"So, my precious monkey has finally shown his face." Frieza's voice echoed, and Vegeta could swear he felt his hair blowing, the air moving with the force of the lizard's
There Vegeta stood, in Frieza's chambers, staring at the silhouette ahead. This very room had been the setting of so many nightmares, memories, and horrific experiences. In this room Vegeta took each and every beating Frieza had cast upon him. He'd witnessed the tyrant planning the implosion of planets, extinction of species, had watched the lizard crush screaming henchmen with his clawed feet. And most recently, Vegeta had been forced to stand witness to Bulma being beaten unconscious. All in this single room.
How suiting it was to be standing here now, knowing what was soon to come.
"You've caused quite a bit of trouble," Frieza's tail swayed, back and forth, slowly and patiently. "How many chances have I given you, Monkey? How many times have you betrayed my good will?"
What a crock of shite. Vegeta didn't even bother to roll his eyes in reaction to that statement. It was just like Frieza to spin the truth and try to make those around them question their own perceptions of reality. It was par for the course. And Vegeta wasn't having it. Not now, nor ever.
"Well?" Up until this point, Frieza had his back on the saiyan. But he faced him as he demanded a response. "Do you have anything to say?"
Stonefaced.
Silent.
Vegeta only continued to glare.
Did he have anything to say ?
Why yes, yes he did. So much so that he didn't even know where to start. Years upon years of built up resentment, during which he had played so many fantasies of Frieza's death in his mind. Evidently it all led to speechlessness. There were too many directions his rant could go, and at the same time there was nowhere to start. But each time his lip twitched to form a word, he was rendered speechless, his mind replaying visions of Frieza overseeing Bulma's beating the night before.
"SPEAK TO ME, MONKEY!" Frieza shrieked, and it was then that Vegeta officially made up his mind.
He wasn't going to utter a damned syllable to this lizard - that alone would be granting him too much power. No - he was going to destroy him without making a single sound. Not even a grunt.
"ANSWER ME!" A purple blur came streaking forwards. It was incredible how easily Frieza's rage could be rendered out of control - all one had to do was keep their mouth shut. Vegeta smirked as Frieza's tail swooped closer, waiting until the absolute last second to finally dodge.
And how satisfying it felt to simply step to the side, leaving the lizard veering for the wall. Frieza stopped just short of the collision, screaming in indignance as he whipped around. "You puny little-!"
Frieza narrowed his eyes, and a familiar pink hue began to glow in them. Vegeta almost said something about how predictable his captor was after a lifetime of watching his tactics. But he didn't. He simply opted to rush at Frieza's side, to knee him in the rib before the lizard had a chance to react.
Frieza screamed, and this time he couldn't mask his alarm. "You!" His high voice cracked. "How dare- Monkey!"
Vegeta couldn't help but wonder to himself if Frieza was ever going to get past his fascination with the 'M' word. That remark about his Oozaru transformation was so aged and unoriginal. Did he really think he was doing something by yelling it like a mantra?
"Just you wait," Frieza hissed. His index finger aimed at Vegeta, but the saiyan was able to dodge the beam as if it were nothing. Appearing behind the reptilian, Vegeta put all of his his body weight into it when he slammed his elbow into Frieza's spine, knocking the lizard to the floor.
'This can't be,' Frieza thought. 'He's gotten so fast!'
'Amazing to think that you used to actually have power over me.' Vegeta would have said if he were on speaking terms with the dictator. Neverthless, he couldn't stop the grin that was stretching across his cheeks, the elation building within. Vegeta was so used to Frieza's strength being so invincibly unmatched, and the thrill of actually having the upper hand was unexpected.
Euphoric.
Intoxicating.
"Say SOMETHING! " Frieza barked, and another one of his blows was easily blocked.
And another.
And another.
"DON'T YOU RIDICULE ME!" The lizard screamed. "YOU MOCK ME WITH YOUR SILENCE!"
Oh, how right he was. Vegeta merely smirked.
.
"In here!" Gohan whispered. He and Roxena had just ducked into a side hall. Based on what he could remember of Vegeta's instructions, the way to the pods was just a few more paces away.
"I-" Roxena panted. "Don't know if I can keep-up-!"
"We're so close!" Urged Gohan. "Come on, Roxena! You can do it!"
The young girl had sweat strewed across her forehead, her cheeks red with exertion. Gohan was holding her by the wrist and pulling her, so fast she could hardly feel her feet as they blurred to match his pace.
And up ahead she could see the deck, silver pods docked in wait. She couldn't believe that they were so close - that she was going to get away. That the Vegeta had actually shown her grace and removed her golden bracelet!
"Here!" Gohan gasped. They stopped right in front of one pod, and the boy jumped up and down as he furiously scratched his head. "What did Vegeta say the code was?" He breathed. "Was it eighty-five, or eighty-six?!"
"I-" Rowena breathed. Her eyes widened, staring at her friend anxiously. "I wasn't - I don't!"
"Ugh!" Gohan growled and started punching into the keypad. The pod groaned its denial, making the boy pull at his hair.
"Was it seventy-three?" Rowena tried. Her chest was tightening into her throat, and she was finding it hard to breathe. They were so close, so close , and now there was an air of impending doom upon them. As if someone was watching. As if their time was now being borrowed…
"No!" Gohan groaned. "Thirty-seven?!"
"I don't-!" Roxena began, but just then something hot and yellow whirred by her head, making the girl scream, and she backed into Gohan. The two fell, her landing on top, just in time to hear a husky voice laughing in the distance.
"Oh no!" Roxena gasped.
"What?!" Gohan helped her to her feet. "Who is-"
"Captain Ginyu!" Tears were streaming down Roxena's cheeks as she turned hysterically to the boy. "It's Captain Ginyu! Gohan! He's-!"
"What a ridiculous introduction that is!" The captain laughed, folding his arms over his chest. Gohan put a protective arm out to shield Roxena as he stepped in front of her, which only made the captain's laughter rise. "What a regular little saint you are!"
"I don't want any trouble," Gohan said. His mind was still on the pod, and his voice shook with residual stress from it.
"You don't want trouble?" The Captain grinned. "Well, little pipsqueak, let's get right down to it. You two aren't going anywhere, and I have it on good authority to take you to Frieza."
"Frieza?!" Roxena screamed at this, her fingers digging into Gohan's shoulder.
"No!" He spat, balling his hands into fists. "We aren't going anywhere with you!"
"Kid, you aren't exactly in the position to call the shots." The Captain smirked. "But you've got some little balls on you, I like that. In another dimension you could have made an asset to my team."
"What-" Gohan started, but without warning to captain shot a blast at the two. Roxena let out another scream as Gohan wrapped his arms around her, pulling her out of the path.
A second later and the blonde girl was on the cold concrete floor, looking up in terror as Gohan flew away. He'd left her at the far end of the deck, and he was now in full flight towards the captain. Bracing herself for the fight, Roxena scurried to the nearest pod so she could try and seek shelter behind it.
There was a loud crash, and the sound of the captain's laughter echoed across the deck once again.
—
Through the galaxy wisped the cold air. Only lit by the distant stars, a gray pod veered as silent as it was dark.
Inside Bulma's head lay against the headrest, nodding and dipping with the movement of the vehicle, but her eyes never opening. On her right cheek there was still a single wet line, evidence of the tear that had escaped her eye before she'd lost consciousness.
Her lips were still puckered as if awaiting a kiss, and the slow breaths of air escaping created small clouds of fog that dissipated as they formed.
In sleep she remained, completely unaware of what was transpiring back on Frieza's base. Nor what was awaiting her at her destination.
A small pebble formed at the duct of her eye, and slowly it grew in size before another lonely tear rolled down her cheek…
… Steam was coiling in the air when Bulma opened her eyes, realizing she was in bed. Dazed, she blinked through the drowse, as the saiyan prince spooned her from behind. Was she really back in the bedroom of the spaceship?
She yawned happily. The last 24 hours had been an emotional whirlwind ~ of finishing the spaceship and presenting it to Vegeta, of having to say goodbye, of the most heartbreaking sex she'd ever had, of sneaking on the ship while Vegeta and Gohan were distracted, and even that reunion fight. It'd taken a lot for the Bluehead to get to where she was now. And when the couple had collapsed in bed together after finally coming to an agreement. Vegeta had finally agreed to let her stay for their journey, and the relief not having to separate had been too surreal for the both of them.
The two equally exhausted, Vegeta cradled Bulma's head to his chest as they effortlessly fell asleep. Clinging to one another, as if desperate to be sure this was real, Bulma knew she would never forget the overwhelming peace that beckoned her to the most tranquil slumber she'd ever indulged.
And now she stirred, realizing that they'd shuffled positions at some point, and Bulma couldn't help the blissful sigh as her backside sank into Vegeta's firm chest. His heavy arms were reassuring, rough hands firmly cupping the space below her breasts. Vegeta's chin was resting in the arch of her shoulder, his warm breath clapping her cheek with every exhale.
It seemed that he was also in disbelief that all that transpired was actually real. She heard him gasp, as if only just waking up. Then he gave a low groan, and his fingers pressed deeper into her ribs.
"Bulma," He breathed, causing goosebumps down her spine.
"Veg-" She rolled over to face him, and Bulma was glad she did. He held a deep, far off gaze as they locked eyes, and instantaneously Vegeta made sure it was gone.
As usual.
She often wondered, when she caught this look, what he was thinking of, and for how long. His hand settled on her hip, lazily drawing circles over her fleshy curve.
"Betcha thought it was all a dream, huh?" Bulma breathed. It was hard not to feel a bit giddy when she reminded herself that just hours earlier she truly thought she'd never see him again. And she couldn't resist the smile that spread across her cheeks, regardless of how sly she tried to act.
"Always," A smirk lined Vegeta's jaw. He moved his hand to the back of her head, caressing her hair with fingers that she noted to be far more delicate than his character typically allowed. Bulma closed her eyes, so content that sleep was impending once again.
She felt as his rough fingertips rolled affectionate circles over her belly, moving up and down the abdominal lines. These days her stomach was growing quite fast, and he seemed to be making this realization as he stroked gently. There was a low heat forming under his palms, and Bulma couldn't help but wonder what he did to make her feel so relaxed in those moments.
Just as he had when they were back in the basement of her old house, his soothing caresses were egging her to sleep. And she couldn't help but think, as his palm pressed more firmly into her lower stomach, that the baby within felt just as safe as she did.
Just as she drifted off, she heard his voice muttering across her earlobes. "You've always felt like a dream…"
And she wondered, desperately, if she could stay in the dream forever. For she knew this was a mere memory replaying in her head, and she didn't want to wake up from it.
In her memories she still had her baby. In her memories, she still had Vegeta.
And he wasn't going to leave.
AN: Sorry if this chapter seemed to be all over the place! There's just so much happening at once, and I really felt like I needed a good Vegebul scene because this story has gone so long without one. (Technically, it's been years!). Just in case you need a refresher, the memory that replays in Bulma's dream takes place at the very end of Chapter 33: Coalesce, where the writing leaves off.
I have to admit that I'm not looking forward to writing the next chapter or two, and perhaps that is why this update has taken me so long. But be assured that it is coming. :) Thank you so much for your patience. I can't believe this story is almost all done!