Legendary Warrior

Vegeta watched Bulma covertly from across the dinner table. It had been a couple of days since he’d touched her in her laboratory. He wanted to do it again…very badly. He’d been so wrapped up in his training, that he’d neglected his personal life to the extreme. He hadn’t been kidding when he told the gorgeous blue haired woman that a mate and offspring were of the utmost importance to a Sayian male. Frowning softly, he realized, as of late, his priorities were sadly out of order.

There were other things to life besides training, he understood that, but in his pursuit for the ultimate power he’d lost sight of those things. A mate, a partner in life, a foundation for his sanity; those were what he realized he needed before he completely lost himself to the hunger for power and revenge.

Getting a ‘mate’ was easy. He could very likely bend her over the table right now, parents, dishes and all, and she’d let him; the little female was laughingly easy to arouse and fluster. A life partner…that was much more difficult and time consuming. He flicked his gaze to the woman again, startled to see her smiling lightly at him. She looked back at her plate, blushing every so slightly. Then again, maybe it wouldn’t be so difficult…but it would take time and patience, something he had never had in abundance. She needed to understand him, truly understand him, to bond deeply with his mind and soul. How to go about doing that was another story.

Despite being totally unsure how to go about it, he decided Bulma ‘would’ be his mate. He was the Prince of all Sayians and he could do this; he wouldn’t give up until she was his in every sense of the word.

***

Bulma eyed her princely tenant, across the yard, from her spot by the pool. While he was simply stretching and working on unfamiliar exercises (that reminded her vaguely of yoga), she knew he was up to something. He’d been watching her all week, ever since that day in the lab. Heat rose to her cheeks as she inwardly admitted she’d been doing the same. She doubted he knew she’d caught him watching her by the pool or at the dinner table, but it was a little unnerving nonetheless. What was he up to?

He’d even slowed his training schedule. He appeared for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and often watched TV with her family in the evening. Had he reached the Legendary already and was satisfied? Or perhaps he was giving up…no Vegeta wouldn’t dream of such a thing. She grumbled softly, completely baffled at his uncharacteristic behavior. Standing, she wandered to the pool and moved carefully down the tiled steps into the water. Then again, maybe he was just lonely and finally wanted a little company.

Lonely. Her eyes widened ever so slightly and she removed her sunglasses to look over at the heavily muscled man. To her surprise he waved and then moved into another stretch. She raised her hand in return and then spun, panic gripping her. Had he really been serious about the whole ‘mate’ thing? Surely he didn’t want her; she was a human, weak according to him. She turned her head slightly and sure enough he was watching her again, a thoughtful look on his face. She nearly choked when he started toward her.

“Woman,” he murmured in greeting as he reached the poolside and crouched down.

“Good afternoon Vegeta,” she said, trying to sound cheery and calm. You don’t know he wants you Bulma, she reminded herself. Don’t act like at idiot.

“It is a nice afternoon, isn’t it?” he said with a small smile, a real smile.

She nodded, hardly believing she was talking to Vegeta. He didn’t smile. He smirked (oh so sexily) or he frowned, there were no smiles. “How is your training going?” she asked, trying desperately not to notice how good he looked in his tight training suit. Kami, wasn’t that thing stifling in this heat?

“It is progressing,” he replied with a shrug. “Right now though, I think a swim would be much more interesting,” he murmured, the sexy smirk finally making its appearance. He rose, with a fluid grace few men could ever possess and, with a wicked gleam in his eyes, he began to tug down the tight blue body suit he preferred for training.

Bulma gaped as fabric slid down pass rippling shoulders and his wide, muscular chest. As the fabric gathered low, very low on his narrow hips, she realized, to her horror and fascination, that Vegeta was nude beneath that skintight suit. She’d never really noticed, but she sure as hell would now. How did she not notice his…his…? Her eyes flicked low and then widened. How had she never noticed the wide, clear outline of him, held snug in the second skin of his clothing; clothing that was now revealing hints of dark hair? She gasped and spun when he chuckled softly and she came dangerously close to seeing parts of Vegeta she’d never dreamed of seeing. Oh she’d dream about it now though; bastard.

She heard a splash and turned to see Vegeta rise smoothly from the water, treading water a few feet away. “Much better,” he murmured softly, sending her an amused, teasing glance.

Her mouth worked for a moment then she gasped out, “I can’t believe you’re swimming in the nude right now…in broad daylight.”

He laughed softly and shook his head, his gravity defying hair standing strait up as usual. Did nothing flatten it? “Sayians aren’t shy Woman. Surely you’ve discovered that with Kakkarot by now. Our bodies are not something to hide, though I do admit we don’t wander our planet nude. That’s simply not sanitary,” he said with a small frown.

“Yes but I’m here and you’re nude! I can’t believe this!” she gasped, feeling a blush rise as she struggled not to peek through the water. She felt like a teenager trying to get her first peek at a naked man. What on earth was he doing? Had he finally snapped? Or was he seriously going to pursue her? If this was his tack, she was pretty sure he would win. Even now she was sorely tempted to reach out and touch him. He’d let her, right now, she was sure of it.

“Yes it does seem a bit unfair, doesn’t it,” he murmured, moving a bit closer. “You’re much too over dressed for this gathering.”

With a speed she couldn’t follow, he was suddenly behind her and her tiny bikini top was floating gently in the water. She gasped and flung her arms over her exposed breasts, barely able to comprehend that Vegeta, of all people, had just pulled a trick that only teenage boys employed at pool parties. To her utter horror she heard the telltale pop of Goku’s instant transmission. Oh Kami, why now of all times?

“Oh man Bulma, I didn’t know you were busy…” Goku stuttered, blushing a little from his position by the side of the pool. It wasn’t unusual for him to ‘pop’ in like this unannounced and until this moment it had never been a problem.

Bulma shook her head, arms firmly protecting her naked flesh. She turned and looked at a suddenly annoyed looked Vegeta. “Never do that again Vegeta,” she whispered angrily. He flicked his angry gaze from a flustered Goku to the embarrass beauty before him. Flinching, he nodded once and didn’t dare let his eyes follow as she hurried up the steps of the pool and grabbed her towel.

Goku frowned softly as Bulma hurried into the house; his shoulders sagged. Kami he hoped that wasn’t the moment Trunks would have been conceived. Though thinking about it, that shouldn’t happen for a few months from what future Trunks had said.

He glanced at Vegeta, who had finally risen to the deck of the pool. Vegeta briefly flared his ki to dry out and then, completely unselfconscious about his nudity, picked up his clothing to dress. “Bad timing Kakkarot,” he growled.

“Perhaps,” Goku murmured with a shrug. “I came here to spar with you, but may I should give you a little hint to help you reach your goal.”

Vegeta looked interested, but then scowled. “I don’t need your third-class help,” he growled.

Goku looked unperturbed at the growl and shrugged. “I was just going to tell you not to give up. You’re on the right path finally. Balance is vital to what you strive for, not more power or faster punches and kicks. Think about that and don’t let Bulma stay mad for long. A secret about women, Vegeta, is the longer you let them stay mad, the worse it gets and the harder you’ll have to work,” Goku said softly.

Vegeta was a little surprised at the advice the typically goofy man was giving him, but somehow he realized Goku might just know what he was talking about. “If that is the case, I cannot spar at the moment,” Vegeta growled. “I will call for you when I am able.”

Goku smiled a little and nodded. Just before blinking out he grinned and said, “She really likes flowers by the way. Goku vanished and Vegeta was left, standing in the Brief’s yard half naked and wondering what he should do.

***

Kami he must be desperate, he thought as he approached the one place he typically avoided at all costs; the blond one’s craft room. All of the frilly crap and cheerful chatter grated horribly on his usually taut nerves. On the other hand, she was the woman’s mother and would probably know exactly what he should do.

“Woman,” he growled once in the doorway to the room.

“Vegeta?” came the sweet, high response. Mrs. Briefs appeared from behind a pile of fabric, stacked high on one of her tables. “Oh hello dear. Are you hungry? I can whip you up a snack in a jiffy,” she said in the bubbly voice that always made him want to commit an act of violence.

“No,” he growled, eyebrows drawn in. “I need to apologize to the woman…Bulma…and I am not sure how,” he muttered.

She blinked at him, not understanding for a moment. Finally her face cleared and she smiled softly. “Yes of course. I didn’t know you two were involved already, but these things do happen. Now tell me what you did and we’ll see what we can do,” she said tugging him down into a chair.

Not seeing any reason to hide what had happened he told her everything bluntly. “I removed her swimming top and Kakkarot…Goku…happened by. The woman…Bulma,” he corrected again, “was embarrassed. I need to know how to fix this,” he grumbled.

Mrs. Briefs laughed softly and shook her head. “She’ll get over such a small thing by dinner dear. Don’t worry about it.”

He growled and rubbed his forehead in frustration. “I would like to do something for her anyway. Tell me what to do,” he demanded firmly. He supposed he could just apologize outright, but something to aid his current goal would be preferable.

“You’re really set on this hmm?” she hummed softly. She smiled and nodded. “Very well, we’ll make brownies for her, or you will that is. Works every time.”

“Cook?” he growled incredulously. “I can’t….”

“Sure you can dear. I’ll help, I promise,” she bubbled. “Let’s get started so they’ll be ready for desert.” She tugged him out of his chair and down the stairs to her other sanctuary, the kitchen.

***

Bulma dropped her towel on the floor and pushed her bottoms off. No need to remove her top, it was floating in the pool at the moment. ‘Oh Kami,’ she inwardly groaned. It wasn’t that Goku had seen anything important, not really. It’s just now he’d assume he’d interrupted them in the middle of something intimate.

Stepping into her shower and turning the water on hot she vaguely realized that, in a way, he had. Vegeta had been completely naked and she was damn near in the same situation at the time. What if Goku hadn’t popped in for a visit? Would she have let Vegeta go further? “Probably…who am I kidding…yes I would have,” she grumbled to herself as she began to soap her hair.

She finished washing and stepped out of the shower, scrubbing her body and hair dry with a clean towel. Would it be a big deal if she slept with Vegeta? She scowled into the mirror. Why was she even asking herself that? Of course it would be a big deal. It was Vegeta, next in line to rule the universe, if he had his way.

What would her friends say? Goku would be thrilled and Chichi would be baffled but supportive. Krillin, Master Roshi and the other guys would just be too scared of Vegeta to question her choice. Piccolo probably wouldn’t care either way. Did she care what Yamcha thought? Perhaps, but mostly she wanted to see his reaction if she did start a relationship with Vegeta. Yamcha would probably scream and such, unable to believe she could go from HIM to a destroyer of planets.

Smiling a little at that thought she went about fixing her hair and reapplying the little make-up she wore. Might as well look nice if she wanted to snag the grumpy Sayian. So he removed her top. She mentally shrugged. It was kind of funny looking back. Normally he wasn’t the playful sort. Oddly she kind of enjoyed seeing that side of him.

She was pulling a tank top on and tugging it over the waistline of her tiny shorts when she heard Vegeta yelling downstairs and her mother’s squeals and laughter. She frowned and decided to go investigate. At least if her mother was laughing, Vegeta wasn’t threatening to kill her at the moment. What could Vegeta possibly do to make her mother laugh?

Bulma hurried downstairs and stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, taking the destruction in at one glance. What looked like brownie batter was flung across the walls and, even better, all over Vegeta. She saw him put the mixer down and fold his arms angrily. What on earth were they doing?

“Damn it woman! I give up!” Vegeta growled, covered in flour and chocolate batter. A little accident with the mixer had finally clinched it. Mrs. Briefs was trying desperately not to giggle as batter flew across the angry Sayian and around the room, the mixer blades spinning wildly. He managed to turn the accursed thing off and set it back on the counter without breaking it, but only just barely. “I can’t do this. I tried, but it just isn’t….” he paused when light footstep stopped at the kitchen door.

He turned and saw Bulma standing in the doorway, surveying the mess with curiosity and surprise. “What are you two doing in here? I could hear the yelling and laughing all the way upstairs,” she said, eyeing a batter covered Vegeta with unconcealed curiosity. “Vegeta?”

He growled. “I wanted to apologize. The woman said to do this…I tried…I can’t do it. I’m sorry you were humiliated earlier,” he muttered and then stalked past her and out into the yard.

She blinked at his retreating back and then at her mother. “Did he really try to bake for me?” she whispered. When her mother nodded, and started to clean up the mess, Bulma turned and looked out towards the gravity chamber. “Oh,” she murmured softly. “How sweet.” What a curious man Vegeta was. She had been embarrassed earlier, but it hadn’t lasted long. She’d been confused too, and this little situation really didn’t clear anything up for her.

“So how long has it been?” her mother asked cheerfully from the batter-covered countertop across the room.

“How long as what been Mother?” Bulma asked coming into the room to help clean up.

“How long have you two been together?” she asked grinning at her daughter.

“W-we’re not together Mother!” Bulma murmured, blushing hotly. “I mean there was this one time in my lab where he seemed like he was interested…but we aren’t a couple.”

“Why ever not darling?” her mother asked with a frown. “He clearly wants to be with you and he’s such a nice boy.

Bulma could never understand where her mother had gotten the idea that Vegeta was a nice boy. He was dangerous, occasionally insane, grumpy, and very sexy; good boy he was not. Idly she thought that was kind of hot really. Aside from his cheating, Yamcha had been a fairly considerate, sweet lover. It had always been good, but had left her wanting for something…something a little more.

She’d bet her trust fund Vegeta was an animal…a dark, very sensual animal…in the sack. He wouldn’t be one of those gentle, careful lovers, worried about hurting her. No, he’d take and take until she screamed for mercy, and she had no doubt she’d love every minute of it. And all of that stamina and control he exhibited in battle…her eyes wandered to the gravity chamber, blinking away in the dimming light. Her body warmed and her cheeks flushed. Maybe she’d let him have her…the prospect was interesting at least.

Realizing she’d lost her daughter’s attention, Mrs. Briefs sighed and smiled, turning back to her cleaning.

***

Vegeta felt restless, not an unfamiliar sensation, but annoying nonetheless. He’d felt it more and more as the days after the pool incident passed. He realized some of it had to do with the steady development of his relationship with the blue-haired female. She’d forgiven him for embarrassing her in front of Kakkarot and they’d begun the subtle flirting all over again. She was becoming increasingly comfortable around him, which was what he wanted and needed to create a strong lasting bond with her. So if everything was progressing why did he feel so frustrated and high strung? It didn’t make sense at all.

With a sigh he lay back against the gravity chamber roof, his favorite perch, and gazed up at the stars. Almost on reflex he noted the position of familiar stars and calculated about what date it would be on Vegetasai, if it weren’t simply a big blank space in the sky now.

He hummed softly to himself and idly realized it was nearly his birthday, maybe a week or so away. His birthday celebration had always been a rather curious event each year, as it fell rather close to the time when mature Sayians went into rut. It was an evolutionary quirk that had ensured that Sayians put aside fighting and training for a few weeks and concentrated on family and, more interestingly, procreation. Vegeta’s birthday celebrations had often been rather small due to the lack of guests making it to the parties. He smiled and laughed softly, remembering his mother trying to explain to her five-year-old son why so few would come to see him, and those who did were very old or very young.

“Oh Fuck!” he growled sitting up suddenly, his thoughts focusing on one very important fact in his musings. The Rut! It would ruin the careful plan he’d set in place. He was old enough now that the rut would likely affect him quite strongly, driving him to choose a mate. Maybe it wouldn’t work here on this planet? It hadn’t ever been that bad when he’d been with Freeza, but then the lizard had also used drugs to repress a lot of his Sayian soldiers’ instincts. He brightened, Kakkarot would know!

He shut his eyes and calmed himself so he could hone in on the younger Sayian. “Kakkarot!” he growled in his mind, when he felt the other man’s presence drift against his.

Goku started at the sudden voice in his head, but managed not to slip off his perch on his home. “Vegeta?” he responded silently.

“The rut…does it affect you here?” Vegeta growled softly, almost sounding like he was embarrassed to ask. “The time when you can’t resist your mate,” he supplied when he felt confusion from Goku’s mind.

Goku laughed out loud and then responded. “Oh! I guess so. It’s hard for me to resist her anytime really, but there is a time when I can think of nothing else, not even food. Why?”

“Is it soon?” Vegeta murmured gruffly.

“Hmm,” Goku hummed silently as he thought. “I think in about two weeks, maybe less. I’ve already started to feel the pull a bit, but it’s not bad yet. Don’t know how it’ll work this year though. Chi is carrying another son and I sure don’t want to hurt the little guy if I get rough. Chi likes to play and run, so I almost always have to chase her.” Goku smiled at the memories of past hunts. At Vegeta’s disgusted snort he laughed. “Why do you ask anyway?”

Vegeta sighed. “I haven’t run into this yet on your planet, so I didn’t know if it would affect me. I’m afraid it will interfere with the progress I’ve made with the woman. I had hoped to build a strong emotional bond initially, but I’m not sure I will be able to do that with only mating on my mind.”

Goku frowned. “I don’t know what to say Vegeta. I knew Chi, sort of, since we were kids, so I didn’t have the same problem as you. I think that we kind of developed the emotional part during the first few years as mates though. I wish I could give you advice but I can’t. Sorry Vegeta.”

“It’s not important. I primarily wanted to confirm the coming rut with you. Congratulations on another son. I hope I will have one of my own soon as well,” Vegeta murmured to the other Sayian.

“You will,” Goku murmured softly. “Good luck Vegeta.”

Vegeta felt Goku withdraw and sighed. Damn it. He had a week, maybe a little more, to go before hormones began to rule his every waking thought.

***

Bulma sat out on her balcony, looked up at the moon. It was full tonight. Flicking her gaze over to the balcony that belonged to Vegeta’s room, she was grateful her guest didn’t have a tail any more. A giant raging monkey didn’t sound terribly appealing at the moment.

Instead she’d likely had a small ‘raging monkey’. Oh, Vegeta had been unusually friendly and open in the past few weeks, but something was bothering him. Under the flirty attitude Vegeta was frustrated, agitated. From a brief conversation with Chichi that morning she could probably guess what it was.

Chichi had complained about Goku being a little too touchy feely lately. She’d mentioned he went through this phase each year, but with the new baby on the way she was leery about participating. She had shyly confided that Sayians were a bit rough and enthusiastic when it came to making love.

Bulma vaguely wondered if Vegeta was also going through the same phase. If he was and didn’t have an outlet like Goku, she could understand the underlying frustration she’d sensed. She didn’t really understand why he wasn’t more insistent in his pursuit of her. He was attracted to her; he’d made that clear in her lab weeks ago and through his odd behavior over the following weeks. So why hadn’t he bent her over her desk again by now? With a frustrated sigh she turned and wandered into her room. Sayians were so confusing.

***

Next door, Vegeta stared at the ceiling of his room. A week and, besides the woman agreeing to a few late night walks, their relationship was barely more than a flirty friendship. She was clearly attracted to him, the smell of arousal that flared every time he entered a room confirmed that. Did she love him? No, probably not. Was it important that she did first? His mind and heart said ‘yes’, but his throbbing groin said, ‘not really’.

Ignoring the insistent ache at the center of his body, he sighed and slowly fell asleep. But even in sleep he couldn’t escape visions of blue eyes and creamy flesh.

***

Vegeta was in a foul mood. His sleep had been less than restful and his hormones were a complete mess. He growled softly as he plopped down in his chair at the breakfast table. Mrs. Briefs smiled brightly and began to set out the plates of food she’d prepared for the grumpy man.

“Good morning Mr. Vegeta,” she sang happily. “How are you this fine morning dear?”

His eye twitched and he clenched his teeth. “Delightful.” Should he mention the excruciating erection he’d woken up with? No probably not. He didn’t think he’d make it another week, let alone the third. The rut could last for up to a month. He was pretty sure he was either going to die, commit a serious act of violence that would bring Kakkarot down on him, or attack the woman haunting his dreams. At the moment all three were appealing.

“Did you have a fight with Bulma, dear?” the blond woman chirped.

“No,” he growled stuffing eggs in his mouth. “I’m just trying desperately to keep my hands off her, if you must know. I’m in rut woman!” He continued shoving food in his mouth while she blinked in surprise at him.

“Why are you waiting then?” the blond murmured softly. “She likes you after all.”

“That’s the issue woman! She likes me…she doesn’t love me,” he grumbled. His filling belly helped take some of the edge off of his frustration.

“Is that all?” she chirped and laughed. “Love takes years to develop sweetie. It all starts with attraction and mutual interest and will develop into something much deeper later.”

Vegeta paused in his shoveling and blinked curiously. “Years? Really?” He frowned and nodded thoughtfully. “Yes I suppose most mates do know each other for quite some time before they join. Perhaps you’re right and I’m going about this all wrong.” He felt a little better suddenly and actually gave the flighty woman a small smile. She returned the smile and settled another plate in front of him.

Food first, then he’d go looking for the woman.

***


A/N: More later, maybe Monday :) Review and give ideas for continuation.