic bastard," she snarled, "you have the nerve to call yourself a prince of anything and you can't even contain yourself. One day you will need me, like it or not, and you will grovel before my feet."
"I will see your head before I ever need you. I believe I made that perfectly clear."
"You're impossible."
"And you are grating my nerves."
"If you only knew…" she drawled off, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. Her eyes tingled with water at her frustration, but her pride dared not let them fall. The impossible, lost prince; how could she ever help him?
He walked past her this time, aimlessly heading down the street. When she didn't follow, he stopped, looking over his shoulder. "Are you going to stand there like a street gutter rat, or are you coming along? Either way, I no longer care."
She cursed his name under her breath, but resumed her pacing in his direction. If it wasn't for Chi-Chi's excitement about being in the Citadel (and being with Kakarot, for that matter, but personal discussions are best left at the pillow), she would have called the entire outing off. Bulma knew that eventually Vegeta would be needed, and she knew that the only chance of him being useful in that necessity was a clear mind and a new outlook in his endeavors.
She knew that somehow she played a role in that, and it was the only reason why she allowed him to talk to her in such a manner.
But damn it all to hell if she wasn't losing her patience.
oooOOOooo
Two hours passed since the excursion had transpired, with neither Bulma nor Vegeta making any attempts at conversation.
She wanted to scream at him to hand over the credit passes already, but he held on to them tightly as if they would diminish to ash if he were to release them.
She hadn't settled on much; a few articles of clothing here, cookware there (Chi-Chi, to Bulma's glee, loved to cook) and now she was simply waiting for Kakarot and her newly found roommate to meet up with them again.
Vegeta looked more angry than bored, the lines in his mouth turned downwards into an icy glare, his arms locked tightly in their position across his chest. Bulma thought for a fraction of a second that he could be handsome, but the dark evil that was his face made it seem like a far-fetched notion. Her thoughts engulfed her, ravishing her mind about the how's and why's of Vegeta's necessity. Surely, Kakarot was sufficient for the end goal, right?
The idea was impossible, for she knew what she knew.
She became lost in her thoughts, her eyes locked tightly on the ground as her feet did a dance of their own. The sleet pavement turned to cobble, but the new scenery only became an afterthought in her mind.
"Misssss~…"
The voice drew her out of her thinking, and she looked around for the source. Various shops and stands sat around her, but none of them appeared to be the key she was looking for.
"I'm over heeere~…" the voice sang, becoming more alive in its whimsy. She looked ahead and across the cobble road, seeing a shopkeeper outside of a small hut. It was reptilian; yellow and orange scales adorning its body, its beady black eyes narrowed solely on her. She pointed to her chest for confirmation and he nodded his head, smiling and darting a tongue out of his mouth. Interested, she proceeded onwards, only now becoming aware that Vegeta wasn't in her presence anymore.
"Sssuch lovely beauty," the reptilian male stated as she drew closer, slurring over his own words in admiration, "where doesss ssssuch a magnificent creature asss yourssself come from?" He produced a long finger, a black pointed nail at the tip, and played with a tendril of hair that sat at the side of her cheek, casually brushing against her skin.
She wanted to recoil in disgust, but didn't want to appear rude, so she lightly laughed. "It matters not where I come from, only that I am here now."
"I ssseee~…" he smiled at her and ran his split tongue over his top lip, a small purr vibrating from his scales, "you ssshould sssee the goodsss of my ssshop," he pointed at the hut, "I carry many thingsss from different planetsss of Klaywim. I'm a collector, you sssee, and I'm sssure you would appreciate the fine thingsss I have to offer."
"Such as…?" Something tickled her mind, wondering if he had items that would mean something to her, artifacts from a distant time that she could no longer touch.
"Come inssside, my dear~," he drew back the thick curtain, the inside of the hut much larger than she would have ever thought. Different items graced the walls: clothes, jewelry, weaponry as well. Her eyes gleamed as she took stock of the various emblems and shiny jewels, wanting nothing more than to run her fingers over it.
"How did you manage to collect all of these things? I'm sure these are rare artifacts that are not available to the general public," she all but whispered, feeling very much in awe.
"It'sss in my nature," he slithered behind her, touching her shoulders, "my people are known huntersss, and before the Sssaiyajinsss dessstroyed our planet, we were rich with treasssuresss."
"You don't say," Bulma stated, trying best to drop her shoulders from underneath its slimy embrace. She glanced around again, hoping that something specific would catch her eye. "Is it possible that you have any artifacts from the lost tech planet?"
"Lossst tech planet~?" The reptilian creature held his chin under his pointed finger, finally releasing Bulma to her satisfaction. "Aaaah, you mean that one. Sssorry, my dear. That planet was wiped dry of itsss goodsss. A pity, I could have made plenty of money from it."
She felt her stomach drop in disappointment, her lips forming in the shape of a circle. "Who wiped it out? The planet, I mean."
"Who knowsss?" The reptilian male walked around her, his black dots for eyes roaming up her curvaceous frame, lingering too long on her breasts. She fidgeted as if she was nude, mentally cursing Vegeta for making her feel even more insecure about her attire. "The lossst tech planet wasss heard to have been one of the richest planetsss becaussse of itsss technology and ssscientistsss. I envy the lucky bastardsss who managed to sswipe it all. You know much about it?"
"Some things here and there," she replied, feeling uncomfortable, "mainly rumors, I'm afraid. I would have liked to have seen some of the artifacts from the planet."
"What about the robo-techsss? Have they not originated from there?"
"Yes, how could I forget?" Her mouth twitched in displeasure and she cleared her throat to mask it, "Like I said, I've only heard rumors so sometimes I get things mixed up."
"Aaaah~," he leaned on the cashier's counter, resting his chin on his elbow. His eyes narrowed in pleasured slints as he studied her face, her alabaster skin and pink pouty lips. "I sssupossse one can't have brainsss and beauty," he licked his lips again, imagining what it would be like to have the blue haired siren underneath his weight.
"Yes," she responded drily, "I guess not."
"Don't be ssso down, my dear~, you don't need any intelligence with that beautiful face of yoursss. And that color," he brought his thumb and forefinger to his lips and kissed it, dramatically swiping it away from his face, "isss completely magnificent. Asss a matter of fact, I have something that would sssuit you."
oooOOOoo
Vegeta was pissed.
The stupid woman had gone and disappeared on him, and after convincing himself that he really didn't care, he grew frustrated at the lie. No, what had indeed bothered him was that she had managed to do what he could not: get away from this entire excursion.
He had turned around for a brief second and she was gone. He slew a string of curses from his mouth as he pushed past the heavy crowds of people, trying hard to locate her ki. He hadn't been around her long enough to get familiar with her personal brand, and now he was upset with himself for having neglected that factor.
He considered leaving her to wherever she was. Who gave a shit anyways? If she chose to do her own shopping (minus the luxury of his credit passes) then to hell with her.
But that damned Whis. He would know that he had treated her poorly and it would most certainly be used against him. He wouldn't be surprised if they were being watched right at this very second. He ran his fingers through his flamed hair and sighed.
Being on the opposing side was really starting to wear thin.
He continued his journey down the metropolitan district, several shop owners calling to him to try out their goods. He ignored them, fighting back the urge to blow them away at their persistence. Faintly he could feel the familiar twinge of something, but locating it as a completely different story. A lone robo-tech hovered under a 'HELP' tent, and he slammed his palms on the counter when he reached it.
"Good afternoon, sir, this one is 0813A speaking and ready to help you with your Citadel needs. I can be used for directions, credit pass balances, general shopping info, store locations—"
"I don't need any of that!" He barked, wiping his face to stop his forthcoming curses. "I need to know if you scanned a woman through here."
"This one can tell you if a person was scanned in this area, only if you can provide accurate details of the person."
"She's a little bit taller than me," he said in a disapproving tone, "not by much, with blue hair piled on the top of her head. Surely that should be enough to find."
"Checking…" the robo-tech 's console flashed in a variety of colors as it researched, a green singular light emitting from its 'belly' upon completion. "Your description matches 558 persons in this area for the day."
"Impossible! She is the only human with blue colored hair!" Vegeta took a deep breath, taking into consideration of other races with multi colored skin and hair. "Would a more thorough description suffice?"
"Ready to narrow down by accurate description."
"Of fucking course." He drew a breath and chose his words carefully in his mind before spilling them. "She is of the human race. She is wearing a dark blue dress with the straps like this," he gestured around the low part of his shoulders for indication, "and the bottom is long in the back and short in the front."
"Is the person skinny or fat?"
"Neither, she is," he stopped, feeling himself about to pay her a compliment. That certainly wouldn't do. "She has a womanly figure. If that's not enough for you then I will find her on my own."
"Checking…." The robo-tech did its search again. "One person matches the description you provided, and it appears that the female described was seen in this area approximately forty minutes ago, heading west towards the cathiid district."
"Fine," he grumbled, wondering how she managed to make it that far. "That's all the service I require."
"This one, 0813A is glad to be of service. Enjoy your time in the casual district."
Vegeta practically flew towards the location the robo-tech sent him, Bulma's ki growing stronger as he turned several corners, the scenery dramatically changing.
The sleek designs of the buildings were replaced by smaller ones, various huts and stands scattered throughout. The vibe of the cathiid district was more artsy and less industrial, and Vegeta scoffed at the lazed atmosphere. "Figures someone like her would wander here," he growled, his body moving closer to the ki that now swarmed him.
It led him to a hut with no signs, a different array of smells intruding his strong Saiyajin senses. Something about it was familiar, too familiar, and it made his stomach turn.
He pushed past the curtain of the hut and discovered why.
Bulma stood in front of a long mirror, admiring herself in her new outfit. It was a royal blue dress, the collar high around her neck and a neckline plunging to her belly. The sleeves ran down her arms, taking on the appearance of rivers, wrapping around her wrists. A solid gold chain coiled snuggly around her midsection, the bottom of the dress coming to her ankles and forming to her thick legs. Various accents of blood red were about at the shoulders, collar tip and hemline, and the combination of colors magnificently accentuated her pasty skin and teal hair. A groan escaped his throat as he watched her, something unsettling brewing within.
She turned then, her eyes widening. "Oh, so you've come lost prince? What do you think?" She twirled around for him, a dazzling smile stealing her face. "It's pretty pricy, but my new friend here Jun insists on it. He says it came from a queen!"
Vegeta couldn't open his mouth to say anything. This dress, how…where…
"Take it off." He demanded.
Her eyes pouted in confusion. "Why the hell should I? It looks amazing on me! Even Jun says so."
"I said take. it. off."
"Now you're just being an asshole," she waved him off, turning back to Jun. "I'll take it," she wrapped a hand around his, "this guy will pay for it. He's the one I told you about."
"Aaaah, yesss, the one with the foul attitude. I've heard a lot about you-"
Jun was cut off by a ki blast blasted toward his head, barely missing it as he ducked. Instead, the ball obliterated the wall behind him, destroying all of its contents. Jun turned around in horror.
"What the hell, Vegeta!?" Bulma had too crouched down, smoothing the front of the figure hugging dress. "What was that for!?"
Vegeta's face contorted into something darker, more twisted. He scowled as he moved towards Jun, wrapping his hand around the collar of the reptilian male's shirt when he reached him.
"I will ask you only once, so you had better answer correctly," the tone he gave off made Bulma shiver, for she had never heard it so laced with malevolence.
"O-okay," Jun shook under Vegeta's grasp, the fear washing over him as he looked into the onyx eyes of his oppressor. "But I don't know what I did!"
"SHUT UP!" Vegeta roared, baring his fangs as he pointed to Bulma. "Where did you get that dress?"
"I-I dunno," Jun trembled, "it wasss given to me to sssell by my late father. He had it for yearsss."
"That's not an answer! How did you manage to get it? You or your fucking father!?"
"Vegeta…" Bulma was growing frantic, unsure of what caused Vegeta to become so irate. He turned to look at her, his eyes crazed and unsettled and she swallowed hard.
"I-I really don't know! It never sssold becaussse my father sssaid to w-wait for the right woman to wear it." He pointed a shaky finger in Bulma's direction. "It seemed like it would be perfect for her!"
"You idiotic bastard," he seethed, saliva pooling around the corners of his mouth, "you dare sell such a dress and you don't even know its origins?"
Jun shook his head, his eyes darting between Vegeta and Bulma's faces.
"Let him go, Vegeta," Bulma managed to find her voice, clearing her throat to get a better grasp on it. "He says he doesn't know anything so just let him go."
Vegeta stared in the eyes of Jun for a moment, his anger still swallowing him like a greedy lion, but let him go. He looked to Bulma, his eyes locking with hers.
"Do you know the history of that dress?"
She shook her head, suddenly feeling overwhelmed as she backed up to the wall. He followed her in slow struts, his eyes never breaking hold with hers.
"That dress belonged to the Saiyajin queen of Vegetasai," he continued his slow pacing towards her, his breath uneven, "my mother."
Bulma gasped as she felt her rear knock something off of a shelf, finally reaching the end of her journey. "I didn't know, Vegeta."
"How convenient," he lessened the gap between them, their height difference mattering not as he pushed his strength against her, his hands locking her shoulders tightly to the wall. He stood at her eye level and could see her growing fear radiating in her oceans. "You riddle around like you know everything and yet you know nothing about this." His voice grew quieter as he studied her.
Bulma felt uncomfortable. One being the threat that rolled off of Vegeta's flesh and unto her own. Two being the determined way he looked at her, as if memories were creeping into his brain, brought on by the dress.
"You are not fit to wear such a gown, whore," he ran his fingers of one of his arms up her slender neck, a gasp escaping Bulma's lips at the unsuspecting butterfly touches.
"I'll take it off, Vegeta," she whispered, trying to push him away to no avail, "just please let me go."
"Tch, tch tch, would you look at that, our flesh touches. If we were back on Vegetesai, I could break you," he wrapped a finger around the base of her neck lightly, moving his nose to her skin, "I can smell your fear. It's the smell I've come to love, right before I take a life."
"You won't—"
"Stop telling me what I will and won't do," he said darkly against her neck, smirking as he felt her shiver. He was angry when he approached her, but something about seeing her in this dress was enticing him and that made him angrier. "You're insolent, you talk to me like a commoner and you have no respect. What do I care if The Council sends me back home, hmm? Would it not be better to know that I was able to deal with my enemies as they stood?"
"I'm not your enemy, I told you that," her words pleaded, "you don't realize it yet, but you will need me just as much as we need you."
"Shut up," he snarled, now wrapping his fists tightly around her throat. She winced and gagged as he pressed down tighter, clawing her delicate fingers against his muscular arm. "I will never need you wench, so you will stop threatening me with these fortunes. What are you, besides a witch?"
She shook her head, tears spilling from her eyes. Her lips pouted as she tried to gasp for air and Vegeta watched them with a smirk.
"For a human, I will admit that you are easy on the eyes, but I suppose you make yourself to look like a whore, isn't that ri-"
Vegeta was cut off by an overwhelming blow to his side, crippling him. He had never felt such pain before and he gasped and coughed as he fell to his knees. He looked over to see Bulma gasping for air, being consoled by another woman. She looked at him evilly, her icy blue eyes staring at him coldly. He had seen that gaze somewhere before.
"Are you okay?" The woman asked in a low tone, her eyes sliding back down to Bulma.
Bulma coughed and nodded, finally looking up at her rescuer. Her eyes widened. "Oh my god…"
The woman smiled before standing up and walking towards Vegeta, a white spandex suit forming around her body. "Get up," she demanded, her tone just as icy as her irises.
"Fuck…you," Vegeta wheezed out.
"I said," the woman reached down and roughly grabbed him by the shoulders, bringing him forcefully to his feet, "get up!"
Vegeta was taken aback by her strength, and even more so at the overwhelming pain when she hit him squarely in the stomach, causing him to double over and groan. The woman smirked, tucking a blonde piece of her hair behind her ear.
"You dare try to kill my friend?"
"I wasn't," Vegeta hacked, "I was fucking with her."
"Oh?" The woman's palm raised, silver light emitting from her palms, "well I don't think she liked the way you were fucking with her." She held it out to Vegeta's bewilderment, half amazed at her strength and usage of ki and the other half very much pissed off.
"Juu!" Bulma stood, clutching the angry red lines that decorated her neck, "Don't hurt him!"
"Are you fucking kidding me, Bulma?" The woman named Juu turned to glare at the blue haired bag of mysteries, "you could have died."
Bulma shook her head, coughing. "But I didn't. And you can't, Juuhachi, he's the one."
Juu's eyes rose horror, her eyebrow raising in disappointment. "He's the one!? This bastard?!"
Bulma nodded. "He's Prince Vegeta of Vegetasai."
Juu turned to look at the wheezing prince on the ground, his eyes glaring at her with animosity. "Well no shit." She lowered her hand and clicked her teeth. "Today is your lucky day, you son of a bitch."
Vegeta groaned as he stood to his feet, his arm still holding on to his stomach. "WOMAN!" he shouted with as much strength as he could, "What the hell is all of this abou-"
Vegeta had no time to answer, for the loud sirens of the Citadel robocops surrounded the hut, Jun laughing from behind his counter.
"You think you can dessstroy my ssshop and I wouldn't call the copsss." He laughed as he coughed, wiping the side of his mouth with his hand. "You can all rot in the cellsss for causssing sssuch a ruckusss."
"What did I do?!" Bulma yelled.
"You brought them here," Jun shugged, clutching his chest, "and now I have to rebuild." He sighed and shook his head.
The robocops swarmed inside the building, holding their very-much-stronger-than-Saiyajin-ki blaster guns at the trio. Vegeta recognized the official armor bands around the robocops, the letters CO. branded directly in the middle.
Which meant that these cops not only came from the Citadel.
They also belonged to The Council.
Shit.
oooOOOooo
A/N: Hope you guys like this chapter! (BTW: in case you haven't figured it out, Juu is Android 18)
I promise you Vegeta won't be an evil dick forever, but I know you all understand he has to be for now. (He's our favorite little tsundere, isn't he?)
Thank you all so much for the reviews, likes, favorites, kudos and all that jazz. Please continue to leave me reviews, I beg you! I hit a bit of a snag trying to get this chapter together, and reviews always help the process. As much as I want to write a good story for my enjoyment, I also want to give you guys a good story to read.
Thanks again friends!
Till next time,
Bitchii-Usa
***Also thank you times a million for the reviews and all the fun jazz on my other Vegebul story, Blue Kissed Sky. You guys make me so happy you have no idea (or all the idea?). Feel free to follow me on google+ or Tumblr to talk with me! (same username). I love conversing with other members of the DBZ, Vegeta, Vegebul fandom! (or Hunter x Hunter if any of you guys watch that too 3)