A/N: Wow! I'm actually updating something, after what... like 6 months? Yeah, getting a new job, apartment, and getting married can sorta slow down someone's hobbies. Well, I hope somebody can enjoy this chapter, and I promise the next will not take so long. As always, please drop me a review with your thoughts, they are always appreciated!
Camping
Chapter 2: Fishing
Vegeta awoke to the sound of cheerful birds chirping, the warm sun shining small beams of light onto his face through the small window at his side. He groaned as he tossed himself onto his stomach to bury his face in the crook of his mate's neck, and brought his hands to his ears.
"Woman! It's morning. I am hungry!" he grumbled against Bulma's neck.
No reply.
"WOMAN! I said I am hungry! Bring me sustenance!"
Still no reply.
He flipped over again and sat up, staring down at his, until that time, peacefully sleeping mate. He poked a finger into her side forcefully. He opened his mouth to make another, more boisterous, demand, but was cut off as Bulma's eyes suddenly shot open and she beat him to it.
"Make your own damned food!" she seethed through gritted teeth.
Vegeta looked utterly offended, as if he had never heard the line before in the fifteen years he had been with Bulma. He grumbled to himself as he slumped out of bed, dragging his feet as he made his way to the fridge at the opposite end of the camper. As he opened the fridge, he found himself overwhelmed by a stench almost comparable to that of the retched stink-hole he had smelled the night prior.
"WOMAN! WHY DOES THIS REAK OF DECAYING MATTER?!" he hollered, despite the mere distance of several feet between himself and Bulma.
Bulma flipped over, burying her face into her pillow as she screamed obscenities into it. Once relieved of expelling every four-letter word that came to mind, she lifted her head just enough off the pillow to allow her to holler back at her husband.
"I have no idea! Has the meat gone bad or something?"
"How do I know if meat is bad?" Vegeta called back as he began examining various food products on the shelves, each of which seemed to have a similar green fungus growing on them. "And what the hell is this green substance covering this... this garbage you call food?"
Bulma now sat up in bed, fully alert.
"Green? Oh no... please don't tell me the fridge is not working and the food spoiled."
She quickly made her way to Vegeta's side, pushing him aside to the point that he nearly toppled over, so that she could take a closer look.
"So you want to go for another round, hmm?" Vegeta growled in what was supposed to be a sultry tone as he pushed Bulma back.
Bulma's brows furrowed as she was ready to deck the man for being so ignorant.
"No, you oaf! Just stay out of my way! Why don't you go check on your son and daughter or something... just get out of my hair!"
Bulma removed a package of sliced turkey, only to find the 'green substance' her husband had spoken of was covering much of the top layer. Meanwhile, Vegeta stomped out of the camper, pouting and grumbling to himself about a 'lack of service' and something about 'damned woman'.
Upon closer examination, Bulma realized the light was off in the fridge.
"What the hell?"
Outside, Vegeta struggled with the zipper sealing the door to his offspring's tent. Just as his frustration had gotten the best of him and he was about to rip the tent open, he found the zipper moving on its own accord. He released the zipper, watching sternly as the flap slowly fell towards the ground, revealing his rather tired looking teenage son, Trunks, crouching on the other side.
"Hey Dad," Trunks groaned, wiping the sleep away from his weary eyes with a loose fist. "What's up?"
"Your mother insisted I make sure you two babies haven't injured yourselves."
Trunks rolled his eyes, not too offended by his father's typical cut-down.
Vegeta peered past his son to find his daughter curled up in her tiny sleeping bag, still sleeping peacefully. A small glint of a smile spread across his stern features. Though it was rather faint and short-lived, it was easy enough for Trunks to pick up.
Trunks glanced back over his shoulder at his younger sister and smiled as well. She was cute now, but for some reason, he feared she would eventually pick up some of her parents' not-so-flattering attitudes.
Bulma suddenly burst through the door of the camper, startling both the men. Vegeta stood and turned to her curiously as Trunks stepped through the small opening of the tent to stand beside his father. She wore a rather frustrated looking expression, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Well boys, it looks like you two get to spend some father-son time fishing!" she exclaimed with not-so convincing enthusiasm. "It seems as though not only did we not get sewer hook-up as I ordered, they also failed to turn on the electric. I do have a backup generator, but the food has already spoiled. So why don't you two fashion yourselves a fishing rod, spear, or whatever you primates feel like using, or perhaps you can even ask Goku for some help. Oh, and bring your daughter with too. I'm sure she'd love to watch you two."
Without giving the boys, or more so, her husband, a second to protest, Bulma slipped back inside the camper, leaving the two men standing in the open, rather befuddled.
Vegeta grumbled a few private words to himself before turning to his son.
"Get your sibling and meet me by the lake," he growled before stomping off.
Trunks released a long sigh before reluctantly creeping inside the tent to awaken his sister.
As Vegeta came to the clearing just before the lake, he heard the familiar voice he had been praying to avoid; Goku. He groaned aloud, apparently too loud, as he stepped out to find Goku and Goten sitting at the lake's edge. The two looked up and over their shoulders at Vegeta, an overly enthusiastic smile spreading across Goku's disgustingly cheerful face.
"Hey Vegeta! Did you come to fish too?"
"No. I came to cleanse my soiled shorts," Vegeta replied with a completely straight face, or at least as straight as a scowl could be. He stood behind Goku, towering over him, relishing in the one of few moments he could do so. A small smirk crossed his features as he crossed his arms over his chest, a look of arrogance to him as usual.
Goku and Goten both grimaced at Vegeta's reply.
"Vegeta, I'm not one for cleanliness, but that's going a bit far," Goku pointed out, oblivious to Vegeta's attempt at a sarcastic joke.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed, his brows furrowing. He was ready to yell at the clown for not understanding his wit when Goten, apparently a few marbles greater than his father, spoke up.
"I think he's joking, dad."
"Oh..." Goku was still clueless. His face contorted as he struggled to make sense of the situation. "Vegeta?! Did you really just make a joke?" he questioned, completely baffled by Vegeta's uncharacteristic behavior.
Vegeta, already weary of the unwanted conversation taking place, decided not to grace Goku with a reply, and instead turned his attention to the water to observe the activity so-called fishing.
Realizing he had lost the attention of Vegeta, Goku too returned to his task.
"Dad! I think I got one!" Goten suddenly exclaimed as his large handmade wooden pole began to jerk right and left and back again. As with any being with even part saiyan blood, he effortlessly pulled back the pole, lifting out a fish the size of a toddler. The fish fell at his side, which also happened to be where Vegeta's feet were firmly planted, with a rather disgustingly squishy thud.
Vegeta glared down at the offending matter as Goten hurriedly removed it and set it further aside.
"Sorry Vegeta!" Goten blurted out. Even with his father at his side, he still feared having to face the wrath of the infamously irritable and violent Vegeta.
"Where's your pole, Vegeta?" Goku questioned, interrupting the possible eruption he was oblivious to.
"What the hell do I need a stick for?" Vegeta growled as he ground his foot into the grass, trying to remove the foul fish smell that he was sure was emanating from it.
"To catch the fish," Goku stated matter-of-factly.
Vegeta grumbled something incoherent to himself.
"I don't need a pole to catch these creatures. I'm surprised that even you would stoop to such foolish human methods."
"Well, ChiChi said we had to use them... something about campground regulations or something," Goku replied with a sheepish grin.
"Do you always do everything that harpy tells you?" Vegeta sneered.
"You do everything mom tells you to do," Trunks called out from behind as he stepped out into the clearing, holding three fishing rods in one hand and his sister's hand in the other. "That's why you're out here fishing right now," he pointed out.
Vegeta's head nearly spun around as he gave his, whom he considered to be ill-mannered, son a dirty look despite the truthfulness of the comment. However, the sight of his little blue-haired girl galloping towards him calmed his nerves just enough to keep him quiet.
"Hi Daddy! Hi Mr. Goku! Hi Goten!" Bra chimed as she freed her hand from her brother's grasp and skipped over to Goten's side to stare at the large fish he was in the midst of removing the hook from. "What's that?" she questioned wide eyed.
"That's a fish," Trunks answered for Goten and took a seat between him and his sister.
"That's what mommy wants us to eat?" Bra's little face contorted into a look of disgust as she stared at the large slimy creature.
"Well, not like that. We have to remove the scales and cook it first." Trunks turned to Goten, the two exchanging a look of amusement at Bra's naivety.
"Oh," Bra replied, still seemingly unconvinced.
Trunks handed the smallest of the three poles to his sister and patted the ground next to him. Bra obligingly took the makeshift fishing rod, but stared in disgust at the ground beside her brother.
"What's the matter Bra? Sit down with us."
Bra looked to her brother, than back to the earth again, a pout on her tiny face. "It's dirty," she whined.
Trunks rolled his eyes. "It's just a little muddy from the water. It will wash off."
Bra turned to look up at her father, her eyes pleading. "Daddy, can I sit in your lap?" she asked with the sweetest little voice, sounding strangely practiced.
Vegeta turned to look at the smiling face of his long-time 'enemy' and felt a sickening pain in his stomach. The last thing he needed was for Goku to witness his weakness, but there would be hell to pay if he dare denied his daughter's request. Not only would his little princess throw an amazing tantrum only a half-saiyan could throw, he'd also face the wrath of a human woman, his Queen, if she ever found out. With a long, inner sigh of defeat, Vegeta moved behind his daughter, and picked her up beneath her arms, setting her in his lap as he sat down beside his son.
"Here you go Dad," Trunks said with a smile as he handed his father one of the remaining poles.
Vegeta quickly snatched the pole, showing no sign of gratitude, and sat it at his other side. Trunks was however not expecting anything more, and simply turned his attention back to his friend beside him, who handed him a can of worms.
Bra giggled and squirmed in her father's lap, excited that she would be sharing the new adventure with him. She tilted her head back, showing off her little mouth full of pearly-whites. Vegeta glanced at the rest of the men from the corner of his eye, making certain they were not watching, before giving Bra a quick, and very well disguised, kiss on the head.
Bra almost beamed with giddiness as she watched her brother cast his lure into the sparkling lake, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. She kicked her pudgy short legs excitedly, and with her Saiyan strength, she nearly had her father cringing at the attack against his legs. She was about ready to swing her own fishing lure before Trunks interrupted her.
"Wait Bra, you need bait first!"
Bra turned to her brother, a questioning look to her features.
"Dad, can you help her please?" Trunks requested, tilting his head toward the can of worms at his side.
Vegeta scowled for a few seconds at the can full of squirmy, and probably smelly, creatures before finally reaching in and pulling out a small worm.
"EWWW!" Bra cried out, wiggly in her father's lap as he held the worm out before her. He couldn't have agreed with her more as he examined the 'bait' and his daughter's fishing pole, oblivious to how he was supposed to put the two together in some useful manner.
"Put the worm on the hook, like this," Goku called out, apparently taking notice of Vegeta's lack of fishing knowledge, and held out the end of his line to show Vegeta how he stabbed the worm onto the hook.
"I knew that!" Vegeta snarled as he snatched up Bra's hook and began prodding the worm. The worm wriggle and writhed with each poke, causing Bra to do the same as she watched, which only made the simple process even more difficult for Vegeta.
By the time Vegeta had finally succeeded in hooking the worm, Goku, Goten, and Trunks had each already caught several more fish. He grumbled to himself and handed his not-so-patient daughter the pole.
Not knowing any better, Bra immediately swung her pole back as she had seen her big brother do, sending the short line behind her father, and quickly whipped it forward again, the sharp hook easily catching one of her father's large ears.
Vegeta released a howl of pain so primal and deafening, the four innocent bystanders, or rather by-sitters, were left to stare in awe, and fear, as Vegeta's eyes filled to the brim with unshed tears, and his mouth with unspoken curses. Even Bra, who was not as quick to see what had happened, knew from the yell that something bad was sure to come of her father's unhappiness.
"Dad..." Trunks spoke up quietly, ignoring the tugging at his pole. "Dad, just sit still, and I'll pull it out. Bra, don't pull on your pole," he said as he carefully took his pole in one hand, and leaned over to use the other to quickly yank the rusty hook from his father's ear. He could have sworn he heard his father's teeth grinding back the curse words. He prayed to Kami his father could hold his temper, as Bra would certainly explode into tears if her father blew his top.
Amazingly enough, after a moment of closing his eyes, Vegeta reopened them, his usual irritable, but fairly calm features returning to his face.
"Sowwy Daddy," Bra whimpered, now turned slightly in his lap and staring up at him beady-eyed.
"It's OK Bra," Trunks said comfortingly, "Just be more careful."
Vegeta nodded slowly in reassurance, more so to convince himself than his daughter.
Bra's smile returned as she took the pole back from her brother again, and this time allowed him to help her cast.
Once certain he was out of the watchful eyes of his company, Vegeta lifted a hand to his ear, and then brought it back before him, examining the blood that now appeared on his fingers. It was going to be another one of those days.
Vegeta eventually joined in the rest of the gang, casting his lure out into the lake as well, but by no means enjoying it. Bra was actually rather good, for being a toddler. Within half-an-hour she had already reeled in what the average human would have found to be several fairly large bass, adding to the pile of very large fish her brother had caught.
Vegeta, on the other hand, was not so skilled at fishing. His impatience led him to losing every fish that so much as came near his line, and it was obvious his patience was growing thin, or rather, even thinner than usual, which does not say much.
Goku leapt to his feet suddenly, startling Trunks, Goten, and Bra.
"Woohoo! Looks like I got a big one!" Goku exclaimed in his all-too-cheery tone, making both of Vegeta's ears feel as if they were bleeding.
With a few swift tugs of his large fishing rod, Goku effortlessly yanked out a fish the size of a large shark.
"WOW!" Bra hollered, nearly falling off her seat in Vegeta's lap as she leaned over to stare in awe at the fish now lying behind Goku. She turned back to her father, wide-eyed. "Why can't you catch one like that Daddy?"
That had done it. Vegeta had hit his breaking point. This was now no longer an attempt to catch a meal for his harpy and their family, it was now a competition between he and his enemy, to prove who be the bigger, better, strongest, best Saiyan. Vegeta carefully, but quickly, picked his daughter up and set her in the grass beside him before standing to his feet.
"I've had enough of this nonsense! I'm wasting no more time with this foolish method!" Vegeta announced boisterously, raising a hand from his side, and aiming his palm at the water before him.
"No! Dad! Don't-" Trunks hollered, but it was too late.
Vegeta released a blast almost comparable in size and magnitude to his final flash move, instantly creating a large crater in the lake just several feet before he and his company, sending water in every direction, including up. Water, and fish, rained upon the group of Saiyans and half-Saiyans, four of them sitting in awe, and the last one standing proud and victorious, a smirk spreading across his stern features.
Bra stood suddenly, staring up into the fish-raining sky and giggling with glee, at least until the last of the fish fell, landing upon her face with a loud smack before bouncing off and onto the ground beside her feet.
The group was again in silence, but now fear welled up, even Vegeta's proud demeanor quickly faded, as they awaited the inevitable wailing of the young girl.
Sure enough, Bra's eyes filled with tears, and despite Trunks attempt to take Bra's hand comfortingly, she burst into tears and loud sobs. She tore her hand away from her brother's, using her hands to rub her eyes and red face, weeping and whining indistinct words.
"Nice going Dad! Goku even told you weren't supposed to do that!" Trunks scolded while Goten and Goku stood by with helpless and sheepish smiles.
"Ahhh... well... I think we have plenty of fish for one meal. I think we'll head back. ChiChi's probably worried anyway..." Goku struggled for excuses to leave before he had to witness Vegeta breakdown into tears as well.
"Yeah, I'll catch up with you later tonight Trunks!" Goten called out, quick to follow his dad's actions.
Trunks shrugged his shoulders and waved goodbye to his friend. "Alright, see you guys later!"
Goku and Goten quickly scooped up their ridiculous catch of fish, along with several that had fallen due to Vegeta's tantrum, and scurried off through the trees behind them.
"Trunks, go take dinner back to your mother, and tell her to start cooking it!" Vegeta demanded under his breath, just loud enough for his son to hear over Bra's incessant sobbing.
Trunks nodded, knowing his father only wanted him to get out of there so as not to witness any sign of affection, because for whatever reason, Vegeta thought nobody knew he had a soft-spot for his daughter, or for anything. Normally, the sight would be somewhat offensive to a son, seeing his father be so loving to his daughter, and yet so uncaring to his son, but Trunks had had several moments with his father when he was young, and he knew his father cared for not just Bra, but for him and Bulma as well. He was even sure he had kind feelings towards Goku too. Thoughts aside, Trunks picked up what he could, and scurried through the trees and back to camp.
Once certain the coast was clear, Vegeta quickly scooped his daughter up into his arms, not cradling her like a normal father would, but with no less affection, he held her against his chest, allowing her to wrap her arms around his thick neck. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and she lifted her head back to look at him with red eyes. He didn't say anything, but he really didn't need to. Bra loved her father so much, just having his attention was enough to quiet her sobs. She sniffled, the tears subsiding, and glanced down at the fish scattered about, a small giggle escaping her pouted lips. She looked back up at her father, a large smile spreading across her face.
"Daddy, you caught a lot more fish than Mr. Goku and Goten!"
"Yes, yes I did," Vegeta replied, a small smile making it's way back to his face as well.