MY DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
All I´ve tried to hide
Before even opening her eyes, Bulma knew he was somewhere near, very near in fact. That dark aura spreading from him was quite hard to miss. Still with her eyes closed and her senses all groggy, she felt her instincts twisting and kicking. She had to punch the bastard!!
--Vegeta…
The King and the Prince saw the woman stirring and beginning to struggle in the regeneration tank. Despite his biggest efforts to remain impassible towards her, Vegeta couldn't help but blush when he heard his name being pronounced in a voice that was something like a moan, too dangerous… The King seemed to pass all that consternation, but in fact, he was noticing all.
--Bulma—said the King.—Wake up, child—
Then, she opened her eyes with a start. Both men felt amazed with the color, with the deepness of those eyes, with the many emotions that they reflected in a couple of seconds. Deeper than the deepest sea in Vegeta-sei… Eyes that would make a Saiyan get lost in them…
King Vegeta cleared his throat and signaled so one of the healing chamber attendants proceeded to empty the tank from its liquid and a few others to help the girl out. One of them, brought a towel and covered her almost naked body as fast as she could and for that, Bulma felt thankful. She hadn't taken her eyes from Vegeta and in them, even veiled with his usual stubbornness, she could feel lust… The last thing she needed to deal with at the moment.
Beside Vegeta stood a man very much like the Prince of Jerks, but obviously older and a few centimeters taller. Both of them were dressed in what seemed a royal version of the armor Vegeta had used the first time she met him, though the colors they used were different; the older man was clad in black and a deep red cloak was hanging from his shoulders. Vegeta´s outfit was blue, deep navy blue with a cloak with the same crimson coloration. Both men´s armor carried a sign in the right side of their chest, engraved in deep red as well. His face was also different, his expression was more mature and his beard was shaped while Vegeta had none at all. They were so alike, despite the age that Bulma instantly realized he should be his father…
--Welcome to Vegeta sei—said the older man, his voice regal and kind, though still, giving away the fact that this was a man with great power and used to wield it.
--…Sir…--began Bulma courteously, and giving him a respectful nod. His son could be a total ass, but that didn't mean she would take all her frustration in the other man.
--I´m King Vegeta—he explained trying to get her to speak, while his son was staring somewhere else, his arms crossed in front of his chest, obviously trying to ignore her as much as possible—And this is…
--The Prince of all Jerks…--sighed Bulma unaware of just how much the King was fighting the urge to laugh. Prince Vegeta stiffened at the sound of the old name she gave him, and had it not been for the hand his father extended in front of him, he would have jumped over that infuriating and disrespectful woman and beaten her ass. Bulma seemed to realize her mistake and covered her mouth while blushing furiously and bowing to them many times.--…I mean… I… I´m sorry… I´m sorry…
--How dare you, brat!!—roared Vegeta, momentarily forgetting about his father presence and going back to the behavior he used to sport when he first met her.
--I´m not a brat anymore, you…--she stopped her tirade seeing that the King had become serious and that many attendants were taking a look on the show--…you know my name!! Use it!!
The King smirks and his son humps in disgust. The blue saiyan woman sure has guts to order the Prince around, seeing as no girl in the planet had the strength of mind to retort to any of his comments.
Finally, the King was meeting someone that could match his son and possibly, beat him. There was someone that wasn't afraid of him or would receive his insults without firing back. Ohh, this girl would do such a wonderful queen for the entire Saiyan race!!
She then stared at the older man. What would he do with her? She had her doubts as to what would his intentions be towards her…
--If you are wondering what is to happen to you—said the King with a knowing smirk—Rest assured, child, for we mean no harm to you—
--Why? You don't even know who I am…
--True—retorted the King—but my Heir here seems to know you…
--Oh yeah…--she begins, her expression clearly showing how annoying is to think of Vegeta.
--Shut up, woman—hissed Vegeta. Really, he wanted to strangle her. Just her being there was already disturbing his otherwise calmed routine of training.
--You are such a coward Vegeta—hissed Bulma back—I can't believe you!! I saved your life, I fed you and took care of you for three months and you pay me back stealing my pod away and never saying at least "Goodbye, Thank you for bothering you so much, I´m going back to my planet and I´ll take your only way of getting out"? Really, I should kick your ass this moment just as I promised I would once I saw you!!
--That has nothing to do with me, woman!!—
--Ah no? Do you know how many years it took me to build a new space pod? You idiot!!—she roared, getting nearer the young Prince, clearly defying him. At this point the whole crew of the healing rooms was trying to run for some sort of escape as it seemed that there was going to be a huge fight between the newcomer and the Prince.—If it hadn't been for my brains, Frieza´s squad would have fried me by now and it would have been all your fault!!
--Stop, woman!!—roared Vegeta, feeling a rush of anger as never before. How dare this…this bitch yell at him, when she should be licking his boots and begging for a corner in their planet to stay? How dare she come and disturb his training just to screech like that and punish his ears with her screams? How dare she come and confront him in front of everyone?—Stop disgracing me or you will pay!!
--I don't fucking care what you say!!—she retorted with more strength. By now, both contenders were almost face to face, just inches separating them. King Vegeta sighed. This time his idiotic brat had really gone and done everything wrong…
--Enough brats!!—roared the King, trying to calm the two of them. Obviously it would take a lot for them to come to being civil towards each other.—Is it true what this woman is saying, Vegeta?
The Prince balled his fists in annoyance. He couldn't lie, that would be even more humiliating; his conscience deep inside and for long years had told him that leaving like he did had been wrong and that stealing her space pod was even worse. His pride and honor demanded that he took responsibility for his past actions and try to mend what he did to her.
--It is…--he hissed, never taking his scowling eyes from her equally annoyed ones.
--Do you know what this means?—he continued pushing him to say words he didn't even want to think about. Damned parents!!
--I know—he said with a voice slightly softer but still cold and full of anger. What he was about to do was the most humiliating thing in his entire life.
Bulma stared at him as he bowed. What the hell was going on? She had expected a fight, like in the old times, when they punched each other without second thoughts for childish things such as the best part of the meal or the use of the Gravity Room… She had expected more of that verbal quarreling they were having just a few moments ago, not him almost kneeling down and submitting to who knew what code of honor.
--I owe you…--he said almost choking in his own words, his rage just contained for some sort of self discipline Bulma didn't like at all—With my life I swear I´ll protect you to repay my debt to you…
Bulma´s expression changed completely. This was not what she wanted. She had expected something different, she had expected… She moved towards him without even realizing, her sudden concern for him was noticed by the King.
--Cut it out Vegeta, I don't need you to take care of me…--she said with a mocking tone, trying to bring him back to their argument. Despite her efforts, the nervous flickering of her blue tail gave away her true intentions. She somehow knew that it wasn't correct to humiliate Vegeta in that way… Just when she was about to touch him, he snapped her hand away and turned in his heels to exit the room.
--Don't worry about him—said the King after Vegeta disappeared—He knows he deserved it—
Bulma stared at the man and suddenly, felt that she had no right to be there, or to make Vegeta face such situation. She had wanted to beat him physically, not morally. Not in front of his own father.
--He does—she whispered, wrapping herself more in the towels as if they provided a refuge—But is not my right to humiliate him…
Well, thought the King, we have something really interesting here. She cared for him in her own way, the same a woman with pride does for a man that she considers up to her own level of dignity; the way she seemed distressed about the vow his brat had just done to her reflected so many things… Many of them, she was unaware from.
--You didn't humiliate him—said the King with a reassuring and paternal tone—He did this to himself and for that he has to take responsibility—he then offered his hand to her and smiled—Now, child, let me show you your planet and tell me what happened between you and Frieza´s army…
Bulma took his hand and let him guide her. She too knew this was the place she had been born, but that wasn't important at the moment. Her mind kept telling her she needed to confront Vegeta and somehow make things right between them; even if the rational part of her mind told her she didn't have to care for him and his stupid ego.